US1794612A - Thermostatic-control valve for steam radiators - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1931. E. s. HALSEY y THERMOSTATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR STEAM RADIA'IURS INVENTORZ mw @Si ATTORNEYS,

March 3, 1931.. E; s, HALSEY x THEHMOSTATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR STEAM RADIATORS F'-led July 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTOR I 6 llrl .w muy 4 3 ,o M 74 n w 1 0 Z 70 a| u F/ wm/ pw M/ om, 1 M M2 2 H 2 3 /7 i 954 Edlfmd Si Halsey, rgl/ ATTORN EYS ramada/isf.' s. i931 insee-iz nnwaii-n Hausnr, or wasiaiiie'ien,v nisrnicfr 'or'coiinivrnia mnnniviosmamicfcon'rncr. vanua non STEAM naniii'io'ns Application.filedA July 6, 1929.. Serial No. 376,398.

My invention relates to tlierinostatic modulating steam inlet valves for radiators of the- Fig. la'is a view of the valve body and a hand operated screw stem for operating the valve without the thermostat.`

llig. 2 is a iace view of the heat'insulatlng disc or shield with parts in section.

Figs. 3, l and 5 are views of a portion of an operating'iod with packing washers carried thereby to prevent 'leakage of steam, these views being partly insection. Y

f Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. e.,

Fig. 7 is a view siinilarto F ig..1 of a modified forni of cell.

Fig. 8 is a rear view oiz part of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a face view of a heat insulating disc.` 1' l` Fig. 10 is a view of a spring holding rind.

Fig.` 11 shows another forni of the` appliance. 1

` ln these drawings, 1 is the valve body or casing, b the 'steam supply connection. 2 is the'valve disc having a rJenkins or like seating disc 3 to engage the seat l Jfor closing the inlet port 5 for the steam.

This valve is automatically controlled by therinostatic means which includes a globular container or pressure cell 6 for a liquidexpansible by heat. The valve may also be controlled by a hand operation of the parts to shut ofl' steam from or supply steam to the radiator, certain of the parts belonging to the theiniostatic means entering into the manual operation. rEhis manual operation may be performed by using the cell member 6 as a handle. f

rEhe valve 2, 3 is borne upon by the reduced screw threaded end 7 of a comparatively yslender rod 8 which seats in a conical recess 9 in the rear face of the valve member 2. The

`slender rod 8 is united at its rear end by a screw thread vor other conducting means to y l nger member' 10 of brass or other metal li Ang in a tubular shell. 11 extending dia-Y nietrically of the globular shell'or cell 6 andV united atl its closed rear en d with a bellows 12 lwhich is arranged coaxiall'y of said shell 11.

r`lhe ifoiwardend ofthe bellows isattached liquid-tight to the outerwall of the cell by spinning and sweating into a ring stopper kmember 6 prior to theinsertion and sweatine ci" said sto a er into the neck ofcell 6.

s, 1 llne tubularshell4 1l which iswithin the bellows is spun over at its front end so that its edge embraces and constitutes a retaining 'stop for the forward end of the member l0; The cell 6 is supported by a plate 13, which also increases its radiating surface,'attached to its shell by spinning or expanding the shell at @cout over the inner edge of the disc i n i0. a' 'heat insulating disc or shield.15,`washers disc andthe plate 13, to space'itheni apart for the Jfree circulation of 'air between them.

The heat insulating disc, which is intended to shield the thermostatic cell from the heat ,said sleeve or hollow stem 20, with clearance as indicated by the double dotted lines at 20ay and it alsoyextends through the insulating disc 15 and the forward endlo the brass shell 11 with clearance. This rod is so proportioned as to raise the temperature of the cell up to about 100o F. and it will be noted that the heat transmitted or conducted by this slender rod is conveyed to the center of theV cell and is dissipated through the wall of this cell. Rapid circulating currents of the liquid are set up by convection and the heat is transmitted from the center of the cellr to its enclosing walls by these currents.

Thisplatel 13 receives screws 11i from 'w16 being interposed between the insulating e generally are poor heat conductors, but it provision is made to induce or stimulate rapid circulation the rapidity or" thetemerature change throughout the liquid body by the dissipation of heat at the outer shell, resulting from changes et room temperature,

is more pronounced than otherwise would be the case, hence i transmit the heat to the .center of the cell in a definite degree by means ot the slender rod 8.

lt will be noted that the slender rod 8, which conducts the hea" to the interior of the cell, is supported at its liront end in a fixed sleeve or mein er 23, having a bore which is cylindrical at its forward end and is 'flaring at its rear end. rlhe slender rod is fitted to slide in and be supported by the cylindrical portion of the lined sleeve; and at its rear end, this slender rod is supported in the member or block l0 which in turn is supported by the centrally disposed shell or tube ll. 'lhe intermediate part of the slender rod, which is the major portion thereof, is tree from contact with any adjacent part and receives no heat by Contact except at its forward end, this effect being due to the clearance about the intermediate major portion of the rod. By reason of this clearance throughout the major portion ont the rod and by reason of the slender character of this rod, the conduction of heat by it to the center ot the cell from the steam heated parts; i.e., the valve member 2 and -tlrredsleeve 23, can be made approximately definite and therefore the cell at its center will receive a substantially fixed degree ot heat 'for its proper operation in respect to the room temperature. Y

rlhe iiXed sleeve member 23 is secured to the inner extension of the bonnet 22 by fillets of solder or in any other suitable way. The valve disc has a rear extension 2a which is guided on the outside of the Xed sleeve or member 23, so that this member performs the two-fold purpose of guidino' the slender operating rod 8 and the valve member 2.

rlhe forward end of this liXed member 23 is conical at 23 and receives contact from the packing or washer '24: when the valve is rctracted 'to its full limit so as to seal the joint at this point, should the thermostatic cell, together with the slender rod be removed tor replacement or repair. Said slender rod has packing at 25, as will be described later, and

which packing, when the rod is in place, prevents the escape of steam along it.

The valve 2 is connected to a bellows 26 attached thereto. The rear end ot this bellows has attached thereto a ring 27, which is clamped between the bonnet and the valve casino to which it is screw threaded as shown. A retrieving spring 28 engages, at its iront end, the coarse screw threads ot the valve eX- tension 2a and at its rear end this spring is held by a ring orpiate 29 which surrounds the inward extension of the bonnet and bears upon the ring or plate 27. The ring 29, as shown in Fig. l0, is providedrwith a recess 30 to allow the end of the helical spring 28 to be threaded through it. This spring, to-

ether with the bellows, arovides the means vliereby the valve is retracted from its seat, and siould the bellows become fatigued or break down, theV spring will A'act alone to accomplish the result.

A safety spring 3l is arranged in "Le tubular shell l1, etween the back end th the bloclr or plunger 10 to whici the slender operating rod 8 is connected. This relief spring is compressed initially or normally to l5 or 2O pounds.

lt is held under this pressure by the brass `shell l1 which contains it, and only i ldscin case the liquicL should continue tosexpand to some extent after the valve had fully seated.

is before stated, heat is dissipated from he center of the shell outwardly and the right amount oi heat is conveyed to this cener by tne slender operating` rod 8, to set up TheV cell being eX- v l the convection currents. posed to the Vtemperature of the room, Si l have its contained VVliquid influenced thereby to expand or contract thus affecting the be lows l2 so that this will be compressed or reduced in length under an expansion ot the liquid in the cell due to a rise oic rooi temperature. Under this condition, the Yshell or sleeve l1 will be moved lei-'tward and will transmit its movement through the unyielding spring 3l to the bloclr l() an d therefore to the operating rod 8 to close the valve 2 toward or upon its seat l 'for cutting down or cutting od the steam supply to the radiator against the retrieving or retracti'ng action of 'the spring 28 and bellows 26. l/Vhen the room temperature falls, the liquid in the cell con tracts, allowing the bellows 1l to expand, anc the shell 11 recedes toward the right, and rod 8 is moved rightward with the bellows 26 and retrieving spring 28, retracting the valve 2 from its seat for the admission of steam to the radiator. v

II" it is desired to operate the valve by handR the cell or globe 6 is used as a handle or the insulating disc l5 may be so used to turn the screw threaded sleeve or stem 2O after releasing stop 32V, which will therefore move leftward and cause its end to bear on the shoulder 8a of or lock nut of the slender rod CIT titi

8, thus moving this rod leftward and closing the valve. Theslender rod has packing at 25 to Yprevent the escapeotsteam along it should the bellows 26 fail through rupture.

' rlhe cell yor thermostatic unit may beremoved by turning the cell `to unscrew the sleeve or stemy from the bonnet 22. The rod 8 goes with the thermostatic unit and the valve retracts'from its` seat, and causes its packing 24 to engageethe end of the fixed 'sleeve 23, so that in case of leakage of the bellows 26, the.A steam will be unable, because of the seal formed by said packing, to reachv are intended to hold a segmental memberv 34, Fig. 9 by means of screws 35.' The segment has a projection 86 to come againstvthe stop pin 32a to limit the open vposition ofthe Y valve and its lupper temperature limit.r rllhe segment may be set in various positions about' the disc so that various degrees ot opening ot the valve initially can be provided foriv .f This arrangement allows the valve'to be Yadjusted by-hand, but at kthe same time, it Vprovides a stop for arresting the rotation of .the thermostaticunit according to various adjustments desired of the valve. In other words, the prescribed adjustment of the segment having been made to get a certain temperature, the parts may be turned to` get another temperature, but when it is desired to attain againl the highest prescribed teinperature, it is simply necessary to turn the parts to bring stud 36 to the pin 82a.

The packing 25 for the'operating rod is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4;, 5, and 6.` The preferred form is shown in Fig. l and enlarged view Fig.l 6. rl`his is made of three washers consisting of a comparatively thickf central washer a and two thinner washers al, one at each side ot the central washer, and in the torni oit cups. The central thicker washer is of a diameter to` lit the bore of the seat in which theA packing lies with its raw librous edge bearing upon the wall ot said bore,whereas the thinner washers al are ot such diameter as to provide a flange a2 to lie along the surface ofthe rod and between it and the wall ot the bore. lfhese washers are formed oflaininated, fibrous material, such as Vellumoid or asbestos steam packing, which have a binder to prevent the fibres from detaching'from the washer'.

"the torni shown in i ln Fig. 5, the washer is made of two sheets4 The ends of the fibres or the edgesv of the laminations provide 'a more or less plastic edge which conforms readily, especially when wet by the steam tothe surface upon which they bear. yThe cup-shaped or bent over walls ofthe outerthin washers lie ina shallow groove dei'inedby the shoulders or walls a3, at, the :former being on the rod and th latter on the nut 38 screwV threaded onto the end oi the rod.1 ln the form now` being described, the walls or shoulderis'as, at oiin the retaining walls orthe ends of the cup shaped' washers which at their edges are more or l plastic.

lnsteadot using three washers as in Fig. 4lV and `Fig. 6, l may use but Yone washer, as

'shown'iii F 3. In this form, the washer at or near itsperinhe'iyvis parted and crushed or laid open in such a way as to provide two cup `iformaticiis, which 4lill i he channel land vhave 'the saine effect in `material degree-to of laminated material, each sheet being ot' cup form. ln this Fig. also, the flanges of ihe wash overlie the outer surface oi"v the f.

rod and clamping nut which arersm'ooth and have iiochannel Vforming shoulders as in Fig. '6. J

The laminated material when unrestrained, i

willexpand under the action of thefsteain which gives it a' wet condition, therefore by proportiening he washers to the size ci' the space defined bythe conlining'or restraining walls, we vwill get -agood packing: contact, with a very low friction element.

' 'It will be noticed that the fixed tubular meniberor sleeve 23 in which the steam pack- -ing 25 is located has its taper bore so disposed that the rod S when being inserted iii'o place will enter the larger diameter end.V oit this bore and the packing 25 will be acted on gradwall ot the bore and therefore, the advancing edge of the formed cup.pac.king will not be distorted orvturned back, but will reach its seat at the cylindrical scribed position. f

rlhe above effect is aided byk giving the rod a slight rotary motion as it advances along the bore of the sleeve, as though screwing itV into place.`

- 'l show in Figsf' and 8a modified forni of the thermostatic elements.k and Vassociated mechanism in which the cell-propervcontaining volatile liquid is madefup of, say as an bore in its preico ually, owing to the long low incline of thek Y example, two members 6a containing a volaf tile liquid, such as common ether.V These' members are inclosed in a housing creasing 6b, one of these members bearingrupon a ring 39 attached to a shell or tray shaped member l() of sheet metal having the triangular shape shown in Fig. 8.

This sheet metal member has links 4l pivoted thereto at 42, said links at their other ends being pivoted to ears 43 extending 'from a plate 44, which is attached to the heat insulating shield 15o'l which forms the base of the enclosure 6b. At their intermediate points 46, the links or levers are pivotally connected to thedisc 45, whici is connected to the slender onora-ting rod 8o,-

hen the cell members cx the rr g ill) with its Y thus through flie l vera links, this movement 's transmitted to the d5, with a multiplied force o t y to one, s that the steam irlet valve is moved leitward towards cl ed position in ch.. to the action o'i the retrieving sorii'nD described. 4 f

En tais inodhrcation, no sealing bellos/'s lilie 2o el the first desfrriberL "forni is used, but depend upon the steam Apacking at 25 to Before this packing passes its working bore in removing the cell will draw the 'nele the seal. out oi unit, 'yace washer up at the end oiltlie iixe f Loe" 23 so that appliance is sealed :tor changing the cell.

ils shown in Fig. le, l show a rod, such as 85, `provi with the picking described vshove, but having a'screw threaded portion 'l a handle which can be used as s operate the steam .alve 2`by hand. p oliance can beused in substitution for u the e bonnet and the rod extend 'ne sleeve 23 in theV saine manner as tir-ated, they are to be regarded as belongingV to the said other form. Y Y

.is shown in Fig. 7, l have provi-ded a protective strainer basket o for the seat of the valve, below the valve, detachably carried by the lower portion o of the union coupling which is Xed to thevertical steam supply pipe.

By this combination, the strainer is readily accessible for inspection or cleaning Without disturbing the valve, i. e., by simply unscrewing the union ano springing the pipe to one side, the strainer is brought out to view, Where it is easily removed.

In Fig. 1l l show so much of the agpliance as will illustrate a further improvement, it being understood that the general form of the appliance is like that above described.

ln this form the screw threaded sleeve 20a is adapted to have rotary movement independent of the thermostatic cell and heat shield or disc 15a, and said disc is adapted to be rotatably fixed to the valve casing by a pin 32m held at one eno a socket 823/ of the valve casing. The sleeve 20a has a hub or 'I i i .1.1.1. LJ shell ai, misiva-.in and lie conical seat n';ierniostatie cell and associated iloarts.`

ilange 20?) eXpa-ndedinto a recess of the disc loe, but to'permitrotary motion of the sleeve relative to the disc. :Theisleeve is rotated by a suitable handle such for instance as an arm or'disc member lse attached to the sleeve. 'A lle may have a gointer 15b to regb merlrs the edge or" the discV Thereis a friction washer at l5@ of any ary construction arranged between the lo. and the sle'efeso to retain the ve in env position to which it may be 'l arrangement, hand adjustellected by operating the sleeve either the therinostatic cell or the disc rlhese parts will of course e axially during the adjustment by the e they will not turn during said lhe handle may beturned to a as will cause the disc l5 to leave and then the cell with its asmay be removed by turning as tbe Yormlirst ln combination in thermostatic steam inlet valves, valve easing, an inlet valve a cell containing erpansible liquid, abellows withinY the cell, a tubular member Y bellows attachedthereto, a rodez;- tending frei the inlet valve into said tubular member, and a spring within the tubular member interposed between the end of .the tubular member and the rod, substantially as described. Y

2. YApparetus'according to claim l, in which a member slid-able within the tubular member is attached to the rod allor-ds a bearing for the spring. Y l Y ln combination with the inlet valve and its casing, thermostatic cell, a bellows there# in, a extending from the inlet valve into the bellows and spring within the bellows and between it and the rod, said rod at its 'front end contactingI the valve and serving las a conductor of a definite degree of heat to `the cell, substantially as described.

e. ln combinatioin'an inlet valve for a steam radiator, a casing therefor. Ya thermostatic cell containing an expansible fluid, a bellows within the cell, a tubular member arranged within the bellows and attached thereto, a rod extending from the valve and having an enlargement slidable within said tubular member and a spring between said enlargement and the end of the tubular member.

'5. ln combination, a steam inlet valve, a

casing therefor, a. thermostatic cell, a rod cX- tending from the valve into the cell,a bellows Within the cell for operating the red, means connected to the valve tor retrieving the'same, f

said valve having an annular extension, a

bearing Within said annular extension and sleeve connected with the cell so that the cell l can be removed and replaced, saidrod passing through said sleeve, substantially as de- 1 scribed.

7. In combination, a valve casing, an inlet valve therein tor-steam radiators, a thermostatic cell removably mounted on the valve casing, a rod influenced by said thermostatic cell for closing the valve, means for retractl ing the valve, a ,bearing having a bore against the wall of Which the rod Works and by which it is guided at its front end, said rod carrying thereon a packing to seal the bore of the bearing, said packing having sliding contact With the Wall of said bore, substantially as described. y

8. In combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator, an inlet valve therein, a thermostatic member, a rod for operating the valve from said member, a packing on the rod, a bearing Within the casing through which the rod moves and by Which it is guided at front end, said bearing having av flaring bore leading thereto, substantially as described. y

9. In combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator, an inlet valve therein, a thermostatic member, a rod for operating the valve from said member, a packing on the rod, a seat for the valve in rear thereof, packing for sealing said seat, said thermostatic means and rod being removably mounted While leaving the valve in place, and means for retracting the valve onto its rear seat When said removable parts are Withdrawn, the seat packing then being eective to seal the space'left by the removal of the rod, substantially as described.

coairially With the valvek and having a connection thereto for closing` the same, asleeve screw threaded into the valve casing and turnableA independently of the thermostat for carrying and adjusting the said thermostat, together with its connection, towards andr freinV the .valve seat, said thermostat being held against turning' movement during saidadjnstinent Vand means for so holding Athe thermostat.

12. Apparatus accordingto claim 11, in

' which the sleeve has a range of axial adjustment to move the thermostat to a point re-` leased irom its holding means sothat then 13. In combination, a valve casing, an inl let valvetherein, a thermostat, a rod for imparting the movementk of the thermostat to thevalve to close the same, a screw threaded sleeve revolubly connected With the thermostat, and Working in a screw thread of the casing, a spline connection between the thermestat and the casing for permitting movement coaXially of the valve but preventing rotary movement, means forV turning the sleeve to adjust the valve, or for removing the'thermostat from the casing, substantially as described.

14. ln combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator, an inlet valvey therein, a thermostatic cell, a rod influenced by said cell te close the valve, a hood removably attached to the casing, and a sleeve through which the rod is guided carried by said hood, said sleeve carrying the cell, substantially as described.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14:, in

f Which said hood has athreaded portion and the sleeve has a screw threaded portion engaging the threads of the hood, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature.

EDWARD S. HALSEY.

l0; In combination, a valve casing, a hood attached to the valve casing and havingk an extension Within the same, van inlet valve p sion and engaging the valve, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a valve casing, an inlet valve therein, a thermostat arranged

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