Abstract: A system for selectively controlling movement of a piston between first and second positions, the system comprising a controller selectively actuated to enable fluid communication between a device and a source of pressurized fluid, a control valve for enabling fluid communication between a control system and the source of pressurized fluid, a sensing system for identifying the first and second positions, a monitoring valve selectively actuated by the at least one sensing valve for exhausting the flow of pressurized fluid, wherein the monitoring actuator remains actuated until the control valve is deactuated, and a latching mechanism selectively capable of engaging the piston when a loss of pressurized fluid has been identified.

Abstract: A control valve for operating a fluid-actuated device includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a passage in fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the passage defining a longitudinal axis. A valve seat is disposed in the passage and includes an upstream diameter and a downstream diameter, the downstream diameter smaller than the upstream diameter. A ball poppet is positionable in a seated line contact position with the valve seat. The valve seat has a valve seat angle relative to a centerline of the longitudinal axis that is greater than an angle formed by the centerline and a line tangent to the ball poppet at the seated line contact position.

Abstract: A high-pressure fluid control valve is disclosed for operating a fluid-actuated device. Preferably a ball-poppet and frusto-conical valve seat adapted for substantially line-type contact therebetween are provided with an upstream restricted flow area in order to substantially minimize sonic flow damage to the actual sealing surface of the valve seat. Preferably, the ball-poppet is movable within a poppet guide that is allowed to float radially in order to allow the ball-poppet to be substantially self-centering with respect to the valve seat. In addition, cross-over leakage is preferably negated by closing an exhaust ball-poppet just prior to opening a supply ball-poppet.

Abstract: A high-pressure primary fluid control valve and a multi-pressure selector fluid control valve are disclosed for operating a fluid-actuated device. Preferably a spherical ball-poppet and frusto-conical valve seat adapted for substantially line-contact therebetween are provided with an upstream flow area adjacent the line-contact in order to substantially minimize sonic flow damage to the actual sealing surface of the valve seat by shifting it away from such line-contact seating. Preferably, the ball-poppet is movable within a poppet guide that is allowed to float radially in order to allow the ball-poppet to be substantially self-centering with respect to the valve seat. In addition, cross-over leakage is preferably negated by closing an exhaust ball-poppet just prior to opening a supply ball-poppet. These principles and features are equally applicable to either or both of the primary or the multi-pressure selector fluid control valves.

Abstract: A pneumatic fluid control valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet connectable to an external source of pressurized pneumatic working fluid, one or more load outlets, one or more corresponding exhaust ports, and a movable valve mechanism. The movable valve mechanism includes at least a pair of movable valve element and preferably resilient deformable connectors in a generally abutting relationship between adjacent movable valve elements for deformably transmitting coordinated motion therebetween. The deformable connector resiliently allows one of the movable elements to move and compress the connector before such coordinated motion is transmitted to the other movable element in order to minimize internal leakage.

Abstract: A fluid control valve includes an adjustable soft start capability. The fluid control valve isolates an input port and connects an outlet port to an exhaust port when the fluid control valve is in its closed position. A system is provided for locking the fluid control valve in the closed position. When the fluid control valve is moved to an open position, the exhaust port is isolated and full communication between the input port and the outlet port is delayed by a piston which continues to block fluid flow between the input port and the outlet port. An adjustable by-pass passage bleeds pressurized fluid from the input port around the piston to the outlet port until a specified pressure is built up at the outlet port. When the pressure at the outlet port reaches the specified pressure, the piston is moved from a position which blocks the flow from the input port to the outlet port to a position which allows full communication between the input port and the outlet port.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle of the type having a carburetor which is operated by an accelerator pedal attached to the carburetor throttle valve by suitable linkage, a system is provided for comparing the actual intake manifold pressure to a predetermined intake manifold pressure setting. Means are provided for signaling the vehicle driver when the absolute intake manifold pressure increases above the predetermined setting for the desired operating condition to permit the driver to operate the vehicle in an optimum fuel-saving manner. The system comprises a control mechanism which senses intake vacuum and compares it to a predetermined intake manifold absolute pressure.