US2139616A - Control device - Google Patents

Description

A. K. FCULDS CONTROL DEVICE i Filed Jan. 3, 1933 Dec. 6, 1938.

Fing 1A Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE Andrew K. Foulds, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,940

10 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in control devices, and4 more particularly to a device for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level.

An object of my invention is to provide a control device which is operable to maintain a substantially constant head of liquid for supply to a burner, for example, and in which asafety means is provided to insure closing of the constant level valve if the level of liquid increases above the 4predetermined desired level.v This safety` means vcomprises a float which is respon- -sive to increase of liquid level above the predetermined level.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination ofparts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointedout and dis- `tinctly claimed.

2 0 In the accompanying drawing, to lbe taken as apart of this.specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention,A in which drawing- Y Figure 1 is a view in section on the line |-I of Fig. 2 of the control device embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 2'2 o! Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, I designates, generally, a casing containing a chamber or reservoir 2 and having a bottom wall 3 from which rises a continuous surrounding wall 4. 'Through the bottom wall 3 there is an aperture 5 in which is positioned an inlet member 6 which projects into the chamber 2 and also extends below the bottom wall 3. This member 6is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 1 which engages the under face of the bottom wall 3 and which is clamped thereto by a nut, or the like, 8 positioned within the chamber 2 and screw-threaded onto the member 6. The member 6 has a passage 9 therethrough which comprises the inlet to the chamber 2 and which is enlarged as at I0 to provide a valve chamber, and which also provides an upward facing shoulder I0 defining a valve seat. Screw threaded, or otherwise secured, within the chamber I0 is a sleeve member having a lateral flange I2 at its upper end which overlies the upper end of the member 6. Supported on the member 6 is a supporting means or bracket I3 having a base portion I4 which is pertured to receive the sleeve member and vwhich is clamped betweenv l the flange I2 and the member 6. The inlet end of the passage 9 is provided with a strainer I5 and an externally threaded nipple I6 by which the control device may be connected to a source of liquid supply. Within the chamber I0 there is a valve member I1 guided for reciprocation in a spider, or the like, I8 rigidly supported by 5 the sleeve member The valve member I1 is provided at its oppositeends with valve faces I9 and 2|).` The valve face 20 cooperates with the shoulder IllL to control the passage 9 and the valve face I9 cooperates with a downward l0 facing shoulder "2| which provides a valve seat vformed by a reduction inthe diameter of the bore through the sleeve member Il. The valve member I1 has a stem 22 which extends upwardly through the bore in the sleeve member II and 15 preferably terminates above the top of the cham-- ber 2. Rigidly secured on the stem 22 is a collar,

or the like, 23 having opposed vertically spaced flanges 24 and 25 which receive one end26 of an operating Yarm or lever 21 which is pivotally sup- 20 ported or. fulcrumed on a shaft 23 supported at its ends in the arms of the supporting means I3. The other end A23 of thejleverY 21 carries a float 30 which is preferably rigidly secured thereto. Therilange 25 is preferably longitudinally mov- 25 able on the member 23 and is heldin engagement with the lever 26 by a coil spring 3| which is held under compression between the flange 25 and a shoulder 32 on the member 23. The flange 32 is preferably carried by a nut screw-threaded 30 onto the end of member 23. The iloat 30 on` downward movement acts through the lever 21 and iiange`24 to raise the valve face 2D from its seat lll but the extent to which the valve face 20 may be lifted by the oat 30 is limited by a stop 35 member 3|)a preferably rigid with one of the arms of the supporting member I3. This member 3|!lil projects beneath the lever 21 and serves to limit the downward movement of the lever end 29 by the float 30 but due to the spring 3| the stem 22 40 may have further upward movement suilicient to engage the valve face I9 with its seat 2| to close the inlet 9.

The reservoir 2 is provided with a cover or closure member 33 preferably seating on and 45 secured to a lateral surrounding flange 34 formed at the top edge of the wall 4. The cover member 33 has an extension 35 which projects beyond the flange 34 and which has downwardly directed, substantially parallel, supporting arms 36. Sup 50 ported by the arms 36 is a hollow casing or container 31 which comprises an overflow chamber. The container 31 has oppositely positioned supporting arms 3B which extend upwardly into cooperable relation with the arms 36 and which are 55 pivotally secured thereto by pins, or the like, 39. The wall 4 has an aperture 40 in winch is secured an overflow spout, or the like, 4I which projects through a slot 42 in the side wall of the container 31, th-e slot being open at its upper end so that the container may be swung outward for emptying. Above the member 4I the side wall 4 is provided with a substantially vertical opening 43 through which a lever member 44 projects. The lever member 44 has reinforcing, depending, side flanges 45 and has laterally extending, oppositely directed arms or trunnions 46. The side wall 4 has oppositely positioned apertures 41 which receive the ends of the :arms 46 and in which the lever is supported forrocking movement. The end of the lever within the chamber 2 is tapered as at 48 and receives a spring cup 49 against which one end of a helical coil spring 59 seats. The other end of the spring 59 seats against a cup member 5I which bears against an adjustable abutment member 52 rigid with the wall 4. This member 52 is preferably in the'form of an adjustable screw having aconical end 53 and screw-threaded in a sleeve member 54 rigidly. fixed in the wall 4. The spring 59 is under compression so that its force, which may be regulated by the screw 52, normally acts to hold theV lever 44 in ythe position shown in which `the flanges 45 are in engagement with the bottom edge of the opening 43 which serves as a stop, to .limit movement of the lever 414. The .stem 22 extends through'a longitudinal slot 55 in Lthe Ilever 44v and has rigidly secured thereto above the lever, 44 an abutment member 56. The other Cipelln rand outside ofthe casing I terminates .vertical bore 63 therethrough which receives thel rod 6I for retaining and guiding the float 62..

The cover .member 33 is provided with an aperturein line with the stem 22 and in which is fixed a guide sleeve 64 which -surrounds lthe upper end of the stem 22, the stem 22 projecting thereabove, as `at 65, so that it may be manually operated. Thevcasing I is provided witha supporting bracket 66 having an aperture 61 therethrough to receive the member 6. 'Ihe bracket 66is rigidly clamped to the casing I by a nut 68 screw-threaded onto the member 6. The reservoir 2 is provided with an outlet 69 which opens through the bottom wall 3 and which is preferably controlled by a manually adjustable valve having a stem 10.

The operation of my control device is as follows: When the inlet 9 has been connected at the nipple I6 to a source of supply and the outlet 69 has been connected to a point of discharge such as a burner, for example, liquid will enter the chamber 2 through the open passage 9 since the valve faces 20 and I9 are each out of engagement with their respective seats. As the level of liquid rises in the chamber 2, the float 30 will be lifted and acting through the lever 21 upon the collar flange 25 will move the valve face 29 toward inlet closing position. When the predetermined deslred level has been reached in the chamber 2,

the float 39 will seat the valve I1 against its seat IllEt and close the passage 9. This lever will be maintained substantially constant by the oat 39 which serves on any decrease in the lever to open the valve I1 with respect to its seat 80a. If the valve face 2I l fails to seal the passage 9 so that the level in the chamber 2 .continues to increase, then when the level in the chamber reaches the height of the overow spout 4I liquid will discharge from the chamber 2 into the container 31. As the liquidlevel rises in the container 31, the float 62 will rise with it and acting against the flange 60 will move the rod 59 upward. Upward movement of the rod 59 will carry with it the end 51 of the lever 44,' turning the lever 44 about its fulcrum on the arms 46. When the lever 44 has moved upward sufficient to carry the point of engagement between the lever and the spring 50 overcenter, the force of the spring will act to quickly move the lever 44 upward against the abutment member 56. The quicklymoving lever 44 will sharply impact the valve stem through the medium of the abutment member 56 and will carry the stem 22 and its valve member I1 upward to seat the valve face I9 against seat 2| with a driving force, thereby tightly to close the passage 9. Upward movement of the stem 22 is permitted by the longitudinally movable flange 25 even though the lever 21 be in 'engagement with the stop 3l]EL or the resistance of the iloat 39 to immersion be sufficient to'resis't 4movement vof the lever 21 by the spring 50. After the valve has been closed by operation of the float 62, the .container 31 may be emptied by swinging the container 31 outward or away' fromfthe casing i von its supportingmembers 39 to pour the liquid therefrom, When the cause of failure ofthe float 39 to `function has been remedied, the device can be placed again in normal operation' by returning l' the container to vertical position and by manually y moving the lever 44'into the position shown in Figure 2. Y vWhat I claim and' desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A device of the character described, com- `prisinga casing havingv a reservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet, said means having a stem, a oat having a lostmotion connection with said stem and 'operable to maintaina. substantially constant liquid level in said reservoir, a lever cooperable with said stem to close said inlet, overcenter means acting von said lever, said last-named means exerting its constant level and operable to move said over-- center means overcenter, said lost-motion connection permitting movement of said stem relative to said first-named float upon engagement of said lever with said stem.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having a reservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet, said means having a stem, a oat operatively connected to said stem and operable to maintain a. substantiallyY constant liquid level in said reservoir, a leverengageable with said stem to move said means to close said inlet, a spring disposed within said reservoir and having one end fixed to said casing and having its other end engaging said lever, the point of engagement between said spring and said lever being movable overcenter, said lever having an end portion projecting exteriorly of the casing, said spring normally acting to maintain said lever inactive, said spring acting on movement overcenter to close said inlet, and a 4float responsive to a predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level and cooperable with said lever, said secondnamed iloat acting on movement to move the point of engagement between said spring and said lever overcenter whereby said spring will act to close said inlet, said projecting portion of said lever serving as a manually operable means for positioning said spring in its inactive position and for positioning said spring in its active position.'

, 3. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having a reservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet, supporting means in said reservoir, a lever having operative engagement with said controlling means and fulcrumed on said supporting means, a oat positioned in said reservoir and carried by said lever, said Yiloat acting to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said reservoir,`

alever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends in said casing, an adjustable abutment member projecting from a side waliof said casing and positioned in opposed relation to one end of said lever member, a helical coil spring positioned between said abutment member and said lever member end and held under lcompression therebetween, the point of engagement between said spring and said lever member being .movable overcenter, said lever member being movable into cooperable engagement with said controlling moana-and a second iloat responsive to a predetermined increase oi'. liquid level above said constant level and cooperable with said member,

said second iloatl acting on movement to move said spring overcenter whereby to move said controlling means to close said inlet.

4. In a liquid level control device, a casing hav- E ing a chamber for liquid and an inlet port therefor, a valve controlling said port and havingv a stem portion, a iloatin said chamber operable in response to changes in liquid level therein to actuate said valve to maintain a` substantially constant liquid level in said chamber, a lever fulcrumed within said casing and having one end connected to said iloat, and a coil spring surrounding said valve stem and carried thereby with one end acting on said valve stem and the other end acting on the other end of said lever.

5. In a liquid level control device, a casing havinga chamber for liquid and an inlet port therefor, a valve member controlling said port and having a stem portion extending vertically upward therefrom, said valve stem portion having a ange member integral therewith, a float in said chamber operable in response to changes in liquid level therein to operate said valve mem- 1 ber to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said chamber, a lever fulcrumed within said chamber and having one end connected to said iioat, a flange member surrounding said stem portion and movable longitudinally relative thereto, the other end of said lever being disposed between said ilange members for bearing thereagainst to actuate said valve member, spring means urging said movable flange member toward said flrst-namedsilange member, and

oat liperated means operable in response to an 'increase in liquid level to a predetermined level for moving said valve member to closed position.

6. In a liquid level control device having a chamber for liquid and an inlet passage therefor, a valve member controlling said passage and having an upwardly extending stem portion, said stem portion having a lateral iiange member, a iloat in said chamber actuating said valve member to maintain the liquid level substantially con'- s'tant, a lever fulcrumed within said casing with one end connected to said float and the other end disposed for engagement with the underside oi said ilange member, a coil spring surrounding said valve member with one end fixed relative thereto and the other end urging said lastnamed lever end toward said ilange member, said spring serving to operatively connect said oat and said valve member without lost motion therebetween when the-'level of the liquid is maintained substantially constant, abutment means on said stem portion and a safety cut-od means including a normally inactive lever member disposed in spaced relation to said abutment means and operable upon a predetermined increase in liquid level above the substantially constant level for engaging said abutment means and moving said valve member to close said passage, a float for actuating said safety cut-oir means, said spring permitting relative movement between the valve member and said ilrst-named float when said valve member is actuated by said lever member.

7. A liquid level control device comprising a casing having a reservoir for liquid, iloat operated valve means eilective to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said reservoir, safety cut-off mechanism operable to stop admission of liquid to said reservoir upon rise of liquid level insaid reservoir to a predetermined level above said constant level, lever mechanism having a part within said reservoir and operable upon movement to move said valve means to stop admission of liquid to said reservoir, means within said reservoir operable to hold said lever mechanism in inactive position, liquid level responsive means operable upon occurrence of said 'predetermined liquid level to move said holding means to release said lever mechanism so that said lever mechanism will act to move said valve means, said lever mechanism having means projecting exteriorly of said casing, said projecting means being operable upon movement in one di` rection to position said lever mechanism in its -said inactive position and being also operable upon movement in another direction to move said holding means thereby to release said lever mechanism so that said lever mechanism will move and hold said valve means in position to stop admission of liquid to'said reservoir.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a casing containing a constant level chamber having an inlet and an outlet, means having a stem and controlling said inlet, said stem having a bearing surface, an overiiow chamber adjacent said constant level chamber, said casing having a wall separating said chambers, said wall having an overilow passageway establishing communication between said chambers,

'a removable cover member secured on said casing and overlying said chambers, a normally inactive lever pivotally supported within said casing and positioned for movement into engagement with said stem bearing surface Vto move said stem thereby to close said inlet, a. float member in said overflow chamber, means holding 4 2,139,616 l l l said lever in spaced relation to said bearing surface and in inactive position, said holding means having operative connection with said float member and releasable by said float member upon ITT) overflow into'said overiiow chamber, a iioat member in said constant level chamber, a second lever pivotally supported in said casing and carrying said second-named iioat member, and a lateral projection on said stem and cooperable with said second-named lever whereby said second-named iioat member can actuate said controlling means, said stem being movablerelative to said secondnamed lever upon operation of said controlling means by sai-d first-named lever..

9. A device of the character described, comprising a casing containing a constant level chamber having an inlet and an outlet, controlling means having a stem'and controlling said inlet, said stem having a bearing surface, an overow chamber adjacent said constant level chamber, said casing having a wall' separating said chambers, said wall having an overflow passageway establishing communication between said chambers, a removable cover member secured on said casing and overlying said chambers, normally inactive lever means pivotally supported within saidcasing and having a part positioned adjacent said bearing surface for movement into engagement with said stem bearing surface to i'nove said stem thereby to close said inlet, a floatmember in said overflowchamberH a spring having one end fixed, said spring acting on said lever means and voperable to urge said controlling means to closed position upon movement of said lever means, said float member hav- A Patent 2,159,616.

It is hereby certified that error appears= inthe lprinted specification; of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; -age 2k, second `v1 column', lines 2 fand it, for 'the word "lever" read level; :line"55, claim for hof" read on; page 5, first column, line )4.11, claim 5', beiore the worl "member" insertI lever;` and second column, line claim 6, after ."portion. insert a comme; andi-.hat the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with ch-17's? CERTIFICATE or ooRREoTAIoN'. v

ANDREWK.` roULDsj.

ing operative connection withsaid lever means so that said lever means will be moved upon overflow into said overflow chamber, a oat member in said constant level chamber, a second lever pivotally supported in said easing and carrying said second-named float member, anda lateral projection on said stem and cooperable with said second-named lever whereby said second-named oat member can actuate said controlling means, r

said stem being movable relative to said secondnamed lever upon operation of said controlling means by said lever means.

10. In a liquid level control device having a reservoir in Awhich liquid is normally maintained and an inactive position, meanswithin said reservoir normally holding said lever in its inactive` position, a iioat operable for moving said holding means to release said lever for such movement of its said armupon increase in liquid to a predetermined level above said substantially constant level, said leverhaving an end portion extending exteriorly of the reservoir and serving as` a manually operable means for positioning ,the

lever in its inactive position and for also pbsitioning'sa'id leverQln its active position holding said valve in closed position'.

Dessiner. ,a '1958- L correction the rein that the same may conform to the record of the easdlnlif the`Patent Office. l

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale'f Acting Commis sioner of Patents.

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