Inflation control apparatus for an inflatable object with two chambers

• US 8,021,122 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: GATR Technologies (Cubic Corporation)
• Inventors: Clayton, William R., Gierow, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/178,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 137/87.05, 137/487.5, 417/2, 417/17, 417/18, 417/44.2, 417/426, 343/915
• US Class Current: 417/2
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/081 Inflatable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/428 Collapsible radomes; rotatable, tiltable radomes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/163 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86002 Fluid pressure responsive

Abstract

Apparatus for maintaining differential internal fluid pressure in a dual fluid chamber object where it is desired for one chamber to have greater internal pressure than the other includes a sensor for generating a differential signal indicating the difference in pressure between the chambers, a pressure sensor for generating a pressure signal indicating the pressure inside the chamber desired to have less pressure, a comparator for generating a first output when the differential signal is less than a predetermined minimum differential value, a second comparator for generating a second output when the pressure signal is less than a predetermined minimum pressure value, where the predetermined minimum pressure value biased by the first output, and blowers coupled to the respective chambers and responsive to said first and second outputs respectively.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the fluid pressure in a spherical object having first and second fluid-filled chambers in which it is desired for the first chamber to have a greater internal pressure than the second chamber, said apparatus comprising:

first pressure sensor configured to detect a difference in internal pressure between said first chamber and said second chamber and to output a differential value signal representing a difference in pressure between said first chamber and said second chamber;

second pressure sensor configured to detect internal pressure within said second chamber and to output a detected pressure signal representing the internal pressure within said second chamber;

a first threshold value generator for providing a first predetermined value signal indicating the desired difference in pressure between said first and second chambers;

a first comparator responsive to said first pressure sensor and said first threshold value generator, said first comparator configured to generate a first comparator output when said differential value signal is less than said first predetermined value signal;

a first blower responsive to said first comparator output for pressurizing said first chamber;

a second threshold value generator for providing a second predetermined value signal indicating the desired pressure within said second chamber;

a second comparator responsive to said detected pressure signal and said second predetermined value signal configured to generate a second comparator output when said detected pressure signal indicates a value less than a value indicated by said second predetermined value signal, wherein said second predetermined value signal is biased with input from said first comparator output; and

a second blower responsive to said second comparator output for pressurizing said second chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second threshold value generators are configured to allow said first and second predetermined values to be manually set.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth threshold value generators that are configured to allow said predetermined values to be manually set, and means for selecting either said first and second threshold value generators or said third and fourth value generators.

4. Apparatus for maintaining differential internal fluid pressure in an object having two fluid filled chambers in which it is desired for one chamber to have greater internal pressure than the other, said apparatus comprising:

a differential pressure sensor for generating a differential signal indicating the difference in pressure between said chambers;

a pressure sensor for generating a pressure signal indicating the pressure inside one of the chambers;

a first comparator for generating a first output when said differential signal is less than a predetermined minimum differential value;

a second comparator for generating a second output when said pressure signal is less than a predetermined minimum pressure value, said predetermined minimum pressure value biased by said first output;

first and second blowers responsive to said first and second outputs respectively for inflating said chambers.