US3499368A - Pneumatic apparatus having detachable mounting means - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1970 J, 5, BALLANTINE 3,499,368

PNEUMATIC APPARATUS HAVING DETACHABLE MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 il -a l INVENTOR w ams afiaf/anfi'ne ATTOR N EYS March 10, 1970 J. 5. BALLANTINE 3,499,368

PNEUMATIC APPARATUS HAVING DETACHABLE MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 'a fi ATTORNEYS United States Patent PNEUMATIC APPARATUS HAVING DETACHABLE MOUNTING MEANS James S. Ballantine, P.O. Box 307, Absecon, NJ. 08201 Filed Dec. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 692,535 Int. Cl. F15b 11/16, 13/042; F01b 19/00 U.S. Cl. 91-418 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to pneumatic apparatus having detachable mounting means including differential diaphragm devices such as differential valves and pilot operated differential valves. The differential diaphragm valve device is positioned at the front of the pneumatic apparatus, and the pneumatic apparatus is engaged and supported by a groove or slot which surrounds a tongue on a support, the opposite end of the pneumatic apparatus being supported by securing a bracket to a slotted or perforated flange on the support.

The present invention relates to pneumatic apparatus having detachable mounting means, including differential diaphragm devices for programmed control of machinery, including stack assemblies for player pianos and organs.

A purpose of the invention is to mount a differential diaphragm device in combination with a pneumatic device in adjustable position on a support.

A further purpose is to support one end of a differential diaphragm device by a longitudinally extending tongue engaging a slot, and to hold the device at the other end or near the other end by a bracket cooperating with the flange and provided with a slot or perforations.

A further purpose is to provide a differential valve assembly with a valve housing or a plurality of valve housings at the front and a bellows-like device behind it, mounting the bellows-like device so that it is slidable laterally in the support to an adjustable position, and can be clamped in the proper adjusted position.

A further purpose is to permit ready replacement of a defective differential valve assembly by simply disconnecting it from the push rod or other output mechanism, detaching the connection between the bracket-and the flange of the support at the front end, detachingthe pneumatic connection and sliding the assembly forwardto release the groove or slot from the tongue or other interlock at the back.

A further purpose is to locate the tongue with respect to the slot sothat the portion of the device which is between the tongue and the support is crowded or tightl gripped between the tongue and the support to guard against any play or freedom transversely.

A further purpose is to provide an improved combined pilot and secondary valve for easy mounting on a support as part of a stack assembly.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate a few only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of diaphragm device of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a central longitudinal section of the device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a stack assembly including a pneumatic and a pilot operated differential pressure valve or pneumatic amplifier mounted according to the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary central section of the pneumatic and the pilot operated valve of FIGURE 7 in actuated position.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing th valve in inactive position.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation, and referring to the drawings:

The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of programmed control devices which may be employed for operating machinery such as testing machines, or machine tools, for operating electrical devices such as electric signs, or for manipulating what may be generally called output mechanism to operate a player piano or an organ. Many other types of mechanism involving programmed control can be controlled by the device of the invention.

In all of such devices, difficulty in functioning has occurred which has necessitated replacement or repair of individual differential diaphragm devices. Also from time to time it is desirable to obtain most effective operation to be able to adjust differential diaphragm devices laterally so that they can effectively align with the output mechamsm.

In the prior art differential diaphragm devices have been assembled and mounted by adhesives or by bolts which are not readily accessible. Once mounted, such devices have been difficult to remove and when replaced it has been troublesome to realign with an output mechanism such as a push rod.

One of the improvements in the invention is that the differential diaphragm assembly, consisting of a pneumatic and a differential pressure valve, or a plurality of cooperating differential pressure valves, are readily removed in toto and readily replaced.

A further advantage of the device of the invention is that when replaced or during replacement lateral shifting of position is readily accomplished.

The differential valve of the invention in its simplest form is not a part of the present invention, being described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 682,403, filed Nov. 13, 1967 for Programmed Control Device. This is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring particularly to the drawings, I there show in the preferred form of FIGURES l to 6 a support 20 which is conveniently a plate 21 having a flange 22 at the front and a reverse bend at the back providing a tongue 23 directed toward the front. It will be evident that the support can extend horizontally as in a player piano where it extends from side to side, or may extend in any other desired direction to meet the requirements of a particular piece of machinery.

The differential diaphragm device in the simplest form consists of a pneumatic operating device 24 which in the case of a player piano is commonly called a pneumatic and which is anchored to the support, and a differential valve 25 supported on the pneumatic operating device 24 and desirably projecting forward from it, as shown.

The pneumatic output device or pneumatic 24 comprises a body 26 which is in spaced relation from a moving bellows plate 27 to provide a chamber 28 between them, the body 26 and the plate 27 being flexibly connected by pneumatically leakage-tight bellows cloth 30 which forms a hinge 31 conveniently at the forward end and which is pleated at the opposite end 32 and at the sides at 33 so that the pneumatic can move the plate 27 from its retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 4, to collapse it to its operating position as shown in FIGURE 8. Secured on the bellows plate 27 is a metallic extension 34 secured to the bellows plate 27 as by screws 35 and at its rearward end the extension 34 has a ball socket 36 which receives a ball 37 on a push rod 38, the push rod passing through an opening or slot 40 in the extension 34 and held against unintentional separation by a nut 41 threaded on the push rod 38.

The pneumatic 24 has an internal passage 42 through the body 26 which at one end receives nipple 43 of an exhaust port 44 from the differential diaphragm valve 25. A bracket 45 is clamped between the pneumatic body 26 and the valve 25 and has an annular opening 46 around and in spaced relation to the nipple 43, the thickness of the metal of the bracket 45 being adequate to control the compression of an elastomer backing ring 47, limit the compression of the backing ring 47, such as an elastomeric O-ring, by valve housing 48 as it is urged against the bracket 45 by strongback 50 anchored in the body at the ends at 51 (FIGURE and extending through slots 52 at the sides of the pneumatic body and through slots 53 at the sides of the valve housing 48 to pass through openings in a clamping plate 54 at the front. Threaded ends 55 of the strongback receive nuts 56 which tighten the clamping plate and the valve housing against the forward side of the bracket and center the bracket with respect to the packing to compress the packing or O-ring 47, between the nipple at the inside the bracket 45 at the outside, the pneumatic body 26 at the rear and the valve housing 48 at the front, as best seen in FIG- URE 4.

The pneumatic at its rear has a slot or groove 57 which extends laterally and is so located as to tightly grip the portion 58 of the pneumatic body in the reverse bend 60 of the support so that the rear end of the support is gripped tight by the plate 20 at one side and by the tongue 23 against moving in reaction to the push rod 38. The pneumatic is forced into this position and held in this position by engagement of the bracket 45 with the front of the flange 22 on the support, the pneumatic and the differential diaphragm valve assembly being adjusted laterally along the tongue and held in adjusted position by tightening bolt 61 extending through an opening 62 in the bracket 45 and extending through a lateral slot or one of a series of perforations 63, the slot running a considerable distance along the flange 22, the distance normally being sufiicient to cover the span of several different pneumatics but being shortened in FIGURE 1 for illustration purposes.

While the construction and operation of the differential diaphragm valve in the form shown in FIGURES 1 to 6 does not comprise the subject matter of the present application, it will be understood that the differential diaphragm valve in one embodiment, as shown in FIG- URE 4, may consist of a diaphragm housing 64 which has, extending across it and suitably sealed at the outer circumference to it, a diaphragm 65, suitably of an elastomeric material such as synthetic rubber. The diaphragm at the radial inside desirably has a piston portion and annularly around this a series of annular convolutions which in cross section are curved and merge at the radial inner and outer edges by curved portions, there being a rim which is sealed in the housing. At one side of the diaphragm there is a pressure control chamber 70 connected by a pressure control tube 71 with a tracker bar orifice, as well known, the orifice being adapted to be closed by a paper or other strip or selectively opened by a perforation therein. At the other side of the diaphragm there is a plenum chamber 72 connected by a plenum connection 73 with a suitable source of control pressure, desirably a vacuum pump. Through the center of the diaphragm extends a hollow tappet 74, closed at the end, and which has a side wall bleed opening 75 which permits a leakage of control pressure between the plenum chamber and the control pressure chamber. As well known in the art, the cross sectional area of the bleed opening 75 is substantially smaller than the area of the tracker bar orifice and in the preferred embodiment the area of the tracker bar orifice may be three or four times the area of the bleed opening.

At the end of the plenum chamber 72 remote from the diaphragm there is a plenum port 76 and coaxial with the tappet in the plenum port there extends avalve stem 77 of a valve 77', the tappet and the valve stem being guided to maintain alignment by spiders 78. The valve has suitable cushion seating material at opposite surfaces and at the position shown in FIGURE 4 engages and annularly seals on an annular plenum valve seat 80 which is around the plenum port 76. Coaxial with the plenum port 76 and opposed to it there is an atmospheric port 81 provided in an end closure 82 of the valve housing, the end closure, the valve housing and the parts of the diaphragm housing being held together by a strongback 83 suitably spaced from the atmospheric port 81 to avoid air noise, and urging a locking plate 84 which is positioned centrally by a boss 85 against the diaphragm housing by nuts 86 threaded on the threaded ends 87 of the strongback 83. The various housing parts are sealed by packing rings 88 and 90.

Thus it will be evident that the differential diaphragm valve proper is positioned on the front of the pneumatic by one strongback so that it can readily be removed from the pneumatic and the differential diaphragm valve itself is readily disassembled by releasing another strongback.

In operation of the device shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, once the support is put in position, and the tracker bar is properly located, the stack assembly is positioned by engaging the tongue 23 in the groove or slot 57 and in adjusting each pneumatic laterally, and then tightening the bolt 61 at a proper position in the slot or perforation 63. The push rods are properly located in the extensions 34 to the pneumatics and fastened in position. Plenum tubes are connected to the plenum connections 73. Tracker bar tubes are interconnected to the control pressure connections 71 and to the correct tracker bar opening.

In operation of the device, a paper or other strip covers the particular tracker bar opening, vacuum is in the control pressure chamber 70 on both sides of a strainer 70', having been derived from the bleed opening 75. Since the diaphragm is in inactive position, the valve 77' is closed on the plenum valve seat 80 and the interior chamber 28 of the pneumatic is open through exhaust port 44 to the atmosphere at atmospheric port 81.

When a perforation on the paper or other strip opens the orifice opening in the tracker bar, air at atmospheric pressure is admitted through the tracker bar orifice and enters control pressure chamber 70. Since bleed opening 75 is ineffective to admit vacuum at the same rate that the atmospheric air is entering, since it is much smaller than the tracker bar orifice, the diaphragm expands or raises in FIGURE 4, conveniently permitting a slight lost motion of the tappet, and then the tappet 74 strikes the valve stem 77 and closes the valve 77 on atmospheric port 81 around a valve seat 81'. In this position, vacuum from the plenum chamber 72 enters the chamber 28 of pneumatic 24 and the bellows collapses, pushing the push rod 38 upward to effectuate any desired motion, such as operating a valve or switch or striking a key or actuating an organ pipe, as desired.

In the alternate form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 7 to 9, a primary valve 90 is connected to the front of the stack, and this is secured to a secondary valve 91 which is connected to the pneumatic as previously discussed. In this case a valve housing 48 resembling the valve housing previously described has been lengthened to not only form a valve housing for the secondary differential diaphragm valve but also to assist; in mounting the primary differential diaphragm valve,

and a lengthened strongback 50' extends through grooves in the side of the valve housing 48' and clamps the structure together by urging a clamping plate 54 against the valve housing 48' and to tightly clamp the bracket 45 in place and also tighten a packing ring 47 aroundnipple 43, as previously described.

A primary valve housing 94 has a tubular portion 94' which is anchored in a recess of the valve housing 48' and held in place by a strongback 94 anchored in the valve housing 48 and suitably'clamping a clamping plate 94 by nuts as previously described.

Primary valve housing 94 has extending across it and sealed in it an elastomeric diaphragm 96 which has ex? tending through the axis a hollow tappet 97, suitably an eyelet. The tappet 97 has a closed end but has at the side a bleed opening 98 which is regulated so that its area is considerably smaller than a tracker bar orifice to which it is connected by control pressure connection 100, the area of the tracker bar opening being suitably three or four times the area of the bleed. A control pressure chamber 101 is located in the housing on one side of the diaphragm and a plenum chamber 102 is connected to plenum connection 103 suitably from a source of vacuum or other differential pressure.

The plenum chamber 102 has at the axis in prolongation of the tappet a valve chamber 104 which in a reduced diameter portion receives the stem 105 of a valve 106, the stem extending down into alignment with the tappet and held in alignment by a spider, not shown. In inactive position of the diaphragm there is preferably a slight clearance between the tappet and the valve, but in active position the tappet preferably delivers a hammer blow to the valve.

The valve has in the plenum chamber 102 a valve element 107 which in closed position seals on an annular plenum seat 108 and at the other end has a valve element 110 which in one position seals on an annular atmospheric seat .111 around an atmospheric port 112. The interior of plenum port 104 (around the valve stem) connects by an output pneumatic connection 113 with the control pressure chamber 70 of secondary valve 91 to be described.

Secondary valve 91 is the same in construction as the differential diaphragm valve previously described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 6 except that tappet 74 has no bleed opening. It receives plenum (vacuum) through plenum connection 92 sealed by gasket 93 to plenum chamber 102 of the primary valve.

In operation, when the strip of paper or the like closes the tracker bar opening, then pressure from the control pressure chamber 101 in the primary valve 90 is equalized through bleed opening 98 and the diaphragm is in inactive position. Atmospheric port 112 is closed as in FIGURE 9 and vacuum from the plenum chamber 102 of the primary valve enters through connection 113 to the control pressure chamber 70 of secondary valve 91. Since the other side of the diaphragm 65 in secondary valve 91 is also under the same vacuum, the diaphragm 65 of the secondary valve 91 is inactive and the plenum port 76 of the secondary valve is closed, the atmospheric port 81 is open and the pneumatic is in inactive position.

When the tracker bar orifice receives air from the atmosphere through a perforation through the paper or other strip (FIGURE 8), then control pressure chamber 101 of primary valve 90 is subjected to air pressure against the diaphragm 96 and this diaphragm deflects and seats valve element 107 on plenum seat 108, admitting atmosphere through atmospheric port 112 to con trol pressure connection 113 and to the control pressure chamber of secondary valve 91. This deflects the diaphragm 65 of the secondary valve 91 and closes secondary valve 77' to atmosphere, admitting reduced pressure from the plenum chamber 72 to the interior 33 of the bellows of the pneumatic, and the atmospheric air collapses the bellows of the pneumatic and operates the device.

It will be evident that the combination of the primary valve and the secondary valve as described gives a more powerful operating device and assures more output energy from the pneumatic. In effect, since there is no bleed in the secondary valve which diminishes the operating pressure, the differential pressure valves in FIGURES 8 and 9 act like -a pneumatic amplifier.

An important aspect of the invention is in a pilot valve of the type under discussion to locate the primary and secondary valves in sequence on the front of the pneumatic or other operating device, so that the whole stack assembly can be removed as a unit by the mounting previously discussed.

Another important feature of the invention is that the primary valve has a bleed opening located in the side wall of the tubular tappet so as to protect against lodgement of dirt in the bleed opening and also the bleed is through the center of the diaphragm, so that the danger is prevented of expanding the diaphragm more on one side than on the other so that the tappet could be cocked.

It will be evident that the relation between the tongue on the mounting and the slot on the pneumatic can be reversed, so that the tongue can be provided on the pneumatic and the slot on the mounting if desired. It will also be evident that an equavalent interlocking relationship between the tongue and the slot can be achieved in some other way, as for example by pin engagement in an opening, or by other suitable interconnection which is removable by motion forward of the support and is adjustable by motion laterally of the support.

It will also be evident that resilient engagement can be provided between the support and the pneumatic at the rear, as by providing a resilient material such as a cushion material on one of the parts which is to receive an interlocking element such as a pin on another part or by providing a spring or other engaging feature which will relatively closely maintain the position of the support and the pneumatic.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pneumatic apparatus having detachable mounting means, a support extending laterally, having a body portion which is generally flat, having at one edge a first interlock which permits relative adjustment laterally and having at the other edge an anchorage which extends laterally, a pneumatic device engaging the generally flat portion of the support, having at one end a second interlock which cooperatively engages the first interlock and provides lateral adjustment and having at the other end a bracket which engages the anchorage, the first and second interlocks comprising a laterally extending tongue and laterally extending slot in engagement with one another, the pneumatic device including a bellows which contains one inter-lock, the bellows having a hinge 'adjacent the bracket and the portion of the bellows between the interlocks and the flat surface of the support filling the space by a pressure fit, the anchorage comprising a flange on the support extending away from the generally flat surface and engaging the bracket, a differential diaphragm valve controlling the pneumatic beyond the anchorage, support and pneumatic device, fastening means permitting lateral adjustment which engages and clamps the bracket to the anchorage in laterally adjustable relation and fixes the position of the pneumatic device both laterally of the support and also crosswise, and said differential diaphragm valve being secured from the pneumatic device at a position beyond the anchorage, support and pneumatic device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson et a1. 248--250 X Welin 8455 Wright 8456 Betz 8455 X Yetts 84-51 Jameson 84-52 Lane 84-56 Smith 84--50 X Wefel 84-55 X Gartin 92-161 X Zadek 248-250 X MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner IRWIN C. COHEN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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