US1407810A - Supervisory mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

NA NW UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFlCE.

CHARLES E. RENSI'IAW, OF EAST GRANGE, NEW" 5 Eli/SE1; .AESEGNGR TO NEWMAN CLOCK COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK,

N. L, A COR'PQBATIQN OF NEjI-T YORK.

SUPERVISOITJY HIECI-IANISM.

Application filed May 2 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Rnnsrmw, a citizen of the United States, residing East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supervisory Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Valves for controlling the flow of fluids are in such common use that they form a component part of practically every mechanical equipment in general use. Under certain conditions it is essential that they should remain open or remain closed at all times except for making repairs, extensions or for other recognized purposes; and it is a well recognized fact that loss of life and great damage has resulted/through oversight or design in permitting valves to remain closed when their normal position should be open, and vice versa...

The invention which constitutes the subject matter of this application relates to supervisory mechanism, specifically described in connection with sprinkler systems. The use of automatic sprinkler systems is com ing more and more into vogue, but like all other systems of water distribution the valves at times must necessarily be closed temporarily in order to eflfect repairs, to prevent freezing, and for many other purposes. There has been and is a tendency on the part of workmen toleave one or more of the valves closed, thereby putting a part or the whole of the system completely out of commission with a result of considerable losses in cases of fire. 7

My invention therefore has to do with a mechanism for controlling access to a receptacle or other device, which contains an instrument for producing a record upon the record dial of a watchmans clock, or for operating a signal at a central station, one

of the important features of which resides in the specific form of mechanism connecting the valve with the box containing the record producing instrument. As one specific application of my invention I shall describe the same in connection with a receptacle which contains a magneto or similar device which, when operated, 1s capable of ,sending an electrical impulse over a wire to a central station to make a record or operate a suitable signal. That is to say when the valve is open, as it normally Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Feb. 28, 1922.

1918. Serial no. 235,431.

should be, access may be had to the magneto, but if the valve is closed or partly so, the magneto is inaccessible. As each of these valves is equipped with a magneto box impulses may be sent at stated intervals to a central station, which indicate the times at which the station was visited. So long as these signals are actuated or the records made at the required intervals, it is a sure indication that the valves at those particular times were opened. But if the signals are not actuated it is an equally sure indication that the valves at that particular time were not in normal position. Of course if it is a part of the watchmans duty to open the valve, or more accurately speaking to move it back to normal position, he could then send the necessary impulse over the wire to the central station.

Another feature of my invention consists in providing a device of the kind described whereby the magneto box may be located at variable distances from the valve to which it is connected.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, certain parts being in section to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the magneto box.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates the water supply to the sprinkler coming from any suitable pipe (not shown). Located in this supply is a valve 11 provided with a yoke 12, a threaded sleeve 13 rotatably mounted in the yoke, a valve stem 14: screw-threaded to the sleeve, and a manipulating handle 15 fixed to the sleeve 13 and adapted to rotate the same in order to impart a longitudinal movement to the valve-stem 141: and the gate valve (not shown) attached thereto.

The mechanism just described is old and Well known and I make no claim thereto, except as it constitutes or is an element of the combination.

Located in proximity to the valve just described is the controlling mechanism which comprises a pipe or tubular member 16. screwthreaded or otherwise connected to the supply 10 on the one hand and to the case 17 on the other, and this pipe, in conjunction with the passages 18 and 19 in said casin establishes a connection between said supply 10 and the chamber 20. Separating the passages 18 and 19 is a valve 21 held normally, closed by means of the swing 22 encircling the stem 23, and within the chamber 20 is a plunger 24 normally held in the position illustrated by means of'the spring 25 surrounding the stem 26 upon the outer end of which is a flexible rod 27 screwthreaded or otherwise attached thereto. Connecting the passage 19 with the exterior are one or more bleed ports 28 adapted to be closed by means of a valve 29, provided with a stem 30 and spring 31. Pivoted at 32 to a bracket 33 is a lever one arm 34 of which is adapted to engage the outer end of the stem 23 and the other arm of which is adapted to engage the outer end of the stem 30.

Also pivoted at 36 to the bracket 33 is a bell crank lever one arm 37 of which is adapted to bear against arm 34 of lever 34-35 and the other arm 38 of which is provided with an antifriction roller 40 normally engaging in a recess 41 cut in the valve stem 14. It will, therefore, be obvious that if the stem 14 is moved in a direction to close the valve attached thereto a countor-clockwise movement will be imparted to the lever 37-38. This will also result in imparting a counterclockwise movement to the arm 34-35 thereby positively opening the valve 21 and permitting the valve 29 to close. This operation establishes a connection between the pipe 10 and chamber 20 with a result that the plunger 24 is depressed, that is moved to the left against the tension of the spring 25.

It may be stated at this point that when the valve stem 14 is moved back to normal position the valve 21 will be closed and the valve 29 opened under the tension of the spring 22, and that when the valve 29 is opened the tension of the spring 25 is sufficient, among other things, to force the water out of the chamber 20 to return the plunger 24, stem 26 and rod 27 to normal position.

At 42 is illustrated a receptacle in which is contained a magneto 43 provided with a square-ended operating shaft 44 located opposite the opening 45 in the front wall of said receptacle 42. The front wall of this eceptacle is also provided on the interior thereof with a slide 46 connected to and adapted to be actuated by the rod 27. This slide is provided with an opening 47 corresponding in shape to and normally registering with the opening 45. lVhen the fluid pressure mechanism is actuated, as previously described, the slide 46 is moved to the left bringing the opening 47 out of registry with opening 45 in the front wall of the receptacle. When in the normal position with the perioratiom; 45 and 47 in registry an operating tool or key may be in sorted therethrough to engage with the shaft 44 to actuate the magneto. hen these periorations are out of registry the shaft 44 is inaccessible as will be understood. A suitable tube 48 is provided for the rod 27 to enable an end thrust to be imparted thereto suflicient to move the slide 46 to bring the perforations out of registry.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided. a simple mechanism actuated by the pressure in the pipe 10 to prevent the watchman from making a record while visiting that particular station, provided the valve is not in proper position. In operation the supervisor visits each valve equipped with my invention and if the valve is found to be closed or open as the particular system requires, it is then possible for him to obtain access to the magneto to send an electrical impulse to operate a signal or make a record at a central station, which is indisputable evidence that the valve was at that time and place in normal position. If, however, the supervisor should be unable to obtain access to the magneto he would then know that the valve is not in its normal position, and he would thus be unable to operate the magneto until thevalve had been restored to normal position. And if the device for receiving the electrical impulse does not show operations covering all the valves which he is required to supervise it could be readily determined which valve or valves he had found not to be in normal position.

As before stated, the construction illustrated and described is merely one of the preferred embodiments and it is to be understood that I do not limit myself thereto as it is obvious not only that'many changes may be made in point of detail but that other embodiments may be resorted to Without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. The combination with a normally open valve, of an electrical device normally accessible for making a record, means for rendering said electrical device inaccessible, and fluid pressure means adapted to actuate the aforesaid means when the valve is moved towards its closed position.

2. The combination with a valve, of a container for a record producing instrument, said instrument being accessible when the valve is in normal position, means in said receptacle for rendering said instrument inaccessible. and means for connecting said valve and container comprising a flexible rod for receiving a longitudinal thrust-and adapted to actuate the aforesaid means when the valve is moved from its normal position.

3. .he combination with a valve, of a containcr for a record producing instrument having a perforation in its wall, means in said receptacle provided with a perforation normally registering with the perforation in the wall of the container to enable a tool to be inserted to give access to the instrument in said container, and means adapted to actuate the aforesaid means to bring the perforations out of registry when the valve is moved from its normal position.

In combination, a valve, a manually operable instrument, a container for said instrument, a closure for said container, and means for operating said closure to open and closed position by opening and closing said valve.

5. In combination, a valve, an indicating system comprising a device adapted to be engaged by a manually operable key, a member provided with a key-hole through which said key must be passed to engage said device, and means controlled by said valve for obstructing said key-hole.

6. In combination, a valve, an indicating system comprising a device adapted to be engaged by a manually operable key, a movable member provided with a key-hole through which said key must be passed to engage said device, and means controlled by said valve for moving said member.

7. In combination, a valve, a manually operable indication-producing means, a 1011- gitudinally movable flexible rod, and means comprising said rod for preventing operation of said indication-producing means when said valve is in abnormal condition.

8. In combination, a valve, a manually operable indication-controlling device, a longitudinally movable flexible rod, and means comprising said rod for preventing access to said device when said valve is in abnormal condition.

9. In combination, valve, a circuit-con trolling device adapted to be operated by a watchman in making his rounds, a. longitudinally movable flexible rod, and means comprising said rod for preventing the watchman from exercising control of the circuit controlled by said device when the valve is in abnormal condition.

10. I11 combination, a valve, a manually operable indication-producing means, means for preventing operation of said first named means, and connections including a Bowden wire between said valve and second named means.

11. In combination, a valve, a manually operable indication controlling device, means for controlling access to said device, and means comprising a Bowden wire connecting said valve and first named means.

12. A supervisory system as set forth in claim in which the device is a magneto.

13. A supervisory system as set forth in claim 6 in which the device is a magneto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. RENSHAW.

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