US2341297A - Condition responsive system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944- s. w. SPRENGMER ETAL 2,341,297

CONDITION RESPONS IVE SYSTEM Filed June 18, 1941 Fig.1.

Ihventors: G eor'ge W Spr'enQeY",

DOTWald G. Camero Their Attorney.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 CONDITION BESPONSIVE SYSTEM George W. Sprenger and Donald G. Cameron,

Lynn, Mass, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 18, 1941, Serial No. 398,632

20 Claims.

This invention relates to condition responsive systems, particularly selective multi-condition responsive systems wherein the continued operation of a dual condition changing apparatus to regulate one condition is made dependent upon the establishment of another predetermined condition during a predetermined time interval.

While not necessarily limited thereto, the invention is particularly adapted for use in the automatic operation of burners under thermostatic or otherautomatic control.

The principal object is to provide an improved selective condition responsive-system and apparatus having an axially movable rotatable timing control member provided with selective control means elTective when the timed rotation of said member is stopped in different axial positions for selectively controlling the operation of a condition changing device.

Another object is to control the axial movement of the rotary timing control member selectively in response to the establishment and nonestablishment of a predetermined condition during a limited timed rotation of said member to selectively control a timing device provided for effecting rotary movement of said member and a relay provided for controlling a condition changing apparatus. r

A further object is to provide a selective multicondition responsive system and apparatus of an improved axially movable combined selective and rotary timing typethat is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following description -motor H is energized so as to supply a spark at the electrodes l3 to ignite the combustible mixture supplied by the burner mechanism in and thereby establish combustion. The burner motor H and ignition apparatus 12 are energized from the electric supply lines Ll, L2 whenever the burner relay I4 is closed. The eneigization of relay II is controlled by the operation of control switch ii. The movable switch contact l5a is carried on a flexible member 20 supported at its upper end so as to bias the contact a away from contact l5b. In this way the switch 15 is biased open.

The closure of the burner operation control switch I5 is controlled by a movable member 2| which is mounted for both rotary and axial move ment. In the preferred form illustrated, the

movable member 2| is in the form of a cylinder having the stub shafts 22 and 23 rotatably and slldably mounted in suitable bearings 24 and 25. The cylinder 2| is provided with an open recess or slot 28 into which the finger 29 carried on the flexible member'Ztl is adapted to drop when the member 2! is in a predetermined axial position indicated by dotted line C in which the rocess or slot 28 is in axial alignment with the finger 29 and is in either of the two angular positions indicated by the dotted lines A and B in the drawing. Thus whenever the flnger.28 drops into the open recess or slot 28, the operation control switch I5 is opened. The burner operation control switch i5, however, is closed when the movable member 2| is rotated from angular positions A and B or moved axially from axial position C so that finger 29 no longer drops into the recess or slot 28.

The movable member 2| is rotated by an electrically operated timing motor 3| which is connected to rotate member 2i preferably through a suitable speed reducing gearing 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The gearing 32 permits axial movement of the member 2|.

The movable member 2| is biased to the axial position C in which it is shown by the biasing spring 35 which is mounted upon a suitable support 35 with the pointed-end of spring 35 engaging the central depression 31 formed in the end of the stub shaft 22 so as to exert a force tending to bias the member 2| for movement in an axial direction to position C.

The member 2| is moved in the opposite direction against the biasing spring 35 to an axial position indicated by the dotted line D by means of an arm III which operates against the end of the stub shaft 23 and is actuated by any suitable condition responsive means responsive to the establishment of a predetermined condition such,

end of the shaft 23 when combustion is established. v I

The switch 45 is similar in construction to the switch I! and is provided with a finger 55 which drops into the open recess of slot 41 formed in member 2| in angular position B and axial position C to permit the contacts of switch 45 to.sep arate in accordance with their bias. Switch 55 also is of similar construction to switch l5 and is provided with a finger SG-Which drops selec-- tively into the open recesses or slots 51 in angu lar position B and 53 in angular position A to permit the contacts of switch 55 to open in accordance with their bias. The slot 58 is axially elongated so that upon axial movement of the member 2| to axial position D bythe combustion responsive device 4|, finger 48 will drop into slot 58 in angular position A and thereby permit switch 45 to open.

' Operation As shown the various parts of the improved control system and apparatus 01' the. present invention are in their relative positions which they will occupy when the oil burner i8 is not in operation. Operation of the improved control to start burner operation is effected upon closure of a master control switch 88 which may be a room thermostat, a boiler thermostat, a pressure switch or any other automatic switch responsive to a predetermined condition to be controlled by operation of the burner i0. Upon closure of master switch 80 an energizing circuit for the operating winding 8| of the timing control motor 8| is established. This circuit extends from the low voltage secondary of the transformer 82, the primary or which is energized directly from the supply lines Ll, L2, through the conductor 58, motor winding 8|, conductor 84, 85, switch 45, which is failure of the burner III to establish combustion has been remedied, the normally open restart push button 10 is operated to its closed position. This energizes the operating winding 8| of the timing motor 8| directly from the secondary transformer 82 through the conductors 58, 84, ll,

closed since finger 48 is not in either slots 41 or I 58. conductor 55, the master switch 88 and conductor 81. As a result motor 8| starts to rotate the movable member 2| from its angular position A in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow. As a result finger 29 is raised out of the slot 28 so as to close the contacts of switch I thereby energizing the burner relay I4, the circuit extending from the secondary of the transformer 82 through conductors 88 and 88, switch l5 in its closed position, the winding of relay i4, conductor 88, the master switch 80, and conductor 81. As a result, relay l4 closes its contacts and completes the circuit from supply lines L1, L2 to correspondingly energize the burner motor and the ignition apparatus l2 to produce a spark between the ignition electrodes is.

. Under these conditions combustion should occur upon efiective operation of the burner which is a prerequisite condition to continuing the operation of the burner to regulate the other condition to which the master switch is responsive after the timed rotation of the axially movable rotating control member 2| is stopped.

The rotation of movable member 2| in the counterclockwise direction as Just described also raises finger 58 out of the slot 58 thereby closing switch 55 which shunts the master switch 50 and switch 45. This insures thatthe energizing circuit of the timing motor 3| is maintained closed until switch 55 is reopened upon rotation of member 2| to either position B or A.

Let us assume that for some unexplained reason combustion is not established upon the energizetion oi. the burner motor II and ignition apparatus l2 in the manner just described. Under these conditions, the timing motor 3| will continue rotation of the movable member 2| until the angular position indicated by the dotted line B is reached. Thereupon finger 28 drops into slot 28 and shortly thereafter finger 48 .drops into slot 41 and finger 55 drops into slot 51. Thus the switches I5, 45, and 55 are all opened and thereby prevent further energization of the burner motor H and also the timing motor 8| after the end 0! the predetermined time required for timing motor 3| to rotate member 2| from its angular position A to its angular position 13.

. To restart the equipment after the cause of the I2, and 61. Thereupon the movable member 2| is rotated from its angular position B through its angular position A, thereby closing switches I5, 45, and 55 in the manner previously described. Thereupon the restart push button may be released and the timing motor 8| will continue to rotate the movable member 2| from position A to position B.

In case combustion is successfully established by the burner I0 any time during the period of rotation of the movable member 2| from its angu-' lar position A to its angular position B then the combustion responsive device 4| will respond to this establishment of combustion and operate the lever 40 against the end of the stub shaft 23. As a result the movable member 2| is moved axially from position 0 to position D'against the bias of the spring 35 thereby moving the slot 28 out of axial alignment with the finger 28,.the slot 4'! out of axial alignment with the finger 46 and the slot 51 out of axial alignment with the finger 58. This axial movement of movable member 2| also enables the spring finger to enter the segmental slot'18 formed in the periphery of the stub shaft 22 so as to hold the member 2| in the axial position D to which it is operated by the combustion responsivedevice 4| until the angular position B is reached. Thereupon the spring finger I5 is forced out of the slot 16 so as to permit the biasing spring 85 to return the movable member 2| to its initial axial position unless the arm 48 is 1 still operated against the stub shaft 28 due to the response of the combustion responsive device 4| when position B is reached.

with combustion successfully established during the rotation of movable member 2| from it angular position A to its angular position B, the combustion responsive device 4| will maintain the member 2| in its axial position indicated by the dotted line D. As a result fingers 48 and 56 both will drop into the elongated slot 58 when the member 2| is rotated into its angular position A. This opens switches and to deenergize the starting motor 8| and thereby stop further rotation of the member 2|. The operation control switch I5, however, remains closed in .angular position A and axial position D. This leaves the energization of relay |4 under the control of the master control switch 88 and any other safety switches that may have been included in the relay circuit. As a result relay l4 remains energized as to reclose the switch 45. At the same timgt' finger 29 drops into recess 28 so as to reope switch I5, while finger 58 slides in slot 58 so as his way all parts maintain switch 55 open. I of the control equipment initial position in which t drawing. 1

Thus in the improved selective control system etlimed to their shown in the not only is mounted for both rotary and axial movement, but also is provided with means for the three switches I5, 45 and 55 upon axial movement of the member 2| from its axial position D to its axial position with the member 2| in angular position A. In this predetermined selective operation, switch If: is operated from the closed to the open position, switch 45 is operated from the open to the closed position, while switch 55 is maintained in the open position.

Upon rotation of member 2| in axial position C from its angular position A to its angular position B, a diiferent selective operation of the switches results. The switch I5 is first closed upon rotation of member 2| from angular position A and is reopened when angular position B is reached. Switch 45 is maintained closed upon rotation from angular position A until angular position 315 reached. Switch 55 is first operated from the open position to the closed position upon rotation from angular position A, but is reopened when angular position B is reached.

A still different selective operation of the tion of the pump 80 produces a pressure in the pipe 83, then the pressure responsive device 85 responds to operate the arm 40a against the end 'eifecting a predetermined selective operation of switches Occurs in case member 2| is rotated in axial position D. In this case, switch I5 is maintained closed during the entire revolution of.

member 2| while both switches and are maintained closed in all angular positions of member 2| except position A. Thus the improved selective circuit controlling combination enables the switch l5 to control the starting and stopping of the burner It! or other condition changing apparatus through the agency of the relay l4 while the pair of switches 45 and 55 cooperate to control the stopping of the timing motor 8| with the movable member 2| in either its angular position A depending upon the occurrence of axial movement of the member 2| from its position C to its position D during the rotary movement of member 2|. With this improved control combination, the condition responsive master switch 50 is effective only to start operation of the timing device 3| while the stopping of the timing device always is under the selective control of the pair of switches 45 and 55.

In the modification as shown in Fig. 2, the improved control system and apparatus .of the present invention is shown schematically applied to the control of a pumplng'control system in which a float switch corresponds in its master control function to the room thermostat and a fluid pressure switch corresponds in its control function to the flame detector of the oil burner control system previously described. In this case the electrlc motor drives a pump 80 instead of an oil burner. The pump 50 draws fluid from a suitable supply source 8| and supplies the fluid under pressure into a tank 82 from which the fluid flows through the outlet pipe 84. A float switch 85 is responsive to the level of the fluid in the pressure tank 82 and a pressure responsive device 85 is responsive to the pressure of the fluid supplied from the pump 80.

of the stub shaft 23 so'as to produce axial movement of the member 2| to the right in a manner corresponding to the operation of the flame detector thermostat described in Fig. 1. This will result in deenergizing the starting motor 3| after the rotation of member 2| to its angular position A with, however, contact l5 remaining closed to maintain relay |4 energized under the control of the float switch. Consequently, when the liquid level in tank I8 rises sufliclently to open the contacts of the float switch, relay I4 is deenergized thereby stopping further operation of the motor driven pump.

In case the operation of pump after the initial energization of motor is for some reason, as for example lack of fluid in the supply source 8|, unable to produce a pressure in pipe 53 to which the pressure responsive device can respond, then there will be no axial movement of the member 2| t0 the right. As a result the timing motor 3| will continue rotation of member 2| until the angular position Bis reached in which all of the contacts I5, 45, 55 are opened just as in case of flame failure as previously described. However, when the failure of fluid in tank 8| has been corrected then restarting is acccmplished by closing the restart button Ill in exactly the same way as described in connection with the burner control.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in a preferred form and also a modified form, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the apparatus shown. For example, it direct action of the condition responsive device on the stub shaft 23 is not desired, it will be apparent that suitable relay means such as an electromagnet controlled by the combustion responsive device may be employed, if desired.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by I Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, condition control means ineluding a movable member mounted for both ro- 0 a condition responsive device for axially moving said member, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement of said member for stopping said timing device upon rotation of said member in different axial positions to correspondingly different angular positions.

2. In combination, condition control means including a movable cam member mounted for both rotary and axial movements, means including a timing device for rotating said member, means for starting said timing device, means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member, and means including a pair of cam operated control elements selectively responsive to both rotary and axial movement of said cam member for stopping said timing device upon rotation of said member in two different axial positions to correspondingly diflerent angular positions.

3. In combination, a movable member having difierent movements, means including a timin device for causing one of said movements, means for starting said timing device, means including a condition responsive device for causing another of said movements, and means selectively responsive to different combinations of said movements dill for stopping said timing device upon movement of said member to different positions.

4. In combination, a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement, means including a timing device for causing one oi said movements, means for starting said timing device, means including a condition responsive device for causing the other of said movements, and means selectively responsive to different combinations of said movements for stopping said timing device upon movement of said member to difierent angular and axial positions.

5. In combination, condition control means including a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement,. means biasing said member for axial movement in a predetermined direction, means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member in the oppos'ite direction, means rendered efiective upon. axial movement of said member in said other direction for rendering said biasing means ineffective during a predetermined rotation of said member, means including a timing device for rotating said member, and means selectively responsive at the end of said predetermined rotation to the axial position oi; said member for selectively controlling said timing device.

6. In combination, a plurality of switches, means including a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for selectively controlling said switches, means including an electrically operated timing device for rotating said member, means including one of said switches and a condition responsive switch for energizing said timing device, means including another of said switches for independently maintaining said timing device energized for an internal dependent upon both rotary and axial movement of said movable member, means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member, and electroresponsive means having the energization and deenergization thereof selectively controlled by another one of said switches responsive to both rotary and axial movement of said member.

7. In combination, condition changing means, control means therefor including a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movements, means biasing said member to a predetermined axial position,means including a timing device'for rotating said member, means including a condition responsive device responsive to a condition established upon effective operation of said condition changing means for axially moving said-member to a diflerent axial position, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement 01' said member for rendering said condition changing means ineffective with said member in said biased axial position and in either of two rotary positions and for rendering said condition changing means effective with said movable member in all other rotary and axial positions, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement oi said member for stopping said timing device with said member in either of said rotary positions.

8. In combination, a circuit control switch. a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for opening said switch only with said member in a predetermined axial position and in either of two rotary positions, means including a timing device for rotating said member, means including a con- -responsive device for starting said timin j into operation, means including a second said member to another axial position during the rotation thereoi, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement of said member for stopping operation of said timing device with said movable member in each of said two rotary positions.

9. In combination, a circuit control switch, a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for opening said switch with said member in a predetermined rotary and axial position, means including a timing device for rotating said member from said position, condition responsive means for starting said timing device into operation, means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member during rotation I thereof, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement of said member for stopping operation of said timing device upon a partial revolution of said member in the absence of axial movement thereof during said partial revolution and upon a complete revolution of said member when axial movement thereof occurs during said partial revolution.

10. In combination, a burner circuit control switch, a movable member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and having means selectively responsive to both said movements for selectively controlling the closing and opening of said switch, means including a timing device for rotating said member to close said switch for a limited time, condition responsive means for starting said timing device into operation, means including a combustion responsive device for axially moving said member during said limited time to maintain said burner switch closed thereafter, and means selectively responsive to rotary and axial movement of said member for limiting the time ofoperation of said timing device.

11. In combination, a movable control element having an operating member mounted for both rotary and axial movement, means for biasin said member to a predetermined axial position, said member having means for operating said control element to one position during a predetermined part oi each revolution of said operating member in said predetermined axial position and to another position during the remainder of each revolution of said member in said axial position, means including a timing device for rotating said member, means for starting said timing device, means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member against its bias from said predetermined axial position to another axial position, means effective upon axial movement 01' said member to said other axial position for maintaining said member in said other axial position during said predetermined part of each revolution of said member, and means responsive to rotary and axial movements of said member for stopping operation of said timing device upon a partial revolution of said movable member in said predetermined axial position and upon a complete revolution of said member when axial movement of said member to said other axial position occurs during said partial revolution of said member.

12. In combination, control means including a plurality oi switches. means including a member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with cam means for selectively opening and closing said switches in diiIerent angular and axial positions oi said member, means including a timing motor under the control oi a pair of said switches for rotating said member, means for eluding a condition responsive device for axially moving said member against its bias to a second axial position, latching means for maintaining said member in said second axial position against its bias during a predetermined rotary" movement of said member, means including a timing device for rotating said member, means for starting said timing device, and cam operated control means responsive to both rotary and axial movement of said cam member for stopping operation of said timing device with said cam member. in one angular position upon rotation of said member in said one. axial position and forstopping operation of said timing device with said cam member in a diilferent angular position upon rotation ofsaid member in said second axial position.

14. In combination, a plurality of switches having a movable operating member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for effecting a predetermined selective operation of saidv switches upon rotation of said member in one axial position and a diflerent selective operation of said switches upon rotation of said member in a second axial position, means including an electric motor energized under the selective control of a pair of said switches for rotating said operating member to different an ular positions, and means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member from said one axial position to said second axial position. 1

15. In combination, a selective circuit controlling device having at least three switches. a movable operating member therefor mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for eflecting a predetermined selective operation of said switches upon axial'movement'of said member from one axial position to a second axial position with said member in a predetermined angular position and different selective operations of said switches upon rotation of said member in each of said axial positions, means for biasing said member to move from said one axial position to said second axial position, means including an electric motor energized under the control of a pair of said switches for rotating said member, and means including a condition responsive device for axially moving said member against its bias.

18. In combination, a selective circuit controlling device having at least three switches. a movincluding a condition responsive device for axially moving said member. a

'17. A selective circuit controlling device hav ing at least three switches and a movable operating member for said switches mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means for efiecting a predetermined selective op eration of said switches upon a predetermined axial movement of said member and difierent selective operations of said switches upon rotation of said member in difierent axial positions.

18. In combination, means having a predetermined condition established upon effective operation thereof, an axially able operating member therefor mounted for both rotary and axial-movement and provided with means for eflecting a predetermined selective operation of said switches upon a predetermined axial movement of said member and differ- ,ent selective operations of said switches upon rotation of said member in diilerent axial positions, means under the control of a pair of said switches for rotating said member, and means movable rotating timing control member having means for stopping rotation thereof after a limited angular movement and provided with means effective upon rotation of said member in one axial position for starting and subsequently stopping operation of said condition changing means during said limited angular movement and eflective in another axial position of said member for continuing the operation of said condition changing means after the rotation of said member has stopped, and a device responsive to the establishment of said predetermined condition during said limited angular movement for axially moving said member from said one axial position to said other axial position.

19. In combination, a condition changing meanshavlng a predetermined condition established upon efiective operation thereof, an axially movable rotating timing control member biased to one axial position and having means for stopping rotation thereof after a limited angular movement and provided with selective control means responsive to both rotary and axial movement of said member for selectively operating said condition changing means only during said limited angular movement in said one axial p0sition and continuing the operation of said means after the rotation of said member has stopped in another axial position, and a device responsive means operable for regulating one condition and,

having another condition established upon eiiective operation thereof, a combined timing and selective control member mounted for both rotary and axial movement and provided with means dependent upon the axial position of said member for selectively operating said condition changing means during and after a limited timed rotation of said member, means including a control device responsive to said one condition and having a timing device controlled thereby for eflecting a limited timed rotation of said member in one axial position to operate said condition changing means during said limited timed rotation of said member, and means including a control device responsive to the establishment of said other condition for axially moving said member from said one axial position to another axial position to continue operation 'of said condition changing means after said limited timed rotation of said member.

' GEORGE W. SPR-ENGER.

DONALD G. CAMERDN.

a condition changing 4 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION February 8, 191 1 Patent No. 2,5LL1,297.'

GEORGE w. SPRENGER, ET AL t error eppears in the printed specification tent requiring correction as follows: Page L first d -interval; and that the said Letion therein that the same may It is hereby certified the of the above numbered pa column, line 58, for "internal" rea d with this correct ters Patent should be rea conform to the record of in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this A. D. 19th.

the case 25th day of April,

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,5u1,297. February a, 19m.

GEORGE w. SPRENGER,ET AL It is hereby certified that error eppears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 1+, first column, line 58', for "internal" read -interval; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April, A. D. 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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