US2358390A - Automatic thermally responsive draft control - Google Patents

Automatic thermally responsive draft control Download PDF

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US2358390A
US2358390A US453402A US45340242A US2358390A US 2358390 A US2358390 A US 2358390A US 453402 A US453402 A US 453402A US 45340242 A US45340242 A US 45340242A US 2358390 A US2358390 A US 2358390A
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flue
vane
control
temperature
draft
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Jr Edward A Field
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23NREGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N3/00Regulating air supply or draught
    • F23N3/04Regulating air supply or draught by operation of single valves or dampers by temperature sensitive elements

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  • the main'objects of the present invention are:
  • foroil burning space heaters which is effective to closelyregulate the air draft of said heaters in accordance with the flue temperature, to provide efficient combustion and thereby prevent wasteful combustion on the one hand due to excessive draft and accumulation of soot on the other hand due to too low a draft.
  • Fig. 1 is'a front view illustrating a blocking type draft control responsive-to flue gas temperatures'to regulate the draft'automatically in accordance with this invention.
  • Fig. 2' is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, further illustrating the arrangement of the parts.
  • Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in ver- --tical section, illustrating the operation of the control in solid and dotted lines.
  • Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section further illustrating the manner of operation of thecomp'ensator means in the operation of the control.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a heater or other combustion 'device relying entirely upon natural draft, and preferably an oil burning unit.
  • A-similar device is illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 453,400 filed concurrently herewith, in which application the theory andope'rational advantages of the specific structural details are explained at length; hence only sufficient description will be'made in the present application to enable those skilled in the particular art to adapt and carry into practice the present invention.
  • present invention pertains to the application of the principle of such an automatic, thermally responsive device to a blocking type draft control in which a damper is disposed inthe heater smoke flue to regulate the draft therein.
  • a control of this type is illustrated and fully described in my .PatentNo. 2,259,130 dated October 14, 1941, and
  • the control herein shown is similar in most respects to the same, except where the operative connection of the thermally responsive device or mechanism entails some change.
  • the thermally responsive mechanism and its connections to the control are very efiec- -tive in maintaining the draft for the heater proportional to the temperature in the flue, thereby preventing wasteful combustion and undue accumulation'of soot such as result when the draft is excessive or insuflicient.
  • the reference numeral I generally designates a space heater, stove or other unit reliant entirely upon naturaldraft for its operation and preferably utilizing an oil burner.
  • Reference nu- :meral 2 designates asmoke flue through Which products of combustion 'of the heater are discharged/to a chimney. This flue has a lateral opening 3 therein in which a cylindrical control housing 4is disposed, the housing having circular endplates 5, 6 defining a control chamber nd an additional outer end closure plate or trol vane l4 secured thereon which is only slightly smaller in radial dimension than the diameter of the housing and only slightly smaller. in axial length than the axial dimension of the housing as illustrated in Figs.
  • the invention is'concerned with a variabl application oftorqu'e'on shaft in accordance with the temperature in flue 2, the aforesaid torque on the'shaft representingthe differential between the force attributable to atmospheric pressure acting on the vane and a variable compensating force applieddirectly to the chain to offset or counteract said force, all in the manner :to be described.
  • Control housing 4 communicates with the .interior of flue 2 through louvered openings [8 in the inner control chamber end plate 5.
  • the other end plate 6 is provided with upper and lower openings [9, by which opposite, semicircular portion sof the control chamber 1 on either side of partition l0 communicate with the space 3 to the right of the control chamber as viewed in Fig--23 As illustrated in Fig. 3, the
  • controlflhousing is likewise provided with radial openings 21,22 on opposite diametral sides there-' of communicating with atmosphere, these being positionedso that the atmospheric air is effective on the side ofvane l4, in the upper and lower portions of the control chamber, opposite from theside vvhicl is subject to vacuum, as clearly described in my Patent No. 2,259,130.
  • the flue vacuum is directly efi'ective onth control chamher through the louvered openings IS on one side of vane I4, then through uppe'r communicating opening l9, the end space 9 and thelower comarranged at an angle to the vane on the common shaft l I, to adjust th damper.
  • the housing 4 has secured to the lower side thereof a supporting bracket 23 provided in opposite sides thereof with v-notch openings 24 in which laterally extending knife edge pivot portions 25 of a stirrup-like rocker member or support 26 are received.
  • This rocker member i's provided on one side with inturned ears 26! pivotally receiving a vertically disposed pivot pin 2!
  • a rocking compensator control arm 30 Extending forwardly from and rigidly secured to the rocker member 26 is a rocking compensator control arm 30, to the free forward end of which a link 3
  • weight 29 relative to'the knife edge pivots 25, is effective through arm 30, link 3
  • the swing arm 28 which is pivoted by pin 21 for swinging movement transverse .the plane of rocking movement of rocker support 26, is ver-
  • movement of the control vane in response to atmospheric force on one side thereof and flue vacuum on the other is resisted by a suitably chosenweight adjusted "t on. said force being varied in. accordance with tically offset at 3H so that the compensating weight 29 which is attached to the end of the swing arm has the center of gravity. thereof disposed in a plane passing through the pivotal axis of the rocker support 26 at the knife edges 25, for the purpose pointed out in my said copending application.
  • Flue 2 is appropriately slit and has parallel flanges 33 struck out therefrom todefine alateral opening 34 '(Figs. '3 and 4); and in the opening thus provided'isdisposed a flat elongated thermal element, preferably a flat bimetallic strip or blade 35, secured at one end to the flue by means of a lug 36. At its other end the thermal element is riveted to an offset portion 3' on an actuating arm 37, the latter being provided with cars. 38 receiving a pivot pin 39 by means of which it is pivoted on'the projecting flanges 33.
  • the thermal element isdisposed so that increase in heat in the flue causes the same to warp or bow inwardly of the flue,ias from the dotted line position to the solid line position of Fig. 4, correspondingly pivoting the actuating arm 3'! about its pivot point 39.
  • Actuating arm 3'! has an extension adjustably mounted thereon at 4
  • This arm extension is pivotally connected at 42 to a link 43, which is 111- turn pivotally connected eccentrically at 44 to the compensating weight parts, all as described in detail in pending application.
  • the swing arm compensating weight 29 occupies'the position swing arm 28.
  • connection is such that rotative movement of actuating arm 31, for example in counter-clockwise direction from solid to dotted lines as viewed in Fig. 4, produces clockwise direction of the arm 28 and vice versa.
  • the pivots of the link to the swing arm 28 and actuating arm extension 40, respectively, are disposed in a plane including the pivotal axis of the rocking support 26, and said pivots are provided with rounded, anti-friction, convex bearings 45 to prevent binding upon relative movement of the my said cothereof nearest the pivotal axis of the rocker member 26 on knife edges 25 when the flue temperatureis at minimum, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 4. In this position therocker member 25 exerts minimum torque'on link 3
  • the weight is swung outwardly and forwardly therefrom, as from dotted line to solid line position in Fig. 4, when the temperature in flue 2 increases, with resultant inward bowing of the bimetallic element 35 to the solid line position.
  • increased compensating torque is applied by chain I! to the vane shaft I I.
  • the torque on the pulley is automatically selected to predeterminedly oppose the atmospheric pressure on vane 14 at a given flue gas temperature, and therefore maintain damper I in a predetermined position under'a predetermined normal draft condition.
  • the damper is appropriately shifted by the differential between the atmospheric force on vane l4 and the selected pulley torque.
  • the pulley torque is varied appropriately by swinging of the compensating weight 29 away from or toward the axis of its moment arm and thereby eflecting a corresponding alteration of the pulley torque to take care of this condition.
  • the present structure is extremely effective in regulating the draft of a heater during a blocking type control, by rendering the latter, which is ordinarily effective only in response to atmos' pheric conditions, likewise responsive to the temperature of flue gases, regulating draft in proportion to temperature.
  • a very desirable and vice versa with decided improvement control results. Not only is excessive draft with resultant waste of fuel, prevented but also "insufl'icient draft, with resultant accumulation of soot, is'likewise avoided.
  • Thermal efficiency is greatly enhanced, this being accomplished en'- tirely automatically and without requiring manual adjustment of the draft control by the operation thereof for different rates of combustion.
  • Experience has shown that it is very rare indeed when any attention is ever given to this matter of varying the draft to correspond to the'rate of combustion.
  • This device departs distinctly from the operational principle of heretofore known thermally'controll ed draft devices in that it proportions the draft to the rate of combustion or to the flue gas temperature.”
  • Such heretofore known devices reduce-draft with rising temperature, the exact opposite of my improved control. In the latter,'using flue temperature as an indicator of burning rate, Ij am enabled to maintain high'drafts for high burning rates, 1n thermal eificiency as a result.
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a natural draftcornbustion unit com prising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having' a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane therein, a shaft common tosaid vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured, the housing communicating with and exposing the vane to the flue on the upstream side of said damper and having an opening to atmosphere on the side of thevane opposite the flueexposed side of the latter, and means responsive to flue temperature for biasing the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising arocking support pivoted on a bracket attached to the housing for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmittingconnection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on saidrocking support for movement transverse the plane 'ofrocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response to
  • control for a natural draft combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having acontrol vane therein, a shaft common to saidv vane and. damper to which the same are fixedly secured, the housing communicating with and exposing the vane to the: flue on the upstream side of saiddamper and having an opening to atmosphere on the side of the vane pposite the flue-exposed side of the latter, and means responsive toflue temperature for biasing the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position saiddamper, comprising a rocking support pivoted on a bracket attached to the housing for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmitting connection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on said rocking.
  • said arm for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response to the temperature of the gases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said support upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsiveelement disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue, and means operatively connecting said swing arm to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, Whereby the torque of said support about its pivotal axis is increased with increase in fluetemperatures, with increased torque applied through said connection to said shaft in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on said vane.
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a natural draft combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane therein, a shaft common to said vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured, and means responsive to flue temperature for biasing the Vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocking support pivoted for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmitting connection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on said rocking support for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response'to thetemperature of thegases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said support upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue, and means operatively connecting said swing
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit comprising acontrol housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a con- ,trolvane pivoted therein subjectto the-flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for con-joint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque transmittingconnection to said vane, a swing arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, means for swingably actuating said arm in response to the temperature of gases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis in response to the temperature of gases in'said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of-said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprisin a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, an actu
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the vflue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for, conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperatureior moving the vane to, thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operativ torque alteringyconnection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis inre-v sponse to the temperature of gases in said flue to adjust the moment armrof said weight relative tothe axis of saidrocker member, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, and means connecting said element to said weight for
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue 'draft and atmosphericpressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on Said rocker member for movement transversethe axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis in response to the temperature ofgases in said flue to increase the momentarm of said weight relative to the axis of said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, and
  • An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said-unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, a shaft common to said vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured,vmeans responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane to thereablyactuating said arm in response to the tem-j altering, connection.
  • An automatic, :thermally responsive draft 7 control for a combustion unit comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said, flue having ablocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draftfand atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for con-joint movement, means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane to there by appropriately position said damper, compris ing a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, aswing-arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the rocker member, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actu ating said arm in response to the temperature I of gases in said" flue 'to adjust the moment arm of said'weightrelative tothe axis of said rocker member comprising'a thermally responsive ele- I ment disposed adjacent: and subject to the tem perature in the flue, and means operative
  • a draft control of the type described ineluding a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with the flue having a control vane movable therein and an opening to atmosphere on'the side of said vane remotefrom the flue sidethereoi, a thermally responsive element disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of gases in said flue, a rocker member, means operatively connecting said vane to said rocker memberfor actuation thereby, said vane and damper being con nected for movement as a unit, a compensating weight mounted onsaid rocker member for movement.
  • a draft control of the type described including a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with the flue, a movable control vane in said housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere on the side of said vane opposite from the flue side thereof, said vane being operatively connected to said damper and tending to close the same by a decrease of pressure on the flue side of the vane relative to the atmospheric side thereof, a thermostat disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of gases passing throughthe flue, movable means operatively associated with said thermostat for resisting said closing movement of the damper by a force which increases when the temperature of the flue gases increase anddecreases when said temperature decreases, whereby the damper is automatically opened and closed at relatively high temperatures as well as at relatively low temperatures of the flue gases.
  • a draft control of the type described including a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with said flue, a movable control vane in said housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere on the side of said vane opposite from the flue side thereof, said vane being operatively connected to said damper and tending to close the same by a decrease of pressure on the flue side of the vane relative to the atmospheric side thereof, damper opening means for resisting said closing movement and tending to open said damper, a thermostat disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of the gases passing through said flue, and means operatively associated with said thermostat and said damper opening means for resisting said closing movement of the damper by a force which increases when the temperature of the flue gases increase and decreases when said temperature decreases.

Description

Sept. 19, 1944. E. A. FIELD, JR 2,
AUTOMATIC THERMALLY-RESPONSIVE DRAFT CONTROL Fil ed Aug. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 IN V EN TOR.
ya almflz i a I i l ZZWa/W fi/Z'e/a (7/? l-l- Sept. 19, 1944. E. A. FIELD, JR 2,353,390
AUTOMATIC THERMALLY-RESPONSIVE DRAFT CONTROL Filed Aug. 5, 1942 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 z A h 5 gr 4/ 34 35' 35655%% il l 2 as Z2 1:1 M
* ingly simple and Patented Sept. 19, 1944 AUTOMATIC THERMALLY RESPONSIVE DRAFT CONTROL 1 Edward A. Field, In, Mendota, 111.
Application August 3,1942, Serial No. 453,402
14 Claims. (01. ,2ss 45) This invention relates to improvements in automatic thermally-responsive draft control.
The main'objects of the present invention are:
First, to provide a blocking type draft control device for combustion-heaters which are dependent entirely upon natural draft for their air sup- Second, to provide a blocking type, thermally responsive draft control of .the type described which is sensitive to the temperature of the flue gases of the heater to effect regulation of the draft in accordance with said temperatures, appropriately increasing the draft when the temperature in the flue rises and decreasing the draft when the temperature falls, and thereby desirably increasing the draft for high burning rates,
which are accompanied by increased flue temperature.
Third, to provide a draft control of the type described, preferably foroil burning space heaters, which is effective to closelyregulate the air draft of said heaters in accordance with the flue temperature, to provide efficient combustion and thereby prevent wasteful combustion on the one hand due to excessive draft and accumulation of soot on the other hand due to too low a draft.
Fourth, to provide a device of the type described which is exceedingly sensitive in its operation, having provision for offsetting or neutralizing factors normally tending to detract from the accuracy of operation, and which is exceedinexpensive in its parts notwithstanding its sensitivity.
7 Further objects 'relating to details and economiesof the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is'a front view illustrating a blocking type draft control responsive-to flue gas temperatures'to regulate the draft'automatically in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2'is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, further illustrating the arrangement of the parts.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in ver- --tical section, illustrating the operation of the control in solid and dotted lines.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section further illustrating the manner of operation of thecomp'ensator means in the operation of the control.
The present invention relates to an automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a heater or other combustion 'device relying entirely upon natural draft, and preferably an oil burning unit. A-similar device is illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 453,400 filed concurrently herewith, in which application the theory andope'rational advantages of the specific structural details are explained at length; hence only sufficient description will be'made in the present application to enable those skilled in the particular art to adapt and carry into practice the present invention.
As illustrated in the aforesaid application Serial No. 453,400, the automatic, thermally respon sive. features of the device are applied to a control of the counterweighted gate type. The
present invention pertains to the application of the principle of such an automatic, thermally responsive device to a blocking type draft control in which a damper is disposed inthe heater smoke flue to regulate the draft therein. A control of this type is illustrated and fully described in my .PatentNo. 2,259,130 dated October 14, 1941, and
the control herein shown is similar in most respects to the same, except where the operative connection of the thermally responsive device or mechanism entails some change. In the present embodiment the thermally responsive mechanism and its connections to the control are very efiec- -tive in maintaining the draft for the heater proportional to the temperature in the flue, thereby preventing wasteful combustion and undue accumulation'of soot such as result when the draft is excessive or insuflicient.
The structural details of the blocking type control or regulator will first be briefly described,
it being understood that reference may be had to my patent identified above for further information as to the specific'construction, operation and advantages thereof.
The reference numeral I generally designates a space heater, stove or other unit reliant entirely upon naturaldraft for its operation and preferably utilizing an oil burner. Reference nu- :meral 2 designates asmoke flue through Which products of combustion 'of the heater are discharged/to a chimney. This flue has a lateral opening 3 therein in which a cylindrical control housing 4is disposed, the housing having circular endplates 5, 6 defining a control chamber nd an additional outer end closure plate or trol vane l4 secured thereon which is only slightly smaller in radial dimension than the diameter of the housing and only slightly smaller. in axial length than the axial dimension of the housing as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the halves of said vane extending on opposite sides of the shaft ll into the two semi-cylindrical control chamber 7 portions defined by partition l0. Shaft II also extends through end plate 5 into the flue 2 and has secured thereto the damper l5, so that the damper and control vane l4 rotate as a unit. Shaft H also extends through end plate 6 into the space'S between plate 6 and closure disk 8 where it has secured thereto a suitable pulley or drum H5 to which a'compensating chain I'] is secured. C-hain' I] applies a predetermined torque on the shaft H to position the vane and damper appropriately for the desired draft;
The invention is'concerned with a variabl application oftorqu'e'on shaft in accordance with the temperature in flue 2, the aforesaid torque on the'shaft representingthe differential between the force attributable to atmospheric pressure acting on the vane and a variable compensating force applieddirectly to the chain to offset or counteract said force, all in the manner :to be described.
Control housing 4 communicates with the .interior of flue 2 through louvered openings [8 in the inner control chamber end plate 5. The other end plate 6 is provided with upper and lower openings [9, by which opposite, semicircular portion sof the control chamber 1 on either side of partition l0 communicate with the space 3 to the right of the control chamber as viewed in Fig--23 As illustrated in Fig. 3, the
controlflhousing is likewise provided with radial openings 21,22 on opposite diametral sides there-' of communicating with atmosphere, these being positionedso that the atmospheric air is effective on the side ofvane l4, in the upper and lower portions of the control chamber, opposite from theside vvhicl is subject to vacuum, as clearly described in my Patent No. 2,259,130. The flue vacuum is directly efi'ective onth control chamher through the louvered openings IS on one side of vane I4, then through uppe'r communicating opening l9, the end space 9 and thelower comarranged at an angle to the vane on the common shaft l I, to adjust th damper.
" pin.
the temperature of the flue gases to thereby appropriately vary the draft. Said device will now be described.
Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the housing 4 has secured to the lower side thereof a supporting bracket 23 provided in opposite sides thereof with v-notch openings 24 in which laterally extending knife edge pivot portions 25 of a stirrup-like rocker member or support 26 are received. This rocker member i's provided on one side with inturned ears 26! pivotally receiving a vertically disposed pivot pin 2! to which a compensating weight swin arm 28 is secured and which has a compensating weight 29 on the free end thereof, provision being made to secure a very free frictionless lateral pivoting of the swing arm on the rocker member by said pivot Extending forwardly from and rigidly secured to the rocker member 26 is a rocking compensator control arm 30, to the free forward end of which a link 3| is attached. Said link extends upwardly through a smallhole 32 in the portion of control housing 4 defining chamber Band is in said chamber connected to the compensating chain I1, Hence rocking movement of the 10 ker support 26, rather, the variable rocking torque applied to said member, due to the variable cccentricity of. weight 29 relative to'the knife edge pivots 25, is effective through arm 30, link 3|, and chai I! on pulley [6, to effect the'result to be described, by entirelyo partially counteracting the torque on vane. shaft ll attributable to atmospheric pressure.
The swing arm 28 which is pivoted by pin 21 for swinging movement transverse .the plane of rocking movement of rocker support 26, is ver- In my patent referred to above, movement of the control vane in response to atmospheric force on one side thereof and flue vacuum on the other is resisted by a suitably chosenweight adjusted "t on. said force being varied in. accordance with tically offset at 3H so that the compensating weight 29 which is attached to the end of the swing arm has the center of gravity. thereof disposed in a plane passing through the pivotal axis of the rocker support 26 at the knife edges 25, for the purpose pointed out in my said copending application. Obviously, as compensatin weight 29 swing closer to or fartheraway from said rocker member support axis, the torque exerted on th rocker member, hence exerted by arm 30 on link 3|, is varied. In Order to effect the aforesaid swinging of the compensating weight, a linkage is provided including a thermally responsive element in the manner to be described.
Flue 2 is appropriately slit and has parallel flanges 33 struck out therefrom todefine alateral opening 34 '(Figs. '3 and 4); and in the opening thus provided'isdisposed a flat elongated thermal element, preferably a flat bimetallic strip or blade 35, secured at one end to the flue by means of a lug 36. At its other end the thermal element is riveted to an offset portion 3' on an actuating arm 37, the latter being provided with cars. 38 receiving a pivot pin 39 by means of which it is pivoted on'the projecting flanges 33. The thermal element isdisposed so that increase in heat in the flue causes the same to warp or bow inwardly of the flue,ias from the dotted line position to the solid line position of Fig. 4, correspondingly pivoting the actuating arm 3'! about its pivot point 39. Actuating arm 3'! has an extension adjustably mounted thereon at 4|, the purpose of this adjustability being fully explained in the copending application. This arm extension is pivotally connected at 42 to a link 43, which is 111- turn pivotally connected eccentrically at 44 to the compensating weight parts, all as described in detail in pending application. In the operation of the control, the swing arm compensating weight 29 occupies'the position swing arm 28. The connection is such that rotative movement of actuating arm 31, for example in counter-clockwise direction from solid to dotted lines as viewed in Fig. 4, produces clockwise direction of the arm 28 and vice versa. The pivots of the link to the swing arm 28 and actuating arm extension 40, respectively, are disposed in a plane including the pivotal axis of the rocking support 26, and said pivots are provided with rounded, anti-friction, convex bearings 45 to prevent binding upon relative movement of the my said cothereof nearest the pivotal axis of the rocker member 26 on knife edges 25 when the flue temperatureis at minimum, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 4. In this position therocker member 25 exerts minimum torque'on link 3| and chain H.
The weight is swung outwardly and forwardly therefrom, as from dotted line to solid line position in Fig. 4, when the temperature in flue 2 increases, with resultant inward bowing of the bimetallic element 35 to the solid line position. Thus. increased compensating torque is applied by chain I! to the vane shaft I I. When the tem- 'perature decreases from an elevated condition,
the action is the reverse, the weight swinging inwardly in the direction from the solid to the dotted line position in Fig. 4, decreasing the 'is increased, and it will be noted that the rate of increase of torque in the lower temperature range is slower than at the higher flue temperatures, since the component of outward, moment arm increasing movement in the swing of weight 29 is less during the early part of said swing than during the later. This is also a highly desirable feature. The torque on the pulley is automatically selected to predeterminedly oppose the atmospheric pressure on vane 14 at a given flue gas temperature, and therefore maintain damper I in a predetermined position under'a predetermined normal draft condition. Should such condition vary without an increase in the flue gas temperature, the damper is appropriately shifted by the differential between the atmospheric force on vane l4 and the selected pulley torque. Should the flue gas temperature rise or fall the pulley torque is varied appropriately by swinging of the compensating weight 29 away from or toward the axis of its moment arm and thereby eflecting a corresponding alteration of the pulley torque to take care of this condition.
Various structural details of the thermally responsive control device have been referred to only briefly. For a fuller explanation thereof and of the advantages made possible thereby, reference may be had to my said copending application.
The present structure is extremely effective in regulating the draft of a heater during a blocking type control, by rendering the latter, which is ordinarily effective only in response to atmos' pheric conditions, likewise responsive to the temperature of flue gases, regulating draft in proportion to temperature. A very desirable and vice versa, with decided improvement control results. Not only is excessive draft with resultant waste of fuel, prevented but also "insufl'icient draft, with resultant accumulation of soot, is'likewise avoided. Thermal efficiency is greatly enhanced, this being accomplished en'- tirely automatically and without requiring manual adjustment of the draft control by the operation thereof for different rates of combustion. Experience has shown that it is very rare indeed when any attention is ever given to this matter of varying the draft to correspond to the'rate of combustion. This device departs distinctly from the operational principle of heretofore known thermally'controll ed draft devices in that it proportions the draft to the rate of combustion or to the flue gas temperature." Such heretofore known devices reduce-draft with rising temperature, the exact opposite of my improved control. In the latter,'using flue temperature as an indicator of burning rate, Ij am enabled to maintain high'drafts for high burning rates, 1n thermal eificiency as a result.
I have illustrated and described the invention in embodiments which have been found satisfactory in'operation. I have not attempted to illu's trate other embodiments or adaptations, as iti's believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody the invention as may be desired.
Having thus described the invention; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Pat cut is: V
1'. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a natural draftcornbustion unit, com prising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having' a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane therein, a shaft common tosaid vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured, the housing communicating with and exposing the vane to the flue on the upstream side of said damper and having an opening to atmosphere on the side of thevane opposite the flueexposed side of the latter, and means responsive to flue temperature for biasing the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising arocking support pivoted on a bracket attached to the housing for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmittingconnection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on saidrocking support for movement transverse the plane 'ofrocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response to the temperature of the gases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative 'to'th'e axis of said support upon increase in said tem perature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue, an actuating member con"- nected to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, and-means pivotally connecting said actuating arm to said swing arm for swinging movement of the latter in response to said thermal changes, whereby the torque of said support about its pivotal axis is increased with increase in flue temperatures, with increased torque ap-.
control for a natural draft combustion unit, comprisinga control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having acontrol vane therein, a shaft common to saidv vane and. damper to which the same are fixedly secured, the housing communicating with and exposing the vane to the: flue on the upstream side of saiddamper and having an opening to atmosphere on the side of the vane pposite the flue-exposed side of the latter, and means responsive toflue temperature for biasing the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position saiddamper, comprising a rocking support pivoted on a bracket attached to the housing for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmitting connection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on said rocking. support for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response to the temperature of the gases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said support upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsiveelement disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue, and means operatively connecting said swing arm to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, Whereby the torque of said support about its pivotal axis is increased with increase in fluetemperatures, with increased torque applied through said connection to said shaft in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on said vane.
3. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a natural draft combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane therein, a shaft common to said vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured, and means responsive to flue temperature for biasing the Vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocking support pivoted for rotation in a vertical plane, said support having operative torque transmitting connection to said shaft, a swing arm pivoted on said rocking support for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the support, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actuating said arm in response'to thetemperature of thegases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said support upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue, and means operatively connecting said swing arm to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, whereby the torque of said support about its pivotal axis is increased with increase in flue temperatures, with increased torque applied through said connection to said shaft in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on said vane. Y
4. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit, comprising acontrol housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a con- ,trolvane pivoted therein subjectto the-flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for con-joint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque transmittingconnection to said vane, a swing arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, means for swingably actuating said arm in response to the temperature of gases in said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movablein response to temperature change therein, an actuating member connected to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, and means pivotally connecting said actuating arm to said swing arm for swinging movement of the latter in response to said temperature changes, whereby the torque of said weight and rocker member about the pivotal axis of the latter is increased with increase in flue temperatures, with increased torque applied through said torque transmitting connection to said vane in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on the latter.
5. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis in response to the temperature of gases in'said flue to increase the moment arm of said weight relative to the axis of-said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprisin a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, an actuating member connected to said element for actuation in response to the thermally controlled movement of the latter, and means connecting said actuating arm to said weight for movement of the latter in response to said temperature changes, whereby the torque of said weight and rocker member about the pivotal axis 01 the latter is increased with increase in flue temperatures, with increased torque applied through said torque altering connection to said vane in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on the latter.
, 6. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the vflue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for, conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperatureior moving the vane to, thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operativ torque alteringyconnection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on said rocker member for movement transverse the axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis inre-v sponse to the temperature of gases in said flue to adjust the moment armrof said weight relative tothe axis of saidrocker member, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, and means connecting said element to said weight for movement of the latter in response to said temperature changes, whereby the torque of said weight and rocker member about the pivotal axis of the latter is adjusted in response to flue temperatures, with altered torque applied through said torque altering connection to said vane. r
7. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said flue having a blocking damper pivoted therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue 'draft and atmosphericpressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for conjoint movement, and means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane in a direction opposing movement of the same under atmospheric pressure to thereby appropriately position said damper, comprising a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, a compensating weight movably mounted on Said rocker member for movement transversethe axis of rocking movement of the latter, means for moving said weight relative to said axis in response to the temperature ofgases in said flue to increase the momentarm of said weight relative to the axis of said rocker member upon increase in said temperature, comprising a thermally responsive element disposed adjacent and subject to the temperature in the flue and movable in response to temperature change therein, and means connecting said element to said weight for movement of the latter in response to said temperature changes, whereby the torque of said weight and rocker member about the pivotal axis of the latter is increased with increase in flue temperatures, with increased torque applied through said torque altering connection to said vane in opposition to the atmospheric pressure on the latter.
8. An automatic, thermally responsive draft control for a combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said-unit, said flue having a blocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draft and atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, a shaft common to said vane and damper to which the same are fixedly secured,vmeans responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane to thereablyactuating said arm in response to the tem-j altering, connection. v
9. An automatic, :thermally responsive draft 7 control for a combustion unit, comprising a control housing communicating with the smoke flue of said unit, said, flue having ablocking damper therein and said housing having a control vane pivoted therein subject to the flue draftfand atmospheric pressure on opposite sides thereof, means operatively connecting said vane and damper for con-joint movement, means responsive to flue temperature for moving the vane to there by appropriately position said damper, compris ing a rocker member having operative torque altering connection to said vane, aswing-arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the plane of rocking movement of the rocker member, said arm having a compensating weight thereon, and means for swingably actu ating said arm in response to the temperature I of gases in said" flue 'to adjust the moment arm of said'weightrelative tothe axis of said rocker member comprising'a thermally responsive ele- I ment disposed adjacent: and subject to the tem perature in the flue, and means operatively connecting said elementto saidswing arm forswin'g- "ing movement of the latter in response to said thermally induced movement of the element, whereby the torque of said rocker member about its pivotal axis is adjusted in response to flue temperatures, with resultant alteration of the torque of said vane through said torque altering connection.
10. A draft control of the type described in eluding a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with the flue having a control vane movable therein and. an opening to atmosphere on the side of said vane remote from the flue side thereof, a thermally responsive element disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of gases in said flue, an actuating arm connected to and movable in response to said element, a rocker member, means operatively connecting said vane to said rocker member for actuation thereby, said vane and damper being connected for movement as a unit, a swingable weighted compensating arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the pivotal axis of the latter, and
means connecting said compensating arm to said actuating arm for' swinging the compensating arm away from said pivotal axis in response to Y thermally induced actuation of the actuating arm,
by appropriately position said damper, compris- 7 whereby to increase the moment arm of the weight on said compensating arm andthereby increase the torque exerted on said vane through said first named connecting means, as the flue temperature rises.
11. A draft control of the type described ineluding a flue having a damper therein, a control housing-communicating with the flue having a control vane movable therein and an opening to atmosphere on the side of said vane remote from the-flue side thereof, a thermally responsive element disposed in proximity to said flueso as to be subject to the temperature of gases in said flue,. a rocker member, means operatively connecting said vane to said rocker member for actuation thereby, said vane and damper being connected for movement as a unit, a swingable weighted compensating arm pivoted on said rocker member for movement transverse the pivotalaxis of the lattenand means connecting said compensating arm to, said thermally responsive element-for swinging the compensating arm away from said pivotal axis in response to thermally induced actuation of the actuating arm, whereby to increase the moment arm of the Weight on said compensating arm and thereby increase the torque exerted on said vane through said first named connectingmeans, as the flue temperature rises. I
12. A draft control of the type described ,ineluding a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with the flue having a control vane movable therein and an opening to atmosphere on'the side of said vane remotefrom the flue sidethereoi, a thermally responsive element disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of gases in said flue, a rocker member, means operatively connecting said vane to said rocker memberfor actuation thereby, said vane and damper being con nected for movement as a unit, a compensating weight mounted onsaid rocker member for movement. transverse the pivotalaxis or the latter, and means connecting saidacompensating weight to said thermally responsive elementfor movement of the weight away from said pivotal axis in' response to thermally induced actuation of the last named connecting means, whereby to increase the moment arm of the weight and thereby increase the torque exerted on said vane through said first named connecting means, as the flue temperature rises.
13. A draft control of the type described, including a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with the flue, a movable control vane in said housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere on the side of said vane opposite from the flue side thereof, said vane being operatively connected to said damper and tending to close the same by a decrease of pressure on the flue side of the vane relative to the atmospheric side thereof, a thermostat disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of gases passing throughthe flue, movable means operatively associated with said thermostat for resisting said closing movement of the damper by a force which increases when the temperature of the flue gases increase anddecreases when said temperature decreases, whereby the damper is automatically opened and closed at relatively high temperatures as well as at relatively low temperatures of the flue gases. l
14. A draft control of the type described, including a flue having a damper therein, a control housing communicating with said flue, a movable control vane in said housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere on the side of said vane opposite from the flue side thereof, said vane being operatively connected to said damper and tending to close the same by a decrease of pressure on the flue side of the vane relative to the atmospheric side thereof, damper opening means for resisting said closing movement and tending to open said damper, a thermostat disposed in proximity to said flue so as to be subject to the temperature of the gases passing through said flue, and means operatively associated with said thermostat and said damper opening means for resisting said closing movement of the damper by a force which increases when the temperature of the flue gases increase and decreases when said temperature decreases.
EDWARD A. FIELD, JR.
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2496410A (en) * 1946-11-23 1950-02-07 Reil John Thermostat damper and pipe control
US4467957A (en) * 1982-09-29 1984-08-28 Bucheit Frederick C Flue flow regulator
US4479483A (en) * 1983-04-26 1984-10-30 Raihala Kenneth H Safety stovepipe damper assembly

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2496410A (en) * 1946-11-23 1950-02-07 Reil John Thermostat damper and pipe control
US4467957A (en) * 1982-09-29 1984-08-28 Bucheit Frederick C Flue flow regulator
US4479483A (en) * 1983-04-26 1984-10-30 Raihala Kenneth H Safety stovepipe damper assembly

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