US2576543A - Controlled fluid delivery system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1951 J. P. SMITH CONTROLLED FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

- v @231 venfar Jz'zdsor? .2? 5m Z'Zfi Nov. 27, 1951 J. P. SMITH CONTROLLED FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LIFT sl/L/FT DOWN Patented Nov. 27,1951

2,57 6,543 CONTROLLED FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM- Judson P. Smith, Cloquet, Minn, assignor to Wood Conversion Company,-St. Paul, Minn., a

corporation of Delaware Application December 2, 1946, Serial No. 713,602

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to systems for fiuid delivery, and especially pneumatically conveying and depositing solid material, and in particular to systems for pneumatically packing insulating particles into an insulating space. The invention has general reference to such systems and to electrically operated controls therefor.

Recently systems have been developed for pneumatically packing insulating material, such as fiber, into insulating spaces exemplified by refrigerator cabinets. The systems referred to have been developed for use in assembly-line manufacturing operations wherein cabinets, or doors therefor, to be filled move in succession past a filling station. In such operations the cabinet or other article to receive particles, such as insulating fiber, is arrested at the station for and during the filling operation. Certain mechanical operations may or may not be manually required,

but where this is not so the operation may be completely automatic after initiation.

The present invention provides apparatus for such operations andincludes a variety of controls which may be pneumatic, mechanical or electrical controls, and which are inter-related so that the system may be controlled manually, entirely automatically, or semi-automatically, as conditions may require, and as will appear hereinafter.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a pneumatic conveying and depositing system which operates in a cycle, and which has controls enabling an operator to initiate, and to continue if necessary, an operation, and to stop an operation either manually or automatically to place the equipment in condition for a repetition of the cycle.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a multiplicity of coordinated mechanical and electrical controls of such character that the system may be operated manually, completely automatically, or semi-automatically.

It is a particular object of the invention to include in the system mechanical equipment and controls therefor requiring only the manual initiation of a cycle to cause the system to complete a cycle and ready itself for a second cycle.

It is also an object of the invention to establish a semi-automatic operation such that a cycle is initiated by a manual control and automatically carried to a point where the operation stops for the conduct of a manual step, and then continues by manually initiating the continuance for carryin; it to automatic closure oi the cycle and-readi ness for a second such cycle. I 9 2.11% bi -5.13 llQ si bl h' a itulai' mil??? related "controls as will be hereinafter set forth.

Numerous other and ancillary objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter from the accompanying description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention as it has been adapted for the filling of insulated containers in an assembly-line operation.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents more or less diagrammatically an assembly of the principal mechanical devices and certain controls associ ated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of electrical controls for the equipment of Fig. 1 as it is arranged to function for complete automatic cycling. Figs. 2a and 2b are modifications of the wiring diagram of Fig. 2 which modifications appear efiective graphically when superimposing the dotted-line structures of Fig. 2 and Fig. 2a, and of Fig. 2 and Fig. 21).

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram for a semi-automatic operation in which the cycle stops for performance of a manual step and for continuance by manual initiation for continuance.

Figs. 3a and 3b are modifications of the wiring diagram of Fig. 3 which modifications appear effective graphically when superimposing the dotted line structures of Fig. 3 and Fig. 3 and Fig. 31).

,Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram for a control system which can be shifted manually for operation in accordance with the circuits of Fig. 2 or in accordance with the circuits of Fig. 3.

Figs. 4a and 4b are modifications of the wiring diagram of Fig. 4 which modifications appear effective graphically when superimposing the dotted-line structures of Fig. 4 and 4a, and of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4b.

The invention may be applied to any system for'delivering a fluid stream, in which system it is desired to deliver, then to stop, and then to repeat such operation. The fluid may be liquid such as water, milk, soups (in canning), or fuel, such as oil or gasoline. The fluid may be a gas, such as air, and such gas may also be used as a vehicle to convey solid particles suspended therein, such as grain, comminuted coal, mineral, or insulating material. To illustrate the invention in its preferred and more complicated aspects, there is shown a system including means to feed fiber, meansv to provide a stream of air, and controlled means to feed the fiber into the air so that a fiber-inair suspension isformed.

It ,isthereforetobe understood that thesystem Fig. 3a, and of is not tobeconsidered as limited in its applicae vice which operates to take the control away from the operator and to continue it automatically to the desired point of completion. The readiness-responsive device may also perform other acts in addition to taking control from the operator, such for example as to initiate feed of solid material into a flowingair stream, where the flowing of the stream is an indication of readmess.

Briefly, the mechanical operations to be per formed constitute the introduction of article form l material into air to produce a suspension in air, the conveyance of the air suspension of such material to a point of discharge or deposition and the continued discharge or deposition of the same for a time extending to what is herein referred to broadly as a cut-off point. The cut-oil point may be the stopping point for the operation determined arbitrarily and thereby manually registered in the system, or determined automatically by some physical condition encountered during the operation which physical condition may effect an automatic registration in the system of the cut-off point. The manual or the automatic re istration in the system of the cut-off point is effective to stop the operation and to restore the system in part or entirely automatically to a condition for a new cycle of operations.

In the'particular and preferred embodiment of the preferred invention the solid material is fibrous thermal insulation and it is' drawn into the suction intake-of a fan blower which discharges a suspension of fiber in air through its discharge outlet to a filling station. The filling station involves means to connect a receptacle to be filled, such as a refrigerator cabinet'to'be thermally insulated, with a fixture adapted to the cabinet and to the intended operation, so that discharge of the fiber suspension into the connected fixture and receptacle results in'depositing insulating fiber in its intended space. The filling station also includes means to vent the air from the space being filled. This quickly results in filling the space to be insulated with fiber. Further, the arrangement is such that when the space is so filled, the cut-off point is reached, and in the preferred operation the cutofi automatically registers, stops the operation, and initiates return to initial condition of readiness for another cycle. This will all be clear from the following description of the illustrated em-' bodiment of the invention to accomplish the foregoing'purposes.

In Fig. 1, numeral I0 represents an opened pretive to disintegrate the compacted fiber of bale Ill into a loose and fiufi'y form which is discharged from the housing I6 through outlet I8 opening into an intake conduit I9 of a fan blower 20. The arrangement of the foregoing parts is such that both the blower 20 and the rotor I5 may operate continuously so that by arresting the travel of the conveyer I I and the bale I0 into the housing IS, the feeding of fiufied fiber to the blower 20 is also arrested. Since the invention involves means to stop the feeding of the fiber or like material, it is preferred to have such means operate upon the motor I4 to arrest the feeding mechanism. This control will be later described.

The fan blower 2D discharges centrifugally and, as shown, discharges preferably downwardly from the blower 20 through the conduit 2I to a discharge or depositing or filling station at the lower end of conduit 2 I.

It is desirable to have flow control in the blower system. Such flow control is in the form of a valve or gate which functions to stop the delivery through conduit 2| of air by the fan 20 even though the fan may continue its rotation. Such a valve or gate may be placed either in the intake conduit I9 or in the discharge conduit 2|, or in both places. Two such locations are shown; the gate 25 being in the inlet conduit I9 and the gate 26 being in the discharge conduit 2|.

Where two gate valves are employed, as shown, they are preferably operated together and by the same controlling device, and they are preferably operated by fluid control, for example, by compressed air. Each valve has a gate 21 and a gate holding chamber 28 in which the gate 21 is housed when the gate is in open position. The gate carries an operating stem 29 projecting from' the gate housing 28 and movable into and out of said housing 28 to close and open the gate. The oper-' ating stem 29 is connected to a piston rod 30 having piston head 3| operating in cylinder 32. The two ends of the cylinder 32 have connection to a compressed air supply so that by introducing air into one connection and exhausting it from the other, the piston is moved to operate the gate. Numeral 34 represents the connection for supplying air to close the gate and numeral 35 rep resents the connection supplying air to open the gate. It is also to be observed that there may be a connection 36 between the conn-ection'35 and the gate housing 28, so that when the gate is being opened and is open, an'air stream passes through connection 36 into the gate housing and along into the blower system. This is described in my copending application, Serial No. 713,603,

filed December 2, 1946, now Patent No. 2,544,054, for the purpose of keeping the gateways and seat free from fiber, and to avoid the accumulation of fiber in the free spaces of the gate valve where it would eventually impede its proper operation.

Further means for controlling the operation of the gate involve control of the air supply to the cylinder 32. The humeral 38 represents a pipe-line supply of air under pressure as a connection to a control-valve housing 39 which housing has discharge outlet 40. The illustrated control valve 39 is merely a conventional representation of any suitable valve for the purpose, and in such representation the diagrammatic rotary valve member 4| is moved to shift the air supply from one-to the other of the connections 34 and 35 to the cylinder 32. Diagrammatically represented, the four said connectionsto the valve housing are arranged apart in the following order, 38, 35, 40 and 34. When the valve element 4| is in the full-line position two positions to the other.

shown, air pressure passes through connection 34 to hold piston rod 30 connected to piston 3|, out and hence hold the gate 2'! closed. By turning the valve element 41 through 90 to dottedline position 4la, the supply of air and the exhaust connection are shifted and the piston 3! is moved to open the gate 21 and to hold the gate open. The complete system of the present invention involves electrically controlled means to move the valve member 4| .from one of its Such control means is designated by the numeral 42 and has the electrical circuit 43 leading to it, which circuit is energized to open the gate 21.

The valve 26 in the discharge conduit 2| has a similar structure and operation and its parts are corresponding numbered, but with prime designations.

The discharge station may be such as to receive a receptacle to be filled, such as a refrigerator, and to establish operating connection to it. This is preferably accomplished by moving the receptacle onto a platform section which moves into a connecting position, preferably as a lift. Controlled means is provided for raising and lowering such a lift to effect connection of the receptacle to suitable fixture means on the end of discharge conduit 2|. The lift is prefer.- ably operated by fluid pressure, such as pneumatic pressure. A diagrammatic illustration of a suitable station is shown in Fig. 1, involving an air-control valve which is generally similar to'that employed for opening and closing the valves and 26. I Numeral 45 represents a lift having a platform for a receptacle 45 thereon to be connected to a fixture 41 placed directly above the lift. The lift is carried by a piston having shaft 48 and head 49 operating in air-pressure cylinder 50, to both ends of which there are separate airpressure connections 5| and 52. Numeral 53 is a diagrammatic representation of a valve casing having a rotary valve member 54 therein movable into full-line position shown and into dotted-line position 54a. An air-pressure supply connection 55 and an air discharge connection 53 are connected to the valve casing 53. The connections to the valve casing 53 are arranged in quadrants, as'shown, in the following order 55, 52-, 56 and 5!. The valve member 54 is under the control of suitable operating means diagrammatically represented by the numeral 58 which is preferably, but not necessarily, an electrically controlled device having the circuit wires 59 leading thereto, which are energized to raise the lift 45. In operation, mere turning of the valve member 54 from one position to the other moves the lift from one to the other of its upper and lower positions, and holds it so moved.

The fixture 41 may partake of many designs according to the character of the article 46 to be filled. Merely as a conventional indication of one of the preferred arrangements, the receptacle 46 is shown in cross-section as a refrigerator cabinet minus its food compartment, and as having just been filled with insulation Illa. The filled receptacle 46 is shown asit is being retracted from the fixture 4'! which in--. cludes a' screen-walled dummy portion 60 corresponding in shape to the food compartment which will thereafter be set in the recess indicated as formed in the insulation iOa by the dummy 6!). Said screen dummy 60 is attached to and forms part of the fixture 41. Within the fixture communicating channel BI is indi- 6 cated and is such as to carry air and fiber from the discharge conduit 2| to the spacesto be filled, which are formed by the cabinet 48 and the dummy 60. The air thus introduced escapes through the screens of the dummy fixture 60 and. is carried away from the apparatus, asby a connection inside the fixture to an opening 63 in the fixture 41,to which a conduit 64 is attached for discharge away from the filling sta 'tion. The conduit 54 may have in it a gate valve like valve 25','arranged to operate with valves 25 and 26 by control 42. i

For the purpose of controlling the foregoing mechanical equipment not only for normal operation with one or more automatic features, but also to protect it from abnormal or mischievious operation or accidental manipulations which might effect the operation, an electrical control.- ling arrangement employed having interlocks and limit controls. importantly, the lift 45 must not be lowered so as thereby to sever the connection between receptacle 46 and the fixture 41 While air is being delivered through conduit 2|, either with or without suspended material being carried in the air stream-.. Consequently, a-rrangements are made so that the lift 45 may not be lowered while the one or both valves 25 and 2B are open. Likewise, arrangements are made so that the one or more valves 25 and 26 cannot be opened until the lift 45 is in operating position. Another feature is an arrangement whereby the material to be suspended, such as the fiber of bale I5, is not fed for suspension in air unless and untilthe gates or valves 25 and Zea-re open and a suitable quantity of air is flowing through conduit 19.

Another feature is a cut-off control for the operation. When the operation is at anend, either by decision of an operator, or by register of an automatic means, there is a cut-off controlwhich isarranged first to cut off the supply of fiber-or like material l0, then, immediately or through a timing device set to allow suificient time to permit the system to clear itselfof fiber, to close the gates, thereby establishing circuits causing or permitting the lift 45 to be lowered. This cut-off control involves one or more of ele c-. trical switches so operated as to secure the above results. l

The cut-off devicemay be manually Operated or it may be operated by some functional condition .of the operation "being performed upon the receptacle 46. The particular cut-off illustrated and herein described is that which is described and claimedin the application of Duvall, Serial No. 713,428, filed December 2, 1946, now Patent No. 2,544,011. It is generally designated in Fig. 1. It has been discovered that in the type of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, the end of the blowing corresponding to complete filling of the receptacle 46, is reflected by a quick change in differential pressure in the intake conduit 19.

The preferred embodiment of the invention combines in one control device both the readiness-responsive control and a cut-off control. In its described application the flow of air registers readiness by starting the feed of solids into the air stream and by taking the control away from the operator. In its cut-01f function it stops the feed and initiates stopping the cycle.

.At thebeginning of an operation, even before feed of fiber. l0 and when the gate valves are opened while the fan blower 2!] revolves, there is a strong suction inthe pipe I9. At the end of the operation with thereceptacle 46 filled, the

said suction quickly reduces, and in'some cases even-reverses to a positive pressure by reason of a back-pressure effect from'the blower resulting from substantial closure of its discharge end. Advantage is taken of this quick change in pressure in conduit 19 to actuate a pressure-responsive device. One way is to cause a damper to swing from a suction operated position to a normal or static position resistant to positive pressure or to low suction, according to the manner in' which the damper is weighted or urged by its particular construction. The swinging of the damper between its two positions operates the cut-oif device 10.

In Fig. 1 a lateral duct I9a is shown in the inlet conduit l9. At the end of the lateral duct l9a, there is indicated a damper H swinging on axis 12, and urged into normal and static position by means such as counterweight 13. The dotted line 14 represents a functional connection between the moving damper and the first-mentioned cut-off control 10. It is to be understood that the described control is schematic for the purpose of convenience in description, and that the damper construction may be considered as part of the control Ill. Manual means may also substitute for the action of the damper control. Numeral 15 is a schematic representation of manually operated means to register the cutoff point in the system, being effective to increase the urge of counterweight 13 to close the damper, as indicated by the arrow of said means 15.

In further provision of controls, there is provided a lift limit-control, preferably as a limit switch 16 arranged for actuation into one of two positions only when the lift is in operating position, whereby the response of the control or switch 16 effects the desired action. Preferably, switch 16 is closed when the lift is in operating position and open when the lift is out of operating position. For convenience in description, the device 16 is considered as a limit-control, either mechanical, or an electrical switch, and if the latter, either in the circuit to be controlled or in a relay circuit for the said circuit to be controlled. The position 16a is that occupied during operation.

One or both of the valves and 26 may also be employed for operation of one or more limitcontrols. Numerous expedients may be employed for causing the open or closed position of a gate valve to control one or more circuits. For convenience and to simplify the illustration, only gate valve 25 is provided with a limit-control designated 18, and it is to be understood that the diagrammatic control 18 may control one or more switches as will be explained with reference to the wiring diagrams. The gate limitcontrol 18 is indicated as having a movable bifurcated arm 19 in the path of a, striker 80 on the gate stem 29. The arm 19 has its illustrated full-line position when the gate is closed, and when the gate is open it occupies dotted-line position 19a. It is clear that the exact locations and the separation of the bifurcated ends of operating arm 19, determine the degree of opening and of closure at which the limit control 18 opcrates. By the wide spacing shown, practically full opening and complete closure are the limits. However, since they may be changed and even reduced to a single responsive element, the operation is'broadly considered to be upon opening and upon closure. However the parts are adjusted, the one or both gates should be completely closed before the lift can be lowered,

thereby to prevent air flowing into the atmosphere from the disconnected fixture and receptacle.

In order to explain the wiring diagrams, it is first pointed out that in practical applications of the system, there are relationships as between the receptacle 46 and fixture 41 which are of two characters. Sometimes the relationship is such that it is only necessary to bring the receptacle 46, to the fixture. without any manual manipulation before blowing can be started. In other circumstances it is necessary to bring the receptacle to the fixture, and then to make some mechanical adjustment by an operator, before the blowing can take place. In the latter instance it is usually necessary that a manual operation also be accomplished after the blowing and before the receptacle and fixture can be separated. Therefore, in the electrical arrange-- ments, the controls are so deviced and connected with the provision of manual push-buttons that the device may be operated as follows:

FuZZ-automatic.-When blowing can begin as soon as the receptacle 4B is raised to the fixture 41 it is only necessary for the operator to hold depressed one push-button switch to cause the lift 45 to rise. For safety, it is arranged that the button be held depressed until a predetermined condition is attained, thereby causing an earlier release of the button to reverse the lift. The button is held depressed until the lift 45 is in raised position and thereby through the effect of the limit control 16, a switch is closed causing the blast gates in conduits l9 and 2| to open and thereby operate limit control 18. The latter is arranged to function so that the said starting push-button switch is by-passed to hold the lift raised and to permit the operator to release the starting button. When the blast gates are open sufficiently at least to cause adequate suction in conduit I9, the damper H swings inward and affects cut-off control 10, arranged then to permit fiber Ill to be fed into the system. The operation proceeds until the cut-off control 10 is operated or automatically functions to cut-off, and the results are to stop the feed of fiber II, and to control a circuit, immediately or through a time control, permitting the gates to close. Upon closure of the gates, the gate limit-control I8 establishes conditions which then cause the lift 45 to be lowered. Thus, the equipment is in position for a repetition of this cycle.

Semi-automatic.-When an operation must be performed on the raised receptacle 46 before blowing, the first operation, is a manual one of pressing the starting push button to raise the lift 45 as in the full-automatic system. But, upon attaining the raised position of the lift the lift limit-control 16 effects the holding by-pass of the manual starting switch thereby to hold the lift raised and to permit theoperator to release the starting button. Also the lift limit-control 76 functions to control a circuit so that only thereafter may the circuit be manually closed to open the blast gates. Before thus opening the blast gates the manual operation required at the receptacle 46 is performed and then a second manual push button is depressed which causes the blast gates to open but only while said button is being depressed. When the blast gates are sufficiently open the gate limit-control i8 functions to by-pass the lift-raising switch closed by the lift limit-control 16 so that the lift must operate the cut-off control I0, thelatter effects a by-pass of the manual gate-opening switch permitting the gates to remain open and permitting the starting button for the gates to be released. Additionally the cut-off control 10 operates to permit the fiber I to be fed to the system. If desired, the gate limit-control can operate to prevent b-y-passing of the gate-start? ing button and to prevent feed, until the gates are fully open. Then blowing continues until cutoil. is established, preferably by automatic cut-off damper 'II acting on the cut-off control 10. The cut-off control I0 automatically stops the feed of fiber and'initiates closure of the blast gates. Closure of the gates is effective through the gate limit-control I8 to establish conditions permitting thereafter a manual operation to drop the lift 45, thereby to restore the system to normal. Said last-mentioned manual operation is necessary in order to prevent automatic drop of the lift 45 until such time as the required manual manipulations at the filling station as to the receptacle 46 have been performed.

As described herein the circuits are arranged so that the said full-automatic control or the said semi-automatic control may be employed at will by operating a circuit-shifting control which changes the effective connections so that either one system or the other is operative. In the following explanation of the wiring diagrams, only the bare essentials and fundamental circuits are disclosed. It is to be understood that additional signals and safety arrangements may be added as desired, and relay-operated switches interposed, without departing from the principle of the operation.

Fig. 2 represents the basic circuit and control arrangement for the full-automatic system. Numerals IM and I02 represent power supply lines. Between these there is a circuit comprising in series the lift-operating means 58 (for controlling air-valve 53 in Fig. 1) connected at one side to line I02 and on the other side to an'electrical connection I03 leading to a manually operated switch I04, thence through electrical connection I05 and thence through normally closed manually openable switch I06 to the power line IOI. Thus, upon manual closure of the switch I04 the circuit is energized to raise the lift. The switch I04 must be manually closed to hold the lift elevated until further action ensues. A limit switch I 01 is connected from the main line IOI to the connection 553 thereby effecting a shunt around the manual.

switch I04 permitting switch I04 to be opened after switch I0! is closed, thereby'to hold the lift raised.v Switch I0! is arranged to be closed by action of the gate limit-control I8 when the gates are open.

The gate-operating control 42 (for the valve 39 in Fig. l) is connected at one side to the power line I 02 and at the other side through connec-' lift limit-control it to be closed only when the lift is in raised position. Thus, upon closure by pressing push button I I3 the lift rises and upon reaching uppermost position it closes switch II2 causing the gate control 42 to initiate opening of the gates. This continues until the gates are sufficiently open whenthe limit switch I6? is closed by limit-control I8 thus permitting the lift to remain up when push button H3 is released. However, releasing the push button I I3 will open switch H0, and thus would cause the gates to close except that there is by-pass around said switch I I0 which will have in the meantime been closed. This by-pass is represented by the connection 5 beginning in the connection III and by the connection I I6 beginning in connection I09, both connections H5 and II 6 leading to a switch I I8 which is normally open until the system attains an air flow sufiicient to cause suction to move cut-off control I0. Switch 8- which is normally open. is closed by suction operating through cut-oil control I0 and when closed is opened by the cut-01f control I0 at the cut-off point. Hence, push button II 3 is held until switch H8 is closed. A signal lamp'l30 under. suitable control may light, as shown in Fig. 21). Thus, it will appear that at the end of a blowing operation when the push button' I I3 will have been released, the cut-off operation opens switch IIB, thereby breaking the circuit which holds the gates open, causing them to close, and then when closed to cause the lift to drop. However, the operation intended to be controlled requires the feed of fiber I0 to it in order to attain a cut-off point. The device indicated .at I20 is a means which when energized initiates the feeding of fiber I0 into the system;

as by control of power means I4 in Fig. l. The feed control I 2!! isconnected at one side of the main line I62 and at the other side by -connec-' tion IZI through a switch I22 to the'said connection'I I5. Switch I22 is a switch functioning the same as switch I I8, that is, being likewise related to the cut-off control I0 so as to be normally closed during an operation and being open at an after cut-oil.

The manually openable switch I06 is provided for emergency control. In the beginning'ofa cycle while push button H3 must be pressed to initiate and maintain the first stages of the cycle, mere release of push button II3 will open switches I04 and I I0 as stopping controls for any emergency. After switch I0! cuts out switch I04 and permits automatic continuation of the cycle, the push button I06 may be pressed to open switch I06. This will not immediately affect the platform 58 which must remain in set position until the valve gates are closed; but it will de-energize the valve-control mechanism 42 to cause the gates to close, and also it will de-energize the feeding means I20. Not until the gates" close, will switch I07 open to de-energize the station-control means and thus more the plat-' The 21) there are respectively similar broken lines I230!) and I231). By considering line I23 and I23a, superimposed to lay Fig. 2a over a part of Fig. 2, a modified circuit is indicated. Similarly a modified circuit is shown by considering line I23b similarly superimposed on line I 23. Fig. 2a represents a modification of the circuit of Fig. 2 with 11' the additional inclusion of a switch I25 in the connection II of'Fig. 2, which connection is indicated in two parts in Fig. 2a, as I I5a and I I5b. Switch I25 operates the same as the switch I01, and is under the control of the gate limit-control device 18, so that the switch I25 is open when the gate is closed and closed when the gate is open. In Fig. 2 the circuit 5 leading to the feed control I20 is energized as soon as the lift causes closure of switch H2, and the circuit I2I leading to the feed control I20 is energized as soon as suflicient suction operates the cut-off control 10. By insertion of the switch I25 in this connection, the feed cannot operate until the gates are as fully open as the control I8 is set for.

In Fig. 2b a'modification of the arrangement of Fig. 2a is shown in which the described control of Fig. 2 between the cut-off control 10 and the switch H8 is modified by useof a time relay to delay the opening of switch II8. To accomplish this, a solenoid I21 is placed in parallel with the feed control I20, and the solenoid acts through an association or conventional device indicated at I28, to time the opening of switch I I8, and hence to delay initiation of closure of the gates for a short time after stopping the feed control I20, thereby to clean the system of residual fiber.

Also Fig. 2b illustrates an optional addition of a signal lamp I30 in parallel with the feed control I20. The signal lamp may, therefore, be placed on a control board along side the push button I I3to signal the operator that full operation has been initiated, whereby the operator may release button II3 to let the cycle continue, then stop, and-then reset itself automatically.

Fig. 3 is directed to the circuits for semi-automatic operation of the device. Although some of the switches and circuits in Fig. 3 are the same as have been particularly designated in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 is herein described independently of Fig. 2 as to the identification of parts, but'not as to the controls or devices brought into the wiring diagrams from Fig. l, the same numerals for these being employed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The power lines are designated I33 and I34. The lift operating mechanism 58 is connected at one side to the main I34 and on the other side bya connection I40 to a normally-open manually held closed switch I4I-; operated by pressing on an associated push button I42. The other side of switch I4I runs through connection I43 to one side of a normally closed manually openable switch I44 which is connected on its other side to main I33. By-passing both-switches I44 and MI is a limit switch I45 connected to the main I33 and to the connection I40. Switch I45 is arranged to be closed when the gates are open, and open when the gates are closed, and opera-- tion of the switch I45 is effected through the gate limit-control 18. By-passed aroundswitch- MI is a limit switch I41 connected to the said connections I40 and I43. Switch I41 is open when the lift 45 is down and is closed when the lift 45 is in operating position. To accomplish this, switch I41 is associated with the lift limitcontrol 16 for its operation. Thus, it will be seen that when the push button I42 is held depressed, the lift 45 rises to operating position, and upon attaining operating position, switch I41 is closed thereby to lock or hold the lift in raised position. and to permit the operator to release push button I42. Nothing further happens until a second manual control is effected, thus permitting a manual operation to be performed at the filling station.

""Assuming the manual operation to have been performed to make the filling station ready for blowing, a second push button I is held de-' pressed. This closes switch I 5| which is'connected on one side through connection I52 through the gate operating device 42 to the power line I34, and on the other side through connection I53 to a normally closed manually openable switch I54, thence through a limit switch I55 to the connection I 43. Switch I55 is arranged to be opened when the lift is down and closed when the lift is in operating position, and hence it is under control of the lift limit-control 16. Around the push-button switch I5I is a switch I 51 which is normally closed during operation by air-'flow control acting on cut-off device 10, and arranged to be opened by the cut-off device 10; From the connection I53 there is a connection I58 through switch I59, thence through feed control I20 to main line I34. Switch I59 operates along with switch I51 and is under similar con trols by the cut-off 10.

By following the circuits above described it will be' seen that when the prepared receptacle is ready for blowin by having been raised on the lift to the set position, and after having had performed any necessary work on it, the manual push button I50 is depressed establishing energization of the gate-opening means 42.

When the gates are sufiiciently open there will be fiow of air and suction to actuate the cut-off control'IO to close switches I51 and I59, as a result of which, respectively, the button I50 may be released, and the feed I20 will operate. Upon continuance of operation to the point of cut-off, the switches I59 and I51 will open resulting,- re-' spectively, in cutting off the feed and cutting off energy to the gate-opening mechanism whereby the latter will begin to close. The circuit to the lift-raising mechanism remains energized and cannot be de-ene'rgi'zed until the gates are closed by the resultin opening of switch I45. However, the opening of switch I45 does not lower the lift,v because the lift holds itself up by closure of locking switch I41, which is under the control of manual switch I44. Therefore, the lift may be lowered only by manually opening switch I44, but this cannot be effective unless the gates are closed with resultant opening of switch I45.

The manual switch I54 is an emergency control switch, or may function as a manual register of the cut-off point, and it is normally closed. Opening it will effect immediately the stopping of the feed I20 and initiate closing of .7 the gates by de-energizing mechanism 42.

Figs. 3a and 3b show modifications in the circuits of Fig. 3, which are the same as shown by' Figs. 2a and 2b. The broken line I60 in Fig. 3' indicates a division line in the diagram] The same line appears in Figs. 3a and 3b. By superimposing either Fig. 3a or Fig. 3b on Fig. 3 with coincidence of the lines I60, the modification is obvious.-

Fig. 3a repeats the component parts of Fig. 3 with the change of connection I58 of Fig. 3 to two connections I58a and I581) and with interposition of a gate limit switch IBI between them' in a manner to control both switches I51 and I59. Switch IBI is normally open and is closed by gate control 18in the opening of the gate or gates, along with similar control of switch I 45 for the lift 58.

Fig. 312 includes modifications additional to that of Fig. 3a. These additions may be used with or without the switch IIiI, which isanoptional 13 protective device. The chief modification is to efiect .a delay in opening switch 15-! by and after the operation of cut-off control 10. This is ef- .fected by .interposing a delay relay to control switch I51. Numeral I62 represents a solenoid for such a delay relay, and it is in parallel with feeding device 120. Numeral I63 represents the relay-association to effect snap closure and delayed opening of switch I51, respectively by energizing and tie-energizing solenoid I62. Also in parallel with feeding device I is a signal device, preferably a lamp I 64, which is lighted when the feeding device I20 operates. When placed View of the operator, its lighting signifies end of the starting operation. When lamp I64 .lights,

it is due to device 10 closing switch I59, and through solenoid I62 also closing switch I5! thereby to lay-pass push-button switch I5I talcing control of the gates away from the operator. Practically, the lighting of lamp I64 is a signal to the operator to release the push-button switch I5I.

From the foregoing description it is clear that after thecu-t-off device 7-!) operates the receptacle 46 cannot be separated from the fixture 41 except 1 by manually opening switch I 34, which opening isdelayed until the required mechanical operation has been performed.

Fig. 4 represents a wiring diagram in which the circuits of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 may be alterline I65 and junction I68 is a switch I12 closedv by the gate limit-control I8 on opening of the gates. There is a spring-opposed push button I'M which is depressed to close two normally opened switches I15 and I15. Switch I is connected on one side to the junction I68, and on the other side is connected to a junction Ill and therefrom through a switch I18 to power line I55. Switch I78 is normally closed and manually openable. There are also two other manually controlled and related switches I80 and IBI of which one is closed when the other is open. Operation of these two switches by a single manual control indicated at I82 effects a shifting of the system from the full automatic control of Fig. 2 to the semi-automatic control of Fig. 3. Switch I80 is connected on one side to the junction I68 and on the other side to a. switch I84, the other side of which is connected to junction I'II. Switch I 84 is a limit switch closed by the lift limit-control I6. There is also another switch I85 likewise controlled by the lift limit-control I6. Switch I85 is connected on one side to the junction I I7 and on the other side to a switch I66 normally closed and manually openable of which the other side is connected to junction I87. Numeral I88 is a push-button.

type of switch normally opened and manually held closed for opening the gates, connected on one side to the junction I81 and on the other to the junction I69, thus serving as a starting switch for the blowing operation after preparing the station, and comparable'to switch IBI in Connected to Fig. '3. The switch I'Ifi, under control of the starting push-button I'M, is connected on one side to junction-I81 and on the other side to one side of switch -I8-I which on the other side is connected to junction I69. There is a connection I80 between the junctions Ill and 181. Inter-posed between the junctions Ill and IE9 is a switch I9I.. Said switches I9I and I 10 are actuated by the cut-off device Ill, and are the same in function as the switches 451 and I53 in Fig. 3 and the switches H8 and I22 in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4a and 41) represent modifications of the circuits of Fig. 4, to be read by considering the broken lines I921:- and I 92-19 of Fig. 4a and 4b super-imposed on a similar line I92 in Fig. 4... These modifications are the same as already described for 2 and 3, with the di-fierence that Fig. 4b does not include the modification of Fig. do. .It is to be understood that either oneor both or the modifications of Figs. 4a and ell) may be used at the same time.

Fig. 4a shows connection I of Fig. 4 changed to connection Idfia, gate-limit control switch I93, and connection I591). Switch I83 is nor mally open when the gates are closed and is closed by the device I8 operated by the opening gates.

Fig. 41; places in parallel with the feeding 'd'eline position shown to open switch'IBO and close switch I8I the circuits thereby selected are those of .2. When the position is changed so that switch I8!) is closed and switch IBI is open; the circuits selected are those of Fig. '3. I

It'will thus be seen from the foregoing description and explanation that the mechanical equipment illustrated in Fig. 1 is capable. of simple operation and of ready operation to a variety of fixture relationships permitting either full automatic operation or requiring semi-automatic operation as described.

-Numerous changes and modifications are contemplated'in the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. In a system having a fluid delivery under control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has a set position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open and which device is movable from set position to idle position, electrical station-control means arranged when energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valve-- normally open and arranged when open toprevent energizing saidvalve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only when saaid device is in set position.

2. In a system having a fluid delivery under control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has a set position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open and which device is movable from set position to idle position, electrical station-control means arranged when energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valvecontrol means arranged when energized to move said valve means from closed to open position, a manual starting switch arranged for manually held closure to energize said station-control means, a holding switch around said starting switch arranged for closure only upon open status of said valve means, and an electrical switch normally open and arranged when open to prevent energizing and when closed to energize said valve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only When said device is in set position.

3. In a system having'a fluid delivery under control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has aset position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open and which device is movable from set position to idle position, electrical station-control means arranged'when energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valvecontrol means arranged when energized to move said valve means from closed to open position, a manual starting first switch arranged for manually held closure to energize said station-control means, a holding second switch around said starting switch arranged for closure only upon open status of said valve means, a third electrical switch normally open and arranged when open to prevent energizing said valve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only when said device is in set position, and a manually controlled fourth switch to effect energizing of said valve-control means through the closed third switch.

' 4. In a system having a fluid delivery unde control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has a set position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open and which device is movable from set position to idle position, electrical station-control means arranged when energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valvecontrol means arranged when energized to move said valve means from closed to open position, a manual starting switch arranged for manually held closure to energize said station-control means, a holding switch around said starting switch arranged for closure only upon open status of said valve means, and an electrical switch normally open and arranged when open to prevent energizing said valve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only when said device is-in set position and for closing and opening operation by movement of said device respectively into and out of set position.

5. In a system having a fluid delivery under control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has a set position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open and which device is movable from set position to idle position, electrical station-control means arrangedwhen energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valvecontrol means arranged when energized to move said valve means from closed to open position, a manual starting switch arranged for manually held closure to energize said station-control means, a holding switch around said starting 1!! switch arranged for closure only upon open status of said valve means, and an' electrical switch normally open and arranged when open to prevent energizing and when closed to energize said valve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only when said device is in set position and for closing and opening operation by movement of said device respectively into and out of set position.

6. In a system having a fluid delivery under control of valve means and a movable device at a delivery station which device has a set position for accepting delivery when said valve means is open'and which device is movable from set posi-' tion to idle position, electrical station-control means arranged when energized to move said device from idle to set position, electrical valve control means arranged when energized to move said valve means from closed to open position, a manual starting switch arranged for manually held closure to energize said station-control means, a holding switch around said starting switch arranged for closure only uponopen status of said valve means, an electrical switch normally open and arranged when open to prevent energizing said valve-control means to open said valve means and arranged for closure only when said device is in set position and by movement of said device to set position, and a manually controlled switch to complete the energizing of said valve-control means.

'7. In a fluid discharging system having a fluid supply, valve means in said supply, and a movable device at a station for association with said supply which device receives fluid in a set position of the device and which is movable from said set position to an idle position, in combination, stationcontrol means energized to move the device to and hold it in set position from idle position, valve-control means energizable only in the set position of the device to open the valve means, and holding means associated with the valve means and arranged to energize said stationcontrol meansin the open position of said valve means.

8. In a fluid discharging system having a fluid supply, valve means in said supply, and a movable device at a station for association with said supply which device receives fluid in a set position of the device and which is movable from saidset position to an idle position, in combination, station-controlmeans energized to move the device to and hold it in set position from idle position, valve-control means arranged to be energized to open the valve means by action of the device when it reaches set position, and holding means associated with the valve means and ar-. ranged to energize said station-control means in.

the open position of said valve means.

9. In a fluid discharging system having a fluid supply, valve means in said supply, and a movable device at a station for association with said supply which device receives fluid in a set position of the device and which is movable from said set position toan idle position, in combination, station-control means arranged when energized to move the'device to and hold it in set position from idle position, a manually held switch arranged when closed to energize said station control means, valve-control means arranged when energized to open the valve means, a second manually held switch arranged when closed to permit energizing said valve-control means, a controlling switch in a circuit containing said second manually held switch and said valvecontrol means arranged to beope'n when the denews out of set position and to be clesed when said device is in Set position, a switch associated with the valve means and arranged to by-pass said first'manu'al switch to energize said station- Co'ntr'ol means in the open position of said valve r 9 1am a fluid discharging system havinga fluid supply, valve means in saidsupply, and a inov'able device at a station forassociationwith said supply which device receives fluid in a set pesition'o-fthe device and which is mevable from eet'p'o'sition to an idle position, combination,- s'tation-control means-energized to 'rnove the device to and hold it in set positionf'roin idle pe's'ition, v'alve cont'rol means energizable only inthe set position onthe device to open the valve means; holding means as'sccia'ted with the valve means and arranged toenergize said station'- trol means-in the'open position of said valve 1h ans, manually holdable means to be held to size the station-control means until the sup ly; valve means in said supply, and a-movable device at a station for association with said supply which device receives {fluid in a set 'po'sitien 6f the device and whichis movable from saidset pes'itio'n to'an idle position, in combination, station-control means energize to move the device to and hold it in set position from idle position, valve-control means arranged to be energized to open the :va'lve means when the device reaches set position, holdingmeans associated with-the valve means and arranged to energize said station-control means in the open position of said valve means, manually holdable means to be held to energize the station control in'eans until the valve means is open, and means for ale-"energizing the valve-control means where- 'by' ona resulting closure of the valve means the said holding means is rendered inoperative and de-energizes the station-control means whereby said manual means may be released from energizing position.

12. In a fluid discharging system having a fluid supply, valve means in said supply, and a movable device at a station for association with said supply which device receives fluid in a set position of the device and which is movable from said set position to an idle position, in combination, station-control means energized to move the device to and hold it in set position from idle position, valve-control means for energization to open the valve means and arranged to prevent its energization except when the device is in set position, manually holdable means to be held to energize the station-control means until the device is in set position, means bypassing said manually holdable means and rendered operative to energize the station-control means when the device is in set position, whereby said manually holdable means may be released, a manually closable switch to effect energizing said valve-control means to open the valve means, means by-passing said last-mentioned switch to energize said valve control means for opening the valve means and arranged to be rendered operative by a flow of fluid resulting from opening the valve means, means arranged indemeans, and manual means to d'e-energi'ze the -'station-coiitrol' means whereby the device returns 'to-i'dle position. Y I

---' 1 3. In combination, electrically powered feeding-means arranged when energized continuous- 'ly to feed particle for rn material into an -air stream-a power-operated fan blower arranged "for continuous operation and for creating said fnevingair stream, conduit means connected to said blower including a delivery conduit for carrying and discharginga suspension of said particles in air, fiow responsive means having one position during a predetermined extent of now of air in said conduit and anotherposition upon substantial reduction of said predetermined flow; a movable device at a receiving stat'ien at the discharge end of said conduit, said movable device being arranged to move into a set position for receipt'of said suspension and to movetherefrom to an idle position, electrical 'statiomeontrol means arranged when energized 'to move and hold the device to and in set position and when de-ene'r'gized to move the device to'idl'e position, valve means in said conduit means arranged ifor opening and'closure to permit and to stop the flow of air and of suspension in said delivery conduit, electrical valve-control means arranged when-energized to open said valve'r'nean's and when dc-energized to close said valve means, manually controlled means for energizing the station-control means, meansun- 'd'er control of t'he device toprevent energizing the valve-control means exceptinthe set position or the device, a second manually controlled "means forf energizing the valve control means, means under control of the open valve means to maintain energization of the station-control means, means under control of said flow-responsive means acting in said position at the predetermined flow to maintain energization of the valve-control means after release of the second manually controlled means and acting upon said reduction of said flow to de-energize the valvecontrol means, and feed-control means under control of the pre-determined flow to energize the feeding means and upon said reduction of said flow to de-energize said feeding means.

14. In combination, electrically powered feeding means arranged when energized continuously to feed particle form material into an air stream, a power-operated fan blower arranged for continuous operation and for creating said moving air stream, conduit means connected to said blower including a delivery conduit for carrying and discharging a suspension of said particles in air, flow-responsive means having one position during a predetermined extent of flow of air in said conduit and another position upon substantial reduction of said predetermined flow, a movable device at a receiving station at the discharge end of said conduit, said movable device being arranged to move into a set position for receipt of said suspension and to move therefrom to an idle position, electrical station-control means arranged when energized to move and hold the device to and in set position and when de-energized to move the device to idle position, valve means in said conduit means arranged for openingand closure to permit and to stop the flow of air and of suspension in said delivery conduit, electrical valve-control means arranged when energized to open said valve means and when de-energized to close said valve means, manually controlled means for energizing the station-control means, means under control of the device to prevent energizing the valve-control means except in the set position of the device, a second manually controlled means arranged to operate simultaneously with the first manually controlled means to clear a channel for energization of the valve-control means, means under control of the open valve means to maintain energization of the stationcontrol means, means under control of said flowresponsive means acting in its said position at the predetermined flow to maintain energization of the valve-control means after release of the second manual control switch and acting upon said reduction of'said fiow to de-energize the valve-control means, and a circuit to said'feeding means under control of the predetermined flow to energize the feeding means and upon said reduction of said flow to de-energize said feeding means.

15. In combination, electrically powered feeding means arranged when energized continuously to feed particle form material into an air stream, a power-operated fan blower arranged for continuous operation and for creating said moving air stream, conduit means connected to said blower including a delivery conduit for carrying and discharging a suspension of said 1 station-control means arranged when energized to move and hold the device to and in set posi- .tion and when de-energlzed to move; the device to idle position, valve means in said conduit means arranged for opening and closure to permit and to stop the flow of air and of suspension in said delivery conduit, electrical valve-control .means arranged when energized to open said valve means and when de-energized to close said valve means, a manually controlled switch for one channel for energizing the station-control means, a switch under control of the device to prevent energizing the valve-control means except in the set position of the device, a second switch under control of the set device to maintain a second channel of energization of the station-control means whereby to permit release of said manually controlled switch, an independent manual control switch to energizethe valvecontrol means, a switch under control of the open "said flow to de-energize said feeding means, and a switch for independent manual operation to tie-energize said second channel of energization for station-control means whereby to move said device into idle position from set position.

JUDSON P. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,049,029 Abjornsson et a1. -Dec. 31, 1912 1,713,023 Bushman et al. May 14, 1929 2,387,452 Lundal et al. Oct. 23, 1945 2,429,059 Horstkotte Oct. 14,1947

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,576,543 November 27, 1951 JUDSON P. SMITH It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 23, for article read particle; column 5, line 17, for corresponding read cowespondz'ngly; column 8, line 20, for deviced read devised; column 14, lines 33 and 34, strike out upon energizing the solenoid 195 and to delay opening switch 191; line 48, for operation, second occurrence, read adaptation; column 17, line 17 for position on read position 0/; line 46, after on strike out a;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. Signed and sealed this 4th day of March, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

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