US1314726A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

M. F. AHEARN VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 8.27. 1919 1,314,726. Patented Supt. 2,1919.

j: 072 aYFj/I ear/2 MICHAEL F. AHEARN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. AHEARN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to radiator valves or traps such as are used for low pressure steam systems, or vacuum systems, where it is desired to allow the passage of all the air and water of condensation from the radiator and prevent the passage of steam.

There have heretofore been two types of such valves or traps used, one being the float type and the other the thermal or expansiontype, each of which has certain well recognized objectionable features. For instance, the float trap will hold a certain ,amount of water, which may freeze if the system is out of operation. The thermal types are objectionable because they will not pass all the water at all temperatures and do not maintain a uniform temperature in the radiator, as the return end of the radiator must cool sufiiciently to allow the trap to open before more steam is admitted. Another serious objection to the thermal type is the excessive pressure which is apt to injure or destroy the expansionmember; and these traps also permit steam to pass before they become sufficiently heated to close the return.

The present invention is in the nature of a combination thermal and float trap, and has many of the desirable features of both of these traps, but without the objectionable features.

The objects of this invention are, to provide a trap which will pass all of the water from the radiator at all temperatures; which will actuate so that the return end. of the radiator or heating coil will be of substantially the same temperature as the feed end; which-will have no excessive pressureon the valve seat or expansion member; which will close immediately after the Waterh'as passed; which will remain open when the system is not in operation and will hold no water; and which may be readily constructed and will be exceedingly efiicient and durable in operation.

My improved valve also has the further advantage of requiring no adjustment, and

the removable parts may be readily inserted. It also has such further advantages as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away to show the interior construetion; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in these drawings, the valve or trap comprises a body portion 3, having a connection 4 for the outlet pipe 5 of the radiator, and an outlet aperture 6, which is preferably threaded for connection with the return pipe. This body portion has a valve seat 7 at the bottom, whlch seat may be in the nature of an aperture formed directly in the bottom wall; or, if desired, a seat may be inserted in any well known manner. In the present instance, this seat is tapered to receivefthe tapered valve or plug 8, which is adapted to close the same. This valve is carried by a float 9, which preferably has an annularly corrugated bottom 10, so that the bottom will expand readily in order to actuate the valve. The float 9 is normally supported by a plurality of radially arranged seats or projections 11, which may be formed integrally with the body 3, and are preferably finished on their upper Surfaces to make an accurate seat for the float. This float is of the closed type and maybe filled with air or other suitable expansible fluid, or, if desired, may be partially filled with a suitable expansible liquid.

The body is provided with a cap or cover 12, which may be screwed or otherwise fastened in osltion in order to make a tight closure. T 10 cap is preferably provided with a downwardly extending projection 13, so that the distance between the projection and the to of the float will be less than the length of the point of the valve 8 which extends below the floor of the chamber, so that when the float rises, the valve will always remain in operative positio in the valve seat or aperture.

The valve is so constructed that the outlet will be slightly open when the float is resting on the supports 11 and at the usual normal temperature. In other words, the valve or trap is always open t normal temperatures and the air and water of con- Idensation will be free to pass from the radiator through the trap to the return pipe.

As soon as the float becomes heated, the air or liquid therein will expand, and the float is so constructed that the bottom will be expanded or pressed downwardly at the center, thereby causing the valve 8 to engage with the seat 7 and close the trap against the passage of steam. If the trap becomes filled with water under these conditions, the float 9 will be raised and will raise the valve 8 off the seat 7, so asto permit the discharge of the water; but as soon as the water is discharged, the float again returns to its seat or support and the trap will again be closed.

It will, of course, be noted that the body is arranged so that the bottom is sufliciently below the inlet aperture so that the float will be actuated by the water caught in the trap. If the steam is shut off, or the heating system is out of operation, the float 9 will, of course, become gradually cooled and will contract, so that the valve 8 is withdrawn from the valve seat 7 and permlts the dis-' charge of any water remaining in the trap. This is also the action which occurs when the radiator becomes sufliciently cool so that additional steam is required.

From this description, it will be seen that I provide a thermo-float valve or trap which will be exceedingly sensitive, as well as positive in action, and one in which thereare few parts which are apt to become worn or get out of order. The only part which is apt to require renewal is the float, which may be readily renewed by removing the cap, and then a new float and valve may be inserted.

It will also be noted that this valve or trap may be made in various sizes and shapes for different conditions, and the details of construction may be varied without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A trap of the character indicated, having a body portion with an outlet in the bottom thereof, a plug for closing said outlet; a combined float and expansion member secured to sald plug and adapted to actuate the. same, and a support in said body portion to hold the combined float and expansion member in normal position.

A trap of the character set forth, having an outlet aperture in the bottom thereof, a valve for said aperture, a combined'then mal and float member to which the valve is secured and supports in said trap for the thermal and float member, to hold the valve in normally open position, the arrangement being such that the thermal and float member will expand and close the valve when heated.

3. In an outlet valve for radiators, the

an outlet valve seat in the lower portion thereof, a valve adapted to co-act with said seat for closing the outlet, a float to which said valve is secured, and supports for holding said float so that the outlet will be open, said float having an expansible bottom whereby the valve will be moved downwardly to closed position when the float is heated.

5. In an outlet trap for radiators, the combination of a body portion having an outlet aperture in the bottom thereof, a float having an expansible bottom, supports for holding said float in a predetermined normal position, and a closure carried by said bottom and adapted to co-act with said outlet aperture, the arrangement being such that "the outlet is open at normal temperatures but will be closed when the float is heated and will be opened when the float is raised.

6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a body portion having an inlet opening in one side thereof, and an outlet at the bottom thereof, a conical valve seat for controlling the outlet, an expansible float in said body portion, shoulders for supporting the float in normal position, a conical valve carried by said float and coacting with said valve seat, and a cap for said body portion, the arrangement being such that the valve will alwaysbe in engagement with the valve seat during the movement of the float.

- MICHAEL F. AIIEARN.

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