US3166067A - Submersible heater with heated fuel valve - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19,

J. KOHORST 3,166,067

SUBMERSIBLE HEATER WITH HEATED FUEL VALVE Filed April 1, 1963 I l l l i E 24 i i i V y, i; 5 g I: g 6 6'4 4 ,I' {v? 6 \t 56 54 z a V NIP 36 INVENTOR J 06 EPH Kai/0P6 7' ayw 3 9 ATTOAPNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,166,067 V SUBMERSIBLE HEATER WITH HEATED FUEL VALVE .losephKohorst, Rte. 1, .Arcadia, Iowa Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,386

12 Claims. (Cl. 126-360) In the type of heater unit used in the device shown in such patent, fuel oil is burned and since the entire heater is located out-of-doorsto keep watering tanksfrom freezing in a well-known manner, I have found that considerable difliculty is encountered at times in maintaining a properly adjusted flow of fuel. For example, if a needle valve control is finely adjusted for a proper fuel flow or drip at or about freezing temperature, a sudden drop in temperature as frequently occurs overnight will so thicken the fuel oil that the fuel supply to .the burner either becomes wholly inadequate or more likely will cease altogether; Likewise a fuel flow control adjusted to extremely cold temperatures will provide too much fuel when temperatures-rise materially, and since it is not always convenient or desirable to inspect and adjust the fuel control with each such temperature fluctuation, I have overcome this problem by this invention for which While heater 10 may be used \as a room heater, if ,desired, it was especially designed for use as a tank heater to keep water from freezing in out-of-doors animal watering troughs and it is in connection with this use and purpose that valve 12 has particular-utility, although it will be appreciated as this descriptionproceeds that it is not limited thereto from the standpoint of an efficient fuel flow control'device.

Heater 10 includes generallya housing 14 which, when used as'a tank heater, will'be submerged in water to be heated and includes thev upstanding, stacks 16 and '18 which are used for draft'control in a manner not portant to this disclosure; A clamp '20 on stack 18 .pro. vides means for attaching heater 10 to a watering trough or tank (not shown). A third stack 22 on housing 14' provides a means of access to .the interior of the housing and for communication with a combustion chamber or one of the important objects is to providea new needle valveconstruction which is heated and thus not only eliminates any effect on the-needle valve itself from changes in ambient temperature, but also provides heat to the fuel oil for proper flow irrespective of the surrounding temperature. Anotherimportant object contemplates' 'the provision of a needle valve of the above class which has a portion of its structure: in contact with a heated portion of the tion.

A. further feature of the present invention resides in a needle valve construction as characterized ,wherein the needle valve, control assembly is interposed in a fuel line at a point remote from the discharge end of such line.

Further objects and the more obvious advantagesof the invention will bermentioned or else appear plainly from the description which follows. i To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be-hereinafter pointed outfreference is' 'rnade to the. accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, [in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heater unit with my 7 new needle, valve associated therewith, theheater being view of this invention, and v a. t-

1 FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section viewtaken on the line 33 of FIG. -2. Y Y

Referring to the drawings, the heater designated gem heater unit so as to receive heat therefrom by conduc-' burner unit locatedtherein and indicated. generally by.

,ply heat to housing 14,,In'this regard while any suitable heater maybe employed fortheating housing '14, I have found the device described in myU.S. .Patent No. 3,021,83310 be very satisfactory. The source of heat for unit 10 is the burning of fuel oil for which a supply tank is shown at 24 adjustably carried by brackets 26 which are attached to stack 16. It will thus be appre ciatedfrom the description so far that the fuel reservoir 24 and fuel line for delivering fuel through stack 22 to the .burnerassembly are exposed to the atmosphere and thus subject'to whatever temperature conditions are, pres-' ent and it is also pointedout that when housing 14 is submerged as indicatedwabove, the exact levelfof the water relative toheater lt) is notmaterial so long as it is not highenough to overflow stack 22. Since the heater unit It) by its very purpose described is'us ed only-when freezing temperatures are prevalent, the difficulties of proper fuel flow control as outlined are present. a In-overcomingtthis problem, I have devised my new needle valve assembly 12 which I will now describe. As: sembly 12 -includes an elongated vertically disposed' fuel flow line or conduit 28 of pipe or tubing-material having a branch line 30 intermediate the endstliereof, said line 30 being provided with a suitable fitting 32 for flow con.- nection to the fuel supply: tank or reservoir 24 in awellknown manner. The'lowe'r end of line 28 is removably connected to one end of a collar-like coupling orfitting 34 and to the other end of fitting 34 there issimilarly secured a'conduit extension 36 of like size and material directed cap 33 that-is provided with a funnel-shaped or tapered opening 40.

Conduit extension 36, at a point below fitting 34,"de;

'- fines a U-shape curve '42,-b eing either bent or otherwise '36 which extends upwardly to point 46 inspa'ced parallel erally by the numeral 10. is shown to'illustrate the type or characterof heatingtdevice' with which mynewlneedle valve assembly 12 is used, and for purposes of this appli- 3,D21;833. 'I shall, however, refer to andidentify certain structural portions of heater 10whicl'i arecommon the plane of point 42.

so formed as to provide avertical'le ngth 44 of conduit relationship to conduit portion 28. At point 46, conduit '36 isfurther bent or turned to extend horizontally as at 48 away from conduit'portions 36 and 44 topoi nt 50 where it is further bent or turned to extend downwardly in spaced parallel relationship to conduitportions 36''and 44- andterminates' in its discharge end *defined iby cap 38, the plane of opening 40 on cap 38 being" higher than Within the coupling or fitting 34 there is mounted a needlevalve valve seat '54 (FIG. 3) of well-known con; struction which includes:the-restricted fuel passageway I 56 communicating with conduit extension 36;- A cap 58 is removably attached to the upper end of conduit 28 and v to devices of this type and with which valve 12 cooperates as will later appear;

is provided with the vent hole 60'for'the, escape-of air if necessary'so as not toimpede the flow of oil from tank 24. An elongated needle valve-62 isjournaledwithcom Patented Jan. 1 9, 1965; v

1 duit' 28,; having its needle 7 same willbe-appreciated;

' eluded within their scope,

In the use andlopenation of valve assembly 12 as de-,

cribed,-the same is-mounted on heater unit 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In-this respect, fitting- 32 on branch conduit 30 is attached to reservoir 24for a gravity flow feed of fuel.

in valve assembly 12. The operating knob, 68 will extend upwardly for convenient access and manual manipulae tion and the point'l42 of assernbly12will rest upon, theup- 7 persurfaceof hou'sing 14 closely adjacent butexteriorly of stack 22. Length 44'of conduit extension 36rwill'also point 64 extending to valve ing in a tank or trough, said heater having a submersible housing, a fuel oil burner means for heating said housbe disposed exteriorly of stack 22 and length 52 of'such I conduit extension will extend axially intorst ack 22 so that opening 40 is'properly located" for delivering to the burner unit located therein.

assembly 12 is placedlas shown and in the bottom 'of such enclosure there are parallel ."spaced stop bars 74 extending parallel to the longitudinal axistofhousing 14' which providea restricted track in which Lt portion 42 of assembly 12 is seated. The purpose of's'uch bars 74 is 'to-embrace the 'U portion 42. and thereby prevent such portion from becoming accidentally slid or moved transversely of the longitudinal axis offlhousing 14 so as to affectthe desired axial alignment of. opening 40 .within stack 22; In this regardJ-the 'slidabilityof reservoir 24 on' brackets 26; afiordsImeans for adjusting the alignment of length'52 of conduit 36within stack 22 in a direction parallel totthe longitudinal axis. of

housing 14. A drain opening 76 isprovided in one side,

of enclosure'72 near the bottom thereof tto facilitate the draining ofwater'therefro'm whenever the unit 10" may It is pointed out that the plane of length ,48 of conduit 7 36 is below the, plane of the branch line 30gand willqthus be below'th e bottom of reservoir 24 so that gravity feed through opening 40 is not affected by the upward travel of fuel through conduit length" 44. It' will be appreciated thatlwithtas sembly 12 ticularly in the areaof couplingfi l will bewell heated so that the metal in the needle" valve and valveseat will V not be materially afiected by changes in outside temperaturesQ Likewise the fuel oil'within'assembly 12 is warmed or heated sufiicientlyto assure proper flow by using material for assembly 12..that is highly .conductive of heat, it is apparent that some heat" is of course transmitted to reservoir 24', By the use offenclosure'lL' t the lowerportion ofconduitIZS, length and the r'ieedle valve structure in fitting'34 arejalljacketed infabody of heated w'ater'which increases the portion j'of assembly fuel oil} 7 2Q Preferably I secure open top shield or'guard enclosure 72 to housing 14 adjacent stack 22in which valve:

, V .in direct I contact with housingl at point 42 the assembly 12, pari V 2. Ina-heater unit of the type'designed foruse out-- be removed from atwatering tank for storage or repairs. i I 7' 4O Q ing and a fuel oil reservoir exposed to the atmosphere, the combination. therewith of an improved needle valve assembly comprising: 7

a fuel oil flow line connected for flow communication to said reservoir and having a discharge end disposed in operable relationship relative to said bu rner means, i

a needle valve seat in said flow line,

a needle valve in saidflow line operable with said- "valve seat and with manual means foradjusting the same,

said'flow line being provided with a vent opening, and

means positioning a portion ofsaid flow line in direct contact with a portion of said housing to receive heat therefrom by conduction for heating said valve at; f"

of-doors incold temperatures to keep water from freezing in a tank or trough, said heater having a submersible housing, a fuel oil burner means for heating saidhous ing and a fuel'oil reservoir exposed to the atmosphere;

the combination therewith of an improved needlevalve assemblycomprisingz" a fuel oil ,fiow line connected forflow communication to said reservoir and havinga discharge end 'dis-.

posed in operable relationship relative tosaid'burn 1 er means,

7 a' needle valve seat infsaid iiowline intermediate the a n th r o 1 a, needle valve in said fiow line operable-'withs'aid valve fseat and with manual means for adjusting the Jsame," 1 r 1 7 a said; flow 'linebeing proyided with a vent o'peningf'and a portion of said "fiow' line adjacent the" location of said needle valve-seat being inpdirect contact with aportion of said housing to receive heat therefrom byconduction for heating said .valve seat) 7 of-doors in cold temperatures totk'e'e'p water'from freez housing 'an 'enclosed fuelioil burner'means for heating said housingand a fuel oil reservoirexposed to the atmosphere, the combination therewith of an improved 7 12 exposedto' a source of hcat and thereby increas es the,

efliciencypof operation'of the fuel flow control.

From the iforegoing description'it 's thought that af} V Ittwill be understood that thephraseol'ogy employed, herein is for the purpose of description and not fon'limi-j tation andtha't modifications and changes in lthe cone to cover by the claims, anymodified-forms of structure ortmechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably in;

7 unitof the;type designedifor use outQ o of-doors? inf i cold temperatures tofl keep water from freez g 1 full understanding of the construction and'opera'tion of this invention will be had andithef advantages-'oftthe-t -Qaneedle valve seat in said flow line,

ing in a tank or trough, said heater having a'sub'mersible needle-valve assemblytcomprisingz V I t a a fuel oil flowv lineconnected for flow communication posted ,within said enclosed, burner means for operable relationship relative thereto,

a needle, valve iinsaid flowvline operable. with s me} a V 7 t v r a d fli i e bei p o e w a n op g, and

1 means positioning a portionof saidflow line .exter iorlyt a 1 of said enclosed burnermeans indirect contact'with v a portion of saidhousing torreceive heat therefrom byqconduotion for heating said valve seat. 4. In a heater .uniLof' the type .designedfor use 1 housing, a fuel i oil burnerrneans for heating. said hous- 'ing and a fuel oil reservoirexposedto theatmosphere,

; struction and arrangement of this invention can be made 7. within the scope of what-fist claimed, without departing} I" from the spiritand purpose'thereof. Itisthus'intended I ithe combinationtherewithfof animprovedneedle valve assembly comprising:

'- afueloil flow line-connectedfor flow communication I to said 'reservoir and "having a' discharge end disrelationshiprelative to said burn-a 1 posed in operable 'ermean 11,. A a'needle-valve seat'insaidflowline,

, .a needle 'yalye in said flowtline operable with v v lve seat and; with manual meansfor adjusting thesame,

3. In aheater unit of the'typedesigned for usev outto said reservoir and haying 'a discharge and dis-.

, valve seat and with inanual'means for'adjusting'the,

ofu -f t of-doorsl in cold temperatures; to keep water from freez' 1 'ing'in a tank or trough, said heater having a submersible said flowlineibeing provided azyt nt opvening fand I means positioning a portion of said flow line in direct contactwith a portion of the exterior of said housing to receive heat therefrom by conduction for heating said valve seat. 5. In a heater unit of the type designed for use outof-doors in cold temperatures to keep Water from freezing in a tank or trough, said heater having a submersible housing, an enclosed fuel oil burner means for heating said housing and a fuel oil reservoir exposed to the atmosphere, the combination therewith of an improved needle valve assembly comprising:

a fuel oil flow line connected for flow communication to said reservoir and having a discharge end disposed within said enclosed burner means for operable relationship relative thereto,

a needle valve seat in said flow line,

a needle valve in said flow line operable with said valve seat and with manual means for adjusting the same,

said flow line being provided with a vent opening, and

means positioning a portion of said flow line exteriorly of said enclosed burner means in direct contact with a portion of the exterior of said housing to receive heat therefrom by conduction for heating said valve seat.

6. In a heater unit of the type designed for use outof-doors in cold temperatures to keep water from freezing in a tank or trough, said heater having a submersible housing, a fuel oil burner means for heating said housing and a fuel oil reservoir exposed to the atmosphere,

to said burner means,

the other end of said flow line being provided with a vent opening,

a needle valve seat in said flow line intermediate said discharge opening and said point of connection to said reservoir,

a needle valve in. said flow line operable with said valve seat, said needle valve including an elongated shank projecting from said other end of said flow line, manually operable control means on said projecting end of said needle valve, and 7 means positioning a portion of said flow line. in direct contact with a portion of said housing to receive heat therefrom by conduction for heating said valv seat. a 7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein: i a an enclosure surrounds said burner means,

said discharge opening in said flow line is within said enclosure, and the point of contact of said flow line with said housing is exteriorly of said enclosure. 8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the point of contact of said flow line with said housing is adjacent the location of said valve seat.

9. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said flow line contacts the exterior of said housing.

10. A device as defined in claim 6 including means on a fuel oil fiow line connected for flow communication to said reservoir and having a discharge end disposed in operable relationship relative to said burner means, i

a needle valve seat in said flow line,

a needle valve in said flow line operable with said valve seat and with manual means for adjusting the same, said flow line being provided with a vent opening, means positioning a portion of said flow line in direct contact with a portion of said housing to receive heat therefrom by conduction for heating said valve seat, and means on said housing engageable with said flow line to hold it against movement relative thereto. 12. In a needle valve assembly for a fuel oil burner V of the type used out-of-doors' in cold temperatures:

an elongated fuel flow line defining an irregular path,

means for attaching said flow line to a source of fuel pp y,

said flow line being provided with a vent opening remote from its point of attachment to a source 'of fuel supply,

said flow line having a discharge end adapted for disposition in operable relationship to a burner-unit,

a needle valve seat in said flow line spaced from said discharge end,

a needle valve in said flow line operable with said valve seat,

means for adjusting said needle valve relative to said valve seat, and

said flow line being provided with means to receive heat supplied by the burner unit with which said discharge end is associated for heating said valve JAMES w, wEsTn vER, Pr i maiy Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A HEATER UNIT OF THE TYPE DESIGNED FOR USE OUTOF-DOORS IN COLD TEMPERATURES TO KEEP WATER FROM FREEZING IN A TANK OR TROUGH, SAID HEATER HAVING A SUBMERSIBLE HOUSING, A FUEL OIL BURNER MEANS FOR HEATING SAID HOUSING AND A FUEL OIL RESERVOIR EXPOSED TO THE ATMOSPHERE, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF AN IMPROVED NEEDLE VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A FUEL OIL FLOW LINE CONNECTED FOR FLOW COMMUNICATION TO SAID RESERVOIR AND HAVING A DISCHARGE END DISPOSED IN OPERABLE RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO SAID BURNER MEANS, A NEEDLE VALVE SEAT IN SAID FLOW LINE, A NEEDLE VALVE IN SAID FLOW LINE OPERABLE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT AND WITH MANUAL MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE SAME, SAID FLOW LINE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VENT OPENING, AND MEANS POSITIONING A PORTION OF SAID FLOW LINE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF SAID HOUSING TO RECEIVE HEAT THEREFROM BY CONDUCTION FOR HEATING SAID VALVE SEAT.

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