US2422368A - Electromagnetic reset valve - Google Patents

Description

w. RAY

ELECTROMAGNETIC RESET VALVE Jime 17, 1947 Filed June 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1/11/1111 I v I Iimaentor: W/u/AM 4. R4 Y. Y attorney.

June 17, 1947- v w. A. RAY 2,422,368

ELECTROMAGNETIC RESET VALVE Filed June 5, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w/zg ll 2,

' Snoentor W/u/AM 4. IQAY,

B r attorney Patented June 17, 1947 ELECTROMAGNETIC RESET VALVE 'William A. Ray, Glendale, Callf., assignmto General Controls 00., a corporation Application June 5, 1943, Serial No. 489,801

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a reset valve for fluid fuels. Such reset valves are used in fuel supply systems to ensure against flow of fuel to the burner unless a pilot flame is lit. A valve of this character is usually arranged to be maintained open by an electromagnet energized by a thermocouple, or a thermopile in the pilot flame. Then the main cock maybe turned on and off, as desired, the .pilot flame serving to ignite the fuel passing through the main burner whenever opened.

If the pilot flame should be extinguished, the safety valve closes. To re-establish the fuel supply, the safety valve may be manually reset to open position and held in the open position until the pilot flame is ignited. If the flamefor any reason fails to ignite, release of the reset valve causes the valve to close again; and a resetting operation must be again attempted.

A safety valve of this'general character is described ln an application filed in the name of William A. Ray, on February 4, 1941, Serial No. 377,274, entitled Reset valveand control therefor." I

It is an object of this invention to provide such a valve of compact and simplified construction and having an improved mode of operation;

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to control the passage of fuel to the pilot burner during the resetting operation, in a convenient and simple manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reset valve including a main valve, and a supplemental valve for independently controlling a pilot burner, and having a single actuator which is optionally operable for operating the main valve or the supplemental valve.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a reset valve including a main valve and a safety valve, and so arranged that operation of the main valve acts directly to actuate the safety valve.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a reset valve arranged to give an indication when the main or manually operable valve is closed.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the the cock is' I invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, slncethe scope of this invention is best defined bythe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a valve incorporating the invention;

' Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sections as seenon correspondinglynumbered planes of Fig. l;

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the valve in a difierent operating position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section as seen on plane 66 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram indicating the various operating positions of the mainvalve closure.

This valve is of the type for controlling the fluid fuel supply to a burner which is intermittently operated, a constantly lighted pilot burner being provided for igniting the main burner after periods of inactivity.

The valve structure comprises a main valve 3 4 which is manually operable for optionally controlling the supply of fuelto a main burner (not shown). Obviously it is important to provide 25 means whereby, upon extinguishment of the main burner and of .the pilot burner, the supply of fuel to these burners is interrupted. Further, means must be provided for preventing re-establishment of the supply to the main burner until the pilot burner has been relighted. For this purpose, a

safety valve l is provided controlling the passage of fuel through the valve and adapted to be retained in open position by an electromagnet 2 energized in response toelectricity generated by the heat of the pilot burner flame in 'a well known manner, as by a thermocouple (not shown). Upon the extinguishment of the pilot burner for any reason, coil 2 is de-energized, permitting valve l to close, and stopping all fuel supply to the burners. To avoid a dangerous condition when the valve l is opened, the means for opening valve I are soarranged that main valve 3 must be closed before the valve I can be opened. Further, before valve 3 can be opened, without permitting valve I to close, the pilot burner must be lighted to energize magnet 2 to re-- tain valve I in open position. To permit a'fuel supply to the pilot burner when valve l is open and before valve 3 is opened, a by-pass 4 is provided in valve 3. To facilitate proper lighting of the pilot burner and to make it possible toprevent'supply of fuel to the pilot burner until the operator is ready, a supplemental valve 5 is provided in by-pass 4, which is automatically closed when the main valve 3 closes, but-which from inlet ii to outlet it regardless of the reging a pair of cams 2% is formed on aaaaees may be opened before valve 3 is opened. However, means are provided so that, when the main valve 3 is open, supplemental valve 5 is maintained open. -A common actuating means 8 is provided for valves 3 and 5, being arranged for movement in one plane to open and close valve 3 and for movement in a direction out or this plane to open valve 5.

The valve structure comprises an elongated body it having axially aligned threaded o it and 82 at itsopposite ends for connection to suitable conduits and forming, respectively, the inlet and outlet. Between the inlet and outlet openings ii and i2 is a transverse opening it, closed by a detachable cover id. There is also a boss i5 extending transversely of body It and forming a seat it for a tapered rotary vplug El, and a web wall it, the boss l5, plug l1, and wall is serving to interrupt communication between the inlet Hand outlet ii. To establish communication between the inlet and the outlet, plug H has an axial port it adapted to connect with inlet ii and intersected by a radial port 28 adapted to connect with outlet 52 through port?! in the boss l3. Rotation of plug it in seat id serves to place ports 28 and 2E into or out of registry as desired.-

Safety valve i includes a valve member 28 in the form or a disc oi 1 etic material pted to co-operate with a valve seat 25 formed on the end of valve plug H. A light compression spring 25 urges disc as to seat 2 3. When member 23 is on seat Zdcommuniciation between inlet ii and port is is interrupted; hence, no fluid can istry of ports it and 28. A cam surface comprisof plug ii, and means fo n a ctr-operating cam surface N is secured to valve disc 23, so that rotation of plug ll serves to raise disc 23 from seat 25 against the force of spring 25 and into contact with the face 28 of the electromagnet 2 mounted in cover id. This magnet 2, appropriate energization, retains valve disc as in open position. Electr: 2 is supported within cap it by a single screw 29, and is protheupperend vided with leads 3d and binding 3! dor connection with a suitable source of electric cur.

rent, such as a thermocouple. 1

Since the fluid passingthroughthe carries a certain amount or sticky material, dirt, eta,

likely to be deposited within the valve, and,-par ticularly since the force exerted by mmet 2 is small, it is desirable to protect face 28 of the anagent, as well as the co-operating race of disc 23, from the fluid. Otherwise, a deposit of such material on these faces would seriously reduce the holding power or the magnet '2, or possibly cause the disc to stick' in open position. For this purpose a short metallic bellows or Sylphon 3!, surrounding face 28, is secured to the lower surface of electromagnet 2 and to disc 23.

It is; of course, necessary to prevent disc 23 and to bring valve disc 23 directly into contact with face 28. To allow for manufacturing tolerances, as well as to guard against urging disc 23 against race it with such iorce as to damage the parts,

a member 88; having a plurality of resilient fingers 89, is interposed between cam mean 2'! and disc 23. As clearly shown in Fig. l, cam means 21 is secured to disc 23 by a screw d0 having a flat sided portion M, the cam means 2! being axially slidable on portion ti and urged down-' wardly therealong by spring fingers 39. Thus, when cam means 21 is moved upwardly, as by cam means 25, this upward movement is imparted to disc 23 through fingers 89; and, upon disc 23 contacting iace 28,.iurther upward movement of cam means 27 merely flexes fingers it. I

The byw port a for supplying the pilot burner comprises a circumferential groove dd on plug ll, extending partly around the periphery thereof, and communicating with port 19 through a radial port 55. The boss it of body It has an extension iorming a chamber 46 for-accommodating the supplemental valve 5 which may comprise a ball 6! urged as by spring 48 toward a seat 39,

formed on a plus he threaded into the lower end of chamber 58. That portion of chamber it above seat ie is open to groove st and hence to ports t5 and it through port 5|, while that portionoi chamber dd below seat 58 comprising bore 52 or plug 5t communicates with tube 53 which leads to the pilot burner (not shown) via ports extension or of plug ll, being retained thereonby a nut and washer t3 and 66. A compression spring 35 urges disc at downwardly against washer dd, the upper end of spring 85 seating a ainst a washer 68 having an upturned retaining edge 67.

To prevent any upward movement of plug 57 and consequent unseating thereof with respect to seat it, incident to manipulation of actuator $6, a re-.'

taining nut 58 is threaded on stem 82 and maintains washer $8 in contact with the lower surface of body in. y I l Appropriate rotation of the knob or actuator- 60 will rotate plug H to place ports 20 and 2| into or out of registry, as well as to cause cam 28 to unseat valve disc 23. Further, actuator 60 has-a raised portion or holding surfacelfl which engages push rod 51, maintaining supplemental valve 5 cam means 21, from rotating in order that rotation of plug I1 and cam means 28 will be effective to raise disc 23. For this purpose an inverted cup 34 is secured within cap II, as by being clamped between the upper end-oi magnet 2 and the under suriace of cap l4, servingto'enclose magnet 2 andspring 25. Cup 3| has its lower open, this surface I0 havinga sloping portion I4 which acts as a cam on rod 51 to cause valve 5 to open or close in response to rotation oi the actuator 60.

Theangular relationship existing between the cams and ports is best described in connection with the mode of operation of the valve. In this connection attention is called to Figs. 4 and 7,

the latter being a diagrammatic showing of plug 1 i1 and actuator 80. In both Figs. 4 and I, the

parts are shown as in the positions they occupy when the main valve dis fully open, as in Fig, 1.

In Fig. 1 the safety valve I is shown as closed, as after accidental extinguishment of the pilot bumer, or upon initiating operation of the burner; hence no fuel can flow to either the pilot burner or the main burner.

In a reset valve of this character, the closing of the main or manually operable valve 3 serves to open the automatic or safety valve I. Since the main valve 3 must be fully closed before the safety valve I commences to open, the operating connection between the valves must include a lost motion provision. In the present instance, this lost motion is provided by suitable angular spacing between the co-operating cam surfaces. 26 and 21, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Stop means are provided for appropriately limitingangular movement of actuator 60; this may comprise lugs II and 12 on the actuator 60 for engaging respectively with a boss I3 on body I0. In the fully open position of Figs. 1, 4, and '7, lug II contacts boss I3. Movement of actuator 60 and plug I1 counterclockwise from this position will cause ports 20 and 2I to pass successively out of registry and then to close until, after 90 of movement, the main valve 3 may be regarded as effectively closed. This is indicated in Fig. '7 by lines I00, IOI, and I02, which may be considered as successively reaching dart I03 in response to counterclockwise movement of actuator 60 and plug I'I. After the amount of movement represented by the angle between dart I03 and line I02, cam surfaces 26 and 21 are still out of contact, hence valve I is still closed; further, the supplemental valve 5 is still open, due to rod 51 still being on holding surface I0. However, a small additional counterclockwise movement.

will bring the edge of cam surface I4 under push rod 5], allowing valve 5 to begin to close, further movement causing valve 5 to close completely. This can be visualized in Fig. 'l as the successive arrival of lines I04 and I05 at dart I03. All valves are now closed. Further counterclockwise movement of plug I'I brings cam surfaces 26 on the plug into engagement with the co-opcrating surfaces ty valve I, additional counterclockwise movement of plug II causing valve I to be fully opened and brought into contact with face 28 of magnet 2, and can be visualized by the successive arrival of lines I06 and I! at dart I03.

It is now necessary to cause magnet 2 to be energized, as otherwise, upon returning plug I'I to open position, valve member 23 will immediately return to. its seat 24 and prevent any fluid passing to valve 3. For this purpose, the pilot burner must be ignited and kept burning for a brief period until the thermocouple heated thereby generates sufficient current to energize magnet 2. Supplemental valve must therefore be opened. This is accomplished by pressing actuator 60 toward body I0 and against the force of spring 65, causing push rod 51 to lift ball 41 from its seat 49.. After an interval sufficient to allow the thermocouple to become active, actuator 60 is returned clockwise at least far enough to bring the end of rod 51 onto the holding sur-1 face I0 while still elevated; and then the actuator is brought to its original position with lug .II engaging 'boss 13 and ports and 2| in'registry. Ample space is provided in chamber 46 about ball 41 to accommodate the ball 41 when actuator 60 is urged upwardly and push rod 51 ison the holding surface I0. Hence, it is not material when the actuator 60 is allowed to return to its lower position in response to spring 65, so long 21 on the valve disc 23 of safe as his maintained elevated long enough to ensure that valve 5 is held open.

It is to be noted that the provision of valve 5 for controlling the fuel supply to the pilot burner has important advantages. Thus, no fuel flows to the pilot burner until the operator is ready to ignite it, and all possibility of an accumulation of unignited fuel is avoided. Further, this valve is opened by a short easy movement distinct from 'that'necessary to open the main valve.

In addition to the safety features of the valve, it is intended for use as a control. v Thus, by turning the plug counterclockwise from the position of Figs. 1, 4, and 7, the flow of fuel to the main burner may be restricted or stopped entirely, that is. from the position indicated by line I 02 to that indicated by line I0'3'of Fig. Conversely, by turning the plug clockwise from the closed position, the flow of fuel may be initiated and regulated to any desired proportion of a full flow. For essential that the pilot burner not be extinguished accidentally. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the angular movement of the actuator. '60 necessary to close the valve 5 which controls fuel to the pilot burner is substantially greater than that required to close the main valve 3. Accordingly, such normal operation is easily accomplished; however, to facilitate it. means are provided for exerting a momentary restraint, as well as giving audible warning when the plug II reaches a fully closed position and before the pilot valve 5 closes.

For this purpose a detent I1 is slidably mounted in a bore 1'8 in boss I3, being continually urged against the actuator 60 by a spring 19. A depression 80 is provided in the surface of actuator for receiving the detent I1, and is so positioned angularly with respect thereto as to be engaged .by detent II when plug I1 is in closed position, and when the plug'is being turned from open position before holding surface I0 has moved from under push rod 51 and allowed valve 5 to close. It will be apparent, when detent I1 is in engagement with depression 80, a restraint will be placed on the movement'of actuator 60, requiring additional force to overcome it and move the actuator farther to pilot extinguishing position. Further, an audible click will result when the detent 11 drops into depression 80. Accordingly, accidental movement of the actuator 60 past closing position for main valve 3, with resulting inconvenience due to extinguishing the pilot, will be avoided. The actuator maybetreadily turned beyond this position when necessary until stop 12 engages boss 13 and the safety valve I is opened.

The inventor claims: a

1. In a reset valve mechanism for fluid fuels, a main valve structure, a; safety valve structure, each of said structures having a movable valve closure, means for causing the safety valve closure to move to open position in response to movement of the main valve closure to a closed position, means controlled by said safety valve closure for supplying fuel to a pilot burner, and supplemental this purpose, it is, of course,

I to move to open position -for supplying fuel to a pilot burner, a supplemental valve controlling said supplying means, means constantly urging said supplemental valve toward closed position, and means connected to the main valve closure for causing said supplemental valve to be maintained in open position upon arrival of the ,main valve closure to an open position, and means for independently moving said means that is connected to the main valve closurewhen the main valve is closed, for opening the said supplemental valve.

3. In a reset valve mechanism for fluid fuels, a mainplug valve having a rotary closure member,'as well as a valve body member in which the closure member is seated, said closure member having a main fuel passageway adapted to be of communication with a passage in the .body, a safety valve closure cooperating with one of said members to interrupt the passage of fuel, cam means carried by the rotary closure member for urging said safety valve closure to open position after the rotary closure member reaches avalve closing position, a manually operable member for rotating said .rotary closure member, a valve for controlling the passage of fuel to a pilot burner, means urging saidlpilot burner valve toward closed position, and means carried by said manually operable means for opening said controlling valve by movement of said manually operable means in a direction axial of the rotary closure member.

4. In a valve structure for fluid fuels, a main valvestructure for controlling passage of fuel to a mainburner, a supplemental valve for controllingpassage of fuel to a pilot burner, actuating means for operating said main valve to open and to close, means causing said supplemental valve to close in'response to closing of the main valve, said actuating means being optionally operableto open said supplemental valve independently of the main valve.

i 5. In a valve structure for fluid fuels, a main valve structure including a rotary plug for conplaced into and out trolling passage of fuel to a main burner, a safety valve structure including a closure for controlling passagelof fuel to the main burner and to a pilot burner, a supplemental valve for controlling passage of fuel to the pilot burner, and an actuatoroonnected to said plug for operating the plug and'the safety valve closure, and movable axially of .the'plug for operating said supplemental valve to supply fuel to the pilot burner.

6. In a valve structure for fluid fuels, a main valve structureincluding a rotary plug for controlling passage of fuel to a main burner, a supplemental'valve for controlling passage of fuel to a pilot burner, means urging said supplemental valve to close, and an actuator connected to said plug for-operating the plug and movable axially thereof, said actuator having a holding surface maintaining said supplemental valve open while the main valve is open, and a depressed surface for permitting the supplemental valve to close when the main valve is closed, ai rial movement of the actuator serving to open the supplemental valve.

'1. In a reset valve mechanism for fluid fuels, a main valve structure for controlling passage of fuel to a main burner, a supplemental valve for controlling passage of fuel to a. pilot burner, a

safety valve structure for, controlling passage of' fuel to said main valve and to said supplemental valve, actuating means for operating said main valve to open and to close, means opening said safety valve in response to movement of the main valve to closed position, means closing said supplemental valve in response to closing of the main valve, said actuating means being optionally operable to open said supplemental valve independently of the main valve, and means for retaining said safety valve in open position.

8. In a valve structure, a rotary plug, a valve body providing a, seat in which said plug is accommodated, said plug being operable to control the passage of fluid by way of the plug, and having for that purpose a passageway opening in one end of the plug, means adjacent the end of said passageway forming a safety valve seat around the axis of the plug, a closure adapted to co-operate with said seat for controlling passage of fluid through said passageway and movable to.- ward and away from said seat, interengaging cam means carried respectively by said plug and said closure and acting generally along the axis of the plug for moving said closure to open position in response to rotation of the plugin one. direction, means for retaining said closure in open position, and means for operating said plug.

9. In a valve structure, a rotary plug, a valve ,body providing a ported seat in which said plug is accommodated, said plug being operable to control the passa e of fluid by way of the plug and having for that purpose a port adapted to connect with the port in said seat upon rotation of the plug, as well as a passageway communicating with said port and opening in one end of the plug, means adjacent the end of said passageway forming a safety valve seat around the axis of the plug, a closure adapted to co-operate with said seat for controlling passage of fluid through said passageway and movabletoward and away from said seat, cam means on saidplug for moving said closure in response to rotation of the plug disconnecting said ports, said cam means acting on the closure generally along the axis of the the plug, a closure adapted to co-operatev with-- said seat for controlling the passage of fluid by way of the plug and movable towardand away from said seat, and means forming a cam surface on the plug acting directly on said closure generally along the axis of the plug for operating said closure in response to rotation of the plug.

11. In a valve structure, a rotary plug, a valve body providing a seat in which said plug is accommodated, said plug having a port to control the passage of fluid by way of the plug, said plug having for that purpose a passageway opening in one end of the plug, means adjacent the end of said passageway forming a safety valve seat, said seat surrounding said passageway, asafety valve closure adapted to co-operate with said seat for controlling the passage of fluid through said passageway and movable toward and away from said seat, and means forming a cam surface oarried by the plug for moving said closure in response to rotation of the'plug, said cam means acting on the closure (generally along the axis of the plug.

12. In a valve structure, a rotary plug, a valve body providing a seat in which said plug is accommodated, said plug serving to control the passage of fluid through th'e valve, means forming a safety valve seat around the axis of the plug, a closure covoperating with said seat for 5 controlling the passage of fluid by way'of the plug and movable toward and away from said seat, and a crown cam on an end of the plug for operating said closure in response to rotation of the plug, said cam acting on the closure gen- 10 erally along the axis of the plug.

WTLIJAM A. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

Number Name Date Ray Sept. 23, 1941 Ray Mar. 16, 1943 Wantz May 11, 1943 Ray Oct. 6, 1942 Mantz Sept. 3, 1940 Weber- Nov. 24, 1942 Jackson May 21, 1940 Sparrow June 17, 1941 Ray Oct. 20, 1942 McCarty Mar. 28, 1944 Marsh Feb. 13, 191'!

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