US2030544A - Heating system - Google Patents

Description

Feb; 11, 1936. o. A. ROSS ,030,5

HEATING sYsTEM Original Filed Nov. 15-, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR Feb. 11, 1936.

- 0. A. Ross ,030,544

HEATING SYSTEM Original Filed Nov. '15; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original application November 15, 1927, Serial No.

233,482. Divided and this application December 17, 1934, Serial No. 757,790

27 Claims. (01. 231-9) This invention relates to heating systems and more particularly to major heating systems employed in large buildings wherein extensive radiation is installed.

One object of this invention is to furnish a inajor heating system wherein a number of comparatively small buildings, or a number of sections of a large building may have steam, or other heating fluid, supplied thereto in sequential order, in this manner reducing the maxi supply of steam, generally termed maximum demand to a comparatively small amount, as compared to the maximum demand required if all the small buildings, or sections of the large building were supplied with the steam simultaneously.

. Another object is to furnish a heating system wherein the aforesaid sequential supply of steam will be effected automatically as well as in accord with the outside temperature whereby the buildings, or sections, will be uniformly heated irrespective of variations of said outside temperature.

Another object is to furnish a heating system for comparatively high buildings wherein the steam supplied to the system is up-fed at a comparatively high pressure to the point of dis-' tribution and thereafter reduced in pressure for supply to the heat radiators, in this manner permitting the use of comparatively small risers and reducing the loss by condensation therein.

Another objectis to furnish novel forms of apparatus for accomplishing the results attained.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in such novel features, arrangements, combinations of parts and methods as are described in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed by way of example only. The novel methods are disclosed and claimed in r my copending divisional application Ser. No.

233,482, filed November 15, 1927. Other features,

embodiments and combinations of the apparatus hereinafter disclosed are also disclosed and claimed in my copending application Ser. No.

515,761, filed February 14, 1931, comprising a n continuation of my. application Ser. No. 56,283,

filed September 14, 1925. a

is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrat- 53 like characters of reference designate corre In describing the invention in detail, referenceing embodiments of'the invention, and wherein sponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:--

Figure l is a diagrammatic view or one form of heating system applied to a building; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the appa- 5 ratus associated therewith; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of another part of said apparatus; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of still another part of the apparatus and Fig. 5 is a modified form of heating system shown diagrammatically. 10

Referring to Fig. 1, the building I is divided into three heated sections, 2, 3, and 4, each section having rooms a, b, and c supplied with a radiator 5, having thermally controlled outlet valve 6. room 20. being preferably supplied with 15 a hot water radiator 8 receiving hot water from boiler 30 through riser 8a and discharging said. water through return 8b. The radiators 5 in section 2 are fed by riser 9, those of section 3 by riser Ill and those of section 4 by riser II. The 20 condensation from said radiators is returned from section 2 by return l2, from section 3, by return I3 and from section 4 by return l4, said risers and returns being connected to sequential distributing unit l5, each return having a trap 25 I6 at the discharge end thereof. Each heated section 2, 3, and 4, forms a subsidiary heating system of the major system supplying heat to building I.

Steam is assumed to be supplied from a public 30 utility service main I! through pipe l8 and thence to valve l9, meter 20, reducing valve 2|, automatic cutout 22, and valve 23 to sequential distributing unit l 5. The condensation from returns IZ, l3, and M passes through traps l6 unit 35 I5 and pipe 25 to pump 26 of known form for removing air, or vapors, thence through pipe 21, pressure check'valve 28, heating, coil 29 of boiler 30, pipe 3|, having pressure check valve 32, water meter 32a and thence to sewer 33. 40

Hot water heater 30 receives water from service main 34 and distributes hot water to faucets 1 through risers 35.

Traps I6 have a common air and vapor withdrawal line 36 connected to the vacuum end of the air discharge section of pump 26, the air being discharged to sewer 33 through pipe 31.

Over-heat thermostats 38 in sections 2, 3, and 4, are connected in multiple and arranged to energize automatic cut-oil valve 22 for cutting ofi the steam supply upon any abnormal heating of said sections, a switch 39 manually controlling the flow of energy to wires 40, M, and 42 of the circuit controlling said valve. 7

Refening to Figs. 2 and 4, showing sequential distributing unit I5 in more detail, motor 45 drives worm 46 engaging gear 41, mounted on shaft 48, also secured to which are distributor cams 2s, 3s, and 4s and return cams 21', 31', and 41'. The cam faces 49 of cams 2s, 3s, and 4s are adapted to depressvalve stems 50 thereby opening supply valves 2sv,-3sv, and 481). The cam faces 5| of cams 21', 31', and 4r are adapted to de-r press valve stems 52 thereby opening return valves 2rv, 31v, and 4m. Valve stems 52 each support a contact spring 53 adapted to contact with contact 54 and establish the pump motor circuit as follows: from positive energy to switch 59, wire 550', motor 55, wire 56, pipe 25, a contact 53 in lowered position, contact 54, wire 51 and switch 59 to negative energy.

Referring to Fig. 4, gear wheel 41 preferably formed of insulating material, supports contact sector 62 substantially encircling the side thereof, the contact springs 63 and 64 bearing thereon, a sector space 65 being provided sufficient to permit the opening of the circuit to motor 45 when spring 64 enters. such space.

Located in the outside atmosphere, preferably on top of building I, is thermostatic device 10, more fully described in my said co-pending application Serial No. 515,761, filed February 14, 1931, the rheostat arm 1I lowering to cut out resistance 13 upon the lowering of the outside temperature and raising/Wadd resistance upon the increase of said outside temperature. Said device controls the thermostat control circuit as follows: from positive energy to wire 15, arm

H, a contact 12, resistance 13, wire 16,-night switch 11, wire 18, motor 14, to negative energy through wire 19, in this manner varying the speed .of motor 14 proportionately to the variation of the outside temperature. Motorr14 drives worm 83, rotating contact drum 84, supporting contact 85, adapted to momentarily bridge contact springs 86 and 81.

Motor 45 rotates cams 2s, 3s, 4s and 2r, 3r, and 41' through one heating cycle by establishment of the heat supply circuit as follows: from positive energy to wire 66, contact spring 63, contact 62, contact spring 64, wires 61, 68, motor 45 and wire 69 to negative energy. After gear 41 has completed a revolution in the direction shown by the arrow, contact spring 63 will enter space 65 thereby opening said circuit and motor 45 will stop. The relation of the space 65 and the va-' rious cams is such that motor 45 stops just after cam 4s. has permitted valve 4st to close and before valve 2sv is again opened. Likewise cam 41' permits the closing of valve 4m and said motor stops before valve 211) is again opened. After motor 45 has stopped, no flow of steam to, or flow of condensation from the system occurs and said motor remains stopped until contact 85 again bridges contact springs 86 and 81, wh reupon the frequency circuit is established as lows: from positive eneiigy to wire 90, contact spring 86, contact 85, contact spring 81, wires 9|, 68,

atmosphere the uppermost contact 12 to open the circuit to motor 14. If for any reason the arm should move onto said contact and motor 14 should stop with contact 85 bridging both springs 86 and 81, mo tor 45 would continue to operate for producing minimum heating- To avoid this unnecessary operation a contact spring 95 is arranged to engage contact 85 simultaneously with contact 86 whereby the clearing circuit is established as follows: from positive energy to wire 90, contact spring 86, contact 85, contact spring 95, wires 96 and 18 to motor 14 and thence through wire 19 to negative energy. With this circuit established motor 14 operates until contact 85 has moved away from contact spring 86, in this manner also cutting off energy to motor 45 through contact spring 81.

Referring to Fig. 3, trap I6 comprises tank I provided with cap I0| supporting corrugated diaphragm I02, the interior of which communicates with passageway I03 and pipe 36. This trap also includes check valve I04 constrained to seat by spring I permitting vacuum pipe 36 to withdraw air and vapors from the heating system through chamber I06 of tank I00, at the same time creating a partial vacuum within diaphragm I02, whereby float I01, and valve I08 secured thereto and to said diaphragm, will be raised to empty trap I 6. Valve I08 is biased in both extreme upper and lower positions by weight I09 secured to one arm of bell crank IIO, the other arm of which is pivoted to float I01. The chamber containing diaphragm I02 is open to atmos-- phere through opening III.

The operation of the trap is as follows: during the off heating period of a section, as for example section 2, practically all the condensation collects in tank I 00. As cam 21" acts to open valve 21' and also starts pump 26, the vacuum produced by said pump causes a partial vacuum in the diaphragm I02, also raises valve I04 and creates a partial vacuum in the pipe lines and radiators of section 2, it being assumed that the radiators '5 have cooled sufficiently to open valves 6. As tank I00 will contain considerable condensation, the combined efforts of float I01 and diaphragm I02 will cause valve I08 to rise whereupon said -condensation will flow to pump 26 and thence to heating coil 29 of hot water heater 30, said pump causes all air and vapors to be discharged to sewer 33 "and thewater to said heater and thence to the sewer. \After tank I00 has been emptied and pump 26 stopped, the air leakage back through said pump will nullify the vacuum in pipe 36 and diaphragm I02, thereby again permitting valve I 08 to seat and. seal'the return line preparatory to the next heating cycle and the accumulation of the resulting condensation produced thereby.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the operation of the system disclosed thereby is as follows: assume the outside temperature surrounding building I to be approximately 40 degrees under which condition the arm 1I will be in contact with the 40 degreecontact as shown, thereby establishing the "frequency circuit whereby motor 14 rotates contact 8 5 to establish the heat supply circuit to motor 45 at a frequency whereby the resulting heat supply periods will be rendered at sufliciently close intervals to adequately heat building I with an exterior temperature of approximately 40 degrees. 7

After contact 85 has establised the"heat supply circuit and before gear 41 has rotated to again open said circuit as heretofore described, contact 85 will have moved sufficiently to have opened said' circuit between contact springs 86 and 81, and as space 65 of gear 41 passes under contact spring 64, motor 45 will stop in a manner to maintain all the supply valves 21', 31', and 41' closed until contact 85 again bridges contact springs 86 and 81.

If the outside temperature reaches 70 degrees or higher, and at which time no artificial heat is required in building I, the arm II moves to the 70 degree contact whereupon the energy to motor I4 is cancelled by device I0, thereby also stopping the motor 45 indefinitely.

If the outside temperature falls to 10 degrees, arm II moves to the 10 degree contact 12 whereupon motor 14 operates at maximum speed thereby producing a maximum number of heating cycles by increasing the frequency thereof.

During each heating cycle produced by establishing the heat supply circuit, and as motor 45 starts, cam 2r acts to open valve 2H) and drain section 2 of all condensation, thereafter the steam from pipe I8 is supplied to the subsidiary heating system of section 2 by action of the raised portion 49 of cam 2s in opening valve 2sv, said valve being maintained in open position for a period of. time sufficient to fill all the radiators in section 2 with steam as well as maintain pressure therein until the radiator structure has attained a temperature substantially equivalent to that of the steam, whereupon said valve is closed.

A comparativelyfirall interval of time after valve 2sv has closed, the raised portion 49,0f cam 3s acts to open valve 3sv whereupon steam is supplied to radiators 5 of section 3 and after the subsidiary system therein has been filled with steam, said cam portion 49 of cam 43 acts to open valve 4sv whereupon steam is supplied to the subsidiary system in section 4 and as said last named raised portion 49 acts to close valve 481;, the space 65 will have passed under contact spring 64 and motor 45 will be stopped with the raised portion 49 of cam 2s in a position to again effect the opening of valve Zsv. be noted that the steam has been supplied to the sections 2, 3, and 4, in sequential order during each heating cycle. I

Substantially simultaneously with the opening of valve 281:, as described. the raised portion 5| of cam 2r will have passed away from valve stem 52 of. valve 2n; thereby closing said valve. As described, when valve stem 52 is lowered and contact spring 53 engages contact 54, the valve 2m is opened and pump 26 is started thereby draining trap I6 of condensation as well as establishing a partial vacuum in the subsidiary system of section 2, and as supply valve 281) opens; steam from supply pipe I8 will quickly fill said system, the thermally controlled valves 6 preventing the steam from entering the return I2 until the condensation thereof is efiected.

A predetermined interval of time before cam 3s acts to-open supply valve 3sv, the cam 3r act to open return valvei3rv whereby trap I6 in return line I3 will be drained of its condensation and a partial vacuum will be established in the radiators 5 and risers I of section 3 prior to the opening of supply valve 3sv by cam 3s A similar sequence of operations will occur in draining condensation from and supplying steam to the subsidiary heating system of section 4 and thereafter motor 45 will stop until another heating cycle is initiated by establishing the heat supply circuit by contact 85.

From the foregoing it will be noted that by sectionalizing a building as I, for heating purposes,

From the foregoing it will and supplying steam'to a subsidiary heating system in each section sequentially, a comparatively small maximum demand of the steam is required thereby reducing the yearly maximum demand charge usually made by the concern supplying said steam.

The number of subsidiary heating systems and the radiation therefore is preferably proportioned whereby during the coldest weather, and upon the completion of a heating cycle, the drum 84 will have made a complete revolution and contact 85 will again establish the "heat supply circuit in thismanner producing a substantially continuous supply of heat to building I, the supply calling for a comparatively low maximum demand from the source.

It is to be noted that the subsidiary heating systems of sections 2, 3, and 4, may be employed to heat detached buildings, one of the buildings containing the distribution apparatus I and auxiliary devices therefore.

In certain buildings where a comparatively small quantity of hot water is required, the surplus hot water from boiler 30 may be supplied to a hot water radiator 8 in room a, the cam 23 being adjusted to supply a proportionately lesser quantity of steam to the heating system in section 2.

Whereas pipe 36 connects the vacuum side 0 pump 26 to all the traps I6, the partial vacuum established in 'diaphragms I02 will not be willcient to raise the valve I84 in other than the selected trap in which the condensation acting on the float will effect the raising of said valve.

Traps I6 are preferably of a capacity whereby substantially all the condensaiton from their correlated section, as 2, 3 or 4 will return before float I01 will rise with the assistance of diaphragm I82. The variable capacity of tanks I 08 as IIlIia therein acting as liquid displacers.

If desired a rheostat 68a arranged to be varied by arm 68b insulatively supported by arm II and arranged to be shunted by switch 680 may be placed in series with motor 45 whereby said motor is slowed down as the outside temperature is lowered in this manner effecting comparatively longer supply periods of the steam to each section during each heating cycle, such longer supply periods, under certain conditions, being required to compensate for the more rapid cooling of the radiators during colder weather.

Whereas the raised cam faces 49 and SI are shown as of a definite length. they may be made of variable length as shown in the Patent 1,178,170 to Marks, April 4, 1926. Y

The cam faces 49 of supply cams 2s, 3s, and 43 preferably formed whereby the valves Z81), 3sv, and 43p opened thereby will remain open for a period sufiicient to fill all the radiators as well as insuring that the radiator structure will assume a temperature substantially that of the steamtherein.

The cam faces 5I of return cams 2M), 3M), and 411) are preferably formed whereby the valves 2m, 3m, and 410 are opened for a period of time suflicient to drain all the condensation from their correlated traps I6 and also permit the forming of a partial vacuum in the returns and radiators whereby rapid filling thereof occurs when the supply valves are opened.

Whereas the building I has been shown as sectioned in vertical planes. comparatively high oflice buildings, or similar structures are preferably sectioned in horizontal planes, the steam being supplied to unit I5 at a comparatively high pressure and suitable reducing valves placed at the upper end of the risers for reducing the pressure of the steam as supplied to the radiators 5, this arrangement permitting the use of comparatively small capacity risers thereby reducing the condensation therein as well as reducing the cost of installation.

Whereas one return pump as 26 has been shown for controlling all the flow of condensation, a. similar pump may be employed for each section 2, 3, and 4, for independently controlling the flow of condensation therefrom and establishing the partial vacuum therein.

Whereas the steam supply has been shown as a public utility service main, a suitable steam boiler may be employed therefore.

Referring to the modified form of heating system shown in Fig. 5, the thirty-six story building 200, having basement 20I, is shown assectioned 'in horizontal planes A to J, each section being assumed to contain four fioors l, 2, 3, and 4, each floor having a heat radiating system 202 forming a portion of the subsidiary heating system supplied with low pressure steam from feeder line 2 l0, said line receiving steam from high pressure riser 203 through reducing valve 204, each system being drained by a return 205. I

In this major heating system, the subsidiary heating system of each section A to J is preferably supplied with independent condensation and vacuum pumps 26 arranged to establish a partial vacuum in each subsidiary system just prior to the supply of the steam thereto.

comparatively high pressure steam from public utility service main I1, or from high pressure boilers, is fed through distributing device 201 and through risers 203 to the reducing valves 204, thereby permitting the use of comparatively small risers and reducing condensation.

The reducing valves 204 form the origin of the low pressure distribution to the subsidiary systems from whence the steam and condensation is down-fed through feeder line M0 and radiating system. 202 to returns 205.

Owing to the larger volume of steam in the longer risers, as 203H and 203J, the distributor cams 49 of unit 201, are preferably formed to effect comparatively shorter time intervals of opening the supply valves as 2sv, than the similar cams opening similar valves to the risers 203A and 2033, thereby equalizing the supply of steam by permitting the high pressure steam of the longer risers to expand into the subsidiary systems through the reducing valves 204.

Steam distributing unit 201, is similar to unit 15, being modified to include a larger number of supply and discharge valves, as 2sv and 2m and correlated cams and circuit closers therefor.

A pipe 208 connecting each trap and correlated pump 26 corresponds the pipe 36 commonly connected to all the traps l8 of Fig. l, and a pipe 200 commonly connected to all the air outlets of the pumps 26 conveys the air and vapors discharged thereby to the sewer 33.

It will be understood that in the operation of the apparatus, on a decrease in outdoor temperature, more heat is supplied, but upon a corresponding increase in outdoor temperature, substantially a corresponding lesser amount of heat is supplied, and it is in that sense that the following claims have reference to variations in the heat supply or heat supply periods in accordance with .variations inthe outside temperature.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim: v

1. In a heating system a source of pressured steam, a plurality of grouped spaces having radiators therein for heating the spaces, each group being arranged to receive steam from the source, control means for successively apportioning steam from the source to the groups whereby the groups are supplied with steam in sequential order, and means affected by variations in temperature of the atmosphere exterior of the spaces for varying the frequency of operation of the sequential control means.

2. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closed valves in the supply and return line thereof, a source of pressured steam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means for draining the condensation from the system and establishing a partial vacuum therein, a device operating in cycles including means for effecting operation of the draining and vacuum producing means and opening the return valve during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the draining and vacuum producing means and closing the return valve during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for opening the steam supply valve for filling the system with steam from the source during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supply valve during the final portion of the cycle, and means for periodically effecting operation of the cyclic device.

3. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closed valves in the supply and return lines thereof, a source of pressured steam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means for establishing a partial vacuum in the heat radiating system, a device operating in cycles including means for effecting operation of the vacuum producing means and opening the returnvalve during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing means and closing the return valve during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for opening the steam supply valve for filling the system with steam from the source during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supply valve during the final portion of the cycle, and means forperiodically effecting operation of the cyclic device.

4. In a heating system, a heat radiating system having normally closed valves in the supply and return lines thereof, a source of pressured steam connected to the supply line, normally inactive means for establishing a partial vacuum in the heat radiating system, a device operating in cycles including means for effecting operation ofthe vacuum producing means and opening the return valve during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing means and closing the return valve during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for opening the steam supply valve for filling the system with steam from the source during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supply valve during the final portion of the cycle, and means for effecting varying periodic operation of the cyclic device in response to variations in temperature of outside atmosphere.

5. In a major heating system having a plurality of subsidiary heat radiating systems, normally closed valves in the supply'and return lines of the subsidiary systems, a source of pressured steam arranged to be connected to the receiving end of the supply lines, normally inactive devices associated with the subsidiary systems for establishing a partial vacuum therein, devices operating in cycles for each subsidiary system including means for effecting operation of the vacuum producing means-and opening the return valves during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing means and closing the return valves during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for opening the steam supply valves for filling the system with steam from the source during ,7

another subsequent portion of the cycle, means for closing the supply valves during the final portion of the cycle, and means for successively effecting periodic operation of the cyclic devices.

6. In a major heating system having a plurality of subsidiary heat radiating systems, normally closed valves in the supply and return lines of the subsidiary systems, a source of pressured steam arranged to be connected to the receiving end of the supply lines, normally inactive devices associated with the subsidiary systems for establishing a partial vacuum therein, devices operating in cycles for each subsidiary system including means for efiecting operation of the vacuum producing means and opening the return valves during the initial portion of a cycle, means for cancelling the operation of the vacuum producing means and closing the return valves during a subsequent portion of the cycle, means for opening and closing the steam supply valves for filling the system with steam from the source during another subsequent portion of the cycle, and means for successively effecting operation of the cyclic devices at intervals varied in response to variations in temperature of outside atmosphere.

'7. In a heat radiating system having a supply line and a return line, a source of pressured steam, means for supplying steam, from the source to the supply line, a trap in the return line arranged to receive condensation from the system, a normally closed valve for preventing discharge of condensation from the trap arranged. to permit discharge thereof upon being opened, time controlled means for periodically producing a partial vacuum in the system and the trap and means for supplying the steam at time controlled intervals of the same frequency as the periodic production of the vacuum, and means aflected by the vacuum produced by the vacuum producing means for opening the valve to discharge the condensation therefrom.

8. In a heat radiating system having a supply line andga return line, a source of pressured steam, means for supplying steam from the source to the supply line, a trap in the return line arranged to receive condensation from the syspermost portion of the heating system, a low pressure distribution system connected to the discharge end of the high pressure riser, the distribution system being arranged to downfeed the low pressure steam to the radiators, a reducing valve connected between the discharge end of the high pressure steam riser and the receiving end of the distribution system for automatically reducing the high pressure steam to a predetermined low pressure irrespective of variation in pressure of the high pressure source, means for conveying the low pressure steam and condensation from the radiators to the base of the building, and means for efiecting supply of steam from the source to the high pressure riser during time controlled intervals alternately with cancelling the supply thereto during other time controlled intervals.

10. In a heating system for a building having a plurality of stories heated by steam radiators, a source of high pressured steam at the base of the building, a high pressure riser extending upwardly from the source to substantially the uppermost portion of the heating system, a low pressure distribution system connected to the discharge end of the high pressure riser, the distribution system being arranged to downfeed the low pressure steam to the radiators, a reducing valve connected between the discharge end of the high pressure steam riser and the receiving end of the distribution system for automatically reducing the high pressure steam to a predetermined low pressure irrespective of variation in pressure of the high pressure source, time control means for intermittently supplying steam from the high pressure source to the high pressure riser, and thermostatic means responsive to outdoor temperature changes for varying the relative lengths of the intervals of steam supply as compared with the spaces between such intervals.

11. In a heat regulating system, a steam heating system, a source of steam, means for effecting supply of steam from the source to the system for periods alternately with cancelling the supply for other periods, thermostatic means including means for varying the frequencyof the steam supply periods in accordance with variations in temperature of the outside atmosphere and means for also varying the duration of the steam supply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of the outside atmosphere.

12. In a heat regulation system, a steam heating system, a source of steam, means for effecting supply of steam from the source to the system for periods alternately with cancelling the supply for other periods, thermostatic means including means for varying the frequency of the steam supply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of the outside atmosphere and means for also varying the duration of the steam supply periods in accordance with variation in temperature of the outside atmosphere, and means operable at will for eliminating the thermostatic control as to the duration of the supply periods.

tion pump motor for predetermined intervals alternately with deenergization thereof for other predetermined intervals.

14. In a steam heating system including steam radiators having supply and return passageways, a source of steam, a pump for producing a partial vacuum in the return passageway, another pump for exhausting the condensation from the return passageway, means for driving the pumps, means for supplying steam from the source to the supply passageway, time interval means operating in cycles, and means responsive thereto for rendering the pump driving means and the steam supply means active for predetermined periods alternately with cancelling the action thereof for other predetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactive periods of the pump driving means being displaced in time with respect to the active and inactive periods of the steam supply means.

15. In a heating system having supply and return lines, a source of steam, means for supplying steam from the source to the system, means for producing vacuum in the return line, time interval means operating in cycles, and means responsive thereto for rendering the vacuum producing means and the steam supply means active for predetermined periods alternately with can celling the action thereof for other predetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactive periods of the steam supply means being displaced in time with respect to the active and inactive periods of the vacuum producing means.

16. In a heating system having supply and return lines,'a source of steam, means for supplying steam from the source to the system, means including a pump for draining the condensation from the return line, time interval means operating in cycles, and means responsive thereto for rendering the condensation draining means and the steam supply means active for predetermined periods alternately with cancelling the action thereof for other predetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactive periods of the steam supply means being displaced in time with respect to the active and inactive periods of the condensation draining means.

17. In a heating system having supply and return lines, a source of steam, mea s for supplying steam from the source to the sys em, means for producing vacuum in the return line, time interval means operating in cycles, means responsive thereto for rendering the steam supply means and the vacuum producing means active for predetermined p'eriods alternately with cancelling the action thereof for other predetermined periods during each cycle, the active and inactive periods of the steam supply means being displaced in time with respect to the active and inactive periods of the vacuum producing means, and thermostatic means for varying. the relative lengths of said active and inactive periods of the steam supply means'in accordance with variation in temperature of the outside atmosphere.

18. In a heating system having supply and re-' .active and inactive periods of the condensation draining means, and thermostatic means for varying the relative lengths of said active and inactive periods of the steam supply means in accordance with variation in temperature of outside atmosphere. I t

' 19. A heating system for large buildings, comprising in combination, a plurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuated means for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers and turning off the valves on adjacent risers, and time controlled means for effecting the operation of said motors according to a predetermined schedule.

20. A heating system ior large buildings, comprising in combination, a plurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuated means for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers and turning off the valves on adjacent risers, time controlled means for effecting the operation of said motors according to a predetermined schedule during normal working hours, and means for operating said time controlled mechanism on a difierent schedule for non-working hours.

21. A heating system for large buildings, com prising in combination, a plurality of adjacent risers, valves for each riser, motor actuated means for simultaneously turning on the valves of certain risers and. turning ofi the valves on adjacent risers, time controlled means for effecting the operation of said motors according to a predetermined schedule, an outdoor thermostat, and means operable thereby for varying said time schedule according to outdoor temperature.

22. In a heating system for large buildings having a plurality of stories heated by steam radiators, said system including a plurality of subsidiary heating systems each comprising a group oi! radiators for serving a particular zone of the structure or structures heated, a local low pressure steam distribution conduit system for each 01 said groups, a plurality of high pressure steam risers running respectively from said source to the inlets of said low pressure distribution conduit systems, reducing valves connected respectively between the discharge ends of said high pressure risers and the inlets of said distribution conduit systems, and means for intermittently checking the flow of steam from said source to said risers during time controlled intervals alternately with the admission of high pressure steam to said risers during other time controlled intervals.

In a heating ystem for large buildings having a plurality of stories heated by steam radiators, said system including a plurality of subsidiary heating systems each comprising a group of radiators, a low pressure steam distribution conduit system for each of said groups and having a steam inlet positioned at substantially the w o sumac themhaidiaryayltemofeach ralityoigroupsiorservingrespectivelyvarious hlil prenure steam at the zones oithcstl'ucturestobeheated, conduits runssh-am d mama:

nub he!!! the discharge and; a! said high pmess\xge sex-s an i the, amass at the distribution' conduit systems, time controlled means for intermittently checking the supply of steam from said source to said risers respectively at interspaced intervals, alternating with intervals of supply of high pressure steam to the risers, and thermostatic means responsive to outdoor temperature changes for varying the relative lengths of the intervals of steam supply as compared with such intervals of checking of the supply.

24. Regulating apparatus for steam heating systems having radiators located in rooms to be normally maintained at desired substantially uniform temperatures while aflected by variations in outdoor temperature, comprising a source of steam, said radiators being divided .into a plurality of groups for serving respectively vs.-

26 rious zones oi'tne structures to be heated, confrom said source to WI, time controlled means for steam from said source for each 0! said groups respecmntially inter-spaced intervals, and

means responsive to' outdoor temehanges ior varying the relative lengths of flsa intervals of steam supply as compared with the moon between such intervals.

I. Regulating apparatus for steam heating M having radiators located in rooms to be normally maintained at desired substantially uniform temperatures while affected by variations in outdoor temperature, comprising a source of 40 steam, said radiators being divided into a plu- It in I! i g; It It groups, and means for intermittently supe steam from said source to the conduits ioreachoisaidgroupsrespcctivelyatmhstantlello ieuiimii ii'itii llili mm s :1 s11 chant frequency to enable substantially cbnt1n uous maintenance of predetermined temperatures in the structures heated.

26. In a heating system, a source of steam get under pressure, a plurality of grouped spaces having radiators therein for heating the spaces, conduits for conveying steam from said source to the radiators of each of said groups respectively, valves in said conduits for controlling the flow of steam to each group respectively, and means common to said valves for controlling the operation of the same in sequential order to alternately admit and check the flow of steam to each of said groups, whereby the steam is succ'essively apportioned from said source to the several groups.

27. In a heating system, a. source of steam .under pressure, a plurality of grouped spaces having radiators therein for heating the spaces, conduits for conveying steam from said source to the radiators of each of said groups respectively, valves in said conduits for controlling the flow of steam to each group respectively, and time controlled means common to the valves and inter-- mittently controlling the operation thereof, to admit supplies of steam to said groups respectively in succession, whereby the steam is successively apportioned from the source to the various groups and steam is supplied to one group during intervals of interruption of the supply to another group.

OSCAR A. ROSS.

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