Other

Airtrol Components, Inc.

Atkinson, Louis D.

Louis D Atkinson

Shane T Bloomer

Kevin M Rave

David Allen Venhaus

Terence T Smith

Ronald L Daggett

Dean C Vandeberg

Wesley W Rineck

The present invention pertains to a plant watering system that is particularly suited for a plant container with a reservoir of water below the plant. The watering system uses a pilot controlled sequence valve to maintain the water level of the reservoir. The sequence valve includes a diaphragm that is pneumatically coupled to a pilot port fixed to the reservoir and submersed in the water. When the water level in the reservoir reaches a lower limit, the reduced pressure on a diaphragm causes it to open a pathway for water to flow from a water supply to the reservoir. When the water level reaches an upper limit, the increased pressure on the diaphragm causes it to close that pathway and shut off the water flow. The water supply can be an elevated tank or the pressurized water system. A pressure regulator can be used to lower the water pressure at the intake of the sequence valve. A nozzle controls the flow rate of water into the reservoir.

Liquid level maintaining device

A fluid pressure regulator is disclosed including a valve body and a control body sealed within a tubular outer housing. The valve body has a supply chamber and an output chamber separated by a valve wall. A valve rod extends through the valve wall with a seal unit therebetween for selectively connecting a passageway associated with the valve rod between the supply chamber and the output chamber. The output chamber has a movable wall connected to the rod. A control chamber is secured within the tubular housing in spaced relation to said movable wall with the space between the movable wall and the control chamber connected to atmosphere. The control chamber has a control rod with an adjustable bias spring urging the rod outwardly into engagement with the movable wall. A balance pressure passageway is formed by a lateral passageway from the supply chamber and from the control chamber with a passageway formed between the bodies and the tubular housing to connect said lateral passageway and maintain both chambers at the same pressure. The rod is formed in association with a movable sealing wall and seal member to provide various passageway constructions.

Fluidic pressure regulator

A miniature pneumatic switch apparatus has a diameter of three-eights inches and a height of five sixteenths inches and operates from minimal pressure to 100 psi. A pressure responsive unit includes outer spaced guide walls extending from a pressure movable wall. A switch unit is secured to the guide walls in spaced aligned relation to the movable wall and forms an operating chamber. A spring carrier is mounted within the chamber. The carrier includes a plate having a lateral opening with a beam spring extending therethrough, with the spring ends supported in openings aligned with the plate. An elastic band encircles the support walls and holds the beam spring in place. The opening in the plate facing the switch unit is a flat face, and the opposite face facing the movable wall is curved for line contact with the spring.

Pressure responsive apparatus couples by a spring-loaded linearly moving

An orifice device includes a pneumatic orifice fitting having a molded tubular plastic body with attachment ends for connecting into a pneumatic system. The body is formed of a transparent plastic and has a central enlarged hex portion for a threaded connector. A cavity is formed in one end of the body. A plastic molded orifice body has a maturing conical enlargement and is secured within the cavity by a solvent bond. The orifice body is molded of a color related to the size of the orifice and the color is visible through the body and particular the hex portion. Other forms of visible indicia may be used. The orifice body is molded with an outward projection from the enlargement for use in assembly. The projection is moved in the plane of the enlargement and cavity.

Fluid orifice device having encoded orifice size indicia

A multi-stage pneumatic pressure regulator establishes a constant output pressure with a change in the output flow. The regulator includes a poppet valve connecting the input and output. A relief valve mounted on the poppet valve includes a first positioning diaphragm subjected to output chamber pressure and a vent hole to atmosphere. A pilot valve is mounted on the relief valve and includes a pressure chamber with a positioning diaphragm of a lesser area than the first diaphragm, coupled to the relief valve and opposing the first position diaphragm. A precision bleed orifice connects the pressure chamber to the input chamber and establishes a precise bleed. A presettable spring load orifice unit in the pilot valve couples the pressure chamber to the output chamber and passes the bleed flow to the output chamber and venting atmosphere. The pilot chamber pressure is greater than the output pressure and prevents feedback of the bleed. The poppet valve and pilot orifice have novel constructions. An alternative bleed passage for a single stage regulator is also disclosed.

Fluid pressure regulator establishing a stable output fluid pressure

A fluid pressure regulator includes a diaphragm operated leakport controlling low liquid or fluid flow rates. A precisely formed leakage unit spaced from the leakport establishes continuous flow from the input to the output. The leakage unit includes an opening in the body of the regulator and a separate orifice unit having an integral molded body and internal precision orifice establishing the continuous flow. The molded body fits within the opening and is firmly attached to the body to create a precise control of flow therethrough. The orifice has a diameter in the range of about 0.001 to 0.030 inches, and establishes precise low flows. The separate orifice unit includes an elongated tubular body with an internal orifice molded as single integral members.

Pressure fluid stabilized regulator with leakage orifice

A fluid pressure regulator includes a diaphragm operated leakport controlling low liquid or fluid flow rates. A precisely formed leakage unit spaced from the leakport establishes continuous flow from the input to the output. The leakage unit includes a separate orifice unit having an integral molded body and internal precision orifice establishing the continuous flow. A multiple mold core unit for molding an integral body and orifice including a pair of aligned mold cores have opposed planar surfaces located at the orifice plane. A small gap is held between the opposed end surfaces. The orifice unit is molded as a single plastic element without flash at the orifice. The orifice has a diameter in the range of about 0.001 to 0.030 inches, and may be used in various applications requiring precise low flows. The orifice unit may include an elongated tubular body with an internal orifice molded as single integral members. The tubular body establishes opposite connection permitting connection using standard tubing and the like. Within flow limits, the orifice unit is operable with a bi-directional flow to control precise flows such as intervenous liquids at 100 cc per minute, LP gas burners and other low flows.

Pressure fluid stabilized regulator with leakage orifice and method of

A pneumatic switch unit includes a switch housing. A conductive contact spring is mounted between diametric supports, one being adjustable. The spring has a central actuator arm and an offset contact arm interconnected to an encircling frame. A two piece switch actuator has clamp members clamped to the actuator arm. Separate end closure members secured to the switch housing ends. The closure member may clamp a diaphragm against the housing, with the diaphragm engaging the actuator. The closure member may have a mechanical actuating member or a simple closure plate engaging the actuator. The two switch housings may be mounted to the opposite sides of a single pressure chamber with end diaphragms closing the opposed ends of the switch housing. The pressure actuates both switch units to establish a sequence switch unit. The spring has a rectangular frame with a central opening having an actuating arm therein. The opposite spring ends are mounted in supports one of which is adjustable. A contact arm is secured to one end and projects parallel to the side. The opposite spring corner includes a notch to control the snap action. An alternate spring has an annular ring with a chordal actuator arm and a chordal contact arm. The spring is mounted on a line perpendicular to the two arms.

Fluid activated switch apparatus

A fluid signal comparator includes a flexible diaphragm clamped within a housing and defining a signal input chamber coupled to a signal source and an input/output chamber connected to an air supply and to a load. A leakport orifice unit includes a centrally located nozzle having a planar outer edge seat located in spaced parallel relation to the diaphragm. The diaphragm moves to create a pressure in the input/output chamber which balances the input signal force on the diaphragm. An output port is connected to the input/output chamber and to the load in the illustrated embodiment to transmit the pressure and/or flow to the load. The pressure of the input signal and of the stream acts on opposite sides of the diaphragm and positions the diaphragm relative to the orifice seat to create a restricted flow passageway having the necessary pressure drop to create a balanced pressure condition in the output chamber. The sealing land or seat of the nozzle includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed dished notches which break the planar sealing surface presented to the diaphragm and establish offset auxiliary flow paths within the restricted gap. The notches are of different cross-sectional areas and function to stabilize modulating movement of the diaphragm and essentially eliminate vibration of the diaphragm to produce a stable and audible-free pressure signal.

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New Berlin, WI, United States of America

Louis D Atkinson