US594346A - Heat-regulating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sheet 1.

. 2 Sheets (No Model.)

0. L. PORTIER. HEAT REGULATING APPARATUS.

No. 594,346. Patented Nov. 23,1897.-

Ml E T (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. L.-'PORTIER. HEAT REGULATING APPARATUS.

No. 594,346. Patented Nov. 23,1897..

. 70 H/MP G UNITED ST TES PATENT Qrrr CHARLES FORTIEB, OF MILWAUKEE, VJISG NSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE J OH SON ELECTRIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF lVlSCONSlN.

H EAT-REGU LATiNG APPARATUS.

srncrr'ronr'zon forming art of Letters man No. 594,346, dated Novgnber 23, 1897.

i i Applicgtionfiled September 12,1896. Serial No. 605,556. (lilo model.)

T ZZ whom it may OOFZGGT'WZ/I V no it known that 1, CHARLES L; FOR-TIER, of Milwaukee; in the county of Milwaukee and State of 'Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heat-Regulating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

, lhe main objectsof my invention are to r 5 employ a continuous electric current for the operation or control of heat-regulating apparatus; to prevent sparking at thermostats,

-.particularly when currents of high potential are used; to facilitate testing the circuit and repairing breaks and removing grounds therein; ton-void waste of energy or rapid consumption of electrodes when batteries are used to supply current; to dispense with springs, permanent magnets, and circuit-breakers, and

2 5 generally to improve the construction and operation of apparatus of the class to which my invention relates.

It consists of certain novel features in the construction and arrangement of component 3.0 parts of the apparatus, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

' In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same or similar parts in the several figures.

Figure l is a diagram and elevation of one form of apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the electromagnetic val res in connection with a thermostat and main heat- 40 regulating valve or damper; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modiliod'forin of the electromagnetic val V0 and its electrical co'nnec tions.

Referring to Fig. 1, A designates a heater,

which may be of any common or suitable form. for the purpose of illustration a combination hot-air and steam or hot-water heater, which is connected with certain rooms or apartments of a building by hot-air pipes B B and withradiators (S' (f in certain other apartments by steam or water pipes 13"? but the application of in y invention is by no means confined In the present instance I have shown to this combination of the two modes of heat ingand the arrangement of apparatus shown. The hot-air pipes B B open in the usual way into the apartments to be heated through suitable registers b E) and are provided with controlling or regulating valves or dampers D 1), while the pipes B B are provided near the radiators to which they lead with valves 1) D. The several valves or dampers D D are connected with suitable motors E E, by which they are directly actuatedunderthe control of thermostatically controlled electromagnetic valves F F, or the heat-regulating valves or dampers maybe constructed and arranged to be operated directly by electromagnetic devices controlled by thermostats in a manner similar to that shown in the drawings.

. The motors, consisting in the present case of expansion-chambers and flexible diaphragins, as shown in Fig. 2, are connected by pipes e c with the valves F F and by pipes e c with a pump G, which may have connections, as shown, with a water-main ll and sewer I and be operated automatically by liquid-pressure.

As shown in Fig. 2, the valves F each comprise an air-tight case or chamber f, having a port or passage f communicating through a Filter f with the atmosphere, an armature lever or arm J, pivoted within said case and provided with a valve 3' for closing the port or passage f, and an electromagnet K, the

core of which projects through said case into proximity with said arm or lever, so that when the magnet is energized it will draw said valve 3' against its seat and close the port or passage f, a spring j acting on said arm or lever in opposition to said magnet and tending to hold-the valve open.

The main heat-regulating valves or dampers D I) of the apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are'designed to be operated by a vacuum or by exhausting the chambers ofthe motors E, and for this purpose the pipes e e have restricted ports or passages, as at c, Fig. 2, of smaller area than the ports or passages f, so that when the latter are open the motors will be supplied with air faster than. they are exhausted, and consequently will be inflated, allowing springs e, as shown in 2, to open the valves or dampers D D,

Filters e e are provided between the restricted ports e and the motors and chainterrupting' or interfering with bers of valves E, and, with the filters f prevent dust and dirt from entering and clogging said ports and air-passages and thusinthe operation of the" apparatus.

The coils of the magnets K K are connected infseries by wires L L with a battery M or other convenient source of electricity.

N N are sin gle-poin't thermostats placed in shunts 'n a, tapping the circuit L Lion oppo-- site sides of the magnets K K.

00 are coils having'a resistance approximately equal to that of the magnets K K. They are placedin the main circuit L L and associated with the several electromagnetic valves K K and with shunts p p, containing automatic circuit-controllers P P and tapping the main circuit on opposite sides of the said resistance-coils O O.

The circuit-controllers P P for closing the shunts p p and cutting out the resistances O 0 whenever the associated shunts n n are opened by the thermostats N N, and thereby maintaining an approximately constant resistance in the main circuit L L, may each conveniently consist, as shown in Fig. 2, of two spring-contacts p p, to which the shuntwires p p are attached, a movable head. 19 having a stem projecting through the Valvecase f into the path of the armature lever or arm J, and a flexible diaphragm p attached to said stem in or over an opening in said valve-case.

Referring to Fi v3, showing a modification of a part of the apparatus, F designates an, electromagnetic valve mechanism for controlling the admission and release of the actuating fluid to and fromthe motor and the operation of the valve or damper connected therewith. It comprises an air-tight chamber or case fi, having supply and exhaust ports or passages f and f and a service connection f leading into the expansion ture-lever. The coils of said magnets areconnected in series with each other and'with the battery or other source of electricity by the main-circuit wires L L.

Nis atwo-point thermostat, the expansionstrip at of which is connected by a wire at with "the main circuit between the two magnets and the contacts a n of which are connected by wires in and n with the main circuit outside of said magnet-s, thereby form; ing shunts by which the coil of either one of the magnets is cut out of the main circuit, according to the position of the expansion-strip n of the thermostat. vice a separate resistance-coil is dispensed with, since the coil of one of the magnets is In this form of the de.

always in circuit and affords the requircdresistance to prevent depletion of battery or consumption of electric energy. .This' form of the device also avoids the necessity of springs and permanent magnets, as the current flowing through the coil which is not shunted holds the opposite valve to its seat, and while the expansion-strip n is out of engagement with both contacts 91. it current passes through the coils of both magnets, so I that the oneby which the armature-lever J is attracted when this condition occurs will holditby reason of its closer proximity therewith against the othermagnet. The arrangement of the valve-controlling magnets of both forms of the apparatus in a continuous electric circuit in series with each other and the provision or" the thermostaticallycontrolled shunts around the several magnets enables me to dispense with the circuit-break- -ers employed in other systems of this class.

The form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 admits of the use of a single-point thermostat, by which it is well known to those familiar with the'subject that temperature can be regulated within closer limits than by the double *point or contact thermostats commonly used. By a slight modification a fluid under pressure maybe employed with this form of valve instead of a vacuum.

The form and arrangement of the valve mechanism and its connections shown in l ig. 3 is suitable for use either with a fluid under pressure or a vacuum, with this advantage, however, over the other formthat in one position the port or passage leading from the valve-chamber to the pump will be closed, and in that position there will be no waste in the fluid energy.

My improved arrangement of the electric connections of the apparatus admits of its operation by current of high potential, and when it is accessible and convenient the circuit L may be supplied with current from an electric-light plant or other source of strong current without detriment to the operation of the'lights or other apparatus supplied by such current. When a sutliciently powerful current is employed, the internrcdiate fluid.- motors between the electromagnetic valves and the main heat-regulating valves or dampers maybe dispensed with and the magnets arranged to operate theheat-reg ulati ng valves or dampers directly. Accidental breaks or grounds in the electric circuit may be easily located by grounding one side of the battery or generator and tapping the wire leading from the opposite side with a ground connection at diiferent points. In this way an intervening break or ground in the circuit can be easily detected.

Myimprovedapparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, operates as follows: When the temperature in any apartment controlled by the system is at or below the u t for which the apparatus is set and trip n,

,of the thermostat rent isshunted through the Wiresn it around the coil of the associated magnet K, which is thusdeenergizedf Thearmatureleverorarm, J, being thus released, is drawn awayii om' and pipe e to the diaphragm-chamber of the associated motor faster than it is exhausted by the pump through the restricted passage e in pipe e. The motor is thus in dated, and the spring (2 acting on the diaphragin' in opposition to the pump, opens the main valve or damper D, as shown in Fig. 2 and the lower left-hand portion of Fig. 1, thereby admittingthe heating medium through the pipe 13 into the apartment with which it oommunicates, containing the thermostat. When the armature lever J is retracted by "its spring j, it engages the stem of the movable member p of the circuit controller and thrusts it out of engagement with the contactsprings p p, thereby opening the shunt p p and compelling the current to pass through" the resistance-coil O'when the thermostatic shunt n n is closed and the coil of magnet K is out out of circuit. In this Way the resistance of the circuit is kept substantially constant or sufficient to prevent Waste or unnecessary consumption of current and interior ence with the operation of lights or other apparatus which may be supplied from the source of-current. When the temperature is raised in'this apartment to or slightly above the degree for which the apparatus is set, the

expansion-strip n of the thermostat is de-- fiected out of engagement with its contact n and the shunt it n opened. Current is thus compelled to pass again through the magnet K, which, being energized thereby, attracts the lever or arm J, closing the port f by the valve j. The supply of airthrough the valvechamber to the motor E being thus cut off,

the chamber of the motor is exhausted by the action of the pump through the pipe 0,

collapsing the diaphragm, compressing the spring e, and closing the valve or damper .l), as shown inthe lower right-hand portion of Fig. 1, thereby cutting off the heating medium from the apartment. to which the pipe B leads. When the arm J is-attractcd. by magnet K and the valve-chamber is exhausted by the pump, the diaphragm p is collapsed ordrawn in, carrying the heel p of the circuit-controller into engagement with the contact-springs p 19, thereby closing the shunt p p around the resistance-coii 0. When the temperature in said apartment falls to or slightly bclou the degree for which iJhBiliGT- mostat is set, the operation of the apparatus as first described will be repeated, opening the damper and admitting the heating medium again into said apartment.

Vifith the form of electromagnetic valve and tho-arrangement of circuit connections sh own I in Fig. 3 the operation of the-apparatus is similar to that of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and will be readily understood by those familiar with the subject without further explanation.

Various changes may be made in the details of the apparatus. Within the spirit and in tended scope of my invention.

I claiu1-- g a 1. The combination With'a heat-regulating valve or dampen-Of an electrom agnet for controllingthe operation of said valve or damper, an electricQcircuit connecting the coil of said magnet With-a source of electricity and a shunt containing athermostat and tapping said ci cuit on opposite sides of said magnet, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a number of heatregulatinx valves or dampers, of electromagnets for controlling the operation of said valves or dampers, an electric circuit connecting the coils of said magnets in series with a source of electricity and a shunt for each magnet containing a thermostat and tapping said circuit on opposite sides of said magnet, substantially as and for the puposes set forth.

3. The combination with a heat-regulating valve or damper, of an eleotromagnet for con-. trolling the operation of said valve or damper,

magnet with a source of eiectricity, a thermostat in a shunt tapping said circuit on opposite sides of said magnet, a resistance in said circuit, and a shunt around said resistance containing an automatic circuit-controller which is arranged to cut out said resistance Whenever the thermostat is opened substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination with heat-regulating -valves or dampers, of electromagnets for controlling their operation, an electric circuit connecting the coils of said magnets in series with a source of electricity, a' shunt around each magnet containing a thermostat, a re sistance in said circuit for each magnet, and a shunt around said resistance containing an automatic circuit-controller arranged to open.

shunt Whenever the associated thermostatic shunt is closed, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with heat-regulating valves or-dampers, ofelectromagnets con'irolconuectingthecoils of said-magnets inseries with a source or electricity, and 'single=pcint" thermostats having their expansion strips connected with said circuit on one side and their contacts connected with said circuit on as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own I a'iiix-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CH ARLES L. FOR-TIER.

\Vitnesses.

- CHAS. L. Goss,

FRANK A. KREHLO.

ling'the operation thereof, an electric circuit ,an'electric circuit connecting the coil of said 4 the other side of said magnets, substantially 2 5

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