US2447120A

US2447120A - Flame arrester

Info

Publication number: US2447120A
Application number: US509813A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Hall
Original assignee: PETROLEUM ESSENTIALS Inc
Current assignee: PETROLEUM ESSENTIALS Inc
Priority date: 1943-11-10
Filing date: 1943-11-10
Publication date: 1948-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1965-08-17

Description

Aug. 17, 1948. R. c. HALL. 2,447,120

FLAME I ARRESTER Filed NOV. 10, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l lllll/lll/ 11,/ 111/ l1 f f f gy R/c'HA/zo CHA LL -HnRRis, KIECH, FOSTER Hmm/5 *met FOB THE FIRM Aug. 17, 1948. R. c. HALL FLAME ARRESTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l0, 1943 /NvEAv/ro/z R/CHARD C. HALL FOR THE FIRM HTroR/veys Aug 1948. R. c. HAL.. 2,447,120

FLAME ARRESTER Filed Nov. l0, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [NVE/wok HW HnRR/s F02. THE FIRM HTTORNEYS Patented Aug. i7, 1948 FLAME ARRESTR Richard C. Hall, Alhambra, Calif., assigner to Petroleum Essentials, Incorporated, Glendora, Caiif., a corporation of California Application November 1I), 1943, Serial No. 509,813

1I) Claims. l

My invention relates to flame arresters, that is, devices which are used to lower the temperature of the products of combustion far enough to stop the propagation of flame in the system. In many industries, it is necessary to remove gases from combustion Zones while they are still at a temperature above that necessary to main-- tain flame temperature, and it is highly desirable in many such instances to cool these gases well below ame temperature before discharging them into the air or into conduits where ames might be injurious.

It is also sometimes desirable to deliver combustible gas mixtures into spaces in which they are burned, and it is necessary to prevent them from burning until they reach this space, which can be accomplished if a flame arrester is installed at the inlet to this space. It is also wise to install such flame arresters at the outlet of any space through which combustible gas mixtures pass if combustion or explosion in such space must be prevented so that combustionoutside said space will not be transmitted to that space.

An object of my invention is to provide a flame arrester in which the cooling Velements are in the form of circular metal plates, and a further object is to provide such an arrester in which the plates can be readily removed for cleaning. During the operation of a flame arrester, particles of scot or carbon may accumulate on the plates, and it is necessary from time to time to remove them and clean off the accumulated carbon, tar, and other foreign material.

In my flame arrester, I use plates in the form of circular metal discs which are spaced apart by dimples to provide Iiuid passageways between the plates, and these passageways are very likely to become clogged in continued use by the tar or carbon. I have devised means by which these discs can be readily removed from the flame a1- rester for cleaning whenever this is necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flame arrester through which the hot or cold gases are normally passed, and in which the plates or ame arrester elements may be removed without disconnecting the flame arrester from the conduit carrying the hot or cold gases, and still be able to keep these gases sealed in the system. The danger of asphyxiation is eliminated when opening the arrester to remove the plates. In practice, it is desirable to use two of these arresters in parallel so that one may be cleaned while the other is in operation when-continuous operation is essential.

this arrester shell having a closed end 32.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a section through the center of the device on a bent plane indicated by the line I--l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on a plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig'. 3 is an elevation of one end of the arrester.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the other end of the arrester.

Fig. 5 is an isometric View of the plug valve control mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a section on an enlarged scale through one of the plates on a plane represented by the line 6-6' of Fig. 2.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I provide a casing I I which is provided with fins I2 to better enable 'it to radiate heat. This casing has a conical valve chamber I3 formed therein and is provided with a primary cover I4 and a secondary cover I5. The primary cover I4 needs to be removed only at long intervals, and it is 'suflicient if it is secured to the casing II by bolts IIS. The secondary cover I5 must be removed at frequent intervals for the purpose of cleaning the soot and 'tar out of the arrester, and it is secured by more easily operated hand-wheels I'I turning on pivoted bolts I8. Fitting inside the conical valve chamber I3 is a valve body 2| which has a conical outer surface 'and a concentric cylindrical arrester chamber 22 formed therein. The casing Il has a casing inlet opening 23 and a casing outlet opening 24, and the valve body 2| has a valve inlet opening 25 Aand a valve outlet opening 26. The opening 2E is so placed that it communicates with the opening 24, and the opening 25 communicates with the opening 23 lwhen the arrester is in the open position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The extent of these openings circumferentially of the conical valve chamber I 3 is such that if the 'valve body 2l is turned through an angle of from the position shown in Fig. 2, the

openings

23 and 24 are closed, and there can be no passage of gas into the arrester.

A pin 21 is fixed in the valve body 2I and slides in a slot 28 in the cover I4, which slot is of sufficient length to allow this movement oi 90 to be made, stopping the rotation of the valve body 2| either in the open or in the closed 'position. The pin 21 is carried by the closed 'end 29 of the valve body 2l. In the cylindrical opening in the valve body 2I I place an arrester shell SI, A

other, leaving arrester slots therebetween. Thesey indentations 36 are preferably spherical, or symmetrical about the axis a-a, as shown in Fig. 6. They are so spaced, as shown in Fig. 2, that the indentations on one disc 35 do not coincide in position with those on an adjacent disc. The object of this is not only to space the discs 35 apart a predetermined distance, thus insuring small and definite passageways therebetween, but also to force the gases to pass in tortuous paths through the passageways with considerable turbulence, which assists in cooling any flame that may attempt to pass through the arrester.

Threaded in the end 32 of the arrester shell 3| is a bolt 4|, and secured to the outer end of the bolt 4| is a spacer and handle 42. The bolt 4! projects upwardly through cylindrical holes in the centers of the discs 35 and is provided on its upper end with a nut 43. A similar bolt 44 projects downwardly from the cover 33 and also has a nut 45 thereon. A loose sleeve 46 surrounds these nuts and is engaged thereby as the discs are separated.

When it is desired to clean the discs, the secondary cover l is removed by loosening the handwheels |I on the bolts I8, and, the spacer 42 being used as a handle, the arrester shell 3| containing the discs may be drawn downwardly as shown in Fig. l from the interior of the arrester. The discs can then separate due to the lost motion between the nut 43 and the sleeve 46, and the accumulation of tar and carbon there- .l

on can be cleaned off. The spacer 42 is of sufficient length to insure the arrester shell 3| aligning properly with the

holes

23 and 24 so that when the arrester is in open position, gases passing therethrough will pass through the arrester slots between the discs.

In practice, it is preferable to use two of these arresters in multiple so that when one is shut down the other may still be used without interrupting the passage of gas from its source. When it is desired to clean the arrester. the valve body 2| is turned through an angle of 90 from the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the interior of the valve body is isolated, the

openings

23 and 24 being closed by the wall of the valve body. For the purpose of turning the valve body, I provide a shaft 5| which projects through a stuffing box 52, and which carries an indicator pointer 53, this indicator pointer indicating the open or closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. It is desirable that the valve body 2| be rmly seated in the conical opening in the casing and for this purpose I provide means for pressing downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, on the outer end of the shaft 5|, thus forcing the valve body downwardly into tight contact with the conical opening in the casing. When the valve body is so pressed tightly down, it is almost impossible to turn it, and it is necessary to pull upwardly on the shaft 5|, rlrst loosening the valve body from the casing llbefore an attempt is made to rotate the valve body. For the purpose of providing a convenient means for both seating the valve body and rotating it, I provide the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and isometrically in Fig. 5. This mechanism consists 4 of bearing 6| rigidly supported on a plate which carries the pointer 53. Turning in the bearings 6| is a handle pivot 62 which has a central slot 63 into which a fulcrum nut 64 projects, this fulcrum nut being threaded and rigidly secured to the shaft 5|, as shown in Fig. 1. A handle 65 is provided on the handle pivot 62, and an eccentric pin 66 projects through the handle pivot and the fulcrum nut 64 which has a slot therein, as shown in Fig. 1. When the handle is turned from the position 61 to the position 68, it lifts the valve body 2|, as viewed in Figs. l and 5, thus releasing it from intimate contact with the conical opening in the casing The valve body will then turn freely, and the handle can be turned from the position 68 to a position 69. In the

positions

61 and 68, the pointer 53 indicates that the valve is open, and when the handle is turned to the position 69, the valve is in closed position. It is usual to then move the handle back into the vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5, toinsure tight contact with the walls and so that the valve will be tightly closed. With the valve handle 65 in the position 61, it is impossible to secure sufficient leverage to turn the valve body 2| when in contact with the casing thus preventing the body 2| or casing from becoming scored or marked and making hardened surfaces unnecessary.

The method of operation of my invention is as follows. With the parts in the positions shown in full lines in the drawings, hot gases pass upwardly through the

openings

23 and 25 into the interior of the arrester chamber and pass through the arrester slots between the plates. These plates tend to cool the gasesso that when they emerge from the arrester slots and pass through the

openings

26 and 24 they are sufficiently cool that flame propagation will not continue. The arrester is operated in this manner, the gases being cooled by passing therethrough, and also any large particles of carbon being arrested thereby, until the operator notes that the ilow of gas through the arrester is somewhat impeded by soot and tar on the plates, whereupon he moves the handle from the position shown at 61 to the position shown at 68, turn-s the arrester from the open to the closed position by turning the handle to the position 69, and then raises the handle back to the position 67. This operation rst frees the valve from the conical inner surface of the casing in the movement of the handle from the position 67 to the position 68. The valve is turned in the movement of the handle from the position 68 to the position 69, and the valve is again firmly seated by moving the handle up to the position 67. The valve has then been turned from the position shown in Fig. 2, and the

openings

23 and 24 are closed and sealed. The interior of the arrester is therefore taken out of the gas flow. The operator then loosens the hand-wheels I1, takes olf the secondary cover l5, pulls the arrester shell 3| out of the valve body, and the discs are in a position where they can be readily cleaned. If the system can be operated for short intervals without the arrester element, the operation can be accomplished in a few seconds and the arrester placed back in service without the element while being cleaned. The discs are cleaned, and the arrester shell is forced back into the valve body; the cover is replaced, and the hand-wheels tightened, so that the discs are in the positions shown in Fig. l. The operator then turns the handle from the position 61 to the position 69, which loosens the valve body from its seat, turns it from the closed to open position by moving the handle from the position S9 to the position 68, and again tightens the valve in its seat by raising the handle fnom the position 68 to the position Bl'. This operation can be very quickly performed without shutting down the flow of gas, which continues through-the companion arrester. It may be done by unskilled labor Without the use of tools, and a complete cleaning loi" the arrester takes only a very short time.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein which is concentric about an axis, said casing having side casing openings through which gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valve body tting in said valve chamber and rotatable about said axis and having an arrester chamber formed therein which has an` inner wall concentric about said axis, said body having side valve openings that register with the side ca-sing openings when the Valve body is in open position, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by the walls of said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having a bottom valve body opening; an arrester shell adapted to iill and turn freely in said valve body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve body, said arrester shell being of .such size that it may be readily withdrawn through said bottom casing opening, and having a disc chamber concentric about a disc axis formed therein; a series of discs so mounted in said disc chamber that there is a narrow slot or opening between adjacent discs, each disc being concentric about said disc axis; a bottom cover closing said bottom casing opening; and means outside said casing by which the valve body can be rotated.

2. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein which is concentric about an axis, said casing having side casing openings through which gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valve body tting in said valve chamber and rotatable about said axis and having an arrester chamber formed therein which has an inner wall concentric about said axis, said body havingl side valve openings that regi-ster with the side casing openings when the valve body is in open position, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by the walls of said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having a bottom valve body opening; an arrester shell adapted to ll and turn freely in said valve body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve` body, said arr-ester shell being of such size that it be readily withdrawn through said bottom casing opening, and having a disc chamber concentric about a disc axis formed therein; a series of discs so mounted in said disc chamber that there is a narrow slot or opening between adjacent discs, each disc being concentric about said disc axis; a bottom cover closing said bottom casing opening; an operating shaft secured to the upper portion of said valve body and projecting through the top of said casing; and means outside said casing by which -said shaft may be turned.

3. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein which is conical about an axis, said casing having side casing openings'through which' gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valvei body tting in said valve chamber and rotatable about said axis and having an arrester chamber formed therein which has an inner wall concentric about sai-d axis, said body having side valve openings that register with the side casing openings when the valve body is in open position, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by the walls of said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having a bottom valve body opening; anarrester'shell adapted to fill and .turn freely in 'said valve? body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve body, said arrester shell being of such size that. it may be readily withdrawn through said bottom casing opening, and having a disc chamber. concentric about'a dise axis formed therein; a series o1 vdiscs so mounted in said disc chamber thatthereis a narrow slot or opening between adjacent discs, each disc being concentric about said disc axis; a bottom cover closing said bottom casing opening; an operating shaft secured to the upper portion of said valve body and projecting through the'top of said casing; and means outside said casing by which said shaft may be turned and bywhich said valve body may be forced downwardly sol that its outer surface is in. tight contact with the wails of said valve chamber when said valve body is in its closed position.

4. ina name arrester, the combination of: a

' casing having a valve chamber therein which is concentric about an axis, said casing having side casing `openings through which gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valve' body itting in said vaive chamber androtatable about asid axis andhaving an arrester chamber formed therein which has an inner wall concentric about said axis, said body having side valve openings that register with theside casing openings when the valve body is in open' posi-tion, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by the walls of -said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve bodyhaving a'bottom valve body opening; an arrester shell adapted to iili and turn freely in said valve'body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve body, .sa-id arrester shell being of such size that it may be readily withdrawn through said boi-,tornl casing opening, and having a disc chamber concentric about a'disc axis formed therein, said arrester shell having a'bottorn; a removable cover for the top of said arrester shell; a series of discs so mounted in said disc chamber' that there is a narrow slot or opening between adjacent dis s, each'discv being concentric about said disc asis; abolt secured lin the bottom of said a rester shell and projecting upwardly along the axis of said shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a bolt secured in the cover of said arrester shell and projecting downwardlyalong the 0i said. shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a nuton the inner end of each bolt; a sleeve surrounding said bolts having a cavity in; which said bolts can slide'axially; means in which said bolts canfslid-e axially closing the ends ofsaid cavity so that the nuts on said bolts cannot be withdrawn. from said cavity: afbottom cover closing: saidbottom casing: opening;'anzd'means out` 7 side the valve casing by which the valve body can be rotated.

5. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein which is concentric about an axis, said casing having side casing openings through which gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valve body tting in said valve chamber and rotatable about said axis and having an arrester chamber formed therein which has an inner wall concentric about said axis, said body having side valve openings that register with the side casing openings when the valve body is in open position, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by the walls of said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having a bottom valve body opening; an arrester shell adapted to Iill and turn freely in said valve body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve body, said arrest-er shell being of such size that it may be readily withdrawn through said bottom casing opening, and having a disc chamber concentric about a disc axis formed therein, said arrester shell having a bottom; a removable cover for the top of said arrester shell; a series of discs so mounted in said disc chamber lthat there is a narrow slot or Opening between adjacent discs, each disc being concentric about said disc axis; a bolt secured in the bottom of said arrester shell and projecting upwardly along the axis of said shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a bolt secured in .the cover of said arrester shell and projecting downwardly along the axis of said shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a nut on the inner end of veach bolt; a sleeve surrounding said bolts having a cavity in which said bolts can slide axially; means in which said bolts can slide axially closing the ends of said cavity so that the nuts on saidbolts cannot be withdrawn from said cavity; a bottom cover closing said bottom casing opening; an operating shaft secured to the upper portion of said valve body and projecting? through the top of said casing; and means outside said casing by which said shaft may be turned.

6. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a

casing having a valve chamber therein which is' conical about an axis, said casing having side casing openings through which gas can pass through said chamber in a direction substantially at right angles to said axis, and a bottom casing opening; a valve body tting in said valve chamber and rotatable about said axis and having an arrester chamber formed therein which has an inner Wall concentric about said axis, said body having side valve openings that register with the side casing openings when the valve body is in open position, said side openings in said casing being closed, or blocked, by .the walls of said valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having a bottom valve body opening; an arrester shell adapted to ll and turn freely in said valve body and having side openings coinciding with the side openings in said valve body, said arrester shell being of such size that it may be readily withdrawn through said bottom casing opening, and having a disc chamber concentric about a vdisc axis formed therein, said arrester shell having a bottom; a removable cover for the top of said arrester shell; a series of discs so mounted in said disc chamber that there is a nar- IOW slot or opening between adjacent discs, each disc being concentric about said disc axis a bolt secured in the bottom of said arrester shell and projecting -upwardly along the axis of said shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a bolt secured in the cover of said arrester shell and projecting downwardly along the axis of said shell through openings in the centers of said discs; a nut on the inner end of each bolt; a sleeve surrounding said bolts having a cavity in which said bolts can slide axially; means in which said bolts can slide axially closing the ends of said cavity so .that the nuts on said bolts cannot be withdrawn from said cavity; a bottom cover closing said bottom casing opening; an operating shaft secured to the upper portion of said valve body and projecting through the top of said casing; and means outside said casing by which said shaft may be turned and by which said valve body may be forced downwardly so that its outer surface is in tight contact with the walls of said valve chamber when said valve body is in its closed position.

7. In a flame arrester, the'combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein, said casing having a casing inlet opening through which gases can enter said valve chamber, and a casing outlet opening through which gases may leave said chamber; a primary cover closing an opening in the .top of said chamber; a secondary cover closing an opening in the bottom of said chamber; a valve body rotatable in gas-tight relationship with and in said valve chamber, said valve body having an arrester chamber formed therein, said valve body having an inlet valve body opening, in the Wall thereof, through which gas may pass into said arrester chamber and an outlet valve body opening in the wall thereof through which gas may pass out of said arrester chamber, said valve body openings being so placed that the inlet valve body opening registers with said casing inlet opening, and said outlet valve body opening registers with said casing outlet opening, when said valve body is in its open position, said openings being of such size that the casing inlet and outlet openings are blocked by the valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having an opening in the bottom therey of the full size of said arrester chamber; a pile of arrester discs in said arrester chamber, said discs being of circular form with their surfaces radial to the axis of the flame arrester, said discs being so separated from each other that gas from said inlet valve body opening can pass to said outlet valve body opening; and a shaft rigidly connected to said valve body and extending through said primary cover by which said valve body may be turned by force applied thereto outside the flame arrester.

8. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein, said casing having a casing inlet opening through which gases can enter said valve chamber, and a casing outlet opening through which gases may leave said chamber; a primary cover closing an opening in the top of said chamber; a secondary cover closing an opening in the bottom of said chamber; a valve body rotatable in glas-tight relationship with and in said valve chamber, said valve body having an arrester chamber formed therein, said valve body having an inlet valve body opening in the wall thereof, through which g-as may pass into said larrester chamber and an outlet valve body opening in the wall thereof through which gas may pass out of said arrester chamber, said valve body openings being so placed that the inlet valve body opening registers with said casing inlet opening, and said outlet valve body opening registers with said casing outlet opening, when said valve body is in its open position, said openings being of such size that the casing inlet and outlet openings are blocked by the valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having an opening in the bottom thereof the lull size of said arrester chamber; a pile of arrester discs in said arrester chamber,

discs being of circular form with their surfaces radial to the axis o1 the ame arrester, said discs being so separated from each other that gas from said inlet valve body opening can pass to said outlet valve body opening; an arrester shell surrounding said arrester discs and fitting in said arrester chamber in said valve body, said arrester shell being open at the top so that the arrester discs can pass freely in and out of said shell, said arrester shell having inlet and outlet openings registering with the inlet and outlet openings in said valve body; and a shaft rigidly connected to said valve body and extending through said primary cover by which said valve body may be turned by force applied thereto outside the flame arrester.

9. In a flame arrester, the combination of: a casing having a valve chamber therein, said casing having a casing inlet opening through which gases can enter said valve chamber, and a casing outlet opening through which gases may leave said chamber; a primary cover closing an opening in the top of said chamber; a secondary cover closing an opening in the bottom of said chamber; a valve body rotatable in gas-tight relationship with and in said valve chamber, said valve body having an arrester chamber formed therein, said Valve body having an inlet valve body opening in the wall thereof, through which gas m-ay pass into said arrester chamber and an outlet valve body opening in the wall thereof through which gas may pass out of said arrester chamber, said valve body openings being so placed that the inlet valve body opening registers with said casing inlet opening, and said outlet valve body opening registers with said casing outlet opening, when said Valve body is in its open position, sai-d openings being of such size that the casing inlet and outlet openings are blocked by the valve body when said valve body is in its closed position, said valve body having an opening in the bottom thereof the full size of said arrester chamber; a pile of arrester discs in said arrester chamber, said discs being of circular form with their surfaces radial to the axis of the flame arrester, said discs being so separated from each other that gas from said inlet valve body opening can pass lto said outlet valve body opening; an arrester shell surrounding -said `arrester discs and tting in said arrester chamber in said valve body, said arrester shell being open at the top so that Athe arrester discs can pass freely in and out of said shell, said arrester shell having vinlet and outlet openings regi-stering with the inlet and outlet openings in said valve body, and said arrester shell having a bottom upon which said arrester discs rest; a Cover closing the opening in the top of said arrester shell; a bolt projecting downwardly from said cover along the central vertical axis of the arrester inside central openings in the arrester discs; a bolt projecting upwardly from the bottom of the arrester shell along the central vertical aXis of the arrester inside central openings in the arrester discs; means connecting said bolts so that `they may move Within limits coaxially with each other; and a shaft .rigidly connected to said valve body and extending through said primary cover by which said valve body may be turned by force applied thereto outside .the flame arrester.

10. An arrester as claimed in claim 7 in which: the valve body has a frusto-conical outer surface having a diameter that increases regularly from the bottom to the top thereof; the inner wall of the casing is so `coned as to t closely on -said valve body; and means are provided outside the arrester for exerting a downward pressure on the shaft attached to vthe valve body for the purpose of causing the Valve body to t tightly in the casing.

RICHARD =C. HALL.

REFERENCES Cl'IED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 424,305 Jones Mar. 25, 1890 691,529 Brophy Jan. 21, 1902 1,363,801 Merrill Dec. 28, 1920 1,646,013 Cornell, Jr. Oct. 18, 1927 1,681,698 Brooks Aug. 21, 1928 1,735,261 Calhoun Nov. 12, 1929 2,151,180 Anschicks Mar. 21, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,870 Great Britain (1904)--Feb. 9, 1905 87,751 Sweden Oct. 27, 1936