US2343146A

US2343146A - Valve

Info

Publication number: US2343146A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander F Jenkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-12-06
Filing date: 1941-12-05
Publication date: 1944-02-29
Anticipated expiration: 1961-02-28

Description

Feb. 29, 1944. A. F. JENKINS 2,343,146,

VALVE Original Filed Dec. 6, 1940 Patented Feb. 29, 1944 -UNITED' STATE VALVE Alexander F. Jenkins, Baltimore, Md.

Original application December 6, 1940, Serial No.

368,937. Divided and this application December 5, 1941, Serial No. 421,819

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fluid pressure regulators and more particularly to devices of this character which are adapted to be inserted in high pressure gas lines to efiect the delivery of gases at reduced pressures which may be maintained at constant values.

The general object of the invention is to provide novel and improved pressure regulators of the class described which are of simple construction, composed of a minimum number of parts, and easy to manufacture, assemble, and use.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of a regulator comprising a novel valve seat and nozzle assembly which may be applied to and removed from the device as a unit and which is practically frictionless, exceedwardly projecting boss 14 around which are a formed raised portions containing fluid passageingly sensitive, and subject to a minimum amount of variation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when read in which certain embodiments of my invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing:

' Figured is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a regulator of the type described;

Figure 2 is aview in elevation of the valve unit which forms an essential part of the regulator;

ways and terminating respectively in the outlet nipple l5, the gauge nipple l6 to which a pressure gauge of conventional type may be applied, and the inlet nipple I8 for the attachment of inlet connections, which may be connected to the source'of liquid, either directly or through a prior stage of pressure regulation.

The body casting 12 of the regulator is provided with an inlet passageway 10 passing through the nipple or boss l8 and leading to an inlet chamber 14 disposed within thecentral boss M. This chamber 14 is adapted to receive the novel valve unit 15 which is substantially a self-.

contained element which is threaded into the 20. connection with the accompanying drawing in body portion of the regulator. For this purpose, the slightly larger portion 3| of the substantially cylindrical valve unit 15 is externally threaded for cooperation of the internal threads of the recess 32 in the regulator casting.

The valve unit 15 is provided with an axial I bore 33 which is enlarged adjacent the mid- In the drawing are shown certain features which are not directly involved in the present invention but which are comprised in the inventions described in my copending application, Serial No. 368,937, filed December 6, 1940, of which the present application is a division, and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 421,820, filed Dec. 5, 1941; and reference is made ito these applications for .a more detailed disclosure of such features. The novel valve construction which comprises an important feature of the present invention, is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing in association with the pressure regulator. of which it is an important part. The regulator assembly, designated generally by the" numeral [0, comprises a body casting I2,-which is of a generally circular configuration. The body portion- I2 is provided with a central downings 39. The bore 33 at the end of the unit 15 opposite the valve seat is provided wltha slot or squared enlargement 40 for the application of a screwdriver or other tool for removing the valve,

unit from the device. The chamber 14 is nor: mally closed by the cap 16 which may be unscrewed for the removal of the valve'unit 15. This cap is provided with a recess l2! in which is seated a cup-shaped filter screen element I20. This filter screen completely surrounds the downwardly projecting portion of the valve plug 15.

and may be readily removed for cleaning by the removal of the cap iii.

In the upper portion of the body casting 12 of the regulator, there is formed an outlet fluid chamber 98 which is of an annular configuration,

the upper wall of which is comprised by the actuating diaphragm 85. An outlet passage 99 leads from the chamber 98 through the outlet nipple IS. The pressure gauge nipple l6 also has a passageway communicating with the outlet chamber 38. v

For operatively connecting the valve 15 with the actuating diaphragm 85, there is provided a an opening through which extends a member I80 which is provided with a head I19 adapted to abut the pin I18. The member I80'is threaded into a plate I82 and the diaphragm is clamped at its central portion between the head I19 and the plate I82. The dome or cap member I88 encloses the coil spring 90 which is compressed between the diaphragm plate I82 and the upper spring seat button 92. The adjusting screw 95 is threaded into the end of the cap or casing I88 and is manipulated by means of a handle 96 to accurately adjust the degree of compression exerted upon the diaphragm by the spring 90. To provide an anti-friction connection between the screw 95 and the spring, the spring seat 92 is cupped as at 93 and a ball element 94 received within a recess in the end of the screw 95 is adapted to seat in the cupped portion of the member 92. t

The central member I80 which passes through the diaphragm is provided with a passageway 280 into the bottom of which one or more passageways 219 lead from the outlet chamber 98.

A relief valve casing 28I is threaded upon the upper end of the central plug I80 and extends upwardly therefrom. This casing28! is substantially cylindrical and is threaded internally except for 'an intermediate portion which is internally flanged to provide a narrower bore as at 282. This narrowed portion also provides a downwardly facing shoulder which is adapted to clamp the valve seat 283 against the upper end of the plug I80. A ball valve 284 occupies the bore 282 and is adapted to close against the seat 283. A spring 285 is compressed between the ball valve and an adjusting element or plug 288 which is threaded within the upper portion of the valve casing 28I.

It will be readily seen that when the outlet pressure in the chamber 98 exceeds a certain amount, determined by the adjustment of the element 286 against which the spring 285 bears, the ball valve 284 will be unseated and the gas will be vented into the chamber 289 enclosed within the dome or casing I88. From this chamber the gases may pass into the atmosphere through one or more openings 290 provided in the wall thereof. An annular screen element 29I is disposed .within the chamber 289 and is adapted to cover the openings 290 to provide a flame arrester as a. safety feature in case the gases employed are of a combustible nature.

It will be seen that the novel relief valve arrangement is conveniently stowed within the normal confines of regulators of this type instead of being projected outwardly from the casing, and this positioning of the valve within the casing enables the provision of the flame preventing means embodied in the screen 29I. I

One important feature of the present invention is the readiness by which an accurate seating surface may be formed on the hard rubber or composition v'alv'e seats 38. Before using the device, the cap I8 in the bottom of the regulator assembly is removed, thus exposing the valve unit 15. Then a slender rod R may be inserted through the mouth of the bore 38 in the end of the valve unit and in contact with the ball valve 85. The rod R is then given several light taps with a small hammer in the manner clearly 11- lustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. This will effectively seat the ball in the rubber or composition seating member 38 and the seat thus formed will conform exactly to the spherical contour of the ball valve. Thus, the valve is readily accessible for this purpose and also for complete removal from the device, the whole valve and seat assembly being withdrawn as a unit, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

Another feature applicable to regulators of this type and which may also be embodied in other valve controls involves the actuating pin or plunger I18 which extends between the diaphragm head I19 and the regulating valve element 35. This pin may be made from a blank originally cylindrical in form, and provided with longitudinal flutes 250, of which there are three in the embodiment shown. The pin H8 is disposed in a cylindrical bore I00 formed in the body casting I2 of the device and the flutes 250 provide means for the passage of the gas through thisbore when the pin is in operative position. Branch passageways IIO, of course, may lead from the lower portion of this bore to the outlet chamber 88.

In order to prevent chattering of the pin under certain conditions of operation of the regulator, a vibration preventing device is employed which comprises the resilient ring 255 which is adapted to fit in the grooves or notches 256 out in the remaining portion of the peripheral surface of the pin after the flutes 250 have been formed. This spring ring 255 is adapted to fit snugly within the grooves 256 and the ends 258 of the spring are bent inwardly into one of the flutes 250 as shown. This causes the portions of the spring wing which bridge the remaining flutes 250 to bulge or bow outwardly to an exceedingly slight degree. This bowing or projecting of the spring element is not sufiicient to prevent the prompt movement of the pin in response to the action of the diaphragm or of the valve spring 86, but it is effective to apply just enough friction to the pin to prevent chattering or vibration thereof under certain conditions of approximate balance between the inlet and outlet pressures.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a fluid pressure regulator of the class described, the combination of a casing containing inlet and outlet chambers and a passageway connecting the same; a self contained valve carrying unit threaded in said passageway and having its inlet end projecting therefrom into said inlet chamber, said unit comprising a tubular member having a bore extending axially therethrough; said bore communicating with a wider socket at the outlet end of the unit, whereby an internal shoulder is formed at the junction of said bore and socket; an annular, somewhat malleable, non-metallic valve seat element in said socket in engagement with said shoulder and frictionally retained therein; a valve element in said bore and adapted to seat against the inner side of the annular seating element at the margin of the central opening therethrough; a coil spring seated against a second internal shoulder formed in the walls of the bore near the inlet end of the unit and resiliently pressing the valve element toward its seat; said bore extending with narrower diameter from said second shoulder through the inlet end of the unit and opening outwardly thereof, whereby a tamping pin may be inserted to cause the valve element to term a seating surface on said member, means on the inlet end or said valve carrying unit for the application of a nmxsnnm r'. mums.