Patent GB-357001-A (GB)
Title: Automatic control mechanism for operating the valves of a gas generating unit
IPC: C10J3/24
Filed: 1930-11-13
Abstract: 357,001. Water gas plant. WESTERN GAS CONSTRUCTION CO., 2001, East Pontiac Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A. -(Assignees of Stone, T. W. ; 2001, East Pontiac Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A). Nov. 13, 1930, No. 34718. Convention date, Feb. 14. [Class 55 (i).] The valves of a gas generating unit, such as a carburetted water gas plant, are operated in predetermined sequence by a number of valve operating devices with corresponding actuating means driven by power actuated motive means and having planetary or differential mechanism located between each of the motive means and the valve actuating means to permit independent variations of each valve movement. Each valve is opened or closed by a separate endless chain, which has a projection coacting with the valve-actuating mechanism during each rotation of the chain, and independent means are provided for controlling the engagement of each endless chain device with its corresponding valve mechanism, and for adjusting the operative positions of each valve. The controlling and timing mechanism 1 operates a group of valves 2 which control a supply of fluid to hydraulic cylinders actuating the valves of a water gas set comprising a generator 7, combustion chamber 8, and waste heat boiler 9, with an air blast pipe 18, and back run pipe 17 leading to a tar extractor 11, and outlet pipe 15. Steam is supplied through pipe 22, and is passed during an up-run through pipes 23, 17, and during a down-run through pipes 24, 10 and the chambers 9, 8, the cylinder 43, operating the steam valve 44, being interconnected with the cylinder 36 operating the valves 38, 39 by the cam 37. 50, 51 are the supply and exhaust conduits to the controlling valves 2. Cylinders 28, 30, for example, control the charging and primary air valves respectively, and the other valves of the set are similarly operated. Each valve 52, Fig. 4, has pipes 53, 54 for the supply of fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, and its piston 58 is reciprocated by a rotating stem 57 extending into the mechanism casing 1, and ending in a bevel gear 65, Fig. 7, engaged by bevel gears 66, 68, carrying arms 67, 69. Above the gears are endless chains 71, 73 having risers 74 which engage the arms 67, 69 to turn the valve in opposite directions, movement of one arm, say 69, restoring the other arm, say 67, to its original position. The endless chains' are driven by sprocket wheels 76 mounted on planetary gearing 77 capable of differential action, and rotated by a shaft 78 and motor 80, and their lower ends are carried by sprocket wheels 87 at the end of a lever 88 pivoted at 89, and swung by handlevers 91 through levers 93. After any pair of chains is moved out of engagement with its corresponding arms 67 and gears, the latter can be actuated by a hand-lever 95 through a rod 97 and lever 98. A single hand-lever 101, by rotating shaft 102, simultaneously actuates all the levers 93 and disengages all the pairs of chains, but movement of the lever 101 in an opposite direction does not restore the chains to their operative position because the shaft 102 is not keyed to any of the bevel gears 92 actuated by the hand-levers 91, each of which may be locked by plungers 106 in corresponding openings. A cam shaft 110, Fig. 9, has cams 111 for actuating levers 98 attached to gears 68, and upon rotation of the shaft, the valve stem 57 and corresponding valve is moved into a safe position. The shaft 110 is rotated by a rack and pinion 114 from a hydraulic cylinder 115, Fig. 3, another hydraulic cylinder 116 rotating the shaft 102, and each hand-lever 101 to move all the pairs of chains to the inoperative position by means of the bevel gears 92, and the cylinders 115, 116 are interconnected and controlled by a solenoid valve 118. Electric wires for actuating the solenoid lead to push buttons at several points, whereby the set may be brought to safe shut-down in emergency. Interlocking lugs 132, Fig. 3, on the handlevers 95 prevent improper movement of these levers, and, for example, prevent the carburetter blast valve being opened when the stack valve is closed. Any of the chains may be advanced or retarded by hand, by inserting a key through an opening 141, and turning one of the shafts 143 which moves the worm wheel of the corresponding differential gearing 77, the effect being visible on one of the dials 146 ; the sprocket wheel 76 being advanced or retarded. The dials 146 are all alike, and have a separate series of graduations for each length of cycle, one dial of a pair showing the timing of the opening of a valve, and the other dial the closing of the same valve. A cycle indicator 165 is also provided, and is driven from the motor gears 79, this indicator showing the extent of the various periods, and being provided with labelled markers corresponding to the valves of the set, the dial plate being graduated in seconds. The timing of any one operation can be varied without changing the timing of any other part.