US1367793A - Heatinq apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Eng. 2:

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed April 1, 1918. Serial No. 88,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rounnr S. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating apparatus and devices used in conjunction therewith. One of the objects thereof is to provide simple improvements in heating apparatus whereby its efficiency is enhanced. Another object is to provide an inexpensive device for maintaining a controlled connection of a heating chamber with the outer air. Other objects are to provide a device of the above general nature of durable form, sensitive and reliable action, and low cost. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction. combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is sh wn one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a portion of a heating chamber. such as a radiator. with certain devices associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a device for controlling a vent passage. the section being taken substantially on the line AA of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line 13-13 of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional plan taken on the line of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now in detail to Fig. 1 of the drawing. there is shown at 1 a heating chamber or steam chamber. and it mav here be noted that the term steam chamber is used throughout in a broad sense to denote a chamber in which it is desired to hold steam under pressure. as in the radiator of a heating svstem. From this chamber leads a pasage 2 through which the air is expelled. as when the steam is turned on.

The passage 2 leads into a chamber 3 provided with a vent tube 4, which is threaded into the upper end of the walls of the chambor and hence may be adjusted in position vertically. It may be noted at this point that the term vent is used broad] throughout. Positioned in chamber 3 directly below the tube or member 4 is a thermostatic member 5, of such composition and position that when it is heated as by escaping steam it will expand to a sufiicient degree as to engage the lower edge of the tube 4 and seal the vent passage therethrough. Conversely as this member cools it will, by its contraction, open the passage from the chamber 1 through the tube 4.

The upper end of the tube 4 preferably pro ects above the walls of the chamber 3, although it is to be understood that the entire thermostatic vent thus far described is merely illustrative of anv suitable form of device of this nature. Tightly fitted upon the upper end of tube 4 is the device shown in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The latter device comprises a lower tubular portion 6 adapted to fit over and embrace tightly thealpper end of the tube 4. This entire device may be formed of rubber or like composition. and it is to be noted that the term rubber is used throughout in the broad sense to comprehend eouivalcnt material. The tubular portion 6 is preferably partially vulcanized according to the dotting 7. to a hardness greater than that of the remainder of the device in order to adapt it to with tand the heat to which it may be subjected in use. This vulcanizmg, however. is not absolutelv essential and it is to be understcod that it is preferably carrie onlv to a mo erate degree.

The upper portion of the detachable dein vice is preferably sha ed substantially as shown so that its walls are convex hotli len thwise and crosswise of the device. but it is to be understood that for the broader features of this inven ion a tubular or cvlin drical device may be emploved. and the term convex is used broadly to comprebend a cylindrical surface. At the side walls of this device there is provided a slit 8 which runs len thwise. and it will be understood th t such a slit readilv permits air or other fluid to pass outwardly but automatically closes to prevent the return of air into the device.

In order that a long slit may be employed of the atmosphere.

with a correspondingly greater sensitiveness to outward pressure, without sacrificing resistance to inward pressure, there is provided a device 9 whirh is tightly fitted at 10 into the top walls and provided with a shank 11, which terminates at a substantially circular disk12 resting against and supporting the walls adjacent the slit. This disk is preferably provided at its edge portions with one or more recesses 13, through which pressure is equalized in the upper and lower portions of the device. Also the lengthwise curvature of the slit tends to prevent collapsing of the adjacent walls to the inward pressure. Furthermore, the wall portion 14 is provided with a lug 15 which overlaps the wall portion 16 at 17, although it is not connected to the latter wall portion. At another point the wall portion 16, as shown in Fig. 4E oi the drawing, is provided with a similar lug 18, overlapping the wall portion 14 at 19. Although these lugs, in connection with the supporting disk .12, provide an extremely strong and yet sensitive device, nevertheless either of these arrangements may be used without the other, and in fact the broader features of this invention may be embodied in a devire in which a simple slit is employed.

In the action of the apparatus, when steam is admitted to the chamber 1, assuming the latter to be filled with cold air, the member 5, being contracted, permits this air to he driven outwardly through the tube 4., and from there it readily passes outwardly through the slit 8, thus permitting chamber 1 to become quickly filled with steam. [at this stage the member 5 expands and closes the passage through the tube 4. After the fire has been checked or reduced for any reason there is a tendency, due to the failure of steam supply, for the steam in the system,

and particularly in chamber 1,. slowly to condense, thus reducing the pressure below that T he cooling causes the member 5 to open the passage through the tube 4, and if air were" admitted it would quickly fill the chamber 1, and the latter become substantially cold; The tendency of the air to pass in througn the tube l, however, merely closes more tightly the walls of the slit- 8, and hence the entry of air is preventecheven though the member 5 be contracted. The pressure in the chamber 1, and'in the heating system thus soon falls to a point considerably below the atmosphere, but the chamber is not materially cooled, and in fact the reduction in pressure causes the boiler to continue to give off steam or hot vapor even though the fire be so low that the water is materially below 212 degrees. In'this manner for a given use of coal a mu'h longer heating-effect is obtained. It will be seen, moreover, that the device whereby this is accomplished is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, and although durable may be readily and cheaply replaced. 1

As various changes might be made in the above construction, and as this invention might be embodied in the different forms of apparatus, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

Having described this invention, 1 claim Lin heating apparatus, in combination, a steam chamber, means -forming a passage from said chamber, a thermostatic device controlling said passage and adapted to open at low temperature and close at a high temperature, and a device at the end of said passage adapted to open the outlet from said chamber through said passage upon the pressure therein being materially above that of the atmosphere, and close said passage at a lower pressure, said first means terminating in a projecting part about which said last device is removably and resiliently fitted. V

2. in heating apparatus, in combination, a steam chamber, means forming a passage from said chamber and terminating in a projecting part, a thermostatic device controlling said passage and adapted to open the same at a low temperature, and closeat a higher temperature, and a device comprisinrr a resilient portion removably embracing said projecting part, said device comprising a chamber having an outwardly convex wall slitted throughout its entire thickness.

3.. As an article of manu acture for use with heating apparatus, a device comprising a resilient tubular portion adapted to fit over a vent, and a portion "forming a closed chamber with an outwardl convex wall lie-vine a slit therethrouah.

4. As an article of manufacture for use with heating apparatus. a device comprisa portion adapted to be secured to a vent and a portion forming a closed chamber with an outwardly convex wall having a slit therethrouoh, and means adapted to prevent the walls 0t said slit from moving inwardly from their normal position.

5. As an article ot manufacture for use with heating ap aratus. a resilient device comprising portion adapted to be secured to a vent, a d a portion forming a closed chamber with an outwardly convex wall hswinn a slit therethrotwh. each of the walls of said S it being pro ided with a portion overla ping the opposite wall.

6. As an article oi manufacture for use with heating appara us, a rubber device havino" a pai o onenines, one of which is device comprising an intermediate out wardly convex wall having a slit therethrough, and means closing the remaining opening in said device.

7. As an article of manufacture for use with heating apparatus, a rubber device having a pair of openings, one of which is adapted to fit removably over a vent, said device comprising an intermediate outwardly convex wall having a slit therethrough, and means closing the remaining opening in said device and extending opposite said slit to hold its walls against 1nward movement from their normal position.

8. As an article of manufacture for use with heating apparatus, a device formed of 15 rubber and provided with a portion adapted removably to fit over a vent and with a check valve adapted to permit the passage of fluid therethrough one way, and prevent its passage in the other direction the por- 20 tions of said device adjacent said vent being vulcanized to a hardness greater than that of the remainder of the device.

Signed at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey this 25th 25 day of March, A. D. 1916.

ROBERT S. BLAIR.

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