US1648910A - Thermostatically-controlled gas valve - Google Patents

Description

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l a H, MQRRQW THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED GAS VALVE .Nave 15p E927.

Filed 001;. 2o, 1924 atto: m15

Patented Nov. `15d, '219217.

UNITEDjsTATEs PATENT OFFICE;

l(umanitari HEATER COMPANY, or

H. MOZRROW, OF` CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOTSTREAM CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

THEBMOISTATICALLY-CONTROLLED GAS VALVE.

ppIieaton filed October 20,` 1924. Serial No. 744,784.

This inventionlrelates to thermostatically controlled valve mechanisms, such as are used for automaticallyI controlling the supply of gas to a water heater or the like to maintain a fixed predetermined temperature of the water supply.v

The object of the invention is to provide a simple valve vmechanism of the quick acting variety, wherein upon a reduction inv io water temperature the gas supply .is suddenly turned onfull and upon an increase in water temperature to the desired value the gas is suddenly turned off, doing away with the usual lag or ldelay in turning on the l5 gas in such thermostatically controlled mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple diaphragm actuated mechanism4 of this kind in which the number of 2o castings and other parts is reduced and the thermostatic elements are capable of combination in the same unit with the valve members, thereby simplifying the' constructlon and the manner of its attachment or connectionto the wlater and-gas iping system.

Further objects ofthe invention are to provide mechanism` of ythis character utilizing thermostatically actuated parts with considerable power 'and -motion and capable of properl operatingthe valve parts, as

well as to ispose of all gas used for operating or controlling purposes by supplying 1t to the pilot and reducing the quantity of gas so disposed of to thereby avoid any unnecessary yellowflame with its consequent deposit of soot. I

Further objects of the invention are 1n part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable'embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view on approximately the line 1 1, Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 2 is an elevation, with the n lower portion of the casing broken out and in section to expose interior parts; Flg. 3 1s a detail section through the lower casingmember on the line 33, 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is an end view from the right in Fig. 1, part of the view being in section on the line 4--4, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detaill section on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

' Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a portion of the wall of an ordinary water supply reservoir or tank in which the heated Water is collected, said 'water being heated by any suitable heater supplied by the gas current flowing through the valve controlling apparatus to be described. The wall of the reservoir is suitably formed to receive a threaded extension 2 of the valve casing, said extension being hollow and containing the thermostatic elements which project into the reservoir and are sensitive to the temperature of the water therein. The thermostatic elements may be ofV any suitable character" and in the form shown comprise an outer copper tube 3 closed at'its inner end and suitably secured to the member 2, and

within which is located a porcelain rod or pencil 4, the outer end of which engages and operates the lever mechanism hereinafter described;

The casing of the valve controllin mechanism comprises essentially two mem ers, to

wit, an upper member 5, of which member 2 is an extension, and a lower member 6, said two members beingfaced oi along annular periphcrally extending meeting surfaces 7 between which is clamped a flexiblev diaphragm or bellows 8 to the central portion "out to form two aligned hollowy bosses 11,

12, both threaded for the roper connection of pipe ttings thereto, t e channel 11 in member 11 serving as the inlet channel for the gas supply and communicating through an opening 13 in the wall thereof with a chamber 14 beneath the diaphragm 8. The generally horizontal wall of the member 6 is pierced at its center to form an opening surrounded by the valve seat 15, lsaid opening providing communication from chamber 14 to the outlet passage 16 in member 12, from which the gas flows through proper pipes or conduits to the burner of the heater for the Iwater in tank 1. The purpose of the thermostatic controlling` devices hereinaiter described is to control the relation of valve 9 vto its seat 15 to permit'or lprevent flow of gas to the heating burner.

,The upper member 5 of the casing is provided with a cored out boss or enlargement 17 enclosingv a chamber 17 exposedv to and lying dectly above the diaphragm 8. In this chamber is located 'a yoke like member 18 pivoted to swing on an axis 19 and moved in one direction about said axis by a light compressionspring 20, the strength of which, of course, is calibrated or adjusted" with due regard for the forcesA which `it opposes. The head of yoke 18, adjacent the pivotal axis 19, carries an adjustable socket headed screw 21, one end of which forms a .fulcrum o'r abutment to receive the pressure ascale on the casingand serve as an indivycator of the temperature to be maintained in reservoir 1.

At its end remote from the pivotal axis 19, the yoke 18 is provided with opposed or aligned abutment members 26 adapted by oscillating motion of member 18 around its.

ivotal axis to move generally back and orth along the line of the axially opposed valve members 27, 28 held by the sprlngs 29 against their respective seats. Said valve inc nbers are located in similar oppositely disposed chambers 30, 31 respectively, closed at their outer ends by caps 32. Chamber 30 communicates by peripheralv portions of the members 5 and Gand through the diaphragm 8 with the lower diaphragm chamber 14, while chamber 31 communicates by a like passage 34 with a channel 35 in a boss 36 threaded to receive a pipe 37 leading to a pilot light at the burner. In the boss 36 is a suitably adjustable yneedle valve 38 controlling communication between. channel 35 and the lower chamber 14 beneath the diaphragm. Both of the valves 27, 28, by cooperation vwith tneir respective seats, control communication from the chambers 30, 31 to the chamber 17 above the diaphragm.

The operation is as follows:

Let us assume that the pilot valve '38 is adjusted t-o permit proper flow of gas by way of opening 13, lchamber 14 and channel 35 to the-pilot, which is burning, and that the watery in tank 1 is at or above the normally desired temperature. Under these conditions the ow of gas from outlet passage 16 to the burner should, of course, be shutoff. Therefore, valve 9 rests upon its seat 15. The copper tube 3 is fully expanded and the pressure of the porcelain pencil or abutment screw 21 is relieved, yoke 18 is swungvdownwardly in Fig. 1 and valve 28 is seated and valve 27 is open. Gas pres a passage 33 through the sure therefore flows from` chamber 14 by t way of passage l33 and chamber 30 to chamber 17 a above the-diaphragm 8 and said diaphragm is subjected on its upper face to the pressure of the gas supply and on its lower face within the seat 15 to atmospheric pressure and outside of seat 15 tothe pressure of the gas supply. The valve therefore is maintained closed by the preponderance of thepressure above it and gravityover the pressure below it. i

It' the temperature of the water in the tank 1 drops to or below a predetermined value, the copper tube 3contraets and produces pressure of the porcelain pencil upon the abutment screw 21, therebymoving the yoke 18 counter-clockwise in Fig. 1 against the pressure of spring20 'and causing its 4merely the capacity of chamber 17 a or less- -and has no tendency to produce a. yellow iame and soot. The evacuation ofpressure in chamber 17 now subjects the diaphragm 8 t'o'atmospheric pressure on its upper face and on its lower face wit-hin the area of the valve seat 15, and to the pressure of the gas supply on its lower; face outside of valve 15. This latter pressure of the gas supply nowy preponderates and also overcomes the gravity efect of the valve, thereby lifting the valve from its'seat and immediately subjecting it to the pressure of the gas supply over its entire lower' area. The gas supply, of course, now passes through the opening leading to the outlet passage 16 and to -the burner, which is ignited by the pilot, assuming the pilot to be burning, and produces its heating eii'ect upon the water in the reservoir. The operation issudden with a full rush of gas to immediately turn the burner on with maximum heating eil'ect.

The gas supply remains turned on until the temperature of the water in the tank 1 rises to the predetermined -value, thereby causing 'expansion ot' the copper tube 3 and release of the pressure of porcelain pencil 4 from the abutment 21. This eifect permits spring 20 tofexpand and again take up the clearance between its lower abutment 26 sult, effected almost instantaneously, is to` llt) equalize the pressures on opposite faces vof the diaphragm and permit it to drop promptly to its seat 15 andshut oi'v the supply oi gas to the burner, the parts remaining in this position until reduced temperature of the Water requires additional heat.

With this arrangement'the gas supply is turned onand shut oil with small sniisof gas from the chamber 17a to the pilot at each operation of the mechanism. The parts are simple, can be built and assembled at relatively low cost and are not likely to get out oforder. They are also adjustable, particularly by adjustment of the abutment screw 21 to vary the normal temperature and without liability of disarrangement of any other members. I have provided also thermostatically controlled means whereby the gas supply to the burner is permitted only when the pilot iS burning. That is, the thermostatic means above described for controlling the flow of gas to the burner is automatically rendered 'effective or neiective according to whether the pilot is burning or not.

The pilot in this'case'comprises the suitably'apertured copper tube 3,9 with its one end screwed into the connector 40. In the other end of the tube 39 there is threaded the steel pin or needle 41 which has its other end formed as a needle valve for engagement with a correspondingly formed seat in the wall of the connector 40. The threaded end of the needle 41 extends beyond the tube 39 and is adapted for adjustment therein, a lock nut 42 being provided to secure the same in adjusted position. The pipe 37 is threadedinto the opposite wall of the connector 40.

` When the pilot is cold, the needle valve 41 is adjusted so as to engage its seat and thus close the port to the pilot. Likewise, whenever the pilot goes out, the flow of gas to the pilotis shut oit, this being automatically effected by -the contraction of the vtube 39 'upon being no longer subjected to the heat of the pilot flame. Upon' applying a lighting flame to the pilot, the heat therefrom causes tube 39 tol expand so as to withdraw needle.

valve 41 from its seat and permit gas to flow to the pilot. So long as the pilot remains lghted,.the flow of gas thereto ,is permitted.

Referring nowto the-other thermostatic means for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, as above explained, it will be seen,4

that the effective operation of this thermostatic means is in turn governed automatically according to whether the pilot is burn-v ing. For instance, when the temperature of the boiler falls to or below the predetermined point and the valve Q8 is opened so as torelease the gas from chamber 17", this small quantity of gas will escape to the. pilot, andvalve 9 will be opened, provided the needle valve 41 is open; that is, provided the pilot is burning.` If however, the pilot. is not burning, the automatic opening ot' valve 28 by reduction in` temperature of the boiler, will 'not release the pressure of the gas in chamber 17a sincey this gas, instead ot escaping to the pilot, will back up and continue to exert pressure upon the upper side of diaphragm 8 so as to maintain valve 9 closed. In this way, there is precluded the danger of gas flowing to the burner when the pilot is not lighted.4

In case the temperature of the boiler rises to or above the predetermined limit, thegas flow to the burner is automatically cut oil` in the manner above explained, and the pilot continues` to burn, as usual. Should however, the pilot go out, the flow of gas to the pilot is automatically cut off and the escape ot' gas is thereby prevented. e

What I claim is:l

1. Thermostatic gas valve mechanism, comprising a casing provided with opposed chambers separated by a movable abutment, a valve in one ot' said chambers arranged to be operated by said abutment and controlling the flow of gas from its chamber to a burner, and a thermostatic element and mechanism controlled thereby for controlling movement of said abutment, both said element and rlpiechanism being located in one of said chamers.

2. Thermostatic gas valve mechanism, comprising a casing provided withA opposed chambers separated by a movable abutment,- a valve in one-of said chambers arranged to be operated by said abutment andcontrolling" the tlow of gas from its chamber to a burner, and a thermostatic element and mechanism controlled thereby for controlling movement of said abutment, both said element and mechanism being located in the other of said chambers.

3. Thermostatic gas valve mechanism, comprising a casing providedV with opposed chambers separated by amovable abutment, one of said chambers communicating with a source ot gas supply, a valve'in said supply chamber arranged for operation yby said abutment and controlling the flow of gas from the supply chamber to a'burner, valve means controlling communication :between said chambers', and thermostatically controlled mechanism for operating said'valve means to thereby control saidv abutment for actuation of said valve.

4. 'Thermostatic gas `valve mechanism, comprising a casing provided with opposed chambers separated by a movable element, one of said chambers-communicating with a source of gas supply, a valve in the supply chamber arranged for operation Dy said abutment to controlthe fiow of gas from its chamber to the burner, valve means controlling communication between said chambers, and a thermostatic element and mechanism one of said chambers communicating. with a source of gas supply, a valve in the supply chamber arranged for operation by said abutment to control the iow of gas from its chamber to theburner," valve means controlling communication between said chambers, and a'thermostatic element and mechanism controlled thereby for controlling said valve means, ysaid element and mechanism -both being located in the other of said chambers.`

6; "Iliermostatic gas' valve mechanism, comprising a casing including two chambered members meeting along a planevsurface, a diaphragm between said members and separating their chambers, one of said members being adapted for connection .to a water tank and being provided in its chamber with a thermostatic element and mechanism controlled thereby, the other of said members having its chamber Acommunicating with a gas supply, and means whereby said thermostatically .controlled mechanism actuates said diaphragm to control the gas flow to aburner.

7. Thermostatic gas valve mechanism, comprising a casing provided with opposed chambersseparated by a movable element, one of said chambers communicating with a gas supply and through a port communicating with a burner, a valve in said chamber at said port and actuated by said abutment, a thermostatic element and mechanism operated thereby, both thereof being located in the second chamber and being adapted to ,cause operation of saidabutment to control said valve, and -a pilot burner communicating with said gas supply, said thermostatically 'operated mechanism lincluding valve means adapted to evacuate the second chamber tothe pilot burner when said valve is to be opened.

yIn testimony whereof I herebyl aiiix my signature.

CLARENCEH. MoRRoW.

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