Control for gas compression apparatus

Claim 5

A control for discontinuing normal operation of gas compression apparatus including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and storage means and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the occurrence of the undesirable operating condition in said apparatus and for transmitting a first control signal in response thereto; b. first relay means including first valve means having first and second operating positions and further including input means for receiving said first control signal, said control signal operating to place said first valve means in said second operating position; c. first biasing means for maintaining said first valve means of said first relay in said first operating condition in the absence of said first control signal; d. second relay means including second valve means having first and second operating positions and further including first, second and third signal input means thereto and first signal output means therefroM; e. means to selectively provide a second control signal to said first input means; f. means to provide a third control signal from said first relay means when said first valve means is in its second operating position, said signal being transmitted to said second input means of said second relay means, said second control signal operating to place said second valve means of said second relay in said second operating position to thereby communicate said third input means of said second relay means with said output means to provide a fourth control signal therefrom, said communication being maintained in the absence of said second control signal being transmitted to said input means of said second relay means; g. third relay means having first input means thereto to receive said fourth control signal, and third valve means having first and second operating positions, transmission of said fourth control signal to said third relay means operating to place said third valve means in its second operating position to provide a fifth control signal, said fifth control signal being operable to actuate said inlet conduit valve means to interrupt the flow of gas to said compression apparatus, and being further operable to actuate said bypass valve means to vent any discharge of gas from said compression apparatus to thereby place said compression apparatus in an idle state; and h. biasing means to maintain said valve means of said third relay means in its first operating position in the absence of said fourth control signal thereto.

Claim 6

A control for discontinuing normal operation of gas compression apparatus including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and storage means and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the occurrence of the undesirable operating condition in said apparatus and for transmitting a first control signal in response thereto; b. first relay means including first valve means having first and second operating positions and further including input means for receiving said first control signal, said control signal operating to place said first valve means in said second operating position; c. first biasing means for maintaining said first valve means of said first relay in said first operating condition in the absence of said first control signal; d. second relay means including second valve means having first and second operating positions and further including first, second and third signal input means thereto and first signal output means therefroM; e. means to selectively provide a second control signal to said first input means; f. means to provide a third control signal from said first relay means when said first valve means is in its second operating position, said signal being transmitted to said second input means of said second relay means, said second control signal operating to place said second valve means of said second relay in said second operating position to thereby communicate said third input means of said second relay means with said output means to provide a fourth control signal therefrom, said communication being maintained in the absence of said second control signal being transmitted to said input means of said second relay means; g. third relay means having first input means thereto to receive said fourth control signal, and third valve means having first and second operating positions, transmission of said fourth control signal to said third relay means operating to place said third valve means in its second operating position to provide a fifth control signal, said fifth control signal being operable to actuate said inlet conduit valve means to interrupt the flow of gas to said compression apparatus, and being further operable to actuate said bypass valve means to vent any discharge of gas from said compression apparatus to thereby place said compression apparatus in an idle state; and h. biasing means to maintain said valve means of said third relay means in its first operating position in the absence of said fourth control signal thereto.