US1325255A - Stein - Google Patents

Description

L. C. LOEWENSTEIN CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR.

APPL'icATIoN FILED MAR. 13. 1918.

. Patented. Dea. 16,191.9.

- 9 and 10 from one of the trunnions 2.. A-

. specification.'

' srEIN, a citizen of the United States,-

STATES goFro'n..

Lotus o. LQnyvENsTnv, or LYNN.` nnssncniisnrrs, tis'sreiron' ro ernennen s ifn'cxr 15.10,

-1 COMPANY; A Acon.1?o1aatrro1v or NEW.

' cnlvtrnrnenncomrnnssonj I l ppncaummeafuarcn 13,-

, Beit knownthat I, LOUIS "C.

'In connection with the operation offcen". trifugal compressors the conditions are niet-V with in certain kinds of work which frequlre that the volume or botlrth'e vlumepand` pressure of the air or other iuid delivered by the compressor be increased or decreased over a 'wide .range j and by predetermined amounts', and the-o ject of'my invention is to provide anv improved regulating and controlling mechanism 'forV a vcompressor""forv Y f use wherever ered.; `1

For aconsideration of what-.I lbelieve .to be'novel and my inventiom)attention'is dif' such Conditions are encountrected to-the accompanying specification and A the claims appended thereto.

' The accompanying drawing is a diagramplied to a `converter used in smelting metals. Referring to the drawing, 1' indicates a.. converter provided with trunnions 2' ca rried in supports 3. The-converteris adapted to be tilted on'supports 3'by al motor 4 tol the process pf Y bring the vmouth of the converter to a position for-discharging its contents. Air is supplied to the converter through a conduit 5 which leads to the twyers- 6. In conduit 5 is a double seated valve lby means of .which the air supply to converter 1 can be quickly interrupted if occasion arises. 1t willv be'. understood that in thel converter house is 'suitable switch mechanism (note shown) for. controlling ,the operation of motor 4 'and the attendant is advised of the angular position of the converter by anindi#A cator 7 operated by shaft 8 andbevel gears pressure gage 11 is also provided in the converter house to indicate'the pressure of the airbeing supplied to tlie converter.

Air is supplied vto conduit 5 by a cent1-if`vl vugal compressor. 12 'drive n1 by 'a suitable form of motor, here shown; as an elastic :weight 18 is setfor a certain fluid turbine 13. The inlet l .conduitof the compressor is-'indlcated at 14 and the discharge conduit at 15.. The turbo-compressor .means-cfa threaded rod vna'led inthe beam at its tixed against longitudinal-movement.- The" will 'be forced lback and j forth along known type, being illustrated'l which emv bodies a valve-chest 30 anda fluid actuated vom;

191s.' 'serial ng. 222,113.

is `equipped `with a constant .volume governing" mechanism whichautomatically regulates ittocause the compressor for any particular setting of the governing-mechanism to deliver a constant volume of'air corresponding to such setting.l The constant.'

volume governing. mechanism illustrated is -one of a'well known type comprising a vvbeam 1 6 pivoted on a xedsupport lf-and carryingA a vWeight .18- which is adjustable along the beam. 'Thegweight 18 is 'adjusted by threadson'. rod- 19. engage threa sin the weight so that -by turning-the rod t might vthe 1' beam,-- In the .inlet .conduit 14 ,of the com-'f presser-'is a-..iloat20gwhich'rideson the air entermg thel compressor and'lis connected .byr75 a rod 21to thel beani16. 'f At one' end lbeam- 16 ``is connected byalink 22 to one end of a floating 1ever23, the other end vof which is connected by a link 24 to thegovernor lever.v

25 of `a, centrifugal governor 26, Floating lever 23 is connected by a rod 27 to the actuating lever' 28 of avalve gear or regulator 29 which controlstheadmission of elastic fluid to the turbine 13.' The valve gear 29 -may be of zany suitable character, a well-A .motor 31 provided with afpilot valve 32. The operationof such a valve gear is well. understood and needs no detailed'description. A dash pot 33 [is provided'to steady the movements-of the beam 16. i

A constant volume' governing mechanism as just described operates as follows; Proper calibrations on the beam 16 indicate vwhere the weight 18\is to be. set for the desired volume of flow, and the float 20 acts on the beam 16 to tilt it so as to cause the Huid-md` y tor 31 to open and close the valve mechanism Pateneeafnee. 15,' f1e`ia 'r9-Which is jourtwo=endsfandis 30, winchl in4 turn admit-s more or less fluid 100 to the turbine and thereby causes such regu lation of the. speed 4of the turbine as to obtain sufficient air discharge pressure from the compressor to force the proper quantity or vol.ume ofair through the air discharge conduit of the compressor. 'If the sliding'y anti-clockwise direction. This movement of volume of air beam 16 lif ts the pilot valve 32 by means of link 22, floating lever 23, rod 27 and lever 28, the floating -lever 23 pivoting on the end of link 24, and opens the valve mechanism '30 to'adinit more elastic fluid to the turbine, thus causing an increase in thespeed of the turbine and compressor. Increase of speed' `of the compressor raises the pressure ofthe discharged air and also the volume delivered -and therefore more air passes by the fioat l2O tending to 'raise thesame and placeit..

in the correct osition for the volume of air dcsired. On t c other hand, the volume increases' then the float will rise and will 1Y5tilt tlie beam '16 in the opposite direction. 'flhis motion willclose ofi' the valve mechanism 30 so as to=admit less elastic fluid to the turbine, -thus reducing the speed until 4the proper volume of air is delivered The Speed governor 26 is normally inactive, the

turbine' being wholly under the control of the constant volume governor, and only4 l comes into play to take controlin-case of l excess speed. In otherwords, 1t is some-A vwhat of the nature of an emergency govv l ernor;

v .-Thefturbine and compressor are in a hous- 'jing separate from that in which the converter is located, and it is desirable'to have -the Aoperator in the converter house control ccordance with the' needs the compressor in a Y of the converter. In other words, it is desira'ble 'to adjust the weight 18 along the beam 16 from a distance.

a worm on its shaft meshing with a worm -wheel 36 on -threaded rod 19. 'Motor 34 is ,ofthe split field type having one winding for driving it in one direction and a second 40 Winding for driving it in the opposite d1- rectionf, and in series with both windings lis a` magnetic brake 37 which when neither f inotor winding is energized brakes the motr armature shaft. The two motor windings are grounded on one side as indicated 'if-at 38, and are connected on the other side by ' conductors 39 and 40 to contacts '41 and42 .which may be connectedto a source of f'power, as indicated by .conductor 43, by

50 means of-a double-throw 'switch 44. tvopposteendsof beam larepairs of spring contacts 45 and 46, the contacts 45 being in `'conductor 39 and the contacts* 46 being in conductor40. Carried'by weight 18 is an insu- ,55- lated contact finger 47 provided on its outer ",end with wedge shaped projections 48 and'49 of suitable -insulating material. When the weight 18 reaches the end ofitsmovement toward 'the right, projection 48 enters between 60- contactl fingers 45 wed'ging them Vapart and opening the motor circuit through conductor 39, and when weight 18 reaches theend of its movement toward the left, projection 49- ente'rs between contact fingers 46' wedgi *fling them apart vandopeningthe motor cir- ,I accordingly 35 mount on the beam .16 amotor 34 which hasv cuit through conductor 40. This prevents over travel of weight 18 in either direction. Contact finger 47 travelsover a long contact .m'eniber 50 connected by conductor 51 to a i I sourceof power, indicated by line wire 52, i

and over a series of contacts 53 connected by. a cable 54 to a series of indicators 55, here shown as electricV lights, which are grounded on o ne side, as indicated at 56..v

The` indicators 55 show the position of Weight 18 on beam 16 and they -are suitably located in the converter house adjacent the switch 44. I f found desirable, suitable in- ,dices may be placed adjacent eacli indicator 55 to show the volume of flow to which it corresponds.

As is well known, under certain conditions of light load, a centrifugal compressor pulsates and to overcome this a pulsation preventing valve mechanism is pr'ovided. Suc-li for tl1rottlingtl1e inlet of the compressor, a

valve either for Wasting air from the discharge side of the compressor or for passing air from the discharge side to the nlet; or a suitable .eomb'ination'o the two. Accordino' to my invention a p valve mechanislxlnis provided together with automatic mea end a by-pass con uit 57 is provided which connects the discha fre si ilsation preventingde ofthe 'compresi s'foruactuating it s'o as to prevent theoccurr'ence 'of pulsations. .To this sor to the inlet side, and in it is a valveA 58 valve stem 60'by a b vel gearin I tor 59 is of the split eld type cbeing provided with two windi gs grounded as indi- Cfe ai; 62, one winding driving the motor.

in a direction to open the valve,- and the other in adirection tol closeit. 63 indicates adapted to be opened and closed by a' motor 59, the shaft of' whic 1 is connected to Lthe 0' 61. 0-y

a .controllerjliaving a contact arm 64 which 1s driven'by a bevel gearing' 651fromthe -valvestem 60.. 4One' winding of motor 59 is connected by a conductor 66 to a contact 67 of controller 63, and the`other winding of motor 59 is connected by-conductor 68 to a ,Actuator 73 is biased to the position shown in the drawing by-a spring 76 and is adapted 4to be moved by ajpush rod .77, th'e end of which is engaged by the weight 18 when the weight reaches a position on beam 16 at which pulsa ions are likely to occur. The

. a souce'of electrical energy, heren indicated lower end of contact arm 71 is connectedto 85 a mechanism may comprise a throttle valve w l erated to turn'the threadedrod'19`na di,

as a line wire 71a. Contact pin 74 is connect# ed byv conductor 7 8 to contactf) and contact pin 75 is connected by conductor 80 to contact 8l.: Conductors 82, 83 and 84 connect 'contacts 82?, 83a and 84a of control-ler 70 ton contacts82, 83b and S450-f controller 63, and

conductors 85, 86' and 87 connect . contacts 85, 86@ and 87ofv controller 70 tocontacts S, 86", and 87 P of controller' 63.

I` or explaining the invention it may be assumed that the turbo-blower. is bto 'pass first at a low volume 'and then the volume is graduallyincreasedliy steps, as the chemical process in the converter progresses. For example, it 'may be desirable 4to deliver in th`e`lirst instance 2500 cu. ,ftt of air'per minute: at a .pressurevof approximately@ pounds and thento increase the-volume der livered untilfa' volume of ,25,000 cu.'ft."per minute at u pressure of approximately 20 pounds -is reached.`

the draiving,.the operator in the .converter house will movel the switch 44 1nto, engave ment withV contact 41.' This will close a ircuit from line Wire 43 through the switch' 44 and conductor 39 to the motor, '34 and operated ina-direction to move the Weight, 18 toward the` left and thecircuit is kept to ground at 38, and one'ivinding ofmotor 34 will be-energizdjandthe motor` 34 oprection -to .drive" the `constant"'voluine gov,-v ernor'weight 18`toward .the right'. As it moves toward the `right the o erator b means of the indicators can t'e 1 the positi'on which -the weight has reached, the con'- tact finger 47 closing vsuccessive circuits "throught" the indicators 55,V as, isobvious.

Vhen theweight 18 has reached the position for Athedesired 'minimum .volume the.

switch -44 is opened. .v The constant voliine governing mechanism will regulate the compressor to :deliver the'- volume of lair for which the Weight `is thus set. -Novv when 'it 'is desired to increase the volume 'of air the operative movestheswitch 44 into engagement with contact 42. This closesa .circuitI from line wire 43 through switch '42 and conductor, 40 to the other ,Winding of motor 34 andto. ground-at 38.' The motor 34 is then Closed luntil .thejveighthasunoved-.the ne'cessary 'distanceJgto s et it for the volume of volumes, desired at any time.

O ccasion may vsome times arise in con- 60,

flowno'w'gdesired. This can be' repeated as .etten 4 as necessary during the process', the Weight 18.` being successiv ely set for the necti'on 'with this -apparatus when it is` 'desirable*r to' regulate the speed of motor 34 so that it will move Athe constant volume governoniveight 18 through a given range during a certain period of time. The usual`v ponverter process is such that the time rc- Assuming thatffothe: weight 18 stands inthe position showni inf 'quired to carry it' out can -be definitely as-v certained. For example,` aV given converter process may require two' hours, and during such period it may be desirable to gradually l.increasevthe volume of air delivered by the compressor to the 'converter from2500- c'u. ft. perminute to'25,000 cu. v ft. per minute.

Under these circumstances the motor 34 may be so geared to the rod 19 and its-speed so.

controlled that it will move the'iveight 18 from the minimum volume setting to the maximum volume setting in'A .exactly twoq hours. For such operation the switch 44 uvillvbc set against contact 41 continuously and need be operated by hand only when the movement of the weight' is to be stopped'for `any reason. If found desirable,a simplel rheostat control may be used ih connectioni with switch 44 whereby the speedofmotoif` 84 may, be regulated, or other suitable means may beprovided. It will be underz `stood that the tigures abovefgiveii are only by way of illustration and arenot tobe taken asin anyway. limiting my invention. WhenA4 the consta-nt volume. governor` weight 18 is molvednto the llight., ,to Such a, I .A point that the volume to be delivered-is so smallA that pulsations -areflikly to occupy.

the weightl strikes the' end, of `rod .77 and pushes it toward theright', thuslturning tlieactuator 7;nonV theshaft72.- Thefirst movement of .actuator73 'moves the Contact and the Contact pin x7 5 into engagement there-v withtvv Thiscioses a circuit'from line wire 71"A through contact pin 75, conductor,- 80,

contact-81, the en d of contact arm 71, contac-tf 74 out of engagement withcontact arm 71.

iop

", wire 85, `Contact 85", thee'nd of contact'v I arm 64, c'ontaot67, conductor, and one winding ofwmotor 59 to grougdat- 62# This .105' operates the motor 5'9in a dirtion tol open valvef58. As the valve 58 begins to open the stem 60 through gearing 65 moves the.

contact a'rm 64 of controller -\63 in a. clock Wise direction until its upper end moves .from engagement with contact 8,5b into engagement withv contact 8.6".` This opens the `circuit through 'motor 59 and leaves the I u yet smaller volume, then the contact pin 'i 5, which 1s now 1n engagement'with contact Varm 71, 'will movelitjn amanti-clockwise toward th right t'o set the compressor'for 12o direction bringing the end'of it into engage- 5" lows: from line Wire 71, contact'75, conduc- 'tor 80, contact`81,'end of. ontact arm 71,

ment with contacts 83a and'SG". This again.1'25

closes the'circu'itthrough motor 59 asl folend of contact arm 64, contact 67, conductor- ,66 and the one-.winding of motor 59 toV ground at 62.

This causes the motor 59 to operate to further open the valve 58 uncausing the valve 58 to be opened still' In case the constant volume gov-A further. ernor weight 18 is moved toward thel left the spring 76 will cause the actuator 73 to move in a clockwise direction, the rod 77 following the movement of the weight 18.

This will iirst'move the contact pin 75 out of engagement with contact arm 71, and the 'contact pin 74 into engagement therewith: If we assume, for example, that the Contact' engagement l and that' contact.

arm 71 'has been moved into With contacts 84a.and 87a .arm 6.4 has been moved 'into engagement tion. At the same time,

with contact 84:", then when contact pin 74 engages 'arm 71 a`circuit will be closed as follows: from line wii'e 71, contact pin 74, conductor 78, contact 79,

of contact arm 64, contact 69, conductor 68, the other Winding of motor v59 to ground at 62. This will operate motor 59 in a direction to move valve 58 toward closed posibe moved in a counter-clockwise direction, and as soon as 1t passes from engagement with Contact 84h into engagement with con- 'tact 83", the motor circuit will be opened and the movement of valve 58 toward closed -positlon will cease. Now, upon further successive movements of Weight 18 toward the left, the arm 71 will be moved first into en- I' gagement with contact 83 and then into engagement with contact 82a closing sucdessive circuits through motor 59 and moving the valve 58 back to closed position. By this arrangement thepulsation preventing valve 58 -Will be automatically operated to prevent the occurrence of pulsations.

i With my improved system it will be seen that the operator in the converter house lhas the centrifugal compressor completely under his control, and thathe can regulate' it'to carry outany desired process with accuracy and expedition.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principled-f operation of my. invention,`together withthe apparatus which I now consider to represent Vthe best emb'odimentithereof;

nism. I 3. In combination,centrifugal compres'` sor, a constant volume governor mechanism intermediate portion of contact arm 71, contact 84, con` duetor-84, contact 84", intermediate portion contact arm 64 will apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can' be carried out by other means. I'

'but I desii'e to have iti-understood that the Y What I claim as new and desire to securei by Letters Patent of the United States, is -z 1. In combination, a centrifugalj'comtherefor, a motor for setting it, means cated at a point remote from the compressor for controlling the motor, means for indicating at suoli point the setting of the governor mechanism', a pulsation preventing. valve mechanism, and automatic means-controlled by the setting -of 'th'e' volume governor mechanism for controlling said valve mechatherefor, comprising a beam and a Weight,

an electric motor for adjusting the' weight along the beam, a switch located remote from said compressor for controllin he* motor, and an automatic electric indie. located adjacent said switch and actuated by said weight for indicating the adjustment ofthe constant volume governor weight.

4. In combination, acentrifugal compressor, a constant volume governoi'-mechanism ltherefor, comprising a beam and' a Wei ht,

an electric motor for adjusting the weight along the beam, a switch located remote from said compressor for controllin the motor, an electric indicator located adjacent said switch for-indicating the adjustment of the constant volume governor weight, a pulsation preventing valve mechanism, and

means actuatedby the setting of said Weight for controlling said valve mechanism.

5. In combination, a centrifugal compressor, aconstant volumegovernor mechanism therefor, comprising a beam and a weight, an electric motor for adjusting the weight along the beam, a switch located remote from said compressor for controlling. the motor, an electric indicator located adjacent Said switch for indicating the adjustment of the constant volume governor weight, and means for automatically opening the motor ciiciiit\\v11en the governor weight reaches an extreme position.

'a pulsation preventing -valve mechanism therefor, an electric motor for o erating it a constant volume overnoi` mec anism for the compressor, a Ameans actuated by the setting of said volume governor mechanism' for `controlling `the motor of said pulsation preventing Va ve mechanism. Y

7. In a system of the character described,

v the combination of acentrifugal compressor, a pulsatlon preventmg valve` mechamsm therefor, an electric motor for operating it, aconstant volume governormechamsm for thecompressor compr1sing a beam and a. weight adjustable thereon, and means actuactuatedl by -the 'setting' offsaid governor mechanism for controlling said` pulsation I )reventmg valve mechanism.

9. In comblnation, a converter, a centrifugal compressor located remote from the con verter for supplying air thereto, a constant volume'governor for the compressor comprismg a beam and a weight, a motor for ad]ustmg the weight, a switch located adjacent the converter for controlling said motor and electrical indicating means located adjacent the converter and controlled by said weight for indicatlng the posltion of the weight on the beam.

10. In combination, a converter, a centrifugal compressor located remote from the -converter for supplying air thereto, a consta-nt volume governor for the compressor compi-15mg a beam and a weight, a motor for adjustmg thewveight, a switch-located 'adjacent the .converter for controlling said A motor, means for automatically o enmg the motor circuits when said Weig it reaches -either of its extreme positions and electrical indicating means located adjacent tlleLcon-l verter and controlled' by said weight for 1ndicating the'position of the Weight on the,

beam'. :Il

11. lIn combination, a converter, a centrifugal compressor located remote from the converter for supplying air thereto, a constant volume governor for the compressor comrising a beam and a weight, a moto'r for. ad-

justing the weight, a switch locatedhzidjacent the converter. for. controlling saidimotor, electrical indicating means located'adj acent the converter and controlled by said Weight for indicating theposition of the Weight on the beam, a pulsation preventing valve mechanism, and means controlled by the movement of said weight for automatically controlling it.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set -my hand this eighth day of March, 1918.

LOUIS o. LoEWENsTEIN.'

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