US3206119A

US3206119A - Draft regulator

Info

Publication number: US3206119A
Application number: US320443A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Steinen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-31
Filing date: 1963-10-31
Publication date: 1965-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-14

Description

Sept. 14, 1965 w. F. STEINEN 3,206,119

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed Oct. 31, 1963 IN VENTOR. MILL/AM F. J'TE/A/E/V United States Patent 3,206,119 DRAFT REGULATOR William F. Steinen, Short Hills, NJ. (43 Bruen St., Newark, NJ.) Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,443 8 Claims. (Cl. 236-45) The present invention relates to a draft regulator construction, and it particularly relates to a draft regulator construction having a sensitive adjustment useful in small and large sizes.

Another object is to provide a simple readily adjustable draft regulator construction in which the adjustment thereof is conveniently positioned at one point thereon accessible for adjustment.

Another object is to provide a draft regulator construction in which there will be a better balance of the swinging vane of high sensitivity and in which the adjustment although readily available will be fully enclosed and protected against tampering by unauthorized persons.

Still another object is to provide a simple inexpensive draft regulator construction in which a single adjustment may be utilized to attain a wide range of sensitivity and in which only one weighing means need be employed.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to provide a swinging vane construction in which the adjustable member is positioned at the top of and to the rear of the vane and in which the compensating weight will be enclosed inwardly inside of the draft regulator construction.

Desirably, the vane is provided with a carrier construction adjacent to the top thereof which will have an extension inside and to the rear of the swinging vane and in which the adjustment construction will be concealed by the vane and only available upon opening of the vane so that the top portion thereof extends away from the frame structure.

In the preferred. construction, a right angular bracket is provided which is mounted upon the vane construction and has a rearwardly and downwardly inclined slotted extension extending through and inwardly of the swinging vane at a position well above the pivot axis of the vane and well above both the geometric center of the vane and the center of gravity of the vane.

In the preferred form of the invention, the swinging vane is provided with an upper relatively narrow top portion and a lower relatively wide bottom portion with the vane itself having its maximum area below a horizontal pivot mounting line.

The bracket structure in one form of the invention has a vertical portion which extends upwardly and vertically across the front of the vane from adjacent the pivot or hinge structure to substantially to the top of the vane where it then has its rearwardly and downwardly inclined slotted portion extending to the inside of and to the rear of the vane structure.

Desirably the adjustable element consists of a dependingcylindrical weight having a knurled peripheral port-ion to enable ready grasping thereof with a central threaded recess for a flattened carriage bolt element.

This carriage bolt with its flattened sides may be readily moved up and down the slot upon loosening of the weight upon the bolt and may be readily clamped in any readily predetermined position by screwing up of the weight upon the bolt.

3,206,119 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 In one form of the invention, the bracket has a forwardly directed extension which at its forward face will be substantially llush or in the frame in the front of the frame and in advance or in front of the plane of the vane so as to give a Z-shaped structure.

The slotted portion of the rearwardly and downwardly inclined bracket portion is so regulated that the weight at one extreme position will be substantially in the plane of the vane but with its axis inclined forwardly of the horizontal pivotal axis. At the other extreme position, the weight will be substantially closer to the axis and at a lower position in respect to the vane and closer to the geometric center as well as the center of gravity.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the adjustment of the weight from its minimum moment position to its maximum moment position will involve a movement of the weight from the plane of the vane to away from the plane of the vane and to the rear thereof and at the same time the weight is being moved closer to the geometric center and the center of gravity.

At all times it has been found most effective to have the vertical axis of the weight at an inclination to the plane of the vane so that the axis of the weight in the minimum moment position will be in front and extend down forwardly to the pivotal axis while in its maximum moment position it will extend obliquely downwardly to the rear of the axis of the vane and to intersect the vane substantially below such axis.

The stop mechanism to limit the inward and outward motion of the vane are desirably positioned at each side thereof and about at the lower bracket thereof and associated with the bearing structure.

Desirably the forward stop which stops the vane in the plane of its enclosing frame when the vane is in closed position is positioned below the pivotal axis whereas the stop which limits the opening of the vane is positioned at and extending across the pivotal axis.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote eorresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the draft regulator of the present invention showing the front arrangement of the adjustment construction.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective separated view of the weight adjustment removed from the vane of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken upon the line 44 of FIG. 1 showing the pivot construction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an enclosing frame or housing A which receives the swinging vane B pivotally mounted at C upon a separated side pivot connection D with a rearwardly land inwardly extending thirnble E.

The adjustment itself consists of a bracket F carrying the adjustable weight G which may be fixed in position by means of the bolt H.

The housing or frame A has an outside flush flange 20 with an inwardly directed peripheral circular frustroconical insert portion 21 having the inwardly directed flange 22.

The inclined flange 21 will closely fit within and wedge inside of the forward end 23 of the thimble E which is cylindrical and extends rearwardly to the circular recess opening 24.

This recess opening 24 has the upper and

lower openings

25 and 26 which may receive attachments to a suitable flue or other furnace connection leading to a chimney.

As shown best in FIG. 1, the forward end 23 of the thimble E may be clamped onto the conical portion 21 by the strap 24 having the out-turned ears 25 which may be bolted or otherwise connected together.

This strip is desirably positioned inside of the front flange 20, and it will assure a tight connection between the thimble E and the frame or housing A.

The flange 22 has the inward enlargement 26 which have the side vertical edges 27 extending down and across the pivot connections D, and it has the lower inclined portions 28 which terminate at 29 below the pivot axis and at the portions of the frame adjacent the stop and hinge plate structure J.

The vane by means of the rivets or screws 30 will carry the hinge plate base structure 31 which has the outwardly extending arms 32 which will act as forward stops by way of extensions 33 contacting the interior of the peripheral flange 22 at the position 34.

The hinge plate I will also have a vertical flange 35 extending vertically between the vane B and closely adjacent to the vertical edges 27 of the enlargement 26.

The vertical portion 35 will also have the the outstanding flange portion 36 which will act as an open stop against the enlargement 26 extending inwardly and downwardly from the peripheral flange 22.

The pin hinge structure itself is best shown in FIG. 4 and consists of the short pin 50 projecting through the opening 51 in the plat 35 and its outside end 52 extending into the semi-circular recess 53 extending across the hinge line or axis 54 of the vane B.

The other end of the pin is tapered as indicated at 55 and will abut the edge 56 formed in the enlargement or extension 26.

The body of the enlargement 27 has outwardly strapped members 57 and la rearwardly directed strap member 58 which tightly grasps the pin 50 and holds it in position so that it will not turn and so that it will be held in fixed position as the plate 51 forms part of the hinge structure.

The pivotal connections D are desirably position substantially above the center of gravity 60 and above the geometrical center as indicated approximately at 59 of the swinging vane B.

The adjustment to which the invention is particularly directed including the bracket F and the weight G has a vertical leg75 having the opening 76 which enables the leg 75 to be mounted by the rivet 77 upon the central portion of the vane 78 directly above the pivot axis 54.

The bracket F has a forwardly inclined portion 79 which continues into the vertical portion 80 which lies in parallel to the Vane B, and when the vane is closed, it will be positioned inside of although substantially in the plane of the outside flush flanges 20.

Desirably the

inclined portion

79 and 83 inclined upwardly and forwardly at an angle of about to 30 with a preferred angle of to and a mean of 16.

The upper portion of the vane is slotted as indicated at 81 with the 'slot being slightly greater than the width of the bracket 15.

From the upper end 80 of the portion 81 of the bracket F, there is provided the rearward and downward extension 83 which is desirably parallel to the forward extension 79 but may have a different angle therefrom varying from 5 to to the horizontal axis of the thimble E and the horizontal vertical axis of the vane in closed position will extend through the geometric center 60.

This downwardly and rearwardly inclined extension 83 is provided with the central longitudinal slot 84 which receives and prevents-turning of the flattened portion 85 of the carriage bolt H.

The weight G should be to balance the vane B to closed position.

The carriage bolt H has downwardly extending threaded portion 36 which extends into the threaded portion 87 in the weight G.

The weight G has'a top flat face 80 terminating in the bevelled edge 89.

The cylindrical outside face 90 has a knurled peripheral face 91 which has a bevelled lower portion 92, to control the center of gravity so that it will more closely be adjacent to the upper portion ofthe weightG adjacent the slot 84. i

The weight G is normally concealed by the closed vane B but by pushing in on the lower portion of the vane B, it

is possible to move the weight forwardly so that it will be accessible and may be adjusted forwardly and out wardly in the direction 93 to give a lesser moment or rearwardly and inwardly in the direction 94 to give a greater moment.

At the extreme position in the direction 93, the weight will be in the plane of the vane but will not project a substantial distance in the slot 81 in the front of the vane.

In this position, the vertical axis 95 will be directed downwardly in front of the pivotal connections D and the weight will create a minimum moment.

In the extreme position of the direction 94, the weight will be more closely adjacent to the pivot membersD and will have its inclined axis directed to the rear of the pivot axis C and will exert a maximum moment on the vane tending to move it in the direction 94.

By this adjustment, it is possible to secure any desired balance of the vane in accordance with the requirements and the draft which is to be maintained.

The positioning of the weight G at the top of the vane with its increasing arrangement when moved to a lower moment and when moved to a greater moment will give a better balance.

The fact that the movement in the direction 93 will tend to move the weight towardand into the plane of the vane and cause its vertical inclined axis to move across the pivot axis 54 will give maximum sensitivity and enable a better balancing of the weight of the vane in respect to the draft requirements.

It will be noted that during all these adjustments and during every adjusted position, the weight is always inwardly and inside of the thimble E and to the rear of the vane B and above the geometric center 60 as well as the center of gravity 59.

By positioning the weight and adjusting it in the manner shown, the entire necessary enlargement of adjustment may be achieved by a single weight and without a double weight positioned in front of and in back of the swinging vane.

If desired, the vertical angle of the weight may vary between 5 to 15 degrees away from the plane of the swinging vane, but it is to be understood that this angle may vary from 5 to 25 degrees and that the inclination of the slotted extension 83 may similarly vary to give this variation and inclination of the axis 95.

It is thusapparent that the applicant has provided a highly sensitive single weight adjustment draft regulator of operating characteristics.

As many changes could be made in the above draft regulator and many widely different embodiment of this invention could be made without departing from the scope from the circular frame and pivot mountings at the sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame, said frame and Vane having a front side and a rear side and having upper and lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combination therewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprising an angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front side of and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardly extending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of the vane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away from the vane.

2. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swinging vane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached to and extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings at the sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame, said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upper and lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combination therewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprising an angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front side of and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardly extending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of the vane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away from the vane, said vane being vertically slotted adjacent the upper vertical central portion thereof to receive said adjustment portion and said adjustment portion being slotted.

3. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swinging vane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached to and extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings at the sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame, said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upper and lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combination therewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprising an angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front side of and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardly extending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of the vane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away from the vane, said bracket being provided with a forward extension parallel to and spaced in front of the vane and positioned slightl inside of the circular frame.

4. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swinging vane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached to and extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings at the sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame, said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upper and lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combination therewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprising an angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front side of and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardly extending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of the vane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away from the vane, said weight being cylindrical and having a knurled grasping portion on the periph' ery thereof and having a lower peripheral portion and a central axial recess and a carriage bolt connecting said weight to said adjustment portion and permitting change in position between the weight and the adjustment portion to give a varying balance to the vane.

5. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swinging vane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached to and extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings at the sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the rame, said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upper and lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combination therewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprising an angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front side of and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardly extending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of the vane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away from the vane, said vertical mounting portion having a forward extension directly in front of the top of the vane and extending parallel to the front of the vane and said vane being slotted to the rear of said forward extension and said adjacent portion being positioned at and closely adjacent to the top edge of the swinging vane.

6. A weight adjustment for a swingable mounted vane of a draft regulator of the type having an encircling thimble, a fiat vane pivotally mounted therein, and pivot mountings at the sides of the vane between the top and bottom of the vane, said vane having a front forward side and a rear side and a center of gravity and a horizontal hinge line and upper and lower portions above and below the hinge line, said adjustment including an angular bracket with a downwardly extending vertical portion mounted on the vane above the pivot mountings, a portion extending forwardly of the plane of the vane and a por tion extending rearwardly of the plane of the vane and a weight adjustably mounted on the rearward extension of the bracket.

7. The adjustment of claim 6, the upper portion of the vane having an enlarged slot extending vertically above the center of gravity and the horizontal hinge line through which said rearwardly extending portion extends, said rearwardly extending portion extending downwardly ob liquely away from the rear side of the vane.

8. The adjustment of claim 6, said rearwardly extending portion having a slot extending therethrough transversely to the plane of the vane and commencing at a point substantially inside the plane of the vane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,884 12/37 Breese 236-45 2,309,425 1/43 Weyenberg 236-45 2,346,825 4/44 Cole 236-45 2,721,705 10/55 Patrick 23645 2,825,506 3/58 Steinen 236-45 EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

ALDEN D. STEWART, Examiner.

Claims

1. A DRAFT REGULATOR OF THE TYPE HAVING A CIRCULAR FRAME, A SWINGING VANE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INSIDE SAID CIRCULAR FRAME, A THIMBLE ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE CIRCULAR FRAME AND PIVOT MOUNTINGS AT THE SIDES OF THE SWINGING VANE AND MOUNTED IN THE SIDES OF THE FRAME, SAID FRAME AND VANE HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND A REAR SIDE AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS ABOVE AND BELOW THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A SINGLE ADJUSTMENT WEIGHT SENSITIVITY CONTROL COMPRISING AN ANGULAR BRACKET HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION MOUNTED ON THE FRONT SIDE OF AND ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VANE ABOVE THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS AND ALSO HAVING AN OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION AND AN INWARDLY EXTENDING ADJUSTMENT PORTION, EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND INWARDLY OF THE VANE AND AN ADJUSTMENT WEIGHT THEREON TO BE MOVED TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE VANE.