TH44697A - Air priority valve for compressed air feeding system - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (17/08/43) The priority valve for the compressed air system in the tire retreading machine consists of a diaphragm-operated valve controlled by a solenoid. This valve is connected to the autoclave at the inlet. The solenoid controls the valve for opening and closing. A switch with a pressure sensor is connected to one side of the inlet. If the pressure falls below the low pressure limit, the switch activates the solenoid, closing the valve. This cuts off the air supply to the autoclave. With the autoclave inlet closed, the air compressor can quickly and easily increase the system pressure above the low pressure limit. The valve remains closed until the detected pressure reaches a value sufficient to supply both other equipment and the autoclave. If the pressure falls below the low pressure limit, the switch will activate the solenoid, closing the valve. This cuts off the air supply to the autoclave. With the inlet to the autoclave closed, the air compressor can relatively quickly and easily increase the system pressure above the low pressure limit. The valve remains closed until the detected pressure reaches a value sufficient to supply air to both other equipment and the autoclave.

Claims (9)

1. A device for prioritizing the compressed air supply for machinery using compressed air at different rates. It consists of a valve with open and closed positions, an actuator for selecting one of the open or closed valve positions, a pressure sensor connected to the valve's inlet to sense the air pressure in the inlet and generate a signal in response to the detected air pressure, and a switch to control the actuator. This switch receives signals from the pressure sensor and responds to close the valve when the detected air pressure is below a reference value and opens the valve when the detected air pressure is above the reference value. 2. The device referred to in claim 1, which is a diaphragm valve normally open. 3. The device referred to in claim 2, which is an actuating device, is a solenoid connected to receive power from a switch and is connected to control a diaphragm for opening and closing a valve. 4. The device referred to in Reputation 1, which is a differential pressure switch with a low setting pressure and a high setting pressure above the low setting pressure. The low setting pressure comprises a reference value under which the switch closes the valve when the perceived air pressure is below the low setting pressure and opens the valve when the perceived air pressure is at least at the high setting pressure. 5. The compressed air priority system consists of a compressor for compressing air, a compressed air reservoir for receiving compressed air from the compressor, a feed pipe connected to the reservoir for delivering compressed air, a autoclave connected to the feed pipe to receive compressed air, at least one compressed air-operated device connected to the feed pipe to receive compressed air, and a priority valve connected to the feed pipe of the autoclave. This valve has a device for selecting the valve position to either the open or closed position. A pressure sensor is placed on the valve inlet side to detect air pressure, and a switch responds to the pressure sensor to activate the positioning device, closing the valve if the detected air pressure is below a reference value, and opening the valve if the air pressure is above the reference value. 6. The device referred to in claim 5, whose priority valve is a diaphragm valve normally open, 7. The device referred to in claim 6, which is an actuating device, is a solenoid connected to receive power from a switch and is connected to control a diaphragm for opening and closing a valve. 8. The device referred to in claim 5, which is a differential pressure switch, has a low setting pressure and a high setting pressure above the low setting pressure. The low setting pressure comprises a reference value under which the switch closes the valve when the perceived air pressure is below the low setting pressure and opens the valve when the perceived air pressure is at least at the high setting pressure. 9. The method for prioritizing the compressed air supply in a system consisting of a autoclave and at least one piece of equipment operating with compressed air consists of the following steps: sensing the compressed air pressure at the autoclave inlet; comparing the sensed pressure to a low-level reference pressure and a high-level reference pressure; and opening the inlet when the sensed air pressure equals the high-level reference pressure, allowing compressed air to flow into the autoclave.