[1]-PA-t-,-nnted Nov. lf6 1941@ 2.7.63.10 E N T O F F I C E UNITED STAT@ES 2,263,103 AUTOMATIC VALVE Sherrfll S. Rathbun, FockvMiB Centre, N- Y. Substituted for abandoned iLppHeation SerW No. 128,714, Manh 3 ' 1937. This application FebT rua" 10, 1941i.SerW No. 378,281 1-6- C-1-i- (Cl. 23"2) This is a substitute for abandoned application operatio n of the device.. caused by temper@ature S. N. 128,714 filed Mirch 3, 1937. changes occurring eithei.'ta the room in which This invention relates broadly to valves conthe valve is installed, or by @ the controlled me. trolung the :ftow of either heating or cooling dium itself, or' both, JS SISCI media, and particularly to thermostatically eon5 Another object of this @invention is to provide trolled and theimostatically motorized, quick- a valve of this kind, consisting of an independacting devi6es of this type. ently operating thermo-motor and a thermo-@ The prime object of this invention Is, to prostatically controlled mechanim, which Is lnde. vide a thermostaticauy controlled and thermopendent of such motor, and the:oper' call actuated rior portion of. that motor, coii@14 .tati Y valve ' wherein these two funeio ative or inte e e t l y 6 i o n s o f t h e d e v i c e a r e @ n o t o n l y e f f e c t e d , b u t l i n g t h e m e d i u m t o b e @ o n i r o u e d , i s d i r t i e x - are directly affected by a combination of the posed to the infliu@ence 'pt that mediura@ ind temperatures, composed of the temperature of where . in another exterior@ POtioh Of thlat therz)iothe room in which'the device is iiistaued, and motdr is normally exposed. to a large exterit, t@ the temperature of the device itself, derived from is the outside or room temperature, whereas It is expo@ure to the medium controued by it. exposed, to a smaller Cxtent, Ilp the tempersAnother object of this invention is to provide ture of, the devicei @ itself, induced by t,he :Con. an accurately functioning' dependable device of trolled medium, aildl,wherein said this kind, adapted for controliing efther heat- govern$ Lthe degree@'and the time of ing or cooling systems, such as, for instance, .20 temperature variations of the e what is known as orte-pipe heating' systems, part, and wherein odd mechanism wherein It Is desirable that the action of the therinost atically, blit@ independe'ntly of:said device is quick or direct, for either fully clos- momotor. Ing or fully opening the passage for controlling @ Another object of this ljivention Is to provide the heating medium, at the very slightest cliange 25 a valve of thb kind, Lcompi-ising an IndependIn temperature; or for two-pipe heating sys- ent thermo-M'DtOr and an Independent thermotems, wherein the operation of the device has statically actuated motor control, in which the to be gmdual. znotor consists of an interior operating@ portion Another object of this Invention is to prodirectly exposed.to the inf ' luence of the medium vide a thermostaticall3@ controlled and ihermo- 30 to be controlledi@and an eiterior, relatively sta_ statically operated valve, wherein the - throttle, - tionary, port@ion, -ihe function of which latter go*- controlling the flow of the inedium to be conerning the inb*t@inent of said operating portion;L@' trolled, is positive acting, that it, one which said motor" coiitrol beii3i provided lwiih means causes the'throttle tG move from one extreme for controllfng the degrei and time of expos I are to the other extreme @ position, wilthout tan-y35 of udd exterior niotor portion, thel meching inL, any intermediate position, and wherein anism beitig governed. by imn lndepend@xit@thii.;, the temperature of thi3 mediutn, cozitrolled Is, mostatic element, and wherein the ol@erition of used as a relay to control the function of the that mechanism Is that of a snap aciloni L and valve. wherein means are provided for PAijusting aiid Another @ object of this @ Invetition,, is to provide 410, regwa ttrig th6 operation of the me and o f such snap action, by the@ adj the I ndependent thei@nostatic element'L Anotiier object of.,this lnventioii Is to provide i@ thermostaticauy operated and tllermostatically controlled@*alve, wherein the valve Is opetated b:r a theiiio motor, an exterior portion of which Is nohnall3r exposed to a iiiu,ie extent to the room VI L' @@.temperatur @e, and to a smauer extent to the temr'L this kind L, fiL thertii@@nioi6r. i@iaiiiiii@oiiianatini from the'valve housing, exin a valve oi .d@.f4 thi in_ PoSed toL tj portio'n.of whi@h ls- airibctly expidse i@ mediii@i' therethrough, and a ;teMl@6r&ttre @tb@ IL L. th 'a fluence nd 3 of e :ZilC@dUlh @@@to, be W. eren., e.Lopera on.0 tli6rnio-motor is contr Iled, and wherein means are pro@ided. ooiitiol lid'L - b t machanigm; 0 * the opera ioii b a - whereby the tempemture differential of that vrhich.liaet.Li@ go*eriied@,@YL an indepindeiit.thet" medium-exposed member may be com-pe-n@ated bloStatic,el6ment; and, Whieh L Me@hi@@. iticludes" or over-compensated. and' whereby: the lag in @@@closUr@'@r@i@@i@t6r.@which@is a thermostatically controlled and' cally operated valve, wherein th6 c anism is not called upon to provide tfie@'@ for directly opemting@,the means fo the medium to be controlled, but t--Mperature of @the medium its@lf effects Ing and opening of the,devicel. L-inven @An6ther object@@ f this: tion Is ..,i6 jpro
[2]2 partially or fully enclose the exterior portion of the -themb-motor, or partially or fully expose the same, and wherein that mechanism, and the mounting therefor, is provided with controu&ble air circulating means, and wherein the mecha- 5 nisin is so arranged as to provide or preverit or minimize air circulation by a definite snap action movement. The fdregoing and stir further objects an@ d important advantages of Ms invention will be 10 more fully apparent from the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings, which latter, although iuustrating various forms of my invention, are not Intended to limit the same to the actual showing, and wherein 15 Fig. I is a vertical section through one embodiment,of my inverition: Flg. 2 is a vertical section of another embodiment of my Invention,, Including certain additional features; 20 @ Fig. 3 Is a vertical cross-sectional view through a third embodlinent of my invention similar to that illustrated in Flg. 2; Flg.,4 is a partial cross-sectional view through fourth embodiment of my Invention, Including 25 modified form of my thermo-motor; Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view through a fifth einbodiinerxt of MY invention, wherein a bi-metal thermostatic disc element of the convex-concave type @is. employed; 30 FU. 6 is a. partial cross-section taken on line 6--B of Pllg.@ 5; Pig. 7 Illustrates a V@rtial cross-sectional view through a sixth modifidation of my device, employing a'n orange-peel,sbaped pocket closure or 35 insulator for the stationary thermo-motor portion; lMg. 8 is a cross-@se6tion of Fig. 7 taken on line lMg. 9 Ls a partial cross-section of Flg. 7 taken 40 on line "; i Flg. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view through still another modified form of my device, wherein cylindrfcal quadrarit pockets are @ employed as closures for the stationary motor portion; 45 @ FIg. 11 Is a smtional view taken on llne I 1- 1 I of Pig. 10; lMg. 12 Is a parual cross-sectional view on line 12---12 6f PU. ll-, Plg. 13 is a partial cross-section'al detail view 50 taken on Une 13-13 of Flg. 10; and Flg. 14 is a fragmental illustration, partially In cro@s-section, of a remote control api)lic each of the embodiments irustrated in Flgs. 1, 3 and 4. 55 Referring now specifteally to the drawings, and particularly to Flg. 1, numeral I denotes a va,lve housing provided with an intake port 2, and an outlet port 3, which latter may be either clo,sed or opened by a throttle 4, secured to the operative 60 end of behows 5. This valve Is Intended @to control the flow of either a heating or a cooling me.dium passing through the valve hOUsing into R heating or r@L@tot,'and,it is;evident that. beuows 5 @ are @pemanently,: directly iiid fully ex-' posed to the. -influence @of the -inedium co by it that Is to tht temperattire and'the pre&%m of the @ inedim; kreomtive whether throttle 4. Clo6e@d or@open Is OWS rear wan: i@, 6i the@ valVe@j@6ii@i@k,:iand form the. the @ ih "Interlor," L Werative PILA of ermo-raotor. or vessel 6, which is connected with bellows 5 by a coramunicating pipe or p6ssage 7. forms the "exterior," subst&nwly statignai7 member of the thermo-motor. Both the beuows and chamber 6 are fuled with a thermostatic medium, such as an easily evaporative liquld, or 'with a combination of liquid and gases, -which media expand or contract according to the temperature affecting them. Slight variations of temperature will cause a rapid operation of bellows 5 for either closing or opening port 3 by throttle 4. 7be liquids used in the bellows may be either alcohol, ether, gasoline, kerosene or similar liquids, while the gases employed may be either air or any gaseous formations of the aforesaid liquids. Other liquids and gases which may be usefully employed are those -of the ethyl family. For all practical purposes it is intended, when my device is to control a heating fluid, that the thermostatic medium within the thermo-motor, Irrespective of whether it is wholly in liquid form or whether it consists of a combination of liquid and gaseous matter, should flll or nearly fill with its liquid portion the exterior chamber 6 - while only the gaseous portion or the gases. cieated by the evaporation of the liquid medium are to fill benows 5. Only when the evaporation of the liquid medium is incomplete, or when condensation should take place, a smar quantity of liquid may temporarfly remain in the bellows.. Passage 7 connecting chamber 6 with bellows 5 is purposely designed to be relatively short and is of sufficiently generous dimensions to provide a quick, unrestricted flow of a thermostatic medium from the chainber to the bellows and vice versa. Exterior member 6 is mounted in a stationary inner band 8, which is surrounded by an outer movable cylindrical band 81 of closure 9, and which movable band is attached to or forms an integral part of the elosure. Both the bands and closure 9 are made of insulating material, which may be either non-conducting or reflecting, or both, or may be equipped with conducting or reflecting inner linings. Closure 9- constitutes the major part of an independently operatirlg mechanism for governing the degree and time of exposure to temperature variations to which chamber 6 is to be subjected for operating beuows 5. The operation of closure 9 is con.. troued by an independent thermostatic element lo. Ttis entire mechanism is housed In a stationary mounting I 1, which is directly associated with valve housing 1, and preferably forms, in i)art the end wall of the latter, indicated at I' This mounting is provided with air eirculatin 9 pamges 12,16cated near the valve housing, and other pa@sages 13 which are somewhat remote from the valve and are in near proximity to the right end wall of vessel'O. 'Mere are still other air passages provided in the mountmg, -such as indicated at 14 and 15. Corresponding to, and in cooperation, respectively, with passages 13 and 12, closure 9 Is provided with passages 131, closing ring S', closing flange 16, and a closing or end disc 17, which three latter means control the air eirculati@ ugh Passages , 1 3 and'-f 2,- deoii,thro @pending on the PoSition OfL CIOSUre 9 @within,.moiint@ing osiit, Therm a ifi@ thft c ei@t.- l@0 i@'-niiftstrat-e f[gure in the shape of a closed chamber or double @'The:,beE sirt'96ttachtid-@ at one eiid to@ @t'he@TO@@dtiphiagm, filled with a.@L thermostatic niedium. :lt,&- @@stationiLr!v@ @:@e@'d.- Is. Axetuy,@i suopoited from mothting, bY 'ineans @@of :bracket IS_, While iti movable end Is cormected with disc @;17 of @the closure by means of an adjustable spring 19, attached to adjusting lever 20. The position of thL%
[3]lever and the tension Of the spring I 9 MaY be regulated by thumb-screw 2 1. Thermostatic elerient IO is so dezigned that, when it is subjected t6 a c6riain temperature, the medium contained therein is expanded or volatilized, anid causes its movable center portion to snap out to an ekpazided position, and snap back to its normal POsition, when the temperatur6 drops. In Fig. 1, thermostatic element IC i-s: shown in Its -normal, inoperative @osition. When the temperature irifliiencing element I 0 rises gnd its movable cen,ter portion snaps to its @operative Posin, disc 17 is moved' against vessel 6 while tio closure ]ring @8, is brought into contact @*ith, or the near vicinity of, the rear wall 11 of the valve s to this action, ext(,-ii6r iilolbor. housing. Previou member or vessel 6 had, been exposed to @ circu@i ating air curr6nts of the - preva,iling room teni@- perature. the then opened paspassing through t]@ ' veS sages 12 and 13@ gdrdss the @urface of e sel. Any effect upon m.ember 6 frorn the temperature emanating from valve c@am@er I is minimized by air circulating through rts 12. When now closure 9, through@its leftward movements, blocks 'the passage of circulating air@ thretugh apertures 12, i3 and 13', aild assuining that the ection with a heating radivalve is used In c6nn ator, chamber 6 is no longer being cooled by the i@ subjected to the heat 6irculat,ing 6,ir, but emanating from the'hot surfaces of the valve housing. This heat cluickl@ aecumwates, since 'insulatic)n it is triapped within the surrounding of the (, -losiire parts. As the heat rises, the thetmostatic medium contaitied in chamber 6 will, expand and vaporize and the vapor thus forming wiU create sufm ficient pressu're to forc6 some of the mediu r from tite chamber th ough passtige I into bellows 5, wheire the medium is not c)xil:y rapidly evapo3 5, as well Chamwiu be required that bellows ed with a thermober 6, be fuled.or nearly MI static medium or edia which wil volatilize MP m 1. idly at the outer portion of vessel 6, the moment 5, Ih tle I n controlltng a @e6oling I' r 's medium, he all the time from vessel 6 to th@ cold valve body, and@heat@is supplied by the temperatu're of- the air. surroiiiiding@ vessel 6 when th6 lattei is unc@overed. The moment, 10 however,,vessel 6 is covered, the s4ppoly of heated air is shut off I and the temperature s@rrounding vessel 6 drops rapidlY. causes the @contraction of bellows i and the @@uent opening of throttle 4. 15 It -is obvious, therefoke, @ that the device decaii@ be employe d in connecti on with the . I @, I,. t i, @ co o r r,6iitrol,. of ei he oling heatin g media cont' @' entalities, veyed o a. radiator or like lnstrum which may be used@during cool seasons for heat20 ing purposes, while during warm seasons it may serve as cooling radiator. If thus@ employed, for controlling either heat or cold, the exchange of the thermo-motor and element@ io, or of their thermostati-c media wjll be Tequ ired. Instead of 25'a single Independent thermostatic element 10, a @ pluralitY of diaphragms may be employed if a m ore extensive movement of closure,g is desired@ Refe-rring now partiell ilarly to the operation of Individual therrnost-itic element 10 and its ex)f the ai@ passing or '.Iio p o@&e to the temperatur@e ( eirculatirig around It 'L it is, to be noted'that before the ccivering a6tion b@ clo@ure 9 of cilamber 6 takes place, the actuatiiig end of element l'O y cutoff from @ th e circulating a-ir, Inis relativel: , i r) asmuch as passages, I 3 are @ractically closed bY L, , the over-e:K,tending flange ()f disc 17. The mo'ment, howevie'r, C18sure 9 moves to it@ co,,,,ering i;6sition, it is necessa-ry, f or correct operation of the d@vice, to Incre&,-,e t.he cooling effect upon Tated, but even super-heated, whereby a greater 4(@ element 10, since disc 11 of closure 9 becomes heated, and raises t]@ie t@mperature of the air pressur-e is quickly built uo within tiie bellows, I just be prevent0 9 rounding element 10, which n nt uri li resultil.ig in an instanta,neous m veme of ed. This is accomplished by opening p.assages throttle@ 4 to its closing Position against port 3. Due tc, this shutting off of the heat supply, the to the circulation of air, which *ill now pass the rat-&e oi the air surrounding 4,;, mova ble end oi elemen@ I 0 and cool I't. If the rise in. the tem device is to function accur@tely,, it is essential the val,ve is chaliked and this temperature will that@ the temperatiare oi elemeiit '10 be c@u@ed to eventu.ally begi@ to fall s@o that closure 9 will be c sed to snap tO an uncovering Positii:)n in refall,aft er the covering,action of closure,B, even au though the room I temperatute remains@ constant spect ito vessel 'S., thus exposing it to the @ circulation of air through passages 12, 13 and. 13. o or increases. ThL,@; air ci@culation induces a cooling action The drop in.temperature lbo whic@ @lement 10 ,.is@'to -be exposed, should be at least equal to the ,upon the !iquid contairied in the chamb6ii a;iid b tween the temperature at which the r the formerly produc(,d vitpors are Low cAus6a to. diff oreiiee e center pottloiil of the ele@ment snaps out, and condense in chamber 6. Ins@smuch as through . rechamber 6 -) I;he temperature at which its center portion cedes to@it@ normal position. @@In practice, it is ferable to I wer the temperatur e about elepre 0 nient IO even more than that, in order to provide for an 'anticipating action s that when theC) (r room temperature approac@e desired degree of heat, while rising, the acti therm ostatic eleme nt. 10 takes place before ultima tely desired temperature isireached, tha is, element 10 I will cause the covering of chamber 6 before that tute Is reached. The heat from the rassel f3 tempera @ r 6 l l e d b y . , t h i v a l v e , ' w i l l c o n t i n u e t o diator, conl a tir@e after the raise.:the room temoe mtiiie for @throttle is - dic@6d, @i%,iid @*buld cause the over-rais'irik 6t i@he @t ik per I , oom m ature, were it not for aie 71@ @,ani.,ci@ati @g action. : it Is,. possible :@to iise' overcompen sation to .,causle the heating Medium to be shut off @for a @.ih(irt @,,tliine -- arid'th@ n.,turrio d, 6n again before the @- de@ire d tellip@r ature is'r6,ach ed. @ In. ijther, words, for controlling a cooling medium, It 75 the heat is@ shut off and the mech=isml so to employed this condensation the pressure in the falls, t,he vapor from bell6ws 5 re enters chamber, thtLS caiising the contraction of bellows 5 and the operiing of @ort 3 by throttle 4. Bello,yy,s 5 contains'c)nly vapor at ani time when used :foi coiitrolling a heating medium. V;hen this device is used for controlling a heitini.medium, it m&Y'happen that, due tb the heat transfer tl,,r6ugh the wall of tube: 7, @ the I liquid . in vessel@ 6, near the. - attlached@ end of the iw@. will'@tilli @olatiliz6,@ even thbugh the ve ,becomes expo.sed.lor un6o@ere,d by closure 9. This acti(iii *Ul,@.riot.int(wf6re, however with the, oPte @eratioii 6f th@, devi6e piovided that the ou r. portion'6f vl%ssel 6 L's cobled sufficiently fFAst' as to ce6use a rapid coridensation of the 'medium volatilized bY @ tti@ b6at of @ tube 7. Vess4bl: 6 and %II% S libseti4@@tly'@d@scribed exterloi vessels, of@ the "cuit@rent'iiiodifted iiot be complet@ly fil led@with@liquid. When the valve is
[4]4 2,263,103 speak, waits to see whether the temperature rlses to the desired point, and If not, it tums the heat on again, and this continues unttl the desired temperature is reached. This action Js due to the element I 0 alternately expanding and con- 5 trileting until the desired room temperature is reach6d, admitting the heating medium for successively shorter periods and finafly shutting it off completely. The proper operation of the valve'deperids Upon the proper arrangement and 10 sizing of circulating passages 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the m6unting, and of the closing flange of disc II 'and of pusage 13, of the closure, In combination with the thumb-screw 64ustment of lever 29 and spring lO. whereby the spring pres- 15 sure against the movable end of element 10 may be minutely regulglted. From the foregoing description, the general operating principle, and the purposes and fune@tions of my invention, become clear. The domi- 20 nant features of my.device reside in the provision of an independent thermo-motor for actuating the throttle, and an independent ihermostaticauy controlled mech-igm for governing the operation of the thermo-inotor, and proviwons where- 25 by the action of the mechanism may be adjusted for compensation or overcompensation for the purpose of overcoming 1. The lag In heating or cooling a room to the 30 desired temperature by the radiator; .2. 7be lag in heating or coohng of the Independent thermostatic element of the mechanism; 3. The lag in the action of the throttle due to the lag in.beating@and cooling of the medium 35 In tl,.e exterior vessel; and 4. The temperature differential of the Independent thermostatic element. It is also clear that desired compensating or over-compensating effects In the operation of 40 the device may ziot be obtained by the &djusting means of the mechanism alone, but depend also upon the proper determination of the sizes and arrangement of the eircui&ting Passages, to effect rapid or@ slow heating or cooling, at proper 4s time periods, I of the independent element of the mechanism, as weR as of the exterior chamber S. Th6 -above principal features of my Invention are mbintained throughout in'the construction and operation of aR hereinafter describe4 modi- 5o ficati6ns. I Referring now to Fig. 2, numeral I again indicates a valve housing In which opemtes throttle bellowz4 51 connected by means of tube 7 to exterior chamber S', which latter possesses, In- r)5 stead of a rigid right-hand end w&H, a fle)dble diaphragm 22.. Against diaphragm 22 rests with it,@ short arm a lever 23, suspended by a pin held In niountling II'. The longer lever arm is designed to coopemte with wall 17, of closure 9,. 60 The thermostatic element.for controlling the op.eration of closure 91 in this case Is in the form of a bi-metallic spring 10', pivoted at 24 and adJustable by means of adjusting knob 21'. The free or lower end 25 of element 101 engages the (t5 longer arm of ilnother pivoted lever 26. The shorter hook-shaped arm of this lever engages, by means of a suitable opening, lnsulatinig CIOsure waR 17'. The fr6e end of bimiptalue ele.@ the operation of element 10', similar to that explained In connection with PIg. 1. 7be heat radiation of the shield increases the temperature affecting the bi-metalre element, especiauy during the time chamber 61 is In exposed or uncovered position. A flne adjustment of the element may be effected by thumb-screw 2 1'. Closure O' Is suspended from, and propened to Its covering position, by a pair of springs 29 and 30, when it is released by hook lever 26, after element 101 is caused to move the lower end of that lever to the left, when the desired room temperature Is reached. The moment chamber S' is covered, the temperature witbin the closure rises and expands the thermostatic medium In the chamber, until a point is reached at which bellows 5 close the valve. After. chamber 61 is heated to a somewhat higher temperature, the higher pressure causes diaphragm 22 to snap outwards and induces the operation of lever 23, which in tum overcomes the pressure of springs 29 and 30, and pushes closure O' Into engagement with the hooking pawl of lever 26, provided, of course, that this lever at that time is released from contac with, and pressure lethermostatic element 10'. As long as this is not the case, there will be an intermittent operation of the closure to a covering and uncovering position, gs chamber 6' is altemately cooled, when uncovered, or heated, when covered. The closure operating mechanism described above provides for a snap action movement Al similar closure movement, and as effective an operation may be obtained, even though dispensing with therzriodtatic element 10', if spring 29 is made of thermostatic, bi-metallic construction, and suitable adjusting means for controlling its operation are provlded. The operation of the device, thus modifled, would give a graduated acti6n and the flexible diaphragm 22 would not be necessary, so that chamber 6 of Flig. I could be used in place of chamber S' of Fig. 2. The general construction and operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is practically the same as that of Fig. 2, with the difference that exterior motor member 6" is designed In the form of bellows, and the independent thermostatic element 31, controlling the operation of the closing mechanism, also,constitutes a bellows arrangement. Against chamber " bears the shorter end of spring induced lever 23', which latter operates in the same manner as does lever 23 of Fljr. 3. Closure 911 is suspended and operated by'springs 29, and 30', and closure wall 17" is provided with a catch arm 32, adapted to engage a corresponding detent of spring induced lever 26', the latter being under operative control of element 31, which is rendered adjustable by thumb-screw 2 1 ". The functions of the differ6nt working parts of this device are practically Identical with those of the corresponding parts of Fig. 2, with the exception of altering the inherent function of bellows-like chamber I", which latter would ordinarily expand gradually when its thermostatic medium contained therein Is subjected to heat. In order to produce a snap action by bellows 6,,, I provide spring rnea-ns 33, equipped with @indentations 34, which latter.hoid an end plate ment I O',Iis separated from its. pivoted. end.by i, 76 35i.attedhed to bellows 61,,', in the position shown, stationary Insulator: @27, which @'is covered at @tlie 'until, a @u&cient pressure is @uilt up within the left with a heat-conducting or heat-reflecting bellows to overcome the tension of springs 33, at (or both and@hest-reflecting) - which moment plate 35 becomes released, pershield 24, The latter is provided for the purpose , niitting the bellows to snap to their expanded of aiding In providi ng compensating effects In 75 position. The same snap action becomes re-
[5]versed wb.en the theri@ostatic medium within the bello,ws is cooled off bnd ttie pressure is lowere.d. The bellows end-plate is held by the outwardly curved ends of spriiigs 33 until the reduced pressure causes the bellows to con'tract. 6 In b6t@ Figs. 2 and 3, the air'dirculating passages of the moijnting aiid of the closure are controlled @in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 1 In the modifleation @C;Iiowii in Mg. 4, thiottl6 10 bellows 5 are conne6ted to st@tionar'y' cham@er@ mem)3.6r 106 6f th6 thermb'-motor by an Upper connecting and condensi),tiori tube 36 and a lower, liquid-conveying tube 37- In operation, Vapor passes from bellows 5 through tube 36 into cham- 15 ber 106 and condenses, whereas liquid is passed through tube 37 from chamber 106 to behows 5 In ' retu:rn. The inde@endent thermostatic element 110 of this construction is,in the form of a chamber or double diaphragm,,with norm@ally 20 concave walls, arid is filled with a thermostatic ]@lediurn. This cham.ber is fixedly suspended at .its center at 6@e side by,bracket 38, depending from mounting 39, Nvhile its left@coneave side is. free t6 operate. 25 Closure- 40 is suspended by crossw'se arranged gprings 4 1, desigined to keep it normally in the uncoveririg, illustrated position. Extending from the rear waH of the closure is a shielding ring 42, adapted to cooperate with the operating side so of element II 0. Between the rear wall of the closure @nd th6 operating side of element I 10 is a lever 43, pivoted on a, pm. secured to the mounting' I and provided at its,lower end with an adjust;ing spring 44, the position and tension 35 of which latter is, reg@iat@d thro,ugh cam 45, operated by @djusting knob 46. The adjustment of spring 44 vari.es the operation of the device' for different t6m s terature at which action is to take place 40 ,io ,When (, sure 46 is in @@covering positioni its ring 42 as@umes a place close to the, operating side 6f element I 1.0, whereby the latter bee6mes heated 4uicker and @xpands correspondingly " more quickly thaii if it were not covered on that 45 side. However, as soon as the operating Aide of element II 0 expands,, lever 43 pushes closure 40 into covering position, *hereby ring 42 becomes staced from element I I 0, t]@us permitting tapid cooliiig of the 'latt6r. This . in turn causes the 50 snapping back of its op6rating side, and the movement of the 610'sure to the uncovering PO'tio wn. si n sh6 The aforedescribed modiflcation may be so designed that the difference between the temp@erature. of the surrounding medium, 55 such as @ai@i, at whicli element I ID expands, and th6 temperE@tu@6 at which it contracts, niay be exactly coinpensated so that such difference is nil. However, the devic(@ should be adjusted for ove,r-eoml3ensation, which may be done by vary- 00 ing the insul ating properties of closure 40 and by' providing varying clearan6es@between ring 42 and element II 0. The double tube connection between.bellows 5 and chamber 106 promotes, after the uncovering 65 action by closure 40, a quicker eircuiaiion between these two motor members, because the vapot Is drawn through the u tube into chamber 106, due--t6 -c6ndensation therein, whereby the pressure is -redu-ced within a relatively short TO ,time. This quick reduction in pressure within, @the thermo-moior cause;s a rapid Action of bellows 5 in opening the throttle. In the iiaxt modification @bf my device, illus75 trated In ;g. 5, the u'sual valve housing I is s@own, in whic:h again operates throttle bellows 11, attached to the -rear waH II of the vaive hou'sing, and communicating by conduit 7 with exterior motor chamber 1061,, which latter is provided with a diaphragm 47, similar to that described in mg. 2.1 Disposed on either side of chamber 106, are stationary insuiating walls 48 and 481, provided with armular air circulating passgges 49 and 49'. With these @i)assages, register, respec.; tively, annular ringg 50 and, 501, mouiited,@ together upon bars 51, and are so arranged that at one time o@ae of ihe@Passages'is closed by one of the annular rings, while the other' pass , age is opened by the other ring, and vice versa. These bars are preferably guided over rollers 52 @and are connected to a floatin g frarae 53., wwch latter is engaged,and oper ated by an independent thermostatic element 54, in the form of a td-met@llic concaveconvex disc or diaphragm. This element, upon being subjected to temperature changes, snaps to the right thereby moving frame 53, and thus operatinw rods 51, causing the opening of Passage 49'and the closing of the annular Passages 49'. The center of element 54 bears against an extension 55, provided At th e rig@t-hand stationary insulating waH 481,,w here by the movement of frame 53, through the flex@ing of element 54, is effected. To the same I wall 48' ispivoted ii double-arm lever 471, which latter is ictuated by diaphragm 47 of chamber 106, when the diaphragm is caimed. to snap ovei@ to the nght, as the temper4ture within th4mbe'r 106' rises. This causes the movement of rods 5 1, and of ring s 60 and 501, in 16ft-hand direetion.@ Bearing against frame 53, containing the independent thermostatic element, is an adjusting spring 56, held in cup 57, -and th6 tensibn of the spring may be regulated by thumb-screw 58 At the upper end of frame 53 provided a louver 59, adapted to close or open circulatihg passage 60, Provided in mounting 61 of this modification. The size of opening 60 may be regulated by an auxwa slide 62, wher ry eby the oPeration. of the device may be additionally controlled as to compensatit)n or over-comtensation, for the reasons stated previously. At the valve waH I' of the moilnting ar@ pio vided radiating fim.,,Or: ribs. 63, show partially in cross-sedtion ffi Pi g..6. While the device is in the PositiOn thustrated, air Passes through bottom opening 64. into the space between insuiating discs 48 and 481, the cools off the thermoStAtic medium contained In chamber 106'. The air Progresses@from this spacf,- through annular 6peiling 491 about:frame 53 aiid,bi-metallio element 54, to 'without the mounting. When the . room tem-Derature has risen sufficiently to affect bi-nietallic e'lement 54, the I at ter snaps from its shown position to the us i t opposite Position. This op6ration causes the closIng of the annwar passa ge 49' by ring 50', while annular passage 49 is freed bY ring 50i whereby @louver 59 is moved to the right, freeing passage So permittini at alate thiough the and r to eirei right-hand:portion of the mounting, about the sn apped-over element 54, thereby cooling it and compensating fo the following rise in temperar ture, i@duced by the now heated Insulating di@c 481, and f6t the lag in 6 pera tion of thermostatic element 54 between its snapping action from one @p@osition to the other. TbLe beating of the now closed right-hand wall Is caused @ by the confined circulation of air, entering th ugh left-hand ro bottom passage 84, which alr is forced through
[6]6 2,263,10.1 the lower portion of annular port 49 of the lefthand insulating disc 48, from where it rises and is warmed as it contacts with ribs 63. The heated air then leaves through the upper portion of annular opening 49 into the space between the 5 two stationary insulating walls. In this mannei, chamber 106' is subjected to a rapidly increasing heat, which naturally also affects wall 48'. This heat expands the thermostatic niedium within the thermo-motor, which 10 in turn actuates throttle bellows S. The thermbstatic medium still continues to expand, which additional expansion causes diaphragm 47 to snap outwards to the right, whereby lever 47' is actu-. ated and returris bars 52 and their closing rings 15 to the position shown in the drawing. By the -proper adjustment of thumb-screw 58, spring 57 is compressed or loosened, thus directly affecting the operation of elemeni 54. Through a corresponding adjustment of the sizes of the various 20 circulating passages, the devicl- may be set for any degree of compensating, overcompensating (or anticipating) actions, as may be required for overcoming tardiness in movements, and for the purpose of maintaining room temperatures as 25 uniformly as possible. In Fig. 5, the flexible diaphragm 47 is not actually required in that construction for providing a snap action, such as is essential in the construction shown in Fig. 2, where diaphragm 30 22 must be depended,,on for such snap action, inasmuch as in Fig. 5 the bi-metallic element 54 has an inherent snap action'andwill operate closing r'mgs 50 and 50' without the aid of the snap action of diaphragm 47. However, I purposely 35 illustrate a flexible diaphragni because of a function which it may receive, which function has not yet been mentioned, but which may be provided in all cases where flexible diaphragms are shown. 40 It is sometimes desired to throw all thermostatic devices in a heating system out of operation for a period of time, as, for instance' in a school building which is closed over night. The moming after, when the walls, and other parts 45 of the building, are cold, due to the heat having been turned off durin.- the night, it becomes desirable to heat the building quickly. This may be readily. accomplished by increasing the steam pressure. in the heating system. During this 50 forced heating period, the air temperature, which would be satisfactory after the waus and the interior of the building are heated, is no. satisfactor@r while they are cold. When now abnormal high pressure is applied, 55 and passed through the valves having flexible diaphragms, such as diaphragm 47 in Fig. 51 the effect, will be that the high pressure will compre& bellows 5 and move it in right-hand direction, which motion may be transmltted from the (10 free end of the bellows by a rod 7' directly to diaphragm 47, whereby the latter is forced to snap out in a right-hand direction. The diaphragm will be held in this position, and while thus being held, will prevent element 54 from operating - (;5 when being affected by temporary rises in temperalures. Thus, closing rings 50 and 50' will be retained in left-hand position, and the closure will remair, open until an abnormally high room temperature has been reached, at which element TO 54 will overcome the pressure which has moved bellows 5 iii right-hand direction. It should -be mentioned here that in all of my devices employing bellows, the latter are reinforced by suitable coil springs and are provided 75 with means to prevent the bellows from beine, cornpressed beyond a safe point so as to prevent injury from either excess pressure within the bellows or from a vacuum formed therein when the bellows are cold. Such instrumentalities are not shown in the drawings,- inasmuch as they are obvious and: are commonly-iised, irl similar devices. The flexible diaphragm shown irl the various figures cannot be readily overstressed by a vacuum inasmuch as communicating tubes 7 act as safety stops for the inward movement of the diaphragm. 'niese diaphragms also serve to prevent excessive pressure being built up within the thermo-motors, which pressure may cause damage thereto, in that when more than the usual pressure is formed within the motor, the flexible diaphragm snaps outwards and thereby opens the closure, which results irl a quick cooling of the outer chamber and the subsequent fall in pressure within the motor. Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there is illustrated a device operating similarly to all previously described embodiments, but wherein the mechanical construction includes novel features for accomplishing the same basic results in a dif ferent, and perhaps more effective way. In these figures, the formerly used thermo-motor construction, consisting of throttle bellows and exterior chamber 116 is again employed, but the closure for the chamber is constructed in the form of two orange-peel-shaped pockets or insulators 65 and 65' which are capable of tuming on, their vertic@l axis to an exten't of 9,0'. They are preferably provided with interior reflecting or radiating surfaces. Both of these insulators are identical in shape, but one is reversed relative to the other. They are mounted in vertical end bear.ings 66 and 66', as clearly seen from Fig. 8, so that their outer bearini tips 67 and 67' engage, respectively, bearings 66 and 66'. Their inner, shorter bearing tips @nterlock with the interior portions of their respective outer tips. In using this construction, the two orange-peel-, halves may be made from the s@Lme pattern and are therefore interchangeable. Both insulators are provi ded with suitable recesses 68 shown clearly m Fig. 7, for accommodating c@x@municating tube 7 of the thermo-motor. The insulators are - adapted to move towgxd one another to either left or right (when obse@rving Figs. 7 and 8), thereby either shielding chamber II 6 against heat from the valve housing and subjectipb it to the circulation of air from without, or exposing it to the heat emanating from the valve housing, while preventing air circulation from without. These closure positions are indicated in Mg. 7 in full and dotted lines, respectively. The independent thermostatic element in this flgure consists of a bi-metaric strip 69, fixedly secured at 70 to an arm 71, depending from mounting 72. The ' free end 73 of the element is provided with an exter@sion 'i4, to which Li attached one end of an overcenter operating snap spring 75. The other end of that spring engages a bearing 76 of a snap lever 77, which latter is suspe e means of a short spring 78 from a stationary yoke 79. The lower end of lever 77 is equipped with a louver 80, and above that louver there are provided loops 81 for operatively engaging corresponding loops of connecting rods 82, associated at 83 with the bottom faces of the two orange-peel.-shaped halves of the pocketlike closure.
[7]At the upper po@tion of the free end of the thermo@tatic element is a band- 84, which secures the element to:leaf spring 85, which latter extends downwards. and is 'attached at 86 to the bottom portion of mounting 72. Above its attached end, th6' leaf forms stop dr - abiitting means 87 and 88 for limiting the-mov@ment of the free @end 73: of element 69. Le@af 85 may b@ positioned by means of thumb-screw 89, viher'eby Louver 80 at th6 bottom of lever 77 coopera S with an air passag@- .90, -alternately closing opening it, thereby preventing or @romoting ciiculation of air through moanting 12 for @ifl4r encing the operation of e ' ither element 69 or 'of chamber- I I 6 of the therniom'otor. Referring now to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, th r are again illustrated throttle bellows 5, com@-u! riicating,through pipe 7 with stationary niotor chamber II 6', which latter has a diaphragm wall 95, similar to that illustr*ted and described in conriection with Flgs. 2 and 5. The mechanism supported within mounting 96 possesses some similarity to that dealt with in connection with Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in that the closure consists c@f pocket-like insulators. The independent thermostatic element 97 in this device consists of a bi-metallic spring, such as shown in Fig. 2. It is attached at 98, and its d by an adjustin knob 90. position is controhe g The construction of the closure iri this case consists of four pocket-like cylindrical quadrants, which in all of the Flgs. 10, 1 l@ and 12 are shovin I oo, I 00', I 0 1 and I 0 i' are ada]pted to cooperate in pairs with one another and with correspolieling shields or reflecting plates 102, 102', 103 and 103'. Two of the pocket-like quadrants and two@ corresponding shield@ are mounted symmettically instance, quadrant I 00 is:ftxedly Joined with plate 102,lwhile quadrant !OD, is directly connected with shield 102'. This connection is accomby providiriglquadrant 100 with a hub In the base of ciuadrant ioo,, its hub 100'a is fixedly secured to a sleeve 100'a" to which latter shield 1021 is attached. (See Flg. 12.), Each pair of quadrants is provided with curved and spaced gear or gprbdket racks 105, engaged by gears Or sprc;ckets 107, which latter are keyed to a common Operating shaft 108, rotatably lodged at 109 (Fllg. 11) in mounting 96, and which is held under rotary tension by coil springs t@ii-n the shaft in one direction.@ At the cehter of the shaft there is :fixedly@secured a dam 1,11, bY, dii ection opposite toithat induced by springs I IC. lix coope;-ation with diaphragm 05 of stationarY chamber II 6 , there is shown (in Plg. 10) a pin 112, which @rhen the diaphragm is caused to map outwards, that is, to the right, wiU aet;uat4o ea' ih III. ' At one. or. both. of@: th,e lower q@ia . (it@nts, as, for.ilastariie, quadrant 1001,, therc, is secured a catch arm 1 1 1 3 which is adapted to cooperate with the lower end 114 of thermostatic @ element 91. This catch arm is provided i a detent,.sh n ln'dotted lines at 113'@@in Witt ow Figs. id and 12, adapted.to engeige lower end 114 of the elenient for the PurPose of:holding a,, quadrants in their open position against the tendency Of springs I I 0: to close tLie6. All quadrants are made of ivi@Mating material, as shown in sectiorial view i4 Ing. 12, &Ud are @@irled with the adjustment of element 69 is s6ccomplished. io in their oi)en position. These quadrants marked . 35 on shafts 104, seen Flgs. 11 and 12, so that, for 4() I 00a, to the end of which is attached 4 shield 102- 4f, 6 15 20 50 ,conductive material, indloixted ai I IS. for the purl ]Piose of quickl@ transferring h@at to the space surrounding chamber II 6' when in the C16sing position. Als(i, I at their interior'surfaces are provided ilbs i 17, shown in detail in Plg. 13, which cooperat@ with fins or ribs 118, ext@nding from' the waU II of mo@nting 96, forming th I e back of valve housing 1. At @ the@ =, opposite wall 1', chambeir I I 6 is provided similar ribs ife. (See Flg. 13.) - When the quadrants are in Plosing positiori, their ribs II 7 engage flns or ribs I It and'' 1 19, and thus promote heat transfer to chamber I IS' b@ conduction. It will be seen 'from Fig. 11 that when the po6ket-like quadran@s are in their open position, for the purpose'of promoting the cooling of chamber II i, the shields, operatively connected with these quadrants, and being efficient reflectors, interpose tl,.iemselves between chamber 116, and the heated wall I' of mounting 06, thereby preventing. heat t@ansfer to chaniber I 161., The arrangemerit of the quadrants is such that when they are in their open position, they close circulating openings 120 provided in the mounting O@posite 6iie another, thus stoppifig air circulation thr6ugh the mounting This proi4des for a compensati:ng action similar to th@t described inc6nnection'*ith tbi6 other desig I ns. In the aforedescribed figiires,,the independent thermostatic elements @ ei nployed are shown arranged within the mountings. it often occurs, however, that it.isi desired to cohtrol the oi@6ration of the valve from remote places, In which case the mechanism for co@ering or exp@sing the exterior m@tor member may be actuatea by a relay arrangemerit, such as an electro-rnagnetic d6vice similar to that: used In controlling the 6p@ erations of heatirig and cooling machines. inasmuch as such mechanisms ilre khbwn, no illus-'4 trations are submitted . @ Al non-elec@tric device with a @ suitable remote clontrol is illustrat4erl in Fig. 14. There is @ shown at@,121 a thermostafic: element, fixedly supported by arni 122, through wliieh su@port passes a con-@ duit 1123 (sho*n exaggerated), and wliich conduit communicittes with reii,.iote bellows,114 inouni@id in frame 125. Th6 tem@erature at wiiieh action takes place is adjusted @by thu I mb-screw 121 From bellows 124 extends aiiother conduit- 128, but it is obvious that not only one, but a plurality UltSL May C' @of such cond onnect @the bellows with a number 6f elements 121 of differently located valv6. These bello@ws are exposed to the room temperature. The volume of the thermostatic I IC. These@ springs are intended to normally 65 liquid in the bellows comprises the mijor portion @the the rinostatic liquid to be affected b'y the room t@m'peratur6, wht6 the volume of liquid OM, t me of -which @ he shaft may l@e iotated In th6 oontal@@d in one or a plurauty:of elements 121 is comp itively small. arl Thas, the operation of all elem6nts connected. with the bellows 124 by their respective, conduits will be' @iiniultan6ous and the same; as if the elements themselves would'be indiv ally affected by th6 @iame room tem; perature. 63? 'While in the foregoing descriptioia specific constru6ti6ns o'f iny in@eriti6n we : re d6flried. f rorn the many modificiltion's illustrated it Is quite obvious that structural changes miy be made rny device finds employmont for fhe c@ntrol ' "8 o f d i f f e r 70 erit instrumentalit ies. Thus, fot example, the :ae2,blf,- diaphragm of the exterioi motor r@ember with:a suitable coactin@ mechanisin, RS 6mploye@ in Figs. 21 5 and 10, may.be readily omitted and Vbn-flexible chamb6r@, with their correspondin g 75 6perating mecha@@@ s, substituted, and by tl@e
[8]9,263,103 same token, non-fleitible chamber@, such as shown in Figs. I and 4, raay be provided wlth flel xible diaphragMS, L to suit, particular condtti6ns. The different latching br catching devices a sh6vm in Flgs. 2,'3, 10, 11 and 12, may be altered or omitted, provided, of coiirs6, that adequate eq I uivalents are substituted. By the same token, the Independent thermostatic,,@elements of the various devices @may be,gubstituted by ozie an- 10 4Dther, thus, for instance, the bi-metallic spring 73 and lever 17 shown in Fig. 7 may be replaced by a bi-metawc disc as shown in Flg. 5, oi by a, 4, may be employed in connection with, for in- @ stance, the closure shown in Fig. 1. Changes may be also made in the construction of the closures, which, although preferably made of non-OOn- 20 ducting or reflecting materials, or a combination ofboth, may be constructed iii a differen mazi t -7_ ner and from different materials. The same applies to the mounting within which the op6rating mecham'sm is arranged. Changes, siiah as 25 indicated above, are obvious i@md n@ay be readily made *fthout the necessity of resortirig to illustrations and furtbe,i descriptions. invention reside in the fact that I provide a rela30 tively simple, inexpensive and accurately operating thermostatically controlled valve, wherein I employ an independent valve actuating motor, an independent mechanism for controlling the n - operatio ofth(,motor,,indlaiiindependentther35 mostatic element by means of wmch that mechanism is actuated. The motor raay be of a thermodynamic type, as Mustrated in the different figures, or inay be of any other suitable constructfon, so that one portion thereof constitutes the 40 throttle actuating mechanism, wmle the other portion induces the operation of this,mechanism, which in turn is govemed by the operation of a closure mechanism, which latter Is controued by an independent tbermostatic element. 45 Purtheimore, the mode of opera@tion of the timing of the motor and of the independent element may b e controlled by the aforedeserlbed or equivalent means, *hereby:both of these instrumentalities are eith6r7 heated or cooled for pro- 50 ducing anticipating, or overcoh2pensatingeffects in the operation of the valve, for overcoming lags, usuAUy du6 to occur in the operation of such devices. Moreover, the independent thermo@ tatic element is provided.with minutely regulable Ad- 55 Justing means for especiauy controlling and timing the operation' of that portion of the device. Althoiigh I have illustrated specific structures and arrangements, it is readfly evident that they are disclosed, principauy for the purpose of dem- po onstrating,the ease wh6reby such devices may be constructed to form practical operatink mechanisms, which ai L 6 appllcable for bontrollin the 9 operation of va.l@es 6mployed In heating o'r cool-' ing plants, and which devices:are capabl6 of ac- 65 curately m@intaining , uniform temperatures within conflned: spaces. It is also evident that mgdillcations in such. devices may become necessary, due to their special purposes for which they inay@ be used, @ and I wish it to be iinderstood, 70 therefore, that I shad have the rlght to niake changes and improvements, without departizig from the broad@scope and spirit of,my lnvontion, as defined by the annexed CiairnS 1. In a thermostatically operated @valve, Ineluding a valve housing having a passage. and a throttle for opening and closing said passage, a self-contained thermornotor associated with sWd valve housing and comprising a closed chamber, containing a thermostatic medium reacting to temperature changes, said chamber consisting of a movable Interior member, forming the, operating part of said throttle, and an exterior member, forming a continuation of the interior mernber, said interior member being disposed within the valve housing and adapted to be permanently exposed to temperature and Uquid-faled thermostatic chamber as shown in - -L.Lpressure 6f the heating or cooling fluid controlled Figs. 1 and 4. Also, the suspension or operating 15 liy the valve, said exterior member being mounted sprinis for the closures, d in Figs. 2 and outside of, but sufficiently close to said valve housing to be directlyinfluenced by the latter's temperature, a stationary m6unting adjacent to said exterior motor member, a thermostatically controlled mechanism, dlsposed and operative within said mounting, for goveining the temperatures . affecting said exterior member, said mechanism consisting of an independent ther. m . ostatic;'element, exposed to a large,degree to' the exterlor slirrounding temperature, and to a smaller degree to the temperature emanating from the valve housing, a movable closure, for exposing or covering said exterior member, Summariz'mg; the principal advantages of my , operatively m6tnted within said housing and controlled by said element, for alternately subjecting said exterior member to the Influence of varying exterior temperatures, and manually aetuited means extending from said housing and operatively connected, with said element for adjusting and regulating the operation of said element. 2. In a thermostaticaliy operated valve as per claim 1, and wherein said mounting and said closure are provided with a plurality of corelated air circulating passages for controlling the amount of exposure to temperature changes, by way of air eirculati6n, to which said exterior member and said element are to be subjected, for effecting the operation of said throttle member. 3. Tn a thermostatically operated valve as per claim 1, and wherein snap action actuating means are provided for moving said closure to either a closing or an opening position. 4. In a thermostatically operated valve as per claim 1, and wherein' one end of said exterior motor member i s movable, and means in contacting proxjmity with said movable end of the exterior motor member, and interposed between the latter and said closure for actuating the closure wben said movable end is caused to function. 5. In a thermostatically operated valve as per claim 1, and . wlierein said closure is provlded at its Interior surfaee with heat reflecting means and exterior lnsulatlng means. 6. In a thermostatically operated valve as per claim 1, and wherein said interior member constitutes an Independent bellows arrangement, and wherein soid exterior motor member consists of a closed, independent vessel, and wherein said members are provided with generously dimensioned communicating means for providing an u I nrestrieted, quick flow of the thermostatic medium from one to the other member of the thermo-motor. 7. In a thermostatically operated valve as per claim 1, and wherein said closure comprises a structure for @ither covering or uncovering said I
