The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 1986
Filed:
Jan. 30, 1985
Robert O Brandt, Jr, Lake Waccamaw, NC (US);
Inotek, Inc., Fuquay, NC (US);
Abstract
An electro-pneumatic transducer for converting an input current signal to a proportional output pressure signal is disclosed. The transducer includes housing means defining a chamber, the housing may be completely of magnetic material or may have a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic portion. The transducer includes an input communicating with the chamber for supplying a fluid under pressure thereto and having a valve seat with a nozzle opening therethrough, that portion of the nozzle forming the valve seat being formed of non-magnetic material while the remainder of the housing is of magnetic material or the valve seat may also be of magnetic material. The transducer also includes an output communicating with the inlet for allowing fluid supplied by the inlet to flow to a control device. Disposed within the chamber is a membrane means in operative association with the nozzle opening in the valve seat for varying the fluid flow through the nozzle opening to thereby vary the fluid pressure at the output. The membrane also includes a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic or plastic portion. An electric coil is located within the chamber and surrounds a center post disposed within the chamber. Lastly, the transducer includes means for imparting a current signal to the electric coil to generate an electric field to magnetize the magnetic portions of the membrane and the housing, the degree of magnetization being proportional to the input current signal to position the membrane relative to the valve seat to thereby modulate the transducer output. Also disclosed are pneumatic and electronic control circuits for the transducer.