US2416814A - Diverting switch - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1947.

F. w. BORSE ETAL 2,416,814

Filed May e, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 4, 1947. F, w, BORSE ETAL 2,416,814

DIVERTING SWITCH Filed May "s, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTORS, Mz ZU. 50 rse,

Patented Mar. 4, 1947 DIVERTING SWITCH Felix W. Borse, Oak Park, and Henning Hernianson, Deeriield, Ill., assignors `to Minne- :amalis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapoiis, Minn., acorporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1944, Serial No. 534,506

20 Claims. `(Cl. 251-401) Our present invention relates to a diverting switch of the .plug valve typev which may be mounted on the back of a control panel and is operated by a knob in front of the panel.

One object ofthe invention is to provide a diverting switch of simple and inexpensive construction having a number of advantages that contribute to long life, fool-'proof effortless operation,and to convenient servicing 'of the valve when necessary without removing the Valve body from the panel or disconnecting any ofthe pipe connections with the valve body.

Another object is to provide a 'switch of this character particularly for switching compressed air from a supply main to various branches and bleeding other branches as desired through a rotatable plug valve structure provided with detent means for indicating various proper positions of port alignment.

Still another object is to provide a plug valve which may be lapped to secure va perfect seat of the plug within its bore and which has the ends of the bore and the ends oftaper of the plug so related as to prevent `the formation of ridges during the lapping operation, peripheral grooves in the valve body and in the valve plug likewise being related so as to prevent formation of ridges from lapping.

A `further object is to provide a floating connection between a control shaft and the 'valve plug soy that the plug cannot be accidently loosened in yits bore nor tightened by pushing or pulling of the control shaft and substantially constant seating pressure ofthe valve plug is maintained.

Still a further object is to provide a diverting switch lwhich has a control shaft for ythe valve plug connected therewith by' means of a `detent head which is pinned to one end of the shaft and has a' tongue and keyway connection' with the plug, the other end of the-shaft being journalled in the plug adjacent one end thereof `anddetent mechanism being provided for coaction with the detent head. y

An additional object is t'o provide Ia detent cap removably positioned on the back :of the vval-ve body and having the detent head journalled therein. for 'removal therewith, the control shaft being 'also removable from 4'the valve plug'with the detent head and thedetent cap, thereby exposing the valve plug for removal and disassembly lo-f all the .parts for replacement Aof any of 4 them without disturbing the piping .to lthe .valve body -or .removing the valve body :from the panel on'which it is mounted, and the interior of the valve plug being threaded for coaction with a tool therewith for removal'oi the plug relative to the valve body.

With these and other objects Yin view, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts oi our device whereby the objects contemplated arcattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims land illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a diverting switch embodying our invention.

Fig. 2'is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line '3&3 of

Fig. 2 with the portion ltot thereof taken on the Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line84-8 of f t Fig. 3 showing peripheral grooves on the valve body Aand the 'valve plug as well as a porting arrangement and a slot in the valve plug.-y n l On the accompanying drawings, we have used the reference numeral I0 to indicate a panel or the like on which our diverting switch may .be mounted. The diverting switch includesa valve body B and a valve `plug P as its maink elements and the bo'dyis adapted for mounting on the panel as by means of suitable bolts or screws through openings I2 of attaching feet I4 formed on the valve body. y

The valve body B has a tapered bore indicated atY I6, one end of which is designated Ia and the otherend Ib. These ends are the small and large ends respectively ofthe bore. Between `the ends Ia'and Ib is a peripheral groeve I8 in the bore and its sides are indicated .at I8a and lill).

The valve plug P has a tapered part 20ste fit the tapered bore I6 and the small and large ends of this tapered part are indicated asV 20a, and `2017. The plug and the'valve body also havecylindrical portions I9 and .22 which .are not tapered. n The valve plug has a peripheral groove 24 opening-into the vgroove I8 and the sides ofthe groove 24 .are indicated at 24a, and 24h. The groove 24 is .oli-

set relative to the groove I8 inthedirection .to-

ward the small end 20a of the valve plug Pand surfaces.

this causes the groove side 24h to overhang with respect to the groove side lb whereas the groove side 24a is past the groove side la, and therefore Within the bore I6.

Similarly the plug end 28a is in overhanging relation to the front end lSa of the bore l and the end 2Gb of the tapered portion of the plug is within the bore l5 or-past the end Elib. This arrangement has a definite purpose in that it prevents'the formation of ridges during the lapping of the valve where they will interfere with the proper air sealing of the plug in the valve body. Such ridges will be on the plug at the front face of the valve body and in the bore It at the line h so that wear during lapping and subsequent wear due to operation of the valve'will not develop shoulders in the bore at the small end Yof the plug and on the plug at its large end.

Preferably the body and plug are made of dis-Y similar metals such as brass and cast iron and are hand-lapped to t eachother. After lap' ping with an.v abrasive, agflnishing operation is preferably performed with vhot oil and graphitev in order to lubricate the valve between the lapped The .off-set arrangement of theedges Iba and 20m-15b and Zb, 18a. and 24h prevent the formation of ridgesv at points where they would be formed during lapping if the overhanging relation of Ythese ledges rwere reversed. This contributes to theproductionof aperfectly lapped Valve and one which does-not leak after the lapping has been completed even though subject to many thousands of operations during its service life. Furthermore, any wearing 'of the plug within the body eliminates the harm from formation of ridges at undesirable locations as described in connection with the lapping operation and a valve is thereby had which lasts much longer than usualA without leaks developing. Where it is desirable to have communication between aY-port such as an inlet port 26 and the entire periphery of the valve plug atall times, the grooves i8 and 24 may be provided and would ordinarily complicate the lapping operation but by the off-set arrangement of edges as we have described, a valve of this' kind can be lapped into perfect fit as readily as a simple valve plug.

-vThe port 23 ofthe valve body B may be connected with a main suchas a copper tubing compressed air line and the valve body has a single or any desired number of outlet ports 28 which may be connected to vrvarious branches extending to pneumatic thermostats, damper motors or the like. On the drawings we have shown, merely by way of illustration. four of the outlet ports 28 and these are suitably threaded for the reception of copper tube fittings or small pipes.

purpose of Yconnecting this groove with any of the four branch ports 28 whereas the other three branch ports communicate through the-ports 3i) withY the interior or bore of the valve plug indicatedY at 34. This bore communicates with atmosphere as' will hereinafter be described.

For operating the valve 'plugVV P, we provide 'a control shaft vSli which is connected to the plug by a detent head 38. The 4means of connection includes a cross pin 4l! and a tongue and keyway connection wherein the tongues are illustrated at 42 andare formed on the detent head while the groovesjare indicated at 44 and are mille'dinto the portion 22- ofthe plug P. The tongue and The valvek vplug itself has a plurality of return ports 3B (in v the illustrated instance rV3) and' a slot 32.

slot 32 communicates with the groove 2li for the A 4 keyway connection, it will be noted, is off-set relative to the center of the shaft 36 so as to prevent the possibility of reassembling the parts in the wrong position at 180 from its intended position.

Adjacent the end of the shaft 36 opposite the cross pin 40 the shaft is journalledin abearing sleeve 46 of the plug P. This sleeve may extend through an opening i8 of the panel lli which is enlarged so that it is impossible for the panel to bear sidewise against the plug and thus tend to destroy its proper seating in therbore Iii. A control knob 50 is mounted on the shaft 3S preferablyby a pair of set screws 52 at right angles to each other and engaging flat spots 54 on the con- Y trol shaft. The knob therefore may be replaced in its proper position on the shaft afterY a disassembling operation.

A pointer 56 is associated with the knob 59 for indicatory coaction with indicia 58 on the panel lll. The indicator may be rotatable on a sleeveV B0 of the control knob 5!) and. may be locked relative thereto by a lock nut 62 and a screw Sli.

The detent head 38 has a sleeve portion 66 journalled in a. bore 61 of a cap 68. This cap is removable with respect to the valve body B as by three screws 10. The detent head is vlimited in its axial movement relative thereto by a stop 'plug 12, the head of which serves as a stop when the detent head 38 is movedY to the left, in Fig. 3. The stop plug 12 is also a vent plug as it is provided with a vent ,opening 14 extending therethrough from the inner end to atmosphere at the outer end. The vent 14 communicates with the interior of the detent head 38 and with the bore 34 of the plug P to permit escape of compressed air from the bore to atmosphere. Y A spring 16 is interposed between the deten head 38 and the valve plug P las illustrated in Fig. 3 to maintain a constant seating pressure on the valve plug. The cross pin 411 extends through both the shaft 36 and the detent head 38, being preferably a tight fit in the head and a relatively loose fit in the control shaft 36. The ends of the pin are peened as indicated at 4I to retain l it in assembled position.

The detenthead 323y has a plurality of detent notches 18 therein as shown in Figure 5 which are adapted to receive a detent inthe form of a ball slidable in a bore 82 of the detent cap 68. The bore is plugged at 84 and interposed between the plug and the ball is a spring 86 for urgingV the ball to engage in the detent notches 18.

Practical operation` In the operation of our diverting switch, the knob 50 may be manipulated for rotating the plug P either right hand or left hand as desired. Although the porting arrangement can be varied considerably Yfrom that disclosed, We will describe the operations which take place withrthe type of diverting switch that is illustrated on our port 26 a branch port so that the branch can be agrege-14 fed from any one of three sources. lObviously more vslots v32 and less ports 30 could be providedy for other :switchingarrangements.

When the knob 5o is rotated to any one of `its four positions where ythe'ports are properlyzalined,

such fact will be indicated to the operator by the detent ball Sii snapping into one of the notchesI i3, and so doing, effecting .a iinal positioning of the valve plug in its port aligned position. The hole 36d in the shaft S36 `for the vpin ig is slightly larger than the pin itself to permit such nal positioning and to give an' indication to the user of such fact. The snapping fof .the ball into the notch can rbe 'slightly felt when. it occurs.

During operation of the diverting switch, a constant pressure of vthe plug P in its 'seat f6 is maintained bythe spring AT6. This pressure cannot be decreased by pushing on the shaft 36 as axial movement of the shaft in this direction is stopped by the detent head 38 lengaging the cap 68, the cap, in turn,'being xed as vit is connected to the valve body B `and the valve body is supported on the panel lo and vthe `tongue and keyway connection permits of such movement without the .plug moving with them. Likewise the seating pressure of the plug can be increased only by `a slight amount due to 'increase inthe pressure ofthe spring *16 When the knob is accidently or intentionally 'pulled away fromthe panel. In that case the detent head 38 is moved with the shaft'i but is soon stopped inits movement by the head of the stop plug 1.2 engaging the back face of the detent cap 68. This engagement occurs before the left hand enjd of the detent head 38 or its tongues '42 engage a socket bottom 39 of the valve -plug or the bottoms of the keyways 414 respectively. AAlso fby journalling the shaft 36 at one enclin the bearing sleeve 46 of the plug P and having the' other end journalled at BES-61 in the detent `cap 68, theplug P cannot be unseated by sidewiseor vertical pressure on the knob 50, .thus contributing to vavvalve that operates leak-proof under all operating conditions.

Inl connection with the servicing of the diverting-switch, the set screws `52 Vmay be loosened and the screws 'IG removed Vwhereupon the kshaft 3o, detenthead 33 and detent cap 568 may be removed for replacement of Vany ofi-the parts thereof or the spring 11B. desirable to remove the 'plug'P 'for iany purpose, a tool or bolt having aproperly threaded end may be manipulated for engaging such end with threads Si formed in the plug'whereupon the plug may be withdrawn. l

After repairs or replacements Ahave 'beenmada :if at that time 'it/"ls 6 closed, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered valve plug therein, a spring biasing said valveplug toward seated position in said bore,

a control shaft for rotating said valve plug and l f Vextending into the small end thereof, said small end having a bearing for said control shaft, and

means at the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting the inner end oi said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a head having anion-center tongueand keywayv connection with said valve plug and a loose cross pin vconnection with said control shaft.A

2. In a diverting switch, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plug therein, a spring biasing said plugtoward seated position in said bore, a control shaft for rotating saidv valve plug and extending into the small end thereof, said small'end having a bearing for said control shaft,

' and 'means at the large end of said valve .plug

for'lo'osely connecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith.

3. In a switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered valve plug therein, means biasing said valve plug toward seated position in said bore. a control shaft for 'rotating said valve plugand extending into vthe small endthereof, said small endv journalling the outer end of said control shaft, and means at the large end Aof said valve plug for loosely connecting'the inner' end of said control Ishaft thereu with including a head having an off-centered tongue and keyway connection with said valve plug.

fi. In a switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered valve plug seated therein, a control for rotating said valve plug and extending into the small endy thereof, said small end having a bearing for said control shaft, and said control shaft having a loose connection with the large end of said valve tapered bore, a tapered valve plug therein, a conthe parts may be reassembled in the reverse orl v der and both the assembly and the disassembly operations do not in any way interfere with the piping to the ports 2b or 28 nor do 'they necessitate the removal .of the valve body" vfrom :its mounted positionon thebaek of the panel i0.

AServicing of the valve in va minimum of time .is

trol shaft through said valve plug for rotating it, said valve plug having a bearing for said rcontrol shaft and a slidable and non-rotatable connection with the shaft, said connection Ybeing `limited in its movement in a direction axiallyof said control shaft whereby the shaft can neither push nor'pull the valve plug, and ar spring interposed between said connection and said plug.

6. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having atapered bore, means for mounting said` ,ried 'by said detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate when said valve plug is in port valignment position, a tongueand keyway connection between said valve plug and said detent head, a control shaftbaving a portion journalled in the small end of valve plug and extending from the iront of said panel Athrough said valve plug `and-into said detent head, a' cross pin 'oonnection between said detent head. and the inner end of said control shaft, a vented stop plug for saiddetenit head to prevent the head from being -pulled by .the'zc'ontrol shaft into engagement with `valve body on the back of a panel with said bore normal to the panel and entirely baci: of it, a

detent cap'removably secured to the 'rear end of Y said valve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore, a detent head connected with said valve plug for rotation therewith and journalled in said detent cap at the large end of said valve plug, a spring interposed between said detent head and said valve plug for tending to separate the two,

said detent head having notches in its periphery,

, a detent carried by said detent cap for engagingl with said notches to indicate when said valve plug is in port alignment positions, a control shaft having a portion .iournalled in said valve plug and extending from'the front of said panel through said valve plug and into said detent head, a vented sto-p plug for said detent head to prevent the head from being pulled by the control shaft'into engagement with the valve plug, said detent head and said control shaft being removable with said detent cap, said valve body having a port arrangement including communication with the interior of the valve plug surrounding said control shaft, along said control shaft, through said detent head and through said stop plug vent to atmosphere.

8. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a Vtapered bore, a detent cap removably secured to the rear end oi said valve body, 'a taperedvalve plug in said bore, a detent head journalled in said detent cap at Ythe large end of said valve plug and operatively connected with said valve plug for simultaneous rotation therewith, a spring interposed between said detent head and said valve plug for tending to separate the two, said detent head having notches in its periphery, a detent carried by Isaid detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate when said valve plug is in port alignment positions, a control shaft having a portion journalled in said valve plug and extending into said detent head, a vented sto-p plug for said detent head to prevent the head from Vbeing pulled by the control shaft into engagement with the valve plug, said valve body having a port arrangement including communication with the interior of the valve plugsurrounding said control shaft, along said controlY shaft, through said .detent head and Vof said Valve plug, a spring interposed between said detent head and said valve plug for tending Yto separate the two, said detent head having notches in its periphery, a detent carried by said detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate when saidV valve plug is in port alignmentv positions, a tongue and keyway connection between said valve plug and said detenthead, a control shaft having a ,portion journalled in the small end of said valve plug and extending'into said detent head, a cross pin connection between said detent head and the inner end of said control shaft, a vented stop plug for said detent head to prevent the head from being pulledby the control shaft into engagement with the valve plug, and thusprevent its axial movement with said shaft, said valve body having a port arrangement including communication with the interior of the valve plug surrounding said control shaft, along said controlshaft, through said detent head and through said stop plug vent to atmosphere. l Y

1). A valve structure comprising a body having a tapered bore, means formounting said valve body on the back of a panel with said bore normal to the panel and entirely back of it, a de,- tent cap removably secured to the rear end'of said valve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore,

a detent head'in' said detent cap at the large end vof said valve plug, a spring interposed be-Y tween said detent head and said valve plug for tending to separate the two and seat the plug,

said detent head being journalled in saiddetentV cap and having notches in its periphery, a detent carried by said detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate andaid in the positioning of said valve plug, a tongue and keyway connection between said valve plug and said detent head, a control shaft having a portion journalled in the small end of said valve plug and extending from the front of said panel through valve plug therein, a detent head in said detentV cap, a spring interposed between said detent head and said valveplug for tending to separate the two and seat `the plug, saiddetent head being vjournalled in said detent cap Vand having notches in its periphery, a detent carried by said detent cap for engaging with said notches to indicate and aid in' ther positioning of said valve plug,r a connection betweenl said valve plug and said detent head, a control shaft having a portionloosely journalled in said valve plug for free Inove-` ment relative :thereto and extending intoV said detent head and connected therewith, and means to limit said'control shaft against axial movement to the extent that all of such Vmovement is independent vof said valve plug to prevent axial movement of the plug with the shaft.

l2. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, means for mounting said valve body, a cap removably secured to said valve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore, a head in said cap at' the large Vend of said valve plug, means interposed between saidV head and said Y valve plug for tending to separate the two and thereby seat the valveplug, said head being jour-V nalled in said cap, a slidable and non-rotatable connection between said valve plug and said head, a control shaft. having a portion journalled in the small end of said valve' plug and operatively y connected jwith'said head, stop means for said head'in saidcapftoprevent the head from being pulled by the control shaft into engagement with the valve plug, 'said head 'and said control shaft being removable with said cap, said valve plug having a threaded portion for engagement of a tool therewith for removing lthe plug from the body. y

13. A diverting switch comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, means for mounting said valve body, a cap removably secured to said valve body, a tapered valve plug in said bore, a head in said cap at the large end of said valve plug, means interposed between said head and said valve plug for tending to separate the two and thereby seat the valve plug, said head being journalled in said cap, a slidable and non-rotatable connection between said valve plug and said head, a control shaft having a portion journalled in the small end of said valve plug and operatively connected with said head, stop means for said head in said cap to prevent the head from being pulled by the control shaft into engagement with the valve plug, said head and said control shaft being removable with said cap.

14. In a diverting switch of the kind described, a valve body adapted for mounting on the back of a panel, said valve body having a tapered bore,

` a valve plug seated therein, a control shaft eX- tending from the front of the panel through said valve plug and journalled in an end of the plug adjacent the panel, a cap on said valve body at the other end of the plug, a head therein journalled with relation to said cap and loosely connected with said shaft and said valve plug for turning the plug by rotating the shaft, a

10 axial movement from causing said head to move said valve plug axially.

17. A diverting switch comprising a valve body,

means for mounting said valve body on the back of a panel with said bore normalto the panel, a

detent carried by said detent cap for engagingl with said notches to indicate port alignment position of said valve plug, a slidable and nonrotatable connection between said valve plug and said detent head, a control shaft having a portion journalled in said valve plug and extending from the front of said panel through said valve plug and into said detent head, and an voperative connection between said detent head and said control shaft.

18. In a diverting switch, a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plug therein, a spring biasing said plug toward seated position in said bore, a control shaft for rotating said valve plug and extending into the small end thereof, said small end having a bearing for said control shaft, and means at :the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith, said means being arranged to insure assembly of said control shaft in only one position Vof rotation relative to said valve plug.

19. In a diverting switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having a tapered bore, a

i tapered valve plug therein, a spring biasing said said grooves being offset with the edge of the a valve body having a tapered bore, a valve plug seated therein, a control shaft extending through said valve plug and journaled in one end of the plug, a cap on' said valve body at the other end of the plug, a head therein journalled with relation to said cap and slidably and non-rotatably connected with said valve plug, said head being operatively connected with said shaft for turning the plug by rotating the shaft, a spring interposed between said plug and said head, said plug having its small end extended beyond the small end of said bore and its large end terminating within said bore to prevent the formation of harmful ridges.

16. In a diverting switch of the character disclosed, a valve body having a taperedv bore, a tapered valve plug therein, means biasing said valve plug toward seated position in said bore, a control shaft for rotating said valve plug, said plug having at one end a bearing for said control shaft and means at the other end -of said valve plug for loosely connecting said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a head havinga tongue and keyway connection with said valve plug, and means for limiting axial movement of said shaft to an extent preventing such valve plug toward seated position in said bore, a control shaft for rotating said valve plug and extending intothe small end thereof, said small end having la bearing for said control shaft, and means at the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith, said means comprising ahead having an off-center tongue and keyway connec tion with said valve plug.

l20. In a diverting switch of the character disend having a bearing for said control shaft, and

means yat the large end of said valve plug for loosely connecting the inner end of said control shaft therewith, said means comprising a loose cross-pin connection withv said control shaft.

FELIX W. BORSE. HENNINGS. HERMANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inithe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS

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