US1994831A - Combination gas cock for thermostats - Google Patents

Description

R. E. NEWELL COMBINATION GA s COCK FORTHERMOSTATS Filed May 2o, 1952 -5 Sheets-sheet 1 March '19, 1935. E, NEWELL I 1,994,831

COMBINATIONl GAS COCK FOR THERMOSTATS Filed IvIay 20, 1932 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 Mllmh 19, E935. n R, EI NEWELL 1,994,831

COMBINATION GAS COCK FOR THERMQSTATS Filed may 2o, 1932 5- sheds-sheet s Patente i9, .it

COMBINATION GAS COCK FOR THERMO STATS .Robert E. Newell, Irwin, Pa.

Application May 20, 1932, Serial No. 612,625

2 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of fluid distribution, and more particularly to a control unit of compact and convenient construction consisting of a thermostat for tempera- 5 ture control of a domestic gas range oven, for

example, and a shut oii gas cock for the supply of gas through said thermostat to the oven.

Stove manufacturers during the last few years have been concerned in the production of gas ranges not only with the eiliciency, but with the pleasing appearance thereof. As one feature leading to a more pleasing appearance, considerable attention has been paid to the construction of the front panel of the range, efforts being made to not only produce a front panel which is as compact as possible, but on which the different controls are grouped in a pleasing and attractive manner.

With gas ranges not embodying automatic temperature control devices, it has been possible to design the panels purely from the standpoint of utility and attractiveness. Where thermostatic controls have been provided, however, a complication has been experienced. If the control dial for the thermostat has been made small enough to permit of its having been placed at one end of the control panel, its proximity to the manual control for the oven has presented an unbalanced and crowded appearance.

In order to obviate this, it has been customary to place the oven cock at the opposite end of the panel and pipe across theburner chamber to the oven. This is not only more expensive, but it is inconvenientand confusing to the person using the controls, it being necessary to turn the thermostat at one end of the panel to the proper temperature setting and then to reach to the opposite end of the panel in order to open the oven cock.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a compact and convenient control unit of such pleasing design as to permit of its being placed on a control panel in such manner as to provide a temperature control setting and oven cock control handle in closely adjacent readily accessible position. This permits removing the oven gas cock from its former improper grouping with the burner cocks and make it conveniently adjacent to, and appear as a part of, a thermostatic control unit which is obviously connected with the oven, this being accomplished without sacrificing the complete independent operation ofthe cock and thermostat. A

While, on initial consideration, it might seem desirable tocombine the movement of the oven BEISSUEEA cock and thermostat dial, such an arrangement is open to certain objections. In the rst place, in order to set the thermostat dial accurately to a given marking, it is essential that the dial turn easily and smoothly so that the lady of the house, for instance, with her thumb and finger can quickly set the valve to the temperature desired without the use of any undue force. Gas cocks, when really gas-tight, are often hard to turn, and after being subjected to heat or wear, frequently become jerkyin their operation. This is especially true of the larger barrel cocks usually considered necessary vfor oven gas capacity. Thus, if the thermostat dial is set by means of and simultaneously with the gas cock stem, a quick, accurate and easy adjustment of the thermostat dial is at least difcult and annoying.

In the second place, when using an independent gas cock for the control yof the gas to the oven, the user can be certain that when hev turns it even approximately to the oi position, lthe gas is really shut off. He can ascertain this fact from a distance by the position of the handle Without any close inspection of the dial markings andthe like.

In the third place, it has 4been found in practice that in order to combinel the gas cock and thermostat on a common stem ,'the barrel of the gas cock has to be at least twice the usual di- I ameter, thus increasing friction and the force necessary to turn it, this of course being in addition to the force necessary to turn the thermostat itself. It is also true, that in spite of this increased diameter there is not sumcient sealing surface between the ports when the valve is closed to insure perfect tightness under high pressure gas such as propane and the like.

From the foregoing comments, the advantages of a compact grouping while retaining the possibility of individual operation, will be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown more or less diagrammatically, for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top planlview of a control unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

' Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figures 1- and 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view similar to Figure l, of the gascock alone;

\ Figure 5 is a vperspective view of the stop clip for the combination dial and gas cock;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the panel plate for the combination dial and gas cock;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a view generally similar to Figure 1, but illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Having reference more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, I have indicated by a broken line 2 the front panel or control panel of a gas range and by a broken line 3, the outside of an oven wall partly enclosing the oven space the temperature of whichis to be controlled. The broken line 4 indicates approximately the position of the inside oven liner defining one side of the oven space 5.

Extending longitudinally of the front panel, and in back of the same, is a burner manifold 6 one end of which communicates through a suitable coupling 7 with a combination gas cock and thermostat mounting 8. 'I'he casing 8 is shaped to receive a barrel cock of usual construction, preferably tapered, one end 9 of which is projected to receive a spring 10 as customary in the art for the purpose of maintaining the desired leakproof engagement between the barrel and its seat.

The opposite end ofthe casing 8 communicates with the inlet 11 of a thermostatic valve 12 .the outlet 14 ofwhich leads to a suitable oven burner, not shown. The valve 12 may be of such contour as to provide openings 15 for fastening means enabling the valve to be secured to the outside of the oven wall 3.

Extending through the oven wall are combined spacing and supporting means 16 preferably of relatively low heat conducting material adapted to support a housing 17 for a bi-metal element 18 as claimed more particularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 616,791, led June 13, 1932, now Patent No. 1,970,969. As pointed out in said application, the housing 17 is preferably of relatively low heat conducting material suchas chromium steel or the like having a polished surface disposed toward the bi-metal element, the construction being such that the housing and element are located substantially in the plane of the inside oven liner 4.

Projecting outwardly through one of the spacing means 16 is a flexible cable 20 connected at one end with a screw 21 extending through the element 18 and provided with an enlarged head 22 bearing against the face of the element 18 remote from the housing 17. The opposite end of the cable 20 is connected in any desired -manner to a dial 23 located in front of the front panel 2. Mounted on the front panel 2 is a panel plate 24 having an opening 25 for the dial and formed with diametrically opposite openings 26 for the reception offastening means for holding the panel platein position.

By reference more particularly to Figure 7 oi the drawings, it will benoted that the panel plate 24 at its upper portion is relatively thicker than at its lower portion 27, the extra thickness of the upper portion being so disposed that the lower portion 27 will lie substantially parallel to the front panel 2 but in spaced relation thereto. The thickened upper portion of the panel plate is also provided with a depression 28 constituting a pointer for cooperation with the dial 23.

Extending rearwardly from the panel plate is a projection 29 adapted to pass through an opening in the front panel 2. This projection is adapted to extend into aslot 30 in the upstanding portion 31 of a stop clip as shown more particularly in Figure 5. This clip also comprises a horizontally projecting portion 32 formed with an opening 33 through which is adapted to pass a screw 34 for holding the stop clip in a slot 35 in an extension 36 leading upwardly from the gas cock casing 8 as shown more particularly in Figure 3. Extending from the upstanding portion 31 in the opposite direction from the mounting 32 is a stop nger 37 adapted to engage with a stop (not shown) on the inside of the dial 23 whereby to preclude rotation of the dial through quite 360 in either direction. In this manner the original dial setting determined by the factory is preserved. y

By rotating the dial in one direction or the other, the temperature adjusting screw 21 is correspondingly rotated thereby tending to either increase or relieve tension on the bi-metal element 18. This element at one end bears against supporting ears 38 on the housing 17, such ears constituting a fixed rocking mounting, and at the opposite end bearing against a gland pin 39 which projects into the valve casing 12 and engages the valve disk therein for moving the same in oppothe art for effecting an opening movement thereof.

If it be assumed that the bi-metal is of such construction that under an increasing temperature it will tend to flex to the right as viewed in Figure 2 away from the pin 39, then increased tension on the element 18 will insure holding the valve open until a higher temperature is `reached in the oven 5, while by `decreasing this tension by rotating the screw 21 in the opposite direction, the flow of gas will be cutoff at a relatively lower temperature. I'I'he housing 17 is preferably of such construction as to be adjustable in a. direction lengthwise of the element 18, and with respect to the spacing and supporting means 16, as

described in my application before referred to, for the purpose of changing the effective length of the bi-metal element 18 and thereby enabling calibration to conform with actual conditions in the zone within the oven wherein the element is located and with the standard markings on th dial 23.

Secured to the front end of the gas cock within the casing 8 is a handle 40 projecting downwardly between the front panel 2 and the panel plate 24 to a sufficient extent to receive an actuating knob 41. 'I'he panel plate 24 is preferably provided with suitable indicia, as shown in Figure 2, showing the proper position of the knob 41 for either an on" or an off position of the gas cock.

In Figure 8 of the drawings there is illustrated a construction generally similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the exception that the bi-metal element 18 is replaced by a rod and tube type ythermostat 42 the pressure element 43 of which bears lagainst a lever 44 one end of which lever' engages the gland pin 45 and the opposite end of which is engaged by the adjusting screw 46.

It will thus be apparent that the combination' dial and gas cock construction hereinbefore deadapted to provide a. mounting for the dial bvl means of which the thermostat is controlled, it is possible to provide a compact and convenient control unit. possessing the advantages before referred to.

While I have herein illustrated and described certain preferred features of construction, it will be understood that changes in the construction, arrangement and location of the parts may be made without departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope or my broader claims.

I claim: y

1. In a structure of the character described, a thermostatic valve casing, a gas cock casing con- Inected thereto for delivering gas to the thermostatic casing, said gas cock casing having a gas cock therein, a handle for operating said gas cock, a panel plate, and a thermostatic dial carried by said gas cock casing independently of said handle and said cock and arranged to regulate the now of gas through said thermostatic valve casing, said dial extending through said panel plate and carrying indicia cooperating with indicia carried by said plate.

2. In a structure -of the character described, a thermostatic valve casing, a gas cock casing connected thereto for delivering gas to the thermostatic valve casing, said gas cock casing having a gas cock therein, a handle for operating said gas cock, a panel plate carrying indicia cooperating with said handle, and a thermostatic dial carried by said gas cock casing independently of said handle and said .cock and arranged to regulate the ow of gas through saidthermostatic valve casing, said dial extending through said panel plate and carrying indicia cooperating wit indicia carried by said plate.

ROBERT E. 1w. i

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