US1595242A - Heat control - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10 .1926. 1,595,242

H. w. PARTLOW mm CONTROL Filed Feb. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 10 1926.

- H. w. PARTLow HEAT CONTROL Filed Feb. 23. 1926 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED STATES HOWAR D PARTLOW, OF U'TIGA, NEW

HEAT CONTROL.

:Application filed February 23, 1926, .Serial No. -90,968.

This invention relates to improvements in heat control designed particularly for use 1n connection with melting-pots of linotype and intertype machines, industrial and-do mestic ovens, and the like, and has forits object to provide a novel, simple and positive temperature indicator and regulator especially adapted for controlling temperatures produced by burning gas at relatively high pressure. A further object islto provide a valve'for con-trolling the'fee-d of the gas towards the burners, as well as novel means for preventing total extiuguishment of the gas flame. A fu-rther'object is 'to provide a valve lever which is adjustable by means ofan indicating dial and related parts. A further object is to provide a-novel thermostatice controlfor the valve, which comprises a flexible element adapted to be immersed in the molten metal of a melting-pot or which may be inserted' -in an oven,'the' said element being charged with mercury, by whose expansion and contraction the gas valve may be closed and opened, a portion of-themercurybeing disposed in a chamber that isin constant communication with'said element, and being confinedby and adapted to flex a diaphragm, bywhose 'flexings the valve lever is rocked for opening and closing the gas valve. And a further objectis to provide tension means for automatically opening the valve when the temperature of the melting-pot or oven falls, and similar means for exerting tension 'by which the diaphragm is maintained in constant contact with the mercurynotwithstandingthe status of the adjusting mechanisms, or the lowering of the temperature of the medium that is being heated.

I attain these objects by the means set :Eorth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is atop plan view of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. i. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 8-'3 of Fig. A. Fig. 4 is a reduced vertical longitudinal section, taken on a line 44i .on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a reduced transverse vertical section, taken on line 5-5 Fig. 4. And Fig. 6 is a vertical section through'a melting pot showing the burner, and a portion of =means of a connecting rod 7. -,6 preferably extends a considerabledistance flexible thermostatic element partially submerged in the contents of the pot.

In the drawings, 2 represents a hollowbody which supports and houses all of-the working parts'ofthe device. 3 represents the main vertical body portion, whichissubstantially cylindrical, the opposite ends thereof havingthreaded openings, which ar I closed by screw- plugs 3 and 3 Thebody 3 is divided'by horizontal walls '3' and 3 into'three chambers, as 4.- i'4 The con tralcomp-artinent 4 comprises the valvechamber, which receives the fuel through a threaded hub 4? and an intake pipe 41, and discharges the gas simultaneously through ports 4 4 .intothe upper.and lower chamber 4;4-, from which the gas and thence by a pipe 5, totheburner'5"that heats the melting-pot A (see Fig. 6}. The

(i -6 andthe dispensing of the fuel-gas from chamber 4 is controlled by a valve comprising similar spaced member 7- 77,

commonly known as a balanced-valv e, the said membersbelng movable as one part, by

above'the seat'fi for guiding, and for main taining the valves substantially concentric to'their seats. The bushing .6 is partially supported by a glancl-ring'.6, which screws into a socket forme-d in the wall 3, and also by a packing 6 which prevents escape of the gas from-chamber 4 into chamber 4*.

Inorder to prevent extinguishment of the gas flame, and thereby necessitating relighting of the burner following each closing of the valve 77f,'the plug' is fitted with a screw 8, by which the valve may beheld slightly unseated. The screw 8 ispartially supported and is ;concealed, by means of stufling-box-comprising a cup-shaped cap 8 .gas 7 flows into a common vertical chamber 4;,

The bushing Y and a packing 8 (see Fig. 4;). The valve member 7 is formed with a threaded socket 7 in which is disposed-the lower ball-end-o'f a red or link 7 the said link being movably held in said socket means'of a bushing and its upper end isalso fitted witha ball that rides upon said lever, The lever 9 ex- 7 The link 7 passes loosely through a perforation in'one end of the valve lever 9,

' by a screw-driver.

tends horizontally into a hollow arm 3 which is preferably integral to the body 3, and its enlarged rearend is pivotally supported by the forked lower end of a member 10, to which it is secured by a pin 9. Between the valve 7 and the member 10 the lever 9 is slotted to receive pins 1212, by which the lever is guided when rocked vertically. The guide-pin 12 is rigid in the wall 3' and supports a cushion spring 12 by which the lever 9 is raised for unseating the valve, whenever the temperature of the melting-pot A falls below a predetermined stage. The guide-pin 12 depends from the top wall of the arm 3", through which it passes, the said pin having a slotted head 12', by which it may be applied and removed The member 10 is supported and controlled directly by a dial stud 13, the latter being hollow for a part of its length and being internally threaded for engaging the threaded upper portion 1O of the member 10, and by means of which the said member may be raised and lowered for varying the temperature to be maintained in the melting pot A. The lower end of the stud 13 is formed with a flange 13, which seats in the bottom of a socket 14: of the bushing 14:, the latter being screw-threaded into an opening 3 of the arm 3 The stud 13 is held concentric to the said bushing, by means of a stuffing-box comprising a gland 15, a packing 15, and a ring 15. Above the flanged top end of gland 15 is mounted a dial or other part 16, by which the stud 13 is rotated. As indicating means similar to the dial 16, is common to thermostatic controls of the class to which the present device belongs, the details of its construction are not shown herein. Valve 77 when properly adjusted for providing a certain temperature by the parts 10 and 13, its operation thereafter is controlledentirely by a thermostatic mechanism, which will now be described:

17 represents a hollow cylindrical body hereinafter referred to as the diaphragm chamber, whose top end is reduced and threaded for screwing into an opening 3 of the arm 3". The lower normally open end of chamber 17 is threaded and is closed by a screw-plug 17 the said plug having a depending threaded hub 17, to which a corical coupling 17 b is secured. Both the plug 17 and the. coupling 17 are bored out axially for providing a relatively small passage, which extends upwardly and communicates with a relatively large cavity or recess 18 which is formed in the top end of plug 17. The cavity 18 is surrounded by a narrow raised portion 17, upon which is mounted a diaphragm 19 that preferably consists of a disc of soft, flexible and somewhat elastic material, such as leather, and upon the diaphragm is disposed a clamping ring 19,

which with the diaphragm may be forced downwardly upon the ledge 17, for sealing the open top of the cavity 18, by means of screws 19', which are threaded into the plug 17 (see Figs. 3 and Above the diaphragm 19 is disposed a plunger 20, which extends axially through the open top end of chamber 17, and by which said plunger is supported and guided. The lower end of the plunger is round, and is norn'ially in engagement with he diaphragm 19, in which position it is held by a spring 20, the latter being disposed between a flange 20 and the top wallof chamber 17. The top end of the plunger is reduced as at 20", and this portion is normally in engagement with the bottom edge of the lever 9. The arrows in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 show the direction of flow of the fuel-gas. 21 represents the flexible thermostatic element, which preferably comprises a relatively thin pliant steel tube of small calibre whose plain top end is inserted in the passage-way of theconical cap 17 and in free communication with the cavity 18, while its lower end connects with a steel bulb 22, which comprises a cylindrical body 22, and similar telescoping plugs 22 22'. These plugs are preferably welded to the tubular body, and the plug 22 is also preferably welded to the tube 21. The bulb 22 and the tube 21 are preferably filled with mercury :0 (see Fig. 4), and in order to facilitate the charging of said parts with the mercury, the plug 22 is preferably formed with a threaded opening 22. To apply the mercury 00. the tube 21 is bent until the bulb 22 is brought to a slightly higher plane than the cavity 18. The mercury is then poured into the bulb and allowed to gravitate toward the cavity until the latter is substantially filled. A screw 23 is then applied to the hole 22 and is welded in place for preventing leakage of the mercury from the bulb and tube. During the filling of the element 21 the plunger 20 is preferably lifted suficiently to allow the downwardly for depressing the diaphragm into the cavity 18, as shown in Fig. 1-. This displaces a small amount of the mercury from the cavity 18 which escapes between the ledge 17 and the diaphragm. lVhen the plunger and diaphragm have been adjusted properly according to the showing in Fig. 4, the screws 19 are tightened up for clam ing the diaphragm sufliciently to prevent any further escape or loss of the mercury. The thermostatic mechanism if left in the condition last described needs no further attention while the heat controlling device performs its work. Then follows the adjust ment of the dial-plug and member 10, for

predetermining the temperature of the melti ing pot A or other medium to be heated, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4, in which the thermostatic mechanism'is holding the valve 7'. closed, which means that the temperature-ot melting pot A is right. When the gas supply, a valve for controlling the gas,

temperature of pot A falls below the predetermined degree the mercury contracts, and allows the spring 12 to open the valve for supplying the burner with fuel gas, and when the temperature of the pot A again reaches the proper degree the mercury will have expanded suiiiciently to lift the plunger upwardly. This tilts the lever 9 in the di rection for closing the valve 7-7, and so on.

The present invention is designed particularly for use in connection with meltingpots that are relatively shallow, and also melting-pots that are arranged to be rotated or tilted when discharging their contents. In all such cases it is required that the heat control be supported by other means than the melting-pot asheretotore, and for this reason it is required that the thermostatic element 21, be of such length and ol' sufficient flexibility to permit the melting-pot to be shifted from one position to. another, as explained. And in order to provide a safe and practical container for the mercury, it is preferred that the element 21 be made of lightgauge steel tubing, which affords the requisite flexibility, and is not liable to be corroded or otherwise attacked by the mercury. The provision of the mercury, which takes the place of the all metal thermostats in common use, enables me to produce an extremely sensitive, positive and reliable heat control, that is not liable to deteriorate by long use, and which is not aliected by extreme heat, which sooner or later renders any solid metal parts unreliable, and requires frequent replacing, thereby necessitating considerable expense, as well as loss of time and interruption of the thermal control. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a heat control the combination with a melting-pot, and a gas filled casing, a valve for dispensing the gas for heating a medium, a lever for operating said valve. a plunger for operating said lever, a meltingpot, a diaphragm chamber in which said plunger reciprocates, a flexible tube extending from said chamber towards the meltingpot and having a bulb adapted to be immersed in the contents of said pot, the bottom of said chamber being formed with a cavity, said tube, and said bulb adapted to be filled with mercury, a diaphragm closing said cavity and supporting said plunger, said diaphragm being bulged downwardly into the cavity and being in constant contact with the mercury, said diaphragm and said plunger adapted to be raised by the expansion of the mercury for shutting off the gas to the melting-pot, tension means for opencontracts by the cooling of the contents of said pot.

2. The combination with a source-of "fuel and a melting-pot adapted to be heated by the gas, of a thermostatic element for opening and closing said valve comprising a flexible tube having a bulb at one end adapted to be immersed in the contents of the melting-pot, a. hollow body having a passage formed in its bottom adapted to receive the plain end of said tube, said body having a cavity communicating with said passage, said tube. said bulb, and said cavity adapted to be filled with mercury, anon-metallic diaphragm in said body overlying said bottom and closing the open top of said cavity, the central port-ion of said diaphragm being bulged into the cavity, a plunger above said diaphragm having a round end conforming to the bulge of the diaphragm, a spring for maintaining the bulge of the diaphragm, a leve 1 for operating said valve in constant engagement with said plunger, and means for adjusting said lever for predetermining the temperature of the melting-pot.

3. In a heat control the combination with a melting-pot, a casing adapted to be charged with gas for heating said pot, and a valve in said casing for dispensing the gas, of a hollow body supported by said casing, said body having a concentric passage and a cavity above and communicating with said passage, a diaphragm overlying and sealing said cavity, a plunger disposed above and its lower end in contact with the diaphragm, means for operatively connecting said plunger with the gas valve, a thermostatic element comprising a flexible tube one end of said tube adapted to be inserted in said passage, the other end of said tube comprising a bulb adapted to be immersed in the contents of the melting-pot, said tube, said bulb, and also saidcavity being filled With mercury and adapted when the mercury congas, of a hollow body formed with an up wardly facing cavity, and a passage leading downwardly from said cavity, a flexible tube having a bulb at one end adapted to be immersed in the contents of the melting-pot said bulb, said tube, and said cavity adapted to be filled with mercury, a diaphragm sealing the open top of saidcavity, the medial portion of said diaphragm being sunk below the said open top, a rocking lever for operating said valve, a plunger mounted axially above the diaphragm its lower end being seated in the depression of the diaphragm and its top end projecting into said casing and irictionally engaging the remote end of said lever, adaped when raised and lowered by the expansion and contraction of the mercury to close and open said valve, and a spring for normally maintaining the 10 depression of the diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

HOWARD W. PARTLOW.

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