US1790659A - Shock absoebke v - Google Patents

Description

; warm snoek nnsonnanf;l

- mamada meiimpn as, 192s. semina v This invention relates to devices for eli-mi.

mating Water hammer from piping systems. One object of the invention is to provide a d vice of the character described having improved cushioning means; to elimina-te Water hammer from a piping. system, which.

cushioning meansshall be of a permanent nature, and simple and eficent in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth hav-l ing improved metallic means that gives under the high and low pressure caused by the hammering action that is incident to thesudden checking of the flow of water in a pipe, and automatically returns to initial position when the hammering subsides.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified having improved means for maintaining an air cushion, which means includes a long length of tuh ing o'snialler cross section than the communicating piping system so that the air cushion will not be dissipated by the vvater.

Another object of the invention is to urnish a device of the nature alluded to in which the said tubingr is of :such form as to give, causing a frictional retardation of the pressure Wave therein, the tubing being preferably of a helical form.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a device that shall prevent the waste of water by leakage at the washers of the faucets, this bein;r obviated by efficient elimination of the water hammer.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of the type mentioned having improved metallic cushioning means that is instantly responsive to the hammering in thepipe. and which is simple and reliable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,

and adapted for long and continuous use.

'l Unita!) etarras" ea'ra-nrorince l s mariguana-ann smombr Einsame, :mw Yonxf parts aredesignated the same reference .In the drawings:

Figure l is a.. view in verticaly section ofa. y device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is' aview in side elevation showing a typical application of the same.

ig. 3 is a 'erspective view showing a modication of t e invention.

Fig.` 4 is a view in side elevation of a further modification of the invention, with a part removed to show the interior construcion.

The ex ression water hammer used herein is t iat phenomenon which occurs in pipinu systems for Water su ply, and is caused by the building up o pressure in proportion to the time which it takes to stop the tion' of Water through a pipe by the closing of a faucet or valve. When water is tiowing through a faucet or valve and is suddenly; shut oft', a pressure is built up at. this oint, `which in pounds per square inch, may he between lifty and sixty times the velocity of characters throughout the severalr views.`

the water in feet per second. In some instances a pressure as high as five hundred pounds is created, depending upon the qxickness of the faucet shut off. The water ing suddenly arrested on the valve or faucet, ac-

cumulates energy that is stored in the water S0 stored energy in t ie water and pipe as the S5 ovv is arrested, in order to relieve the compression of thc. Water and the give of the pipe, reaetsin reverse direction against the head of water and sends a rebound of energy back through the piping and the Water toeo ward the source of supply. This energy that is stored up against the source of supply in pipes reacts again and another high pres sure wave is sent against the faucet, piping,

and so forth, the same as generated when the faucet. is first closed. And so this rebound cycle is repeated until the undue pressure is dissipated by friction against. the pipes, ixtures. and fittings, and the give thereof until normal pressure is reached. The water ham- 4 duepressure in a manner that will relieve prevent yWear and leaks, and eliminate noise .air-bythe water,

Y )the piping system, `fittings, and fixtures, and

It is found that the air cushions at ent used, and which are provided b nipples or piping extensions are quickl isspated and rendered inedective due to a sorption of as Well as the effect of the pres- `Water in entraining air.- By this invention i this condition is obviated.

Iadvantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its fea'- tures and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole. Y

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication oi the invention.

Generell described, the invention provides a cus ioning device which is made of any suitable elastic material. This matei rial is referabl any metal, which may be prefere ly an al oy, such as brass, bronze, or

Ionel metal, that can be easily bent and formed, and yet possesses sufficient elasticity for the required cushioning. The form or contour of the device lis such that it can rcspond to an increase or decrease of pressure. Within the scope of the invention, the same is applicable whether this pressure be applied interiorly or exteriorly of the device,

as will be readily apparent. Since the de` vice includes a tu section, vthe area of contact therein between the air cushion and the water is 'reduced so that the air cushion'will not be dissipated by the water. Additional cushioning action is afforded by the give of the tubular member and by frictional resistance therein to the Water. Since the device is made of metal, it can be used indefinitely without replacement. and yet function with uniform reliability at all times. It can be made up very compactly and concealed in an out of the way place, or in the wall of the building. A suitable casing may enclose and protect the expansible member. An air chamber may be connected to the upper end of the tubular member to act in conjunction therewith andaord vedditional cushioning for the piping system.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention.

ular member of small cross the said piping watery hammer consists of a seriesy of pulsa'- ftionsthat act -with tremendous pressure and spread throughout the piping system, creatingf-noise,'and subjecting the system to great stress 'and wear.

Communicating' with the piping system so as lto be subject to lthe pressure therein is a. resilient air cushion member 14 which is preferably'made of a metal andis of surli conformation as to change its initial ships when subjected toundue pressure with e result that the member will give and thus avoid water hammer. The meanswhereby the lmember 14 is connected to the piping system may assume various forms, and one possible arrangement is shown herein. This arrangement includes a reducing fittim1r 15 which is threaded into the u per end ofthe T. At its larger endl the rerlhcing fitting is internally threaded at 16 to receive a casing 17 that surrounds the member 14 and protects the saine. The up er end of the casing 17 may be closed by a t readed cap 18. The small end ortion of the reducing fitting 15 is internally threaded at 19 to engage a nipple 2O onto which is threaded a cap or bushing 21'. The latter has a' central opening 22 to receive the lower end of the member 14. Since the ex ansible member 14 f is preferably made of rass, bronze, Monel metal, or another alloyz the bushing 21 may be .made of like material,l and the joint at 22 rendered tight in any suitable manner, preferabl by brazing at 23. The casing 17 is air tig t and can be filled with Huid at any desired pressure.

The member 14 is of considerably smaller area than the piping system to reduce the area of contact therein of the air cushion and the water. An air cushion com artment may be connected to the top o the case the dissi ation of the air cushion by the water is e iminated. Due to theresilient nature of the member, the same will give under undue and decreased pressu tins also creating a frictional retardation 'of the pulsating wave. These factors `will combine` to obviate water hammer.

The member 14 'may be rendered respons sive to the hammering pressures lof the piping stem by being formed in the nature of a elical coil which extends in any s'uitable direction and will nevertheless change its shape'to aord slight increased capacity for the reception of water from the piping system and will spring and give as the pressure is applied and retarded. In the parmember as hereinafter described. In any' lticularsliape of the member 14 itwill in- 13( crease the diameter slightly, but primarily it will elongate. At its upper end the tubular member 14 may be sealed in 'any suitable manner, or a compartment 24. forming an air cushion may be connected thereto, and

y movable as the helical coil gives. Thesaid compartment 24 can be made in the form of a fitting of brass or the like that "is 'brained to the-tubular member 25, while the upper end of'the same is closed as,ffor ex-' .am le, by means of a plug 26. The air cus ion in the com artment can' not be dissipated because it 1s protected by lthe lon helical coil tube. The cushion in the.. sai 'v compartment 24 is provided, it Will be appreciated that the device could function cually well without the same. The nature o the material of which the coil is made, or the thickness thereof, can be made of such ielation that the expansible member will respond lto Water hammer, and will be unaffected by the pressures that normally exist in the piping system.

The invention thus constitutes a compact unit that can be readily mounted in any installation as, for example, by being positioned within a recess Q7 in the Wall of a building, which recess can be comparatively small and narrow, and can be closed in any suitable manner by means of masonry or b v means of a plate 28 at the outside of which is a faucet Q9 that is connected to the T l2.

ln Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the tubular member 14, the same constituting a single tube 30 that i.- flattened in cross sectifm and with the sides 31 thereof substantially straight. The upper end of this tube 30 may be closed at 31a in anysuitable manner by solderimgr or brazing. The lower end of the tube terminates in afcircular nipple 32 that is threaded so that it may directly engage the thread 19 in the reducing fitting 1 5. The member 30 may be variously made and can be rolled out from a circular tube of the proper material, whether of bronze, brass. or other alloy.

lu Fig. 4 is shown a still further modification of an expansiblc device, the same comprising a plurality of elements 33 that are ull hollow and of disk like form. These elements 8S are in alincment `with one another and interconnected by tubes 34 'positioned' therebetween and secured to the elements in Then all of the elements 33 intercommunicate vwith themselves and with'a lowermost nipple 4 $5 .that may be directly connected to the piping system in any suitable manner. This element cau be of the-one-piece type machined in shape somewhat in the manner that flexible,u hollow tube is made except that the stretching of the tube is in the same'holizontall plane rather than in a progressive convolution. A

We have foundin practice that an expans- -i ble element constructed as indicated herein,

will function with a hi eh degree of eiciency in l eliminating water hammer, or the like. 'e have found that where the present type of air cushions are employed that the same after a certain period of use, are of extremely limited volume. After the lapse of a considerable period of use, however, the present air cushions have been totally destroyed, whereas by the use of our invention as herein described, a cushion of indefinite life is pr0`- vided. 1

It will thus be seen that we have rovided a device which fulfills the several o jects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use.

`We claim:

1. A device to eliminate water hammer, or the like. including,r a resilient metallic member, and a piping system to which the same is connected` the said member having such a conformation as to yield under the pressure of water hammer to afford a cushioning action. and an air cushion chamber connected to the member and carried thereb y 2. A device to eliminate Water hammer, or the like, said device includingr a piping system, a resilient metallic tubular coil member subject to the pressure in` the system, said member being of such conformation and hav'- ing such resilience as to respond to the pressures `generated by water hamm-er, but to be unatiected by substantially'normal pressures in the system, said member being,r vertical and conununicating at its lower end with the pipingr system, und a compartment forming,r an air cushion carried by the upper end of the member and communicating therewith.

' 3. A device to eliminate water hammer, including a piping system havin a quickclosing valve, an air cushion cham r, and a tubular coil connecting the chamber and the piping system at a point inproximity to said valve` and a housing enclosing the chamber' and the coil.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the coil is helical and the chamber is alined therewith.

5. A device to eliminate water hammer, or the like, s'aiddevice including a pipingr system, and a resilient metallic member subject e v n A. 27901659. .v v

' ion c amber of-relatively' large diameter con-V z v necte'd ,to the memher,a Caslng enclosing the member and constitvufmg 8 guide ,for the Vail' cushion chamber.

In testimony whereof we ax our sign tures. A. DANIEL A. GILLEN. 1 FREDERICK W. SEYMOUR.

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