US1328984A - Controlling device for compressors - Google Patents

Description

514w Mfoz Patented J an. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. CONRADER. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR COMPRESSORS. I APPLICATION FILE D DEC-26, I916- 1,328,984, Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

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RUDOLPH CONRADER, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR COMPRESSORS.

Application filed December 26, 1916.

In controlling compressors it has beencommon to control the steam supply .by a governor sensitive to speed and to pressure, commonly called compressor governors. It has also been common to supply such cornpressors with an unloader or a relief device, which upon a predetermined pressure will stop the pumping action without stopping the compressor, or will modify the pumping action so that a greater or less amount may be pumped. During this period when the unloader is in operation the compressor runs light or less than load. It is desirable, therefore, to have the steam supply cut down promptly so that it will drive the compressor in accordance 'with the operation of the relief device and in proper sequence to the unloading.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a compressor.

Fig. 2 a central section of a relief device or unloader.

Fig. 3 a central section of a compressor governor.

1 marks the compressor cylinder, 2 the intake pipe, 3 the discharge pipe, 4 the re-- ceiver, 5 the engine cylinder, 6 the steam pipe to the engine, 7 a compressor governor. 8 a pipe from the receiver to the compressor governor, 9 a relief device and 10 a pipe from the receiver to the relief device. These features so far described may be of common construction. As shown the compressor governor corresponds to, a governor patented by me Nov. 22nd. 1904, #775,391 and the relief device corresponds to a relief device patented by me June 28th, 1910, #962,551. The relief device com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 138,747.

prises the valve body 11- with the passage 12 therein, the Valve 13 opening and closing the passage 12. The valve is carried by a stem 14 terminating in a head 15. A spring 16 is tensioned between the head 15 and a yoke 15 and tends to hold the valve in open position. The head 15 is seated on the piston 17. The piston 17 operates in a cylinder 18. The cylinder 18 is mounted in an extension 19 on the valve body. The cylinder communicates by way of a. pipe 20 with the intensifying chamber 21. A controlling passage 22 leads to the chamber 21 and this is controlled by a needle valve 23. The needle valve 23 is carried by a piston 24. The piston 24 is arranged in a cylinder 25. A spring 24 tends to close the needle valve. The pipe 10 leads to the chamber 21 so that it is subjected to receiver pressure. This device operates in the man-' ner described in my former patent. When the pressure reaches a predetermined point, it overcomes the spring 24 and moves the piston 24 opening the valve 23. The air passes into the chamber 21 and from thence into the cylinder 18. When the pressure is reduced, the valve 23 closes and the-air in the chamber 21 and cylinder exhaust through a minute opening 26. The unloader or relief device operates differently depending on the end nearest the intake. If the air passes through from the right to left, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve 13 closes gradually. Where this is the operation. the leak 26 is such that operating in relation to the valve 23 there is a wide range of pressure on thepiston and a nice regulation so that the relief device here graduates the pumping action. If the air passes from the left to right at the intake, as soon as the valve 13 starts to close. it completely closes by reason of the air current or action of the air upon the valve itself. the air passing through a spider 1.) by means of the opening 27 to facilitate this purpose. This action is fully described in my patent above referred to. r

The compressor governor has the valve bodv 28 which is connected on the steam pipe 6, the valve 29 operating therein. A stem 30 extends from the valve 29 to the step bearing 31. A spindle 32 extends from the step bearing 31 to the cross head 33. Links 34 connect the cross head with the weights 35. The weights are pivoted on the carrier 36 by means of pins The carrier is journaled in a bearing 37 in the frame 38. A gear 39 on the lower end of the bearing meshes a gear 40 on the shaft 41. The shaft 41 is mounted in a bearing 42 and a pulley 43 is arranged to be driven from the engine. A lever 44 is pivoted on a pin 45, the pin 45 being mounted in the frame. The end 46 of the lever 44 operates in aslot in the step bearing 31. The opposite end 47 of the lever is secured to a rod 48. The rod 48 extends upwardly through a nut-49 arranged in the upper end of a movable frame 49. A spring 50 is tensioned between the nut 49 and a shoulder 48 at the lower end of the rod.

This forms the centripetal element of the governor. The frame is held in its lower position up to a certain air pressure by the springs 51, these springs being secured to the arms 52 on the frame and to the arms 53 extending each side of the pressure cylinder 54. A stem 55 extends from the frame into the cylinder and operates against a piston 56. Air is admitted through the passage 57 from the chamber 58 and to the chamber 58 by the passage 59. The passage 59 is controlled by a needle valve 60. The needle valve is carried by a piston 61 which operates in a cylinder 62. A stem 63 extends from the piston and rests against a lever 64. The lever is pivoted on a pin 65 and has an arm 66 on which a weight 66 is arranged. The weighted lever, therefore, opposes the movement of the piston. It is also opposed by a spring 67. The air is admitted to the cylinder 62 from the-pi e 8 and when the pressure reaches a cer ain point, it moves the piston so as to open the needle valve and as the air goes into the chamber 58, the piston 56 is gradually moved upwardly, thus changing the centripetal element, and changing the normal speed of the governor, bringing it down to the lower speeds in the control of the compressor.

In order to intensify the change of pressure in the receiver a leak 68 is provided in the chamber 58 and the relative proportions between the leak 68 and the opening formed by the valve 60 make a wide range in variation in pressure with a slight range of variation in the receiver. This is fully explained in my patent above referred to. So far these parts are as heretofore constructed.

It is desirable to bring the governor valve to a predetermined position when the unloader operates, or to have it operate in exact accordance with the unloader so that the steam will be introduced in accordance with the load. I accomplish this by the following mechanism: An extension'69 is ar ranged on the lever 44. The end of this -lever extends into a pocket or strap 70 at the upper end of the stem 71. The stem 71 is secured to a piston 72. The piston 72 operates in a cylinder 73. A pipe 74 connects the cylinder 73 with the intake 2 between the relief device or unloader and the compressor cylinder.

Vhen the unloader or relief device operates it creates a vacuum or partial vacuum in the intake 2. This is communicated through'the pipe 74 with the cylinder 73, thus reducing the pressure above the piston. The air pressure below the piston then moves it upwardly. This carries the stem 71 and with it the outer end of the lever 44 upwardly. This closes the valve. Where the unloader is set to operate abruptly this movement takes place abruptly but where it is set to regulate, this movement may be regulated accordingly. lVhen the unloader is thrown out so that the valve 13 is open the air in the intake approximates atmospheric pressure.- The springs 50 of the governor immediately return the piston 72 to some intermediate position.

In order to accurately. adjust the minimum opening to which the valve may be moved I form the screw 76 as an extension of the stem 71 and place a nut 77 on this screw. This nut may be adjusted so that in the upward movement of the piston it contacts the end of the cylinder and thus forms a stop at the desired position.

In order to retard abrupt actions I prefer to provide a small opening between the pipe 74 and the cylinder 73. This opening while large enough to communicate promptly any variations of pressure in the intake pipe gives to the cylinder more or less of a dash pot effect for setting the governor.

. What I claim as new is 1. In a controlling device for compressors, the combinationbf a compressor governor comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element influencing the valve, and a fluid actuated pressure device influencing the valve, with a compressor intake, a relief device on the intake, a motor acting on said valve, and a connection between the intake and the motor whereby the governor is influenced in accordance with the operation of the relief device.

2. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element influencing the valve, and a fluid actuated pressure device influencing the valve, with a compressor intake, a relief device on the intake, a motor acting on said valve to move it to a minimum opening. and a connection between the intake and the motor whereby the governor is influenced in accordance with the operation of the relief device.

3. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor, comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element, and a fluid actuated pressure element influencing the valve with a relief device, a

motor acting on said valve, and a connection leading from the motor controlled by the relief device.

' 4. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor,

.comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element, and a fluid actuated pressure element influencing the valve, with a relief device,'a motor acting on said valve, a connection leading from the motor controlled by the relief device, and means for retarding the action of the motor.

5. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor, comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element, and a fluid actuated pressure element influencing the" valve with-a relief device, a motor acting on said valve, a connection leading from the motor controlled by the re lief device and means for retarding the action of the motor, comprising a restricted opening through which fluid moves as the motor is moved.

6. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element influencing the valve, and a fluid actuated pressure device influencing the valve, with a compressor intake, a relief device on the intake, a motor acting on said valve, a connection between the intake and the motor whereby the governor is influenced in accordance with the operation of the relief device and means for retarding the movement of air between the intake and the motor.

7. In a controlling device for compressors, the combination of a compressor governor comprising a valve, a speed sensitive element influencing the valve, and a fluid actuated pressure device influencing the valve,

with a compressor intake, a relief device on the intake, a motor acting on said valve, a connection between the intake and the motor whereby the governor is influenced in ac-- cordance with the operation of the relief device, and meansfor retarding the movement of air between theintake and the motor, comprising a restricted opening through which fluid moves as the motor is moved.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH CONRADER.

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