US2246802A - Heating system - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1941.` H, s KEHM TAL 2,246,802

HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 22, 1939 HORACE 5. lKEN/f COURT/.Awa G./V5wTa/v atented `l'une 24, 1941 SATS 'ATG SYSTEME Aimplication llfiay 22, i939, @criait lilo. Zilillii itil. Edil-5in il illlaims.

` wherein heated water is circulated under pres sure from a boiler through a single pipe main in the form of a loop to which a plurality of radiators are connected by supply and return risers respectively. At each radiator, the main constitutes a shunt or by-pass for the radiator, and the fittings by which the supply and return risers are connected to the main are so arranged that stratied flow of thewater results in the main.

More specifically, during iiow of water in the main between the radiators, the hot water bypassing a radiator will be delivered atvthe radiator return connection to the top portion of the main, `and the somewhat cooled Water returning from the radiator will be delivered tothe bottom portion of the main. At the supply risers of the radiators, the connection fittings are arranged to take water from the upper portion of the main, the water at the lower portion of the main nowing through the radiator ley-passes.

The system described in the aforementioned patent is very suitable and eiiicient in operation when utilized in relatively large heating systems in which the main loop is of relatively large diameter pipe. lin small systems, however, such as would be installed in a small home and would usually contain eight or less radiators, the economical size of the main loop becomes so small that the advantages resulting from stratified flow ci the water are lost or reduced to such an extent that the stratication of the Water becomes irn- A practicable.

Having in mind the unapplicability of a stratilied system of now for economic" low cost installation oi small heating systems, the present in vention contemplates yan improved arrangement wherein emcient heating maybe secured in a small single main loop heating system having a comparatively few 'radiators and a main line of relatively small diameter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved heating system wherein all the radiators may be furnished of the same standard size irrespective of the sizes ol? the rooms in which they may be installed, thus elimihating the cost oi skilled engineering service tor calculating and determining the various radiator sizes to meet dilierent installation conditions.

Another object ci the herein described invention is to provide an improved single loop heat-n ing system in which the amounts of iiow of heating fluid through the radiators may be successively graduated and increased as the temperature of the heated iluid is successively de' creased by flow through the radiators.

Still another object is to provide a looped main heating system having iiow choking means at each radiator for controlling i'low therethrough, and arranged to open whenever the fluid pressure in the main exceeds a predetermined amount.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved fitting for connecting a radiator into the main of a loop type heating system, this fitting embodying an adjustable spring biased baie for choking iiow through the fitting but operating upon predetermined increase of pressure in the heating system to move to ineffective position and thus relieve the system pressure and permit circulation through the system.

In accordance with the general features of the herein described system, it is proposed to provide asingle pipe main in the form of a loop to which the radiators are connected by supply and return risers. This loop is connected to a suitable furnace or device for heating the liuid, and the heated fluid is circulated under pressure by means oi a suitable circulating pump. The supply risers of the radiators are connected into the main loop by means of the usual "l'pipe iitting, and the radiators at their outlet are provided with the usual throttling valve. .The return risers of the respective radiators are each connected to the main by means of a special 'lr-ht- 'ting.

This special fitting, which is more fully described subsequently, is arranged with an adjustable baille which serve sas a choke or retarder for the we ter in the main which is by-passed around each radiator. 'Ihesebaffles are arranged with adjusting handles which are exteriorly of the tting" body so that the baffle may be adjusted to provide more or less choking or retarding effect as desired.

Since the conditioned uid in this type of system is successively shunted through the radiators from the main loop the successive baliies or retarders may be successively closed by greater amounts so that as the conditioned fluid is gradually cooled by passing through radiators, the subsequent radiators will pass more fluid so that the heating capacity of all the radiators will be substantially equalized. Since the last radiator of the series will have its baille almost fully closed, it will be apparent that if this radiator should be shut off by its throttling valve, circulation through. the preceding radiators would be seriously affected and pressure would build up ahead of the last baie.

As an additional feature, this baille is arranged to be normally biased by a spring, so that when the pressure builds lup ahead of it, the baille will be opened independently of its adjusted position and relieve the pressure so that the circulation through the system may be continued efficiently.

Other objects and features of the invention will more readily appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a single embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a single main loop heating system embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary .portion of the system showing in elevation a pipe connection tting having an adjustable baiiie or ow retarder, such as utilized in the system of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the same to show its internal construction; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the fitting substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawing:

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention there is shown in Figure 1 a boiler l0, which is connected at its outlet to one end of a single pipe main loop l I and its inlet to the other end of the main loop. Interposed in the main loop is a suitable circulating pump l2 by means of which conditioned uid may 4be circulated through the system, in this instance water which has been heated in the boiler.

A plurality of heat exchange devices, in this instance radiators as shown at I3, I4, and l5, are successively connected to the main line by means of supply and return risers I6v and I1. It will be noted that connection of the supply riser is made to the main line by means of an ordinary T-fltting as shown at i8 and that each radiator at its connection with the return riser is provided i with a suitable control or throttling valve i9 .by means of which the circulation of conditioned fluid vthrough the radiator may be manually controlled.

Each return riser l? is connected with the main line by means of a T-tting 20 having a construction which will be subsequently described in detail. In the disclosed arrangement, it Will be noted that the main line at each radiator in its portion lying between the ttings I8 and 26 forms a shunt flow circuit -past the radiator.

In general, the fittings 20 are so arranged as to retard or choke the fiow of fluid through the associated shunting portions of the main line, and this choking characteristic is made adjustable so that the amount -of fluid forced through the associated radiator may be adjusted.

More specifically, the fitting 20 comprises a T-shaped body structure 2|, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, this body being constructed of any suitable material such as wrought iron, brass, and the like. The body structure defines an interior chamber 22 of substantially rectangular cross section. 'This chamber communicates with a pair of main line connection openings 23 and 24, and also a branch connection opening 25 which may be angularly disposed with reference to the main line connection openings. I'hese openings, if desired, may be internally threaded for pipe connection.

Within the chamber 22, there is disposed adjacent the main opening, which will be utilized for the inlet of uid to the fitting, a baffle plate 26 having its uppermost edge margin provided with a barrel `portion 21. The barrel 2l is rotatably mounted upon a transversely extending shaft or pivot pin 28 supported in the body structure for rotative movements, one end of this pin `being disposed in a projecting portion 29 of the housing, and the other end being extended through an integrally formed tubular boss 30 on the opposite side of the body structure. Intermediate its ends, the `boss 80 is provided with an internal shoulder 3| which forms an abutment seat for a washer 32 surrounding the shaft and serving to maintain it at the axis of the tubular boss. The outer end of the boss is threaded for threadedly receiving a cap member 33 which cooperates with the washer 32 in maintaining a suitable packing 36 compressed around the associated end of the pivot member 28 and thus prevent leakage of fluid from the fitting body along the pivot member.

The end of the -pivot member which projects through the cap 33 is provided with a crank handle 35 by means of which the ypivot member 28 may be rotated from the exterior of the tting lbody.

Arrangement is made for maintaining the crank handle in any position of adjustment by providing a detent spring 36 having one end secured to the handle, and its other overlying and riding upon a curved rack 3l on the fitting body. This rack may be formed as a separate element and secured to the body or, if preferred, may be integrally formed on the body during its construction.

As shown in Figure 4, the right hand end of the barrel 2l is provided with a semi-circumferential end slot 38 in which there is disposed a pin 39 projecting from this end of the -pivot member.

At the left end of the barrel 21, between this end of the barrel and the washer 32, there is provided a coil spring which surrounds the Ipivot member. One end of this spring is anchored as at di to the shaft, while the other end of this spring is deected so as to extend over and resiliently engage the innermost surface of the baffle 26 and normally move it in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, until this movement is stopped by the `abutment; of pin 39 against one end of the end slot 38.

With the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that the baffle lplate 26 may be swung by means of the handle 35 to a position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein it fully closes the opening 23 of the tting and engages an abutment stop projection 42 at the bottom of the fitting, or the plate may be moved through an opening direction with reference to the opening 23 to a limiting position, as shown in dotted lines, in which the branch opening 25 will be fully closed or cut off from the chamber 22 within. the fitting.

During the adjusting movement, the spring 40 is carried along with the rotational movement of the pivot pin 28. However, if pressure is applied against the outer surface of the baille plate 26, the baie plate may be independently swung on the pivot 28 against the pressure of spring 40,

and thus automatically act as a relief valve with reference to the inlet opening 23.

Since the fittings are all similarly constructed, they may be indiscriminately utilized for connecting the return risers from the radiators to the main line Vwithout consideration as to whether the radiator is the rst radiator of the system or one of the subsequent radiators.

As shown in Figure 1, it will ber noted from the adjusted position of the handle of the respective ilttings 20, that the baille 26 for the radiator I3 would be in substantially opened position, that the baille 26 associated with the radiator I4 is somewhat further closed, and that the last baille would be almost fully closed with reference to the main line of the system. Thus, as the conditioned fluid or heated water in this instance is circulated through the main line, the respective baffles operate to successively cause more fluid to be circulated through the associated radiators as the conditioned fluid becomes cooled.

Due to the fact that the baffle 26 associated with the last radiator of the system, in this case radiator I5, is almost fully closed, it will become apparent that should this radiator be shut oil by closing its valve IB, all the water flowing through the main line must pass through the opening determined by the position of the baille t6. Since this baille is almost fully closed, it is apparent that circulation of iluid in the main line would be seriously interfered with, and it would not be possible to efficiently operate the preceding radiators I3 and I4. However, this diiflculty is automatically taken care of due to the relief feature of the fitting. That is, pressure will build up in the main line ahead oi the baille 2B associated with the radiator I5, and when this pressure reaches a predetermined amount `suicient to move the baille against the spring dll, the baille will be swung in a counterclockwise direction, as previously explained, on the pivot pin 2B, and thus permit circulation oi fluid through the system without passing through the radiator which is shut off.

Although the bailles of the fittings 2li` will in general be adjusted in the manner described above for successively determining the flow through the radiators accordingly as the temperature of the conditioning fluid is modified, the baille and relief arrangement therefore have further advantages in that it enables independent adjustment of the baflles of the radiators in the system to compensate for the different resistances of the flow paths through the radiators and their connections.

Such differences in the resistance to flow through the radiators may arise from a number of causes. For example, the supply and return connections for one radiator may be of a different length than those of another radiator,

or 'it may not be possible to utilize the theoretically proper size of pipe for the different radiators due to the standardization of pipe sizes.

Thus it will appearthat not only is there a possibility of the last radiator of the system having its baille substantially closed, but other radiators ahead of the last one might 4also under certain conditions have a considerable closure. Irrespective of which ballles may be substantially closed, these baffles will be relieved whenever the pressure builds up ahead of them to a predeter,

mined amount,'as might happen when their associated radiators are shut off. Ample system circulation will therefore always be assured for the radiators remaining in operation.

While we have chosen to describe the present invention in connection with a heating system, we do rot wish to be limited to such specillc use, as it Will readily be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of other uses and may be utilized advantageously, for example, in a coolingsystem.

heating systems for homes andthe like; which enables the installation of radiators of the same standard size irrespective of the heating requirements of the rooms in which the radiators are to be installed and without the necessity of the services of a skilled engineer .to calculate various yradiator sizes to meet the different installation conditions; which provides a system in which the amount of flow of heating fluid through the radiators may be successively graduated to provide increased flow as the temperature of the heated fluid diminishes; which is so arranged as to provide for relief operation Whenever a ra diator is shut oil and the associated baille or retarder is in such position as to prevent proper flow in the main line to efficiently operate the remaining radiators; and which includes an improved fltting for connecting the return risers of the various radiators to the main line, this iltting embodying an adjustable retarder for detenmining the circulation through the radiators with which the respective fittings are associated.

Now, it is of course to be understood that although We have described in detail the preferred embodiment of our invention, the invention is not to be thus limited, but only insofar as deilned by thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a system of the character described, a main flow line for a fluid under pressure, a heat exchange device having inlet and outlet connectionsl with said line, and yieldable baille means normally adjustable to control the iluid flow in the portion of the main line between said connections, said baille means being automatically movable to inoperative position relative to said portion of the main-line, when the pressure of said fluid is increased above a predeterminedr amount.

2. In a system of the character described, a main flow line for a iluid under pressure, a heat exchange device having inlet and outlet connections with said line, an adjustable baille for normally choking fluid flow through the portion of the main line between said connections and determining the amount of fluid circulated through the heat exchange device, and yielding means retaining the baille in normal adjusted position but enabling movement thereof to an ineffective position relative tosaid portion of the main line, when circulation of uid through the heat exchange device is decreased to such an extent as to result in the building up of fluid pressure in the main line above a predetermined value.

3. In a system of the character described, a main flow line for conditioned fluid under pressurefa heat exchanger having supply and return connections with said line, abeille at the return connection of the heat exchanger with the main line, said baille being normally adjust able to variably impede the uid owing through the portion of the main line between said connections, an auxiliary control valve in one of said heat exchanger connections, and pressure responsive means for releasing said baille relative to its normal adjustment upon increased pressure in the main line due to the closing of said valve.

4. In a heating system, a main flow line for conditioned fluid under pressure, a plurality of radiators each having supply and return connections with said main flow line, movably mounted flow retarder means at each radiator for opposing ilow of fluid in the main line between its supply and return connections, said re tarder means having increasing eectiveness in the direction of flow of fluid in the main line, whereby the amounts of uid circulated in said radiators are successively increased as the uid temperature decreases, and yielding means normally opposing movement of each retarder means to a non-retarding position, whereby at least the most eiective 0f said retarder means may be rendered inactive, when its associated radiator is shut off, and the remaining radiators operated without decreased flow.

5.'In a heating system, a main iiuid ilow line;

a radiator having a iluid supply connection and a duid return connection with said line, said latter connection including a T-tting having internal adjustable baiile means normally opposing fluid iiow in themain line, and pressure responsive means for rendering said baile means ineffective to oppose said fluid flow upon predetermined uid pressure in the main line.

6. In a system of the character described, a main flow line for conditioned fluid under pressure, a heat exchanger having supply and return connections wit'i said line, a baille at one of said connections of the heat exchanger with the main line, said baille being normally adjustable to variably impede the uid flowing through the portion of the main line between said connections, an auxiliary control valve in one of said heat exchanger connections, Yand pressure responsive means for releasing said baille relative to its normal adjustment upon increased pressure in the main line due to the closing of said valve.

7. In a heating system, a main fluid flow line, a radiator having a fluid supply connection and a fluid return connection with said line, one of said connections including a T-fitting having internal adjustable baille means normally opposing fluid flow in the main line, and pressure responsive means for rendering said baille means ineffective to oppose said fluid ow upon predetermined fluid pressure in the main line.

8. In a system of the character described, a main flow line for conditioned fluid under pressure, a heat exchanger having supply and return connections with said line, pressure relief means responsive to the pressure of said fluid in the main flow line, said means including a movable resiliently mounted baile at the return connection of the heat exchanger with the main line, said baille being adjustable to variably impede the fluid flow through the portion of the main line between said connections, whereby the.

amount of iluid passing through the heat exchanger is determined, and said baille being movable to relief position by the action of abnormal main line pressure to enable substantially unimpeded fluid iiow through said main line portion.

9. In a heating system, a plurality of radiators having inlet and outlet connections respectively to a iluid supply and uid return, a shunt bypass between said connections of each radiator, adjustable retarder means in each radiator connection for opposing iluid flow through its bypass and determining the amount of iluid cireulating through the radiator, means supporting said retarder means in said radiator connection for movement independently of its adjustment to a position in non-opposing relation to flow through the by-pass by the fluid pressure acting thereon, and resilient means cooperating with said supporting means for opposing said movement at normal pressures but enabling said movement at a predetermined increased pressure.

HORACE S. KEHM. COURTLAND G. NEWTON.

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