Coltec Industries, Inc.

Apt, Inc.

R Scot Foss

Paul J Glace

Christopher E Wagner

The pneumatic power system of this invention is a process that measures at very high resolution the pressure and/or rate of flow profile at various points throughout the pneumatic circuitry of a piece of pneumatic equipment in a manufacturing environment. Candidates for this process must use compressed air to move, lift, convey, actuate or otherwise influence the manufacturing process. The signature profile allows for high resolution measurement and recording of pressure and/or rate of flow changes throughout the process when the equipment is fully adjusted and tuned to produce product at maximum efficiency and quality. Once optimum adjustments are obtained, the pneumatic profiling process records the pressure profiles throughout the system and uses the model profile as a benchmark to compare all subsequent profile data.

Recording and controlling pneumatic profiles

This invention is a load shaping system which increases the energy efficiency of a compressed air system by eliminating activation of a trim compressor in response to a momentary increase in demand for compressed air. The load shaping system includes a load shaping tank which is supplied by one or more relatively small compressors with compressed air at a pressure higher than that in the main storage reservoir. A computer controlled load shaping valve responds to a decline in air pressure in the main storage reservoir by admitting air from the load shaping tank and by lowering the activation point for the trim compressor. The overall efficiency of the system is increased by avoiding activation of the trim compressor in response to momentary increases in compressed air demand.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

R Scot Foss