US1540237A - Electric-power-plant system - Google Patents

Description

V. G. APPLE ELECTRIC POWER PLANT SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1919 June 2, 1925.

2 SheetsSneet l I were, r2 Vance/(AZ 61% Jime 2, 1925. 1,540,237

V. G. APPLE ELECTRIC POWER PLANT SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q QBJW Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,540,237 PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT G. APPLE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-POWER-PLANT SYSTEM.

Original application filed September 15, 1919, Serial No. 324,021. Divided and this application filed April 28, 1920. Serial No. 377,401..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT G. APPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Power- Plant Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for automatically supplying lights, hot and cold water, and for utilizing the waste heat of an internal combustion engine, to contribute in maintaining the water at the desired temperature, thus serving a dual purpose of maintaining the en- 'gine at proper temperature for automatic starting, in winter and summer, with heavy fuels, besides furnishing hot water for domestic purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide aplant that will automatically start and stop a pump or pumps forfurnishing a water supply between predetermined ranges of pressure and temperature, which will produce a distinctive alarm signal, or will automatically stop the engine when the supply of fuel or lubricant is about exhausted and-which will control a fuel supply, to supplement the waste heat of the engine, for maintaining the water at the desired temperature when the heat from the engine is not sufficient for the purpose, and furthermore which will'automatically stop the engine whenthe voltage of the battery is up to its usual potential difference, and when the battery electrolyte has reached a predetermined density.

Other, and more specific objects of the invention will be readily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of the apparatus necessary for carrying the in vention into effect.

Fig. 2 is a more specific diagram with reference to the particular character of the apparatus used, showing some of the apparatus in more detail and omitting to show other parts, that are familiar, and which are shown in outline in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section of a fluid level controller, used in connection with supplying the lubricating oil to the engine and associated apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an indicator showing the quanhausted. This also prevents cranking the engine, thus losing battery charge.

In all the views the same reference charactors are used to indicate similar parts.

This application is divided out of my original application Serial No. 324,021, filed September 15, 1919.

, 10 is an internal combustion engine, driving a dynamo electric machine, or generator 11.

Normally loose on the shaft 12, of the engine, is an eccentric 13,- for driving the cold water pump 14; and another eccentric 5, is fixed thereon and used for driving the hot water pump 16. An electric clutch 17 controls the eccentric 13 and the cold water supply; 18 is a coldwater tank and :19,is a hot water tank. When the eccentric 13 is connected to the shaft 12 by the electric clutch 17 it operates the pump 14, to take the cold water from'the deep well or cistern 20, thru the pipe 21, and pump it through the pipe 22 into the tank 18. The service supply is taken from the tank thru pipe 23. The hot water pump 16 takes water from the tank 19, thru the pipes 24 and 25 and delivers it into the water jacket of the engine 10 by the pipe 26. The hot water is taken from the water jacket by the pipe 27 and delivered into a valve casing 28, from which it may pass thru pi 29 into the hot water tank 19, or when li ated excessively into the pipe 30, and to an outside radiator 31, or any other source through which it may be directed while being cooled, and returns to the pipe 25 through the pipe 32. The hot water pump 16 is operated positively by the shaft 12, and is always in operation when the engine is in service, but the pump 14, which supplies the cold water, is in service only when the electric clutch 17 is properly energized. Connected to the upper end of the'cold water tank 18 is a bellows diaphragm, 33, connected thereto by pipe. 34. The diaphragm 33 controls a lever 35, pivoted as at 36. The lower end of. the lever 35 is adapted to make electrical connection with a contact screw 37, being normally held in contact therewith by the spring 38, when not forced away by the bellows diaphragm 33. This is more clezrly shown in Fig. 2.

Now when the pressure of the water within the tank 18 is beyond a predetermined degree, the bellows diaphragm 33 pushes the arm 35 out of its connection with the contact screw 37, thereby opening the circuit thru the clutch 17, and stopping the operation of the pump. The clutch member 38, of the clutch 17, is rotatably connected to the shaft 12 by a feather 39, but it is free to move axially on the shaft when attracted by the member 40, when the latter is electrically enthe battery B, over the wires 50 and 51 to the positive brush 52 of the dynamo, and thence thru the dynamo to the negative brush 53, and over the wires 54 and 55, and thence over the arm 46 and contact 38, thus causing the dynamo 11 to operate as an electric motor to start the engine. The circuit is closed thru the field coils 56 of the dynamo, just prior to closing the circuit thru the armature. A segment 57 is connected by wire 58 to the wire 59, which in turn is connected' to negative terminal 60 of the battery. The wire 61 is connected to one end of the field windings 56, and to a lever 62, that is insulated from, but moves with the lever 46. The lever 62 makes contact with the segment 57 before the lever 46 makes electrical connection with the contact 48, and therefore the field circuit is closed before the armature circuit is closed. The starting magnet 45 may be energized from a remote point by a manual switch 63 and when closed the engine will also start with low water pressure, and by this means the battery will be given an occasional overcharge, which is a desirable feature. \Vhen the hand switch 63 is closed the circuit will proceed over the wires 64 and 65, and thru a switch operated by the hydrometer in the controlling cell 66 of the battery, and thru the contact 67, and lever 68, thereof, wires 69 and 70, thru the contact 71, controlled by the potential electro-magnet 72, and the lever 7 3, and thence by wire 74 back to the controlling V magnet 45. This circuit may be opened antomatically by the controlling cell 66, when the density of the liquid electrolyte is sufficient to indicate that the battery B is fully charged. There-fore, it will be unnecessary to'start the engine to supply the light, liecause so long as the density indicator, consisting of the hydroineter 75, raises the switch arm 68 and opens the circuit, the bat tery is sufliciently well charged to take care of all of its load. The potential magnet 72 is connected directly across the terminals of the, battery B, and when the electro-motiveforce is sufficiently high the magnet 72 attracts the lever 7 3, and opens the circuit between 73 and 71, so that' the engine may not be started, by closing the manual switch63, because in that event it will be unnecessary, and therefore it is manifest thatwhen the electro-motive-force of the battery is sufficiently high to supply current for the load, or when the specific gravity of its electrolyte is fproper, the dynamo may not be started rom the remote point, such as the switch 63, and can only be started from this point when the potential of the circuit is sufficiently low to need recharging of the battery, or when the specific gravity is low,

on account of the battery being partially discharged or when water pressure in tank 18 is low.

Assuming the switch 63 to be closed, and the engine and dynamo being in operation, just so soon as the electro-motive-forc'e, or voltage of the battery, has reached the predetermined point, the electro-magnet 7 2 will attract the armature 73 and open the circuit between the armature, or lever 73, and the contact 71, thereby permitting the spring 76 to overcome the magnetism in the starting magnet 45, and opening the circuit between the battery and the dynamo. It will not be necessary to run the engine and d 'namo uselessly after the battery has een fully' charged and its electrolyte is of proper density, except occasionally to pump water pressure which will give the battery the occasional overcharge needed. As heretofore explained, either the density, or variation in density of the electrolyte and the variation in the electro-motive-force, or voltage or the current supplied-by the battery or the lack of oil or fuel for the engine or low ressure in tank 18 initiate the means by w IiCh the engine may be started or stopped, as required for the service.

The , battery terminals 49 and 60, are'connectedto electric light service wires 77 and 78, b the wires 50 and 59, respectively, to supp y electric lights. The positive-brush 52 of the dynamo is connected to the wire 51 and that wire is connected at the junction of the wires 50 and 7 8, as at 80, while the mega tive brush 53 is connected by the wires 54 and 55 and the lever 46 to the negative terminal of the battery, thru the wire 59, so that the dynamo and the battery are in parallelcircuit for supplying the current for the lamps 79. The generator line connections are not shown in Fig. l as these connections are sufliciently illustrated in Fig. 2.

The clutch 40, for controlling the cold water pump 14, is provided with an electric coil 81, connected by wire 82 to an insulated ring 83, the other end -of=the coil being con-.

nected by wire 84 to a ring 85, and these rings are connected to the wires 41-*afn d 42 for communlcatmg current to the clutch to energize it, in order that the eccentric 13,

v tablished thru the clutch 40 and starting coil 45. lVhenthe pressure in tank 18 is suflic'ient to separate contacts 35 and 37, the

. clutch willbe deenergized but the starting magnet may remain energized if the circuit thru the devices 136, 73 and 68 is closed and th engine will not be stopped when the cold water pump is disconnected from the engine.

Connected to the hot-water tank 18 is a bellows diaphragm, 90, controlling-a lever 91, which is pivoted, as at 92. A pipe 93 connects the diaphragm to the tank and maintains the diaphragm 'filled with hot water from the tank. When the water in the tank has reached a predetermined temperature the diaphragm is expanded, thereby causing its armature" arm 91 to make electrical connectionwith a contact 95,.

which causes energizationof the electromagnet 96, thru the wires 97 and 98, that are connected to the main wires 77 and 78. When the magnet 96 is energized it pulls over the arm 99 and closes the end of the pipe 100 in the closed casing 28, and which pipe leads to the bottom of the hot water tank, and opens the end 101 of p1pe 30, which leads to the radiator 31, outside of the building, orfor heating space inside of a building during the winter season. Theobject of the radiator 31 is to cool the circulating water in the engine when the water 1n the tank 18 has become sufficiently heated for the purposes for which it is intended, and, therefore, by this means the magnet 96 will cause the water to circulate from the engine direct to the auxiliary radiator and the water therefrom becoming cooled, will pass thru the pipe 32 back to the engine thru the pipe 25, thru the hot water ump 16, in

the. manner heretofore. descri ed. Now, when the water in the tank 19 becomes cooled to a predetermined degree, the bellows diaphragm 90 will contract and open the circuit between the lever 91 and the contact 95, whereupon the arm 99 Wlll be returned to the opposite position and close the end 101 ofpipe 30 and open the pipe 100, being drawn to this position by the spring 102. In the pipe 30 is a check valve 103, so that the water cannot return from the radiator 31. Should the water in the tank 19 become considerably cooled the bellows diaphragn'i will contract more than, as heretol'ore stated, and cause the arm 91 to make electrical connection with the contact 103, thereby energizing the electromagnet 104, which will open a gas valve 105 in the gas pipe 106. A pilot burner 107 is kept lighted under the tank 19, so that when the heat from the engine is not sufficient to supply all of the warm water required in the tank 19 the electro-magnet 104 will automatically light the main heating burner 108, under the tank 19. The spring 109 will return the arm, controlled 'by the magnet 104, to its normal position when the magnet is deenergized.

The-1i uid fuel for supplying the engine is contain in a tank 110, which may be located in the ground outside of the building on which the plant is situated, and the tank may contain gasoline, kerosene or the like. It is conveyed by a pipe 111 to a vacuum operated secondary tank 112, usual in the operation of engines of this character. The vacuum pipe 113 is connected to the intake manifold 114 of the engine, and the pipe 115 is connected to the carbureter 116. Briefly, the supply of fuel in the tank 112 [is produced by the vacuum efi'ect of the inspiration strokes of the engine.

A similar tank 115, is to contain lubricating oil from which the oil is conveyed by apipe 116, to a similar secondary supply tank 117, operated by vacuum effect through the pipe 118. A pipe 119 connects the lower end of the container 117 with an automatic level-maintaining device 120, shown more clearly in Fig. 3, and operated very similar .to the fount in a student lamp, for maintaining a constant level. The outer tank 120 is open at its upper end and encloses a closed tank 121, into which the pipe 119 projects. The bottom of the tank 121 is perforated, asat 122, through which the lubrieating oil will pass into the pipe 123, leading into the crank casing of the engine, and also leading into the bearings 124 and 125 of the dynamo. Another pipe 126 returns the used lubricant into the lower part of the crank case, as at 127.

A gauge 128 is used for indicating the level of the lubricant, or fuel, in either of the tanks 110 or 115. The indicator 128 is provided with a tube 129, containing a square or angular rod 130. A s ide .131 on the rod has a projection 132 131, will descend in the-tube 129, and always remain upon the top of the liquid. The projection 132 that extends into the groove 131 will rotate the rod as it descends, and the index 135 will pass around over the top of the graduated scale 136, at the top of the instrument,-and indicate the extent to which the tank is filled. After the index 135 has made a complete revolution, indicating that the tank is empty, it will bear upon a spring 138 and break connection with the contact 139. The part 140, of the index, will press against the spring 138, thereby opening the circuit between the wires 70 and 70, and causing the engine to stop and prevent the engine from being cranked by the battery, and furthermore the engine cannot be' started unless the index 135 is out of contact with the spring 138, which indicates thatthere is a supply of fuel or .lubricant within the respective tanks.

' While I have shown the battery cell 66 separated from the main battery B, it will be manifest, to a person skilled in the art,

that it is shown inthis way for the simple purpose of illustration, as it belongs, in practice, at the end of the series of cells illustrated above, in which it is specifically indicated by the reference character 66.

While I have herein shown a single exemplification of my invention for the purpose of clear disclosure, it will be manifest, to persons skilled in the art, that numerous changes may be made in the general arrangement and configuration of the parts, within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a system of the character described providing a dynamo electric machine; a water cooled engine to drive the machine; a battery to ener the dynamo to start the engine; an au matic switch to connect the battery and dynamo, in combination with a pump driven by the engine to constantly'pump water thru the jacket of the engine when the engine is running; a tank to receive the water from the jacket; means to heat the water in the tank and a temperature responsive means to control said heating means.

2. In a system of the character described providing a dynamo electric machine; a water cooled engine to drive the machine; a battery to energize the dynamo to start the engine in combination with a pump driven by the engine to pump water thru the jacket of the engine; atank to receive the water from the jacket; means to change the temperature of water in the tank and a temperature responsive means to control the temperature changing means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribed my name.

VINCENT G. APPLE.

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