Abstract: The partial vacuum produced at the inlet passage of a vortex chamber is employed to move liquid from one compartment to another in order to maintain the level of liquid in at least one of the compartments within a predetermined level of the liquid in the other compartment. In one embodiment, the vortex unit or other suction means develops a partial vacuum at the maximum height of a siphon tube extending between the two chambers, the vacuum drawing fluid from both or at least one of the chambers to the top of the tube thus initiating siphoning. A sump pump having a negative pressure insufficient to lift the liquid to the maximum height of the siphon tube is employed to deliver liquid to a load and concurrently to the vortex unit to establish the required partial vacuum to initiate siphoning.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluidic transducers of electrical signals from an electronic computer for accurately metering flow of a liquid to a utilization device. A liquid filled hollow channel means is accelerated along the flow axis thereof to produce a fluid control signal for a bistable fluidic switch element having a pressurized, cross-over type interaction region leading to a common outlet and to a pair of output passageways. In a preferred embodiment, electrical signals from an electronic computer are supplied to a coil centered by a spring in a magnetic field, first in one direction of current flow and then in the opposite direction, to introduce bidirectional movement of the coil and the hollow channel means coupled thereto. The signals are preferably frequency modulated (but may be pulse width modulated).

Abstract: There is disclosed a fluidic oscillator in which a stream of fluid is directed against a barrier member in an oscillation chamber. The barrier member serves as one wall of the oscillation chamber and in conjunction with other shaped wall surfaces of the oscillation chamber creates a pair of alternately pulsating control vortices for causing the fluid in the power stream to pass alternately to a pair of outlet passages. The vortices alternate both in strength and in a phase opposition to control flow of the jet stream in alternate fashion through the outlet passages. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pair of outlet passages are on opposite sides of the barrier member and converge to a common outlet to thereby provide a fan spray as the outlet passages alternate in the passage of the stream of fluid therethrough to the common outlet.

Abstract: In an automobile air flow system, air is forced through an air outlet element or nozzle in a sweeping air stream pattern by an oscillatory member that is supported for air initiated oscillatory movement in the flow path of the air from the source. The oscillatory member is proportioned with respect to the cross-sectional size of the outlet such that at any extreme of its oscillatory movement it does not physically contact any other structural member. In a preferred embodiment, the oscillatory member includes an impingement element and is supported by a spring, the rate of oscillation of the impingement member being directly related to the spring constant and the weight of the impingement member.

Abstract: The liquid spray includes an oscillator for producing a fan spray with liquid droplets of uniform size. The oscillator is constituted by a power nozzle, a pair of side walls forming a pair of vortice spaces offset from the power nozzle, a pair of inwardly extending protuberances or deflectors downstream of which are a pair of inlets to passages leading to exits adjacent the power nozzle, and an outlet throat or aperture having a pair of short wall surfaces defining an exit throat of any value selected from about 30.degree. to about 160.degree. so that the fan angle can be selected to be from about 30.degree. to 160.degree.. This structure results in an oscillator which has a relatively low threshold of pressure at which oscillations are initiated and, most importantly, the liquid is issued in a much more uniform fan pattern than heretofore possible.

Abstract: In an automobile air flow system, air is forced through an air outlet element or nozzle (13, 21, 24) in a sweeping air stream pattern by an oscillating reed or vane member (42) supported solely at the downstream end (43) for air initiated oscillatory movement in the flow path of the air from the source; a weight (41) is on the free, upstream end of the vane and is of a size such that the rate of oscillation is determined by the spring constant of a spring in the vane member and the weight. The oscillating vane (42) is proportioned with respect to the cross-sectional size of the outlet such that at any extreme of its oscillatory movement it does not physically contact any other structural member.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oscillating reed particularly for use in generating a sweeping or oscillating air flow pattern which is rendered clickless by limiting directions of bending of the reed element to an axis transverse to the direction of air flow. This significantly silences the oscillations and, in conjunction with polishing of the edges of the reed and rounding the corners of the mounting bar in which the downstream end of the reed is secured, cracking and breakage of the reed element has been substantially eliminated thereby lengthening significantly the life of the oscillating element.

Abstract: A pair of liquid flow passages are formed in a chamber and liquid flow through the passages is alternately blocked and unblocked by alternately pulsating vortices which causes alternate pulsations of fluid flow through the pairs of liquid flow passages.

Abstract: A fluid flow control element is constituted by a fluidic amplifier having an interaction region shaped to provide side walls leading to a pair of fluid flow outlets. The fluid flow inlet for the fluidic amplifier has positioned adjacent thereto at least one control fluid passageway, and the flow of fluid to the outlet passages is controlled by at least one pivoted valve or flap element pivoted between two positions for controlling flow fluid from the fluid inlet to a selected one of a pair of fluid flow passageways or outlets. In the preferred embodiment the fluid flow inlet and outlet and the interaction chamber are such that the fluid pressure in the chamber is always above any pressure in the load passageways and fluid from the fluid flow inlet flows out from the chamber through the control passage.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oscillating reed particularly for use in generating a sweeping or oscillating air flow pattern which is rendered clickless by limiting directions of bending of the reed element to an axis transverse to the direction of air flow. This significantly silences the oscillations and, in conjunction with polishing of the edges of the reed and rounding the corners of the mounting bar in which the downstream end of the reed is secured, cracking and breakage of the reed element has been substantially eliminated thereby lengthening significantly the life of the oscillating element.

Abstract: In an automobile air flow system, air is forced through an air outlet element or nozzle in a sweeping air stream pattern by an oscillatory member that is supported for air initiated oscillatory movement in the flow path of the air from the source. The oscillatory member is proportioned with respect to the cross-sectional size of the outlet such that at any extreme of its oscillatory movement it does not physically contact any other structural member. In a preferred embodiment, the oscillatory member includes an impingement element and is supported by a spring, the rate of oscillation of the impingement member being directly related to the spring constant and the weight of the impingement member.

Abstract: A dual pattern nozzle comprises a fluid oscillator of the type which utilizes an obstacle or island in the path of liquid flow to produce a vortex street downstream of the island. A flow splitter is disposed downstream of and sufficiently close to the island to prevent the flow around the island from re-combining before reaching the flow divider, whereupon liquid vortices are alternately issued from each side of the divider. The spinning liquid breaks up into two patterns of droplets, the patterns being directed at respective spaced areas.

Abstract: A fluid dispersal device utilizes the Karman Vortex street phenomenon to cyclically oscillate a fluid stream before issuing the stream in a desired flow pattern. A chamber includes an inlet and outlet with an obstacle or island disposed therebetween to establish the vortex street. The vortex street causes the stream to be cyclically swept transversely of its flow direction in a manner largely determined by the size and shape of the obstacle relative to the inlet and outlet, the spacing between the obstacle and the outlet, the outlet area, and the Reynolds number of the stream.

Abstract: A personal care spray device, particularly suitable for use as a facial cleanser and massager, is connected to a faucet and issues a cyclically swept liquid jet against the user's body. A guard wall surrounds the jet outlet opening to prevent splashing and serve a wiping function.

Abstract: A liquid spray is characterized by a liquid jet which is cyclically deflected at a high frequency such that it breaks up into a fan-shaped spray pattern in which the fluid distribution and droplet size can be controlled. Jet deflection is accomplished with energy in the pressurized liquid itself. In a preferred embodiment, the spray is produced by a fluidic oscillator, of the type having a flow-reversing interaction region terminated by an outlet throat from which outlet walls diverge, configured to establish a static operating pressure at the upstream end of the interaction region which is positive relative to the pressure in the outlet region.

Abstract: An improved oral irrigation technique is characterized by an oscillatory swept water jet issued to sweep back and forth at high frequencies across the user's gums and teeth. High frequency operation is achieved by oscillating the jet itself rather than the jet-issuing body. The high frequency sweeping jet effects faster cleaning action and more effective gum massage than prior art pulsed jet irrigators having lower effective operating frequencies.