US1013822A - Heater. - Google Patents

Description

W. E. SHARP.

HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 18, 1911.

Patented Ja11.2, 1912.

Il" mmm i arrested, a coupling member being in con-v WILLIAM E. SHARP, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFAONE-HLF TO GEORGE L ROBBINS, 0F HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

HEATER.

This invention relates to certain improve-.- ments 1n heaters in which the heating agent is a liquid capable of being vaporized, the

vaporl being generated by heat, so that the volatile element' or elements of the liquid pass `to the burner in ther form of a gas. Many liquids are capable ofv bein volatilized by heat, and while my invent-ion is applicable to liquid hydro-carbons generally, 1t is `particularly designed 'to use denatured alcohol as the fuel agent, and in' some instances gases. l Y

My invention. relates more particularly to means for automatically controllingthe supply of liquid and gaseous fuel, and the specific embodiment in which` I have chosen to illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings comprises a liquid supply pipe, a'

va orizin'g conduit,v` to which the liquid fuell is delivered, a distributing -rod or core within the conduit, a valve arranged in the coupling between the supply pipe and a volatilizing expansion tube forming a portion of the conduit and controlled by the expansion of such tube, the liquid fuel being delivered into the conduit in which the vaporization is completed and all particles. of carbon nection with said conduit and having a jet orifice arranged in line with amixing tubein which the gas is mixed with air, and a burner to which the gas is delivered. Such burner has tips or jets so located as to heat the vaporizing members, thegvalve being located outside of the zone of heat and oper-V ated by thev expansion of the heat'ed vaporiz'- ing/tube. Incldental to these features above, Iv provide in the combined carbon-arrester and secondary vaporizing chamber frag-l ments of material, such as shot, preferably loose, which check and collect vall particles of carbon coming over with the gas from Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 18, 1911.

rammed aan. a, rara Serial No. 609,455;

the vaporizing expansion tube and by their movement prevent caking. I also provide a priming pan to contain a sufficient quantity of fuel to preliminarily heat the parts, this being rendered necessary by the factthvat burners nconsuming liquid fuel, such for eX- ample as alcohol, require an initial heating in order to produce the vaporization or volatilization of the liquid constituting the heating agent. i I also provide various necessary or desirable means for adjusting the parts. v

In burners of this kind it has been usual to pass the liquid fuel into a feed tube so placed as to be heated bythe combustion at the burner, whereby the liquid passing through such ltube is volatilized or converted into a' gas, and to-'place centrally within such tube a distributing core or member so that the liquid is reduced to a relatively thin If the space between the core and tube is made small enough to limit `the quantity of passlng liquid so as to supply the burner other words, to constitute in and of itself a regulator of the fuel supply, it must be made so small that it is likely to become clogged or choked with a deposit of carbon and to interfere with the uniformity ofthe supply', if not cut it oif completely.v On the other hand, if the space or passage'is made large enough to avoid this diiiiculty, then an excessive quantity of the liquid will be sup plied and vaporized, thus creatinga gaseous will extinguish the flames of the burner. In other words,y the pressure is likely to fluctuate sufficiently to temporarily cut y off the supply of gas to the burner, thereby are serious, particularly when the burners are used to heat railway cars, warehouses', or the like, for the preservation of perishable commodities such as -fruits and 'vegetables," because the value and-eiiiciency of the device depends `almost wholly upon itslnr' denite and uninterrupted operation wlthout attention` with a normal amount of Yfuel only, or inV extinguishingthe flames. These diiiiculties `Olne-of theI leading `objects of my inven# body surrounding the core and in contact with the inner surface of the heating tube.

pressure suiicient to produce a react-ion which f tion is, therefore, to produce a device of this character which shall operate indefinitely under automatic control.

Another object of the invention is to afford an automatically governed burner which, after being properly adjusted by the manufacturer, is practically proof against derangement by inexperienced persons; and to that end my apparatus is so constructed as to make its controlling parts practically inaccessible without dismembering the apparatus itself. A

Other features of vnovelty and improvement will be pointed out in connection with the following detailed description of the apparatus and in the claims.

In the drawings 'Figure 1 is a plan view of. a burner and its accessories embodying this invention; Fig.I 2 is a longitudinal,

central, vertical, sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The burner 32 is in the form of a hollow, annular body having a plurality of upstanding burner tips 33, apertured to provide orifices through which the gas issues to be burned. A main vaporizing or volatilizing expansion tube 34, preferably of brass, is held on top of the burner 32 by a strap 35, one end of such tube carrying a threaded collar 36, brazed or otherwise fixed thereon and affording an abutment for one member 37 of a divided valve-casing screwed on the threaded end of the tube. The outer end of such valve-casing member 37 is internally screw-threaded, and is adapted to accommodate the reduced threaded portion 38 of a coupling member'39, the latter having an annular shoulder 40 adapted, when the parts are properly screwed together, to bear against the casing 37. The outer end of the member 39 is constructed for connection with a feed pipe 41 which will be connected with a fuel reservoir (not shown). The member 39 has a central valve port 42, and an annular,` slightly-beveled valve-seat 43. 'A spherical valve 44 fixed to or forming apart ofn non-expansible metal rod 45, is arranged centrally within the tube 34, the outer face of the valve having a nick or slot 46 for the application of a screw driver or other tool for the adjustment of The non-expansible metal of which rod 45 is'composed is preferably of metal known as Invar.

The inner end of the vaporizing expansion tube 34 is screw-threaded into an end wall of a hollow, cylindrical, cast-brass, combined carbon-collecting and supplementary liquid-volatilizing chamber 47, la fixed shoulder or collar 48 on the tube limitingV` its movement and definitely determining the length of exposed tube between the parts 37 and 47. This secondary-vaporizing and sediment-arresting member 47 is preferably substantially filled with loose shot, which act as a carbon-collecting medium and as a distributing core. At its top such relatively large shot-filled" chamber has a tubular extension 50 through which the shot or other small particles may be inserted or removed, and on top of the part 5,0, or in any other suitable manner, is removably fastened a deflector 51 which acts to direct the heat from some of the adjacent fiames downwardly upon the member 47 and to distribute the heat substantially-uniformly over its surface. ,l

A section of pipe 52 is secured to the burner by means of a clamp 53,the inner end of such pipe being threaded into the opposite end wall of the chamber 47 to an extent permitted by a shoulder 54. The tube 52, as is illustrated, is in alinement with the tube 34, and on its' outer end is secured a coupling' member 56, preferably a casting, definitely positioned on the tube by a limiting collar or abutment 55. This coupling member has a cavity 57 which communicates with a vertical passage 58, the lat ter in turn communicating with ar lower horizontal passage 59 having a gas discharge opening or outlet 60. The ends of the two intersecting passages 58 and 59 are closed as shown by screw plugs 61 and 62.

64 is a tubular mixing chamber, supported beneath the burner and communicating with the interiorl of the same through an aperture 63, air being supplied through the opening or space 65 between the inlet 60 and the open end of the mixing chamber 64.

A shallow pan 66 beneath the burner proper is adapted to hold a suiicient quantity of combustible fiuid to eect a preliminary heating of the burner and vaporizing j elements to establish the volatilization of the -liquid fuel for the permanent support of pling member 56, in alinement with the axis of the tubes 52 and 34. In order to secure and maint-ain the proper relation between the spherical valve 44 and its cooperating valve seat 43, so that the expansive action of the tube 34, dueto the heat of a pair of normal flames at the two jet orifices 69 located in close proximity te the sides of the tube, will open the valve an amount only suflicient to permit a feeding of the liquid fuel for the maintenance of a normal flame at the burner, all of the parts are screwed home or brought against their coacting shoulders, with the exception of the pipe 41, and then by means of a screw driver fitted in the socket 46 and projected through the member 38 the valve 44 and rod 45 are turned backso as to bring the valve securely against the seat 43, in which position it can be tested to determine whether the Contact is proper and effective. When i such test indicates that the valve bears properly on its seat, a'hole is drilled through removal of the pin andthe uncoupling of the valve-casing. By this means assurance is given that if the valve member 39 is screwed up so that its shoulder 40 engages the member 37, the port 42 will be completely closed by the valve. 44 When the burner is Out of operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the several parts of the device are of such construction as to permit of their being accurately positioned and definitely set by the maker after proper test, and that after adjustment the device is 4automatic in its operation and incapable of being tampered with or put out of adjustment. Such preliminary test and adjustment having been made and the several parts being proportioned With reference to the expansibility of the member 34, together With the relatively small expansion of parts.

47 and 52, and the non-expansibility of the member 45, it is obvious that during the normal operation of the burner the valve Will be open, due to the expansion of the tube'34, chamber 47 and tube 52 under the influence of the heat, and the ldegree of` opening may be absolutely .determined and maintainedbecause vthe valve itself is `located beyond and vso far removed'from the zone of vaporization or volatilizatio'n that it Will not be clogged by a deposit of car'- bon in the valve opening. The liquid after passing the valve reaches and passes through the vaporizing tube 34, which, being heated, causes the volatilization yof the liquid, the

' gas then passing into the carbon-collecting chamber 47 which also acts as a secondary or assistant-vaporizing member. This chamber having a Wall of considerable thickness and being subjected to the deflected heat of the flanles of a portion ofthe burner tips, becomes heated andelongated slightly 'as compared With the expansion of tube .34; and if any of the fuel agent or alcohol passes into such chamber 47 in liquid form its vaporization Will be completed therein, While the' particles of carbon Will bearrested and collected by the shot,.the movement of which When the burner is vmounted on a vehicle such as a railway car will prevent clogging, While the shot also acts to fractionate or break up the gas in its flow through the chamber. From-this chamber the -gas flows through thel tube 52 and passages 57 and 58, issuing with considerable force "through the restricted orifice 60,;thus preventing any flame or back burning at this point; It should Vbe noticed that the' parts 34, 47 and 52 in combination form an expansible vaporizing conduit, thev greater portion of the'vaporization and expansion occurring in tube 34. The gas mingled with air entrained or admitted at the open port 65, enters the mixing chamber 64 and is thoroughly mixed before it reaches the burner cavity. The passage of the gas and air through such chamber 64 is sufficiently rapid to prevent maintaining any burning or flame therein, so that it is impossible fora burner of this kind to burn back either at the orifice`60 or in the mixing chamber. v

If for any reason the flameof the burner becomes extinguished, the tube 34, chamber 47, and-tube52 Will contract, and the valve coming in contact With its seat Will shut off the supply of liquid fuel. The heated chamber 47 acts in conjunction with the vaporizing expansion tube -34 to assist in the regulation of the flow of liquid. That is, it cares for the slight irregularities in the action of the-valve 44. F or example: If a slightly excess quantity of liquid passed/ the valvey 44, it Would be vaporized in the parts 34 and 47, creating a sufficient excess pressure therein to tend to force back Gilt sol

the further flow of fuel through the valve.

governor as Well` as a carbon collector.

This chamber 47 being in cross' section considerably larger than the tubes34 and 52, vprovides adequate space for the collection and arresting of any carbon particles which may enter the same with the gas.

My apparatus, it- Willl be observed, dispenses. entirely With manually operated valves. It Will be noted, also, that my automatic regulating apparatus combines the Supply tube With the volatilizing chamber and that this latter carries one member of the valve and therefore constitutes an esmounted upon a rod `which forms the cen- `tral core of the volatilizing chamber, the'y Whole constituting a valve-controlled passage betvveenthe supply pipe and the burner.

In' the above I have referred tothe expansion of tube`34 as controlling the opening and closing of the valve g' and in this connection it might be remarked that none .of the other parts of the burner are sufciently heated to affect the operation of the valve in any substantial or materlal delgree.-l Deflector 51 acts to equalize the heat imposed upon the chamber1 47 consequently securing an eiicient and uniform vaporiz ation of any of the fuel which may enter the compartment in liquid form, which could not result if the llames played directly `on this part.

I am aware that it vhas been proposed t0 control the admission, to regulate the supply and to cut off the iow of hydrocarbon fluid to a vapor burner and that it is common to employ in such means a thermostatic device, the thermostatic elements usually of two or more members having different coeiiicients of expansion, the regulation being due to this difference in the expansion of the elements. My invention is distinguished by the fact that it involves a single thermostatic element, to wit, the tube carrying a valve member, and the other valve member is carried by a non-expansible rod so -that the valve member carried by the rod after being adjusted to aord the requisite degree of opening, when the expansible member is expanded to its limit, remains fixed or stationary relative thereto. Thus the expansible member serves first to open the port to its widest extent when expanded to its limit and consequently maintains the valve in the open position during the norm al action of the burner, and when the flame is extinguished rapidly contracts, thus serving to out off entirely the supply. Thus a single thermostatic element operates first as a valve opener, second as a regulator and third as a cut-ofi. The advantage of this construction having a single expansible element over those having two or more expansible elements is that it is impossible, under practical conditions of service, to first determine and then maintain regulation under the variations of expansion occurring between the two related elements, while with a single expanding element its movement may. be calculated and determined, and when the valve is once adjusted with reference thereto the regulation is not only automatic but it is reliable.

I claim:

1. In an alcohol burner, the combination l with aburner cap of means for furnishing a uniform supply of combustible as to the burner to maintain a normal means comprising a supply pipe provided with a valve member, a vaporizing tube cnnected with the supply pipe around the valve member and arranged in proximity to the burner and composed of a metal having a hi h coefficient of expansion, a rod secured wlthin the tube and provided with a valve member, said rod being composed of a material which is Ynon-expansive, and said tube serving as a vaporizer, a conduitfor the generated gas and as athermostatic element, and in connection with the valve member fixed in relation thereto and said firstmentioned valve member constituting the vsole means for admitting, regulating and shutting off thesupply of liquid fuel, and connections between the delivery end of said tube and the burner to deliver the gas, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described,

ame, saidv the combination of a burner, a vaporizing expansion tube subjected to the heat of the burner, a chamber member connected to said tube and forming therewith a conduit for the passage of a fluid fuel for saidburner, a distributing rod secured in said tube and chamber, and loose deposit-collector members in said chamber around said rod, and means controlled'by the relative expansion and contraction of said conduit and rod to govern the flow of fuel through said conduit tothe burner, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a burner, a vaporizing tube, a chambered member in connection with said tube and forming therewith a portion of the conduit subjected to the heat of the burner and acting as a passage forja iuid fuel for said burner, a distributing rod extended through said tube and chamber, loose distributing members in said chamber surrounding said rod, and means to control the flow of fuel through said tube and cham-i ber comprising a member with a valve-seat and'port, and a valve on said rod coperating with said seat, the lengths and coefcients of expansion of said tube and rod being such that the valve and the valve-seat will be separated by the expansion of the conduit due to anormal flame at the burner an amount sufficient only to maintain such normal flame at the burner, whereby said valve acts as a fluid regulator and as a safety shut-off, substantially as described.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a burnerfa vaporizing expansion tube subjected to the heat of said burner and adapted to form a passage for a fluid fuel for 4sa1d burner, a distributing rod arranged axially in said tube, means carried by `said rod to control the flow of fuel through said tube, a chambered member connected to said tube, loose deposit-collecting members in said chambered member, and

a deflector adapted to direct heat from said rod arranged in said tube and chamber,

means carried by said rod to control the flow of fuel throu h said conduit, and a deflector adapted to dlrect heat from said burner to,

said' chambered member, substantially as described.

6. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a burner, a chambered member subjected to the action of said burner, an expansion tube also subjected to the action of said burner, said chamber and isc tube acting as a. conduit for a fuel to said and a valve on said rod coperating withburner, a, shouldered connection between the port of said Valve member, substantially said tube and member a. shell, a shouldered 'as described.

connection between sald shell and the op o- WILLIAM E. SHARP. 5 site end of said tube, a ported valve mem er Witnesses: having a shouldered connection .with said GEO. E. SNYDER,

shell, a distributing rod secured in said tube, J. C. STEvENsoN.

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