US543034A - Automatic water-regulator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. W. LONG. AUTOMATIC WATER REGULATOR.

No. 543,034. Patented July 23, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT O F CE.

EBEN W. LONG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC WATER-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,034, dated uly 23, 1895.

Application filed April 8, 1895. Serial No. 544,946- (Nomodelh To Ml whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN W. LONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic VVater-Regutanks, feed-water heaters, and wherever wator-regulation is required.

My invention consists of a suitable tank, a springcontrolled supplyvalve capable of adjustment to suit different pressures and conditions, a safety-valve to guard against flooding the system or boiler or tank, as the case may be, with which said regulator is used, and the usual float and lover so connected as to operate both the supply and safety valves, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the tank and regulator. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on a plane at a right angle to that shown in Fig. 2 on dotted lines 3 3, Fig. 2;. and Fig. 4'is'a horizontal transverse section taken on dotted'lin'e 4 4, Fig.2, show-. ing the fulcrum-pin of the float-lever.

In the drawings, A. represents a suitable tank, which is sort of pear-shaped, the small.

end being rectangular. in cross-section and having its under side on the same horizontal plane as the under side of the tank, and having its side walls, as distinguished from its end wall, formed by a continuation of the side walls of the body of the tank. The body of the tank is preferably somewhat elliptical in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, and its end is cast open and is normally closed by a cover I), which can be removed when access is desired. In the uppermost portion or top of the tank is an equalizing-pipe 0, leading from the pressure-chamber of the system, to which the regulator is applied, whether air or steam, and in the bottom of the tank a pipe 13, leading to the water-reservoir or source from which the water is distributed for use. On

one side of this tank, preferably on a vertical plane intersecting its greatest axis, are two stubs 00 w, located one above the other, for the connections of a suitable water-gage X, which may be located on either side of the tank, or if desired may be dispensed with altogether.

In the top and in the bottom of the small end of tank A, in vertical alignment to each other, are two screw threaded openings. Screwed into the upper opening is a short cylinder O, in the lower end of which is a central guide-boss r, supported by radiating arms, between which and the sides of said cylinder the water can freely pass, and in the upper femalescrew-threaded portion of this cylinder is a head D, having a central opening therethrough. The upper end of this head is connected to the inlet-pipe of my improved regulator, and the marginal edges of the lower end of its central opening are preferably projecteddownward, so as to form a valve-seat for the valve E. This valve consistsof the cup-shaped upper end of a vertical spindle d, which extends down through the guideboss 0, as shown, and in the bowl of this cup shaped upper end 'of the spindle I place a suitably-shaped block of vulcanized rubber d. or other suitable packing material, which normally presses up against said valve-seat. This upward pressure of the valve E is created by the coil-spring a, surrounding said spindle between the under shoulders of the cup-shaped valve E thereof and said boss r. If desired, the pressure of this spring may be regulated by putting a collar f on said spindle immediately under said valve, up against which the upper end of said spring presses, and then having aset-screw f screwed down through said valve, as shown, and bearing upon said collar in such manner as to tie press the spring e to obtain the pressure thereof desired.

The lower end of spindle d is slotted or providedwith a vertically-elongated opening 9 therein, through which the horizontallydisposed adjacent portion of the float-lever G passes. This float-lever G is fulcrumed atits rear end, between suitable lugs h, projecting forward from the rear vertical wall of the small end of the tank, by the fulcrum-pin H, which is extended laterally to and through the side wall of the tank and has its head portion screw-threaded, so as to screw into the tapped opening in said tank. While this construction of the fulcrum-pin H is not absolutely necessary, I prefer it because of its ease of manufacture. The lever G extends horizontally forward from its fulcrum through the elongated opening in spindle (Z and a short distance forward from the same is bent obliquely upward and has the spherical float I on its end.

Screwed up through the lower end of the spindle d is a gage'screw, which is of'sufficient length to enter the opening 9 and bears against the under side of the floatlever G. Now when the water in the tank falls below a given level the lever moves downward and depresses spindle d and opens the valve E and permits the water to flow from the inletpipe into the tank. Should the water in the tank accidentally rise above the safety-level, by reason of the water in the system being under on abnormal pressure, or otherwise, the tank is provided with means to automatically permit the escape of water therefrom until the water in the system equalizcs itself and returns to its normal condition. Itherefore screw into the opening in the floor or lower wall of the small end of tank A a pipe, or, preferably, a pipe-elb0w I, which drains intothesewerorothersuitableout-take. The edges of the mouth of this elbow I, entering the tank, are provided with an annular beveled flange, so as to provide a valve-seat 11, which is normally closed by the valve J. Valve J consists of a suitable ring or washer of vulcanized rubber or other suitable insulated material, which surrounds the lower narrower end of a sleeve K, said sleeve having a circumferential flange m immediately above the valve J, whereby said valve J is rigidly held to said sleeve K by means of a suitable washer, and nut 70 screwed into the lower screw-threaded end of said sleeve, as shown. The upper portion of said sleeve above the valve is greater in diameter than the lower portion, as hereinbefore intimated, and the sleeve is provided with a diaphragm on the samehorizontal plane as the flange m, so as to prevent leakage therethrough. In order to aid in guiding the reciprocal movement of valve J, I extend centrally up through the bend of said elbow a post 01, the upper end of which enters the bore of the lower end of the sleeve, as shown. This post may be dispensed with, if desired, however, and other means employed for this purpose. The bore of the upper part of sleeve K above the valve is of sufficient diameter for the lower end of the I-shaped or double T-shaped block N. The connecting web of this block passes through the slots 0 of the sleeve and the elongated opening in the spindle, and when the leverG moves upward above the normal it bears against this block and lifts the sleeve and valve J. The water-pressure within the tank is SUlllClGlll) to keep this valve J on its seat and close the drain, except when the float is above the safety water-level, whereupon the valve is lifted and the water escapes from the tank until the normal condition of the water in the system is reestablished.

There are details of construction in connection with my invention which I have not heretofore referred to, which can be changed. These I desire to be understood as comprehending as coming within the spirit and scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. The combination with a tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of said tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of a valve normally closing said inlet, having a, vertical spindle depending there from, and a valve closing said drain having, a sleeve projecting upward into the bore of which the lower portion of said spindle extends, and a float. lever and float, said floatlever extending through elongated opening and slots in said valve spindle and sleeve and opening the drain valve when moving upward, and opening the inlet valve when moving downward.

2. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of the same opposite said inlet, and a distributing outlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending therefrom that has a longitudinally elongated opening, a valve for closing said drain and a sleeve arising therefrom into which said spindle extends and having longitudinal slots therein, an adjustable block connected to said sleeve and extending through said slots and through the elongated opening in said spindle, a float, a float-lever passing through said elongated opening in said spindle and the slots of the sleeve, as set forth.

3. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet therein, an outlet in the bot tom thereof opposite said inlet and a dis tributing outlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending therefrom which is provided with a longitudinally elongated opening in the lower portion thereof, a valve for closing said drain which has a sleeve having longitudinal slots therein into the bore of which said spindle extends and having a portion of said sleeve depending below said valve, a post arranged below said valve and projecting into the depending portion of said sleeve, a float and float-lever, said float-lever extending through the slots and elongated opening of said sleeve and spindle, as set forth.

4.. The combination with a tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending there from, having an elongated opening in its lower portion, a spring for keeping said valve openings and slots in said valve spindle and sleeve and opening the drain valve when moving upward, and opening the inlet valve when moving downward.

5. The combination with a tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending therefrom having an elongated opening in its lower portion, a spring for keeping said valve normally closed, devices for regulating the pressure of said spring, and'a valve closing said drain having a sleeve projecting upward into the bore of which the lower portion of said spindle extends, and a float-lever and float, said float-lever extending through elongated openings, and slots in said valve spindle and sleeve and opening the drain valve when moving upward, and opening the inlet valve when moving downward.

- 6. The combination with a tank having an, inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending there from having an elongated opening in the lower portion, a spring for keeping said valve normally closed, devices for regulating the pressure of said spring, a valve for closing said drain and a sleeve arising therefrom into which said spindle extends and having longitudinal slots therein, an adjustable block connected to said sleeve. and extending through said slots and through the elongated opening in said spindle, a float, a float-lever passing through said elongated opening in said spindle and the slots of the sleeve, as set forth.

7. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in the bottom of the same opposite said inlet, and a distributing outlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle depending therefrom that has a longitudinally elongated opening, a valve for closing said drain and a sleeve arising therefrom into which said spindle extends and having longitudinal slots therein, an adjustable block connected to said sleeve and extending through said slots and through the elongated openingin said spindle, a float, a float-lever passing through said elongated opening in said spindle and the slots of the sleeve, and a fulcrumpin extending from the end of said tank and the end of the lever pivoted between said lugs, as set forth.

EBEN W. LONG. Witnesses:

THEO. B. HELLER, FRANK D. THOMASON.

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