US1669561A - Flexible thermostatic element - Google Patents

Description

FLEXIBLE THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT Filed Sept. '27; 1924 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR ,fl/dzw. .M/faflhf M27185.

. AT'TORNEY Patented May 15, 1928.

UNiitED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

'WALTEB .H. RIMES, OF JPITTSBU'RGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC dcMANUFACT'UBING COMPANY/A CORPORATION.OFITPENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE THERMOSTATIG ELEMENT.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial K017 10488.

lifiy invention relates to thermostats and it has special relat on to thermostats for the heated mei'nbcrs ot' ironing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a thermostatic couple in which a nonexpansihlc substance constituting: an elemcntof the couple is economically used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thermostat adapted to withstand hlowsand shocks without being rendered inaccurate or inoperative.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety device for cutting; off heat in the event of breakage of a thermostat.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a rear elcvational view of an ironing machine with a thermostat embodying my invention applied thereto.

Fig. .2 is an enlarged view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of thermostatic parts shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of valve parts.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, a thermostatic couple is shown as comprising an ironing; shoe 1 and a wire 2 mounted thereabove in a manner presently to he described.

A flexible tube 3.is secured to a control cock 4 which communicates with a cap 5 on a casing, 6. The casing 6 is mounted on the shoe land is connected, by a pipe 7, to a burner 8 in the shoe 1.

The cap 5 encloses a main valve 9 disposed near a seat 10 on the casing 6 and an auXil iary valve 11 carried bythe main valve 9- and has a seat 12 for the auxiliary valve 11.

One end of a spring 13 engages themain valve 9 and. its other end engages a guide 14 for a stem 15. The stem 15 is secured to an eye of aspring 16 which has a second eye secured to an end of the wire 2.

The wire 2 is coi'nposcd of an inexpansible substance, such as invar (a nickel steel of approximately per cent nickel) and is secured. at its other end, to a rod 17 which is slidably but not rotatably mounted in an opening 18 in a bracket 19 on the other end of the shoe. A nut 20, screwed on the rod 17, engages the bracket 19 and has a pointer 21 thereon to cooperate with a scale 22 on the bracket. A. guard 23, housing the wire 2, is slidahly secured, at one end, on the in its length because the spring 13 is conbrackctw19 and, vat/the other end, on the casing 6. c

In the operation ofthe device, the expansion and contraction of the shoe 1 causes relative movement between the main valve 9 anditsseatlQ, the tension of the'wire 2 overcoming the compression of r the spring 13.

The valve 9'thus restricts the how of 'fuel to the burner 8 on the rise often'iperature of the-shoe "Land increases the flow of fuel on the lowering thereof. :The temperature of the shoe 1- is thus thermostatically controlled.

When the valve 9 is not in engagement with-the seat 10,'thespring 16 is constant siderablyweaker than the spring lfi. At this time, also, the distance :from the valve 9 to the nut 20 remains constant, as'the wire 2, as stated. is inexpansible. After the valve 9 engages the seat 10 .further movement of the bracket 19 and casing-6 in directions away from each other may occur because of theexpansion ofthe shoe 1. The expansion-o'f spring-16 permits-such movement. At all t-imes thewiro 2 is maintained under tensi0n. If the I wire shouldbecome broken, thewauxiliary valve 11 would be-urged, by the spring .13, i-ntoene agement with the seat 12. and the flow of fuel would he out 01?.

If. the wire, for any reason, should become flexed,"thespring 13 would'straighten it and thus maintain accuracy of temperaturereg- 'ulation.

The guard 23 prevents accidentalstriking of the wire 2 and keeps it from being broken. ThenutQOprovides a-convenient means for moving; the valve 9 closerto or farther from the seat 10 and thus'xadjusts the temperatureat which-the shoe 1 will be maintained and indicates the temperature on the scale-22. The adjustment ofthe nut 20 does not cause therod ;17 to rotate and, therefore, doesnottwist the-wire 2.- There is, therefore n0 impairmentof the sensitiveness of the thermostat "by adjustment.

lThe-wire 2 need not be made of invarhut may be composed of any relatively inexpansible material. As suitable inexpansible materials are expensive, the making of the element of the thermostatic couple of a very thin piece of material effects a marked econ- .omy. If the inexpansive member of a therpossible to make an operative thermostat without providing a large and strong lI16X,-.

be heated andthat either of them maybe movable toward and away from the other.

It will be understood also that electrical energy may be utilized for heating one or both of the ironing members by substituting any suitable and well known resistor element for the fuel burner and by utilizing a suitable rheostat, in lieu of the control valve, in connection with the governing and adjusting devices shown and described.

The principles of the invention are of general application. It is useful in all types of thermostats having an \inexpansible mem- .ber, that such a member should be inexpensive. The invention, therefore, has Wide application and is not limited to the details of construction of the modification illustrated.

A substantial range of equivalents is contemplated Within the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of; the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thermostat for ironing machines comprising in combination, an ironing shoe subject to changes in size upon variations in temperature, a valve' carriedbythe ironing shoe for controlling the temperature and meansfor actuating the valve comprising a member substantially non-expansible at ironing temperatures, means for attaching the non-expansible ironing member to the ironingshoe at a distance from the valve and resilientineans connecting the non-expansible member to the valve thereby to actuate the valve upon changes in size of the ironing shoe to maintain the temperature substantially constant. p p

2. A thermostat for ironing machines comprising in combination, an ironing shoe subject to changes in size upon Variations in temperature, a valve carriedby the ironing shoe for controlling the temperature and means for actuating the valve comprising a member substantially non-expansible at ironing temperatures, means for attaching the non-expansible ironing member to the ironing shoe at a distance from the valve and a resilient means connecting the non-expansible' member to the valve thereby to actuate the valve upon changes in size of the ironing shoe to maintain the temperature substantially constant and means for setting the limits of temperature.

3. In a thermostaticdevice, the co nbination of anelongated r1 id member and an valve to maintain the shoewithin different elongated flexible meniier secured thereto and ineanscooperating with'said members and operative by reason of their relative expansions and-thetension of said flexible member to thermostatically control the temperature of thefirst mentioned member.

4:. The combination ofan ironing member,

means for heating said ironing member, a flexible member, and means cooperating with said flexible member and operative by reason of tension therein heating means. 5. The comb nation of an ironing member,

for controlling said a flexible member secured to one end thereof,

valve against said valve ineinberto maintain a connection between said valve and said flexible member.

6.. The COIDblIliltlOIl of a heated ironing member, awire secured thereto, means co-" operating ith said wireto thermostatically control the temperature ofsaid a guard forsaid wire.

7. The combination of twomechanically related elementsconstituting a thermostatic couple, one of said elements being flexible, and means cooperating with said elements for controlling the temperature of one of said elements, said elements being adjustable to vary the temperatureat which the last mentioned elements Will be maintained.

8. The combination of an ironing member,

member and a flexible member adapted to be maintained under tension. means cooperating with said members for thermostatically controllingthe emperature of said ironing member and adjustable means at one end of said flexible member tor'determiningthe position of the other end, the first mentioned means being adjustable on the adjustment ofsaid adjustable means, whereby the temperature of thermostatic adjustment is varied,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of September, 1924. p

a W. H. HIME

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