US2590674A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1952 c, BODEY I 2,590,674

VALVE Filed Nov. 24', 1948 IINVENTOR. CHflfiLES E. 5005) main valve.

Patented Mar. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT Poi-Flee VALVE Charles E. Bodey, :St. Paul, ;Minn,, assignor 'to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, ,Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1948, SerialNo. 61,868

flow systems wherein fluid is to be supplied from -a single source to two or more devices, .the invention will be described as being applied to a fuel burning system.

In supplying fuel gas to a furnace, wherein there is usually amain burner and a pilot burner for igniting the main burner, it is customary to provide a safety valve which will shut off the newer gas to the main and pilot burners whenever :the flame at the pilot burner becomes extinguished. This is to prevent the escapeofzunburned gas into the surrounding atmosphere and to preventan .explosiondue to the ignitionof this miburned-igas. Also, in order to put the burner back in operation, it is customary to provide in the valve controlling the-flow ofgasto thefurnace amanual preset mechanism which whenoperated, first permits the flow of gas to the pilot burner :and then, after the pilot has'beenburning a.few

seconds, permits the fiow of gas to the main :burn'er. Thi is usually accomplished by having .a .thermopile positioned in the pilot burner so as .to energize an electromagnet'when the pilot is burning .and having the e'lectromagnet so related with the reset mechanism as to permit the return movement of the manual control to open said .Sucha valve is shown in a Joesting Patent 125 118,886, dated May '31, 1938, and numerous other patents well known in the fuel burning art.

.An objeeto'f this invention is :to provide a compactandran inexpensive but .re'liable valve for accomplishing a :safety reset of the fuel delivery means of-a gas burning furnace.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a safety reset valve which has an adjustable means for varying the drop-out point of the .electromagnet, that is, the degree of energization of the e'lectromagnet which permits the armature holding thezvalve in'its open position to leave the .electromagnetand thus close-the valve.

A further obiec't of the invention is to provide a pilot'outlet tapping in the valve body which is readily connectable to most any gas furnace installation.

A stillrfurther object of the invention is to provide a fluidfiow ,control'valve that is readily dis assenibletl and reassembled and "wherein the 818-- merits :of the valve 'are simple, sturdy and of durable construction.

Additional objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description :of the invention in conjunction with the:aeeompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is :a *cross sectional View :of the fluid :c'ontroldevice Figure 2 across-sectional view ofa portion-oi :the fluid :flow:contro'l device takenalong line 22 :ofiFigui-e 1;; and

Figures 3, .4 and 5 'are schematic illustrations of the relative positions assumeliiby the elements of the :control "device during the actuation orthe :device from its :closed :position to its operative position.

The inventionzcomprisesa valve 'body [I havin'g a threaded :inlet 1 2, a'threaded outlet 1:3 for discharging :a large amount of fluid, .tas to a main burner of :a .furnace, and a threaded ioutlet :M .ior (discharging asmaller amount of fluid, as to .pilo't burner.

A partition :15 ."has a valve seat luatthe upstream end of the outlet l 3 :andavalve seat Hatthe upstreamend of'thenutle'tM. .The

body is open at its top, as shown at I8, :while surface of said bottom.

An inverted cup-shaped partition 22 has an outwardly flanged portion which rests on the top wall of the valve body with a gasket23 therebetween. This partition has bearing members "24 and 25 staked in openings therein in axial alignment with the valve seats I 6 and I1, respectively.

A main valve 26, having a covering of rubber or other relatively soft material 26a, rests on the valve seat 136. The valve has a stem 21 which ex tends through the-bearing member 24 to provide guided axial movement of the valve away from =and-toward the valve seat. Aspring 28 surrounds the lower portion of the bearing member 24 and bear against the under side of the partition "22 at one .end thereof .and against an upwardly cupped shoulder member 29 staked to the valve 216. This spring normally holds the valve 26 against the valve. seat I5.

, valve '30, also made of relatively soft mate- :rial and which normally engages thevalve seat 11, is secured to a valve stem 3|. The stem extends through the inner portion of the outlet passage 54, through the bore '20 and] through the recess 2| to a point beyond the bottom sur 3 face of the body. The outer end of the stem 3| is screwthreaded at 32 and has a screwthreaded bore 33 extending inwardly from the outer end. A sleeve-like knob 34 is internally threaded and mounted for axial adjustment on the threaded portion 32 of the stem 3|. A look screw 35 has a head portion, which bears against the lower end of the knob 34, and a body portion, which extends upwardly inside of said knob and into screwthreaded engagement with the threaded bore 33 for locking the knob 34 in its adjusted position on the stem 3|. A spring 36 bears against the upper end of the knob 34 and extends upwardly into recess 2| and into engagement with packing washers 31 to sealingly compress packing 38 against the body and against the stem 3 I, to prevent the escape of gas through the bore 20. It is thus seen that by loosening the lock screw 35 and by adjusting the knob 34, the pressure that the spring 36 exerts in a valve closing direction may be varied to satisfy any particular need. A removable sleeve ||a frictionally engages a portion of the body H to protect the stem 3| and knob 34 from damaging blows and accidental actuation thereof.

An inverted cup-shaped sealing housing 39 has an outwardly extending flange 40, extending parallel to the flange on the partition member 22, and a downwardly extending flange 4| which surrounds the upper marginal portion of the valve body. A gasket 42 is positioned between flange 43 and the flange on the partition member 22. The housing, the partition and the gaskets are all clamped to the top portion of the valve body by means of a plurality of screws 43 passing through aligned holes in said members and screwthreaded into the bores l9.

An electromagnet, generally designated by the reference numeral 44, the details of which form no portion of this invention, is suitably secured to the top portion of the housing 39 by means, not shown. The coil of this relay is adapted to be sufliciently energized to hold a cooperating valve-supporting armature by the current generated by a small thermopile not shown. The leads from the electromagnets coil are adapted to be connected to the leads from the thermopile through a suitable terminal block (not shown) mounted on the housing 39.

The armature 45, which cooperates with the electromagnet 44, is loosely staked to, the upper end of a stem 46 so as to assure complete contact of the upper surface of the armature against the poles on the el ctromagnet. Stem 46 extends downwardly through the -bearing member 25 and carries a pivot pin 4'| at its lower end.

Referring now to Figure 2, as well as Figure 1, mechanism whereby the armature 45 is moved into engagement with the electromagnet 44 and the main valve is caused to be opened will now bedescribed. A yoke member 48 has an opening 49 in the upper surface thereof, through which the stem 48 is vertically slidable, and is riveted or otherwise secured to the upper side of the valve 30. The yoke has two vertical side walls 48a which are vertically slotted at 50 to slidably receive the ends of the pivot 41 extending outwardly from the stem 45. This slot therefore provides relative movement between the armature and the valve 30 for a purpose to be presently described. An end wall 48b of the yoke member has a vertical slot 5| to slidably receive a free end of a floating lever 52, now to be described. 1

The floating lever 52 comprises two laterally spaced arms 52a bridged by a horizontally extending portion 52b. The left hand ends of the arms 52a are outwardly bowed, so as to straddle the body portion of the valve 26, and are longitudinally slotted at 53 to slidably receive a pin 54 extending through the valve body and the stem 21. The slot is to provide slight transverse movement of the lever 52 with respect to the stem as the lever 52 is pivoted. The intermediate portion of the lever 52 extends between the side walls 48a of the yoke member with the outer free end of the lever extending through the slot 5| in the wall 48b of the yoke member. Lever 52 is pivoted on the armature stem 46 by the pivot 41. The coaction of the elements of a device, as well as their structural dimensions, will become clear upon reading how the valve operates, which will now be described.

Operation With the valve of this invention installed in a gas heating system, such as a domestic heating system, with the inlet 2 connected to a source of gas supply, the outlet I3 connected to a main burner, the outlet |4 connected to a pilot burner, and the leads to the electromagnet 44 connected to a thermopile heated by said pilot burner, the heating system will be in its shutdown condition due to the fact that the pilot valve 3|) and the main valve 26 are in their closed positions, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

To place the heating system into operation, the knob 34 is shoved inwardly as far as it will go, that is, until the armature 45 engages the electromagnet 44, as illustrated in Figure 4. Gas will thus be permitted to flow from the inlet l2 past the valve 38 and out through the outlet l4 to the pilot burner, where the gas may be ignited manually or by a remote ignition means, not shown. It will be noted that when the armature has been moved to engagement with the electromagnet 44, yoke member 48 has been moved to its uppermost position and the floating lever 52 has been pivoted about pivot 54 to an angular relationship with respect to the stems 3|, 46 and 21 with the upper surface of the free end close to or in engagement with the upper end of the slot 5|. The spring 28 will hold the valve 26 against the valve seat I6 during this lifting movement of the valve 30 and armature 45. The knob 34 must be held in this uppermost positionfor a time sufficient to allow energization of the electromagnet by the thermopile. This time is usually of only a few minutes duration at the most. Upon the electromagnet becoming energized, releasing of the knob 34 will permit the spring 36 to move the valve 30 toward its seat H with the pivot 41 sliding in slot 50. Downward movement of the stem 3| will cause the yoke 48 at the upper end of slot 5| to bear down on the free end of the lever 52 and rock said lever about pivot 47 to raise the valve 26 against the bias of spring 28 as illustrated in Figure 5. The relative strengths of the springs 36 and 28 are such that spring 35 can overcome spring 28 an amount sufiicient to move the valve 26 to its wide open position but not permit the valve 38 to move to its closed position. It will thus be seen that the pivot 4! will assume a position substantially midway the length of the slot 50. Dueto the shorter distance between the pivot 41 and the slot 5| than between the pivot 41 and the pivot 54', yoke member 48 will return a smaller distance after the top of the slot 5| envalves for any pilot burner installation.

" anemone 'electromagnet 44. This causes'the closing of both valves 39 and 26 due to'the bias of bothspring 28 and spring 36. Also, should the pilot burner become clogged so as to give aninadequate flame for heating the thermopile up to its normal operating temperature, a dangerous condition would then exist due to the fact that the pilot flame would probably be unable to ignite the main burner. Therefore, it is desirable that the drop out value or degree of energization of the electromagnet be adjustable so as to assure proper dropping out of the armature and closing of the This adjustment is provided in the present invention by the adjustable knob 34 varying the compression of the spring 36. If it is desired that the armature drop out when the pilot flame drops only a small amount below its normal intensity, the knob 34 will be screwed inwardly on thestem 3! to increase the compression of the sprin 36. If it is desired that the armature drop out only if the flame goes out or drops considerably below the normal flame intensity, the knob 34 will be adjusted outwardly on the stem 3|.

Shutdown of the furnace may be accomplished by manually pulling the knob 34 outwardly so as to pull the armature '45 away from the electromagnet, or by extinguishing the pilot flame manually, or by disconnecting one of the leads from the thermopile to the terminal block 'on the valve.

Conclusion From the above detailed description of the 'invention, it is apparent that this new valve provides safe starting of a furnace as well as ready installation in the furnace system and provides means for externally adjusting the valve so as to vary the dropout value of the safety control mechanism.

As various modifications may be made of the present invention by those skilled in the art, -.without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be outlet, a second valve having a stem extending through a portion of said second outlet and 3 normally biasingsaid second valve :into .sealing engagement with the inner end of said second outlet, a housing superimposed around :said partition .and supporting; :an electromagnet generally above a second guide opening in said :partiti'on, "an armature cooperable with said xelectromagnet and having a stem extending through said second guide opening, said electromagnet being strong enough when energized to hold butJnotJattract said armature, .a lever pivoted :at one :end

to .said main valve and connected intermediate its ends to the lower end of :said armature stem by a pivot, and a yoke secured to said second valve, said yoke having an axially extending slot through which said pivot extends and ca laterally spaced slot through which the other end of said lever extends, said slots being .nf such length and position as to enable said sec ond valve stem and yoke to be 'manuallyinoved to position said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and to rotate said :lever about its pivotal connection with saidmain valve and, when released with said armature being held 'by saidelectromagnet, to 'enablersaid yoke to engage said other end of said .lever and rotate lever so as to move .said main valve open while preventing the complete return of said second valve to its seating position.

2. A fluid control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the abutment on the outer end of said secondary valve stem is longitudinallyadjustable on said stem.

3. A fluid flow control device comprising 'a body having an open side, an inlet in said body, a main outlet and a second outlet in said body, a partition spanning said open side and having spaced guide openings therein, a main valve having a stem extending through one of :said openings, a spring between said valve and said partition normally biasing said valve into sealing relationship with said main outlet, :a second valve having a stern extending through a portion of said second outlet and through the bottom of said body, a spring positioned between said body and an abutment on the outer endzo'f said second valve stem and'normally biasing said second valve into sealing engagement with .said second outlet, a housing superimposed around said partition and supporting an electromagnet generally above a second guide opening in said partition, an armature vcooperable with said electromagnet and having a stem extending through said second guide opening, said electromagne't being strong enough when energized to hold but not attract said armature, a lever pivoted at one end to said main valve and connected intermediate its ends to the lower end of said armature stem by a pivot, and a yoke secured to said second valve, said yoke having an axially "extending slot through which said pivot extends and a laterally spaced slot through which the other end of said lever extends, said slots "being of such length and position as to enable saids'econd valve stem and yoke to be manually moved to position said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and to rotate said lever about its-pivotal connection with said main valve and, when released with said armature being held by said electromagnet, to enable said yoke to engage said other end or" said lever and rotate said lever so as to move said main valve open while preventing the complete return of said second valve to itsseating position.

4. A fluid flow control device comprising a body having an open top, an inlet in said body, a main outlet and a second outlet insaid body, a cup-shaped partition spanning said open top and having spaced guide openings therein, a main valve having a stem extending through one of said openings, a spring between said valve and said partition normally biasing said valve into sealing relationship with said main outlet, a second valve having a stem extending through the bottom of said body, a spring positioned between said body and an abutment on the outer end of said second valve stem and normally biasing said second valve into sealing engagement with the inner end of said second outlet, a housing covering said partition and supporting an electromagnet generally above a second guide opening in said partition, an armature cooperable with said electromagnet and having a stem extending through said second guide opening, said electromagnet being strong enough when energized to hold but not attract said armature, a lever pivoted at one end to said main valve and connected intermediate its ends to the lower end of said armature stem by a pivot, and a yoke operably engaging said second valve and having an axially extending slot through which said pivot extends and a laterally spaced slot through which the other end of said lever extends, said slots being of such length and position as to enable said second valve stem and yoke to be manually moved to position said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and to rotate said lever about its pivotal connection with said main valve and, when released with said armature being held by said electromagnet, to enable said yoke to engage said other end of said lever and rotate said lever so as to move said main valve open while preventing the complete return of said second valve to its seating position.

5. A fluid flow control device comprising a body having an open side, an inlet in said body, a main outlet and a second outlet in said body, a partition spanning said open side and having spaced guide openings therein, a main valve having a stem extending through one of said openings, a spring between said valve and said partition normally biasing said valve into sealing relationship with said main outlet, a second valve having a stem extending through the bottom of said body, a spring positioned between said body and an abutment on the outer end of said second valve stem and normally biasing said second valve into sealing engagement with said second outlet, a housing covering said partition and supporting an electromagnet generally above a second guide opening in said partition, an armature cooperable with said electromagnet and having a stem extending through said second guide opening, said electromagnet being capable of holding but not attracting said armature, a lever pivoted at one end to said main valve and connected intermediate its ends to the lower end of said armature stem by a pivot, and a yoke secured to said second valve, said yoke having an axially extending slot through which said pivot extends and a laterally spaced slot through which the other end of said lever extends, one end of said axially extending slot being engageable with said pivot in said armature stem for lifting said armature into engagement with said electromagnet when said second valve is opened and one end of the laterally spaced slot being engageable with said other end of said lever only when said armature is being held by said electromagnet and said second valve stem is free to return toward its normal sealing position.

6. In a valve, the combination comprising a valve body having two valve seats, a first valve biased toward one of said seats, a second valve biased toward said second seat, an armature, an electromagnet capable of holding but not attracting said armature, a lever pivoted to said first valve and to said armature cooperating therewith, a yoke member connected to said second valve and having a first lost motion connection with said armature and a second lost motion connection with said lever, and a manual actuator connected to said second valve, said first lost motion connection being operable to lift said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and said lever almost into engagement with said yoke at said second lost motion connection and said second lost motion connection being operable to pivot said lever about its pivotal connection with said armature to open said first valve and partially return said second valve toward its seat under the bias of said second valve when said armature is being held by said electromagnet.

7. In a valve, the combination comprising a valve body having two valve seats, a first valve biased toward one of said seats, a second valve biased toward said second seat, an armature, an electromagnet capable of holding but not attracting said armature, a lever pivoted to said first valve and to said armature, a yoke member connected to said second valve and having a first lost motion connection with said armature for lifting said armature and a second lost motion connection with said lever for lifting said first valve by rocking said lever about its pivotal connection with said armature when said armature is held by said electromagnet, and an actuator connected to said second valve and extending to the exterior of said valve body.

8. In a control device having a first and a second control member and a condition responsive unit capable of holding said control members in their operating position but incapable of moving them to said position, the improvement comprising a lever pivoted to said first control member and to a portion of said condition responsive unit, a yoke connected to said second control member, said yoke having a first lost motion connection with said portion of said condition responsive unit and a second lost motion connection with said lever, and means for moving said second control member to place said portion and said second control member in operative position, said means being operable through said lost motion connections to move said first control member to its operative position only if said condition responsive means is holding said portion thereof and said second control member in operative position.

9. In a control device having a first and a second control member, and a condition responsive unit capable of holding said control members in their operating position but incapable of moving said members to said position, the improvement comprising a lever pivoted to said first control member and to a movable portion of said condition responsive unit, a yoke connected to said second control member, said movable portion of said yoke having a pin and slot connection with said condition responsive unit for moving said second member and said portion to operating positions and a lost motion connection with said lever for rocking said lever and moving said first member to its operating position, and means for manually moving said second control member into operating position and for returning it to its inoperative position when released by said condition responsive unit.

9 10. A value comprising a valve body having tw valve seats, a main valve biased toward one of said seats, a second valve having a stem extending through a wall of said body, an actuating member on the outer end of said stem for moving said second valve to an open position and having means for axial adjustment thereof on said stem, resilient means between said member and said body biasing said stem outwardly and said second valve towards its seat, means capable of holding said valves in their open position but incapable of moving said valves to said position, and lost motion connecting means between said main and second valve for actuating said main valve to its open position by return movement of said second valve part way toward its seating position when said holding means is in its valve holding condition.

11. A valve comprising a valve body having two valve seats, a main valve biased toward one of said seats, a second valve having a stem extending through a wall of said body, a manual- 1y operable member on the outer end of said stem having means for axial adjustment thereof on said stem, means between said member and said body biasing said stem outwardly and said second valve towards its seat, condition re sponsive means capable of releasably holding said valves in their open position but unable to move said valve to said position, and means between said main and second valve for actuating said main valve to its open position by movement of said second valve part way toward its seating position when said holding means is in its valve holding condition.

12-. A control device comprising a first control member movable between operating and incperating positions, means biasing said first control member to its inoperating position, a second control member manually movable between opcrating and inoperating positions, means biasing said second control member to' its inoperating position, condition responsive means capable of holding but incapable of moving said valves into their operating positions, a lever pivoted at one of its ends to said first control member and intermediate its ends to a movable portion of said 7 condition responsive means, means movable by said second control member for moving said portion into operating position and being separable therefrom, said last mentioned means having an abutment thereon normally spaced from the other end of said lever but engageable with sald other end when said movable portion is held in operating position, said second mentioned biasing means being sufficiently strong that, when said second control means is free to move in response thereto and only when said movable portion is held in operating position, it is capable of engaging and rotating said lever about its intermediate pivot and move said first control member to its operating position against the action of its biasing means.

13. A control device as defined in claim 12 wherein said second control means is substantially in axial alignment with said movable portion of said condition responsive means.

CHARLES E. BODEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,268,960 Ray Jan. 6, 1942 2,354,704 Ray Aug. 1, 1944 2,363,073 Mantz Nov. 21, 1944 2,375,517 Blauvelt May 8, 1945 2,427,935 Van Denberg Sept. 23, 1947 2,481,265 Van Denberg Sept. 6, 1949

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