US2982256A - Electrical apparatus and methods - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1951 E. E. LlTTLr-:Fl-ELD' 2,982,256

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND METHODS Original Filed March 1'7, 1945 III. 'IIIA INVENTOR Ep 6A e 5 /Tv-EF/ELD ,97" Tae /VE/ vBr-ieilyzconsidered the linvention relates to an improved system of control and to certaingixnprovements in the elements'making up the system. L e. f: YOne ofthe objects istoprovide an improved flushing system,."while an` additional object is` the, provision of an improved valvefor use in the same or for 'such other uses as may be found for it. l t y '.:r Besides reducing the Aheating effect to a minimum, the valvein .question possesses numerous advantages, inc1ud` ing'la `simplified construction that in operation is quick acting andI do'es notpermit'leakage when closed. More- United States Patent ice 7 trolled vby means of a relay code or` equivalent type, which, in turn, is controlled by over, the-valve seats without an;objectionablefhammer blow,.and doesnot stick under ordinary use.` t

Z ,Certainmodications will' appear, in the drawings.:

Numerous objects and advantages of the improvements will become obvious upon consideration of thewfollowinggdescription and the accompanying drawings. e

Y"Fig `1 shows an improved electrical control `System, withione form of improved valve incorporated therein, the latter-being shown partly in cross-sectional elevation. LIIn Fig. 2 is` shown a modified form of valve element. andA piston which may be employed in the valve combination. f z Y. f

In Fig. 3 is showula section a of urinal, partly cut away,of a type-more completely described in certain prior patents issued to me, includingU.S. Patent No. 1,709,083, in which type the waste deposited forms an electrical conductor in the path-,of4 a` controlling circuit. .I'n Fig.l 4 is shown, partly Vincross-sectionalelevation, the `upper` part of a modified valve construction. Figure S is an enlarged vertical sectional view, 'th parts broken away, `of a detail of certain featuresshown in theupper portion of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is asimilashowing similarly 'related to Figure 1. z t v j v "In' the; various views like numerals referto like parts.

arrow, Fig. l, indicates direction of fluid flow. -f Referring tov Fig. il, ifa "step-down' transformerjl, hav- Patented May 2,1961

1s, preferably of .the 'relethe electrodes 2 1 and 22 togetherW-ith the iluid which at times is interposed therebetween. In case it is desired to cut out relay 18, switch element'19, which is normally open` when the relay is used, may-be closed. vInstead of the means indicated, or as additional means therefor, the valve operating circuit may bev controlled by means of a push button 20, through branch circuit 16. Circuit interruptors23 and 24, normally closed, provide means for opening their `respective circuits when desirable or necessary. Under the arrangement shown, i.e., with switch 6 open, and 7 and 8 closed, the coil 9 is heated by primary circuit'4. However, with switch 25 closed, as well as interrupter 6, and 7 or 8, or both, opened, as well as 23, the coil 9V may be heated by circuit 15. VIriithis way. heat may be applied to the coi1-9 from therlow tension side of the transformer, the voltage of which, at leastfcr certain purposes,-is.preferably 18 `to 24 volts, or less; A tran'sformersupplying from 50 to 150 Watts has been found suitable for quite a number of purposes. The operation ofthe flushing system, fas such, will beappreciated by reference to the above indicated patents. The Telecode relay referred to is the trade name of a relay manufactured by the Benjamin Electric Mfg. Co., of Des Plaines, Ill., and is madein accordance Iwith the disclosure of U.S. Patent 1,272,432

of July 16, 1918. Y

Included in circuit 14 is a valve 26 which is also shown and described in my Patent, 1,862,937 and which has been found satisfactory when incorporated in the vabove combination. The housing 27 is provided with a seatv 28 and a bonnet 29, with a cylindrical extension 30,V

and an extension at the top in the form of a tubular member 31, closed at the top, said parts being formed of 4brass or other non-magnetizable materials.

Arranged .to co-operate Vwith seat 28 is a .piston valve 32 having Aa tubular extension 33, formed integral withv the former, or'as a separate element, and threaded therein, `if desired, the tubular extension 33 having a seat 34 at .its upper end, said parts being formed of 'non-magnetizable material of any suitable type.V The tubular extension and piston provide a by-pass 35 within whicha ing primary and secondary windings Zaand 3,' respectivelyiis" connected withaisuitable 'source' ofcurrent; s uch as an ordinary alternating current service main, by means of'circuit 4, having Aswitch` elements 5 and 6 thereinyand additional switch elements 7fand'8, which` are normally closed, so'that 'when element 6 is open and 5 closed, thev load current flowing in-circuit 4 supplies'heatfor the coil 9fen'c'ircling the movable contact arm 10 of a temperatu're responsive device 11, causing the former tov niove'into contact with terminal .12, thus closing branch circuit 13? on the .secondary `side of the` transformer.

Byclosing Vthe switch 6 and opening 7 and 8 the temperature responsive device may be made to respond` valve stem 36 reciprocates and which is resiliently mounted at the lower end by means of a coiled spring 37 and loch nuts 38. At the upper end ofthe valve stem a valve member 39 preferably formed of stainless iron'is secured, by a threaded connection or otherwise, as desired, and arranged to co-operate with the seat 34. Resting onthe upper end of the tubular extensionV 33 is a lever ldevice 40 formed of magnetizable material, pref-V erably stainless iron, and having an adjustable head 41 threaded thereon. Obviously, the threaded arrangementY permits certain adjustments -to be made when desirable or necessary. Head 41 is preferably formed of'nonmagnetic material.

The valve stem 36 `and valve 39 obviously may be:

formed of one -piece of stainless ironor itsequivalent and assembled as a unit in the valve combination, thusv simplifying manufacturing procedure. Asv indicated above, valve 39, as well as its stem, if desired, and lever arm 40 are preferably made of stainless -iron or its equivalent.

A coil 42, having a core member 43, is adjustablyf mounted, as with yset screw 31', on the tubular extension` 31, in posit-ion, when energized, to attract lever 40, when the piston valve isin seated position. For illustra-tive purposes, Vthe piston valve is shown in elevated position. The kcoil may be adjusted to any` desiredposition` on the extension 31. Obviously-,thefarrangementgf should be such that during the operation of the valve the lever arm 40 slides along the wall of the tubular'extension 31 adjacent core 43.

If we assume that the main valve is closed or in seated position and that energy is applied to the coil 42, the same having previously been adjusted'to the most ef-` cient position on the stem 31, the arm 40 will be` at,-t tractedfto the core 43, thus unseating the by-pass valve 39 and opening by-pass 35, permitting release of pressure from chamber 44, causing the piston valve to be unseated.

By modifying the construction of the piston valve 32 somewhat, as in Fig. 2, the part forming the valve head 45 may be adjustably threaded on to the stem part 46, thus permitting regulation of the fluid ow. Obviously, the extension has an additional use as an aspirator, to aid in reducing the pressure in chamber 44.

A sectionof an earthenware urinal bowl, shown in Fig. 3, is provided with ka pair of electrodes 21 and 22, having corrosion resistingheads 48, with threaded extensions 49, on which are threaded female nuts v50. To the lower ends of these are threaded a couple of terminal nuts 51. Obviously, when liquid excreta is interposed between electrodes 21 and 22, included in circuit 14, as explained in the patents referred to, circuit 14 is closed, resulting in a flushing operation. A couple of rubber gaskets 52 prevent leakage of fluid through-the holes in the earthenware bowl, while short-circuiting of the electrodes outside the bowl is prevented by means of the annular extension 53 of the bowl.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a sectional view of a valve, shown partly cut away, similar to the type shown in Fig. lof my Patent 1,862,937, the detail being of the structure cooperating with the upper end of a fluid operated piston valve 55. The tubular member 54 may be threaded into the piston part 55, or made integral therewith, as desired. Within the tubular extension 54 is a tubular extension 56, of the piston valve 55, which extension may be formed integral therewith, or as a separate piece threaded into the piston valve. The piston itself and main valve, of course, supply the remainder of the by-pass.

At the upper end of the member 56 is a seat 57 for a pilot valve 58 arranged to co-operate with a magnetizable plug or core member 59, preferably made of stainless iron or equivalent, which rests on the upper end of the member 54, the latter, as well as member 56, being formed of non-magnetizable material. obviously, is preferably formed ofstainless iron or equivalent. The valve is shown in elevated or open position.

A coil 60 is adjustably mounted on the extension 61 of` the bonnet 62. An opening 63 in the side Wall of member 54 providesy for communication with the by-pass through the piston. When the main valve is closed the pilot valve 58 rests on its seat 57, while the core member 59 rests on the upper end of the tubular member 54, mow'ng freely therewith. It will be understoodV that the bonnet 62, together with extension 61, are formed of brass or other non-magnetizable material. The valve 17, Fig. l, of U.S. Patent 1,862,937 is similar to and functions substantially like valve 58 above. Attention is directed to it for general information.

In the seated position of the main valve the magnetizable parts 58 and 59 will occupy positions within the coil 60 in such a way that a maximum magnetizing effect may be applied thereto. However, upon operation of theV valve, these magnetizable parts move to a position designed to develop such reactance in the coil that overheating is prevented. Much less electrical energy is required to hold the valve open than is required to open it. This type of valve may, if desired, under certain conditions, be substituted for the one previously described. I have found rit desirable, in certain instances, to employ an auxiliary or pilot valve the weight of which is less than th'atofthe` valve it controls. It is also desirable under certainconditions to have the auxiliary or pilot valve displace less fluid than-the controlled valve.

Pilot valve S8,-

The present application was filed April 13, 1954, asl a continuation of the then pending parent application Serial No. 344,933 (later abandoned), which latter application was filed March 27, 1953, as a continuation of application Serial No. 583,327, led March 17, 1945 (later abandoned); the last mentioned application was, in turn, a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 333,696, filed May 6, 1940, which issuedas Patent No. 2,373,697 on April 17, 1945. Serial No. 333,696, was a substitute of Serial No. 616,955, filed June 13, 1932 (later abandoned), and the last mentioned application was a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 54,080, tiled September A2, 1925, which application eventuated in Patent No. 1,862,- 937, dated June 14, 1932.

The present application also contains matter in common with my copending application Serial No. 380,707, filed September 17, 1953.

Referring again to the combination of Fig. l, it is obvious that, while I have illustrated and described certain means for unseating the auxiliary valve 39, other means may also be employed. A hook and eye con-l ne'ction, vfor instance, orl the equivalent thereof, between the arm 40 and valve 39 may be used, if desired. A partial sectional view of an assembly of this s ort is shown in Fig. 6.

For the sakel of brevity' I have illustrated only a few simple embodiments Vof my invention and the several features thereof,and have described them with particularity; but it will of course be understood that my invention is not limited to the forms thus illustrated, as I intend to cover all forms, methods, and arrangements thatA come within thedefinitions of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

IY claim: x

1. The method of controlling a translatlng device which includes exposing a movable magnetic element to substantially the densest part of a magnetic eld to move the said element and thereby to eiect primary control of said device and thereafter reducing the strength of said field effective upon said element by increasing the alr gap through which the eld operates while maintaining said element in primary control of said device.

l2. The method of controlling a translating devlcev which includes exposing a movable magnetic element to substantially the densest part of a magnetic eld to move the said element and thereby to effect primary control of said device and thereafter moving said element to a substantially less dense portion of said eld beyond the densest part of said field.

3. The method of controlling a translating device which includes exposinga movable magnetic element `tosubstantially the densest part of a magnetic field to move the' said element and moving said element to a substantially less denseportion of said eld beyond said densest part of -said field before utilizing said element for further control of said device. Y

4. The method of controlling a translating device having a movable magnetic element disposed to respond to` the densest partofthe magnetic field provided by a companion member which includes exposing said element to the influence of said field to move said element to a predetermined position and thereafter reducing the strength of the eld elfective on said element by increasingand thereafter causing saidelement to move to a sub-` stantially less dense portion of said field beyond said predetermined position.

6. The method of controlling an electro-mechanical deviceiwhich includes exposing a movable magnetic elefield of a companion member energized by alternating current which includes exposing said element to said iield to move the element to a predetermined position4 in said ield and thereafter reducing the strength of the field eiective on said element by moving the Velement to avpredetermined position beyond its last previous position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meredith June 20, 1916 Klein Aug. 12, 1924 Carter July 12, 1927 Bright Sept. 4, 1928 Whitehead Aug. 25, 1931 Littlefield June'l4, 1932 Martin-Hurst Dec. 26, 1944 Littleeld Apr. 17, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1902 Switzerland Nov. 2, 1925

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