US2129499A

US2129499A - Control device

Info

Publication number: US2129499A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter S Landon
Original assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Current assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Priority date: 1935-10-24
Filing date: 1936-11-25
Publication date: 1938-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1955-09-06

Description

W. S. LANDON CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 24, 1935 I INVENTOR g mi. m aim W yflu'nt ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1938.

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2, 129,499 CONTROL DEVICE Walter S. Landon, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 9 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 46,480, filed October 24, 1935, for Control devices.

My invention relates generally to fluid flow 5 control devices and more particularly to thermostatic valves for controlling flow of fluid fuel to burners. n

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a new and improved valve and one in which the operating range of the valve may be readily and easily adjusted as desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide for a valve, adjustable range determining means of a-character such that the range of operation of the valve may be accurately established.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve having new and improved arrangement of the operating parts thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide range determining means of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists in the improved construction. and combination of parts, to be more 25 fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and 30 clearly illustrated my invention, in which draw- Figure 1 is a view shown in vertical cross section of my improved control device;

Fig. 2 is a view shown looking from right to 35 left of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view shown in crosssection taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a view shown in cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

40 Referring to the drawing by characters of reference the numeral i designates a casing or body having an inlet passage 2 and an outlet passage 3 for connection in a fluid fuel supply line (not shown). The inlet and outlet passages are 45 preferably located in side walls of the casing l adjacent the lower end thereof, and extend through externally extending bosses 4 and 5, respectively, which may be formed. integral with the casing. The casing I has a bottom wall 6 50 in which there is provided a vertically extending bore 1, the upper end of which opens through the upper face of the bottom wall 6. The vertically extending bore I is in communication with outlet passage 3 by means of a connecting bore 55- 8 which intersects bore I adjacent its lower end or point of termination. A threaded aperture 9 is provided in the upper end of casing l to receive a vent pipe (not shown).

Within the casing l and mounted on the bottom wall 6 there is a flow control or valve me'chanism which is removable from the casing as a unitary structure and which includes a tubular shaped valve housing ill whose lower end portion is threaded into bore 1. Preferably the lower end of the tubular valve housing ter'mi- 10 nates at a point above the intersecting point of bore I and bore 8, as shown. Intermediate. its L ends the tubular valve housing In is preferably provided with an external annular flange II for seating on the upper face of bottom wall 6, and between the flange H and wall 6, a gasket may be employed to insure a fluid tight connection. The tubular valve housing l0 has vertically extending, aligned bores l3 and "leading out of its upper and lower ends, respectively, and which 0 are separated by a transverse wall l5 through which there is a relatively small bore It in axial alignment with bores l3 and I4. A reciprocal valve member I8 is disposed in the valve housing l0 and has an upper portion which slidably engages the wall of upper bore l3 and has a reduced portion l9 which slidably fits into the relatively small bore IS. The relatively small portion I! of the valve member l8 cooperates with the inner wall of upper bore [3 to provide an.

. annular chamber 20. The annular chamber 20 is in communication with the interior of casing I by a plurality of passages 2| located in the side wall of the valve housing and above its external flange ll. Preferably the passages 2| are angularly disposed and incline downwardly into annular chamber 20 so as to induce flow 'of fluid thereinto. In the side wall of the reduced valve portion l9 and adjacent its lower end there is provided a groove or slot 23 which 40 is preferably V-shaped with the apex of the groove being upwardly disposed and the side walls thereof diverging downwardly and running out of the lower end of the reducedportion IS. The V-shaped groove 23 is also preferably disposed at an angle relative to the axisof the valve member so that the cross sectional area of the groove increases from the apex downwardly. The'walls defining the V-shaped groove and the wall defining the relatively small bore 16 cooperate to provide a fluid passage whose capacity is variable by movement of the valve member, the'capacity of the passage depending upon how much of the V-shaped groove isdisposed in the upper bore l3. When the valve member I8 is positioned such that the V-shaped groove is entirely below or out of communication with bore I3, flow from outlet 3 will be stopped. The upper end of valve member l8 extends above the upper end of the valve housing Ill and has an annular groove in which an abutment member 25, in the form of a washer, is disposed and carried by the valve member. A second abutment member 26 is provided and has a centrally disposed aperture for receiving the valve member Hi, the second abutment member being held against the first by a coil spring 21 which tends to move the valve member upwardly. The coil spring 21 surrounds the upper end of the valve housing I0 and is arranged with its upper end abutting the abutment member 26 and its lower end seating on the upper face of the annular flange ll of the valve housing.

In the upper end of the casing I, above the valve member l8, there is an opening. which is preferably defined by an upwardly extending tubular boss 29 and which is preferably closed by a removable cap 30 screw threaded onto the boss 29. Disposed within the cap 30 and carried thereby as a unitary structure there is a pressure responsive actuator ofa thermostatic power element for actuating the valve member I8. The valve actuator includes an expansible-collapsible element 3| which may be a-substantiaily cylindrical, circumferentially corrugated, resilient, metallic bellows. The bellows 3| is disposed in axial alignment with the valve member l8 and has its upper and lower ends hermetically secured and sealed to end walls or

plate members

33 and 34, respectively. The cap 30 has an end wall 35 in which there is a centrally disposed aperture for receiving a tubular shaped supporting member 36 from the lower end of which the valve actuator depends. Preferably the tubular member 36 is formed having an annular external flange 31, intermediate its ends, for seating against the inner face of wall 35, and between the wall 35 and the flange 31 there may be provided a washer or gasket 38. An upper portion of the tubular member 36 extends externally of the cap 30 and is threaded to receive a nut 4|] by means of which it may be rigidly secured to the cap.

The upper end wall 33 of the bellows member 3| has a centrally disposed aperture for receiving a lower end, and reduced portion of the tubular supporting member 36, the lower end of member 36 being peened over to rigidly secure end wall 33 thereto. The lower or movable end wall 34 of the bellows 3| carries a supporting member 4| which has a centrally disposed threaded bore which is in axial alignment with .valve member I8 and in which a thrust member 42 is adjustably screw threaded. The supporting member 4| extends through a centrally disposed aperture provided in the movable end wall 34 and has an annular slot in which the wall is clamped and rigidly secured to supporting member 4|. The upper end of the supporting member 4| extends into the bellows 3| and is adapted to engage the lower end of the supporting member 36 to limit compression movement of the bellows. A lower end portion of the supporting member 4| extends below the movable end wall 34 and may be provided with a laterally extending threaded bore for receiving a set screw 43 whose inner end frictionally engages and prevents rotation of the threaded thrust member 42. A coil spring 44 is disposed within the bellows 3| and has one end bearing against the upper or fixed end wall 33 of the bellows, and the other end bearing against the lower 'or movable end wall of the bellows. .The spring 44 thus tends to expand the bellows 3| and this spring is stronger, or exerts a greater force, than the opposing force exerted by the valve spring 21. The spring 44 surrounds the upwardly extending portion of the supporting member 4| which extends into the bellows 3| and which serves to retain the lower end of the spring in its proper position. The upper or fixed end wall 33 of the bellows may be formed with a downwardly extending, centrally disposed extended portion for receiving and retaining the upper end of the spring 21 in its proper position.

Disposed within the casing I there is an adjustable means for limiting movement of valve member l8, and this limiting means includes a lever 45. Preferably the lever -45 is rectangular in cross section and is pivotally supported at one end by a pivot pin 45 whose opposite ends may be fixed in opposite side walls of the casing l. Thedever 45 extends from its pivot point, across the casing transverse or at right angles to the vertically extending, axially aligned thrust and valve members, the thrust and valve members engaging its upper and lower faces, respectively, and at a point intermediate its ends. Preferably the lower end portion of the thrust member 42 is conical in form or pointed, as at 41, to engage in a conical recess provided inthe upper face of the lever 45. The free end of lever 45 is disposed adjacent a side wall of casing at' which point the wall preferably has an externally extending boss 46 through which extend two substantially parallel, threaded bores 41 and 48 located one above' the other. The bores 41 and 49 extend in the same general direction as the lever 45 and screw threaded in the bores are stop pins or

screws

49 and 50 whose inner ends normally project into the casing above 'and below the free end' of lever 45. The other ends of the

stop members

49 and 50 project externally of the casing and preferably have slotted heads .to receive a screw driver by means of which the stop screws may be positioned, as desired, relative to the free end of lever 45. The boss 46 is preferably externally threaded to receive a cap 52 for enclosing the outer ends of the

stop screws

49 and 50. Preferably the free end of lever 45 is rounded, as at 53, and the inner ends of the stop screws are preferably conical in form, as at 54.

It will be seen that bymeans of the limiting or stop screws 49 and 59 the range of movement of 1 valve member l8 can be established as desired. The position of the conical face of the lower'stop screw 50 determines the minimum flow capacity of the passage defined by the V-shaped groove and the wall of the relatively small bore or passage l6, while the position of the conical face of stop screw 49 determines the maximum flow capacity of the passage. The minimum stop screw 50 may be adjusted, if desired, so as to permit the valve members to move downwardly to a point where the V-shaped groove will be entirely below the chamber 20, in which position flow of fuelwill be stopped. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 4, the boss 46 is preferably provided with threaded bores 56 and 51 which extend laterally to and intersect bores 41 and 48, respectively, to receive set screws 58 for frictionally engaging and opposing rotation of the stop screws 49 and 50 so as to eliminate any possibility of the desired range of operation being disturbed.

Thetemperature responsive power element'includes a bulb element 60 which is adapted to be attached to a boiler (not shown) by means of a fitting or nut 6|. The bulb 60 is connected to the bellows 3I by means of a conduit 62 which is preferably enclosed in a flexible conduit 63 to shield it against injury. One end of the flexible conduit 63 extends through the nut 40 and into an enlarged bore in the upper end of the tubular supporting member 36 wherein it is sealed and secured by a suitable sealing means, such as solder. The conduit 62 extends, and may be threaded into a reduced bore in the tubular member 36, which bore leads into the interior of the bellows 3|. The bulb 60, conduit 62, and bellows 3| are preferably charged under a vacuum with a predetermined quantity of an expansiblecontractible fluid such as ethyl alcohol. Prior to the charging operation air is withdrawn from the bulb 60, conduit 62, and bellows 3I to obtain a good vacuum therein and after substantially all the air is withdrawn from the bulb, bellows and connecting conduit the ethyl alcohol may be introduced through a conduit 65 connected to one end of the bulb 60. After a suflicient quantity of fluid hasbeen introduced the conduit 65 may be flattened by means of pliers, or other tools, to prevent entrance of air while the conduit. 65 is severed and its open end sealed with solder, or other suitable sealing material.

The operation of my control device is as follows: When employing ethyl alcohol as the expansible-contractible fluid, I prefer to set my device so that it has a temperature range of operation approximately between 155 F. and 143 F. That is to say, the maximum stop screw 49 is set 'so that the lever end 53 will engage therewith when the temperature of the bulb 60 is at 155 F. and will be-in engagement with the minimum stop screw 50 when the temperature of the bulb is at 143 F. Upon increase in the temperature of the bulb above 155 F., the expansiblecontractible fluid therein will expand sufficiently so that its force, plus the force exerted by spring 44, will exceed the opposing forces of atmospheric pressure and the force exerted by valve spring 21. When this occurs the bellows 3I will be expanded and through its thrust member 42 will cause the lever 45 to be pivoted in a clockwise direction, which in turn causes the valve member I8 to be moved toward closed position until lever end 53 engages minimum stop screw 50. In this position flow of fuel to a burner is reduced to the desired minimum and the tempera- 'ture of. the heated medium, which may be water -by the burner flame.

in a boiler of a hot water supply system, decreases,.which in turn causes the temperature of the fluid in bulb 60 to decrease. When the temperature of the fluid in bulb 60' has decreased such that the force exerted by the fluid, plus the force exerted by spring 44, becomes less than the force of atmospheric pressure plus the force exerted by valve spring 21, then the valve I8 moves upwardly pivoting lever45 in a counterclockwise direction until the lever end 53 engages the maximum stop screw 49. Thus the valve member I8 has a modulating action within the range. established by the maximum and minimum stop screws and in this manner controls the flow of fuel to a burner in accordance with the temperature of the flame of the burner, or in accordance with the temperature of a medium heated It will beseen that if d sired, the minimum stop screw 50 can be positioned so that the valve member can move to positively stop flow of 'fuel. The closed fluid con- .44 will become effective to either move the valve to minimum flow position or to positively closed position, depending upon the position of stop screw 50.

From the foregoing description it will now be appreciated that I'have provided'a fuel flow control device having a new and improved arrangement of the operating parts thereof. By providing the lever 45 and the maximum and minimum stop screws arranged as described, the actuator can be arranged in vertical alignment with the valve member and this arrangement can be obtained while assembly and/or disassembly of the device is facilitated. For example, the actuator can be readily removed from the casing as a unitary structure with cap 30, after which the lever 45 may be swung upward and the valve mechanism removed as a unitary structure. In addition, it will be seen that I have provided a new and improved movement limiting means for determining the temperature operating range of a fluid flow control device.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a control device, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling flow through said casing, a lever having a fulcrum support and cooperable with and for actuating said valve, a pair of laterally positioned stop members adjustably supported in a wall of said casing and projecting therefrom, said stop members having their inner end portions tapered and positioned on the opposite sides of said lever to limit movement thereof in opposite directions, a cover member overlying and protecting the external ends of said stop members, and means cooperable with said casing and securing said cover; member thereto.

2. In a control device, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve member controlling flow through saidcasing, a lever member fulcrumed.

in said casing, said lever member being cooperable with and for actuating said valve member, means for pivoting said lever member, a pair of laterally positioned stop members adjustably supported in a wall of said casing, said stop members having conical formed end portions for I engagement with a free end of said lever member, I

said stop membersextending into said casing longitudinally of said-"lever member and having their conical end portions positioned on opposite sides of said lever member to limit its pivotal movement.

3. In a control device, a casing having a valve port, a reciprocal valve member cooperable with said valve port to control flow through said cas ing, means for actuating said'valve member, a lever fulcrumed in said casing and pivoted by said actuating means, said actuating means acting through pivoting said lever to actuatesaid valve member, stop means having spaced, laterally positioned engaging surfaces extending longitudinally of said lever and between which said casing and accessible through said opening,

a removable closure-member to close said open-' ing, means to actuate said control means, said actuating means being carried by and removable with said removable closure member as a'unitary structure, a lever member in said casing and interposed between and operatively connecting said control means and said actuating means, said lever member being arranged to be pivoted out of engagement with said controlling means on removal of said unitary structure to 'give ready access to said control means through said opening.

5. In a control device,'a casing having a port for flow of fluid, a valve member to control said port, said casing having an opening in a wall thereof for access to said valve member, a removable closure member closing said opening, auto-' matically operable means to actuate said valve member, said actuating means overlying said valve member and being removable from said casing through said opening, a lever member interposed between and having abutting engagement with said valve member and said actuating means, said lever member being arranged so that on removal of said actuating means said lever member can be pivoted to a position to give free access to said valve member, and stop means cooperable with said lever member to limit pivotal movement thereof in one direction, said stop means being movably ada'ustable so that said lever member can be moved to said position.

6. In a control device, movable controlling means, means to actuate said controlling means, alever operatively connecting said actuating means and said =-controlling means, said actuating means acting through pivoting said lever to actuate said controlling means, stop means having spaced laterally positioned engaging surfaces extending longitudinally of said lever and between which said lever extends, said engaging surfaces having tapered portions for engagement by and to limit movement of said lever in opposite directions and being movable longitudinally of said lever to change the range of movement of said lever and said controlling means.

7. In a control device, controlling means biased to move in one direction, automatically operable power means to move said controlling means in ing means, said lever member being engaged,

intermediate its ends and on opposite sides thereof by said controlling means and said operating means, and a stop member having an inclined abutment surface overlapping said lever member to limit movement thereof in one direction, said stop member being movable to change the limit of movement of said lever member in said one direction.

8. In a control device, movable controlling means; means to actuate said controlling means, a lever member operatively connected to said actuating means and fulcrumed to pivot on actuation of said controlling means by said actuating means, and stop means having spaced portions disposed on opposite sides of said lever member to limit pivotal movement of said lever member in opposite directions, said portions having opposed tapering abutment surfaces between which said lever member extends, said stop means being movable to change the limits of movements of said lever member in opposite directions.

9. In a control device, movable controlling means, automatically operable means to actuate said controlling means, a lever member operatively connecting said actuating means and said controlling means, a stop member having a tapering abutment surface extending longitudinally and on one side of said lever member to limit pivotal movement thereof in one direction, said stop member being adjustable longitudinally of said lever member to change the limit of movement of said lever member in said one'direction, and a second stop member having a tapering abutment surface extending longitudinally and on the other side of said lever member to limit movement of said lever member in the opposite direc- WALTER S. LANDON.