US1325896A - Emergency fuel-valve control - Google Patents

Description

H LUNE. EMERGENCY FUEL VALVE commi..

APPLICATION FILED EMET- H. 19'36- 2 SHETSMSHIEET L "11W I :A M g l 4 w H. '1. LONG. MERGENCYUEL VALVE CONTROL,

9 1l ma `QUvJ 2M .A 0U MUS Dm mum .m2 D m APPLICATION FILED GCT-1l, i916.

, UNrrED- STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

v HERBERT J. LONG, 0F NEW BRUNSWICK', NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TQ TEE-LONG- LANDRETH-SCHNEIDEB, COMPANY, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

niunaeENcY FUEL-venire contener..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, l-lnnniz'r'd. LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at 239 Harrison rive., New Brunswick, in the State of New Jersey and county of Middieser, have invented a new and useful llmprovement in Emergency Fuel-Valve Conlll tllli trols, of which the following is aspecication, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode. in which l have contemplated applying that principle,

so as to distinguish .it from other inventions.

lll/ly invention relates :to a safety provision'l or auxlliary thermostatic control for water heaters and more particularly to the adaptation of a fusible plug in a by-pass connectlonl s0 lthat the water pressure established-therein on emergency, insures the clos- V ing of thefuel valve Y ll am well awarel that fusible plugs coml posed of an alloy of predetermined melting The vobJect of my invention is to so improve upon earlier expediente as to achieve the desired insurance against the waste and damage which is due to overheating, in a more simple, direct and certain manner. lt should 'be understood that this provision of a safety'control for fuel valves, ordinarily operated by 4a thermostat and power translating mechanism connected therewith, is desirable-rather than necessary, and hencereconnnended as an auxiliary actuation for closing` the fuel valve only because of the chance of a defective commercial construction, as

for example a. leak 1n the tube containing the l expansion fluid or a bind in the mechanism. ln otherwords, the need of my present invention in conjunction with a thermostat is due solely to circumstances beyond human control.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described 'and illustrated in the accompanying Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Der), 23, 1919 Application tiled October 11, 1916. lterial No. lltll'l. l

drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be 'understood that changes, variations and modifications can beresorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Figure ll is an elevation of a storage water heater system showingr Iny` present invention in connection therewith.`

tit

titl

liig. lll is an enlarged section of the conl struction constituting the subject matter of i this invention. Y

lilig. lll is a view corresponding to Fig. lli showing a modification.

lin l which supports a-heater 9 with a suitable gas connection 3, storage tank t and therinostatically operated mechanism there designated in its entirety by the numeral 5, which is, however, a closed and necessarily air tight housing casting with which all the other parte pertaining to this invention are either 'directly or indirectly connected. Directing attention henceforth to 'litiga lll it will be noticed that the casting 5 is provided with five screw threaded openings, namely, a gas inlet 6, a gas outlet 7, an adjustment opening 8 and openings 9 and 1U Vfor the entrance of a thermostatically actuated member and a valve stem respectively.

The gas inlet 6 is, of course, intended to be suitably connected with afsource of fuel supply not shown, whereas the gas outlet 7 is to be connected or disconnected from the con-` nection 3 leading to the heater through the `agency of a suitable valve to be now described. Seated in the opening 7 is a male union 11 having its inner end formed as a valve seat 1Q and its outer end provided with a washer 13 held between it and a tail piece 14 by means 'of a nut 15. lnteriorly of the union 11 is a concentric guide 16 adapted to control the movement of the guide stem l 1 7 of a valve l18 adapted to coperate with the seat 12 in the usual way and provided on the opposite side with an actuating valve stem 19. y y l heated in the opening 9 is, another union 20 which is designed to carry the thermostatic element which in this instance is a tube 21.. to be filled with a'suitable expansible duid such as ether and to be positioned within the storage tank l as appears in hig. l. '.lhe' tube 2l' is shown seatedin a suitable Iet is seen a suitable pedestal 1 ino tot

depression and vheld therein by a plug 22 having a central opening 23. Through this opening a thrust rod 24 extends in one d1- 4rection into the tube 21 and in the other 27, adapted to bear against a complementary surface upon a lever which constitutes one part of the toggle mechanism for eifectinga snap action as shown, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,231,527 issued June 26,

1917. The description of such exemplifying snap mechanism will be undertaken later.

The member 26 is hollow and extending into it is an adjusting screw 28 which carries a pin 29 adapted to be quite loosely engaged by an inclosing adjusting screw -30 which is in turn screw threaded into the opening 8 so as to be accessible to exterior manipula-l tion. ,The outerextremity of the adjusting screw 30 is shown covered with a4 suitable cap 31. The thei'mostatio mechanism just now described is purposed to permit of an adjustment wherebythe throw of the thrust rod 24 may be regulated within predeterlmined limits of tem erature.

The lever 32 whic is to be engaged and moved by the knife edge 27 is pivoted'upon a pin 33 secured toa stud 34 a suitable distance from the walls of the housing 5. Movement of the lever 32 by the thrust of the rod 24 is resisted by a suitable'spring 35. The lever 32 has its own extremity likewise provided with a knife edge 36. Another lever 37 is also pivoted upon the pin 33 and extends beyondthe knife edged extremity 36 where its extremity articulates at 38 with the y actuating valve stem 19. Near its point of articulation the lever 37 is also provided with a knife edge v39. Interposed between the knife edges 36 and 3 9 is a reacting struc ture composed of male and female guides 40 and 41 respectively and both surrounded by a balance spring 42. In thisinanner, as the lever 32 passes its neutral position, and its knife edge 36 as well as the knife edge 39 on the lever 3 7, come in line with the pivot` 3 3, it will be caused suddenly to snap to one side thereof or the other' and inso doing cause the lever 37 likewise to snap but in the opposite direction whereby'to suddenly either open or close the fuel valve.

f Ihe male spud of the separable union 20 is itself provided with a lateral opening 43 in which a `spud 444s secured. Thatend of the bore of the Spud 44, which communi- `event of such a happening the valve may cates more directly with the union 20 is provided with a fusible plug 45 adapted to melt when subjected to a temperature by the water in the tank 4 such as may be determined upon. Of course, the melting temperature of the plug 45 will be fixed at a degree higherthan the temperature ordinarily required to actuate the toggle mechanism for the closing of the fuel valve 18. The other end of the spud 44 is connected b means of a nut 46 with a copper tube 4 having communication with a safety chamber composed of two parts 48 and 49 between which a diaphragm 50 is secured. The component part 49 is suitably fitted into the opening 10 of the housing 5. Fixed to the diaphragm 50 is a safety stem 51 axially alined with and adapted to impinge against the free extremity of the actuating valve stem 19 when the diaphragm 50 is moved by the incoming water pressure. On the opposite side a spring 52 is operatively positioned so as to normally hold the diaphragm 50 and hence the safety stem 51 in a norm-al osition beyond the range of movement o the actuating valve stein 19.

In operation the snap actuation of the fuel valve 18 to either open or closed position, in response'to the influence of varying temperature upon *the therinostatic mecha- 95 nism, in the ordinary course has an alternating action giving the desired results so long as the mechanism is operating satisfactorilyf.v In the event that conditions arise ywhichf either delayor preclude the timel VcoiitijoliOO of the valve due to the changes o temper'- ature within certain prescribed limits, the safety expedient of my present improvement is called into action. Manifestly, in the too long remain open with' a consequent overheating of the water, enough presently to fuse vthe plug 45 and effect the application of pressure to the near side of thediaphragm 50 which is thereby exed to move the stem 51 and as adjusted tlie-stem 19 also sufficiently to firmly seat the valve 18. It should moreover be` understood that the actuation of my safety control is truly auxiliary in that it actuates the same fuel valve and in the same manner that it would bc otherwise actuated had the unavoidable conditions not occurred to hinder the operation of the snap mechanism.

The modilied form of my invention in Fig. III, on Sheet 2 of the drawings, involves an alteration in the relative locations or' certain parts and as a consequence a change in minor-respects as to the shape of specific details. Principally the difference consists in presenting the thermostatic tube, which is intended to be inserted in the storage tank, at an angle of 90 degrees to the valve stein instead of parallel thereto. and in also reversing the'relation of the valve to its 130 tit) mits of `the construction as a Whole to be better fitted and to be'better accommodated in space made available by a popular type of Water heater now on the market. ing 53 carries interior-1y the snap toggle mechanism which connects the thrust rod 5d with the actuating valve stem. i lt Willbe noticed that a bell crank lever 55 has been substituted for the lever 32 in order to be similarly actuated. by a knife edge connection with the extremity of the thrust rod 5d. 'lhe spud which supports the thermostatic tube has a tube 56 leading from it to the diaphragm 57, so that when the latter is flexed its movement istransmitteol'to the safety stem 58- and thence to the valve 59 to be ordinarily operated by the Yactuating stem 60. l

l claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a fuel valve, a stem connected therewith, mechanism constantly connected with said stem and adapted to actuate the same in opposite directions, thermostatic means for actuating said mechanism and` a safety tlierinostatic appliance adapted to operate at a predetermined temperature and to move into engagement with said stem to close said valve. i

y 2. it device of the character described comp-rising` a valve, a thermostat, mechanism connected to said valve and normally adapted to hold said valve open, said thermostat being adapted to close said valve, and 'a safety theriiiostatic appliance adapted to control the movement of. said ymechanism to close said valve, said lappliance including a member adapted to engage a part of said mechanism.

3. A device of the character described comirising in combination, a Water heater, a burner, a fuel valve for'said burner, a valve actuating stem, a storage tank, thermostatic mechanism operatively connected .with said valve stein, and asafety tlieriiiostatic -appli- V ance including; a. fusible element exposed to the temperature of the Water, a motion-another safety stem axially alined .with the first, said safety stem being operated by said niotor which is in turn operated by the Water pressure which is allovvedto act when said element fuses whereby said appliance is controlled b v Ythe pressure of the Water for 4operating` said -`valve and for controlling said mechanism.

4. A device of the character 'described comprising in combination, a Water heater, a. burner, a fuell valve therefor, a storage tank, mechanism for opening and closing said valve, a thermostat for actuating said A'liousp mechanism, a safety appliance also adapted to actuate said mechanism 'and including a motor forming a part of a liollevvV connec-v tion'witli' said tank, and a fusible plug in such connection whereby the action of said motor` is determined by a predetermined temperature. 1 l

'5. A device of the character' described comprising a valve actuating member, and a pair of thermostatically operated devices adapted successively to exert a force tending to move said member iii the same direction.

"6. A device of the character described comprising a valve, theimostatic vprime mover element, snap mechanism connected therewith for suddenly either opening or closing said valve, another tlierinostatically controlled mechanism operable in response to a relatively higher temperature .and

adapted to control said first mentioned mechanism and close said Yvalve only when Asaid first mentioned mechanism has failed to close said valve.

7. d device of the character described comprising a valve, a valve actuating n i'ein-v ber, a thermostatic prime mover, mechanism for moving said member so as to both open adapted for tranciiaittiiig movement of the latter tol the` formerm and including; an arm connected with said member and a device 'operatively connecting said prime mover `and. close said valve, said mechanism being closing position Whenever said prime mover fails to transmit movement -to said mechanism for such purpose.

8. A device of the character described comprising a valve actuating member, a therinostatic prime mover', an arm articulating with said member, mechanism adapted to be operated by said prime mover and no actuate said arm whereby to shift the position of said member, and a safety appliance adapted to control the position of said member and including a fluid pressure motor. v

9. It device of the character described comprising a vvaterl heating conduit, a

and adapted to have operative communication with the Water circulating system, and

a plug obstructing such communication and fusible at a predetermined temperature, said motor being arranged to close said valve when' such communication is established.Y

fjdevice of the characterdescribed iic ico

iatv

comprising a valve, a thermostatic prime mover, means operatively connecting said.

elements and adapted positively to transfer reverse movements of the latter to the former, a motor appliance acting upon and adapted to absolutely control the position of .the same valve, the operation of said appliance 'being likewise subject to thermostatic action at a temperature sufficiently high to be inutile unless said prime mover proves inoperative.

1l. A device of the character described comprising avalve actuating member, and a pair of thermostatically operated devices adapted successively and at distinct temperatures to exert a force tending to move said member in the same direction, one such device being dependent upon the factor of expansion and the other upon pressure.

v12. A device of the character described comprising a Water heating conduit, a burner, a fuel valve for said burner, a thermostatic prime mover, means operatively connecting comprising a support, a prime mover carried thereby, a valve stern movably mounted upon said support, means'operatively connecting said prime mover and stem, and an emergency motor appliance adapted to move said stem and when functionating to overcome the control of the latter by said prime mover, said ap liance being so. adjusted as to be normally inactive and adapted to functionate only when said prime mover fails to'l operate. i

. 14.,A device of the character described comprising a closed housing provided with fuel inlet and outlet openings, a valveat one of .said openings, a thermostatic prime mover entering and constantly in air tight connection 'With said housing, a distinct thermostatically controlled and pressure actuated motor appliance having a part movable in said housing, mechanismy Within said housing for normally operating' said valve f to open position, said mechanism being suc.

cessively subject to actuation both by said pri-me mover and motor part whereby to operate said valve to closed positionl at either of two predetermined temperature stages.

15. A device of the character described one of said openings, a thermostatic prime Lacasse mover entering said housing and having a threaded bore, a complementarily threaded member adjustablyitted in said bore, an adjusting screw threaded in said housing for turning said member, mechanism operatively connecting ysaid prime mover and valve and adapted to have its range of movement prescribed by said adjustment, and a distinct normally inactive motor appli.- ance adapted to control the position of said mechanism to close said valve.

16. Apparatus for heating and causing the circulation of l,Water comprising the combination'of'a `heating conduit, a gas burner, a gas valve, a storage tank connected with said conduit, a thermostat operatively associated with the circulating system, mechanism connecting said thermostat and valve and including a spring normally acting to hold said valve open, said thermostat adapted to close said valve Whenever the Water in said system reaches a predetermined temperature, and an emergency control device for closing said valve and including; a separate Water passage, a plug fusible at a pre-` determined temperature and normally clos- `ing said passage off from said circulatory system so as to be unexposed to the water thereln, a movable member adapted to be ac- 'tuated by the water pressure established in said passage Whenever said plug has melted and when so actuated to engage a part of said mechanism, overcome its spring and close said valve, and a spring normally acting to hold said member beyond the range of -movement of said mechanism part.

17,'A device of the character described, comprising a fuel valve, mechanism operatively connected vvith said valve and adapted to actuate it to either its openfor closed position, a thermostat connected with said mechanism and adapted to move the same, and an emergency control device adapted to absolutely control the position of said valve.

18. AL device of the character described comprising a fuel valve, mechanism opera tively connected With' said valve and adapted to actuate it to either its open or closed position, a thermostat connected With said vmechanism and adapted to move it in one direction, a spring adapted to move said mechanism in the opposite direction and an emergency control device adapted to overcome said spring and close said valve.

19. A device'of the character described comprising the combination With a hot circulating water heating system including a heater, a' burner and a storage tank, of a fuel valve for said burner, mechanism operatively connected with said valve and adapted to. actuate itl to either its open or' closed position, a thermostat operatively connected with said mechanism and adapted move it in one direction to close said valve, a spring adapted to move said mechansm in another direction to open seid valve, Signed vToy Ine,- this 4th dey ot Octo'toer, end en emergency control device roludfng 1916. v

a, distinct rallye operating part at p ug usv ole er, n predetermined temperature end e v *HERBERT 'J' LNG' conduit normally closed by seid plug for Attested Toyleading Water under pressure ngelnst seid RDW.. W. Hrorgs, loert Whenever seid plug melts., UMA-oon M. Frente.

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