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US 8,622,072 B2Granted
Apparatus to control fluid flow
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorMichel Ken Lovell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus to control a fluid flow are disclosed. An example fluid flow control apparatus described herein includes a signal stage comprising a signal stage relay having a supply plug being operatively connected to a valve seat at a first end and an exhaust seat at a second end and a seal operatively coupled to the supply plug such that the seal provides a feedback area to apply a fluid pressure feedback force to the exhaust seat.
Claims19
A dual-stage fluid flow control apparatus, comprising:
- a signal stage having a proportional output, the signal stage having a signal stage relay including a supply plug having a first end adjacent a valve seat and a second end adjacent an exhaust seat, a signal stage input post adapted to couple the signal stage to a control device, a first biasing element to urge a seat load across the supply plug toward either the valve seat or the exhaust seat, and a second biasing element to bias the exhaust seat away from the second end of the supply plug;
- and
- an amplifier stage having an amplifier stage relay operatively connected to the signal stage via a signal passage, the amplifier stage having a fluid supply responsive member adapted to move a relay member to provide an amplified fluid supply output such that a shift in the seat load across the valve seat and the exhaust seat provides a predetermined engagement of either the valve seat to the first end of the supply plug or the exhaust seat to the second end of the supply plug to provide either a proportional or snap-acting and a direct or reverse acting output of the amplifier stage relative to an input signal at the signal stage input post.
A dual-stage fluid flow control apparatus, comprising:
- a signal stage having a proportional output, the signal stage having a signal stage relay including a supply plug having a first end adjacent a valve seat and a second end adjacent an exhaust seat, a signal stage input post adapted to couple the signal stage to a control device and a biasing element to urge a seat load across the supply plug toward either the valve seat or the exhaust seat;
- and
- an amplifier stage having an amplifier stage relay operatively connected to the signal stage via a signal passage, the amplifier stage having a fluid supply responsive member adapted to move a relay member to provide an amplified fluid supply output such that a shift in the seat load across the valve seat and the exhaust seat provides a predetermined engagement of either the valve seat to the first end of the supply plug or the exhaust seat to the second end of the supply plug to provide either a proportional or snap-acting and a direct or reverse acting output of the amplifier stage relative to an input signal at the signal stage input post, wherein a fluid pressure in a signal passage acts upon an inner surface of a signal stage o-ring to apply a negative feedback force to provide the proportional output of the amplifier stage.
A dual-stage, fluid flow control apparatus comprising:
- a signal stage having a proportional output, the signal stage having a signal stage relay including a supply port, a supply plug having a first end adjacent a valve seat and a second end adjacent an exhaust seat, a signal stage input post adapted to couple the signal stage to a control device, a first spring to bias a seat load across the supply plug toward either the valve seat or the exhaust seat, a seal operatively coupled to the supply plug such that the seal at least partially defines a feedback area that yields a fluid pressure feedback force to the exhaust seat, and a spring operatively coupled to the supply plug to overcome a frictional force created by the seal;
- and
- an amplifier stage having an amplifier stage relay operatively connected to the signal stage via a signal passage, the amplifier stage relay having a fluid supply responsive member adapted to move a relay member to provide an amplified fluid supply output, a shift in the seat load across supply plug of the signal stage closes the exhaust seat of the signal stage prior to opening the valve seat of the signal stage to substantially eliminate a transition bleed in the signal stage.
A dual-stage, fluid flow control apparatus comprising:
- a signal stage having a signal stage relay that includes a supply plug operatively associated with a valve seat at a first end and an exhaust seat at a second end, the supply plug positioned at least partially within a body of the signal stage relay defining a feedback passage;
- a seal positioned within an annular groove of the exhaust seat between an outer surface of the exhaust seat and an inner surface of the feedback passage to provide a frictional force to the exhaust seat;
- and
- an amplifier stage having an amplifier stage relay fluidly coupled to the signal stage via a signal passage, the amplifier stage relay having a fluid supply responsive member adapted to move a relay member to provide an amplified fluid supply output based on a signal output provided by the signal stage.
1 more element
A dual-stage, fluid flow control apparatus comprising:
- a signal stage having a signal stage relay that includes a supply plug operatively associated with a valve seat at a first end and an exhaust seat at a second end;
- a seal operatively coupled to the supply plug such that the seal provides a feedback area to apply a fluid pressure feedback force to the exhaust seat;
- a spring operatively coupled to the supply plug to overcome a frictional force created by the seal;
- and
- an amplifier stage having an amplifier stage relay fluidly coupled to the signal stage via a signal passage, the amplifier stage relay having a fluid supply responsive member adapted to move a relay member to provide an amplified fluid supply output based on a signal output provided by the signal stage.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.