US1660776A

US1660776A - Thermostatic control device for water heaters

Info

Publication number: US1660776A
Application number: US146996A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Wragg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-11-08
Filing date: 1926-11-08
Publication date: 1928-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1945-02-28

Description

Feb. 28, 1928.

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J, G. wRAGG THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATER HEATERS Filed Nov. 8. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ...if k

vwent-oz: 1mm

`Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED. 'STATI-:s

JOHN G. WAGG, OIE NEW LONDON, CONNECTIOUT.

THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATER HEATERS.

Application filed November 8,1926. Serial No. 146,996.

The invention vrela-tes to water `heating systems, and particularly to that class of such apparatus in which the heating means for the water are automatically controlled and caused to function by the falling of the temperature of the water in the neighborhood of such heating means or by the flow of cold water thereto, and in which the func-` of this kind previously known in the art.'

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification.

' The invention consists in the novel construction.A arrangement and combination of various devices. elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, one'embodiment ofthe same being illustrated in the accon 1- panying 'drawings and described in this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing an indicator device which may be used in connection with theinvention or as a part of the same; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views showing on an enlarged scale a detail of the invention, as hereinafter more fully described.

My invention is intended to be carried into effect infconnection with a hot water tank, or, as it is usually called, b'oiler, which may be of any size, shape or construction suitable for the purpose. As water receptacles of this' description are well understood in the art, I have shown the same in the 'drawings only in a fragmentary Way, the reference numeral 11 in Fig. 1 being intended'to designate a portion ofthe wall of such a water receptacle, the same being provided with an aperture in the part shown in Fig. 1, which is internally screw-threaded so as to be adapted to receive the screw-threaded nipple 12 which projects from the valve chamber forming a part of my invention, as shown in this particular embodiment thereof. The

boiler" is supported in any suitable manner, and is provided with an inlet pipe for filling the same with water and an outlet pipe, as will be well understood.

The means for heating the water in the boiler form no part of my invention, and I have therefore neither shown nor described the same. My present invention relates more particularly to the control of such waterheating means, and in the here described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, I have shown a method of controlling the flow of gas to such heating means.

Referring moreparticularly to Fig. 1, 13

-shows' the gas inlet pipe, and 14 indicates the beginning of a by-pas's to al pilot light ,of the usual or any suitable construction.

This gas inlet pipe is shown of van elbow form, andopens into the main valve chamber to the right, hereinafter specifically described. This valve chamber is closed at the top by a screw-threaded cap 15, and has an opening 16 in the bottom, leading to Athe burner. The valve chamber is designated 17 In the upper part ofthe valve chamber is positioned a disk member 18 havin a gas passage 22. The upper surface of this' member 18 is of sloping form as shown in the drawings and' is provided with an upward extending annular iange 19. Over the mem-- ber 18 is positioned the valve 20, which is provided with a central recess 21 adapted to engage with the annular flange 19. Posi- I tioned in the valve 20 and extending downwards into the recess 21 is 'a plug 23, which lis adapted to engage with'the valve-operating devices now to be described, so that the valve may be raised or lowered as the thermostatic control is affected by the temperature of the water in the boiler.

In the lower part of the valve chamber, and bridging though not closing, the gas outlet 16, is a supporting bar 24. -Upon this bar isisupported the lower end of a lever 25, which is provided with a notch-at its upper end adapted to receive one end of a U-spring 26, the other end of which is seated in a similar notch in the lower end `of a short lever 27 pivotally secured to the member 18 as shown at 28. The member 27 extends upwardly through on opening 1n the member 18, so as to come into contact wlth the member 23 in the valve. A

In the sidewall of the valve chamber, near the bottom, is inserted ascrew plug 30,' having a pointed end 31 which enters a suitable socket in the lower part of the lever 25.

The plug 30 is provided with a disk 32 for rotating the same and thereby adjusting the lateral position of the point 31, and this disk' may if desired be graduated so as to be read in connection with a pointer 33, for convenengage with a suitable socket in the member 25, and the other end of which is contained in a sleeve 36 which extends laterally into the boiler, the inner end being closed by a screw plu 37. The sleeve 36 should be of a materia having a substantially different coeiiicient of expansion under thel action@ of heat from that of the rod 34.

Extending into the upper part of the valve chamber .are ladjusting screws 40` and 41, which are adapted to prevent undue lateral swing of the member 25. A spiral spring 42 is interposed between thev upper part of the lever 25 and the wall of the valve chamber, adapted by extension to swing the member 25 to the right when the sleeve 36 expands suiiiciently to permitsuch swing.

The operation of my invention is-as fol.

lows.: Gas is admitted through the inlet 13, passes into the valve chamber, if the valve be open to admit same, and through the outlet 16 to the main burner (not shown). portion of the gas is carried lby the by-pass 14 to the pilot light (not shown) adjacent j. the main burner. Assuming the parts to be in th-e position shown in Flgs. 1 and 3, the valve being open and the burner in operation under the boiler just to the right of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and i'nto which the thermostat extends, the water in said boiler becomes heated, causing the sleeve 36 i to expand. As the rod 34 contained in the said sleeve is to some extent protected from the heat of the water, and also because its coefiicient of expansion is substantially less than that of the sleeve 36, the rod is permitted to pass to the right, the spring 42 acting-uponthe lever 25, and swingingthe upperend of same over to the right. -In the position of the parts shown in Figs..1 and 3, the U-spring 26, acting between the upper end of the lever 25 and the lower end the lever 27, tends to keep the lever 27 in the position shown, so that the valve 20 is held up,that is, open. When, however,

I f the right-handed swing of the lever 25 passes beyond a,certain critical point, the action of the U-spring is reversed. that is to say, it

impels the lower end of the lever 27 to the left and consequently its upper end tothe right, thus bringing a slanting portion or cut off corner of the upper end of the said lever into contact with the plug 2,3 and permitting the valve 20 to fall, thus bringing the parts into the position shown in Fig. 4. The iiow of gas being thus cutoff, and the frame in the main burner extinguished, the temperais the employment of a,y quick-acting vvalve control device, which in the here described and illustrated embodiment of the -invention trol same, and which provides a lpositive and quick snap action of the valve. When employing the combination of parts comprising my invention, it is not possiblefor the valve to remain poised in a partly open and partly closed position, but it must be either open or tightly closed, in other words, there is a critical position of the parts which if varied even very slightly in one direction causes the Valve to close or if in the other direction causes the valve to open. 'I am aware that in devices previously known in the art, mechanism adapted to open and close valves automatically by thermostatic action are'well known, and I am also awareA that certain ofV such devices employ elements similar to some of Vthe elements which are comprised in my invention, but so fa'r as I am aware no apparatus has been known in the art which operates as does my inventionl and which provides the positive snap action for opening and closing the gas valve, which I have invented.

I do not therefore claim broadly the control of the gas valve by thermostatic means,

Ebut what I. claim as new and desire to securezby Letters Patent is as follows:

water heaters and the like, comprising in i' is represented by the lever 27, in combination 'with the other operating parts which conlll combination the following elements: a suitable supporting frame or casing; a gas-control valve; aheat-expansible member adaptedto be placed in proximity to the water to be heated; a swinging lever adapted to be swung by the expansion of said heat-expansible member; a* second swinging lever one end of which is adjacent said gas valve and the other end of which is in substantial proximity to the outer end of said rstnamed lever, said second-named lever being adapted when in vone position to close said valve and when in another-position to o enr same; and a thrust snap-spring located e- I y mediate position.y

tween the proximate ends of said swinging levers and having its ends operatively connected to the same respectively and being adapted, when said rst-named swingi lever is swung, to swing sai-d second-nam swinging lever and to hold the same either in the position whereby said gas valve is opened or in the position whereby said gas valve is closed but to prevent said second swinging lever from remaining in an inter- 2. A thermostatic gas-control device for water heaters and the like, comprisingI in combination the following elements: a suitable supporting frame or casing; a gas-control valve; a heat-expansible member adapted to be. placed in proximity to the water to be heateda swinging lever adapted to be swung by t e expansion of said heat-ex-v pansible member; a second swinging lever one end of which-is adjacent said gas valve and the other end of which is in substantial proximity to the outer end of said firstnamed lever, said second-named lever being adapted when in one position to close said valve and when in another position to open same; a thrust snap-s ring located between the proximate ends o said swinging levers and having its ends operatively connected to the same respectively and being adapted,

when said first-named swinging vlever is4 swung, to swing said second-named swinging'lever and to hold the same either in the position' wherebyy said gas valve is opened or in the positiony whereby said gas valve is vclosed but to prevent said second swinging lever from remaining in an intermediate position; and a spring interposed between same; a thrust snap-spring located between the said first-named swinging lever and said casing, adapted to keep said first-named swinglng lever in contact with said heat-expansible member. *l

3. A thermostatic gas-control device for water heaters and the like, comprising in combination the following elements: a suitable supporting frame or casing; a gas-control valve; a heat-expansible member adapted to be placed in proximity to th'e water to be heated; a swinging lever adapted to be swung by the expansion of said heat-expansible member; a second swinging lever one end of which is adjacent said gas valve and the other end of which is in substantial proxlmity to the outer end of said firstnamed lever, said second-named lever bein adapted when in one position to close, sai valve and when in another position to open the proximate ends of said swinging levers.

and having its ends operatively connected to the same respectlvely and being adapted,

. when said first-named swinging lever is swung, to swing said second-named swinging leverand to hold the same either in the position whereby said as valve -is opened or in the position where y said gas valve is closed but to prevent said second swinging lever from remaining in an intermediate position; a spring interposed between the said first-named swinging lever and said casing adapted to keep said irst-named swinging lever in contact with said heat-expansib e Amember; and an adjustable stop adapted to` land the other end of which is in substantial proximity to the outer e'nd of said.A firstnamed lever, said second-named lever bein adapted when in one position to close sai valve and when in another position to open same; a thrust snap-sprin located between the proximate vends of sai swinging levers and having its ends operatively connected to the same respectivel and Abeing adapted, when said first-name swinging lever is swung, to swing said second-named'swinging lever and to hold the same either 1n the position whereby said gas valve is opened or in the position whereby said gas valve is closed but to prevent said second swinging lever from remaining in an intermediate position; a spring interposed between the said first-named swinging lever and said casing, adapted to keep said first-named swin ing lever in Contact with said heat-,expansib e member; an adjustable stop adapted to operate against the lower por ion of said firstnamed swinging lever and hold the same in position, and an adjustable stop adapted to limit the extent of the swing of sald firstnamed swinging. lever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 21st day of October, 1926.

JOHN G. WRAGG.