US2608201A

US2608201A - Manually actuated valve with safety fitting

Info

Publication number: US2608201A
Application number: US635189A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guy J Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-12-15
Filing date: 1945-12-15
Publication date: 1952-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-26

Description

G. J. HENRY 2,608,201

MANUALLY ACTUATED VALVE WITH SAFETY FITTING Flled Dec 15 1945 INVENTOR. 64g Jflera/y, BY 7 MM M Aug. 26, 1952 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT MAM-Jenny AGTUATED VALVE wrrn sar -Err FITTING Guy. JrHenry, Arlington Heights, Ill. hpp'licationifiecemhcr 15, 1945,;Serial No.'635,'1 89 This invention relates to improvements in valves, in particular to a three-port valve havine primary utility in a refrigerant system, irr'associ ation with the liquid refrigerant receiver between the condenser and. the expansion-valve-and coil. 7

It isanobject of the invention re provide a valve for refrigerant-or like fluid compression systems which embodies'in a single-unit novel means for performing plural functions of" admitting andcontrolling exit of the refrigerantor working fluid rromthe'recei-ver, as-we'll assafeguarding the system during operation; which functions have heretofore been performed" by'a plurality of separate installations.

A further object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and readily applied valve which, when associated with the standard dip tube of a refrigerant' or related fluid receiver, servesto provide separated intake and discharge chambersfor incoming and withdrawn liquid, with a .rupturable and/or fusible blow-out element insuring safety at all times in the operation of the-receiver and associated system.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general wayof the nature of theinvention, but other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

Various-embodiments-of the invention are presented herein for the purpose ofexemplificati'on,

but it will be appreciated that the invention. is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within. the scope of" the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig; 1 is an enlargedv fragmentary view in. sec tion illustrating the improved multi-port valve of this invention operatively associated with a tank, refrigerant receiver or like pressure container; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views illustrating modified or alternative forms or: ruptur-able and/ or fusible elements adapted to be associated with the valve in substitution for the corresponding element shown in Fig. 1.

In the usual construction. of refrigerant receiver tanks to which liquid. refrigerant is returned from the. condenser,, separate fitting-s or It is desirable to: provide a:

pressure relief element in the line'; prefer-ably in association with the receiver, to 'insure sa'fety under excessive pressure conditions which may arise in the operation of the system, andtoithis end it has been proposed to incorporate such a ruptu-rable or fusible"- element in one or another of the'several' standard liquidinlet and discharge fittings.

By the present invention I provide a'multiport valve which; is primarily intended for association with a refrigerant-receiver 'as-asingle valve unit, in which'the unit is mounted'fi u xtaposition to and in communication with the conventional liquid discharge dip tube of thereceiver and'in which said di i tuhe coacts with the valve unit inproviding separated inlet and discharge chambers in a novel manner. A 'rupturable and/orfusibl'e blow-out element'is constructed-as a part of said valve unitin such manner that the receiverandsystem as a whole-are protected from undue pressure in the receiver; or from undue heat generated inoperation; Whi'le features of the invention are well adapted for use in connection with-storage tanks or containers other than refrigerant receivers; it is'i'n fc'onnection with thelatter" that the valve unithas demonstrated marked advantages; therefore; the valve will be 'describedin that setting; 1

Referring to the drawings, thereferenc'e numeral +0 in general designatesastandardrefrigi erant receiver having a hollow idip itubel'l extending therein'to beneath the: surface or liquid therein for-the withdrawal "of such liquid from the receiver when required, as controlled by the valve unit iii-question.

Thevalve of the invention. is designated 1'2, consisting of avhousin'g" l3: ada ted atits lower end to hesecured with a pressure-tights'ealiin anaperture' l"5* at the topof the" receiver I'll. With slight modification this connection may hemad'e at any other appropriate oint on the'receiver other than the top" thereof.

The valve 'housingl3 is axially bored" to' ib-I vide a cylindrical lower'inlet chamber [.61offsuhistantial diameter and axial length; A- restricted cylindrical throat IT coaxially communicating with the chamber lfi -serves-toconncdtthatchamher, normalcperaticn, with an upper'counterhored discharge-chamher-ltr The-dip tube It is. fixedly secured at its-upper endinthe-t-hroat 3 which leads from below the liquid level to throat I1 and upper discharge chamber I8 in the valve housing. A restriction IT in throat I! serves as an upper stop for tube I I in the assembly thereof. A discharge pipe I9 leading to the refrigerator expansion valve and evaporator coil is in communication with chamber I8 above throat II, which latter serves as a seat for a valve member 20. Member is a shut-off valve, having'a stem 2I which is threadedly engaged at 22 with the inner wall of the valve housing and extending upwardly above the top of the latter. The housing is externally threaded coaxially of the stem at. 1

23 for the reception of a closure or protective cap 24, with a washer or gasket 24' interposed, and the top of the stem '2I is shaped at 2 I to receive a wrench or like actuating tool for the opening and closing of valve 20. A leak-proof seal along stem 2| is attained by means of a soft metal packing collar I4 surrounding the stem and is axially and radially compressed around the stem, against a conical faced ring llflby a compression nut I4" telescoped on the stem and threaded internally in the housing. It will be understood that valve 20 is normally open to discharge liquid from conduit I I to the'coil of the system, but is closed against throat I! when it is desired to shut off the system.

A threaded rupturable and/or fusible blow-out element- 25 is replaceably associated with the valvein a tapped opening26 which-communicates with the annular inlet chamber I6 at a point diametrically opposite an inlet fitting 21 opening to said chamber, This fittingis secured in the-valve housing by a soldered force fit and will in operation be communicated by a liquid flow line with the refrigerant condenser of the system. I

In operation, condensed liquid flows through the inlet fitting and annular chamber I6 to be collected in the receiver and withdrawn there- 1 from to the expansion valve through the dip tube II and a connecting line including throat I7, chamber I8 and pipe I9. Receivers of thetype under consideration normally operate atpressures in the neighborhood of 175 pounds per squareinch; and should the pressure in the receiver I0 rise dangerously above that value, the blow-out element 25 is designed to yield and relieve the excess of pressure. Said element, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, takes the form of an integral, molded metal or plastic element having a central, thin, membrane-like wall 28 on the side toward chamber I6 which is relatively weak and adapted to yield to the excess pressure. The thickness and area of this wall will vary in accordance with the strength of the particular material employed, these being matters which are readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art. Likewise, provisions other than a relatively thin wall may be incorporated in element 25 to impart rupturability. If desired, the material of the element 25 may also be of thermally fusible character, melting at and above a predetermined maximum temperature to relieve pressure and halt operation of the system.

In Fig. 2 I illustrate a modified embodiment of blow-out element, generally designated 29, which may be employed in substitution for the element 25 of Fig. 1. In this form there is provided a fitting 30 which may have a press and soldered fit at one end in the valve housing I3 at the same location as the element 25. A hollow nut-like clamping tip 3| is threaded on the opposite end of the fitting to clamp therebetween the separate cap-like rupturable and/0r fusible blow-out element 32. The latter has a frusto-conical annular skirt 33 engageable between correspondingly shaped surfaces on the fitting and clamping nut for this purpose; and will be stamped from an adequately thin gauge of sheet metal, molded from a plastic, or otherwise fabricated. A material may be employed which will soften and rupture at a predetermined maximum temperature and pressure condition.

In Fig. 3 1 illustrate a further special and highly effective, modified embodiment of blow-out element, in the form of an integral, one-piece fitting 34 of plastic or metal of the desired qualities.

- This fitting is threaded at 35 for reception in the valve body and has an outwardly curved or convex, relatively thin, membranous blow-out wall 36 on the end thereof opposite the valve body in the operative position of the fitting. An integral annular rib or bead 3'I surrounds the member 36, projecting axially outwardly beyond the same, so as to serve as a protective bumper or shield for the latter, safeguarding the samefrom accidental rupture.

It is to be understood that Icontemplate the use of a rupture-element for the purpose of safeguarding the receiver I 0, or a system with which it is associated, from the effect of either excessive pressure or excessive temperature, orboth, 'as circumstances may require.- Hence, when the terms frupture and rupturable or their equivalent are,employed in the claimsto follow, they shouldbeconstrued to cover an element which is yieldable due to mechanical or structural failure, as under excess pressure, or by fusing or destruction under excessive temperature, or under the effect of both phenomena. Y

I claim:

l. A valve comprising a hollow valve body having an internal valve chamber, a further chamber spaced from said valve chamber in axial alignment therewith and openingv to the exterior of said body, and a passage communicating said chambers with one another, a straight tubular element extendingthrough said further chamber and terminating g externally thereof, said element being in sealed communication withone end of said'passage to provide inner and .outer supply and discharge spaces within said further chamber on opposite sides of the Wall of said tubular element, said passage terminating at its opposite end in a valve seat coaxial with said tubular element and facing said valve .chamber, a shut-off valve threadedly engaged with said body for movement in said valve chamber coaxially'of the latter and saidtubular element and into and out of engagement with said valve seat, thereby controlling said passage, said body having an inlet port opening to said outer space of said further chamber and a discharge port through theside wall of saidvalve chamber, and a replaceabl'e, readily rupturable element carried by said body in exposed relation to said outer chamber space. l V

2. A valve construction comprising a hollow tubular body sub-divided internally to provide a valve chamber and a further chamber in axial alignment with said valve chamber which opens to the exterior of the body, said body being provided with an axial passage adapted to communicate said chambers, which passage terminates atone end in an annular valve seat facing said valvechamber, a straight tubular element extending axially through said further chamber and terminating externally thereof, said tubular element being in sealed communication with the end of said passage opposite said valve seat and serving to sub-divide said further chamber into concentric inner and outer spaces, said body having ports through the side wall thereof opening respectively to said valve chamber and to the outer space of said further chamber, and a shut-01f valve member threadedly engaging said body for movement in said valve chamber coaxially of the latter and said tubular element and into and out of sealing engagement with said valve seat.

GUY J. HENRY.

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

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Collier Mar. 11, 1879 De Rycke Feb. 9, 1897 Bernstein Nov. 29, 1910 Spahn Nov. 20, 1928 Hausmann Dec. 3, 1929 Weatherhead Aug. 22, 1933 White Oct. 17, 1939 Punte July 14, 1942' Paquin et al. Nov. 30, 1943 Sundstrom Feb. 15, 1944 McKeague Mar. 6, 1945