US1769910A - Electropneumatic time-element relay - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1930. w. H. PONSONBY ET AL 1,769,910

ELECTROPNEUMATIC TIME ELEMENT RELAY Filed Feb. 27, 1925 WITNESSES: INVENTORS m'jefj ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. PONSONBY AND JOHN J. LANG, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIG & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTROPNEUMATIC TIME-ELEMENT RELAY Application filed February 27, 1925.

Our invention relates to time-element relays and it has particular relation to relays that are electrically governed and pneumatically actuated.

One object of our invention is to provide a relay that will have a definite time interval between the instant the actuating coil of the relay is energized, or de-energized, (according to the construction of the relay), and the time the contact member of the relay moves.

Another object of our invention is to provide means for regulating the speed at which a time-element relay operates to open or close a circuit.

A further object of our invention is to provide a relay that shall be simple and economical in construction and positive and reliable in operation,

Briefly speaking, our invention comprises providing a time-element relay with a piston that is movably mounted in a hollow cylinder and having this cylinder pneumatically connected to a fluid reservoir, whereby the time required to bring the pressure upon the piston to a predetermined value is governed by the size of the reservoir, which is simultaneously filled with fluid from the same fluid source as is the cylinder. The speed of operation of the relay is also governed by the size of its parts and the pressure of the fluid employed in its operation.

For a better understanding of our invent1on,'reference may be now made to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, 1n

which is illustrated a time element relay that is constructed in accordance with our invention, the relay being illustrated partly in section and partly in side elevation.

cylindrical-chamber 4, which constitutes a partof themain body portion 5 of therelay 1. Thebody portion 5 of therelay 1 is also provided with a relatively largecylindrical cavity 6, in which anannular solenoid 7 is positioned.

Almovable valve stem 8, having a magnetizable. armature member 9 loosely mounted Serial No. 12,038.

thereon, is also provided with an outlet valve member or plug 11 and an inlet valve member or plug 12 at its lower end for governing the flow of fluid into and out of the hollow chamber 4 of therelay 1. Fluid under pressure is supplied, from a suitable source, by a pipe 13, to operate thepiston 3 of thetime element relay 1, in a manner hereinafter more fully described. A reservoir ortank 14 is permanently connected to thetime element relay 1 by means of a fluid conveyor orpipe 15.

A- plurality of relativelysmall chambers 16 and 17 are formed by means of a plurality of annular metallic members orvalve seats 18 and 19 and abottom cap 20, which are positioned in the lower part of thecavity 6 of thebody portion 5 of therelay 1. The annular metallic member 19 is provided with a centrally positioned hole orinlet port 21. through which a portion of the valve stem 8 travels. Theannular member 18 is provided with a centrally positionedhole 22 for the valve stem 8, and with a diagonal outlet orport 23, which opens directly into thehole 22. The supply pipe 13, which is directly connected to theinlet chamber 16 of therelay 1, 7 is provided with a manuallyoperable valve device 24 for controlling the rate of flow of fluid into theinlet chamber 16. Thereservoir pipe 15 is connected directly to themiddle chamber 17 of therelay 1. A fluid conveyor orduct 25 is employed for pneumatically connecting. the piston chamber 4 to themiddle chamber 17 of therelay 1.

The switching device 2 of therelay 1 comprises a plurality ofstationary control fingers 25 and amovable contact member 26,

which is slidably mounted upon a rod 27 that constitutes a part of thepiston member 3.

Thestationary control fingers 25 are securel mounted upon asuitable bracket 28. Theracket 28, which is made of any suitable insulating material, such, for example,

as micarta, is mounted upon the body portion -5 of therelay 1, by means of ablock 29 and a plurality of tap bolts 31. Thecontrol fingers 25 are connected directly to acircuit 32 only a small portion of which is illustrated. An annular cap orcover plate 33 is proid d for the open end of the piston chamber 4. Thepiston 3 is biased to its illustrated lower position by means of a resilient member or coil spring 34 that surrounds the rod 27.

Thecontact member 26 of the switching device 2 is resiliently positioned upon the rod 27 by means of acoil spring 35, awasher 36 and a nut 37, which are employed to limit the travel of thecontact member 26.

Referring again to theannular solenoid 7, it is insulated from thebody portion 5 of therelay 1 by means of a covering of suitableinsulating material 38, such, for example, as rubber. An annular magnetizable metallic member orstationary core 39 is positioned within thesolenoid 7 in such a manner as to loosely surround the valve stem 8.

An annular metallic cap.40 is detachably mounted upon the top of thebody portion 5 of therelay 1, thus serving to close thecavity 6. Apin 41, which is provided with a protrudingknob portion 42, serves as a push button when it is desired to manually operate therelay 1.

The valve stem 8 is biased-to its upper position by means of a resilient member or spring 43, which is located between the valve plug 11 and the annular metallic member 19, to maintain theinlet port 21 normally open and theoutlet port 23 normally closed.

The operation of our time element relay is normally eflected by the resilient member or spring 43 actuating the valve stem 8 to its illustrated upper position, thereby causing the outlet valve member 11 to close thehole 22, which leads to theoutlet port 23, and the inlet valve member 12 to be actuated to its open position. Upon the opening of the inlet member 12, fluid under pressure from the supply pipe 13 passes through thelower chamber 16 and the inlet port orhole 21 into themiddle chamber 17 of therelay 1. A portion of the fluid under pressure then passes from themiddle chamber 17 through the fluid conveyor orpipe 15 to the tank orreservoir 14 and another portion passes from the middle chamber17 through the fluid conveyor orduct 25 into the piston chamber 4.

The pressure upon thepiston 3 is governed by the pressure of thefluid in the tank orreservoir 14. When fluid under pressure enters themiddle chamber 17, the pressure in Y thereservoir 14 and the piston chamber 4 simultaneously rises'until the pressure upon thepiston 3 is suificient to overcome the opposing force stored in the resilient member 34. When the pressure upon thepiston 3 is suflicient to overcome the spring 34, thepiston 3 is actuated upwardly to effect the engagement of themovable contact member 26 with thestationary control fingers 25 of the switching device 2 of therelay 1, thereby closing a gap in the circuit 32'.

Whenever thesolenoid 7 is energized, the armature 9 is actuated downwardly against themetallic core 39, thereby causing the inlet valve 12 to be actuated to its closed position. Upon the closing of the inlet valve 12 the supply of fluid from the supply pipe 13 is prevented from flowing into thereservoir 14 and the piston chamber 4 of therelay 1.

The simultaneous opening of the outlet valve 11 permits fluid from the chamber 4 and the reservoir. 14 to escape through thehole 22 and theoutlet port 23 to the outer atmosphere. The pressure of the fluid upon thepiston 3 will gradually decrease until the pressure of the spring 34 upon thepiston 3 is sufiicient to actuate it to its lower position, thereby causing themovable contact member 26 to disengage thestationary control fingers 25 of the switching device 2 of therelay 1, thus interrupting thecircuit 32. It is possible to increase the speed at which therelay 1 operates by decreasing the size of thereservoir 14, or to decrease its speed by making thereservoir 14 larger.

As long as thesolenoid 7 remains energized, the switching device will occupy its open position. Upon the deenergization of thesolenoid 7, the valve stem 8 is actuated upwardly by the spring 11, thereby closing theoutlet part 23 and opening theinlet port 21. The opening of theinlet port 21 will cause fluid pressure to again be applied to thepiston 3 in the manner hereinbefore fully described. V

The rapidity of operation of therelay 1 may also be varied by means of thevalve device 24, which controls the flow of fluid from the supply pipe 13 into thelower chamber 16 of therelay 1. If so desired, thevalve device 24 may be omitted, its purpose being to ive a greater range of time in the operation 0 the relay.

From the above description it is apparent that we have provided means for efi'ecting the operation of a switching device at a predetermined period subse uent to the change in energization of a so enoid constituting part of a relay.

While we have shown our invention in a preferred form, it is apparent that minor modifications may be made in the arrangement and shape of the parts of the relay without departing from the spirit of our invention. We desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims. a

We claim as our invention: I

1. In a time-element relay, in combination, a spring biased circuit-controllin member, means adapted for operation by air pressure for actuating the circuit-controlling member, an inlet valve and an outlet valve to control the flow of air to and from the actuating means, electromagnetically controlled means for actuating the valves, and an air reservoir connected between the valves to provide for the diversion of a portion of an inwardly flowing stream of air from the actuating means to delay the operation of the circuitcontrolling member.

2. In a time-element relay, in combination, a spring-biased circuit-controlling member, means adapted for operation by air pressure for actuating the circuit-controlling member, an inlet valve and an outlet valve for controlling the flow of air to said actuating means, said valves being disposed on a common stem, an air chamber in which the valves are located, means for connecting the air chamber to said actuating means, electromagnetically controlled means for operating the valves, an air reservoir connected to the air chamber to delay the operation of the circuit-controlling member when the inlet valve is opened, and manual means for opening the outlet for emergency operation.

3. In a time-element relay, in combination, a circuit-controlling member, means for biasing the circuit-controlling member to a predetermined position, means adapted for operation by air pressure for actuating the circuit-control ling member, an inlet valve and an outlet valve to control the flow of air to and from theactuating means, said valves being disposed on a common stem, electromagnetically controlled means for actuating the valves, and an air reservoir connected between the valves to provide for the diversion of a portion of an inwardly flowing stream of air from the actuating means to delay the operation of the circuit-controlling member.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 16th day of February, 1925.

WILLIAM H. PONSONBY. JOHN J. LANG.

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