Patent GB-1191364-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in a Control Device for the Sequential Connection and Disconnection of Plant Components
Inventor: MASRELIEZ CARL JOHAN
IPC: G05B11/32
Filed: 1968-02-20
Abstract: 1,191,364. Control of several motors. ATLAS COPCO A.B. 20 Feb., 1968 [21 Feb., 1967], No. 8235/68. Heading H2J. [Also in Division G3] Compressors K1, K2, K3 are each driven by an electric motor M1, M2, M3, to feed a receiver R supplying compressed air over line D. The motors have contactors MB1, MB2, MB3, and the compressors are associated with valves MV1, MV2, MV3, for unloading each compressor. Control units CU1, CU2, CU3 respond to a low pressure in the receiver R to start the motors after which the compressors are loaded to deliver air to the receiver. The compressors are unloaded when the pressure in the receiver reaches a predetermined value, whereupon the motors are stopped. The motors are started in a certain sequence and disconnected in the opposite sequence, and, after a delay period, the sequence is changed so that the motors operate in a different order. The receiver R is connected through conduit N4 to a pressure-sensitive voltage transmitter G comprising bellows G2 for actuating a rheostat G1 in an emitter follower circuit EF. The base voltage which represents the pressure level is applied to the base of transistor (T1), a transistor (T2) maintaining a constant voltage (V0), Fig. 3 (not shown). Signal voltages (V1, V2) from the unit EF are supplied to a voltage divider which consists of a number of resistors in various plug-in units P1-P3. A potentiometer (KH1) adjusts the difference between the voltage-signals and consequently the operative levels of the various plug-in units. Each plug-in unit comprises a resistor (R9) forming one of a chain, and a transistor switch (T5, T6, RL) which senses the voltage level at the resistor to connect or disconnect the associated motor by means of one of the relays RL1-RL4, Fig. 4 (not shown). A sequence switch S controls relays (RS) in each of the plug-in units to connect the resistor (R9) into the voltage divider. The plug-in unit in which the relay (RS) is energized will be number one in the sequence. A capacitor (C3) in each plugin unit provides a time-delay between the operation of successive transistor switches. An end circuit unit PA controls a step switch advancing relay to move the step switch back to a " home " position at the end of a sequence. The switch S is moved forward by pulses from capacitor C4 or through manual switch SM which are connected to coil SL. A change of sequence is effected by a time-delay circuit F which is connected to an automatic timer STR comprising a synchronous motor for actuating periodic contacts (STR1). Capacitor (C5) is connectable to transistor switch (T7, T8), Fig. 5 (not shown), to de-energize relay FL, and capacitor C4 is charged. The relay FL is then re-energized and capacitor C4 is discharged through coil SL, whereby the switch S is advanced one step. If the pressure in receiver R decreases, the switch G starts motor M2, followed by motor M3, if the pressure continues to decrease, and then motor M1, after time delays. If the pressure rises, the motors M1, M3, M2 are stopped in sequence. This cycle of operation is repeated until a change of sequence is caused by the switch S so that the order is now M3, M1, M2. After a further period, the switch S actuates the unit PA which causes the motor M1 to be the first in the sequence.