US1889800A - Steam flow regulation - Google Patents

Description

' Dec. 6, 1932.

V. F. DAViS STEAM FLOW REGULATION Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Shejt 1 Fgl.

INVENTOR: Vwvvw; 13W 7 WN 81W 4 ATTORNEYS,

Dec. 6, 1932. v. F. DAViS STEAM FLOW REGULATION Filed Dec. 5. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

WZ/wvq KM ATTORNEYS,

' stantially constant pressure,

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STA TB PATENT 'FH TE VERNER r. DAVIS, or waste ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, Ass'renoa- 'ro ATLAS VALVE COMPANY, or nnwanreimw JERSEY, e CORPORATION or new JnasnY STEAM FLOW REGULATION ApplicationfiledDecember 5, 1930. 7 Serial No. 500,28fl;

This invention relates to steam flow regulation and has reference more particul a system or apparatus arly to comprising valves and regulating means so combined and inter-related as to give the regulation of steam flow which is the purpose of the invention.

is desired to be delivered or used at fluctuations are likely to occur,

a suband wherein I whether because of variations indemand or because the steam supply comprises a fluctuating low pressure source,

and wherein a second of steam is available having pressure'substantially higher than the constant pressure required for the chemical or other pro apparatus in to be utilized or consumed. is supplemental-to a power. or other wherein a turbine or other engine or cess or which the delivered steam is A particular use plant,

ratus delivers exhaust or back pressure steam in limited quantities and at relatively low but possibly fluctuating pressure,

and wherein the initlal source of steam or boiler 1s available for fortitying the exhaust steam pressure r'or the purposes of the invention.

The general object of the invention fore is to permit the continuous and theresteady supply and utilization of exhaust or other low pressure steam at a substantially constant pressure for the standing fluctuations demand. ford the desired regulation through purposes in hand notwithin rate or supply or A more particular object is to atme ans of a controlled connection to the atmosphere and a controlled connection from a pressure source, such connectlons may higher so that one or the other of be operated, as the delivered pressure varies or tends to vary, to restore or maintain it at the desired, constant ressure. A further obyect 1S to afford such control from the lowpressure passage or main itself as it dehvers to the pointer consumptiomand to operate the control means in a cooperative manner to avoid the possibility at an y time of simultaneously opening the connection both to the atmosphere and from th 6 high ally less than the sired pressure.

tion will be pointed out in the hereinafter'following description or one or more embodie 5 ments of the invention or will be understood by those conversantwith the'subj ectQ-To the attainment of suchobjects and advantages the invention consists in the novel steam flow regulation apparatus and the novel features of operation, combination, arrangement and construction herein described or illustrated. In the accompanying drawings Figure .1 is a general diagrammatic assembly view 0t the combined apparatus, which may becon: sidered as t'aken'in elevation view. I

Figs. 2, 3 and 4, on a larger scale, are ce'ne tral sectional views of certain or the regulating and valve parts of the apparatus' e In referring to .steam itis to be under stood that the principles may be available for the regulation of flow of any fluid, especially any gasor vapor; and in referring to water 'nthe regulating or hydraulic parts of the apparatus it is to be understood that any liquid is intended'to be covered, and where in the claims'reierence to water or' liquid is omitted it is intended to cover, other regulating means or connections adapted to an'equivalent purpose. In using the term passage or flow connection. By exhausting or escaping to the atmosphere, is included any pointwhereat the pressure is substantidesired low pressure, and it may be subatmosphericpressure.

As a typical mstance a boiler at about 100" pounds per square 1I1Cl1 pressure may be. op erating turb nes or eng nes d schargingxexhaust steam, at a pressure of about 5 pounds,

but ossibly varying between 3 and 7 pounds,

and 1t maybe desired to utilize the discharged steam for process or for heating or other pur-. poses, involving possible extensive fluctua-f tionsin demand, at say 4; pounds delivered pr'essur. The present invention will easily accomplish this object'with such uniformity of delivered pressure as to avoid variations of more than pound aboveor below the de- The exhaust steam therefor and resulting in increased efliciency.

The diagram Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a source of low pressure in the form of a pipe or back pressure main 10, leading for example from the exhaust of a'turbine or other engine. The pipe is shown leading to a fitting or T 11, which will be referred to later, and this in turn delivers toa fitting or ferred to as a relief valve,

T 12,from the first outlet of which extends the delivery or final output pipe 13 which conducts the low pressure steam to the place of consumption. The low pressure pipes 10 and 13 are substantially a continuous passage, and carry steam which is subject to pos sible fluctuations in flow and pressure due to variations in supply or demand. Beyond the second outlet of the fitting 12 is shown .a valve 14 which may take part in the control of the steam pressure delivered to the outgoing main 13, namely by letting oil or relieving excess pressure at proper times. The control valve 14 will behereinafter reand when open it discharges regulatedquantities of steam to an escape or waste pipe'15 whichmay deliver directlyto atmosphere or other low pressure point. 7 v

The diagram shows also a source of high pressuresteam in the form of a pipe or main 18 leading for example from a boiler. This high pressuremain is shown'as supplying live steam through a control valve 19 to a connection or pipe 20 extending to the lateral inlet of the fitting 1l,"so that steam passing through'valve 19 is admitted to the back pressure main 10 and thence to the delivery main 13. The control valve 19 is intended to be operated at times of deficient pressure in the delivery main, being controlled to admit suitable quantities of high pressure steam to make up the deficiency and bring the delivered pressure to the desired constant pressure, and it will be referred to as a make-up valve. 7 p

We thus have two incoming mains or pipes 10 and 18, one carrying lo w a'nd the other high pressure, and two outgoing mains or pipes 13 and 15, one delivering low pressure to the point of consumption and the other discharging to atmosphere, the low pressure mains l0 and 13 being preferably permanently connected'for continuousflfio'w, while the high pressure main and theescape' pipe respectively areicontrolled by the make-up valve 19 and relief valve 14, which two valves 19 inopen condition, corresponding with the positions shown in Fig. 1, on the assumption that the delivery pressure is for the moment deficient.

Each of the two control valves 14 and 19 may have substantially. the following constructionas'shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A valve seat 22 is shown'as formed in an interior wall. Opposite to the valve seat is shown a movable disk or gate'2 3, closed in valve 14 and Fig. 2 and open in valve 19' and Fig. 3. This disk is carried on a'sliding stem 24 which extends through the valve stuffing box to anexterior point and thence through the upper frame of the valve towhere it carries an enlarged head 25, shown of mushroom form. A valve spring 26 presses against a fixed part of the valve casing and against the mushroom head of the stem, thus tending to'open the valve. A diaphragm 27 is shown'bearing on the head 25 and arranged to receive pressure tending to close the valve in opposition to, the spring. The diaphragm is peripherally clamped by the stationary parts of the valve, which enclose above the diaphragm a chamber 28, the inlet to which is by a nipple 29 at thetop of the casing- When sufiicient hydraulic or other pressure is admitted through the nipple 29 this can act upon the diaphragm in a well known manner to effect a closing of the valve to a greater or less extent. I

What may be termed a lator, and which may be at a remote point from the-valves l4 and 19, comprises a first unit 31and a second unit 32 shown in ex terior vicwin Fig. 1. Theseare preferably fluid operated and a supply pipe 33 isshown conducting fluid under a convenient head to the inlets of the two units, for example city water pressure, used as a motive force. Hydraulic or water pressure is the illustrated means of communicating regulating movements to the control valves, and the diafigure, and vice 1 compound reguliii 7 the valves 14 and 19 may be open partly "01- fully, or both may be tight closed at the same time, but so that it is impossible that both of them may be open at the same time, which would tend to result in a wasteful flow of high pressure steam through both valves to the atmosphere. v V The units 31 and 32 of the compound regulator are in the nature of relays or pilot valves or devices, and each may have a construction as follows. Each consists of a casing enclosing a primary or upper chamber 37 and a secondary or lower chamber38with an opening and valve seat 39 extending from the primary to the secondary chamber. A movable valve, disk or cone 40 is shown adapted-to close the seat 39 or to retract and open communication between the chambers. This valve is shown as comprising a longitudinally slidable stem 41, the lower. end of which slides within the bottom wall of the casingand projects to an exterior point. Each stem is formedwith an interior passage connecting the secondary chamber with an exterior point, for allowing fluid escape and relieving the pressure in the chamber and the connecting pipe 34 or 35. Each valve member 40 is shown as provided with a spring 43 tending to close the valve or.

relay, while. the means for opening'or lifting the valve against the spring for admitting water pressure to the secondary chamber serves also to close the exterior rehef exit or the valve stem. From the inlet point of water pipe 33 to each relay unit'is a passage-44 lead ing up to the primary chamber '37. When therefore the valve member is lifted the water is admitted through the chambers to the pipe 34 or 35; when it is lowered fully the water is cut off, and when the stem passage is opened the pressure in 34 or 35 is relieved.

For actuating the two relay orpilot devices is shown a pressure responsive means operating through a. device or lever 45 representative of a. mechanical connection to the devices. It is shown asfulcrumed at a middle point 46, with weights 47 tending to lower" the outer or right end, and adjusting weights 48 slidable to set the action.

In fixed guides 50 are movable pins'51 and 52 for the relay units 31 and 32 respectively, each actuated by the lever '45 andoperating the valve members 40. 7 Each pin is adapted toclose its relay valve relief passage42 be fore lifting and opening the valve,and vice versa, for example by its conical point entering the passage as it lifts. The two actuating pins and levers are so arranged'that in a mid position both pins will be holdingboth relay valves partly lifted and open andhold ing the relief passages closed, so that both control valves 14 and 1.9 will receive water pressure and be closed; while a shift of the actuating lever in either direction will drop one pin and lift the other, thus closing and relieving the pressure in one of the pipes34 or 35 and allowing the corresponding control valve 14 or 19 to open,'and vice versa. Fig.

4 shows in full lines the lever swung to extreme position, for closing the relay valve 31, and opening its relief 4:2 to allow the opening of make-up valve 19, whilethe dotted lines show the mid position, in which both relay valves 31 and 32 Willbe partly'open and both control valves 14 and .19 wholly closed. 1 I

The pressure responsive devices may be as follows. The lever 45, at the same end as the unit 32, has a swivel connection 54 to a head 55 cooperating with adiaphragm 56 at the upper side of a chamber 57 formed in the fixed frame, with inlet nipple 58. A pipe 59 ex-:

The pipe 59 may contain a gage 60 showing the pressure, and a blow off 61'for removing sediment. the units 31 and 32 maybe directed to and drained by a drain pipe'63; j 3

A modification of the above described struc- The waste water relieved from ture which has been successfully employed consists in replacing the controlvalves 14 and 19, or one of them with a different type of steam valve having b'alancedpressures on the movable parts and being thus more readily and accurately adjusted in the case of higher pressures. In such casethe transmission of control from the units orrelays 31 and 32 may comprise'mechanical as distinguished' from hydraulic transmitting means. For example, taking the unit or relay 31, the water delivered from it, instead of passing directly to the control valve 14, may

der,w ithin which moves; apistonhaving a relatively large stem extending through a stufiingboxat the upper end, and the stem connected by cable with the accessible part of the control valve.

normal water'pressure at the top of the pis- V V B'yQthis arrangement when-the, relay or. pilot valve 31 isopem ton will force the piston down and thus open the control valve. In connection with this arrangement there may be an automatically shiftable weight. on the lever 45, arranged to be shifted by the lifting of the piston to move the weight outward or toward the right end, i

and vice versa, giving a more sensitive action and controlled lever posit on.

The operation of the inventi restated as follows. If and when the back pressure from main'lO happens to be correct for the purposes of consumption, the dia-.

. on has been indicated above, but may advantageously be 105 be passed to the lower end of a vertical cylin a yond'mid position closes the'relay 31 and opens the relief 42below it.

beyond phragm 56 will operate to maintain the lever 45 in mid or neutral position.- In this position both of the relays 31 and 32 are partly open, and their relief passages 42 of course closed by pins 51. Therefore pressure will be communicated to both control valves 14 and19 and they will both be held closed, so that there is no modification of the pressure passing from main 10 t0 the delivery main 13.

When, for example, the back pressure however is deficient, due to excess demand or otherwise, the pressure must be built up. The outer or right end of the lever will be allowed to descend," due to the reduced pressure under the diaphragm, thus closing the relay 32 and more widely opening the relay 31 and at the same time opening the relief passage 42 below the relay32. Immediately the make-up valve '19 will commence to open, and the pressure will commence to build up. As soon as the desired pressure is restored,

which may be during the readjustment, the

diaphragm will restore the lever to or slightly mid position, and the water will be trapped in the pipe 35, and the make-up valve 19 will be held in'the adjustment reached by it. If the additional steam thus supplied constitutes the desired correction the parts may remain indefinitely in such position. This adjustment however may be only momentary, in case the tendency is to build the pressure up beyond the desired amount. 7

In a sense there is a lap action by which any adjustment may be held by the water trapped in the pipes leading to the control valves for an appreciable time. Thus, as a change of controlled pressure causes the right end of the lever 45 to rise from the posiion shown, the pin 52 will reach thestem'41 and close the passage 42 before reaching its mid position. resistanceof the valve 40 to lifting, so that only after this is overcome will the parts rise further. On the reverse adjustment the re-' verse action of course takes place, and during the lap period the water in-pipe 35 istrapped, and holds the control valve 19 in its then adjusted condition, until a further-change is required. I I

As soon asth'e steam pressure rises above the desired pressure, due to the supply eX- eeeding the demand for steam, the lever will be shifted beyond its mid position by the further lifting of the diaphragm. It will be observed that the lap is quite small, so that if the lever has to be shifted from one extreme position'to the other, the readjustments of the valves 14and 19 will follow each other quite closely; there will be no substantial time interval, and the delivered pressure can be held quite closely to -th'ej desired amount. The lowering of the left end of the lever be- As a consequence the relief control-valve 14 is opened,

pipe 34 and hold the Thereafter it encounters the the make-up valve 19 having already been closed, and theexcess pressure is discharged to the atmosphere, until the correct pressure is restored. As before, the restoring of the lever to mid position may trap the water in relief valve 14 in a partly open condition, thus-continuously relievingthe excess pressure, as long as the supply and' demand conditionsremain the same.

In any reversalof adjustment the lever must pass through its mid or neutral adjustment, wherein both of the relay valves are open,-both of their relief passages closed and therefore both of the control valves 14 and 19 maintained closed.

Obviously a reversal might be made wherein the passing of regulating fluid by each relay valve would. effect the opening instead ofthe closing of the corresponding control valve, in which case the neutral or mid position of the actuator would be such that both relay valves would be closed, and both relief passages open, to discharge the regulating fluid, and thereby permit the closing of both control valves. It is preferable however to have the control valves self opening and only close them by the passing of the regulating fluid. l The regulating fluid is preferably a liquid or water rather than an elastic fluid such as steam, since hydraulic regulation permits the actuator without opening its relief passage, thereby trapping the liquid and holding the control valve, for example in a slightly open position for an indefinite time if this happens to result 1n the correct delivered steam pressure.

There has thus been described a steam flow regulation apparatus accomplishing the ob to close one relay valve,-

principles, it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so faras set forth in the appended claims.

hat is claimed is: h

1. In steam flow regulation apparatus for delivering at substantially constant low pressure, the combination of a low pressure sup ply passage, a low pressure delivery passage connected therewith, a high pressure passage .withcontrol make-up valve adapted to discharge into one of said low pressure passages, a relief passage with control relief valve adapted to discharge from one of said low pressure passages, and automatic regulating means for said control valves, comprising a first device for opening and closing the relief valve and looking it closed, a second device for closing and opening the make-up valve,'a pressure responsive actuator operated by variations of delivered pressure between a. neutral position and to positions at opposite sides thereof, and. connections from (a; sacsaid actuator to both of said devices whereby in neutral position it adjusts both devices to close and lock both control valves, but in one side position corresponding to'deficient delivered pressure it adjusts said devices to open the make-up valve and close the relief valve, while in the other side position corresponding to excess delivered pressure it adjusts said devices to close the make-up valve and open the relief valve.

2. In steam flow regulation apparatus for delivering at substantially constant low pressure, the combination of a low pressure supply passage, a low pressure delivery passage, a high pressure passage with control makeup valve adapted to discharge into one of said low pressure passages, a relief passage with control relief valve adapted to discharge from one of said low pressure passages, and

regulating means for said control valves, comprising a regulating fluid source, afirst relay fluid valve connected with said source for allowing fluid to pass for reversing the setting of the relief valve, and with a relief between different positions by variations of delivered pressure, and operating to open the first fluid valve and close the second when the delivered pressure becomes deficient, and

to close the first fluid valve and open the second when the delivered pressure becomes excessive.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 and wherein the actuator has a mid or neutral position wherein both fluid valves are open and therefore both control valves are closed.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

VERNER F. DAVIS.

passage opened when the relay valve is closed, a

a second relay fluid valve connected with said source for allowing fluid to pass for reversing the setting of the make-up valve, and with a relief passage-opened when the relay valve is closed, and a pressure responsive actuator shiftable between a neutral and opposite side positions by variations of delivered pressure, and operating to actuate both of said relay valves in a manner to open one of them and close the other when the deliv ered pressure becomes deficient, and to reverse the positions when the delivered pres-V sure becomes excessive, and to lock both relay valves closed when in neutral position.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 and wherein the actuator has a mid position wherein both relays are in positions to close both control valves.

4. In steam flow regulation apparatus for delivering at substantially constant low pres sure, the combination of a low pressure supply passage, a low pressure'delivery passage, a high pressure passage with a self-opening control make-up valve adapted to discharge into one of said low pressure passages, a relief passage with a self-opening control relief valve adapted to discharge from one of said low pressure passages, and regulating means for said control valves, comprising a regulating fluid source, a first fluid valve connected with said source and adapted when open to pass fluid for causing the closing of the relief valve, a second fluid valve connected with said source and adapted when open to pass fluid for causing the closing of the make-up valve, a relief passage associated with each of said fluid valves and adapted to relieve the fluid when the fluid valve is closed to'permit the control valve to open, and a pressure responsive actuator shiftable

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