US3901267A

US3901267A - Relay construction and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: US3901267A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William T Moon
Original assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Current assignee: Robertshaw Controls Co
Priority date: 1973-06-11
Filing date: 1973-06-11
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

A relay construction having a housing provided with ports therein and with valve means being disposed in the housing and being interconnected with the ports by internal passages provided in the housing. The housing includes a plate that is adapted to be selectively repositioned relative to the remainder of the housing to change the path arrangement of the passages and, thus, the operating function of the relay construction, the plate being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the housing to various selected positions and also being adapted to be disposed in different stacked relations with the remainder of the housing along the longitudinal axis thereof.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Moon, Jr.

[4 1 Aug. 26, 1975 William T. Moon, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 368,696

Taylor 137/270 X Hcttingcr 137/270 X Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-candor, Candor & Tassone 5 7 ABSTRACT A relay construction having a housing provided with ports therein and with valve means being disposed in the housing and being interconnected with the ports by internal passages provided in the housing. The housing includes a plate that is adapted to be selec tively repositioned relative to the remainder of the housing to change the path arrangementof the passages and, thus, the operating function of the relay construction, the plate being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the housing to various selected positions and also being adapted to be disposed in different stacked relations with the remainder of the housing along the longitudinal axis thereof.

13 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 6 i975 SHEET 1 BF PATENTFU B 3,901,267

sum 2 (IF 7 2O SIGNAL 29 CONTROL "OFF" 84 73 6Q 39 SUPPLY FIG. 5

NORMALLY CLOSED 35 CONTROL 29 84 73 "ON ll 34 SUPPLY 4O 2 83 Fl G. 6 -0 NORMALLY CLOSED SUPPLY SUPPLY CONTROL f a 40 VENT 47 3O NORI\ A AI L Y PEN 84 m t)-* 86 SUPPLY M} 73 OFF 89 34 6| 3940 CONTROL I No.2 32 47 79 8| 57 33 88 S6 5 I 84 COM-50L DlvERl 'ER $2 50 86 SUPPLY SKgTIAL 7 34 i3 39 CONTROL No.2 32 47 79 3O DIVERTER PATENTEDIUBZBIQYS 3, 901 267 SI-IZET BF SUPPLY 54 ||o ALARM DETECTIQR 6| 39 OPEN 40 8O VENT I04 62 .02 33 3O 79 I05 I 53% FIG.13 1 3 III 34 ,.0 6| 2O ALARM "CLOSED" I I04 VENT 8O 32 I06 35 5O 79 I05 FIG.14 I VENT I D jib no ALARM DETECTOR 84 3 "OPEN" SUPPLY 3| I06 PATENTED 3,901,267

PATENTEDAUBZBIQYS 3, 90 1 267 SHEET 7 o Z VENT /IIO 20 ALARM DETECTOR 6| I "CLOSED" su PLY I04 79 8| FIG.19 2| II T I14 35 34 2O CONTROL SII'GN 6! 73 OFF 84 32 4o SUPPLY I04 II?) 3| I06 2| 33 7 4 II4 VENT I 3 54 5 CONTROL 84 7 32 SUPPLY SIGNAL 39 oVII 40 This invention relates to an improved relay construction and to an improved method for making such a relay eonstruction or the like.

It is well known that relay constructions have been provided wherein each has a. particular operating function. For example, relay constructions have been provided that will each act as a normally closed relay wherein fluid from a source is not interconnected by the particular normally closed relayto a fluid, operated control device until a fluid signal is directed to such relay construction. Similarly, normally open relay constructions have been provided whereneach interconnects the fluid source to the fluid operated control device only when a fluid signal is not being .received by the particular relay construction-. Also, relay constructions have been provided where each provides a diverting function. such as where the particular relay con struction would direct the source of fluid to-only one fluid operated control device when the relay construction is not receiving a fluid signal andwill direct the fluid source to only another fluid operated control device when the relay construction. is receiving a fluid signal.

It a feature of applicants companion patent application, Docket No. 2332-FS, filed Jun. 27., 1973, Ser. No. 3 73.94l, now U.S. Pat. No. -3.857,,41] to provide a single relayconstructionfor providing the function of a normally closed relay, anormally openrelay, and a diverting relay so that the single relay construction can be utilized to function. selectively ,as a normally closed relay, as a normally open relay or as a diverting relay.

The above feature isaccomplished, by utilizing the ports of the housing in a different manner as well as by utilizing a unique diaphragm member-of the housing to provide balancing means for the poppet valve member of the valve means of the housing as will be apparent hereinafter. I

It is also well known that relay constructions-have been.provided that willeach act as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice so that an alarm or.indicator will be directlyinterconnected to the fluid source through the normally open, relay construction unless the same is, transferred by a detector being disposed'in a closed position thereof and thus causingthe supply pressure to transfer the relay construction to a closed position thereof by feeding supply pressure from the supply port through an upstreamorifice to thefluid opcrating chamber thereof. Conversely,--relay construc tions have been provided that will each act as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice so that the bled through -.the

fluid operating chamber to lock the relay construction in its open condition. 7

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to permit the single relay construction of the aforementioned patent application, Docket No. 2332-FS, to'further act selectively as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, a normally closed relay with an upstream orifree or as a normally closed relay with'a downstream orifice.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a method for making such a relay construction or the like.

In particular, the relay construction of this invention has a housing provided with port means and with passage'means and valve means interconnected with the port means. The housing has control means therein for causing the relay construction to selectively act as a normally closed relay, as a normally open relay, or as.

pose relay as willbe apparent hereinafter.. Such control means comprises a balancing means for a movable valve member of the valve means, the balancing means being adapted to balance thevalve member only when the relay construction is acting as a normally open relay or as a diverting relay whereas when the relay is acting as a normally closed relay, the balancing means does not act on the valve member.

The'housing means includes a part thereof that is adapted to be selectively repositioned for changing the path arrangement of the passage means and, thus, the operating function of the relay construction, one .selected position of the movable part of the housing means causing the relay construction to operate as the above-described general purposerelay, another selected position of the movable part of the housing means causing the relay construction to operate as a I normally open relay with an upstream orifice, another another .selected position' of the movable part. of the .housing means causing the relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved relay construction having one or more of the novel features set ter shown or described. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such'a relay construction or the like.

1 Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of theimproved relay construction of this invention.

FIG. 2 is areduced bottom view of the relay construction of FIG. I.

stream oriflce wherein once the relay is transferred by having a fluid signal directed to the fl uid operat'ing chamber of the relay, the relay construction opens the fluid supply to the control port and the fluid in the con 1 trol port is bled through a downstream orifice to-the FIG. 3 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a reduced, fragmentary, exploded perspective view illustrating certain parts at the bottom of the relay construction of FIG. I.

FIG .5- is'a reduced view similar to FIG. I and illustrates therelay construction when acting as a normally closed relay and with the signal means thereof in an forth above or hereinaf- FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normally closed relay with the signal meansinan fon" condition] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normally open relay with the signal means in an off condition.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to=FIG. 7 and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normally'open relay with the signal means in an on condition.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the relay construction acting as a diverting relaywith the signal means in an off condition. y I

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and-illustrates the relay construction acting as adiv'erting relay with the signal means in an "on" condition. I

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the relay construction when converted to a normally' open relay construction with an upstream orifice.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the plate parts of the relay construction when acting in the condition illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the relay construction acting as a normally open relay construction with an upstream orifice and with the detector in anopen condition thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrates the relay construction of FIG. 13 when the detector is in a closed condition thereof. i I

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the 'relay construction when the same has been changed to operate as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice. I I i FIG. 16 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken on line l6-l6 of FIG. 15.

FIG. '17 is a view similar'to FIG. 12 and illustrates the plate parts of the relay construction ofFIG. '16.,

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. '13 and illustratesthe relay construction acting as a normally closed relay construction with an upstream orifice and with the detector in an open" condition thereof. H I

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG I S and illustrates the relay construction of FIG. 18 when the detector is in a closed" condition thereof. I

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the relay construction when acting as normally closed relay construction with a downstream orifice. FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 17 and illustrates the position of the plate parts of the relay construction of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the relay construction when acting as a normally closed relay construction with a downstreamorifice and with the signal in an off condition. I

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 and illustrates the relay construction of FIG. 22 when the signal is in an on" condition.

While the various features of this invention arehere-.

normally open relay with an upstream orifice or as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice, it is to be understood that the various featurcs'of this invention can be utilized singly or in =any combination thereof to provide other types of relay constructions if desired. i

Therefore.this inventionis not to'be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in th'edrawings. because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. I Referring now to FIG. 1, the improved relay construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a housing means 21 formed from a plurality of parts disposed in stacked aligned'relation and being suitably secured together by conventional threaded fastening means 22. v

For example, the housing means 2] can comprise a plurality-of

parts

23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 disposed in stacked aligned relation with flexible gasket or diaphragm sealing means 28, 29, 30 'and 31 respectively disposed therebetwe en 'as illustrated to fluid seal the parts 23-27 together \vhen the same are secured together by the fastening means 22. i

The housing means 21 of the relay construction 20 is provided with five

ports

32, 33, 34, 35and'36 interconnecting withpassage means and valve means'formed in the housing means 2Iand being respectively generally indicated by the reference numerals'37 and 38.

The-passagerrieans 37 0f the relay construction 20 defines a stationary valve seat 39 in thehousing means 2] which is adapted to be opened and closed by a poppet valve member 40 normally urged to its closed position'against the valve seat 39 a compression spring 41 having one end 42 bearing against the poppet valve member 40 and the other 'end 43 bearing against a housing part 44 heldstationary in the housing part 25. The housing part 44 has'a-passage 45 passing therethrou'gh and loosely receiving a steam portion 46 of the poppet valve member 40 so as to guide axial movement thereof relative to thevalve seat 39'. i

The poppet valve member 40 isdisposed within a chamber 47 formed in'the housing means 21 and being fluidlyinterconnected by a passage 48 of the passage means 37 to the port 32,-the housing part 44 having a suitable passage 49 formed therethrou'gh so that the en- "37 to the port 35 as illustrated.

The valve means 38 of the relay construction 20 includes a tubular member 52 being seeiired at its upper end 53 to an'endplate 54 that closes off the upper end 53 of the tubular member 52 and is adapted to be disposed against the flexible diaphragm 29 as illustrated.

The housing means 2] provides two annular sealing means 55 and 56 to seal along the tubular member 52 in'axial spaced relationth'erewith while permitting the tubular member 52 to move axially relative thereto, the sealing means 56 sealing the chamber from another chamber 57 formed in the housing means 21 and being interconnected by a passage 58 ofthe passage means 37 to the port '33. The other annular sealing means .fluid seals the chamber 57 from'another chamber 59 formed in the housing means 21 and being interconnected by a passage 60 of the passage means 37 to the port 36.

The chamber 59 is fluid sealed by thediaphragm 29 from anotherchamber 6l-formed in-the"'housing means 21 and defined between the flexiblediap'hragrn- 29 and the end plate 23*of the housing m'eans2-l. A suitable formed passage 62 ofthe passage means 37 fluidly interconnectsthe chamber 61 to the port '34.

The sealing means 56 for the. tubular member 52 comprises an annular packing or sealing means 63 received 'inan annular recess 64' formed "in'the housing part intermediate the

chambers

50 and 57 and being heldtherein-by an annular retaining ring 64 urged toward a'shoulder 65 of the housing means-2'1 by. a compression spring 66'. 1

The annular sealing means 55 includes an annular retainer 67'having an annular groove 68 therein=receiving an annular packing or sealing means 69, the retainer 67 having an annular flange 70 held against an annular shoulder 71 of the housing 21 by a snap split-ring 72.

The lower end 73 of the tubular member 52 acts'as a movable valve seat and is adapted to engage against a resilient upper end 74 of the' poppet valve member 40 to have the end 73 closed .by the valve member 40 when the movable valve'seat 73 is moved downwardly through the valve seat 39 in a manner hereinafter described, the valve seat 73 leading to the interior of the tubular'member 52 with thein'terior of the tubular member 52 being adapted to be fluidly connected to the chamber 57 by opening means 75 formed through the tubula'r'member 52 as illustrated. f 4

The movablevalve seat 73 is normallyu'rged to the open condition-illustrated'in FIG. 1 bye-compression spring 76 having one end 77 bearing against the end plate 54 and the other end 78 bearing against the stationary retainer 67 a's'illustrat'ed whereby'the compression spring 76 tends to move-the-diaphragm 29 in-its up condition-as illustrated in FIG. 1 and thereby reduce the volume of the chamber 61 as will be apparent hereinafter. 1 t

The lower flexible diaphragm separates the cham ber 47 from another chamber 79 of the housing means 21 that is defined between "the flexible diaphragm 30 and the'end plate 27, the chamber 79 being interconnected by a passage 80 of the passage means 37, as welI as by a cutout 81 in the flexiblegasket 3l, to the port 33 and, thus, to the chamber '57 as illustrated. I l

'The flexible diaphragm 30"and itsassociated chamber 79 are adapted to act'as a fluid balancing means for the poppet valve member in a manner-hereinafter described whereby when fluid pressure is received in the chamber 79, the side 82 of the flexible diaphragm 30 is urged upwardly by such fluid pressure against the end 83 of the poppet valve member 40 to tend to .urge the poppet member 40 toward its elosed position against the valve seat 39 for a purpose hereinafter described whereby the force of the fluid in balancing chamber 79 tends to balance'the force of 'any fluidin the chamber tending to'move the valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39.

From theabove, it canbe seen that the relay construction 20of this invention can be formed from are]- atively smallnumbe r of parts and can be'operated asa general purpose "relay thatcan function as a normally closed relay. as a normally open relay or as a diverting relay in a manner now to be described by merely changing the port interconnection'thereoffi I When it is desired to utilize'the rclayc'onstruction 20 of this invention as a normally closed'relay-the port-32 is-inter'connected to=a fluid source 84 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 \while the port'35 is interconnected to a fluid operated control device 85. The port 34 'isfluidly interconnected to a fluid signal generating device or means '86 whilethe port 33 is interconnected to vent means 87. which could comprise the atmosphere or a reservoir as desired, the port 36 merely being vented to the atmosphere" as illustrated or to another vent means a's-desired.

Whentherelay construction 20 is disposed in the control system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that when the fluid signal generating means' '86 is in its off condition, so that the same is not delivering any fluid pressure signalito the port 34 and, 'thus, to the chamber 61 of the relay construction 20, the compression spring 76. maintains the movable valve seat 73 in the open condition illustrated and the compression spring -41 maintains the poppet valve member 40 in its closed position against the valve seat 39 .whereby the fluid pressure being supplied by the supply means 84 to the port 32 is blocked'by the closed valve seat 39 so; that the same cannot reach the fluid operated control device 85 which is deactivated by being interconnected to the vent means 87 through the open valve seat 73. Also, the fluid pressure being delivered-by thesouree '84-into the port 32 of the relay construction 20 completely surrounds the poppet valve member 40 to assist the spring-41 in holding the poppet valvemember 40 in its closed position, thefluid pressurein the chamber 47 acting against the upper side 82 of the flexible diaphragm 30 to hold the same away from the end 83 of the poppet valve member 40 as illustrated in FIG. 5 as the chamber 79 is interconnected by the passage to the-vent means 87 and thereby does not have any fluid pressure therein whereby the fluid pressure in the chamber 47vacts on the end 83 of the valve member 40. v

However, when the signal generating device 86 delivers afluidsignal to the port 34 of the relay construction 20, such fluid signal is directed by the passage 62 to the chamber 61 and acts on the diaphragm 29 to move the diaphragm 29 and the tubular member 52 downwardly in opposition to the force of the compression spring 76 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 whereby the movable valve-seat 73'engages against the poppet valve member 40 and moves the same downwardly in op'position'toxthe-force of its compression spring 41 as illustratedin 'FIG. 6 tonot only close the valve seat 73,-but to also open the stationary valve seat 39 whereby the fluid-source 84 is now interconnected through the open valve seat 39 to the fluid operated control device to operate 'th'e; same as the closed valve seat 73 disconnects'the fluid operated device 85 from the vent means When the signal generating device 86 subsequently terminates the signal'being directed to the port 34 and causes venting of 'the port 34 in a manner well known in the art; the subsequent evacuation of the fluid pressure from the chamber 6] permits the compression spring 76 to returnthe tubular member-52 from the posit'ion'illustrated in FIG. 6 back to-the position illustrated in FIG. 5 whereby thcpoppet valve 40, under the force of the compression spring 41, is adapted to close againstvthe valve seat 39 while the movable valve seat 73*moves further away from the poppet valve member 40 to cause opening of the movable valve seat 73 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the fluid source 84 is now disconnected by the closed valve seat 39 from the fluid operated control device 85 and the fluid operated control device 85 is now interconnected to the vent means 87 through the valve seat 73 and passage 75 in the tubular member 72 as illustrated whereby the fluid operated device 85 is effectively deactivated.

Therefore, it can be seen that when it isdesired for the relay construction 20 to act as a normally closed relay construction, the relay construction 20 merely has the port means 32-35 interconnected in the manner illustrated in FIGS. and 6.

. When it is desired to utilize the relay construction to act as a normally open relay construction, the relay construction 20 is interconnected in a system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In particular, the fluid supply 84 is now interconnected to the port 34 while the vent means 87 is interconnected to the port 32, the fluid operated control device 85 and the fluid signal generating means 86 respectively being interconnected to the

ports

35 and 34 as illustrated.

Thus, as long as the signal generating means 86 is not delivering a fluid signal to the port 34, no fluid pressure is in the chamber 61 so that the movable valve seat 73 is in the up" or open condition as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the poppet valve member is closed against the stationary valve seat 39. Accordingly, the fluid supply 84 is fluidly connected through the opened valve seat 73 to the port 35 and, thus, to the fluid operated control device 85 to operate the same as long as the signal generating means 86 is in the off condition as illustrated in FIG. 7.

' It can be seen that if it were not for the fluid balancing diaphragm 30, the fluid pressure from the port 33 being delivered through the open valve seat 73 to the fluid operated control device 85, when the relay construction 20 is in the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, will act through the valve seat 39 and against the top 74 of the valve member 40 to push the same away from the valve seat 39 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 41 and thereby cause the fluid supply 84 to be directed to the vent means 87 so that the fluid operated control device 84 could not be operated in the above manner.

However, because the passage 80 and cut out 81 in the flexible gasket 31 fluidly interconnects the supply pressure port 33 to the chamber 79, the fluid pressure in the chamber 79 acts against the underside of the diaphragm 30 and urges the same into engagement with the end 83 of the stem 46 of the poppet valve member 40 to urge the same against the valve seat 39 so that the fluid pressure in chamber 79 balances the pressure action on the top 74 of the valve member 40 whereby the force of the spring 41 is sufficient to maintain the valve member 40 in its closed position against its valve seat 39.

However, when the fluid signal generating means 86 is in the on" condition as illustrated in FIG. 8 and thereby delivering fluid pressure to the chamber 61, the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 drives the movable valve seat 73 downwardly in the manner previously described to close the valve seat 73 and open thepoppet valve member 40 away from the stationary valve seat 39 whereby the fluid supply 84 is now disconnected from the chamber 50 because of the closed movable valve seat 73 while the chamber 50 is now interconnected to the chamber 47 and, thus, to the vent 87 through the opened valve seat 39 so that the fluid operated control device 85 is interconnected to the vent means 87 and is, thus, deactivated.

Since the area of the upper diaphragm 29 having the fluid pressure being directed by the chamber 61 thereagainst is relatively large, the force provided by the diaphragm 29 in moving the movable valve seat 73 downwardly to open the valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39 fully overcomes not only the force of the compression springs 76 and 41, but also fully overcomes the force of the pressure in the balancing chamber 79 so that the poppet valve member 40 can be readily opened against the pressure in the balancing chamber 79.

Subsequently, when the signal generating device 86 terminates its signal so that the same causes venting of the pressure in the chamber 61 in a manner conventional in the art, the force of the compression springs 76 and 41, as well as the force of the balancing diaphragm 30, moves the poppet valve member 40 and its movable valve seat 73 upwardly until the poppet valve member 40 seats into engagement with the valve seat 39 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. The movable valve seat 73 then continues upwardly under the force of the compression spring 76 to open the valve seat 73 so that the fluid supply 84 can again be interconnected to the fluid operated control device 85 as illustrated to activate the same.

When it is desired to utilize the relay construction 20 as a diverting relay, the relay construction 20 can be interconnected in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In particular, it can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 that the fluid supply 84 is now interconnected to the port 35 while a first fluid operated control device 88 is interconnected to the port 33 and a second fluid operated control device 89 is interconnected to the port 32, the signal generating means being interconnected to the port 34 as illustrated.

With the signal generating means 86 in an off condition thereof so that no fluid pressure is being delivered to the chamber 61, the movable valve seat 73 is in an open condition as illustrated in FIG. 9 while the poppet valve member 40 is in a closed condition against the valve seat 39. Thus, the fluid supply 84 is interconnected through the open valve seat 73 to the port 33, and, thus, to the first fluid operated control device 88 to operate the same while such fluid pressure supply means 84 is prevented from being interconnected to the second fluid operated control device 89 by the closed valve seat 39, the control device 89, thus, being deactivated as the same can be vented through suitable bleed means thereof in a manner well known in the art.

As previously stated, if the balancing diaphragm 30 was notutilized, the fluid pressure acting on the top 74 of the poppet valve member 40 at the chamber 50 would cause the poppet valve member 40 to be opened against the force of the compression spring 41. However, because fluid pressure is being delivered from the chamber 57 through the passage and cutout 81 to the chamber 79 in the manner previously described, such fluid pressure in the chamber 79 causes the diaphragm 30 to engage against the end 83 of the poppet valve member 40 and urge the same toward a closed position to thereby balance the force of the pressure tending to open the poppet valve member 40 so that the force of the compression spring 41 is sufficicnt to maintain the poppet valve member 40in its closed position against the stationary valve seat 39.

When the signal generating means 86 delivers a fluid signal to the chamber 61, the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 now drives the movable valve seat 73 downwardly to cause the same to-be closed by the poppet valve member 40 while moving the poppet valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39 as illustrated in FIG. 10 so that the fluid supply 84 is now interconnected through the opened valve seat 39 to the second fluid operated control device 89 to operate the same while the closed valve seat 73 now disconnects the fluid supply 84 from the first fluid operated control device 88 so that the same will be deactivated through suitable bleed means thereof in a manner conventional in the art.

When the signal generating means 86 terminates its fluid signal to the chamber 61, the chamber 61 is vented in a manner conventional in the art and the poppet valve member 40 returns to its closed position against its valve seat 39 while the movable valve 73 moves to the open condition as illustrated in 39 so that the fluid supply 84 is again interconnected to the first control device 88 while the fluid supply 84 is disconnected from the second control device 89.

In all of the operations of the relay construction as illustrated in FIGS. 5-10, as well as in other figures as hereinafter described, it can be seen that any dashpot effect created by the chamber 37 of the housing means 21 on the movement of the diaphragm 29 is eliminated by having the chamber 37 continuously interconnected to the atmosphere or other ventmeans through the port 36.

From the above, it can be seen that the relay construction 20 of this invention is readily adapted to automatically act as a normally'closed relay, a normally open relay, or as a diverting relay depending upon how the fluid supply and other devices areinterconnected to the port means thereof without requiring any change in the internal or external structure of the relay construction 20.

However, it is a feature of this invention to cause the relay construction 20 previously described to selectively act as the general purpose relay set forth above wherein the same can act as a normally closed relay, a normally open relay or as a diverting relay, or to selectively act as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, to selectively act as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice or to selectively act as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

This features is accomplished by repositioning the previously described plate means or gasket member 31 in a rotational direction about the longitudinal axis of the housing means 21 as well as disposing the same in a different stacked relation with the

parts

25, 30, 26, and 27, along the longitudinal axis as will be apparent hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3and 4, the flexible gasket 31 has an indicating tab 100 projecting outwardly from one corner thereof so that the same will project beyond the

parts

25, 30, 26 and 27 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 regardless of where the member 31 is disposed in the stack of

parts

27, 31, 26, 30 and 25. As will be apparent hereinafter,- the indicator means 100 will thus indicate the rotational position of the gasket 31 relative to the housing means 21 and, thus. indicate the operating function that the relay construction 20 will produce.

If desired, the end plate 27 can be provided with a coding 101 on the outside thereof which will indicate what the operating function of the relay construction 20 will be when the-indicator of the gasket 31 is disposed in any of the indicated conditions thereof.

ln particular, when the gasket 31 is disposedin the :rotational position illustrated in FIG. 2 and is disposed intermediate the

members

26 and 27 as illustrated in FIGS. I and 4, the indicating means lOl shows that the relay construction will operate as an Al relay which is a general purpose relay that will function as a normally closed relay, a normally open relay, or as a diverting relay in the manner previously described merely depending uponv how the fluid supply and other devices are interconnected to the port means thereof.

When the member 31 is rotated ninety degrees in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the indicator 100 will now indicate on the end plate 27 that the relay construction 20 will operate as a El relay which is a relay construction that is normally open with an upstream orifice.

When the gasketrmember 31 is rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 16 and disposed intermediate the housing part 25 and the plate 26 while the flexible diaphragm 30 is disposed intermediate the plate 26 and the end plate 27 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 17, the indicating means 101 on the end plate 27 will indicate that the relay construction is acting as a B2 relay which is a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

When the gasket member 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 20 and disposed between the housing part 25 and plate 26 with the fleixble gaskeet 30 being disposed between the plate 26 and the end plate 27, the indicating means 101 on the end plate 27 indicates that the relay will act as a B1 relay which is a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

Therefore, it can be seen that by merely changing the position'of one plate part 31 of the housing means 21 of the relay construction 20, the single relay construction 20 can be utilized to operate as a different type of relay construction.

The particular details and operation of the relay construction 20 when acting as a normally open relay construction with an upstream orifice, as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice and as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice will now be described.

When the gasket'3l is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 11, l2, l3 and 14, it can be seen that the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 is disposed in alignment with

passages

102 and 103 formed respectively in the

plate members

26 and 30 which, in turn, are disposed in alignment with a passage 104 formed in the housing part 25 and leading from the lower surface 105 thereof to the port 34, the passage having an orifice or restrictor portion 106 disposed therein in advance of the port 34. Thus, it can be seen that the passage 104 has an orifice 106 therein and not only is in fluid communication with the port 34 but is also in fluid communication with the passage 62 that leads to the fluid operating chamber 61 for operating'the movable valve means 73 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cutout 81 in the gasket 31 also has a branch part 107 disposed in fluid communication with aligned ports 108 and l09formed respectively in the plate means 26 and 30 which, in turn, are disposed in alignment with the passage 80 that has previously described and that is formed in the housing part and le'adsto the port As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the relay construction 20 when acting as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice has the port 33 interconnected to the fluid supply 84, the port 32 interconnected to the vent 87. The port 34 is interconnected to a detector 110 which when the same isnot detecting a certain condition will be in an open condition and thus interconnecting the port 34 to a vent or to the atmosphereand when the detector is detecting a certain condition, the detector 110 will close and thereby causethe port 34 to be disconnected from the vent or the atmosphere. The port 35 is interconnected to a fluid operated alarm or signal indicating means 111 which will be operated only if the relay construction 20 remainsin the normally open condition as illustrated in FIG. 13.

With the detector in the open" condition illustrated in FIG. 13, it can be seen that the fluid supply is adapted to pass through the open valve seat 73 to the port 35 and thus will operate the alarm or indicator 111 to fully indicate that the relay construction 20 has not transferred as the detector is not detecting a certain condition. I

Since the passage 80 is interconnected to the supply port 33 and is feeding through the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 not only into the chamber 79 to cause the flexible diaphragm to balance the poppet valve member 40 and thus maintain the same in the closed condition against the stationary valve seat 39 in the manner previously described so that the supply 84 cannot be interconnected to vent 87, but also the :passage 80 is interconnected by the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 to the passage 104. However, since the passage 104 has the orifice106 therein the fluid pressure from the passage 80 bleeds through the orifice 106 into the passage 104 and is vented through the port 34 by the open detector 110 so that no fluid pressure can build up in the chamber 61 to cause the relay construction 20 to transfer.

When the detector 110 does detect a certain condition, the same closes in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14 and thereby blocks the interconnection of the port 34 to vent or atmosphere so that the fluid pressure bleeding through the orifice 106 into the passage 104 can now be directed by the passage 62 to the chamber 61. When the pressure builds up sufficiently in the chamber 61, the pressure causes the relay 20 to transfer by moving the movable valve member 73 downwardly to be closed by the valve member 40 while opening the valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14 whereby the supply 84 is now disconnected from the port 35 -.by the closed valve seat 73 while the alarm 111 is interconnected through the now open valve seat 39 to the vent 87 whereby the alarm 111 is turned off and will remain turned off as long as the relay construction 20 remains in the position illustrated in FIG. 14 by the detector being in its closed position.

Should the detector subsequently move to an open" condition thereof, the same will then connect the port 34 back to the atmosphere or vent whereby the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 will be vented and the relay construction will return to the position illustrated in FIG. 13 in the manner previously described.

When the gasket 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 15; 16 and l7,the cutout 81 therein is only interconnecting the passage 104 to the chamber 79 which is always in fluid communication with the port 32 through the previously described housing opening 49. Since the flexible diaphragm 30 is now disposed between the

plate parts

26 and 27 as illustrated in FIG. 15, the diaphragm'i30 no longer will act as a balancing diaphragm and merely acts as a seal closing off the various openings in the plate 26 as illustrated.

With the gasket 31 disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, the relay construction 20 will now act as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice when the same is interconnected into a system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.

' In particular, the supply 84 is interconnected to the port 32 while the vent 87 is interconnected to the port '33. The detector remains interconnected to the port 34 while the alarm 111 remains interconnected to the port 35. I

Thus, when the detector is not detecting a certain condition so as to be open and thereby interconnecting the port 34 to the atmosphere or vent, the relay construction 20 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 18 wherein the poppet valve member 40 is fully seated against the fixed valve seat 39 so that the supply 84 is not interconnected to the alarm 111 and the alarm 111 is interconnected through the open valve member 73 to the vent 87'to indicate that the detector is not detecting a certain condition. 7

However, when the detector 110 does detect a certain condition, the'same closes and the fluid pressure from the inlet port 32 that passes into the chamber 79 and the cutout 81 in the gasket 31 to the passage 104 and through the orifice 106 can now build up in the chamber 61 of the relay and cause the same to transfer in themanner illustrated in FIG. 19 by moving the movable valve member 73 downwardly to close the same and open the poppet valve member 40 away from the valve seat 39. Thus, the supply port 32 isnow interconnected to the alarm port 35 through the open valve seat 39, the vent 87 being closed by the movable valve seat 73 being closed by the poppet valve member 40. Accordingly, the alarm or indicator 111 will now indicate that the relay construction 20 hasbeen transferred by the detector 110 having detected a certain condition and will remain on until the detector 110 is again movedto an open condition to vent the fluid pressure from the chamber 61 and permit the relay construction to move back to the condition illustrated in FIG. 18.

When the gasket 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, it can. be seen that another cutout l12 therein now interconnects the passage 104 in the housing means 25 to another passage 113 formed in the housing 25 and leading to the port 35, such cutout 112 not being in fluid communication with the chamber 79.

Thus, with the gasket 31 in the, position illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the relay construction 20 can now act as a normally closed relay construction with a downstream orifice when the same is interconnected into a fluid system in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23.

In particular, the fluid supply 84 is interconnected to the port 32, the vent 87 is interconnected to the port 33. a fluid operated control device 114 is interconnected to the port 35 and a fluid pressure signal generating device 115 is interconnected to the port 34.

When the signal device 115 is not directing a fluid signal into the port 34 so that no fluid pressure will occur in the chamber 61, the supply port 32 is blocked by the poppet valve member 40 being disposed in a closed condition against the valve seat 39 so that the control device 114 is interconnected through the opened valve seat 73 to the vent 87.

However, when the signal device 115 sends a fluid signal into the port 34, the orifice 106 permits the fluid pressure to build up in the chamber 61 and thereby cause the relay to transfer in the manner illustrated in FIG. 23 wherein the valve member 40 is moved away from the valve seat 39 to interconnect the fluid supply 84 to the control device 114 so that the control device 114 can now be operated as the vent 87 is blocked by the now closed valve seat 73.

Should the signal device 115 now terminate the signal to the port 34 once the relay construction 20 has transferred in the manner illustrated in FIG. 23, the relay construction 20 will remain locked in the transferred condition of FIG. 23 because the fluid pressure now being directed to the control port 35 by the opened valve seat 39 also flows through the passage 113 and the cutout 112 in the gasket member 31 to the passage 104 and thus to the chamber 61 to maintain the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 and thereby hold the relay construction 20 in the transferred condition of FIG. 23 even ifthe signal device is subsequently turned off.

Therefore, in order to cause the relay construction 20 to return back to the position illustrated in FIG. 22, the fluid pressure in the chamber 61 must be vented in some manner, such as by having the signal device 115 subsequently interconnect the port 34 to a vent either manually or automatically as the case may be.

Accordingly, it can be seen that by merely changing the position of the part 31 relative to the housing means 21, the relay construction can be adapted to act as a general purpose relay, a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice, or a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

Further, by providing the indicating means 100 on the selectively repositioned part 31 and providing the coding means 101 on the end plate 27, a user of the relay construction 20 can readily determine what operating function will be provided by the relay construction 20 in any of the assembled conditions thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved relay construction, but also this invention provides an improved method for making such a relay construction or the like.

While the forms of the invention now preferred have been described and illustrated as required by the Patent Statutes, it is to be understood that other forms can be utilized and still come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relay construction comprising a housing means having port means, valve means disposed in said housing means, and passage means in said housing means interconnecting with said port means and said valve means, said housing means including means thereof adapted to be selectively repositioned for changing the path arrangement of said passage means and, thus, the

operating function of said relay construction, said housing means comprising a plurality of sections disposed in stacked aligned relation, said means adapted to be selectively repositioned comprising one of said housing sections that is disposed intermediate the outer sections of said stack thereof, said one housing section comprising a flexible gasket member that seals adjacent housing sections together in said stack thereof.

2. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one section of said housing means comprises plate means.

3. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate has indicator means thereof to indicate its assembled position.

4. A relay construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said indicator means comprises a tab on said plate means that projects outwardly of said housing means.

5. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing means has a longitudinal axis, said plate means being adapted to be rotated about said axis to said selected positions thereof.

6. A relay construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing means has a longitudinal axis, said plate means being adapted to be disposed in different stacked relation along said axis to said selected positions thereof.

7. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to operate as a general purpose relay.

8. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice.

9. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice.

10. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to oper ate as normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

11. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to, operate as a general purpose relay, another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with a downstream orifice, and another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

12. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the outer sections of said stack thereof has a key indicator means thereon to indicate the various operating positions of said one section.

13. A relay construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said one section has a tab thereon that projects out from said stack in each operating position thereof, said key indicator means on said one outer section illustrating the various tab projecting positions of said one section.

Claims

1. A relay construction comprising a housing means having port means, valve means disposed in said housing means, and passage means in said housing means interconnecting with said port means and said valve means, said housing means including means thereof adapted to be selectively repositioned for changing the path arrangement of said passage means and, thus, the operating function of said relay construction, said housing means comprising a plurality of sections disposed in stacked aligned relation, said means adapted to be selectively repositioned comprising one of said housing sections that is disposed intermediate the outer sections of said stack thereof, said one housing section comprising a flexible gasket member that seals adjacent housing sections together in said stack thereof.

10. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to operate as normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.

11. A relay construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein one selected position of said means of said housing means causes said relay construction to operate as a general purpose relay, another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally open relay with an upstream orifice, another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with A downstream orifice, and another selected position of said means of said housing means causing said relay construction to operate as a normally closed relay with an upstream orifice.