Patent GB-229399-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to apparatus for use in the manufacture of water gas and othercyclical processes
IPC: C10J3/24
Filed: 1923-11-22
Abstract: 229,399. Humphreys & Glasgow, Ltd., and Stelfox, J. C. Nov. 22, 1923. Hydrogen.-Apparatus for mechanically operating plant for use in making hydrogen and of the kind described in Specifications 165,829 and 170,908 comprises power driven means for automatically controlling or effecting the actuation of the various valves in proper time and sequence and means whereby if a valve does not properly respond the cycle of operations is arrested or the plant automatically shut down. The controlling means may be altered from automatic to hand control with or without safety interlocking of the hand control operation, and means are provided to indicate which valve has failed. In apparatus of this kind described in connection with watergas plant, the blast or air valves 1, 2, 3 of the generator a, carburettor b, and superheater c and the stock valves 5, 6 on the superheater c and boiler d are operated by hydraulic cylinders 1<a>-6<a> each having a distributing valve 1<x>-6<x>, the oil valve 7 and steam valve 8 being operated directly from the appropriate section of the control gear or automatic operator which governs the working of the various valves. The control gear comprises a pair of cam shafts 10, 11 geared together and rotating in opposite directions and carrying cams 1<b>, 2<b> &c. corresponding to the valves employed. The cams on one shaft operate their valves in one direction (change from " run " to " blow "), and those on the other shaft cause a reverse movement, the angular relation of the shafts being adjustable and each cam being adjustable on its shaft so that the proportions of " run " and " blow " may be altered. The mechanism controlling each valve is similar The control valve 6<x> of the valve 6 is linked to a hand lever 12 coupled to a sliding bar 14, Fig. 2, having pivoted to it a pair of tumblers 15, 16 coupled by links 17 to levers 18, 19 which bear on cams 6<b> on the shafts 10, 11, so that the tumbler remains in a raised position until a recess 6<c> accommodates the end of a lever and permits it to fall to its low position in which a tumbler is engaged by a rocker arm 20 on a shaft 21 operated from a cranked disc 22, Fig. 1, geared to the cam shafts. Thus the bar 14, hand lever 12 and control valves 6<x> are moved according to a definite cycle predetermined by the setting of the cams on their shafts. Rods 23 are coupled to each operating valve and moved upwardly or downwardly so that when in their extreme positions the broad ends are clear from radial fingers 24 on each of the cam shafts. If a valve fails to move and the broad end is not moved clear of an approaching finger, the rod is pressed back so that an indicator is actuated, and by bearing on a bar 26 a shaft 28 is rotated and a trigger link 29 withdraws a trigger 30 so that a weighted lever 32 falls and actuates a " shut down " valve 33, Fig. 4, controlling the fluid supply to a cylinder 34 having a piston connected to a rack 35. This rack engages pinions 36, 37 on shafts 38, 39 the former carrying eccentrics 40 which clear the tumblers from the rocking arms 20 and the latter carrying arms 41 which move the bars 14 and levers 12 to bring all the valves into a shut down position. With the rack in its mid-position in which it may be secured by a stop bolt, the plant may be worked by the hand levers. The hand levers are first interlocked so that they may be moved only in their proper sequence, and secondly, may also be locked by the operating valves so that a given handle cannot be moved until the proper preceding movement of another valve has taken place. For instance, three hand levers 12<a>, 12b, 12<c>, Figs. 13 and 14, are interlocked by a sliding plate 71 moved in one direction by a finger 74b and in the other direction by fingers 74a or 74<c>. these fingers projecting through inclined openings 75<a>, 75<b>, 75<c> contact with which causes movement of the plate. The apex of each opening receives its finger which is retained in a slot in a guide 71 and is thereby prevented from moving laterally. To prevent movement of each hand lever until it may safely be operated, the levers are formed with quadrants having gaps 78* into which levers 79<a>, 79<b>. 79<c> enter, each of which is operated by a rod 80<a> moving with the valve. The shaft 79* on which the levers rotate may be lowered to disengage the levers from the quadrants during hand control. The circuit of the operating motor is controlled by a switch which is opened when the weighted lever 32 drops and the cam shafts 10 arrive at a predetermined position at which it is desired to stop the automatic operator. Failure of the electric current may, by a weighted lever released by failure of the current through a solenoid, cause movement of the bar 29 and bring into position the shut-down device. Any of the operations may be suspended by disengaging the tumblers 15, 16 and the fingers 12 from contacting with the rod 23.