US1968835A - Combination vapor heating system - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1934. w. B. JONES COMBINATION VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1927 Q U 1 W. 9 M 6, w 1 y g m w my 8 m a 3 mm cw -1; W i 1. H zm "b E h 7 kW 6 a K L I l l I 61:- w m w m w 0 6 1 m h 1 m M l\\ w r I1 r J um r m c a w H wfi Temperature Scale m e 5 l ha M T M mm m w m flu ww a Wk Nina W 3 m 3 "m? 3 B Patented Aug. 7, 1934 COMBINATION VAPOR. HEATING SYSTEM W. Bartlett Jones, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 18, 1927, Serial No. 234,170

12 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to vapor heating systems, and in particular to the vacuum type of vapor system.

The vacuum vapor system is very desirable, especially in households, for the reason that it is very flexible for varying conditions of weather and of use, and that it is very economical. The principle upon which the vacuum system is based, stated briefly, is that the temperature of water vapor can be made lower than the normal boiling temperature of 212 F., by lowering the pressure in the system containing the vapor. Therefore, a closed heating system is necessary in order to maintain the partial vacuum. The temperature a of the vapor is definitely related to the degree of vacuum in thesystem, the vapor being cooler the greater the vacuum. Two methods are in use for creating the vacuum, and they are sometimes used in combination.

The simplest and perhaps the most common method is the provision of a heating plant including boiler, pipes and radiators, which plant has at various places, especially the radiators, one-way air valves discharging from the .interior of the system into the atmosphere. In operation the boiler is strongly fired to raise a positive (greaterthan atmospheric) pressure in ,the system. The steam drives all the air fromthe system through the air valves, which are preferably constructed to prevent the escape of steam. After all or a substantial portion of the air has been thus driven out, the fire is checked in order to diminish the heat supply and to lower the pressure in the system. As the radiation condenses the vapor in the system it creates the desired vac uum. The degree of vacuum is dependent upon the radiation from the system and the heat applied in the boiler. Such systems may operate at from it to 5 inches of vacuum for a whole day, with vapor at a corresponding temperature. Gradually, however, air leaks into the system, through the valves, joints, etc, as it is not possible under ordinary conditions to maintain the vacuum indefinitely. It is necessary to evacuate such a system once or twice a day, depending upon the particular system, the requirements, and the weather, by raising a positive steam, pressure as described.

The second method referred to is the mechanical method of creating a vacuum as by some suction device attached to the system. Various modified forms are found in practice, and they include motor driven vacuum pumps, or other kinds. By thus evacuating the system it is not necessary to raise a positive steam pressure as before de scribed. The use of such pumps is desirably avoided in households, because ofnoise, operat, ing cost, maintenance and complexity. Mechanical power is required which is not always available. Therefore such mechanical methods are limited in application.

One of the great disadvantages of the vacuum system is the diliiculty of designing and operating eiiiciently a balanced and flexible system for ordinary households. For example, one radiator may be located at the end of the system and be insufiiciently supplied with vapor. In order to increase the vapor supplied to this radiator, the fire may be increased. This will raise the system pressure, and also the temperature, so that ra diators which prior to that time were properly heated will become too hot. Another disadvantage is the inability to cut in a radiator which has been out of service theretofore. Such a radiator will ordinarily be filled with air, and when it is turned on, the vacuum in the system will draw out a part of the air to the detriment of its op eration, and there will be little or no heat coming to the radiator turned on. Still another disadvantage of the system is the slow leakage of air into one or more of the radiators. This usually occurs in the radiators themselves or at the connections to the radiators, that is, the air valve, the main valve, etc. The air thus leaking in forms pockets, or becomes admixed with the vaper, thus limiting the capacity of the radiator for hot vapor. Sometimes the most important radiator in the system is thus cooled while the others remain properly heated. In order to remedy this condition positive steam pressure is required in the whole system as first described. If a vacuum pump is used, as in the second method, it can be operated to evacuate the leaking radiator, thus to bring vapor to it.

Such disadvantages and remedies as above described are factors which operate against a wider use of thevacuum system. It is not fool-proof, and it is not automatic. It requires a certain degree of understanding to operate it properly, and this is not always to be had in every household.

The present invention aims to overcome many of the disadvantages above described, and to provide a system which is automatic, flexible as a whole according to weather conditions, and flexible as to each radiator to meet the demands upon it, without materially afiecting .the whole system. i I i The primary object of the invention is to provide a secondary source of vapor other than the primary heating source for the purpose of removing air from individual radiators.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automatic control of the secondary vapor source to sweep out the air which collects in a radiator.

Still another object of the invention is to cut off the primary source and then to use a secondary vapor source to sweep out the pocketed air into the atmosphere, and then to shift the radiator supply back to the primary source.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a high temperature and a lower temperature vapor supply for alternate connection to the radiator as circumstances may require, and further, to provide, if desired, automatic means for shifting from one source to the other.

Still another object of the invention is the pro-- vision of primary and secondary sources of vapor with a common heat supply.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a heater or boiler with two inclependent vapor forming compartments, one for high pressure vapor, or the secondary source, and one for vacuum vapor, or the primary source.

Still another object of the invention is to provide valved connections between the primary and secondary sources of vapor and an automatic control of such connections, so that under some conditions the two sources may function together as one, and so that they may automatically distribute water between them as may be necessary.

Various other objects and ancillary features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of the several and the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 illustrates a household boiler and system embodying the invention, showing one radiator with a thermostatic control.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate modifications at other radiators.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically several modifications including high and low pressure manifolds at or near theboiler with uniting valves permitting but one feed line to a radiator, independent vapor generators or vapor sources, and other departures from the form of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a suitable combination of thermostatically controlled operations.

Generally the invention comprises a source of vacuum vapor and a source of steam so arranged that either of the two sources may be temporarily or permanently connected to a radiator. The steam is used primarily for blowing the air from the system by operation upon individual radiators, while others are being supplied with vacuum vapor. A feature of the embodiment illustrated in the drawing is an automatically controlled connection system between the two independent 1y acting sources, so that water is properly distributed between them, and so that the two may act together for efficiency and for safety, at times when such action is desirable.

In Fig. 1 there are illustrated two vapor generators which are preferably combined into one unit such as a heating boiler having two independent compartments 11 and 12 and a common fire box and flue system extending from 13 to 1 1. If desired, the larger compartment at the top may overlie in whole or in part the smaller compartment as indicated at 15. The smaller compartment being the hotter one will aid in heating the larger.

The larger compartment 11 is connected to a vapor distributing main 16 of proper size, while the smaller one is connected to a steam distributing main 1'7 permissibly of a smaller size. It is a primary purpose of the invention to connect radiators for a major part of the time to the vapor main 16 and only periodically to the steam main 17. Accordingly each radiator, for example 18, is connected to each system through a valve, such as 19, which permits establishing a passage from the radiator to but one system at a time. The valve 19 has a feed line 19 to the radiator, a supply pipe connected into vapor main l6, and a supply pipe 17 connected into the steam main 1?. The valve 19 may also be constructed to cut off connection to both systems at the same time, but such a valve is not necessary when the usual radiator valve 20 is employed.

A thermostat, of which many suitable types are known, is used when automatic control of the valves is required. I have illustrated a room thermostat 21 and a connection 22 therefrom to both the valves 19 and 20. Valve 20 is operated through a mechanism 23 and valve 19 through a mechanism 24. These form part of the thermostat system and many suitable ones are on the market. The thermostatic system is so adjusted that an efficient operation is effected. For example: The boiler 10 is operating normally at 10 inches of vacuum in compartment 11 and 1 pound steam pressure in compartment 12. The diifer once in pressure with the same fire is readily obtained because normally there is no radiation from the steam system and a considerable radiation from the vapor system. Air has accumulated in radiator 18 making it too cool to heat the room. Thermostat 21 is affected and causes operation of valve 19 (a quarter turn clockwise from the position of Fig. 1) so that vacuum vapor is out off and steam is admitted to the radiator. Air is thus blown from the radiator through the air valve 25 of the one-Way type used on vacuum systems. The radiator becomes hotter than is normally required because of the higher temperature or the steam compared to the vacuum vapor. The room is therefore rapidly heated so that the period required for using steam to blow out air and/or to heat the room is of short duration. The position of the thermostat with reference to the radiator may be changed to effect a control of the steam period, or if desired a timing device 26 may be used in the thermostat system to make a positively timed interval of steam admission. When the steam pressure interval has ended the valve 19 is automatically turned back to feed the radiator from the vacuum line 16. The turning back may be effected by the thermostat action or by the timing device. In case the thermostat is used it operates at some definite temperature to shift the supply from steam to vacuum vapor. The thermostat may also be set so that it will function at a, maximum temperature to shut off the radiator at valve 20 through the mechanism 23. This will preferably take place while the vacuum system is connected to the radiator so that as the room cools from the maximum temperature to some lower temperature the radiator valve will be opened and vacuum vapor supplied.

A diagram of the operation with thermostatic control is shown in Fig. 5. The rising temperature scale is indicated by the full line 27, and a normal room temperature by a crossing dotted line 28. The right hand side indicates actions as the room cools, while the left hand side indicates actions as the room heats.

Upon cooling to a "e minimum. temperature limit 29 .the vapor-tosteam shift is made. Heating to a predetermined higher temperature 30 within the illustrated range 31 causes a shift from steam to vapor. If

the room continues to be heated to a maximum temperature limit 32 the radiatoris shut. off until the room cools to a fixed temperature 33 within therange 34.

Fig. 3 illustrates a different arrangement of radiator, valves, and thermostat. The vacuum pressure vapor enters at'35 through valve 36 and the steam in line 37 enters the radiator through a separate valve 38. These valves are so constructed and so arranged that they have a common operating means 39 which in one position (neutral) shifts both valves to off position, and in the two lateral positions shuts off one and turns on theother. An operating mechanism 40 and a controlling thermostat 41 are indicated. The valves and mechanism are illustrated above the floor at the bottom of the radiator so that they may be manually operated.

Fig. 2 illustrates a simple valve 42 like valve 19 placed away from the radiator with a manual operating control 43. The feed line 44 to the radiator may be quite long permitting the valve to be located nearthe boiler to economize in the expense of a more extended system of piping. Oneline 16 supplies vacuum vapor, as from the main 16 of Fig. l, and another line 17 supplies steam as from the main 17 of Fig. '1. This arrangement is 3 especially suited for use with the thermostatically controlled valves.

Fig. 4 illustrates a structure suitable for permittin'g economy in piping; Two independent pressure'generators or sources, 45 for vapor at vacuum pressures, and 46 for steam are illustrated. These may be separate structures and may be operated by different sources of heat, such as those indicated at 47 and 48. Each discharges into the respective headers or manifolds 49 and 50 which are locatedclose to each other. Between them there is placed a battery of valves like the valve 51 connected to each manifold and to aradiator by the respective lines 52, 53 and 54. Other radiator feed lines from the other valves are indicated at 55 and 56. Acontrol,eithermanua1 or thermostatic, is indicated at 5'? in conjunc-' tion with the valve 51. The arrangement herein described is particularly useful for it provides two heating means for one system of radiators. There is thus an opportunity to choose between two sizes "of boilers when it is desirable to run the system in moderately cold weather on but one Y boiler.

It will be observed that in all cases except in Fig. 3, every valve which is associated with a steam line is associated with a vacuum line. In vacuum-type valves which are absolutely free from air leakage, as at the entry of the stem, a complicated and expensive structure is usually found. i When a steam line is also employed with a valve controlling avacuum line, as in this invention, the construction is such that the stem enters-on the steamside of the valve. Thus any leakage at the stem is merely a loss of steam, not injurious to the operation of the system. If there is any leakage into the vacuum chambers of such a valve it will be of steam, likewise not .detrimental to the operation of the system.

The question of air leakage into a vacuum system of the type used in this invention is always important. One of the common places for air leakage is at the sight glass for determining water level. In the boiler of Fig. 1 the sight glass on'the vacuum compartment is dispensed with. A sight glass provided on the steam side is indicated at and it can be used to indicate the level in the vacuum system by opening valved connections between the two compartments; Two water lines are shown, a higher level 62 in the vacuum compartment and a lower level 81 in the steam compartment. There is a pipe connection 63 between the vapor chambers of the two compartments and pipe connection 64 between the water chambers. Valves 65 and 66 are shown in the two pipe lines. The two valves are interconnected by arms 67 and 68 and a common operating rod 69 so arranged that vertical operation of the rod opens and closes the two valves together. A pressure actuated control '79 on the vacuum compartment 11 may be set so that atmospheric pressure within the compartment causes lever 71 to raise rod 69 by engaging under a collar 72. A similar pressure control '73 on the steam compartment, set for example at three pounds steam pressure, causes lever 74 to act on the same collar to raise the rod. The rod thus raised opens the valves 55 and 66 so that the levels of water and the pressures in the two compartments will become the same. Any other control witha similar function may be used, such as an electrically operated one, but the mechanical one is illustrated for the reason that it can be installed where electric power is not available.

.In operation the foregoing control prevents of this character will deplete the supply or" water in the steam compartment. Means is provided to remedy such a condition by employing a water level control. In the present instance when the water level drops to a predetermined low point the two compartments are interconnected and the water levels are made the same. I have illustrated a float '75 in the water of the steam compartment. It may be located within the boiler or be placed in a float chamber attached to the boiler as indicated at 76. A crank arm 77 extends through the wallof the float chamber and acts upon the rod 69 through a linkage comprising connector 78 from the crank arm '77 to an arm 79 on the weighted lever 80, the end of which engages under a collar 81 on the rod 69.

This application is specific to the invention claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 232,102, filed November 9, 1927, and is also a continuation in part of said application.

I claim:

1. The method of removing air from a single air-vented radiator in a vacuum vapor heating system which comprises simultaneously maintaining for said radiator separate supplies of vapor at super-atmospheric pressure and at subatmospheric pressure, cutting off the supply of sub-atmospheric-pressure vapor, admitting super-atmospheric pressure vapor into the radiator until a quantity of air is removed therefrom through the air vent, cutting 01f the supply of super-atmospheric-pressure vapor, and admitting vapor at sub-atmospheric pressure.

2. The method of removing air from a selected individual air vent radiator in a vacuum vapor heating system which comprises simultaneously maintaining for said radiator separate supplies of vapor at super-atmospheric pressure and at subatmospheric pressure, admitting super-atmospheric-pressure vapor into the radiator from the supply thereof until a positive pressure is reached in said radiator and a quantity of air is removed from the radiator through the .air vent, and thereafter cutting on" the supply of superatmospheric pressure vapor.

3. The method of operating a vacuum vapor heating system which comprises simultaneously maintaining a supply of vapor at super-atmospheric pressure and a supply of vapor at subatmospheric pressure, connecting the sub-atmospheric-pressure supply to an air-vented radiator in said system for general heating, and occasionally shifting the vapor feed to said radiator from the low-pressure supply to the vapor supply at super-atmospheric pressure for short intervals in order to blow air from the radiator through the air vent during the period of connection to the vapor supply at super atmospheric pressure.

4. The method of removing air rorn an airvented radiator in a vacuum vapor heating system which comprises simultaneously maintaining for said radiator separate supplies of vapor at super-atmospheric pressure and at sub-atmospheric pressure, admitting positive pressure steam into the radiator from the super-atmospheric-pressure supply to effect a positive pressure in the radiator and to drive air from the radiator through the air vent, and thereafter reducing the supply of such positive pressure steam to permit the creation of a vacuum in said radiator While maintaining a feed of vapor to the radiator from the sub-atmospheric-pressure supply.

5. The method of removing air from a radiator in a system containing vapor at vacuum pressure which comprises simultaneously maintaining for said radiator separate supplies of vapor at vacuum pressure and at positive steam pressure, cutting on the supply of vacuum pressure vapor to said radiator, admitting into said radiator vapor from said supply of positive pressure steam until air is driven from said radiator, and shifting the supply back to the primary source of vacuum pressure vapor.

6. In combination, a radiator, a vacuummaintaining air vent for said radiator, a source of vacuum pressure vapor, a source of positive radiator, a valve in said conduit, and a connection from each of said sources to said valve, said valve being operable to establish connectionseparately either of said vapor sources, and to cut oiT vapor connection to said radiator, and thermostatioally controlled means for operating said valve.

8. In combination, a radiator, a vacuum-maintaining air vent for said radiator, a source of vacuum pressure vapor, a source of positive pressure vapor, a vapor feeding conduit for said radiator, a valve in said conduit, and a connection from each of said sources to said valve, said valve being operable to establishconnection alternatively from the radiator to either of said sources.

9. Vapor heating apparatus comprising the combination with a closed vacuum vapor system including a source of water vapor at vacuum pressure, a radiator, one-way venting means for discharge of air from said radiator to the atmosphere, a pipe line connecting said source and said radiator, and a valve in said pipe line for cutting off communication between said radiator and said source, of a secondary source of vapor at positive pressure, a pipe line connecting said secondary source to said radiator, avalve in said line, and control means associated with said two valves for simultaneously cutting oil one source from said radiator and connecting the other source to said radiator.

10. In combination a radiator, a one-way valve allowing escape of air from said radiator, a source of sub-atmospheric-pressure vapor, a source of super-atmospheric-pressure vapor, means connecting each of said sources to said radiator, valved means in said connecting means arranged selectively to control the feed to the radiator from either source, and thermostatically controlled means associated with said valved means for opening and closing the said connections to said radiator.

11. In combination, a radiator, a one-way valve allowing escape of air from said radiator, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure vapor, a source of super-atmospheric-pressure vapor, means connecting each of said sources to said radiator, valved means in said connecting means arranged selectively to control the feed to the radiator from either source, and means to control said valved means to shift the vapor supply from one source to the other.

12. In combination, a radiator, a source of subatmospheric-pressure vapor, a source of superatmospheric-pressure vapor, means connecting each of said sources to said radiator, valved means in said connecting means arranged selectively to control the feed to the radiator from either source, a one-way valve allowing escape of air from said radiator, and thermostatically controlled means associated with said valved means for controlling CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,968, 835. Aeg'ust 7, 1934.

W. BARTLETT JONES.

It is' hereby certified that error appears in the printed specif -tuztion of the above numbered patent requiring eerrection as follows: Page 4, iine 2, claim 2', fo1""vent" read vented; and line 79, claim 7, before "either" insert the word with; that the said Letters Patent should be read with these cerrections therein that the same may cenform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of October, A. D. 1934.

Leslie Frazer (S'eal Acting Commissioner of Patents.-;

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