US2414953A - Valve control for fuel oil heaters - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1947. H. G. JOHNSON 2,414,953

VALVE CONTROL FOR OIL HEATERS I Filed Jan. 1, 1944 5 SheetsSheet 1 g INVENTOR.

RT G. JOHNSON ATTOENEY Jan. 28, 1947.

H. G5 JOHNSON 4,953

VALVE CONTROL FOR OIL HEATERS Filed Jan. l,' 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HERBERT G QQHNSON Iii W ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1947. H. G. JOHNSON VALVE CONTROL FOR OIL EHEATERS Filed Jan. 1, '1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HERBERT GQouNSou BY} fmaw ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1947 L UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE 2,4 4953 VALVE CONTROL Fo'n FUEL on. HEATERS Herbert G. Johnson, Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pa., assignor to Zallea Brothers 84 Johnson, Wilmington, DeL, a partnership consisting of James B; Zallea, Sol Zallea, and Herbert G. Johnson Application January 1, 1944, Serial No. 516,609

Claims. (Cl. 257-247) 1 2 This invention relates generally to heat exdown of the main supply of the heating medium, change apparatus and more particularly to ime. g. the steam. provements in the design, construction and oper- Other objects and advantages of the present ating characteristics of apparatus for pre-heating invention to provide for general improvement in fluids, such as oils, by the use of a heating me the design, construction and operating efficiency dium, such as steam, such an apparatus being of heat transfer apparatus of the type hereinshown and described, 'for example, in United before referred to will appear more fully here- States Letters Patent No. 2,243,593, granted May inaiter, it being understood that the present in- 27, 1941, to James P. Zallea. vention consists substantially in the combina- Among the principal objects of the present intion, construction, location and relative arrangevention is to provide in such heat exchange apment of par s as described in the following p paratus means for by-passing the fluid to be pre ification, as shown in the a yi g rawheated directly through one end of the apparatus, 5 and as finally pointed O in the app d thereby not only avoiding the necessity of interclaimsrupting the flow of the fluid when it is desired to 1 In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate service or repair the heat-exchanging apparatus, a prefell'ed of apparatus constructed in but also rendering it possible to deliver the fluid accordance w 31.101 embodying theprinciples of as desired without requiring it to be circulated ihepreseht {nventlon thmugh the heat exchanger Figure 1 is an elevational View, with parts thereof shown in section taken along the line i-% of Figure 2, of a heat exchange apparatus of the present invention, the lay-passing means being shown in position for directing the fluid through the by-pass conduit;

- Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof; Figure 3 is a rear elevational view thereof; Figure 4 is a partial view of the apparatus as A further and important object of the invention is to provide in a heat-exchanger by-passing means for the fluid to be pre-heated which is operative in such manner that the fluid is either directed through the heat-exchanger for circulation through the interconnected heat transfer tubes thereof or through a direct passage between 1 designed as to insure undirectional flow of the m posmon for normal Operatlon of the appa- A :-,0 ratus; fluid selectively either thiough the heat transier Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line tubes of the unit or through the by-pass conof Figure and Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line Still a further and important obJect is to pro- Figure vide a by-passing arrangement of the character I Referring now more particularly to the draw hereinbeiore described wherein means is provided ings it Wm be Observed that the apparatus f for relieving the heat-exchanger apparatus of the present invention is in the form of a mulany excessive pressures that may buildup in the tiple unit heat-exchanger which essentially conheat-transfer tubes when the fluid is being delivsists of a plurality f units s H z and 3 of Bred through the lily-Passing conduit this means in similar construction disposed in laterally spaced being operative automatically to vent the fluid in pairs arranged in erti ally spaced mt the heat-transfer t bes to the y-p conduit Thus, the units ill and H, comprising one of the S o the Pressure f the i in the tubes laterally spaced pairs thereof, are vertically 068d t a O e fluid being y-p spaced with respect to the laterally spaced pair Another and portant Object o e pr s n of similar tubes I2 and I3. However, it will be invention is to provide valve means for controlnder tood th t the general arrangement and g the p y o the heating fluid, such a Steam, relative disposition of these tube units It to I3 to the individual steam injection tubes of the may be ri d, as d d t t difier nt heat exchange pp the Valve means b ng stallation conditions and space limitations.

of such arrangement that any one or more of the so Generally, each of these tube units it) to It steam injection tubes may be so cut-off from includes a main conduit It for conducting th m pp y of Steam as to provide for acthrough the heat exchange apparatus the fluid, curate control and variation of the heat transsuch asoil, which is to be pre-heated, the forfer ratio between the heating medium and the ward ends of these main conduits M being suitfluid to be heated without necessitating throttling ably secured, as at 15, Within a vertically disposed supporting plate I6, these tubes I 4 being further supported in the fixed relation shown by means of one or more longitudinally spaced supporting members I1.

Immediately associated with the plate I6 is a second plate I8, the inner face of which is recessed to provide communicating passages between the forward ends of the conduits I4 01 the tube units I and II, as well as between the forward ends of the conduits I4 of the tube units I2 and I3. The rear end of the conduit Id of the tube unit I!) is provided with a lateral opening I9 in communication with the oil inlet connection 26, while the rear end of the conduit I4 of the tube unit I3 is similarly provided with a lateral opening 2I in communication with the oil outlet connection 22. The rear ends of the outer main conduits of the tube units I I and I2 communicate with each other by way of an interconnecting conduit 23 (see Figure 3), in view of which it will be apparent that the fluid, such as oil, to be pre-heated, may be caused to circulate through the heat-exchanging apparatus as follows: through the intake 20, thence forwardly through the main conduit of the tube unit Ill, thence by way of the recess 23 in the plate I8 to the main conduit of the tube unit II and rearwardly through said conduit to the rear end of the main conduit of the tube unit I2, thence forwardly of said latter conduit and by way of the recess 24 in the plate I8 to the front end of the main conduit of the tube unit I3, and thence rearwardly of this last-mentioned conduit to the outlet connection 22. The fluid to be heated, which is delivered to the heatexchanger apparatus by the inlet connection 20 and discharged therefrom by way of the outlet connection 22, is thus normally caused to circulate through the units I0, II, I2 and I3 in the order named, successive pairs of these units being in connection with one another by way of the connecting passages 23 and 24 provided in the inner face of the tube plate I8.

This tube plate I8 constitutes the support for a plurality of finned heat radiating tubes 25, each of these tubes being disposed concentrically within the outer main conduit I4 of each of the tube units I9, II, I2 and I3. As appears most clearly in Figures 1 and 4, the outer or rear extremities of each of the finned tubes 25 is closed, I

therefrom and supported in position by an outer plate or head 30. The chamber 28, with which the forward ends of the heat radiating tubes 25 commonly communicate, is provided with one or more discharge ports 3|. In the arrangement of Figure 1, two such ports 3| are shown.

Supported by the diaphragm plate 29 are a plurality of steam injection tubes 32 which respectively extend interiorly of and are disposed concentrically within the finned heat radiating tubes 25, these steam injection tubes being each open at both ends thereof, as at 33 and 34, the front ends 35 of these tubes being all in communication with a chamber 35 provided between the diaphragm plate 29 and the outer or front head 30. This latter chamber 35 is preferably formed by providing the said head 30 with a recess in the rear face thereof which is closed by the diaphragm plate 29, the main plates I6, I8 and 30 being securely clamped together by a plurality of circumferentially spaced securing bolts 36. The outer head 30 is provided with an opening 3'. constituting a steam inlet to the chamber 35,

In the normal operation of the heat-exchanger apparatus as just described, steam employed as the heating medium is introduced to the apparatus by Way of the inlet 37, while the liquid to be pre-heated, such as oil, is introduced by way of the inlet connection 20, the heat transference from the heatin medium to the fluid to be heated being effected by circulating both fluids continuously through the apparatus. The steam which is supplied by way of the inlet 3'! enters steam chamber 35 and is commonly delivered therefrom into the inner steam injection tubes 32. The steam so delivered into the tubes 32 discharges from the rear open ends 34 thereof against the closed ends 26 of the heat radiating tubes 25 and is returned by the latter into the chamber 28 from whence it is finally discharged by way of the steam outlets 3 I.

The oil to be heated, which is introduced into the apparatus by way of the inlet 20, traverses the annular spaces formed between the finned heat radiating tubes '25 and the outer main conduits I4, the oil being circulated through the apparatus by way of the tube units I0, I I, I2 and I3 in the order named, for final discharge therefrom by way of the oil outlet 22.

As has been pointed out herein'before, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide in the heat-exchanger of the character described, means for by-passing the oil through a passage extending directly from the oil inlet 20 to the oil outlet 22, such lay-passing of the oil being effected without necessitating disruption of the off line leading from the source of its supply to the point of its application and use. As will presently appear, this by-passing arrangement is so included in the heat-exchanger apparatus as a part thereof as to enable the oil to be by-passed with respect to the heat-exchanger apparatus without necessitating removal of the apparatus from the oil line. In fact, the arrangement is such that upon suitable operation of the by-passing means, the heat-exchanger apparatus per so may be completely dismantled for purposes of maintenance, service and repair without any interruption in the supply of oil through its main feeder line. Essentially, the by-passing means is of such construction and operation as to permit the oil to be readily diverted from its normal circulatory path through the heat-exchanger apparatus to and through a path of flow extending directly between the inlet and outlet connections of the heat-exchanger apparatus;

The means for effecting this desired by-passing operation is of the construction and operation now to be described. As most clearly appears in Figures 1 and 4 to 6, the rear portions of the outer main conduits I iI4 of the vertically spaced tube units Ill and I3 are connected together by a vertically extending passage 40, pref erably formed by providing each of said conduits with registering elliptical openings M and 42 and then interconnecting said openings by an elliptically shaped tube 43. Both of the conduits I-il4 so connected together by the intercommunicating elliptical passage 40 are respectively provided with annular valve seats M and 45, each of which is disposed immediately to the rear of the closed end 26 of the finned heat radiating tube 25 disposed within the particular oil conduit It. The conduit I4 of. the tube unit I0 is additionally provided with a second rearwardly spaced annular valve seat 46.

The rear extremities of the oil conduits l4-I4 of the tube units In and [3 are each closed in any suitable manner, and each carries a rearwardly projecting arbor 4'! having a centrally disposed internally threaded bearing 48 for a threaded valve stem. These valve stems, respectively designated by the numerals 49 and 55, ex tend axially through suitable stuffing boxes provided in the rear ends of the said conduits l4--l4 and are respectively provided at their forward ends with valve members 52 and 53. The valve member 52 is of the single seating type for coaction with the annular valve seat 44, while the valve 53 is of the double seating type for selective coaction with either of the annular valve seats 45 or 46. Suitable hand wheels 54 are provided at the outer rear extremities of the valve stems 49 and 50 for operation thereof, and in order to insure synchronous operation of the valves, the valve stems are joined together for common actuation thereof by either one of the hand wheels 54 through the medium of a sprocket chain 55 and sprocket gears 56 respectively secured to the valve stems.

In the operation of the oil flow control valves, it will be apparent that when these valves are positioned as shown in Figure 4, wherein the valve 53 is closed upon its rearmost seat 56 and both 4 valves 52 and 53 are entirely free of their respective valve seats 44 and 45, the oil entering the inlet of the heat-exchanger apparatus is caused to circulate through the several tube units thereof for final discharge therefrom by way of the outlet 22. Inasmuch as the passage through the valve seat 46 is closed by the valve 53, no part of the oil may pass through the apparatus otherwise than as just described. However, when the valves are moved into their positions as shown in Figure 1, the circulation of the oil through the tube units H), H, l2 and i3 is interrupted and the oil can then pass from the inlet to the outlet 22 of the apparatus only by way of the by-pass connection 45, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

In order to relieve the oil circulating tubes of the heat-exchanger apparatus of any excessive pressures that may develop therein when the valves 52 and 53 are closed, as shown in Figure 1, any suitable means may be provided in association with the valve 52 for permitting it to be opened under such excessive pressure and so vent the oil contained in the circulating tubes into the discharge connection 22 of the apparatus. suitable means for so relieving such pressure is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 wherein it will be observed that the valve stem 49 is constructed of two parts and 45 the part 49 having secured thereto a cylinder or the like 51, into the forward end of which projects the part 49 of the valve stem. This part 49* carries a piston element 58 between which and the rear end of the piston casing is disposed a coiled compression spring 59. It will be apparent that if any excessive oil pressure develops within the tube unit I3, such pressure will cause the valve 52 to move rearwardly of its seat 44 against the pressure of the spring 43, thereby affording relief for any such excessive pressure, the bias of the coiled spring 59 being normally sufficient to maintain the valve 52 closed so long as the pressure of the oil contained in the tube unit I3 does not exceed that which flows through the by-pass conduit. Due to the fact that the valve stems 49 and 5b are eared together for synchronous operation, it will be apparent that there is no possibility of the valve 52 being closed without at the same time closing the valve 53, or of the valve 53 being opened without at the same time opening the valve 52. But even should the opening of the valve 52 lag somewhat behind the opening of the valve 53, the relief means operatively associated with the valve 52 is sufiicient to preclude the building up of any excessive pressure in the oil circulating tubes of the apparatus.

Referring now to the front end of the heat exchange apparatus as shown more particularly in Figure 1, it will be observed that the front plate 30 of the steam chest 35 supports a plurality of valve members 6|] which are selectively operable to control the passage of steam into the several steam injection tubes 32. To this end, each of these tubes 32 is suitably provided at its outer steam receiving end with an annular valve seat 6! which is adapted to be engaged by a corical valve member 62 fitted on the inner end of a valve stem 63. This valve stem 63, which carries at its outer end an operating hand wheel 64, is threaded or otherwise supported for axial movement within a bearing member 65 removably secured within the plate 30. A suitable stuffing box 56 is provided, as shown, for preventing the escape of steam from the steam chamber 35 outwardly by way of the valve stem 63. Preferably, the bearing members 65 for the several valve members are threaded into the plate 30 for ready removal therefrom and are of such dimension that when removed from the plate 30, they afford openings of sufficient size to provide for ready access to the steam injection tubes 32 and permit the withdrawal therethrough, if desired, of the steam injection tubes for purposes of repair and replacement.

It will be apparent that the provision of these valve members for selectively controlling the supply of steam to th individual steam injection tubes 32 renders it possible to regulate and accurately control the temperature of the fluid to be heated by the apparatus as it circulates through the several tube units thereof, all without necessitating any changes or adjustments of the temperature and pressure of the steam at its source of supply to the steam chamber 35. Thus, should it be desired to utilize the heat exchange apparatus so as to heat the fluid circulated therethrough to the fullest possible extent determined by the temperature of the steam supplied to the apparatus, all of the valve members 50 will be opened to thereby permit the steam supply to the chamber 35 to freely enter all of the steam injection tubes 32. On the other hand, should it be desired to attain for the fluid circulating through the heat exchange apparatus a lower temperature without effecting any corresponding reduction in the temperature and pressure of the steam supplied from its source, it only becomes necessary to operate one or more of the valve member 50 to close their associated steam injection tubes 32 against the supply of steam therethrough.

It will be understood, of course, that the apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

7 What is claimed as new and useful is: 1. In a heat exchanging apparatus of the type including a plurality of interconnected fluid circulating tubes through which a fluid to be heated may be continuously circulated and including also fluid inlet and outlet connections in com munication with corresponding ends of one pair of said tubes, 3, by-pass conduit interconnecting said pair of tubes to provide free passage extending directly between said fluid inlet and out-- let connections, a pair of valves disposed in said pair of tubes to close the same against communication with said inlet and outlet connections whereby to render said by-pa s conduit effective to direct the fluid therethrough, one of said pair of tubes being provided with a pair of spaced valve seats and the valve associated with said last-mentioned tube being adapted to selectively engage one or the other of said valve seats where by to direct the flow of fluid either through the circulating tubes or through the by-pass conduit, the other of said pair of tubes being provided with a single valve seat engageable by the other of said valves, and means for insuring synchronous operation of both valves whereby to provide for simultaneous opening or closing of the said of said pair of tubes.

2. In a heat exchanging apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of fluid circulating tubes arranged in pairs and connected in series, the corresponding ends of one pair of which are respectively in communication with fluid inlet and outlet connections, the fluid inlet tube being proivded with a pair of axially spaced valve ports disposed to either side of the fluid inlet connection and the fluid outlet tube being provided with a single valve port disposed to one side of the fluid outlet connection and corresponding to one of said first-mentioned pair of valve ports, a pair of valves operatively associated with said valve ports and shiftable in one direction to simultaneously engage the corresponding valve ports to close the tubes against circulation of fluid therethrough, and a fluid by-pass interconnecting said fluid inlet and outlet connections to permit the flow of fluid directly therethrough by way of the other of said pair of axially spaced valve ports.

3. In a heat exchanging apparatus of the character desc ibed, in combination, a plurality of fluid inlet connection and the fluid outlet tube being provided with a single valve port disposed to one side of the fluid outlet connection and corresponding to one of said first-mentioned pair of valve ports, a pair of valves operatively associated with said valve ports and shiftable in one direction to simultaneously engage the corresponding valve ports to close the tubes against circulation of fluid therethrough, and a fluid bypass interconnecting said fluid inlet and outlet connection to permit the flow of fluid directly therethrough by Way of the other of said pair of axially spaced valve ports, said valves being shiftable in the opposite direction to simultaneously open said corresponding valve ports for the circulating tubes and close the valve port coinmunicatin with said by-pass whereby to direct the fluid through all of said circulating tubes in series.

4. In a heat exchanging apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein externally accessible means are provided for effectin synchronous actuation of said pair of valves to set the same for fluid flow either through all of the circulating tubes in series or through the by-pass.

5. In a heat exchanging apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of parallel fluid circulating tubes, through which a fluid to be heated may be continuously circulated, one pair of said tubes being terminal tubes and the remaining tubes being intermediate tubes, heating means disposed interiorly of said tubes, supporting means for tubes and heating means one end of said tubes, said supporting means providing inter-communication between said terminal tubes and the intermediate tubes and pro-- viding access to said heating means, one of said terminal tubes having inlet and the other an outlet at the opposite end, a by-pass conduit interconnecting said terminal tubes at their inlet and outlet ends to provide a free passage extending directly between said inlet and outlet, a pair of valves operatively associated with said terminal tubes at their inlet and outlet end to close the same against communication with said inlet and outlet to render said bypass conduit effective to direct the fluid therethrough, one of said terminal tubes being provided with a pair of spaced valve seats and the valve associated with said last mentioned tube being adapted to selectively engage one or the other of said valve seats to direct the flow of fluid either through the circulating tubes or through the by-pass conduit, and means for the synchronous operation of both valves to provide for simultaneous opening or closing,

HERBERT G. JOHNSON.

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