US2274436A

US2274436A - Steam valve

Info

Publication number: US2274436A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1942-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1959-02-24

Description

Feb. 24, 1942. G. N. SPENCE 2,274,436

I STEAM VALVE Filed July 2'7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 050265 /1 Spa/v05 Fb.24, 1942. G. N. SPENCE' 2,274,436

- 5mm VALVE v Filed July '27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G50? 65 SPE/VCE Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM VALVE George N. Spence, Wilmington, Del.

Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,976

4 Claims.

My invention relates to steam valves and more particularly to a steam valve for use in steam heating systems of the type conventionally termed one-pipe systems.

My invention has'for one of its objects the provision of means for permitting unmodified use of the valve and its connected radiator when the valve is in either partially or fully opened position; yet at the same time means are provided for permitting the drainage of water of condensation which otherwise would collect in the radiator when the main valve is closed or partially open.

In one of its broad aspects, my invention comprises means for draining the water of condensation from the radiator when the main valve is closed, partially open, or in fact in any position, yet retaining a water seal which will prevent bypassing of the main valve by the steam from the inlet or riser pipe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical end view of my valve, one part of the valve being broken away to disclose a section. Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of my valve with the main valve shown in open position. Figure 3 is a cross sectional plan view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line I-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of my auxiliary valve. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional detail showing the auxiliary valve and the manner of its suspension.

In each of the figures of my drawings, corresponding parts are represented with identical ref erence characters on the several views.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 2 thereof, I represents a valve handle suitably connected to a valve stem 2, a portion of the lower extremity of which is threaded as shown at 3 and connected to a valve gate 4. A suitable washer or packing is recessed on the under or contact side of valve gate 4 and held in place by a suitable nut 6 which coacts with the threaded extremity 'I of the valve stem 2.

A threaded hood 8 which is surmounted by a stuffing box 9 and provided with a suitable packing II] is threaded into engaging position with the main valve housing II. The main valve casing II is formed with an exteriorly screw threaded outlet extension I2 at one side thereof. The lower portion of the housing II is formed into an inlet I2 which is interiorly threaded and adapted for connection with a suitable steam pipe or riser I5. The exteriorly threaded steam outlet I2 is connected with a radiator pipe coupling I6 held in place by the lock cap I1. The coupling I6 is exteriorly threaded as shown at I9 for engagement with the radiator, not shown, and for providing the passageway I8 for steam or water of condensation.

Arranged within the main housing II of the valve is a horizontally extending ledge I3 having an annular opening therein, I4, and so arranged with regard to size and location as to provide a seat for the valve gate 4. The lower portion 20 of the steam outlet I2 is provided with an inwardly and upwardly extending member 2I, the upper extremity of which is at an elevation higher than the lower extremity of the vertical partition 22' which is connected with the valve seat ledge I3. The member 22 serves as a partition wall and seal for any liquid which is trapped in the U- shaped space formed by the exterior wall 20 of the main valve housing I I and the interior member 2 I.

Adjacent the lower portion of the U-shaped basin formed by the wall 2|] and the member 2|,

I'provide in each face of the valve openings 23 which are interiorly threaded and which cooperate with the threaded stems 24 of the plugs 25. To provide more firm seating of the plugs 25, shoulders 25' may be formed on the exterior faces of the valve housing II. The removal of either or both of plugs 25 permits drainage and cleaning of the base of the U-shaped basin or trap.

Connected with the valve ledge I3 and preferably integral therewith is an extension 29 which, with the lower portion of the main outlet I2, forms a substantially circular auxiliary I opening. Within this substantially circular auxiliary opening, an auxiliary valve 21, supported on a pin 28 which is held in place by members 26, is suspended in such manner as to provide unimpeded rotation through an are. A perforated wedge-shaped member 30, held in place by means of key 3I, functions as a seat for the freely suspended auxiliary valve 21.

My improved steam valve operates in the manner hereinafter described. The main valve 4 is of course raised or lowered through the operation of the valve handle I. In raised position, the valve seat I 3 is of course uncovered and free passage is provided for steam introduced into the main valve through the riser pipe I5. Steam so introduced flows through the valve opening I4 and thence through the coupling I6 and opening I8 into the radiator, not shown. When the valve seat 4 is lowered into closed position, the passage of steam from the riser pipe I5 and into the radiator through the coupling I6 is prevented. In the illustration in Figure 2, the main valve 4 is shown in fully open position. It may, of course, be lowered to any position short of fully closed position and passage will be provided for the steam supplied by riser pipe 15.

In normal operation of the undisclosed radiator, steam will be supplied through the fully or partially opened valve 4 in order to supply the requisite hot steam for heating the radiator and the surroundings thereof. Under such conditions, the pressure of the steam within the undisclosed radiator will be very close to, if not substantially the same as, the steam pressure existing in the riser pipe l5. If, however, it is desired to reduce the heating effect of the radiator, the valve 4 is closed, thereby preventing the introduction of steam from riser pipe l5 and into the radiator. The existing steam trapped in the radiator will, upon cooling, condense and form water which will tend to collect in the lower portions of the radiator and more particularly in the coupling It. If no means were provided for bleeding this water back into the steam system, it would remain at the outlet end of the steam valve 4 until some future time when the valve 4 were open. At this time, the steam introduced through the valve seat 13 would encounter a plug of water and the noisy hammering which is so undesirable in steam heating systems would ensue.

In my improved steam valve, I have provided means for eliminating the collection of water when the main steam valve 4 is closed. My arrangement permits a slow, controlled, yet positive, return of the condensed steam through a valve by-pass around the main valve seat I3. Water of condensation collecting in the coupling I6 and the radiator connected therewith, when in suflicient quantities to exert an effective head, will move the flap valve 27 outwardly to a position represented by the dotted lines on Figure 2 or to some position intermediate that of fully opened and fully closed positions. The water will then drain down into the U-shaped trap until it reaches a level which permits it to overflow the lip of the member 2|. Itwill then run slowly down the interior edge of the member 2! and into the steam riser l5. Water, however, will at all times remain in the U-shaped trap and form a water seal which, in conjunction with the flap valve 21, will prevent steam in the riser l5 from by-passing the closed main valve 4.

I am aware of United States Patent 893,527 granted to J. J. Lawler. My improved steam valve, because of its provision of the water seal in the trap formed by members 2B, 2! and 22, functions positively in preventing the undesired by-passing of the main valve 4. In the event that the pressure of the steam in the riser I5 increases unduly, the water trapped in my water seal will be forced back and upwardly against the flap valve 21 and eifect a positive closing thereof, while in the construction of the Lawler patent, no such insurance of the closing of Lawlers valve is provided. Consequently, water is not permitted to remain in the radiator when my improved valve is used. There is less rusting and sedimentation of the interior of the radiator and there results complete freedom of the water hammer and undesired noise of the prior art radiators used in the so-called one-pipe steam heating systems. Any sedimentation or dirt carried out of the radiator is collected at the bottom of the water trap and may be readily removed by the simple expedient of removing the clean-out plug 25, draining the contents of the water trap and rushing out the base of the water seal.

In addition to the above described features of my invention there is an additional and important advantage. The cooperation of my auxiliary valve and the connecting passage terminating in the water seal permits controlled seepage of water of condensation even when the main steam valve is in partially opened or fully opened position. Water of condensation is thus permitted to fiow from the radiator and thence to the steam inlet pipe under any conditions existing in the heating system, i. e. when the main steam valve is in any position. Thus any collection of water in the main steam valve is prevented and water of condensation can flow slowly thru the auxiliary valve and gently over the lip of the member 2| from whence it is discharged in drops or in a small stream down the side of the steam riser pipe.

Because of the improvements which I have incorporated in my steam valve, I am able to use my valve not only on atmospheric pressure steam heating systems, and of course low pressure or vacuum systems, but also on steam heating systems employing pressures considerably higher than those which were usable in the past. I contemplate, if desired, the addition of an auxiliary ball valve and seat preferably located at the bottom of my water trap so as to provide additional insurance against the by-passing of the main valve 4 when very high steam pressure is employed in the system.

The invention which I have described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings represents a preferred arrangement of elements within the scope of my invention. The representation, however, is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and different variations may of course be made without distinguishing from the spirit of my invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A steam valve adapted for one pipe steam heating systems comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, a main valve and a valve seat for said main valve, a by-pass around said main valve, a flap valve hingedly mounted in a normally closed position in said by-pass adjacent of said outlet port, said flap valve being operably responsive to the pressure of water of condensation to permit the flow of said water therethrough when said main valve is in any position, a water seal positioned below said flap valve to receive the water of condensation flowing from said fiap valve and provide a water by-pass around said main valve while preventing the passage of steam through said by-pass, said flap valve being spaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal.

v2. A steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systems comprising a casing having a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a main passage therebetween, a main valve and a main valve seat positioned in said main passage between said inlet and outlet, an auxiliary passage around said main valve, the inlet end of said auxiliary passage being adjacent said steam outlet and the outlet end of said auxiliary passage being adjacent said steam inlet, a flap valve hingedly mounted in a normally closed position in said auxiliary passage adjacent the inlet end thereof, a water seal positioned in said auxiliary passage adjacent the outlet end thereof, said flap valve being spaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal, said auxiliary passage, flap valve and water seal providing a by-pass for water of condensation in said system around said main valve while preventing the passage of steam through said auxiliary passage from the inlet side to the outlet side of said main valve.

3. A unitary steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systems comprising a casing having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, a main passage between said inlet and outlet, an auxiliary passage in said casing between said inlet and outlet, 2. main valve and valve seat positioned in said main passage between said inlet and outlet, a flap valve hingedly mounted in a normally closed position in said auxiliary passage between said inlet and outlet, a water seal in said auxiliary passage between said flap valve and said inlet, said flap valve being spaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal, said auxiliary passage, flap valve and water seal providing a by-pass for water of condensation in said system around said main valve while preventing the passage of steam through said auxiliary passage.

4. A unitary steam valve adapted for one-pipe steam heating systems comprising a casing having a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a main passage between said inlet and outlet, a plate in said main passage extending from said steam outlet across said main passage to form a main outlet and an auxiliary opening, said plate being provided with a steam port and a valve seat, a main valve, a second plate depending from said first named plate toward said steam inlet and adjacent said casing to form an auxiliary passage, a curved plate extending outwardly from said casing below said depending plate and up wardly adjacent said depending plate to form a U-shaped extension of said auxiliary passage and a water seal, a flap valve in said auxiliary passage, means for hingedly mounting said valve in a normally closed position adjacent said auxiliary opening, said flap valve being spaced apart from said water seal to prevent contact between said valve and the fluid in said seal, said auxiliary passage, flap valve and Water seal providing a by-pass for water of condensation in said system around said main valve while preventing the passage of steam through said auxiliary passage.

GEORGE N. SPENCE.,