GB598530A - Improvements in the governing of free piston type internal combustion compressors - Google Patents

Abstract

598,530. Regulating air compressors. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., WELSH, R. J., and YATES, H. G. March 13, 1943, Nos. 4133/43 and 367/44. [Class 8 (i)] [Also in Groups XXVI and XXVII] In a power plant comprising a prime mover 25 driven by fluid from one or more free-piston internalcombustion compressors, a fuel regulator 10a and a volumetric efficiency regulator 32 for each compressor are under the joint control of a speed governor 28 actuated by the prime mover and of means responsive to the delivery pressure of some part of the compressor device ; and a variable - ratio operative connection between the two regulators is variable under the control of the pressureresponsive means so that the higher the delivery pressure the greater is the movement of the fuel regulator corresponding to a given movement of the other regulator. As shown, the prime mover 25 is a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the combustion cylinder 1 of the compressor, which is of the opposed-piston type, but it may be driven by air coming direct from the compressor, or by a mixture of air and exhaust gases. Each power piston 4 is integral with a cushioning piston 6 and with a compressor piston 5 supplying scavenging and charging air through a pipe 15 to the annular space around inlet.ports 1a in the cylinder 1. The speed governor 28 is driven from the turbine through gearing 27 and is connected to the control rack 10a of a fuel-injection pump 10 through a lever 29, link 31 and members 34, 35, rigid with the link 31 ; the member 35 is connected to a slotted link 36 pivoted at 37 and engaged by a slider 38 on a link 39 connected to the fuel regulator 10a. The slider 38 is adjusted in the slot 36a by the pressure in the air conduit 15, acting on a piston 43 connected by a lever 41 and link 40 to the link 39. Throttle valves 32 in the compressor inlet pipes 14 are actuated by levers 33 connected to the link 31, in order to control the volumetric efficiency conjointly with the fuel supply. The slotted link 36 may be replaced by a cylindrical cam of varying contour, rocked about its axis by the link 40 and engaged by a follower moved along the cam by the link 31 from the governor 28, or the cam itself may be moved axially. In a modification, a piston such as 43 is connected directly to the fuel regulator 10a and the cylinder 44 is connected to the pipe 15 through a restriction ; the control from the speed governor 28 is effected pneumatically by attracting to the link 31 a valve which varies the area of a discharge orifice in. a pipe connected to the cylinder 44. The link 31 may be moved by a servomotor controlled by the governor 28 and the speed-regulating member of the governor may be acted upon by a pressure of the gas generator in accordance with Specification 595,117, [Group XXVI].