US1243017A - Water-heater construction. - Google Patents

Description

F. L. 0. WADSW'ORTHT WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1916 1,24%,017. Patented Oct-16,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESS.-

ATTORNEYS.

F. L. O. WADSWORTH.

WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1.9.15.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

KSHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR F. L. 0. WAD SWORTH WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FlL ED FEB.19| 19,16.

Patented Oat. 16,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

' object the PIOVlSlfllLOi an actuating l supplyy valve hichrbe" comes operative only when the heater coils a mare FFHJEW WATE -HEATER oofnsrnuo'rrono weenie. j

, Applicationfi1edFebruary 19,;1916. iserialNon79g307.

To alt-107m) item/(4y concern."

Be it known thatli, ERANKIJ. Qi lViinse Woirrn', a citizen. of the Uniteasmtes, reside ing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alle-i gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in} vented certain new and useful "Improve merits in "l/Vatei'l'leater Constructions;of

which the following is :a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in Water heater). construct on and hasior ts;

t he cha Iusm for the i.

or; receptacle is being suppliedwith Water,

stat elementimmersed in the aterl being;

heated. In theinechanism I iuse the move merits of a Watenactuated member-not to directly at'fect the, opening or closing of the l iuel valve but only to bringthetherinostatioally actuated parts into operative relation: ship withithe,

rises above this point. various figures of the drawings Which-$013111 cally reliable.

v In the accompanying drawings Which" show certain illustrative embodiments of-the invention' 1 Figures 1 and i2 el valve partsaso that saidv valve will be closed When the temperature As shownyni the are respectively front and side elevation of ione'iocf theordinaryi forms of niultiplewoil instantaneous grater heaters with my improvement applied there-l to; Fig. 3 a central SEC-H011; on an enlarged scale 'through the fornnof control mocha:

nism which is slw'Wn in 1 and i2;

and

Figs. 4,5 and 6 are similar views iofunod-ifiedforms oficontrol appl cable to the same or different forms'of hot Watertheatcrs. i

are the upperi coils of theheater; Dis the lower 1 reverse vQOIl 1 connected to the :upper a Referring first to thegeneral:arrangement at the heater q iartsas shownu n Figs. 1- and 2, A is the casing ofathe heatemw Biand iO ring; and K is the casingof the Water prespiston chamloer 2 containing the water actu-v ate'd member of the control mechanism, and! 3 ndicates'thepipeleadingfrom said piston chamber 1 to the upper end of the heater 7 coils After passing through "these coils 65' and ltlie lower connected coils C and D the ater emerges from the out-let i and enters the lower end of a thermostat chamber tn and iioWsuip ard. therethrough to the outlet p pe 6 connectednvith the house supply 70. system. The piston chamber 2 contains a liquid: actuated :piston n'iember 7 which is ofithe centraldischarge ilningalow type: The central conical of this" piston engages When ithe piston isinits lower or closed position-witha conical plugs, Whichis seated in projeotingaboss 9 on the lowerv head of the piston chamber 2, and ispressed upwardly into engagement with the conical bore of the piston 77 by means of the spring; 8 10. The ,stemdl is secured at its upper end to the central hub of the piston 7, passes down I through a stuffing box 12 in the-cap covering the end of the bossD, and carries atits lower endan adjustable thumb nut 13 WlliCh'llS adapted toengage with a lever 14? The said lever: l-fis pivoted at 15, and is held down by a'spring 16 attached iZO'Tl tS outer end, the tension of this spring-being adjust-ably'controlledrby-the screw 17 The thermostat chamber 5 containsa composite copper-iron, or copper-porcelain thermostat element of the usual. construction, the positive copper element :18 being secured in its lower end to the adjacent portion ofthe thermostat chamber 5, and the negative iron or porcelain element 19 beingisecured in itsupper end tothe positive element-18 and provided at its lower endwvith an ad justable knife edge or pivot point 20 which 1 is adapted to engage with the short arm of a therumstat lever 21. ihis thermostat lever:

is vinounted on a double pivot pointsupportr 22 {one oflthese pivot points being'in front and theotherato the learnt the plane of the l drawings) which is fixed not to the-frame of the' mechanism as in the usual construe tion but to a pivotedgmember 23 whichwisprovided-With a knife edge ,Q4ebearing on the Q lever 14,: the normal o position: of the: 1

members being such that when' the said lever v 14 is in its lowest position the thermostat lever 21 is'entirely out of engagement with the knife edgeor pivot point 20. Thethermostat lever21 is perforated for the free passage of the valve stem 11, and engages atits outer endwith an adjustable thumb nut onthe stem 26 of the gas valve 27.

This gasvalve is normally held against.

its seat both by the pressure of its own spring 28 and also by the pressure of the spring 16 which acts upon the stem 26 through the medium of adjustable collars 29 engaging with the lower face of the lever 14. When this gas valve is'againstits seat all flow of fuel from the gas supply pipe G' to' the gas deliverypipe I is cut oil;

and in the position of parts shown in'F 3 it is obvious that no 'movement of the gas valve 27 can be effected by the expansion or contraction ofthe thermostat parts 18 and 19.

The operation of the above described device is as follows: When a flow ofwater 1s started'through the heat'erby openinga tap in the house supply pipe 6, the pressure on the upper side of the piston 7 is reduced, and the pressure of the water in the supply pipe 1, and inthe lower part of the piston chamber communicating therewith lifts the piston 7 away from the conical valve plug 8 and allows the water to flow through the central.

p ston opening to the water inlet pipe3 of the heater coils. The form of the valve plug 8- is such that a very considerable upward movement of the piston 7 is necessary to establish the'required opening for the delivery:

of the required amount of water to, the

heater coils. even when the heater is only delivering its minimum supply of water. Thisupward movement of the piston 7 lifts I the valve stem 11, and with it the lever 14 until the outer end of the said lever is brought into engagement with an adjustable screw stop 30, which limits and determines both the upward movement of-the lever and of the water actuated member 7. The lift ing of this lever relieves the gas valve stem 26 from the pressure of thespring 16, but thegas valve still remains closed under the pressure ofits own spring 28, until it is acted upon independently by the thermostatically controlled parts. These parts are brought into operative engagement with the valve parts by the raising of the pivoted member 23, and with it the thermostat lever 2liuntil the latter is brought against the. knife edge or pivot point 20 of the thermo f stat member 19. As soon as this occurs the gas valve is brought under the control of" the thermostat and remains under its control as long asthe lever 14 is held in its elevatedposition bv the flow of water through the heaterf, thetemperature of the fiow mg wateris' below the "point at-which the thermostat may be set to out off the gas the pressure of the part 2-0 against the short arm of the thermostat lever 21 lifts the long end of the latter and with itthe gas valve 27, thusallowingzfuel to flow from the pipe G to the pipe I and thence to the main burners of the heater where it is ignited by the ordinary pilot light supplied independently with through-the pipe 31 Then the temperature of the flowing water rises above the as r in the above described operative relation I ship to each other by the operation of the lever .14; :But. when the flow of water is stoppedthepressure on the two sides of the water-actuated member 7 is equalized, and the latter ,member is returned to its lower position'both bvtheaction of gravity, and

bv the action of the spring 16 on the lever.

14' The downward. movement of the arm 14 releases the thermostat lever 21 from engagement withthe member 20; and the gas valve is closedno matter whatmay be the temperature of the waterin the heater at that timeboth bv the action of its own spring 28 and by the action of the spring 16 which, as already explained, then exerts pressure on the valve stem-26 through the engagement of the lever-'14- with the adjustablecollars 29. If. when the flow of water is stopped, the water actuated member 7 should from any cause he held in its upper position no damage can result from suchv sticking, since the control. mechanism will stlll' contlnue to act in such a case in the same manner as it does while the water is But suchsticking of the water flowing. piston 7 in its elevatedposition can be overcome, if desirerh by providing its central opening with spring controlled check valve :32 which will prevent the backward I flow of liquid from the heater coils to the liquid in the water main. Under such circumstances the heating ofthe inclosed liquid inthe heater coils will exert a positive pressure on the upper sideof the piston 7, and will thus force 1t back to its seat thereby permitting 'thelever 14 to fall. and disen gage the thermostat lever from operative engagement with the thermostat. If desired the'upper end of thethermostat cham her 5 can be provided witha passage wayv 33'leading to the upper portion of the piston chamber 2,th'e piston chamber endof thi's passage way 33' being so located that i't will be openetliwhen; the piston T is in its lowest positionQand closed as seen "as the "piston is raised in this wav a circulating port can be provided iv-inch will permit the water in the heater coils to circulatcfreely through-the" icrmostat chainher 5 between the outlet lla-hd the inlet of the heater COllS' when no water is being discharged new the latter;

u 5 it will-be observed that the operation of this mechanisminvolves -the action oi only two springs, to-wit; the gas valve spring and the nlan'iflspr ng lfi the latterserving not only to return the wate r acti'ia ted member to itsnutial position when'the flow of liqu d is stopped; but also serving to posrtive ly close the easvalveh'l', if the gas valve lroni the Va-terinain to thepi'ston chan'iloer aid Eu list water actuator =25and35 ind icates 'the pipe leading :troin this piston chainberto the inlet connection 3 which communicates with the upper end indicates the outlet troinwthe low end of these heater coils which C(JInlTl llHlCJtQS with the thermostat c amber 5'; and h". indicates the' pi pelead- "l ng from theupperend ofthis thermostat chamber to thewhouse supply systein. The iem'ber-W which iswused in very similar in its .genpiston member 1 7 which is usedin 1 1g. 8,]save that the central opening throughthis p. on member "is not closed by a plug, but is cldsed when no water is fiowing through the heater-by the engageineut or the end otthe conical boss ldwith the outer or lei-thand face ofthe piston mom floor 7 by the pressure ot the .s 'iring 3T. Thestem l l ot'f the water actuated member this construoti n eral 1 in to th;

whichcngages with'the up,-

. per end of a lever 59 which is pivoted at 15.

on the frame of a control mechanism and which is alsopivoted at. its lower end at 88to the upper end of the lever 21. The latter engages at its lower end with an adjustable thinnh nut 25 on the gas valve stem 26. The gasval've 27 is normally held against its seat by the spring 28 thus preventing any flow of fuel from the gas supply pipe G to the gas delivery pipe I.

To the left of the lever 21" is a second lever 14 pivoted at 40 and provided with a set screw l1 bearing against the lever 21. Springs 12 and d3. mounted upon rods ll and 4&5 press the ends of the levers i l and outer end an adjustable,

2 39,'rcspectively to the lett. The thermo- Stutlll the casing 5 is of the liquid type 'coinprising a pair ot tubes all; connected at their upper ends and opening at their lower ends into a chamber 47; containing asuit- 3 a1 1e liquid. The chamber 457 communicates 1 the interior oithe diaphragm 48-pinvided w'th akn'ite edge itlbearing against the lever 14:.

- hen'tlieoutlet'froni the heater is opened 1 the piston '7 is in ved to the right causing thejlowcr end of the lever 39 to more to the left. The swinging of the upper end of the lever 21 to the left :causes the lower end to more to the right opening'the valve 2 7. i

Vi hen thewater in the heater rises above a prcdete mined temperature the expansion (if-the liquid in the thermostat causes the lniit'e edge 4:9 to move to the right, thus icausing the movement of the setisci'ew ell to the left. This movement permits the :lower end of the lever 21 tO-IH'OVB tothe .Lle-ft perinitting the closing otlthe gas valve27.

Fig. illustrates another modification ot the invention wherein G is the gas admission pipe; 5 is the thermostat casing to which the water from the, heater is supplied through the connection 4 IS and 19 are thermostatic parts corresponding to, the parts 18 and 19 of Fig.8; is the cold water admission pipe; 7 is the water piston and 3 is the connection leading to the upper :coil of the heater.

The thermostatic element 19 its end hearingagainst a set screwoO carried by the lever l-lpivoted upon the fixed knife-"edge 52; The left-hand I end of the lever is pressed upward by the spring and carries 7 a set screw 5%.

the tel'nperature of the water rises above a predetermined point the expansion of the tube 18 permits the rod 19 to move down the spring at such time moving the lefthand end of the lever 1& and the set screw 5 t carried thereby upward. This upward movement of the set screw 5% allows the lever 21 and the gas valve stem 26 to move up, thus closing the gas valve.

Fig. 6 illustrates still another modification wherein G is the gas admission pipe; 27 is the gas valve yieldingly closed by the spring with a set screw 64.

28 I is the gas delivery pipe; 1 is the water pipe; 7 is the water piston; 3 is the water pipe leading to therupper coil of the heater; 5 isthe thermostat casing to which the hotwater of the heater is supplied from the connection 45; and 18 and 19 are thermostatic elements, the lower end of the element 19? being provided with the bearing screw 67. The gas valve 27 is provided with a stem 26 pivoted to the end of the lever 21?, the. upper end of such 21 lying between the set screws 60 and 6t.

' When the outlet from the heater is opened .the water piston moves to the left causing the upper end of the lever 62'and the 'set screw 6 L to 'move to the right. The

7 set screw 64: engages the upper end of the lever21 carrying it against the set screw 60, after which the lower end of the lever 21 is moved to theleft opening the gas valve 27 When the water of the heater rises above a predetermined. temperature the expansionof the element 18 permits the element 19 to move up thelower end of the lever 14c moving vto-the right under the in fiuence of the spring 61. This movement permits the bearing end of the lever 21 to move to the right, thus permitting the closure of thegas valve under the influence of the spring 28 a a VVhatI claim is:

1. In combination in a Water heater, a water container havingan inlet and outlet, a gas burner, a conduit for supplying gas to the burner, a yieldingly closed gas valve in the conduit, a 'pressure operated member governed in its movements by changes of pressure induced by opening and closing the outlet from the container, a thermostatic ele:-

ment moved by changes in the temperature of the Water, and lever means for opening the gas valve connected to the pressure operated member, the said lever means being out of contact with the thermostatic element when the outlet Copies of this patent may be obtained for neael from the container is closed, but brought into contact therewith by the movement of the pressure operated member when the outlet from the container is opened, and the said thermostatic element being operative to control the position of the gas valve while in contact with the lever means. v

2. In combination in a Water heater,- a water container having an inlet and outlet, a gas burner, a conduit for supplying gas to the burner, a yieldingly closed gas ;valve in the conduit, a pressure operated member governed in its movements by changes of pressure induced by opening and closing the outlet from the container, a; thermostatic element moved by changes in the tempera ture of the wateryand lever means for open ing the gas valve connected; to the pressure operated member, the said lever means being out of operative engagement with the ther mostatic element whenthe outlet fromthe container is closed, but brought into pivotal contact therewith by the movement of the pressure operated member when the outlet pressure induced by opening andclosing' the outlet from thegcontainer, a thermostatic element moved by changes in the temperature of the water, a leverhaving a movable fulcrum intermediate its ends and a connection for opening thevalve on one sideyot' such fulcrum, a .pivotbetween the thermostatic element and the lever. on the other side of such fulcrum but with the parts out of contact when the outletfrom the container' is closed, and means operative from the pressure operated member when the outlet from the container is opened for moving the fulcrum of the lever so as to bring the thermostatic element, and lever into pivotal engagement, so that the gas valve is under the control ofthe thermostatic element while J the said outlet is open;

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents. Washington, D. G. v

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