U.S. patent number 3,601,030 [Application Number 04/850,363] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-24 for apparatus for maintaining a desired vacuum within an enclosure.
Invention is credited to Omar W. Bryant.
United States Patent |
3,601,030 |
Bryant |
August 24, 1971 |
APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A DESIRED VACUUM WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE
Abstract
The vacuum within an enclosure from which air is exhausted for,
e.g. ventilation, is maintained at a desired degree by controlling
the effective size or area of an air inlet opening in one wall of
the enclosure in dependence upon the degree of vacuum in a region
adjacent to a different wall of the enclosure, preferably a wall
opposite that having the air inlet opening. By way of example, the
invention is disclosed as used for maintaining that degree of
vacuum in a poultry house believed to be most conducive to feed
conversion and growth of poultry.
Inventors: |
Bryant; Omar W. (N/A, ME) |
Family
ID: |
25307922 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/850,363 |
Filed: |
August 15, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/238 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
7/007 (20130101); A01K 31/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
31/00 (20060101); F24F 7/007 (20060101); F24F
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;98/32,33,95,37,39 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wye; William J.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for controlling the degree of vacuum within an
enclosure having two spaced opposed walls and means for withdrawing
air from within the enclosure, said apparatus comprising means
defining an air inlet opening in one of said two walls; a closure
mounted for opening and closing movements cooperatively with
respect to said inlet opening; reversible drive means operatively
connected to said closure for moving the latter respectively toward
open and closed positions; and control means connected to said
drive means and being mounted at the side of said enclosure remote
from said one of said walls and being responsive to vacuum within
said enclosure for causing operation of said drive means to move
said closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said
enclosure in the region of said control means is less than a
predetermined vacuum, and to move said closure toward open position
when the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said control
means is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said control means is
mounted on the other of said two spaced opposed walls.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said drive means
comprises a reversible electric motor and said control means
comprises a switching circuit for reversing said motor.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said switching circuit
comprises switch means movable to three positions in dependence
upon the vacuum in said region, namely: a first position for
causing said motor to drive said closure toward closed position
when the vacuum in said region is less than said predetermined
vacuum; a second position for deactivating said motor when the
vacuum in said region is the desired predetermined vacuum; and a
third position for causing said motor to drive said closure toward
open position when the vacuum in said region is greater than said
predetermined vacuum.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said control means
comprises means defining a control air flow passage in the other of
said two spaced opposed enclosure walls; a member movably mounted
in the path of air flowing through said passage from outside said
enclosure to the interior thereof and being movable by said control
airflow in amounts varying according to the velocity of said
control airflow; electrical means for controlling the operation of
said reversible drive means; and switch means operated by the
aforesaid movements of said member for operating said electrical
means to: (1) cause operation of said drive means to move said
closure toward closed position when the vacuum in said region is
less than said predetermined vacuum, (2) to deactivate said drive
means when the vacuum in said region is said predetermined vacuum,
and (3) to cause operation of said drive means to move said closure
toward open position when the vacuum in said region is greater than
said predetermined vacuum.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said drive means
comprises a reversible electric motor, and in which said electrical
means comprises an electrical circuit including said motor and
switch means movable by the movements of said member for reversing
the motor electrical connections.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a rock shaft on which
said member is mounted; reversing switch means mounted on and being
rockable with said rock shaft; and means connecting said switch
means in circuit with said motor, whereby said motor is driven
selectively in one direction or the other or is deactivated
according to the position to which said member, said rock shaft and
said switch means are rocked by air flowing through said control
airflow passage.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a counterweight mounted
on said rock shaft and being adjustable for varying the amount of
movement of said member caused by the velocity air flowing through
said control air flow passage.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said reversing switch
means comprises an assembly of mercury switches mounted on said
rock shaft at such inclinations to the horizontal that when said
member is in a neutral position which it occupies when the vacuum
in said region is said predetermined vacuum the mercury globules in
said switches do not close the respective switch contacts and said
motor is thereby deactivated, the switch mercury globules being
movable by gravity in response to rocking of said member, said rock
shaft and said switches to one side or the other of said neutral
position for causing operation of said motor in selected
directions.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the connections between
said reversible drive means and said closure comprise a
cushioning-force-transmitting element which is yieldable in the
event of continued operation of said reversible drive means when
continued movement of said closure is prevented.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said
cushioning-force-transmitting element comprises a telescopic link
having two link components; and spring means connecting said
components for transmitting normal operating force from one
component to the other and vice versa according to whether closure
opening or closure closing force is being transmitted, said spring
means being yieldable under the influence of greater then normal
operating force so as to prevent damage in the event said
reversible drive means continues to operate when continued movement
of said closure is prevented.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to
movement of said closure toward its open and closed positions
respectively for deactivating said reversible drive means when said
closure attains predetermined positions respectively in its opening
and closing movements.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said closure is mounted
to rock in its opening and closing movements, further in which said
reversible drive means comprises an electric motor, said apparatus
further comprising normally closed electrical switch means in
circuit with said motor and being mounted and connected to said
closure and being openable in response to rocking of said closure
for deenergizing said circuit when said closure attains
predetermined positions in its opening and closing movements.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including a rock shaft on which
said closure is mounted for movements to its open and closed
positions, said switch means comprising mercury switch means
mounted on said rock shaft to be rockable in unison with said
closure.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said enclosure is a
live poultry house.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is another air
inlet opening in the other of said two walls; another closure
mounted for opening and closing movements cooperatively with
respect to said other air inlet opening; another reversible drive
means operatively connected to said other closure for moving the
latter respectively toward open and closed positions; and another
control means connected to said other drive means, being mounted at
the side of said enclosure remote from said other of said two walls
and being responsive to vacuum within said enclosure for causing
operation of said other drive means to move said other closure
toward closed position when the vacuum in said enclosure in the
region of said other control means is less than a predetermined
vacuum, and to move said other closure toward open position when
the vacuum in said enclosure in the region of said other control
means is greater than said predetermined vacuum.
Description
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is known that for some purposes it is desirable to maintain a
closely regulated degree of vacuum, i.e. negative pressure, with an
enclosure. Thus, in the raising of poultry, particularly on a
commercial scale, poultry, e.g. chicken, are raised in poultry
houses ventilated by fans which exhaust air from the enclosure and
thus draw air into the enclosure through wall openings, thereby
creating a vacuum within the enclosure. Poultry growers have
learned that efficient feed conversion and hence growth of poultry
raised in such an enclosure are importantly affected by the vacuum
within the enclosure, a vacuum of about one-eighth inch water gauge
being the optimum, or close to it. The conventional way of
attempting to maintain a desired vacuum has been to vary the
effective area of the ventilating air inlet openings manually
according to the observed vacuum within the enclosure. Thus, if the
observed vacuum is too high, the effective area of the inlet
openings is increased, whereas if the observed vacuum is too low,
the effective air inlet opening area is reduced. Effecting such
control manually has left much to be desired because of the amount
of attention required with consequent expense, and because of the
practical impossibility of maintaining the required vacuum
constantly and accurately, particularly when maintaining the
required condition is complicated by variables such as winds
changing in velocity and direction, and atmospheric conditions in
general.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which
largely overcomes the difficulties encountered in previously known
systems of maintaining a desired vacuum within an enclosure, the
invention providing for controlling the effective area of an air
inlet opening in one wall of an enclosure in accordance with the
vacuum condition in a remote part of the enclosure.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the
class referred to in which the vacuum condition is sensed in a
region adjacent one wall of the enclosure, and the sensed value is
utilized to vary the effective area of an air inlet opening in an
opposed wall of the enclosure.
A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus
for automatically maintaining a desired degree of vacuum within an
enclosure, such as a poultry house.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading
of the following description, the appended claims, and the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-story live poultry house
including an installation of equipment embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the poultry house showing
ventilating fans in elevation, and showing schematically the
relationship between air intake closures on both of two opposed
sides of the building and respectively cooperating vacuum
responsive control devices on opposite sides of the building;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of air intake closure mechanism
as viewed from inside the building, drawn on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale elevation of a vacuum responsive
control device;
FIG. 7 is a section on the line X--X of FIG. 6, showing an assembly
of mercury switches mounted on a shaft included in the vacuum
control device, the switch assembly being movable to three
positions, and being shown in this figure in a neutral position in
which all of the switches are in circuit breaking, i.e. open
positions;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the switch assembly
tipped in one direction to close certain of the switches while the
others remain open;
FIG. 9 is a detailed plan view of the switch assembly shown in
FIGS. 6-8;
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line 10--10 of FIG. 6
of a portion of the building wall opposite the wall shown in FIGS.
3-5, FIG. 10 illustrating parts of a vacuum responsive control
device; and
FIG. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a switching circuit
and connections for controlling the operation of a reversible motor
which closes or opens an air intake closure, according to the
required correction of the vacuum condition within the poultry
house.
In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for
controlling the degree of vacuum is shown in connection with a
poultry house PH comprising, inter alia, spaced opposed sidewalls
W1 and W2. Exhaust fans F driven by motors M are mounted in each of
the walls W1 and W2. Each wall W1 and W2 is formed in each story
with an air inlet opening 1, the inflow of air through which is
controlled by an air intake closure, there being closures AI in the
wall W1 and closures A'I' IN the wall W2. As described hereinafter,
the closure AI in the wall W1 is opened or closed by reversible
drive means under the control of a device located on the side of
the wall W2 which senses a function of the vacuum in the region
adjacent the wall W2 and controls the operation of the reversible
motor. Conversely, the closure A'I' controlling the air intake
opening in the wall W2 is operated according to the vacuum
condition existing in the region inside of the wall W1. Thus, there
are two separate but similar systems, each comprising an air inlet
closure member in one wall which is controlled in its opening and
closing movements in accordance with the vacuum in the region
adjacent the opposite wall. Because of the similarity of the two
systems, a detailed description of the system including the air
intake control closure AI in the wall W1 will suffice.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a portion of the wall W1, for example
the first story portion, is formed with an elongated air intake
opening 1 the inflow of air through which is controlled by a
plurality of aligned air intake closures AI functioning together as
one. Each closure AI is pivoted at 2 and is provided with two fixed
arms 3 which are pivoted respectively at 4 to cushion links
generally designated CL, the upper ends of which are pivoted at 5
to cranks 6 on an operating shaft OS mounted to rock in a bracket 7
fixed to the wall W1.
As is apparent from FIG. 4, clockwise rocking of the shaft OS will
rock the closure AI toward its open position. If there should be an
obstruction in the opening 1 or if the pivot 2 should freeze, the
cushion link CL will permit continued rocking of the crank 6 after
blockage of the closure member AI so as to prevent damaging any of
the parts. Conversely, if free closing movement of the closure AI
should be prevented during counterclockwise rocking of the
operating shaft OS, the link CL will yield to prevent damage. To
these ends, the cushion link is constructed to be yieldable
longitudinally both in the compressing and in the extending
direction when subjected to a load greater than that which it
normally transmits in opening and closing the member AI. In the
form shown, the cushion link CL comprises an outer telescopic
section 8, an inner telescopic section 9, a compression spring 10
between the housed end of the inner section 9 and the root of the
bore in the outer section 8, and a tension spring 11 having its
ends connected respectively to the lower end of the outer section 8
and a lower end part of the inner section 9. It is apparent that
the cushion link CL will transmit normal operating force in both
directions and will yield in either direction if subjected to
greater than normal force.
Reversible drive means, in the form shown including a reversible
motor RM, is provided for rocking the operating shaft OS in
selected directions according to whether correction of the vacuum
condition in the enclosure requires opening or closing of the
closure AI. The drive means further includes a reduction gear 12
which is shown as being incorporated in a unit construction with
the reversible motor RM. The power takeoff from the reduction gear
12 is transmitted through a crank 13 pivoted at 14 to a link 15
which in turn is pivoted at 16 to a crank 17 fast with the
operating shaft OS. Driving of the motor in one direction under the
control of means to be described later will rock the crank 13
clockwise so as to rock the shaft OS clockwise, whereas driving the
motor in the opposite direction will rock the crank 13 and the
shaft OS counterclockwise. Rocking of the shaft OS is, of course,
transmitted through the crank 6, the cushion links CL and the arms
3 to the closure AI.
While any suitable reversible motor and reduction gear equipment
may be used, the motor and reduction gear used in the equipment
illustrated in the drawings is a reversible four-terminal AC Dayton
Gearhead Motor assembly from Dayton Electric Mfg. Co. of Chicago,
Ill., having a speed reduction ratio of approximately 2,400:1 which
permits a small motor to be used for moving the closure AI slowly
as is very important in obtaining delicate and accurate variation
of the vacuum conditions in the enclosure. Excellent results are
obtained with this equipment which provides an output speed of
about one revolution per four minutes of operation.
The motor RM which operates the closure AI in the wall W1 is
controlled in accordance with the vacuum condition in the region
adjacent the opposite wall W2, as previously set forth. Components
of the control mechanism are illustrated structurally in FIGS.
6-10, and are indicated schematically in the circuit diagram FIG.
11 to be explained in detail hereinafter.
Referring to FIGS. 6-10, a vacuum control member VC, somewhat in
the nature of an induction opened damper, is fixed to a vacuum
control shaft VCS which is rockably mounted in bearings 18 which
position the member VCS adjacent to a control air flow opening 19
in the wall W2. The member VC is fixed to the shaft VCS above the
center of gravity of the member VC so that the weight of this
member tends to rock it counterclockwise from the open position
shown in FIG. 10 toward a position in which it would close the
opening 19. Vacuum within the enclosure in the region adjacent the
wall W2 will cause control air to flow in through the opening 19 so
as to urge the control member VC clockwise toward a position as
shown in FIG. 10 or some other partially opened position. The
degree of vacuum required to move the vacuum control member VC by
overcoming its weight may be varied by a counterweight 20 carried
by an arm 21 offset from the axis of the rock shaft VCS, the
counterweight 20 being adjustable along the arm 21.
If the vacuum within the enclosure is higher than the desired
predetermined vacuum, control air will flow at a relatively high
velocity through the control air flow passage 19 in the wall W2,
thereby swinging the vacuum control member VC inwardly, that is
clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11. Vice versa, too low a
vacuum in the enclosure will be accompanied by less air velocity
through the passage 19 so that the vacuum control member VC will
swing counterclockwise toward closed position as viewed in FIGS. 10
and 11. The sensed velocity of the control air flowing in through
the passage 19 is a function of the vacuum in the region adjacent
to the wall W2. As will be explained in detail later, clockwise
swinging of the member VC effects opening movement of the closure
AI with consequent reduction in vacuum within the enclosure,
whereas counterclockwise swinging of the member VC effects closing
movement of the closure AI with consequent increase in vacuum
within the enclosure.
Electrical switch components operated by rocking of the vacuum
control member VC are illustrated structurally in FIGS. 6-9. A
mounting plate 22 is secured to the vacuum control shaft VCS and
has its two ends 22a and 22b slightly inclined upwardly and
outwardly from the center of the plate 22 which is directly above
the shaft VCS as shown in FIG. 7. Two mercury switches S1 and S2
are carried by the plate end part 22a,and two mercury switches S3
and S4 are carried by the other end part 22b. Each of the switches
S1-S4 has its internal contacts at the outer end of the associated
switch tube remote from the shaft VCS. When the switch assembly is
in the position shown in FIG. 7, the mercury globules Hg of each
switch are in the inner or lower ends of the switch tubes so as not
to bridge the switch contacts, all switches S1-S4 thereby being
open when the assembly is positioned as shown in FIG. 7
FIG. 8 shows the switch assembly tipped clockwise from the FIG. 7
position so that the mercury globules Hg in the switches S1 and S2
have run down to the outer ends of the tubes to bridge the contacts
and close the switches S1 and S2. In the FIG. 8 position, the
switches S3 and S4 are still open.
Now, if the switch assembly S1-S4 is tipped counterclockwise from
the position shown in FIG. 7, the switches S3 and S4 will be
positioned so that their outer ends are lower than their inner
ends, and the mercury globules will run down the switch tubes to
close the switches S3 and S4. It is important to note that the
relative inclinations of the switches S1 and S2 on the plate part
22a and the switches S3 and S4 on the plate part 22b are such that
when the switch assembly is tipped counterclockwise from its FIG. 8
position, the mercury globules Hg in the switches S1 and S2 will
move away from their associated contacts; but the globules in the
switches S3 and S4 will not move into contact bridging positions
until the assembly has been rocked counterclockwise beyond the
neutral position shown in FIG. 7. In other words, when the assembly
is rocked counterclockwise from the FIG 8 position, it must go to
the neutral position shown in FIG. 7 before further rocking will
close the switches S3 and S4.
Irrespective of the protection against damage provided by the
cushion links CL as explained above, it is desirable so to control
the reversible motor RM as to deactivate it when the air intake
closure AI has been moved to either a position unnecessarily close
to its opening limit position or unnecessarily close to its closing
limit position. For this purpose, two mercury switches S5 and S6
are mounted on the operating shaft OS as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and
11. As is apparent from FIG. 11, the internal contacts of the
switches S5 and S6 are in the inner ends of the switch tubes
adjacent to the operating shaft OS so that when the switches S5 and
S6 are positioned as shown in FIG. 11, which corresponds to a
normal operating position of the air inlet closure AI, the switches
S5 and S6 will be positioned relatively to each other in the nature
of the legs of a "V" and both will be closed by the mercury
globules bridging the internal contacts. In the normal position of
the operating shaft OS, each switch S5 and S6 is inclined at about
70.degree. to the horizontal. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the switches S5
and S6 in the positions occupied as a result of overdriving of the
air inlet closure AI, the switch S5 being inclined below the
horizontal so as to be in circuit breaking open condition.
OPERATION
The schematic view in FIG. 11 shows the electrical circuits and
switches for regulating the rate of flow of intake or ventilating
air drawn into the enclosure by the fans F. The air intake rate is
regulated by the air intake closure member AI mounted in the air
intake opening 1 in one wall W1 of the enclosure. The closure
member AI is moved to different positions under the control of the
vacuum control member VC mounted in the path of control air flowing
through the passage 19 in the wall W2 of the enclosure opposed to,
that is on the opposite side of the building from, the wall W1.
When temperature conditions within the enclosure call for drawing
ventilating air into the enclosure through the opening in the wall
W1, the thermostat T is closed so as to connect the fan F motor M
across the power supply lines L1 and L2. Assuming that the desired
vacuum is present within the enclosure and that the air intake
closure member AI is in the partially open position shown in FIG.
11, the vacuum control member VC will be held in the position shown
in FIG. 11 by air flowing inwardly through the associated opening
19 in the wall W2. The overdrive control switches S5 and S6 are in
the positions shown in FIG. 11 so as both to be closed, and the
vacuum control switch assembly S1, S2, S3 and S4 is in a neutral
position as shown in FIG. 7 in which the mercury globule in each of
these switches is at a position in the switch tube such that the
switch contacts are not bridged by mercury, i.e. the switches are
open. As long as the desired degree of vacuum exists in the
enclosure, the reversible motor RM which operates the air intake
closure member AI will not be energized, and all of the control
elements will remain in the positions shown in FIG. 11. The
contacts in the overdrive control switches S5 and S6, being at the
inner ends of the switch tubes adjacent to the operating shaft OS,
the mercury globules in these switches normally bridge the contacts
so as to close the switches S5 and S6.
If, due to change in some condition, the vacuum within the
enclosure becomes too great, that is more vacuum than the desired
predetermined optimum vacuum, correction of the vacuum is effected
by moving the air intake member AI clockwise to a more open
position. This is effected as a result of the clockwise rocking of
the vacuum control member VC and its shaft VCS caused by increased
velocity of control airflow through the opening 19 in the wall W2
resulting from the higher than desired vacuum within the enclosure.
The clockwise rocking of the vacuum control shaft VCS will rock the
mercury switch assembly S1, S2, S3 and S4 clockwise to the position
shown in FIG. 8 so as to lower the outer ends of the switches S1
and S2 to an extent sufficient to cause the mercury globules in
these switches to run down the switch tubes and bridge the contacts
in the switches S1 and S2. With the switches S1 and S2 closed in
that manner, the reversible motor RM will be energized to operate
in one direction so as to rock the operating shaft OS clockwise,
which in turn will rock the air intake control member AI clockwise
toward a more open position. Under these conditions the motor
terminal A is permanently connected to the supply line L1, and the
supply line L2 is connected to the motor terminal B via the closed
mercury switch S5, a conductor 51, the closed mercury switch S1 and
a conductor 52 leading to the motor terminal B. At the same time,
the motor terminal C is connected to the motor terminal D via a
conductor 53, the closed switch S2 and a conductor 54. Thus, under
these conditions, the motor terminal A is connected to the line L1,
the motor terminal B is connected to the line L2, and the motor
terminal C is connected to the motor terminal D. With the motor so
connected, it will run in a direction to rock the operating shaft
OS clockwise, which in turn will rock the air intake closure AI
clockwise to a more open position, thus reducing the resistance to
flow of intake air and reducing the vacuum within the
enclosure.
When the air intake closure AI has been opened sufficiently, the
vacuum in the enclosure decreases and the velocity of control air
flow through the passage 19 in the wall W2 also decreases. The
vacuum control member VC then rocks counterclockwise until the
switch assembly S1, S2, S3, S4 on the vacuum control shaft VCS is
also rocked counterclockwise to such a position that the mercury
globules in the switches S1 and S2 move away from their associated
contacts, opening the switches S1 and S2. With these switches
opened, the motor RM is deenergized so that the air intake closure
AI will remain in the position establishing the desired vacuum
within the enclosure. When the switch assembly S1, S2, S3, S4 has
been tipped just sufficiently to open the switches S1 and S2 for
stopping the motor, the switches S3 and S4 will not have been
tipped sufficiently to cause the mercury globules to move to the
outer ends of the switch tubes. Consequently, the switches S3 and
S4 will not be closed when the switches S1 and S2 are just
opened.
Under an unusual condition brought about by wind or some
unpredictable factor, the vacuum within the enclosure may remain
greater than desired despite the opening of the air inlet control
AI. With the vacuum remaining too great, the motor RM would
continue to run so as to operate the shaft OS clockwise to an
overdriving extent which would bring the air intake closure AI to
its limit of clockwise rocking, as determined by its structure. If
the motor RM should continue to run under these conditions, the air
intake closure would encounter resistance to its movement which
might cause damage to the driving mechanism. Such overdriving is
prevented by opening of the normally closed switch S5 when the
operating shaft OS has continued its clockwise rocking until the
switch S5 is tipped to an inclined position below the horizontal,
causing the mercury globule in the switch S5 to move away from the
contacts in the inner end of the switch tube, thereby opening the
switch S5. Since the switch S5 is in circuit with the motor RM when
the latter is operating to open the air intake closure AI, opening
of the switch S5 by overdriving of the operating shaft OS will stop
the motor and prevent excessive overdrive. It should be pointed out
that any abnormal clockwise rocking of the operating shaft OS will
not open the switch S6 even though it does open the switch S5.
Now assuming that the vacuum within the enclosure becomes lower
than the desired vacuum, the apparatus operates to move the air
intake closure AI counterclockwise toward its closed position, thus
restricting the air inflow through the opening in the wall W1 and
increasing the vacuum within the enclosure. With low vacuum in the
enclosure, the velocity of air flow through the vacuum control air
passage 19 in the wall W2 will be decreased so that the vacuum
control member VC and its shaft VCS will rock counterclockwise and
tip the mercury switch assembly S1, S2, S3, S4 counterclockwise.
This will close the mercury switches S3 and S4, and energize the
motor RM in a manner to cause it to run reversely, that is in a
direction to drive the air intake closure AI counterclockwise
toward a more closed position. With the switches S3 and S4 closed,
the line L1 is connected to the motor terminal A, as before. The
line L2 is connected to the motor terminal C via the normally
closed overdrive control switch S6, a conductor 55, the switch S3,
a conductor 56, and the conductor 53. The motor terminal B will be
connected to the motor terminal D via the conductor 52, the switch
S4, a conductor 57, and the conductor 54. Thus, the motor terminal
A is connected to the line L1, the motor terminal C is connected to
the line L2, and the motor terminal B is connected to the motor
terminal D with the result that the motor RM operates reversely so
as to drive the operating shaft OS counterclockwise and move the
air intake closure AI toward closed position.
When the desired higher vacuum has been established in the
enclosure, the vacuum control member VC and associated shaft VCS
rock back, i.e. clockwise, so as to rock the switch assembly S1,
S2, S3, S4 and tip the switches S3 and S4 to inclined positions
causing their mercury globules to move away from their contacts,
whereby the switches S3 and S4 are opened, the switches S1 and S2
remain open, and the motor RM is stopped.
If conditions should create a tendency for overdriving of the air
intake closure AI during its closing movement, the counterclockwise
rocking of the operating shaft OS will open the switch S6 and thus
open the circuit to the motor terminal C and cause the motor to
stop.
When no overdrive conditions exist, as is normal, both switches S5
and S6 remain closed at all times, and the controlling of the motor
is effected entirely by the switch assembly S1, S2, S3, S4 which is
tipped by rocking of the vacuum responsive control member VC.
The system described above has been found to provide very close
controlling of the vacuum in a poultry house, A vacuum or negative
pressure of one-eighth inch water gauge has been found by poultry
raisers to be conducive to most efficient feed conversion and hence
growth. The disclosed equipment may readily be set to maintain the
desired vacuum by adjusting the position of the counterweight 20 on
the arm 21, thus varying the tendency of the vacuum control member
VC to close the control air passage 19 by gravity against the
kinetic opening force of the control air flow.
While under most conditions better control of the vacuum within the
enclosure may be obtained by providing inlet openings in two walls
and associated control means mounted at the sides of the enclosure
remote from the respective openings, advantages of the invention
may nevertheless be achieved by providing an inlet opening in one
wall only with its control means mounted at a side of the enclosure
remote from that wall. In installations including an inlet opening
1 in one wall only, it is desirable to provide its associated
control air flow opening 19 with a hood H as shown partially in
FIG. 10 to reduce wind interference with operation of the
control.
The apparatus and method of operation described are representative
of the presently preferred practicing of the invention, but it is
intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than
definitive, the invention being defined in the claims.
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