US632371A

US632371A - Automatic damper-regulator.

Info

Publication number: US632371A
Application number: US71494299A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Roy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1899-04-29
Filing date: 1899-04-29
Publication date: 1899-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1916-09-05

Description

N0. 632.3. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

J. J. ROY. AUTOMATIC DAMPER REGULATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

3 Sheets-:Shee; 1.

(No Model.)

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Pat ented Sept. 5, I899.

11. 1. nuv. Auroumc DAMPER REGULATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

(I10 Modal.)

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No. 632,371. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

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AUTOMATIC DAMPER REGULATOR.

7 (Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.) (Id Modal.) A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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@ fmm UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN J. ROY, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC DAM PER-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,371, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed April 29, 1899.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. ROY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Damper-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The automatic damper-regulators now in general use with which the most satisfactory results are attained are those in which a hydraulic motor is employed to move the damper. These motors are usually of the piston type, the supply and exhaust to which are regulated by the pressure-lever and the motive power of which is generally the city water-supply, or if that is not available the wa-. tor-pressure for operating the motor is secured by an overhead tank or by a condenser from the boiler. These damper-regulators although operating in a fairly satisfactory manner when in perfect working order are yet subject to various defects which it is my object to correct. Some of these defects are as follows: The motor must be carefully and accurately made and is therefore expensive. It is subject to considerable wear, and the packings in time become worn and must be replaced. The piston or the regulating valves are liable to stick and leak, in which case the result is imperfect regulation and waste of water. The Whole apparatus, moreover, requires considerable care and attention and occasional readjustment.

The object of my invention is to produce a damper-regulator which is cheaper to construct, is much more simple and economical in its operation, and which is very unlikely to get out of order. I accomplish this object by providing a damper-regulator which operates on a new and entirely different principle from those previously constructed.

According to my invention I provide a closed chamber or condenser which is connected at its upper portion to a point in the boiler-which is aboye the water-level therein and is connected at its lower portion to a point below the water-level of the boiler or a water-chamber under boiler-pressure, so that the first-mentioned connection will always supply steam, While the latter will always supply water, to the chamber. I further provide a vah e in the steam-pipe which is automat- Serial No. 714,942. (No model.)

ically opened and closed according to the variations in pressure in the boiler. The opening and closing of this valve will automatically vary the water-levelin the closed chamher-thatis, when the steam-pipe is open the water in the chamber will flow by gravity back into the boiler and when the steampipe is closed the steam in the chamber will condense, allowing the steam-pressure in the boiler to force the water into the chamber. In connection with this chamber I provide suitable means for varying the position of the damper according to the variations of the water-level in the closed chamber.

The motor which I use to operate the damper and which forms the principal part of my invention difiers from all other motors for this purpose, which are operated either directly or indirectly by variations in the boilerpressure, in that it practically has no exhaustthat is, if it can be said'to have any exhaust at all the exhaust is back into the boiler. In all other damper-motors the exhaust is either into a chamber which has a lower pressure than the boiler or source of pressure or to atmosphere-pressure. For this reason while in all other devices of this general character there is considerable loss of water and heat in my device there is no loss of water and but little loss of heat.

invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of a compensating device. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section of a modification which I may use under certain conditions. Fig. et'is a section on the line a; a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section in elevation on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a modification.

In the drawings a small portion of the boiler is indicated at 1, the normal water-line therein being indicated by the line a a. A steam-pipe 2 is connected to the top of the boiler and has a branch pipe 3, which is carried under the. usual pressure-diaphragm 4, which is held down by the usual weighted pressure-lever 5. All of these parts are too well known to require further description. A valve 6 is interposed in the steam-pipe 2 For a more complete understanding of my i beyond the branch 3. This valve may be of any well-known form; but I prefer a form of sliding gate-valve, such as is shown, for example, in the drawings. The stem 6 of this valve is connected by a link 7 to a rider 8 on the pressure-lever, so that when the lever is in its lowest position the valve will be fully open and when the lever is in its highest position the valve will be closed. The steampipe 2 continues beyond the valve 6 and is connected to the hollow standard 9, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The waterpipe 10 is connected to the boiler below. the water-level and is connected to the hollow standard 11. These standards 9 and 11 are placed a short distance from each other and have openings 9 and 11, respectively, in their inner sides, which communicate with the passages 9 and 11" therethrough.

Pipes

12 and 13 are screwed into said ports and are connected at their opposite ends to tube 14, the joints therebetween being any common form of stuffing-box 15 15 which permit the ready rotation of said tube 14 with respect to

pipes

12 and 13, yet preventing any leakage at these points. Tube 14 is provided with a partition 16 at one side of the middle thereof, forming steam and

water chambers

14 and 14", respectively, therein. A water-pipe 10 is connected to chamber 14" at a point near the middle of tube 14 and extends horizontally and at right angles thereto. A steampipe 2 is connected to steam-chamber 14 and extends vertically, then horizontally in line with tube 14, then at right angles in the same vertical plane as pipe 10. Pipe 10 is extended a sufficient distance to form a lever of the desired length and is connected to the bottom of a closed chamber or condenser 17 which in this view is shown in the form of a hollow ball or sphere. Although this particular form is not essential, as it might be made in the form of a coil of pipe or any other form in which steam will condense with sufficient readiness, yet I prefer this form in view of the fact that it may be readily and completely drained and also because it condenses the steam at the most desirable rate. The steam-pipe 2 is connected to the top of chamber 17 and an air-cock 18 is provided at this point, which is opened to permit the escape of air in the chamber 17 and pipes 10' and 2 when the apparatus is started up. A wire yoke 19 is adjustably secured to waterpipe 10, the particular point at which it is secured being determined when the apparatus is set up. This yoke 19 passes on each side of pipe 2 and ends in a loop 19','to which a chain or cable 20 is attached. This cable passes over suitable pulleys 21 and passes downwardly and is connected to a rod 22, which carries a weight 22, the lower end of said rod being connected to the operatingarm 23 of the damper by a chain 23.

24 indicates the flue, and 25 the damper, I

which is shown in the half-open position, at which time arm 23 is horizontal. A straight spring 26, which is suitably mounted at one end, is connected at its opposite end to the rod 22, said spring being provided with a longitudinal slot 26, which is engaged by the pin 22 on rod 22. This spring 26 is connected to rod 22 at such a point that it will be straight or not under tension when the parts are in their intermediate position. The

particular form of spring shown is not essen-' tial, though I consider this form the most desirable.

As is usual with devices of this character, the apparatus is set to maintain the boilerpressure at a certain point, which may be called the normal pressure. When the pressure is normal, the parts will all be in their intermediate; position. lever will be about horizontal, at which point the port in valve 6 will be opened sufficiently to allow a slight escape of steam past the same into thechamber 17, so that steam will be supplied to the top of said chamber as fast as it condenses therein. The chamber 17 will then be partially filled with water-as, for example, to the point shown in Fig. 1, at which point the weights on rod 22 will lift the chamber, together with the

pipes

10 and 2, to the middle position oftheir travel, these parts swinging on the

pipes

12 and 13 as a pivot. At this point the damper will be about half open.

The device as thus far described operates as follows: If the boiler-pressure should fall below the normal, the pressure-lever 5 will immediately'drop, opening the steam-valve 6 and causing the pressure in the upper part of chamber 17 to be raised to boiler-pressure. The boiler-pressure will then no longer sustain the water in the chamber, as the pressure on the surface of the water is as great as the pressure which tends to sustain it, and the water will flow back into the boiler by gravity. This will relieve the weight of water in the chamber, so that the weight 22 on the rod 22 will draw up the chamber 17, and the corresponding sinking of the rod 22 will permit the weighted operating-arm 23 of the damper 25 to move the latter toward its fullyopen position. This movement will be gradual, as the steam in the top of chamber 17 will not be brought to boiler-pressure immediately, and the flow of Water out of the chamber will not therefore be rapid. If the boilerpressure should be raised above the normal,

The pressure the pressure-lever would be lifted by the pressure-diaphragm, wholly closing the steamweight 22' on the rod 22, lifting arm 23 andclosing the damper. This motion will also be gradual, owing to the gradual condensation of the steam, so that the damper will not be too fully opened or closed upon slight variations in boiler-pressure.

Special means for facilitating condensation in chamber 17 may be used; but in practice such means have not been found desirable, as too rapid condensation would cause imperfect regulation.

The spring 26 is provided to obstructthe apparatus from moving the damper too suddenly to its extreme positions, the spring being arranged so that it will not be under tension or affect the operation of the apparatus when the parts are in their normal or intermediate positions, but will immediately act to return them to their intermediate positions upon movement thereof to either extreme position. The strength of this spring is necessarily not sufficient to prevent the parts from going to their extreme positions; but it is sufficient to prevent sudden or extreme fluctuations in the position of the parts, therefore aiding materially in maintaining a uniform pressure in the boiler.

I provide also an additional means for aiding the above-described apparatus in maintaining a uniform pressure, which consists of the compensating device shown in detail in Fig. 2. This device consists of a tube 27 and a post 28, each of which is secured to a common base 29, which latter is adjustably secured to the pressure-lever 5. A spring 30 is adj ustably secured to the lower end of tube 27, the particular means shown being a pin 31, to which the end of the spring is secured, a series of holes 32 being provided, in any one of which the pin 31 may be placed. The upper end 30' of spring 30 is annealed and straightened and passes up through a disk 33, which rests on top of the coiled portion of the spring 30, and through the cap 34 on top of the tube. A loop 35 is formed at the end of the wire, to which a chain 36 is secured. The opposite end of this chain is secured to the pipe 10 by means of a sliding clip 37. A second spring 38 is secured to the under side of cap 34 and has a disk 39 secured to'the lower end thereof, this being also perforated to permit the passage of wire 30. The post 28 has a bolt 40 screwed in the top thereof, and a lock-nut 41 on said bolt prevents the same from turning- A clip 42, having a projection42, is carried by pipe 10' in such a position as to engage the head of bolt 40 in certain positions of the parts. The operation of this attachment is as follows: As previously explained, when the boiler-pressure drops the pressure-lever will drop and the chamber 17 and its lever arm or pipe 10 will swing up. The chain 36 is of such a length that it will be taut and pulling on the spring 30 Very slightly when the pipe 10 and chamber 17 are in their middle positions. Upon the lowering of lever 5 and consequent further upward movement of pipe 10 the spring 30 will be'stretched, and as this spring is very weak there will be a slight upward pull on lever 5, which tends to restore it to its horizontal or normal position and tends to close steam-valve 6, so that the steam-will not flow too rapidly into the top of chamber 17, thereby causing the water to flow too rapidly from the chamber and opening the damper too wide. If, however, the pressure is not restored to the normal, the valve 6 will be opened wider, causing the pipe 10' to swing up'higher until the two disks .33 and 39 come into contact. When these disks come into contact, the tension on the chain 36 will be about doubled, so that there will be a much stronger tendency to return the pressure-lever 5 to its horizontal position and nearly close valve 6, and unless the boiler-pressure has dropped very considerably, which will probably occur only when the fire is not receiving proper attention, the lever 5 would be pulled up, nearly closing valve 6 by the time pipe 10 had swung up to its'highest position. By this means the parts are made to recover much more quickly than if some such means were not present-that is, if the damper were allowed to remain open too long and not become closed until the pressure reached the normal the fire would have gained too great a headway to be stopped at once by the partial or entire closing of the damper, and the result would be that the pressure would be raised above the normal. If the pressure should be raised above the normal, lever 5 would be raised, totally closing valve 6 and causing chamber 17 and pipe 10 to swing down. The bolt 40 is adjusted so that projection 42 will strike the head thereof when the pipe 10 has nearly reached its lowest or horizontal position. The result will then be to lower the pressure-lever so that the valve 6 is slightly opened, causing some of the water to flow from the chamber and the damper to be slightly opened and the parts to be placed in such a position that the damper will be immediately opened still further when the fire is checked and the pressure reduced. Although these compensating devices are not wholly necessary to the attainment of satisfactory results with my device, they add materially to the efficiency thereof.

In localities where the water which must be used in the boiler is dirty and would be liable to deposit sediment in chamber 17 and clog the pipes I provide the device shown in Fig. 3. This device consists of a closed chamber 43, preferably of spherical form, having a pipe 2 connected to the bottom thereof and passing upwardly to nearly the top thereof. This pipe 2 is connected to the steam-pipe 2, so that steam only will be supplied to chamber 43. A pipe 10 is connected to the top of chamber 43 and passes downwardly nearly to the bottom thereof. This pipe 10" is connected to standard 11 and water-pipe 10 is discarded. The result of this arrangement is that a trap is interposed between the bottom of chamber 17 and the steam-space of the boiler when the chamber 43 is filled with water. It is essential, as will hereinafter appear, that the capacity of the chamber or trap 43 be at least equal to the capacity of chamber 17. The operation is as follows: Steam will condense in chamber 43 and fill the same to the top of pipe 2 and the surplus water of condensation will flow back into the boiler. This chamber 43 will then act with respect to the water-pipe 10 and chamber 17 precisely the same as the main boiler-that is, the steam-pressure in the top of chamber 43 will force the water up into chamber 17 and when the pressure in chamber 17 is raised to boilerpressure the water will flow back into chamber 43 and thence into the boiler. By this means only water of condensation will be used in the apparatus, such Water of course being entirely free from sediment. With this arrangement it will also be observed that I dispense with one of the pipe connections to the boiler and operate the damper by one pipe connection alone, this connection being made above the Water-line or to the steam-space 0f the boiler. The result of connecting the bottom of chamber 17 with the steam-space of theboiler by means of a pipe which is sealed by a trap therein and which has a capacity equal that of chamber 17 is the same, so far as the practical operation is concerned, as if the pipe which is connected to the bottom of chamber 17 were connected to the boiler below the water-line, as in Fig. 1. The essential point is that the steam-pressure must always force water in at the bottom of the chamber. To do this, the pipe which connects the steamspace with the bottom of the chamber must be water-sealed, but the particular way in which it is water-sealed is not material. A drain-cock 44 maybe provided in the bottom of chamber 43, if desired.

The apparatus above described possesses numerous advantages not possessed by prior devices used for this purpose. It is much less complicated,and thereforemuch more cheaply constructed. There are no internal parts which require adjustment, readjustment, and renewal, and it is never necessary'to take it apart to clean it. It is very inexpensive to run.,as there is no waste of water as in those having an independent motor, all water used in my motor being returned to the boiler at nearly boiler temperature, and the loss of heat by condensation in chamber 17 is so small as to be hardly worthy of consideration. The use of a single valve only is necessary, and this being a steam-valve is worn comparatively little, and even if it should become worn so as to leak to some extent it would not affect the operation of the apparatus. There is nothing to wear or get out of order, as the only points at which there is any friction, aside from the valve 6, is at the stut'fing-boxes 15 15, and the leverage afforded by the pipe 10 is so great that there will not be any danger of sticking at these points. Any wellknown flexible joint other than those shown at 15 15 may be substitutedas, for instance, a flexible pipe which will not be affected by the high temperature and pressure of the fluid which it must contain.

My invention is capable of Various other modifications, one of which I illustrate in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In this figure, 45 indicates a closed chamber of any suitable form, preferably cylindrical, as shown, to the bottom of which is connected the water-pipe 10 and to the top of which is connected the steam-pipe 2. These pipes are connected to the boiler at points below and above the water-level therein, respectively, and correspond to

pipes

10 and 2 of Fig. 1. A float 46, which is of nearly the same diameter as the chamber, is placed therein and is connected to a rod 19% which passes up through a stuffing-box 47 on the upper side of the chamber. The rod 19 is connected to the cable 20'in the same manner as the yoke 19 of Fig. 1. The float 46 will be suitably weighted either by weights placed in the float or, preferably, by Weights hung on the stem 19 in any well-known manner, it being necessary only that the stem 19 be weighted sufliciently to lift the arm 23 of the damper when the float is not sustained by water in the chamber 45. The damper arrangement which maybe used in connection with this modification is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that the damper must be located atright angles to the position shown in full lines in said figure. The operation is as follows: When the pressure in the boiler falls,the pres sure-lever will fall, opening the steam-valve 6, as before, and permitting the steam to be discharged into the top of chamber 45, raising the pressure therein to boiler-pressure, so that the water in the chamber will fl'ow out through pipe 10 back into the boiler. The float 46 will then no longer be sustained by the water in the chamber, but will sink, 0pening the damper. When the boiler-pressure increases above the normal, the Valve 6 will be closed, allowing the steam to condense in the top of the chamber 45, so that the pressure in the boiler will force water into the chamber in the same manner as described with ref erence to Fig. 1. The float on being partially submerged will be lifted, allowing the arm 23 on the damper to drop, closing the damper.

Various other methods of operating the damper by varying the amount of water in a chamber or condenser which is connected to the boiler by two pipes, one of which is connected to the steam-space thereof and the other of which is water sealed either by the water in the boiler or by an interposed trap, may be employed; but I consider all of such methods within the scope of my invention.

Although I have described my invention with special reference to the use of it as applied to the damper of a boiler, yetthe same device may obviously be used to regulate the position of any other regulating means. For instance, in the case of boilers usinga liquid IIO fuel, as petroleum, my device may be applied to the valve which controls the supply of the fluid to the boiler.

The term valve as used in the claims is intended to include any means for controlling the draft or fuel-supply of the boiler.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, a steam-pipe connecting said chamber with the steam -space of the boiler, means for automatically controlling the passage of steam through said pipe, a water-sealed pipe connecting said chamber and the boiler, said chamber being located above the water-level of the water seal, and means controlled by the weight of water in said chamber for varying the position of the valve.

2. A valveregulator for boilers consisting of a closed chamber or condenser, a steampipe connecting said chamber and the steamspace of the boiler, a water-sealed pipe connecting said chamber and the boiler, means for automatically controlling the passage of steam through said steam-pipe and means controlled by the weight of water in said chamber for varying the position of the valve.

3. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, a steam-pipe and a watersealed pipe connected thereto, said steam-pipe being connected to said chamber at a point above which said water-sealed pipe is connected, and to the steam-space of the boiler, said water-sealed pipe being connected to the boiler, means for regulating the flow of steam through said steam-pipe, and means controlled bythe weight of water in said chamber for varying the position of said valve.

4. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers, conble joint in said pipes permitting vertical movement of said chamber, said steam-pipe being connected to the steam-space in the boiler, and said water-sealed pipe being connected to the boiler, means for regulating the passage of steam through said steam-pipe, and connections between said chamber and the valve whereby upon vertical movement of the chamber the valve will be opened or closed.

5. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers consisting of a closed chamber, apivoted arm carrying said chamber, connecting said chamber with the steam-space of the boiler, a watersealed pipe connecting said chamber and the boiler, a pressure-lever, means for varying the position thereof according to the boilerpressure, means operated by said pressurelever for controlling the passage of steam through said steam-pipe, means connected to said chamber for varying the position of said valve and means arranged between said pivoted arm and said pressure-lever which in certain positions of said arm will tend to move 1 said pressure-lever in the direction in which said arm is moved.

6. A valve-regulator for boilers consisting of a pressu re-lever, means for varying the position of said lever according to the boiler pressure, an arm pivoted adjacent to said lever, connections between said arm and the valve, means controlled by said lever for varying the position of said arm, said parts being arranged so that said arm and said lever will always tend to swing in opposite directions, a spring connection between said arm and said lever, whereby said arm will tend to return said lever to its middle position when said arm is swinging in one direction, and a projection carried by said arm which is adapted to engage said lever in certain positions of said arm, when said arm is swinging in the opposite direction.

7. A valve-regulator for boilers consisting of a pressure-lever, means for varying the position of said lever according to the boilerpressure, an arm pivoted adjacent to said 1ever, connections between said arm and the valve, means controlled by said lever for varying the position of said arm, said parts being arranged so that said arm and saidlever will always tend to swing in opposite directions, a spring connection between said arm and said lever, whereby said arm will tend to return said lever to its middle position when said arm is swinging in one direction, a second spring arranged in the path of said firstnamed spring and adapted to be engaged thereby upon extreme movement of said arm, and a projection carried by said arm which is adapted to engage said'lever in certain positions of said arm, when said arm is swinging in the opposite direction.

8. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, a pivoted arm carrying said chamber, steam and water-sealed pipes connected respectivelyto the upper and lower portions of said chamber, said steampipe being connectedto the steam-space of the. boiler and said water-sealed pipe being open to boiler-pressure beyond the water seal and to thesteam-space of the boiler, flexible joints in said pipes permitting vertical movement of said chamber, connections between said chamber and said valve for moving said valve axes of which are in the same line, whereby said chamber may swing about said line as an axis, connections between said joints and the boiler, saidsteam-pipe being connected to the steam-space of the, boiler, and said water-sealed pipe being open to boiler-pressure beyond the water seal, connections between said chamber and the valve whereby upon movement of the former, there will be a corresponding movement of the latter, and means for automatically varying the flow of steam through said steam-pipe.

10. A valve-regulator for boilers consistin g of a chamber 17, a steam-pipe connecting the upper portion thereof with the boiler at a point above the water-line therein, a

chamber 43, a pipe connected to the boiler at a point above the water-line therein and opening into said chamber 43 near the top thereof, a pipe connected to said chamber 43 at a point near the bottom thereof, said lastmentioned pipe being also connected to the lower portion of said chamber 17 means for automatically regulating the flow of steam through said steam-pipe, and means varied by the weight of water in said chamber 17 for varying the position of said valve.

11. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, a steam-pipe 2, a Water-pipe 10 connected respectively to the top and bottom thereof, a pair of pipes 12 v and 13 arranged adjacent to each other, a single pipe 14 having a flexible connection with each of said

pipes

12 and 13, the axes of said connections being in the same straight line, a partition dividing said pipe 1 L into two chambers, 14, 14", said pipe 10 being connected to chamber 14" and said pipe 2 to chamber 14, a water-sealed pipe 10 connecting pipe 13 to the boiler, a pipe 2 connecting pipe 12.to the boiler at a point above the water-level therein, means for automatically varying the passage of steam through said pipe 2, and a connection between said closed chamber and the valve for varyingthe position of the latter as the chamber rises and falls.

12. In an automatic damper-regulator for boilers, an automatically-operated motor for varying the position of said damper, a connection between said motor and damper, a straight spring having one end supported at a fixed point and its opposite end connected to said connection at such a point that the spring will be straight when the damper is in its middle position and will tend to move the damper to its middle position when it ismoved from such position in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig-