Abstract: Diaphragm assemblies for use with fluid control devices are described. An example diaphragm assembly includes a body defining a plurality of chambers to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of a fluid control device. Each of the chambers is spaced along a stem at least partially disposed in the chambers, and the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the fluid control device. Additionally, the example diaphragm assembly includes a first plurality of diaphragms, each of which is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers, and each of which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A high inertance liquid piston engine-compressor that is lightweight, portable and for use with pneumatically actuated devices that may have periods of inactivity between periods of pneumatic use. The engine-compressor provides a power generation system that is for use with mobile or portable devices which need a portable long lasting energy source.

Abstract: A barrier of a vacuum pump prevents contamination from entering a vacuum pump air line. The barrier separates parts of the pump and is moveable between an initial state and a distended state. The barrier is assembled within the pump with a pre-load. When the vacuum source is applied to the barrier, the barrier achieves a distended state and when the vacuum source is released, the barrier incrementally self returns to an initial state. The geometry and material construction of the barrier, along with the pre-load, assists in returning the barrier on its own to the initial state from the distended state.

Abstract: A variable displacement piezo-electric pump which includes a pump housing having a side housing wall defining a pump chamber, an inlet line and an outlet line communicating with the pump chamber, a flexible pump diaphragm spanning the side housing wall in the pump chamber, a diaphragm-stroking mechanism such as a piezo-electric stack engaging the pump diaphragm and a diaphragm support provided between the diaphragm-stroking mechanism and the side housing wall of the pump housing.

Abstract: The rubber compositions described herein have been found to have an exceptionally long life as a spring-biased actuator diaphragm material that maintains its position compressed, e.g., bolted, between opposed flanges, while maintaining excellent compressibility, low temperature flexibility, hydrocarbon resistance, abrasion resistance and mechanical strength. The compositions include a copolymer rubber component; a plasticizer for the copolymer rubber; a vulcanizing agent for the copolymer rubber; a silica filler; and a coupling agent, such as a silane coupling agent, capable of coupling the silica filler to the copolymer rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tandem pneumatic brake booster (1) for a vehicle. The objective is to prevent a blocking of a booster thrust rod (4) in the maximum travel position. The blocking appears following a sealed adhesion of a first plate skirt (12) on a seal (22) of the tandem booster. This seal blocks a vacuum in a first front chamber (5). To prevent this blocking, provision is made to crenelate a first lip (23) pressed against the pneumatic piston (3) of a seal. Merlons prevent a sealed adhesion of the plate skirt (12) over the whole seal (22). This absence of adhesion creates a leakage of air to the first front chamber (5) and allows a return to a rest position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrational diaphragm pump comprising an electromagnet portion having an electromagnet arranged in a frame, a vibrator which is supported in the electromagnet portion and equipped with a magnet, diaphragms with a large diameter and diaphragms with a small diameter which are successively connected with both ends of the vibrator, and the pump casing portions of the diaphragms with a large diameter and diaphragms with a small diameter which are fixed on the both end portions of the electromagnet portion, wherein the left and right pump casing portions have pump chambers respectively corresponding to the diaphragms with a large diameter and diaphragms with a small diameter. Medium pressure (about 50 to 200 kPa) can be generated.

Abstract: The rubber compositions described herein have been found to have an exceptionally long life as a spring-biased actuator diaphragm material that maintains its position compressed, e.g., bolted, between opposed flanges, while maintaining excellent compressibility, low temperature flexibility, hydrocarbon resistance, abrasion resistance and mechanical strength. The compositions include a copolymer rubber component; a plasticizer for the copolymer rubber; a vulcanizing agent for the copolymer rubber; a silica filler; and a coupling agent, such as a silane coupling agent, capable of coupling the silica filler to the copolymer rubber.

Abstract: A movable wall for separating an interior of a housing for a brake booster into a first chamber and a second chamber. The movable wall is characterized by a diaphragm, a backing plate and a hub member. The diaphragm has a peripheral bead secured to the housing and an axial bead located in a groove in a cylindrical body of the hub member. The groove has a front face that is separated from a rear face by an arcuate transition surface located between a bottom of the groove and the front face. The axial bead has a profile corresponding to the groove and an arcuate lip that extends from a rear surface. The lip is connected by a convolute to a radial section of the disc portion of the diaphragm while the backing plate has an axial opening surrounded by a radial surface that engages the front face of the groove. The axial bead engages the radial surface to urge the radial annular surface into engagement with the front face of the groove while sealing the front chamber from the rear chamber.

Abstract: An object such as an automobile part, an image forming apparatus part, a bicycle part, other machine parts, a sport article or its part, a toy or its part, or a rain article or its part has a portion to be in contact with a contact object. The contact portion is made of at least one kind of material selected from a group including polymer material such as resin or rubber as well as glass, and the contact portion has a surface entirely or partially coated with a carbon film (typically, a DLC film) having a wear resistance as well as at least one of a lubricity, a water repellency and a gas barrier property. The carbon film is formed on the object with a good adhesion.

Abstract: A control fin actuator (28) for a guided missile (20) includes a pressure actuator (40) having a slidable piston (44) inside a housing (42). Rolling diaphragm seals (50, 56) of the top piston face (46) and the bottom piston face (48) to the inside wall of the housing (42) divide the interior of the housing (42) into at least two chambers (54, 58). The rolling diaphragm seals (50, 56) eliminate sliding friction as the piston (44) moves within the housing. The two chambers (54, 58) are controllably pressurized to slide the piston (44) within the housing (42), thereby moving a push rod (78) attached to the piston (44) and extending out of the housing (42). The push rod (78) is connected to a missile control fin output shaft (24) by a taut band connector (80) that avoids backlash. A magnet (86) may be positioned adjacent to the push rod (78) to induce eddy currents in the push rod (78), thereby providing a damping force that increases with increasing rate of movement.

Abstract: A bellows actuator has at least one bellows chamber comprising at least three chamber segments arranged around an axis. Each of the chamber segments forms a radially outwardly extending protrusion comprising four chamber wall portions, which merge with one another along fold lines which extend peripherally and radially of the bellows chamber and converge radially outwardly to meet at radially outermost apexes of the chamber segments. The bellows actuator is expansible and contractible along the axis by flexure of the wall portions relative to one another about the fold lines in response to pressure changes within the bellows chamber.

Abstract: A negative brake booster having a power piston 8 with a piston unit 8a extending in a radial direction, a cylinder unit 8b provided at a backward position in an axial direction and airtightly and slidably supported on a center plate 4. A front diaphragm 12 is provided between the outer peripheral edge of the piston unit 8a and the front shell 2. A rear power piston with a piston unit 9a extending in a radial direction and a cylinder unit 9b furnished at a backward position in an axial direction, and a rear diaphragm 12 are provided between the outer peripheral edge of the piston unit 9a and the front shell. Further, the rear power piston 9 is connected with the valve body 7 where the flange unit 8c of the front power piston 8 is squeezed between the stepped portion of the outer periphery of the valve body 7 by the rear power piston 9.

Abstract: A rigid partition (18) internally delimiting a front space and a rear space in the outer casing (10) of a brake servo unit is fastened on an approximately cylindrical extension (14a) of a reinforcing plate (14) internally lining the front portion of the casing. A two-stage servo unit of simplified construction and of small dimensions, utilizable in the brake circuit of motor vehicles, is thus obtained.

Abstract: A pneumatic booster comprising a housing, a power piston separating the inside of the housing into a constant pressure chamber and a variable pressure chamber, a valve body attached to the power piston, an output shaft, a plunger slidably received in a bore in the valve body, an input shaft and a valve mechanism in the bore for selectively communicating the variable pressure chamber with a negative pressure source or the atmospheric pressure, the valve mechanism including a valve member mounted on the inner wall of the bore, a first valve seat formed on the inner wall of the bore and a second valve seat formed on the plunger.

Abstract: In the negative pressure booster equipment 1 according to the present invention, a groove 27 is provided on the inner peripheral beads 14a and 16a of the diaphragms 14 and 16, fixed on the valve body 8 and forming the power pistons in order to communicate the variable pressure chambers 5b and 7b divided by the diaphragms 14 and 16 with the passages 26 and 28 corresponding to the variable pressure chambers 5b and 7b. Accordingly, the air passages are opened to the variable pressure chambers 5b and 7b through the groove 27 formed on the beads 14a and 16a of the diaphragms 14 and 16. According to this invention, therefore, there is no need to provide wide gap between the fixed portion of the beads and the center plate in order to open the air passages to the variable pressure chambers. This makes it possible to shorten overall length of the negative pressure booster equipment 1.

Abstract: A brake booster of triple type comprises a shell in which constant pressure and variable pressure chambers are formed. According to the invention, individual variable pressure chambers defined within the shell communicate with a valve mechanism through respective variable pressure passages having a minimum channel length. In this manner, hydraulic fluid contained within the respective variable pressure chambers which communicate with the associated variable pressure passages can be rapidly displaced through the valve mechanism, thus preventing an operational lag in terminating the brake action in a favorable manner.

Abstract: A dual diaphragm, multiposition vacuum actuator. Dual diaphragms in a housing define two vacuum chambers. A spring urges one diaphragm and an actuator rod extended, and the other diaphragm retracted. Vacuum in one chamber retracts the extended diaphragm and actuator rod to an intermediate position, and advances the retracted diaphragm. Vacuum added in the other chamber retracts both diaphragms and the rod as a unit to a fully retracted position.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve for controlling fluid flow. The valve contains a first and second diaphragm and a piston therebetween. The piston cooperates with the diaphragms controlling their movement within predetermined limits. The piston is preferably limited in travel to limit pressure applied to one diaphragm by means of a mating seat disposed between the diaphragms.

Abstract: Pressure fluid control valves include modular body structures made up of a plurality of end to end connected body parts which are preferably finish fabricated by injection molding of thermoplastic. An axially movable closure member is supported in coaxial bores formed in the assembled body parts and is characterized by a cylindrical plug engageable with opposed conical seat surfaces on adjacent body parts or spaced apart closure disks engageable with respective seat surfaces on a common body part to form a fluid-tight seal between inlet and exhaust ports and a working fluid transfer port, respectively. The closure plug or disks are molded of relatively soft plastic such as polyurethane and the closure plug may be molded directly on the closure member shaft. The shaft is supported by a differential area flexible rolling diaphragm or resilient sealed piston pilot actuator at one end and a mechanical actuator such as coil spring or other types of mechanism at the opposite end.

Abstract: In a vehicle brake system including a pneumatic force multiplier apparatus in which a power piston moves by virtue of a pressure difference between atmospheric and negative pressure, a manual brake switch is provided to apply braking force without need for depressing the brake pedal. A controller includes a deceleration calculating circuit reading vehicle speed for every specified number of seconds and calculating the amount of deceleration. The deceleration is compared with a predetermined value and braking force is increased, maintained, or decreased depending on whether the vehicle is running on a downwardly sloping, level, or unwardly sloping road.

Abstract: A valve mechanism for low temperature applications comprising an outlet for a low temperature fluid, valve means for opening and closing said outlet, an axially movable rod having one end secured to said valve means and the other end extending outwardly to a normal temperature zone, means for holding said rod, resilient means located in said normal temperature zone for urging said rod toward a position wherein said outlet is closed by said valve means, and means for selectively applying a pressurized fluid to said rod to exert a force counter to said resilient means, whereby said rod and valve means may be displaced and said outlet opened.

Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing a plurality of actuators, comprising a pressure fluid source 15 associated with a setting device 6, with transmitters 10 of the movements of the operating members 5, and also with multichamber adding elements 17 equal in number to the actuators 4 to be synchronized.

Abstract: A tandem-type brake booster including a closed shell assembly composed of front and rear chambers defined by a partition member therein and power pistons coaxially disposed in the front and rear chambers, respectively, the power pistons being operatively coupled with each other and passing through a substantially central portion of the partition member, each of the front and rear chambers being divided into a constant-pressure chamber subjected to a vacuum and a variable-pressure chamber communicable selectively with the constant-pressure chamber and atmosphere, the constant-pressure chambers in the front and rear chambers being held in communication with each other, the variable-pressure chambers in the front and rear chambers being held in communication with each other, the power pistons being axially movable in unison by pressure differences between the constant-pressure chambers and the variable-pressure chambers, respectively, one of the front and rear chambers having an outside diameter smaller than tha

Abstract: A brake master cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder body having a stepped axial bore with large and small diameter portions, a tubular piston slidably disposed in the large diameter portion, and a primary piston one end being slidably disposed in the tubular piston and the other end in the small diameter portion, the primary piston being operatively connected to the brake pedal. The other end of the primary piston defines a pressure chamber in the small diameter portion in communication with the brakes. The primary and tubular pistons define an annular pressure chamber in the large diameter portion. Actuator means indirectly responsive to movement of the brake pedal moves the tubular piston to create low pressure in the annular pressure chamber which is in restricted fluid communication with the pressure chamber providing braking pressure at idle with reduced force on the brake pedal required.

Abstract: A diaphragm stack for a control device and having at least two flexible diaphragms separated by a rigid spacer and a pair of rigid outboard members with the pair of outboard members being secured together by a fastening means passing through the center of the stack. The outboard members and the spacer have interlocking means disposed inboard of the inner peripheral portions of the diaphragms and serially interlocking together in the stack to prevent rotation of the spacer and the outboard members relative to each other in their assembled relation in the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing welding flux involving a flux supply and dispensing system comprising a tank assembly that includes an upper flux receiving chamber, a lower flux dispensing chamber, and a flux transfer chamber intermediate the upper and lower chambers. Flux is supplied to the flux receiving chamber either by a vacuum pick up arrangement or a suitable gravity or mechanical feed arrangement, and screened. The floors of the upper chamber and transfer chamber are each ported and equipped with separate plug valves arranged to move vertically to open and close with a plug type fit the respective ports for sequentially transferring a welding flux charge first from the upper chamber to the transfer chamber, and then from the transfer chamber to the lower dispensing chamber, under the control of a sealed pneumatic actuation system that keeps the flux from fouling the moving parts involved.

Abstract: A self-contained valve positioner having a single valve positioner housing including an actuator portion and having a pneumatically operated actuator unit therein carrying a main valve member to position the main valve member relative to a main valve seat in a valve unit in relation to the magnitude of a single pneumatic signal directed to the valve positioner and being utilized as the fluid source therein for pneumatically operating the actuator unit, the actuator unit having structure in the housing to cause the actuator unit to progressively open the valve member as the signal being directed to the valve positioner progressively increases from a first value to a second value and thereafter to progressively close the valve member as the signal being directed to the valve positioner progressively increases from the second value to a third value.

Abstract: A two stage vacuum break or fluid motor device of the type used to control choke valves of internal combustion engine carburators. The motor uses a single diaphragm in which the fluid motor plunger operates in a first stage in response to movement of a portion of the diaphragm and in a second stage in response to movement of the entire diaphragm. The stages of movement are under the control of separate sources of manifold pressure which may be made available to the device independently of each other. The two stages of operation may be used to control one or more choke valves through a single output plunger or to control a pair of output plungers movable independently of each other.

Abstract: A sphincter valve for the control of fluid flow is characterized by a pair of diaphragms spaced apart from one another and having different effective areas. The smaller-area diaphragm is adapted for deflection into sealing engagement with a seating to control fluid flow thereacross, whereas the larger-area diaphragm is arranged to be exposed to operating (pilot or signal) fluid to be deflected thereby towards the smaller-area diaphragm. A thrust transmission element disposed between the diaphragms serves to deflect the smaller-area diaphragm in response to deflection of the larger-area diaphragm.

Abstract: A vacuum operated device is provided with a first vacuum chamber defined by a part of a casing and a first diaphragm; a second vacuum chamber defined by the first diaphragm, another part of the casing, and a second diaphragm; and a rod. The first vacuum chamber communicates with a vacuum source and the second vacuum chamber also communicates with the vacuum source through a changeover valve by which the second vacuum chamber is subjected to the vacuum from the vacuum source or to atmospheric pressure. The rod is secured to the first and second diaphragms at the central portions thereof thereby being axially movable according to the movement of the first and second diaphragms.

Abstract: A single-piece piston in a dual diaphragm brake booster provides mounting for both diaphragms and support and guide sections for the primary and secondary piston bearings while eliminating the threaded assembly of prior two-piece pistons, or other interlocking arrangements, to make a piston assembly out of a plurality of pieces. The secondary support plate and the secondary diaphragm slip over one end of the piston without requiring piston parts to be interlocked afterward. The diaphragm seals on the outside of the piston. The primary support plate and primary diaphragm are similarly installed. The booster chamber divider and bearing are installed between the two support plate and diaphragm sub-assemblies. A reaction chamber containing reaction means is positioned radially inwardly of one guide and support section of the piston located between the two diaphragm and mounting plate means. A control valve chamber is similarly positioned radially inwardly of the other support and guide section of the piston.

Abstract: A control unit which is particularly useful in controlling the output pressure of a turbocharger in response to the manifold pressure with compensation for pressure drop at the throttle characterized by a reference unit disposed in the housing for the manifold pressure to act on and at least one diaphragm extending across said housing to apply the pressure differential between the manifold pressure and the output pressure of the turbocharger. In one embodiment, the reference unit includes a bellows of a predetermined volume of gas which schedules the displacement of the reference unit in response to the temperatures of the gases of the manifold. Another embodiment includes an additional diaphragm and valve means for applying additional pressures to the reference means to compensate for the altitude for the system to prevent overspeeding of the turbocharger.