US56530A - Improvement in vapor-stoves - Google Patents

Description

S. CHILD, Jr.

Vapor Stove.

Patented July 24, 1866.

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SAMUEL CHILD, JR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IM PROVElVl ENT IN VAPOR-STOVES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CHILD, J r., of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor- Stoves; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of that part of the stove to which my improvements are applied. Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, represent, separately and in detail, the various parts shown in Fig. 1.

My invention relates to that class of stoves used for cooking, heating, and other purposes, in which the vapor of petroleum, when mixed with atmospheric air, is used as a heating agent; and it has particular reference to the method of regulating the supply of oil to the retort. In the most approved apparatus forthis purpose now in use the volatile fluid is contained in areservoir, whence it is conducted in pipes to a retort or heating-chamber, where it becomes vaporized. The gas thus generated escapes from a jet in the upper part of the retort, and heats a heater-cap, which is supported on conductors raised a suitable dis-- tance above the retort. This apparatus, as is well known, may often be used to advantage in place of the ordinary coal or wood stove; but it is nevertheless imperfect in many respects. (See, for instance, the vapor-stove of T. S. Gray, patented December 27 1864.) In this stove the stop-valve for shutting off the supply of fluid from the reservoir is located on the reservoir-pipe, or, if more than one jet or burner be employed, on each feed-pipe. Between the feed-pipe or reservoir-pipe and the retort, and connecting them,is whatis called the retort-pipe. This pipe is filled with a packing or wicking to steady and prevent the excessive flow of the fluid. In the retort is a screw-valve, which opens or closes the jet in the retort and regulates the intensity of the flame.

Now, this arrangement is defective in many respects, the three principal of which are as follows:

First, the distance between the stop-valve and the retort. As this valveislocated on the feed or reservoir pipe, the whole length of the retort-pipe, after the supply has been cut off by the valve, will be still filled with the fluid, which will continue to enter the retort and become vaporized. If the screw-valve in the retort be turned so as to close the burner, the gas thus generated, finding no outlet, will be forced back into the pipe, or if it be allowed to burn until the fluid is exhausted the packing or wicking in the retort-pipe will become gradually charred, and the apparatus may thus become clogged, while at the same time an unpleasant odor is produced.

Second, the packing or wicking which it has been found necessary to use in this apparatus between the stop-valve and retort frequently impedes and clogs the working of the apparatus for the reasons above mentioned, and it is, moreover, difficult to be adjusted in its proper place, and renders the arrangement more complicated.

Third, the employment of a valve in the retort. Goal-oil or petroleum, when heated so as to become vaporized and volatilized, penetrates and passes through the smallest and most minute crevices, as is witnessed every day in using the ordinary kerosene-lamp. When a valve is located in the retort, and is operated by a small wheel or handle just under the retort, as is seen in Grays stove, it is impossible to prevent the heated and volatile fluid from leaking through the valve at the point where the stem or shank penetrates the retort. It is needless to say that this leakage is a great drawback, which should be obviated if possible.

In making the improvements which are the subject of this application I have had special reference to the above-mentioned defects, and have endeavored to remedy them as far as possible, so as to produce an apparatus simpler and less complicated, and which at the same time is less liable to get out of repair or operative order, than any other now in use.

Instead of employing the two valves, the one located on the reservoir or feed pipe and the other on the retort, and then filling the intervening length of pipe with packing, as shown in the Gray stove, I make use of one valve only-a screw-valve-its seat being just at the point where the retort-pipe joins the retort, and having a shank or stem which eX- tends back through the length of the retortpipe, and is opera-ted by a handle or small wheel placed at the point of junction of the reservoir and retort-pipes. By this arrangement I cut off the supply of fluid at the immediate entrance to the retort, so that when desired the vaporization of the fluid and generation of gas can be instantaneously stopped.

I also am enabled by this means to dispense with the wick-packing and with the screw-valve in the retort, which is thus rendered perfectly tight and free from leakage.

An incidental advantage resulting from my improvements is that the construction of the retort is much simplified, for it may consist of a plain iron neck or elbow'without the elaborate internal arrangement shown in the retort used in Grays stove.

Having indicated in a general manner the nature of my invention, I will now, in order that others may be fully enabled to understand and use it, proceed to describe the manner in which the same is or'may be carried into effect, referring at the same time to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon.

The device or apparatus shown in the drawings is that part of a vapor-stove which generates the vapor or gas used for heating, cooking, or other purposes. It consists of a fluidreservoir, L, connected by pipes M and E with a retort or generating-chamber, B, the flow of liquid through the pipes into the retort being regulated by a suitably-arranged valve-rod, D.

In order to have a column of liquid which will keep the retort constantly supplied when the valve is open, the reservoir L, which holds the volatile fluid, is placed some distance above the level of the retort B, where the gas is generated. A pipe, M, commonly called the reservoir or feed pipe, extends downward from the reservoir, and is united to the retortpipe E, or pipe which is in immediate communication with the retort, by an elbow-joint, F.

The pipe E, which is of suitable length, extends horizontally or at right angles to the feed-pipe, and meets the retort B, to which it is secured either by means of a screw formed on its end, which fits a corresponding female screw in the retort, as shown in the drawings, or by solder or any other suitable means for forming a tight and secure joint.

The retort B is so shaped as to form a tubular neck or elbow, and its upper end is closed by a cap, m, which is screwed down into the retort, as shown in the drawings.

The gas escapes in a jet from the orifice bin the cap at and strikes against the heater-cap A, which is supported on conductors a, secured in the cap at and extending therefrom a suitable height above the retort.

The arrangement of the apparatus thus far bears a general resemblance to that of an ordinary vapor-stove. My improvements which are combined with this apparatus consist, as above said, in the means by which both the flow of the fluid from the reservoir L into the retort B is regulated and controlled and the internal organization of the apparatusitself is simplified and better adapted for common use.

Instead of employing the complicated arrangement used in-other vapor-stovesas, for instance, that shown in the hereinbefore-mentioned apparatus patented by Gray, in which one valve for checking the flow of the oil is placed on the reservoir or feed pipe and another is placed in the retort for preventing the escape of the gas and oil from the orifice in the capI use but one valve, which I locate at the point where the oil, after passing through the pipe E, enters the heating-chamber or retort B. The construction and arrangement of this valve is as follows: The end cl of the rod D nearest the retort is made into a conical shape, so as to form a valve which fits in the valveseat, as hereinafter explained. That portion of the rod in rear of the conical end forms the valve rod or stem, which extends back through the retort-pipe E, being arranged axially therewith, and is supported in a sleeve, G, formed by the projecting end of the elbow, which end, for this purpose, is extended back upon the prolongation of the retort-pipe E. A screwthread is out upon that part of the rod D supported in the sleeve G, which fits in a corresponding female-screw formed upon the interior of the sleeve. By this means the conical valve at the end'of the rod may be made to open or close the opening in the valve-seat.

'A cap, H, which acts as a stuffing-box, is screwed over the end of the sleeve. The interior of the cap is provided with a metal washer,

a, and cotton or hemp packing I), which, when rod extends out through this cap, and has 4 mounted on its end a handle, by which the valve is operated.

The valve-seat O is a cylindrical piece of metal, through which a tubular hole or passage is made to allow the oil to enter the retort B when the valveis opened. The orifice nearest the valve is made of a conical shape, so as to correspond with the conical valve. Atubular passage extends thence through the piece, and it may be turned so as to bring the orifice from which the fluid is discharged into the retort in close proximity to the bottom of the retort, as shown in Fig. 1 or it may be formed on the prolongation of the axis of the retortpipe, as shown in Fig. 5. I prefer, however, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, as thereby the fluid is more readily and effectually vaporized.

The valve-seat may be either secured to the end of the pipe E, as shown in the drawings, or it may be secured to the neck of the retort B.

When the stove is to be used the valve is closed and the fluid-reservoir is filled with the oil. The flame of a spirit lamp is then applied underneath the retort B until it is thoroughly heated. As soon as this is done the valve D is opened and the fluid commences to enter the retort through the opening in the valveseat, where it becomes vaporized. The gas thus generated escapes through the orifice or burner bin the top of the retort, and, being ignited, heats the heater-cap A. This heatercap, through the intermediary of the conduct-- ors n, communicates its heat to the retort, which is thus kept at the proper degree of heat to effect the vaporization of the fluid. The valve may be opened more or less in accord ance with the degree of heat required.

The valve-rod D, which, as shown in the drawings, should be of a diameter a little less than the interior diameter of the tube E, allows a snfficient supply of the fluid to pass freely into the retort, while at the same time it has in a degree the effect to prevent an excess of fluid from entering the retort-pipe anc forcing its Way into theretort.

If it be desired to stop the generation of heat, the valve, by means of the valve-rod and handle, is turned until it is forced up tightly into the conical valve-seat C. By this means the flow of the oil into the retort is instantly stopped, and therefore gas ceases to be generated.

The advantages possessed by this arrangement of parts, as described by me, are apparent.

In the first place, the one valve D does the work that in other apparatus is performed by two, three, or more valves.

Second, by shutting off the flow of oil at the point where it enters the retort vaporization instantly ceases, and all the disagreeable odor which is produced in other stoves by the gradual evaporation of the fluid that remains in the pipe below the point where the supply is shut off, as seen in the Gray stove, is done away with.

Third, by using a valve-rod extending throughout the length of the retort-pipe the packing employed in other apparatus for steadying the flow of oil may be dispensed with, the apparatus then being less liable to get clogged and out of operative order.

Fourth, by extending the valve-rod or stem back through the retort-pipe, so that it may be taken out therefrom at a point where the fluid is not heated and volatilized, all leakage is in a great measure prevented, and the retort or generating-chamber of the apparatus may be made perfectly tight.

Having now fully described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into eifect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows 1. In apparatusfor generating heat in vaporstoves, as above described, regulating the supply of fluid to the retort or heating-chamber in the manner and by the means hereinbefore specifiedthat is to say, by locatin g the valve which regulates the flow of the oil or other fluid at or near the point where the fluid enters the said retort, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In combination with the retort or heating-chamber of a vapor-stove and valve-seat located at or near the point of junction of said retort with the pipe which connects it with the fluid-reservoir, as specified, the valve constructed and arranged so as to operate on the axis of the said pipe, substantially as and for the purposes herein shownand described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

SAML. CHILD, JR.

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