US2674255A

US2674255A - Safety fuel valve

Info

Publication number: US2674255A
Application number: US175638A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laurence C Biggle
Original assignee: General Controls Co
Current assignee: General Controls Co
Priority date: 1950-07-24
Filing date: 1950-07-24
Publication date: 1954-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1971-04-06

Description

'April 6,1954 1 BIGGLE 2,674,255

SAFETY FUEL VALVE Filed July 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l E LE CTFZOMAGNE'T CAI-LY O PERATED VALVE.

lfiUEE/VCE C. 5/6625,

- IN VEN TOR.

HTTOENEV April 6, 1954 Filed July 24, 1950 L. C. BlGGL-E SAFETY FUEL VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fil/QE/VCE' C. BIGGZE,

INVENTOR.

HTZO/QNEV Patented Apr. 6, 1954 SAFETY FUEL VALVE Laurence C. Biggie, Altadena, Califi, assignor to General Controls 00., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Application July '24, 1950, Serial No. 175,638

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve for controlling the passage of fuel to a burner.

It has been common to provide a safety valve that can be maintained open only while a pilot flame is in existence. In one form of such a safety valve, a thermocouple is utilized that is influenced by the heat of the pilot flame to generate electrical energy. This energy in turn serves to energize an electromagnet that may hold an armature in attracted position. The armature is mechanically connected to a safety valve closure which is thus held in :open position while the electromagnet is energized. As .soon as the pilot flame is extinguished, the electromagnet is de energized and the closure moves to closed position by gravity, or by the action of a spring.

since the energy generated by the thermocouple is minute, the mere ignition of the pilot burner does not cause the electromagnet to open the closure. Amanual re-setting operation isneces sary to bring the armature into attracted position, and to hold it there for a short interval until the pilot flame is established and the electromagnet is energized by the thermocouple.

This invention relates to .manual reset valves of this character; and one of the objects of this invention is to improve, in general, such safety manual safety valves.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple safety valve structure in which .fiow of gas to the main burner is prevented until the pilot flame is lit and held in safe position.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to place the safety valve between the burner and the automatic main valve controlled by the thermostat, and :yet to provide complete gas interruption both for the main burner and the pilot burner when the pilot flame fails. This is accomplished in a simple manner and without the need of extensive piping.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible to use the safety valve .in such manner that the pilot burner is supplied with gas from within the safety valve.

By the aid of the present invention, the manner of supplying fuel to the pilot burner :is quite flexible. It can, for example, be piped upstream from the main burner .control valve without excessive piping; or .it can be optionally supplied directly from the safety valve structure. These alternative arrangements may be effected even after installation.

The safety valve structure is especially useful for the control of gasrangeoven'burners. By the aid of this invention, the safety valve can be placed downstream from the thermostatically controlled main burner valve, and yet without extensive gas piping.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to operate the valve in a simple manner for interrupting flow of fuel to the pilot burner, causing the thermogeneration to cease and drop out the main valve, thereby eliminating the need of an auxiliary pilot shutoff valve.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown .a form in the drawings accompanyin and forming part of the present specification. The form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is .a diagrammatic view of a system in which a safety valve incorporating the invention is utilized;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the safety valve incorporating the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the valve being shown in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken alon a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 6- and 7 are views similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating different positions of the valve structure.

In the present instance, a main gas burner I (Fig. l) is illustrated, supplied through a conduit 2. In this conduit 2 is interposed an electromagnetically operated valve 3 controlled, for example, by a thermostat located in the space to be heated. This valve 3 is upstream from the safety valve structure 4 also included in the conduit 2, as by aid of the short pipes I3 and Hi.

The passage of fuel to the main burner I is controlled by the safety valve structure 4. The safety valve structure 5 also controls passage of fuel through a conduit 5 t the pilot burner 6.

The pilot burner flame i, when it is in existence,

ty valve structure 4, t conduct electrical energy to an electromagnet incorporated in valve 4.

As soon as the pilot flame l is extinguished, accidentally or otherwise, the thermocouple structure 8 no longer generates electrical energy, and the safety valve structure 4 closes. Thi general type of safety system, ensuring interruption of fuel to the main burner upon pilot flame failure, is generally old. The safety valve structure 4 is of novel form, and is shown to best advantage in Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive.

The safety valve structure 4 include a body I l (Figs. 3 and 5) having a chamber l2 into which lead the inlet conduit l3 and the outlet conduit I4. The outlet conduit I4, in the form illustrated, is threaded into a boss l5 extending inwardly with respect to the chamber l2, and this boss is provided with a port I 6. An annular seat I! surrounds this port, and is adapted to be contacted by a valve closure structure including a yielding closure member I8. This closure member i3 is attached to a disc-like member l9 having an ear pivotally mounted on an arm 2|. This arm 2| is, in turn, attached to a stem 22 that extends upwardly, and this is manipulable in a manner to be hereinafter described.

\ In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the valve closure 18 is in closed position. In the phantom lines in this figure, the valve closure is open, the stem 22 carrying the arm 2| having been rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

The valve body II is open at the top, and may be closed by a sheet metal plate 23 (Fig. 3). This sheet metal plate serves to support a bearing sleeve 24, through which the stem 22 projects, and in which this stem is rotatable.

A casing member 25 for enclosing an electromagnet structure 35, is mounted above the body H. It is provided with a base flange '25-, through which a plurality of machine screw 27 extend in order to attach the casing 25 to the body II. A resilient gasket member 28 is interposed between the casing 25 and the body II in order to seal the structure.-

The stem 22 has a collar 29 (Fig. 3) adapted to rest upon bearing sleeve 24. It also has a projection 30 of semi-circular form adapted to cooperate with a semi-circular extension 3i of an operating member 32. In this way, the member 32 is coupled to stem 22. The extensions 33 and 3|, forming a complete cylinder, are rotatably supported in a boss 33 formed integrally with one of the walls of the casing 25.

Rotation of the operating member 32 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, accordingly rotates the stem 22 for opening the safety valve closure [8.

The operating member 32 is connected to a plate 34 made of non-magnetic material, and which serve to support an electromagnet structure 35 located in the casing 25.

In order to connect the operating member 32 with the plate 34, the plate 34 is provided with a pair of ears 36 and 31. The lower ear 3'! is appropriately attached to the operating member 32. The electromagnet is provided with a pair of exposed pole faces 38 adapted to co-operate with an armature structure to be hereinafter described.

The upper ear 35 is provided with an aperture through which a manually operable stem 39 extends. The lower end of this stem 39 is received in a bearing aperture in the operator 32, and is coaxial therewith. A spring 40 is disposed around the stem 39, and has one end 4| engaging the 4 wall of casing 25. Its other end 42 is anchored in the ear 36.

The spring 40 urges the entire electromagnetic structure carried by the plate 34 in a clockwise direction. Since the plate 34 is coupled, b Way of the operator 32 and stem 22, to the closure l8, this clockwise angular movement; about the axis of the stem 39 serves to close the valve. Binding post structures 42 are appropriately supported by the casing 25, and serve to connect the electromagnet 35 with the leads 9 and [0 (Fig. 1).

In order to move the electromagnet structure 35 in a counterclockwise direction for opening the valve, there is provided an armature structure including an armature 44 adapted to cooperate with the polar faces 38. Magnetic attraction thus serves as a clutching means; and, when the armature 44 is moved, the electromagnet structure 35 is correspondingly moved. This armature structure is supported between the legs of .a U-shaped support or bracket 45 coupled to the stem 39. This is accomplished, for example, by making the stem 39 non-circular, as by flattening one side thereof (Figs. 4, 6, and 7). The ears 41 of this bracket 45 are provided with appropriate non-circular apertures to key the bracket 45 to the stem 39. Washers 43 may be interposed between the corresponding ears of the plate 34 and of the bracket 45.

The bracket 45 is urged resiliently in a counterclockwise direction by the aid of the spring 49 disposed around the operating member 32. One end 50 of this spring is anchored to the lower side of the bracket 45. The other end 5| of the spring engages the interior of a wall of the casing 25.

Accordingly, when the armature 44 is out of contact with the polar faces 38, as shown in Fig. 4, the resilient means 40 and 49, respectively, urge the electromagnet structure 35 and armature structure 44 in opposite angular directions about the axis of stem 39. In this position, the safety valve is closed.

In order to open the safety valve structure, the knob 52 exterior of casing 25 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) is utilized, and is manipulable by hand. This knob is attached to the stem 39, which is rotatably mounted in the boss 53 formed on the upper wall of casing 25.

In the position shown, the knob 52 may be turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to turn the stem 39 against the force of spring 49, and thereby to move the armature 44 angularly into cooperative position with the electromagnet 35. In this position, the pilot flame 1 may be ignited. In a short time, the electromagnet structure 35 is eifectively energized by the thermocouple 8 and the knob 52 may be released. When it is released, the electromagnet structure 35 and the armature 44 move to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the electromagnet 35 being shown in phantom lines. In this position, the valve closure l8 has moved from its seat to open the valve. This movement of both the electromagnetic structure and the armature structure is effected by the spring 49, which is purposely made substantially stronger than the spring 40. Accordingly, the movement of the armature 44 in a counterclockwise direction serves, as well, to move the electromagnet structure 35 in the same direction.

When the pilot flame I fails, the electromagnet 35 is Clo-energized, and the parts assume the position of Fig. 4, and the valve is closed by the spring .40.

' A yielding stop is provided to limit the counterclockwise movement of the armature structure 44, so that it comes to rest in the open position of Fig. 6. This stop may be in the form of a leaf spring 76 attached to the wall 15 of casing 25. This stop carries a button ll adapted to be engaged, as by the projection 18, on plate 34. The pin 19 positions this stop so as to hold the electromagnet structure 35 in the valve opening position shown in phantom lines in Fig. 6. The leaf spring structure is strong enough to resist bending under the force of spring 45.

In the closed position of Fig. 4, the arrangement is such that supply of fuel to the pilot burner 6 is also interrupted, and is permitted only when the armature structure 44 is moved by knob 52 in a clockwise direction.

For this purpose, a pilot valve structure is provided, including a plunger 55 slidably mounted in a bore in the wall of the casing 25. This plunger has a rounded inner end adapted to be operatively engaged by the armature structure 44 when this structure is in the valve closed position. In this closed position (Fig. 4), the plunger interrupts communication between a straight port 56 extending horizontally of the casing 25 and a vertical port 5'! that extends downwardly to communicate with a horizontal port 56. This port 561s open at its opposite ends and provided with internal threads 68 and 69. Either of these ends can be arranged as the output side; for example, the threads 68 may accommodate a coupling 59 for connection to the pilot burner conduit 5. The opposite threaded end 65 can beconnected to intake end of the control valve 3 as by conduit 85. Thus the pilot burner 6 is supplied with gas from the upstream side of valve 3, and supply of gas is nevertheless controlled by the pilot valve structure incorporated in the safety valve.

The plunger 55 extends transversely above the port 51, and has a reduced portion 58, so that, in the position of Fig. 6, port 55 is unin terrupted, and port 51 is in communication therewith. In the arrangement illustrated, use may be made of port 56 to permit gas to flow from the upstream side of valve 3 via conduit 85, through uninterrupted port 55, and around the reduced portion 58, and then through the coupling 59 to the conduit 5.

The plunger 55 is urged toward opening position by the aid of a compression spring 59. The inner end of this compression spring is located in a recess formed in the right-hand end of plunger 55. Its outer end is accommodated in a recess formed within a headless screw GI threaded into the boss 62 formed on the casing 25. The head 63 of the plunger 55 is enlarged, and slides in the enlarged bore 64. This head limits the inward movement of the plunger 55, as indicated in Fig. 6, by contacting the shoulder between bore 64 and the bore 10.

Furthermore, the port 5'! extends downwardly into communication with inlet chamber it. It connects with a transverse port 66 (Fig. 3) that is closed by a headless screw 67 threaded into the casing 25. Since the screw 61 closes the port 51, supply of fuel to the pilot conduit 5 is effected only via conduit 56. However, if desired, the screw 61 can be threaded outwardly to open the port 51; in that case, a plug can be used to close the threaded end 69, and conduit 85 is removed. The pilot burner 5 would then be supplied from inlet chamber 12. When so arranged the safety valve 4 must be placed upstream from the control valve 3, in order to ensure that the pilot burner 6 will be supplied with fuel independent of the operation of control valve 3.

When the knob 52 is moved in a clockwise direction from the closed position, the plunger, 55 moves to the position of Fig. 6, thereby completing supply of fuel to the pilot burner 5. This pilot burner 6 may then be ignited. Continued movement of the armature structure in a clockwise direction will bring the armature M into contact with the polar faces 38. In a short time,

the electromagnet 55 is energized sufficiently to.

hold the armature 44 in attracted position. The release of the manual knob 52 then permits the stronger spring :9 to move the armature structure and the electromagnet structure to the open position indicated by the phantom lines in Fig. 6.

Should it be desired to close the system, knob 52 may be turned by a relatively strong force in a counterclockwise direction from the position of Fig. 6 to assume the position of Fig. '7. This is permitted by the stop It, which can yield when a sufficient force is applied. This effects closing of the pilot valve structure by inward movement of the plunger 55 to the position of Fig. '7. The pilot flame i is thus extinguished in a short time, and the electromagnet 35 is deenergized. permitting spring 49 to close the valve. The knob 52 may then be released and assume the closed position of Fig. 4.

The knob 52 may carry an arrow (Fig. 2) cooperating with the lines ii on the casing 25 to indicate the position of the parts.

The inventor claims:

1. In combination: a first member capable of performing a controlling function; an operator for said first member; means guiding said first member and said operator for independent movement in a common path; resilient means urging said first member away from said operator and toward a retracted position; resilient means urging said operator away from said first member and toward a retracted position; a re-- leasable coupling between said member and said operator; said resilient means for said operator being capable of moving said first member from its retracted position when said coupling is operative; a second member capable of performing an auxiliary controlling function, and cooperating with said operator when said operator is in said retracted position; and yielding stop means engageable with said first member, limiting movement of said operator and said first member, when coupled, to prevent return of said operator to its retracted position.

2. In combination: a member capable of performing a controlling function; an operator for said member; means guiding said member and said operator for independent movement in a common path; resilient urging said memher away from said operator and toward a retracted position; resilient means urging said operator away from said member and toward a retracted position; a releasable coupling between said member and said operator; said resilient means for said operator being capable of moving said member from retracted position when said coupling is operative; an element capable of performing an auxiliary controlling function, and movable between two positions; resilient means biasing said element toward one position; means mounting said element in the path of movement of said operator to its retracted posi-.

tion for engagement therewith and movement to its other position; and stop means engageable with said member, limiting movement of said operator and said member, when coupled, to prevent return of said operator to its retracted position and engagement with said auxiliary element.

3. In combination: a member capable of performing a controlling function; an operator for said member; means pivotally mounting said member and said operator about a common axis for independent movement in a common path; resilient means urging said member in an angular direction away from said operator and toward a retracted position; resilient means urging said operator in an angular direction awa from said member and toward a retracted position; a releasable coupling between said member and said operator; said resilient means for said operator being capable of moving said member from its retracted position when said coupling is operative; an element capable of performing an auxiliary controlling function, and movable between two positions; resilient means biasing said element toward one position; means mounting said element in the path of movement of said operator to its retracted position for engagement therewith and movement to its other position; and stop means engageable with said member,

limiting movement of said operator and said member, when coupled, to prevent return of said operator to its retracted position and engagement with said element.

4. In a safety valve structure: a valve body having an inlet chamber and a valve seat; a main valve closure for the seat; means pivotally mounting said closure in said chamber on a shaft extending beyond said chamber; a member coupled to said shaft and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis coincident with said shaft; an operator for said member; means mounting said operator for pivotal movement about said axis, and defining a path of movement of said operator common to that of said member; means resiliently urging said member angularly about said axis away from said operator and toward a retracted position of said member corresponding to main valve closing position; means resiliently urging said operator angularly about said axis away from said member and toward a retracted position; means providing an electromagnetic coupling between said member and said operator; manually operable means connected to said operator and mounted for angular movement about said axis, said manually operable means being operable to move said operator into engagement with said member when said member is in retracted position; said electromagnetic coupling means, when energized, being capable of holding said member for movement from its retracted position; said resilient means associated with said operator exerting a greater force than said resilient means associated with said member, when said member is in retracted position, for moving said member away from retracted position; an auxiliary valve structure; an auxiliary control element movable between auxiliary valve opening and closing position; means mounting said auxiliary control element in the path of movement of said operator toward its retracted position for engagement; therewith; means biasing said auxiliary control element toward one position corresponding to operator engaging position; yieldable stop means engageable with said member, limiting movement of said operator and said member, when coupled, to prevent return of said operator to its retracted position and engagement with said auxiliary control element; and an indicator carried by said manually operable means.

5. In a valve structure: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; a main closure for controlling passage of fluid between said inlet and outlet; means defining a port having ends opening exteriorly of said body; said valve body having means selectively connecting said port to said inlet; an auxiliary closure structure movable to obstruct said port, as well as said connecting means; means biasing said auxiliary closure toward unobstructed position; means for operating said main valve, including a releasable coupling member movable between two positions corresponding to main valve opening and main valve closing position; means mounting said coupling member for engagement with said auxiliary closure structure when said member is in main valve closing position for movement of said auxiliary closure toward said obstructing position.

6. In combination: a valve body having a valve seat; a closure structure movable to a retracted position in which said closure structure cooperates with said seat for preventing flow of fluid through the valve seat, said closure structure being movable away from said retracted position to permit flow of fluid through the valve seat; an operator for the closure structure; means guiding said operator and said closure structure for movement in a common path; means forming a supplemental supply port; an auxiliary closure for said supply port; said auxiliary closure being movable between two positions to open or close said supplemental supply port; means resiliently urging said supplemental closure to supplemental port opening position; a releasable coupling between said closure structure and said operator; resilient means urging said closure structure toward said retracted position and urging said operator in a retracted position away from said closure structure; said resilient means when said coupling is eflfective, urging said operator and said structure in a direction away from the retracted position of said closure structure and toward the retracted position of said operator; said operator being engageable with said supplemental closure to move said supplemental closure to supplemental port closing position only when said operator is substantially in fully retracted position; and stop means engageable with said closure structure, limiting movement of said operator and said closure structure, when coupled, to prevent return of said operator to its full retracted position.

7. In a safety valve structure for a fuel burning device: a valve body having a valve seat; a safety closure structure for the seat and controlling flow of fluid through the valve body; an operator for said closure structure; said operator and said closure structure being movable independently in a common path; resilient means urging said closure structure toward valve closing position; resilient means urging said operator away from said closure structure and toward a retracted position; a releasable coupling between said closure structure and said operator; said resilient means for said operator when said coupling is operative, being capable of moving said closure structure from valve closing position; means forming an auxiliary fluid passage; an

element controlling said auxiliary fluid passage; means for moving said element to auxiliary fluid passage opening position upon movement of said operator from retracted position, said operator moving said element to auxiliary fluid passage closing position upon movement of said operator to substantially fully retracted position; and yielding stop means engageable with said closure structure for limiting movement of saidv operator and said closure structure, when coupled normally to prevent return of said operator to its fully retracted position, said operator being manipulatable to overcome said yielding stop means to move said operator to its fully retracted position.

8. In combination: a member capable of performing a controlling function; an operator for said member; means guiding said member and said operator for independent movement in a common path; a releasable coupling between said member and. said operator; resilient means urging said member and said operator apart toward retracted positions, respectively; said resilient means, when said operator and said member are coupled, urging said operator and said member in a direction away from the retracted position of said member and toward the retracted position of said operator; a yielding abutment engageable with said member for normally preventing movement of said member and said operator when coupled to the fully retracted position of said operator; and an element capable of performing an auxiliary controlling function; means for moving said element to one position upon movement of said operator from retracted 10 position and to another position upon movement of said operator to retracted position.

9. In combination: a member capable of performing a controlling function; an operator for said member; means guiding said member and said operator for independent movement in a common path; an element capable of performing an auxiliary controlling function and movable between two positions; a releasable coupling between said member and said operator and dependent upon a condition that may exist only when said element is in one position; resilient means urging said member and said operator apart toward retracted positions, respectively; said resilient means, when said coupling is effective, urging said operator and said member in a direction away from the retracted position of said member and toward the retracted position of said operator; means for moving said element to said one position upon movement of said operator from retracted position and to the other position upon movement of said operator to retracted position; and a yielding abutment engageable with said member for normally preventing movement of said member and said operator when coupled to the retracted position or" said operator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.23,07'7 Ray Jan. 11, 1949 2,290,108 Mantz July 14, 19%2 2,a8l,265 Van Denberg et a1. Sept. 6, 1949