US2367216A - Fire unit - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1945. s. T. HOWA RD 2,367,216

. FIRE UNIT Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QWQW ig harm V Ja 16, 1945- s. T. Howgun FIRE UNIT Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INENTOR. Jfq/esTf/o wrc/ /7 r ro/QNEY Jan. '16, 1945. s. T. HOWARD FIRE UNIT 7 'Filed April 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIRE UNIT :5. 'T. HOWARD Filed April 24, 1941 Jam 6. 1945.

Patented Jan. 16, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I v 2,367,216 FIRE UNIT 1 Styles Howard, Jefiersonville, Ind.

Application April 24, 1941, Serial No. 390,121

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928 370 0. G. 757) 3 Claims.

.The invention described herein, if patented may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon,

This invention relates to an improved fire unit, and more particularly to a self-contained heatproducing unit suitable for wide'usage, wherein a heater is desirable in a confined spaca such as a range, furnace, or under other enclosed conditions, and practically any conditions where at least semi-protection is afiorded that will prevent the undesirable dissipation 'of heat produced, and concentrate same for the desired resame may be operated and controlled Without interruption or being withdrawn from a position, for instance, within a range.

A further object is to provide a heating unit which maybe arranged with little change in operation to occupy chambers of various shapes,

cally.

the form shown being relatively wide and deep,

but of comparatively little height, and especially adapted for use with the portable range disclosed in my application Serial No. 384,961, filed March A further object is to provide a heatingunit time the heater may be extinguished and again used without recharging at will or throughout its capacity. a

A further object is to provide a fire unit especially adapted for Army use in the standard Army portable range, wherein it may be arranged at different elevations within the range or in a case or any form of supportingmeans for receptacles such as what are known as G. I. cans in heating large quantities of water for mess kit'washing and rinsing;

that may be charged and adjusted in place for operation and that will have a capacity sufficient of gasoline is required.

A further object is to provide means whereby treated gasoline may be used by first filtering prior to burning said fuel.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of this invention in detail proceeds by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the improved fire unit.

Fig. 2 is a front viewof the fire unit.

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through the fire unit.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the front part of the fire unit with the instrument panel swung down on its hinges.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the control elements and tanks diagrammati- Fig. 7 is a detailed elevation of the connection between the loop and the mixing chamber.

There is shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of this invention, but it will be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed; it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

As shown, the fire unit provides means for producing instantaneously a blue flame in starting,

even in cold weather. Any grade of gasoline may be used, preferably of a rating not over 92 octane. When kept clean and handled properly the unit described will operate without fumes or odors and no gasoline taste will beimparted to the food should it be used, as contemplated, under certain conditions in a range.

The fire unit here described is a high pressure hot generator type of fluid burning unit equipped with a filter to clean the fuel when treated gasoline or other like fuel is used, but any type of straightgasoline or other volatile fuel may be used that does or does not require filtering.

It may be stated in this connection that if leaded gasoline, which is the type used in the present 1 Army trucks, can be used in the fire unit, it will avoid the very objectionable confusion resulting, especially in the Army, when morethan one type Treated gasoline, after itIreaches a certain temperature, throws off a solid sediment, and while leaded or high test' gasoline is preferable in truck motors, it is inclined to clog up a gasolineburner due to said discharge of foreign matter When vaporized by heat. Successful filtering means for gasoline is extremely desirable for gasoline burning devices, other than motors, and has been sought after since the treatment of gasoline has been practiced. While a preferred form of a filtering attachment is illustrated and described in this application, it does not, however, form a necessary part for the successful operation of the fire unit forming th subject. matter of this application for the reason that the present fire unit may be operated with certain types of fluid fuel without filtration, and also for the further reason that the filtering mechanism here shown or its equivalent may form a part of heating units different from the one here shown and therefore is covered by a separate application, Serial Number 390,122,. filed. April 24, 1941.

The fire unit consists of a base frame I, longitudinal supporting membersl, nd burner supporting cross member 3. aproximately across the length of the supporting members 2. Hinged to the front edge of the base frame. at 4 is an instrument panel 5. A. generator support 6 is mounted on the longitudinal. members 2 near theirrear ends, and: is provided with. a lifting'loop' l at its upper end. An extension 8 at the top of the instrument panel is provided with an openin 9, providing at its. top-a. cross member In forming a forward lifting handle which, with the lifting. loop I: at the. rear end. of'the unit; facilitates the handling of the unit in convenient manner without injury to. the operator" when the burner proper is at a high temperature.

Along the side edges of the frame, tanks H and i2 are mountedinitank cradles I3 and I4, tank II being the air tank,. and I2 the gasoline or other fluid: fuel tank. Outer and, inner tankretaining strap members I5 and I6 are mounted at their lower ends on the frame I and the brace members 2, respectively, in. line with the-tank cradles I3 and: I4; Said strap members are provided with outer and inner shield supports l1 and I8 and are drawn together at the top of. the tanks by bolts H], the nut being: held in place by lock lugto firmly secure the: tanks in the cradles with no possibility of accidental displacement during the vibration of transportation. Shields 2! are mounted on the supports H and I8. and cover the portions of the tanks that are exposed to the greatest direct heat from the. burner.

From the foregoing, it wdll beseen that an: air tank. I l isarranged on one side of the unit and a fuel tank on the opposite. side. usually supplied with about 40 pounds pressure of. air produced very conveniently by an; ordinary bicycle pump which is coupled to the outer end of air input valve. 22 at 23. The filler tube 24 as shown in Figure-6- serves the dual purpose of providing a passage for the air and a cut-off valve when the pressure in the tank has reached the desired degree, said cut-oil" being accomplished by rotating the member 24 inwardly and seating the inner end 2.5v of said member in the outer end of a passage 26- of the valve. Extending from thebod'y of the. air inputvalveis. a check valve. extension. 21 in. which. is slidably mounted a check valve 28 adaptedto. automatically prevent escape of air from thetank during the-pumping operation. To the: upper end of the check valve extension. 21: is coupled tubing leading to the several parts referred to later. When the pumping; process has. beencompleted, the filler The: heater is air input valve.

tube 24 is seated with its tip closing the passage 26- and the pump may be disconnected.

By reference, more particularly, to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the air input valve 22 is mounted in the instrument panel 5 and extends forwardly of the same to permit attachment of the pump at 23 and operation of the stem 24 by wings 30' in front of the. panel. without disturbing any other parts of the unit during operation. The air manifold, as indicated at 3! in Fig. 3, is in communication with the air input valve at 32, and is also connected with an air pressure gauge 33 at 34, said air pressure gauge being mounted in the instrument panel and connected with. the. air manifold in a, manner similar to the 'The air pressure tube is connected beyond the gauge with the fuel filler tube 35 of the fuel tank I2 and thus provides in the fuel tank a pressure corresponding to that shown on the gauge and in the air tank. It will be seen that the connection with the manifold of the input. valve 2-2 at; 32 is. a. tum-way connection, one leading,.as above described, to the gauge and the fuel tank; the; other leading to the air tank ll through air output elbow 36., said output elbow functioning.- during the pumping process as an air input elbow. The an output elbow is provided with atube 3-1 extending to the: lower portion of the. tank. The air tube or manifold. 3| is also connected at 3.81 to the air control valve 39, said valve 39 being removably mounted in the instrument. panel and secured therein by threaded pin 40 in a similar manner to air input valve 22 Thevalve is provided with a valve stem 4| and usual packing gland 42, said stem being adapted to be operated by control knob 43 which may be of a color different. from the control knobs of the other-valves mounted inthe. instrument panel,

namely. the gasoline knob, as shown at A, being red, the flame control valve, as shown at B, black, andv the air control knob, as shown at C, being green.

The fuel control valve 44 is similar in construction to the. air controlvalve39- and. is mounted in a similar manner in the instrument panel. Said fuel control valvev 44 communicates through connection 45, tubular member 46 and connection 41 with. the. generator tube: 5

The. fuel control: valve: 44 also communicates through. connection 48 and. tubular member 49 with fuel outlet elbow 50 through connection 5!. The elbow 50- is mounted in the top of the fuel tank I2 and has mounted therein a pickup tube carrying an automatic. fuel cut-off comprising a check valve 53 mounted. for vertical movement inthe elbow. The weight of the tube. and check valve keeps the. valve open when the flow is restricted. by the valve B, but if a break in the line occurs, the. increased flow closes the valve, preventing excessive loss of fuel and diminishing thev danger from fire.

Asabove. described, pressure is applied through input valve 22' by pump, said, input valve providing: air pressure in two: directions, to the air pressure. tank. It and through the air control val-vetothe generator tube when required. The pressure is also directed by way of the filler tube to the fuel tank 12 above the level of the fuel, the air pressure gage 33 being connected to the filler tube 3| at 34. The air pressure lifts the contents of the fuel tank: through the fuel control. valve to the generator as needed.

The generator. tube 54 is mounted in the generator support and isprovided at its rear end with a closure plug 55. Fuel is admitted. to the instrument panel.

trol valve, whereupon the. control. panel may be swung into ahorizontal position, as referred to above, it being understood that the rod 92 will first be disconnected from the burner by rotating the burner an abnormal distance to facilitate the release of the rod from lug 94. If necessary the rod can be withdrawn through. the opening in the instrument panel.

Should it be desired to remove the control elements from the panel for any reason, such as for cleaning or replacement purposes, there have been provided on the inner face of the instrument panel integral bosses H4 provided with openings through which the body portions of the control valves 39, 44, the input valve 22, and the gauge connection are snugly fitted, said bosses being provided with lock screws H5, adapted to clamp said members firmly against rotary or longitudinal movement in the instrument panel.

The hot vapor valve, as described above, is clamped in place by yoke 19 and clamp screw 82 and may be released and removed through the front of the instrument panel. The input valve, the connection with theair pressure gauge, the air. control valve, and the gasoline control valve, can be readily removed from the instrument panel by uncoupling their connections with the tubular members, removing the split pins securing the knobs A and C, withdrawing filler tube 2-4 rrom the air input valve and the air gauge from positions on their respective parts and backing off the lock screws H5 in the bosses H4, which will release the body portion of the input valve, the air gauge elbow H6, the air control valve 39 and the gasoline control valve, permitting. withdrawal of the parts referred to inwardly through the instrument panel.

The damper I00 is mounted for rotary movement on the body of the hot vapor valve between a shoulder and, the face of the instrument panel and is provided with a notch for the passage of extension I05, which permits the separation of the damper member from the body of the hot vapor valve when the valve is removed from the instrument panel. The damper is provided on its rear face with a friction leaf spring adapted to contact with. the front face of the instrument panel and maintain the damper in any of its ad justed positions against accidental movement during transit.

In line with openin 9 in the instrument panel, as. shown inFigs. l, 3 and 4, and resting at an incline on the top of the depressed portion of the instrument panel is a mirror I20 in which an operator may conveniently observe the condition of the flame of the burner.

The preparation for and operation of the fire unitare as follows: The connections, including all of those in. the air and fuel systems, the generator and hot vapor tubes, and the filter, should be tight to prevent leakage under pressure of from 40 to 60 pounds. Close all valves in the Remove captive fuel filler tube cap I30 secured against loss by flexible connection I31, fill fuel tank I2 and recap firmly against leakage under pressure. Attach a pump, usually the ordinary bicycle 'foot pump, at 23 to the air input valve mounted in the instrument panel and pump the air system and the air tank HI up. teat least 40 pounds pressure, seat input valve stem and remove pump. The air pressure line is in communication with air control valve 559. and the air flow to generator tube 54 is controlled. thereby; said air pressure will be indicated on the air pressure gauge and is in communication with and occupiesthe. upper portion of fuel tank l2 to force fuel frompsai'd tank through fuel line outlet elbow and its connection at 48 with fuel control valve44through which the flow of fuel is controlled to the generator tube 54.

To start the operation of the fire unit, pull. the burner control rod 92 forward until two arms of the burner l-ie beneath the generator tube and hot vapor tube, 54 and H, respectively. Open the air valve 39' one-half turn. Fully open air damper I00. Open the fuel valve 44 one-half turn. Open the hot vapor' valve 15 one-half turn. The combustible mixture of gasoline and air will pass through the generator tube, through the filter, from thence through hot vapor tube H, down through extension 13, through hot vapor valve I5 into mixing chamber 18, and up through the burner. Said mixture is combustible and by applying a lighter above one arm of the burner and by the adjustment of the air valve, a flame of a clear green color will form above the burner slits.

As the generator: becomes heated, less air will be required to keep the flame green. When the air valve can be closed without causing the flame to become yellow the generator is hot, which, if properly controlled, will require about two minutes time. Leave the parts with the burner arms beneath the generator tube and hot vapor tube for about two more minutes after the air valve is closed, then push the burner control rod in as far as it will go, thus bringing the burner, as shown in Fig. l, with its arms out of alignment with the tubes 54 and H, somewhat diminishing the intensity of the heat that would otherwise reach said tubes when the burner is operating at maximum temperature. Any gasoline that may collect in the lower portion of the mixing chamber during the lighting of the burner will evaporate and be dissipated through the burner in a few minutes.

After the parts abovereferred to are thoroughly heated, the color of the flame will change from green to blue, which is maintained by the adjustment of the. air damper. By observing the flame at the burner in the mirror mounted on the upper surface of the instrument panel, the color of the flame can be seen and can be controlled by the air damper to maintain the flame green in color; too much air through the damper will cause the flame to turn blue and the top of the burner become red hot. Adjustment of the hot vapor valve controls the size of the flame and intensity of heat developed.

The filter, as shown, may be used to permit the burning of treated gasoline with a minimum of accumulation of dirt and lead particles at the jet of the hot vapor valve and in the burner slits. Frequent observation should be made to maintain a green flame for the production of a maximum amount of heat and to keep the burner and generator members at a high temperature and avoid the passage of. fuel improperly prepared for perfect combustion prior to reaching the burner. The flame may be cut off by closing the fuel valve.

Should it be necessary to refill the fuel tank,

care should be taken that the flame is extinguished and none of the parts of the burner are red hot.

Provision is made to cut off the flow of fuel should a break occur in the fuel line which consists of a vertically movable check valve mounted in the fuel output elbow and having flattened sides for the passage of the normal flow of fuel.

Said check, under the influence of an abnormal flow of fuel, will be lifted and seated in the valve at its upper end and cut off the flow of fuel.

In using leaded or otherwise treated gasoline in the fire unit, it has been found that the small passages in the flame valve and burner slits have become clogged, and it was necessary to provide means for relieving said trouble. Therefore, a filter was added. Said filter is located in such position as will provide for the passage of the fuel through thefilter after it has reached a certain temperature, for the reason that the treated fuel, after it reaches a certain temperature, throws off the foreign matter in flakes or particles that are suspended in the fuel, and it is after the separation above referred to that the filtering process takes place, leaving in the filter the suspended foreign matter. The fuel proceeds thereafter through the hot vapor tube to the hot vapor valve and burner as a vaporized straight or white gasoline and air mixture. v

Having thus described my;invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid fuel burner comprising a frame, an air pressure tank and a liquid fuel, tank mounted on the frame in spaced relation, a fuel mixing chamber arranged between said tanks, a burner having opposed radial arms mounted for rotary movement on the mixing chamber, generator and vapor tubes arranged above and across th burner and adapted to receive heat from the burner for generating vapor, the tubes normally lying between the arms of the burner, and means for retating said burner to bring two opposed arms under the generator and vapor tubes during the on said valve for controlling said openings, means connecting said fuel tank to said mixing chamher by way of said generator and vapor valve, means connecting said air pressure tank to said fuel tank and also to said generator, and means controlling the flow of air to said generator, whereby the mixing chamber can be supplied with compressed air through the generator during starting.

3. A portable vapor fuel burning unit comprising a frame, an instrument panel hinged at its lower edge to the front of the frame, and an air pressure tank, a liquid fuel tank,- a burner and a vapor generator and, mixing chamber, all mounted on said frame, said mixing chamber having an extension secured to said panel and providing an air' intake communicating with openings in said panel, said panel having control elements for the air and fuel mounted thereon,

said elements and said mixing chamber being detachably connected to said panel, whereby the panel can be detached from said parts to be swung on its hinge.

STYLES T. HOWARD.

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