US2291385A

US2291385A - Control apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2291385A
Application number: US338032A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Gossett
Original assignee: J O ROSS ENGINEERING CORP
Current assignee: J O ROSS ENGINEERING Corp
Priority date: 1940-05-31
Filing date: 1940-05-31
Publication date: 1942-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1959-07-28

Description

July 28, 1942. R. E. GOSSETT CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1940 VACU UM TUBE AMPLIFIER ll E T TO ELECTRODE.

VACUUM TUBE AMP LIFWER INVENTOR BY dZ Patented July 28, 1942 CONTROL APPARATUS Robert E. Gossett, Bellerose, N. Y., assignor to J. 0. Ross Engineering Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,032

Claims.

This invention relates to control apparatus and more especially to apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid fuel to the burners of a battery of fluid fuel furnaces.

Heretofore, it has been customary to provide for each burner a device which, in the event of flame failure at said burner, automatically shuts off the supply of fuel to the entire battery of furnaces. As such device is quite expensive, the cost of installing control apparatus for a battery of furnaces has been undesirably high.

An object of this invention is control apparatus in which a single device of the type above referred to is caused to shut off the fuel supply for a plurality of burners upon flame failure with respect to any one of the burners.

In one form of apparatus embodying the invention, an electrical device responsive to current variations is provided for actuating the main fuel valve and is connected to each of a plurality of contacts normally biased away from co-operating contacts, each of which is connected to an electrode in a burner flame which constitutes part of the operating circuit for the device. ing the pairs of contacts in such manner that at least one pair of contacts is always closed so that as long as each burner is functioning properly there will be a steady flow of current to the fuel valve control device to maintain the 7 supply of fuel to the burners. However, should there be flame failure at any one of the burners, then when the pair of contacts corresponding thereto are closed, there will be an interruption in the current flow to the electrical control dei vice which will then operate to shut off the main valve through which fuel is supplied to all the burners. Thus, one instrument is made responsive to flame failure in any one of a plurality of burners and the use of an instrument for each burner is obviated, thereby very materially reducing installation costs.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 isa schematic View of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a contact operating means;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partially diagrammatic of a series of contact operating members, and

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a modification.

Means are provided for successively 0105- :3

Referring now toFigs. 1, 2 and 3, a battery of heaters or furnaces H, l2, I3, Hi, If) and [6 are provided with fluid fuel burners IT, I8, 19, 20, 2| and 2-2 which are supplied with fuel through a main supply pipe 23 and provided with a selfclosing valve 24 equipped with an operating solenoid 25 effective when energized to hold the valve open. The burners are provided with

pilots

26, 21, 28, 29, 3B and 3| to which fuel is supplied by the branch pipe 32 connected to the main supply pipe 23 provided with a self-closing valve 24a equipped with an operating solenoid 25a. Arranged in the burner flames are electrodes'33, 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 electrically connected to the stationary contacts 39, it, 4!, 42, 43 and 44. Associated with the stationary contacts are the

movable contacts

45, 56, 57, 48, 49 and 50, each of which is biased away from the corresponding stationary contact by a spring 5|. Each of the stationary contacts is carried by a fixed arm 52 while each movable contact is carried by a pivoted arm 53 on-which the spring 5| exerts a downward pull. Each arm 53 is provided with a cam follower 54 which engages the corresponding one of

cams

55, 56, 51; 58, 59, supported by the shaft 6! driven by motor 62.

A vacuum tube amplifier 64 enclosed by a metal casing has the winding of relay 65 included in its output circuit and is provided with a terminal 66 to which the contacts 45 to 59 are connected in parallel. Alternating current is supplied to the amplifier by the line 6'! and the casing of the amplifier is connected to the pipe 23 by a suitable conductor 63. The armature B8 of the relay 55 is connected to one wire of the supply line 5'! and is adapted to engage two contacts 69 and it when the relay is energized and to automatically move out of engagement therewith when the relay 65 is de-energized. The contact 59 is connected through one pair of contacts ll of a two-pole single throw push button switch 12 to one terminal of the solenoid. 25 and is connected directly to one terminal of the solenoid 25a while the contact 19 is connected through the energizing circuit of the motor 62 to the remaining wire of the supply line 61. The remaining terminals of the

solenoid

25 and 25a are connected to the same wire of the supply line 61 as is the motor 62. The second pair of contacts '53 of the switch 72 is included in a circuit with the solenoid 25a between the wires of the supply line 6'5. The switch 12 is of such design that when one pair of contacts is closed, the other pair is opened and resilient means (not shown) are provided for normally maintaining the switch in position to close the contacts H,

thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 25. The design of the amplifier 64 is such that so long as a closed circuit exists between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing through a burner flame, electrode and corresponding pair of contacts, the relay 65 is energized to hold the armature 68 to engage the

contacts

69 and 16 but when an open circuit results from flame failure, the relay 65 is de-energized, thus causing the armature 66 to disengage both the contact 69 and the contact 16. The particular structure of the above-described amplifier (shown schematically) in no part of the present invention and such a device, obtainable on the open market, has heretofore been used in such a way as to be influenced by a single burner only.

Under normal operating conditions, the valves 24 and 24a are held open due to energization of the solenoids 25 and 25a. and fuel is supplied to the burners through the main supply pipe 23 and to the pilots through the branch line 32 and each electrode contacts a burner flame. The cam shaft 6I is rotated at a uniform predetermined speed by the motor 62 and pairs of contacts are successively closed by the cams, the cams being so constructed that there is a slight overlap between the opening of one pair of contacts and the closing of the next pair so that at least one pair of contacts is always closed and there are periods during which only one pair of contacts is closed. Under these circumstances, there is a steady fiow of current between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing with the result that the armature 68 is held in engagement with the

contacts

69 and 16. Should a flame failure occur at any one of the burners, an open circuit will occur between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing, when next the pair of contacts corresponding to such burner is closed. Thereupon, the relay 65 will be de-energized and the armature 68 will move away from the

contacts

69 and 16 to opencircuit the motor and open the circuits through the

solenoids

25 and 25a with resulting closure of the valves 24 and 24a, to stop flow of fuel to all the burners. Opening of the motor circuit results in immediate stoppage of the shaft 6I due to inertia and the fact that the shaft is driven by the motor at low speed. After the cause of the flame failure has been determined and remedied, the apparatus may be manually returned to its original condition and operation resumed. In putting the apparatus in condition for operation, the switch 12 is actuated to open the contacts H and close the contacts 13, thereby closing a circuit through the solenoid 25a to energize it and effect opening of the valve 24a. Upon opening of the valve 24a, fuel fiOWs through the pipe 32 to the various pilots which are manually lighted. After all the pilots have been lighted and the electrodes have warmed up sufficiently to cause flow of current through the amplifier circuit, thereby energizing the relay 65 to bring the armature 68 into engagement with the

contacts

69 and 16, the switch 12 is released to close the contacts 1| thereby causing current flow through the solenoid 25 to energize it and open the valve 24 to permit the flow of fuel to the main burners.

In Fig. 4, the vacuum tube amplifier I64 enclosed by a metal casing, has the wiring of a relay I65 included in its output circuit and is provided with a terminal 66 to which the aforementioned contacts 45 to 56 are connected in parallel. Alternating current is supplied to the amplifier by the line 61 and the casing of the amplifier is connected to the pipe 23 by a suitable conductor 63. The armature I68 of the relay I65 is adapted to engage either of two contacts I69 and I10 and is connected to one wire of the line 61. The two contacts I69 and I16 are respectively connected through the windings of actuating solenoids I25 and I25a and through the energizing circuit of the motor 62 to the remaining wire of the supply line. The valves I24 and I24a are of the selfopening type and the solenoids I25 and I25a are effective upon energization to close such valves. The design of the amplifier I64 is such that so long as a closed circuit exists between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing through a burner flame, electrode and corresponding pair of contacts, the relay I65 is energized to hold the armature 68 against the contact 16 but when such circuit is broken by flame failure, the relay is de-energized, thus causing the armature I68 to disengage the contact I16 and engage the contact I69.

Under normal operating conditions for this modification, the valves I24 and I24a are open and fuel is supplied to the burners as previously described. The cam shaft is rotated also as previously described with resultant successive closure of the pairs of contacts with a slight overlap between the closure of successive pairs. Under these circumstances, there is a steady flow of current between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing with the result that the armature I69 is held in engagement with the contact I16. Should flame failure occur at any one of the burners,

' an open circuit occurs between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing when next the pair of contacts corresponding to such burner is closed. Thereupon, the relay I65 is de-energized and the armature I66 moves away from the contact I16 to open circuit the motor and moves into engagement with the contacts I69 to close the circuits through the solenoids I25 anl I25a with resulting closure of the valves I24 and I24a to stop flow of fuel to all the burners. To facilitate putting the apparatus in condition for operation, a by-pass I1I may be provided around the valve I24a, this by-pass being provided with a manually operable valve I12.

In the event of the invention being embodied in a structure wherein the inertia is insufficient to stop the rotation of the cam shaft within the arc allotted to each pair of contacts suitable brake mechanism may be used. Such brake mechanism may be of any structure which will effect the stopping of the cam shaft within the allotted arc and may be energized in any suitable manner upon breaking of the circuit between the terminal 66 and the amplifier casing.

If it is desired to use such apparatus for less than six burners, one or more of the electrodes may be connected to two or more of the stationary contacts. Thus, an apparatus designed for use with six furnaces may be converted to an apparatus for use with a lesser number of furnaces.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants co-pending application, Serial No 222,820.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a common fuel supply pipe for said burners, a valve in said pipe, an electrical valve-operating device, a normally open circuit leading to said device for each bumer in which circuit current flow is responsive to fuel combustion at said burner, and means for closing said circuits successively and opening them after a predetermined period such that at least one circuit is always closed, said valve-operating device being responsive to current flow through the closed circuit to maintain said valve open and to lack of current flow through the closed circuit to close said valve.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, means for supplying fuel to said burners, a normally open valve controlling said fuel supply means, a circuit for each burner characterized by havin current flow therein responsive to fuel combustion at the associated burner, an electrical valve-operating device and means for connecting said circuits successively with said device and disconnecting said circuits therefrom at the end of a predetermined period such that at least one circuit is always closed, said device being responsive to current flow through a connected circuit to maintain said Valve open and to lack of' current flow through a connected circuit to close said valve.

3. Apparatus of the character described coil prising a plurality of burners, means for supplying fuel to said burners, a valve controlling said fuel supply means, a circuit for each burner characterized by having current iiow therethrough responsive to fuel combustion at the associated burner, an electrical valve-operating device common to said circuits, a switch for each circuit, and means for closing said switches successively and opening each switch after a predetermined period such that at least one pair of contacts is always closed, said device being r sponsive to current flow through a closed switch to maintain said valve open and to lack of current flow through a closed switch to close said valve.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a plurality of circuits in each of which current flow is responsive to fuel combustion at one of said burners, a current responsive device common to said circuits for controlling fuel supply to said burners, a switch for each circuit, and means for closing said switches successively and opening each switch at the end of a predetermined period such that at least one switch is always closed.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a plurality of circuits in each of which current flow is responsive to fuel combustion at one of said burners, a current responsive device common to said circuits for controlling fuel supply to said burners, a switch for each circuit, means including rotating cam members for successively closing said switches and opening each switch at the end of a predetermined period such that at least one switch is always closed, and means for rotating said cam members.

6. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners each associated with a combustion chamber, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, a sensing device associated with each of said combustion chambers and each operable to detect flame failure in the combustion chamber with which it is associated, and means operable to place said sending devices successively in sole control of said governing means.

7. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners each associated with a combustion chamber, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, and a sensing device associated with each of said combustion chambers and each operable to detect flame failure in the combustion chamber with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any one of said detector devices to control said common governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said common governing means in predetermined timed succession.

8. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners each associated with a combustion chamber, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, and a sensing device associated with each of said combustion chambers and each operable to detect flame failure in the combustion chamber with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any one of said detector devices to control said common governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said common governing means in predetermined timed succession, said switch being operable to place each succeeding detector circuit in association with said common means just prior to the disassociation of the preceding circuit.

9. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a common fuel supply pipe for said burners, a valve in said pipe, an electrode adapted to contact each burner flame, an electric valve-operating device, a plurality of circuits each including one electrode and said electrical valve-operating device, and means for closin said circuits successively and opening them after a predetermined period such that at least one circuit is aiways closed, said electrical valve-operating device being responsive to current flow through a closed circuit to maintain said valve open and to lack of current flow through a closed circuit to close said valve.

10. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a common fuel supply for said burners, a valve controlling said fuel supply, electrical valve-operating device, a normally open circuit leading to said evice for each burner in which circuit cur ent flow is responsive to fuel combustion at said burner, and means for closing said circuits successively and opening them after a predetermined period such that at least one circuit is always closed, said valve-operating device being responsive to current flow through a closed circuit to maintain said valve open and to lack of current flow through a closed circuit to close said valve.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of burners, a circuit for each burner characterized by having current flow therein responsive to fuel combustion at the associated burner, electrically-operated means for controlling fuel supply to said burners, and means for connecting said circuits successively with said fuel control means and disconnecting said circuits therefrom after a predetermined period such that at least one circuit is always connected to said fuel control means, said latter means being responsive to current flow through a closed circuit to maintain said valve open and to lack of current flow through a closed circuit to close said valve 12. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners, the combination of a governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, and a sensing device associated with each burner and each operable to detect flame failure at the burner with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any of said detector circuits to control said governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said governing means in predetermined time succession.

13. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of fuel burners, an electrode adapted to contact with each burner flame, an electrical fuel control device, and means for electrically connecting said electrodes successively to said control device and disconnecting them from said control device after a predetermined period such that at least one electrode is always connected to said device, said device being responsive to current flow through said connecting means to maintain fuel flow to said burners and to lack of current flow through said connecting means to interrupt fuel flow to said burners.

14. In a multiple burner system having a plurality of individual burners, common control means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, a plurality of safety control devices one associated with and responsive to each of said burners, and means operable to place said safety control devices in sole governing control of said common control means in predetermined timed succession.

15. In a multiple burner control system, a plurality of detector elements adapted for operative individual association with the individual burners of a multiple burner system, a main control mechanism adapted for controlling association with all of the burners of such a multiple burner system, and a means utilizing said detector elements in predetermined timed succession to produce a control impulse the continuity of which governs said main control mechanism.

16. In a multiple burner control system, a plurality of detector elements adapted for operative individual association with the individual burners of a multiple burner system, a main control mechanism adapted for controlling association with all of the burners of such a multiple burner system, and a means operable to connect said detector elements operatively to said main control mechanism in predetermined time succession.

17. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, a sensing device associated with each burner and each operable to detect flame failure at the burner with which it is associated, and means operable to place said sensing devices successively in sole control of said governing means.

18. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, and a sensing device associated with each burner and each operable to detect flame failure at the burner with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any one of said detector devices to control said common governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said common governing means in predetermined timed succession.

19. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners, the combination of a common governing means for stopping the operation of all of said burners, and a sensing device associated with each burner and each operable to detect flame failure at the burner with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any one of said detector devices to control said common governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said common governing means in predetermined timed succession, said switch being operable to place each succeeding detector circuit in association with said common means just prior to the disassociation of the preceding circuit.

20. In a multiple heater system having a plurality of burners, the combination of a governing means, and a sensing device associated with each burner and each operable to detect flame failure at the burner with which it is associated, individual detector circuits for each of said sensing devices, means operable through association with any one of said detector devices to control said governing means in accordance with the combustion conditions sensed by the sensing device of such detector circuit, and a progressive detector switch operable to associate said detector circuits with said common governing means in predetermined timed succession.

ROBERT E. GOSSE'I'I'.