US1846814A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

E. RUUD Feb. 23, 1932.

VALVE Filed March 25 w/rA/Essss Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES @PATENT i oFricsf@ A, 1 Y

A EDWIN RUUD, or ri'r'rsnuuen, PENNSYLVANIA vALvE Appiica'tion sled March 25, 192s. seriai No. 9125s.

This invention relates to valves and. more particularly to thoseof the automatic cut off type such as are commonlyemployed in connection with various kinds of heaters as, "5 for example, automatic water heaters.,Y

A valve of this type, as generally constructed, is provided with a thermally controlled mechanism which normally kmaintains .the

p valve-open to permit passage ofgasor-other 10 fuel to a connected burner but which, if an associated pilot light should be extinguishedl from any cause, will bemoved as a result of the reduction in temperature to a position .Y permitting the valve'to close. In reopening 15 the valve, upon relighting the pilot light, the

valve must then be held in open position until the thermally controlled mechanism is heated sufficiently by the Vpilot flame to be moved into position to itself hold the valve open.:v

An object of this invention is to provide a valve of the type set forth of such construction and arrangement that when opened to 'permit fuel to flow to an associated burner or the like it will automaticallyremain openv until the associatedjpilot flame is extinguished from any cause. Y Y, .wi A Vfurther object is `to provide a deviceof theftype,A setV forth which will A.be simple inY construction, positive and repliablel in opera.V tion and Veasy to manufacture andassemble.;

These-and other objects whichwill be apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means 4of this invention? one embodiment of which is illustrated in theV accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertlcalsectional view through one form of gas valve and associated burner constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this n invention. Y r e Y Fig. 2 is a somewhatV fragmentary vertical `sectional viewof the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 when the `valve has been moved to its initial open position. Fig..3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the relation of elements when the valve has been moved to its final or ordinary open position.`

The particular embodiment of this inven` tion which has been chosen for the purposes of illustration` includes a valve 5 which is normally pressed kby a valve spring 6against` the valve seat 7 to close the valve opening. A

valve stem 8 is associated withthefvalve vfor guiding its movementand extends outwardly ,through the valve Ahousing 9 on eachl side thereof. 1 One projecting end is 'provided with a head 10 by means .of which the valve can be manually opened againstthe pressure of the valve spring to permit gas or other fuel' to flow through the inlet 11, connecting pipe 12 and to'an associated main burner such, for example, as Vthe burner 13', being'the usual form `of burnerv found iii-automatic water heaters. The usual'pilot light or burner 13 is provided in connection with the main burner 13" and gas is supplied to the pilot light through the well-known separateV supply pipe 13". The opposite end of` the valve stem from thel head-10 is receivedfwithinja A housing 14 enclosing, an upperlever 15 pivoted upon-a supporting rod 16 or the like. y

A spring 17l is'associatedwith the end or-stop .portion of thelever 4adjacent the valve stem so as to press the sametoward the stemand thepressure ofthe Spring-can be'varied-Lby van adjusting screw 18 formingan 'abi'itment for the-adj a'cent` end of the. spring andadapted to be locked by any. suitable means, such as v f Va lock nut`19. A shoulder 20 is formed on the end of the'leve'r to prevent the saine from be# ing. forcedpast the-end of the valve stem.

A thermal element 21 is associated with the burner or pilot light 13 so as to receiveheat from the flame thereof and is adjustably'connected to an operating rod 22 by any suitable means, such as 'adjusting nuts 23.V The rod.;

extends into the housing 14: and bearsagainst this way thesupplyof fuel tothe mainfburner y is automatically cut off upon extinguishing the pilot burner llame, and theflow ofjalarge pull the valve stem head 10 outwardly and lin order to overcome the-disadvantage hereto-. fore present in such devices, namely, the lne-` cessity for holding the valve open until theV heat from the relighted `pilot burner has raised the temperature of the thermal or ,temperature sensitive element suiiciently to move `the operating rod 22 to the right `far enough .to permit the lever 1.5 to be again in position vto engage the end ofthe valve stem and hold the valve open,'there is provided a suitable mechanism 'for performing the function until v the vthermal or temperature' sensitive element operate. A s

v As illustrated, this mechanism includes'an armor upper lever 25 which may convenienthas been heated suiiiciently for the lever 15 to Y ly be pivoted on the pivot shaft 16. The arm for lever is provided with'the valve stem engaging vface 26 at the end thereof which is located beyond the rod engaging face 15 of the lever 15 and a coil spring 27 is associated with the arm 25 so as to normally press the valve stem` engaging vface toward the valve f stem.. 'The arin is also provided with an eXtensioncor abutinent28 which extends to- 'wardthe' adjacent portion. of the lever 15.

f. i lIt will be apparent thatwhenthepilotflame 'hasfbeen `r'extinguished from any cause the .,"valvef will beclosed so' as to cut off the l'low p j of gas' to the main burners, thus preventing any possible escape of-a large quantity ofV lunburnedgas, and the'eleinents will then be in the position indicated in Fig.1. When the pilot light ,is relighted, to permit the flow ofV gasto the main burners, the head 10 is pulled" Y, outwardly to :open the valve. e Such opening of the valve has moved the opposite end of the valve stein within the h ousinglft so as to permit the arm 25 to be moved into the position indicated in Fig. 2 whereupon the adja-f cent end or stop portion of the valve stem is engaged by the valve stem engaging face 26 `of the arm and the valve is held open against" the pressure ofthe spring 6. The engage-V ment of the longest downwardly extending leg or rabutment 28of the upper stop 26a with fthek adjacent. face ofthe lever 15 properly" 'A positions the arm with relation to the valve i ythe latter under thein'fluence of the spring stem and prevents the former kmoving past 27. The thermal element being cool at this time the rod 22 prevents movement of the lever 15 under the impulse of its associated spring 17. Heat from the pilot flame will raise the temperature of the thermal element'v which, in response to such change in temassociated spiral spring 6;' tha`t'is, afterthe valve 5 has been initially changed from a pera'ture, will move the rod 22 to the right. Such movement permits the sprngl7 tomove the lever 15 upwardly as illustrated in the Y drawings. Inasmuch as the lever spring 177v is stronger than the spring 27 associated with the arin, the latter will be moved away from theend of the valve stem until the stem sna1 s` oft'V the engaging face 26 of thearm- 25 and onto the valve stem engaging face 15 of the leverl, seeFig.. 3. The shoulder 2() on. the lever 15 prevents further movement thereof and the valve is thus maintained open as long as the pilot burner is lighted. When the Vburner is extinguished from any cause the thermalelement forces the lever 15 downwardly against4 the pressure of the spring 17 and the `valve stem will snap Volf the edge Vof the'supporting face 15 and permit closing of the Vvalve as illustrated in Fig. 1. In

view of thefactthat the face 26 ofthe arm-V f25 is positioned'beyond the face 15` of the leverfit will be apparent that downward Vlrnovement of the lever 15 asa result of cooling of the thermal element prevents the arm .25 from beingmoved into position at thel end of the -valve stemjas the end of the arm 25 will merely contact with the `side of ythe-valve stem* and slide therealong, see Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be apparent that the'present invention provides a safeguard against the danger resulting from the emission of relatively large quantities of unburned gas' through the main burners whenthe pilot light has been eX- tinguished from any cause, and that the heatercan' be rendered operative merely by light# ingthe pilot light and pulling the valve 5 to *openpositiom where it is automatically held even'before the thermostatic mechanism has become operative. s l

`Figure 2 shows the relative' positioning ofk certain parts of my operating mechanism immediately' afterthe valvev stem head `1() (which is employed asa resetting means) has been pulled out Iagainstthe tension of the "closed position (see'Figurel) vto an open7 position (see Figure' As the stem 8 is pulled back, the spiral; tension 'spring 27, pushes-an associated upper stop member 26a downward as soon as the stem engaging face 26 Vclears an inwardly yextending end 8a of the valve rod or stem 8. Then, as the manual (or it may be, of course, mechanical) pullupon the head 10 ofthe stem'S is released,"

the spring 6 snaps it back, in Vorder that the face of the inwardly extending end- 8a will tightlyand resilientlyV abut against the stem engagingpface 26 of the stop 2605 and initially vhold the valve 5 open.

The; lower position'of the upper stop 26a Vis limited by thev pressing of its lowermost vabutment 28 against the upper face or platform ofthe extending .stop end of the lever v'15.1. 'At thisl time the operating rod 22 is disslaan j megalomane Since the'lihemiuiei C061 g but, 'after the pilot .light '-13 ihasbeen jburning `.for a 'given period ottime, the thermal sufnit 21 iv(see Figure tends to pull the rod22 to theri'ght,thereby'releasfing its pressure'upon i '-.the lu'g24 'of .the lever 15. V"Ihenee, the "spiral spring I7 "associated" with' and upwardly pressingthe bottom face Yof the extendingend of the lever l is .permitted to raise the stop end of this lever andraise the upper-stop 28 'against the relatively lesser `tensile force'exerted by the smaller spring'27. As a result, 'the endS'a of the valve'stem slides off .the

'frontzface 26 "of the'stop AQ teiaiid-slips against the 'front fa'ceil` of the vlever 15,1in order i that the "final position .shown in 'Figure Sinay out departing from the spirit 'of this inven- 'tion or the scope of vthe appended claims. That I claim :as new and desire to secure i by Letters Patent-is ment, said ends `when in engagement being disposed to act as a'stop forA said valve stem 4 .55 f v 1. `'Ihe combination'with a main gas burner of ka valve foreontrolling'the flowV of gas th'ereto,4avalve stem, a movablestop adapted to cooperate with said valve stemto hold said valve in open position to permit said burner to -be lighted, Va `pilot burner fand thermally responsive mechanism associated withv said pilot burner Vand operative upon `lighting of said pilot 'burner to displace said stopin holdingsaid valve open. v

' '2f vThe combination with amainburn'er for :an automatie'water 4heateigof a cutoff valve for controlling the flow of ffuel thereto, a pil-ot light, means normally biased lto hold said valve in 'open 4position in response to movement of the valve to `said positionand thermally actuated mechanism actuatedfin v:responseto the heat of said pilot 'light for displacing said `means in holding said valve open vas long as .said pilot light burns.

3. In combination, a valve having a valve means biasing said valve towards a close position, two members havingadjacentV ends pivotally supported, means biasing the opposite ends of ysaid members towards en gage whenthe valve is open,V thereby holding said valve open, and thermally responsive means kdisposed to "separate "said v'engaging lends lto permit the end ofsaid stem to -passtherebecombination, "a valve normally biased lto a- ;closed position,'said lvalve being provided'l i tweenwhen separated whereby fthevalve is released 'to itsclosed position;

'4. In a valve Vcontrolling mechanism, in

vwith a 'valve stem, twostops disposedadjacent one end-o'fsaid valve'stemfandfbiased' `towards engagement, one 7of said f'stops 'being kdisposed toengagefthe-adjacent end olf lsaid stem inV response to the movementjof the valve lto its full open 'position fand-the other 4for 'actuating said o setgstopv 'to Leffect vseparation of the stops, thereby permitting the end Aof the stem to pass therebetween land;

'of said stops lbein'gf offset with respect to lthe; end of 'the'stem to ,permit a partial 'closing e. :ofthe valve,` andthermallyrresponsive I"means ingiafstein'for actuating thevlalve,-fsaid valve :being normally biased `towardsia closed )posi-"1 tion, said mechanism*comprising; aJ plurality of i/movable stops adj acentl Aone fend o'f lsaid stem, .means normally 'biasin'gsaid .stops towards-engagemenaand thermally responsive means for actuating oneo'f said stops to ye'lfect separation -Y thereof thereby vpermitting "the end of the stem adjacent to thestops to pass therebetween and the valve to close, one :of said stops, when the `valveiis open, beingydis- 6. "Ihey combination with" a valve havinga rodlikelongitudinally eXtending stemandaan associated vgaslburner, of a pivoted `armv-movably lpositioned adjacent the end of the :valve posed to engage the end of :the valve stem.:VV

said valve Vin' open position and permitting y the flow of fuel 4to the associated burner', a

Vspring-pressed lever adapted to lcontrol lthe positiono'f said arm, temperature'sensitive Vmechanism for operating'said `arm when 'subv'jectedto a predetermined temperature, Aand allug on saidlever' for controlling the relative. positions of said lever and said arm. v

'7. The 'combination Awith -a poppet valve having a stem and an associated burner, :of

a pivotedV arm normally engaging the side ofthe valve stem near one 'end thereof, a

spring for moving said arm into abutting relation withlthe end vface Ao f'said stem .upon i opening of said valve, so thatsaidv val-ve stem disposed for longitudinal movement,

spring-pressed lever adaptedto control said-` Varm, and a' temperaturesensitivelmeans for operatingfsaid llever when subfjectedto va predetermined temperature.

yace

A48. 'The combination with a lgas burner, of Y 'ag poppet valve forcontrolling the flow` :of ygas theretoVa usual form of longitudinal valve stem therefor, la Vpivotal arm having a movable end positioned adjacent the end of said valve stem, resilient meansfor moving said arm into "engagement vvithftheYV end :off 'said' stem upon opening 'of' said valvezfor maintaining said valve in open-' positionsand' vffor permitting a'lflow'of fgas to Iftheaburner, Va resiliently `disposed member ffor ldisplacing A saidfarm'and for maintaining said walve in 'milio a nal open position, and thermally actuated means Afor controlling the displacement of said` member.

9. Thecombination with ajiuid burner of a longitudinal stem valve for controlling the flow of liuid thereto, upperand lower Vlever memberspivoted at a commonpoint and dis- -posed adjacent the end of said valve stem,

means normally holding said 2 members yin *abutting relationship with respect to each otheradiacent the end of said valve stem, one

of said levers abutting against the end of said valvel stem, and additional means for modifying the action of said rst mentioned means and displacing one of saidlevers from abutting `relation with respect to the end'of the valvestem and placing the` other lever in .abutting relationship therewith, said additional means including-a pilot burner, and a temperature responsive jmechanism associated with said pilotburner and operative upon the lighting of said burner for, changing the relative position of said levers with `respect to said valve stem.

x10. The combination with a fluid burner o-a valve forv controlling the HOW of fluid thereto, anvalve stem. a pilot burner, :and a V4movable stop adapted to cooperate With said valve stem for initially holding said valve in open position, a temperature responsive lmechanism associated-With said pilot burner, another stop positioned ad]acent said valvek stem and cooperating with said temperature responsive mechanism, said temperature responsive mechanism being coop- -erativelv associated with said second 'mentioned stop for moving said stop into abut- .ting .relationship with saidvalve stem and displacing said rst mentioned stop therefrom.v I.

l1. The combination With-a fluid burner, of a longitudinal stem valve for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, an arm member and a lever member pivoted adjacent said valve stem` resilient means normally pressing said arm and lever members into abutting Yrelationship with respect to each other and bias- .l ing said armmember to hold said valve in y initial open ,position in response to' movement of said valve tosuch position, said lever -memberhaving a lug portion at one end thereof, a temperature responsive mechanism co-V operating with the-lug portion of said lever member for modifying-the effect of said resil- `Vient means; and operable to-displace-.said

arm member from valve holding position,

and to place said lever member in-valve holding position. A c

12. Thecombination Withfa fluid burner of a longitudinal stem valve for controlling the lloW of fluid thereto, aplurality ofleversdisvlposed adiacent the end of said valve stem,.

each of .said levers having a face fformed` for abutment with the end of saidvalve stem,l

means jfor normally holding said levers in abutting relationship withrespect to each other and in a given relative :relationship with respectto the end of said valve stem,` softhat one of said leversfwill normallyabutagainst the valve stem, and additional means cooper-i-I .f ating. withL one lof said levers for changing `.the relative positioningfof said levers With zrespect to said valve stem,l and operablefor displacing the leverabuttinsr the valvel stem l I holding, relationship With respect thereto.

' 13, The combination with 4a fluid burner 1 of alongitudinal stem -valve for controlling ffrom valve holding,V and for placing another-.35 lever in abutting and valve `the flow of fluid-thereto, a plurality of levers;A 30

disposed adjacent the end of said valve stem, each vof said levers having a face Vadapted to abutthe-same portion of the endfof thevalve stem, means disposed for normally maintain- :ing said levers in abutting relationship Withf`v respect to each other and inal given relative .relationshipvvith respect to theend ofsaid valve stem and one of said levers in abutting relationship With said stem; and a temperature responsive mechanism for changing the-.4

relative positioning of said levers .With respect to said valve 'stem' and displacing vthe lever in abutment 'with said stem from valve holdingposition, and placing another of said tionship. a

14., The combination With a fluid burner of a longitudinal stem-valve for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, apivoted arm memlevers'in abutting and valvel holdingrela-y yber having .a stop portion disposed .adjacent the relation of said arm with respect to saidv valve stem,"said means displacing saidjlever from and placing said arm in-valve holding position. 'Y

15. The combination of. a valve for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, means normally biasedy to hold said valve in vopen position in response to movement of said valve to such position, a mechanism cooperating `Withs'aid means for displacement thereof,v and means disposedtoy take substantially the f'eXact displaced position of saidlirst :mentioned means When displaced, said second mentioned means being disposed in cooperative relation With said mechanism for actuation thereby.

I 1,6. The combination With afluid burner of a vlongitudinal stem valve for controlling the flow of lluid thereto, upper' and lovver lever members pivotedat a commonpoint and disposed adjacent. the end. ofsaid valve stem,

v los `with'a fluid burner,

means normally holding said members in abutting relationship adjacent the end of said valve stem, one of said levers abutting Vagainst the end of said valve stem, and additional means for modifying the action of said first mentioned means for displacing one of said levers from abutting relation with respect to the end of the valve stem and placing the other lever in abutting relationship therewith, said last mentioned means including a temperature responsive mechanism.

17. The combination with a iiuid burner,

of a suitable longitudinal stem valve Jfor controlling the flow of gas thereto, a plurality of pivotal levers disposed adjacent said valve stem, means normally holding said levers in abutting relationship with respect to each other and in a given relative relationship with respectto said valve stem, and holding one of said levers in abutting relationship with said stem,` and additionalmeans for `changing the relative position of said abutting levers with respect to said stem, and operable for displacing said levers in abutting relationship with respect to said stem and for holding said stem in different open positions.

18. The combination with a fluid burner of a `valve having a stem disposed for longitudinal movement and for controlling the flow `of fluid thereto, means biasing said valve towards a closed position, members disposed adjacent. said stem, means biasing adjacent edges of said members toward abutment withl each other, said edges when in abutment being disposed to act as a stop for said valve and hold it open, and means disposed to separate said edges from abutment and permit said valve stem to `pass therebetween and close said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th ydav of March, 1926.

EDWIN RUUD.k

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