Patent GB-619946-A (GB)
Title: Multiple regulator systems
IPC: G05B11/01
Filed: 1945-04-26
Abstract: 619,946. Automatic control systems. ZIEBOLZ, H., BRASSERT, H. A., MARKUS, A. B., and NIEMANN, H. P., (trading as ELECTRONBEAM, Ltd.). April 26, 1945, No. 10492. Convention date, Nov. 30, 1943. [Class 38 (iv)] Fluid pressure; temperature.-In a system for regulating temperatures, pressure or other physical condition, only one primary control relay is employed for simultaneously regulating a plurality of different independent conditions. In Fig. 1 pipe lines 1, 2, 3, supply fluid to constant pressure consuming devices 4, 5 6 and pressure-responsive generators 7, 8, 9. The output circuits of the latter comprise respectively potentiometers 7a, 8a, 9a, deflecting coils 18a, 18b, 18c, of an electron beam relay 10, and a rotary switch in which contact arm 19 rotates to apply current intermittently to coils 18a, 18b, 18c. If the pressure in each of the consuming devices 4, 5, 6 is at the correct value the beam 11a, as arm 19 rotates, remains in a neutral position, that is free of impact on either of the target anodes 14, 15 due to exact counterbalancing action of each of the coils 18a, 18b, 18c, and deflecting plate 17. Target anodes 14, 15 are connected respectively to coupling resistance 14a, 15a and to the input of an amplifier 20, so that the potential applied to the latter is reversible in polarity according to whether anode 14 or 15 receives the beam. The output of amplifier 20 is connected to a switch arm 24 driven synchronously with arm 19 by motor 26. In the operation of the system, arm 24, as it rotates over the segmental contacts, periodically energizes polarity-responsive relays 21b, 22b, 23b, to control reversible motors 21, 22, 23, ganged to pipe-line valves 1a, 2a, 3a. With motor 26 at rest and arms 19 and 24 free of contact with their associated segments, plate 17 directs the beam on to the target anode, for example anode 15, which would result in increasing the pressure fed to devices 4, 5, 6. On the simultaneous contact:of arms 19 and 24 with segments 19b and 24b the beam 11a is immediately swung to a neutral position if the pressure in device 5 is at the required value; if it is high, coil 18b swings the beam to anode 14; if it is low, the beam remains in contact with anode 15. Thus during the traverse of arms 19'and 24 over segments 19b, 24b, if the pressure has deviated, motor 26 runs one way or the other to operate valve 2a and restore the pressure in device 5 to the proper value. As the arms 19, 24 travel over the other two segments a similar control is excercised to ensure correct pressure in devices 4, 6. The pressure in all three pipe lines is adjusted by varying the bias on plate 17 and the pressure in any one pipe line, by moving the tapping on the corresponding potentiometer. In a modification, Fig. 2 (not shown), wherein the beam may be initially set magnetically instead of by deflecting plates, a single polarity responsive relay controls the three motors by means of two rotary switches operating synchronously with the rotary switch in the input circuit to the control relay, the beam of which is deflected by a single deflecting coil connected successively to each potentiometer. In a further modification, Fig. 3, the reversible motors 21b, 22b, 23b, are controlled according to the co-operation of the beam with one and then each pair in sequence of three pairs of target anodes. This is effected by a rotary switch 28 connecting horizontal deflecting plates 27 to the centre point and opposite sections of a potentiometer 29 to direct the beam towards centre, upper and lower pairs of anodes. Switch 28 operates synchronously with switch 19 in the input circuit energizing a single deflecting coil 18 corresponding to connecting the latter to the three output potentiometers (7a, 8a, 9a, in Fig. 1) in sequence. The same sequence of control happens in the output circuits connected to the three pairs of anodes, so that the motors 21, 22, 23 are operated according to the polarity of the potential applied successively to the three relays 21b, 22b, 23b. Application of the system to temperature-control of fuel in pipe lines 1, 2, 3 to suitable consuming apparatus 4, 5, 6 is obtained by substituting thermocouples for the generators 7, 8, 9.