US1561915A - Automatic gas-conteol snap valve - Google Patents

Description

1,561,915 J. ELLIS AUTOMATIG GAS CONTR6L SNAP VALVE Nov. 17, 1925. Y

Filed Sept. 19. 1922 WITNV INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN ELLIS, 0F WESTVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC GAS-CONTROL SNAP VALVE.

Application filed September 13, 1922. Serial No. 589,146.

To all whom it may canoe-m:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westview, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Gas-Control Snap Valves, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic gas fuel control devices for water heaters, and in particular to devices of the general character in which the gas is automatically controlled by the variation in the temperature of the water in the heater.

The invention has for one of its objects, to provide a simple, practical and eflicient snap valve mechanism for use in water heaters, more especially of the tank class, which will automatically and suddenly cut off the supply of gas to the burner when. the temperature of the Water rises to a predetermined degree and then in due time automatically and suddenly turn on the gas supply to the burner when the temperature of the water falls to a predetermined degree, said turn ing off and on of the gas occurring successively and at such periods of time as the change from the one temperature to the other permits.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which springs are entirely dispensed with, thus reducing the possibility of failure to operate, through spring breakage, to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in which Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of the device, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the gas valve chamber portion disconnected. I

The device embodies a chamber 1, of two sections, the upper section 2 forming the gas chamber proper and the lower section 3 forming an enclosure for the mechanism. The two parts are separated by the flange 4 having a gas port 5 formed therein which communicates with the lower chamber section. These two sections are, inpractice, suitably secured to one another as by screws 4, the connection being such as will form a gas tight structure. The gas chamber 2 is provided with an inlet 6, where connection is to be made to the gas supply. Fitted into this chamber, above the gas port, is a cap 7 having a downwardly extended hollow boss portion 8. A light gravity valve 9 of disc orm is provided, upon the upper side of which isformed a guidest'em 10 which loosely fits into the aforesaid cap boss. This valve controls the annular gas port 5 and has formed upon its underside a centrally and downwardly disposed stem 11, also, the radially spaced guides 12, which guides loosely fit within the gas port. v

The lower section'ii, has a gas outlet 13 at its base where connection is to be made by a pipe leading to the gas burnerof the heat- 1 to extend for some distance into the water boiler 18 which inpractice, may be about 10 inches, or more. Within this tube is-loosely fitted a thermostat rod 15' of porcelain, or other suitable material, which lacks the property of expansion and contraction as near as possible, having its rear or outer end in engagement withthe plug or closed 1 end of the tube. Surrounding this tube, for a short distance. is a short section of pipe or casing 16, which is secured to the chamber, but without communicating therewith, and is of a diameter sufficiently greater than that of the thermostat tube to form a clearance space 17 thereahout. The outer end of this casing communicates with and is connected to the aforesaid boiler 18.

Within this lower chamber section, at a point opposite the thermostat, is arranged a vertically disposed fulcrum block 19, which is pivotally supported upon the pin 20. This block, which has a fulcrum depression 21 formed therein, is adapted to be adjusted upon its pivot bv the screw 22 extending from the chamber wall. The mechanism for actuating the valve by the thermostat consists of a lever 23, having a downwardly disposed portion 24, and is arranged in a sub stantially horizontal position within the chamber and with its fulcrum point or knife edge 25 engaging in the depression 21 of the fulcrum block. This lever is also provided with a fulcrum depression 26, where the thermostatic power is applied, and which, as will be noted, is located ofl center from or in a plane, a suitable distance above that of the fulcrum point 25, to give the desired'leverage. Disposed between this lever and the thermostat rod is a thrust pin 27, having a base portion 28 which slidably engages with the lower wall of the chamber. This pin, which is virtually an extension of the thermostat rod is disposed and operates in axial alinement therewith and is engaged at its rear by the thermostat rod, said pin being provided at its forward end with a knife edge or fulcrum point 29 where it engages in the lever depression 26. Proper adjustment of the mechanism to operate at the desired temperature is effected by means of the aforesaid screw 22, as will be readily apparent.

Operatiom-Assuming, as shown in Fig. 1, that the water in the tank, which also extends into the casing 16 about the thermostat tube 14, has reached the high predetermined degree and caused the gas flowing to the burner to be cut Ofl". Such being the case, the thermostat tube 14 then contracts as the water thereabout cools, and causes the rod 15 to move toward the chamber. Now as the rod 15, thrust pin 27, lever 23 and valve stem 11, are all in operative engagement, and as the valve 9 is being held to its seat by the pressure of the gas thereon, it is evident that some strain will be effected in the mechanism between the valve and thermostat rod, as the water decreases in temperature. When this strain from the thermostat acting on the underside of the valve reaches the point where it overcomes the gas pressure on the upper side of the valve, the valve is then suddenly opened or forced from its seat, allowing gas to pass through the chamber to theheater burner (not shown). As the heat from the burner gradually raises the temperature of the water, the valve is also gradually lowered toward its seat, due to the expansive eiiect of the thermostat tube supporting the same through the intermediate lever. When the valve is lowered to the position where the gas pressure becomes effective, or the point at which the predetermined high temperature is reached, the valve is suddenly closed again, cutting ofi the supply of gas. This opening and closing of. the gas valve, to control the gas supply to the burner, continues automatically in successive order and at such periods of time as the predetermined temperatures will permit.

While I have shown and described a certain embodiment of my invention, various modifications, sucn as changes in detail parts, their arrangement and co-operation may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and be within the scope of the appended. claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a gas control snap valve mechanism for water heaters, the combination of a gravity gas-control valve adapted to be seated by the combined gas pressure and the gravity thereof, a thermostat and a single lever, the thermostat adapted at intervals to automatically actuate said lever for overcoming the gas pressure and gravity acting on the valve to quickly snap it from its seat when the temperature of the water decreases to a predetermined degree and to automatically actuate said lever in an opposite direction to permit the combined forces of gas and gravity quickly snapping the valve to closed position when the temperature of the water rises to a predetermined ate said pin and lever for overcoming the gas pressure and gravity acting on the valve to quickly snap it from its seat when the temperature of the water decreases to a predetermined degree and to automatically actuate said pin and lever in an opposite direction to permit the combined forces of gas and gravity quickly snapping the valve to closed position when the temperature of the water rises to a predetermined degree.

2). In a gas control snap valve mechanism for water heaters, the combination of a gravity gas-control valve adapted to be seated by the combined gas pressure and the gravity thereof, a thermostat, a single lever, and a thrust pin interposed between said lever and thermostat, the thermostat adapted at intervals to automatically actuate said pin and lever for overcoming the gas pressure and gravity acting on the valve to quickly snap it from its seat when the temperature of the water decreases to a predetermined degree and to automatically actuate said pin and lever in an opposite direction to permit the combination forces of gas and gravity quickly snapping "the valve to closed position when the temperature of the water rises to a predetermined degree, and means for adjusting said lever for valve actuation at the desired temperatures.

4. In a gas control for water heaters, the combination with a gas chamber, of a gravit-y valve for controlling a gas port therein and adapted for snap closure of said port by the combined action of its gravity and the gas pressure actin thereon, a thermostat attached to said c amber and adapted to connect with a water heater, a single fulcrumed lever, and a thrust pin disposed between the lever and thermostat, said lever being fulcrumed at a suitable distance out of alinement of the thrust pin, the ther1nostat adapted at a predetermined low temperature to automatically adjust said lever and pin to overcome the gas pressure and gravity acting on the gas valve and sudtill denly snap the same open and to automatically adjust said lever and pin sufiicient for the gas pressure and valve gravity to overcome the same and snap the valve closed at a predetermined increase of temperature.

5. In a gas control for water heaters, the

combination with a as chamber, of a gravity valve for controfiinga gas port therein and adapted for sna by the combined actlon of its gravity and the gas pressure actin thereon, a thermostat attached to said 0 amber and adapted to connect with a water heater, a single fulcrumed lever, and a thrust pin disposed between the lever and thermostat, said lever being fulcrumed at a suitable distance. out of alinement of the thrust pin, the thermostat adapted at a predetermined low temperature to automatically adjust said lever and pin to overcome the gas pressure and gravity acting on the gas valve and suddenly snap the same open and to automatically adjust said lever and pin suflicient for closure of said port the gas pressure and valve gravity to overcome the same and snap the valve closed at a predetermined increase of temperature, and means, for adjusting said lever for valve actuations at the desired temperatures.

6. A springless snap valve mechanism for gas fuel control, comprising in combination with a gas chamber a gravity disc valve for controlling the gas supply, a thermostat, a thrust pin slidably disposed in said chamber and constituting an extension of the thermostat, and a single substantially L-shaped fulcrum lever disposed between and in engagement with the thrust pin and valve, said valve adapted to be snap closed by the combined action of gas pressure and gravity and snapped open by the action of the thermostat overcoming the opposing gas pressure and gravity acting thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN ELLIS.

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