US1968834A - Vacuum vapor heating system - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1934.

W. B. vJONES VACUUM VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 9. 1927 n Ven for.'

W. B. Jones Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to va-4 i pecially in hnuseholds, for the reason that it is very flexible for. varying conditions of weather and of use, and thatv it isxvery economical. The

principle upon which the vacuum system is based, stated briefly, is that the temperature of water vapor can be` made. lower than the normal boiling temperature of 212o Fl, by lowering the pressure in the system containing. the vapor. Therefore, a closed heating system is necessary in order to maintains; partial vacuum.. The temperature of r the vapor is deiinitely. related to the degree of vacuum.- in. the system, the vapor being cooler the greater the vacuum. Two methods are in use for creating the vacuum, and they are sometimes used in combination.

The simplest and perhaps the most common method is the provision of a heating plant include' ing boiler, pipes and radiators, which plant has at various places, especially the radiators, one-- way air valves .discharging from-the interior of` the system into the atmosphere. In operation the boiler is strongly fired to raiseV a positive (greater than atmospheric) steam pressure in the. system. The steam drives.. all the air from the system through the air valves, which are preierably` constructed. to prevent the escape of steam.

After all or a substantial portion of the air has.

been thus driven out, the fire is checked in order to diminish the heat supply and to lower the pres-l sure in. the system- As the radi-ation condenses the` vapor in the system it creates. the desired vacuum. The degree of vacuum is dependent. upon the radiation from the system and the heatapplied in the boiler. Such systems may operate at from 10 to 5 inches of vacuum for a whole day, withl the vapor at a corresponding temperature. Gradually, however, air leaks into the systernthrough the valves, joints, etc., as it is not possible under ordinary conditions to maintain the vacuum indefinitely. It is necessary to evacuate such a system once or twice a day, depending upon the particular. system,. the requirements, and the weather, by raising a positive steam pressure as described.

The second method referred to isthe mechanicalmethod of. creating a vacuum as by some suction device attached to the; system. Variousmodined forms are found in practice, and they include motor driven or'water driven vacuum pumps. By

thus evacuating the system it is not necessary to raise a positive steam pressure as before described.

Theuse of such pumps is desirably avoided in households, because of noise, operating. cost, maintenance and complexity. Mechanical power is required which is not always available. Therefore such mechanical methods arelimited in; ap-` plication.

One of the great disadvantages of the vacuum system is the difculty of designing and operat ing. eiiiciently a balanced and flexible system for ordinary households.4 For example, one radia-V tor may be located at the end of the system and be insufficiently supplied with vapor. In order to increase the vapor suppliedto this radiator, the fire may be increased.-V Thiswill raise thesystem pressure, and` also the ltemperature so that` radiators which prior to that time were properly heated will become too hot. Another disadvantage is the inability to cut in a radiator which has been out of service theretofore. Such a. radiator will ordinarily be lled with air, and when it is turned on, the vacuum in the systemwill draw out a part of the air to the detriment of its operation, and there will` be` little or no heat coming tothe radiator turned on. Still another dis-- advantageof the system is the.- slow leakage of air into one or more of the radiators. Thisusually occurs in the radiators themselves'V or at the.- connections to the radiatorsr that is, the air valve, the main valve,.etc. The air thus leaking informspockets, or becomes admired with the vapor, thus. limiting the capacity of the radiator `for hot. vapor. Sometimes the most important radiator in the. system is thus cooled while the others remain properly heated. In. order to remedy this condition positive steam pressure is required in the whole systemas first described. ,If a vacuum pump is used, as. in. the second method, it can be operated. to evacuate the leaking radiator, thus to bring vapor to it. t

Such disadvantages andremedies as above describedare factors which` operate against a wider use of the vacuum. system., `It is`not fool-proof, and it isnot automatic. It` requires a certain degree ot understanding to operate it properly, and this is not always to be had in ,every household.` Q i i The present invention aimsl to overcome many of the disadvantages above described, and to provide a system which is automatic, flexible as a whole according to weather conditionaand flexible. as toi eachradiator, to meet the demands. upon it,H without materially affecting theV wholesystem.

The primary objectv of the invention. is to provide a secondary sourceA of vapor other. thanthe Cia 25 with a control valve 26.

primary heating source for the purpose of removing air from individual radiators.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automatic control of the secondary vapor source to sweep out the air which pockets in a radiator.

A particular object is to introduce into the radiator a flow of vapor from the secondary source opposed to the flow of vapor from the primary source so that the pocketed air is entrained and enters the piping system to be carried to a region where it does not interfere with the heating.

Various other objects and ancillary advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of the several and preferred embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The device shown in the drawing is a representation of a vapor heating plant shown in a fragmentary view including two radiators equipped with different embodiments of parts of the invention.

A boiler or other heater 10 is provided as a primary source of vapor for the general purpose of heating and for driving air from the system of pipes, radiators, etc. In the present instance the piping is arranged in a circuit from a riser 11 through two branches 12 and 13, and through an air reservoir 14 to a return line 15. Radiators 16, 17 and others (not shown) are tapped olf from the pipe lines 12 and 13, as illustrated.

The radiators 16 and 1'7 receive vapor through i pipes 18 and 19, respectively, controlled by the main valves 20 and 21.

These valves are preferably of the packless type for the best operation of the vacuum system. Air valves 22 and 23 of the one-way type are employed on the radiators,

` preferably on the end opposite to the end having the main valve.

The radiator 16 is equipped with one form of secondary vapor source, such as the generator designated 24, herein represented as a water boiler, connected to the radiator by a pipe line Any suitable source of heat may be employed to form vapor in the boiler 24, such for example, as an oil lamp, or gas flame, diagrammatically represented at 2'?.

p Various expedients may be adopted for supplying water to the boiler 24. For example, the valve and the boiler heated until it attains a temperature corresponding to the existing vacuum, at which point vapor will flow into the radiator. It is supplied in sufcient quantity to overcome the flow into the radiator from the pipe 18. Thus,

the air will be pushed from the radiator into the '1- main line 12.

Since the ow of vapor in the main line is from the boiler 10 toward the reservoir 14, the air driven from the radiator 16 will be carried in the same direction and will accumulate in the tank. An air valve 28 is provided for the f tank so that when positive pressure is generated in boiler 10 the accumulated air will be discharged into the atmosphere.

The above described device is exemplary of the principle upon which the present invention operates. It is of course practical, even though it requires attention to operate. It is particularly useful where a radiator is to be cut into the system after a period of idleness. In such an instance it may be operated to force air from the radiator back into the system, or it may, and preferably would be, operated to drive air from the radiator before the same is opened into the system. When so operated the air escapes through the air valve 22, and the period of operation of the system without evacuation by positive boiler pressure will be prolonged.

In association with radiator 17 a different form of apparatus is illustrated which provides for the automatic supply of water and for automatic control. The principle upon which operation depends is that already described, but the means is more refined and more practical. In the improved form there is preferably maintained a supply of warm water as in a boiler 30. Heat is provided by using the primary vapor line 19 as the heating means. In the present instance this line passes through the boiler 30 as shown by the dotted lines. The boiler is placed lower than the radiator and is connected to it by a line 31 in such a manner that condensation from the radiator may drain into the boiler to keep it supplied with water. By this arrangement the water will be kept practically in equilibrium with the vapor so that when additional heat is applied to the boiler 30 it will vaporize without delay. In the present instance an electrical heater, illustrated by the numeral 32, is employed in association with the boiler 3G. The heater is connected to an electrical source of energy 33 and is conirolled by a thermostat 34. The thermostat may be located in the room to open and close the heating circuit 35, thus to regulate the admission of the secondary vapor to the radiator, or it may be located in association with the radiator to control the heat thereof by a more direct influence apart from the temperature of the room. It is understood that the electrical heater is merely exemplary, and, that a thermostat may be employed to control any other type of heating means, such as a gas or oil name.

It is to be noted particularly that the boiler 30 is placed beneath the floor, that is, in the present instance it is located in the basement of the house directly beneath the radiator. A gas or other fuel supply may be desirable in this instance for when the main valve 21 is closed the radiator and the boiler constitute an independent heating system which can be used at any time regardless of the operation of the main heater l0. For such use, the boiler o0 should be equipped with sight example, when positive pressure is carried for the evacuating period, the body of water in the boiler 3G will assume the temperature corresponding to the pressure carried, or substantially that, depending upon how well boiler 30 is insulated against radiation. Upon diminishing the fire, the increasing vacuum will vaporize a part of the water to keep equilibrium, thus lowering its temperature. Thus, when the supply of vapor from the boiler 10 is reduced it is augmented by the heat reserved in boiler 30. The extent to which this takes place will depend upon the capacity of the boiler 30, and if desired this can be so increased that it will form a material contribution to the heating.

It is to be understood that the invention is not Las'.

limited tothe disclosures herein made, `and furthe'r, `that there may be various modiiications -in the' airfsweeping systems and in the heating `system-gerrerallyy For example, the return line 15, `entering the boiler i belowthewater levelis -no essentialpart of theco'mbinati'on. Itfis shown only-furthereason-that the circuit line 12 dips downfirom the "boiler-riser ilto allow the condensate to flow in thesamedirec'tion as thevapor. The mainfvapor lines might run at an upward `incline from 'the boiler in which instancefthe reservoir'l would befplaced anywhere along the line beyond the take-offior the particular radiator or radiators'- eduippedwith air sweeping means. It" is further to be understood that the tank may be dispensed with as an air chamber, and other radiators at or near the end of the vapor main be usedlto' provide a reservoirspace for air. Accordingly, in the appended claims when the term reservoir is employed, it refers to any meanspipes, radiators, tanks or otherwise-that forms sumcient reserve space for accumulating the air; and the sufficiency of reserve space will depend upon theparticular installation and the particular manner in which it is desired to run the installation under normal conditions.

In the appended claims I have used the terms air, vapor and gas, and have referred to pressure of gas. By gas I mean either air, vapor, or both in admixture, and by gas pressure, I refer to the pressure of the mixture of the pure gas such as air or vapor. In so doing I aim to distinguish total pressure in the radiator from partial pressures of air or vapor where there is an admixture.

I claim:

l. The method of removing air from a heating radiator in a closed system containing air at a i sub-atmospheric pressure which is connected at a point to a sub-atmospheric pressure supply of 1 heated water vapor for heating said radiator,

which comprises admitting into said radiator at a different point an auxiliary supply of water vapor at a higher pressure than exists in said radiator, whereby air in the radiator is removed z from the radiator by way of the connection to said nrst supply, and thereafter cutting ofi the flow oi said auxiliary vapor.

2. The method of removing air from a heating radiator in a closed system containing air at a sub-atmospheric pressure which is connected at a point to a sub-atmospheric pressure supply of heated water vapor for heating said radiator, which comprises admitting into said radiator at a diierent point a supply of water vapor f' from an auxiliary source at a higher pressure than exists in said radiator, whereby air in the radiator is removed from the radiator by way of the connection to said first supply, thereafter cutting off the flow of said higher pressure vapor,

and collecting said air within said system.

3. In combination a radiator, a source of heated vapor for heating said radiator, a connection from the heated vapor source to said radiator, said source and said radiator constituting a closed system for thepurpose of maintaining vacuum in the system, a water receptacle placed below said radiator, means connecting said receptacle to said radiator to carry condensate from the radiator to the receptacle and to carry vapor from the receptacle to the radiator, said rst named connection being associated with said receptacle to heat water contained therein by transfer of heat, and a separate heating means for converting water in said receptacle into vapor.

4. The method of removing air from a radiator which normally operates at subatmospheric pressure which comprises initially supplying heated vapor to the radiator at subatmospheric pressure, separately collecting condensate irorn said radiator, thereafter vaporizing said collected condensate, and introducing said vaporized condensate into said radiator at a pressure sufficient to oppose flow of vapor into the radiator from the initial supply of vapor and to force air in said radiator against and into the initial supply of vapor against the pressure of the initial supply. Y 5. A vacuum vapor heating system comprising `combination a source of'heated water vapor, radiators, one-way air-venting means for each radiator, a Vapor feeding conduit connected to said source, pipe connections from said conduit to said radiators, a reservoir for air connected to said conduit ata point remote from said vapor source, all of said parts being connected together and forming an air excluding system, and additional vapor-supply means connected to one of said radiators, whereby to sweep air from said radiator into the conduit and into the reservoir.

6. Vapor heating apparatus comprising in combination a closed heating Vacuum vapor system including a source of heated water vapor, a radiator, con-duit means connecting said source and said radiator at one place, and means providing additional space for vapor in said system; and a second source of water vapor connected to said radiator at a second place and adapted for operation to supply vapor to said radiator at a pressure higher than the pressure of Vapor supplied to said radiator from said first source, whereby said vapor at higher pressure may iorce any air in said radiator into said additional space.

7. Vapor heating apparatus comprising in cornbination a closed heating vacuum vapor system including a source of heated water vapor, a radiator, conduit means connecting said source and said radiator at one place, and means providing additional space for vapor in said system; a second source of water vapor connected to said radiator at a second place and adapted for operation to supply vapor to said radiator at a pressure higher than the pressure of vapor supplied to said radiator from said rst source, whereby said vapor at higher pressure may force any air in said radiator into said additional space, and a thermostatic control device associated with said second source for controlling the operation thereof.

8. Vapor heating apparatus comprising in combination a closed vacuum vapor system including a source of heated water vapor, a radiator, conduit means connecting said source to said radiator at one place, and means providing additional space for vapor in said system; a receptacle located below said radiator, a pipe connecting said receptacle to the bottom of said gi;

radiator at a second place to drain condensate from the radiator into said receptacle and to conduct vapor from said receptacle to said radiator, and independent heating means associated with said receptacle for vaporizing the condensate for discharge as vapor into said radiator to overcome the pressure of vapor supplied to said radiator from the rst source.

9. Vapor heating apparatus comprising in combination a closed vacuum vapor system in- 1 1;

receptacle located below said radiator, a pipe connecting said receptacle to the bottom of said radiator at a second piace to drain condensate from the radiator into said receptacle and to conduct vapor from said receptacle to said radiator, and independent heating means associated with said receptacle for vaporizing the condensate for discharge as vapor into said radiator to overcome the pressure of Vapor supplied to said radiator from the first source, said conduit means being associated with said receptacle in heat exchanging relation for heating the condensate in said receptacle.

10. Vapor heating apparatus comprising the combination with a closed Vacuum Vapor system including a source of heated water vapor, a radiator7 conduit means connecting said source and said radiator at one place, and a reservoir adapted for the accumulation of air, of an independently operable second source of Water vapor connected to said radiator at another place for supplying vapor to said radiator at a higher pressure than vapor supplied to the radiator from the main source of vapor, whereby any air in said radiator is removed for accumulation in said reservoir.

11. Vapor heating apparatus comprising in combination a closed vacuum vapor system including a source of heated Water vapor, a radiator, conduit means connecting said source and said radiator at one place, a Valve in said conduit means at said radiator, a one-way valve on said radiator adapted to Vent air from the radiator into the atmosphere, and a source of steam connected to said radiator at a second place and adapted in operation to supply steam to said radiator at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

W. BAR'ILETT JONES.

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