US1524347A - Pressure regulator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27. 1925.

w. A. ENGLAND PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed April 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVTOR WA- [727247242- WITNESS Jan. 27. 1925. 1,524,347

w. A. ENGLAND PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed April 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS I INVENTOR fi d M41 rzy/azd Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNI-TED STAT-ES;

WILLIAM' A. ENGLAND,.OE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Application filed April-27, 1921.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. ENGLAND, a citizen of the United States,.and a. resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new anduse'ful Pressure Regulator, of which the following is a specification. I

The broad object of my invention is the provision otli' an apparatus for the control of liquid pressure, which embodies'means for securing a substantially constant pressure head irrespective ot'variations in the quantity of liquid in the supply tank. From a narrow view I wish to provide means par ticularly useful in apparatus for. dispens ing soft drinks, whereby the syrup drawn from the serving faucet is under a substair tia'lly constant pressure which is substantially uninfluenced by the pressure oithe syrup in a. reservoir of relatively large capacity from which the supply of syrup is taken thru appropriate connections.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the follow ing description of my invention. It isto'be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said description,.as I may adopt variant forms of my invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings :.Fig. 1 is. a vertical section thru the apparatus of my invention. Fig. 52 is an elevation, partly in section of a modified arrangement of parts. Fig. dis a vertical sectionshowing. a modified form of vent tube, and Fig. 4 is a. detail of the same on an enlargedscale. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevation and plan respectively of another form of my invention.

My invention comprises a main storage tank 1 enclosing a supply chamber of any desired capacity, and formed with a cylindrical portion 2 extending from the bottom. In the. center of the bottom of the extension, a discharge pipe 3 connects the structure with the dispensing faucet- 4, which is also connected when necessary to a suitable-tank containing charged water. The side ofthe passage: into the discharge pipe is provided with threads 5 anda seat for the gasket 6 upon which is seated the nipple 7 of the smaller tank 8 enclosing the equalizer chamber. The equalizer tank is a cylindrical plinth in form, and of such size as to substantially fill the chamber formed" lIl'.tllB' ex;- tension 2, its top being flush with the" bot Serial No. 465,060.

tom of the main supply chamber. The nipple 7 is provided with threads to engage with threads 5 when the equalizer tank isturned to seat the nipple firmly against the gasket, direct comn'iunication from the main tank or chamber. into the discharge pipe is cutoil" and the discharge" pipe opens directly into the equalizer tank or chamber.

For convenience in assembling and disassembling, the equalizer tank is provided with an inverted U-form handle 9, one leg of which also serves as a support for the capillary vent tube 11 which extends from the top. of the equalizer tank to a. point above the highest level of liquid in the main tank. The equalizer is also formed with an inlet passage 12 preferably'in the top, and of'a' capacityconsiderably less than that of the discharge passage.

lVith the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 1,,liquid in the. supply chamber will flow into the equalizer chamber-thin the passage 12, the air in the equalizerv chamber escaping thru the vent tube, which finally fills with liquid'to the level in. the main tank. hen the faucet 4 is turned to draw ofi' liquid, and the liquid has begun to flow,the pres sure of the liquid in the main tank is no longer felt in the equalizer tank since the liquid inthe latter flows out faster than it is replaced thruthe passage 12. The liquid in the capillary vent tube which, in any case is negligibleas a pressure column, cannot affect the pressure in the equalizer tank since connection between the column of liquid in the tube and the liquid in the tank is broken immediately after. the first'flow from the latter, the few drops in the tube. being sucked out by the small lowering of level'in' the. equalizer tank. The air is then permitted to enter the equalizing tank through the capillary tube to prevent the creation of a vacuum. If the How thru the discharge pipe were continuous the equalizer tank would soon be empty and thereafter: the flow Wouldbethat permitted by the. passage 12. lVith' intermittent flow liowever,as with the serving of beverages, the equalizer. tank is replenishedby the constant flow thru the passage 12', so that the level of the liquid therein does not drop sufiiciently to materially aflect the pressure which remains substantially constant, and is that determined by the depth of the liquid in theequalizer tank. Since the shape of the equalizer tank is that of'a cylindrical plinth the effect on the pins sure head of the withdrawal of a given volume of liquid is relatively small.

Because of the shape and arrangement of the two tanks, the last of the liquid in the main tank runs into the smaller tank. It should be noted that the structure is readily disassembled for cleaning.

InFig. 2 I have shown a modified arrangement in which the main tank 16 is fixed at a remote point, and is connected by a pipe 17. with the equalizer tank 18. A pipe 19 connects the equalizer tank with the faucet, and a capillary vent tube 21 extends from the equalizer tank to a point above the level of the liquid in the main tank. The proportions of the various passages and the operation are the same as in the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modification of the vent tube structure. Instead of a capillary tube, I provide a tube 23 of, say, internal diameter extending from the top of the equalizer tank to above the liquid in the main tank. A valve is arranged to be operated by the liquid inthe equalizer tank for opening the vent tube as the level falls to permitair to enter, and closing it when the tank is full so that liquid cannot flow into the tube and thus create a pressure head.

The top of the equalizer tank is formed with a flanged opening of convenient size adjacent one side. A flanged annular cap 24, upon which the tube 23 is mounted, is threaded upon the flange about the opening, thus providing a small chamber 26 extending above the rest of the equalizer tank. The cap is formed with an annular flange 27 surrounding the opening in the tube, and forming a valve seat, upon which the soft rubber gasket 28 of the valve 29 is adapted to rest to close the vent. The valve is made of cork and adapted to slide readily upon the stud 31 fixed 011 the bottom of the tank. The length of the valve is a small amount less than the distance between the cap 24; and the bottom of the tank so that the movement of the valve is limited; andthe head 32 is disk-form to provide proper support for the gasket and to exert considerable buoyant force suddenly applied when the equalizer tank is full, and liquid rises in the chant ber 26.

With the equalizer tank lull, the entire valve including the disk head is submerged and the valve is pressed to its seat to close the vent with its maximum buoyancy. As the liquid is drawn out of the equalizer tank, the level therein will fall somewhat, and as the head of the valve emerges, the buoyancy is thereby lessened, so that when the level falls, forexample, to the line 33, the buoyancy of the submerged portion of the valve is insuflicient to retain the valve in the upper portion, and it falls a very short distance, but enough to open the vent. Of course, the

lowering of the liquid level also tends to suck down the valve, since otherwise a partial vacuum would be created in the upper part of the tank; and the downward movement of the valve is therefore the totalized effect of the atmospheric pressure exercised on the valve thru the vent tube and the lessening buoyancy of the liquid, both made efiective by the lowering level as the liquid is drawn ofi'.

Thus, the valve opens as the liquid runs out of the equalizer tank, permitting air to enter so that the fiow is unimpeded. If the flow is cut off for a time, the level of the liquid rises as liquid from the main tank pours in thru the inlet passage. When the tank is full, the valve is pressed firmly to its seat, closing the vent pipe, and preventing the accumulation therein of a pressure column of the liquid.

As a matter of protection to the vent pi c, it is placed just inside one leg of the hen le. It should be noted that the structure just described is readily disassembled for cleaning and that it is simple and easily made.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown another embodiment of my invention which in several respects is to be preferred to the structures previously described. The chief reasons for this being its greater simplicity and readiness of cleaning.

An equalizing chamber 36 is formed in the lower portion of the main tank 37 by means of a double bottom. The inner bottom 38 is provided with a passage 39 thru which the liquid in the main supply chamber runs into the equalizing chamber. A capillary vent tube 41 rises from the inner bottom 38 to the top of the tank where it is held by the bracket 43. The outer bottom o1 the tank is provided with a threaded nipple 44: of relatively large diameter so as to give ready access to the equalizing chamber for the purpose of cleaning it. Connection is made to the discharge pipe 40, leading to the dispensing faucet 47 by means of the readily mounted and demonntcd coupling 48. The operation of the device is identical with the structure first explained.

I claim:

1. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a chamber for supplying liquid. a smaller chamber having a valve controlled discharge passage and in connnunication with said supply chamber by a connecting passage of less capacity than said discharge passage, and a capillary tube connecting said smaller chamber to the atmosphere whereby a snbstantially constant pressure head is nmintained in the smaller chamber irrespective of: variations in the quantity of liquid in the supply chamber.

2. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a tank, means for effecting the provision in said tank of two chambers one of which is below the level of the other, said lower chamber having a valve controlled discharge passage and being in communication with the upper chamber by a connecting passage of less capacity than the discharge passage, and a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere whereby a substantially constant head pressure is maintained in the lower chamber irrespective of the variations in the quantity of liquid in the upper receptacle.

3. A liquid pressure receptacle con'iprising a tank, means for effecting the provision in said tank of two chambers one of which is below the level of the other, a valve controlled discharge pipe, means for readily relcasably coupling the discharge pipe into the lower chamber, and a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere whereby a substantially constant head pressure is maintained in the lower chamber irrespective of the variations in the quantity of liquid in the upper receptacle.

=1. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a double bottom tank having an upper supply chamber and a lower equalizer chamber of relatively small vertical dimensions, a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere above the level of the liquid in the upper chamber, a wide mouth discharge nipple for said equalizer chamber, a valve controlled discharge pipe, and a readily releasable coupling for connecting the discharge pipe to said nipple, said equalizer chamber being connected to the supply of less capacity than the dischar e passage,

a I u b and a vent pipe connecting said lower chamber to the atmosphere within the confines of the upper receptacle, whereby a substantially constant pressure head is maintained in the lower chamber irrespective of variations of the quantity of liquid in the upper receptacle.

6. A liquid pressure receptacle comprising a chamber for supplying liquid, a smaller chamber having a valve controlled discharge passage and in communication with said supply chamber by a connecting passage of less capacity than said discharge passage, and a constantly open vent tube extending to a point remote from the discharge passage and connecting said. smaller chamber to the atmosphere whereby a substantially constant pressure head is maintained in the smaller chamber irrespective of variations in the quantity of liquid in the supply chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM A. ENGLAND.

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