US3796944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-controller apparatus with controller limiting
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-02
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1993-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A process controlling apparatus includes a plurality of controllers wherein a selected controller regulates a single controlled element. The input signal of an amplifier in the unselected controller, is so limited by an associated limiting circuit that the output signal thereof does not deviate more than a predetermined percentage from the output signal of the selected controller which is regulating the controlled element.
Inventors
- 👤 P Bur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:55
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B11/00; G05B11/01; G05B11/32; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/20; G05D16/2006; G05D16/2013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A process controlling apparatus comprising: a first process controller including a reset action circuit, said first process controller having input means for receiving a first input signal representative of a process variable, and an output means for providing a first controller output signal; a second process controller including a reset action circuit, said second process controller having input means for receiving a second input signal representative of a second process variable, and an output means for providing a second controller output signal; a selector circuit having first and second input terminals connected to said output means of said first and second controllers, respectively, and an output terminal to provide a selected signal, representative of one of said first and second controller output signals, for application to a utilization device; a first limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means connected to said first controller output means and said selector circuit output terminal, respectively, said first limiting circuit including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said first controller, said first limiting circuit further including means for comparing said first controller output signal with said selected signal and providing a first reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said first limiting circuit whenever said first controller output signal deviates from said selected signal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said selected signal; a second limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means connected to said second controller output means and said selector circuit output terminal, respectively, said second limiting circuit including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said second controller, said second limiting circuit further including means for comparing said second controller output signal with said selected signal and providing a second reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said second limiting circuit whenever said second controller output signal deviates from said selected sigNal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said selected signal; said first and second reset inhibiting signals being effective to inhibit further reset action in said first and second controllers, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
A process controlling apparatus comprising: a first process controller including a reset action circuit, said first process controller having input means for receiving a first input signal representative of a process variable, and an output means for providing a first controller output signal; a second process controller including a reset action circuit, said second process controller having input means for receiving a second input signal representative of a second process variable, and an output means for providing a second controller output signal; a selector circuit having first and second input terminals connected to said output means of said first and second controllers, respectively, and an output terminal to provide a selected signal, representative of one of said first and second controller output signals, for application to a utilization device; a first limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means connected to said first controller output means and said selector circuit output terminal, respectively, said first limiting circuit including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said first controller, said first limiting circuit further including means for comparing said first controller output signal with said selected signal and providing a first reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said first limiting circuit whenever said first controller output signal deviates from said selected signal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said selected signal; a second limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means connected to said second controller output means and said selector circuit output terminal, respectively, said second limiting circuit including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said second controller, said second limiting circuit further including means for comparing said second controller output signal with said selected signal and providing a second reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said second limiting circuit whenever said second controller output signal deviates from said selected sigNal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said selected signal; said first and second reset inhibiting signals being effective to inhibit further reset action in said first and second controllers, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first limiting circuit further includes means for selectively varying said predetermined percentage of said selected signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first limiting circuit includes high limiting means for providing said first reset inhibiting signal whenever said first controller output signal deviates in a relatively positive direction from said selected signal by said predetermined percentage of said selected signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first limiting circuits includes low limiting means for providing said first reset inhibiting signal whenever said first controller output signal deviates in a relatively negative direction from said selected signal by said predetermined percentage of said selected signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first limiting circuit further includes: high limiting means for providing said first reset inhibiting signal whenever said first controller output signal deviates in a relatively positive direction from said selected signal by said predetermined percentage of said selected signal; low limiting means for providing said first reset inhibiting signal whenever said first controller output signal deviates in a relatively negative direction from said selected signal by said predetermined percentage of said selected signal; and switching means selectively operable to connect one of said high limiting means and said low limiting means to said first limiting circuit to become operative therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second limiting circuits each include: first amplifier means having input terminals for receiving said selected signal and said first controller output signal, and an output terminal for providing a difference signal representative of the difference between said selected signal and said first controller output signal; threshold signal generating means operative to provide a threshold signal; second amplifier means having input terminals connected to said first amplifier means and said threshold signal generating means, said second amplifier means further having an output terminal for providing an output signal, whenever said difference signal deviates in a predetermined direction from said threshold signal by a predetermined amount; means responsive to said second amplifier output signal for providing said first reset inhibiting signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first limiting circuit further includes means for selectively varying the magnitude of said threshold signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first limiting circuit further includes means for effectively changing said predetermined direction in which said difference signal must deviate from said threshold signal by said predetermined amount in order to provide said second amplifier output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A combination comprising: a process controller including a reset action circuit, said process controller having input means for receiving an input signal representative of a process variable, and an output means for providing a controller output signal for application to a utilization device; and a limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means, said first input terminal means of said limiting circuit being connected to said output means of said process controller, said second input terminal means of said limiting circuit being arranged to receive an electrical signal representative of a monitored condition, said limiting circuit also including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said process controller; said limiting circuit further including means for comparing said controller output signal with said electrical signal, and providing a reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said limiting circuit whenever said controller output signal deviates from said electrical signal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said electrical signal, said reset inhibiting signal being effective to inhibit further reset action in said process controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
A combination comprising: a process controller including a reset action circuit, said process controller having input means for receiving an input signal representative of a process variable, and an output means for providing a controller output signal for application to a utilization device; and a limiting circuit having first and second input terminal means, said first input terminal means of said limiting circuit being connected to said output means of said process controller, said second input terminal means of said limiting circuit being arranged to receive an electrical signal representative of a monitored condition, said limiting circuit also including an output terminal connected to said reset action circuit of said process controller; said limiting circuit further including means for comparing said controller output signal with said electrical signal, and providing a reset inhibiting signal at said output terminal of said limiting circuit whenever said controller output signal deviates from said electrical signal in a predetermined direction by a predetermined percentage of said electrical signal, said reset inhibiting signal being effective to inhibit further reset action in said process controller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |