US1681157A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1928.

L; w. EGGLESTON VALVE Filed June 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

01 TTORNEY.

Aug. 14, 1928.

'- 1,681,157 L. W. EGGLESTON VALVE Fil ed June 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M M% & in BY W 7 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 14, 1928.

L. W. EGGLESTON VALVE Filed June 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES LEWIS W. EGGLESTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN RADIATOR I I, 1,681,157 PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, CINEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OI' NEW JERSEY.

VALVE.

Application filed June 9, 1984. Serial 110. 718,787.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves, and while in a broad sense it is applicable for various uses, it is particularly adapted for the automatic control of the flow or supply of gas to a burner of a water heater. I

One of the objects, among others to appear hereinafter, is to provide a simple and efficient valve mechanism capable of responding certainly and promptly to a characteristic, for example, the temperature of a suitable controlling medium. When the device is used to control the supply of gas to the burner of a water heater,-the controlling medium may be the water in a hot water supply tank recciving the water from the heater.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to bemore' fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated a. pre ferred embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification and wherein Figure 1 iSvtlview in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the parts in the positions assumed when the valve is in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but showing the valve in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, showing a support and fulcrum for one of the operating levers;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing one of the operating levers in plan and side views, respectively;

Fig. 10 is a detail showing another of the operating levers in plan and side views, respectively; I

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation, partly in section, and with parts broken away, illustrating a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing another modified-form.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates generally a hollow body or casing preferably rectangular in form, and comprising a base wall 2, parallel spaced side walls 3, a top or outer wall 4 opposite and parallel to the wall2, and anend wall 5, the casing opposite to wall '5 being provided with an opening 6 closed by a removable closure head or plate 7. The casing .is preferably, but not necessarily, formed in and screws 9. The base wall is provided with.

an external nipple 10, by which the device may be mounted in operative position, as will be presently described.

The wall 4 is provided with an internally threaded nipple 11, into which is screwed the end of a. gas supply pipe 12 leading from any suitable source. The wall 4 is also provided with an internally threaded nipple 13, into which is screwed an annular gland 14, the lower end of which projects into the casing and is suitably formed, as at 15, to constitute a valve seat. The outer end of gland 14 is intern ally threaded to receive the inner end of an outlet pipe 16 leading to the point where the gas is to be burned. The arrangement is such that the gas flows from the pipe 12 into chamber 1, and thence through pipe 16 to the point of consumption.

Within the casing is a suitable supportin frame, preferably comprising a plate 17 he] rigidly against the closure head 7 by means of rivets 18, which plate is provided with spaced plates or arms 19 parallel to each other and extending longitudinally of the chamber 1. The innermost ends of the arms are connected and braced in spaced relation by means of a spacer pin 21.

At points adjacent their inner ends, and to one side of the valve seat 15, the arms 19 are provided with recesses 22, providing vertical faces 23 in each of which is formed a V-shapedbearing recess 23 facing away from the valve seat, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8. Extending lengthwise of the casing and located therein, is a valve-carrying lever 24, preferably in the form of a frame having longitudinal side bars 25 joined by end bars 26, 27 thereby providing said lever with a longitudinal slot or passage 28. The said lever 24 is provided at points intermediate its ends with knife-edged bearing lugs 29 seated in said V-shaped recesses 23*, whereby the said lever may swing relative to the valve seat 15. The end of the lever 24 beneath the valve seat is provided with a lug 30, and said end and lug are provided with alining openings in whichis slidably disposed a valve stem 31, the upper end of which is threaded, as at 32, andcarries a washer 33 resting on a shoulder 34 on said stem. On the upper face of said washer is a valve disk 35 of suitable material, washer and disk being held in place against said shoulder 34 by a nut 36 threaded on the stem. The washer 33 is provided with a lug 37 projecting between the side bars 25 so as to prevent. rotation of the valve. The stem is of such length that its lower end projects a suitable distance below lug 30 and carries a stop, for example, a screw head 38, the arrangement being such that. the stem has a limited play relative to the lever 24.

I will now describe means for operating the valve lever by a snap action so that it will be promptly moved toward or away from the valve seat: The lower edges of the arms 19 are provided with inwardly directed guide flanges 39, and between said arms is a U- shaped member constituting a fulcrum support and comprising a base 40 and side arms 41, the lower edges of the latter being slidably mounted on said flanges 39. The base 40 is connected in any suitable manner, for example, by a pin, as at 42, to the inner end of an adjusting screw 43 extending through an opening in said base, which screw 43 is threaded through the head or closure plate 7 and is adjustable longitudinally by a rotary movement to shift or adjust the fulcrum support along said guides 39 for a purpose to be presently described. At its outer end the screw 43 is provided with a suitable handgrasp 44, having at one end a lug 45 adapted to cooperate with a stop-pin 46 to limit rotation of the screw 43 in either direction. The hand-grasp is preferably arranged in a slot in the end of the screw and held in position by a transverse screw 43, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The arms 41 are each provided with a longitudinal slot 47 to receive a headed split pin 48 held by arms 19 and bridging the space between the latter, whereby the fulcrum member is held in position.

At their inner end portions the members 19 are provided with slots '49 extending at right angles to the direction of movement of said fulcrum member, and in the side arms 41 are alining slots 50 arranged at an angle of 45 to the direction of movement of the fulcrum member, and crossing or intersecting said slots 49, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Extending through the intersecting areas of slots 49 and 50 and fixed therein, is a headed split pin 51, upon which is fulcrumed one end of a lever 52 extending longitudinally in substantially the same direction as lever 24, and having its free or swinging end located beneath the rear end of said lever 24. The lever 52 may take a number of forms, but is preferably stamped from sheet-metal and has longitudinal stiffening beads or flanges 53.

Arranged between the lever 52 and the lever 24 is an intermediate transmitting lever 54 hung or suspended by means of ears 55 integral therewith from the pin 20, mounted in members 19. The ears mentioned are located intermediate the ends of the lever 54,

and the latter is so located to extend in the same general direction as the levers 24 and 52. The free end of the lever 52 is suit: bly connected to the end 55 of the lever 54. and for this purpose said levers are provided with openings 52*, 54-, respectively, through which extends a link member 56, the ends of the latter being bent over, as at 57. above the lever 54 and below the lever 52, as shown in Fi 2. The link is provided with opposite knife edges 58 enga ing respectively against the inner faces of said levers 52 and 54. so that motion will be imparted efliciently from lever 52 to lever 54 with a. minimum of friction. At its end adjacent valve 35, the lever 54 is provided with an arm 59 at an angle thereto, the outer end of said arm having a rearwardly directed projection 60 lyin substantially parallel to lever 54, and of such width as to be freely movable through the slot 28 in lever 24. Connected at one end. as at 61, to said rojection 60, is a tension or contractile spring 62, the opposite end of which is connected to the rear end of the lever 24 on the opposite side of fulcrum 29, for example, by hooking the end of the spring through an opening 63 in the end of lever 24. Movement of the lever 54 is limited by means of a fixed stop-pin 64 located between the projection 60 and the lever 54, so that when the latter is in one extreme of its movement said projection will be on one side of lever 24, and when lever 54 is in the other extreme of its movement, said projection will be on the opposite side of lever 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

The projection 60 is located so as to extend above the fulcrum 20, and the stop-pin 64 is so located relative to said fulcrum that the force of spring 62 always tends to move lever 54 to swing lever 24 to unseat the valve It will be seen that by the arrangement just described, when the lever 54 is in one position, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring 62 take; a position whereby the force of the spring is exerted along a line beneath or to one side of the fulcrum 29, so that the lever 24 will be swung to cause the valve 35 to be moved to position against the seat 15 to close the gas outlet from the casing, and be held in that position. It will also be seen that when lever 54 is moved to its other position, as shown in Fig. 3, the spring 62 takes a position wherein its force will be exerted on the opposite side of the fulcrum 29 from that shown in Fig. 2, and the lever 24 will be swung to cause the valve to be moved away from seat 15 to permit flow of gas from the casing 1 through pipe 16.

nouns? p it will be seen that opening 61 in lever 54, and

opening 63 in lever 24, are located ofl center of the longitudinal axis of said levers, so that one end of sprin 62 is anchored on one side of said axis an the other end on the other side of the axis. By thisarrangement the sprin exerts its force obliquely across the axes of t e levers 24 and 54, whereby lever 24 is moved to place a side face 24 in sliding frictional contact with the inner face of arm 19, so that said lever is forced or guided to swing in a constant path, thereby assuring that the valve will always be accurately guided toward and seated on the seat 15.

The actuating lever 52 ma be moved by any suitable'means, but I pre er to actuate 1tthermostatically by means which will now be described: 64 designates a. cylindrical metallic receptacle having a closed lower end 65, and at its opposite end having an outwardly directed peripheral flange 66, which is arranged against t e lower end face of the nipple and is securely clamped in position by means of a coupling sleeve 67 threaded, as at 68, onto the nipple, and having an internal shoulder 69 abutting the under face of flan e 66 and clam ing the latter against the nipp e. The sleeve 6 is externally threaded, as at 70,

'in order that the sleeve may be screwed into an opening in the wall of a chamber or vessel 'into which the receptacle 64' is to be inserted,

for example, a. hot water supply tank.

The receptacle 64 is provided adjacent the flange 66 with an internal annular bead 71 constituting a shoulder, upon which rests an edge of a ring 72 having an internal flange 73 to which is suitably secured and sealed the open endportion 74 of a-circumferentially corrugated, expansible-collapsible element 75 located within the receptacle 64*. The element 75 is provided with an integral end wall or head 76, and said element is of such diameter as to provide an annular chamber between it and the wall of the receptacle. The vessel is sealed to flange 73 and the ring 7 2. to the receptacle, so that said annular chamber is gas and liquid tight. The annular chamber is charged with a suitable liquid which expands or volatilizes at a given temperature so as to exert pressure on the element 75 to wllapse or thrust the same in a direction toward the lever 52. In the present instance the chamber is preferably filled with a. suitable li aid, for example, kerosene, or other minera oil, which I prefer to use because of its great capacity for expansion. It will thus be seen that receptacle 64 and element 75, together with the expansible charge, constitute a thermostatic element which furnishes the power to actuate the valve levers.

Within the element 75 is arranged a hol-' spinning the metal of the head about saidsaid shoulder is the lower endof a hollow plunger arranged. inthe element 75 and aving an externally threaded end 81 terminating adjacent the open end of the element. Threaded upon the upper or outer end of lunger 80 is-a hollow extension 82 having at its outer endff an internal shoulder 83. and

slidably disposed-in said extension is a plunger pin 84 projecting through the open end of said extension and having a head 85 within the latter and'ceoperable with shoulder 83, whereby outward movement of the pin is limited. The outer end of pin 84 is pointed, as at 84, and is-seatedin a recess 53" in lever 52. whereby the latter ismoved when the element 75 is collapsed. An expansible coiled spring 86 is arranged between said head and the end of the plunger. 80 to normally urge the pin to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The

spring constitutes a cushion-compensating device for the pin 84, so that the latter may yield if subjected to an excessive force when the plunger or stem 80 is moved by expansion of the liquid in the receptacle 64. It will be understood that the expansion of the liquid in the receptacle acts through element 75, plunger 80, spring 86, and pin 84, to swing lever 52, which, in turn, moves lever 54 to shift the spring from the sition shown in Fig. 3 to a point below t e fulcrum 29 of lever 24, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the latter lever is moved by a sharp or sna movement to move valve 35 to closed positlon and prevent flow of gas out through pipe 16.

By rotatingthe screw 43 to adjust the position of the fulcrum 51, the relation of the lever 52 to the plunger pin may bev so regulated as to determine the temperature point,

in the collapse of the vessel 7 5, at which the lever 24 will be actuated to open the valve. To facilitate this adjustment, the head 7 may have a dial 7 'with suitable indicia to which the hand-grasp 44 should be moved to obtain a desired adjustment.

Provision is also made for a supply of gas to a pilot burner while the valve 35 is in closed position. For this purpose a pilot burner pipe 87 may be tapped, as at 88, through the outer wall 4 of the casing, the arrangement being such that gas will flow through the pipe 87 even when the valve 35 is in closed position, andthe pilot burner will burn continuously so long as gas is supplied to the caslng through supply pipe 12. If desired, the device may also be provided with. means for supplying gas in small or reduced quantlty, or rate of flow, to pipe 16, so that the burner fed by the said pipe may burn at low capaclty. The means just-mentioned preferably comprises a duct or passage 89 opening t r the wall 4 into chamber 1' and communicating with a by-pass 90 which discharges through ill) ough

a port 91 in element 14 beyond the seat 15, and into burner supply pipe 16. The duct 89 is controlled by a plug-valve 92 threaded through the casing and cooperable wlth one end of duct 89, so that the gas flow ma be regulated or cut off completely, 1f des1red. The valve stem may be provided at its outer end with a screw-driver kerf 93, and said stem may also be provided with a lock-nut 94 whereby the valve will be held in ad usted position. It will be understood that either of or both the means for feeding the pilot pipe, or a reduced supply to the pipe 16 may be dispensed with, if desired.

The construction just described is designed to have the thermostatic responsive member inserted in a receptacle or chamber containing the fluid or medium, the temperature of which isemployed to control the operation of the valve mechanism, for example, to be located in a hot water supply boiler or tank receiving heated water from a gas-fired heater of any suitable type. In Fig. 11 I have shown an embodiment wherein the thermostatic element is located in a casing adapted to be located externally of the chamber containing the controlling medium. In this form,the receptacle 64 is located within a casing 95, internally threaded, as at 96, onto the member 10, and having an internal flange 97 for clamping flange 66 against the lower end of said member 10. The casing 95 is provided at the end adjacent the closed end of receptacle 64 with a threaded nipple 98 adapted to be tapped into the wall of the chamber containing the controlling medium, through which nipple the medium may flow into the casing 95 and around the receptacle 64 to effect the expansible medium.

In Figure 12 is shown means whereby the thermostatic controlling means may be heated conductively instead of directly. The form just mentioned includes a metallic jacket 99 fitted onto and in contact with the receptacle 64', and carries an attaching plate, preferably integral therewith and adapted to be secured by any suitable means against the outer surface of the receptacle containing the medium, the temperature of which controls the valve.

' The operation of the embodiment described is the same in each instance, and will be briefly set forth as follows: Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the valve 35 contacts the seat 15 to cut off the flow of gas to the pipe 16, and is held in this position by the force of spring 62 so long as element 75 is sufliciently collapsed by the expanded liquid to maintain levers 52. 54, and spring 62 in the position shown in said figure. When the temperature of the controlling liquid cools sufficiently to permit the element 75 to expand by its normal resiliency far enough to relieve pressure of pin 84 on the lever 52, the spring 62 will exert its force to throw the lever 54 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, at the same time causing the lever 52 to follow the receding or retracting pin 84. When the lever 54 assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, the force of the spring 62 will be exerted along a line above the fulcrum 29, with the result that the rear end of lever 24 will be moved in a direction causing the valve-carrying end to be moved to unseat the valve 35 and permit flow of gas from pipe 12 into chamber 1, and out through pipe 16 to the point of combustion, for example, the burners of a water heater heating water supplied to a receptacle in which the thermostatic elcment is located. When the water reaches a temperature which will expand the liquid in receptacle 64 to impart sutiicient movement to the plunger 84, the lever 52 will, through the link 56, swing the lever 54 to locate the spring 62 below fulcrum 29, thereby operating lever 24 to move the valve 35 against its seat 15 to cut ofi the supply of gas. It will be understood that by adjusting the position of the fulcrum 51 of lever 52, the mechanism may be regulated to operate at any desired temperature of the medium to which the thermostat is subjected. It will be noted that the line of force of spring 62 is always located above the fulcrum 20 of lever 54, so that the force of the spring, unless restrained, is always exerted to move said lever to throw the valve to open position. It will also be seen that the entire internal mechanism is supported by the head 7, so that said mechanism may be readily removed from or inserted in the casing when desired.

It is to be noted that in the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the valve is open, the link 56 is not at right angles to the levers 52 and 54:, butwhen the element 75 expands and moves lever 52, said link approaches its most eificient position for power application to lever 54, namely, at right angles thereto. By this arrangement I am able to compensate for natural resistance of the element 75 to expansion, due to its inherent resiliency, and assure prompt action of the valve Without necessity of building up suflicient excess pressure in said element to overcome the resistance thereof due to its resiliency. In other words, when the element 75 expands or contracts to operate the lever system, the power effort for any given temperature will be substantially constant throughout the range of movement of the element, inasmuch as any increased re sistance of the bellows due to its resiliency will be compensated for by the changing relation of the levers 52, 54 and link 56. Thisis true for all positions of adjustment of the member 41 and fulcrum 51 relative to the plunger 84.

By providing for a certain extent of lost motion of the lever part 30 between the valve 35 and the stop-head 38, when the lever 24 moves slightly beyond the center position to open valve 35. said lever strikes the head 38 with a hammer-like or sharp blow, which serves to positively move the valve disk from engagement with its seat.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. Ina valve of the character described, a casing having a port, a valve cooperating with said port, a lever for operating said valve, a second lever, a tension spring connecting said levers, said second lever being movable to position said spring to exert its force to move said first lever in opposite directions, means whereby said spring normally exerts its force to swing said second lever to so locate the spring as to cause the first lever to move the valve to open position, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for controlling movement of said second lever.

2. In a valve of the character described, a casing having a port, a valve cooperating with said port, a lever fulcrumed at an inter-. mediate point and having one of its end portion's operatively connected to said valve to actuate the latter, a second lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point, a tension spring connecting one end of the second lever to the opposite end of the first-named lever from that operating said valve, means whereby said spring normally tends to move said second lever to so locate the spring as to cause the first lever to move said valve to open position, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for controlling operation of said second lever.

3. In a valve of the character described, a casing having a port, a valve controlling said port, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point and having one of its end portions operatively connected to said valve to actuate the latter, a second lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point, a tension spring connecting one end of the second lever to the opposite end of the first-named lever from that operating said valve,a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, and means for actuating said third lever.

4. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve cooperating with one of said ports, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to actuate said valve, a second lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends adjacent the fulcrum of said firstnamed lever, one end of the second lever lying between the fulcrum of the first-named lever and said valve, a tension spring connecting said end of the second lever with the first-named lever on the opposite side of said fulcrum from the valve, a third lever connected to said second. lever, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid orgas for actuating said third lever.

5. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve cooperating with one of said ports, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to actuate said valve, asecond lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends adjacent the fulcrum of said firstnamed lever, one end of the second lever lying between the fulcrum of the first-named lever and said valve, a tension spring connecting said end of the second lever with the firstnamed lever on the opposite side ofsaid fulcrum from the valve, a third lever fulcrumed adjacent one end thereof and connected to the opposite end of said second lever from the end connected to said spring, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liqnid or gas for actuating saidthird lever.

6. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet-port, a valve cooperating with one of said ports, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to actuate said valve, a. second lever t'ulcrumed intermediate its ends adjacent the fulcrum of said firstnamed levcr, one end of the second lever lying between the fulcrum of the first-named lever and said valve, means for limiting the swinging movement of said second lever, a tension spring connecting said end of the second lever with the first-named lever on the opposite side of said fulcrum from the valve, a third lever fulcrumed adjacent one end thereof and connected to the opposite end of said second lever from the end connected to said spring, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liqaid or gas for actuating said third lever.

7. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve cooperating wit-h one of said ports, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to actuate said 'valve, a second lever fulcr'umed intermediate its ends adjacent the fulcrum of said firstnamed lever, one end of the second lever lying between the fulcrum of the first-named lever and said valve, a tension spring connecting said end of the second lever with the firstnamed lever on the opposite side of said fulcrum from the valve, a third lever fulcrumed adjacent one end thereof and connected to the opposite end of said second lever from the end connected to said spring, means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for actuating said third lever, and a compensating connection between said means and third lever.

8'. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve cooperatnig with one of said ports, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to actuate said valve, said lever having a longitudinal slot, a second lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends adjacent thefulcrum of said first-named lever, one end of the second lever lying between the fulcrum of the first-named lever and said valve, a tension-springconnecting said end of the second lever with the first-named lever on the opposite side of said fulcrum from the valve, said second lever and spring having movement through the slot in the first lever to cause the spring to take position on either side of the latter, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for actuating said second lever.

9. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports in one side Wall, attaching means in the opposite side Wall, an expansible-contractible power device supported by said attaching means, a longitudinally removable and insertible frame between said walls, a closure element supporting said frame, a valve, and valve-operating means supported by said frame, said operating means having a part adapted to be actuated by said power device.

10. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports in one side wall, attaching means in the opposite side Wall, an expansible-contractible power device supported by said attaching means,

a longitudinally removable and insertible frame between said walls, a closure element supporting said frame, a valve, valve-operating means supported by said frame, said operating means having a part adapted to be actuated by said power device, and means carried by said frame for adjusting the position of said part relative to said power device.

'11. A valve of the charactervdescribed comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a longitudinally slotted lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members, and carrying at one end a "alve cooperable with said port, asecond lever fulcrumed on said members and movable in the same plane as said first-named lever and having a part movable through the slot in the latter, a tension spring extending through the slot in the first-named lever and having its ends connected respectively to said part and said first-named lever, a third lever fulcrumed on said members to swing in the same plane as said first and second levers, said second and third levers being operatively connected, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas to swing said third lever.

12. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in said casing and having side members formed with open bearing seats, a lever having bearings seated in said seats, a valve cooperable with said port and operable by said lever, a second lever fulcrumed adjacent the first-named lever, and a spring connecting said levers, said second lever and spring being movable to position said spring on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter with a snap action, said spring serving to hold the bearings of the first lever in said open bearing seats.

13. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperating with said port, a second lever fulcrumed on said members, a tension spring connecting said levers, said second lever and spring being movable to position said spring on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter with a snap action, a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, a movable fulcrum for said third lever, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for actuating said third lever.

14. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperating with said port, a second lever fulcrumed on said members, a tension spring connecting said levers and movable with said second lever to position said spring on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter with a snap action, a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, a fulcrum support for said third lever slidably mounted on said frame, and angularly disposed slots in said support and frame respectively and receiving the fulcrum pin of the third lever whereby said fulcrum pin is adjusted by relative movement between said frame and support.

15. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperating with said port, a second lever fulcrumed on said members, a tension spring connecting said levers and movable to positions on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter with a snap action, a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, a slidable fulcrum for said third lever mounted on said side members, and means responsive to a characteristic of a liquid or gas for actuating said third lever.

16. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperat-. ing with said port, a second lever fulcrumed on said members, a tension spring connecting said levers and movable with the second lever to position said spring on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter with a snap action, a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, means for actuating said third lever, a fulcrum support for said third lever, and means whereby relative movement between said support and frame adjusts said fulcrum support relative to said actuating means.

l7. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperating with said port, a second lever fulcrumed on said members, a tension spring connectlng said levers and movable with said second lever to position said spring on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latter With a snap action, a third lever operatively connected to said second lever, a fulcrum support for said third lever,actuating means for said third lever, and a plunger screw for adjusting said fulcrum support relative to said actuating means.

18. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a-longitudinally slotted lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends in the casing, a valve cooperable wit-h said port and arranged to be actuated by said lever, a second lever fulcrumed adjacent the first lever, a tension spring connecting said levers and movable by the second lever through the slot in the first lever whereby the latter is moved with a snap action to actuate said valve, and means to actuate said second lever.

19. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a longitudinally slotted lever fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends in the casing, avalve cooperable with said port and arranged to be actuated by said lever, a second lever fulcrumed ad acent the first lever and having a part movable through the slot in the first lever, a tension spring connecting said part and the first lever and movable by the second lever through the slot in the first lever whereby the latter is moved with a snap action to actuate said valve, and means to actuate said second lever.

20. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a valve controlling said port, a system-of levers for. actuating said valve, a resilient expansible-collapsible vessel for actuating said levers, a

, plunger operatively enga ed by said vessel for transmitting motion from said vessel to said levers, one of said levers having a movable fulcrum, means to move said fulcrum to adjust the relation of said one lever to said plunger to regulate the point in the collapse of said vessel, and a resilient cushioning device for transmitting motion from said plunger to said system of levers.

21. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a valve controlling said port, a system of levers for actuating said valve, spring means under ten sion connecting certain of said levers, a resil-- ient ex ansible-collapsible vessel for actuating sai levers, a plunger operatively engaged by said vessel for transmitting motion from said vessel to said levers and including a sleeve member, a thrust pin in said'me'mber, and a spring cushioning said thrust pin relative to said sleeve.

22. In a valve of the character described, a-

casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve cooperable with one of said ports, a lever system for operatin said valve and comprising a valve-actuating ever having 'a slot, a second lever for actuating said first-named lever, guide means, and a tension spring connecting said levers and arranged upon operation of the second lever to actuate the first lever with a snap movement, said spring being arranged to impart a lateral movement to .said first lever to maintain the latter in operative relation to said guide means.

23. In a valve of the character described, a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve cooperable with one of said ports, a lever system for operating said valve and comprising a valve actuating lever having a slot,asecond lever for actuating said first-named lever, guide means, and a tension spring connecting said levers and arranged upon operation of the second lever to actuate the first lever with a snap movement, said spring extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis of said levers whereby the said first lever is maintained in operative relation to said guide means.

24. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever between said members and fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends on said members and carrying a valve cooperating with said port, a second lever between said members and fulcrumed on the same, said first lever having a side guide face, a tension spring connecting saidlevers and movable with the second lever to cause the line of force of said spring to be exerted on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the first lever to move the latte-r with a snap action, said spring being arranged to exert a sidewise thrust on the first lever to maintain the guide face thereon in guiding contact with one of said side members, and means for actuating said second lever.

25. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a frame in the casing and having side members, a lever between said members and fulcrumed at a point necting said levers and movable with the second lever to cause the line of force of said levers whereby said rst lever is thrust laterally to maintain the guide face thereon in guiding contact with one of said side memport, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate hers.-

26. In a valve of the character described, a casing having a port, a valve controlling-said point and having one of its end portions operatively connected to said valve to actuate the latter, a second lever fulcrumed at an intermediate oint, a tension spring connectin one end of tlie second lever to the opposite en of the first-named lever from that operating said valve, a third lever, a compensating connection between said second and third levers,

and means for actuating said third lever.

27. In a valve of the character described, a casing having a port, a valve controlling said port, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point and having one of its end portions operatively connected to said valve to actuate the latter, a second lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point, a tension sprin connecting one end of the second lever to t e opposite end of the first-named lever from that operating said valve, a third lever, an expansible-collapsible corrugated element for actuating said third lever, and a compensating connection between the said third and a resilient corrugated vessel having a head, a

plunger su ported by and movable with said ead, a ho low extension on said plunger, a pin projecting through and slidably mounted in said hollow extension, said pin having a lever-engaging portion, and yieldable means between said plunger and pin whereby thethrust' of the pin is cushioned.

29. A valve of the character described comprising a casing having a port, a valve controlling said ort, a system of levers for actuating said va ve, spring means under tension connecting certain of said levers, a resilient expansible-collapsible vessel for actuating sald levers, a plunger operatively engaged by said vessel for transmitting motion from said vessel to said levers, manually controlled means engaging one of the levers of the system and operative to regulate the relation of said one lever to the plunger to determine the point of collapse of said vessel, and a resilient cushioning device for transmitting motion from said plunger to said system of levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name- LEWIS W. EGGLESTON.

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