[1]United States Patent Of-fice 3@117@596 3,117,586 it,UTCYt.,tTIC CO@NTROLLER l,cuis T. Cle@-,@,er, Denver, Cclo., assignor to the United S'@ates of Arii-erica as represented by the Secretary of the Interioz Filed June 30, 1961, Ser. No. 121,259 11 Claim,-. (Cl. 137-78) -under Title 35, U.-Q. Code (1952) see. 266) The in-@,ention herein described and claimed may be 10 rr,anufaettire@@l and i-ised by or for the Government of the Unitecl States of America for governmental ptirposes vvitl@otit ',he payment of royal'ties thereo-Li or therefor. The @nventioii relates lo improvements in an - electrical appara-tl"s responsive to s--nals produced by mechanisr@is 15 ser@sj:tive to chan----s in ambient conditions occurri-iig at ranc!om times ar@d having varyin.- periods of di-iration, and P@,.ad-e operab'@e th-'r-@by to deli,,,er output signals to a coii'croilable device. Output si.-nals received by the controllable dev:@Ce d-@termine the duration of its operative 20 state, as well as the frequency w,@'th wliich such operations are initia'ei. Comprising the electrical appa-atls of tl-e present inver@,@io--q are a plurality of switchable and acijustable elements op.-rable io fix the duration of the o@c,tl,,Lit si@nal, as well as to determine in E,.ccordance with 25 the dtiration of tlip- s'-I-ials prodiced t-,y the sensing mechaiiisms, the effectiv--ness ol,@ stich si,-.Ials in - producin.@ an olttput from the apparatiis. Accordingly, an object of tl-ie p.-esent invention is to provide a control apparittis operationally sensitive to '.0 ,sif,,nals reiiresenting widely varyin.- am@ bient corditions, and respo-@isively effective to closely de-iqne and maiqtain the dtiratioii of outpat si-nals within a range of tim-@ settings i'Or such output signils. Another ob-icet of tic inventioii is to provide an elec- 35 trical at)paratus capib-@e oi- producin.- in a simple inanner an outpul signal wi-iose characteristics of constant aniplitude and controlled duration, are indep@-ndent of either the arr@plitud,- or dura'Llon of !he input ,ignals delivered to ti,,-@ apparattis by tl,.e s-,iisin@ mechaiiisms associa'Led 40 tlicrewith. A fur'@lh-,r object o4L 'Lh-, invention is to provide an electr:lcal control'@er apparatus havin,@ reliable consistent operation over long p@-riods of tiriie and requirin.,- minirlal @ilainte-@iaiice. 115 Ti'aese and other objects of the iiivention w;@ll be more clearly tind-,rstood from ',he following dcscript-'.on of a pref,--rred embolime,,t of the invertion. + Referrin- o the FIGLJRE o4 the drawirg, th--re is T L shown a circuit diagram of aii apparatls according to 50 the invef)tion, in--Iudin- schematic represeiilatio-@is of input si-,ial gen-@rating mechanisms, aid a controltable device receivin, the oiitput signals produced by the appara@lis. Connected within the circuit arrangei-iien' illus55 tr,ited are a pltirality of terir@ii-ial sets W, X, and Y, assoc7atcd wit'@i correspcndirg t,-rminals W', X', and Y' oq the sensin@ mechanisms, afid a terminal set CD associated with a teriii:nal set C'D' on an arran,-emen" in@luding th-, con'Lrollable device reeCiViD.- the sigral outplit of the - apparattis. Otlier term,'@nal s,-ts 10, 1'-P, aiid iZ e,,re siiown, Go to -which ire cor@nected 6 volt D.C., aid 100 volt D.C. poia;er sotirces, respectively. Element 13 represeits a D.C. to D.C. converter supplied at input tern-t;iials witii ,i. 6 volt D.C. potc@nti,,tl tich as s Lrom a storage battery, 65 and produc;,-i- at output term,@'nals a 10@O volt D.C. poteiltial source for coinec'ioti to the terminals at 12. One foriii of a prior art con-ver'ler suitable for use as cleni-,nt 13 ' cor,7prises a tr ,,ir@sistorized oscillator supplied with the lo@', volta,-e d,,'rect clirrent, and oparable to deliver an 70 A.C. volta.,@e to a rectifier-filter c;,ciiit which changes this A.C. voltage to a substantially ripp,.e-free an-iplified diPatentecld Jan. 14, 1964 2 rect ciirrei,@t volta,,e. Each of t!ie sciising mechaiiisms in response to anibient condit:ons, is e4Tective to control the closure or openiilg of elee'trical contacts to complete or disrlipt circuits ac.,oss the terminal sets of th,- apparatus. An On-Off sivitch Si, ,v@ir@n operaled to On position completes a circuit conn,-cticii between the positive terminal of the 6 volt D.C. soti,-ce to an X termiiial. Under the circumstarces @vhen the mechanisms connected to terininal sets X aiid Y are suitably conditioned, -nd sivitch SI is operated, a eirclit is completed across termi-iials X, Y, and throu,-h line 15, and resistors R3, R2, to coiiiiect th@- source 10 posit;ve tern-iinal to the base circuit Gf an NPN transis'or Vl. This circuit is returned to the miiius termiiial of source 10, throu.-h lines 16 by means of terminal 14 on cleme-,it 13. Tne ai-nplitude of the currei-it to the base circuit of VI is suffici.-nt to cause the 'transistor to conduct through lines 19, 2i and 22, and cause ener.-ization of relay K6 to thereby close the relay's normally open contacts K6 a-b. Operatioii of these relay contacts completes a return line to ihe negttive side of the 100 volt D.C. power circuit foi-n vpr-lous major corriponents of the apparatus. -Lhe ',_Dparatus is thls placed in operating condition and will remain in this condiiion only as long as both start sw,.tch SI, and tiie cortacts in t'iae ser@sing mechanisms connected to the terminals X and Y, are closed. In the ponver soi-irce control eireiiitry to transistor Vl, the base resistor R3 @'s a limiling resistor to prolec" V, froiii an excessive i,.iput si-nal. Ba@-c to emitter resistor R2 is a biasing resistor to hold the operating point of VI steady. A voltage divider form,-d by resistors R4, R5, and IttG coniiected i-ii @) c,reuit to the source 12, by Iiies 16, 17, 13, and to VI by lines 29, 21, 22, det--rmine the proper positive potenial to the collector circuit of VI. To pro,ect the coil of relay K6 from excessive Voiti,@e pealcs which m:@ght build up across this coil durin@, operation o@r the circu@.t, a slatint circuit of diode DI and resistor RI, is coniected across this coil. Condenser C, being effecti,;e as a shuit capacitor across -,--sistors R4, R5, throtigh lines 16, 19, and 20, acts to hold steady the voltage delivered to the collector circuit of VI. Vihen ti-ere is a closure of contacts in the sensin@ir@echanism connnected to termi-,ia,s W, a relay XI is operated through the normally closed coiita-,ts Kg a-b, and K3 c-d of a relay Kg. Th.- relevant circuit connections are completed through lines 23, 24, 25, the X3 coiitacts, li-@es 26, 27, clos,3d coiitacts K6 a-b, ald rega A capacitor bank tiv@- voltage relurn lines 16 and 28 ' 30 in-@ludirig iive condensers C2 tO C6, each one in tu.-n beii-i@, of a pro@@ressively higher rat-,d capacity, aiid a rotatable sw,.tch S2, ftinctions as a 'ci-@ming sele-.tor for determin@'n@ an interval during which there is an effective 07Ltputl I? nal fi-opi the apparatus. Contact XI b-,-, Sig s closed by the opk--raion of relay KI, c,,)-us@@ tle s,-Iected one of the capacitors of bank '110, to char,,e to,,vards the 100 voli D.C. source. This charging circuit is completed through lires 18, 31, the c'osed K, contacts, 32, S21 33, closed cor@tac,Ls X6 a.-b, and return 'ii-iies 16 and Zi to the source T@2. Closed conlacts K, e-f cause c,-@pacitor Cg to char,@e towards 'Lhe 100 volt D.C. source at a rate determined by the tim-, consta-.it of the series ci.r cuil incltiding -apacitor Cg and resistor Rg. This cliar.i-,i.- circuit is completed through Iiii@.s 19, 31, the closed K, contacts, 1,.nes 34, 50, 35, 33, closed co@ita,-"s K6 a-b, and return 1;-ies 16 and 28 to the power soarce iz. i@s is apparent from tie coianections of the resi)ective chtr,-in.- circu;ts, the amourit of -harge each of the cai)acitors rece-'@Ves towards compi t;ng their full or requ';r-,d charge f-,roperation, depe--ds oii the length oit: ime there is a c@osure ol- th@- conta@-t@, :III the sensing circuit across tp-ri-iinals W.
[2]3 In additioii lo il@,e chargiiag eftecis pi7ev,.ously roted, a capacitor C8, charges towards the 100 volt ]D.C. soiirce 12, at a rate d@--lermined by tfie time constant o'l a series circuit irclud;r@g resistors R7, Rs, capaci@'or C8, and the ir.,ipedance of the coil o'l relay K3. The char.-ing circuit niay be traced fro,-n source '.2 through -'@ine 55, terminals W, I;nes 23, 36, 37, 27, closed contacts X6 a-b, and source rc'iurn lines 15 and 23. A capacitor C7 also charges toward the 100 volt D.C. source at a rate deterniined by the 'Lime constant of a series circuit including resistors RI(, Ril, capacitor C7, ard ihe impedance of the coil of relay K4. This circuit may be also traced from source 12 through line 55, terminals W, lines 23, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 35', 33, closed contacts KG a-b, and return lines 16 aild 23 to the negative source 12. T-lic amount of char-e each of the capacitors C8 and C7 rCCeiVCS tOward making them effective, also depends on the length of t;me the se-@ising circu,'@t to terminals W remain closed. In the case of capacitor C7, a control B at variable resistor RI,, ca-@i be adjusted so that capacitor C7 will be effective to operate the coil of a relay K4, over lines 42, 43, at the same time as charged capacitor C8 is effective to operate the coil of relay K3, over lines 37, 44, 45. The charging period ol capacitor Cs is set by conl,rol A on variable resistor R8, so that it may accum,,ilate -,t charge sufficiently large to operate relay K3. Charging periods for cppacitors C7 and C8 are set in this manner for purposes to be hereinafter described. At any time that the seilsing contacts in the circuit across termin-@ils W, olien before 'Lhe charge on capacitor Ca becomes effective to operate relay K3, the coil of relay K, is cut off from the power source 12, a-@id is deener-ized. As a result normally closed contacts K, d-e return to normal atid capacior Cg discharges throu_2h the series circuit conpleted by conlacts K, d-e, Iiiies 46, 47, coil of relay K5, lines 41, 50, Rg, and line 34. The discharge energizes relay K5, wh:ch opera'Les to close @.ts contacts K5 a-b, and K5 c-d. A circuit completed tlarough these closed contacts of re]-,ty K5, aid lines 35, 33, a capacitor of bani@ 30, li@ie norinally closed contacts K, a-b, ,i.id lincs 49 ind 43, enegizes the coil of relay K2 tO operatio.-ial co-,iditioi. A dischar.-e period for capacitor Cg is set to be suffic;er@'lly lo-.i.- to permit relay K2 tO be operational loiig enou,@h to peri.Orm its co-@itrol l.Unetioii. A co-itrol C on variable resistor Rg is adjustable to set a time consta-..it for the charging circuit of the capac'tor Cg s,,ich that it will r--ceive an operational char.-c sufi'icie-iit to energize relay K5 during any operatio-@ially pcrtinen'c closure Deriod of the sensiri.@ cor@tacts in the circui'L across terminals W. It is evident that the larger the capic,.tance value of the individlal capacitor selected by S2 from amoti.- elements C2 tO C6, the longer the operat:lonal period for r.-loy K2. Nevertheless, aii adjustineiit of the co.,itrol C may reduce the discharge time of capacitor Cg siich ihat relay X5 becomes inoperative early to slior',cii@hel,ime@h,i'cr.- layK2iSoperative. Coiisequently the seleciable 7ar@-e of tiiiie -o-.riods for relav K2 operatio, iii qccordan,@c iv;@'+Lh capacilo-rs C2 tO C6, may be limited by overridiig effect of a@i adjustment of control C. Rel@ay K., operat@,s to c-lose coiitacts K2 a-b, and @K2 c-d, which completes a series circuil thro@Ligh Iiiie 51, ar,,d c-'rcu't of tli-- controilable device connected across term;-ials CD, throu,,,Ii tiae 6-volt D.C. sotirce 10, positive to iiegative across term,'@nals 12, aid line 5-'-, 'io eitect operation of the co,-itrollable device. Diode D2 is piaced across the normaily op-,ii contacts of relay K2 to protec'c tlicm frorii any areiri- which may OCCUF DLIC to ',h@ nature of the co-@itrollable device. A manliai'@y operated tes'u sw@it-,h S3 iS cor-n-@cted across l@he liori-ially o-)cii contacts of rf,@lay K2- -Tt cir be opera'Led at -@)ily t;mc, irres-,ective of 'Li%c operaLio-i,-.1 state of the apparalt,@s, to deliver a control signal 'Lo Lhe controlled device. Reference is agai- made to capaciior C7 which upon receipt of sufficie,@it ciiarge to enable it to cause a curreiit 3,117,586 4 of high enouph value to flow tlirou,-h li--,ics 42, 43, 1-@id the coil of relay X4, opetates this rel@ay to cause con,acts K@ a-b to cose. The closing of corita-,ts K4 a-b short circiiits ,he coil of relay K5 to render @t irorcralive during this shorting period. ConLrol B o-Ti variable resistor P,11, @ind other fixed values of tie associated circuit are operative to determi-@le a time coqstant for capaci'Lor C7 in its series circuit includiig RIO, RI,, and the impedance of re-ay K4, such that ,he pcriod of this tir@ic constant is 10 relatively short in respect to the period of ',he time cons-ta-@it determined in the series circi-,it comprising R7, R3, C8, for capacitor C8- Since capacitor C7 iS o,,3erative to repeatedly charge and discharge in short time intervals, the aforementioiaed timing relatioiiship between capacitors 15 C7 and Ca, rnakes possible a coincid-,-iital control by the joint action of the capacitors over a w@@de range of timid., per;ods to which capacitor C,3 may be set by control A. However, any adjustment settii@ the rela'Lively long char-i--,iperiod for capacitor Cg, is made E-;o as not to be 20 an exact ir@tiltiple of the chargi@-i.- 1)e-.-iod set for capacitor C7. This is do@ie to better achieve tl,.e hereinafter more f,,illy e--pla@'ned operation of capaci,or C7 to be effectivc3 ir@ rcnd,-rininoperative the d,4sDe@is@'@ng coiilrol determined by the operation o-l@ capacitor Cg ar@d r.-lay K5. Tiiat is, 25 to provide for the dischar.-ing of capacitor C7 tO Opcrate its associated relay K4 to short-out the coil of r-,Iay X5 at an appropriate time to avoid relay K5 beingn-iade operative to any si.-nificant extent by a concurreitt discharge from clpacitor Cg. 3o In the eve,.it that the sensing contacts in the circuit across terminals W rema@*@n clo--cd for a neriod long enotigl@-. for capg@citor CB to receive suffic;ept char.-c to cause a current of hi-h enougli value to flow through the coil of relay K3, the latter operates to cause its norinally closed 0- contacts K3 o-b, alid K3 c-cl, to open. Because of the qui-'c large ti-tne conslatit ol. the series circuit R7, R8 and C3 which charges capacitor CB, this capacitor wi'@l be the 1,-,st one of all the capacitors then ebarging, to receive i charge sufficieiitly lar,@e to operate @."Ls associated relay K3. 40 Thus all other charg".n,- ca-,.-)aci'ors will already b-, 1-iolding aTi operational charge whe-@i rel@ay K3 operates. The openiilg of contacts K3 a-b, and K@, c-d, opeiis the operating circu-it of relay KI, and returns the contacts of this reiay to th,ir normal state. Duc to the closing of 45 norn-ially closed colitacts K, @-e, the charging cycle of ea-oacitor Cg is intel-rupted, aid there is a disch-,trge of this capacitor tlirougli the coil of relay X5, in 'he manner previously explained. Operation of relay K5 closcs its coitacts K5 a-b, and K5 c-d, to place relay K2 in OP50 craL-'@olial condition. However, under these particular cirei-imstances reiay X5 either does Pot onei'ate as described, or its operation is almost immed;a-'ely interrtipted as the result of operational sequences in the circuitry associ-,te@d with capacitor C7 a-@2d relay K4. Althou,@h t'.ia 55 coicurrent clostire of contac'@s K, a-b, also interrupts tiie ch-,irg;Ti- cycle of tli-, sele-.t-d capacitor of bank 30, a portion of the . charge circuit of tiais seand c'@oses d;s lecied capacitor through th,- coil of relay K2, this relay d.ocs r@ot operate as a result of this capac:tor d;schirgo 60 si-@ice contacts K5 a-b, and K5 c-d are -tiow op-,n in this dischar.-,- cirCLlit. As previously iio'Led, preset adjustmenfs of co-qlrols A ind B determipe the chi-..- g:ng periods of capacitors Ca and C7 siich that tiiere will be an almosl simultailcous dis65 charge of these capacitors through the co,'Is ol therespective r-,Iays K3 and r-14 associated the-ewi!h. Moreover, the p,-r-lod of tipie 'that capacitor C7 dischar.-cs ' Ilzou@-h the co4l of relay K4, is set to be long-,r thaii the tiii-ie period duriig wh;ch any capacitor selected by sviitch S2 dis@o c-harges through the coil Of re'@ay K2- 1, is th,-re'orc: o'@,ideiit ' h alin a-.iy part;cupr clos@ore cycle for the contactsi in the circu:it across termiiials W, relay K@ wiil not be@ operaed once capacitor C7 baS operated relay K4, even. thou,-h the capacitor becomes fully discharged aiid relay 75 K4 is r-.Ieased to its normal state. Couseq!ie@i'Lly,.suitable;
[3]5 ,idjusiments of co-.itrols A a@nd B in the timing circuits of ca,-;,-citors C8 a-.id C7, determine the maximum time ' ds for deteri-.qiniii- ar@y output sigiial at terminals peric CD. Normally, the cireti-itry affected by the iiiput signals ,-C-iicrateci by the closure of '@he sensing contacts circu;ied across terriinals W, is r,-turiied to its normal coildition follow;ng the openiiig of such contacts, and the delivery of any additio-@ial operational signals to terminals CD ,iid the contro'ILble device is terminated. In addition, the al)parattis will remain inoperative until the sensing cont.icts across terminals W are again closed. In rare inst.mces, when the closare of the con,acts across W ,tnd 'che coritinuing discharge operation of condenser Ca to operate relay K3, coincide, there will still be no operational output since the apparatus will respond to sucli contact closures only when relay K3 is in its normal co,id:tioii. However, due to the random nature of the occurence of the ciosure of the contacts across W, this c,-Il-icident operational cond-tion would result only in a very minor reduction of sensitivity of the apparatus to ilic varyinambielit conditions being sensed at the contacts across terminals W. Ambient conditiods such as sensed by the dev;ces coiinected across terminals X and Y of the api.Daratus, are the overriding coiitrol governing the over-all operation of the appa,:atus. Referring to the figure of tne draw-t is evident that if the coitacts across terminals X or Y are opened, the operatiii.- power for relay K6 is cut oft- since the power circuit comprising el-,Me-Ilts VI, Cl, and res:istors R2 lo R6, will become ineffective. Conseq,,i,,n'Lly, contacts KG a-b will op@-ii to termii-tate the 100 volt D.C. input sun ly to the various capacitors p and rclays of the apparatus. Tb-e ma-@iually operated control switch S2, Used to select the des-,red tliiie duration for each of the repeated opemtions of tie controllable device connected to termir@als CD, may be posit:@bned to make a selection of a time du.-ation, either during the operation of the apparatus, or at a tir@ie when th-.re is no operation. Manu-illy o, -,era@,(,d co@-itrols A, B, and C, which are in effect calibration colitrols presetting operational limits with re,:)ects to the varyir,.g ambient conditions sensed by the contacts of the device connected in circuit across t.-rmi@ials W, are adj'usted before operqtion of the apparatus. Use is niqde of paralleled contacts on relays K2, K3, a.iid K5, to assure positive co@itacting when the relay op--r,@'Lin,- cirei-iits are made operatively eiyective. An iiicr,- ase in tl-e reliab-'@liLy of operat;on of tt'ie apparafus is achieved thereby. An ex-,mplary illustratio,.i of the operatioii of t@te appa,,at-Lis according to 'he irven@@ic.-i, as a@i aulomat;c contro'ler un,i for a d,.'spenser of fa@@y alcohol, is g'Lven in con@n,-ct'Lon with the sclier@,iat;c showi-@ig on tiae upper par' of ',he iq1r@re of the drawing. As.,oc;a@ed witli contaC4. W, @ ",z in a-@i anemomaper arrari,-.-n-iont 60, an-@l wi-h coiitacts Y' is a w; d d'@re V .n ctioii c mecha2,isiii 70. Aii arm, i-igen-icii@ 2-0 com,-;r:is-'nl- a coii,'--o'lla'ol,,@ d;speiis;ng device ,,-,id a clos-@c'@ taiilc s$o.-are fac,.'Iitv 82, is nrov:ded w',h a 1-@i-,j.-ctiry inanomcer sructure Q.3 coiincc."Cd io s,,,,@is-@ -@Lhe pressure at 'Lli@- iipper aDd lower ciids of the s'orag,-@ taiik, a-.@i" 'to ind'iC,-t'e ti7io lev,-l of the fatty ilcobo'l stipp,y therei@-.. An i@-ilet 34, or@ 'the storige tank 9,2 rray be opened 'lo i)a@s ,i supply o'L fat@Y alcotiol to the tank, a,-id a p'@pe @.5 ;@,lso on the 'lank prov-idtas a conr@eellio@l frojii 'Lh-. ta--k to L coi-i-Lainer oll ;n-.rt --,s uiider presstire, A 9cw s.3r-,ty r@ozz"Q 8C- tl@ the end of a coidiii@ leadir.,,g 'co s@or,-,,ge taiilc 82, is coni,rol'@ed by a coiiveTiLiaiial valve C@7, havin@ i's s'Lem 83 as part of a core in a soleiioid 89. Termir@als C'D' gre c--nn,ected ',o leads fr--ii-i the crids of t,'ie solei,,oiet. Atached to arm 90 of lie r.,ia@-iomeer s@r,-lctu,re 33, is a mercury level s-.nsi-i- switch rdearis 91-, wh@L@@h remains closed to comple',e a c-@rea;t ac,,-oss @er6 minals X' as lo@-ig as the @-ninometer indicates an adeqtlate level of liquid fatty a@cohol in storage tank 82. 'vvind direction mechan,'@Sm 70, comprising the usual vaiie eleiiieiit 73 rotatiii.- a shaft 74, coooerates with a slidin- contact means e!ectrically connected to termiiials Y'. El@emeiit 71- of this contar-t meaiis is a fl,-@t conductin.@ strip formed as an arcuat-- segment oi about 90 T@ie strip is fixed in position qbout Llie axis of shaft 74 as its arcuat@- cer@ler, such that @'t -.s in the path of the pre10 vailin@ off-shore wind. A contaetin- finger elerrlent 7@ atlached to rowe with t'iac shaft 74 is aligned to slide on strip 72 only when the vai-ie 73 is direct-.d to indicate a wind d,r-,ctio-,i definiiig the a@,@oresaid prevail@@'n,- wli-@d within an arc of 90 de,-rc,-s. Appropr@'@ate leads from con15 t-a-,t ciements 71, '2, connec't tiiem to term@nals Y'. 1,-t th-- aiiemon-xe'cer 60, the shaft 62 which roiates i@i accordance with wind v-,Iocity, surports an actuator cam 61 cooperating v,,ich normally o:)en sw:,',ch coilac,s As is evident from tic dra@v,'@llg, 11-@e cam 61- wiil mai@itain 20 the contacts 63 c'losed for a i)criod of time upoii eac',l r-@volution of the shait, the 1,-ngtli of such period varyin.inversely with the ar@gular velocity of the rotatina. shaft. Contacts 63 are connec'ied to t--rmina.s W' 'oy r@i-,ans of the usual leads. 25 Oper,,,ion of the over-all apparatus requires that bursts of faty alcohol be dispe@@sed throu-,h nozzl@- 86 as a i-nist or spray of particles, into a wi-@id of proper direction and su@ltable ve'@oc'ity. In place on the shore oil a lake or olher wE,,t,-r stora.-e facil-;ty, 'this api-,aratus opcrates to saoply 3( tl-,e fatty alcohol SDray into a wind blowinl- on to t'-qe water from 'he silore. 'Elic inist o,@ fatty alcohol in the wijid settles Ps a ilr@e @-,owdery I substanc,- oii the surface of the water, to j'orm a moiiomo.,e-,ular layer thereoii. It has been demoistrated that a layer of @,';s nat-,ire 35 on i water surface ;s cilective to retard evaporation. For a fiirtber explanation of this pheiiomenon, reference m,-,y be made to a coperd;iig appli--ation Serial No. 121,261, of even date, by Florey et al., and assigiied to the in "his cas--. 40 To preoare the controller f(-,r operation, contact means 91 is posi@ioned on t@,e ar@m 90 of the mLr@ome',@-r -uch tlla+ +Iiis means will be op--n c,.reiii'ed when the I.--vel of ftie supply of fatly alcohol in storage 51 falls beicw a predetermiticd hei,-hl--. Terminals W', Y', X' aid C'D' 45 of the 60, 70, and o",I, are joined to th,-ir cor@ respoi-iding torm:lnals W, Y, X, ar@d CD on the coiilroller apparatus. With an adequate supply of fatty alcohol in s,orage tara 82, and an appro,,).,i,.ite ofi-shore - ,vi@id Dositionirig vane 73, switch elemerts 91, and 71, 72, are @f@ec50 tive to comp'lete c:@rcui@'s across terminals X and Y. To ir-litiate opera'@-ions in tl,.e controlier ap@@arallus, swilch S, is shifted to On, ' o c'iose its contacts and coirpicte a circuit from the 6 volt D.C. source 10@ to tr@e relay KB p@-wer circuit coiiiT,)risir@ trans;stor V,. Relay K6 iS 55 e@iergized to close ills co-@l @ acts K6 a-b, whereby re,urn c-@rcuits to ',he n,-,,ative term:llal of th.-- 100 vol'e power ,our.-e are prepared for allowi--,i 'I g ti -- s-abscoi-le@,..t op,-ration of reiay KI, and tic cliar.@:,r,@ of the sel-,cl@ed capaci'Lor in baik 30. and can-acitors Cg, C3, and C,,. For tho contro','icr of the preser@t exo,.mT)le, operallion,,ii 60 l@ tat-, to be imposed in 'che -Iis,,)-@nsin@ ,ic fat@ Lm:' .3ns - I of t' Y alcoho'l are that eacb bLT.-st b-, of- co-ris-La-iit cl-crat;o.@, a-rd that there be no d;sper,.s-'@ng at wi.,id veloei@,'cs above 20 miles per hour, aild belovr 3 miles per hour. Ac-,ord'@ril-ly, 65 the appropriat-- ol?eraliorpi ebaracte.-isc;cs lor tic arternom@ eter coii';rolled electric-,tl s4,ructure compi-IS!'i'l@ CO.11tacts W, are ,uch that at the wind speed ol' about three miles per hour, tlie cortacts remain in eircuil making closure for about 29 seco@ids oi-it of 145 seconcis belweei 70 eacil mak;n,- of con,@a-,t, and at the wind sp-.,-d olabout twen,y m;@es per hotir, contacts rer,-iain i,@i cj:rcu; making c'iosur,- for about 11 seconds out of 55 secoids between caeii mak-in.@ oj' contaci. FurLher, it would be found that -i@.i th@@s str-oc'ure, 'Lhe na,ure of ,he mechanical 75 ac-qon involved -in the malcin@, of @llic cor@tac@s,- resu',ts
[4]7 ttic d-.sir,-d operat;onil stabili'Ly of the controllerbeinachieved if capacitor char.-In.- was cl@Tec,uated only durin,@ approximately one qtiarter of the conlac-t m,,il@,e or closure period at all wind v-.Iocities of inter.-st. This rp-s,,Tlts in caracitor-charge periods ranging from approxiniately 3 se@oiids at twenty mi!cs por hour wind voloc@.1y, @lo aT)p,- oximately 'o seconds at three m;les p-,r hour wi@qd velocity. Copsequently, the chargin@ Ci@cuiL R7, Rs, Cs, is set in t@ic prese--,it example by adjusf;.Ig th@- control A so that C3 will be sufficiently char@ed a,'ter 'o secorids to discharge through t'ic coil of relay K3, to operate this relay for d-,ener,-iz-iilg Capacitor Cq wh:@ch is s--' to Lhe basic control relay K, repeatedly op@-rate at relat:ively short intervals but at int,-rvals -.io less than the largest capac,.tor discliar,-e settin@, availabl.- on bank '-zO, cooperafes wih capacitor C8 as previously noted, to operale relay K, and to l,ht.,reby short out relay K5 tO i)reven+ dispensi-iig. Ti'iese adjuslments therefore se'c the lowest wind ve'ioc@'.',Y ci-it-off valu-, ,or the co-@iroller. in a simil-,tr manner 1 c cliarging cilzi- h cuit comprisin-, Cg, Rg, and the in-it-@dance of relay K5, is set by adjustin.- the control C in th-:s circuit, to enable Cg to cliar.-e sufficiently in r@o 'ess thai 3 seco,@ids to operate relay K5. This later setti@ng of course d-,Fnes the hi,-h-wind velo--ity cut-off value for the coitroller since at speeds above twenty niles per hour the contacts aL W will not be closed for the req@,,,isite 3 seconds, and relay K5 will not be effective to connect any selected c,,ipacitor of bank 30 to d;scharge through the col of outi)ut control relay K2- To set the tpparatus to control dispensing in bursts of a predetermined cgnstant dL,,ration, sv,,itch S2 is positioncd to select C4 in the capacitor bank 30. No pertinent limitatioiis need be considered in respect to determini--,ig the charging periods req-Liired to charge the various capacitors Of C2 tO CG of ban', -;D, so Ion as they will be charged sufficiently during the shortest closure Deriod o' interest .L of th-, contacts across the W terminais. If by cha-Tice the S2 switch selects to coinec'L in circuit a copacitor of bank 30 which is too large in valae to provide control for the valve coiitrollin.- sGIenoid, the ,.oc@riod of operation of this valve will be a fuiiction of the closure period of the anemometer coptacts across terminals W, and not of the discharge of the T)articul-ar selected capacitor in use. For @the example beiiig coi,.s,',dered, typical soleno:id valve disp-.nsing p-,riods at a wind velocity of ten miles per hou@r, ran.-e from a hi,ah of I second for capacitor C6, to a low of 0.15 second for capacitor C2- Assuming operation of the apparatus in a steady 10 miles an hour wind, thf, shaft 62 rotates to close contacts 63, and capacitors C8 and C7 be.ain to char.-e to the end of operating relays K3 and K4, respectively. Relay K, is operated to close it contacts K, b-c, and K, e-f, and c,tpacitors Cg and C4 begin their charging cycles. Closed contacts K6 ab, maintain the circuit complete from the 100 volt D.C., powp-r source to the varioiis components nGw operated apd chE-.r_gin@.. On op-.nir,,- of the co-.itacts 63 after a tim-. period detemiqed by the velocity of -the wind, c-,pacitor C8 stops charging,and leals accumulated char-c through thF- i-iinedance of the coil of relay K3, but since the charge is ins,,ifficient, does r@ot c@-oerate the relay. Si,milarly capacitor C7 stops oliargin.- and leaks accumulated c'@iar,-e tl-iro@ti.-h the impedance of the coil of relay K4, but does not operate this relay. Relay K, operates to close its normally closed contacts K, a-b, and K, d-e, ..id as a result capacitor Cg discharges tbrough the co" of relay K5 to operate this relay. Char.-ed capacitor C4 ,n-Lay nov@ discliarge through contacts K5 a-b, and K, c-d, a-Tid the coil of relay K2 tO oijcrate this relay, closincontacts K2 a-b. and K@, c-d, v,,Iaer6bv power Source'-ILO is made available across terminals C'D'. Solenoid t39 is energized to operate val@7e ineans 37, BE to an open condition to permit flow to nozzle 86 as long as capacitor C4 is discharging to operate relay K2. The duration of this flow is @determiried by the value of the time constant of the series discharge circuit for C4, i@- icluding 3,117,586 8 the inipedance of the coil of relay K2- Operatioilal sequences of 'chis nature will occur at re,-ular intervals when the anemometer is driven by tlae steady ten miles -,in hour wind to c-,use contacts 63 to be alternately closed ipnd opened. If the anemometer is'nolild be driven by iitermittent winds of random occurrenc-- reachi-i- velocitics of ten miles per hour, the operational seqiierices and resultant valve control would be as previously described with the 10 exception that ttic frequency of operation wodid be random and the dispensing ol' the 'atty alcohol would comprise flows of fixed duration, bUt Of Tandom ' eqiiency. ir Considerin.- now tiie operation of the apparatus and the devices connected thereto, with wind velocities of suitable 15 d-irection, but fallin.@ below threer@iiles per hour, and with .he storage facil@ity at an adequate level, capacitors Ca aid C7 be.-in to obar.-e to the end of operating relays K3 and K4 respectively. Relay K, now operated closes its normally open contacts to begin the chargin@ cycles for 20 c-apacitors Cg and C4. Dtit to the preset vilues for the time constarits of the series circu-ts R7, R,3, C8 and the impedance of the coil of rela7y K3, and RIO, Rll, C7 and the imnedance of th,- coil of relay K4, Lhe capacitors CB and C7 m7ill ree.@ive charges of sufficient value to operate 25 relays K3 and K4, during the rflatively long closure period of th-. anemometer conlacts 63 due to the low wind velocity. The relays K3 and K4 Will operate practically si,@ni-iltaneously. Operation O' Telay K3 will open the power circuit to .L 30 relay K, and return it to normal condition. As previously explained, this will interrupt the char- ng cycles of capacitors Cg and C,,, and place the capacitors -in their discharge circuits across the coils of the associated rela:,ys. On operatin- relay K@, the coil of relay K5 ivill be shorted to -e e, -@5 i nd r th'e relay inoperative and thus hold open the circuit Nvherein capac;tor C,, would otherwise have dischar- d e through the coil of r-elay K2. Therefore, with Telay K2 inoperative, there is no power circuit connection to the solenoid 89, and the valve rneans 87, 88 remains in posi40 tion to block the flow of fatty alcohol to thenozzle 86. Operatio-@l of the apparatus and devices when the stora,-e facility 81 is sufficiently full, and the wind is in a suitable direction but rising above twenty miles per hour, initiates the usuil chargin.- of capacitors CB and C7, when 45 the contacts 63 are clos-,d. As previously explained relays K3 and K4 do not operate du@ring fqis rapid contact closure and openin.- at high wind velocities. Relay K, do.-s operate to place capacitors Cg and C@ in their discharge circuits across the coils of relays K5 and K2, respectively. 5o However, due to the preset value of the time constant of the series circuit Cg, Rg, the capacitor Cg does not recei@ie sufficient charge to operate relay K5 during this short closure period of the anemometer contacts 63. Failure of Telay K-5 tO operate holds o-oen the circuit throti.-h v;hich 55 capacitor C4 would otherwise discharge to operate the relay K2.. Again no valve Gpening is effected in device SZ, and there is no flow through nozzle $6. Assuming a wind velocity between the ILrnits of 3 to 20 miles per hotir but with the level of slpply in storage tank Go 8Z below the settin, of the closure means 91 on the ma@-iometer 90. Since this condition allows contacts 91 to be opc,.ied, power source lPi is not connected to the power circuit comprising transistor VI, and closure of contacts 63 by the cam 61 on the anemometer, will of 65 ccurse be ineffective in the r@-lay circuits. That is, relay Ke, is not operated, and the iiegative return circuits to power source 12 f@-om the various components of the apparatus,remaiiiinco.-nplete. AIlr elaysinthecircuitryqre placed, or remain in their normal cond'tions, until a proper 70 leirel of fatty alcohol @s supplied to the storage tank 82. A sini:@lar ctit off of the power sources exists when the wind is not in a suitable direction, such as when it is coming from over the water and towards the dispensing device. The break between contacts 71 and 72, caiised 75 tiereby, maintains an open circuit from the sotirce 10 to
[5]9 th-. power eircuit operpting relay K6, and this and the otl--@er relays involved do not operate. Again, the apparatus is inetective to cause oder@@tion of valve 87 to disp,-r,siiig condition. While a preferred on-ibod:r@-,ent of the invention has becii illust,@7-1"ed and describ@-,d hereii-i, it is to be understood thpt the invent-ion is not Iiinited thoreby, but is sv-s-eptible of chailges ir@ forin and detail. 1
