Digital fluid flow control system

摘要

In a digital fluid flow control system having a source of fluid at a first pressure and a fluid receiver at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, individually actuatable, digital valve elements interconnect the source to the receiver. In the flow passage of each valve element, there is an isolating orifice at which the pressure is independent of variations in the second pressure, by virtue of the difference between the first and second pressures. The isolating orifice of each valve element is preferably the throat of a converging-diverging nozzle that feeds into the receiver. In one implementation, spaced axially aligned upstream and downstream conduits are formed in a valve body; radial passages in which digital valve elements are located interconnect the conduits.