US2977871A - Fluid flow compensating device - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1961 G. E. EUWE FLUID FLow coMPENsATING DEVICE Filed 000. 28, 1955 illll INVENTOR. E. EUWE GE RR IT I ATTORNEYS.

Illn I Il.

er er United *States 4Patentv O 2,911,811 i FLUID FLOW COMPENSATING DEVICE, f

Gerrit Evert` Euwe, Vlaardingen, Netherlands, assiguor to Lever Brothers Company, New York,'N.Y., a corporation of Maine y Fiieii oct. 2s, 1955ser. Ni. 543,426 Y claims priority, application Neiiieriaii'ds oci. 29, i954 'l r1i) claims. y (ci. 99z4,4)f

This invention relates to 'compensating devices and more particularly to compensating devices for coupling 4they make no satisfactory provision for conditions such `as an occasional temporary speed up or slow down in either thecontinuous -iiow `or the intermittent flow stage. Using the principle of the system of said patent, for example, excess flow can become separated from the con- `tiriuous throughput which follows..

It is an objectiof the present invention, therefore, to provide a compensating coupling unit for accommodating random variations in the `iiow characteristics of a system in .which a continuous iiow device and an intermittent iiow device are used in tandem;

Another object ofthe invention is to provide improved apparatus for use in the production or transmission of owable substances such for example as margarine.

In accordance with the present invention, there-is provided a coupling apparatus for accommodating iiuid ow .continuously operating and intermittently operating stages i.

including a chamber for receiving the ow and a variable y stroke piston displaceable inI either direction to compensate over a certain time interval for awide range of ratios between inflow and outiiow. To this end, the uid substance can be introduced into the chamber through the piston itself and the piston biased to urge the fluid out of the chamber under substantially uniform pressure, but at the same time, capable of yielding to enlarge the chamber size at such times as the outiiow is temporarily below `that of the inflow.

Representative embodiments of the invention from `which the above and various other features and objects `will be readily understood are described below having reference to the accompanying drawing in whicha Figure 1 is 1a schematic diagram'of a system useful in .th'e manufacture of a owable substance such as margarine;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinalV section of the oom- `p'ensating coupling unit between the input and'output ends :ofV the system of Figure 1; and

'Figure 3 is a;view in longitudinalsection of a modified form of compensating unit.

Referring to the drawing and to the schematic of Figure 2,977,87 Patented Aprt, 4,l 19u61 2 one or more thin walled'tubes arranged to be surrounded by a chilling medium, such as evaporating liquid ammonia. The tubes are provided with internal rotating blades which remove the thin iilm of chilled material from their Walls. The system of the invention also includes an Vintermittent flow output stage 11 which can take the form of a packaging or metering device, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,474,136, wherein a packaging device intermittently accepts uniform quantities of viscous sub'- stance from a conduit connected to a chilling unit, such las a Votator, and a coupling stage 12 for accommodating the different flow characteristics of the two stages 1 0 and 11 in such a manner Vthat the system can be operated continuously despite random variations in ow rate in either stage.

Referring now to Figure 2, the coupling stage 12 is illustrated in one of its embodiments as comprising a chamber or cylinder 13 which can be coupled to a crystallizing body 14 coupled in turn to a mouth piece 15 adapted to be connected for example to the output stage 11. Received in the cylinder 13 is a piston assembly indicated generally by the numeral 16 movable randomly to and fro under the controlof yieldable actuating means which 'can take the lforni of'a second piston 17 woirkingin a the cylinder 13 by suitable means such for example as "an open distance piece 20. The right hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the cylinder 18 is closed by acap` piece 21 centrally apertured to receive and carry a fixed pipe 22 extending inwardly therefrom cantilever fashion to be received coaxially Within the hollow rod 19, first passing slidably through an axial opening 23 and sealing gland 24 in the Vpiston 17. The free or inner end of the fixed pipe 22 carries suitable packing rings 25 to engage. the inner wall of the pipe 19 in a` fluid tight seal affording relative sliding or telescoping motion. The outer end of the pipe 22 is adapted to be connected to the input stage 10 to receive for example a continuous flow of margarine, which it conveys into the hollow rod 19.

The piston assembly 16 to which the rod 19 is connected, is formed with a `central opening 26 communicating with the interior of the rod 19 to pass the fluid or plastic substance into the cylinder 13 on the left hand or front side of the piston assembly 16. In order to distribute the plastic substance evenly over the cross section of the cylinder 13, the piston -assembly 16 can be formed with a conical recess 27 in which is fitted a match ing conical face 28 spaced therefrom as by distance pins 29 and secured as by bolts 30 to define a toroidal space 31 to convey the material radially outwardly in all directions toward theinner wall of the cylinder 13. Joined to the conical face 28 in opposed relation with respect thereto is an outer conical face 32 forming the working side of the piston and over which the material emerging from the toroidal space 31 passes. Sealing means 33 are provided to prevent leakage between the cylinder 13 and the atmosphere around the piston assembly 16. v Possible accumulations over a long interval of material leaking around the piston assembly 16 can be removed by means of a suitable outlet 34. Similarly, any ma'- terial which might leak around the sealing rings 25 at the free end of the iixed pipe 22' can be taken oil'through an opening 34a in the hollow rod 19. if"

YThe piston 17 is adapted to be driven to the left init's cylinder 18 by means of `uid` pressure, either pneumatic or hydraulic introduced through anv opening 35 in the 'end piece 21. As seenl in4 the schematic diagrarrirof Figure 1, this uid'can derive from a suitable source 36 through valve means 37 which can,if desired,-be linked by connecting meanss to be Vresponsive t0 avenoltb dition in the output stage 11, as will be described. So that the pistons can yield to the right under certain conditions, also described below, means 39 such as an aceumulator, pressure-relief valve,'or` the like, can be provided. The extremes of motion of the piston `17 and, it follows of the piston assembly i716, can be controlled by stop means 40 and 41 at `opposite ends of the cylinder 18. If desired, as best` seen in Figure l, these Vstop means can be coupled through suitable connecting means 40a and 41a, either electrical or mechanical, to the output and input stages 11 `and 10, respectively, for purposes of either terminating the inflow or stopping the operation of the output stage when the piston 17 reaches anextreme.

In operation, assuming the coupled pistons 16 and 17 are disposed somewhere between their extremes of motion, a continuous supply of fluid material is introduced through the pipe 22 to ll the rod 19 to the left of the seals 25, the toroidal space 3 1, the cylinder 13, the crystallizing body 14, and the mouth 15, to the output stage 11, which will be assumed to comprise a packaging machine which draws material intermittently. With fluid pressure applied to the piston 17 to urge the piston assembly 16 to the left under a predetermined force, and with a continuous infeed of material under pressure into the pipe 22, the piston assembly 16 will move to the left at such times as the output stage 11 is drawing materialand will move to the right when it is not. While normally, it would be expected that the piston assembly 16 would shift to and fro over a more or less constant short range, in the event of a momentary increase in infeed throughthe pipe 22 the system can continue to operate without exceeding critical pressure limitations at the output within the limits of the total capacity of the cylinder 13. Similarly, a reduction of infeed will not reduce the internal pressures critically or terminate the 'operation of the system within the limits of the quantity of material stored in the cylinder 13 to the left of the piston assembly 16. It follows that the output stage 11 can in a like manner introduce variations in its demand over the same limits without exceeding established pressure parameters throughout the system. If, however, either extreme position is reached for the piston, the system can be stopped automatically through the connections 40a and 41a.

If the output of the continuously operating output stage 11 is wholly independent of the counter-pressure in the coupling unit 12, the movable pistons can be maintained under a continuous bias via the fluid introduced into the opening 35 from the source 36. If this output is sensitive to the counter-pressure in the unit or if it is desirable to exert discharging pressure on the material in the unit only during the periods when the material is being drawn bythe intermittently operating output stage 11, the pres- -sure on the piston 17 can be controlled through the connecting means 38 in such a Way that it is under working pressure only during the time the material is being taken by the output stage, the pressure being relieved whenno substance is being taken.

It will be understood that the novel functions achieved by the representative apparatus of Figure 2 can in accordance with the invention be attained by various modications thereof. Thus, referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated a connecting unit 12 similar in many ways to the unit 12 of Figure l and like parts of which are identified by like .primed reference characters. The unit 12' differs fromthe unit 12 in its mode ofintroduction of fluid material. Received in cylinder 13' is a piston assembly indicated'generally by the numeral 42 coupled by a connecting rod 43 to yieldabledriving means in the form of a -piston 44 received ina cylinder 18. The piston 44, and AhencetheL piston assembly.'42are urged to the left by means of uid pressure introduced by-ra suitablefopening 35i in the end1piece-21fof the'fcylinderlSf. "Material is introducedthrou'gh-a variable coupling includ- 4. ing a fixed pipe 45 carried by a housing 46 and adapted to be connected through valve means 47 to a continuously operating infeed source such as a Votator, for example. The opposite or free end of the pipe 45 carries a gland fitting 48 which slidably receives in fluid tight relationship, the free end of `a ysecond pipe 49 the outside diameter of which is such that it can'be received within the pipe 4S in telescoping fashion. The second and smaller pipe 49 is secured to the piston assembly '42 to connect with the cylinder 13 to the left of the piston assembly 42 via ducts 50, 51 and S2, a central opening 53 and a perforated face plate 54 which distributes the substance over the entire cross section of the cylinder The operation of thecoupling unit 12' is generally similar to that of the unit 12 as described above, with the piston assembly 42 seeking positions within the cylinder 13 which are a function of the supply and demand of the material to and from the unit. If desired, the crystallizing body 14' (and also the body 14) can be encased in a suitable heat transfer jacket 55. In the case of margarine manufacture, for example, the heat transfer jacket 55 can be used to heat the product to prevent stiffenng through those intervals in which the flow is reduced or terminated. Emptying and cleaning of the crystallizing body 14' can be accomplished through a valved conduit 56.

When the units are operated as part of a margarine producing system, it will be understood that by suitable dimensioning of the parts, a separate crystallizing vessel or body can be dispensed with. In order that the margarine, at any position of the movable piston, stays in the unit long enough to attain the desired consistency, the content of the connecting unit not covered by the strokes of the piston assemblies 16 or 42 (Figures 2 and 3, respectively) to their left should be at least equal to Qt in which Q represents yield per unit of time of the continuously operating feed device and t the time needed to obtain the desired consistency.

It will be understood, therefore, that various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention which should not be regarded as limited except as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for delivering quantities of viscous substance intermittently comprising a continuously operating input stage to furnish a substantially continuous ow of substance, an intermittently operating output stage to receive and deliver quantities of the substance intermittently, and an intermediate compensating unit including a chamber, a first piston movable in the chamber to vary the capacity thereof, first conduit means connecting the end of the chamber opposite the piston to the output stage, second conduit means connecting the continuously operating input stage to the ychamber through the piston, yieldable drive means continuously urging the first piston to reduce the chamber capacity with a predetermined force including a second piston and a cylinder, means to introduce fluid pressure into the cylinder, and connecting means between the first and second pistons comprising a hollow tube between the pistons and communicating with the chamber through the piston movable therein, said second conduit means comprising said hollow tube and a second tube communicating with the input stage telescopically slidably received in the hollow tube and passing through the second piston insliding fluid-tight relationship.

2. Apparatus for delivering quantities of viscous substance intermittently comprising a continuously operat- 1ng input stage to furnish a substantially continuous flow of substance, an intermittently operating output'stage'to receive and deliver lquantities of the'substance vintermittently, and an intermediate compensating unit including an A.enclosure forming a chamber, agpiston movable in :the ehamber to fvaryffhe capacity-weiser fineludmglan d the chamber.

aperture of small cross-sectional area with respect to the area of the front face of the piston passing through the piston at a location spaced inwardly from the periphery of the piston, first conduit means connecting the end of the chamber opposite the piston to the output stage, second conduit means connecting the continuously operating input stage to the chamber through the piston aperture, yieldable drive means continuously urging the piston to reduce the chamber capacity with a predetermined force, and guide'means mounted in front of the Afront face of the piston and extending outwardly substantially from the pistony aperture substantially close to the inner surface of the enclosure forming the chamber to spread the viscous material outwardly from the aperture about the inner surface as it passesinto the chamber, thereby distributing the material` over the entire cross-section of the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a perforated plate adjacent to the front face of the piston.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the guide means has a convexly conical face cooperating with the `front face of the piston and extending outwardly to a location adjacent to the interior surface of the enclosure forming the chamber to provide a passage extending between the front face of the piston and the conical face of the guide means which communicates with the chamber about the periphery of the guide means and adjacent to the interior surface of the enclosure, whereby the flowing material is distributed evenly overthe cross-section of 5. Apparatus according to claimA 4 wherein the piston has a concave front face and including distance means to space the conical face of the guide means from the piston face to form a toroidal space communicating with 6 in front of the front face of the piston and extending outwardly substantially from the piston aperture substantially close to the inner surface of the connecting conduit to spread the owable substance outwardly from the aperture about the inner surface as it passes into the connecting conduit, thereby distributing the material over the entire cross-section of the connecting conduit.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the guide means includes a perforated plate secured to the piston and adjacent to the front face of the piston for distributing the flowable substance from the aperture.

9.v Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the guide means includes a double convex cone structure secured to the piston and adjacent to the front face of the piston providing an annular passageway leading outwardly from the piston aperture toa location adjacent to the inner surface of the connecting conduit for distributing the owable substance from the aperture.

10. An arrangement for coupling a supply device for continuously supplying a fiowable substance under pressure to an accepting device which intermittently accepts a quantity of such substance, this arrangement consisting of a first conduit, a rst piston movable within said first conduit so as to alter the capacity thereof and having an aperture extending through it, a second conduit, a sec ond piston movable in said second conduit and having a passage extending through it, a first tube secured to said tirst and second pistons to provide a mechanical connection between said rst and said pistons and communicating with the irst conduit through the irst piston aperture, a second tube xed relative to the second conthe chamber about the periphery of the guide means at a location adjacent to the inner surface of the enclosure forming the chamber and communicating with the sec-y ond conduit means through the piston aperture.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the coupling device includes a crystallizing chamber between l the piston and the output stage.

, 7. An arrangement for coupling` a supply device for continuously supplying aflowable substance under pressure to an accepting device which intermittently accepts a quantity of suchsubstance, this arrangement consisting of a connecting conduit between the outlet of the supply device and the inlet of the accepting device, a piston movablewithin said connecting conduit so as to `alter the` capacity thereof and having anY aperture in its head of small cross-sectional area with'respect to the connecting conduit and'spaced inwardly from the periphery of the piston, a second conduit connecting the supply l device to the connecting conduit through the piston aperture through which the substance from the supply device passes to the accepting device, and guide means mounted als duit and passing into the first tube and communicating with the supply device, whereby substance from the supply device passes through the second tube, the rst tube, and the aperture in the rst piston into the irst conduit, Huid pressure means connected to said second conduit for actuating the second piston to urge the first piston to reduce the capacity of the first conduit, the second conduit on the side of the second piston not in contact with the uid pressure being open to the atmosphere.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,562 .Waste NOV. 21, 1876 1,224,914 Field et al. May 8, 1917 1,398,003 Clayton et al. Nov. 22, 1921 1,533,191 Kaiser et al. Apr. 14, 1925 2,280,022. Baniganet al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,381,505 Lindholm c--- Aug. 7, 1945 2,443,146 Pyles ..-Y June 8, 1948 2,474,136 i Wilson et al. June 21, 1949 2,611,707 Rourke et al. Sept. 23, 19.52

Y FOREIGN PATENTS t Y 589,095 vCueat Britain JuneV 11, 1947.V

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