US2016291A - Electrically operated boiler - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 19.35.

T. H. NOLL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BOILER Filed Sept. 10, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

g I ATTORNEY T. H. NOLL ELECTR ICALLY OPERATED BOILER Oct. 8, 1935.

Filed Sept. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 J wua" 32 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 8, 1935. T. H. NOLL 2,016,291

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BOILER I Filed Sept. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrically operated boiler, and has for its object to provide means for insuring constant and uniform operation of such boiler.

5 A more specific object is to provide a. simple and practical arrangement for preventing the blowing of fuses in the heating circuit and for thereby insuring a constant supply of current to the boiler.

10 A further object is to avoid necessity for the exercise of accuracy of the fluid level within the boiler.

A further object is to maintain the entire mechanism within the smallest possible proporl5 tions consistent with efiicient operation.

A further object is to provide a safety element in the electric circuit employed which element will at all times be protected against overheating.

20 A further object is to: provide means for obtaining more than two variations of heat from two pairs of electrodes employed.

A further object is to provide a safety element in the electric circuit adapted to assist in heat- 25 ing the boiler fluid.

A further object is to provide pressure controlled means automatically operable to permit lowering of the fluid level about the electrodes employed.

Another object is to provide a boiler of strong, practical and efficient construction for use in the manner herein contemplated.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will .33 be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contem- 49 plated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the acompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention:-

45 Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through a boiler constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken upon the plane of line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

59 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring employed.

Figs. l, 5 and 6 are similar diagrammatic views illustrating a modification in which a plurality of pairs of electrodes are employed, and

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified arrangement and construction of the boiler parts, Fig. 7 being a horizontal sectional view on the plane of line VII-VII of Fig. 8 and Fig. 8 being a side elevational view of the modified device partly broken away and shown in vertical section on 5 line VIII-VIIE of Fig. 7.

While the present invention is primarily designed as an improvement upon the structure shown and described in my pending application Serial No. 192,766, issued March 13, 1934, as Pat- 10 ent No. 1,956,511, it will nevertheless be understood that it is equally applicable to electric boilers of various types.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structure therein shown the reference character L indicates a main casing. A partition I divides .the interior of this casing into two separate compartments as G and H, the only communication between said compartments being by an opening 2 through the lower portion of said partition.

Within the compartment G is arranged a pair of electrodes as 3 and 6. These preferably stand vertically within the compartment and may be rigidly supported in position in any appropriate manner as for instance by being fixed by their upper ends to a plate 5 of insulating material which is carried horizontally in the upper portion of the compartment. The electrodes are of uniform size and length and their lower ends project to near the bottom wall 6 of the casing.

At any appropriate point in. the upper portion of compartment G is arranged an outlet opening as l through which steam generated within the compartment may pass for use as for instance in a radiator or the like as (3.

A filler plug 9 may be provided through the upper wall of the casing, and preferably through the upper wall of the compartment H, by means of which water may be poured into the casing whenever desired.

Carried also by the insulating plate 5, but spaced from the electrodes 3 and 4 is a resistance element It. This element as shown consists of a coil of resistance wire arranged in a horizontal position within the compartment G and in a plane below the lower ends or" the electrodes 3 and 4, being supported by its opposite ends by connection with the lower ends of two spaced conductors as l l and t2 which extend downwardly from the plate 5. These conductors are rigid with the plate 5 and are sealed within insulating tubes l3, their lower end portions only being in contact with the liquid within the casing.

The electrodes 3 and 4, and the conductors ll and I2 all project through the insulating plate 5 and at their upper ends above said plate have appropriate terminals as |4-|4 for the making of electrical connections.

The wiring employed will be seen in the diagrammatic illustration Fig. 3 wherein there is shown a wire as I5 leading from a source I6 to the conductor II. A wire I! connects the conductor I2 with the electrode 4, and a wire I8 connects the electrode 3 with the opposite side of the source.

A switch as I9 is arranged in this circuit, for instance between parts of wire l5, and it will be apparent that upon closing of this switch the current which will flow between the electrodes 3 and 4 must also traverse the resistance element I0, it being understood of course that the passage of current between the electrodes will be by way of the liquid 2|) within which the electrodes are submerged, as fully set forth in the co-pending application referred to.

It will also be understood that the electrodes and the resistance element are so spaced within the body of liquid that at least the bulk of current will travel in the manner referred to.

The purpose and value of the resistance element in the circuit as described will now be understood: Namely that it will at all times prevent any such excessive flow of current through the circuit as to injure any part of the mechanism or blow out any fuse or fuses as 33 which may be included in the circuit.

Any heat generated in the resistance element by passage of current therethrough will be dissipated into the liquid and thereby increase the heat of the liquid. Incidentally excessive heating of the resistance element will be prevented.

When the current through the circuit is turned on to begin operation of the boiler the flow of current between the electrodes will be determined by the extent to which the electrodes are submerged, that is by the position of the level of the liquid 20 with respect to the length of the electrodes. If the level is low the current will flow less freely than if the level is high, and there will be no likelihood of destruction of the fuse 33. If on the other hand the level is high, as is apt to occur whenever a fresh supply of liquid has just been introduced into the casing, the flow of current between the electrodes may be so plentiful that without the presence of the resistance element in the circuit the fuse would be instantly destroyed. The presence of the resistance element however will save the fuse by preventing the passage of more than a given amount of current according to the character of the resistance element.

The submerged condition of the resistance element, and its consequent protection against overheating offers the further important advantage of enabling the use of a resistance element of ample capacity and yet of considerably smaller size than would be required if the resistance element be not submerged. And this is in keeping with the important object of maintaining the entire mechanism within the smallest possible proportions consistent with eflicient operation.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 it is a part of this invention to provide if desired more than a single pair of the electrodes 3 and 4, all nevertheless arranged to be connected in circuits protected by the single protecting element II).

In addition to the pair of electrodes 34 the illustrations Figs. 4 to 6 include a second pair of electrodes as 2|--22. A switch mechanism 23 is also shown, it being understood that this switch mechanism may be used in addition to or in lieu of the switch I9 as may be desired.

The switch 23 may be of any appropriate mechanical construction including parts which are manually movable to control the passage of cur rent in the manner as diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6. The illustration Fig. 4 shows the switch mechanism 23 so set as to utilize only the electrodes 3 and 4. The illustration Fig. 5 shows the switch mechanism 23 so set as to utilize the electrodes 3, 4 and 2|. And the illustration Fig. 6 shows the switch mechanism so set as to utilize all of the electrodes 3, 4, 2| and 22.

The circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 in the illustration Fig. 4 may be traced by reference to the arrows in said figure as follows: from the source along wire I5 through the resistance element I8, along wire 24 through contacts 25 and 2B of the switch mechanism and thence by wire 21 to the electrode 4, electrode 3, wire 23 to con tacts 29 of the switch mechanism and to the opposite side of the source by way of wire 20.

The electrodes 2| and 22 are dead when the switch mechanism is in this position.

The circuits for the electrodes 3, 4 and 2| in the illustration Fig. 5 may be traced by reference to the arrows in Fig. 5 whereby it will be seen that the circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 is exactly the same as in Fig. 4 and that a shunt circuit is closed including the electrode 2! as follows: from the electrode 4, by way of the liquid 20 to electrode 2| and thence by wire 3| to contact 32 of the switch mechanism and on to the source by way of wire 30.

The electrode 22 will remain dead while the current fed to electrode 4 will pass now to both the electrodes 3 and 2| thus imparting a somewhat greater heating effect upon the submerging liquid 20 than where only a single pair of elec- "trodes are alive.

The circuits for the electrodes 3, 4, 2| and 22 in the illustration Fig. 6 may be traced by reference to the arrows in Fig. 6 wherein it will be seen that the circuit for the electrodes 3 and 4 is again the same as in Fig. 4 but that in this instance the shunt circuit referred to with reference to Fig. 5 includes both of the electrodes 2| and 22 as follows: from the contact 26 of the switch mechanism to contact 32, thence by wire 3| to electrode 2| liquid to electrode 22 and wire 34 to contact 35 of the switch mechanism and on to the source through wire 30.

A. metallic connection is thus provided between the electrodes 4 and 2| so that the relatively more difficult path through submerging liquid between these electrodes will be bridged and the two pairs of electrodes will operate substantially independently of each other.

Since the main casing L is usually formed of a metal and has metallic connection with the house radiator or the like as 8 and is for this reason grounded in common with said radiator, it is to be understod that the electrodes will be so spaced not only with respect to each other but also with respect to the casing that there will a all times be present an easier path through ihe resistance element It, and through the fluid between the electrodes, to complete the circuits hereinahove traced than to or by way of the casing.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a pressure relief valve 36 in communication with the compartment H. In instances where the present steam generating mechanism is connected with an unusually small radiator 8 or other device requiring only a and thence through the submerging small amount of steam it sometimes happens that the process of transforming fluid within the chamber G into steam sufficient for producing ampie pressure within the radiator does not consume enough of the fluid to lower the fluid level in the compartment G to a desired point where the heating capacity of the electrodes will balance the steam requirements of the radiator, in which event the excessive heating capacity of the electrodes and the consequent excessive production of steam within the compartment G would create an unsafe pressure within said compartment.

Merely to relieve this pressure from the compartment G would only permit the fluid level in said compartment to further rise about the electrodes and result in the production of still more steam, being purely wasteful.

By providing the device 36 in the upper part of the compartment H however it will be seen that, supposing said device to be set to release any pressure in excess of a given amount, say threepounds pressure, the production of steam in normal operation will not affect said device. If however a pressure in excess of three-pounds is reached in the compartment H, and likewise in the compartment G and in the radiator, without the required consumption of fluid, and more steam continues to be generated in the compartment G than is utilized, so that the pressure in the compartment G and likewise in compartment H rises above three-pounds, then the pressure in the compartment H will be relieved through the device 36 thereby allowing the fluid level to rise in the compartment H and to fall in the compartment G until a balanced condition is reached wherein the level of fluid in the compartment G is at a point where the ability of the electrodes to generate steam is just sufficient to maintain the three-pound pressure.

There is no loss of fluid either directly or in the form of steam. Only the air pressure in the compartment H above the fluid level in said compartment is relieved, and it will be understood that this will be replenished through the device whenever the pressure in the compartment H drops.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the mechanism is surrounded with ample safeguards both against electrical and fluid pres sure abnormalities, that it is of simple and practical construction, that it is of extremely elastic capacity, and that withal it is embodied in an apparatus which is of extremely small measurements for an article of such capabilities.

By disposing the resistance element I ll at a level below the lower ends of the electrodes, as hereinabove pointed out, any abnormal fall of the fluid level within the casing such as would uncover the resistance element would first of necessity leave the lower ends of the electrodes so that the circuit including the resistance element would be broken between the electrodes before exposure of the resistance element. Accordingly, no harm could come to the resistance element due to over-heating while non-submerged.

In keeping with the object of maintaining the device within the smallest possible measurements the two compartments G and H are provided with a common cover member 31 held in position upon the casing by suitable clamp means such as the bolts or the like as 38-38, said cover having a partition portion 39 for engaging the upper edge of the partition I to complete the separation of the compartments from each other.

The conductors l5 and I8, with reference to Fig. 3, or the conductors i5, 24, 21, 28, 3| and 34, with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, are sealed through that portion of the cover 3'! which-overlies the compartment G, as illustrated by the sealing block 40 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner ends of said conductors extending downwardly from the block 42! and into connection with the appropriate terminals on the upper surface of the electrode carrying plate 5, it being here noted that this plate, which also carries the protecting or resistance element I0, is readily removably supported in the upper portion of the compartment G by fitting or resting upon a permanent ledge as 6! provided upon the walls of said compartment so that upon removal of the cover 3! not only is access given into both of the compartments G and H but also the carrying plate 5 with its electrodes and protecting element in may be lifted away from the compartment G for facilitating cleaning or the making of repairs or renewals.

In the modification Figs. 7 and 8 the invention is the same as already set forth except that in this instance the electrode carrying insulating plate 42, corresponding with plate 5, is utilized to seal steam tight the upper end of the steam compartment. A gasket 43 is disposed between the plate and the top edge of the casing and screws d l-d l extend through the plate and gasket and into the material of the casing to clamp the plate steam tight.

The cover member 45, corresponding with the cover member El, is held in position by suitable screws some of which, as indicated by the reference numeral it, fasten into only the plate 42, and others of which, as indicated by the reference numeral ll, fasten into the material of the casing, it being noted that the elements are proportioned so that marginal parts of the gasket 3 project beyond the margin of the plate 42 so as to receive the bottom edge of the cover.

In this modification also the pressure relief valve 36 is omitted and in its place the cover 45 is shown as having a small vent opening as 48 theretln'ough, such an opening having been found to fill all requirements in instances where no pressure, other than atmospheric pressure, is required in the compartment H.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quan tity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged in the fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes including a resistance element arranged to be submerged by said fluid, both the electrodes and the resistance element being of a character to heat the fluid by the passing current, but the resistance element being of a relatively less heating capacity than the electrodes, permanently connected in series with said electrodes and of a resistance to prevent excess current flow therethrough.

2. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by their upper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety device also arranged within the casing, a single carrier for said electrodes and said safety device to which the upper portions of the electrodes are attached spaced apart and insulated from each other and to which the safety device is also attached, means whereby said carrier with the attached electrodes and safety device is removably mounted within the casing, and a detachable cover for the casing, together with means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes and. for said safety device including conductors extending ex teriorly of the casing.

3. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by their upper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety device also arranged within the casing having opposite terminals, a single carrier for said electrodes and said safety device to which the upper portions of the electrodes are attached spaced apart and insulated from each other and to which the opposite terminals of the safety device are also attached spaced apart and insulated from each other, means whereby said carrier with the attached electrodes and terminals is removably mounted within the casing, and a detachable cover for the casing, together with means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes and for said safety device including conductors extending exteriorly of the casing.

4. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by their upper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a safety device comprising a resistance element disposed to stand in a position beneath the level of the fluid within the casing, a pair of conductors extending one from each end of said resistance element, a single carrier for said electrodes and said safety device to which the upper portions of the electrodes are attached spaced apart and insulated from each other and to which the mentioned conductors are also attached spaced apart and insulated from each other, means whereby said carrier with the attached electrodes and conductors is removably mounted within the casing, and a detachable cover for the casing, together with means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes and for said safety device including conductors extending through said cover and extending into appropriate contact with said electrodes and said first conductors.

5. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged in the fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes including a resistance element also within the casing arranged to be submerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes, said resistance element consisting of a coil of resistance wire, and relatively stiif conductors leading from opposite ends of said resistance wire arranged to extend to a point of attachment above the level of the liquid constituting the sole means to support the resistance wire in position below said level.

6. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged in the fluid, and means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes including a resistance element also within the casing arranged to be submerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes, together with supporting means for the resistance element comprising a pair of conductors supported by their upper ends spaced apart and insulated from each other above the fluid level and having said resistance element connected between their lower ends below said level.

7. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casin adapted to contain a quan tity of fluid, a plurality of electrodes spaced from each other within the casing intended to be at least partly submerged in the fluid, means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes including a resistance element within the casing arranged to be submerged by said fluid and in series in the circuit of said electrodes, means for the resistance element cc prising a pair of vertically disposed elon- 'ed conductors supported by their upper ends spaced apart and insulated from each other and having said resistance element connected between their lower ends, and insulating means surrounding the portions of said conductors which are intended to stand below the level of said fluid excepting the lower end portions of said conductors.

An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a plurality of pairs of electrodes within said casing all adapted to extend into submerged relati within said fluid, and means to energize said pairs of electrodes selectively at will, said last mentioned means being also selectively operable to supply current from an electrode of one pair to an electrode of another pair.

9. An electrically operated steam generator comprisin a steam pressure compartment and an air pressure compartment, each of said compartments being adapted to contain a quantity of fluid and there being communication for said fluid between said compartments so that the fluid within both of said compartments will stand normally at a common level so that a steam pressure within the steam compartment will depress the fluid level in said compartment and raise the fluid level and thereby create an equal air pressure in the air compartment, electrically operable means in the steam. compartment for heating the fluid in said compartment for generating steam therein, there being a steam outlet from said steam compartment, and an automatically operable relief valve in said air compartment.

10. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing, means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuit protecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consisting of elongated members spaced apart in substantially vertical position adapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid, the circuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in the liquid, means providing separate compartments Within the casing one sealed to withstand steam pressure generated by said electrodes and the other sealed to withstand air pressure, there being communication between said compartments arranged below the level of the liquid, a common closure for both of said compartments, means whereby said closure is removable to afford access to said compartments, and a common support for said electrodes and circuit protecting means readily removable with the electrodes and circuit protecting means attached thereto upon removal of said closure.

11. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes supported by their upper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adapted to extend below the level of said fluid, a removable carrier for said electrodes, attaching means by which the electrodes are attached to said carrier spaced apart and insulated from each other so as to be removable with the carrier, said attaching means providing terminals for the electrodes, means by which electric current may be supplied to said electrodes from without the casing, a separately formed cover for the casing arranged to guard and protect said carrier and said terminals, and removable means interengaging between the cover and the casing to removably retain the cover connected with the casing.

12. An eectrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of a pair of electrodes supported by their upper portions and having their lower portions depending so as to be adapted to extend below the level of said fluid, means defining two separate compartments within the casing one for containing the electrodes and sealed to withstand steam pressure generated by. the electrodes and the other sealed to withstand equivalent air pressure, aremovable carrier for the electrodes, attaching means by which the electrodes are attached to carrier spaced apart and insulated from each other so as to be removable with the carrier, said attaching means providing terminals for the electrodes, means by which electric current may be supplied to said electrodes from without the casing, a separately formed cover for the casing arranged to guard and protect said carrier and said terminals and constituting the seal for at least one of the compartments, and removable means interengaging between the cover and the casing to removably retain the cover connected with the casing.

13. An electrically operated steam generator comprising means forming a steam compartment and an air compartment, each of said compartments being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and there being communication for said liquid between said compartments so that the liquid within both compartments will stand normally at a common level and so that steam pressure within the steam compartment may depress 5 the liquid level in said compartment and thereby raise the liquid level in the air compartment, electrically operable means in the steam compartment for heating the liquid in the steam compartment for generating steam in said compartment, there being a steam outlet from the steam compartment adapted for communication with a device to be heated by steam from said steam compartment, and there being an air outlet from said air compartment.

14. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing, means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuit protecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consisting of elongated members spaced apart in substantially vertical position adapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid, the circuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in the liquid, means providing two separate compartments within the casing each adapted to contain a quantity of the liquid and there being communication between said compartments below the level of: the liquid, and a removable sealing means for one or" said compartments serving as a common support for said electrodes and for said protecting means.

15. An electrically operated steam generator comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of fluid, a pair of electrodes within said casing, means providing an electric circuit for said electrodes, circuit protecting means arranged within the casing, the electrodes consisting of elongated members spaced apart in substantially ver- 49 tical position adapted to have their lower portions submerged in the liquid, the circuit protecting means being positioned to stand submerged in the liquid, means providing two separate compartments within the casing each adapted to contain a quantity of the liquid and there being communication between said compartments below the level of the liquid, and a removable sealing means for one of said compartments serving as a common support for said elec- 50 trodes and for said circuit protecting means, together with a closure member for the air compartment connected with the casing and having a part extending as a protecting cover for said sealing means.

THEOBALD H. NOLL.

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