US1674334A - Control for electric water heaters - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1928.

G. A. E. JONES CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS Filed May 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR gem 0/1 .5 10mm flearl ATTORNEY G. A. E. JONES CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS June 19, 1928.

Filed May 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet qua k INVENTOR e" film ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. E. JONES, OF WEST CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT B. HART AND ONE-THIRD T HAROLD H. STARR, BOTH OF NEW LONDON,

CON NE CTICUT.

CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS.

Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to improvements in control devices for producing hot waterinstantaneously in electrical water heating apparatus.

Among the objects of the present invention it is contemplated to provide in an electrical water heating system, means regulatable by the flow of the water to be heated for setting up the electrical heating circuit; means 0 operable by the cessation of the water flow to break the heating circuit; and a novel arrangement of contact disks actuated to function automatically on the operation of the above said means.

Specifically the invention aims to bring together the contacts for providing the electrical heating circuit by a plunger actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be heated.

Specifically the invention also aims to 0 break the circuit automatically by the actlon of a tension spring after the water flow has ceased.

Still further the invention contemplates the positioning of the actuating mechanism in the main water line. v

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an assembly view of'the various mechanisms in the heating system including the specific invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail cross section along the 5 line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the reference characters in the drawings, nu- 4o meral 1 designates a primary coil of a transformer, in which 2 represents a core. The secondary coil in the transformer consists of a single turn, through which passes a fluid conducting copper pipe 4, in this case the single turn consists of an iron or brass support 3, the support being connected across its legs 5 and 6 by a continuation of the fluid pipe 4 to complete the secondary circuit.

Water or any other heating fluid which is delivered from the usual city supply mains through the valve 7 passes through the T 8 into the fluid pipe line 4 where it is sub jected to the heating effect of the trans= 1924. Serial No. 714,872.

former secondary 5 on the application of the heating current within the transformer. The water is heated further as it passes from the conduit portion of the pipe line 4 through the coil 9, which is in the secondary circuit, and consequently receives the heating current. From the coil 9 the water passes into the hot water delivery line at 10.

To bring about the instantaneous application of the heating medium upon the opening of the water feed supply valve 7 there is located in and cooperating with the T 8, a valve mechanism 11 about which this particular invention centers.

To the extremity of the T 8 there is attached one end of a threaded coupling 12, the other end of which is connected to an internally threaded recessed nut 13. On the bearing surface of the nut 13 there is sup ported a hollow sleeve 14; through which the plungerrod, opening and closing means 15 reciprocate; and upon which the contact carrier 16 is fixedly mounted, and contact carrier 17 slidably mounted.

At the extremity of the T 8 there is located a bracket arm 18, held in place by a washer 19 which is pressed against the T8 by the abutment 20 on the coupling 12. On this bracket 18 there is fixedly connected a second bracket 21 which supports the contact carrier 16, holding said contact carrier firmly in place, and at the same time serving as an additional supporting means for the whole valve mechanism. The bracket 21 mounted in the carrier 16 is clamped between the two non-conductors, but separated from the metallic conductor lugs by washers 30.

The'cont-act carrier 16 is fixedly mounted on sleeve 14, being helcliin place against lateral movement, on the sleeve between washers 22 by the recessed nut 13 pressing against an integral collar 23 of the sleeve 14 on the one side, and by nut 24 threaded to the sleeve 14 on the other side thereof.

The contact carrier has two non-conductors 25 and 26, in disk form, having openings for the passage of the sleeve 14 therethrough; On the non-conductor 26 there are mounted the two diametrically oppositely disposed metallic contact lugs 27 and 27', having body sections 28 and which lugs are connected at the opposite face of the nonconductor by the threaded nuts 29. To each of the contact bolts at 29 there are attached the leads 34 which are connected with the primary transformer circuit and the source of electric current. r 7

On the sleeve 14 there is slidably mounted the second contact carrier 17 which is in the form of a disk similar to the disk 16.

but having a. bushing sleeve 31 therethrough C in contact with the sleeve 14. Integral with the bushing 31 there is formed a bracket 32 of U-shaped configuration havingarms 47 and 50. On the outer periphery of the con trio circuit by bridging the gap between the tact carrier there ismounted a'metallic ring 33prei'erably of copper, wh ch on contact withthe lugs 27 and 27 completes theeleclugs 27 and 27'.-

Tobri g the twocontact carrier sections 4 V in contact with each. other, there is'mounted within the sleeve-14, a reciprocating plunger rod 15 screw threaded at 36 and 37. At one end ofthe plunger rod, at 36 there s mounted a piston 38 adjustably fixed in position The piston end of he plunger rod'is reciprocable in the T 8, which is closed, at

branch'42 by a washer 43, and which has at its opposite branch 44 a washer 45 through which the piston 38 reciprocates. A tensionspring35 surrounds the plunger rod 15 and the piston 38 between the twowashers 43 and 45', and serves to keep the flow o'fliquid limited to pressing against and within the piston 88. Consequently the piston 38 is urged outwardly towards the main water line by the'pressure coming fromthe liquid through the T 8. As the piston rodis urged forward by the volume of liquid flowing through the open end and openings 41 and 414 of the piston, it moves in the direction of the arrow of F'g. 2, with the result that the openings 41 and 41 pass beyondthe washer '45 and discharge the liquid intothe mainpipe line towards and into'the heating system.

At the normal inoperative position of the carriers 16 and 17 when no liquid is flowing in the pipe line a tension spring 46, mounted on sleeve 14 exerts sufficient pressure against nut 24 of'tlie carrier 16 and bushing sleeve 31 otthe movable carrier 17 to keep the carriers out of contact. V

on the sleeve 14 and bearing against one arm47 of the bracket 32 there is mounted one end or a tension spring 48. The other end of the spring 48 bearsagainst a conical head 49 screwed to the threaded portion 37 of: the plunger rod 15, and. urges the plunger rod outwardly towards the second bracket arm 50 until the conical head 49 on the rod contacts therewith. When no fluid pressure is exerted on the plunger rod this second spring means 48 provides a further 1 means to supplement'the spring 46 for retaining the carriers out of contact.

As the lun er rod is urged forward by the initialJvolui'ne of water contacting with the piston head 38,the spring 48 is comforced into contactwith the fixed carrier 16,

while 'the'spring 46 between them is coin pressed'. This contact of the carriers results in the completion of the electrical circuit and the subsequent heating action ofthe secondary coil. i

As the openings 41, 41 of the piston pass the washer 45, the liquid from the main feed line 7 flows throiwh such o aenin 's into the 1 r v 1 Q V P1136 line 4 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. Since the initial pressure of the liq uid against the piston rod 88 causes the circuit tobe' set up, the water subsequently passing through the secondary coil 4, is subjectedto the heating action ofthe secondary coil. From the heating coil 4, the hot'water passes through the coil 9 there to be further heated and then into the main delivery pipe at 10. i

As the flow of liquid is shut ofi the pressure against the piston 38 ceases, and the tension spring 48 automatically. urges the conical head 49, carrying with it the plunger rod 15 towards the bracket arm 50.-'As thev compressive force of spring 48 ceases to function, after having drawn the plunger rod head 49 into contact with the bracketarm 50, the spring 46 between the two contact carriers expands completely to break the electrical circuit. When the spring 48 is thus liberated when the flow ot'liquid is shut 011 it will advance the head 49 with such force as to strike the arm 50 a vigorous. blow so that the strain thereof will be transmitted through the bracket 32 to the carrier arm 17 to initiate the withdrawal'ot the carrier 17 of the contact annulus 33 from the contacts 27 and 27, the spring 46' thereuponcomplet- 'ing the withdrawal action of the carrier 17.

WVh'enthe flow of liquid is shut oii, the spring pressed disc 45 is yieldable to permit any pressure that may betrapped in the coil 9 to escape ou't'through the T 8-. On the other hand, should the pressure decrease sufficiently in the coil 9 upon. cooling, the presvsure in the T 8 will be: sufficient to advance the piston 38; to where its openings 41 and 41 pass the disc 45, to permit the pressure in the coil 9 and tube at substantially to balance the pressure in the T 8.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described for a liquid heating system having a liquid conduit, a disc extending transversely of said conduit and having an opening therein, a tubular plunger head extending through the opening of said disc and closed at one end with lateral openings in the sides thereof, a support, a spindle slidably extending through said support and connected to said plunger, a fixed electric contact mounted on said support, a carrier secured to said spindle, a movable electric contact on said carrier and adapted to engage the fixed electric contact, tensioning means on said spindle for normally maintaining said movable contact spaced from said fixed contact, the flow of the liquid through said conduit causing the plunger to pass part way through said disc to permit the water to escape through the openings in said plunger beyond said disc on its way to the heating zone and carry the spindle with it to cause said movable contact to engage said fixed contact to close the electric circuit for the heating current, and means for cooperating with said tensioning means to initiate the separation of the movable contact from the fixed contact when the flow of liquid has been stopped.

2. In a device of the class described for a liquid heating system having a liquid conduit, a disc extending transversely of said conduit and having an opening therein, a tubular plunger head extending through the opening of said disc and closed at one end with lateral openings in the sides thereof, a support, a spindle slidably extending through said support and connected to said plunger, a fixed electric contact mounted on said support, a carrier secured to said spindie, a movable electric contact on said carrier and adapted to engage the fixed eleetric contact, tensioning means on said spindle for normally maintaining said movable contact spaced from said fixed contact, a bracket connected to said carrier and having an abutting arm at the end thereof, a head on said spindle in said bracket, and a the opening of said spring for normally forcing said head against said abutting arm, the flow of the liquid through said conduit causing the plunger to pass part way through said disc to permit the water to escape through the openings in said plunger beyond said disc on its way to the heating zone and carrying the spindle with it to cause said movable contact to engage said fixed contact to close the electric circuit for the heating current, and said spring when the flow of liquid has been stopped, causing said spindle to return and thereby to carry with it the plunger to withdraw the openings thereof over to the inside of said disc away from the heating zone and to thrust said head against said abutting arm to initiate the separation of the movable contact from said fixed contact, the tensioning means completing the withdrawal of said movable contact from said fixed contact.

3. In a device of the class described for a liquid heating system having a liquid conduit, a disc extending transversely of said conduit and having an opening therein, a tubular plunger head extending through disc and closed at one end with lateral openings in the sides thereof, a support, a spindle slidably extending through said support and connected to said plunger, a fixed electric contact mounted on said support, a carrier secured to said spindie, a movable electric contact on said carrier and adapted to engage the fixed electric contact, tensioning means on said spindle for normally maintaining said movable contact spaced from said fixed contact, the flow of the liquid through said conduit causing the plunger to pass part way through said disc to permit the water to escape through the openings in said plunger beyond said disc on its way to the heating zone and carry the spindle with it to cause said movable contact to engage said fixed contact to close the electric circuit for the heating current, and a spring for causing said disc to cooperate with said plunger normally to shutoff the flow of liquid to the heating zone but yieldable to permit the pressure in said heating zone to escape when the flow of liquid has been stopped, said tensioning means being yieldable to permit said plunger to slide beyond said disc to allow the pressure on either side of said disc substantially to equalize.

GEORGE A. E. JONES.

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