Improvements in Automatic Vacuum and Air Valves, for Use in Steam Radiators, and Analogous Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Vacuum and Air Valves, for Use in
Steam Radiators, and Analogous Apparatus.
We, JACOR JAMER and WILLIAM HENRY JAMER, residing at No. 109, South Sixth
Street, in the Borough of Brooklyn, in the City and State of New York, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our improved valve is adapted for use on radiators for steam heating, and in
analogous situations It provides for the gradual discharge of air when air is present
in the radiator instead of steam, and thus allows the steam to take its place and
make the radiator efficient, and also provides means for an instantaneous and copious
induction of air when the conditions are such as to form a partial vacuum.
combine the provisions for both, peculiarly related in a single valve.
We
We term the device an automatic vacuum and air valve for use in steam
radiators and analogous apparatus.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this epecification and represent what
we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 11s a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a central vertical section. This shows the air induction valve open in
the act of inducting air.
Figure 3 is a corresponding section showing the valve closed, the position which it
maintains under ordinary working conditions.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they appear.
A is the body, of cast brass or other suitable material, made in a single piece of
compaet form, as shown, certain parts being designated by super-numerals when
necessary. A is the screw-threaded nozzle by which it is connected to a radiator,
not shown.
A passage a¹ is cored in the casing, leading from the radiator through the
nozzle A¹ into a broader chamber a in the lower portion of the body, with an
extension a upward to a point near the top of the device. A small orifice a
extends thence laterally into a larger chamber at which loosely encloses a plug, to
be described further on. A seat a should be smoothly finished around the orifice a³,
against which the plug may fit, and thus prevent the escape of the steam.
A 18 another screw-threaded nozzle at the bottom of the device. Through this
is a passage as leading down from the chamber at. Screw threads are provided on
the exterior of the nozzle A%, by which a drain pipe K may be connected when
such shall be found expedient. As is a horizontal open-work partition over the
broad chamber a, through which the air may descend in liberal quantities to enter
the radiator, when required.
B is a separable portion tapped upon the main body A and providing a chamber b
on its under side, the upper portion of which chamber 18 nicely finished to form a
valve seat B¹ A considerable passage blends up from this into a chamber 62 above,
which opens into the atmosphere through apertures b³.

page_text: D is a valve stem carrying an inverted poppet-valve D¹ loosely enclosed in the
chamber, having its upper face nicely finished to match the valve-seat B¹ in its
top The stem D with the valve D¹ is allowed to move vertically only, being
guided by its lower end playing through a hole in the partition A³, and its upper
end in a coresponding hole in the crown above the chainber 6º.
A spal sping C, shown as conical, abuts on the partition A³ and lifts the
valve 11, holding it up gently into contact with its seat B¹
When conditions obtain which tend to induce a vacuum, such as are caused by
shutting off the radiator F, and the steam gradually condenses in the radiator, the
external air entering through the lateral aperatures 63, depresses the valve D¹ and
descends past the valve and spring through the apertured partition As into the
chamber, and thence through the nozzle A, lapidly filling the radiator. Under
all ordinary conditions the valve is held up to its seat by the spring and by the
greater or less pressure of steam below.
"
Besides
The provision for disposing of the air is also connected to the chamber a
that which 18 drawn in, an accumulates in the radiator, as is well known, by coming
up with the steam from the boiler, and being isolated by the condensation of the
steam M is a cylindrical mass which we term a plug," of hard vulcanized rubber
or other material more expansible with heat than the metal of the body This is
carried in a screw plug E tapped into the chamber a', as represented, so that the end
of the plug M may be adjusted close to the valve seat A+ So long as steam is pre-
sented and the device is kept up to steam heat, the end of the expansible plug M
presses tightly on the seat A', but when air accumulates it rapidly loses its heat;
then the superior contraction of the plug M diaws it sufficiently away from the seat
to allow the air to escape until steain is again presented In the rare cases, when
through any cause, water shall be discharged with the air, the drain pipe K fitted on
the nozzle A leads it harmlessly away
Devices of this general character have been before known, for slowly discharging
the air, and for allowing an to be rapidly inducted We have combined the two in
one simple device. and have so arranged the air eduction that it will rarely if ever
deliver water.
The non-delivery of water is attained by leading the passage a² upward to a high
point Water is formed in the device by the more or less rapid condensation of the
steam therem The slight opening provided by the cooling and contraction of the
plug M and the possible small leakage upward past the valve D¹ tends to draw such
water away from the radiator by the gentle current thus induced. By the passage a²
extending upward some two inches more or less above the level of the passage a', we
ensure the arresting of that water and the holding it quietly in the bottom of the
passage until the conditions change so that it can flow into the radiator Fand
thence be returned to the boiler. The provision for the induction of air also extend-
ng p alongside, enables the two provisions to mutually protect each other against
any violence, and gives symmetry to the device
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. The upper face of the valve D¹ may be dome shaped,
as shown, or may be conical, flat or variously formed, the seat A+ against which it is
pressed up by the spring, being conespondingly formed Parts of the device can be
nsed without the whole We have shown the outer end of the plug M as held in a
large plug, which may be tapped into the body. This may be convenient for adjust-
ment; but it can be dispensed with. A cap G is shown fitting over the outer end of
the plug M and forming an efficient cap to thus an-educting portion. A cap H 1s
shown as fitted on the top of the air inducting portion, both being connected by
screw-threads, but either or both of the caps can be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim 19
In an automatic valve, the combination of a casing provided with two ports and a

page_text: 5
nipple, the latter being adapted to connect the same with a radiator, a valve D¹ for
one of the ports adapted to be opened by atmospheric pressure when the same pre-
ponderates over the internal pressure of the radiator, and a thermostatic valve
adapted to control the other port, substantially as set forth.
Dated this ard day of December 1808
(Signed) F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. Agent for the Applicants.