US1587507A - Relay device - Google Patents

Description

June 8 1926. 1,587,507

M. D. CHURCH RELAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I r r H j do" W M 13 I -26 ,zd'

gvvuentoz M. D. CHURCH RELAY DEVICE June 8 1926,

Filed Sept. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,587,507 RATENT OFFICE.

MAYNARD n. cannon, or rmn'rroan, coniancrrcu'r.

RELAY DEVICE,

Application flled'Sept-ember 17, 1923'. Serial No. 663,322.

'stance,) may be caused to actuate other apparatus which may be located at a distance or which may require power beyond the capacity of the actuating means or device acting directly. More specifically, an object of the invention-is to provide apparatus to cause changes or variations in the force to produce-proportional changes in a fluid pressure from an external source admitted to suitable pressure responsive means so that variations in thisfluid pressure may be employed to operate valves, dampers, rheostats, or other mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, ,I have shown, for illustrative purposes, two forms which the invention may take, it being understood. however, that the invention is not limited to these two forms. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one practical form of apparatus embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; and I Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing, for purposes of illustration. .the manner in which my improved apparatus or' device may be employed to operate a damper for a furnace used in connection with a steam boiler.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A denotes generally my improved relay device, and B suitable actuating mechanism or means so associated therewith that variations in the force of this actuating means will be transmitted by fluid pressure controlled by the relay device to suitable responsive devices, such as a pressure responsive device C (see Fig. 3.), which governs the closing and opening of a check damper D which, in turn, may'afiect the pressure in the primary actuating device B. The actuating means B is here shown as being in the form of a pressure responsive device and, more specifically, as having a diaphragm acting on the relay device, but it is to be understood that the present disclo sure is by way of illustration only, the particular construction or form of actuating means constituting no specific part of the invention. the relay device may be efi'ected by variations in forces of various kinds as, for instance, by variations in pressure, or temperature, or otherwise.

Referring now to the construction of the relay device of the present invention, and

particularly to that embodiment thereof shown in Fig. 1, designates. a valve actuated by the pressure responsive device B, and 11 designates a pressure responsive element so associated with the valve and actuating means that when the valve is moved by the actuating means it so controls the admission of a fluid pressure to the pressure responsive element 11 that the force then exerted by this pressure responsive element will balance theforce of the actuating means and thus throw the valve means into neutral position. In the present instance, the

pressure responsive element or piston 11 is directly connected to the valve 10, butit is within the purview of the invention to otherwise arrange the parts while, at the same time, obtaining the result just described. The valve body of the relay device includes a casing 12 within which is closely fitted a bushing 13. Communicating with the bore or chamber 14 of the bushing 13 is an inlet port which includes a port 15 in the bushing, an annular chamber 16, and an inlet pipe 17 the latter leading from a suitable supply of fluid under pressure. Above the inlet port is a drain or exhaust port leading from the chamber 14 to the drain pipe 18 and consisting of a port 19 in the bushing and an annular groove or chamber 20 in the casing. Located vertically between the inlet and drain ports is an'outlet port 21 leading from the chamber 14 to the pipe 22 which, in turn, leads to the device to be actuated, such as the device G of Fig. 3. The valve has a reduced portion 23 located within the chamber 14 of the bushing. Leading from the outlet port 21 to the chamber 24 below the lhe movement or actuation of piston 11 is a by-pass or port 25. An openlng 26 leading from the chamber immediately above the piston 11 is provided so that any fluid which may seep into this chamber will drain Off.

With the arrangement described, it will be seen that when the valve stem is forced downwardly, due to an increase in force in the actuating device, the inlet port 15 is uncovered and the fluid under pressure will flow from the inlet pipe 17 through the chamber 14 to the pipe 22 and effect actuation of the receiving or actuated device G. The fluid pressure admitted to the outlet port will also be communicated through the by-pass 25 to the cylinder or chamber 24, thus forcing the piston or pressure responsive element upwardly against the force of the actuating device B. When this upward force acting on the piston balances the actuating force, the valve stem will be moved upward until the valve is in neutral or central position and in which position both the inlet and rain ports are closed so that the pressure in the outlet port 21 will be maintained constant. If the force acting on the actuating device decreases, the valve will be moved upwardly uncovering the drain port 19 with the result that the fluid will discharge from the outlet port through the chamber 14 to the drain port, thus reducing the pressure acting on the receiving device 0 and the pressure acting on the piston 11 until the state of balance again brings. the valve to the central position where it closes both the inlet and drain ports. Thus, for every value in the change of force exerted by the actuating device, there will be a correspondingly controlled fluid pressure produced in the outlet connection and in the receiving or pressure responsive device or devices connected therein.

'In the present instance, the actuating device B is shown more or less diagrammatically as a conventional diaphragm pressure responsive device. Changes within the chamber 30 above the diaphragm 31 cause flexure of this diaphragm which will result in movement of the valve stem. In the present instance, this stem has a head 32 which bears against the diaphragm. If desired, the spring 33 may be employed for resiliently holding the valve stem against the diaphragm, and the tension of this spring may be varied by means of a nut 34.

Fig. 2 shows a variation of construction arranged to operate with pressure acting normally upward on the valve. The elements of this structure are more or less similar to those in Fig. 1, there being an inlet 17, a pipe connection 22', and an exhaust or drain 18. In this construction, the device is arranged for working with an upward force, such as P, acting on the valve. Variations in this force are balanced by memo? controlled fluid pressure acting downward on the piston 11. The inlet 17 and the exhaust 18, upon motion of the valve 10 upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, are connected with the ports 35 and 36, respectively, connected with the pipe connection 22f by the annular chamber 37. In this case, fluid under pressure is admitted to the space 24 between the piston 11 and the valve bushing 13 through a duct 25.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the port 35 being uncovered when the valve 10 is raised, and the port 36 be ing uncovered upon depression of the valve 10. Similarly, when the pressure against the piston 11' is sufficient to counterbalance the upward pressure on the stem of the valve 10, both the ports 35 and 36, respectively, are closed .and maintained in this position until a further variation of pressure on the valve stem occurs.

In Fig. 3, there is shown diagrammatically an application of the apparatus, as, for instance, that shown in Fig. 1, to operate a check damper D associated with the boiler which may be generating steam which it is desired to maintain at a constant pressure. The relay device, which may be called a hydraulic transmitter, is shown at A. The actuating device B is provided with a steam connection 40 from the boiler. For a slight increase of pressure in the boiler, as transmitted by the pipe connection 40 to pressure responsive device B, there will be a corresponding but greater change in the controlled fluid pressure transmitted through the connection 22 under the control of the transmitter A to the pressure responsive controlling device C, and the damper D will be caused to move in response to'changes in pressure in the pipe 40 and in a predetermined relation thereto.

Thus, by the above construction, are accomplished, among others, the objects hereinbefore referred to.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language usedin the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I'claim as my invention:

1. In combination, actuating means, fluid pressure responsive means arranged to exert meme? 8 a force in direct opposition to the force exerted by said actuating means, and valve means associated with and controlled by said mentioned means and controlling fluid pressure acting on said pressure responsive means so the force exerted by the latter will balance the force of said actuating means.

2. In combination, actuating means capable of exerting a varying force, fluid pressure responsive means capable of exerting a force in direct opposition to the force of the actuating means, and valve means associated with and controlled by, at least one of said first mentioned means and controlling fluid pressure acting on the pressure responsive means so that the force exerted by the latter will balance the force of the actuating means.

3. In combination, actuating means, fluid pressure responsive means arranged to exert a hydraulic force in opposition to the force exerted by said actuating means, conduit means for transmitting controlled fluid to pressure responsive apparatus, and valve means associated with and controlled by said mentioned means and controlling fluid pressure admitted to said conduit means and also controlling fluid pressure acting on said pressure responsive means so the force exerted by the latter will balance the force of said actuating means.

4. ln combination, actuating means capable of exerting a varying force, fluid pres" sure responsive means capable of exerting a force in direct opposition to the force of said actuating means in proportion to the fluid pressure acting on said fluid pressure responsive means, and valve means actuated by movements of one of said first mentioned means for controlling a fluid pressure admitted from an external source and acting on said fluid pressure responsive means so the fluid pressure will be a function of the force exerted by the actuating means.

5. In combination, a primary fluid pressure responsive device capable of exerting a force varying with a primary fluid pressure acting on it, a second fluid pressure responsive element arranged to exert a force in direct opposition to the force of said device in proportion to a second fluid pressure acting on said element, and valve means responsive to movements of said device and arranged to so control the secondary fluid pressure acting on said second fluid pressure responsive element that the controlled secondary fluid pressure will be a function of the primary fluid pressure.

6. In combination, a primary fluid pressure responsive device capable of exerting a force varying with a primary fluid pressure acting on it, a second fluid pressure responsive element arranged to exert a force directly opposing that of said device in proportion to a second fluid pressure acting on said element, other pressure responsive apparatus to which the controlled secondary fluid pressure is admitted, and valve means responsive to movements of said device and arranged to so control the change in the secondary pressure admitted to said other apparatus and element that said change will be a function of the change in the primary fluid pressure.

7. A device of the character described, including valve mechanism having a fluid pressure inlet, a fluid pressure outlet and a drain port, and a valve controlling the admission and discharge of fluid to and from said outlet; a chamber communicating with said outlet; and a pressure responsive element in said chamber so connected to said valve as to directly oppose a force capable of moving the same.

8. A device of the character described, including a chamber and a pressure responsive element therein; and valve mechanism including a valve fixedly connected to said element and arranged to so control the admission of fluid under pressure to said chamber that the force exerted on said element will oppose and balance a force exerted on said valve.

9. A device of the character described, including a primary pressure responsive device, a secondary pressure responsive device including a chamber and a pressure responsive element therein, and a valve mechanism including a valve responsive to movements of said primary device and arranged to control the admission of fluid under pressure to said chamber so that the force exerted on said element will oppose and balance the force exerted by said primary device, said valve having a stem engaging said primary device, said element of said secondary device being connected to, so as to move with, said valve and stem.

10. In combination, actuating means, a fluid pressure responsive .device having an element arranged to exert a force in opposition to the force exerted by said actuating means, and valve means associated with and controlled by said actuating means and device and controlling fluid pressure acting onsaid device so the force exerted by the latter will balance the force of said actuating means, said element being moved in one direction by said actuating means and said element being moved in the opposite direction by the fluid pressure admitted to said element by said valve means.

MAYNARD D. CHURCH,

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