US3263922A - Fluid display and converter device - Google Patents

Fluid display and converter device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3263922A
US3263922A US42092964A US3263922A US 3263922 A US3263922 A US 3263922A US 42092964 A US42092964 A US 42092964A US 3263922 A US3263922 A US 3263922A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tape
input signals
fluid
cavities
actuating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jr William F Voit
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Priority to US42092964 priority Critical patent/US3263922A/en
Priority to GB4737365A priority patent/GB1080109A/en
Priority to DE19651774810 priority patent/DE1774810B1/de
Priority to DE1965J0029417 priority patent/DE1296916B/de
Priority to DE19651523540 priority patent/DE1523540C/de
Priority to FR41677A priority patent/FR1458862A/fr
Priority to FR41670A priority patent/FR1457217A/fr
Priority to NL6516771A priority patent/NL149573B/xx
Priority to CH1780065A priority patent/CH438800A/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3263922A publication Critical patent/US3263922A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15C—FLUID-CIRCUIT ELEMENTS PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR COMPUTING OR CONTROL PURPOSES
    • F15C1/00—Circuit elements having no moving parts
    • F15C1/007—Circuit elements having no moving parts for indicating devices for fluid signals
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/8158—With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
    • Y10T137/8326—Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the display and converting arts and more particularly to a device for providing output indications corresponding to fluid input signals.
  • the output indications may take the form of a visual display and/or output signals in a radix which iS different from the radix -o-f the fluid input signals.
  • this invention is concerned with the provision of a fluid display and converter device for directly converting fluid input signals in a first radix to an Output indication, such as a visual display and/or fluid output signals in a second radix.
  • a thin strip or tape of strong flexible material is received in an elongated slot in a housing. Positioned adjacent the slot are a plurality of cavities which have sizes corresp-onding to the coding of the individual positions in a first radix associated with the fluid input signals.
  • the fluid input signals are supplied to actuating ports in the housing for creating pressure gradients extending transversely of the t-ape So that a portion of the tape is deflected into the cavities.
  • Car- Aried by another portion of the tape are output indications,
  • the output station comprises an opening for direct viewing of the printed material and/or sensing means f-or providing output signals in accordance with the coded representations on the tape.
  • a resetting cavity having a size at least equal to the value of the largest input signal to be converted is provided in the housing for receiving the tape and resetting the device.
  • the fluid display and converter device has a plurality of stable states and will remain in an actuated or reset conditions even when the fluid input and resetting signals are removed.
  • a plurality of cavities are provided in a housing adjacent a thin flexible tape while output indications are carried by the tape.
  • the sizes of the cavities correspond to the coding of the individual positions of the radix of the fluid input signals.
  • the tape is deflected into the cavities in response to the fluid input signals.
  • Another object of this invention is the provision of a display device which provides a direct reading visual output indication representative of coded fluid input signals.
  • the device is ideally adapted for use in providing a display for the operator of a computer or output terminal employing fluid elements.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a fluid display and converter device having the characteristics set forth above which is extremely simple in construction and operation.
  • the device is fabricated at low cost employing conventional plastic molding techniques and is highly reliable.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view showing a fluid display and converter device constructed and operated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a side perspective view similar to FIG- URE 1 showing a second embodiment of a fluid display and converter device of this invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of the tape used in the displ-ay and converter device of FIGURE 2 which lbetter illustrates the coded representations of the second radix carried thereby.
  • the reference numeral 15 designates generally a fluid display and converter device constructed and operated in accordance with the teachings of this invention.
  • the device comprises a housing 16 of plastic or other similar material which is formed with a rounded end portion 17 and a pair of spaced and generally parallel elongated slots 18 and 19.
  • a very thin flexible tape 20 of plastic or metal, such as Mylar or strip steel, for example, is received wit-hin the slots 18 and 19 and extends about the rounded end porti-on 17 of the housing.
  • the ends of the tape 20 Iare rigidly attached or anchored to the housing 16 iby a pair of bolts 21 and 22.
  • the decimal digits zero through nine are printed or otherwise formed at 23 in consecutive order and series relation on an intermediate portion of the tape 20.
  • actuating cavity 25 has a certain size or depth to produce a unit movement of the tape equal to the space occupied by and associated with one of the numeric characters 23 on the intermediate portion of the tape 20 when the tape is deflected into this cavity.
  • Actuating cavity 26 has a size which produces twice the movement of the tape as compared to cavity 25.
  • actuating cavities 27 and 28 have sizes that cause four and eight times the tape movement as actuating cavity 25, respectively.
  • cavity 2S causes eight times the movement of the tape as cavity 2S, its depth is only four times as great since the tape is looped in the cavities :and this general relationship exists relative to the other cavities as is apparent.
  • a resetting cavity 36 Adjacent the end of slot 19 is a resetting cavity 36 which has a size or depth that produces a movement of the tape corresponding to the weighted value of the largest input signal to be converted.
  • the resetting cavity has a size or depth which causes a tape movement equal to nine times the tape movement provided by -unit input actuating cavity 25.
  • a reset port 37 is connected with a valved source 38 of fluid under pressure.
  • the bottoms of the actuating and resetting cavities -28 and 36 are exhausted to atmosphere by exhaust ports 40.
  • a molded face plate 4l is nestingly received over the intermediate portion of the tape 2t) and the rounded end portion 17 ⁇ of housing 16.
  • the face plate 41 has a window-like opening 42 therein so that only' one of the numeric characters 23 on the tape 15 is visible land displayed at a time.
  • slack in the tape 20 is looped and completely received within the resetting cavity 36.
  • the amount of slack in the tape equals the amount of tape which can be deflected into cavity 25 times the largest number to be converted which, in the illustrated embodiment, is nine.
  • the tape extends across the tops of and is not ⁇ received in any of the actuating cavities 25-28 while the numeric character zero appears in the window-like opening 42 in the face plate 4l.
  • the valved source 35 is iactuated and the fluid input signals are applied in serial fashion to the kappropriate yones of input ports -33.
  • the tape is moved from the resetting cavity 36 and into one or more of the coded cavities 25-28 whereby the numeric characte-r 23 corresponding to the fluid input signals is displayed at the window-'like opening 42 in the face plate 41.
  • fluid input signals are applied in serial fashion, preferably low order first, in this embodiment of the invention, they may be applied in parallel to the input ports providing the friction on the tape between adjacent activating cavities is reduced to a point where it does not interfere with proper operation of the device.
  • valved source 38 lof fluid under pressure is actuated to supply a fluid pulse to reset port 37.
  • This causes the tape to resume its original condition with all slack received in the resetting cavity 36 and the numeric character zero displayed in the window-like opening 42 in the face plate 41.
  • the device be reset after each conversion and display operation but it is possible to operate the device in a non-return-to-Zero mode. In this mode, the fluid input signal are applied to the input ports 30-33 and maintained while the valved source 38 of fluid under pressure is actuated to supply a fluid pulse to reset port 37. After the fluid pulse at the reset port has been removed, the imput ports are effectively disconnected from the source of binary fluid input signals 35.
  • the display and converter device has a plurality of stable states because the tape remains in an actuated or reset position after the fluid input or resetting signals are removed. This is accomplished 'by making the tape 20 relatively thin and mounting the same at both ends so the tape does not return to its initial state when the fluid input yand resetting signals are removed as is fully explained in my above mentioned co-pending patent applications.
  • the exhaust ports 40 communicating with the bottoms of the actuating cavities 25-28 and resetting cavity 36 prevent the entrapment of fluid and the build up of fluid pressure between the bottoms of the cavities and the tape so that the tape moves very quickly and smoothly into the selected cavity or cavities.
  • FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings there is shown a display and converter device 43 which not only provides a visual indication corresponding to fluid input signals but also permits reading out of fluid signals in a different radix from the radix of the input signals.
  • like portions and parts of the various embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals lalthough those used in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings are primed. Only those portions and parts of the second embodiment which are different will be described in detail in the speciflcation.
  • the slot 18 in the housing 16' has a portion 45 disposed between the actuating cavities 25-28 and the face plate 41 which is wider than the remaining portion of the slot.
  • the tape 20 is also provided with a portion 46 of greater width which is movable in the wider portion 45 of the slot 18.
  • Carried Iby the portion 46 of the tape are a plurality of additional output indications which, in this instance, comprises a plurality of transversely extending rows of coded apertures 47.
  • Each of the rows of apertures 47 is associated with one of the fluid input signals to be converted and the spacing between adjacent rows is equal to the amount of tape that can be deflected into the actuating cavity 25.
  • sensing means Located in the housing 16 approximately in the middle of the length of the wider portion 45 of the tape slot 18' is a sensing means comprising four pairs of sensing ports 48-51 arranged in generally transversely aligned and spaced relation. Each pair of sensing ports comprises an upper port and a lower port disposed in vertically aligned relation on opposite sides and transversely of the tape.
  • the lower ports all communicate with a common passageway 52 that is connected to a valved source 53 of fluid under pressure.
  • the upper ports are connected with a fluid responsive device 54 by any suitable conduit means.
  • the operation of the fluid display and ⁇ converting device is such when fluid input signals are applied to the input ports 30-33 to cause the deflection of the tape into selected ones of the ⁇ actuating cavities 25-28, a corresponding one of the rows of coded -apertures 47 in the wider portion 46 of the tape 20 is moved into alignment with the sensing means.
  • the apertures 47 in the tape are positioned between the upper and lower ports and fluid output signals corresponding to the fluid input signals are produced when the source 53 of fluid v under pressure is actuated.
  • the numerical character which has been converted is displayed in the windowlike opening 42 of the face plate 41. Both a visual display and coded Huid output signals representative of the uid input signals are provided.
  • the device is reset before each converting and display operation by applying fluid under pressure to reset port 37 .and forcing the slack in the tape into resetting cavity 36.
  • the coding scheme used for the apertures in the tape 20 is Ia matter of choice and can be selected as required for any given application.
  • the coding scheme can be the same as the coding of the input signals to permit uid read out of the visually displayed information at a later time.
  • the coding scheme in the tape can -be completely different from that of the in- Yput signals to provide for conversion between two number systems.
  • the output signals can be coded in accordance with 'a non-ambiguous Grey code.
  • the exhaust port can be normally blocked and Huid under pressure always supplied to the input port.
  • Conversion or display would be accomplished Iby controlling the opening and closing of the exhaust ports in accordance .with the input signals.
  • Still another manner of providing the pressure gradient across the tape to deflect the same into a cavity is to apply vacuum to the exhaust port.
  • yany controllable method of creating a pressure gradient across the tape to move the same into a cavity can be employed in the display and converter device of the'present invention.
  • Visual information corresponding to input signals is displayed inY take any form as required in a given application, such as characters, words, pictures or symbols.
  • Means for converting uid input signals to corresponding output signals are provided which m-ay be used in combination with or independently of the visual display.
  • the coded apertures in the tape and the tiuid sensing means can be replaced by equivalent coding and sensing systems operating on optical, magnetic or electrical principles if this is found desirable.
  • the converting and display capacities can be increased by employing larger or more cavities, including more actuating cavities having sizes corresponding to the coding of additional digits of the input signals and increasing the lengths of the tapes. It is important to note that the actuating cavities have diierent sizes to receive different lengths of the tape. rlhis can be accomplished by regulating the length and overall configuration of the cavities as well as the depth thereof.
  • Vdisplay and converter devices which are relatively small ldescribed with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the Qforegoing and other changes inform and details may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope Vof the invention.
  • a device for providing output indications corresponding to input signals comprising:
  • a housing having an elongated thin slot therein; a tiexible tape movably received in saidi slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;
  • each signal represents a diiferent value
  • each of saidactuating cavities having a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by: o
  • said Aresetting cavity having a size at least equal to the value of the largest combined value of said input signals
  • a device for providing output indications vcorrespending to fluid input signals comprising:
  • each of said actuating cavities hav-ing a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal.
  • Apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by:
  • ucid means fior generating a pressure gradient transversely of said tape adjacent said resetting cavity or deilecting said tape into said resetting cavity.
  • Apparatus ⁇ according to claim 7 further characterized by:
  • said elongated slot and said tape being generally U- shaped to define a pair of arm portions rfor said tape;
  • said resetting cavity being positioned adjacent the other arm portion of said tape.
  • Apparatus according to claim 8 further charactersaid actuating cavities and said resetting cavity being disposed in generally transverse relation with respect to eachother.
  • a device for providing output indications conresponding to uid input signals comprising:
  • each of said actuating cavities havin-g a size corresponding to the value of the associated input signal
  • Apparatus according to claim 10 further characterized by: t
  • said output indications comprising rows olf coded indicia
  • Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by:
  • said coded indicia comprising apertures in said tape
  • said means to sense comprising a plurality of fluid sensing ports
  • a housing having an elongated thin slot therein;
  • a ilexible tape movably received in said slot and having at least one end stationarily mounted relative to said housing;
  • said 'visual data items being displayed at said output station in accordance with the input signals supplied to said means responsive.
  • each of said actuating cavities having a different size.
  • a display device for providing visual display corresponding to input signals comprising:
  • At least one actuating cavity in said housing disposed adjacent said slot for receiving portions of said tape
  • said visual data items being displayed at said output station in accordance with the input signals supplied to said means responsive.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
US42092964 1964-12-24 1964-12-24 Fluid display and converter device Expired - Lifetime US3263922A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42092964 US3263922A (en) 1964-12-24 1964-12-24 Fluid display and converter device
GB4737365A GB1080109A (en) 1964-12-24 1965-11-09 Elements employing flexible strips for performing digital operations
DE1965J0029417 DE1296916B (de) 1964-12-24 1965-11-19 Schieberventil mit einem eine oder mehrere Durchlassoeffnungen freigebenden Ventilschieber
DE19651774810 DE1774810B1 (de) 1964-12-24 1965-11-19 Stroemungsmittelgesteuerte betaetigungsvorrichtung
DE19651523540 DE1523540C (de) 1964-12-24 1965-11-29 Pneumatische oder hydraulische Steue rungsvornchtung zur Anzeige und/oder Übersetzung von kodierten Daten
FR41677A FR1458862A (fr) 1964-12-24 1965-12-10 Dispositif d'affichage et de conversion à fluide
FR41670A FR1457217A (fr) 1964-12-24 1965-12-10
NL6516771A NL149573B (nl) 1964-12-24 1965-12-22 Door fluidum bestuurd schakel-, omzet-, of weergeefelement met een strook buigzaam materiaal als bewegend deel.
CH1780065A CH438800A (de) 1964-12-24 1965-12-23 Pneumatische oder hydraulische Steuerungsvorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42092964 US3263922A (en) 1964-12-24 1964-12-24 Fluid display and converter device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3263922A true US3263922A (en) 1966-08-02

Family

ID=23668435

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US42092964 Expired - Lifetime US3263922A (en) 1964-12-24 1964-12-24 Fluid display and converter device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3263922A (fr)
FR (1) FR1458862A (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3314603A (en) * 1965-11-02 1967-04-18 Ibm Fluid encoder and actuator
US3346184A (en) * 1966-04-21 1967-10-10 Ibm Pneumatic accumulator
US3420254A (en) * 1965-06-30 1969-01-07 Ibm Pneumatically sampled serializer
US3450341A (en) * 1967-04-25 1969-06-17 Paper Board Printing Res Ass Decimal read-out for fluidic counters
US3480208A (en) * 1968-01-15 1969-11-25 Trw Inc Fluidic numeric readout device
US4867202A (en) * 1988-11-14 1989-09-19 Cargo Walker, Inc. Curtain valve arrangement

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3106897A1 (fr) 2015-06-19 2016-12-21 Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales Récepteur gnss avec une capacité embarquée afin de mettre en oeuvre un mode de correction d'erreur optimale

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR595554A (fr) * 1924-03-22 1925-10-05 Perfectionnements aux machines à calculer
US2077962A (en) * 1936-08-12 1937-04-20 Addressograph Multigraph Printing machine
FR837822A (fr) * 1938-05-11 1939-02-21 Appareil à calculer pour l'addition et la soustraction
US2444549A (en) * 1944-10-28 1948-07-06 Honeywell Regulator Co Polynomial equation computer
US2889109A (en) * 1955-06-16 1959-06-02 Harris Intertype Corp Pneumatic digital to analog summing device
US2892379A (en) * 1955-04-20 1959-06-30 Robert H Cooper Pneumatic film transport
US2904070A (en) * 1955-06-06 1959-09-15 Ibm Multi-port selector
US2916205A (en) * 1956-10-19 1959-12-08 Ibm Pressure responsive mechanism
US3057375A (en) * 1957-07-29 1962-10-09 Trg Inc Fluid-pressure data storage device
US3109587A (en) * 1960-03-09 1963-11-05 Collins Radio Co Method of mechanical addition
US3191008A (en) * 1962-04-11 1965-06-22 Sperry Rand Corp Tabulating card position sensing device

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR595554A (fr) * 1924-03-22 1925-10-05 Perfectionnements aux machines à calculer
US2077962A (en) * 1936-08-12 1937-04-20 Addressograph Multigraph Printing machine
FR837822A (fr) * 1938-05-11 1939-02-21 Appareil à calculer pour l'addition et la soustraction
US2444549A (en) * 1944-10-28 1948-07-06 Honeywell Regulator Co Polynomial equation computer
US2892379A (en) * 1955-04-20 1959-06-30 Robert H Cooper Pneumatic film transport
US2904070A (en) * 1955-06-06 1959-09-15 Ibm Multi-port selector
US2889109A (en) * 1955-06-16 1959-06-02 Harris Intertype Corp Pneumatic digital to analog summing device
US2916205A (en) * 1956-10-19 1959-12-08 Ibm Pressure responsive mechanism
US3057375A (en) * 1957-07-29 1962-10-09 Trg Inc Fluid-pressure data storage device
US3109587A (en) * 1960-03-09 1963-11-05 Collins Radio Co Method of mechanical addition
US3191008A (en) * 1962-04-11 1965-06-22 Sperry Rand Corp Tabulating card position sensing device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3420254A (en) * 1965-06-30 1969-01-07 Ibm Pneumatically sampled serializer
US3314603A (en) * 1965-11-02 1967-04-18 Ibm Fluid encoder and actuator
US3346184A (en) * 1966-04-21 1967-10-10 Ibm Pneumatic accumulator
US3450341A (en) * 1967-04-25 1969-06-17 Paper Board Printing Res Ass Decimal read-out for fluidic counters
US3480208A (en) * 1968-01-15 1969-11-25 Trw Inc Fluidic numeric readout device
US4867202A (en) * 1988-11-14 1989-09-19 Cargo Walker, Inc. Curtain valve arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1458862A (fr) 1966-11-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3312238A (en) Monostable fluid logic element and actuator
US4400593A (en) Key array
US3263922A (en) Fluid display and converter device
US3715746A (en) Keyboard input device
US3042912A (en) Decoding apparatus
Inoue et al. A characterization of recognizable picture languages
US3559170A (en) Methods and apparatus for data input to a computer
US3326463A (en) Fluid shift register
US3612888A (en) Information media reading apparatus
US3191858A (en) Keypunch input with repeat readout incorporating fluid amplifying means
FI60458C (fi) Elektronisk kodnings- och dekodningsapparat i form av en fickraeknare
US3335415A (en) Digital display
FI60322C (fi) Kodnings- och kodtolkningsapparat i form av en skrivmaskin
US3165731A (en) Digital coding and translating system
US3299255A (en) Fluid data comparator
US3339569A (en) Presettable decoder
US3954085A (en) Self-restoring changeable exhibitor/keyboard
US3032268A (en) Comparator for numbers expressed in conventional and reflected binary codes
US2876444A (en) Binary code translator
US3503044A (en) Magnetic domain shift register meter reader
US3087149A (en) Decimal to binary conversion and storage system
US3741475A (en) Summing arrangements
US3551660A (en) Electromechanical apparatus for converting coded into decoded digital values
GB1001564A (en) Electronic delay system
GB1080109A (en) Elements employing flexible strips for performing digital operations