US2845227A

US2845227A - Construction of a steam exhaust valve for venting radiators

Info

Publication number: US2845227A
Application number: US598717A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonardis Michael J De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-07-18
Filing date: 1956-07-18
Publication date: 1958-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-29

Description

July 29, 1958 M. J. DE LEoNARDls 2,845,227

CONSTRUCTION A STEAM EXHAUST VALVE FOR VENTING RADIATORS Filedv July 18, 195e United States CONSTRUCTION F A STEAM EXHAUST VALVE FOR VENTING RADIATORS This invention relates to a steam exhaust valve for venting radiators.

Valves heretofore employed for this purpose have been unsatisfactory because their operation is dependent upon pressure. Pressure regulation of such valves is unsatisfactory because it may result in the valve closing before the radiator surfaces have been properly heated, for example, the steam entering the radiator may push against cold air therein with such force that the air itself closes the outlet valve, for the valve may close due to water collected in the radiator resulting from condensation of steam.

While it has been heretofore suggested to provide radiator exhaust valves operative in response to temperature changes within the radiator, attempts to provide such valves in the past have been unsatisfactory.

It is the object of this invention to provide a temperature responsive radiator valve which is simple, practical and effective. e

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read with respect to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a common form of radiator, the number of sections of which may be increased or decreased as desired.

Figure 2 is a side elevation mostly in vertical cross section of a valve structure connected near the top of a radiator and embodying the invention disclosed herein.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevational view mostly in vertical cross section showing the valve port, means for closing and opening the valve port, and means for keeping the latter means in alignment with the valve port while being moved to and from closing position, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a top plan view partly in cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view partly in cross section, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in cross section, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2; and

Figure'7 is an exploded view showing in perspective the means for opening and closing the valve, the cage for supporting it in alignment with the valve discharge port, and the upper bifurcated end of the bimetal arm by which the valve opening and closing member is moved within the cage.

In the embodiment Iof my invention disclosed herein, the valve comprises a base portion 10, including a radially projecting coupling portion 12 the extremity of which is screw threaded for insertion in an internally threaded port of a radiator, and the cap portion 14 supported by the base and extending upwardly from the base.

From the main port two conduits 16 and 1S extend through the coupling 12, conduit 16 being disposed above conduit 18 and being of larger cross section to admit steam from the radiator into the valve without interference from steam condensate returning from the radiator tothe valve through the smaller conduit 1-8.

The cap 14 has a vent port 20 adjacent its upper end atent Q Mice and a bimetal arm 22 is supported from its lower end I with its upper free end extending upwardly within said cap portion. The upper extremity 22a of the bimetal arm 22 is bifurcated to slidingly engage the member 24 by which the port 20 is opened and closed. The lower end portion 22b of bimetal arm 22 is bent over and an adjustment screw 26 extends, upwardly through the bent over end 2211 against stop means 28 provided adjacent the lower end of the cap, and as shown herein consisting of a projection extending inwardly of the cap.

The valve'opening and closing member 24 is loosely -supported within a tubular cage 30, the forward end of which is reduced and inserted into the vent port 20. The

vleading end 24a of valve opening and closing member 24 is tapered to seat within the vent port 20,y or more exactly within the reduced end portion 30a of the cage. The end portion 30a is surrounded by an annular ring 30h projecting from the shoulder portion at the interface of reduced 4portion with the main body of cage 30. Ring 30h projects into and slightly beyond vent port 20, and the short length of it which protrudes outside the cap 14 is overturned thus locking the cage in place.

'Ihe body portion of member 24 is grooved with a circumferential groove 24h and the arms fof the bifurcated end portion 22a of bimetal arm 22'extend into this groove on opposite sides of member 24 thus making a sliding connection with-member 24 which is maintained regardless of lengthening and shortening of arm 22 as it bends and unbends in response to variation in temperature changes within the valve. 'Ihe cage 30 is cut away providing

spaces

31 and 32 in its opposite side wall portions to permit the upper end of arm 22 to extend into and through the cage and to engage member 24 within the cage.

In operation the cage 30 serves to maintain member 24 in alignment with the vent port 20 without regard to the bending and unbending of bimetal arm 22, and the latter, as it bends and unbends, moves arm 22 forwardly and rearwardly within cage 30 thus closing and opening the valve port. By adjustment of screw 26 the position of bimetal arm 22 may be adjusted by swinging it either forwardly or rearwardly within the cap as may be required to cause it to move member 24 to close and open the vent port 20 at the desired temperatures. This adjustment is ordinarily only performed at the factory in accordance with the particular heating `system for which the valve is intended.

The structure disclosed herein has several advantages. It is much more sensitive in its operation than the pressure responsive valves of the prior art, thus providing much better control of the heating of the space for which it is employed. In its operation it is free from the spitting of water which is an objectionable feature commonly found in pressure operated valves. It is simple and durable and if necessary any of the parts may be easily replaced individually. Because pressure operated valves often close before a radiator is more than partly heated, due to closure of the valve either by air trapped in the radiator in front of the steam or due to the partial lling up of the radiator with water from steam condensate,

such valves result in the frequent turning on and off of the heating system and very inecient use of the heating fuel employed. By my device, due to its not being effected by the pressure of air within the radiator and because of the provision of separate conduits for admitting steam and exhausting steam condensate from the valve, a substantial saving in fuel is accomplished. I have found that the use of my Valves in place of pressure responsive valves of the prior art may effect a saving of as much as fifty percent in heating fuel.

There has thus been provided a steam exhaust valve for venting radiators in which the above mentioned objects are embodied together with many practical advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A steam exhaust valve assembly for venting radiators comprising, a housing having a port adjacent its upper end, means for interconnecting s aid housing and a radiator portion of a steam heating system said means comprising a steam supply port and a liquid condensate return port, a tubular valve support member having an annular forward portion extending through said port and iiXed therein in a manner providing a seal between its outer surface and the housingand deiining a vent port concentric with the port in thehousing wall, the body of said valve support extending into the housing and having a portion of its wall cut away to prevent the accumulai tion of sediment within said support member, and to give entrance to the bifurcated upper end of a bi-metal arm, a bi-metal arm the upper end of which is bifurcated, means for supporting said bi-metal arm within said housing with its bifurcated upper end extending intok the said cut away portion of `said support member, and a valve member contained within said support member and movable axially within said support member for opening and closing the port defined by the forward end of said support member, said valve member being slotted intermediate its ends to make sliding engagement with the arms of the bifurcated upper end of said bi-metal arm t whereby as said arm is bent or straightened in response to temperature variations said valve member is moved within said support member for opening and closing the port defined by the forward portion of said valve support 30 member.

2. A steam exhaust valve assembly for venting radiators comprising, a housing having a port adjacent its upper end, means adjacent the lower end of said housing for interconnecting said housing and a radiator portion of a steam heating system said means comprising a steam supply port and a liquid condensate return port, a bi -metal arm, means for supporting said bi-metal arm Within said housing, a tubular valve support member, means for securing said support member projecting inwardly of` the housing in alignment with said port, the body of said valve support having a portion of its wall cut away to prevent the accumulation of sediment within said support member, and to give entrance to the upper portion of said bi-metal arm, a valve member contained within said support member and movable axially within said support member for opening and closing the said port in the housing, and means for providing a sliding engagement between the upper portion of said bi-metal arm and said valve member whereby, as said arm is bent or straightened in response to temperature variations, said valve member is moved within said support member for opening and closing said port.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 265,239 Brown Oct. 3, 1882 614,276 Russell Nov. 15, 1898 703,886 Allen July l, 1902 2,615,108 Lee Oct. 21, 1952