Patent GB-190406335-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Water Gas Apparatus.
Inventor: THUMAN FREDERIC
Filed: 1904-03-15
Granted: 1905-03-15
Abstract: 6335. Thuman, F. March 15. Gas-producers; valves.-Relates to an arrangement for so interlocking the steam, air, and outlet valves of twin-generator producer-gas apparatus that the danger of making two or more " runs " or "blows" in the same direction, with risk of overheating and damage to the plant, is obviated ; and also to prevent the formation of explosive mixtures of air and gas by the expulsion by steam of residual gas and residual air at the end of each " run " and " blow " respectively. In the case of carburetted gas, the oil cock is also interlocked with the air valve to prevent the formation of explosive mixtures. Generators A1, A2 are connected near their bottoms by a conduit C1, and at their tops with a carburetting-vessel by passages controlled by valves V1, V2, operated by levers V3. A valve H, controlling the admission of air, is operated by a rod h1 and rack and pinion h2. A steam cock S controls the admission of steam to two three-way steam cocks S1, S2 which are automatically actuated by the levers V3. The cock S is actuated by a rod and handle s3. A cock D controls the admission of oil to the carburetter and is operated by a rod and handle d1. The several valves are interlocked by a device F, shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, and having the following functions. First: To ensure each generator having an equal air supply, sectors n1, n2 pivoted to a frame at m1, m2 are connected to the corresponding valves V1, V2 by rods 1, bell-crank levers 2, and rods 3, which last couple the levers V3 to the levers of the steam-distributing valves S1, S2. The airvalve rod h1 slides through the interlocking-device at right-angles to the plane of movement of the sectors, and has two notches b1, b2 at the same level, which register with notches k1, k2 in the sectors, when the valves V1, V2 are open and the air valve H closed, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position, either of the gas-outlet valves can be closed or the air valve opened. If one of the outlet valves, say V2, be closed, the sector n2 will be turned and the notch k2 will not register with the notch b2. Thus the admission of air into the generators will be prevented unless both valves V1, V2 are fully opened. Also, if the air valve H is opened, it will be impossible to close either of the valves V1, V2. Second: To provide for the expulsion of residual air after each " blow," and of residual water gas after each " run," the rod s3 of the steam cock S is connected by a lever and rod to a bell crank P, Fig. 7, pivoted to the interlocking-device F. The arrangement is such that, when the steam cock S is shut, the arm p1 of the bell crank prevents the rotation of the sectors n1, n, and the closing of the valves V1, V2. Therefore, even after the air valve has been closed at the end of a blow, the valves V1, V2 cannot be closed until the steam cock S has been opened and the arm p1 thereby removed out of the path of the sectors n1, n2. The cocks S1, S2 are so connected by the rods 3 to the levers V3 of the valves V1, V, that, when the latter are open (as they must be when the cock S is opened), the cocks S1, Sa direct the steam through the pipes 7 to the bottoms of both the generators. The " blow takes place with the generators in parallel, and, therefore, before a " series run " can be started, steam must be passed up through both generators in parallel, expelling residual air. The valves V1, V2 being released by the opening of the cock S, a " series run " is commenced by closing the outlet valve of one of the generators. The closing movement reverses the steam cock S2 so that the steam is directed to the top of the generator A2 (still being supplied to the bottom of A1), as shown in Fig. 3. The proportion of steam supplied to the tops and bottoms of the generators is controlled by cocks S4. During the " series run, " the shifting of the sector n2 locks the air valve in closed position and the bell crank P of the steam valve S in open , position. It is thus necessary when passing from a " series run " to a " blow " to open the valve V2, thus again directing steam to the bottom of the generators A, and removing the residual water gas. When both valves V1, V2 are open, both air and steam passages can be opened or closed. Third : In order that only one of the valves V1, V2 shall be closed at a time, viz., the valve left open during the preceding run, the sectors n1, n2 are interlocked with a weighted sector t, Figs. 4 and 5, pivoted to the frame at n and adapted to engage alternately with notches q1, q2 of the sectors n1, n2. When the sector t is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the valve V1 is locked in open position, but the valve V2 is free to be closed. The closing of the valve V2 causes a pushbar z2, pivoted to the sector n2, to press against a pin 9 and throw the sector t over, so that it rests against the underside of the sector n3. When the valve V2 is again opened, the sector t will engage with the sector n2 and lock it in its turn, permitting only the valve V1 to be closed. An indicator e, actuated by a lever l2 and projecting above the operating-floor, shows which valve was last closed. Fourth : To prevent the opening of the oil-admission cock D when the air valve H is open, it is connected, by means of a lever on the rod d1 and a link d3, to a sector o pivoted to the underside of the frame of the interlocking-device. The sector o has a notch o1, which registers with a notch l3 in the valve-rod h1 when both air valve and cock D are closed. When either of the valves H, D is opened, the other valve will be looked. Some of the devices described above may be omitted ; thus the steam valve need not be controlled by the movement of the outlet valves.