US2493474A

US2493474A - Generator burner with snap action control

Info

Publication number: US2493474A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Breese
Original assignee: BREESE BURNERS Inc
Current assignee: BREESE BURNERS Inc
Priority date: 1944-05-08
Filing date: 1944-05-08
Publication date: 1950-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1950 J. L. BREEsE 2,493,474

GENERATOR BURNER WITH SNAP ACTION CQNTROL Filed May 8,l 1944 yey" J'dweasi, reese Patented Jan. 3, 195o GENERATOR BURNER WITH SNAII ACTION ONTROL James L. Breese, Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Breese Burners, Inc., Santa Fe, N. Mex., a corporation of Delaware Application May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,558

7 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in generator type burners and has for one purpose to provide improved means for controlling the fuel supply to such burners.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for controlling the fuel supply to burners in general, where it is desired to maintain a storage or fuel supply member separate from but connected to a main source of liquid fuel supply.

Another purpose is to provide means for varying the flow of liquid fuel from a supply container to a receiving container in response to variations in the level of the liquid fuel in the receiving container.

Another purpose is to provide an improved iioat chamber for liquid fuel burners. i

Another purpose is to provide an improved float chamber and float controlled operating means for the supply valves controlling the flow of liquid to a tank.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for obtaining a quick or snap action of a movable valve member controlling the inflow of liquid to a tank.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are partial vertical sections through variant forms of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

My invention has been shown as applying to a generator type burner, but it will be understood that while this may be a preferred use, my invention is also applicable to other types of burners or to tanks for the storage or dispensation o of liquids other than liquid fuels.

Referring first to Fig. l:

I generally indicates a tank having a cover 2 and an intermediate wall 3 dividing the tank into two separate spaces which are connected by any suitable clearance or aperture 4. The righthand tank, as shown at A, constitutes a generator chamber for a generator type burner. I illustrate, for example, an outer air tube 5 having longitudinal slots 6, and an inner air tube 1 which is provided with slots, not shown in detail, and which may be rotated by the handle 8. The

tubes

5 and 1 are open at the top and air may flow downwardly through the tube land inwardly through the slots 6 to a generator space A. It will be understood that the

tubes

5 and 1 together constitute a shutter mechanism for admitting a variable supply of air to the interior of the generator chamber.

In generator burners of'this type, a generator flame or fire is maintained in the generator chamber and ...r'ves to vaporize liquid fuel which is burned in the burner, which will later be described. In the mechanism of Fig. l, the vaporized liquid fuel rises upwardly through the pipe I Il, which surrounds the upward extension of the

air inlet tubes

5 and 1. It passes thence through the arm I to the interior of the horizontally axised pot I of primary air inlets I3 located at various distances from the closed bottom or end of the pot. Adjacent the open end of the pot is a single row of secondary air inlet apertures I4. The otherwise open end of the pot is partially closed by the ring I5, with its central aperture I6. I1 indicates an outer skirt or housing having a large inlet aperture I8, through which the fuel inlet arm II extends.

After vaporizing combustion has been initiated in the generator or vaporizing chamber A, the vaporized fuel flows into the pot I2, where it receives primary air through the apertures I3. The mixture of air and vaporized fuel thus formed receives its secondary air supply throughair inlets Il, and at the high fire stage burns near the secondary air inlets I4 and the iiame ring aperture I8. 'I'he rate of combustion is controlled by controlling the rate of vaporization. This, in turn, is controlled by controlling the rate of inflow of air downwardly along the tube 1 and through the slots 6.

The length of the slot 8 permits my burner to operate through a wide fluctuation in the level of the fuel within the tank I. However, it is desirable to limit this fluctuation to a reasonably small range. A liquid fuel is supplied to the tank I along the fuel pipe 25, which, through an angle fitting 28, delivers fuel downwardly past' a valve seat 21 and a movable valve member 28. The valve fitting includes a downwardly open cylinder 29. The valve member 28 has a downwardly extending plunger 38 and a spring abutment 3|. The spring 32 is compressed between the abutment 3| and the valve fitting adjacent or surrounding the valve seat 21. The plunger 30 is adapted to abut against the float lever 33, pivoted,

as at 3l, to any suitable bracket 35. 36 indicates a float adapted to control the movement of the lever 33, and thus to control the position of the valve stem or plunger 30, the lever 33 has a bell crank lever arm 31, which is shown as notched, as at 38, and is in a toggle relationship with the arm 39 which is pivoted, as at 40, to the bracket 35. Il is a spring which tends to hold the arm 39 over center. In use, when the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1, the float 36 is effective to hold the valve in the closed position in which it is shown. As the level of the fuel drops, the float 38 will tend to fall with it. However. the toggle structure shown will for a time keep it in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

The pot I2 is shown as having a plurality When theme: the fuel :aus sufficiently for the weight of the lever 33 and the float 36 to overcome the .t

spring 4l, then the lever 33 and the float 36 will drop until the float is again supported on the liquid fuel. The position which the lever 33 will drop to will be sufficiently lower than the position in which the parts are shown iin Fig.` l to leave the valve stem or plunger a substantial distance in which to move. The spring 32 will then move the valve 28 to wide-open position and more fuel will flow along the pipe 25. toggle structure will have 4moved to the opposite side of center, and the float 38 will not at first overcome the force of the spring 4l. 1y the level of the fuel is high enough to throw the lever 31 over center, there will be a sharp upward movement of the lever 33, which will drive the valve 28 back to the fully closed position. I thus provide an effective snap action control for opening and closing the valve, to admit or cut on the supply of liquid fuel tothe tank I.

In Figure 2 I illustrate a similar structure save that in the place of the toggle mechanism of Figure l, I employ a permanent magnet 50, opposed to the arm 31a of the lever 33a. I thus obtain a snap -action at the opening of thev valve, because the pull of the magnet 50 has to be overcome. I also obtain a snap action inthe closing of the valve, because when the arm 31a approaches the -magnet 50, its final movement .will be a sharp i structur'eof Figure 1, but I substitute a heat re- However, meanwhile the When i'lnalv sponsive bellows for the float. I indicate a bracket 55 on the lower arm 56 of which is positioned the thin walled bellows 51, which is connected by A link 58a conlevel of the fuel drops, the bellows 51 becomes ini creasingly subjected to the heat of said combustion. The bellows, therefore, expands andy is shown in` Figure 3 in expanded position. In re,-

sponse to its expansion the lever.v 33h is moved up- 4 wardly and rocks the valve actuating leverv 33 open position. Y

The form of Figure 4 resembles the form of Figure 3, in that a heat responsive member is emlf ployed. I illustrate,`for example, a snap disc member 60, which is slightly concave or convex,

and which shifts in response to temperature changes. I illustrate it as positioned in a circum` ferential abutment 6I supported on any suitable' bracket structure 62. When the level oi' the liquid all forms of the device I illustrate a valve cony about its Divot, thus moving the valve stem 30 to rather than as limiting me to my specinc disclosure.- There is a slight clearance 15 between the cover 2 and partition wall 3 in each form oi' device.' That clearance is sumclent to permit air and'gas passage and equalize the pressure in the generator chamber and in the chamber in which the control mechanism is mounted.

The use andl operation of my invention are as follows: g

In generatortype burners, a generator tank or container is employed in which a generating name or combustion is maintained to'vaporize liquid fuel which passes to a zone of combustion after being mixed with vsufficient air to forma fully combustible mixturek It may be convenient and eillcient tov employ a generator chamber of sumcient size to hold liquid fuel suillcient for a relatively long voperation ofthe burner. Under some circumstances, however, it is advantageous to connect the generator chamber with a remote source of liquid fuel and to provide means for maintaining anv adequate supply of liquid fuel in the generator chamber.- I therefore illustrate a generator chamber element I, withan intermediate partition 3, which divides the chamber into a generator portion' and a float chamber portion. A substantial fluctuation of level is permitted, but the iloat or control structure shown in the various drawings, attached hereto, provide means for causing the `supply of additional fuel when the level of fuel in the tank approaches the low side, while shutting of! the additional supply of fuel when the level in the tank reaches a predetermined height.

Referring to Fig. l, I illustrate a simple iloat which, as it raises and lowers, moves the valve member 2 8 out of or into. closedI position. In order to insure a snap action, which tends to Iprevent sticking of the valve, I provide a toggle structure as shown in Fig.l 1. In Fig. 2 I obtain a similar snap action by vemploying the permanent magnet 50. In Fig. 3, I substitute a heat responsive bellows for the oats shown in Figs. l and 2, and in Fig. 4 I employ a heat responsive blmetallic concavo-convex warping member. In

trol compartment associatedv with the generator chamber and employing .variations in the level i of the fuel in the generator chamber to control the inflow of liquid fuel.

WhereI khave shown my invention as applied to a generator type burner, it will be understood p that my snap action means maybe employed in covers the member yBI and is protected from the heat `of combustion in the generator chamber A, it is in the valve closing position. controlling the valve by maintaining an` upward thrustagainst the `valve stem 30h. When the level drops and the member is subjected to the heat of com-v bustion, it snaps downwardly and sharply with` draws the valvestem 30h to the valve opening position. As the member-t0 willralways move with asnap action, I thus provide an eilicient snap action control for actuating the fuel inlet valve.

connection with a wide. variety of uses ywhere a liquid is to be intermittently supplied to a tank in order to compensate for the removal of the contents of the tank.V

I claim:v f

1. In a fuelsupply tank system for vaporizing type burners, a vaporizing chamber, an air inlet y ductextending from the upper portion of the chamber downwardly below the level of fuel in said chamber, a vapor outlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extending thereto. partition means between the two chambers y I the vaporizing chamber, a movable valve member mounted in the fuel inlet and controlling the ilow of fuel to the fuel inlet chamber, and means in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic 73 responsive to variation in the common level of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving said valve member.

2. In a fuel supply tank system for vaporizing type burners, a vaporizing chamber, an air inlet duct extending from the upper portion of the chamber downwardlybelow the level of fuel in said chamber, a vapor outlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extending thereto, partition means between the two chambers adapted and disposed to permit air communication between the two chambers above the level of the fuel therein, and to maintain liquid communication between the two chambers while shielding the liquid fuel in the fuel inlet chamber from generating combustion taking place in the vaporizing chamber, a movable valve member mounted in the fuel inlet and controlling the flow of fuel to the fuel inlet chamber, means responsive to variation in the common level of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving said valve member, and means for imparting a snap action to said valve member, between fully opened and fully closed position.

3. In a fuel supply tank system for vaporizing type burners, a vaporizing chamber, an air inlet duct extending from the upper portion of the chamber downwardly below the level of fuel in said chamber, a vapor outlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extending thereto, partition means between the two chambers adapted and disposed to permit air communication between the two chambers above the level of the fuel therein, and to maintain liquid communication between the two chambers while shielding the liquidfuel in the fuel inlet chamber from generating combustion taking place in the vaporizing chamber, a movable valve member mounted in the fuel inlet and controlling the now of fuel to the fuel inlet chamber, means responsive to variation in the common level of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving said valve member, and means for imparting a snap action to said valve member, between fully opened and fully closed position, said means including a permanent magnet, and a metal part opposed thereto.

4. In a fuel supply -means for burners of the vaporizing type, a vaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel for vaporization, and having a v'apor outlet, a fuel receiving chamber, in communication with the Vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive and contain a supply of liquid fuel having a vcommon level with the liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to the fuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valve member therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of the liquid in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out of closed position the vapor outlet furnishing the sole path for discharge of fuel from the generator chamber.

5. In a fuel supply means for burners of thel vaporizing type, a vaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel for vaporization, and having a vapor outlet, a fuel receiving chamber, in communication with the vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive and contain a supply of liquid fuel having a common level with the liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to the fuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valve member therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of the liquid-in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out of closed position, including a', float member positioned in the fuel inlet chamber the vapor outlet furnishing the `sole path for discharge of fuel from the generator chamber.

6. In a fuel supply means for burners ofthe vaporizing type, a vaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel for vaporization, and having a vapor outlet,and a fuel receiving chamber, in communication with the vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive and contain a supply of liquid fuel' having a common level with the liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to the fuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valve member therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of the liquid in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out of closed position, including means for imparting a snap action to said valve member, between fully opened and fully closed position the vapor outlet furnishing the sole path valve member therefor, and means responsive to generator chamber.

JAMES L. BREESE.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 188,238 Dour Mar. 13, 1877 219,306 Reed Sept. 2, 1879 492,440 Skaggs Feb. 28, 1893 741,962 Grouvelle et al. Oct. 20, 1903 876,457 Hoffman Jan. 14, 1908 970,044 Hamilton Sept. 13,1910 994,223 Underwood June 6, 1911 1,072,242 Libby Sept. 2, 1913 1,113,966 Dunn Oct. 20, 1914 1,116,789 Bothwell Nov. 10, 41914 1,116,790 Bothwell Nov. 10, 1914 1,143,582 Hamilton June 15, 1915 1,153,178 Silk Sept. 7, 1915 1,157,671 Bradley Oct. 26, 1915 1,537,324 Sherman May 12, 1925 1,637,983 Beckley Aug. 2, 1927 1,641,540 Lewington et al. Sept. 6, 1927 1,745,762 Honiss Feb. 4, 1930 1,977,196 Mainzer Oct. 16, 1934 2,317,556 Russel Apr. 27, 1943