US1563532A - Heatee control - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1 I y1925.

R. H. SHADRICK HEATER CONTROL 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Ag. 26

Dec. 1, 1925.

R. H. SHADRICK HEATER CONTROL" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26 1924 ffy PATENT orrica.

RICHARD H. BEADBICX, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HEATER CONTROL.

application nica august 26, 1924. serial No. 734,180.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARDH.' SHAD- RICK, a citizen of the United States, resid-` ing at Minneapolis, in the'county of Hen `nepin and State of Minnesota, have invented 4certain new and useful Improvements in Heater Controls,'of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates primarily to means for lightin and extinguishing heaters or burners suc kas are commonly used in water heating systems, and the main object is to provide an apparatus, of a novel and practical construction', in which such heater may be-"controlled, i. e., lighted and yextinguished, from `one or more points, hereinafter termed tstations, and wherebysaid heater, after bein lighted, 'will be automatically shut o or extinguished when a predetermined amount of water has been heated. Thus, should the operator, after having lighted the heater, go away and forget to turn it off manually, he need have no fear of the consequences, as the device will automatically shut itself olf, and can# notagain be re-lighted until a manual release has irst been el'ected. A number of other objects and purposes of the invention are also herein disclosed and will be fully described in the course of the .following specification.

The device inv question is one which 1s particularly ada ted for use in connection with the water eating systems which are so commonly used in private dwellings and homes where a limited amount of hot water is desired at irregular intervals during the day, and although it may no doubt be adapted for use in other situations and places I have for urpose of illustration onl shown it for this one purpose where it is ound especially desirable and practical.

I am aware of the lar e number of atents and devices which have een perfecte or designed heretofore, and which have for their i j object to rovide means controlled. from a distant point to regulate burners and heaters of hot water systems. These devices are for the mostl part of the instantaneous or stora e system rinciple, and are either electrica y or hydriostatically controlled. The chief objections to all of l'these devices that have come 'tomy attention are,that

-. `they are ordinarily 'too expensive to manufacture, are too complicated and difficult to install, are impractical and require constant care and attention. Some are too expensive in their gas consumption to maintain and others are unsafe and not trust worthy enough to convince the average home owner that they have suilicient merit to warrant the cost of lpurchase and installation.

These and a'lare number of other objections to presentaccompanying drawings, as follows:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the major ortion of the water heating system to w ich my device is connected, and illustrates in sectional elevation the parts of a house in which the hook-up, is arranged.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail View through one of my improved operating stations.

Fig.v 3 is an enlarged view of the attachment proper, sectional portions being broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a detail section as seen on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3. f

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5-5 in Fig, 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation substantially similar to Fig. 5, but showing the operating arm up and the valve o en.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the housing, as shown in Fig. 3 but with the diaphragm chamber expanded to release the valve opener.

Referring to the drawings more ularly and by referencecharacters articdesignates a water tank which is connected up in a well knownY manner with the coil B of a i heater C by means of pipesD and E. The heater is provided with the usual burner F which is provided with gas by a pipe G. H designates the artition or wall of a first floor, such as a kitchen, while I designates the wall or partition of a sec'ond floor room such as a Hath room. The sinks and other fixtures (not shown) in such rooms, to which hot water is conducted, are connected by suitable pipes withthe hot watersystem, I

. provided as at J, while the cold water supply ipe to the hot water system is designate as K. The arrangement of parts A to K, inclusive, is of common and well known construction.

At a convenient and suitable place in the pipe G I place or insert a valve L to control the flowof gas in the pipe G to the burner F. This valve, as will later be described, is associated with a lever arm 8 in such a manner that when the arm 8 is in its lower position, as shown'in Fi s. 3 and` 5, the valve will be closed, while i the arm is in its raised position, as in Figs. 1 andy 6, the valve is open, although the valve may also be closed when the arm is raised, as indicated in Fig. 7. The arm 8 is normally and yieldingly held down by a suitable weight or other resistance 9, and is raised to its upper position by a chain or any other flexible or suitable medium 10. Ifthe arm 8 is to be operated from only one station, as may bedesired especially in one story dwellings, the chain 10 may go directly to the station. Where two stations are provided, however as shown in Fig. 1, thechain 10 is with a movable pulley 11, under which is passed a second chain 12, the ends of which are respectively actuated at the two stations designated as M and N. The endsI of the chain 12 are provided with rings or loops 13 and 14to prevent the chain from being dropped through the stations, and lthese rings also provide convenient means whereby the chains may be manually engaged and pulled up. Pulleys 15, may be provided wherever necessary to carry the chain when the latter runs in different directions, as shown. Y

Each of the stations M and N, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of a plate 16 adapted to be secured on the wall', and a small cylinder or guide 17 is secured in the late 16, to accommodate the pull chain. is guide 17 is provided with a in 18 having a rounded end surface whic is frictionally pressed against the chain by a spring 19. The pin is also rovided with a linger piece 2O by which tlie pin may be pulled to release the chain. The ring 19 is stiff enough so that the pin 18 will hold the chain in its pulled up position a ainst the weight of the chain and lthe weig t 9, but will yield to a back pull which is slightly greater than that weight which is always carried. Thus, for instance, in Fig. 1 the position of the variy ous plarts indicates that the arm 8 and the wei t 9 have been lifted b a pull on the ring 13 at the station M an that the chain is retained in that position by the pin 18 of that station. The Ypulled end of the chain indicates to the operator that the burner of the heater is lighted. Sup osing, however,

that a second person is in t e bath room, at

the station N, and also wantshot water. He

`may not of course knowlthat the burner is chain 10, but will merely pull the chain 12 through the lilley 11 and back through the station M. (gr supposing that the gas valve has been opened' at station M and it is desired to close it, and extinguish the burner, at station N. In this event the operator merely pulls the rinr 14 until the ring 13 stops against the station M, and then pulls the pin 18 of the station N, which action permits the weight 9 to lower th arm 8 to its inactive position. It is of course obvious .that when pulling either of the rings 13 or 14 to light the heater, the resistance to the pull will be made easier if the operator will first lift the friction pin 18 with his other hand, although that is not absolutely necessary.

The valve L which is fitted into the gas pipe G is shown as of the standard and well nown construction in which the valve plug 21 is yieldingly held in its closed position by a spring 22 and is adapted to be opened b a stem 23 which slidably projects, through, a suitable packing joint 24, to the exterior of the valve-bod;7 proper. A small valve 25, which is connected with a pilot light 26 (adjacent to the gas burner) by a tube 27, is secured to the valve L and communicates with the intake side thereof so that it may be kept burning at all times, and thus `be in readiness to light the heater burner whenever the main gas valve 21 is opened.

Rigidly secured upon the casing or body `of the valve L is a casting 28, having end walls or members 29 and 30, and a partition 31: and a sheet metal cover 32 is arranged to frictionally engage over the casting so as to inclose and protect the mechanism contained therein.

The mechanism just referred to is shown articularly in Fi s. 3, 5, 6 and 7, and may Ee described as fol ows: Slidably journaled inthe members 30 and 31 and directly over the valve stem 23 is a shaft 33, in the projecting or outer end of which is rigidly secured the arm 8. The shaft is also provided with a cam 34, which is normally positioned directly over the pin 23, and is yieldingly retained in that position by a spring 35. A

opened, and, that when thearm 8 is released, from either station, it will, by reason of the weight 9, return the cam to its `the stein 23 down until the gas valve is Y normal position (see Figs. 3 and 5) and allow the stem 23 to be pressed ,up b the spring 22 to close the gas valve'L, an thus extinguish the burner,

The automatic safety or cut oil device comprises a thermallyresponsive or expansible diaphragm chamber 37 which communicates with a container 38 through a hollow flexible wire or conductor 39. The back of the container 38 is slightly curved so that it will form as complete a contact with the tank A as possible, and the receptacle is adjustably securedy upon the tank by any suitable means such as a' spring 40,

- a pair of lugs 41 being provided on the container to keep it in engagement under the spring. The tube 39 is preferably flexible so that it can be readily bent around pipes or other obstructions which may be in the way, and thus also ermits the'receptacle 38 to be moved around3 or up and downen the tank, as may be desired. The diaphragm 33 is adjustably secured to the end wall 29, by a nut or other suitable means 42, which acts as a lock nut to lock the sleeve 43, of the diaphragm, which is screwed into the wall 29, so that an adjustment may be mechanically effected between the diaphragmand the inner end of the shaft 33. The space which is sealed and confined by the hollow meme bers 37, 43, 39 and 38 is filled or partly filled with a highly volatile or expansible liquid 44, such as ether, which is filled into the thermally responsive system through a ythreaded hole in the receptacle 38 closed by a plug or threaded stopper 45. When in normal or idle condition, the diaphragm 37 is contracted and preferably spaced slightly from the inner end of the shaft 33, as s own in Fig. 3, but, when the receptacle 38 becomes heated (by the hot water in the tank A) so as to cause the liquid therein to expand, it can only do so by expanding or extending the diaphragm, and t is has the effect of pressing the shaft 33' outwardly, against the tension of the spring 35, until the cam 34 moves past and allows the valve stem' 23 to move up (by the spring 22) and close the valve21, and thus extinguish the burner.

' The use and operation of the device may 'be briefly set forth as follows:

-With thevarious parts in their normal or inactive position, as shown in Fig. 3, the operator pulls either of the rings 13 or 14 to raise the arm 8, a suitable pin or stop 46 being provided. to limit the motion.

' This actuates the cam 34 against the stem `the heater C 23 to o en the gas valve L and light the burner Y?, as reviously described. With ctioningk a circulation of water is effected up through the coil B and aroundthrough the members D, A and E. If warm or hot ,water is wanted in a short time it can be drawn olf through the pipe J, almost directly from the heater. If itis not drawn as heated, however, the warm or hot water will begin to store up in the tank A, and as the cold water in the tank is circulated out'through the piple E, to be replaced by the incoming ot water the temperature of the outer surface of the upper portion of the tank will be raised, and as the volume of the hot water in the tank increases and that of the cold water decreases this hot or warm area of t-he tank increases and moves downwardly toward the receptacle 38. Now, unless hot water is drawn olii', or unlessthe heater is manually shut off from one of the stations M or N, the receptacle 38 being in close contact ,with the tank A will, when a predetermined .amount of water has been heated, also become warm, and as the temperature ofthe fluid is raised it ex ands the diaphragm, as previously statec, and as the cam 34 is slipped off of the valve stem it allows the valve L to close instantly, anddoes not shut it off gradually as the temperature of a thermally responsive element luctuates. When the burner has thus been extinguished it will follow that as no more hot water will be introduced into the tank the temperature line willrimmediately start to rise on the tank, by reason of the cooling of the water, and the diaphragmv will slowly recede away from the shaft. If hot water is drawn from the tank so as to quickly cool it, it is obvious that the contraction of the diaphragm will be hastened, although it is quite immaterial whether the contraction is rapid or not.

As the cam ,34 is now pressed against the side ofthe valve ystem bythe s ring 35 (Fig. 7) it is obvious that the sha t 33 cannot be returned to its normal position until the arm 8 has irst been manually released, from one of the stations, so as to raise lthe cam, as shown in Fi 3. If any attempt is made to light the heater, when the tank has its limit of hot water, it would of course be ineffective as the cam 34 would not be in an operative position with respect to the valve stem even if the operating arm 8 was released. As the hollow wire 39 is flexibly constructed and the receptacle 38 is ,adjustably secured to the tank b the spring 40 it will be seen that the cut o level of the water may be readily adjusted without tools or instruments, and in but a moments time. It may also be stated that the manual operating mechanism of the as valve may be utilized without the cut o device, if so desired, butto insure the water system against any danger due to overheating and `to afford means for economizing in gas it isobvious that the cut olf feature is a very important and valuable-part of the device.

It is `understood that various suitable modifications ma be made in the eneral design, structura details and met od of installation, provided, however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the a pended claimsD Having now therefore ful y shown and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a hot Water heating system havin a gas burner, of a.

normally closed gas va ve, a manually actua- Y ble device including a cam co-operating with the valve for opening the same, and thermally responsive means associated with said device to disengage the cam from the valve when the latter is in an open position.

2. In a device of the character described, aA yieldingly closed valve having a valve stem, a member slidably journaled adjacent to the valve and having a cam adapted to actuate said valve stem, when the member is turned, to open the valve, and means for moving the member longitudinally to dislodge the cam from the valve stem to permit the valve to close.

3. The combination with a normally spring closed valve, of a manually operable valve having a projecting valve stem, a cam shaft slidably journaled near the end of the valve stem and having a cam adapted to act against the same to open the valve, means for yieldingly holding said shaft with the cam in an inactive position, and means for rotating the shaft whereby the cam will actuate the stem to open thevalve.

6. The combination of a spring closed valve having a projecting valve stem, a cam shaft slidably jounnaled near the end of the valve stem and having a cam adapted to act against the same to open the valve, means for yieldingly holding said shaft with the cam in an inactive position, means for rotating the shaft whereby the cam will actuate the stem to open the valve, and means to move the shaft longitudinally to disengage the cam from the valve stern to effect .closing of the valve.

7. The combination with a spring closed valve having a valve stem projecting there` from, of a cam arranged, when in an initial position, to act against the valve stem to open the valve, means to laterally disengage the cam from the valve stem to effect closing of the valve, and means adapted to restore the cam to its initial position.

8. The combination with a valve having a, valve stem, of a cam normally arranged in alignment with the valve stem to act thereagainst to open the valve, means for laterally disengaging the cam from the stem, and means resisting themovement of said disengaging means to restore the cam to its original position in alignment with the valve stem.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD H. SHADRICK.

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