U.S. patent number 3,632,173 [Application Number 04/868,078] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-04 for pneumatic conveying apparatus automatically operable successively for weight responsive filling, and for activation, discharging, purging, against back pressure, and venting.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Consolidated Engineering Company. Invention is credited to Brian R. Reuter.
United States Patent |
3,632,173 |
Reuter |
January 4, 1972 |
PNEUMATIC CONVEYING APPARATUS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE SUCCESSIVELY
FOR WEIGHT RESPONSIVE FILLING, AND FOR ACTIVATION, DISCHARGING,
PURGING, AGAINST BACK PRESSURE, AND VENTING
Abstract
The disclosure is of pneumatic conveying apparatus that includes
a pneumatic conveying pressure vessel with continuity from parent,
now patented apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,221. The pressure
vessel is automatically operatable successively to actuate a fill
valve to let air flowable materials thereinto and to close the fill
valve and open the air valve to activate the material responsive to
a signal proportionate in degree to a predetermined weight having
been attained, then, successively as pressure falls to close air
supply and open discharge, then to close discharge and open purge,
then to open vent as back pressure from container being discharged
into equals falling purge pressure, and then to start cycle again
as atmospheric is approached.
Inventors: |
Reuter; Brian R. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Consolidated Engineering
Company (Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
25351029 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/868,078 |
Filed: |
October 21, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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518353 |
Jan 3, 1966 |
3355221 |
Nov 28, 1967 |
|
|
686018 |
Nov 28, 1967 |
|
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|
822126 |
May 6, 1969 |
3549206 |
Jan 22, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
406/15; 222/195;
406/25; 406/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
53/66 (20130101); G01G 13/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
53/34 (20060101); G01G 13/00 (20060101); B65G
53/66 (20060101); B65g 053/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;302/3,17,52,53,35
;222/193,194,195 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Aegerter; Richard E.
Assistant Examiner: Lane; H. S.
Parent Case Text
The application is a continuation-in-part of Brian R. Reuter
application Ser. No. 518,353, filed Jan. 3, 1966, and issued Nov.
28, 1967, as U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,221; also of application Ser. No.
686,018, filed Nov. 28, 1967, and now abandoned; also of
application Ser. No. 822,126, filed May 6, 1969, which issued Jan.
22, 1970, U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,206.
Claims
I claim:
1. Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel
including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said
vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material
plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to
admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said
material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas
inlet connection including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a
discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum
including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection,
a purge bypass connecting said material plenum and said discharge
connection downstream from said discharge valve, a purge valve
disposed in said purge bypass, also a check valve therein
downstream of said purge valve and adapted to be urged closed in
direction of said purge valve by back pressure acting thereagainst
from downstream thereof, a vent discharge from said vessel
including a vent valve, means responsive to the weight of material
in said vessel, circuitry including said weight responsive means
and being automatically operable to open said fill valve, said
circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to
close said fill valve, then to close said purge valve while opening
said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially
uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate said material to a
high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high
pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open
said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward
through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a
predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive
control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet
valve and to open said purge valve, the compressed gas at falling
pressure purging through said purge bypass including said purge
valve and said check valve, and onwardly through said discharge
connection, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower
predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said
purge and to open said vent valve, said check valve guarding
against back pressure urging gas bearing purge material back up
said purge connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly
through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to
approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as
aforesaid.
2. The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the
steps of passing material through an inlet into a closable
container onto a gas permeable diaphragm, generating a signal
responsive to a predetermined weight of material in said container,
closing said material inlet when said signal is generated, closing
a bypass conduit from a discharge conduit to the container, and
with the container to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the
material therein and opening the discharge conduit from the
container while closing gas admission, as the pressure in the
container drops to predetermined value closing the discharge and
opening the bypass conduit to bypass the material to be purged
through the bypass and back into the discharge conduit downstream
from the container, and as the pressure in the container falls to a
still lower predetermined value, employing a check valve in the
bypass conduit between bypass conduit closure and discharge conduit
to protect against back pressure from the discharge conduit
downstream thereof, closing the bypass and opening a vent through
which residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be
vented as the container pressure returns to substantially
atmospheric, then repeating the cycle of steps aforesaid.
Description
The invention relates to a pressure vessel employable as a pump,
and to methods of its use, in which the vessel discharges into a
container, or through a discharge path with developed back pressure
therein, whereby after automatically, filling, activating,
discharging and purging steps, a vent is open as the back pressure
equals falling purge pressure, thus insuring that the cycle drops
to atmospheric to begin over again. It also relates to such a
vessel weighed on a beam scale whereby a normally open
weight-sensitive pressure switch is closed to actuate fill valve
closure and the injection of activating air.
It is consequently a primary object of this invention to provide a
pressure vessel employable as a pump which automatically,
successively has fill valve opened, fill valve closed and air
supply valve opened, air supply valve closed and discharge valve
opened, discharge valve closed and purge valve opened, purge valve
closed, as it drops equal to or below back pressure in discharge,
and vent valve opened; vent valve closed as new cycle starts over
again.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pressure vessel
pump of this class which is weighed on a scale and, when filled to
a predetermined net weight, operates a cycle of events including
closing the fill valve and opening the air supply by means of a
weight-responsive signal which closes a normally open pressure
switch.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a pressure
vessel pump of this class which is weighed on a load cell and when
filled to a predetermined net weight operates a cycle of events
including closing the fill valve and opening the air supply by
means of a weight-responsive signal which opens a normally closed
pressure switch.
It is another important object of this invention to provide a
method of pressure vessel pump operation comprising the steps of
filling a pressure vessel pump to a predetermined weight, emanating
a signal at such weight which operates to close off further filling
and to start air supply, upon air supply attaining a predetermined
pressure closing air supply and opening discharge, upon pressure
falling to a predetermined point, closing discharge and opening a
purge line, upon purge pressure falling to equal back pressure,
opening vent through which the pressure vessel vent discharges
until falling to substantially atmospheric pressure to start cycle
anew.
It is a further and additional object of this invention to provide
a method of pressure vessel operation of this class which employs a
scale-actuated signal, responsive to the filling pressure vessel
pump receiving a predetermined net weight therein, to close
circuitry for discontinuing filling and beginning the admission of
activating air.
It is yet another and additional object of this invention to
provide a method of pressure vessel operation of this class which
employs a load cell-actuated signal responsive to the filling
pressure vessel pump receiving a predetermined net weight therein,
to open circuitry for discontinuing filling and beginning the
admission of activating air.
As a primary object the weight-responsive form of invention sets
out to provide a means for automatically controlling the cyclic
measured entry, activation, full discharging and purge discharging
of a material which enters a processing pump or pressure vessel;
also to provide for the closing of the fill valve which admits the
material being affected by predetermined controlling force or
condition, as the material arriving at a predetermined weight in
the vessel, or reaching a predetermined level in the vessel or
flowing into the vessel for a predetermined time; also to provide
for the final return of the vessel for processing a succeeding
batch of material being also controlled by factors as
aforesaid.
It is also an important object of this form of the invention to
provide a means for automatically controlling the cyclic measured
entry, activation, full discharging and purge discharge of a
material which enters a processing pump or vessel when the vessel
is supported on a hopper scale designed to reflect the weight of
the material in the vessel in terms of pressure to activate the
closing of the fill valve from the hopper, directly upon the
deposit of a predetermined weight of material in the vessel.
It is also another important object of this form of the invention
to provide solids pumps of this class which are designed to close
the fill valve from hoppers responsive to forces or conditions
other than the passage of time during which the material enters the
vessel from the hopper.
Other and further objects of the invention carried over from the
preceding application will be apparent when the specification
herein is considered in connection with the drawings described
hereinbelow:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing an
embodiment the invention adapted to weigh the material being
handled and to respond to weight therein as reflected in terms of
pressure to actuate the closing of the fill valve;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of apparatus on which a pressure vessel
pump is mounted when the fill valve is to be closed responsive to
weight indication;
FIG. 3 comprises development views in isometric, showing details of
girder chair construction on which the legs of the pressure vessel
pump, shown in FIG. 2, are mounted;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of beam scale mechanism and associated
apparatus for imparting weight-responsive signals, the housing or
cover therefor shown in FIG. 2, having been removed;
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through a girder chair,
as indicated taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view, partially diagrammatic, of
the proportionate force transmitter for reflecting weight in terms
of pressure, as shown exteriorally in isometric view in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view showing details of shackle
and nose-on beam connections, as taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2,
and thus looking rearwardly;
FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 12--12 of
FIG. 7 looking to the left;
FIG. 9 is a pressure vessel pump shown in elevation, and partially
diagrammatically, and to smaller scale than the pressure vessel
pump shown in FIG. 1, shown connected to discharge material into a
catalyst regenerator 236 developing a back pressure, and shown with
valves applicable to such condition; the pressure vessel pump being
shown as weighed by a scale; and
FIG. 10 is an electrical diagram of the circuitry required for
operating a pressure vessel or pump to discharge into a container
exerting back pressure in the line discharging thereinto, as into
the pressure vessel or pump shown in FIG. 1 as equipped with vent
line and vent valve operator, and as shown employing check valve in
purge line; and as mounted on scale shown in FIGS. 2-8, inclusive;
a panel box being shown on the side of the pressure vessel for
carrying most of the circuitry and operative apparatus. Other and
further objects will be apparent, as considered in connection with
the drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals are
applied to like elements in the various views, a material
container, housing, pump or activator 10 is shown in FIG. 1
comprised of a shell 11 including a cylindrical main body 11a with
upper end closed by a top comprised of a spherical segment or dome
12a and a bottom comprised of a spherical segment or lower closure
12b, the container being constructed after the general manner of
conventional pressure vessels, and designed with safety factors, to
withstand the highest pressures that may be developed therein.
The pressure vessel or container 10 is supported on legs 14 which
upstand from a conventional base or grout, not shown. A
gas-permeable membrane or diaphragm 13 separates the container into
an upper, or material plenum 15, and a lower, or gas plenum 16.
The dome 12a has an inlet flange or neck 17 connected centrally
into the top thereof with an inlet gate valve or fill valve 18
being mounted thereon. A flexible nipple 19 is shown connecting the
fill valve 18 with a discharge flange 20 from a hopper 21, the
nipple being shown as a flexible member for carrying out an
optional function, to be hereinbelow described.
A valve operator 23 is shown diagrammatically, as disposed to open
and close the gate valve 18, a piston 23a being shown provided in
the valve operator 23, with instrument air admissible under the
piston 23a through a conduit 23b to open the fill valve, and with
instrument air being admissible through a conduit 23c above the
piston 23a to close the fill valve. Obviously, the conduits 23b and
23c must be in a closed compressed air circuit with a pressurized
reservoir, or otherwise selectively supplied with compressed air,
to carry out their respective functions.
A compressed gas conduit 25 is shown connected into the lower end
closure 12b of the shell or pressure vessel 11 and such compressed
gas inlet line 25 has a gas inlet valve 26 therein, which is shown
connected to be opened and closed by a valve operator 27,
constructed and equipped in correspondence with the valve operator
23.
Also, a discharge outlet pipe 28 extends downwardly through the
dome 12a to terminate in a pickup end 28a disposed slightly above
the gas permeable or air permeable membrane 13. A valve 29 is shown
connecting this discharge outlet pipe 28 with a discharge conduit
30 disclosed as having a flexible nipple 31 therein downstream from
a purge line connection nipple 32, the flexible nipple 31 being for
an alternative purpose to be hereinbelow described.
The discharge valve 29 is shown operated by a valve operator 33,
which is indicated as being constructed, and as having connections
thereto, in correspondence with the fill valve operator 23.
A purge line 34 extends between the purge line connection nipple 32
and the material plenum or chamber 15 and has a purge valve 35
therein to control its opening and closing, a valve operator 36
being shown connected to the purge valve 35 for this purpose, such
valve operator 36 being constructed, and having connections in
correspondence with the fill valve operator 23. However, it may be
pointed out, in this regard, that the purge valve 35 should be a
normally open valve, whereas, the fill valve 18, gas inlet valve
26, and discharge valve 29 are normally closed valves.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas, as compressed air, which activates and
transports the material which enters the container, shell, or
pressure vessel 11, arrives from its source, as a compressor or
pressurized reservoir, and passes through a strainer 83, and a
globe valve 84, on its way to being regulated as to the pressure at
which it is to be supplied. Thus the gas is first measured by a
high-pressure gauge 85, in the top of a gauge pipe 85a, which
upstands from the main gas line 25, through which the strained gas
passes on downstream. A smaller sized bypass line 25a, extends
between the gauge pipe 85a, and the aforesaid pressure-regulating
valve 86, in the main conduit 25, and has a pilot-regulating valve
or regulator 87 therein, thus to permit a finer and more responsive
control of the pressurized gas on its way to the pressure vessel
11. A bypass line 87a, conveys the reduced pressure gas from the
pilot regulator 87, and connects with an upstanding gauge pipe 88
above the main conduit 25, a low-pressure gauge 89, being mounted
on top of the gauge pipe 88 to indicate the lowered pressure of the
gas.
A conduit 90 extends from the lower closure 12b, to conduct
pressurized gas from the gas plenum 16, to the control box 40,
there to bear upon and cause switch actuation, to be hereinbelow
described.
Such switch-actuating gas, from within the pressure vessel 11
enters the conduit 90 and passes through a strainer 91 therein, and
on to the panel box 40, a gauge 92 being provided to indicate the
pressure of the actuating gas as it passes downstream of the
strainer 91 on its way to the panel box pressure-sensitive
switches, as aforesaid. The instrument air required by the
pressure-sensitive switches, as contradistinguished from the
actuating air or gas, and any other air or gas required to actuate
any of the apparatus, including that required to operate the valve
operators shown in FIG. 1 may be brought to the panel box 40
through a conduit 93 for selective distribution. Also, the power
conductors 41, 42, from a source of electrical power, as a 60
cycle, 115 AC voltage source, may be brought to the panel box 40
through an insulated conductor cord 95.
In FIG. 1 respective conduits 23b, 27b, 33b and 36b connect (323b,
327b, 333b, 336b), into the respective fill, compressed gas,
materials delivery and purge valve operator cylinders 23, 27, 33
and 36, under the respective piston heads 23a, 27a, 33a and 36a,
respective conduits 23c, 27c, 33c and 36c, connect into such
cylinders above the respective piston heads therein. Thus,
conductor cords or sleeves 23d, 27d, 33d, and 36d, for the
respective conduits for the respective valve operator cylinders
aforesaid, are provided to extend from the control or panel box 40,
where conventional instrument air, as from the instrument air
conduit 93, may pass through respective conventional
solenoid-actuated valves, not shown, as operated by the aforesaid
solenoids 48, 60, 66 and 63, to admit the operative air, gas or
fluid, selectively into the conduits 23b or 23c into the conduits
27b or 27c, into the conduits 33b or 33c, and into the conduits 36b
or 36c selectively to open or close the aforesaid fill valve 18,
compressed gas valve 26, materials delivery valve 29, and purge
valve 35.
The respective valve operators 23, 27, 33 and 36, may be used to
operate the respective fill valve 18, compressed gas delivery valve
26, material delivery valve 29, and purge valve 35, but it is often
not necessary, in the case of light duty installations, and/or in
the case of the valves 26, 29 and 35, that special valve operators
may be required for their operation. In such cases the solenoids
60, 66 and 63 may thus be connected directly to the respective
valves 26, 29 and 35, to effectuate their operation.
As to the gas-permeable membrane 13, this may be variously
constituted to carry out various requirements. The membrane 13, may
be a flexible diaphragm as of a heavily woven cloth, as of cotton,
or of a synthetic or plastic cloth as of nylon or dacron. Also
instead of being flexible the membrane may be rigid or
substantially rigid. Thus it may be of woven metal, or of
noncorrosive woven metal, such as stainless steel, to combat
corrosion. Also it may be of a porous ceramic, also to avoid
corrosion, as well as to provide a stable membrane. An additional
advantage is there being selectivity in the synthesis of the
membrane resides in the fact that a wider range of materials can be
handled to pass through the membrane under the most advantageous
conditions where this selectivity is available.
An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-8, in which the
pump 10 is mounted on a floor stand scale hopper, FIGS. 2-8 and
adapted to transfer a batch of material when the batch weight
entering the pump attains a predetermined weight. The hopper scale
80 is thus adapted to reflect weight in terms of pressure.
The floor stand hopper scale 80 on which the pump 10 is shown
mounted in FIG. 1, provides for each leg 14 of the pump 10, a
girder chair 79. The support block 127 of each girder chair 79 has
a pivot block 139a pin-connected to extend therebelow, centrally
thereof, and an inverted V-shaped groove in the lower surface of
the pivot block 139a is provided to seat upon the beveled edge of a
pivot bar 140a, (FIG. 5) which extends upwardly from a
cross-connecting rod 141a between two longitudinally spaced-apart,
transversely inwardly extending lugs 142a, 142b, the outer ends of
the lugs being rigidly connected to a respective main lever pipe
143. The hopper scale 80 thus provides a pair of these lugs 142a,
142b for each girder chair 79 and corner stand 144, to be
hereinbelow described.
Each corner stand 144 supports the weight transferred thereto from
a pump leg 14, as the corner stands 144 in turn seat upon the floor
or grout. For this reason, each corner stand 144 is slotted in
direction longitudinally of the pump or machine 10 to receive a
pivot block 139b pin-connected thereinto. Each pivot block 135b, as
thus mounted, has a V-shaped groove extending longitudinally,
centrally thereof, to provide a seat for the bevel edge or blade
edge of a pivot bar 140b which is carried by a cross-connecting rod
141b which extends between the two lugs 142a, 142b.
It may be seen that each corner stand 144 provides a fulcrum which
extends longitudinally of the hopper scale mounted pump 10, the lug
units 142a, 142b which extend parallel to each other and
transversely of the machine being mounted on such fulcrums, with
the girder chairs 79 which transmit the load of the respective pump
legs 14 thereabove being disposed inwardly of the fulcrums with
relation to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Thus the main
lever pipes 143, on the opposite or outer sides of the fulcrums
from the impressed loads, will tend to be lifted upwardly but for
restraining or counterbalancing forces.
Referring again to the girder chair construction, each support
block 127 is shaped substantially as a tee, with a hole bored
through each end of the crossarm 127a, to receive a pin 145
therethrough. A chain link 146 is fitted over the pin 145 just
outwardly of the crossarm 127a, a washer just outwardly of each
chain link 46, and a retention pin is passed through the outer ends
of each pin 145 to hold the washers and chain links 146 assembled
to the support block 127.
For reasons of clarity the washers and retention pins are not shown
in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. A connection bar 147 is extended through the
chain links 146 on each pin 145 and connected, as by machine screws
148 into the legs 149 of each girder chair 79, whereby the seat
plate 150 of the girder chair is assembled in spaced relation above
its support block 127. The retention pins on the ends of the pins
145 are disposed to leave some play therealong for the washers and
chain links 146. Also, the connection bars 147 may have location
lugs 131 on their underside on either side of the respective chain
links 146, and slightly spaced therefrom. Thus, when the legs 14 of
a vessel 10 seat upon the girder chairs 79 it may be said that the
girder chairs 79 may "float" with relation to the lug units 142a,
142b on whose cross-connecting rod pivot bars 140 they are mounted,
thus to pass along the load imposed by the vessel 10 to the floor
stand hopper scale 80 in a balanced manner.
When the weight of the vessel 10 is balanced upon the four girder
chairs 79 with the corner stands 144 providing what could be termed
fulcrums, but for balance, there would be the greatest tendency to
lift the main lever pipes 143 outwardly of the corner stand
fulcrums 144. On the other hand, the main lever pipes 143 extend
forwardly of the girder chairs and have the outer ends of
respective transverse beam plates 152a, 152b, connected across the
front ends thereof. The beam plates 152a, 152b are connected
centrally across the front of the beam scale 80 by nose-irons, to
be hereinbelow described, which are carried by a bracket shackle
assembly 155, also to be hereinbelow described.
The bracket shackle assembly 155, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
comprises an outer U-shaped bracket 153 and an inner U-shaped
bracket 154, with the upper ends of both brackets receiving the
outer ends of a swivel pin 156 therethrough, the pin 156 also
passing through the body 157 of a swivel assembly 160, as the
swivel body 157 between the upper arms of the inner U-shaped
bracket 153.
The shackle body 157 includes an upstanding member 158 into which
is connected a connection bolt 159 which passes downwardly through
the base 161 of a swivel link 160. The S-hook 162 which extends
downwardly from the draft shackle 163 of the beam scale 165, as
disposed in the beam box 170, is urged downwardly by the weight of
the hopper scale 80, which transmits the weight of the vessel 10 to
the beam scale 165.
This transmission of load or force components may be understood by
a further consideration of FIGS. 7 and 8, as oriented by reference
to FIG. 2. The inner end of the beam plate 152a is notched upwardly
to receive an upper nose-iron holder 164a, which carries a
specially hardened nose-iron 166a therein, having a downwardly
disposed bevel edge. An upper clamp plate 167a fits downwardly over
the nose-iron holder 164a, and around the inner end of the beam
plate 152a, and bolts or screws 168 connect these members as the
bolts extend from one side of the clamp plate 167a to the other
side thereof.
Also, the inner end of beam plate 152b is notched downwardly to
receive a lower nose-iron holder 164b, which carries a specially
hardened nose-iron 166b therein, having a downwardly disposed bevel
edge. A lower clamp plate 167b fits upwardly over the nose holder
164b, and around the end of the beam plate 152b, and bolts or
screws 168 connect these members as the bolts extend from one side
of the clamp plate 167b to the other side thereof.
The upper, inner U-shaped bracket 154 mounts an upper swivel block
169a thereon, with a bolt 171a passed upwardly through the foot of
the bracket into the swivel block providing a vertical pivot axis
of swing, as the head of the bolt 171a below the bracket 154 holds
the swivel block 169 in assembly. The upper nose-iron 166a fits
into a beveled groove in the upper face of the swivel block 169a to
complete the assembly of right transverse beam plate 152a and
bracket shackle assembly 155. Also, the lower or outer U-shaped
bracket 153 mounts a lower swivel block 169b thereon, also with a
bolt 171b passed upwardly through the foot of the bracket into the
swivel block providing a vertical pivot axis of swing, as the head
of the bolt 171b below the bracket 153 holds the swivel block 169b
in assembly. The lower nose-iron 166b fits into a beveled groove in
the upper face of the swivel block 169b to complete the assembly of
left transverse beam plate 152b and bracket shackle assembly
155.
As thus assembled the combination of knife-edge connections and
swivel connections of the complementary transverse beam plates or
bars 152a, 152b and bracket shackle assembly 155, is such to
balance out any irregularities and keep the downward pull on the
S-hook 162 substantially in proportion to the weight of the
material in the vessel with the weight balanced out. With reference
to FIG. 4, the balance of forces and construction can be considered
on the premise that the weight on the draft shackle 172 is such,
with tare weight adjusted, as to bear a direct proportion to the
effect weight of material in the vessel 10 at any instant.
The shank of the draft shackle 172, shown in FIG. 4, from which the
S-hook 162, shown in FIG. 8, extends downwardly, is mounted upon a
primary lever 173 within the beam box 170, an end of the primary
lever 173 extending into an inverted yoke or bearing bracket 174
upon the floor or base 175 of the beam box. At its opposite end the
primary lever 173 extends slidably into a double-yoke member 176
with a pin 177a through the lower, inverted yoke portion 176a
supporting the primary lever therein. The upper yoke portion 176b
of the double-yoke member 176 receives an end of a secondary lever
178 therein, as retained by a pin 177b thereabove, and a bracket
member 179 providing an inverted yoke 179a receives the secondary
lever 178 therein in manner to provide a second fulcrum, the
bracket member 179 being rigidly connected to an upstanding backing
plate 180, as by a machine bolt 179c, the bracket member 179 being
affixed to the beam box floor 175. Also, a retainer pin 179b is
shown passed through the bracket member 179 below the secondary
lever 178.
A tare weight 181 is disposed upon the right or free end of the
secondary lever 178 to balance out the tare weight of the vessel
10, as may be accomplished in conventional manner. Now, considering
motion, as the weight (equivalent to material weight in vessel)
acts downwardly on the draft shackle 172, the left end of the
primary lever 173 moves downwardly, and the left end of the
secondary lever 178, connected to the same double-yoke member 176),
also moves downwardly, whereby the part of the secondary lever 178
to the right of the fulcrum supplied by the inverted yoke 179a,
moves upwardly. This results in an upwardly urging force being
exerted on a plunger 182 in the lower end of a proportionate force
transmitter 183, as will be hereinbelow described.
The proportionate force transmitter 183 has the mission of
receiving filtered instrument air at some predetermined pressure,
as 30 p.s.i., via the conduit 90a from a filter regulator 195.
Then, by proper pressure reduction adjustment and calibration, the
force applied upwardly through the pushrod 182 results in the air
leaving the proportionate force transmitter 183 at pressure of say
3 p.s.i. as filling begins, up to say 12 p.s.i., when filling has
been completed, to set in motion the closing of the fill valve 23,
FIG. 1.
The proportionate force transmitter 183 comprises a body including
a pilot housing 183a, a diaphragm assembly or exhaust ring 189, a
pilot ring 188, a damper housing 183b, and a pushrod housing 183c.
A bushing 193 is threaded through a locknut 198 and into the
pushrod housing 183c, centrally thereof, with a ball bushing 196,
within the bushing 193, comprising the element which actually
establishes the journal for the pushrod 182.
A spring 187 receives a spring seat 184 thereon and a retaining
ring in a groove near the head of the pushrod 182 seats upon the
spring seat 184, as the spring 187 urges the head of the pushrod
182 upwardly against the under sides of a diaphragm support disc or
round plate 197 under a lower damper diaphragm 199a which extends
across space between interior of pushrod housing 183c and damper
housing 183b, and outwardly between the aforesaid damper and
pushrod housings 183b, 183c.
An upper damper diaphragm 199b between pilot ring 188 and damper
housing 183b extends across space therebelow in the damper housing
183b which connects by means of a vertical passage 201 with the
space therebelow above the lower damper diaphragm 199a.
A restriction screw 202, having a transverse hole 203 therein,
extends transversely into the damper assembly 183b and is
adjustably threadable thereinto thus to adjust the amount of
opening or passage space between the air space above and the air
space below the adjustment screw 202. Thus the action, of upward
thrust of the pushrod 182, upon the air or compressed gas within
the damper housing 183b, may be adjustably dampened, as the filling
of the pressure vessel on a weight indicator results in a
constantly increasing and normally fast acting force urging
upwardly on the pushrod 182.
Centrally of the upper damper diaphragm 199b, a pin 204, with round
head upwardly, extends downwardly therethrough to be retained by a
ring 206, as one that may be press-fitted around the pin 204 with
upper surface of ring glued to the under side of the diaphragm
199b. The pinhead or flange is disposed below a leaf spring 207
mounted within space within the pilot ring or lead spring housing
188, a bushed bore 208 extending downwardly through the housing 188
to communicate with the space therebelow around the leaf spring 207
and above the upper damper diaphragm 199b. The leaf spring 207
carries a ball member centrally therein to be urged against by the
pinhead or flange to close a bore 208 to prevent overtravel of the
pressure switch in the circuitry starting valve closure, upon the
pressure vessel 10, FIG. 1, reaching predetermined fill level.
A needle valve 210 extends into a transverse bore 209 in the pilot
ring or leaf spring housing 188, with such bore including the
needle valve seat therein, and at innermost end such bore joins a
bore downwardly from space under the lower diaphragm 211a of the
exhaust ring or diaphragm assembly 189.
A port 212 is provided to pass downwardly in the leaf spring
housing 188 to communicate with the transversely extending needle
valve bore 209 outwardly of the needle valve elements and inwardly
of the packed head of the needle valve. A setscrew is shown
provided in a threaded bore in the leaf spring housing 188, to
communicate with the needle valve bore 209 to bear against the stem
of the needle valve to maintain it as adjusted. The fluid
(instrument air) to the needle valve 210 has passed through a
screen or strainer 205 disposed in a cored passage 217 in the
exhaust ring 189a of the diaphragm assembly 189, and upstream from
the exhaust ring and diaphragm assembly body 189 it has passed
through a passage 214 in the pilot body, base or top 183a, between
the inlet 215a from the conduit 90a, and an opening through the
upper diaphragm 211b of the aforesaid diaphragm assembly 189.
The exhaust ring 189a of the assembly 189 has a transverse port 216
therethrough to communicate with the space just inward thereof, and
between the upper and lower diaphragms 211b, 211a. Centrally, the
assembly 189 provides a lower disc or plate 218 upon the diaphragm
211a, and spaced thereabove by spacers, an upper, annular plate 219
under the diaphragm 211b. A spring base and valve seat 220 bears
upon the upper diaphragm 211b and extends centrally therethrough to
be retained by keeper means inwardly of the annular plate 219.
The inlet 215a in the pilot top or housing 188a communicates
inwardly with a vertical counterbore 221 with a bore 222 concentric
therewithin providing a valve seat for a tandem valve 224 with
lower valve element to seat upon the valve seat 220 through the
upper diaphragm 211b. A spring 190, within a low pressure or
discharge space 225, bears downwardly upon the spring base and
valve seat member 220 and upwardly against the pilot base or top
body 183a within the discharge space 225. A retaining screw 226 is
threadably adjustable into the counterbore 221 and is recessed to
receive the upper end of a spring 227 therein, the lower end
bearing upon a shoulder provided on the tandem valve 224 the upper
seating member thereof.
By adjustment of restriction screw 202 the force exerted by the
pushrod 182 against the fluid above the diaphragm 199a is dampened
so that there is no chatter and intermittent closing and then
opening of the bushed bore 208 by the ball valve element carried by
the leaf spring 207. The needle valve 210 is so moved to regulate
the reduced pressure instrument air that is permitted to enter the
space between the upper damper diaphragm 199b and the lower
diaphragm 211a, that the fluid in this space is converted to act as
a fluid piston. Also the leaf spring 207 is adapted to be raised by
the pin 204 in the diaphragm 199b to close off further movement of
the diaphragm assembly 211a, 211b at the end of travel to close the
pressure switch that actuates switch arm 46a to close the fill
valve.
As to the downstream fluid in the space 225, this is supplied
instrument air past the upper valve element of the tandem valve 224
to show a predetermined reduced pressure, say 3 p.s.i., with the
pressure vessel empty. Then, the travel produced by the fluid
piston upon the diaphragm assembly 211a, 211b being known, needle
valve adjustments sets the instrument air constituting the fluid
piston at each pressure that this travel is obtained, the space 225
fluid thus being pressurized up to say 12 p.s.i. as an aforesaid
pressure sensitive switch actuates fill valve closure.
In case of excess pressure in instrument air supply line 90a, 215a
lifting tandem valve 224, (as adjusted seated by spring 227 under
retaining screw 226), the tendency to build up the low fluid
pressure in space 225 is counterbalanced by the fact that the lower
valve element of the tandem valve 224 will be lifted off the seat
in the valve plate 220 to let the excess fluid bleed off through
the plates 219, 218 and out the passage 216.
Reference may now be made to FIGS. 9-10, inclusive, added in
support of the part of the invention submitted as new by this
application. Also, back reference may be made to FIGS. 1-8 in
further support of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. A pressure vessel or pump 10
is disclosed in FIG. 1, which shows a vent conduit 31a extending
from the top closure or dome 12a of the pump 10, to a vent valve
230 from which rises a vent pipe 231 to discharge via a connection
nipple 232 into the hopper 200, against atmospheric pressure
usually prevailing in hopper. Optionally, the discharge may be into
the atmosphere, as indicated by reference numeral 233.
The vent valve 230 is shown as opened and closed by a valve
operator 234 with piston 234a therein moved outwardly to open the
valve 230, as pressure fluid enters conduit 234b behind the piston
234a to move it outwardly, the pressure fluid outwardly of the
piston 234a being returned to the panel box 40 by way of conduit
234c. Closing of the valve 230 by the valve operator 234 obviously
entails reversal of direction of fluid movement.
Also, in FIG. 1 there is shown a check valve 235 in dotted lines
between the purge valve 35 and the nipple 32 in the discharge line
30, disposed downstream of the discharge valve 29.
As shown more or less diagrammatically in FIG. 9, a pressure vessel
or pump 10 is shown weighed for predetermined net weight by a beam
scale 80, shown in fragmentary detail in this view. Plant air is
indicated as entering the bottom of the vessel 10 via the
compressed air line 25. Also, the material, granular or pulverulent
material is admitted from the hopper 200 to the pump 10 by means of
the upper fill valve 18a, flexible nipple 19, and lower fill valve
18. The discharge from the pump 10 is indicated as being by way of
the discharge valve 29 and discharge conduit 30 to discharge the
material upwardly into a catalyst regenerator tower 236.
A purge conduit 34 is indicated as having the purge valve 35
therein and downstream therefrom the check valve 235, which has its
conventional ball valve to be urged seated in direction of the pump
10, by back pressure which may build up in the conduit 30 from
direction of the catalyst regenerator tower 236 to act to seat the
check valve 235 against the pressure in the purge conduit 34
upstream from the ball valve.
The pump 10 is shown as having a vent conduit 31a therefrom to the
vent valve 230, as shown in FIG. 4, with a vent pipe 231 to vent
either into the atmosphere or into the hopper 200, which is
generally at substantially atmospheric pressure. These alternate
vent outlets are indicated by elements 232, 233, FIGS. 1 and 9.
Having set forth the background for operation of the pump 10 when
discharge is to be made against back pressure, and when the net
weight of material, as batches, from the hopper 200 into pump 10 is
to be impressed upon a scale 80, reference may now be made to FIG.
10 which sets forth the electrical circuit diagrams for the
apparatus mainly in the panel 40, FIGS. 1, 2 and 9.
A normally open control switch 237 in the positive power line 241,
having the fuse 239 therein, is closed. Current is thus admitted
through normally closed switch 243 of latch relay 258a, 258b; also
through normally closed vent pressure switch PS or 247; also
through normally closed fill pressure switch FPS or 248; and also
through conductors 241a, 241b to double-pole, double-throw switch
250 and relay LR or 251 of timer latch relay 251, 252. Also current
is admitted to flow in the TIMER CIRCUIT containing TDR or time
delay relay 276, which urges TDS or TIME DELAY switch 277 closed,
thus energizing the clutch 278 to start the MOTOR 280 or M that
runs according to the preselected numbers of hours batches of
material are to be successively delivered by the pump 10.
The energized timer latch relay 251 now actuates the closing of
normally open switch 253a of the switches 253a, 253b and thus the
fill light or green light G or 254 goes on and the solenoid 255 in
the panel 40 actuates valve operators 23, 23d to open fill valve or
fill valves 18a, 18, FIG. 4. Also the solenoid 256 in the panel 40
actuates the valve operator 234, FIG. 4, to open VENT VALVE 230,
and the VENT LIGHT or white light W or 257 goes on. Material now
enters the vessel 10 from the hopper 200.
The increasing weight of material upon the diaphragm 13, FIG. 1,
causes the secondary lever 178, FIG. 4, to bear upwardly on the
plunger 182 which extends downwardly from the proportionate force
transmitter 183 so that the pressure signal passing through the
outlet conduit 90b from the proportionate force transmitter 183 is
equivalent to 15 p.s.i., which, by the way the transmitter 183 has
been regulated, corresponds with the predetermined net weight of a
batch of material to be received in the vessel 10 before the fill
valve(s) are to be closed.
This pressure signal that passes from the proportionate force
transmitter 183 via the conduit 90b, FIG. 4, is indicated by the
reference numeral 90b being applied to the pressure switch NOPS or
258a, which is indicated as being normally open, FIG. 10. This
switch 90b is closed upon this predetermined "preset" 15 p.s.i.
being attained as batch load is built up on the diaphragm 13, as
aforesaid. This energizes the latch coil 258a of the fill latching
relay 258a, 258b, to open the normally closed relay switch 243 and
close the normally open relay switch 244. This operates to CLOSE
FILL VALVE and also serves to lock in ACTIVATE CYCLE, the whole
fill circuitry being broken. Thus the solenoid 256 closes the vent
valve 230, FIGS. 1 and 9, and the white light 257 goes out. Also
the solenoid 255 closes the fill valve(s) 18 and 18a, as aforesaid,
and the green light 254 goes out.
As the relay switch 244 closes circuit from the positive side,
parallel positive conductor 259 carries circuit to the FILL VALVE
TIME DELAY relay TDR designated 261, which, after a preset time
interval, closes the time-delay relay TDRS or switch 262, whereby
the solenoid 263 in the panel 40 operates to shift fluid direction
to the valve operator 27, FIG. 1, to OPEN ACTIVATE VALVE or the
valve 26, (FIGS. 4 and 9), to admit plant air into the gas plenum
chamber beneath the diaphragm 13, FIG. 1, thereby to activate the
material, or full batch, that is supported above the diaphragm, as
aforesaid. Also, as the solenoid 263 has operated to open the
compressed air supply or plant air valve 26, at the same time, the
solenoid 264, adjacent thereto in the panel 40, has shifted fluid
direction to the valve operator 36, FIG. 1, to CLOSE PURGE VALVE
35. Thus, at this point the fill valve(s) 18a, 18, the vent valve
230, the purge valve 35, and the discharge valve 29 are all closed,
while the plant compressed air is entering the vessel 10 to build
up pressure therein, and to activate the granular or pulverulent
material, or set it in violent motion above the diaphragm 13.
Circuit has also been completed so that the blue light B or 265 is
turned on as the ACTIVATE LIGHT.
The pressure continues to rise in the vessel until a pressure of
say 35 p.s.i., is attained therein, whereupon the discharge
pressure switch DPS indicated by reference numeral 266 closes, as
has been predetermined. As this switch 266 closes, circuit is
completed through the red DISCHARGE LIGHT R or 267, which comes on,
and through the solenoid 268, in the panel 40, which changes fluid
direction to and from the valve operator 33 to OPEN DISCHARGE VALVE
29, FIGS. 1 and 9.
Also, circuit through the control relay 270 is closed to energize
this relay to HOLD DISCHARGE CYCLE by closing the normally open
switch 269a of the pair of switches 269a, 269b. Also, the control
relay 270 operates to close the normally open switch 271a of the
pair of switches 271a, 271b, thereby circuit is completed through
the purge pressure switch PPS or 272 which is set to close at a
lower pressure, say 28 p.s.i., than the discharge pressure switch
269a. Thus, at this point the purge pressure switch PPS or 272 is
open, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 10. Therefore it is
closing circuit through the time latch (LR) relay 252, whereby this
relay is actuated to put the contacts of the time latch relay
switches 253a, 253b in their original positions with switch 253a
open, thus to LOCK OUT FILL CYCLE.
The material now flows out through the open discharge valve 29 and
through the discharge conduit 30 to the predetermined point of
delivery, as up into the catalyst regenerator 236. As the materials
are in good part removed from the vessel 10, the pressure therein
starts to drop, and falls to the preset pressure at which the purge
pressure switch PPS or 272 is set to close to full line position
shown in FIG. 16. As this occurs, the unlatch coil 258b of the fill
latch relay 258a, 258b, is energized to put the fill latch relay
contacts 243, 244 back into their original position, with contacts
of switch 243 closed, contacts of switch 244 open to LOCK OUT
ACTIVATE CYCLE.
Since the vent pressure switch 247 is still open, the amber light A
or PURGE LIGHT 273 comes on when the contacts of switch 243 are
latched closed, and since the purge valve 35 is a normally open
valve, the falling pressure sweeps clean the purge line 34 and
discharge line 30 until such time as the back pressure in the
discharge line 30, acting through the purge line 34, builds up back
pressure to seat the check valve 235. When the pressure in the
vessel 10 now falls to say 20 p.s.i. the vent pressure switch 247
closes, to full-line position shown in FIG. 16, thus activating the
solenoid 256 to change fluid direction in the panel 40 to OPEN VENT
VALVE 230, FIGS. 1 and 9, the light W or VENT LIGHT in parallel
circuit also turning on. Then the residual material may be vented
through the vent pipe 231 and through its upper end 232 to the
atmosphere, or into the hopper 200 by way of the alternate vent
path 233.
When the pressure drops to say 0.5 p.s.i. the fill valve pressure
switch 248 may close, thus activating the solenoid 255 to open the
fill valve(s) 18, 18a once more, again to start the fill cycle, the
green light 254 going on.
The timer 275 has TIMER CIRCUIT which is preset, when started, to
run for any predetermined time interval it may be desired to
deliver batches of material of predetermined weight, to any
preselected container, as to the catalyst regenerator tower 236.
When the control switch 237 is first closed, with the double-pole,
double-throw switch 250 in the position shown in FIG. 10, the
time-delay relay TDR, or 276, closes the timer switch 277 which
actuates the motor clutch 278 into driving engagement, so that the
Motor M, or 280, runs for the period of its preset cycle, while
circuit is complete through the latch relay LR or 251 so that it
can operate once during each single-batch handling period to close
the normally open switch contact 253a, as aforesaid.
Then when the motor times out, the switch 279 is thrown open, to
break circuit through the motor 280, the switch 250 then being
moved to up position by the timing out of the motor 280, thus
circuit cannot be made through the fill-cycle lock in relay LR or
251 to actuate it. Thus when the motor 280 times out, the
fill-valve solenoid 255 cannot be energized to open the fill valve
until the motor running cycle has been reset, and until the
double-pole double-throw switch 250 is manually returned to the
position shown in FIG. 10. At this time the motor 280 is again
reset to run for some selected cycle exit ending over a number of
batch transferring operations by the pressure vessel 10.
A "fail safe" or warning safe guard is provided against the pump or
pressure vessel 10 being over filled by an entering batch. This
resides in a PUMP FILL LIGHT, as a white light W or 281, and a
motor M or 282 or LEVEL DETECTOR, these being connected in parallel
circuits which extend between the negative power line 242 and the
positive side conductor 241c. A normally open switch 283a is shown
in circuit with the white light W or 281 and a normally closed
switch 283b therein. The motor 282 may have conventional paddle
means thereon to be contacted by the material of a batch rising to
the safeguarding level of the motor 282, whereby the paddle is
stopped. Then, conventionally, there may be overtravel of parts
related with the motor shaft, as the paddle mounting part stops, so
that by this overtravel or lost motion movement, the normally
closed switch 283b is opened to stop the motor 282, while the
normally open switch 283a is closed, to turn on the white light 281
or W to indicate that the material set for a batch rises too high
in the pressure vessel or pump.
The various structural features are by way of illustration and not
by way of limitation, and the claims herein that complete the
application are definitive.
* * * * *