US1670746A - Thermostatically-controlled mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1928. 1,670,746

0. C. SCHROEDER THERMOSTATIGALLY CONTROLLED MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 19, 1924 5 h s-Sheet 1 May 22, 1928'. 1,670,746

' O. C. SCHROEDER THERMOSTATiCALLY CONTROLLED MECHANISM ori inal Filed Nov. 19, 1924 5 sheets-Sheet 2 May 22,1928. 1,670,746 0. C. SCHROEDER v THERMOSTATI CALLY CONTROLLED MEGHANI S M Origi-nai Filed Nov; 19. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 0s car (fie/3706459 Patented May 22, 1928.

OSCAR C. SCHROEDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

rsannnros'rA'rIcALLY-coivrnoL En MECHANISM.

Original application filed November 19, 1924, Serial No. 750,851.

December 21, 1925. Serial No. 76,798.

My invention relates, more particularly, to thermostatically controlled electrical mechanism, it having been devised for embodiment, more particularly,

necessarily, in burner structures, the present application being a division of my pending application Serial No. 750,851, filed November 19, 1924.

' y primary objects are to provide a novel,

simple, economical, and positively operating construction of thermostatically controlled mechanism; to provide for the automatic arresting of the flow of fuel tothe'burner, in case the pilot light thereof becomes ex tinguished, thereby preventing flooding, and

other objects as will be manifest from the following description:

I have chosen to illustrate my invention as embodied in an oil burner structure, involving as an element thereof, a power device 'throu h the medium of which the supplying 0 the fuel to the burner is controlled, the fuel in this instance being oil and the power device an electric motor, a descrip- 2 tion of the accompanying drawings being as follows: a

Figure 1 is a View in elevation, partly sectional, of anoil burner embodying my improved thermostatically-controlled switch 30 mechanism. Figure 2 is an enlarged view in vertical sectional elevation ofmy improved thermostatically-controlled switch mechanism operating in connection with the pilot light for a burner, the parts being shown in a position in which the supplying of fuel to the burner is arrested, and the section being takenat the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure? is a fragmentary view, like Fig. 2, of a portion of the structure shown therein, the parts he ing shown in the position they assumewhen the pilot light is burning and fuel is being supplied to the main burner. Figure 4 is a View in elevation of a detail of the switch mechanism forming a part of the structure.

' Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken at the line 5 on Fig.. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Figure 6, a view in side elevation of they portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, viewing it from a position normal to that from which Fig. 3 is viewed.

Referring to the particular, illustrated, in-

y stallation in connection with which my improved thermostatic mechanism is employed,

65 the burner proper is represented at 7, the

though not shown.

burner shown, which is of a type well known in the art, employing oil as the fuel, the supplying of which to the outlet of .the burner, from any suitable source thereof through a pipe 8 is controlled by an electric motor 9.

Located adjacent the burner structure referred-to is a pilot light structure for igniting the fuel issuing from the burner, this pilot light structure being represented generally at 10' and shown as involving a tubular member 11 carried by the main body of the burner structure and surmounted by a hollow cap 12 containing a centrally disposed opening in its cap and a gas outlet tube 14 commumcating at its lower end with a gas passage 15 located in the upper portion of a Divided and this application filed hollow supporting housing member 16 shown as connected with the tubular member 11 by screws '17 and engaging an upright post 18 rising from a stationary pan member 19 supported on,the posts 20 of the burner structure. The passage 15 communicateswith a pipe 21 which leads to any suitable source of gas supply, as, for example, ,the ordinary service-supply pipe. The tube 14 extends centrally of-the tubular member 11 and part way upwardly into the latter as When the gas flowing from the tube 19 is ignited a flame is produced which iscaused to become contacted by the fuel issuing from the burner 7 for igniting the fuel which thereafter burns at the burner 7 until the motor 9 is stopped. The starting and stopping of the motor 9, for the purpose above stated, is controlled through the medium of a switch represented generally at 22 and controlled by thermostatic mechanism co-operating with the pilot light.

The switch device illustrated, and which as to its general features is of a well-known type, comprises an air-tight glass tube 23 located in the housing 16 and partially filled with a current-conducting fluid as for example mercury, represented at 24. Thetube 23 contains in its upper wall,adjacent one end, two electrical contacts 25 and 26 which are insulated from each other and sealed in the tube, these contacts being connected, respectively, with current conducting wires 27 and 28 leading from the fixed sections 29 and 30, respectively, of plug-in switches positioned in the housing 16, a wire 31 leading directly from the section 29 to the section 30. The removable portions of these plugs are represented as 32 and 33, respectively, the section 32 beiiig connected with the wires 34 and 35 leading from the source of electric current, and the section 33 containing the wires (not shown) which connect with the terminals of the motor 9. 4

The tube 23 is mounted in a clip device 36 presenting spring arms 37, 38, 39 and 40, W at its ends and sides which yieldingly .em-

brace the tube 23 and form a support for thelatter, the arm 38 containing a slot 41 to receive the sealing tip 42 of the tube 23. The supporting clip 36 is supported on the lower,

l5 inturned, ends 43 and 44 of yokes 45 and 46 forming the lower ends of levers 47 and 48, respectively, fulcrumed between their ends, as represented at 49 and 50, respectively, on lugs 51 and 52 provided on the member 16. The connections between the yokes 45 and 46 and the clip are pivotal, as represented at 53 and 54, respectively, these connections being at outwardly and downwardly turned arms 55 provided on the clip at op-e posite sides thereof, the levers 47 and 48 being so proportioned and arranged, as

shown that the pivots 53 and 54 extend in different horizontal planes and in one position of the parts, namely, that shown in Fig. 2 wherein the tube 23 inclines downwardly to the left and the mercury 24 is out of engagement with the contacts and 26, the lower pivot 53 extends to the right of the vertical plane occupied by the pivot 54, and when in another position, namely, that shown in Fig. 3 in which the tube 23 inclines downwardly to' the right and the mercury is in engagement with the contacts 25 and 26, the pivot 53 extends to the left of such vertical plane. The position occupied by the tube 23, and which determines the making or breaking of the circuit for the ,motor 9, thus depends upon the position to which the levers 47 and 48 are ;5 rocked on their pivotal supports.

Co-operating with the levers 47 and 48 and controlling the position thereof, are

. thermostatic bars 56-QVh1Cl1 are secured at their lower ends to the structure 16 and ex- 5 tend upwardly alongside of the gas outlet pipe 14 and upwardly through a tube 57 supported on the member 16- and forming a mixing chamber. The upper ends of' "the bars 56 are provided with outturned portions extending above the tube 57 and containing apertures 59 through which upwardly extending pins 60 provided on the extreme upper ends-of the levers 47 and 48loosely extend. The bars 56 are each formed of 3 strips 61 and '62 of metal having different coefiicients of expansion, the material of which strips 61 are composed having alower coefiicient of expansion than the material composing the strips 62. The parts just.

55 described are so constructed and arranged that when the bars 56 are subjected to the heat of the flame atthe pilot burner, they will assume the outwardly deflected position represented in Fig. 3, duev to the distorting effect on these bars produced by the unequal expansion of the strips 61 and 62 of which they are formed, and the levers 47 and 48 will assume the position shown in this figure, in which position the tube 23 inclines downwardly to the right in this figure and the mercury 24 isin engagement with the contacts 25 and 26, the bars 56 remaining the bars 56 quickly return to the position shown in Fig. 2, therebyrocking the levers 47 and 48 to the position shown in this figure,with the result of rocking the tube 23 to a position in which it inclines downwardly tothe left and the mercury .flows out of engagement with the contacts 45 and 46.

The operation of the structure shown is as follows:

Assuming that the parts of the structure are in the position shown in Figs. land 2, in which the switch of which the tube 23 is a part, is open and consequentlyno fuel is being supplied to the burnef'7, the operator starts the burner by opening the pilot tube- 14 to the supply of gas furnished through the pipe 21, as by opening a valve (not shown) interposed in the gas line and igniting the gas at this tube, whereby the bars 56 become heated and rock the levers 47 and 48 to the position shown in Fig. 3, which results in the closing of the switch controlling the motor 9, which latter thereupon starts into operation and supplies combustible fuel to the burner 7 which is ignited by the flame at the pilot light. Should the pilot light become extinguished the thermostatic bars 56, upon losingtheir heat, swing inwardly toward each other and rock the levers 47 and 48 to theposition shown in Fig. 2 in which position the switch controlled thereby is open. It will, therefore, be noted that provision is made for auto-'1 matically discontinuing the supply of fuel to the burner 7 should the pilot light become extin uished, and thus danger of.

as described, the mechanism is caused to be capable of very quick action and is rendered very responsive in action. Furthermore, the dev ce presents practically no time lag, so

that practically as soon as the pilot light becomes extinguished, the controlling cir-' cuit for the motor 9 is opened.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my inmechanism, the combination of vention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling element, lever means operatively engaging and supporting .saidelement and operating, when rocked, to control the conditioning of said switch device, and a thermostatic element controlling the position of said lever means.

' 2. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device havlng a rocking current-controlling element, levers separate from and each operatively engaging said element and constructed and'arranged to rock said element when said levers are rocked, and a thermostatic element separate from said levers and con trolling the position of said levers.

3. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rockin current-controlling element, levers operatlvely engaging said element and by which said device is supported, said levers being constructed and arrangedto rock said element when said levers are rocked, and a thermostatic element controlling the position of said levers.

4. In thermostatically controlled switch a holder, a contact-equipped receptacle on said holder, a gravity-actuated body in said receptacle for controlling the flow of current depending upon the'position of the receptacle, and thermostatically controlled means for actuating said holder comprising levers separate from, and each pivotally connected with and supporting, said element and constructed and arranged to rock said -element'when said levers are rocked.

5. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rockin current-controlling element, lever-shaving eflected end portions offset relative to each other and at which they are pivoted to said element and support the latter, and a thermostatic element controlling the positionof said levers.

6. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination'of a holder, a contact-equipped receptacle in said holder, a gravity-actuated body in said in said receptacle for controlling the flow of current depending on the position of the receptacle, levers supporting said holder and constructed and arranged to rock said holder when said levers are rocked, and a thermostatic element controlling the position of said levers. 7. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling element, levers having deflected end portions ofl'set relative to each otherand at which they are pivoted to said element, and a thermostatic element separate from said levers and controlling the position of said levers.

.8. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a holder, a

contact-equipped receptacle in said holder,

a gravity-actuated body for controlling the flow on the position of the levers having deflected end portions offset relative to each other and at which they are pivoted to said holder, and thermostatic in said receptacle of current depending receptacle, a pair of bars engaging said levers and controlling structed and arranged to rock said element when said levers are rocked, and a thermostatic element having portions engaging both of said levers for controlling the position of said levers.

10. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling element, and thermostatically controlled means for actuating said element comprising lever means operatively engaging and supporting said element and operating when rocked to control the condition of said switch device.

11. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling element, and thermostatically controlled means for actuating said element comprising levers separate from, and each pivotally connected with and supporting, said element and constructed and arranged to rock said element when said levers are rocked.

12. In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling in the same direction with ends thereof deflected and offset relative to each other, said levers being pivotally connected at said defiected ends with said element the parts being so constructed and arranged that said levers are adapted, in their operation, to move at their pivotal connections with said element alternately to opposite sides of the median line of said set of levers.

14. 'In thermostatically controlled switch mechanism, the combination of a switch device having a rocking current-controlling of said levers remote from said deflected portions of the latter.

OSCAR o. SCHROEDER.

flected ends at which they engage the ends

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