US2329750A - Fuel gas vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1943. A. J. FAUCHER FUEL GAS VAPORIZER Filed NOV. 18, 1940 &

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Patented Sept. 21, 1943 2,329,750 FUEL GAS vAroRrzEn Andrew J. Faucher, Grand Prairie, Tex, assignor of one-hall to Bryce R. Sprayberry, Dallas,

Tex.

Application November 18,1940, Serial No. 366,129

ZClaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for and method of vaporizing condensed gases and it has particular reference to such apparatus and method for the control of gas in butane systems.

Fuel gas systems employing butane are in popular demand, more especially for supplying homes and factories with'gaseous fuel when located out of the areas served by natural gas, although in many cases such installations are made even when natural gas is available, due primarily to the economy thereof. In any case, installation specifications require that the butane tank be disposed under the ground at a level below the point of gas consumption. This precaution is taken to prevent accumulation of condensation at a low point in the supply line and which, if permitted to remain in a liquid state at low temperature, would condense, resulting not only in failure of the system to operate at the time most needed and probable damage to the pipes but would also present a hazard as it extremely important" that the fuel be delivered at the point of ignition in the form of a vaporous gas. I

The present invention has for its principal object, the provision of apparatus capable of overcoming the objectionable features heretofore present in conventional butane installations by, first, vaporizing condensed gases by the application of heat, whether the installation is for buildings, or trucks or any other uses. Second, maintaining by suitable regulator means, the required gas pressure on the utility side of the system as against higher pressures on the storage side. Third, automatic controlof the applied heat as an insurance against any possible hazard which might be created by overheating.

Another object of the invention resides in its unusual adaptability to automobile vehicles and in which the heating medium is afforded through the water system of such vehicles, al-

though an electrical auxiliary heating'medium is provided as a temporary agent during periods when the liquid in the water system of the vehicle is heating to an effective temperature.

It is a further object of the invention to provide stationary vaporizers with electrical heating means where this form of heating agent is desired or determined to be more suitable.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a vaporizer constructed according to the present invention, showing a stationary installation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention adapted for use on automobiles, and Y Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 on Figure 5.

Continuing witha more detailed description of the drawing, it is first pointed out that butane and other similar fuel systems for residences,

factories and the like include the tank containing the fluid which is buried in the ground at a safe distance from the building and at a depth sufficient to insure that the tank discharge is somewhat below the point of consumption in order that the condensate will gravitate back to the reservoir rather than appear at the point of consumption in this form. This will prevent a dangerous fire hazard since this, liquid is 'highly volatile and vaporizes rapidly in a warm enclosure.

The conventional'storage reservoir is not shown in the drawing but reference numeral l0 designates the supply line from the reservoir and surrounding this pipe is a water jacket I I, closed at both ends. That part of the fuel supply line which emerges from the jacket II is identified by reference numeral Ill since III is the high pressure side of the system while ill is the low pressure side. Pressure in'lil sometimes expands to 30 to 50 pounds while the regulator l2 maintains the pressure in l0 at the required 6 ounces 40 for domestic use.

Disposed above the unit is a water reservoir l3, having communication with the jacket H through pipe H. A filler opening i5 is provided in the tank I3 which is also provided with a float I6, whose stem l1 afiords a visible indication of the level of liquid in tank l3.

- In order that water in the system may circulate when heated, in the manner to be presently explained, a pipe l8 leads from one end of the jacket II to a heater l9. Apipe 20 extends from the heater l9 to the opposite end of jacket H where it enters the jacket at its side. When the water in the jacket is heated, it will circulate about the pipe to, emerge from the jacketll through pipe 3 and pass through the heater I9 in this pipe 24 as a means to shut off the fuel to the burner when the latter is not needed.

A thermostat control 26 is mounted in one end of the jacket whose function is to close off the gas passing through pipe 24 to the burner when the water in the system has been sufliciently, heated but in order to insure reignition of the burner gas under normal operating conditions, a pilot 21 attends. the burner and receives its fuel through pipe 28 from the low pressure side ||l of the fuel line.

Under normal operating conditions, the thermostat 26 will operate between an arbitrary temperature of between 80 and 90 to maintain an operative temperature of the water in the system. However, as a safety measure, the pilot 21 in being supplied with fuel through a separate pipe 28, continues to burn, causing the element 29 to hold the safety control valve 39 open to the passage of gas through pipe 24 when the thermostat 26 operates to open pipe 24 when the water temperature drops to a predetermined low degree. Thus, the burner 2| will be reignited to raise the water temperature to the required degree. On the other hand, should for any reason the burner and pilot be extinguished other than through normal operation of the thermostat 26, then elements 29 and 3| would both function to close pipes 24 and 28 against further passage of gas until such time as the cause is located and corrected and the pilot reignited manually.

In operation, water is poured into the tank l3 until such time as the entire system is filled and the water reaches the desired level in tank l3, indicated by the stem H of the float I6. The fuel at the burner 2| is ignited as well as the pilot 21. The valve of the fuel tank (not shown) 2,329,756 in which it is heated by a burner 2|, to be later hazard since the gas will back up into the storage reservoir without interference.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the vaporizerunit will not permit passage of the wet gas through the line to the point of consumption which is the reason for much damage due to explosions caused by vaporization of con densation in the room or enclosure where the utilities are supplied with fuel. On the contrary, only dry gas at a reduced pressure is so supplied.

When a tank of butane or like fuel is used as a fuel for operating motor vehicles, a simpler arrangement is possible although possessing substantially the same principle. This form of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and consists of a jacket 34, surrounding the supply line 35 and is closed at both ends as in the preceding case. In this application of the invention, it is desirable to provide two separate heating agents for the water circulating in the jacket. One form of heating agent is comprised of a pipe connection 36 which effects communication between the jacket 34 and the water system of the is opened to allow gas to pass through line l0 in a wet state and in passing through the jacket II the pressure thereof in increased by the external influence of heat conducted by the water in the jacket which is kept constantly in circulation until the temperature reaches a predetermined degree, visibly indicated on a thermometer 33. When the water reaches the predetermined degree of temperature, the thermostatic control 26 operates to close the pipe 24 against further passage of gas to the burner 2| and the latter is extinguished until the water temperature drops to a predetermined low degree, which will cause the system to become inefiicient. Further reduction of atmospheric temperature will result in condensation of gases and it is this that the invention seeks to avoid. When the water temperature drops to a predetermined low degree, the thermostat operates to open pipe 24 whereupon the burner is again automatically ignited by the pilot 21. In the event some factor extinguishes both ithe pilot and the burner, all hazard is overcome by the automatic closing of safety valves 3|! and 32, as described.

The gas regulator l2 permits only a predetermined pressure of dry gas to pass through pipe l0 to a point or points of consumption at any time and while there will be a building up of pressure in the pipe l0, this will present no vehicle at the hose connection 31, which joins the conventional radiator 38 to the engine (not shown).

Return to the water system of the engine is provided by pipe 38 connected to pipe 39 and which contains a thermostatic valve 38". Although not shown, it is necessary that the vehicle unit be mounted below the carburetor and radiator water level for efficient results, inasmuch as gravity returns the condensed gases to r the reservoir and insures a water supply and efficient circulation in the unit at all times under normal operating conditions. The schematic showing in Figure 5 represents at 39 the water return conduit from the radiator 38 to the engine after having emerged therefrom through hose 31 to the radiator. It is while passing through the hose 31 in a heated condition that a part of the water will pass into pipe 36 to enter and circulate through the jacket 34. The

, gas in pipe will thus be heated to vaporize the same, which will be passed through the regulator 40 at a reduced pressure and in a dry form for consumption as a fuel.

The auxiliary heater is comprised of the electrical heating coil 4 I, suitably protected by means of a tubular element 42 against the water in jacket 34. The heating coil is connected to the vehicle battery 43 by means of wires 44 in which is arranged a suitable switch 45.

The electrical, auxiliary heater is employed only until the heat of the engine (not shown) raises the temperature of the water in the cooling system to a degree sumciently effective to heat the gas in the pipe 35, after which the switch 45 is operated to open the circuit to the battery 43.

It is to be observed that the domestic vaporizer shown in Figure 1 may also be electrically operated by eliminating the gas burner and its associated elements, including pipes I8, 20, 24 and 28, since these would not be required. In this case, water would be circulated in jacket I alone by the electric heating element situated therein in the manner shown in the modified form (Fi ure 5). However, the water reservoir l3 would remain the same as shown. A suitable thermostat islikewise employed when thus electrically operasaoaso that it be disposed as near the Point of sumption as conveniently possible in order the gas delivered to the burners be in Is dry state as possible. A more intense flame'is Droduced threeby and consequently more emcient results are obtained as against other gas drying systems required to be installed well away from the building being served as a precautionary step, in which case condensation is again likely to take place before the gas reaches more especially when ture is 32 or under.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning ofthe appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety control apparatus for fuel 888 systems comprising in combination with the gas supply line from the source of said gas, a Jacket surrounding said supply line, a water reservoir for maintaining a predetermined quantity of water in said Jacket. a pipe line for circulating the atmospheric temperathe burners,

con. that water through said Jacket, a heater in said pipe line, means for heating water as the same passes through said heater, means for supplying fuel to ing the pressure of said heating means, means automatically operated to control said heating means in relation to the temperature of water in said jacket and means for automatically closing off the fuel source of said heating means when the flame thereof is extinguished.

2. A safety control for gas fuel systems comprising in combination with the fuel supply line, a jacket surrounding said supply line, means for maintaining a predetermined quantity of water in said jacket, a heater for effecting circulation of water in said Jacket, means automatically con. trolling said heater, a gas regualtor for reducgas in said line subsequent to its emergence from the influence of heat in said jacket, means for supplying fuel to said heater from the low pressure side of said supply line and means for automatically closing otf said heater fuel supply when the flame thereof is xtinguished.

ANDREW J. FAUCHER.

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