US3661164A

US3661164A - Pneumatically operated averaging relay construction and system utilizing the same

Info

Publication number: US3661164A
Application number: US63475A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth G Kreuter; Walter J Berleyoung
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Priority date: 1970-08-13
Filing date: 1970-08-13
Publication date: 1972-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-09

Abstract

A housing means carrying a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in stacked relation and cooperating with the housing means to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by the diaphragm members. Each diaphragm member has a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on the post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other. Interconnecting means interconnect the post means of the diaphragm members together whereby the diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in the housing means.

Description

United States Patent Kreuter et a1.

[451 May9, 1972 [54] PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED AVERAGING RELAY CONSTRUCTION AND SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME [72] Inventors: Kenneth G. Kreuter; Walter J. Berleyoung, both of Goshen, lnd.

[73 Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 63,475

521 U.S. C1 .L ..137/85, 137/86 [51] Int. Cl. .FlSb 5/00, 605d 16/00 [58] Field of Search ..137/82, 85, 86; 92/49 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,461,896 8/1969 Holloway ..l37/85X Kreuter ..137/82 X Smith 137/85 Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-candor, Candor & Tassone, Auzville Jackson, Jr. and Robert L. Marben [57] ABSTRACT A housing means carrying a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in stacked relation and cooperating with the housing means to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by the diaphragm members. Each diaphragm member has a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on the post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other. Interconnecting means interconnect the post means of the diaphragm members together whereby the diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in the housing means.

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures u 39 3O 4 45A 8 31 46A wi'g 5?: 27 56 34 58 l4 PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 IFIG.2

INVENTORS KENNETH G. KREUTER WALTER J. BERLEYOU THEIR ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 3,661,164

snmz 0F 2 XNVENTORS KENNETH G.KREUTER 8: WALTER J. BERLEYOUNG d'vbydoulni'zawm THEIR ATTORNEYS PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED AVERAGING RELAY CONSTRUCTION AND SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME This invention relates to an averaging relay construction and to a pneumatic control system utilizing such averaging relay construction.

It is well known that pneumatically operated averaging relay constructions have been provided wherein the relay construction will transmit a control pneumatic signal from a pneumatic source in relation to the average or sum of a plurality of pneumatic signals directed to the relay construction.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to provide such an averaging relay construction having improved parts which facilitate the accuracy of operation thereof as well as facilitate the fabrication thereof whereby the relay construction can be relatively compact and economical.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention comprises a housing means. A plurality of diaphragm members are disposed in the housing means in stacked relation and cooperate therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by the diaphragm members. Each diaphragm member has a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on the post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other. The diaphragm members are substantially identical to each other. Interconnecting means interconnect the post means of the diaphragm members together whereby the diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison relative to the housing means to produce a control signal from a pneumatic source in relation to the average of a plurality of pneumatic signals directed to the relay construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved averaging relay construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatic control system utilizing such a relay construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the improved averaging relay construction of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various parts of the relay construction of FIGS. 1 and 2.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to provide an averaging relay construction to be utilized with a pressure operated pneumatic control system, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide a relay construction for other types of pneumatic control systems as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. l-3, the improved relay construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and is adapted to be utilized in a pneumatic control system generally indicated by the reference numeral 11 in FIG. 2, the control system 11 comprising a pneumatic fluid pressure source 12 interconnected by suitable conduit means 13 to a nipple connection 14 of a housing means 15 of the relay construction 10, a pneumatically operated controlled device 16 interconnected by suitable conduit means 17 to another nipple means 18 of the relay construction 10 and a pair of pneumatically operated pneumatic signal sending means 19 and 20 respectively interconnected by suitable conduit means 2l and 22 to nipple means 23 and 24 of the relay construction 10. For example, the pneumatic control system II can comprise a heat exchanging system wherein the controlled device 16 comprises a pneumatically operated heat exchanger means and the pneumatic signal sending means 19 and 20 can respectively comprise a temperature sensing means and a set point adjusting means so that the heat exchanger means 16 will be operated in relation to the average of the signals produced by the devices 19 and 20 in a manner well known in the art.

The housing means 15 of the relay construction 10 includes a cup-shaped housing member 25 having a closed end wall means 26 and an opened end 27 receiving four

other housing members

28, 29, 30 and 31 therein in stacked relation with the outboard housing member 31 having an outwardly directed substantially annular tongue or rib means 32 snap-fittingly received in an annular groove or recess 33 in the interior side wall means 34 of the cup-shaped housing member 25 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 to not only secure the-housing members 25 and 28-31 together, but also to secure and seal the same to two

diaphragm members

35 and 35A cooperating with the housing means 15 to define five

chambers

36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 disposed in stacked relation in the housing means 15 and separated from each other by

diaphragm portions

41, 42, and 41A, 42A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A.

The

diaphragm portions

41, 42 and 41A, 42A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are formed integrally with axially extending post means 43 and 43A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A and are formed of flexible material, such as rubber or the like, and by molding or the like. The

diaphragm portions

41, 42 and 41A, 42A have outer annular bead means 44 and 45, 44A and 45A at the outer peripheries thereof to be respectively received and sealed in annular groove means defined between the cooperating surfaces of the housing members 26 and 28-31 are illustrated whereby the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are adapted to be secured in the stacked, sealed relation as illustrated in FIG. 2. Since the

diaphragm portions

42 and 42A are substantially larger in radial extent and thickness than the radial extent and thickness of the diaphragm portions 41 and 41A, the

larger diaphragm portions

42 and 42A can be suitably reinforced by reinforcing plate means 46 and 46A formed separate from and secured to the reinforcing

means

47 and 47A respectively of the post means 43 and 43A in any suitable manner.

The reinforcing means 47 and 47A of the post means 43 and 43A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are respectively provided with internal threaded bore means 48 and 48A which receive externally threaded fastening means 49 to secure the post means 43 and 43A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A together so that the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A will move in unison relative to the housing means 15 in a manner hereinafter described.

The reinforcing means 47A of the post means 43A of the diaphragm member 35A has a portion thereof 50 extending between the post means 43A and 43 of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A to space the same from each other and provide fluid interconnection means to the chamber 38. Also, the post means 43 and 43A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A have transverse passage means 51 and 51A provided therein so as to be respectively disposed in fluid communication with each other at the spacing between the

post means

43 and 43A as well as in fluid communication with the

outboard chambers

40 and 36 as illustrated and for a purpose hereinafter described, the chamber 36 being partly defined by an outwardly directed cup-shaped portion 52 of the end wall means 26 of the housing member 25 to permit axial movement of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A as will be apparent hereinafter.

The housing member 31 has an inwardly directed valve seat projection 53 provided with a passage 54 passing therethrough and being adapted to interconnect the chamber 40 with the exterior of the housing means 15. However, an outwardly directed resilient projection 55 on the diaphragm portion 42A of the diaphragm member 35A is adapted to control the opening and closing of the valve seat means 53 as will be apparent hereinafter. Since the passage means 51 and 51A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are offset relative to the valve seat 53, the

chambers

40, 36 and 38 are always fluidly interconnected together regardless of the position of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A relative to the housing means 15.

The

nipple projections

14 and 18 of the housing member 31 has suitable passage means 56 and 57 passing respectively therethrough and respectively interconnecting the pneumatic source 12 and control device 16 to the chamber 40 of the relay construction 10. If desired, the passage means 56 and 57 of the

nipple extensions

14 and 18 can be provided with suitable filtering material 58 to filter the fluid flow therethrough. In addition, the passage means 56 of the nipple means 14 can have suitable restriction means 59 therein that is formed integrally with the housing member 31.

The

nipple extension

23 and 24 of the

housing members

28 and 30 are adapted to respectively project out through

opening means

60 and 61 of the

housing members

25 and 31 and have suitable passage means 62 and 63 passing therethrough to respectively fluidly interconnect the pneumatic signal sending means 19 and 20 to the

chambers

37 and 39 of the relay construction 10.

Since the passage means 51 and 51A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are disposed in offset relation to the passage 54 in the valve seat means 53, the chamber 40 of the relay construction is always in fluid communication with the chamber 38 and chamber 36 so that the pressure per square inch acting downwardly on the diaphragm portions 41A and 41 of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A is exactly equal to the pressure per square inch in the chamber 40.

From the above description of the relay construction 10, it can be seen that the various parts of the relay construction 10 of this invention can be formed from molded plastic material to be assembled together in a simple and economical manner whereby the only means for securing the housing members 26 and 28-31 and

diaphragm members

35 and 35A together is provided by the snap-fit relation between the cup-shaped housing member 25 and the outboard housing member 31 while the only fastening means provided between the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A is the threaded fastening member 39.

The operation of the relay construction 10 and the pneumatic control system 11 will now be described.

Since the effective areas of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are designed such that the sum of the input signal pressures directed to the

chambers

37 and 39 oppose the forces of the output pressure acting against equal effective areas on the under sides of the

diaphragm portions

42 and 42A of the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A, balancing forces are provided which positions the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A to control the rate of exhaust from the chamber 40 to the atmosphere through the valve seat means 53 so as to determine the output pressure being directed to the control device 16.

Thus, when the pneumatic signals being directed from the pneumatic signal sending means 19 and are at 0 psi, the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A are forced upwardly in FIG. 2 by the pressure of the fluid from the source 12 entering the chamber 40 through the restrictor 59 and acting against the undersides of the

diaphragm portions

42 and 42A at the charm bers 38 and 40 whereby the fluid in the

chambers

40, 38 and 36 exhausts through the opened passage means 54 of the valve seat means 53 so that the output pressure to the control device 16 is at 0 psi. However, when the pressures of the signals from the signal sending devices 19 and 20 increases, the same act on the uppersides of the

diaphragm portions

42 and 42A at the

chambers

37 and 39 to force the

diaphragm members

35 and 35A downwardly to reduce the rate of exhaust of the air from the chamber 40 through the valve seat means 53 so that the output pressure to the control device 16 correspondingly increases.

in this manner. as the sum of the pressures of the pneumatic signals from the signal sending devices 19 and 20 decreases, the pressure to the control device 16 correspondingly decreases and when the sum of the signals from the devices 19 and 20 increases, the force of the pressure fluid to the control device 16 correspondingly increases.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved pneumatically operated averaging relay construction, but also this invention provides an improved fluid system utilizing such a relay construction.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the patent statutes, other forms may be utilized, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An averaging relay construction comprising a housing means, a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in said housing means in stacked relation and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by said diaphragm members, each diaphragm member having a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on said post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, and means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together whereby said diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in said housing means, said post means of said diaphragm members having interconnecting passages therethrough for fluidly interconnecting together the outboard chambers of the stack thereof, said post means of said diaphragm members being interconnected together by said means to define space means therebetween that fluidly interconnects said outboard chambers by way of said interconnecting passages to an intermediate chamber of said stack thereof.

2. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm members are substantially identical in construction.

3. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein each diaphragm member has one diaphragm portion that is relatively large in radial extent and another diaphragm portion that is relatively small in radial extent.

4. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein each diaphragm member has reinforcing means in said one relatively large diaphragm portion thereof.

5. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein each diaphragm member has reinforcing means in said post means thereof.

6. An averaging relay construction comprising a housing means, a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in said housing means in stacked relation and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by said diaphragm members, each diaphragm member having a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on said post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, and means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together whereby said diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in said housing means, each diaphragm member having reinforcing means in said post means thereof, said reinforcing means of said post means of each diaphragm member having a threaded bore, said means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together comprising threaded fastening means threadedly disposed in said threaded bores of said post means.

7. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises a plurality of housing members, one of said housing members being cup-shaped and having an open end and a closed end, the other of said housing members being disposed in said open end of said cup-shaped housing member in stacked relation.

8. An averaging relay construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one housing member and the outboard housing member of the other housing members are snap-fitted together to secure said housing members and diaphragm members together.

9. in a pneumatic control system having a source of pneumatic fluid, a pneumatically operated device, and pneumatic signal sending means, the improvement comprising an averaging relay construction comprising a housing means, a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in said housing means in stacked relation and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by said diaphragm members, each diaphragm member having a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on said post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together whereby said diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in said housing means, means interconnecting said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device to one of said chambers, said housing means having an exhaust port leading to said one chamber and being controlled by one of said diaphragm members, and means interconnecting said signal sending means to other of said chambers, said post means of said diaphragm members having interconnecting passages therethrough for fluidly interconnecting together the outboard chambers of the stack thereof, said one chamber being one of said outboard chambers, said post means of said diaphragm members being interconnected together by said means to define space means therebetween that fluidly interconnects said outboard chambers by way of said interconnecting passages to an intermediate chamber of said stack thereof.

[0. ln a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein said diaphragm members are substantially identical in construction.

11. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein each diaphragm member has one diaphragm portion that is relatively large in radial extent and another diaphragm portion that is relatively small in radial extent.

12. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 11, the further improvement wherein each diaphragm member has reinforcing means in said one relatively large diaphragm portion thereof.

13. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement whereineach diaphragm member has reinforcing means in said post means thereof.

14. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein said housing means comprises a plurality of housing members, one of said housing members being cup-shaped and having an open end and a closed end, the other of said housing members being disposed in said open end of said cup-shaped housing member in stacked relation.

15. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 14, the further improvement wherein said one housing member and the outboard housing member of the other housing members are snap-fitted together to secure said housing members and diaphragm members together.

16. In a pneumatic control system having a source of pneumatic fluid, a pneumatically operated device, and pneumatic signal sending means, the improvement comprising an averaging relay construction comprising a housing means, a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in said housing means in stacked relation and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by said diaphragm members, each diaphragm member having a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on said post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together whereby said diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in said housing means, means interconnecting said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device to one of said chambers, said housing means having an exhaust port leading to said one chamber and being controlled by one of said diaphragm members, and means interconnecting said signal sending means to other of said chambers, eac diaphragm member having reinforcing means in said post means thereof, said reinforcing means of said post means of each diaphragm member having a threaded bore, said means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together comprising threaded fastening means threadedly disposed in said threaded bores of said post means.

Claims

10. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein said diaphragm members are substantially identical in construction.

13. In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein each diaphragm member has reinforcing means in said post means thereof.

16. In a pneumatic control system having a source of pneumatic fluid, a pneumatically operated device, and pneumatic signal sending means, the improvement comprising an averaging relay construction comprising a housing means, a plurality of diaphragm members disposed in said housing means in stacked relation and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of chambers disposed in stacked relation and separated from each other by said diaphragm members, each diaphragm member having a central post means and a plurality of integral diaphragm portions axially spaced on said post means and extending radially outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together whereby said diaphragm members are adapted to move in unison in said housing means, means interconnecting said pneumatic source and said pneumatically operated device to one of said chambers, said housing means having an exhaust port leading to said one chamber and being controlled by one of said diaphragm members, and means interconnecting said signal sending means to other of said chambers, each diaphragm member having reinforcing means in said post means thereof, said reinforcing means of said post means of each diaphragm member having a threaded bore, said means interconnecting said post means of said diaphragm members together comprising threaded fastening means threadedly disposed in said threaded bores of said post means.