US822114A - Valve for heating or other systems where steam is employed. - Google Patents

Description

No. 822,114. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906. F. 0. GOPF & H. H. FIELDING. VALVE FOR HEATI G 0E OTEE SYSTEMS WHERE STEAM IS EMPLOYED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1905.

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FRANK C. GOFF AND HOIVARD H. FIELDING, OF DENVER, GOLORADC).

VALVE FOR HEATING OR OTHER SYSTEMS WHERE STEAM IS EMPLOYED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented May 29, 1906.

Application filed March 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 252,176.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK C. GOFF and HOWARD H. FIELDING, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Heating or other Systems where Steam is Employedjand we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates more especially to means for draining the water of condensation from steam systems, whether for heating or other purposes.

Our improved drainage device may also be equipped with means for allowing the escape of air from the system, thus performing the function of an air-valve in addition to the drainage function.

An important feature of our improved device consists in the mechanism whereby the valve is normally open, thus allowing any accumulated water of condensation in the ra diator or other receptacle to escape when the steam is shut off, thereby avoiding any possibility of the freezing of any water of condensation in the system.

The valve proper of our improved device may be operated by a suitable motor, as a flexible diaphragm or a piston, connected with the valve-stem. A spring normally acts on the diaphragm or piston to open the valve. When, however, the steam is turned on, the pressure normally acts on the diaphragm or piston in opposition to the spring to close the valve, thus preventing the escape of steam into the drainage-pipe. When, however, there is an accumulation of water in the system, this water collects in the valve-casing and acts on a float connected with the lever to open a port in the hollow valve-stem, allowing the pressure in the compartments above and below the piston or diaphragm to equalize, in which event the force of the spring will act on the piston or diaphragm to open the valve, and this condition will obtain until the water has escaped from the system into the drainage-pipe, when the lever will be again actuated by the gravity of the float to close the orifice in the hollow valve-stem,

Having briefly outlined our improved construction, as well as the function it is intended to perform, we will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken through our improved valve mechanism, a portion of the construction being shown in elevation and the valve being open. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the parts shown on a smaller scale and with the valve closed. In this view no provision is made for the escape of the air from the system except as it leaves the casing with the water. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of construction, the valve being in the open position.

Attention is called to the fact that in Figs. 1 and 3 the valve is shown in positionwhen the radiator is idle and drained, while Fig. 2 shows the valve immediately before the valvepiece is moved to allow the accumulated water to escape.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable casing provided with a nipple 6, connected with a short pipe 7 by means of a coupling 8, engaging a shoulder 9 on the pipe, the said pipe engaging a bushing 10, seated against the extremity of'the nipple, a suitable packing 12 being interposed between the bushing and the nipple.

The device is connected withthe radiator or other portion of a steam system (not shown) by means of the short pipe 7 andits connections or in any other suitable manner adapted to form a steam-tight joint between the system and the casing 5. In the lower part of this casing is formed an opening 13, surrounded by a bushing 14, into which a valve 15 is adapted to fit closely. This valve is connected with the lower extremity of a hollow stem 16, to which is attached a collar 17, provided with a claw 18, adapted to engage the bushing at the top and limit the downward movement of the valve after the same is opened or in the position shown in Fig. 1. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the upper extremity of this hollow valve-stem is connected with a flexible diaphragm 19, whose outer portion engages a shoulder 20, formed in theupper part of the casing. This diaphragm is held in place from above by a screw-cap 21, threaded into the casing. A gasket 22 is located ICO between the cap and the upper part of the .casing in order to form a tight joint.

lever-arm 27 is considerably longer than the arm 25, and its extremity is provided with a float 28, the. construction being such that normally or when the casing is free from liquid the orifice 24 will be closed by the upper arm of the lever, which forms a valve for this purpose. When, however, in the active operation of the system water accumulates in the casing sufliciently to act on the float 28 and raise the same, as shown in Fig. 2, the orifice 24 will be opened, allowing the pressure in the compartments 29 and 30, into which the casing-chamber is separated by the diaphragm, to equalize, since the hollow valve-stem is open at its upper extremity.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 3 a piston 31 is employed instead of the flexible diaphragm 19. This piston is connected with the upper'extremity of the hollow stem 16, and the spring 23 acts thereon instead of upon the diaphragm in the forms of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of our improved device as thus far described will be readily understood. Assuming that the same is connected with a steam system, as the steam enters the ch amber of the casing, assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the steam-pressure acts on the piston or diaphragm, asfthe case may be, and raises the valve 15 to the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, thus preventing the steam from entering the drain-pipe. (Not shown.) Now as suming that water of condensation is in the system, as soon as this water rises in the easing to a suflicient depth to act on the float 28 and raise the same the lever 26 will be actuated to open-the orifice 2 1 allowing the pressure in the- compartments 29 and 30 of the casing-chamber to equalize. In this event it is evident that the tension of the spring 23 will act on the diaphragm or piston, as the case may be, and open the valve, allowing the water of condensationto escape through the opening 13 into the drain-pipe. As soon as this water passes out of the system the float will again assume its normal position, closing the orifice 24, and the operation of the steam will be the same as before. Attention is called to the fact that as the steam acts on the diaphragm or piston to close the valve Below the diaphragm this its action is in opposition to the spring 23, whereby the latter is placed under tension. Hence as soon as the fluid-pressure is equal- 'ized above and below the diaphragm or piston the recoil of the spring naturally opens the valve, as heretofore explained.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 means are provided for allowing the air to escape from the system after the water is drained out and the valve 15 closed. This mechanism consists of a tube 32, composed of mate rial possessing the property of expansion and contraction to a considerable degree. Mounted above this tube is a cap 33, which is supported slightly above the top of the tube by a coil-spring 34 when the system is cold, thus allowing air to escape from thesystem through the tube 32 and ducts 33, communicating with a passage 34, leading to the opening in the bottom of the casing. As soon, however, as steam enters the chamber the tube 34 expands sufficiently to close the space between it and the cap, thus preventing the escape of steam. The further expansion of the tube after it comes in engagement with the cap is permitted by virtue of the spring 34, which stretches sufliciently to accommodate such expansion.

Attention is called to the fact that if a partial vacuum be produced at the drain-pipe end or water-discharge extremity of the easing this condition will be communicated to the compartment 30 of the valve-chamber, since the valve-stem 16 is hollow and openended, this having a tendency to hold the valve in the closed position, assuming that it is closed. If the valve is open, a partial vacuum produced at the drain-pipe end of the casing will have no eflect upon the motor, since the conditions are exactly the same on both sides thereof.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim isv 1. The combination with a steam system, of a casing connected with the system and having an opening for the escape of the water of condensation, an alternating fluid-actuated device movably mounted in the casing and separating its chamber into two compartments, a valve for controlling said opening, a stem connected with the valve and with the fluid-actuated device, the valvestem having a longitudinal passage and an orifice forming communication between the two compartments, a float, means connected therewith for controlling said orifice, and means for normally holding the valve open. 2. The combination with a steam system, of a casing connected. with the system, an opening in the casing for the passage'of water of condensation, a valve for controlling said opening, an alternating fluid-actuated device connected with the valve and separating the casing-chamber into two compartments, a passage forming communication.

slzaii tion between the two compartments of the casing-chamber, a float-regulatedvalve for controlling said passage, and means for holding the first-named valve normally open.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing having an escape-opening, a valve for controlling said opening, an alternating fluid-actuated device connected with the valve, and dividing the easing into two compartments, mechanical means acting on the said device to hold the valve open in the absence of fluidcontrolling influence, a passage connecting the two compartments of the casing, and float-regulated means for controlling said passage.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected therewith and having an escapeopening, a valve for controlling said opening, a hollow valve-stem, a device connected with the valve-stem, and movably mounted in the casing, the said device separating the easing into two compartments, the valve-stem being provided with an orifice which when open allows the pressure in the two compartments to equalize, a spring acting on the movable device for holding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, and a float-controlled valve for regulating the orilice in the hollow valve-stem.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing communicating with said system and having an escape-opening in the lower part thereof, a valve for controlling said opening, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the casing and separating the chamber of the latter into two compartments, a valve-stem connecting the valve and the diaphragm, a spring acting on the diaphragm to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, a pas sage forming communication between the two chamber-compartments, and fluid-regulated means for controlling said passage.

6. The combination with a system of the class described, of a casing connected therewith and having a bottom opening, a valve for controlling said opening, a flexible diaphragm separating the casing-chamber into two compartments, a hollow valve-stem connecting the diaphragm and valve, the said stem being provided with an orifice which when open forms communication between the two chamber-compartments, a lever fulcrumed on the valve-stem, one extremity being adapted to control said orifice, a float connected with the lever, a spring acting on the diaphragm to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, a stop mounted on the valve-stem to limit the movement of the latter in the valve-opening direc- 7. The combination with a system of the class described, of a casing provided with a water-escape opening in its bottom, a valve for controlling said opening, an alternating fluid-actuated device connected with the valve, mechanical means acting on the valve to hold the latter open in the absence of fluidcontrolling influence, the said device separating the casing-chamber into two compartments, a passage forming a communication between the two compartments, float-controlled means for regulating said passage, and suitable means mounted in the casing for permitting the escape of air from the system independently of the mechanism for regu lating the water-escape.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected with the system to receive the water of condensation therefrom, said casing having a water-escape opening, a valve for controlling said opening, an alternating motor connected with the valve, said motor being operated by the fluid-pressure of the system, and mechanical means acting on the motor to hold the valveopen in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

9. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected with the system to receive the water of condensation therefrom, a motor-controlled valve operated by the fluidpressure of the system for regulating the discharge of water from the casing, and means for holding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

10. The combination with a radiating device, of a casing connected with the device to receive the water of condensation therefrom, a motor-controlled valve operated by the fluid-pressure, of the system for regulating the discharge of water from the casing, and means acting on the motor to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

11. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected to receive the water of condensation therefrom, and a motorcontrolled valve operated by the fluid-pressure of the system for regulating the discharge of water from the casing, the said valve being open in the absence of fluid-controlling influonce.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected therewith to receive the water of condensation therefrom and having an escape-opening, a valve operated by the fluid pressure of the system for controlling the said opening, a hollow valve-stem open at both ends, afluid-actuated device connected with the valve-stem and dividing the casingchamber into two compartments, the lower compartment being in connection with the' fluid system, and the upper compartment in communication with the discharge-outlet of the casing below the escape-opening, and means for holding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

13. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected with the system to receive the water of condensation therefrom, a motor-controlled valve operated by the fluidpressure of the system for regulating the removal of water from the system, and means for holding the-valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

14. The combination with a radiating device, of a casing connected with the device to receive the water of condensation therefrom, a motor-controlled valve operated by the fluid-pressure of the system for regulating the removal of Water from the system, and means acting on the motor to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influ- 'ence.

15. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected to receive the Water of condensation therefrom, and a motor-controlled valve operated by the fluid-pressure of the system, located in the casing for regulating the removal of water from the system, the said valve being open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected to receive the water of condensation therefrom, a motor-controlled valve located in the casing for regulating the removal of water from the system, said valve being open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, and an automatically-controlled airvalve located Within the casing of the main valve but distinct and separate therefrom and operated independently thereof.

17. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing, a discharge-pipe, a main valve within the casing, a pressure-motor for operating the valve, means for holding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, and an automatically-controlled airvalve having its discharge-opening in communication with the return or discharge pipe, the air-valve being located Within the casing of the main valve but distinct and separate therefrom and operated independently thereof.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK O. GOFF. HOWARD H. FIELDING.

Witnesses:

DENA NELsoN, IDA E. OBRIEN.

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