US2421944A

US2421944A - Synchronized control gear

Info

Publication number: US2421944A
Application number: US614353A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hughes William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-03-02
Filing date: 1945-09-04
Publication date: 1947-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1964-06-10

Description

June 1o, 1947.

W. HUGHES SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l www w A z ,4 m, u M M 9 N 0..; Q Q Q .mwN/Q m@ A n ,n ,Q :Q QQ w w mw *NIIM*`\WN TL H Tina. n, N` 1,/ /9 f 5 .6 .GQ 8 a w, M

June 10, 1947. w HUGHES 2,421,944

SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR Filed sept.-4, i945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented `lune 10, 1947 SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR William Hughes, Consett, England Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,353 In Great Britain March 2, 1943 (Cl. ZPL-23) 6 Claims.

This invention consists in synchronised control gear for two machines which have to work in conjunction with each other, such as coke oven machinery and the like.

On a modern battery of coke ovens serviced by machines electrically operated it is of the utmost importance that the coke ramming machine (variously called the ram or the coke pusher) operating on what is known as the ram or pusher side of the battery should commence to push or discharge the coke from the same oven as that which the operator of the coke guide (the primary machine) has selected and prepared for on the front of what is known as the coke or bench side of the battery.

Owing to the fundamental structural design of a battery of coke ovens it is not possible for the operator of either the coke guide or the coke ram to see the movements of the other machine, and as present methods of selecting the oven for discharging operations on the ram side rely upon the human element it all too frequently occurs that the ramming or discharging operation is commenced on an oven other than that which the operator of the coke guide has selected and from which he has prepared his machine to receive the coke on the coke or bench side. Such an occurrence invariably results in serious damage to the oven walls, structural work and fittings, with consequent loss of output. There is also grave risk to human life on the coke side of the battery.

The object of this invention is to provide means for ensuring that the machines which are to cooperate can only be brought into operation when they are in the correct individual positions for such cooperation, for example in the case of machines for the discharge of a coke oven battery, that both the coke guide and the coke ram are in position directly opposite the cor rect oven before the discharging operation can be commenced.

According to the invention means are provided whereby each machine sends electric impulses to control a corresponding movable member in such a way that the positions of such movable members correspond respectively to the positions of the machines, and the desired co-operation between the machines is controlled by an electric circuit which includes switch contacts adapted to be closed only when the positions of the said movable members correspond to the relative appropriate positions of the machines.

The movable members may comprise two discs which are adapted to be fractionally rotated in either direction by the electric impulses which actuate double-acting electric escapement mechanisms each of which is adapted to engage in succession one of a series of projections arranged near the periphery of a disc, the direction of movement of the escapement mechanism depending on the direction of travel of its respectivemachine, while on the said discs there are mutually coacting contact members which are adapted to close the control circuit only when the machines are in the relative appropriate positions.

rihe means for generating the impulses may comprise a two-way switch on each machine, which switch is adapted to be actuated by proliections arranged along the path traversed by the machine, such projections corresponding with definite positions along the said path-for example in the case of a battery of coke ovens, there may be one projection to each coke oven, the said projections being adapted to move the switch into either of its two ways according to the direction of travel of the machine.

The invention will now be described by way oi example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show its application to a battery of coke ovens.

In the said drawingsW Fig. l is a diagram showing the electrical lay out of the system.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one arrangement of the movable members.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, l indicates a battery of coke ovens on each end 0f all of which there is projecting stalk, those on the coke ram side being indicated by the series a, o1 and those on the coke guide side by the series b, b1 2 indicates the coke ram, and 2x the coke guide. 4 are the positive and negative power trolley lines feeding the coke ram 2, and 5, 6 those feeding the coke guide 2x; while 1, 8 are auxiliary trolley lines for passing impulses from the coke guide 2x to the coke ram 2 on which a rotatable disc switch is conveniently situated, and the said lines being bridged by a conductor 9.

The disc switch comprises two rotatable members driven intermittently by separate motors indicated at il), H. The other members of the rotatable switch are not shown in Fig. l, but one example of such a switch will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The

motor I) is actuated from the coke ram, and the motor II from the coke guide through the guide trolley I2 and the ram trolley I3 and the lines l, S, S. Power is collected by the coke ram 2 by means of the normal trolleys I4, I5 which communicate with a double pole switch IB for controlling the driving gea1` etc. of the vehicle. Connections are taken from the switch I5 to a second double-pole switch II which controls a two-way pendulum switch I8 whose common contact is connected to the armature of the coke ram motor I of the rotatable switch, and its two contacts to the two sides of the power supply. The other terminal of the motor I0 is connected to the neutral point of a balance resistance I9.

The pendulum i811, of the switch I8 projects into the path of the series of stalks a, a1 so that as the ram is moved along the coke ovens, switch I8 is closed once as it passes each oven, and according to the direction of travel of the coke ram so either a positive or negative current impulse will be generated. In the arrangement sh'own, if the coke ram is moved to the right the stalk a9 will close the switch I8 so that its positive contact will be brought into operation, while if the ram is moved to the left, the stalk a8 will close the switch and its negative contact will be brought into operation.

The coke guide 2x collects its power from the power trolley lines-5, 6 through the trolleys 28, 2i and the double pole switches 22, 23 similar to those on the ram 2, the latter switch controlling a `pendulum switch 24 similar to that on the ram. The common contact of the switch 24 communicates with the trolley I2, so that the impulses are transmitted through the line 1, 9, 8 and ram trolley I8 to the motor II of the guide side of the rotatable switch. The other terminal of the motor I I is connected to the neutral point of the resistance I9. The field windings of both motors are continuously separately excited and their nelds are therefore constant. It will be seen that as in the case of the coke ram, as the coke guide moves along the coke ovens, the pendulum switch 2st will be closed successively by the stalks b, b1 and will send positive or negative impulses to the motor I I according to the direction of travel, for example from the position shown if the guide moves to the right, the stalk b will close the switch 2d and a negative impulse will be generated, while if the movement be to the left, the stalk b will close th'e switch and a positive impulse will be generated.

rIhe use of a single line for transmitting the impulses is made possible by the inclusion of the balance resistance I9. The resistance I9 is connected across the supply source and is divided into two sections of the same value separated by a neutral point to which the one terminal oi each of the motors I0 and II are connected. Assuming the guide 2a: is moving to the right; the switch 24 is closed by the stalk h6 with the result that negative impulse is generated. This impulse is transmitted along the line I2, 1, 9, 8 and I3 to the motor II, thence to the neutral point of the resistance I9, along the positive side of the said resistance to the positive terminal of the switch Il. Actually the current flow is from the ram power line 3, its trolley I4 the positive sides of the switch'es IB and I1, thence along the positive side of the resistance I9, through the neutral point to the motor I I, thence through the trolley I3, auxiliary lines 8, 9, 1, guide trolley i2, negative contact of the switch 24, thence through the negative terminals of the switches 23 and. 22, trolley 2I to the negative guide power line.

It will be seen that with this arrangement impulses are added to or subtracted from the two portions of the rotatable switch according to the directions of movement of the two vehicles. Hence by adjusting the rotatable switch members to be in synchronism when the guide and ram are opposite the same oven, it follows that whenever the two vehicles are opposite an oven at the same time the switch members will always be in synchronism and the switch members therefore operative, while when the vehicles are opposite dilerent ovens they will be out of synchronism and the switch therefore inoperative. Hence it is impossible to operate the various discharging apparatus unless the two vehicles are opposite the same oven.

Figs. 2 and 3 show one form of rotatable switch. This comprises two similar portions driven by the motors Il and II respectively. The only difference between the two portions is in the machine position discs 25, 26-hereinafter described-the ram discs 25 having mounted thereon a switch' whose contacts are connected to slip rings 23, Z5 contacting with terminals 30, 3i which are themselves connected to the control circuit of the ram pushing mechanism; while the guide disc 23 has projecting therefrom a, rigid stalk S2 which is adapted to close the switch 21 when it comes opposite the latter, this condition only occurring when the two vehicles are opposite the same oven.

The fractional rotation of the

discs

25 and 26 will be described with reference to the ram disc 25 only as the two movements are identical. The drive of the motor I0 is `transmitted through a centrifugal clutch 33 which is counter-weighted to return to its Zero or initial position when the drive of the motor has ceased. The driven member of the clutch 33 is connected by wires 34 to a horizontal twoway motion bar 35 slidably mounted on the switch frame between two tension springs 38 which are adjustable to maintain the said motion bar in a central position. The bar S5 has rigidly mounted thereon equidistant from its center line two

pawls

37, 38 which are adapted to engage laterally projecting pins 25a on the disc 2% so that according to the direction of rotation of the motor one or the other of the said pawls will engage a pin 25a and drive the disc 25 in either a, clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction.

In order to prevent overrunning of the disc 25 a swinging quadrant arm 39 is pivotally mounted in the middle o the bar 35, the lower end of the said arm being slotted to engage a stationary pin 4G, while its upper end h'as formed thereon a quadrant a. When the pawl 31, for example, is actuated as a result of the movement to the right oi the bar 35, the bar 39 will swing to the right and during the movement of the disc 25 under the actuation of the said pawl, will pass between two adjacent pins 25a. and so prevent further movement of the disc.

When the apparatus is boing initially serviced, the stall; 32 must close the switch 2l when the two machines are in their respective positions, that is to say when they are both opposite the same oven.

I claim:

l. A system for synchronously controlling a plurality of machines which haveto work in conjunction with one another, in a series of positions comprising electrical impulse generating means associated with each machine, a corresponding movable member associated with each machine, said movable members being adapted to be operated by the impulses of the impulse generating means of its associated machine, in such a manner that the positions of said movable members correspond respectively to the positions of their machines, and switch means controlled by said movable means, in such a manner that they close only when said movable members are in position corresponding to the desired cooperating positions`of said machines.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members comprise rotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery of each of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each of said discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one of the projections on its respective dis the impulse generating means comprising twoway switch means whereby the direction of movement of each escapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of its respective machine, and mutually 'coacting contact members which are adapted to coact and close the control circuit only when the machines are in the desired cooperating positions.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members comprise rotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery of each of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each of said discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one of the projections on its respective disc, the impulse generating means comprising two-way switch means whereby the direction of movement of each escapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of its respective machine, mutually coacting contact members which are adapted to coact and close the control circuit only when the machines are in the desired cooperating positions and means for preventing overrunning of said discs.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members comprise rotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery of each of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each of said discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one of the projections on its respective disc, the impulse generating means comprising two-way switch means whereby the direction of movement of each escapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of its respective machine, mutually coacting contact members which are adapted to coact and close the control circuit only when the machines are in the desired c0- operating positions and means for preventing overrunning ci said discs said means comprising an abutment member which on the actuation of the escapement mechanism is adapted to pass between two adjacent projections on a disc and so prevent further rotation of the disc at the end of the movement of the escapement mechanism.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electric impulse generating means comprise a series of projections arranged along the path or" travel of each machine, a two-way switch on each machine, a projecting member on said switch, said projecting member being adapted to cooperate with said projections in succession, so that one or other of the contacts of said twoway switch are brought into play according to the direction of movement of the machine and a positive or negative impulse thus generated and the corresponding movable member rotated in one or other direction accordingly.

6. A system for synchronously controlling the coke ramming machine and the coke guide machine for the servicing of a battery oi coke ovens, said machines being adapted for travelling along paths in front and back of said battery, comprising a Series of projections arranged along said paths, a two-way switch on each machine, a projecting member on each switch; said projecting member being adapted to cooperate with said projections in succession, so that one or other of the contacts of said switch are brought into play according to the direction of movement of the machine and a positive or negative impulse thus generated, escapement mechanism adapted to be actuated by said impulses, a rotatable switch disc adapted to be actuated by said escapement mechanism and contacts on said disc switches arranged so that when the two machines are in the desired position for cooperating, said contacts close the control circuit so that the coke ramming machine may be operated to push out the coke from an oven into the coke guide on the other side of said oven.

WILLIAM HUGHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,248 Duane Dec. 31, 1901 1,112,978 Carpenter et al. Oct. 6, 1914 1,368,163 Keigley Feb. 8, 1921 1,500,526 Porter July 8, 1924