US1511978A - Safety device for boilers - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14. 1924.

SAFETY DEVI CE FOR BOILERS Filed March 28 1923 iflfijjl" rlififlliii s i a I 1 l l l I I 7 i 29 a v q a 1a 2 WITNESSES r INVENTOR I 4F 59 5,9 7 2 2 a, BY W4 G A TTORNE YS Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. MUHIJEBACH, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR BOILERS.

Application filed March 28, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MUHLEBACH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Far Rockaway, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Safety Device for Boilers, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in boilers, and has particular reference to a safety device therefor.

The present invention is especially designed as an improvement on the construc tion illustrated and described in my previous application, Serial Number 617 ,132, filed February 5th, 1923. In said application the safety device is so constructed and mounted that it is necessary to open the valve which controls the flow of water to the compartment of the boiler before any indication will be given as to the condition of the water within said compartment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety device which will operate, when the level of the water in the water compartment falls below a predetermined point, to indicate such low level irrespective of the condition of the valve which controls the supply of water to said compartment.

Another object is the provision of a device which, when operated by the falling of the level of water in the water compartment below a predetermined point, will divert the water supply for said compartment to the floor surrounding the boiler without passing through the walls of the latter.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a boiler, partly broken away and shown in section, illustrating one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the safety device shown in Figurel; and

Figure 3' is a view similar to Figure 2, showing adifferent formfof the invention.

Referring to: the drawing, the numeral 4 indicatesa boiler of any well known con- 'struction including the outer wall 5 and. the

Serial No. 628,379.

inner fire box wall 6 spaced from said wall to form the water compartment 7. The boiler further includes the usual grate 8 and door opening 9 closed byth'e door 10.

It is proposed in the present invention, as in my previous application above referred to, to arrange the safety device so that when the same is operated upon the level of the water falling below a predetermined point in the water compartment 7, the supply for said compartment will automatically be shut off and diverted through the body to points exterior of the boilerto indicate such low level in the water compartment. As previously indicated above, this latter result could onlybe accomplished, in my previous application, by opening the valve which controlled the inlet pipe from which the supply of water is fed into the water compartment. In the present invention, this result'may be accomplished whether said valve be opened or closed, thus rendering the device more efficient in its operation.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the water is diverted from the water compartment and projected through the body of the device, when said device is operated, in the same manner as described in connection with my previous application, that is, the water will flow through the device and over the grate and toward the door opening 9. Thus part of the water will fall onto the fire, at least par tially reducing the temperature thereof, and some of the water will either pass through the door opening 9 and onto the floor surrounding the boiler, or impinge against the door 10, if said door is in closed position. In the latter instance, some of the water will flow over the front of the boiler adjacent the door opening and the remainder will fall back onto the grate S. I

The safety device, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a body 11 having its inner.

screw threaded end mounted in an opening 12 formed in the wall 6 at the rear of the boiler and its intermediate screw threaded portion engaged in a similar opening 13 in the outer wall 5. The portion of the body 11 thus disposed within the water compartment 7 is provided with oppositely disposed openings 14 through which water will flow from the body 11 into the water compartment when it is desired to replenish the supply therein. The

inner end of the body 11 is normally closed 3i 3e 19 slidabl 1 mounted in a bearin 52-0 and having its inner end engaged with the plug 15. The outer end of the body 11 has mount ed therein a bushing 21 provided with 21 ionflitudinal ooenin 22 in which is slidabl c i mounted a valve 23 which normally closes the inlet end of a by-pass 24 formed in said bushing. The valve 23 has a stem the inner end of which is provided with an enlargement 26 to which the outer end oi the feed pipe 19 is connected in any suitable manner. A; coil spring is interposed between the inner end of the bushing 21 and the enlargement 26 and exerts a rearward pres sure upon said enlargement to constantly maintain the inner end of the pipe 19 in engagement with the plug 15.

The outer end of the body 11 is also provided with a lateral extension 28 having a screw threaded opening for receiving one endot an inlet pipe 29 having a valve 30 for controlling the iiow oi water from said pipe into said body and triom thence into the water compartment when the safety device is in its normal condition.

The valve 30 is interposed between. the body 11 and one end of by pass pioe connected to the inlet pipe 2%), the other end of said lay-pass pipe being; connected to a nipple 32 mounted in the bushing 21. By thus arranging the bypass pipe 81 a portion of the water from the inlet pipe will be diverted around the valve 30 and through said by pass pipe to ex a continuous pres sure upon the valve 23 which normally prevents the flow of water through the by-pass 24.

Should the level oi the water in the water coinpartmenttall below the body 11 and thus expose the plug L3 to the action oi. heat from the fire on grate 8, it will be obvious that the fusible material 16 will be rapidly fused b said heat whereupon the plug will be d lodged by the combined pre -ure oi spring 27 and the water impingin the forward end of the valve '23; sure willcausethe :teed pipe 19 and valve to be movedinwardly until the valve 18 engages the valve seat 17 to close communication'between the inlet pipe 29 and the water compartment. When the valve has moved.

.suthciently to uncover the adjacent end of the bypass 24 the water flowing through the ,pipeBIWil'lenter the body ll throug'zfh said "by-pass; 24' and .will then pass through openla s-esteemed in the ptorwardend orfithe formed in the body 37,

c 1 1 ble plug feed pipe 19. The water thus entering said teed pipe under constant pressure, irrespeo tive of the condition of the valve 30, will be projected through said pipe, over the grate 8 and toward the door opening 9, as previously described. 7

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3., it is proposed to utilize the steam generated in the water compartment to cause the operation of: the safety device when the level of the water in said compartment talls below that of said device. Also contrary to the construction shown in Figure 2, it-is further proposed to divert the water from the water compartment when the device is operated and project it through the body and directly onto the floor surrounding the boiler instead of over the grate and toward the door opening. Theretoie instead of extend i the body of the device through the outer and inner walls and 6, a fusible plug including the shell 3st and central portion 35 ot fusible material is mounted in a screw threaded i pening 36 formed in the wall 5. pi e bony 37 01 the device then has its in ner end'suitably mounted in the shell 34 and communication between the body and the compartment 7 is established through an elbow 38 one end of which is connected to the body and the other end threaded in an opening' 39 in the wall At a point contig uous the (,(ElillGCiLlOl'l of the elbow 38 with the body the hater is provided with avalve seat il) designed to be closed by a normally inoperative valve i1 carried by the valve stem e2, the inner end of which engages the fusible pine, while the outer end is slidably'mounted in the bushii 5 13 supported by the outer end of the body 37. The bushing 48 is provided with a pas, re l lwhich communicates with a port or b -pass t in said bushing. said port in turn registering with an opening; 46

A valve 47 is slidably mounted in the bushing 43 and normally clo es the port so that water in the bypass pipe 41-8 similar to the pipe 31. willbe prevented from flowing: through said port 45. The bypass pipe is connected to the valve-controlled inlet pipe 49 in the same manner as illustrated in l igure 1 i From the toregz i description, it will be obvious that when the water in the co n partment 7 falls below the level of the fusithe portioirof the wall Isurroundin the plug will become overheated to such .an extent as to fuse the material whereupon the pressure of water in the by-pass pipe as against the valve eTwill cause the latter valve to move inwardly imparting a similar movement to the'valve 41, which then engages the seat e0 to'close communication between thei inlet pipe 49 and the elbow88 through the bodyBZThe inward movement of the valve 47 uncovers the port or bypass i and 1 thus permits. the

water to flow from the bypass pipe 48 through said port and the opening 46 onto the floor surrounding the boiler. It will be apparent that this action takes place whether the valve controlling the inlet pipe 49 is opened or closed.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a safety device for boilers, a body normally having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, a valve-controlled inlet pipe for feeding water through said body into said compartment, a normally closed by-pass pipe connecting said inlet pipe with said body, and means in said body operable upon the level of water in said compartment falling below a predetermined point for closing communication between said inlet pipe and compartment and for opening said by-passto permit water to flow through said body without entering said compartment.

2. In a safety device for boilers, a body normally having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, two inlet pipes communicating with said body, a valve in one of said pipes for controlling the flow of water through said body into said compartment, means in said body for normally closing the other inlet pipe, and means in said body operable when the water in said compartment falls below a predetermined level for closing communication between the first named ipe and said compartment and for causing the last named means to open the second named inlet pipe to permit water to flow therefrom through said body irrespective of the con dition of said valve.

3. In a safety device for boilers, a body having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, an inlet pipe from which water is fed through saidbody into said compartment, a member movable longitudinally of said body, a valve carried by said member for controlling the flow of water into said compartment, fusible means carried by said body for normally retaining said member and valve in inoperative position, means for moving said member and valve to operative position to stop the flow of water into said compartment when said fusible means is fused, and a bypass connecting said inlet pipe and body for permitting the water to pass through said body when said valve is in its operative position.

4. In a safety device for boilers, a body having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, an inlet pipe from which water is fed through said body itno said compartment, a valve for controlling the passage of water through said inlet pipe, a member movable longitudinally of said body, a valve carried by-said member for controlling the flow of water into said compartment, fusible means carried by said body for normally retaining said member and the second named valve in inoperative position, means for moving said member and valve to operative position to stop the fiow of water into said compartment when said fusible means is fused, and a by-pass for said inlet pipe for permitting the passage of water through said body when'said second named valve is operated irrespective of the condition of the valve controlling said inlet pipe.

5. In a safety device for boilers, a body having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, an inlet pipe for feeding water through said body into said compartment, a by-pass pipe connecting said inlet pipe with said body, means for con trolling the flow of water through said inlet pipe and through said body into said compartment and for preventing the flow of water from said by-pass pipe'into said body, and means in said body operable when the level of Water in said water compartment falls below a predetermined point for permitting the pressure of water in said bypass pipe to operate the last named means to shut off communication between said inlet pipe and compartment and establish communication between said by-pass pipeand body.

6. In a safety device for boilers, a body having communication with the water compartment of a boiler, an inlet pipe for feeding water through said body into said compartment, a normally inoperative valve in said body for controlling said feed, a member carried by said body and having a normally closed by-pass through which water maybe projected through said body, a by-pass pipe for establishing communication between said inlet pipe and said by-pass, a second valve operable with the first named valve and normally closing the communication between said by-pass pipe and bypass, and means operable when the water in said compartment falls below a predetermined level for permitting the first named valve to move to operative position and the second named valve to inoperative position.

JOHN J. MUHLEBACH.

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