Patent GB-512920-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic controls for water-gas production plants
IPC: C10J3/24
Filed: 1938-03-21
Abstract: 512,920. Fluid-actuated valves. KOPPERS' INDUSTRIEELE MAATSCHAPPIJ N. V., H. March 21, 1938, Nos. 8706, 8707 and 8708. Convention dates, March 19, 1937, April 2, 1937 and March 17, 1938. [Class 135] [Also in Group XII] In an apparatus for automatically controlling a plant in which a series of operations is to be performed by hydraulic &c. air pressure means, and which is particularly applicable to the valves of a water-gas plant, the supply of pressure fluid is controlled by a valve opened by rotation of a cam-shaft, which is held stationary until the plant, valve, or group of valves, has reached its fully opened or closed position; the supply of pressure fluid is then freed to operate means which releases the cam-shaft to perform the next operation in the series. The apparatus is housed in a cabinet 1 having a door 2, locked by a lever 3, simultaneously controlling a cock 47 for the supply of pressure fluid, e.g., oil, water or compressed air, a pipe 6 draining the. fluid from the system when the door is unlocked. The main air valve 7, and the secondary air valve 8, of the water-gas plant, are operated by pistons 15, 16. A constant-speed motor 24, preferably a hydraulic motor, rotates the operating cam-shaft 23. A cam 27, through a lever 30, rocks a lever 34 and so operates valves 38...41, and pressure fluid is thus admitted from pipe 5a to pipe 48 and thus to the underside of the piston 15 to lift the main air valve 7. A cock 51 is rotated by a detent 50 on the valve to admit the fluid through a pipe 54 to the underside of the piston 16 and thus to lift the secondary air valve 8. A further cock 57 is then rotated by a detent 55 to admit pressure fluid to a pipe 59 leading to valves 64, 79. The period during which the valves 7, 8 remain open is controlled by a timing device comprising a double-pressure cylinder 67, always loaded by pressure fluid acting through a pipe 5b on a small piston 71, and periodically loaded by the fluid from a pipe 59 acting on a larger piston 70; it is then moved to the right but its speed is controlled by an alternating-current, or other clock, acting through a shaft 86, a worm 85, and a gear 81 which incorporates a freewheel enabling the cylinder 67 to move back freely to the left. When it is moved to the right an adjustable detent 73 engages levers 74, 77 which operate valves 64, 79 and thus allow the pressure fluid to flow through a pipe 90 to move a piston 62 to the right. A bolt 61 is thus freed from a stop 28, which has held the cam-shaft 23 stationary during this process, and engages a further -stop 29. The lever 30 is thus released to take up the position shown, and pressure fluid passes through a pipe 94 to the top of the piston 16 and, after a detent 98 has opened a valve 101, through a pipe 106 to the top of piston 15, both the valves 7, 8 being thus closed. A further adjustable detent 107 opens a valve 109 to admit pressure fluid to flow through a pipe 113 to move piston 62 to the left and thus move the bolt 61 to free the cam-shaft 23. A hook 218 on the door of the cabinet is engaged by a lever 220 connected to the bolt 61 so that the door cannot be opened while the valves are open, but after the door has been opened the lever 220 may be used for manual operation. Valves 103, 125 closed by the detents 98, 107 keep open drain connections 97, 126 and ensure that pressure fluid is not conveyed to operate the next action until the valves 8, 7 are completely closed. Further cams on the shaft 23 control, in a manner similar to that described above, the flow of pressure fluid to actuate, a chimney damper, and steam and water-gas valves. A hand lever 132 rotates a cock 119 and cuts off the supply of pressure fluid to the pipe 118 leading to the control device for the further valves, and a detent 134 thereon holds up the lever 77 which causes the valves 7, 8 to close immediately. The shaft 23 then rotates until stopped by a stop on the next cam corresponding to the stop 28. An eccentric 137 on the lever 74 may be rotated to clear the detent 73, and cause the valves 7, 8 to remain open as long as desired. A fuel valve 141 leading into the cover 140 of the producer, and hopper valves 148, 147a, are operated by pressure fluid supplied by a pipe 180 while steam is admitted to the generator from above and controlled by a series of handoperated cocks 160...163 comprising discs with interlocking grooves When cock 160 is rotated the flow of pressure fluid through pipes 182, 184 is stopped and this causes the check bolt corresponding to the bolt 61 to hold the shaft 23 stationary. The pressure fluid, supplied through the pipe 180, passes through the cock 160 and the cock 161, after it has been rotated, to pipe 186 and thus through pipe 188 to operate the piston 144 which opens the valve 141. The piston 144 is a differential-pressure piston always loaded on the underside by the pressure fluid and when, after the hopper 142 has been discharged, the cock 161 is brought back to the position shown in which the upper side of the piston 144 is connected to the return pipe 189, the valve 141 is closed. The cock 162 can then be rotated to admit pressure fluid from pipe 185, through pipes 193, 195 to lift a further differential pressure piston 153 and thus through racks 155, 159 and pinions to open the valve 147a. A valve 196 opened by a detent 197 ensures that the valve 141 is closed before 'this action takes place. The cock 163 can be rotated to admit pressure fluid through pipes 204, 207 to lift a differential pressure piston 150 and so open the valves 148. Valves 206, 211 operated by a detent 208 on the valve 147a, ensure that this valve is, respectively, opened and closed before the valves 148, 141 can be opened. After the hopper has been recharged with fuel the cocks 163...160 can be returned to their normal position. A cock 181 allows pressure fluid to be supplied direct from the pipe 192 which leads from the pipe 5a, Fig, 2. The cocks may be operated by motor-driven endless chains having adjustable co-operating members.