US2750115A - Universal water heater control - Google Patents

Description

J n 12, 1 5 G. P. GREENAMYER 2,750,115

UNIVERSAL WATER HEATER CONTROL Filed Dec. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [/71 6/7 50/" ameea x? GKEF/VAMYER June 12, 1956 cs. GREENAMYER UNIVERSAL WATER HEATER CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1950 [/7 V6 for $50566 F kf-WAMYFR' 5% A 223/.

June 12, 1956 G. P. GREENAMYER UNIVERSAL WATER HEATER CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 16, 1950 G'FORGF A G'ka-W AMYER United States Patent 2,750,115 UNIVERSAL WATER HEATER CONTROL George P. Greenamyer, Monrovia, Califl, assignor to General Controls Co., Glendale, Califi, a corporation of California Application December 16, 1950, Serial No. 201,082 15 Claims. (Cl. 236-21) This invention relates to a universal safety temperature control unit for automatic storage type water heaters and other gas burning heating appliances, and is more particularly concerned with the provision in a unitary device of a thermostatically controlled valve and a thermomagnetic safety pilot valve.

' The principal object of my invention is to provide a thermostatically controlled valve in which the tempera ture setting lever, that is arranged to be oscillated between the hot and cold extremes and be set at a selected position according to the temperature desired, carries an actuator reciprocable relative to it for resetting the safety pilot valve and moving the associated armature to an attracted position in relation to its cooperating magnet, the actuator being reciprocable for such operation of said 'valve only in the off or cold extreme position of the temperature setting lever, thereby dispensing with the necessity for a separate push-button for resetting purposes, and accordingly simplifying operation for the user and improving the construction generally.

Another object is to provide a complete universal automatic control of simpler and more compact design adapted for installation on a water heater tank as a concealed control within the confined space generally available for insulation, and yet so arrange the component parts of the control for easy access to the snap-action valve for cleaning by simple removal of a closure cap provided on the outer end of the control. The construction is, furthermore, so designed to facilitate molding, coring and machining, with a view not only to lower cost of production but also much closer uniformity and accuracy of construction and greater dependability in performance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation, but mostly in longitudinal section on the line 1-1 of Figs. 2 and 3, showing a universal safety temperature control unit made in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections on the lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of Fig. 1, showing some of the graduations on the valve body relative to which the pointer movable with the temperature setting lever is arranged to move;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the shut-off cock taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 are sectional details on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing on and off positions of the shut-01f cock;

Fig. 7 is a face view of the snap-action disk provided in the thermostatically controlled valve, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout these views.

Referring to the drawings, the thermostatic control .valve forming a part of the present unit is similar to those forming the subject matter of Grayson Patents 1,699,468, 1,744,465, and 1,781,328, and comprises a thermostat 9 of the rod and tube type, in connection with which the temperature setting lever 10 is provided fixed to one end portion of the rod 11 to turn it relative to the tube 12 and, accordingly, adjust the threaded end portion 13 of the rod in the plug 14 provided in the outer end portion of the tube 12. The tube 12 isof brass or copper and expands and contracts appreciably with temperature 2,750,115 Patented June 12, 1956 ice change, whereas the rod 11 is of Invar, or some other suitable non-expanding material or one having a low coefficient of expansion. The tube 12 is threaded, or otherwise suitably fixed, in a plug 15 that is adapted to be threadedv into a bushing or spud in the side wall of the tank of a gas operated water heater, for example. The valve body 16, which is suitably cast integral with the plug 15, has temperature graduations 17 provided on a cylindrical portion thereof, and the temperature setting lever 10 has a pointer 18 thereon arranged to move relative to these temperature graduations, as shown in Fig. 4. These graduations include at the low temperature end the reading off, to indicate to the operator the extreme position to which the lever 10 has to be moved to set or reset the safety valve 19 in open position. The safety valve 19, as clearly appears in Fig. 2, is provided on a rod or stem 20 reciprocable in guides 21 and 22, guide 21 being a hole in the wall of body 16, whereas guide 22 is in a plate 23 that has a press fit in a counterbore in the mouth of a cup 24 that is threaded in an opening 25 provided in the body 16. A gas seal 26, which includes an O-ring for a more elfective sealing action, is provided, having a press fit in a counterbore adjacent the hole 21. A gasket 27 prevents leakage at the threaded connection 25. The plate 23 serves also as an abutment for the large end of a conical compression spring 28, whose small end encircles the rod 20 under valve 19. This spring normally tends to close the valve 19 on its seat 29, whereby to shut off the flow of gas from the line to both the pilot burner and main burner of the storage type water heater or other gas burning heating appliance in connection with which my control unit is used, the gas inlet connection being shown at 30, suitably screened, as indicated at 31, and communicating through a port 32 with the safety valve. Passage 33 cored in the body 16 leads from the safety valve through a shut-01f cock 34 to the valve chamber 35, in which the thermostatically controlled valve 36 is provided, arranged to be opened and closed with snap-action in response to a predetermined temperature change of the thermostat 9, whereby to control the operation of the main burner and, accordingly, maintain a selected temperature for which lever 10 was set. Valve 36 is guided by means of a stem 37 working in a central guide 38 provided in a bushing 39 threaded in a bore 40 opening 0E valve chamber 35, this bushing having a valve seat 41 thereon for cooperation with valve 36, and having a series of holes 42 therein through which gas is free to flow into chamber 43 and, thence, through outlet 45 to the main burner when the valve 36 is unseated. A conical compression spring 46 cooperates with valve 36 to hold it normally seated, and this spring is seated in a depression 47 provided therefor in a closure cap 48 threaded in an opening 49 provided in the wall of the body 16 at chamber 35. A gasket 50 prevents gas leakage at this cap. Independently of the opening and closing of valve 36, however, gas is always supplied to the pilot burner from chamber 35 so long as the safety valve 19 remains open, there being a passage 51 in the body'16 communicating with a port 52 in the shut-off cock 34 when the cock is turned to the on or open position shown at the left in Fig. 6, through which gas is con ducted to the outlet 53 and, thence, to the pilot burner,

so long as the shut-off cock 34 controlling the flow of An armature 56 is carried on the inner end of the rod.

20 in a fixed coaxially spaced relationship to the safety A is valve 19 and is arranged to be held by a horseshoe magnet 57 in the position shown in Fig. 2, holding the safety valve 19 open against the resistance of its closing spring 28, but only so long as the magnet 57 remains energized by current generated by the heat of the flame of the pilot burner after the pilot burner is lighted. The thermoelectric generator is not shown but only the energizing coil 58 associated therewith and encircling the two prongs of the horseshoe magnet 57, the end portion of the instilated lead wire extending from the generator being. indicated at 59 sheathed in a lead tube 6t attached, as indicated' at 61, to the neck 62 of the cup 24, the wire 59 being electrically connected with the insulated end of the coil 58, and the other end of the coil being grounded. Assuming the valve 19' has been held open manually in the novel manner of my invention hereinafter described until the armature 56 is held by the magnet with sufficient force to overcome the valve closing force of spring 28, it then is safe to supply gas to the main burner, and the temperature setting lever 10, which, during the resetting operation, was in the OE position, as will soon appear, is swung to a selected temperature reading on scale 17. So long as lever is in the off position valve 36 will remain closed, so that there is no likelihood of any gas being delivered to the main burner until after the pilot burner has been lighted, and, consequently, there is no likelihood of an explosion.

In accordance with my invention an actuator 63, in the form of an elongated sheet metal stamping, is slidably mounted in a radial bore 64 provided in lever 10, and is arranged to be reciprocated' by means of a cap 65 that is: attached to its outer end. This cap serves as a handle for manipulation of the actuator besides providing the pointer 18', mentioned before, and acting as an abutment and enclosure for a light coiled compression spring 66, which is seated in a counterbore 67 in the outer end of the lever 10. The spring 66 holds the actuator 63 normadly in retracted position so that the radial finger 68 on the inner end ofthe actuator clears the end of rod 20, permitting free swinging of the lever 10 for temperature settings. Thevalve' body 16 is cored out at the guide 21, as at 69, to provide working clearance for the inner end of the actuator 63 in the off position of lever 10, as clearly appears in Fig. 2, so that the operator can depress the actuator against the slight resistance of spring 66 and open the safety valve 19 by engagement of finger 68- on the outer end of rod 20. It is only when the lever 10 is in the off position in line with rod and depression 69 that the actuator 63 can be depressed to the extent necessary to move the valve 19 to the open position shown in Fig. 2. In other positions of the lever 10 the finger 68 will engagethe inside wall '70 of the connecting yoke portion 71 between the-main body portion and the threaded end portion 15 and thereby limit the inward movement of the actuator 6-3 if pressure is applied to cap 65 in that direction The lever 19 is preferably an aluminum alloy die casting to save machining costs and still obtain the nicety of sliding fit needed for the actuator in the bore 64. The hub portion 72 on the lever 10 is enlarged to provide an enlarged elongated guide 73 for the slotted intermediate yoke portion 74 of the actuator. This portion 74. has the cylindrical plunger 75 that is rigidly connected to the inner end of the thermostat rod 11 extending through the slot thereof to provide an operating connection between the thermostat 9 and the snap action mechanism for operating the thermostatic valve 36. A set screw 76 threaded in: a radial hole in the hub portion 72 fastens the lever 10 firmly to the plunger 75 and thereby connects lever 10 with. rod 11 so that it can be threaded in one direction or the other at 13 to adjust the thermostat accordingly for a higher or lower water temperature.

The pointer 18 on. lever 10 will, of course, indicate reasonably accurately the selected temperature on the scale 17, assuming the lever 10 has been set properly in relation to the rod 11 of thermostat 9 at the factory, the lever 10 havingthescrew 76 therein for locking the same in a fixed relationship to the plunger 75 for that purpose. Plunger 75 is fixed on the end of the rod 11 of the thermostat and is slidable in a hole 77 in the back wall of the body 16 for cooperation with the snap-action mechanism for operating the valve 36. An O-ring 78, provided in an annular groove in the plunger 75, prevents gas leakage through hole 77. A hardened steel ball 79, set in a recess in the inner end of plunger 75, provides an anti-friction bearing for the plunger 75 on the center of a larger cylindrical push-member 80 that is guided for a small amount of reciprocatory movement in a bore 81 provided in the bushing 39. A circular knife edge 82 is provided on the inwardly projecting rim of the push-member 80 for engagement with the back of a convexo-concave snap-action spring disk 83 near the outer periphery thereof, so that the disk, which is supported at its outer peripheral. edge in the bushing 39 at the inner end of the bore 81, is caused to snap over center to open the valve 36 upon a predeter mined movement of the push-member 80 in response to a predetermined temperature change of thermostat 9, similarly as in Grayson Patent No. 1,699,468. However, in the present construction, the disk 83 is cut away, as at 84, on opposite sides of a diametrically extending web portion 85, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so as to permit gas flow through the disk when the valve 36 is opened, and accord ingly permit disposition of the disk right next to the valve instead of at somev appreciable distance from it, similarly as in Grayson Patent No. 1,941,795, for greater compactness and economy in construction. The push-member 80 has a. series of apertures 86 provided therein through which the gas can fiow readily into passage 43 whenever the valve 36 is opened. The web portion of the disk is cut transversely through the middle, as indicated at 87 in Fig. 7, whereby to define two opposed radial fingers 88, the inner ends of which have abutment with the screw 89 provided on the inner end of the stem 37 of the valve 36, the fingers 88 being adapted to give the valve 36 the maximum opening movement in the snap-action of the disk, greater than what would be afforded if the web 85 were continuous. In other words, with the present construction of the disk only the annular marginal portion 90 of the disk is relied upon for the spring snap-action.

I claim:

1. In a thermostatically controlled valve associated with a main burner and a pilot burner and comprising a casing, a thermostat including threadedly adjustably connected parts the adjustment of which determines a selected temperature which the thermostat is to function to maintain, a thermostatic valve in said casing for controlling flow of. fuel therethrough to the main burner and operatively connected with the thermostat to be opened and closed in response to temperature change, said casing having a bypass passage leading to the pilot burner to supply fuel thereto continuously, a safety valve adapted to shut off the flow of fuel to both burners and having an operating stern, a closing spring for said safety valve, an armature movable in a fixed relationship to said safety valve, a magnet to attract said armature having thcrmo-electric means for energization thereof responsive to the heat of the flame of the pilot burner, and an elongated temperature setting. lever fixed at one end to one of the aforesaid threadedly connected parts to turn the same for temperature adjustment and adapted to be turned to a low temperature position in which it is directed toward said stem of said safety valve, said lever carrying a part movable manually lengthwise relative to the free end of said lever only in the low temperature extreme position thereof, arranged to engage said stern and give corresponding lineal movement directly to the safety valve to open the safety valve in such movement.

2.- In a thermostatically controlled valve associated with. a main burner and a pilot burner and comprising a casing, a thermostat including threadedly adjustably connected parts the adjustment of which determines a selected temperature which the thermostat is to function to maintain, a thermostatic valve in said casing for controlling flow of fuel therethrough to the main burner and operatively connected with the thermostat to be opened and closed in response to temperature change, snap-action mechanism interposed between the thermostat and said thermostatic valve to open and close the valve abruptly upon a predetermined temperature change, said casing having a bypass passage leading to the pilot burner to supply fuel thereto continuously, a safety valve adapted to shut off the flow of fuel to both burners and having an operating stem, a closing spring for said safety valve, an armature movable in a fixed relationship to said safety valve, a magnet to attract said armature having thermo-electric meansfor energization thereof responsive to the heat of the flame of the pilot burner, and an elongated temperature setting lever fixed at one end to one of the aforesaid threadedly connected parts to turn the same for temperature adjustment and adapted to be turned to a low temperature position in which it is directed toward said stem of said safety valve, said lever carrying a part movable manually lengthwise relative to the free end of said lever only in the low temperature extreme position thereof, arranged to engage said stem and give corresponding lineal movement directly to the safety valve to open the safety valve in such movement.

3. In a thermostatically controlled valve, a valve body having a thermostat in assembled relationship thereto to operate a thermostatic valve therein, said thermostat including a manually oscillatable elongated temperature setting lever adapted to be turned to predetermined posi tions about its axis of operation for selected temperatures and also adapted to be turned relative to said axis to a low temperature position for safety valve operation, a safety valve having a rod for operating the same to open position, and a part movable manually lengthwise relative to and independently of said lever and radially relative to the aforesaid axis only in the low temperature extreme position of said lever arranged to engage and give corresponding lineal movement directly to said rod to open said safety valve.

4. In a fuel valve structure for controlling the flow of fuel to a main burner and a cooperating pilot burner, a casing having a valve operable therein with a snapaction mechanism and connected to turn the main burner on and off, a thermostat operatively associated with said snap-action mechanism, a spring-closed safety valve controlling both burners and having means dependent upon the continued burning of fuel at the pilot burner for holding the safety valve releasably in open position, a threaded temperature adjustment for said thermostat, an elongated manually operable temperature setting arm connected to said adjustment adapted to be turned to predetermined positions about its axis of operation for selected temperatures and also adapted to be turned relative to said axis to a low temperature position for safety valve operation, and an operator for the safety valve shiftable with said temperature setting arm and movable lengthwise of said arm and radially with respect to the aforesaid axis to engage and give corresponding lineal movement directly to the safety valve to open said valve only when said arm is swung to a predetermined position directed radially from the aforesaid axis toward the safety valve and corresponding assuredly to a closed position of the snap-action thermostatic valve.

5. In a fuel valve structure for controlling the fiow of fuel to a main burner and a cooperating pilot burner, a casing having therein a fuel inlet passage in which is included a seat for a safety valve, a safety valve arranged to engage said seat and having spring means normally tending to close it and an armature for holding it open arranged to be attracted by a thermo-electrically energ-izable magnet operated in response to heat in the operation of the pilot burner, said casing having an outlet passage communicating with the pilot burner for delivery of fuel thereto whenever the safety valve is open,

said casing also having a bore therein with which an outlet port communicates for delivery of fuel to the main burner, a temperature control valve in said casing arranged to open and close in response to temperature change, a thermostat operatively connected with said temperature control valve and having a rotatable temperature setting adjustment, a rod attached to and reciprocable with the safety valve and guided for movement in a direction in transverse relation to and spaced from the rotatable temperature setting adjustment, a temperature setting lever connected with said temperature seting adjustment to operate the same by oscillation of said lever, and an operator for said safety valve shiftable with the temperature setting lever in the oscillation thereof and operable when said lever is in a low temperature extreme position to move the safety valve to and hold it temporarily in open position.

6. In a fuel valve structure for conrolling the flow of fuel to a main burner and a cooperating pilot burner, a casing having therein a fuel inlet passage in which is included a seat for a safety valve, a safety valve arranged to engage said seat and having spring means normally tending to close it and an armature for holding it open arranged to be attracted by a thermo-electrically energizable magnet operated in response to heat in the operation of the pilot burner, said casing having an outlet passage communicating with the pilot burner for delivery of fuel thereto whenever the safety valve is open, said casing also having a bore therein with which an outlet port communicates for delivery of fuel to the main burner, a temperature control valve in said casing arranged to open and close in response to temperature change, a rod and tube type thermostat operatively connected with said temperature control valve and having a temperature setting adjustment operable with a threading action, a rod attached to and reciprocable with the safety valve and guided for movement in a direction in transverse relation to and spaced from the thermostat, a temperature setting lever connected with said temperature setting adjustment, and an operator for the safety valve which is manually operable and guided for reciprocatory movement on the temperature setting lever but held against such movement in all but the low temperature extreme position of said lever, whereby to permit manual opening of the safety valve only in that position of said lever.

7. In a thermostatic temperature control valve for a gas appliance, such as a storage type water heater, comprising a valve body having a yoke extension carrying on it a threaded plug adapted for rigid connection with the appliance, a thermostat supported on said plug having a threaded temperature adjustment, a valve in said body connected with said thermostat for operation, and an elongated temperature setting lever connected with said thermostat temperature adjustment and oscillatable relative to said yoke, the improvement which consists in the provision of a safety valve connected in series with said thermostatic valve to control fuel flow through said valve body independently of said thermostatic valve, said safety valve having an operating stem, and a part carried upon and movable manually lengthwise relative to and independently of said temperature setting lever when it is substantially in alignment with said operating stem in the low temperature extreme position of said lever arranged to engage said operating stem and give corresponding lineal movement directly to the safety valve to open said safety valve.

8. In a thermostatic temperature control valve for a gas appliance, such as a storage type water heater, comprising a valve body having a yoke extension carrying on it a threaded plug adapted for rigid connection with the appliance, a thermostat supported on said plug having a threaded temperature adjustment, a valve in said body connected with said thermostat for operation, and an elongated temperature setting lever connected with said thermostat temperature adjustment and oscillatable relative to said yoke, the improvement which consists in the provision of a safety valve connected in series with said thermostatic valve to control fuel flow through said valve body independently of said thermostatic valve, said safety valve having an operating stern, and an operator for the safety valve which is manually operable and guided for reciprocatory movement lengthwise on the temperature setting lever and independently thereof to engage said operating stem and give corresponding lineal opening movement to the safety valve, said operator being held against such movement in all but the low temperature extreme position of said lever, whereby to permit manual opening of the safety valve only in that position of said lever.

9. In a universal automatic thermostatic control suitable for storage type water heaters, the combination of a thermostat, a valve body, one end of which is constructed for connection to the tank of the heater and the other end of which provides a housing containing a snap-action valve operable by means of the thermostat, a safety valve arranged between the ends of said valve. body together with manually operable means for setting the same, said thermostat including an elongated lever shiftable to different positions for selection of desired temperatures, and said last named means being shiftable with said lever and operable lengthwise only in a low temperature setting thereof, so that the safety valve is not openable in other positions of said lever.

10. In a universal. automatic thermostatic control suitable for storage type water heaters, the combination of a thermostat, a valve body, one end of which is constructed for connection to the tank of the heater and the other end of which provides a housing containing a' snap-action valve operable by means of the thermostat, a safety valve arranged between the ends of said valve body together with manually operable means for setting the same, said thermostat including an elongated lever shiftable to different positions for selection of desired temperatures, and said last named means being shiftable with said lever and reciprocable lengthwise relative thereto to open the safety valve only in a low temperature setting thereof, so that the safety valve is not openable in other positions of said lever.

11. In a universal automatic thermostatic control suitable for storage type water heaters, the combination of a thermostat, a valve body, one end of which is constructed for connection to the tank of the heater and the other end of which provides a housing containing a snapact'ion val've operable by means of the thermostat, a safety valve arranged between the ends of said valve body, said safety valve having an operating stem, manually reciprocable means arranged to engage and transmit lineal opening movement to said safety valve in direct proportion to the lineal movement given said means when said means is moved radially relative to an axis of rotation, said means being connected with the thermostat for selection of a desired temperature by rotary movement of the samemeans about said axis.

12. A universal temperature control of the character described for use in connection with a main burner, a pilot burner therefor, and a safety valve controlling the flow of gas to both of said burners, said safety valve having an o erating stem, a thermostat, a valve body having a thermostatic valve operable therein by means of the thermostat to control the flow of gas to the main burner, and a temperature setting means which is rotatable about an axis and movable radially with respect to said axis and is connected with said thermostat, which said means when turned about said axis of. rotation clos- P ing. the thermostatic valve and when moved radially relative to said axis engaging said stem and giving corresponding lineal opening movement directly to the safety valve so that'n'o gas may flow to the main burner until thepilot burner is lighted;

13. A universal temperature control of the character described for use in connection with a main burner, a pilot burner therefor, and a safety valve controlling the flow of gas to both of said burners, a valve body having a thermostatic valve operable therein by means of a th'emrostat to control the fiow of gas to the main burner, and a temperature setting means which is rotatable about an axis and also movable radially relative to said axis, said means being so connected with said thermostat and thermostatic valve and so operatively related to said safety valve that when said means is turned about the axis of rotation the thermostatic valve is closed and when said means is moved radially relative to said axis the safety valve is opened so that no gas may flow to the main burner until the pilot burner is lighted, there being spring means tending to close the safety valve, and thermo-electric means operable in response to the heat of the flame of the pilot burner for holding the safety valve open against the action of said spring means.

14. In a universal fuel control for use in connection with a main burner, a pilot burner therefor, and a safety valve controlling the fiow of gas to both said burners, said safety valve having an operating stem, the combination of a snap-action valve operable by a thermostat for automatically controlling the flow of gas to the main burner, whereby to regulate the temperature of the medium heated thereby, electro-magnetic means operating the safety valve in response to heat of the flame of the pilot burner to keep said safety valve open only so longv as the pilot burner is not extinguished, a rotatable means turnabl'e about an axis and connected. with the thermostat to set the same for a desired temperature, said means including a reciprocable means movable radially with respect to the aforesaid axis and arranged to be connected directly with the safety valve by engagement with the operating stem thereof to give corresponding lineal movement thereto to open the safety valve in the low temperature'extreme position of said rotatable means.

15. In a fuel valve structure for controlling the flow of fuel to a main burner and a cooperating pilot burner, a casing having therein a fuel inlet passage in which is included a seat for a safety valve, a safety valve arranged to engage said seat and having spring means normally tending to close it and an armature for holding it open arranged to be attracted by a thermo-electrically energizable magnet operated in response to heat in the operation of the pilot burner, said casing having an outlet passage communicating with the pilot burner for delivery of fuel thereto whenever the safety valve is open, said casing also having a bore therein with which an outlet port communicates for delivery of fuel to the main burner, a temperature control valve in said casing arranged to open and close in response to temperature change, a thermostat operatively connected with said temperature control valve and having a rotatable temperature setting adjustment, a rod attached to and reciprocable With the safety valve and guided for movement in a direction in transverse relation to and. spaced from the rotatable temperature setting adjustment, a temperature setting lever connected with said temperature setting adjustment to operate the same by oscillation of said lever, and an operator for the safety valve which is manually operable and guided for reciprocatory movement on the temperature setting lever but held against such movement in all but the low temperature extreme position of said lever, whereby to permit manual opening of the safety valve only in that position of said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown Sept. 1, 1953

Images