Timing device

• US 6,236,624 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Feng, William W., Kriesel, Marshall S., Kazemzadeh, Farhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US09/316,767
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 368/1, 368/10, 368/97, 368/87, 368/65, 368/89, 368/327
• US Class Current: 368/65
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/06 by flowing-away of a prefixed quantity of fine-granular or liquid materials, e.g. sand-glass, water-clock

Abstract

A fluid operated timing device in which the timing interval is determined by the rate at which the fluid flows through a precisely configured rate control frit upon being forced through the frit by an energy source in the form of a compressible elastomeric member.

Claims

1. A timing device comprising:

(a) A first member defining a first chamber;

(b) a yeildable deformable mass disposed within said first chamber of said first member;

(c) a second member defining a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber;

(d) a cellular, fluid containing mass disposed within said second chamber of said second member;

(e) a first flow control means disposed intermediate said first and second members for controlling fluid flow toward said first chamber;

(f) a second flow control means disposed between said first and second members for controlling the rate of fluid flow in a direction from said first chamber toward said second chamber; and

(g) means for compressing said fluid containing mass to expel the fluid therefrom.

2. A timing device as defined in claim 1 in which said first flow control means comprises a check valve.

3. A timing device as defined in the claim 1 in which said second flow control means comprises a porous flow control frit.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first member comprises a housing having an end wall and a generally cylindrically shaped, skirt-like wall connected to said end wall, said first chamber being disposed within said cylindrically shaped skirt-like wall, said timing device further including:

(a) a first flow control element disposed within said cylindrical wall; and

(b) a second flow control element disposed within said cylindrical wall, said first flow control means being disposed intermediate said first and second flow control elements.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first flow control means comprises a check valve having a central fluid passageway, said second flow control means being disposed within said central fluid passageway of said check valve.

6. A timing device comprising:

(a) a first housing having a chamber;

(b) a yieldably deformable mass disposed within said chamber of said first housing;

(c) a second housing movable relative to said first housing between first and second positions, said second housing having a chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber of said first housing;

(d) a fluid containing mass disposed within said chamber of said second housing;

(e) a first flow control means disposed between said yieldably deformable mass and said fluid containing mass for controlling fluid flow therebetween in a first direction;

(f) a second flow control means disposed between said yieldably deformable mass and said fluid containing mass for controlling fluid flow therebetween in a second direction; and

(g) actuating means for moving said first and second housings relative to each other.

7. A timing device as defined in claim 6 in which said first flow control means comprises a check valve.

8. A timing device as defined in claim 6 in which said second flow control means comprises a porous flow control frit.

9. A timing device as defined in claim 6 further including a first electrical contact connected to said first housing and a second electrical contact connected to said second housing.

10. A timing device as defined in claim 6 further including a hollow housing within which said first and second housings are telescopically movable by said actuating means.

11. A timing device as defined in claim 10 further including housing biasing means disposed within said hollow housing for yieldably resisting movement of said first and second housings by said actuating means.

12. A timing device as defined in claim 10 further including a thruster member connected to said first housing for movement therewith.

13. A timing device as defined in claim 12 in which said thruster member is threadably connected to said first housing.

14. A timing device as defined in claim 13 further including a control knob rotatably carried by said hollow housing, said knob being connected to said first housing for imparting rotation thereto relative to said thruster member.

15. A timing device as defined in claim 14 further including valve means operably associated with said thruster member, said valve means including a valve housing and a piston movable within said valve housing by said thruster member.

16. A timing device as defined in claim 14 further including lock-out means carried by said hollow housing which prevent operation of said actuating means for an interval of time.