Patent ID: 6079435
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A current to pressure converter for converting an input current signal to an output pressure signal, comprising:a magnetic circuit;two pole pieces having opposing pole faces of different dimensions defining therebetween an air gap in said magnetic circuit;a magnetically responsive armature resiliently suspended in the air gap;a pressurized fluid line having an inlet and an outlet;one of said pole pieces having a nozzle extending through the pole face of said pole piece in direct fluid communication with said pressurized fluid line between the inlet and outlet thereof so as to vent fluid in the fluid line through the nozzle, said nozzle being arranged relative to said armature so that fluid exiting the nozzle impinges on said armature;the other one of said pole pieces including an axially adjustable magnetic member in the vicinity of the pole face;an electrical coil assembly surrounding one of said pole pieces for energizing the magnetic circuit so as to force the armature to move closer to or farther away from the nozzle in order to block the fluid exiting the nozzle with the armature itself more or less, resulting in a concomitant increase or decrease in the pressure of the fluid at the outlet of said fluid line as a direct function of the level of electrical current flowing in said coil assembly.