US885805A - Water-seal vacuum return-pipe fitting. - Google Patents

Description

W. E. TILLINGHAST.

I .WATBR SEAL VACUUM RETURN PIPE FITTING.

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WALLACE E. TILLINGHAST, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER-SEAL VACUUM RETURN-PIPE FITTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April as, 1908.

Application filed September 24, 1907. Serial No. 394,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, WALLACE E. TIL- LINGHAST, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Water Seal Vacuum Return-Pipe Fittings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is a return pipe-fitting for use in steam heating systems to connect the discharge or outlet passage of radiators, steam pipe coils, main riser drips, and the like, with the customary exhaust or vacuum pumps, and is intended to take the place of the usual vacuum valves with their movable parts, pistons, diaphragms, or thermostatic plugs, which when moved by the collection of water of condensation open the normally closed discharge opening of said valves to permit the discharge of the water of condensation from the radiators, etc.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple and inexpensive fitting which has no movable parts and therefore cannot get out of order, does not re uire or permit adjustment, is thoroughly re 'able and certain in its action, capable of positively pre-' venting the flooding of the radiator, etc., by an excess volume of water.

Further advantages and the constructional details of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is acentral vertical sectional view of the fitting taken on the dotted line 1-1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view taken on the dotted line 22, Fig. 1; and Fi 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on t e dotted line 3-3, Fig. 1.

' As made already prominent, one chief purpose of my invention is to make the fitting, trap, or vacuum-T, simple in construction and incapable of getting out of order, and to this end I have succeeded in reducing the construction to a single piece. I'regard this accomplishment as one of the most important of the invention, as it effectually eliminates all valves, diaphragms, floats, thermostatic lugs, or other movable members, and al adjustment of every kind.

55. When correctly made it is always correct, as

{it requires no adjustment and is incapable of being adjusted.

To this end the device consists of a casting or other molded or spun, continuous piece, comprising an external casing 1 having a threaded inlet 2, outlet 3, and preferably an upper clean-out opening 4 normally closed by a plug 5, a vertical suction cone 6 extending coaxially vertically above the outlet 3 and terminating at its top edge 7 approximately flush with the bottom of the inlet 2, the internal space of the fitting or trap being divided into two chambers 8, 9 by an oblique wall 10 formed integrally with, or at least closing tightly against, the outer walls or casing 1 and the cone 6 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The oblique wall 10 extends for wardly and downwardly in front of the inlet opening 2 and terminates at 11 so as to provide ports 12 for the water of condensation from the chamber 8 and the chamber 9, which, rising in the chambers 8 and 9 to the top 7 of the cone 6, acts as a water seal to prevent the escape of steam through the ports '12. Above the top of the cone 6 the oblique wall 10 isprovided with a small air vent or vapor vent 13 shown as extending obliquely upward adjacent the top of the slanting wall or partition 10.

In use, the threaded opening 2 receives the discharge end of the radiator or other heating device which is to be connected, and the outlet connection or returnv pipe is threaded into the opening 3 leading to the usual exhaust or vacuum pump of a heating system. The water of condensation quickly collects in the bottom of the fitting or trap, flowing down the inclined wall or partition 10 and closing the ports 12 at the base of the suction cone 6. As soon as the water has risen above the edges 11 of said oblique wall or artition 10, the valve or fitting is thereby e ectually sealed, but because of the simple air or va or vent 13 the steam of the heating system as continuous free passage from the inlet opening 2 to the outlet opening 3. It is to be articularly noted that my invention provi es a construction open to its full area at all times both to the inlet passage leading from the radiator, coil or other device being drained, and to the return pipe leading to the exhaust or vacuum generating device of the system, and yet the ports'12, 1.2 are closed or sealed by the water collected around the suction .cone, thereby preventing the direct flow of withdrawn from the chamber 9.

uncondensed steam through the suction cone and return or discharge main to the vacuum generating device, and protecting the vacuum generated by the latterin the chamber 9. As the suction at the discharge end or return pipe exhausts the air from the chamber 9, communicating with the radiator through the fine air or vapor o ening 13, inlet chamber 8 and inlet 2, it wit draws or exhausts air from the radiator thereby causing the water of condensation to flow toward the fitting or trap to fill the void left by the air or vapor This water of condensation enters the inlet 2, flows down the oblique wall 10 to the bottom and then through the ports 12, 12 and surrounds the suction cone 6 until the two chambers 8 and 9 are full of water to the top of the suction cone. Every particle of water overtopping the suction cone at once flows down through the latter into the return or discharge pipe. The small quantity of steam which may be drawn through the air vent 13 is effectually condensed before it can reach the discharge main or outlet in a sufiicient quantity to break or relieve the vacuum generated in the chamber 9, the condensation therefrom fiowing down the oblique wall 10 to the bottom of chamber 9. It will also be particularly noted that although the inlet or top of the suction cone is effectually sealed at all times by the water seal against any undue rush or influx of steamer vapor from the inlet 2, it is nevertheless open at all times to its maxi mum area and ready to handle any sudden flooding or influx of water of condensation from the radiator or other heating device being drained. The ports 12, 12 are always sealed by the water of condensation and yet the air and vapor vent or opening 13 is always open to the passage of air from the steam in the radiator being drained, thereby allowing the requisite passageof a sufficient quantity of steam and vapor to maintain the heating system in proper operative condition and obviating all chances of excessive vacuum in chamber 9 and all danger of the water seal around the suction cone 6 being siphoned over the to of the suction cone and drawn out of the tting.

The above operation and all the advantages mentioned are secured Without the pres ence of any movable part and without any adjustment of the device. On the contrary, said advantages are accomplished by a onepiece article of manufacture, which, not having any adjustment, cannot be tampered with, requires no special skill for its use, is easily applied and is inexpensive, durable and efficient.

It will be understood that while one of the important advantages of my invention is its capability of manufacture'as a single-piece article, I do not wish to preclude myself from making the same in separate parts; and also I wish it understood that my invention in some of its broader aspects, as pointed out in certain of the following claims, is capable of different embodiments as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in said claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A trap, provided with an inlet in its uper portion for connection to a radiator or the iike, and an outlet in its lower portion for connection to a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internal cavity, an upright part1- tion dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber and a vacuum chamber, the upper portion of said partition having a small air vent afording communication between said. chambers, the trap being provided with a water port between said chambers at the lower end of said partition, and a tubular portion containing a discharge passage extending u p from said outlet above said port and opening into said vacuum chamber.

2. A trap, rovided with an inlet in its upper portion or connection to a radiator or the like, and an outlet in its lower portion for connection to a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internal cavity, an upright partition dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber and a vacuum chamber, the u )per portion of said partition having a small air vent affording communication between said chambers, the trap being provided with a water port between said chambers at the lower end of said partition, and a suction cone extending into said vacuum chamber vertically above the outlet provided with a discharge passage communicating at its lower end with said outlet and opening into said vacuum chamber at its upper end in approximate alinement with the bottom edge of said inlet.

3. A trap, provided with an inlet inv its uper portion for connection to a radiator or the iike, and an outlet in its lower portion for connection to-a return discharge pipe, said trap having an internal cavity, an upri ht part1- tion extending obliquely downward and forward, dividing said cavity into an inlet cham ber and a vacuum chamber, and having a small air vent through its upper )ortion affording communication between said cham bers, said trap being provided with a water port between said chambers at the lower end of said partition, and a tubular discharge device extending up from said outlet above said ort into said vacuum chamber and pro vide with a discharge passage affording communication between. said vacuum chamber and outlet.

4; A trap formed in a single piece, provided with an inlet in its upper portion for connection to a radiator or the like, and an outlet in its lower portion for connection to a return discharge pipe, said trap containing.

an internal cavity, an upright partition extending obliquely downward and forward dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber and a vacuum chamber and containing a small air vent through its upper portion affording communication between said chambers, said trap being provided with a Water port between said chambers at the lower end of said partition, and a suction cone extending into said vacuum chamber vertically above the outlet, terminating at its upper end in approximate alinement with the bottom of t e inlet and provided with a discharge passage affording communication through said cone between said vacuum chamber and outlet.

5. A trap, consisting of a casing provided in one side with an inlet, an outlet in its bottom, and a clean-out in its top, and provided with an internal cavity, an upright partition extending from side to side of said cavity, located between the clean-out and the inlet, dividing said cavity into an inlet chamber communicating with said inlet and a vacuum chamber communicating with both the outlet and the clean-out, said partition having an air vent through'its upper portionaffording communication between said two chambers, the trap being provided with a water port below said partition and with means cooperating with said water port to provide a water seal between said chambers and at the same time 'to permit the free escape of air and water from the vacuum chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLACE E. TILLINGHAST.

Witnesses:

WM. J. PIKE, M. J. SPALDING.

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