US2653470A

US2653470A - Radiator valve tester

Info

Publication number: US2653470A
Application number: US44191A
Authority: US
Inventors: Couper Maxwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-08-13
Filing date: 1948-08-13
Publication date: 1953-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-29

Description

Sept. 29, 1953 M. COUPER I 2,653,470

RADIATOR VALVE TESTER Filed Aug. 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor NAXW L L (Oi EP Attorney Patented Sept. 29, 1953 'UNITED STATES ATENT' oFFicE; f

RADIATOR VALVE TESTER Maxwell Couper, Lawrence, Kans.

Application August 13, 1948, Serial No. 44,191

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to radiator valve testers and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the testing of the conventional radiator valves which are thermostatically controlled and which are commonly called traps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character set forth which is wholly portable, simple and inexpensive in its construction and effective and eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means, in an apparatus of the character set forth, for determining the functioning of a radiator valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for holding a valve to be tested in an apparatus of the character set forth.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of boiler and control valves for steam-testing conventional radiator valves.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, illustrating certain details of construction,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an element of the invention.

Generally there is provided a radiator valve tester comprising a boiler having an electrical heating unit in the bottom thereof and provided with a pressure indicator at the top thereof. The top is also provided with a pair of valved fittings, one of which has connection with the bottom of a funnel and the other of which extends upwardly to connect with a radiator-valve receiving head which is provided with a hinged clamp of novel construction for holding a radiator valve rigidly in connection with the head and over the funnel. A relief valve is mounted in the upper end of the boiler and electrical connection is provided for the heating element.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

there is showntherein a radiator valve tester having a boiler l0 provided with supportinglegs H and having a conventional electric heater element l2 affixed to the bottom thereof. A male electrical connector H3 is provided at one side of the boiler for connection with a source of electrical energy. I

In the top of the boiler there is provided a pressure indicator I4 and a relief valve l5.

There is also provided a pair of fittings l6 and I! provided with valves l8 and I9, respectively.

To the upper end of the fitting I'l there is threadably connected the spout of a funnel 2| and to the upper end of the fitting Hi there is threadably connected a pipe 22 whose upper end is connected by a coupling 23 to a dependant connecting member 24 of a head 25 provided with a convex face 26. A passage 21 leads from the face 26 inwardly of the head to connect with a vertical passage 28 in the member 24 to thereby, in turn, communicate with the interior of the pipe 22.

The head 25 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending ears 29 to which are pivotally connected the ends of a strap-like substantially oval-shaped clamp 30 which is provided with a centrally disposed enlarged portion 3| in which is threaded a shaft 32 having a pointed inner end 33 and which has an operating handle 34 at its outer end.

In operation, a radiator valve 35 of the type having a thermostat incorporated therein as a part thereof is positioned with its horizontal fitting 36 in abutment with the face 26 of the head 25, after which the clamp 30 is brought to a horizontal position and the handle 34 turned to bring the pointed end 33 of the shaft 32 into engagement with the valve 35, the vertically de-' pendant fitting 31 being positioned directly over the funnel 2| in the meantime. To test the valve 35 the connector I3 is connected to a source of electrical current preferably by means of a cord having a convenient switch therein. To speed up the testing operation the boiler may be filled with hot water, but if such is not available, then, of course, it may be filled with cold water and the filling operation is performed by opening both valves I8 and I9 and pouring the water into the funnel 2|.

The valve 35 having been properly positioned, the valves is and !9 are then closed and when a reading of, for example, 10 pounds is had upon the indicator I4, the valve l8 will then be opened. If the valve 35 is in good and proper condition, water and steam will flow through the fitting 3 18, pipe 22,

passages

28 and 21, valve 35 and thence to the funnel 2|. At this time, if the valve is in proper working order, its thermostat will act to close the same and hence the pressure indicator M will again register a rise in pressure in the boiler I0 and no further flow of steam and water will take place from the fitting 31 to the funnel 2|. If, however, the valve 35 is defective, water and steam will continue to flow into the funnel and the pressure indicator M will show a zero reading. After a valve 35 has been tested the electrical supply is cut 011 and pressure allowed to return to zero after which the valve I 9 is opened to allow any accumulation of water in the funnel to return to the boiler [6. The valve 35 is then removed and the apparatus is ready for the next test.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A radiator valve tester for valves having a laterally extending inlet port and a dependant outlet port comprising a boiler, an electrical heating unit afii xed to the bottom of the boiler, a source of electrical energy for the heating unit, a pair of valved fittings in the top of the boiler, a funnel connected to one of the fittings, a head having a passage therethrough and adapted to receive the inlet port of a valve to be tested, a pipe interconnecting the head with the other valved fitting and a clamp for holding the valve to be tested with its discharge opening above the funnel said clamp being pivoted to the head and having an inwardly directed pointed shaft threadably mounted at a point opposite the pivotal connections with the head.

MAXWELL COUPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,637,956 Moriarty Aug. 2, 1927 1,661,323 Crosthwait Mar. 6, 1928 2,014,836 Cowan Sept. 17, 1935 2,026,079 White et a1. Dec. 31, 1935 2,084,683 Hewitt 1- June 22, 1937 2,183,189 Gormley Dec. 12, 1939 2,462,116 MacLachlan Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 453,148 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1936