US2628296A

US2628296A - Flow switch

Info

Publication number: US2628296A
Application number: US169200A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earnest J Dillman
Original assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Current assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Priority date: 1950-06-20
Filing date: 1950-06-20
Publication date: 1953-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-10

Description

Feb. 10, 1953 E. J. DILLMAN 2,628,296

FLOW swrrcu Filed June 20, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 FLOW SWITCH Earnest J. Dillman, Detroit, Mich assignor to Detroit Lubricatorflompany, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application June 2%, 1950, Serial No. 169,260

This invention relates to new and useful improvements. in flow responsive control devices and more particularly to a flow responsive switch.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a flow responsive control device of a new and improved construction.

Another object is to provide a flow responsive switch which is actuated without the use of packing or other sealing means.

Another object is to provide afiow responsive switch which is operated by cooperating magnetic members one of which is movable by a flow responsive diaphragm;

Another object is to provide a flow responsive switch which may .be. accurately calibrated to determine the flow at which erate. v

Other objects will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

This invention comprises v:the new and improved construction and combination of parts which will be described 1 more fully hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing to be taken as part of this specification there is clearly and fully illustrated one preferred embodiment of this invention, in which drawing the figure shown is a longitudinal section through this how responsive switch.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference there is shown a flow responsive switch structure generally designated as 'l and-comprising a fluid flow casing 2 having an inlet -.3 and 2 creams. (c1. soc-fins) the same 7 will opan outlet 4. The casing 2 may be a standard valve casing or could be especially designed for this purpose if desired.

Within the casing 2 there is an'internal wall or partition 5 having a threaded aperture -6 therein. Threadedly ,securedinlthe aperture 6 is a plug member 1 having an orifice 8 of predetermined size therein which provides a calibrated retriction for the passageway of'which the-casing forms a part. Within the casing 2 and extending directly beneath the orifice 8 there is a passage 9 which is closed by a threaded plug member It. Overlying the orifice 3 the casing 2 has a tubular extension l l providing an enlargedthreaded aperture l2.

A hollow tubular plug I 3 is threaded within the aperture 12 and has a flange M and anannular rim or sealing surface I5 engaging a sealing gasket I; seated in an annular recess in the end wall of the casing projection H. A diaphragm the orifice 8 and out of the outlet 4.

ll is positioned across and closes the upper open end of the tubular plug l3 and is held in positicn by a cap member [8 which is threadedly secured on the upper end of the plug 13 above the flange M. The plug member l3 has a wall or plate member [9 secured at its lower end and has an aperture 2a which intercommunicates the in let side of the casing and the space below the diaphragm ll. Extending through an aperture in the plate or wall member 19 and overlying the orifice 8 is a bolt or adjustment screw 2| for controlling operation of the diaphragm 17. There is a nut or other threaded member 22 threadedly carried on the bolt 2| and which has secured to it as by soldering one end of a spring lhe other end of the spring 23 is secured to a member 24 which in turn is secured as by a rivet 25 to the diaphragm-l1, the rivet 25 also securing in position a magnetic armature 26 carried by the upper face of the diaphragm IT. From the lower side of the casing 2 and opening from the passage 9 a conduit 21 or other passageway connects to the space enclosed above the diaphragm I! by the cap member l8. The com duit 21' is threadedly secured at its upper end in a passage 28 which opens through aperture 29 into the space above the diaphragm IT. A switch casing 30 is carried by the cap member 58 and has pivotally mounted therein an operating leverti for operating the switch structure generally designated as 32. One end of the lever 3| adjustably carries a magnet 33 which is positioned adjacent a wall portion 34 of reduced thickness in the cap member 18.

Operation This how responsive switch arrangement would have most frequent use in arrangements where as a matter of safety a flow of Water is required before certain appliances are permitted to operate. One example of this is in garbage disposal grinding units which are used in connection with sinks or plumbing fixtures and wherein it is desirable that the motor of the disposal unit not be allowed to operate unless cold water is run- .ning.

v This unit would be installed in series with the cold water valve with the water flowing through the casing 2 from the inlet 3 through When the valve with which this flow switch is connected in series is closed there is no pressure drop through the casing 2 and the pressure on the opposite sides of the diaphragm I! would be equal.

At this point the spring 23 pulls the diaphragm I! and armature 26 away from the wall 34 and magnet 33. When the main line valve is open to permit flow of water there is established a pressure drop through the orifice 8. The pressure on the inlet side of the orifice 8 is the higher pressure and is communicated through the aperture 2010 the space within the hollow plug l3 underneath the diaphragm IT. The pressure on the outlet side of the orifice 8 is communicated through the passage 9, conduit 21 and aperture 29 to the space overlying the diaphragm IT. The diaphragm I1 is thus subjected to the differential of pressure across the orificefi. The difierential of pressure through the casing 2 or across the orifice 8 will cause the diaphragm I? to move the armature 26 upward toward the thin wall portion 34 of the cap member [8. The cap memher is and wall portion 34 are of anon-magnetic material so as not to interfere with the magnetic attraction between the magnet 33 and armature 25.. As the armature 26 moves closer to the wall as the magnet 33 is attracted to it 'moving the lever 31 to actuate the switch mechanism 32. across the orifice 8 to operate the diaphragm I1 and actuate the switch mechanism is determined by the force exerted by the spring 23. The tension exerted by the spring 23 is determined by the adjustment bolt 2! and may be varied by adjustment of said bolt. The slotted head of the adjustment bolt 2!, the orifice 8, the passage 9 and the end of the passage 9 closed by the plug 50' arearranged in alignment so that the plug is may be removed and a screwdriver inserted therein for adjustment of the bolt 2| to vary the force of the-spring 23. It should also be noted that the passage from the outlet side of the casing through the conduit 27 might be incor* porated in the casing 2 itself rather than through a separate conduit.

The form of flow responsive switch herein shown and described has the distinct advantage of providing a simple magnetically actuated means for operating the switch 32 in response to fiow of fiuid through the casing 2. By this arrangement the flow responsive mechanism does not have to operate through packing vor other suitable sealing means and thus frictional losses are avoided which might impair the While there is shown in this application only one form of this invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that there are numerous variations which might be made without departing from the scope and intent as herein set forth which is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

" Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Pat- 'ent of the United States is:

1. In a flow responsive switch, a fluid flow passageway, an orifice in said passageway for producing a pressure drop therethrough, a diaphragm positioned away from said passageway,

second and third passageways leading from op- The pressure difierential required posite sides of said orifice to opposite sides of said diaphragm, spring means cooperable with said diaphragm to determine the pressure differential required to move the same, adjusting means for said spring means, a nonmagnetic wall, cooperable movable magnet and armature members positioned on opposite sides of said wall, one of said members being movable by said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential thereacross, said diaphragm moving said one member toward and away from said wall to attract or release the other of said members to control movement thereof, a lever member carrying said other member and movable thereby, and a switch operated by movement of said lever member. r

2. A flow responsive switch mechanism, comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for flow of fluid therethrough, a partition within said casing having a threaded aperture therein, a plug. member having an orifice of predetermined size threaded in said aperture, said casing having a passage and aperture below said orifice, a th'readed plug closing said last-named aperture, said casing having an enlarged threaded apertu're'toverlying said orifice, a hollow tubular plug-threaded in said last-named aperture, a diaphragm extending across the upper end of said hollow: plug, a cap member threadedly secured to'said hollow plug and securing the p riphery of said diaphragm in position, a passageway extending from below said orifice through said cap member into the space overlying said diaphragm-"said hollow plug having an aperture inter-communicating the space above said orifice and the under side of said diaphragm, said cap member having a thin wall of non-magnetic material, a 'magnet movably carried over said cap member adjacent said wall, a magnetic armature carriedby-said diaphragm and movable thereby towardrand away from said wall to attract or release saidmagnet, a switch, a lever for operating said switch carrying said magnet, a threaded bolt carried within said hollow plug and having a nut adjustably positioned thereon, a spring secured to'said nut at one end and connected to said diaphragm at the other end, said diaphragm being movable in response to a difierential of pressure across said orifice to cause said armature and magnet to actuate said switch; and said second-named aperture, said orifice, and said bolt being aligned to permit access to said bolt for adjusting the compression or tension on said spring.

' EARNEST J. DILLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS in the 266,831 Italy Aug. is, 1929