Patent GB-1148203-A (GB)
Title: Signal translating devices for use in industrial process control
IPC: G05B11/01
Filed: 1966-10-12
Abstract: 1,148,203. Dash pots. FOXBORO CO. 12 Oct., 1966 [22 Oct., 1965], No. 45705/66. Heading F2S. [Also in Division G1] An electric signal integrating device, in particular for determining the duration of fixed amplitude current pulses and responsive to signals in the form of such pulses to control an industrial process in which mechanisms such as valves are required to be periodically adjusted in proportion to the duration of command signals of this form, consists of a solenoid whose armature constitutes the piston of a dash-pot. In Fig. 8 the solenoid consists of two coils 36, 38 connected in series opposition and the armature 30 consists of two cylindrical magnets 148, 150 attached to opposite ends of a soft iron cylinder 152. The specification demonstrates, with respect to force distribution diagrams in Figs. 11 and 12 (not shown), that such an armature in such a solenoid experiences a total axial force which is largely independent of armature position. Motion of the armature is resisted by the fluid in the interconnected passageways 32, 130, 32, 134 and the magnitude of this resistance is adjustable by a needle valve 146. The fluid resistance is proportional to armature velocity so that displacement is proportional to the time integral of input current. In an alternative construction (Fig. 3, not shown) the horizontal passageways and one of the vertical passageways of Fig. 8 are omitted so that the fluid is contained in a single vertical cylindrical bore in the device housing. The armature in this case consists of a single magnet with an axial bore and the flow-limiting construction, which is not adjustable, consists of a capillary tube sealed into the bottom of the bore in the armature and a like capillary at the top. The top end also accommodates a disc with a small control orifice thus providing a further constriction in series with the lower capillary but in parallel with the upper one. The description explains, with reference to a graph (Fig. 5, not shown), that the effect of this system of capillaries and orifice is to make the resistance to armature displacement substantially independent of fluid temperature. In this form of the device, the armature displacement is proportional to the time integral of the square root of the input current. In an alternative construction of the same general form, the armature may consist of a cylindrical magnet of less diameter than the bore of the fluid conduit with its ends secured to discs which close the bore. In this form (Figs. 9 and 10, not shown) the discs have small apertures to allow for displacement of the armature through the fluid. Hybrid constructions-e.g. the two-magnet armature of Fig. 8 provided with the bore- and-capillary fluid displacement system of Fig. 3 (not shown) are also mentioned. The displacement of the armature may be converted into a pneumatic pressure signal which controls the setting of a valve in an industrial processing apparatus in dependence on the input signal. It may also be converted into an electrical output signal-e.g. by using the displacement to vary a potentiometer setting or by connecting the solenoid coils in an A.C. bridge whose output will vary with armature position.