US2667215A

US2667215A - Automatic feed line cutoff and drain for oil burners

Info

Publication number: US2667215A
Application number: US169154A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald E Pressey; Joseph M Conley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-20
Filing date: 1950-06-20
Publication date: 1954-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-26

Description

1954 D. E. PRESSEY ET AL 2,667,215

AUTOMATIC FEEDLj-NE CUTOFF AND DRAIN FOR on. BURNERS Filed June 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 26, 1954 PRESSEY ET AL 2,667,215

AUTOMATIC FEED LINE CUTOFF AND DRAIN FOR OIL BURNERS Fild June 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2Q FC'Q.

1 I a, I o x as 56 a g g 16 as 16 60 L53? -fi 9 I r IN VENTORS J M Conley. 11E .Pressey D BY Known Patented Jan. 26, 1954 AUTOMATIC FEED LINE CUTOFF AND DRAIN FOR OIL BURNERS Donald E. Pressey, Stillwater, and Joseph M. Conley, Orono, Maine Application June 20, 1950, Serial No. 169,154

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved oil burner feed system and more particularly to a novel automatic feed line cut-off and drain especially suitable for use in conjunction with range burners and the like.

As is well known, the safe operation of a type of range burner prevalently in use requires that the oil level in the burner bowl shall not exceed a certain height, while flooding of the bowl involves a definite fire hazard.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to .provide a safety device wherein, if for any reason the burner bowl should become flooded with oil, the supply of oil to the burner will be automatically cut off.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein as excess oil becomes present in the burner bowl, such excess oil will be drained therefrom into the safety device, and wherein, after the oil in the safety device reaches a given level, said device will be automatically actuated to shut off the supply of oil to the burner.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a safety device wherein, after the supply of oil to the burner has been shut off, the oil feed line extending between the device and the burner as well as the burner bowl will be drained of the oil therein.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following description thereof; and in the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic sectional view showing our improved safety device installed.

Figure 2 is a vertical section showing the device set.

Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the device tripped.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section showing the plunger set.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section showing the plunger set.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view particularly showing the float lever and trigger bracket.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l of the drawings, we have shown a conventional range at 8. Mounted therein is a stand 9 which carries burners in each including a bowl I l. The structural details of the burners are not especially important. A conventional fuel tank is shown' at l2, said tank being arranged near the range 8, and mounted at a point between the tank and range is a valve unit l3 including a metering valve I 4 for each of the burners I0. The unit 13 is conventionally shown.

As seen in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, our improved safety device includes an oblong casing [5 at one end of which is a float chamber 16, while at the other end of the casing is a plunger chamber IT, and closing the casing is a removable cover [8' which, between said chambers, carries an inspection plate I 9. The plate [9 is freely removable to permit access to the casing.

At one side thereof, the float chamber I6 is provided with a nipple 29, and removably secured to said chamber at the upper end thereof is a cap 2| which carries a shut-off valve fitting 22. Clamped between the cap. 2| and the float chamber is a pliable diaphragm 23 which closes communication between said chamber and the cap, and fixed to said diaphragm is a shut-off valve 24 which extends through the cap 2i into the fitting 22 to coact with the valve seat of said fitting. Fixed to the lower end of the stem of the valve is a collar 25, and it is now to be noted that the fioat chamber i6 is provided at the lower end thereof with a drain plug 26.

Extending into the plunger chamber I? at its upper end, as particularly seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, is a plunger barrel 21 which is fixed to the cover, I8, and freely slidable through the upper end wall of said barrel is a plunger 28. At its upper end, the plunger is equipped with a nut 29 which provides a knob for the plunger, and formed on the plunger is a head 30 terminating in a shoulder 3|. Extending downwardly from the head is a tapered prong 32 having a piercing tip 33, and surrounding the upper'end portion of the plunger within the barrel 2? is a spring 34 pressing downwardly upon the plunger. Formed in the lower end of the barrel at one side thereof is a vertical slot 35, and fixed to the head 30 of the plunger is a pin 36 extending freely through said slot.

Fixed to the lower end of the barrel 21 at a right angle to the slot 35, as more particularly seen in Figure 7 of the drawings, is a sheet metal bracket 37 having. an upper pair of ears 3B and a lower pair of cars 39. Pivoted between the upper pair of ears 38, as particularly seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, is a trigger M1, the upper end of which is adapted to engage beneath the shoulder 3| of the head 33 of the plunger 28 for hold-. ing the plunger retracted in set position, and pressing the trigger to coact with the plunger is a bowed spring 4i disposed behind the lower en portion of the trigger.

Fixed to one side wall of the casing |5,.as particularly seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, is a post 42, and pivoted upon said post is a valve lever .43. 'At one end, the lever 43 is provided with a fork 44 which freely straddles the collar of the valve 24 to coact therewith, and formed on the lever at its opposite end is a yoke 45 having an arcuate slot G5 which freely receives the pin of the plunger 28. Thus, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, when the trigger is released and the plunger 28 is shifted downwardly by the spring 3 2, the lever 53 will be rocked to move the Valve 24 upwardly to closed position in engagement with its seat. However, as the travel of the plunger is greater than the travel of the valve, the slot i5 is provided in the yoke of the lever 43 to permit the pin 35 to move down with the plunger the length of the slot before actuating the lever to close the Valve 2 Furthermore, it

is to be noted that at any time after the trigger it is tripped and the valve 2d is closed, the mechanism may be reset simply by grasping the nut 2e and pulling the plunger 28 upwardly until the trigger snaps under the shoulder 31. The lever 33 will, of course, be coincidentally rocked to return the valve 2-3 to open position.

Fixed to the bottom wall of the casing I5 at the'lower end of the chamber 67, as particularly seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, is a nipple G6, the lower end portion of which provides a-chamher 4?, and formed on the nipple at the upper end of said chamber is 'an internal annular shoulder 53. Screwed into the nipple is a fol-- lower d9, and'clamped between the follower and the shoulder 38 is'a frangible disk normally closing the chamber d? with respect to the cham ber 11. As broughtout in Figure 3, the tip 33 should become flooded with oil, excess on in said bowls will be'imm'ediately drained off through i the pipes at and 6! to the float chamber I6. The

float 55 will thus be caused to rise, with the result thatth'e iever't'e' will be rocked to release the trigger it and trip the plunger 28. Consequently,

V the plunger will be snapped downwardly by the spring 34 to rupture the disk 50, while the lever of the plunger 28 will, when the trigger it is tripped and the plunger is snapped downwardly bythe spring 3E, puncture'the disk 5'llto'establish communication between the chambers l! and I1. Normally closing 'the'nip'ple "46 "at its lower end is a plug 5| which may be manually removed to expose the follower '49, after which'the follower may be removed to free the 'disk5fi 'sothat, after the disk hasb'een ruptured, a new disk maybe readily substituted in lieu thereof. Fixed to the nipple 5 at one side thereof 'isapipe-con'neoti'o'n 52 communicating "with the chamber '41 of the nipple. v

Pivotedbetween the pair of ears 39of "the bracket 3'? is a float l'ev'e'r'53 extending at 'one end into the chamber It; and freely received in said chamber is a float 54wh'ich is provided at its upper side witha loop 55 accommodating the lever therethrough for connecting thefloa't'with said lever. At its opposite en'd,"the"lever"53 is provided with a cam-head 56 disposed to 'c'oact with the lower 'l'ld portion Of the trigger 3B. As

will be 'perceived,"rise of the float in the chamber 15 will rock the head 56 downwardly to press the trigger out of engagement with the shoulder 31 of the plunger 28 and thus "trip the trigger and free the plunger. 7

Referring new again to Figure 1 0f thedfawings, a'pipe'ET connects the tank lf2'with the valve fitting 22, and leading from said "fitting 'to the valve unit 13 'is'a pipe '58, -while pipes 59 connect the metering valves Hi with the burner bowls 'l I. Thus, oil will 'normally'flow by gravity'from' the tank l2through'the pipes 51 and 58 to the valve unit It, and thence, under control of the valves l Lthr'ough 'the p'ipes'fifi "to the burner bowls ll. Leading from the burner'b'owls H are overflow pipes 66, and connecting the pipes 60 with the nipple '26 of the float chamber 16 is a pipe 5|, the pipes sfl and 5! being adapted-to drain-excess oil in the burner bowls into the float chamber. The'exact manner of connection :of the pipes 6% 43 "will'berocked to close the valve 24 and shut off the supply of oil to the burner bowls H.

Since at the time the shut-off valve '24 is closed, the disk 5!! is ruptured, oil remaining in' th'e burner bowls I I will drain back through the pipes 59, the valve unit I3, pipe '58,and pipe 62 'fiHtO' the chamber 41 of the nipple it and thence'into the casing 15. The capacity ofthe casing" is sufiicient to hold all of the excess 'oil remaining in the burner bowls, as Well as the oil in the pipes 59, valve unit 13, and a portion ofthe pipeefi, so that not only will theburn erbowls {ll be drained of excess oil, but also' the oil feed line itself will be drained of oil back to the point of connection of the pipe 62 with the pipe '58, As' will be observed, the pipes Stand 59 are inclined downwardly away from the burner bowlsj To reset the deviceflthe p'lug 26 is 'removed'and the casing l5 drained of oil. I 'The plunger "28 is then lifted until the trigger d0 snaps underthe shoulder 3! of the plunger, thus opening thevalve 2 1. The plug 5| and follower" 49 are then"re-' moved and a new disk substituted for the disk5fl, following which the plug 26, follower '49, and plu 5i are replaced.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a feed system for an oil burner, anoil supply tank a feed line arranged'to conduct oil from'the tank to the burner, ashut-off'dejvicefineluding a shut-oil valve interposed'in the feed line, an overflow line extending betv eeii "the burner-and said device and arranged todrai'n excess oil' from the burner into said device,'valveclosing means carried by said device and'oper- 'atively connected with's'aid valve, 'said'valve-clps in; means being adapted tobe set and'b'eih'gioperable when released to force said valve closed and having a portiondisposed to be grasped for manually actuating said means when re'leased'to open and close said valve, and float operated means mounted in said device and'o'perab'leby the rise of the'level of oil therein 'forrele'as'ing said valve-closing means, said closing ineanswhen released being movable to close" said valve without disturbing the position of said float operated means and said float operated means being adapted to maintain said closing means released for'free manual manipulationto open and close said valve while the position of said float open ated means remains undisturbed, I

2. In a feed system for an" oil burner, an oil supply tank, a feed line arranged to conductoil from the tank to the burner, a'shut 'ofi 'devic'eineluding a shut-off valveinterposed in thefee'd line, an overflow line extending between the burner and said device and arranged to drain exclosing means carried by-x'said device and -operatively connected with said valve, said valve-010s ing means being adapted to be set and being operable when released to close said valve, means mounted in said device and operable by the rise of the level of oil therein for releasing said valveclosing means, a branch line extending between said feed line and said device, closure-means mounted in said device and normally blocking said branch line, and puncturing-means carried by said valve-closing means and operable thereby whenreleased for rupturing said closure-means to permit drainage through said branch line of oil from the burner and a portion of said feed line into said device.

3. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into the casing, a shut-01f valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line supplying said bowl with oil, spring actuated valveclosing means mounted upon the casing and operatively connected with said valve, said means being adapted to be set and being movable when released to force said valve closed and having a portion disposed to be grasped for manually actuating said means when released to open and close said valve, trigger-means mounted within the casing to coact with said closing means and normally holding said closing means set, and float operated means mounted within the casing to coact with said trigger-means and operable to actuate said trigger-means and release said closing means for movement to close said valve, said closing means when released being movable to close said valve without disturbing the position of said float operated means and said float operated means being adapted to hold said trigger-means in actuated position freeing said closing means for manual manipulation to open and close said valve while the position of said float operated means remains undisturbed.

4. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into the casing, a shut-off valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line sup plying said bowl with oil, spring actuated valveclosing means mounted upon the casing and operatively connected with said valve, said means being adapted to be set, trigger-means mounted within the casing to coact with said closing means and normally holding said closing means set, float operated means mounted within the casing to coact with said trigger-means and operable to actuate said trigger-means and release said closing means for movement to close said valve,

means carried by the casing to accommodate a branch line connecting said feed line with the casing, closure-means mounted Within the casing and normally blocking said branch line, and puncturing means carried by said valve-closing means and operable thereby when released for rupturing said closure-means to permit drainage through said branch line of oil from the burner bowl and a portion of said feed line into the casmg.

5. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into the casing, a shut-01f valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line supplying said bowl with oil, a spring actuated plunger mounted upon the casing and adapted to be set, a trigger pivoted adjacent said plunger and normally holding the plunger set, a lever pivoted sition of said float operated means and saidfloat operated means being adapted to hold said trigger actuated and free the plunger for manual manipuation to open and close said valve while the position of said float operated means remains undisturbed.

6. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into' the casing, a shut-ofi valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line supplying said bowl with oil, a spring actuated plunger mounted upon the casing and adapted to be set, a trigger pivoted adjacent said plunger and normally holding the plunger set, a lever pivoted within the casing and operatively connecting said plunger with the valve, said lever being operable by the plunger when released to close the valve, float operated means mounted within the casing to coact with said trigger and operable for actuating the trigger and releasing said plunger, means carried by the casing to accommodate a branch line connecting said feed line with the casing, a frangible disk mounted within the casing and normally blocking said branch line, and puncturing means carried by said plunger and operable thereby when released for rupturing said disk to permit drainage of oil from the burner bowl and a portion of said feed line through said branch line into the casing.

7. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into the casing, a shut-oil valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line supplying said bowl with oil, a spring actuated plunger mounted upon the casing and adapted to be set, a trigger pivoted adjacent said plunger and normally holding the plunger set, a lever pivoted within the casing and operatively connected at one end with said valve, said lever being provided at its opposite end with a yoke having a slot therein, a pin carried by the plunger and received in said slot for rocking the lever and closing said valve when the plunger is released, said slot accommodating a travel of the plunger greater than the travel of the valve, and float operated means mounted within the casing to coact wtih said trigger and operable for actuating the trigger and releasing said plunger.

8. A safety device for oil burners including a casing adapted for connection with a burner bowl to receive excess oil draining from said bowl into the casing, a shut-01f valve carried by the casing and adapted to be interposed in a feed line supplying said bowl with oil, a spring actuated plunger mounted upon the casing and adapted to be set, a trigger pivoted adjacent said plunger and normally holding said plunger set, means operatively connecting the plunger with said valve and operable by the plunger when released for closing said valve, and a float operated lever pivoted within the casing and provided with a camhead tdicoaet wiizh the trigger fgractuat n me trigger and-releasing :s'aid plunger.

9r A- safety-device for oil burners, inqlpding a cas'ing'adapged forconn eotion with a. burner to receive excess oil draining from thg burner into thecasing a shut-01f valve-carried :by the ogging and ada-ptedto beinterpossddn a: feed: line sugfr y n "t bur with 0 1, a: sprin 'vactu iied plunggr mountedo upon t e aasing andoadapted o be set meansnormall-y holding the plunge; set,

man -operatively connectin the phan er with said: valye andropergblexby he plunger whenro: eased to force Said valve closed; float; Qoerafim meansmountesi t0 coact with said. first; men,-

tioned meansv for actuating the same and rgleas: 15 'in said plun er. .a. n pple fixed to th 'oasin and adapted to accommodate a branch lmeoonnectg ing'sa d feed l ne wi-thw e casin a a an ible d mountedi in 1 said am l and n9rmal1x-121qQi s: said branch v line, a remgya pleif lqygep my ablein said nipp e to fi s-a aid 9 9 n911= m he d sk. im osi on nd :4 ron i151-=b r nsi Qfsaid p unger anqqaewh wmq p un e when rel aexl' o -r t fin 55 @filai permit-draina e f o mn in? om r 11. 5 2 9? easing.

oig sznws ificd in the, fi e Q1 11 9mm UNITED STATES PAT rps,