US1047622A - Steam-heating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. DONNELLY.

I STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 11 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INI/ENIO/ih 1 W ATTORNEY.

J. A. DONNELLY.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11, 1904. 1,047,622, A Patented Dec. 17,1912.

'7 2 8HEETS-SHEET 2.

LLA: "(Q1 B 77 )9 ct Q k 7/ l .D H I D H I WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. nonnnLLyyor NEW Y0RK, 1v. Y.

STEAM-HEATING mums.

Be it known that I, JAMEs A. DoNNEL'Lr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New,,York cit in the county of Kings andState of New ed certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, i

My invention relatesto certain novel and .useful improvements: in "circulatingsystems,

' and has particular application to a heating system.

In the present application, by way of illustration, I show and describe my invention'employed in connection with a steam, radiator system towhich it has been found by experience to be very adaptable.

In carrying out my invention 1t 1s my purpose to provide a system embodying the esired features of economy of operation and.

regularity of action.

' The invention consists in'the improves: ments set forth in and fallingwithin' the construction, I have found that for many scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein one form of my invention is delineated, Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a steam heating apparatus embodying my invention Fig. 2 is a similar view; showing the system as extending throughout va -number of detached buildings; Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in'seetion, illustrating the construction of the controllingvalve, used ing the present instance.

Similar letters and .numerals ofli'eferei l fi, parts throughout designate corresponding the several views of the drawing Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, and particularly 'to'Fig. 1

thereof, wherein I have shown myinventio1i applied to the vacuum system," the letter-B designates a steam generator, the steam.

main Z) of which is connected with an engine E of a usual type. The exhaust from the engine is connected by a pipe a with the steam supply pipe or feeder Ssupplying the branch pipes s. -A suitable reducing valve 0 is inserted into the steam main through which live steam mav be caused to enter the steam pipe when desired.

P is a vacuum pump or other exhausting apparatus which is in the present instance shown as attached to the main return R to which the several branch returns 7' from the several series of radiators or. rad ating de vices II are connected.

ork, have inventtowh ich the pipes forming1 the mg in vertical line,

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa,tented Dec, 17, 1912, Application filed-Tune -11, 1904. Serial No. 212,192.

. D are res'trictingmeans, such as the ordinary automatic? branch valves, and are placed at the outlet ends ofthe radiators H,

rectly with the outlet ends of the radiators H through the branch returns 1' for the purpose of permitting the outflow of fluids from the radiator, I provide a novel form of construction describedin detail hereafter. One

of the essentials of this construction is a controlling means, in the present instance, a I valveLV.

v i In the drawings I show this valve estahlis for positioned in the branch return saidjyalve having an inletand outlet 7 return are coupled.-' *While the contro element or valve ay be of any desired and suitable purposes a valve of the nature shown in the drawings is satisfactory. This valve is of the type commonly lmown' as a diaphragm valve and comprises the valve casing 1 havingthe inlet 2 and the outlet 3. At the top of the casing is formed which cuts, ofi a portion ofthe chamber 5 forming a chamber 6 {communicating with the outlet 3, while thejchamberb communicates with the inlet 2. In the partiton 4 are formed two thoroughfares 8 and 9 arranged b and controlled respectively I a common valve rod 12. The lower end" of the valve rod 12pas ses through a cap 13 closing the bottom of the casing and 'is connected with .a lever 14: having :thereon an adjustable weight 15. To the valve rod 12 is attached a diaphragm 1,6 which is secured to the casing by the cap 13, and the chamber 18 so formed is connected with the branch steam supply 'pipe 8 by means of a small branch pipe 19 controlled by a suitable valve 20. This chamber forms the high-pressure chamber of the valve. The'chamberb will fill with water of condensation which passes off to the pump or-other point of discharge through the return.

I-Iavingdescribed the mechanical construction of the valve I will now detail the means by which it is operated and certain functions it is designed to perform. It is a U-shaped partition;

the valvepieces 10' and 11 mounted upon.

operated as follows: Assuming fluid to be flowing, through the main Sat a relatively high pressure, such fluid passing through the branch 19. into the chamber 18 below the diaphragm normally tends to close the valve and were no counterforce employed the valve would be held closed. But when the circulation of the fluid brings it back through the return 1' to the valve V, it flows into the menting the initial valve opening force maybe adopted. Thus it will be seen that the pressure from the return plus the action of the weight serves to balance the pressure from the high pressure or supply main sufficiently' to unseat the valve and establish the same in position to maintain a constant difference in pressure between the branch supply and return pipes of the individual radiators or other branch systems. In connection with this and analogous systems a'controlling agent such, for instance, as this valve, installed substantially as above recited, is capable of performing a number of important functions, among which it might be mentioned that it controls the fiow of fluid froma plurality or series of heating agents, such as radiators, which communicate with a common return pipe or main, in which com mon return the controller is situated. For instance, each radiator being in independent communication with the return branch,' there flows from such radiator to the branch-a fluid matter which may comprise. steam, water or air, or a mixture of all or any of these. And the air and water flowing from all the radiators may be controlled and 'removed by this common controlling element.-

For example, fluids flowing through the automatic restriction valves at the outlet of the radiators passes into the common return branch and thence into the controlling valve. Pressure. being thus raised in the return branch the fluids escape through the now open controlling valve to the main return or other 1 suitable point of discharge. Thus fluids flowing from a series or plurality of radiators through the automatic restricting valve thereof are automatically controlled by a. common controlling element. F urthermore, I have found. that in consequence of the wide Variation "of pressure in different parts of main pipes, according to thedistance of such parts from the source of supply and exhaust, a uniform and outward flow through the separate radiators or branch systems is diflicult of attainment without some expedient to preserve a proper difference of pressure between the inlet and outlet and individual radiators or control systems, regardless of changes of pressure in the main supply and return. Therefore, I employ as an expedient the described valve, or similar element, in the return of the branch systems or radiators, said valve so controlled by the difference of pressure existing between the inlet and outlet of the radiators or control systems as to react on said difference of pressure and to keep it constant.

It will be readily understood that as the pressure in the chamber 5 varies, which pressure'corresponds to 'thepressure in the radiator return 1, the change of pressureon the diaphragm 16 will either increase or decrease the openings at the valves 10 and 11, thus permitting more on less escape of fluid fromsaid return branch. 1 When the pressure falls in the return, that is, in the chamber 15, the decreased area of opening at the thoroughfares 8 and 9 serves to check the passage of fluid between the radiator II and the differential valve V, so that the pressure at this point is increased and thus maintains constant the predetermined difference of pressure between the branchsupply and the part of the branch return included between the radiator and the differential ,valve.

When the pressure in the radiator return, that is, in the chamber'5, rises, the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm 16 forces the same downwardly and increases the openings at the thoroughfares 8 and 9. This causes an increased flow in the return, and thefluid is rapidly discharged, thus tending to diminish the pressure in the return and so maintaining difference of pressure. The degree of difference of pressure to be maintained is determined by the position of the weight 15 on the lever 14L and may be varied as conditions require.

'In the upper part of Fig. 1, I have shown the branch return 1 provided with a by-pass p containing a meter M and a steam trap T.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the system extended through several detached buildings, S, being steam supply, B, R, the main returns, H the radiating devices, 8,, r the branch supply and return pipes respectively, Vthe controlling valves; B the boiler, E the engine, P, a vacuum pum P It is of course to be understood that I do not wish to restrict myself,to any particular arrangement of the system or the construction of its parts'or to the sourcelof steam supply, or whether it be .a high or a low pressure, as it is evident that changescan be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. When the ressure of the source of steam supply is su stantially constant, it will be understood that the valve 20 in the'pipe connection between the steam pipe s and the valve V may be closed to cut off the lower pressure chamber of said valve V from the steam pipe 5, under which conditions the difference of pressure will be kept constant. It will be understood that the valve 20 is open when it is desired to employ the valve V in maintaining the difierence of pressure constant when the pressure of steam in the pipe .9 is not constant. In practice, I place in the branch supply pipe 8 the gage G and in the branch returns the gage G and G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in independent communication with said supply and return pipes, and means to control thecirculation through said heat-distributing systems controlled by the relative pressuresin the inlets and outlets thereof.

2. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each .in independent communication with said supply and return pipes, and means for establishing and maintaining apredetermined difference in pressure between the inlet and outlet of any of said heat-distributing systems.

3. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in independent communication with said suppl and return pipes, a valve in the return t i'om any heat distributing system to the return pipe, and means for controlling said valve by the differential pressures in the inlet and outlet to said heat-distributing system.

4. In a steam heating system,,the com-- bination with the main supply pipe and the main return, of a seriesof radiating sections or systems, branch supply and return pipes connecting said radiating sections or systerms with the supply and return mains, a controlling valve in the branch return pipe of each of said radiating sections or systems,

and apressure motor device controlling said valve and controlled by the differential pressures in the branch supply pipes and in the branch returns between said valve and the radiating section or system. i

5. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe,.a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in inde pendent communication with said supply and return pipes and each containing one or more radiating devices, 'means at the outlets of said radiating devices to restrict the flow, and meansto control the circulation through said heat-distributing systems controlled by the relative pressure in the inlets and outlets thereof.

6. In a heating system, the combination lets thereof.

7. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in independent communication with said supply and return pipes and each containing one or more radiating devices, means at the outlets of said radiating devices to restrict the flow, and means for establishing and maintaining a predetermined diflerence in pressure between the inlet and outlet of any of said heat-distributing systems.

.8. In a-heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in independent communication with said supply and return pipes and each containing one or more radiating devices, automatic valves at the outlets of said radiating devices, and means for establishi'ngrnd maintaining a predetermined di'fi'erenc e in pressure between.

the inlet and outlet of any of said heatdistributing systems.

9. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heatdistributing systems each in 1ndependent communication wit-h said supply and return pipes and each containing one or more radiating devices, means at the outlets of said radiating devices to restrict the flow, a valve in the return from any heat-distributing system to the return pipe,

and meansfor controlling said valve by the difl'erentialpressures in the inlet and outlet to said heat-distributing system.

10. In a heating system, the combination of a supply pipe, a return pipe, a plurality of heat-distributing systems each in independent communication with said supply and return pipes and each containing one or more radiating devices, automatic valves at theoutlets of said radiating devices, a valve in the return from any heat-distributing system to the return pipe, and means for controlling said valve by the diiferential pressures in the inlet and. outlet t said"heat-distributing system 11. In a steam heating system, the combination with the main supply pipe, and the main return, of a series ,f radiating sections or systems comprising one or more radiating devices, means at the, outlets of said radiating devices to restrict the flow, branch supply and return pipes connecting said radiating sections or systems with the supply .and return mains, a controlling valve in the branch return pipe of each of said radiating sections or systems, and a pressure motor device controlling said valve and controlled by the differential pressures in the branch supply pipes and in the branch returns between said valve and the radiating section or system.

12. In a steam heating system, the combination with the main-supply pipe, and the main return, of a. series of radiating sections or systems comprising one or more radiating devices, automatic valves at the outlets of said radiating devices, branch supply and return pipes connecting said radiating sections or systems with the sup- .ply and return mains, a controlling, valve in the-branch return pipe of each of said radiating sections or systems, and a pressure motor device controlling said valve, and

controlled by the differential pressures in the branch supply pipe and in the branch return between the said valve fild the radiating sections or systems.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handin the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES A. DONNELLY. Witnesses:

A. FABER DU FAUR, Jr, RAENA H. YUDIZKY.

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