US1394819A

US1394819A - Compressor-controlling mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1394819A
Application number: US172316A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander D Ferguson
Original assignee: Sullivan Machinery Co
Current assignee: Sullivan Machinery Co
Priority date: 1917-06-01
Filing date: 1917-06-01
Publication date: 1921-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1938-10-25

Description

A. D. FERGUSON.

COMPRESSOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1917.

1,394,819. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PArENr oFFIcE.

ALEXANDER D. FERGUSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO SO'LI-IVAN MACHINERY'COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

oomrnnssonroonrnomme imonam'su Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, ALEXANDER D. FER- GUSON, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Chicago, in the countyof Uook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressor- Controlling Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to compressor con.- trollmg mechanisms.

It has for its object to control the several controlling elements of a compressor and its driving element in an improved manner whereby the compressor may function automatically and efiiciently at varying speeds and under different service conditions. A more specific object of my invention is to provide improved controlling mechanism for a compressor driven by a steam engine, whereby the valves of the engine are controlled in such a manner that the steam consumption is materially reduced when the compressor is completely unloaded. A fur ther object of my invention is to provide an improved regulating mechanism wherebythe speed of. the compressor driving engine is automatically regulated in accordance with service requirements and improved co- .Ii

operating mechanism for controlling this regulating mechanism in accordance with the requirements of the compressor. 7

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the same in connection with a steam driven compressor of the Corliss type. t f

In these drawings,--' t Figure l'is a side elevation, partially in section, of the compressor equipped with my In my improved construction I have proimprovement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through a' portion of the controlling mechanis Fig. 3. is a detail view showing thezmain V unloading valve for the compressor intake and the controlling connections therefor.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown-a compressor having a low pressure cylinder 1 and a high pressure cylinder 2 ese' cylinders being connected in the usua manner by an intercooler '3 and preferably having their pistons (not shown)- connectedto and'driven'by a suitablepiston rod 4.- alsT) Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

1917. Serial No. 172,816..

having pistons (not shown) disposed in the high and low pressure steam cylinders 5 and 6 of a suitable steam engine, this rod 4 also being connected through a suitable connection 7 with the compressor flywheel 8 in a well known manner. As shown, each ofthe engine 0 linders is provided with a plurality of a mission and exhaust valve mechanisms 9, 10, the several valves being controlled through suitable valve operating gear of the Corliss type including the oscillating members 11, 12, suitably con-v nected together by a rod 13 and also connected through a suitable connection 14 with the compressor flywheel 8. As in the usual Corliss construction, the valve ar shown in this illustrative construction s also connected through suitable cut-off controlling connections 16, 17, 18,19 with crank mechanism 20 controlled by an engine speed controlling ball governor 21 driven,from any suitable movin part of the eng ne, as by a pulley and'be t connection 22. As usual, an unloading valve 23 is also provided on the low pressure cylinder of the compressor to control the supply of air through the compressor intake, this unloadin valve preferably being normally held openliy a spring mechaism 24 and closed by fluid pressure supplied from the receiver 25 through a pipe connection 26 the flow of fluid pressure being'controlled by an unloader controlling mechanism 27 of an .well known construction, such as that o the Jarecki or Judson type adapted only to supply fluid to close t e valve and hold the same closed while the pressure in the receiver 25 exceeds a predetermined amount. The mode of operation of this device'is similar-in principle to that shown in the patent to J. L. Osborne, 1,141,- 975, June 18, 1915.

vided an improved supplemental re lator cooperating with the controllingmec anism 27 and with the speed controlling mechanism further to regulate the operation of the compressor, and especially adapted to 1 reduce the speed and steam consumption of the compressor drivin engine when the compressor is complete y unloaded. As

shown, this regulator includes a c 'linder 28 located below the governor 21. n this cylinder 'is reciprocably mounted an upwardly projecting .sleeve 29 in which istelescopically carried a rod or stem 30 piv- .lower end of the sleeve 29 and normally held in depressed position at the bottom of the cylinder 28 by a coiled spring 34 disposed about the sleeve. As shown, this cylinder 28 has communication through a pipe 35 with a suitable space wherein the pressure is decreased after the closure of the unloading valve 23, z. e., after a predetermined increase in pressure in the receiver 25. In the preferred form shown herein, the same is connected to the intercooler 4, a suitable check valve 36 being inserted in the pipe to prevent the intercooler pressure from entering the cylinder. As shown, an adjusting screw 37 also extends into the cylinder 28 m such a manner as to limit the movement thereinof the piston 33 and enable the movement of the latter to be regulated as desired, from a point exterior to the cylinder. Disposed within the sleeve 29 and beneath the rod or stem 30, connected to the ball governor 21, is another rod 38 which extends downwardly through a member 39 forming the bottom of the cylinder 28 and the top of a smaller lower cylinder 40. This rod 38 in turn carries a piston 41 on its lower end, a coiled spring 42 being disposed about this rod in such a manner that it preferably always acts between the upper end of the cylinder 40 and the upper surface of the piston 41 to depress the piston to the position shown in ig. 2. Connected to thls cylinder 40 and preferably at the bottom thereof, is a suitable connection 43 which extends to the receiver 25, a suitable pilot valve, illustrated "connection 35 may be controlled by a suitable stop cook 45. It will be evident also that an ordinary pop safety valve could be used at 44 and a continuously open vent provided in the cylinder 40 below the piston 41, and that by reason of leakage past the piston 41 and out around the rod 38, a separate vent .could even be dispensed with.

In' the use of my improved regulator, it will be noted that when the pressure in the receiver 25 rises to a predetermined point depending on the air pressure desired, air will be admitted therefrom through the pop or pilot valve 44 under the piston 41. As a result, this piston will riseagainst the tension of its spring 42 and thereby lift the rod 38, the rod 30, and the crank cylinder 40 and thereby permit the crank I 20 to drop to lengthen the cut-off and increase the speed of the compressor. If, on the other hand, the receiver pressure should continue to rise despite the fact that the compressor through the action of the regulator'above described had been caused to run at slow speed, the unloading valve 23 would then be operated through its unloader mechanism 27 in such a manner as to shut off thesupply of air to the compressor. Under such circumstances, a par tial vacuum would soon be formed in the intercooler 3 and, as the pipe 35 is connected between the latter and the cylinder 28, a like pressure change would result in that cylinder. Consequently, the pressure above the piston 33 which, due to leakage is ordinarily the same as that of the atmosphere, would then be relieved and thereupon the iston 33 would rise, picking up and carrying the rod 30 with it to a still higher position. As a result of this movement, the compressor will be slowed down almost to the stopping point due to the shortening of the engine cut-ofi", but as the same is unloaded at the time, the shorter cut-off of the steam valves is sufiicient to keep the machine turning over slowly. Here it will be evident that, if desired, the ad- {pstable member 37 may also be used to 'mit the amount of movement of the piston 33, and therefore of the rod 30, in such a manner that any desired length of cutoff may be obtained. As the machine slows down as a result of this upward movement of the rod 30 and the consequent action of the cut-off valves, the rod 30' will obviously be supported upon the upper end of the rod 29, held up by the piston 33. Thereafter, the speed of the compressor as a result will be controlled by the vacuum in the intercooler until the receiver pressure drops to a point below the point where the unloading valve 2&opens to admit air to the machine. -When this occurs, however, due to inrush of air following the opening of this valve 23, the vacuum in the machine will, of course, be destroyed, and as a result the iston33 will drop to the bottom of its cy inder 28 in such a manner as to permit the lowering of the rod 30 and the lengthening of the cut-off of the steam valves 9, and thereby cause the compressor the intercooler 3 as shown,

to be speeded up sufiiciently to carry the load. Thereafter the speed of the compressor will again be controlled by the receiver pressure supplied to the cylinder 40 until the receiver pressure drops sufiiciently to close the pop valve 44:, whereupon the piston/l1 will drop to the bottom of the cylinder 36 and the compressor will be speeded up until the ball governor 21 goes into action.

Obviously, in the use of my improved regulator, instead of connecting the pipe 35 to the same may be connected to any suitable point wherein a vacuum is formed upon the closure of the unloading valve 23, this pipe preferably being connected at any suitable point on the inner side of that valve. It will also be obvious that, if desired, when the pipe is thus connected, the necessity for providing a check valve in the pipe 35 will be overa come. In connection with my improved regulator, attention is also directed to the fact that an independent operation of the governor, the pressure governor, and t e vacuum governor, is permitted, the several mechanisms operating in the desired sequence in such a manner as to cause the engine and compressor to be operated with great accuracy and efficiency as conditions vary. Attention is also directed to the fact that through my improved construction the regulating means is rendered exceedingly simple and of a type readily adapted to be applied with small changes to a machine of standard construction, and manufactured at small expense. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have, cally described 1nvention may assume in practice, it is to be understood that the form thereof shown in this application, specifiherein is used only for purposes of il1us-' tration and that the invention may be modis fied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit, it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a compressor, and driving means therefor of the expansiblechamber type, comprising motive fluid distributing mechanism and a plurality of means sequentially controlling said distributing mechanism and controlled by compressor discharge pressure at different intensities thereof to vary thespeed of said compre sor.

2. In combination, a compressor, and driving means therefor of the expansible chamber type comprising motive fluid distributand desire to secure one embodiment which my mechanism and a plurality of means controlling said distributing mechanism and sequentially controlled by compressor discharge pressure variations to successively reduce the power consumption of said driving means.

3. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, and means for controlling the speed of said driving engine comprising-a plurality of means whose operation is controlled by compressor discharge pressure in excess of a predetermined desired discharge pressure, one or more of said means being operative dependent on the degree of such excess.

4. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, and means successively operable to govern the speed of said engine, said means being controlled by com pressor discharge pressure when the latter is in excess of a predetermined desired dis charge pressure, one or more of said means being operative dependent on the degree of such excess.

5. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, and means operableto govern the speed of said engine, said means being successively controlled by compressor discharge pressure in excess, by different amounts, of a predetermined desired discharge pressure.

6. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, and means successively operable to govern the speed of said engine, said means being controlled by compressor discharge pressure in excess of a predetermined-desired maximum and one of said means being actuated also by compressor discharge pressure, one or more of said means being operated according to the degree of excess of compressor discharge pressure above said maximum.

7. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, and means successivcly operable to control the speed of said engine, one of said means being operated upon a rise of compressor discharge pressure above a predetermined desired maximum to slacken the speed of said engine and the other being similarly operative upon further rise of said pressure,

8. In combination with a compressor, a

compressor driving engine, means for controlling the speed of operation'of said engine comprising aamember operable in one direction to increase the speed of said engine and in an opposite direction to retard the speed, and a plurality of coaxially arranged means cooperating with said member and controlled by variations in compressor discharge pressure in excess of a predetermined amount. 7

9. In combination with a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve,

, controlling means for said intake controlling in pressure conditions after closure of the,

valve, a compressor driving engine, and means for controlling the speed of said engine comprising mechanism responsive to the pressure developed by said compressor in excess of a predetermined amount and independent mechanism responsive to changes compressor intake controlling valve.

10. In combination with a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, controlling means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, means operable to govern the speed of said engine, and a plurality of controlling means therefor comprising means responsive directly to com pressor discharge pressure above a predetermined amount and to changes in pressure conditions in said compressor system after closureof the intake controlling valve.

11. In combination witha compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, controlling means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, means for controlling the speed of said engine, a receiver, and coiiperating means respectively responsive to changes in receiver pressure and to vacuum condltions in said compressor resulting from closure of said intake valve for controlling the speed of the engine.

12. In combination, a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, controlling'means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, a receiver, and cooperating means responsive respectively directly to changes in receiver pressure, and to changes in pressure in said compressor system resulting from closure of the intake valve to change the speed of said compressor driving engine, said means being sequential in operation.

13. In an apparatus of the character described,-the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, controlling means for said valve,

.a compressor driving engine, cut-01f mechanism therefor,'and a plurality of means responslve respectively .to the pressure developed by sid compressor, and to changes in pressure conditions therein after closure of sa d valve each controlling the oneratlon of said cut-ofi' mechanism.

' 1 4. In an apparatus of the -character descrlbed, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, controlling means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-off mechanism therefor, and cooperating independentlyopei'able'means responsive to the pres-a3 sure developed by said compressor and'to changes in pressure conditions therein after T closure of said intake valve for controlling the operation of said cutofi mechanism.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a com pressor having an intake, an intake controlnae-gem ling valve, a compressor driving engine, cutoff mechanism therefor, a receiver, ressure responsive controlling means for sai intake valve connected to said receiver and independent sequentially operative means responsive to changes in receiver pressure and to a vacuum condition in said compressor resulting from closure of said intake valve for controllingthe speed of said engine.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a compressor driving engine, cutoff mechanism therefor, a receiver, pressure responsive controlling means for, said intake valve connected to said receiver, and cooperating independently operable means responsive respectively to changes in receiver pressure and to a vacuum condition in said com pressor resulting from closure of said intake valve for controlling the speed of said en- 1 7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a com.- pressor having. an intake, an intake controlling valve, a compressor idriving engine, pressure responsive means for reducing the speed of said engine prior to closure of said intake controlling valve, means'for controlling said intake controlling valve, and automatically acting means for further reducing the speed of Said engine when said compres-' sor is completely unloaded.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a-compressor driving engine, pressure responsive means for reducing the speed of said engine to decrease the quantity of fluid compressed, pressure responsive means for controlling said intake controlling valve, and automatically acting means for further reducing the speed of said engine when said compressor is completely unloaded.

19. In an apparatus .of the character described, the combination com rising a compressor having an intake,.a n intake controlling valve, a compressor driving engine, pressure responsive means for reducing the speed of said engine prior to unloading said compressor, pressure responsive means for controlling said intake controlling valve,

and pressure controlled automatically acting arising, from shutting off the air supply to mechanism, and cooperating independently.

means being operatlve dependent on receiver pressure Variations.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means responsive to receiver pressure for shutting off the air supply to said compressor, a compressor driving engine, means responsive to receiver pressure for controlling the speed thereof, and cooperating independently movable means responsive to pressure conditions arising from shutting off the air supply to said compressor for further reducing the speed of said engine.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means respon-. s1ve to recelver pressure for shutting off the air supply to said compressor, a compressor driving engine, means actuated by receiver pressure for controlling the speed of operation thereof, means responsive to pressure conditions arising from shutting off the air supply to said compressor for further reducing the speed of said engine, and means for controlling'the speed reduction obtained thereby.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means res onsive to "receiver pressure for shutting o the air supply to said compressor, a compressor driving engine, cut-01f valve mechanism therefor, means actuated by receiver pressure for actuating said cut-off valve mechanism, and means responsive to ressure conditlons arising from shutting o the air supply to said compressor for further actuating said cut-ofi-valve mechanism.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a com pressor, a receiver therefor, means responsive to receiver pressure for shutting off the air supply to .said compressor, a compressor driving engine, cut-off valve mechanism therefor, means responsive to receiver pressure for actuating said cut-ofi' valve movable means responsive to pressure con ditions arising fromshutting'ofl the air supply to said compressor for further actuatmg said cut-ofi valve mechanism.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means res onsive, to receiver pressure for shutting o the air supply to sa d compressor, a com ressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mec anism therefor, means directly responsive to receiver pressure for actuating said cut-0E valve mechanism, means responsive to pressure conditions arising from shutting off the-air supply to said compressor for further actuatin said cut-01f valve mechanism, and means or controlling the speed reduction obtained thereby.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mechanism therefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, one connected to said cut-ofi mechanism, means for operating one of said members responsive to changes in receiver pressure and actuated thereby, and means for operating the other responsive to changes in pressure conditions arising from the closure of said intake valve.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi' valve mechanism therefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, one connected to said cut-off mechanism, normally inoperative means responsive to re ceiver pressure for actuating one of said members, and normally inoperative means responsive to changes in pressure conditions resulting from the closure of said intake 'valve for actuating the other of said mem .bers.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, anintake control-' ling valve, a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-off sponsive to changes in-pressure conditions resulting. from the closure of said intake valve for actuating the other of said members, and means for varying the rangeof movement of one of said members.

29., In an apparatus of the character de- I scribed, the combination comprising'a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a com ressor driving engine, cut-ofl' valve mechamsm therefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, one connected to said 'cut-ofi mechanism, means responsive to receiver pressure for actuating one of said members, andmeans responsive to sressure changes arising from closure of sai intake valve and having a v sleeve through which each of said members is reci rocab e, said sleeve being engageable with t e other of said members in a prede termined position thereof.

30. In an apparatus of scribed, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, a. receiver, pressure actuated means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-off valve mechanism therefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, one connected to said cut-off mechanism, means including a normally inoperative pressure actuated piston responsive to receiver pressure for actuating one of said members, and means responsive to pressure conditions arising from closure of said intake valve including a normally inoperative piston having a sleeve throu h which each of said members is reciprocab c, said sleeve being engageable with the other of said members in a predetermined position thereof.

31. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an intake control ling valve, a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controlling said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mechanism therefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, one connected to said cut-ofi mechanism, means including a normally inoperative pressure actuated piston responsive to re' ceiver pressure for actuating one of said members, means responsive to ressure conditions arising from closure 0 said intake valve including a normally inoperative piston having a sleeve through which each of said -members is reciprocable, said sleeve being engageable with the other of said members in a predetermined position thereof, and means for adjusting the range of movement of said last mentioned piston.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising a multist e compressor having an intercooler and an lntake, an intake controlling valve, a compressor driving engine, and means connected to said intercooler responsive to changes in pressure conditions in said compressor upon the character de-v closure of said intake controlling valve for effecting a delayed controlling of the speed of said engine.

33. In an apparatus of the character'described, the combination comprising a compressor having an intake, an lntake controlling valve, pressure responsive means for contro ling the same, a compressor driving engine, cut-oif mechanism therefor, and means responsive to changes in pressure conditions on the outlet side of said compressor arising from the closure of said intake valve for effecting a delayed controlling of said outolf valve mechanism.

34. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising a compressor element having an intake, means for closing said intake to. unload said compressor, a compressor driving engine and means responsive to a change in pressure conditions between two of said stages upon closure of said intake for controlling the speed of said engine.

35. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising a compressor element having an intake, an intake controlling valve, an intercooler between two of said sta es a com ressor drivin en e and means responsive to a change in pressure condition in said intercooler for controlling the speed of said engine.

' 36. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising a compressor element having an intake, means for closing said intake to unload said compressor, a compressor driving engine and means responsive to a change in pressure conditions between two of said stages upon closure of said intake for effecting a delayed controlling of the speed of 'said engine.