USRE12046E - Water-heater controlling and reversing valve - Google Patents

Description

Reissued Oct. 2|, I902.

F. W. BUBERTSHAW. WATER HEATER CONTROLLING. AND REVERSING VALVE.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1902.)

I l nveizzair heaterspipe 5, which may be of anydesired the straight pipe shown, or aof; and Fig. 3.is a

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFI E.

FREDERIoK W.

ROBERTSHAW, OF PITTSBURG, PE NSYLVANIA."

WATER-HEATER CQNT ROLLlNG AND. REVERSING VALVE.

- SPECIFICATION-forming part of Reissued lizetters Patent No. 12,046,dated0ctober,21, 1902.

Original No. 692,480, dated February 4, 1902- Application for reissue filed August 28, 190 2. Serial No. 121,402. I

To all whom'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. ROBE T- SHAW, a resident-of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water- Heater Controlling and Reversing Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a controlling and reversing valve for water-heaters; and its object is to provide a valve of this description which will reverse the flow of Water through the reservoir and heater when hot water is being drawn, whereby the hot water in the reservoir is made .to pass through the heater pipe or coil, so that it is reheated therein, and

the heater pipe or coil is cleaned of any sediment which has been deposited therein at each drawing of the hot water, thus preventing the accumulation of sediment in the heater-pipe and reservoir and keeping the heaterpipe clean, so that the heating efficiency thereof is maintained; I v

A further object of my invention is to provide a controlling and reversing valve for this purpose which is so constructed that the hot water will not be wasted by reason of a leaky faucet on the hot water service -pipe 'and which will insure the entire closing of the circulation-port before the feed-port is opened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing a reservoir and heater with my improved valve applied thereto-.- Fig. 2' isa vertical section through thevalve, showing on e position theresimilar view showing the position of the valve when hot water is being drawn. l r a I have shown my invention used in connection with an ordinary water reservoir-or boiler 1, supported upon a suitable stand orbraclget 2 and provided at its lower end with the drainpipe 3. The reservoir is connected at its top end by the pipe 4 withthe'upper'end-ot the form, such as coil, or of any known form. This ,pipe is shown asinclosed in the casing 6, in the lower end 'of. which is thegas-b'urnei' 7, supplied through the pipeS. and said casing is provided at its upper end with the draft-outlet hot-water service-pipe 17 preferably 9. My invention, however, is not limited tothe precise form of heater shown, as inlicu of the pipe and gas-heater shown anyfor'm of heater may be employed-such, for instance, as the ordinary coil located in the water-back of a range or a heater-pipe of any known form andheated in anyknown manner.

My improved valve is shown at 10, and the same comprises a suitable casing provided with a cylindrical chamber ,llyinwhich the valve mechanism works, said casing having a feed-port 12 at its lower end, to which the cold-water pipe is connected, and being provided with two side ports at different heights, one of which, 13, is the main circulatingeport and is connected to the lower end of the heaterpipe 5 by a pipe 14, while the other-port, 15,

is the secondary circulating-port and is con-s nected to the lower end of the boiler 1 by a pipe 16, which projects downwardly into the boiler, with the endihereof in close proximity to the lower head of the boiler, as shown,.

whereby the cold water is discharged near. the bottom of the boiler tostir up any-sediment which may accumulate therein. The

is connected to the pipe 14 between the valve 10 and the heater-pipe 5. l The valve-chamber 11 is shown as of a larger diameter at its lower end than at its upper end, and in this chamber works the double piston valve 18, said valve comprising the lower piston 19, which works in the enlarged portion of the valve-chamber, and the upper piston 20, which seats in the smaller portion of the valve-chamber. The valve is provided withjthe guide-stem 21, projecting into the opening 22 in the cap 23, and the piston is further provided with the guiding arms or projections 24. A spiral spring surrounds the stem 21 and bears with its ends against the cap 23 and the piston 20, said spring serving to hold the piston-valve normally in its lowermost position,asshown-iu Fig.2. The

leak port 26.

' a The operation of the valve is as follows: When theQf'aucet in the hot-water servicepipe is elosed,'the valve will be held by the spring 25 in the position shown in Fig.2, with and the circulation- In this position the the Iced-port 12 closed ports Band 15 open.

Y 11, and from thence through port 13 and pipe cold water from the lower end of the reser-' voir 1 will pass up through the pipe 16, through the port 15 into thevalve-chamber 14 into the heating-pipe 5, from which the hot water passes through the pipe 4- into the upper end ,of the reservoir. Should the faucet in the hot-water pipe 17 leak, theloss of water' tvill be supplied through the safety-opening 26 1111115! piston 19, and inasmuch as the hot-water-pipe 17 is connected to the pipe 14 between t e regulating-valve and the heater.

the only. ter which passes through the pipe 14 in this position of the valve will, be the cold water comiugeither'from the lower end of the reservoir or through the safety-opening 26, and it will be this cold will leak out at the faucet in the hot-water service-pipe, so that a wasting of the hot water is impossible. Theopening 26 also allows anyexcess pressure which maybe generated in the boiler 1, due to the overheating of the water, to pass back to the main through: the feed-port 12, so that said opening 26 serves asa safety device and prevents explosions. As soon as the faucet in the service-pipe is opened to draw hot water the pressure on the two sides of the piston-valve will'be unbalanced and the pressure in the feed-pipe will overcome the tension of the spring 25 and the valve will be forced upward against the tension of said spring to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this passes into the smaller portion of the cham her 11, and as this upper piston-valve is not provided with a leak or safety port the pass sage through the valve to the circulation-port 13- is entirely out 011. The cold water entering the valve through port 12 flows out through the port 15 and pipe 16 into the lower end of -the reservoir 1, thereby forcing the hot water in the upper end of the boiler through the pipe 4 and heater-pipe and out" through the hot-water service-pipe 17, thereby completely reversing the course of the water through the heater-pipe andcarrying out any sediimentiwhich may have become deposited therein during the normal condition of the valve, As is well known, the sediat a high temperature of the.

ment deposits water, when the wateractsas a preci pi tant,and this precipitation usually takes place in the heater pipe or sediment therein is carried out each time the hot water is drawn, the efliciency of the heater is maintained, and an accumulation of sediment in the heater or reservoiris prevented.

Furthermore, by reversing the course of the water the hot boiler first water from 'the upper end of the the service-pipe,'so'that it is reheated and water" which position the upper valve 20 diameter instead if the lower part 19 of said coil, so that by reversing the water through the said heater pipe or coil the" passes to the service-pipe 17, so" that it is impossible to draw cold water at the shot-water faucet, andthis results' c'ould l water of a high temperature is insured. The

cold water in this position of the valve enters the reservoir through the pipe 16 and is projected thereby down to the bottom of the res ervoir, so that the cold Water will always lie at the bottom of the reservoir, and as long as there is any hot water in-tlie latter it will be forced out of the boiler through the heater before the cold water can reach the latter. Furthermore, the current of water entering through the pipe 16 will stir up any sediment that may have accumulated in the bottom of the reservoir to be carried up and out through the hot-water pipe 17. Y

The regulating-valve is .so constructed and proportioned that the piston entirely cuts oflf the circulation-port 13 before the feed-port 12 is opened to-the valve-chamber, thus absolutely preventing cold water, from flowing from the feed-pipe up through the valve-casing and to the service-pipe when the The extent of the hot-water faucet is open.

valve 18 against upward movement of the the tension of the spring 25 will'dependupon variations of pressure in the main and also upon the quantity of water-per minute which is being drawn from the hot-water fauwonldbe broken and the pressures'on the two sides of the piston-valve 19 would be mo-' mentarily equalized, so that therewouldbe a constant movement ofthe valve and aconstant change from hot.to cold water at the hot-water faucet. This is entirely avoided by so constructing and proportioning the valve that the circulating-port is entirely closed before the feed-port is opened. It is evident that thefsameresnlts would be secured l9 and 20 were of the same. of unequal diameters, as

I ID

if the piston-valves shown; but for'lo'ngevity and to'guard against low pressures the lower piston-valve 19,which might be called the drivin -piston, is enlarged to avoid any possible chance of sticking. The upper portion 20 of the valve need be no'large-r than the-area of the size of pipes orfit'tings used to insure full circulation, and

valve were not enlarged it would not be reliable. It is also evident that instead of using a double-piston valve, such as shown, a single-piston valve can be made to perform-all of the functions of the double-piston valve, andI do not do sire myinve'nt'ion to be limited to the double-' piston valve diameters; neither do I desirmmy inventton limited to the leak or safety through the lower piston-valve, a'sft esame by=passin the valve-casing around said piston-valve 19, said by-pass connecting the;

shown'nor to a valve ofunequal;

be accomplished byliaving a feed-port 12 with any other suitable partas, for instance, with th port 15 or the chainber 11, or even with the circulating-port 13.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a water-heater, a reservoir, a heater pipe, connections betweeusaid heater-pipe and reservoir, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe connected thereto,,con nections between the valvecasing and the reservoir and between the valve-casing and the heater pipe, a servicepipe connected to the last-named connection, and automatic valve mechanism in said casiug adapted to insure a circulation of water downwardly through the reservoir and upwardly through the heaterpipe when the service-pipe is closed, and to reverse the circulation when the servicepipe is opened whereby the previously-heated water passes from the reservoir down through the heaterpipe. 1

2. In a water-heater, a reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between said heater-pipe and reservoir, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe connected to the same, said valve-casing being provided with circulation-ports connected respectively to the reservoir and the heaterpipe, a service -pipe connected to the last-- named connection, a valve in said casing and controlling the said ports said valve being arranged to maintain a circulation of water downwardly through the reservoir and upwardly through the heater-pipe when the service-pipe is closed and to reverse the'circulation when the service-pipe is opened whereby the previously-heated water passes from the reservoir down through the heater-pipe, and a safety or leak port or passage between the valve-chamber and feed-pipe. S

3. .In a water-heater, a reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between said reservoir and heater-pipe, a valve-casing; a feed-pipe connected to the same, said valve-casing being provided with circulating-ports connected respectively to the reservoirand to the heaterpipe, a service-pipe connected to the lastnamed connection, and a piston-valve provided with a leak or safety port in said casing, said piston-valve controlling the ports in the valve-casing and arranged to maintain a circulation of water downwardly through the reservoir and upwardly through the heaterpipe when theservice-pipe is closed and to reverse the circulation when the service-pipe is opened, whereby the previously-heated water passes from the reservoir down through the heater-pipe.

4. In a water-heater, a. reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between said reservoir and:

heater-pipe, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe connected thereto, said valve-casing being provided with circulation-ports connected respectively to the reservoir and to the heater-pipe,

a service-pipeconuected to the last-named connection, and a valve in said casing, said valve being arranged to close the feed-pipe port and open the circulation-port when the service-pipe is closed and to close the circnlating-port before opening the feed-port when the service-pipe is opened, whereby the course of the water through the reservoir and heater is reversed and the fiowof cold water to the service-pipe prevented. v

5. In a water-heatena reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between saidreservoir and heater-pipe, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe C011,

nected thereto, said valve-casing being provided with circulation-ports connected respectively to the reservoir and to the heater-' pipe, a service-pipe connected to the lastnamed connection, a valve in said casing and controlling the said ports, said valve when the servicepipe is closed closing the feedpipe and maintaining the circulating-ports open ,and when the service-pipe'is opened said valveopening the feed-port and closing the pipe, conuections'betweeu said reservoir and heater-pipe, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe connected thereto, said valve-casing beingprovided with circulation-ports connected respectively to the reservoir and to the heaterpipe, a service-pipe connected to the lastnamed connection, and a double-piston valve in said casing and controlling the said ports, one of said piston-valves provided with a leak or safety port and arranged to close the feedwater pipe when theservice-pipe is closed,

and the other of said piston-valves being arranged when p the service-pipe is opened to first close the port leading to the heater in advanceof the first-named piston. opening the feed-water pipe, whereby the current of water to the reservoir and boiler is reversed. V 7. In a water-heater, a reservoir,a heaterepipe, connections between said reservoir and heater-pipe, a valve-casing, a feed-pipe connected to the same, a pipe connecting the valve to the reservoir, said pipe projecting into the reservoirclose to the bottom thereof,

con nectionsbetween the valve-casing and the heater-pipe, a service-pipe connected to the last-named connection, and automatic valve mechanism in said casing adapted to maintain a circulation of water downwardly through the reservoir and upwardly through the heater-pipe when the service-pipe is closed and to reverse the circulation when the service-pipe is open, whereby the previouslyheated water passes from the reservoir down through the heater-pipe.

8. In a water-heater, a reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between said heater-pipe and reservoir, a. valve-casing,afeed-pipe connected thereto, and connections between the valve-casing'and the reservoir and between the valve-casing and" the heater-pipe, a servand to'reverse the circulation when the serv-v heater-pipe, a valve-casing, a'feed-pipe connected to the same, said valve-casing .being provided withcirculating-ports connected re spectively to the reservoir and to the heaterpipe, a service-pipe con nected to draw the water from the base of the heater without passing through the valve-casing, and a pistonvalve provided witha leak or safety port in said casing, said piston-valve controlling the ports in the valve-casing and arranged to maintain a circulationof water downwardly through the reservoir and npwardlythrough the heater-pipe when'the service-pipe is closed ice-pipe is open, whereby the previously-heat ed water passes from the reservoir down through the heater-pipe.

10. In awater-heater, a reservoir, a heaterpipe, connections between said reservoir and heater-pipe, a valve-casings feed-pipeconnected'thereto, said valve-casing being pro vid'ed with circulation -.ports connected respectively to the reservoir andto the heaterpipe, 9. service-pipe connected to draw the water from. the base of the'heater without ass ingth'rongh the valve-casing, anda valv in said casing, said valve being arranged to close 4 the feed-pipe port and to open the circulating-port when the service-pipe is'closed and to close the circulating-port before opening the feed-port when the service-pipe is open, whereby the courseof the water through the of the circulation-ports in advance of opening'the feed-pipe port,

12. A valve for water-heaters and the like, comprising a valve-casing provided with a feed-port and with two circulation-ports, anda double-piston valve in said casing and-controlling said ports, one of said pistons being providedwith a leak or safety port and arranged to close the feed-port when the valve is in one position, and the other of' said pistons beingarranged when the valve is moved to the other position to close one of the oirculating-ports in advance ofthe first-named piston opening saidfeed-port.

13,. A valve for water-heaters and the like, comprising a valve-casing having a feed-port andtwo circulating-ports arranged in d-ifierent planes, a piston-valve in said casing and controlling the said ports, said pisthnvalve "being exposed on one face to the pressure from the feed-pipe, a spring or the like'f or normally holding said piston-valve seated to close the feed-port, said piston being arranged'to close the feed-port and openthe circulation-ports when in one position, and when moved to the other position to close communication between the circulating-ports -be-

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