A New or Improved Electric Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Physical Condition such as Heat, Pressure, Hygrometric State and Density of Gases and Liquids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
A New or Improved Electric Apparatus for Automatically Regulating
the Physical Condition such as Heat, Pressure, Hygrometric State
and Density of Gases and Liquids.
I, HEINRICH SCHULTZ, of 58, Klosterstrasse, Berlin, C., Germany, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
The object of the present invention is to construct a new or improved electric
apparatus for automatically regulating the physical condition, such as heat,
pressure or vacuum, hygrometric state and density, of air or any other gaseous or
liquid fluid, i.e. to maintain it at any predetermined degree, or, if required, to
increase or reduce it.
The apparatus forming the subject of this invention is intended to be employed,
for instance, in maintaining the temperature of rooms at a given degree, by admit-
ting warm air when a thermometer connected with the apparatus is commencing
to fall, or cool air when the said thermometer is about to rise. In other cases,
for instance when employed in connection with a malt drying installation, the
apparatus may be made to serve for uniformly and gradually raising the tem-
perature within an exactly predetermined time from an initial temperature to a
given maximal temperature, instead of admitting of a more rapid calorific
change.
When suitably constructed, the apparatus may also be employed, in conjunction
with a manometer or pressure gauge, for regulating the supply of fuel in coal
dust furnaces, by means of an electromagnet operating a throttle plate or valve.
The apparatus may furthermore be used in combination with a pressure gauge
for regulating pressure; or, in combination with a vacuum gauge for operating
a belt shifter through the intermediary of electro magnets, and thereby starting
or stopping an air pump; or, in combination with an hygrometer and through
the intermediary of electro magnets, for actuating an air damping apparatus of
known construction.
Even the areometer (or hydrostatical balance) is not excluded in case certain
constructional conditions are observed. In fact, the new or improved apparatus
may be successfully adapted to and employed in all cases where the physical
condition of any gaseous or liquid fluid is to be regulated within a given length of
time, provided the said physical condition can be ascertained by means of any
suitable scientific instrument or contrivance.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in all the figures of which like letters
and numerals denote like or corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a complete installation, consisting of several
heat regulating devices controlled by a single clock work.
Fig. 2 is an interior view of the regulator mechanism, and
Fig. 3 a sectional view, supplementing Fig. 2, while
Fig. 4 represents a part of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale for the sake of clearness.
In the installation schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, three

page_text: heat regulators 1, 2 and 3 are indicated; they are intended to serve the purpose
of mixing or combining the cool Huid (of either gaseous or liquid nature) entering
at, with the warm fluid entering at 5, by means of slide valve 6, in such propor
tion as to volume or quantity, that an equal temperature will be maintained in
chamber 7 into which chamber a thermometer 8 is inserted, or to allow the tem
perature to rise or fall to any predetermined extend within a given time.
is effected in the following manner:-
This purpose
In a conveniently constructed time piece the numeral 9 marks the spindle of
the hour and minute hands, and 10 the spindle of the second-hand 11. The said
second-hand is intended to serve the purposes of a contact lever and during a
complete revolution successively touches the contacts a b c and d.
The electric current preceeding from battery 12 is thereby intermittently placed
in circuit and effects the forward movement of contact hand 13 of regulator 1 by
means of a switch mechanism the 'nature and construction of which is shown in
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and will hereinafter be explained. The corresponding contact
hand of regulators 2 and 3 (and of any further number of regulators) is operated
simultaneously with that of regulator 1.
A second contact hand 14 receives motion by means of a mechanism also shown
in Figs. 2 to 4 and to be hereinafter described. This second contact hand
indicates upon the dial plate the degrees of the thermometer 8 and may therefore
be termed the temperature indicator.
In the moment of hand 13 meeting hand 14, a second electric circuit also pro-
ceeding from battery 15, is completed, pressing the armature in the relay against
clamp 17, thereby completing a third circuit (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1)
which excites the electro magnet 18 and thereby causes a movement of slide
valve 20. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, the water supply, for actuating
by hydraulic power the piston 21, is regulated by alternately exciting the electro
magnets 18 and 19 whereby the slide valve 20 is operated. l'iston 21 and slide
plate 6 are rigidly connected, and in accordance with the displacement of the
latter towards the right or the left an increased quantity of cold fluid is allowed
to enter at 4, or of hot fluid at 5, both fluids combining in chamber 7 and
influencing thermometer 8.
The fact that hand 13 is controlled by time piece.9, 10, and hand 14 by ther-
mometer 8, as described, is sufficient to explain the cooperation of both hands.
In Fig. 1 the hands 13 and 14 are shown touching each other, which position
may have been caused by too much cold fluid (air, water or the like) entering at 4
and mixing with the contents of chamber 7 thereby influencing thermometer 8.
The operation of electro magnets 17 and 18 will thereupon reduce the admission
of cold fluid from 4, proportionately increasing the influx of warm fluid through
inlet pipe 6. In this manner the circuit closed by hands 13 and 14 will be
interrupted, the armature in the relay is drawn back by spring 16, and thereby
laid against clamp 22, will complete the other electric circuit by means of which
electro magnet 19 is being excited. This causes the slide valve plate 6 to be
displaced in the opposite direction whereby the reversion of the former play of the
said plate 6 is initiated.
The contacts a, b, c, and d of the time piece do not serve the sole purpose of
effecting the movement of hands 13 in the various regulators 1, 2, and 3, but can
also be employed to impart the desired velocity of motion to the said hands. This
is done by inserting switch plugs into contact rails 23, 24 and 25; the said plug
switches are marked in the drawings (Fig. 1) with the same letters a, b, c, and das
the contacts of the time piece. If, for instance one plug of 1ail 23 is inserted into
hole d, contact is made only once during a full revolution of contact lever 11,
held by spindle 10-the contact hand 13 therefore receiving but one motive
impulse. The same would be the case if not the hole d but a had been plugged.
If however the hole c of rail 24 leading to regulator 2 were plugged, the contact
lever 11 would, during one full revolution touch four contacts c, as a glance at
the electric circuits shown in Fig. 1 will explain. The speed of the forward move-

page_text: ment of contact hand 13 of heat regulator 2 is therefore quadrupled as compared
with the former case.
Heat regulator will have the eight-fold speed of regulator 1, and double the
speed of regulator 2, because all the holes a, b, c, and d of rail 25 are plugged.
The eight contacts a, b, c, and d Fig. 1, must be regarded as an explanatory
illustration. According to the purpose and requirements 20, 40 or any other
number of contacts may be provided, and instead of utilizing the rapidly rotating
spindle 10 of the second-hand, the slower moving spindle 9 of the minute-hand
may be made to serve the same purpose. It is therefore obvious that by judicious
arrangement and careful proportionate adjustment of operative parts widely
different velocities of contact hand 13 may be obtained, as well as so rapid a
succession of the separate motive impulses imparted to the said contact hand that
the speed of its movement will practically be equal to continuous progression.
If the motion of contact hand 13 is to be arrested the regulator is put out of
circuit by operating the general cut-out 20; the same end may be attained by
setting an indicator to the maximal or minimal temperature as the case may be.
By omitting the time piece 9, 10 and rails 23, 24, and 25 of the heat regulator,
the apparatus may, in combination with a suitable minimal or maximal tempera-
ture indicator, be used for maintaining a constantly uniform temperature.
The arrangement of parts of the heat regulating apparatus proper is illustrated
in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and will hereinafter be described in detail:-
The expansion of a metal thermometer 8 is converted in known manner and
through the intermediary of rod 28 (Fig. 2) into a turning motion of segment 29
(Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the latter engaging with a pinion (Figs. 3 and 4) mounted upon
spindle 30 at the end of which an indicator hand 14 is fixed for indicating the
temperature upon the dial plate. This is effected (as stated in connection with
the description of Fig. 1) by electro magnets 12 being excited through con-
tacts a, b, c, d, and the magnetic current so produced is employed for actuating
the contact hand by aid of several transmission mechanisms in this manner; ----
Clicks or pawls 34 rigidly connected with plate 32 by leaf springs 33 (Figs. 3
and 4) and normally held back by counterpoise 31 (Fig. 2), are being pulled in a
downward direction by iron cores 35 (Fig. 4) at the moment a current is made to
pass from the time piece through coils 12. If the peripherally curved disc 37
is so turned by crank handle 36 that of pins 40, 41, rigidly connected with leaf
springs 33, is made to enter into cavity 42 or 43 of disc 37 (according to whether
the hand is to be displaced towards the right or towards the left) the correspond-
ing click 34 will engage with the teeth of ratchet wheel 44. The latter wheel
will be turned to the extent of one tooth at each separate excitement of the electro
imagnets 12.
The worm 45, mounted on the axle of ratchet wheel 44 and therefore compelled
to participate in the rotary movement of the latter, is designed to engage with
and operate the gear wheel 46 as well as cogwheels 47 and 48, the latter being
rigidly connected with contact hand 13 by hollow spindle 49.
The tube 52, made of micamite or other suitable insulating material, is secured
to frame 50 which also holds the bearings of segment 29 and spindle 51, the latter
having a further bearing at the outer end of the said tube 52. It follows that
the electric circuit 53-54 (Fig. 4) cannot be completed until hands 13 and 14
come into contact with each other. The effect described in connection with Fig. 1
is then produced.
As hands 13 or 14 are steadily moving on they will at a given time come into
contact with the maximal or minimal temperature indicator 56, which has been
set by button 57 to the highest or lowest degree, whereby the alarm bell 55,
affixed to the time piece casing, is set ringing for the purpose of announcing the
termination of the process.
In the construction described and illustrated in the drawings the operation of
the apparatus is stopped by hand, the disc 37 being turned back by aid of crank 36
until pin 40 or 41 has been removed from cavity 42 or 43 and has thereby dis-

page_text: engaged the corresponding click or pawl 33 from the teeth of ratchet wheel 44.
The aperture 45, provided in crank arm 36 (Fig. 4), being thus placed exactly
in front of a corresponding aperture in the casing of the apparatus now admits
of the insertion of crank key 58 for the purpose of setting hand 13 at any other
degree of temperature, and of initiating further operation of the apparatus.
The working of the apparatus may also be stopped by automatically operating
disc 37; the mechanism required therefore has however been omitted in the
drawings in order to avoid impairing their clearness.
Although only a heat-regulating device is described in the foregoing specifi-
cation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the expert will perceive
without difficulty that the apparatus can be adapted for the other purposes herein-
before enumerated, as no other alteration will be necessary than substituting a
pressure gauge, a vacuum gauge, a hygrometer or an areometer, or as the case
may be, for the thermometer shown in the drawings, the governing principle
remaining the same, viz. that two indicator hands, one of them belonging to and
controlled by a time piece or other mechanism, the other one belonging to and
controlled by a suitable instrument for measuring and indicating the physical
condition of the fluid to be regulated, are brought into contact at a given moment,
thereby completing an electric circuit by which an electric or other mechanism,
situated at any convenient distance is actuated for the purpose of correcting the
physical condition by reducing or raising it to any desired predetermined degree.
If, for example, the device is to be applied for use in conjunction with an
apparatus for regulating the supply of fuel to a coal dust furnace the arrange-
ment may be as follows:
An electric apparatus of substantially the same construction and character as
described and illustrated, is, in the form of a manometer or pressure gauge,
attached in convenient position and fashion to a steam boiler, and provided with
two indicator hands, one of which will mark the degree of steam pressure existing
in the boiler, and the other adapted to be set to any desired point, and to serve
as a contact, so that, whenever both hands come into contact an electric circuit
is completed. Through the intermediary of a relay the electric current is made
to operate a suitably contrived electric or other mechanism actuating a throttle
valve or similar contrivance in such manner as to shut off or reduce the further
supply of coal dust to the furnace. It is obvious that owing to the reduced or
discontinued supply of fuel and the decreased steam pressure resulting therefrom,
the manometer indicator hand will recede from the contact hand, thus breaking
the electric circuit and allowing a conveniently contrived electric or other
mechanism to re-open the fuel supply valve.
In a corresponding or similar manner the electric apparatus forming the subject
of the present invention may be adapted for use with all the various instruments
and for the purposes before mentioned, if one of two indicator hands is actuated
by the respective scientific instrument while the other serves as contact for closing
an electric circuit to effect a given purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:—
1) A new or improved electric apparatus for automatically regulating the
physical condition, such as heat, pressure, vacuum, density or hygrometric state
of gaseous or liquid fluids, in which the indicator hand 13 of an electric regulator
(Figs. 2, 3 and 4) is receiving forward motion and, by means of an intermittent
contact with indicator hand 14 of a thermometer, pressure or vacuum gauge, areo-
meter or hygrometer, or similar instrument, is made to complete or break an
electric circuit (13,-16,-15,-14, Fig. 1) thereby effecting the automatic oper-
ation of a fluid mixing device (4,—5,-6,—7,-8,) by aid of which the physical
state of the fluid, corresponding to that indicated by hand 13, is being produced
or regulated, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings.

page_text: 2) Apparatus as claimed under 1) in which a combination of contacts (a, b, c, d,
23, 24, 25) causes hand 11 of time piece 9, 10, to make contact during its revo-
lution with a series of contact studs, which are so arranged as to admit of their
being connected, either all of them conjointly or only part of their number, by
means of plug switch device 23 to the electric circuit flowing towards the electric
regulator (1, 13, 14), for the purpose of allowing the contact hand 13 of the said
electric regulator to be set to any desired velocity of movement, substantially as
set forth and shown in the drawings.
3) Apparatus as claimed under 1) in which three electric regulators (1, 2, 3),
or any other suitable number of them can be controlled conjointly by one time
piece (10, 11), substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
4) Apparatus as claimed under 1), in which is provided an electric regulator
(Figs. 2, 3 and 4) adapted to be adjusted or set for the rise or fall of temperature,
pressure, vacuum, density or hygrometric condition of a fluid, in such manner
that, upon turning a peripherally curved disc (37), one of two clicks (34), actuated
by electro-magnets, is made to engage with the teeth of ratchet wheel (44) through
the intermediary of which the movement of contact hand 13 is being controlled,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5) Apparatus as claimed under 1), in which time piece 9, 10 and contact
device 23, 24, 25 are omitted, the apparatus being adapted to uniformly maintain
gaseous or liquid fluid in a predetermined physical condition, the regulator 1 con-
trolling the operation of a fluid mixing device (4, 5, 6, 7) which is worked by an
hydraulic pressure cylinder and piston (21) or by any other suitable motive power,
substantially as set forth and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of April 1800