US2247930A

US2247930A - Vacuum radiator air vent valve

Info

Publication number: US2247930A
Application number: US319385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-02-17
Filing date: 1940-02-17
Publication date: 1941-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1958-07-01

Description

July l, 1941. R. E. TURNER VACUUM RADIATOR AIR VENT VALVE Filed Feb. 17, 1940 @www LUM/2ML LLI/LUL,

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1, 1941 UNlTED STATES PTEN FFICE VACUUM RADIATOR AIR VEN T VALVE Robert E. Turner, New York, N. Y.

Application February 17, 1940, Serial No. 319,385

li Claims.

This invention relates to radiator valves, and more particularly to vacuum-retaining, thermostatic-float types used as air vents for steam heating radiators and on the risers of steam systems.

Such valves should perform several functions: permit the evacuation of air from the individual radiators and from the heating system with .a minimum of resistance or back-pressure; thermostatically close against the escape of steam when all air has been thus voided from the system (radiator); seal the radiator against leakage of water by means of the buoyancyk of the thermostatic element; to establish and maintain the vacuum produced by steam condensation during off periods, or when the steam vapor pressure within the system falls below atmospheric pressure, and thus retain this vapor in the radiators and piping instead of permitting it to be replaced by inrushing air. This not only extends the period of available heat but facilitates the raising of steam at the beginning of the on period because no energy is required to force air out of the system; and, to permit controllable modulation ofthe rate of air venting so that the heating of individual radiators may be balanced and made uniform throughout the entire heating system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a valve capable of performing the foregoing functions in a more efcient manner than heretofore accomplished.

A further feature is in the provision of means which include the use of recently developed synthetic plastics, having the advantages, but not the disadvantages, of rubber, for the construction of certain parts of the valve.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of simple Figure il is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the body of the valve, generally designated by the numeral I5, will be seen to be substantially cylindrical, its central portion having a plurality of longitudinally curved undulations or flutings I6.

The bottom wall il, rests in the up-turned annular flange of a support I3, connected by a threaded nipple I9, to the radiator. This nipple has a central longitudinal partition forming inlet and outlet conduits 2li-2l, respectively for steam and condensed vapor.

The Wall I'l has a plurality of circular openings 23 through which air and steam from the conduit Z0 pass to the body chamber 2d.

Loosely contained in this chamber isa cylindrical iioat 25, maintained substantially central and guided by the undulations i6, both ends of the float having a dome-shaped central kportion 26 and rows of annular raised ridges 21, of angular cross section, forming extensible diaphragms. This float is charged with a suitable quantity of volatile liquid having the proper boiling point to vaporize and cause the diaphragms to expand at steam temperature. y

Above the chamber 2li, the valve body is cylindrical and threaded to engage a band 2S depending from a cap v29.

An inverted cup Sii is adjustably engaged. bythe screw threads, forming a transverse partition o1` valve deck 3| near the upper edge of the body, the same having a down-reaching .hollow annular projection 32, the opening in which constitutes a hollow boss.

vulcanized, or otherwise secured, in this hollow boss and extending therebelow is the hollow stem of a feather-edged, mushroom-shaped valve element 35, open to the lower main float chamber 24, and having at the junction of its stem and head a plurality of transverse ports St communicating with the passage 3l. The annular valve head 38 rests at all times in fiat contact with the upper level surface of the cup bottom 3| forming therewith the non-return or vacuum portion of the valve. The lower edge of the stem of this element, projecting downward into the chamber 2d, provides a resilient, non-metallic seat against which the thermostatic float acts when expanded by steam temperature or when it is iioated upward by the ooding of chamber 24. Escaping air is forced through this hollow stem and seeps outward radially between the parallel surfaces of the valve and valve seat with a minimum of resistance and absence of noise.

Thus this valve element in itself and in ccnjunction with the thermostatic oat forms a stopcheck Valve, with the check, because of inherent characteristics of its component material, always temperature and buoyancy.

It is proposed that this valve element be made of a synthetic plastic having the general appearance and characteristics of rubber, including that of being moldable into suitable formations and shapes, but, in addition, having distinctive and unique qualities especially suiting it for the purpose proposed. Among these qualities are; tolerance to heat and stable consistency within the range of temperatures to which a radiator valve would be subjected; resistance to disintegration from oil, and negligible oxidation under moisture, etc. These plastics are available under various trade names, of which one is Neoprene W A v In the upper at part of the cup 29 is an oifset opening 40, and mounted axially inthe cap is a rotatable stem 4|, having a

slotted head

4,2, provided with an annular recess 43, in which is positioned a spring washer 44.

Fixed on the lower end of the stem @l is an eccentric disk 45, held tightly in contact 4with the under side of the cap by the spring washer 44, and so arranged that by turning the slotted head the disk may be rotated to vary the size of the orifice 40, from a minimum opening to fully open, thereby controllably permitting the escape of air entrained in the cap, after ascending through the passage 31, passing the ports 3B, and emerging from under the feather-edge of the valve head 3B.

Although the foregoing is descriptive` of the preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that modifications in various details may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention', whatis claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An automatic regulating valve for1 steam radiators comprising a casing having upper and lower chambers therein, a port common to said chambers, an annular valve seat surrounding said port within the upper chamber, a pliable valve having a flexible thin edged head of constantly reduced cross section positioned on said port valve seat, a hollow stem extending from said head and through said port into the lower chamber, .ports connecting the bore of said stemwith the under surface of said head, a valve seat on the lower end of said stem, and a thermostatic float valve positioned in the last named chamber adapted to contact the seat on said stem when expanded.

2. An automatic regulating valve for steam radiators comprising a casing having two adjacent chambers therein relatively upper and lower, a passage between said. chambers, an annular valve seat within the upper cham-ber, an annular hollow boss extending from said seat into the lower chamber, a mushroom-shaped flexible valve having an annular thin edged head disposed on said valve seat, ia hollow stem extending axially from said head through said seat into the lower chamber, ports connecting the bore of said stem with the under surface of said head, a valve seat on the lower end of said stem, and a thermostatic float valve in said lower chamber adapted to 'contact the stern Valve and co-act with said mushroom-shaped valve.

3.. A radiator relief valve comprising a cylindrical casing having a transverse partition forming main and minor compartments, said main compartment communicating with the radiator, a thermostatic float in the main compartment adapted to expand longitudinally upon subjection to heat, and to rise in the event said compartment is flooded, said partition having a hollow boss extending into the main compartment, a hollow stem fixed in said boss -to normally extend therebelow into the main compartment, an annular thin edgedflexible head on said stem adapted to seat on said partition, and ports through said stem at its junction with its head, the passage in said stem being closed by said oat when raised or expanded.

4. In a radiator relief valve having main and minor compartments and a partition therebetween, a hollow annular projection on said partition extending into the main compartment, a mushroom shaped highly flexible valve having a thin pliant annular border seated on said partition and yan integral hollow stern extending through and beyond said projection, said stem provided with perforations at its juncture with the main body of the valve, and a float in said main compartment adapted to close the opening through said stem when raised.

ROBERT E. TURNER.