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An apparatus includes a reservoir of a pressurized fluid connected to a supply conduit. A fluid powered actuator has a first port and an second port. A volumetric flow regulator has a valve element that controls fluid flow between an inlet chamber which receives fluid from the supply conduit and an

An apparatus includes a reservoir of a pressurized fluid connected to a supply conduit. A fluid powered actuator has a first port and an second port. A volumetric flow regulator has a valve element that controls fluid flow between an inlet chamber which receives fluid from the supply conduit and an outlet chamber connected to the first port of the fluid powered actuator. A sensing orifice is coupled between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator, such that the valve element varies flow of fluid between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber in response to a pressure differential across the sensing orifice. This apparatus ensures relatively constant velocity operation of the fluid powered actuator under varying load conditions. A damping mechanism is disclosed for slowing the fluid powered actuator as an end of its travel approaches.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; a supply conduit connected to the source; a fluid powered actuator connected to operate the mechanism and having a first port operably coupled to receive fl

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; a supply conduit connected to the source; a fluid powered actuator connected to operate the mechanism and having a first port operably coupled to receive fluid from the supply conduit and having a second port; a sensing orifice through which fluid flows either to the first port or from the second port, thereby creating a pressure differential across the sensing orifice; and a volumetric flow regulator having bore with a valve element defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber within the bore, the inlet chamber communicating with one side of the sensing orifice and the outlet chamber communicating with another side of the sensing orifice, wherein the valve element varies flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet chambers in response to the pressure differential across the sensing orifice. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pressure reducer/relief valve coupling the source to the inlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator. 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the source comprises: a reservoir of a pressurized fluid; and a release actuator that discharges the pressurized fluid from the reservoir into a supply conduit during an emergency. 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the first port and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the first check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the second port to the first port. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising a second check valve and a second orifice connected in series between the supply conduit and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the second check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the supply conduit to the second port. 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the supply conduit and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the supply conduit to the second port. 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising a second orifice operably connected to enable fluid to flow from the second port into a return conduit. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a pressure relief valve connected in series with the second orifice between the second port and the return conduit. 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a directional control valve having a first position in which the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator is connected to the first port of the fluid powered actuator, and a second position in which the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator is connected to the second port of the fluid powered actuator. 10. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a reservoir of a pressurized fluid; a supply conduit; release actuator that releases the pressurized fluid from the reservoir into the supply conduit during an emergency; a fluid powered actuator having a first port and an second port; a volumetric flow regulator having bore with a control piston slidably received therein and forming an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber within the bore, the inlet chamber being connected to the supply conduit, and the outlet chamber being connected to the first port of the fluid powered actuator; and a sensing orifice coupled between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator, wherein the control piston varies flow of fluid between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber in response to a pressure differential across the sensing orifice. 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a pressure reducer/relief valve in the supply conduit. 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein fluid powered actuator is a cylinder with a piston therein that forms a first chamber and a second chamber within the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, wherein the first port opens into the first chamber and the second port opens into the second chamber. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a first check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the first port and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the first check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the second port to the first port. 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising a second check valve and a second orifice connected in series between the supply conduit and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the second check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the supply conduit to the second port. 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising: a check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the supply conduit and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the supply conduit to the second port; and a second orifice connected between the second port of the fluid powered actuator and a return conduit. 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 further comprising a pressure relief valve connected in series with the second orifice between the second port of the fluid powered actuator and the return conduit. 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a directional control valve having a supply inlet port connected to the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator, two workports each connected to one of the first port and second port of the fluid powered actuator, and an return port, wherein the directional control valve has a first position in which the supply inlet port is connected to the first port and the return port is connected to the second port and a second position in which the supply inlet port is connected to the second port and the return port is connected to the first port. 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17 further comprising a return volumetric flow regulator having return bore with return control piston slidably received therein and forming a return inlet chamber and a return outlet chamber within the return bore, the return inlet chamber being connected to the return port of the directional control valve and the outlet chamber being connected to the first port of the fluid powered actuator; and another sensing orifice is connected between the return inlet chamber and a return outlet chamber. 19. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; a fluid powered actuator connected to the mechanism and having a first port and a second port; and a volumetric flow regulator having a bore with an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber defined therein, the inlet chamber being coupled to the source and the outlet chamber being coupled to the first port of the fluid powered actuator, an intermediate chamber defined in the volumetric flow regulator and a sensing orifice through which fluid flows between the intermediate chamber and the outlet chamber, and having a valve element which varies flow of fluid through the outlet chamber in response to a pressure differential across the sensing orifice. 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a pressure reducer/relief valve coupling the source to the inlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator. 21. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the source comprises: a reservoir of a pressurized fluid; and a release actuator that discharges the pressurized fluid from the reservoir during an emergency. 22. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a first check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the first port and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the first check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the second port to the first port. 23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22 further comprising a second check valve and a second orifice connected in series between the source and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the second check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the source to the second port. 24. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a check valve and a first orifice connected in series between the source and the second port of the fluid powered actuator, wherein the check valve permits fluid to flow only in a direction from the source to the second port. 25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising a second orifice operably connected to enable fluid to flow from the second port into a return conduit. 26. The apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising a pressure relief valve connected in series with the second orifice between the second port and the return conduit. 27. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a directional control valve having a first position in which the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator is connected to the first port of the fluid powered actuator, and a second position in which the outlet chamber of the volumetric flow regulator is connected to the second port of the fluid powered actuator. 28. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a sealed reservoir containing a fluid under pressure; a supply conduit coupled to the reservoir; a fluid powered actuator connected to operate the mechanism and having a port operably coupled to receive fluid from the supply conduit; a sensing orifice through which fluid flows to the port of the fluid powered actuator, thereby creating a pressure differential across the sensing orifice; and a volumetric flow regulator having bore with a valve element defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber within the bore, the inlet chamber communicating with one side of the sensing orifice and the outlet chamber communicating with another side of the sensing orifice, wherein the valve element varies flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet chambers in response to the pressure differential across the sensing orifice; and a release actuator to break the reservoir and release the fluid into the supply conduit. 29. The apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein the reservoir has an integral nozzle that is broken by activation of the release actuator. 30. The apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein the release actuator contains an explosive charge which when activated breaks the reservoir. 31. The apparatus as recited in claim 28 further comprising: a tracer gas within the reservoir; and a leak detector that senses leakage of the tracer gas from the reservoir. 32. The apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein the fluid is nitrogen and the tracer gas is helium. 33. An apparatus for operating a mechanism in an emergency, said apparatus comprising: a sealed reservoir containing a fluid under pressure and having an integral nozzle; a tracer gas within the reservoir; a leak detector that senses leakage of the tracer gas from the reservoir; a supply conduit coupled to the reservoir; a fluid powered actuator connected to operate the mechanism and having a port operably coupled to receive fluid from the supply conduit; and release actuator having an explosive charge which when activated breaks the integral nozzle of the reservoir, thereby releasing the fluid into the supply conduit during an emergency. 34. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 wherein the fluid is nitrogen and the tracer gas is helium. 35. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 wherein the release actuator breaks the integral nozzle from outside the reservoir.