US1743545A

US1743545A - Regulating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1743545A
Application number: US95020A
Authority: US
Inventors: Helpbringer James Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-03-16
Filing date: 1926-03-16
Publication date: 1930-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1947-01-14

Description

0. J. N. HELPBRINGER 1,743,545

REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l a m ewtoz 3513 QWQWW wwv 1930. J. N. HELPBRINGER 1,743,545

REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE JAMES NELSON HELIPBRINGER, OF WESTERLEIGI-I, NEW YORK REGULA'IING APPARATUS Application filed March 16, 1926. Serial No. 95,020.

My invention relates to improvements in from the boilers and steam from section2 may regulating arrangements and while the invenbe utilized in the driving of engines or for tion may be applied to the regulation of many any otherpurpose. As shown in F ig. l, the diflerent kinds of apparatus, it is particularly valve or pressure regulating device 3 is 5 applicable'to the regulation of steam" pressure adapted to be operated by an electric motor 55 in a steam supply line and more particularly or electro-motive device t operatingthrough where the steam is supplied to the line at a gears 5 and G. high pressure and it is desired to deliver the 7 represents a suitable panel or framework steam therefrom at a substantially lower for carrying certain portions of the regu- 19 pressure. lating apparatus. Arranged on the panel 7 is 60 The main object of the invention is to proa bracket 8 carrying a circular steam chamvide an arran ement of this class which will her 9, the top of which is closed by a diamaintain the fluid pressure or other condition phragm 10 preferably composed of heavy at the desired point or very close to a prederubberized fabric which is clamped at its petermined desired value or setting. A further riphcry to the circumferential edge of the 65 objectis to provide an apparatus or arrange- Chamber 9 by means of clamping ring 11 and ment for this purpose which is not only simbolts 12 (see also F ig. 4). The chamber 9 is ple and inexpensive in construction, but connected to the line section 2 by means of a which is also particularly eflicient in operasteam line or pipe 13 so that steam may be tion. admitted from the line 2 to the chamber 9 and g Furtherand more specific objects, features the pressure of the steam in the chamber 9 and advantages will more clearly appear will bet-he same as that in the section 2.

from the detail description given'below taken Seated upon the diaphragm 10 is a disc in connection with the accompanying drawshaped member 14: carrying a knife edge 15 5 ings which form a part of this spe ificatio seated in a groove in alever or beam 16 which 5 and which illustrate oneform of the invene m at its right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1 tion applied to the regulation of stea pr has on either side thereof knife edges 17 sure. i r seated in grooves in depending ears 18 carried 7 Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view, by a bracket member 19 secured'to frame 7.

l ly di r ti ill t ting a pre- Thus the lever beam 16 is fulcrumed in the 30 f d. b di t f m i ti Fi 2 ears 18 about the knife edges 17 and is adapted is a top plan view of a portion f th appato be moved up and down by the diaphragm ratus taken on the line 22 of F ig. 1. F ig, 3 10 as the pressure of the fluid in chamber 9. is atransverse section of th sam t k on varies. In order to regulate the pressure at the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a tra which the beam 16 will be so moved. there is verse section of the same tak on th li provided a sliding weight 20 slidable along, 4-4 of Fig. 1. 1 the same and also a counter-weight 21 sus- Referring to Fig. 1, 1, 2 represent a steam pended therefrom by meansof the link 22, the line or pipe, steam being supplied at high efi'ect of which may be varied by adding more 0 pressure to the section 1 and it being desired r l Weight to the counter-weight. :to maintain the steam in the section 2 at a At the other end of the frame 7 there is prosubstantially lower but substantially constant V d l a bracket 23 B which is s cured an elecpressure. For this purpose there is inte'rtric motor 24 adapted 'to constantly rotate a posed between the sections 1 and 2 a valve or n a cy inder 25, fixed to a shaft 26, pressure regulating device 3 adapted to conthrough suitable reduction gearing in the trol the admission of steam from the high casing 274m also Fig. 3). The upper end of i ,c pressure side to the low pressure side 2 in the shaft 26 is journaled in a bracket 28..

order to yary or maintain the pressure of The constantly rotating cylindrical contact the steam 1n the section 2. The steam may be member 25 is preferably made of insulating supplied at high pressure directly to sectionl material but is providedo'n each end with sheet

metal contact members

29 and 30 respectively,- these contact membersextending entirely around the cylindrical member 25. At

one point about the circumference of the member .25 the

metal contact members

29 and 30 are provided with projecting portions31 and 32 respectively, extending toward one another substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating member and preferably tapering toward their ends as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Thus each rotatingcontact '29, and 30 h'asgaps between the projecting

portions

31 and 32 respectively which vary in width in the'direction of the axis of rotation of the contact member.

The beam I or lever 16 1s provided at its left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1

with a switch arm 33 preferably made of insulating material and carrying a spring contact 34 to which electrical connection may be made to a conducting wire 35 by means of connecting screw 36.

When the beam 16 is in its normal position the'contact 34 is adapted to lie between the

contact portions

31 and 32 so that as the rotatingfswitch contact member 25 rotates the' contact spring 34 is out of contact with both of the

contact portions

31 and 32. As shown in Fig. 1 the conducting wire 35 is connected to one pole of the battery or other source of E. M. F., 38 and the other pole of the battery is connected by wire conductor 39 to one A pressure of the steam in section 2.

terminal each of the electro-rnagnets 40 and 41; The other terminal of the magnet v40 is connected by wire 42 to a spring pressed contact 43 which constantly bears-against the continuous band portion of the contact 29 of the-rotating member 25. The other terminal of the electro-magnet 41 is connected by a wire 44 to a spring pressed contact 45 which makes constant contact with the continnous band portion of the contact 30 of the member 25.

In operation should the pressure of the fluid in the pipe 2 or other fluid holding means rise above the predetermined value, the

same increase'in pressure in'the chamber 9.

will cause the diaphragm 10 to lift the beam 16 about its fulcrum 17 and cause the contact 34 to move over the rotating contact member 25 in the direction of its axis of rotation and bring the spring contact 34 from its neutral position between the

contacts

29 and 30 into contact with the portion 31 of the contact 29 asthe'contact member 25 revolves. This will close the circuit through the magnet 40 causing it to operate a relay switch 4 6 to close a circuit through the electro-motive device 4 which will operate the valve 3 to reduce the.

admission of steam or 'fluid from the section 1 tothe section 2 and so tend to reduce the owever, the circuit through the magnet 40 is only momentarily closed because with the continued rotation of the contact member 25, the

gagement with the, contact-spring 34 and so open the circuit and thus open the switch 46 and stop the operation of the electro-motive device 4. I have found that with the apparatus shown in the drawings the sameoperates contact portion 31' will soon ride out of ent successfully if the contact cylinder25 berotat ed at a speed of about two revolutions per minute, so that the circuit is only maintained closed through contacts 31, 34 a few seconds at a time. If, however, the first momentary operation of the valve or pressure, regulating device 3 has not reduced the pressure in the section 2 -to the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set; the continued rotation of the-contact member'25 will in a moment again bringthe contact portion 31 into contact with the contact spring- 34 and so againclose the circuit through the magnet 40 and again cause the electro-responsive device 4 to further operate the valve or pressure regulating device 3 tofurther reduce the pressure in the section 2. Thus variations from a predetermined pressure in the steam or fluid in the section 2 will cause the pressure regulating device 3 to operate intermittently momentarily un-- til the pressure in the section 2 (and likewise the pressure in the chamber 9) is returned substantially to the predeterminedpressure or predetermined value setting for which the apparatus is set and without subvalve 3 in wide openposition such that the pressure in the section 2 is very considerably greater than that for which the apparatus'is I set, the beam 16 may be elevated to such anextent as to bring the spring contact 34 into engagement with the upper and continuous band portion of the contact 29 and when in this position the circuit through magnet 40 will not be intermittently broken as member" 25 revolves but the switch 46 will be maintained closed and the electro-motive device 4 will operate the valve or regulating device3 continuously until the pressure in the section 2 and chamber 9 is brought more closely tothe predetermined pressure for which the apparatus is set, whereupon the beam 16 will drop until the switch arm 33 brings the contact 34 to such a position that it will only make intermittent contact with the contact 31- as the contact cylinder 25 revolves. Thus I have provided means whereby certain variations from a predetermined value setting in a'certain condition will cause the regulating means 3 to operate intermittently until said condition is returned substantially to said predetermined value setting and also whereby larger departures from said predetermined value, will cause said regulating means to operate constantly in a direction tending to return said condition toward said predetermined value setting.

Thus I have provided an arrangement by which the motor 4 and valve may be given a relatively small movement in a given time when the variations from the predetermined pressure are relatively small, and a relatively large movement in the same given time when the variations from the predetermined pressure are relatively large; or by reason of the

circumferential contacts

29 and 30 extending substantially entirely around the periphery of the member 25 at its ends and by reason of the tapering projections on the rotating contacts, the motor 4 is energized intermittently and with the periods of encrgization relatively short as compared with the periods of non.energization when the departures from the predetermined pressure are relatively small, and the periods of energiza'tion are larger when the departures from said predetermined value are larger, and the motor is energized substantially continuously when the departures from said predetermined value are still larger.

Likewise if the pressure in the section 2 (and consequently also in the chamber 9) should drop below the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set, the beam 16 will lower the switch arm 32 so that contact 34 will bebrought into intermittent momentary engagement with the contact portion 32 and thus cause the intermittent closing of the circuit through the magnet 41 and a corresponding intermittent operation of the relay switch 47 which will cause an intermittent operation of the electro-motive device 4 to intermittently momentarily operate the regulating means 3 in the opposite direction to increase the pressure of the steam in the section 2. Likewise should the departure from the predetermined pressure of the fluid in section 2 be so great as to cause the switch contact 34 to be brought into engagement with the continuous band portion of contact 30, the regulating device 3 will be continuously or constantly operated until the pressure of the fluid in the section 2 is brought within certain smaller variations from the predetermined pressure, when the contact 34 will come only into engagement with the contact portion intermittent operation of the regulating device 3 until the pressure in the section 2 is returned substantially to the predetermined pressure for which the apparatus is set.

By reason of the intermittent operation of the regulating device as the pressure is brought back nearly to the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set, substan- 32 and so cause an latmg apparatus is tial hunting of the regulating means is prevented. If the circuits were maintained closed until the pressure in section 2 had been brought back to the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set, then the lag in tions in the pressure of the steam or fluid in the section 2. However, momentarily the operation of the regulating device 3 before the pressure has been brought back to the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set, the action of the reguby discontinuing the desired pressure is approached and the apparatus thereby made more eflicient.

While I have described my improvements in great detail and with respect to one preferred embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details or embodiment since many changes and modifications may be made and the invention embodied in widely different forms of apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope thereof in its broader aspects. Hence I desire to cover all modifications, forms and embodiments coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new by Letters Patent is:

l. A fluid pressure regulating arrangement having in combination with means holding a fluid under pressure, means for yarying the pressure of the fluid in said holdng means, means whereby certain variations 1n the pressure of the fluid in said holding means from a predetermined value, will cause said regulating means to operate intermittently until the pressure of the fluid in said holding means is returned substantially to said predetermined value and whereby larger departures in the pressure of the fluid in said holding means from said predetermined value will cause said regulating means to operate constantly until the pressure of the fluid in said holding means is brought within said first mentioned certain variations.

2. A fluid pressure regulating apparatus having in combination, means for regulating the admission of fluid under pressure, and means responsiveto variations in pressure from a predetermined pressure setting for causing said fluid admission regulating means to operate intermittently until the pressure is returned substantially to said predetermined pressure setting, said last mentioned means including electro-responsive means for controlling the operation of said fluid admission regulating means, and a switch device for controlling said electro-responsive' means, said switch device having a continuously rotating member with a contact thereon comprisin effect, dampened as and desire to secure ing a substantially continuous contact extending circumferentially around the same and a contact extending therefrom parallel with the axis of rotation of said rotating member, and a contact member moved into and out of contact with said contacts responsive-tosaid variations in pressure. I e I 3. A fluid pressure regulating arrangement having incombination, means for regulating the admission of fluid under pressure, and means responsive to variations in pressure from a predetermined pressure setting for causing said fluid admission regulating means to operate until the pressure is returned sub stantially to said predetermined pressure setting, said last mentioned means controlling said first mentioned means to cause the latter to operate substantially continuously when the variations from the predetermined pressure are relativelyvlarge and to operate only intermittently and for intervals which determined value setting will cause said reguare relatively short as compared with the intervals of non-operation when the variations from the predetermined pressure are relatively small.

4. Regulating apparatus having in combination regulating means for varying a certain condition, means whereby relatively small variations from a predetermined value setting-in said condition will cause said regulating means to operate intermittently until the said condition is returned substantially to said predetermined value setting and whereby larger departures from said prelating means to operate substantially continuously ina direction tending to return said condition toward said predetermined value setting. a

5. Regulating apparatus having incombination regulating means for varying a certain condition, means whereby relatively small variations from a predetermined value setting in said conditions will cause said regulating means to operate intermittently until said condition is returned substantially to said predetermined value setting, the length of each intermittent operation being relatively small as compared with the length of the intervals between intermittent operations, and means whereby larger'. departures from said predetermined .value setting will cause said re ulating means-to operate substantial- 1y continuously in a direction tending to return said condition toward said predetermined value setting; Y

/ egulatingapparat having. in combination; means for regulating the admission of afluid under pressing-"an electric motor for operating the same and switching means controllingithe energization of said motor responsive to variations in fluid pressure from a predetermined pressure setting, and where by themotor is energized substantially continuously whenthe variations from the predetermined pressure are relatively large and i the motor is operated-only intermittently and for intervals which are relatively short as 'compared with the intervals of non-energization when the variations are relatively small.

7. Regulating apparatus having in combination, means for regulating the pressure of fluid, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch for energizing said motor, means controlling said switch responsive to variations in the pressure of sa d fluid from a predetermined value, said switch acting to energize said motor intermittently and with the periods of energization relatively short as comparedwith the periods of non-energization when the departures from said predetermined pressure are relatively small,and with periodsof energizat-io'n longer when the denation regulatingmeans for varying a cer tain condition, means whereby variations f from a predetermined value setting in said condition will cause said regulating means to operate until said condition is returned substantially to said predetermined value setting, said regulating' means having a fixed framework, a memberrotating about a single axis which is fixed with respect to "said framework, said rotating member having two electric contacts thereon, spaced from one another to form a neutral position therebetween, an electrical contact member pivotally mounted with respect to said fixed framework and adapted to swing from said neutral position to make electrical contact with either of said contacts on'the rotating member, the contacts on said rotating member each extending substantially entirely around said rotating mem= ber andr 'each having a projection extending therefrom parallel with'the axis of said rotating member and with which the pivotally mounted'co ita'ct is adapted to make contact before it makes contact with the portion which extends substantially entirely around the rotating member, as the pivotally mounted contact swings from said neutral position.

9. Regulating apparatus having in combination regulating meansfor varying a certain condition, means whereby variations from-a predeterminedvalue setting in'said condition will cause said'regulating means to operate until said condition is returned substantially to said predetermined value setting, said regulating means having a rotating contact memher having a contact thereon extending substantially entirely around said rotating memher, an electric contact member adapted to swing over said rotating. member. axially thereof to make contact with said first contact, said first contact having a projection extending therefrom and with which the second contact member is adapted to make contact before it makes contact with the portion which extends substantially entirely around the rotating member, said projection tapering outwardly away from the other portion thereof, whereby as the second mentioned Contact swings over the rotating member, a circuit through said contacts is closed intermittently at first for short periods of time, then for longer periods of time and finally substantiaL ly constantly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES NELSON HELPBRINGER.