US1740204A - Method and apparatus for feeding liquid fuel - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1929.

J. scHEMlNGER, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Filed Aug.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Filed Aug. 18, 192:5, 2 sheets-.sheet 2 I VJ I ll "AI N u a 51 I f ,i

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Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JOHN SCHEMINGER, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND', ASSIGNOR TO AETNA AUTOMATIC OIL BURNER, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW 'YORK M ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Application filed August 18, 1923.

This invention relates to devices for feeding liquid fuel to rotary oil burners, or the like, and more particularly to devices of the character referred to in which the liquid fuel supply tank is located above the level of the burner.

In the operation of pump-feed rotary oil burners, when the liquid fuel is conducted Cil direct from the pump to the burner, the agitation or pulsa-tory action produced by the pump piston on the moving column of liquid seriously interferes with the operation of the burner, resulting at times in extinguishing the Hame.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome this difculty and provide simple, inexpensive, reliable and efcient means for eecting a steady and uniform feed or flow of the liquid fuel from a pump to the burner, or other device with which my invention may be used, unaffected by the pulsations of the pump as in pump-fed liquid fuel burners as heretofore ordinarily constructed, such means including a separating and quieting apparatus whereby a portion of the liquid in its passage from the pump to the burner is .separated from the major portion and caused to descend and fiow quietly to the burner unaffected by the agitation or pulsations produced bv the pump piston, while the larger portion is returned t-o the supply tank or source from which it came.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means to prevent the tank from bei ing emptied by siphonic action, which is sometimes set up when the pump is stopped, and in case of leakage in the pipe line.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specication, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In said drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section,

Serial No. 658,146.

of an apparatus embodying my invention, including pipe connections between VV the burner and a fuel supply tank and between the burner and tank and a liquid fuel separating and quieting apparatus interposed in the pipe line between the tank and the burner;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the separating and quieting apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of said apparatus, the top thereof being removed.

Referring to said drawings, inwhich the same reference characters are used t0 denote corresponding parts in different views, the latter A denotes the fuel receptacle of a liquid fuel controlling or separating and quieting device interposed in the pipe line between a supply tank L and a pump P; said tank being elevated above the level of a rotary oil burner or other device (not shown) with which the apparatus is used. The tank L is connected with the pump P by means of a suction pipe 1, preferably through a priming chamber C, such as shown, for example, in my Patent No. 1,442,87 dated January 16, 1923, but .suchV priming chamber may be dispensed with. I

The separating and quieting device comprises a suitable liquid fuel receptacle preferably of oblong form, having formed on its bottom a tubular boss a in which is secured a cylindrical member or stand-pipe B, directly over a pipe 2 leading from the pump P. Within the cylinder B is slidably fitted a piston valve D which may have a slotted shank to receive the end of a lever E which is fulcrumed on an upright e mounted upon a dis-A charge pipe 3a which connects the lower end of the cylinder B through an opening in the outer wall of the liquid receptacle with a pipe 3, which extends to the burner. The pipe 3 has a valve 3b therein for regulating the supply of fuel to the burner. Within a valve chamber F mounted upon the pipe 3a there is a valve for cont-rolling the supply of fuel to the burner, said valve having its stem f pivoted to the lever E, so that when the long arm of said lever is raised by the piston l), the valve within the chamber F will be opened for the passage of fuel to the burner. A weight El may be adjustably secured upon the lever E for varying the pressure of the fluid delivered to the burner. The lever E extends through a vertical slot I) in the cylinder B and into the slot formed in the upper end or shank of the piston valve D and its free end is arranged between pins b1 and b2, one above and the other below the lever, so that the piston valve may move a short distance before either pin engages the lever for raising or lowering the outlet valve. A pipe 4: protruding' through the top of the tank L extends therefrom to the. liquid chamber of the separator and from said supply tank a suction pipe l extends to the pump P through thepriming chamber C. A pipe section 5 leads from the lower portion of the liquid chamber of the separator into the suction pipe l and has a vent openine` 5a therein for a purpose hereinafter described. A vent 3 is also provided in the cylinder B to admit air behind the piston valve when it is raised above the outlet end of the pipe 3a, said air vent being normally closed by the piston valve.

An opening a is provided in the top of the receptacle A through which air is admitted thereto.

In operation, the liquid entering the cylinder B raises the valve D therein and through it the lever E, thus opening the valve in the valve chamber F and a portion of the liquid fuel passes through the pipe 3a and the down pipe 3 to the burner, while a larger portion of the fuel passes out of the cylinder through the vertical slot therein into the liquid chamber surrounding the cylinder and escapes therefrom through the pipe d into the supply tank.

It will be observed that the column of liquid fuel established in the pipe 3 is fed to the burner under pressure of gravity and that the fluid pressure created by the pump and the back pressure of the liquid forced by the pump into the liquid chamber of the separator acts upon the fuel in said column to increase the pressure at the point of delivery, and such pressure may be varied a. desired, to increase or decrease the pressure under which the liquid fuel is delivered to the burner, by means of an adjustable weight El on the valve operating lever E. Thus the liquid fuel drawn from the supply tank is separated into larger and smaller portions and the larger portion is returned to the tank while the smaller portion is caused to pass quietly and evenly to the burner, in a non-turbulent and steadily flowing stream, the larger' portion beingl forced to a point above the burner and supply tank where the weight of the valve D aided by the adjustable weight El will create back pressure opposed to and tending to counteract the pressure of the pump for effecting the desired separation and quieting of the minor portion and causing it to pass continuously and evenly to the burner unaffected by the pulsations or irregular movements of the pump piston or pistons.

ln the event of leakage in the pipe line, when the pump is stopped and the burner extinguished, siphonic action may be set up and the contents of the supply tank thus emptied, with consequent waste of fuel and danger to the premises in which the apparatus is used, and to prevent this the pipe section 5 having the vent 5a is provided so that when the liquid in the vessel il falls below the vent 5n air will be admitted to the suction pipe at a point above the supply tank, thus breaking the siphon.

lt will be understood of course that the invention is not restricted in its application to rotary oil burners, but may be used for feeding liquid fuel generally to any device with which it is desired to use the same, and the appended claims should be read with this understanding.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pump, a suctionpipe connecting said pump with said tank,v

a separating device including a liquid container having an uprightcylindrical member therein, a pipe connecting the discharge from said pump with said cylindrical member, a fuel feed pipe connecting said member with said burner or other device, and a surplus fuel return pipe connecting said container with said tank; said cylindrical member having a reciprocating valve therein controlling the admission of liquid fuel to said container and to said fuel feed pipe, and means associated therewith whereby the larger portion of the liquid fuel is returned to said tank while the smaller portion thereof is fed to said burner or other device.

2. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus cornprising a supply tank, a pump, a separating device having a liquid chamber containing an upright cylindrical member having a reciprocating valve therein controlling the admission of the liquid fuel to sai d chamber and associated means for separating a portion of the liquid fuel from a larger portion and effecting the return of the larger portion to said tank while the smaller portion is fed to a burner or other device,'a suction pipe leading from said tank to said pump, a pipe connecting said pump with said cylindrical member of said separating devic,e a fuel feed pipe connecting said chamber with a burner or other device, a surplus fuel return pipe cennecting said chamber with said tank, and means for admitting air to the suction pipe when Jthe liquid in said chamber falls below QASEQU :s FU Bt; an han,

a predetermined point, so as to prevent the contents of the tank from being emptied by siphonic action.

3. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pump, a separating device having a liquid chamber containing an upright cylindrical valve-controlled admission member and'associated means for separating a portion of the liquid fuel from a larger portion and effecting the return of the larger portion to said tank while the smaller portion is fed to a burner or the like, a suction pipe connecting said pump with said separating device, a fuel feed pipe connecting said separating device with a burner or the like, a pipe connecting said separating device with said tank, and a pipe connection between said separating device and said suction pipe for admitting air to the suction pipe to prevent the tank from being emptied by siphonic action.

4. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus com` prising a pump, a supply tank` a separating device, a suction pipe connecting said tank with said pump, a pipe-connection between said pump and said separating devi-ce. a surplus fuel return pipe connecting said separating device with said tank, a fuel feed pipe connecting said separating' device with a burner or the like; said separating device comprising a receptacle having a stand-pipe therein arranged directly over the inlet from said pipe-connection, a piston valve slidably fitted in said stand-pipe, a pipe connecting said stand-pipe with said fuel feed pipe and; having an outlet valve therein, a lever fulcrumed on the last named pipe with its free end extending through a vertical slot in said stand-pipe, a lost motion connection between said piston valve and lever whereby the lever is raised and said outlet valve opened when the piston valve is raised, and vice versa, said lever having the stem of said outlet valve pivoted thereto and means for varying the pressure required to raise said lever.

5. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising a pump, a supply tank, a separating device, a suction pipe connecting said tank with said pump, a pipe-connection between said pump and said separating device, a .surplus fuel return pipe connecting said se Jarating` device with said tank, a fuel pipe connecting said separating device with a burner or the like; said separating device comprising' a receptacle having a stand-pipe therein arranged directly over the inlet from said pipeconnection, a piston valve slidably 'fitted in said stand-pipe, a pipe connecting said standpipe with said fuel feed pipe and having an outlet valve therein, a lever fulcrumed on the last named pipe with its free end extending through a vertical slot in said stand-pipe, a lost motion connection between said piston valve and lever whereby the lever is raised and said outlet valve opened when the piston valve is raised, and vice versa, said lever having the stem of said outlet valve pivoted thereto and means for varying the p 1essure required to raise said lever, together with a pipe-section connecting said receptacle with said suction pipe and having a restricted passage therein through which air is admitted to the suction pipe when the liquid in said receptacle falls below a predetermined point, so as to prevent siphonic action when the pump is stopped.

6. In a liquid fuel burning system including a fuel containing reservoir, a burner, a pump and fuel lines between the reservoir and burner, of a controlling means connected with the fuel line between the pump and reservoir and in communication with an air supply, said controlling means being arranged to automatically drain itself of fuel on the cessation of the pump and to replace the fuel with air from the air supply, and adapted to receive fuel on the operation of the pump to displace the air and create a siphonic-action in the fuel lines.

7. In a liquid fuel burning sys-tem, in combination with the fuel supply and pump, of a fuel supply line between the supply and pump, a return line between the pump and supply, a controlling means connected with the return line and in communication with an air supply, said controlling means being located at an elevation in relation to the supply to drain thereinto -on the stoppage of the pump resulting in the displacement of the fuel in the controlling means with air, and arranged for the receiving and passage of fuel therein on the operation of the pump resulting in the displacement of the air by the fuel and the creation of a siphonic-action in the system.

8. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a fuel reservoir, a pump, and supply and return fuel lines between the reservoir and pump, means for controlling the siphonic-action in said fuel lines and in communication therewith and with an air supply, said controlling means being arranged for the admission of air into the system to break the siphonic-action therein, both upon the stoppage of the pump and also upon the passage of a limited flow of fuel through the controlling means during the operation of the pump in event of a leak in the system.

9. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a pump, a fuel feed line connecting the reservoir with the pump; said line including a section elevated above the fuel level in the reservoir, a surplus fuel return line leading from the pump to said reservoir, a liquid chamber interposed in the line connecting the reservoir and pump, and a passage through which liquid from said chamber may pass into the feed line; said passage being formed with a restricted opening or airl vent in one end which is sealed by the liquid in the chamber when the flow of surplus fuel is normal.

l0. rllhe method of feeding fuel to a liquid fuel burner, consisting in elevating the liquid fuel from a source of supply to a higher level, passing some of the fuel from the higher level to the burner and returning surplus fuel from said level to said supply source, providing a liquid seal against air` admission to the fuel feed line upon the return of a normal quantity of fuel, and admitting air to thefuel Qian upliftpoint the fuel feed when the return of surplus fuel is reduced below normal, so as to prevent the passage of fuel from said supply source by siphonic action.

11. In a liquid fuel burning system, the combination of a fuel reservoir and a pump, a fuel supply line between the reservoir and pump, a return fuel line between the pump and reservoir, and liquid controlling means connected in the return fuel line and having communication with said supply line and a source of air supply; said elements being arranged to break siphonic action through the supply line after stoppage of the pump, in event of leakage in said line.

12. In a liquid fuel burning system, the combination of a reservoir, a pump, a fuel feed line connecting the reservoir with the pump inlet and including a section elevated above the fuel level in the reservoir, a pump outlet line, a liquid chamber into which the pump outlet line delivers and from which fuel is discharged to a burner, a connection between said chamber and the reservoir for returning surplus fuel to the latter, and a connection between said chamber and the fuel feed line, said last mentioned connection having an air vent therein normally sealed by fuel in said chamber when the system is in operation.

13. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a pump, a feed line connecting the reservoir with the pump and including a section elevated aboveV the fuel level in the reservoir, a fuel return line leading from the pump to said reservoir, a liquid container in said return line from which some of the fuel is discharged to a burner while surplus fuel is returned to the reservoir, and a pipe connection between said container and the fuel feed line including an air vent sealed by the liquid in the container when the flow of surplus fuel is normal, said seal being adapted to be automatically broken when the flow is reduced below normal.

14. The combination, in a liquid fuel burning system, of a fuel reservoir, a pump, a fuel supply line connecting the fuel reservoir and pump, a surplus fuel return line extendino` from the pump to the reservoir, and liquid controlling means connected with said fuel supply and return lines and having an air vent for admitting air thereto as the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOI-IN SCHEMINGER, J R.

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