To Cascaded Plural Devices Patents (Class 137/819)
  • Patent number: 11035496
    Abstract: A three-way (3-way) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based micro-valve device and method of fabrication for the implementation of a three-way MEMS-based micro-valve are disclosed. The micro-valve device has a wide range of applications, including medical, industrial control, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and products, as well as any application(s) requiring the use of three-way micro-valves for the control of fluids. The discloses three-way micro-valve device and method of fabrication that can be tailored to the requirements of a wide range of applications and fluid types, and can also use a number of different actuation methods, including actuation methods that have very small actuation pressures and energy densities even at higher fluidic pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES
    Inventor: Michael A. Huff
  • Publication number: 20100108167
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a supersonic ejector assembly. The assembly may include a housing manufactured from a solid piece of material, a first ejector assembly positioned in a first bore formed in the housing and secured therein by a first input side flange positioned over an input end of the first bore and an output side flange positioned over an output end of the first bore, and a second ejector assembly positioned in a second bore formed in the housing and secured therein by a second input side flange positioned over an input end of the second bore, the second bore terminating into the first bore proximate a suction input of the first ejector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry Allan Kidd, Carlos M. Young, Kim M. Carapellatti, Jamieson V. Bowen, Michael J. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20090038699
    Abstract: A microdevice for multistage-mixing of process fluids which has plurality of freely-detachable units connected to each other without using pipes, wherein a microchannel for flow of the process fluids and a channel for flow of a heat-exchange medium are formed in the microdevice by mutual connection of a plurality of the units and the microdevice is locally and independently temperature-controllable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi NAGAI, Kazuhiro MAE, Nobuaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20080105315
    Abstract: Low pressure off gases such as from dry gas seals may be recompressed to a higher pressure using multiple tandem supersonic ejectors in which upstream ejectors operate at a higher nozzle exit Mach number than down stream ejectors and all ejectors are operated at exit Mach numbers greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Kamal K. Botros, John Geerligs, Hasan Imran
  • Patent number: 7000638
    Abstract: A diverter valve includes a valve bore having a set of valve seats associated with each fluid outlet port. Each set of valve seats is at least partially separated from one another by a flow channel. The valve seat configuration increases the impact area for the valve element. As a result, the impact force upon seating against the valve seats is reduced. Moreover, by including flow channels between the sets of valve seats, the switching force and performance of the valve element is not adversely affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International. inc.
    Inventors: Raymond R. Tseng, Bruce Larsen
  • Patent number: 6827095
    Abstract: A modular microfluidic system includes a plurality of discrete microfluidic modules each capable of performing at least one operation and at least one microfluidic coupling device for fluidically coupling the modules to perform a sequence of operations. The microfluidic modules and coupling devices may be constructed according to various techniques. In one embodiment, coupling devices are fabricated from multiple layers and each include a fluidic inlet port, a fluidic outlet port, and at least one sandwiched stencil layer having a microfluidic channel formed therein. Also described are integrated microfluidic systems and methods capable of performing various sequences of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nanostream, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. O'Connor, Christoph D. Karp, Eugene Dantsker, Marci Pezzuto
  • Patent number: 6798859
    Abstract: A branch amplifier card for a nuclear reactor control rod drive control system is provided. The control system includes a control processor, a plurality of transponder cards arranged in clusters with each cluster under the control of a branch amplifier card. The branch amplifier card is configured to receive commands from the control processor, send the converted commands to transponder cards under the control of the branch amplifier card and to a downstream branch amplifier card, receive an acknowledge word from transponder cards under the control of the branch amplifier card, add AC voltage threshold level information about the transponder cards under the control of the branch amplifier card to the acknowledge word, permit transponder trouble information attached to the acknowledge word to remain in the acknowledge word, and resend the acknowledge word including the transponder trouble information to an upstream branch amplifier card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Michael Steiner, Craig Miles Smith, Leonid Boris Sheikman, Craig Ernest Leighty
  • Patent number: 5697402
    Abstract: A system for mixing first and second polymer melt flows and directing a mixed polymer melt flow to one and another downstream locations includes a control valve having an inlet port for receiving the first polymer melt flow, and a pair of outlet ports, and a fluidic valve for forming the mixed flow of the first and second polymer melt flows and directing the mixed flow to one of a plurality of downstream locations. The fluidic valve is provided with a primary supply port for receiving the second polymer melt flow, a pair of secondary supply ports which are fluid-connected with the primary supply port at a mixing intersection, and a plurality of discharge ports extending from the mixing intersection. Each discharge port directs the mixed flow of the first and second polymer melt flows to a respective downstream location. A pair of branch conduits is provided which fluid-connect one of the pair of outlet ports of the control valve to a respective one of the secondary supply ports of the fluidic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hodan, Matthew B. Hoyt, Otto M. Ilg
  • Patent number: 5540248
    Abstract: A fluidic sound amplification system couples successive laminar proportional amplifiers through acoustic radiation between output and input horns to avoid the propagation of null offset signals. A second approach to obviating DC null bias in a fluidic sound amplification system comprises splitting the input signal, effecting a selected time delay on a portion of the signal such that the bandpass frequencies and dead zones or cancellation frequencies respectively of the amplified signals are 180.degree. out of phase and combine to produce a near uniform frequency response. A third approach is to use multiple parallel elements in each stage of amplification in such a manner that mechanical errors cancel each other out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Defense Research Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadeusz M. Drzewiecki, R. Michael Phillippi
  • Patent number: 5271431
    Abstract: A microvalve in multi-layer structure is proposed, where an inlet connector, a return connector and an outlet connector are produced by planar structuring of material layers. The microvalve has a first and a second stage, which is disposed behind the first stage in respect to the flow direction of the fluid. In the first stage the flow direction of the fluid is directed into a cavity formed by two chambers by means of a flexible tongue, which in the position of rest is oriented parallel to the flow direction of the fluid. At least one outlet connector is disposed in the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Mettner, Thomas Grauer
  • Patent number: 4934409
    Abstract: A fluidic gainblock for amplifying AC pressure signals having an additional lement known as a "T" junction added to the interconnection region between the stages of an LPA gainblock. Where normally there would be direct coupling between LPA's in a staged gainblock, there is now provided a path for the interstage flow noise and DC bias to exit prior to entering the next stage. This gainblock now allows as many stages to be added as needed in a gainblock as the elimination of the DC bias prevents the saturation of the gainblock. Interconnection flow noise is now minimized or eliminated completely and only the pressure signal is allowed to enter the next stage via the perpendicular branch of the "T" junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: George Mon
  • Patent number: 4874016
    Abstract: A fluidic circuit (10) having two oscillators (22,24) which separately vent to a common volume (78) and receive pressurized fluid inputs along separate flow paths (54,56) is provided with filters (80) positioned both upstream and downstream from each oscillator. Each of the filters (80) is adapted to attenuate oscillator-induced noise and comprises a series combination of an inductive element (82), a capacitive element (84), and an inductive element (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond R. Tseng
  • Patent number: 4678009
    Abstract: A fluidic complementary gain changing circuit has three laminar proportio amplifiers, one of which supplies fluid pressure streams to the other two. The latter amplifiers have substantially identical geometries and complementary gain curves at any given supply pressure, relative to a gain changing signal constituting a bias pressure applied to control ports of the first amplifier. A differential input signal supplied to the control ports of the two complementary amplifiers modulates the supply streams traversing those amplifiers and results in concurrent high and low gain complementary signals at the respective outlet ports of the overall circuit. Variable resistance elements permit calibration of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: George Mon
  • Patent number: 4501293
    Abstract: Signal output means (11) responsive to gas flow and particularly suited for use in gas flow indicator apparatus (10), has first and second pressure-datum valves (24, 25) arranged in downstream order in a gas conduit (16), the second pressure-datum valve (25) being arranged to open at a lower pressure difference than the first pressure-datum valve (24). A flueric amplifier (15) has a power jet port (28) connected to the gas conduit (16) on the upstream side of the first pressure-datum valve (24), opposed control pressure ports (26, 27) connected respectively to a chamber (22) formed between the first and second pressure-datum valves (24, 25) and to the gas conduit (16) downstream of the second pressure-datum valve (25), and a vent port (30) also connected to the gas conduit (16) downstream of the second pressure-datum valve (25). A pressure signal output by the flueric amplifier (15) in response to gas flow through the conduit (16) may be used to trigger a visual or audio warning device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Normalair-Garrett (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Owen D. Furlong, Leonard Moore, Jonathan D. Ward
  • Patent number: 4413795
    Abstract: A fluidic thruster control system and method for guided missiles and the like, which utilizes a fluidic jet interaction device for controlling a downstream fluidic vortex amplifier to modulate exhaust flow through thrust nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: The Garrett Corporation
    Inventor: William F. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4369811
    Abstract: A trim circuit for compensating for null offset of the jet stream in a flic transducer, such as an amplifier or jet deflection sensor, includes a flow bias control circuit and a supply sensitive difference flow control circuit. The flow bias control circuit supplies fluid pressure to a pair of symetrically disposed control channels at the input end of the transducer. This fluid pressure tends to decrease the amount of null offset of the jet stream from a central axis of the transducer which intersects a pair of symetrically disposed output channels. The supply sensitive difference flow control circuit removes the null offset remaining after correction by the flow bias control circuit. The supply sensitive difference flow control circuit may be disposed in one of the later stages of a cascaded fluidic amplifier chain or at the control inputs of a single stage transducer or amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Francis M. Manion, Charles E. Paras
  • Patent number: 4258754
    Abstract: A new method and apparatus for fluid sound amplification and detection having enclosed within a predetermined sized housing a fluid supply emitter in combination with a signal input port and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom along an axis offset a determined distance from the fluid supply emitter axis, at least one receiver, the receiver being responsive to gradient differences in fluid pressure as effected by laminar flow of the fluid from the emitter, a filter connected to the receiver for removing relatively high frequency noise, a diaphragm coupler receiving the output of the filter, the coupler having an output for use as a signal input to another predetermined sized housing, emitter, signal input port and at least one receiver combination. A suitable input transducer is connected to the signal input port of the first housing combination and a suitable output transducer such as a recording microphone and oscilloscope is connected to a receiver output of the second housing combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Inventor: Charles G. Pickett
  • Patent number: 4144906
    Abstract: A programmable fluid logic module is disclosed which provides an interface etween a plurality of fluid input signals in a pressure-to-electric transducer. The module is arranged so that a plurality of valves may be used to provide a particular combination of signals which result in the transmission of a desired signal from the module to a pressure-to-electric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Maurice F. Funke, John M. Goto
  • Patent number: 4113079
    Abstract: Logic circuitry in combination with a limit switch on a press automatically controls the operation of the press during the press cycle without visual monitoring of the cycle by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Wright
  • Patent number: 4019697
    Abstract: A fluidic control system which automatically schedules and controls power developed by an aircraft during landing approach operation. Fluidic signals are generated in relation to sensed aircraft flight parameters, and these signals are combined in a preselected manner which includes integration of one of the signals by a series feedback capacitance fluidic integrator, to produce a single input signal indicative of a desired rate of fuel flow to schedule aircraft power to the desired level. The single input signal is temperature compensated, then discretely selectively modified in relation to ambient conditions by selectively varying the impedance of fluidic resistive networks to alter the gain of a fluidic amplifier driven by the single input signal. An error signal is then generated and amplified to produce a power output signal which drives a fuel control servo actuator in proportion to the error signal when the latter is small, and drives the servo in a digital manner when the error is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: The Garrett Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Tippetts
  • Patent number: 3991790
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a patient ventilator apparatus having a pneumatic control system operable in three different modes wherein the apparatus assists the breathing of the patient, controls the patient's breathing in a timed manner, or operates in a combination assist/control mode according to certain predetermined conditions. Fluidic circuitry controls a valved bellows apparatus, which in turn supplies air to a patient subject to limitations of time, volume, and pressure, wherein the gas supplied to the bellows comprises an adjustable oxygen/air mixture. Fluidic timers are provided for use in the control mode of the circuitry, and identical fluidic circuitry combinations are provided for use in the assist mode to automatically trigger the ventilator apparatus into an inspiratory state according to the patient's breathing requirements and to trigger such apparatus into an exhalation state when a predetermined inspiratory pressure is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Sandoz, Inc.
    Inventor: George K. Russell
  • Patent number: 3986527
    Abstract: Improved fluid logic elements are disclosed employing a laminar proportio fluid amplifier connected in a feedback arrangement. Logic functions such as AND, OR, and NOR as well as the flip-flop can be implemented with a reduced power consumption and signal to noise ratio relative to turbulent wall-attachment devices. In one embodiment, the outputs of a first laminar proportional fluid amplifier are input to a second laminar proportional fluid amplifier so as to decouple the operation of the first amplifier from a utilization circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: George Mon
  • Patent number: 3957233
    Abstract: A fluidically controlled cargo hook control system for use with aircraft including a fluidic circuit actuatable so that the cargo hook can be opened at pilot command during the pilot command mode of operation, so that the cargo hook will automatically open upon cargo touch-down during the automatic touch-down mode of operation, so that the pilot may override the automatic touch-down system to open the cargo hook at his command during the automatic touch-down mode of operation, and so that the entire fluidic system can be placed in the safe-mode condition so that neither automatic touch-down input nor pilot input can open the cargo hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David Orin Adams
  • Patent number: 3957234
    Abstract: A fluidically controlled cargo hook control system for use with aircraft including a fluidic circuit actuatable so that the cargo hook can be opened at pilot command during the pilot command mode of operation, so that the cargo hook will automatically open upon cargo touch-down during the automatic touch-down mode of operation, so that the pilot may override the automatic touch-down system to open the cargo hook at his command during the automatic touch-down mode of operation, and so that the entire fluidic system can be placed in the safe-mode condition so that neither automatic touch-down input nor pilot input can open the cargo hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Joseph Mulvey, David Orin Adams, Arthur Lawrence Sivigny
  • Patent number: RE30870
    Abstract: A fluidic system (e.g. amplifier or bistable unit) having an inlet branch and a pair of outlet branches separated by a fluid-flow splitter whereby the fluid is rendered electromagnetically susceptible, e.g. magnetic by incorporating magnetic particles therein, electrostatically responsive by being relatively dielectric, or electrically conductive, so that the fluid flow to the outlet branches may be controlled by magnetic, electrostatic or current flow means or an output may be derived by similar electromagnetic means for controlling an ancillary device, providing an indication of a fluid flow parameter or feedback control of an input parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1971
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Inoue