US1475697A - Fluid-pressure-actuated switch valve - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1923. 1,475,697

v H. B. HARTMAN FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED vSWITCH VALVE Filed Aug. 413 1920 Y v HBJ'arZman,

WIM/asses." l It il; d. @JM L Wt l ,Il Gamma Patented Nov. 27, 1925i.

` UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE; -l

HARRY nUxToN HARTMAN, or 's'CoTTnALE PENNSYLVANIA, AssIcrNoIt To ELECTRIC WATERv sTEErLIzEn AND ozoNE COMPANY, A coRroRATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

I'LuInrnnssURE-ACTUATED SWITCH vALvE.

Application led August 13, 1920. Serial No. 403,431.

To all 'whom it mary concern."

Be it known that I, HARRY B. HARTMAN, citizen .of the United States, residing at Scottdale, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Fluid-Pressure-Actuated Switch Valves, of which the following is a specification. Q

This invention relates to the general `subject of valves and has particular reference to an improvement in devices of the type that are responsive to differential fluid pressure conditions.

A primary object of the invention is to I6 provide a valve for automatically opening and closing an electrical circuit through the medium of a switch which should be opened and closed according to pressure conditions in a Waterusupply lme such for instance as the mai-n feed line of a water purifying apparatus. of the t pe disclosed in my Vcopending application erial No. 353,857 filed January 24, 1920. That is to say, it is proposed to provide a valve that will maintain the Il switch closed to supply electrical current to the apparatus when the proper water pressure is in the supply line, but which in event that the water supply is cut olf, will cause the switch to open to prevent the operation ao of devices otherwise caused to 'function by the electrical current supplied through the switch line.`

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a valve of simple 85 and practical constructi`on, and in addition to belng susceptible of adjustment to meet varying preures in the supply line, is

thoroughly leak proof and so designed as to reliably function under all conditions of use.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention preferably consists 1n the' novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter, more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of t-he so valvefthe dotted lines showing the osition of the plunger and plunger stem w en the switch is c osed Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

rFi re 3 is a' horizontal cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. j

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In its preferred embodiment the present valve device includes in its organization al suitable valve casing 1 which is open at one end as at 2 while the other end is closed as at 3. The said closed end is formed with an interiorly threaded collarfi and cooperates with the sides of the casing to provide a plunger chamber 5. for receiving a plunger 6 designed to have a leak proof lit therein. This plungerpreferably consists of the' metallic body plate 7 and the leather cupf 8 that is held in place by the clamping nut N and whose relatively free skirt portion 8*l hydraulically seals itself against the sides of the chamber 5 to prevent the escape of liquid at this point.

Ihe said plunger 6,l comprising the body plate 7 and nut N'is carried upon a stem 9 one end of which projects exteriorly of the casing to perform the function of a switch operating member. That is to say, the stem 9 is provided with threads 10 for receiving the threaded boss 11 of the body plate 7 and a similar portion 1 2 of the nut N in such a manner that the leather cup 8 may be securely locked or held in a .fixed position on the stem.

For the purpose of guiding the stem 9 in its movement to effect the operation of the switch, and also to perform the more important function of regulatin thev pressure for seating the-plunger 6, a re atively adjustable bushing 13 and spring 14 are provided. That is to sa the upper end of the casing 1 is `fitted with a threaded bushing 13 whose central bore acts as a guide for the stem 9 while its lower end constitutes an adjustable abutment for tensioning the spring 14 sur-- rounding the stem 9` and engaging with the body plate 7 about the boss 11 thereof. By reason of the threaded engagement of the bushing 13 with the .casing it will be apparent that the tension of the spring 14 may be readily adjusted to meet varying ressures in the supply line. For examp e, if I the ressure in the supply line is 7 5 pounds, the ack pressure on the plunger would be very much greater than if the initial pressure were 5() pounds, and, to meet the former condition, the bushing 13 may be screwed down to compress the spring and thus exert more pressure on the back ot the plunger in the direction of seating, while on the other hand if the initial pressure in the supply line is pounds the baclr pressure on the plunger would be lower, and the bushing 13 may be then screwed upwardly to release some ot the compression in the spring. 'lhis 'feature of the valve is important since it enables the same to be used on supply lines carrying dih'erent pressures, so that by setting the tension of the spring to meet the pressure the valve may be caused to reliably actuate the switch.

The end 9b of the stem 9 preierably has a guiding engagement in the central opening 15 ot the spider 16 formed within the body ot the fitting 17 which is interiorly threaded as at 18 to engage with the corresponding threads on the exterior of the casing l. Illhe fitting 1'? in addition to providing a guide tor the lower end of the plunger stem 9 is also provided with a nipple portion 19 for tting directly to the supply line S so that the :lull pressure of water or other liquid within the line S is exposed directly to the side of the plunger 6 having the leather cup 8 fitted thereto. Obviously when pressure exists toa sufcient degree in the line S the plunger 6 will be elevated, and on the other hand when the pressure drops below the predetermined point the spring 1l will seat the plunger and retract Athe stem 9.

rlhe collar portion 4- ol" the casing 1 may be conveniently utilized for supporting the traine F of the electrical switch mechanism arranged within the casing 20. This switch mechanism may be of any standard and well lrnown type that includes an operating stem 21 which when pushed in one direction closes the electrical circuit, and upon the release of such pressure automatically opens the circuit. W ith this arrangement, long as sufficient pressure exists in the supply line d to elevate the plunger 6 the stern 9 thereof will be positively projected to maintain the switch mechanism closed, but upon the fall of pressure in the line S the switch will be opened automatically due to the retraction et the stem 9 within the casing, in the manner previously indicated.

For the purpose oi" relieving the under side 22 et the switch casing Q0 ot the heavy pressure imposed thereon when the plunger is elevated, a suitable stop abutment 1E may be placed or :termed within the chaniber'l to engage the baclr ot the body plate 7 as shown in Figure 1. Also., to insure the tree operation oit the plunger under the influence ot the spring lll, and prevent the formation of an air compressor space above the plunger, the casing 1 may be provided with an air vent 1b.

By reason of the novel detachable mounting of the switch frame F upon the collar a of the casing it is possible to readily detach the switch mechanism from the valve for adjustment or repair while 'at the same time it will also be apparent thatl the body of the valve l and the fitting 17 may be readily separated to have access to the plunger chamber and plunger operating therein. Also the provision of the leather cup 8 is of material importance since water pressure on the skirt portion 8"L thereof will produce a tight t with the sides of the body 1 to thereby increase the sealing e'ect between the plunger and casing and obtain a thoroughly practical and leak prooi valve which is highly desirable, and in fact essen-g tial to a satisfactory installation.

ln connection with the switch frame F it will also be noted that the same has a relatively swivellecl engagement with the valve body. 'lhat is to say, the arms F ol the frame have the web F2 which connects the same, so formed as tol lit over the tubular collar whereby the frame may be adjusted circumferentially thereabout to enable the wires ot the switch to be led oil at any convenient point to go directly to the electrical devices. To enable the frame to be secured in the desired adjusted position suitable 'astcnings l" such as set screws or the like may be employed.

llrom the foregoing it is believed that the features and advantages of the present type of valve will be readily apparent and it will of course be understood that changes, in the form, and roportion of parts may be readily resorted to without departing from the spirit ot the invention. or scope ot the appended claims.

ll clairnzl. lin an electro-tluid device of the class described, a casing having a relatively closed end wall provided with a collar and open at the other end, a chambered fitting secured to the open end o'l the casing and provided with a threaded pipe-nipple-receiving` opening, an abutment carried by the inside wall of the casing, a plunger operable'in the casing, a spring lor holding said plunger normally seated against a portion of said litting, a bushing arranged 'within said collar and providing a guide for the stem of the plunger and also constituting an abutn ment for said spring, and a switch device surmounting casing and surrounding the collar.

2. ln an electro-duid device of the class described, a plunger casing having a relatively closed end open at the other end, a chambered fitting secured to the open end of casing and having an interiorly MC* threaded pipe-nlpple-reoeiving portion, said fitting also having a spider formed in the chambered portion thereof and provided with a guide opening, a plunger operable Within the casing, a stem for adjustably carrying said plunger and extending to opposite sides thereof, the stem at one side of the plunger operating in vsaid guide opening of the spider and the stem at the other side of the plunger being guided in the re1- atively closed end Wall of the casing, and a switch surmounting said casing and operated by said plunger stem.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature;

HARRY BUXTON HARTMAN.

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