US357320A - Automatic air-valve - Google Patents

Description

(N o Model.)

H. L. IDE.

AUTOMATIC `AI'R VALVE.

Patented Febf, 1887.

Inventor HWLCZQ Witnesses:

N. Pzrsns Pnobumogmpher. wamingmn. u cA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. IDE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357.320, dated February 8, 1887. Application lilcd October 23, 1886. Serial No. 217,068. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HARRY L. IDE, of

Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and yuseful Improvements in Automatic Air- Valves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and-exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simplified and improved construction in automatic air-valves for steam-radiators; and it consists in the devices substantially as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure l of the drawings shows my improved air-valve in4 central vertical section. Fig. 2 shows a modification in similar section; and Fig. 3 is a further modification of the screw, in which Fig. 4 is a top view.

First describing` Fig. 1, A is the head, having the upwardly-open chamber A', from which descends the passage a, and having also a lateral projection, A2, which screws into vva pipe, B, of the radiator, and has a passage, c, that gives communication from the interior of the radiator to the chamber A.

, B is a brass tube fastened to the top of the head A and forming an upward extension of the chamber A. f

C is an iron tube within and smaller tha the exterior of brass tube B and secured to the head A. To the upper end of the outer or brass tube, B, is secured a diaphragm, D, a little above the upper end of the iron tube B, and having a passage, d, in line with the passage c of said tube.

E is a screw,having. its shank threaded into the upper end of the tube Gand passing loosely through the opening d of the diaphragm. The head e of said screw is preferably above, but

` it may be within the opening d, and is adapted to close said opening when brought into contact with its walls or with the top of the diaphragm. Thescrew has a hole, e', through it, which gives communication between the space above the diaphragm and the passage c ofthe tube C. F is a removable cap, covering or inclosin a space above the diaphragm.

The device operates automatically by means of the unequal expansion and contraction of the brass and iron tubes underV change of temperature, resulting from the presence or absence of steam or hot air in the chamber A.

The screw-head e, which forms a valve to the'passage d, is vvertically adjustable as to its position by means of its thread, which enters the tube C, and is provided with a crossslit in its upper end to receive a screwdriver, or is otherwise adapted to be turned when the cap F is'removed. To set the valve e in working position,itmaybescrewed down tirmlyuponits seat when the tubes B and O are heated by the steam of the radiator. Then, when the radiator and the air-valve are cool, the brass tube B will shorten to a greater extent than the iron tube O, and the screw-head e will be supported clear of the diaphragm D.

'lhe valve apparatus being applied to a radiatonpipe in the usuall position, when steam is let on the air is expelled from the radiator through the passage a into the chamber A and asccnds through the hole d, around the screw-valve E, into the space within the cap Rand thence descends through the passage e in the screw and through the iron pipe O, whence it escapes by the passage a through the bottom of the head A. When the air has been expelled and the steam follows into the chamber A and fills the space between the tubes B and C, both the latter areheated; but by reason of the greater expansion of the brass tube B the diaphragm D is lifted into contact with the screw-head e, and the escape of the steam is cut 01T.

As in other automatic air-valves for similar use, there will' commonly be an escape of a little steam or condense-water before the tubes are heated and the valve is closed. rlhis may be conducted away by a pipe attached to the lower opening, a, of the head A, and leading to the basement of the building or elsewhere. As this will not always be practicable, I have provided a cup, G, which is screw-threaded upon. or into the lower end of the vhead A, where the pipe would otherwise be attached, and has a passage, g, giving communication from the discharge-passage a of the head to the chamber of the cup. Through this passage g the small quantity of condense-water which escapes will be conveyed to the cup,

whence it will evaporate without doing harm as water.

It will be observed that the evaporatingcup provided with an externallythreaded shank may be used alternatively with the drippipe in connection with the same air-valve device, or, in other words, that an air-Valve adapted for one of these is also and equally adapted for the other.

Fig. 2 is intended to show a modification by which the outer tube may be of iron and the innerone of brass. In this case the diaphragm D is supposed to be secured to the outer tube, and the longitudinally-apertured screw E is arranged to close upward against the diaphragm. Th, hole d through the diaphragm is used in this case exclusively to enable the valve E to be reached and adjusted by means of a screw-driver, (if said screw is formed as shown in Fig. 2,) or to allow passage for a squared or slotted projection, ci', on the screw, if constructed as shown in Fig. 3. The projection e'l may entirelyT ll the passage d or not, as preferred, the cap F being present to prevent the escape of steam or to conceal the screw and prevent its being meddled with, as the case may be.

Fig. 5 shows the diaphragm hollowed on its under surface only, and constructed to let the cap down lower than in the preceding figures.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with two unequallyexpansible tubes, one within the other, of a chambered head, to which both tubes are fixed, said head having a passage leading from' the radiator to the interior of theouter tube, and

an escape-passage leading from the inner tube,

a diaphragm supported by the outer tube, and a longitndinally-apertnred screw threaded to the upper end of the inner tube, substantially as described. 4

2. The combination, with two unequallyexpansible tubes, one within the other, of a chambered head, to which both tubes are fixed,

said head having a passage leading from the radiator to the interior of the outer tube, and an escape-passage leading from the inner tube, a diaphragm secured to the outer tube and provided with an aperture, a longitudinallyapertured screw threaded into the inner tube and tted to close the aperture of the diaphragm, and a removable cap covering the' aperture of the diaphragm, substantially as described.

8. Thecombination, withachambered head, provided with a passage by which its chamber may communicate with the interior of a steamradiator and also with an outlet-passage, of a brass tube forming an extension ofsaid chamber, an iron tube within the brass one having its interior in communication with the outlet of said head, a diaphragm supported by the brass tube above the iron one and provided with an aperture over that of the iron tube, a longitudinally-pierced screw passing loosely through the aperture of the diaphragm into the inner tube and provided with a head adapted to close the aperture of the diaphragm, and a cap inclosing a space above the diaphragm, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with an automatic airvalve, comprising a chambered head, A, having a discharge-passage, a. and unequally-expansive outer and inner tubes communicating with each other by valved passage, and one of them communicating with said discharge-pas sage a, of a drip-cup, G, fitted to the bottom of the head and provided with a passage, g, whereby the discharge-passage ofthe head may deliver into the cup, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY Ii. IDE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. GRoss, EDWARD BOGART.

Images