US2988098A - Manually operated gas controllers - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1961 o. THOMAS MANUALLY OPERATED @As CONTROLLERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8. 1959 e lllll' Si! Q INVEN TOR.

Illl n June 13, 1961 o. THQMAS 2,988,098

MANUALLY OPERATED GAS CONTROLLERS Filed DGO. 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figi;

IN V EN TOR.`

Patented .lune 13, 1961 2 983 098 MANUALLY GPERTEI) GAS CONTROLLERS @tto rllhomas, 53 Wilhelmstr-asse, Remscheid, Germany, assigner to .l oh. Vaillant IQG., Remscheid, Germany Filed Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,137 10 Claims. (Cl. 137-66) The invention relates to a manually operated gas controller, especially for gas water-heaters with a thermoelectric ignition safety device. In such gas controllers, it is known that, by means of a handle, a main gas valve, which is connected with the armature of a thermoelectrically energized magnet and is loaded by a closing spring, is brought into the open position and the armature is pressed to the poles of the electromagnet. For reasons of safety, an auxiliary valve is temporarily closed in the known manner. With the electromagnet energized, the magnet armature is held fast and the closing member, connected therewith, of the main gas valve remains in the open position with the closing spring stretched.

In such known gas controllers with a thermoelectric ignition safety device, there is the diiculty that the gas supply cannot be shut oi at will directly. ln that case, either an additional separate shut-oil member has to be provided or the pilot llame has to be extinguished and it is necessary to wait until, after the thermo-element has cooled, the magnet releases the armature; this takes a considerable time (about 21/2 minutes). During this cooling time of the thermoelectric safety device, the path of the gas can, in addition, in the case of the known gas controllers, be opened again shortly after closure has been effected, even when the pilot flame has been extinguished.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operable gas controller whereby the main gas supply valve may be manually closed during operation even while the thermoelectric ignition safety device is still in the operating position.

It is a further object to provide a gas controller of the type described wherein, once the main gas valve has been manually closed during normal operation, cannot be so reopened until the pilot light has been extinguished and the thermoelectric ignition safety device has returned to the non-operating position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. l is a vertical axial cross section of the gas controller apparatus according to the present invention showing the main gas valve in closed position, and the thermoelectric safety device in non-operating position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the main gas valve in open position and the thermoelectric safety device in normal operating position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the main gas valve closed, but the thermoelectric safety device still in operating position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the present apparatus showing the manual control in the position in which the main gas valve and thermoelectric device are coupled together.

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the valve coupling member locking device and valve in locked position, resulting when the manual control is in a position shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the manual control in a position where the main gas valve is released by the coupling member of the thermoelectric safety device; and

FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of the gas valve coupling member and main gas valve in the position where the valve is released, resulting when the manual control is in the position shown in FIG. 5.

`According to the invention, the disadvantages of the usual ignition safety device are obviated by reason of the fact that a taken-along coupling or valve coupling member, which is releasable by manual operation, is provided between the closing member or valve head of the main gas valve and the armature of the magnet, and is arranged in such a manner that the opening mechanism, which is operated by the handle, acts on the coupling member which is associated with the armature of the magnet. It is then possible, by releasing the coupling, to close the main gas valve even when the armature is still retained at the magnet. -In addition, the main gas valve can again be brought into the open position only when the coupling has again been restored and the armature of the magnet has therefore again dropped.

Arranged in the housing 1 of the gas controller, which is provided with an inlet pipe 2 and anoutlet pipe 3, are two valve seats 4 and 5. A connecting pipe 6 for an ignition gas pipe is provided between the valve seats 4 and S.

A handle 8, which is connected with a pressing plunger 7, is guided axially in a neck 9 of the housing 1 and is pressed outwards by a spring 10. The handle 8 has an extension 8 which is giided in an axial slot 9 in the neck 9, so that the handle 8 can be pressed in axially only when it is at a definite position, namely the position of ignition. The pressing plunger 7, which is introduced sealingly into the housing 1 through an annular packing 7, carries, in its front end, a guiding key 11 against which is pressed, by a spring 13, a valve head l2 which cooperates with the valve seat 4. The guiding key 11 is guided axially in a slot 14 in the neck extension or hollow valve stem 14 associated with a valve head 15 which cooperates with the valve seat 5. The valve head 1S is loaded by a closing spring 16.

Guided axially in a partition 1 of the housing 1 is a square armature pin 17 which carries, on the other side of the partition 1', a magnet armature 18. Mounted on the armature pin 17 is a disc 19 which is loaded with a spring 20. The end of the armature pin 17 is provided with a attened portion 21 and forms a hook-shaped catch 22. This end of the armature pin 17 projects into a neck extension 23 of the valve head 15. A transverse slot 24 is provided in the neck extension 231 for the purpose of receiving a hairpin-like spreading spring 25. One arm 25 of the spreading spring 25 serves as a radially resilient stop for the catch 22. A push rod 27, which is guided through an annular packing 26, is passed through the valve head 15 and, on the one hand, rests on the end of the armature pin 17 while, on the other hand,l it (27) projects into the neck extension 14.

The armature 18 belongs to an electromagnet 28 which is energized by a thermal current in the known manner. The thermal current is supplied by a thermoelement which is heated by the pilot flame.

It the handle S is pushed in when it is in the igniting position, the valve 4/ 12, which acts as an auxiliary valve, closes, while the armature pin 17 is displaced to such an extent by the pressing plunger 7 and the push rod 27 that the armature 18 rests on the poles of the magnet 2F. The catch 22 drives the valve head 15, in opposition to the action of the closing spring 16, into the open position. Gas can now reach the ignition burner through the inlet pipe 2, the opened main gas valve 5/15 and the ignition gas pipe connected at 6. When the pilot flame is burning, the now energized magnet 28 retains the armature 18, so that, on releasing the handle 8, the auxiliary valve 4/12 also again being opened, the main gas path to the pipe 3 becomes free (FIG. 2). The main gas valve 5/ 15 closes automatically when, after extinction of the pilot flame and cooling of the thermoelement, the armature 18 is released from the magnet 2S.

In order to render possible a voluntary closing of the gaseosa main gas valve S/15 when the pilot llame is burning, the handle S can be brought into the closing position by rotating it through 90, as represented in FIG. 5. On this rotation of the handle 8, the valve head 1S rotates with the handle by virtue of the guiding key 11/ 14, so that, as represented in FIG. 5a, the spring arm 25 is deflected and the catch 22 is released. It is thus possible, by rotating the handle 8 and the valve head 15, to detach the coupling between the armature pin 17 and the valve head 15, so that the latter, under the iuiiuence of the closing spring Ilo, immediately passes into the closing position, although the armature 13 is still retained by the magnet 2S (FIG. 3). lf, shortly after this disconnecting operation, while the thermoelement has not yet cooled down, i.e. the magnet 2S is still energized, the handle 8 is again pushed into the ignition position, the main gas valve S/ 15 cannot open since the coupling 22/25' has not yet again been made. It is only when the armature i18 has been released from the magnet 28 and the spring 20 has brought the armature pin 17 back, so that the catch 22 again snaps in behind the arm 25 of the spreading spring 25, that the main gas valve 5/15 can be opened again in the manner described.

Invention is claimed as follows:

l. A manually operable gas controller for gas heaters comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a flow passage connected therebetween, a main gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the ow passage between the inlet and the outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a -valve coupling means aliixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said valve member, said valve member having retaining means to operatively engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a diterent rotative position, manual valve operating means mounted in said housing movable with respect thereto, means for transmitting movement of said manual means to said valve coupling means, and manual means for rotating said valve member, whereby movement of said manual means causes said valve coupling means to open said valve member when said valve coupling means is retained in `coupled relation with said valve member and manual rotation of said valve member causes said valve member to be released from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position.

y 2. A manually operable gas controller for gas heaters comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a flow passage connected therebetween, a main gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, a ther moelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means aiiixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said valve member, said valve coupling means being movable axially but tixed'rotatively with respect to said housing, said valve member having retaining means to engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a diiierent rotative position, manual valve operating means including a plunger mounted in said housing, means for transmitting axial movement of said plunger to said valve coupling means, and means for transmitting rotational movement of said plunger to said valve member, whereby inward axial movement of said manual means causes said valve coupling means to open said valve when said valve coupling means is retained `in coupled relation with said valve member and rotational movement of said manual means causes said valve member to be released from said valve coupling means and permitsrit to move to the closed position.

3. A manually operable gas controller for gas heaters comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a iiow passage connected therebetween, a main gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member including a valve head and a tubular Valve stem having an axial channel spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means aixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said valve member, said valve coupling means being movable axially but fixed rotatively with respect to said housing, said valve member having retaining means to engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a different rotative position, manual valve operating means including a plunger mounted in said housing, said plunger being arranged to slide axially in the channel of said tubular valve stem, means for transmitting axial movement of said plunger to said valve coupling means, and means for transmitting rotational movement of said plunger to said valve member, whereby inward axial movement of said manual means causes said valve coupling means to open said valve when said valve coupling means is retained in coupling relation with said valve member, and rotational movement of said manual means causes said valve member to be released from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position.

4. A gas controller according to claim 3 wherein said manual means has a radially oriented key axed thereto and said housing is provided with an axial mating groove, said key and groove being so oriented as to permit axial movement of said manual means only when properly oriented rotationally for causing said coupling member to engage said valve member, and permitting rotational movement of said manual means only when said manual means is in the extreme outward position.

5. A gas controller according to claim 3 wherein said valve coupling means is notched at its valve-engaging end to form a catch, and the retaining means of said valve comprises a radially resilient stop adapted to engage said catch, the notched portion of the valve-engaging end of said valve coupling means being arranged to displace said stop radially outward to release said catch when said valve is rotated to the release position.

6. A gas controller according to claim 3 wherein said valve coupling means is notched at its valve-engaging end to form a catch, and said valve member retaining means comprises an axial protuberance having a slot provided therein and a hairpin-like spreading spring mounted on said slot and yadapted to engage said catch, the notched portion of the valve-engaging end of said valve .coupling means being arranged to displace said spreading spring radially outward to release said catch when said valve member is rotated to the release position.

7. A manually operable gas controller for gas heaters comprising a housing having an inlet and ian outlet and a ow passage connected therebetween, a main gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member including a valve head and a tubular valve stem having an axial channel spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in .the flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and anarmature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means affixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said valve member, said valve coupling means being movable axially but fixed rotatively with respect to said housing, said valve member having retaining means to engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a diierent rotative position, manualvalve operating means including a plunger mounted in said housing, said plunger having a radially oriented key affixed to the surface thereof and said vaive stem having a mating axially oriented groove in the axial channel thereof for receiving said plunger key and permitting said plunger to travel axially with respect to said valve member but restraining rotational movement therebetween, and means for transmitting axial movement of said plunger to said valve coupling means, whereby inward axial movement of said manual means causes said valve coupling means to open said valve when said valve coupling means is retained in coupling relation with said valve member, and rotational movement of said manual means causes said valve member to be released from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position.

8. A manually operable gas controller for gas heaters comprising a housing having an inlet, a rst outlet, a second outlet, and a iiow passage connected between said inlet and both said outlets, a rst gas valve assembly comprised ot' a valve seat and a movable valve member spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the flow passage between the inlet and the first outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means aiiixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said Valve member, said valve member having retaining means to operatively engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a diierent rotative position, manual valve operating means mounted in said housing movable with respect thereto, means for transmitting movement of said manual valve operating means to said valve coupling means, manual means for rotating said valve member, and a second gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member spring loaded toward closed position positioned in the iiow passage between the rst outlet and the second outlet, said valve member having an axial channel in which said manual valve operating means is movably positioned, said manual valve operating means being arranged to engage movably said second valve assembly when said manual means is retracted, whereby inward axial movement of said manual valve operating means causes said valve coupling means to open said first valve member when said valve coupling means is retained in coupled relation therewith, rotation of said manual valve operating means causes said rst valve member to be released .from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position, and whereby axial retraction of said manual valve operating means moves said second valve member to the open position.

9. A manually operable gas controller for a gas heater comprising a housing having an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a iiow passage connected between said inlet and both said outlets, a first gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member including a valve head and a ltubular valve stem having an axial channel spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the ow passage between the inlet and the first outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means aixed at one end to said armature and being adapted at its other end to engage said valve member, said valve coupling means being movable axially but fixed rotatively with respect to said housing, said valve member having retaining means to engage said valve coupling means when said valve member is in one rotative position and to release said valve coupling means when said valve member is in a diierent rotative position, manual valve operating means including a plunger mounted in said housing, said plunger having a radially oriented key axed to the surface thereof and said valve stem having a mating axially oriented groove in the axial channel thereof receiving said plunger key and permitting said plunger to travel axially with respect to said valve member but restraining rotational movement therebetween, means for transmitting axial movement of said plunger to said valve coupling means, and a second gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member spring loaded toward closed position positioned in the flow passage between the first outlet and the second outlet, said valve member having an axial channel in which said plunger is movably positioned, said plunger being so arranged that the radially oriented key thereof movably engages said second valve member when said plunger is retracted axially, whereby inward axial. movement of said plunger causes said valve coupling means to open said first valve member when said valve coupling means is retained in coupled relation therewith,` whereby rotation of said plunger causes said first valve member to be released from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position, and whereby axial retraction of said plunger moves said second valve member to the open position.

10. A manually operable gas controller for a gas heater comprising a housing having an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a ow passage connected between said inlet and both said outlets, a rst gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member including a valve head and a tubular valve stem having an axial channel spring-loaded toward closed position positioned in the flow passage between the inlet and the first outlet, a thermoelectric safety device including an electromagnet and an armature mounted in said housing, a valve coupling means aflixed at one end to said armature and being notched at its valve-engaging end to form a catch, said valve coupling means being movable axially but xed rotatively with respect to said housing, said valve member having an axial protuberance with a slot provided therein and a hairpin-like spreading spring mounted on said slot and adapted to engage said catch, the notched portion of said valve coupling means being arranged to displace said spreading spring radially outward to release said catch when said lvalve member is rotated to the release position, manual valve operating means including a plunger mounted in said housing, said plunger having a radially oriented key aihxed to the surface thereof and said valve stem having a mating axially oriented groove in the axial channel thereof receiving said plunger key and permitting said plunger to travel axially with respect to said valve member but restraining rotational movement therebetween, means vfor transmitting axial movement of said plunger to said valve coupling means, and a second gas valve assembly comprised of a valve seat and a movable valve member spring loaded toward closed position positioned in the iiow passage between the first outlet and the second outlet, said valve member having an axial channel in which said plunger is movably positioned, said plunger being so arranged that the radially oriented key thereof movably engages said second valve member when said plunger is retracted axially, whereby inward axial movement of said plunger causes said valve coupling means to open said first valve member when said valve coupling means is retained in coupled relation therewith, whereby rotation of said plunger causes said `first valve memier to be released from said valve coupling means and permits it to move to the closed position, and whereby axial retraction of said plunger moves said second valve member to the open position.

No references cited.

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