Patent GB-708192-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to rotary regenerators
Inventor: RIGBY RICHARD
IPC: F28D19/04
Filed: 1951-04-24
Abstract: 708,192. Regenerative heat-exchangers. SHELL REFINING & MARKETING CO., Ltd. March 24, 1952 [April 24, 1951], No 9552/51: Class 64(1) Relates to regenerative heat-exchangers in which relative movement takes place between a matrix drum and ring-shaped shutters mounted in sealing contact with end faces of the drum and rotatable about their own axes, the shutters communicating with ducts for one of the heatexchanging fluids and the axes of the shutters being off-set from the axis of the matrix drum, e.g. of the kind described in Specification 624,453. Rotation of the shutter rings about their own axes may be induced by positively driving the matrix drum or by rotating the axes of the shutters about the drum axis, the drum being stationary, or the matrix drum may be induced to rotate by positively driven shutter rings. According to the invention, means dependent on the ratio of the rotational speed of the positively driven member to the rotational speed of the member which is induced to rotate, are provided for controlling the sealing pressure between the shutter rings and the end faces of the drum so -as to increase the said pressure when the ratio rises above a predetermined value. The sealing pressure may be applied by spring or pneumatic means, but preferably a hydraulic device is used. The form of apparatus shown comprises a rotatable matrix drum 1 housed in a casing 4 incorporating ducts 2, 3 and 6, 6a for directing the respective fluids to, through and from the matrix which is induced to rotate by positively driven shutter rings. 5, 5A incorporating sealing members 7, 7a in sealing contact with the end faces of the drum, the sealing pressure being applied by hydraulic loading cylinders 10, 10a. The shutter rings are connected to co-axial shafts 8, 8a which are positively rotated by means not shown. A shaft 19 on one side of a differential gear unit 12 is driven by the rotating shaft 8a and a shaft 17 on the other side of the differential unit is driven by the rotation of the drum (e.g. through a gear 13 or a friction wheel). Any variation above or below the predetermined speed ratio of the drum and shutters is thus communicated through shafts 17, 19, to the differential unit 12 and induces a torque on the casing of said unit in a clockwise or contra-clockwise direction, which torque is also applied to a lever 20 mounted on the casing (see also Fig. 4). Movement of the lever 20 is communicated through a rod 33 to a cam lever 34, movement of which actuates the pressure regulating valve 44 of a hydraulic pressure system, Fig. 4, which incorporates the loading cylinders 10, 10a. Thus when the speed ratio of the drum and shutter rings varies above or below the predetermined value, an increase or decrease in the sealing pressure is applied by the loading cylinders so that the correct speed ratio is restored. The shutter rings may have rockable mountings to facilitate mating of the .sealing surfaces and minimizing leakage. According to the Provisional Specification the sealing members 7, 7a of the shutter rings may comprise an abestos composition bonded with siliceous material. A solid lubricant, e.g. graphite, may be used, in block form or dispersed as a powder in the composition. The sealing faces of the shutters may be provided with an annular groove allowing communication between matrix channels which are just entering and those which are just leaving the zone inside the shutter rings.