US2222324A - Air valve for radiators - Google Patents

Description

19, 1940- R. w. sHoEMAKER ET AL 2,222,324

AIR VALVE FOR RADIATORS Filed July 15, 1936 INVENTORS RICHARD W. SHOEMAKER JOSEPH A. PARKS, JR.

BY THE IR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED".

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AIR VALVEFOR RADIATORS.

Richard W; Shoemaker, We'odbury. Conn, and Joseph A. Parks; Jr.',iRochester, N. Y... "assign-. ms to Anderson Products,xlnc;,' C'ambridge,- Mass; a corporation of Massachusetts 7 Application July 15, 1936; Seriai'Nm 90,760

8 Claims." (Cl. 236-451) This invention relates to air valves for radiators of heating systems and it is anobject of this invention to provide an improved device of the type described of simple construction which will be reliable in operation and in which each Fig. 2 is a similar view with certain parts be-' ing shown in elevation and positioned as when subjected to steam temperature; and

Fig. 3 is a view similiar to Fig.--1'of a modified construction.

An air valve constructed in accordance-With this invention comprises a cylindrical'or cupshaped base member I open atone end and having a threaded projecting outlet2 adapted to be screwed into a correspondingly threaded opening in a radiator section to mount the air valve thereon and to establish connection between. the

interiors of the radiator and air valve. in the open end of the base member I in any suitable manner is a tubular air valve shell 4 of suitable light metal, and closed at its upper end except for a port or opening 6 therein.

Located in the base member I is'a cell 8 hav-.

ing a rigid radially corrugated bottom 9, a rigid cylindrical side wall In and a top wall or closure when the difference in the forces orpressures acting upon opposite sidesof the diaphragm is sufficient to force the diaphragm outwardlyand hold it in the position shown in Fig. 2, while in the modified construction shown in Fig. 3 the diaphragm H is arranged to assume a position in which its outer face is convex, as shown in Fig. 3 except when the difference in the pressures or forces acting upon opposite sides thereof is suficient to hold it with its outer face concave. Extending from the cell bottom 9 is a tube I2 which establishes communication between the interior of the cell 8 and the atmosphere and which is threaded through an opening in the bottom of the base member I so the cell 8 may be adjustably positioned in the casing formed of Secured the base a and theshell t. A look nut 14 on the tube l2 secures the cell in adjusted position.

Enclosed within the cell 8 is a double diaphr'agm thermostatic element l6 formed of a ring-ll and diaphragms I8 and containing a suitable volatile liquid, as a mixture of alcohol and water. The diaphragms l8 of the thermostatic'element are .arranged to present concave outer faces .as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 unless forced or held outwardly as in Fig. 2.

Supported on the diaphragm H or H of the cell 8 is a hollow-float member 20 having a projecting pin or valve 22 at its upper end arranged to seat in the opening or port 6 to prevent the escape. of fluid therefrom. The parts of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are so proportioned andadjusted that when diaphragm II is subjected to atmospheric pressure on opposite sides and thethermostatic-element 16 is not' expanded, the valve 22- opens the 'port 6 to a greater or less extent depending upon the adjustment of the tube 12 in the basemember I but the float 20 and valve 22 are always so positioned that movement of the'diaphragm- II will be sufficient to seat valve 22in the port 6 and close the port;- In the structure shown in Fig. 3 when thediaphragm" ll is subjected to atmospheric pressure on opposite sides the float 20 and valve 22 areheldinposition to close the port 6.

With the parts of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2-positione'd as in Fig. 1 passage of steam to the rsystem-causes the air to be forced out through port '6,the valve 22 remaining withdrawn-from-the port "6 until the steam acting upon the thermostatic elementrzlt through the wallsofrthe cell 8 raises the temperature of the liquid in the element Iii sufficiently to volatilize 1 part of the liquid and force out. the diaphragms l8 to'z-the positions shown in Fig. 2; This movement ofthe :diaphragms l8 operates the dia-' phragrnil'l and the float member 21 causing valve 22 to'close theixport 6.. Should there. be sufficient condensationto'fillithetcasing before the element l6 islexpan'dedthe float Ellis raised by the liquid in the casin-g,- cl0si-ng port 6 and preventing escape of the liquid.

Upon the shutting off of steam from the system and the reduction of the temperature therein the thermostatic element It resumes the condition shown in Fig. 1 but the reduced pressure in the valve casing, less than atmospheric pressure at this time, causes the diaphragm II to be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the atmospheric pressure within the cell 8 until the jected to equal pressures on opposite sides theresteam to the heating system causes air pressure,

to be built up in the valve casing until the difference in the pressures on the opposite sides of the diaphragm H the inner face thereof being subjected to atmospheric pressure, is suflicient to force the diaphragm ll inwardly, permitting the float 20 to fall and causing the valve 22t0 open the port 6. At this time the parts have the same relative positions as the parts of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and these positions are maintained while the difference in the pressures on the opposite sides of the diaphragm H is maintained as the steam raises the temperature of the volatile liquid in the thermostatic element l6 sufficiently to volatilize some of the liquid thereiniand force the diaphragms l8 outwardly, causing the diaphragm H to be returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the float 20 and valve 22 raised to close the port 6. The parts of the device are then in the, positions shown in Fig. 2. If thereis suflicient condensation to fill thevalve casing before the element 16 is expanded, the liquid will raise the float 20 and valve 22 to'close the port 6.

Upon the shutting off of steam from the system and the reduction of the temperature therein the thermostatic element l6 resumes the condition shown in Fig. 3 while the diaphragm ll remains in'the outwardly flexed condition shown in that figure and maintains valve 22' closed, at first because of the reduced pressure, less than atmospheric, then existing in the valve casing and, after the restoration of atmospheric pressure in the heating system, because the diaphragm H is arranged to maintain that position when subof. In this arrangement, the diaphragm Il being arranged to hold the valve 22 closed when l subjected to equal pressures on opposite sides Y thereof, closes the valve 22 upon the reduction of'pressure in the system at such times as the steam is shut off from the system before the steam heats the radiator throughout and raises the temperature of the liquid in the thermostatic element 16 so that the valve 22 prevents/the admission of air to the system irrespective of whether or not the thermostatic element I Bis heated.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air valve for radiators, a casing having a vent port and an inlet port, a cell in said casing having a movable wall, means establishing communication between the interior of said cell and the atmosphere, a thermostatic element in said cell and exposed to the atmosphere for operating the Wall upon application of heat to said element, a float supported by said wall and a valve on said float for closing said vent port upon operation of said wall by said thermostatic element.

2. In an air valve for radiators, a casing having a vent port and an inlet port, a cell in said casing having a movable wall, means adjustably supporting said cell in said casing, said means establishing communication between the interior of said cell and the atmosphere, a thermostatic element in said cell and exposed to the atmosphere for operating the wall upon application of heat to said element, a float supported by said wall and a valve on said float for closing said vent port upon operation of said wall by said thermostatic element.

3. In an'air valve for radiators, a casing having a vent port and anv inlet port, a cell vented to the atmosphere in said casing having a movable wall, means adjustably supporting said cell in said casing, a hollow sealed thermostatic element in said cell for operating said wall upon application of heat to said element, a hollow sealed float supported on said wall and a valve on said float for closing said vent: port upon operation of said wall by said thermostatic element.

4. In anair valve for radiators, a casing having a vent portand an inlet port, a valve adapted to close the-vent port, a flexible wall supporting said valve,-,a cup-shaped support for said wall forming therewith a cell, a thermostatic element in said cell of substantially less volume than the volume of said cell to provide an insulating space between said cell'and thermostatic element, tubular supporting means for said cell, said supporting means establishing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of said cell, the bot-- tom ofsaid. cell acting as .a support to cause movement of ,said walland valve uponoperation of said thermostatic element. l

5. In an air valve for radiators, the combination set forth in claim 4 and in which the valve is mounted on a float intermediate said vent port and said flexible wall.

6. In an ,airvalv e for radiators, a casing having a vent port and an inlet port, a valve adapted to close the vent port, a cell in the casing, said cell having a flexible upper wall and associated withthe valve, a thermostatic element in said cell of substantially less volume than the volume between and acting between the bottom of said cell and said flexible upper wall for closing said valve upon the application of heat, and means supporting said cell and admitting the atmosphere tothe interior thereof.

7. In an'. air valve for radiators, the combination set forthin claim 6 and in Which the valve is mounted on a float intermediate said vent port and'said flexible upper wall.

8. Inan air. valve for radiators, a casing having a vent port' and an inlet port, a valve. to close said vent port, a cell closed with respect to said casing-and'fixed therein, a thermostatic element positioned inside the fixed cell, and effectively spaced from;the sides of said cell, thereby being insulated from the casing temperature, and meansfor transmitting the action of said thermostatic element to.the valve.

. RICHARD w. SHOE-MAKER.

JOSEPH A. PARKS, JR.

' of saidcell to provide an insulating space there-

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