US3233621A

US3233621A - Vortex controlled fluid amplifier

Info

Publication number: US3233621A
Application number: US255328A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis M Manion
Original assignee: Bowles Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Bowles Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1963-01-31
Filing date: 1963-01-31
Publication date: 1966-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-08
Also published as: GB1049721A

Description

Feb. 8, 1966 I 3,233,621

VORTEX CONTROLLED FLUID AMPLIFIER Filed Jan. 31, 1965 INVENTOR fiefi/vc/s M Mq/v/o/v ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,233,621 VORTEX CONTROLLED FLUID AMPLIFIER Francis M. Manion, Rockville, Md., assignor to liowles Engineering Corporation, Silver Spring, Md, :1 corporation of Maryland Filed Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,328 Claims. (Cl. 137-815) The present invention relates generally to fluid amplifier systems having no moving solid parts in which amplification is a function of the magnitude of deflection of a fluid power stream by vortical fluid flow. More particularly, this invention relates to a fluid amplifier utilizing the effects of interaction between a power stream and a fluid vortex in an interaction region such that a relatively small amount of energy available in the fluid vortex controls a considerably larger quantity of energy available in the power stream.

A typical fluid amplifier constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention utilizes the effect of vortical fluid flow to control the pressure distribution within a main power stream and the local pressure distribution in the interaction region so as to control the power stream flow path. The interaction region is defined in part by two sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the stream. The sidewalls serve as resisting solid boundaries to restrict motion and flow of fluid particles within the interaction region and permit the aforesaid pressure distributions to be established and maintained about the stream. Further in consequence of interaction between the vortex and power streams and the sidewalls, fluid amplifiers of the present invention are capable of performing amplification and switching functions somewhat analogous to those now conventionally performed only by electronic circuits or to a more limited extent by fluid systems which incorporate moving solid parts.

With respect to the beam deflection types of fluid amplifiers that may be employed in achieving the objects of this invention, a typical beam deflection amplifier includes an interaction chamber defined for example by an end wall and two outwardly diverging side walls hereinafter referred to as the left and right side Walls. A nozzle having an orifice in the end wall is provided to issue a well defined stream, hereinafter referred to as a power stream, into the interaction chamber. A V-shaped flow divider has one end thereof disposed a predetermined dis tance from the end wall, the sides of the divider being generally parallel to the left and right side walls of the chamber. The regions between the sides of the divider and the left and right side walls define left and right output passages, respectively.

Control signals in the form of fluid vortices generated by a rotating colum of fluid, are applied to the interaction chamber, the axis of rotation of the vortex stream being generally perpendicular to the plane of deflection of the power stream. The spinning fluid of the vortex stream intercepts the power stream and the momentum exchange between the two streams causes the power stream to be deflected into one passage or the other depending upon the rotational direction of the vortex. The smaller energy of the vortex stream controls the larger energy of the power stream so that amplification is achieved.

In accordance with this invention, the following vortex controlled beam deflection type of fluid amplifier units can be constructed by those skilled in the art:

.(I) Amplifiers in which the vortex and the power streams interact in such a way that the vortex deflects the power stream with little or no interaction between the side walls of the chamber in which the streams interact and the streams themselves. In such an amplifier,

the detailed contours of the side walls of the chamber in which the streams interact is of secondary importance to the interacting forces between the streams. Although the side walls can be used to contain fluid in the interacting chamber, and thus make it possible to have the streams interact in a region at some desired pressure, the side walls are placed in such a position that they are somewhat remote from the high velocity portions of the interacting streams. Under these conditions the flow pattern within the interaction chamber depends primarily upon the relative sizes, speeds and the directions of the vortex and the power streams with respect to each other and with respect to the interaction chamber, upon the density, viscosity, compressibility and other properties of the fluids involved, and upon the amount of interaction occurring between the two types of streams.

(II) The second broad class of fluid amplifier units that may be constructed are units wherein two or more streams interact in such a Way that the resulting flow patterns and pressure distribution into the passages are greatly affected by the details of the design of the side Walls. The effect of side wall configuration on the flow patterns and pressure distribution which can be achieved depends upon: the relation between width of the power nozzle supplying the fluid stream to the chamber and the distance between opposite side walls of the interaction chamber adjacent the orifice of the power nozzle; the angle that the side walls make with respect to the center line of the power stream; the length of the side Wall (when a flow divider is not used); the spacing between the power nozzle and the flow divider (if used); and the density, viscosity, compressibility and uniformity of the fluid flowing in the chamber. It also depends to some extent on the thickness of the fluid element. In general, fluid devices utilizing boundary layer effects, i.e., effects which depend upon details of side walls configuration can be further subdivided into three categories:

(a) Boundary layer elements in which there is no appreciable lock on effect. Such a unit has a power gain which can be increased by boundary layer effects, but these effects are not dominant;

(b) Boundary layer units in which lock on effects are dominant and are suflicient to maintain the power stream in a particular flow pattern through the action of the pressure distribution arising from boundary layer effects, and requiring no streams other than the power stream to maintain that flow pattern once established, but having a flow pattern which can be changed to a new stable flow pattern by the fluid vortex flow, or by altering the pressures at one or more of the output passages;

(c) Boundary layer units in which the flow pattern can be maintained through the action of the power stream alone which flow pattern can be modified by the application of the vortex stream but which units maintain certain parts of the power stream flow pattern, including lock on to the side wall, even though the pressure distribution at the output passages is modified.

The lock-on phenomena referred to hereinabove is due to a boundary layer effect existing between the stream and a side wall. Assume initially that the fluid stream is issuing from the power nozzle and is directed toward the apex of the divider. The fluid issuing from the power nozzle orifice, in passing through the chamber, entrains fluid in the chamber and removes this fluid therefrom. If the power stream is slightly closer to, for instance, the left wall than the right wall, it is more effective in removing the fluid in the region between the stream and the left wall than it is in removing fluid between the stream and the right wall. Therefore, the pressure in the left region between the left wall and stream is lower Q? than the pressure in the right region of the chamber and a differential pressure is set up across the power stream tending to deflect it toward the left wall. As the power stream is deflected further toward the left wall, it becomes even more efiicient in entraining air in the left region and the pressure in this region is further reduced. This action is self-reinforcing and results in the power stream becoming deflected toward the left wall and entering the left outlet passage. The stream intersects the left wall at a predetermined distance downstream from the outlet of the main orifice; this point being normally referred to as the point of attachment. This phenomena is referred to as boundary layer lock on. The operation of this type of apparatus may be completely symmetrical in that if the stream had initially been slightly deflected toward the right wall rather than the left wall, boundary layer lock on would have occurred against the right wall.

Continuing the discussion of the three categories of the second class of beam type fluid amplifying units, the boundary layer unit type (a) above utilizes a combination of'beundary layer effects and momentum interaction between streams in order to achieve a power gain which is enhanced by the boundary layer effects, but since boundary layer effects in type (a) are not dominant, the power stream does not of itself remain locked to the side wall. The power stream remains diverted from its initial direction only if there is a continuing vortex flow that interacts to maintain the deflection of the power stream. Boundary layer unit type (b) has a suflicient lock on effect that the power stream continues to flow entirely out one passage in the absence of any fluid vortex signal. A boundary layer unit type (b) can be made as a bistable, tristable, or multistable unit, but it can be dislodged from one of its stable states by vortex fluid flow or by the blocking of the output passage connected to the aperture receiving the major portion of the power stream. Boundary layer units type (c) have a very strong tendency to maintain the direction of flow of the power stream through the interaction chamber, this tendency being so strong that complete blockage of the passage connected to one of the output apertures toward which the power stream is directed does not dislodge the power stream from its locked on condition. Boundary layer units type (c) are therefore memory units which while sensitive to interacting vortical fluid flow, are virtually insensitive to positive loading conditions at their output passages.

To give a specific example: boundary layer effects have been found to influence the performance of a fluid amplifier element if it is made as follows: the width of the interacting chamber at the point where the power nozzle issues its stream is two to three times the Width, W, of the power nozzle, i.e., the chamber width at this point is 3W; and the side walls of the chamber diverge so that each side wall makes a 12 angle with the center line of the power stream. In a unit made in this way, a spacing between the power nozzle and the center divider equal to two power nozzle widths 2W will exhibit increased gain because of boundary layer effects, but the stream will not remain locked on either side. This unit with a divider spacing of 2W is a boundary layer unit type (a) which if the spacing is less than 2W an amplifier of the first class, i.e., a proportional amplifier results. If the divider is spaced more than three power nozzle widths, 3W, but less than eight power nozzle widths, 8W, from the power nozzle, then the power stream remains locked onto one of the chamber walls and is a boundary layer type (b). Complete blockage of the output passage of such a unit causes the power stream to take a new flow pattern.

A boundary layer unit having a divider which is spaced more than twelve power nozzle widths 12W, from the powernozzle remains locked on to a chamber wall even though there is complete blockage of the passage connected to the aperture toward which the power stream is directed, and thus it is a boundary layer unit type (c). Another factor effecting the type of operation achieved by these units is the pressure of the fluid applied to the power nozzle relative to the width of the chamber. In the above examples, the types of operation described are achieved if the pressure of the fluid is less than 60 p.s.i. If, however, the pressure exceeds p.s.i. the expansion of the fluid stream upon issuing from the powernozzle is sufliciently great to cause the stream to contact both side Walls of the chamber and lock on is prevented. Lock-on can be achieved at the higher pressures by increasing the widths of the interaction chamber.

According to one embodiment of this invention, a rotating body of fluid which may be derived from a vortex amplifier or other suitable source is supplied to an interaction chamber of a beam deflection type of fluid amplifier for effecting amplified control of the power stream issuing into that chamber. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the interaction chamber of the beam deflection amplifier may be constructed as a vortex amplifier to provide amplification of the rotating input signal concurrently with control of the fluid beam thereby. This arrangement provides a two-stage (cascaded) amplifier in a single amplifier structure.

In order to fully understand the operation of the vortex controlled fluid amplifier of the present invention, it is necessary to understand the basic operation of one type of conventional fluid vortex amplifier that utilizes the flow of fluid, fluid characteristics, and fluid flow characteristics to amplify a fluid input signal and does not require moving parts other than the moving fluid itself. The vortex amplifier can be properly regarded as an amplifier because the energy controlled is larger than the controlling energy.

Assume that a circular pan of liquid is provided with a small discharge orifice at the bottom center. The height of liquid in the pan results in a hydrostatic head or pressure which tends to force the fluid out of the small centrally located discharge orifice. In the case of irrotational flow the fluid will flow radially toward and through the orifice. For an incompressible fluid the flow velocity will be inversely related to the liquid radial location. If one considers a two-dimensional irrotational flow condition, as for example, in the case of flow to a conventional sink, the radical velocity V and the radial position r will be related as in Equation 1 constant If the fluid is compressible then the local fluid density p must be considered and Equation 1 becomes constant Consequently, when the fluid is discharging from the pan, as fluid moves from the rim toward the centrally located discharge orifice, its tangential velocity component V increases as the radial position decreases. Ideally, it one starts with a 10 diameter pan discharging through a centrally located orifice of .01 diameter the tangential velocity component at the discharge orifice V would be one thousand times the tangential velocity component at the rim of the pan V Thus, the tangential velocity component is amplified.

While an open pan of liquid has been used to describe in elementary fashion the operation of a vortex amplifier, this invention employs a vortex chamber, wherein the fluid need not be liquid but can be a liquid or a gas or a mixture of fluid or combinations of fluids and wherein the source of pressure causing fluid discharge is not derived from gravitational eflects but is due to a flow or flows of fluid streams into the vortex chamber. One type of fluid vortex amplifier is disclosed in detail in a French Patent No. 1,318,907, issued January 14, 1963, by Romald E. Bowles.

As previously indicated, a vortex amplifier may be provided in the interaction chamber of a beam deflection amplifier. Such a vortex amplifier converts the static pressure of the interaction chamber to a directed dynamic pressure, and in addition will amplify the circumferential velocity component of the rotating fluid supplied to the chamber. A vortex amplifier may be provided by at least partially confining the fluid to a circular path and by forming an orifice centrally of the circular path with a diameter less than the diameter of the path. The rotating fluid is supplied so that its axis of rotation is substantially aligned with the axis defined by the orifice.

The position of the orifice and the vortex supplied to the interaction chamber with respect to the sidewalls and the power nozzle primarily depends upon the type of output flow desired. Assuming that the sidewalls are substantially symmetrically disposed relative to the power nozzle, when the vortex is applied to the interaction chamher symmetrically with respect to the sidewalls and in alignment with the power stream, all, or substantially all of the flow will issue from one passage or the other depending upon the direction of vortex rotation. When the vortex supplied to the chamber is closer to one sidewall than the other, asymmetrical flow from the passages will generally occur. The location of the sidewalls of the interaction chamber additionally governs the location of the vortex with respect to the power nozzle and with respect to the sidewalls. In class I and 11a type fluid amplifiers the fluid vortex should be applied closer upstream to the orifice of the power nozzle than in the case of the class III) and 11a type fluid amplifiers since in the latter type of amplifier the power stream should be permitted to at least partially lock on to the sidewalls before being deflected by the vortex stream. In class I amplifiers the gain of the amplifier is enhanced by positioning the vortex further downstream of the power nozzle; however, the vortex should not be located so remotely from the power nozzle that the power stream is completely diffused when interaction occurs.

Broadly, therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a vortex controlled fluid amplifier of the beam deflection type for controlling the output of the beam deflection type of fluid amplifier.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vortex amplifier in an interaction region of a beam deflection type fluid amplifier so that a power stream supplied to the beam deflection type of fluid amplifier can be controlled by rotating fluid in the vortex amplifier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a partial vortex chamber within a stream interaction chamber so that a column of rotating fluid supplied to the vortex chamber can effect amplified displacement of a power stream entering the interaction chamber.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for reading out the sense of direction of a vortex fluid input signal supplied thereto.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one possible embodiment of a vortex controlled fluid amplifier coristructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIGURE 2 illustrates a device for reading out a vortex fluid input supplied thereto.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 for a more complete understanding of the invention, an amplifier 10 is formed in a flat plate 11 by molding, milling, casting or by other techniques which will provide the necessary passages and cavities therein. A vortex type of fluid amplifier 12 formed in a flat plate 13 may be coupled to the amplifier It? so as to provide vortical fluid flow thereto; this type of fluid amplifier being disclosed in detail in my co-pending application entitled Differential Fluid Amplifier, Serial No. 226,856, filed September28, 1962. A third flat plate 14 covers the plate 13, the three plates being sealed one to the other by machine screws, clamps or adhesives or by any other suitable means. The connection between the plates should be fluid tight so that the fluid employed flows only in defined passages and cavities formed in each plate.

A pair of input tubes 15 and 16 have the. ends thereof connected in the plate 14 in alignment with orifices 15a and 16a formed in the plate 14, the tubes 15 and 16 receiving fluid input signals from a suitable source and supplying the fluid received to nozzles 17 and 18 formed in the amplifier 12 through the orifices 15a and 16a, respectively. As discussed in my co-pending application Serial No. 226,856 the pressure differential between the input signals supplied to the nozzles 17 and 18 are compared by interaction of the fluid streams issuing from the orifices of the nozzles 17 and 1s and the vortex created in a vortex chamber 19 by the interacting stream momenta, has a direction of rotation and an angular velocity that is a function of the relative differential in pressure between the two interacting streams. Other types of vortex amplifiers may alternatively be used to supply the control vortex stream, one such type of vortex amplifier being disclosed in the aforesaid French Patent No. 1,318,907 of Romald E. Bowles.

An axial column of rotating fluid issues from orifice 26 formed in the center of the chamber 19, the orifice 20 having a radius considerably smaller than the radius of the chamber 19 so that the vortex egressing from the orifice 20 is velocity amplified as discussed hereinabove.

The column of fluid egressing from the orifice 20 impinges axially against a bottom wall 21 of an interaction chamber 22 formed in the amplifier 10. An orifice 23 is provided in the bottom wall 21 with the geometrical axis in vertical alignment with the geometrical axis of the orifice 20 so that at least a portion of the axial component of flow from the orifice 20 can egress through the orifice 23 and from the chamber 21. The orifice 23 in addition to forming a vortex amplifier in the chamber 22, provides an egress for fluid when the quantity of fluid supplied to the chamber 22 by either or both fluid streams would flood or swamp the chamber 22 to an extent whereby proper interaction between the power and vortex streams is impaired.

The circumferential velocity component of the rotating column of fluid egressing from the orifice 29 causes divergence of the rotating fluid when it is no longer confined by the orifice 20. The rotating fluid egressing from the orifice 2t} impinges against the bottom wall 21 with the axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall 21 and, as indicated by the arrows 24, issues from the orifice 23 so that a vortex is created having the same direction of rotation as the column. The diameter of the orifice 23 should not be greater than the diameter of the vortex created at the plane of the bottom wall 21 otherwise the circumferential velocity component of the vortex which is needed to deflect the power stream also egresses from the chamber 22 along with the axial component. It will be evident that the greater the size of the orifice 23, the greater the quantity of circumferential flow that will egress from the orifice 23 Relationships which should be considered in ascertaining the optimum size of the orifice 23 are the velocity of the power stream, the mass flow rate of the vortex entering the chamber 21 and the pressure developed by backload ing of the output passages. The static pressure developed in the chamber 22 by both types of fluid flow should be maintained approximately equal to the pressure in the passage in which fluid is not directed to flow since if the pressure in that passage is substantially lower than the chamber pressure, the fluid in the chamber 2-2 will dumpthereto. Thus, the size of the orifice 23 should be matched to the static pressures anticipated in the chamber 22, th y greater the anticipated static pressure, the greater the orifice diameter. In typical instances, to achieve proper matching between the input and output flow, the radius of the orifice 23 has been made from slightl greater than zero to slightly less than one times the radius of the orifiCe 26 The degree of amplification which can be effected between the two amplifiers iii and 12 increases as the ratio between the radii of the orifices 2t? and 23 increases. However, the greater the degree of amplification the greater the possibility that the amplifier in will be driven as a flip-flop by the amplified tangential velocity component of the vortex generated in the chamber 22 interacting with the power stream, so that the fluid issues either from the output passage 32 of the output passage 33, rather than proportionally from these passages.

The interaction chamber 22 is formed by a pair of

side walls

24 and 25, an end wall 26 and the arcuate tip 27 of a flow splitter 28. An orifice 2 formed in the end wall 26 constricts fluid issuing from a power nozzle 30. A tube 31 is connected to the plate Iii for supplying a fluid stream to a circular passage Eda that communicates with the nozzle 3t? so that a power stream issues from the orifice 29 into one end of the interaction chamber 22.

Located downstream of the chamber and defined by the sidewalls 2d and. 25, extended, and by the sides of the flow splitter 28 are output passages 32 and 33, respectively. As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the amplifier 10 is symmetrical with respect to a center line CL taken through the centers of the orifices 23 and 29, the chamber 21, and the flow divider 28, however, it should be understood that the unit it may also be asymmetrical, depending upon the flow output pattern desired for a given flow input. In this particular embodiment, the arcuate end 27 of the splitter 28 has a radius of curvature at the center of which the center of the orifice 23 is located. The arcuate end 27 defines a peripheral Wall which serves to limit radial expansion of the vortex 24 created within the interaction chamber 22, the arcuate end 27 and the bottom wall 21 thereby cooperating to form at least a partial vortex chamber within the chamber 22. The bottom wall 22, the orifice 23, the end 27 of the splitter 28, the sidewalls 24 and form at least a partial vortex amplifier, in the chamber 22 which converts the static pressure in the chamber 22 to directed dynamic pressure and amplifies the circumferential velocity component of the rotating fluid supplied to the chamber 22.

With regard to the interaction which occurs between the vortex created in the chamber 22 and the power stream, the vortical flow in the chamber 22 assumes a generally flat cylindrical flow pattern, the ends of the cylindrical pattern being defined by the bottom wall 21 and the bottom planar surface of the plate 13 when the amplifiers are properly stacked together. Thus, the cylindrical pattern of flow is shaped essentially as a short column of rotating fluid. The outer diameter of the cylindrical flow pattern is ordinarily slightly larger than the diameter of the orifice 2t) and therefore larger than the diameter of the orifice 25. The inner diameter of the flow pattern is substantially equal to the diameter of the orifice 2.3. The velocity of the flow pattern increases for reasons discussed hereinabove as the radius decreases and therefore the circumferential velocity and dynamic energy it; of the vortex accordingly increases towards the center of the rotating column.

The constricted power stream issuing from the orifice 29 ordinarily possesses suflicient integrity to penetrate the peripheral portion of the rotating column and ultimately interacts with fluid intermediate the outer and inner diameters of the column. The resultant interaction which occurs between the amplified circumferential component of the vortical flow and the power stream produces a momentum interchange which displaces the power stream, this displacement being aided by the pressure diflerential developed in the chamber as a result of vortex amplification.

Referring now to the interaction chamber 22, the arrows illustrate the displacement of a power stream by a clockwise rotating vortex in the chamber. The pressure developed bctwen the power stream and the vortex in the left side of the chamber 22 tends to drive the power stream towards the sidewall 25 while simultaneously reducing the pressure differential between power stream and sidewall 24 of the interaction chamber 22. The effect of the pressure differentials so created in the power stream combine to drive the power stream into the desired output passage. Since the energy of the power stream is generally considerably greater than the energy of the vortex and since the vortex controls power stream displacement, a gain is realized by the displacement of the larger energized power stream. A further gain is realized in the amplification of the tangential velocity component of vortical flow supplied to the partial vortex chamber 22 from a source of rotating fluid flow.

As discussed hereinabove, the position of the

sidewalls

24 and 25 with respect to the chamber 21 and the distance between the edges of the orifice 32 and the

adjacent sidewalls

25 and 26, governs to a great extent the operation of any fluid amplifier of the beam deflection type such as the amplifier 10. 1f the

walls

24 and 25 are set back remote from the orifice 2-9 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1, little if any boundary layer effects :are developed between the stream and the wall against which it is flowing and consequently the action which occurs between the fluid stream and the vortex 24 created in the vortex chamber 12 is one of essentially pure power stream deflection.

In class II type amplifiers, as for example the amplifier 10, wherein the

walls

23 and 24 are positioned sufliciently close to the orifice 29 so that boundary layer lock on effects are present between the streams the vortical fluid flow created in the vortex chamber 22 must entrain enough fluid from one side of the power stream so that the other side of the power stream is pulled away from the wall to which it is attached by the action of the vortex. As the power stream is pulled further from the wall the boundary layer effect is correspondingly reduced; more power stream fluid becoming entrained in the vortex stream until ultimately the boundary layer effects are nullified and the entire power stream is deflected by the pressure produced by momentum interaction with the vortex into an opposite output passage.

It will be evident that the passage into which the fluid stream is deflected is primarily governed by the direction of the fluid vortex created within the interaction chamber 22. In the case of the hereinabove described class 2 type amplifiers a bistable action is effected; that is, the fluid either issues from one passage 32 or the other passage 33 depending upon the rotation of the fluid stream within the interaction chamber 22. Differential fluid output signals can be obtained by employing class 1 type amplifiers and creating the deflecting vortex a suflicient distance downstream of the orifice 29 so that the eflect of the vortex on the power stream is not great enough to cause complete deflection of the power stream into one of the passages. In class 21) type amplifier wherein the lock on effect is dominant, the power of the vortex must attain a threshold of at least a predetermined magnitude before the fluid 9 stream will be pulled off the wall onto which it has become attached and switch from one output passage to the other.

Other modifications of the amplifier It can also be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention. For instance, by positioning one side wall, say side wall 215, in closer proximity to the power stream than the other, say sidewall 24, the power stream may be made to normally look on to the one sidewall and issue from the passage 33 associated with that sidewall. The vortex could be applied with the axis of rotation thereof perpendicular to sidewall 21 at the entrance of the passage 33 so that only vortical flow of the vortex in one direction, clockwise in this particular example, would cause deflection of the power stream into the opposite passage 32.

While it is ordinarily a relatively easy matter to form the orifice 23 in the chamber 22, in instances where the possibility of flooding the chamber 22 is sufliciently remote and when vortex amplification is either not requisite or desired, the orifice 23 may be eliminated. The power stream issuing from the power nozzle 31 can be displaced merely by vortical flow, which is not velocity amplified, rotating generally perpendicularly to the direction of power stream movement and supplied to the chamber 22 so as to interact with the power stream and effect displacement thereof by means of momentum interchange into the output passages 32 and 33. In such a case, the system relies wholly upon the energy of the rotating fluid as supplied to the interaction chamber to produce deflection of the beam.

With reference now to FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a unit for reading out a fluid vortex type of input signal, or stated in another way, the unit 40 converts bi-directional vortical flow into bidirectional linear flow. For that purpose the unit 40 can be coupled to a vortex amplifier, such as the amplifier 12, with the center of the vortex formed therein and the orifice 19 in axial alignment, so that the chamber 41 receives a vertical column of vortical flow from the outlet orifice 19 of the amplifier 12. A port 42 is formed in one side of the peripheral wall forming the chamber 41 and a flow splitter 43 is positioned downstream of the port 42, the sides of the splitter 43 defining the sidewalls of outlet passages 44 and 45, respectively. An orifice 46 is provided centrally in the chamber 41 so that a portion of the axial component of flow from the vortex amplifier can bleed out of the chamber 41, the radius of the orifice 46 at least ranging from slightly greater than zero to slightly less than one times the radius of the outlet orifice 2t) supplying vortical flow to the unit 40, to effect proper matching. The circumferential component of the fluid flow circulates vortically in the vortex amplifying chamber 41 in one of two possible rotational directions as determined by the direction of rotation of the liquid supplied thereto, and issues as a defined fluid stream from the port 42, entering either passage 44 or 45, respectively, depending upon the direction of rotation of the flow in the chamber 41. Because the chamber 41 is a vortex amplifying chamber more of the total energy of the fluid supplied to the chamber 41 is in the tangentially directed form, and therefore the output from the port 42 will have a higher energy content than would be the case if a vortex amplifying chamber were not employed in the unit 40.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, the sidewalls of the passages 44 and are preferably positioned relatively close to the port 42 so as to provide boundary layer lock on of fluid entering either the passages 44 or 45. The linear flow output from the unit 40 can be utilized to actuate conventional electrical readout devices or load devices utilizing fluid for the operation or control thereof.

It should also be appreciated that in the event the power nozzle 36 of the unit 10, shown in FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawing, is not issuing a fluid stream, the unit 10 will under most conditions operate as a readi0 out device for vortical flow supplied to the interaction chamber 21, the operation of the unit 10 being similar to that of the unit 4%) described hereinabove.

While I have described and illustrated several specific embodiments of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fluid vortex system, a chamber for receiving and confining vortical fluid flow, said chamber having an orifice formed centrally therein with a diameter less than the diameter of said chamber, an opening formed in one side of said chamber, plural passages communicating with said opening for receiving flow therefrom, a pair of sidewalls defining one wall of each of said plural passages and extending to a position adjacent said opening, said sidewalls being positioned such that boundary layer eflects are developed selectively between fluid issuing from said opening and said sidewalls depending upon the angular direction of said flow relative to said sidewalls and means communicating with said chamber for supplying rotating fluid flow therein, the axis of rotation of the flow being in substantial alignment with the center of said orifice, certain of the passages receiving fluid depending upon the sense of direction of rotation of vortical flow in said chamber.

2. A vortex system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber is substantially cylindrical.

3. In a fluid vortex system, a cylindrical chamber for partially confining fluid flow, said chamber having an axis of symmetry and an orifice located on said axis of symmetry, the diameter of said chamber being greater than the diameter of the orifice, plural passages communicating with said chamber for receiving fluid flow therefrom, a pair of sidewalls defining one wall of each of said plural passages and extending to a position adjacent said opening, said sidewalls being positioned such that boundary layer effects are developed selectively between fluid i-ssu-. ing from said opening and said sidewalls depending upon the angular direction of said flow relative to said sidewalls, means communicating with said chamber for generating a fluid vortex having the axis of rotation thereof substantially coincident with the axis of symmetry of said chamber, said means governing the directional sense of vortex rotation, certain of the passages receiving fluid flow depending upon the sense of direction of vortex rotation.

4. A fluid vortex system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radius of the orifice is such that at least a portion of the axial component of vortex flow can egress from the orifice.

5. In a fluid vortex system, means for generating a rotating column of fluid, a vortex amplifier for receiving and converting the rotating column of fluid to velocity amplified vortical flow, means for issuing a substantially linear fluid stream into said chamber transversely of the rotational axis of the vortical flow so that fluid interaction between the fluid stream and the velocity amplified vortical flow can occur, and plural passages located down stream of said chamber for receiving fluid resulting from interaction in said vortex amplifier.

6. A fluid amplifier system comprising a fluid interaction chamber, a nozzle for issuing a defined fluid stream into one end of said interaction chamber, a vortex amplifier chamber at least partially formed in said interaction chamber for velocity amplifying rotating flow supplied thereto, the velocity amplified flow interacting with the fluid stream to deflect the stream in directions dependent upon the sense of direction of velocity amplified flow rotation, plural passages located downstream of said interaction chamber for receiving fluid flow resulting from the interaction in said interaction chamber.

7. In a fluid vortex system, means for creating and issuing a rotating column of fluid, an interaction chamber coupled to said means for receiving the rotating column of fluid therefrom, means for issuing a defined, substantially linear fluid stream into said interaction chamber toward and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotating fluid column, and plural passages located downstream of said interaction chamber for receiving the flow resulting from flow interaction between the defined fluid stream and the rotating fluid.

8. A fluid vortex system comprising a first vortex amplifying chamber for imparting rotary motion to fluid flowing therein, said chamber being of relatively large radius and having an egress orifice centrally located therein of relatively small radius so that fluid issuing from the orifice is velocity amplified, at least a partial second vortex amplitying chamber coupled to said orifice for receiving and velocity amplifying the vertical flow from said first vortex chamber, plural passages communicating with said second vortex amplifying chamber for receiving fluid therefrom, and means for supplying a defined, substantially linear stream of fluid into said second vortex amplifying chamber in interacting relationship with the vertical flow, certain of said plural passages receiving fluid resulting from the interaction between the flows as determined by the sense of direction of rotation of the vortical flow.

9. In combination, a first fluid amplifier for velocity amplifying fluid flow therein and having a first orifice from which the fluid flow issues vertically, and a second fluid amplifier including an interaction chamber, said interaction chamber being coupled to said first orifice to receive vortical flow therefrom and means for issuing a defined, substantially linear fluid stream into said interaction chamber, said interaction chamber having a second orifice formed therein in substantial alignment with the rst orifice formed in said first fluid amplifier, the radius of said first orifice being larger than the radius of said second orifice so that vortical fluid supplied to said inter-action chamber is velocity amplified, the vertical fluid in said interaction chamber interacting with the linear fluid stream so as to effect displacement thereof in said interaction chamber.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interaction chamber includes a flow splitter for separating fluid streams issuing from said interaction chamber,

12 said splitter having an arcuate end forming a Wall for limiting radial movement of vortices created in said interaction chamber.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 1%, wherein said arcuate end has a radius of curvature, said second orifice being substantially aligned with the center of the radius of curvature.

1?. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second orifice is formed in said interaction chamber substantially at the center of the radius or curvature having a radius smaller than the radius of curvature.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the center of the radius of curvature of said arcuate end is substantially coincident with the geometrical center of said first orifice formed in said first amplifier.

1 A pure fluid amplifier system comprising a first vortex chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and an axial egress orifice, a second vortex chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and an axial egress orifice, means for conveying rotating l'luid from said first-mentioned egress orifice to said second vortex chamber, said first-mentioned egress orifice having a diameter less than the diameter of said first-mentioned cylindrical sidewall, and said secondmentioned egress orifice having a diameter less than the diameters of both said cylindrical sidewalls.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said second-mentioned cylindrical sidewall has a smaller diameter than said first-mentioned cylindrical sidewall.

References Cited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,797 2/1928 Charette et al 23092 3,075,227 1/1963 Bowles 15-346 OTHER REFERENCES Symposium on Fluid Jet Control Devices, A.S.M.E., November 1962, pages 8390, Fig. 1. (Copy in Scientific Library and Group 360.)

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GETGE'R, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A FLUID VORTEX SYSTEM, A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING AND CONFINING VORTICAL FLUID FLOW, SAID CHAMBER HAVING AN ORIFICE FORMED CENTRALLY THEREIN WITH A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CHAMBER, AN OPENING FORMED IN ONE SIDE OF SAID CHAMBER, PLURAL PASSAGES COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING FOR RECEIVING FLOW THEREFROM, A PAIR OF SIDEWALLS DEFINING ONE WALL OF EACH OF SAID PLURAL PASSAGES AND EXTENDING TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID OPENING, SAID SIDEWALLS BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT BOUNDARY LAYER EFFECTS ARE DEVELOPED SELECTIVELY BETWEEN FLUID ISSUING FROM SAID OPENING AND SAID SIDEWALLS DEPENDING UPON THE ANGULAR DIRECTION OF SAID FLOW RELATIVE TO SAID SIDEWALLS AND MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER FOR SUPPLYING ROTATING FLUID FLOW THEREIN, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE FLOW BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE CENTER OF SAID ORIFICE, CERTAIN OF THE PASSAGES RECEIVING FLUID DEPENDING UPON THE SENSES OF DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF VERTICAL FLOW IN SAID CHAMBER.