Abstract: An energy-saving charge/discharge method controls the repeated charging and discharging of a working vessel in a manner that enables the storage and subsequent reuse of compressed gas during the repeated charge and discharge cycle. In contrast to the methods of the prior art, the method does not discard the entire mass of compressed gas during each discharge phase of the cycle. An energy savings results from the recycling of compressed gas, which reduces the net consumption of compressed gas for a given charge/discharge cycle of a given pressure vessel. A minimum amount of apparatus is required to implement the recycling of compressed gas.

Abstract: This application describes apparatuses, systems, and methods that combines specific configurations of a pneumatic actuation system together with a pressure measurement device to allow for measurement of pressure inside isolated subsystems within the system to thereby provide detection of leaks within the system. In certain exemplary embodiments, the apparatus comprises a directional control valve that employs at least one port connectivity configuration that creates at least one isolated fluid subsystem within the overall system. When the valve is in this isolated subsystem configuration, a given mass of fluid (i.e., compressed gas) can neither enter nor leave the subsystem.

Abstract: An energy saving directional-control valves (2-position and 3-position) are configured with standard manual override functionality and with the same steady-state input-output behavior as each respective standard/non-energy saving directional-control valve. This allows a standard non-energy saving valve to be replaced with an energy saving valve without reconfiguring the external electrical and manual override command logic.