US1957951A - Oxygen regulator - Google Patents

Description

y 3, 1934- w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l HEM 4Sheets-Sheet 2 w. GAERII'NER OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1951 May 8, 1934.

I I a y 1934- w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 was:

May 8, 1934.

w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OX YGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 of oxygen. Also 50 sturdy.

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55 A contributory object is to provides valve, the

Patented May 8, 1934 1,957,951 OXYGEN REGULATOR I William Gaertner, Chicago, 111.,

Gaertner Scientific Corporation,

of Illinois Application November 6,

13Claima.

This invention-relates toimprovements in oxygen regulators, such-as are used by aviators and otherindividuals in need of an artificial supply of oxygen or of a mixture of oxygen and other 5 gases, and in which there is employed a sylphon or cylindrical, corrugated tube or .bellows of thin metal from which the air has been exhausted to a point corresponding to about two inches of mercury. The tendency of the sylphon to collapse. at ordinary atmospheric pressure is 011'- set in part by a spring which tends to hold the movable end of the sylphon away end. Complete collapse is prevented by a stop inside the sylphon. The spring is so adjusted that the free end of the sylphon is in equilibrium when subjected to a predetermined atmospheric pressure of about fifty-three (53) centimeters of mercury corresponding to an altitude of ten thousand (10,000) feet. As the atmospheric pressure decreases due to increased altitude, outward movement of the sylphon end is communicated to a valve by means of a lever and linkage system. Said valve is thus opened more and more as the altitude increases, permitting more oxy-- gen to fiow from the supply tank to the low pressure outlet, the other end of which is carried by the aviator to compensate for the decreasing oxygen supply. The operation of such a valve is very delicate, the maximum openingbeing only a few thousandths of an inch. With such instruments it is very important to maintain the proper flow of oxygen at all altitudes and pressures and temperatures within the available range, and to this end the instrument must not only be sensitive and consistent in its action, but must also be rugged, unaifected by .vibration, compact in form, Those instruments heretofore used for the purpose have not fulfilled these exacting requirements 40 during continued service, due to the fact that a needle valve was employed, which it wasdiflicult to make self-alining, and in which the successive impressions made by the needle in the softer seat, caused undesirable inaccuracies in the flow it proved diiilcult, if not impos- 'the valve accurately and per-' sible, to adjust manentlii.

The general object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved instrument, which is durable and compact in construction and able to withstand continuedvibration and to maintain predetermined flows of oxygen at various difierent altitudes o'r pressures, and temperafrom the fixed cover removed.

light in weight, and durable two end castings,

- it-may .assignor to The a corporation 1931, Serial No. 513,363

relatively movable engaging parts of which consist of two accurately formed, flat,- polished, hard surfaces, one of which is self-aligning to insure perfect contact of said surfaces.

Another object to provide an improved lever 39 and link mechanism which is positive and uniform in its actions, winch isprotected from dust and other foreign matter, but which may, nevertheless, be readily adjusted to insure the proper operation over the entire predetermined range of altitudes or pressures.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description hereinafter given of a commercial embodiment of .the invention.

Inthe drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the instrument selected to illustrate the invention. "Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with the Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on izontal plane.

' Fig. 5 is an end view with certain parts removed.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the coupling block connecting the low pressure pipes with the valve chamber.

Fig. '7 is an elevation of the sylphon lever.

'Fig.- 8 is an elevation of a lever actuated thereby.

Fig. 9 is a front plate yoke. 1

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof. I

Fig. 11 is a section of a modified form of a valve.

Fig. 12 is an elevation partly in section of a I v further modification; I 1

The instrument, which in the preferred form illustrated, is only a few inches long, is provided with a suitable base plate 10, and may be said to consist of three un'ts; the sylphon unit, the lever and linkage unit, and the valve unit. The sylphon unit has an end piece or casting 11 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) mounted on the base plate near one end, and the valve unit consists of a casting 12 mounted on the'other end. ese castings are p metal rods 13, 14, 15, and 16.

1'7 therefor, is mounted on the base between the all three of said castings being secured to the base by screws 18 or other suitable fastening means. The bracket 1'1 is also secured to the rods'13and 14 by small set screws 19. The sylphon unit consists essentially of a structure having certain walls thin and flexible so that respond readily to relative variations in and without the same. In the a hor- 75 elevation of the movable valve pressure within preferred form shown, designatedas a sylphon" it consists of a cylindrical, corrugated tube, one end being closed by the end casting 11 and the other by a plate 21, the latter being free to move in and out under variations in pressure. Other forms of pressure responsive devices may, however, be used. The air is exhausted from the sylphon to a point within two inches of mercury, and to prevent collapsing, a tube 22 is located inside the same, against which the free end 21 is normally held by atmospheric pressure. Said free end has a yoke 23 thereon, through which passes a screw 24, the reduced-end of which seats in a conical recess 25 in a lever 26, shown also in Fig. 7. Said lever pivots about alined vertical pins 2'7 in the upper and lower ends of the bracket 17.

The spring 23 engages the free end of said lever 26, and has its other end adjustably secured at 29, said spring tending to enlarge the sylphon against the action of the atmosphere, which tends to collapse it.

The lever 26 has a semi-cylindrical member 30 therein concentric with the axis of rotation, said base 43 (see Fig. 10)

member having a recess 31 in line with an opening 32 therein. Another .opening 33 in said lever is provided to accommodate a spring hereinafter described.

A link or pin 34 is arranged with one end. within recess 31 and-the other end within an adjustable thimble 35 received in an opening near one end of a lever 36 and adjustable therein by means of a flange 37 and capable of being locked in adjusted position by lock nut 38.

The lever 36, which is shown also in Fig. 8, is

pivoted at one end about the vertical pins 39, and

is normally drawn towards the sylphon by a spring 40, one end of which is secured to the ad-- justable member 41 for regulating the tension. The pin 34, normally held under compression by spring 40, is almost completely enclosed by the adjacent parts, shown in Fig. 4. When the. lever 26 rocks about its pivotal support, pin 34 is given a slight longitudinal movement which communicates to the lever 36. Said lever carries a flexible diaphragm 42 which is clamped between it and the circular base 43 of a yoke with a lead washer 44 interposed between said base 43 and said diaphragir A screw threaded extension 45 on said projects through an opening in said lever, the parts being clamped in place by nut 46. Said diaphragm is clamped at its periphery against the threaded end 47 of the casting 12; with a lead washer 48 interposed, by means of the nut 49. A pin 50 on the lever 36 enters a hole in the base 43 to properly position the latter in assembling the parts.

-.The yoke, in addition to the circular base 43, consists of a pair of extensions 51, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the ends thereof being finished in a plane inclined with reference to the plane of the base. 'A bridging member '52 (Fig. 5) is secured to the uprights 51 by suitable screws 53, and has a central boss 54 thereon with a recess (Fig. 4) which receives a ball 55 which is made preferably of stainless steel, and has an accurate, flat, polished surface cut thereon or made of the same or.

of the same or of other suitable material fas-.

containing a wire mesh strainer tened thereto, said stud being mounted in apart. 59, integral with the casting 12. In order to assure continuous and accurate operation of the valve theflat surface 56 somewhat softer than the surface on the ball, "and is also slightly smaller in order to prevent the possibility of indentation or deformation 'of either surface of such a character as might cause leakage. The relative arrangement of the surfaces may also be reversed, but in general the larger polished area should be the harder.

The opening 57 in screw 58 permits communication thru channel 61 to oxygen or gas pressure connection 62. The pressure gauge with dial 63 is also in communication with the oxygen supply connection 62 thru the connecting pipe 64. See Fig. 2.

The flexible diaphragm 42 (Fig. 4) insures a gas-tight connection at one endof the chamber in casting 12, the other end being closed by a disc 65 held against a gasket 66 by a nut'67. Said chamber containing the oxygen under reduced pressure connects through the two orifices 68 and 69 shown in Fig. 5, with the pipes 70 and 71 leading to the feed cook 72, which allows the proper supply of oxygen for either one 'or two men. Tube 71 may be opened or closed by the rotation of the handle 73, leaving thetube 70 always open. Thus the proper amount of oxygen may be emitted for either one or two persons through a flexible tube which fits on the end of said feed cock. r

A cbupling 74' including nut 75 connects directly to the high pressure line, said coupling 76 to prevent foreign particles from passing through the valve.

The parts are enclosed in a suitable casing 77,

which, with the base plate, forms a dust and weather proof enclosure.

The instrument is so adjusted that when it is subjected to at atmospheric pressure of about fifty-three (53) centimeters of mercury or at an altitude of ten thousand (10,000) feet, the free is made of a material end of the sylphon is in equilibrium. Any decrease in atmospheric pressure due to an altitude higher than ten thousand (10,000) feet will result in an elongation of the sylphon due to the pressure .in the sylphon and the 28 which will move the link mechanism heretoaction of spring fore described in such a way as to permit the 1'25 valve ball 55 to be lifted slightly from its seat by the pressure of the oxygen ing 5'7 beneath it.

The oxygen flowing through the valve between the closely adjacent parallel surfaces thereof is confined within said chamber, thus building up a pressure and tending to force the diaphragm 42 outwardly. This pressure disturbs the equilibrium between the sylphon and trolled lever 26 and associated result that said sylphon tends to compress-slightly and the ball 55 tends to decrease the size of the ppening, thus decreasing the internal pressure.

The result of these opposing forces is that a constant low pressure is maintained in said chamber. The valve works with great exactitude abdwithout the possibility of being affected by dust or other foreign particles, as the gas escapes radially at high velocity fromthe end of the opening 57 beneath the ball, and thus maintains the adjacent surfaces clean and bright.

Fig. 11 illustrates .a modified form of valvein the spring conto that previously described, the port 81 being parts, -with the in the central opening with reference a block of metal 82 having a flat, hard surface and having a spherical recess within which the ball 83 is gripped. Said ball is backed by a movable member 84 having a conical recess therein, which permits the movable valve member to be self-aligning.

In the further modified form of valve shown in Fig. 12, a; universal joint 85 is provided whereby the movable valve part 86 may seat itself properly against 'All the forms of valves described herein consist of two perfectly flat, polished surfaces,-either of a hard metal such metal with a hard plated surface, or a metal surface and a jewel, or a combination of any or similar ones. These valves operate with extreme accuracy and with great refinement of regulation, as will be appreciated from the fact that the movable surface has, in the commercial form of theinstrument, a maximum clearance from the stationary valve member of less than two thousandths (.002) of an inch.

Although the instrument is described as an oxygen regulator, it may of course be used for regulating the flow of other gases. Furthermore, various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts described, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: I

1. An oxygen regulator comprising a chamber having a flexible wall, a valve within said chamber having a stationary part with a flat face and a port therein communicating with an opening through another wall of said chamber, a movable part having a fiat face, a backing for said movable part, mounted on said flexible wall and providing a universal connection whereby said movable part is self aligning with reference to said stationary part, and a pressure responsive device outside of said chamber, having link connections with said flexible wall.

2. An oxygen regulator comprising a valve having a stationary part with a flat face and a port therein, a movable part having a flat face, a backing providing a universal connection for said movable part whereby the latter is self aligning with reference to said stationary part, a pressure re-- sponsive device, a lever actuated thereby, a spring to modify the action of said pressure responsive device at varying altitudes, a second lever mechanically connected to said spring tending to link between said levers.

3. An oxygen regulator comprising a valve having a stationary part with a port therein, a movable .part having a flat face, a backing providing a universal connection for said movable part whereby the latter is self alignto said stationary part, an enclosure for said valve, one wall of which is flexible, mechanical connections from said wall to said self aligning valve part, an adjustable socket associated with said wall, a spring biasing said flexible wall in a direction to close said valve, a lever, a loose link therefrom to saidadjustable socket, a spring associated with saidlever and a sylphon controlling the action of said lever.

4.-In an, oxygen regulator, a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a valve in said chamber having a minute range of movement for accurately controlling the flow of oxygen through said ports, a pressure responsive device outside of said chamber and mechanical connections bethe end of the stationary member 8'1.-

hormally impelled as steel or stellite, or a softjections on which movable valve part, a holdsaid valve closed, and a,

flat face and a ary .part

tweensaid device and said valve,- including two levers normally impelled toward each other, a

socket associated with each lever, ing its ends enclosed in said sockets and maintained under compression.

5. In an oxygen regulator, a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a valve in said chamber having a minute range of movement for accurately controlling the flow of oxygen through said ports, a pressure responsive device outside of said chamber and mechanical connections between said device and said valve, including ,two levers able thimble near member coincident said other lever and a pin confined at its ends the free end of one lever, a with the axis of rotation of having a socket therein, and in said socket and said thimble.

6. Means for regulating the flow of oxygen and other gases, comprising a stationary member having an opening therein with a hard flat surface and a pin havtoward each other, an adiustsurrounding said opening, a ball having a flat surface thereon adjacent said other surface and of a size sufficient to extend beyond the periphery of the same and made of material harder than said other surfacega transversev member having a conical recess for said ball, a yoke having prov said transverse member is supported and a chamber in which said parts are enclosed, said chamber having a flexible wall on which said yoke is mounte 7. In a device of the class described, a chamberhaving a flexible wall, a plate secured to said wall and having arms thereon, a bridging member secured to said projection and having a recess therein, a member projecting inwardly from another wall of said chamber to a point between -said arms, having an opening therethrough constituting an inlet port and which connects at the inner end thereof with a flat surface constituting a valve seat, and a ball in said recess with a flat surface engaging said other flat surface whereby inward movement of said flexible wall will enable said ball to be lifted from escape into said chamber of fluid under pressure from between said surfaces. d

8. In a device of the class described, a chamits seat to permit the ber having a flexible wall, a plate securedto said wall and having arms thereon with end surfaces inclined with respect to said wall, a bridging member secured to said projections and having a recess therein and a ball in said recess, a stationary member in said chamber with a duct therethrough, a hard flat surface on said member surrounding the end of said duct, constituting a valve seat and in a plane parallel to said inclined end surfaces, said ball having a hard flat surface normally pressed against said other hard flat surfaces and being movable in said recess to make it self aligning with respect to said seat. I

9. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamber having a flexible wall,.a valve within said chamber comprising a stationhaving a flat face and mounted on another wall of said chamber, with a port therein communicating with a supply of gas through an opening in said wall, a movable part having a flat face to engage a corresponding face on said stationary part and having a rounded rear portion,

' airtight Walls ,outlet for said gasthrough a wall of said chamber and a pressure responsive device outside of said chamber for causing movement of said lever.

10. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamber having a flexible wall, a valve said chamber comprising a stationary part having a flat face and mounted on another wall of said chamber, with a port therein communicating with a supply of gas through an opening in said wall, a movable part having a flat face to engage a corresponding face on said stationary part and having a rounded rear portion, means mounted wholly on said flexible wall and having a recess therein in alignment with said port to receive said rounded portion and render said valve parts self aligning, a lever connected to the outside of said flexible wall for moving the latter and thus separating said valve facesfor regulating the flow of gas into said chamber, an outlet for said gas through a wall of said chamber, a closure on 'de of said chamber having flexible to maintain a partial vacuum in said closure and mechanical connections from a flexible wall tween said valve faces. v

'ary part having a flat face 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 inwhich said mechanical connections reduce the movement transmitted to said flexible regulation of said valve.

12. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamber having a flexible wall, a valve within said chamber comprising a stationand mounted on with a port therein 01' gas through an another wall of said chamber, communicating with a supply wall, to insure a very close opening in said wall, a movable part having a flat 'face to engage a corresponding face on said starounded rear portion,-

tionary part and having a means mounted wholly on said flexible wall and having a recess therein in. alignment with said port to receive said rounded portion and render said valve parts self a lever pivoted outside of said chamber and connected to said flexible 7 wall to move the latter and thus separate said engaging valve faces, the plane of said engaging faces being at an angle to the plane of said flexible wall and passing through the pivotal support for said lever. 1'

- 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 with the addition of a pressure responsive device and a motion reducing linkage connecting the same to said flexible wall. r

- WILLIAM GAERINER.

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