Improvements in and relating to Thermostatic Valves or Steam Traps for Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN ALBERT SERRELL, of Avenue A and 36th
Street, Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey, and MEREDITH LEITCH, of 3
Cedar Avenue, Merchantville, Camden County, New Jersey, both in the
United States of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Thermostatic Valves or Steam
Traps for Heating Apparatus.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to "thermostatic valves," and consists of the improvements
hereinafter set forth.
The invention has for its objects:
66
First: To provide a thermostatic valve of improved construction for discharging
air, water and vapor from heaters, coils and radiators, while preventing the escape
of steam therefrom, and especially a valve adapted for use in a vacuum system,"
in which the air and water are drawn out of the heaters, coils or radiators by means
of a partial vacuum.
Second: To protect the expanding piece or member of the thermostatic valve from
the direct action of steam at high temperature and pressure, so that it will be less
liable to injury and will be more durable.
Third: To enable the expanding piece to be reversed, so that the other end may
be used, if one end should become worn or injured.
Fourth To render the valve quick and sensitive in its operations.
Fifth To provide a construction of thermostatic parts, which may be readily
applied to an ordinary standard globe or angle valve body to transform the same
from a hand valve to a thermostatic valve, and to enable these parts to be easily
removed to permit the valve body to be blown out or cleaned.
Sixth To provide
:
an expanding piece or member for a thermostatic valve which
may be easily and accurately adjusted without liability of injury through careless
adjustment.
Seventh: To provide a metallic expanding piece or member for a thermostatic
valve which shall be sensitive, durable and easily adjusted.
The valve body is provided on the inlet side with an internal closed compartment
having a communicating passageway with the inlet side, which is controlled by a
thermostatic expanding piece located in said closed compartment, and with an
outlet passageway to the discharge side, which is not controlled by the expanding
piece. The result of this construction is, that, in a vacuum system," the expand-
ing piece is contained in a suction compartment, and is never subjected to steam
at high pressure and temperature; the steam which reaches the expanding piece,

page_text: being in a partial vacuum, is at lower temperature and pressure and is less liable
to injure it.
In the preferred construction the valve seat piece consists of a small metallic
piece adapted to fit the valve seat of an ordinary globe or angle valve, and this
seat piece is provided with the passageways which lead respectively to the inlet and
discharge sides of the valve body. By the use of this small supplemental valve
seat piece an ordinary globe or angle valve may be readily transformed into a
thermostatic valve, by simply removing the old hand valve, valve stem and wheel
and inserting the supplemental valve seat and expanding piece.
By employing a tubular casing connected with the supplemental piece and
extending up into the body or cap of the valve the closed suction compartment for
the expanding piece is formed, and the expanding piece, casing and supplemental
valve-piece may all be removed together, leaving the valve body with the old valve
seat aperture which may be easily blown out or cleaned.
A tubular dirt screen may be used arranged about the tubular casing which forms
the vacuum chamber, and by making this screen loose and bending over the top
so as to be engaged by the supplemental valve piece, when it is lifted from the valve
body, the screen may be made removable with the other parts.
The inlet passageway to the chamber or compartment in which the expanding
member is located is directly below the end of the expanding member, so that the
flow of air and water is directly against the end of the expanding piece and conse-
quently tends to open it; this renders the valve more sensitive and quick in its
action.
The expanding piece may be loose in the suction compartment and from this it
results that it may readily be reversed, so that its opposite end may be used should
one end become injured, thus prolonging the life of the valve.
So far as these portions of the invention are concerned any ordinary expanding
piece may be employed, whether of metal or composition.
In the many thermostatic valves now in use the chief difficulty has been met in
providing a satisfactory expanding piece, which shall be both sensible and durable.
In that class of valves, in which the expanding member is formed of composition
of matter, great difficulties have been met owing to the want of durability and the
liability of the expanding member to become bent and injured owing to careless
adjustment, so that after considerable use the expanding members are liable to
operate defectively and must either be readjusted or replaced. In that class of
valves, in which metallic expanding members have been used, difficulty has been
met in making the valve sufficiently sensitive. In both classes facility of adjust-
ment has been wanting.
Where valves are applied to radiators filled with steam the adjustment may of
course be accomplished by observing their operation, but when the valves are applied
to cold radiators, in the erection of a steam heating system, great difficulty has been
met in making a proper adjustment. The difficulty has been due to the liability
of screwing the expansible member down too tight, which, in addition to preventing
the valves from operating, and rendering a readjustment necessary after the radiators
are in use, is liable to permanently injure the valve.
For this purpose the expanding piece is composed of a core piece adjustably
carried by the valve body, and an expanding piece connected at one end with the
core piece and carrying at the other end a valve piece, which is located immediately
adjacent to the extended end of the core piece. The effect of this construction is
that, in the adjustment of the valve, when the core piece is screwed down until the
valve piece is firmly pressed upon its seat, the end of the core piece butts against
the valve piece and further adjustment is prevented, and there is no danger of the
expansible piece becoming bent or injured. The fitter knows that the valve piece
is just on the seat and with a couple of turns in the reverse direction the core and
valve piece will be moved back just sufficiently to be in operative position.
In the preferred construction the expansible piece which connects the upper end
of the core with the valve piece consists of a spiral wound about the core and com-

page_text: posed of two metals of different expansibility such, e.g. as steel and brass, so that
when the spiral is heated by contact with steam it tends to unwind and thus
elongates and presses the valve piece upon its seat.
Dated this 17th day of April 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Thermostatic Valves or Steam
Traps for Heating Apparatus.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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: —
This invention relates to thermostatic valves, and consists of the improvements
which are fully set forth in the following specification and are shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a thermostatic valve of
improved construction for discharging air, water and vapor from heaters, coils and
radiators while preventing the escape of steam therefrom, and especially a valve
adapted for use in a vacuum system in which the air and water are drawn out of the
heaters, coils and radiators by means of a partial vacuum.
It is also an object of this invention to protect the expanding piece or member
from the direct action of the steam at high temperature and pressure, so that it
will be less liable to injury and will be more durable. This is accomplished by
locating the expanding piece on the suction side in a chamber or compartment, in
which a partial vacuum is maintained, so that the steam, which comes in contact
with the expanding piece and operates it, will have a low temperature and pressure.
It is also an object of the invention to enable the expanding piece to be reversed
and the other end used should one end become worn or injured.
It is also an object of the invention to render the operation of the valve quick
and sensitive, and to this end the expanding piece is located in a vacuum chamber
or compartment with its end arranged to expand against the flow of the air or water,
whereby the pressure of the latter against the end of the expanding piece tends to
open it.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction of thermostatic
parts which may readily be applied to an ordinary standard globe or angle valve
body to transform the same from a hand valve to a thermostatic valve, and to enable
these parts to be easily and quickly removed to permit the valve body to be blown
out or cleaned.
The invention also relates to an expanding piece of novel construction which is
sensitive and durable, and which may be easily and quickly adjusted without
liability of becoming bent or injured by careless adjustment.
The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a thermostatic valve embodying the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the valve seat piece showing the expanding member
closed on the valve seat;
Fig. 3 is an horizontal sectional view on the line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified thermostatic valve showing the
novel metallic expanding piece;

page_text: Fig. 5 is a similar view of the detached expanding piece with the compound spiral
expansion piece in longitudinal section; and
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a detached expanding piece of modified construction.
In illustrating the invention it is shown embodied in an ordinary valve body and
in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 employing a composition expanding
piece or member; but the particular construction of the valve body is not material
to the invention, and in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a special metallic expansion piece is shown
which may be substituted for the composition expansion piece shown in Figs. 1,2
and 3.
The invention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will first be described.
A is the valve body, which is shown in full lines as a globe valve, and in dotted
lines as an angle valve.
B is the valve bonnet.
C is the expanding member, which is of any convenient character and composed
of any suitable material adapted to expand when subjected to the temperature
of steam.
D) is the valve-seat piece, which preferably consists of a metal bushing adapted
to fit in the seat d of the valve body, being thus adapted to be fitted in the seat of
an ordinary hand-valve. We have shown the bushing D provided with a flange c
adapted to rest upon the seat d. The valve seat D is provided with one or more inlet
passageways ef and one or more independent outlet passageways g.
As shown the piece D is provided with one or more transverse passageways e and
with a main vertical passageway f communicating therewith but not extending
through the bottom of the piece D, and also with one or more vertical outlet
passageways g, extending entirely through. In the drawings the passageway f is
in the center with four transverse passageways e extending radially from it, and four
vertical passageways about the central passageway f. These passageways g do
not communicate directly with the passageways e but form independent outlets.
The expanding piece C is arranged over the seat F, through which the passage-
way f opens, and is so arranged that it will close upon the seat F and passage-
ways ef, without closing the vertical passageways g. For this purpose the metal
forming the seat F is slightly elevated.
G is a partition forming a closed space or chamber I within the valve body into
which the passageways ef and lead. It is shown as a casing surrounding
the expanding piece and extending from the upper portion of the valve-seat
piece above the passageways e up into the bonnet B, where it fits closely, 'as
against the internal flange b, so as to divide the space within the upper portion of
the valve body into an outer space or compartment H and the inner space or com-
partment I about the expanding piece, closed from the compartment H, except
through the valve passageway ef.
In the preferred construction this dividing partition or casing G consists of a thin
brass tube, open at the top, and soldered at the bottom to the upper portion of the
piece D.
J is a perforated screen surrounding the seat piece D and casing G. In the
preferred construction the screen fits loosely at the bottom about the flange e and
is spun over at the top, as at j, so that when the bonnet, seat-piece and casing G
are lifted, the screen J will be carried with them, as the spun over top j will engage
the flange c.
The casing G forms a connection between the seat-piece D and the bonnet B, so
that when the bonnet is removed the seat piece will be removed with it.
The expanding piece C is shown fastened at its upper end in an adjustable plug K
in the internally threaded end of the bonnet B. Under certain conditions the
piece C may, however, be loosely supported within the bonnet, as will be hereinafter
more fully described. L is a cap in the end of the bonnet.
The steam, air and water of condensation enter the valve from the right hand side
in Fig. 1, and while air or water is present, the piece C is contracted and lifted off
the seat F, and the air and water pass through the passageway ef and out through

page_text: the passageways g into the lower portion of the valve. When, however, steam
enters the valve, it causes the expanding piece C to expand and close upon the seat F,
so as to close the passageway f to the escape of steam. It will be observed that the
expanding piece is so located that its expansion takes place in a direction against
the flow of the water and vapor.
When the valve is used in a vacuum system, in which a partial vacuum is created
in the discharge side of the valve, the vacuum thus created extends
at all times through the passage ways 9 into the space or compart-
ment I which surrounds the expanding piece. The expanding piece is
thus constantly maintained in a vacuum chamber, and from this it results, that
when the valve passageway ef is open, during the escape of air and water, and the
steam enters the chamber or space I it will flow into a partial vacuum and will exist
at a lower temperature, so that the expanding piece may be made to work at a
lower temperature than 212° Fahr., and, being subjected to lower temperature and
pressure, will not be so liable to injury and will be more durable.
A further advantage of the location of the expanding piece on the suction side
instead of on the pressure side of the valve, is that, as the pressure, acting on the
base of the expanding piece through the passageway f against a partial vacuum in
the chamber I, will act to lift the piece C and open the valve, the piece C may be
loose in the bonnet B or plug K instead of being fastened therein as is now neces-
sary. The valve will be held open by the pressure upon the base of the expanding
piece until the steam expands the piece C, and this pressure will act to instantly
open the valve when the piece C contracts. In this way the valve is made very
sensitive and positive in its actions.
A further advantage of this construction is that the expanding piece may be at
any time reversed, to use the opposite end, when one end has become worn or
injured. This is particularly advantageous where vulcanite composition expanding
pieces are used.
When it is desired to clean the valve, the bonnet B is unscrewed and lifted out,
and with it are lifted the valve-seat piece D, casing G, screen J and expanding
piece C, leaving the large opening d in the valve body, through which any sediment
may be easily blown out of the valve.
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a special form of metallic expan-
sion piece is shown, which may be used in the devices shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3
in place of the expanding piece C, or may be used in a valve of ordinary construction
as shown in Fig. 4.
This improved metallic expansion piece will now be described.
In that
In the many thermostatic valves the chief difficulty has been met in providing a
satisfactory expansible piece, which must be the sensitive and durable.
class of valves in which the expansible member is formed of composition of matter
great difficulties have been met, owing to want of durability and the liability of the
expanding member to become bent and injured owing to careless adjustment, so that
after considerable use the expanding members are liable to operate defectively and
must either be readjusted or replaced. In that class of valves, in which metallic
expansible members have been used, difficulty has been met in making the valve
sufficiently sensitive.
In both classes facility of adjustment has been lacking. Where valves are applied
to radiators filled with steam the adjustment may of course be accomplished by
observing their operation, but when the valves are applied to cold radiators, in the
erection of a steam heating system, great difficulty has been met in making a proper
adjustment. The difficulty has been due to the liability of screwing the expansible
members down too tight, which, in addition to preventing the valves from operating,
and rendering a readjustment necessary after the radiators are in use, is liable to
permanently injure the valve.
It is the object of this part of the invention to provide a valve of simple construc-
tion, which may be easily and accurately adjusted, as well when the radiator is cold

page_text: as when it is filled with steam, and without liability of the expansible member
being screwed down so tight as to be bent or injured.
It is also an object to provide a thermostatic valve having a metallic expansion
piece possessing the requisite sensitiveness to operate quickly and accurately.
In carrying out the invention in the attainment of the first of these last men-
tioned objects there is employed an adjustable core piece carried by the valve body,
and an expansible piece supported at one end by the core piece and carrying on its
other or free end the valve piece, which is so located as to be immediately adjacent
to the end of the core piece. The effect of this construction is that, in the adjust-
ment of the valve, when the core piece is screwed down until the valve piece is
firmly pressed upon its seat, the end of the core piece butts against the valve piece
and further adjustment is prevented, and there is consequently no danger of the
expansible piece becoming bent or injured. The fitter knows that the valve piece
is just on the seat and with a couple of turns in the reverse direction the core and
valve piece will be moved back just sufficiently to be in operative position. Thus
the valve may be accurately adjusted at all times.
Another part of this portion of the invention relates to the employment as the
expansible piece of a compound metallic piece composed of two metals of different
coefficients of expansion twisted into a spiral form and carrying the valve piece at
the outer or free end. When this special compound metallic piece is heated by
contact with steam it expands or tends to uncoil and thus elongates and forces the
valve-piece on the seat.
E is the thermostatic expanding piece, consisting of a core F¹, valve piece G
and compound metallic piece H', composed of two metals of different degrees of
expansibility, such, e.g. as steel and brass, arranged in the form of a spiral about the
core and secured at its upper end to the core F¹ and at its lower end to the valve
piece G¹.
The piece E is provided with a threaded end I¹ which is screwed into the
internally threaded top of the bonnet B, and by means of which the expanding
piece may be adjusted with reference to the valve seat D. J¹ is a lock-nut within the
threaded top of the bonnet B above the threaded end I of the piece E to lock the
expanding piece in place.
The core H is extended so that its end h will be immediately above the upper
end of the valve piece G¹. The latter is shown provided with a shank g' which
extends up to the end h of the core H¹. The special advantage of this construction
is that it greatly facilitates the adjustment of the valve and prevents it being
screwed down too tight. When the valve-piece G¹ is forced upon the seat D further
adjustment of the piece E¹ will force the end of the core H upon the shank g¹ of
the valve piece and further movement is impossible. To adjust the valve, therefore,
it is only necessary to screw down the core H until its movement is arrested and
then to make a couple of turns in the opposite direction which will be sufficient to
lift the valve piece G¹ from the seat 1 to just about the desired extent.
these valves may be easily and quickly adjusted while the radiators are cold and
there is no danger of injuring the expanding member by screwing it down too
tight.
Thus
When the coiled piece H' becomes heated by contact with steam the difference in
the expansibility of the component metals causes the piece to expand or unwind
and this presses the valve piece G₁ upon the seat I). When the piece H¹ becomes
cooled, when subjected to water or air, it contracts and lifts the valve piece G¹.
In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a single spiral piece H is used; if
desired two or more such pieces may be employed as in the construction illustrated
in Fig. 6 in which instead of the single spiral H', two spirals H³, H³ are employed.
In the drawings a screen K¹ is shown surrounding the expanding member E'.
This is to prevent the passage of dirt or injurious matter through the valve.
While the constructions shown are considered preferable it is to be understood
that they may be varied in many ways without departing from the invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The thermostatic valve constructed and operating substantially in the manner
described.
2. A thermostatic valve body having the internal chamber I within which the
thermostatic expanding piece is located when arranged and operating substantially
as described.
3. The valve seat piece between the chamber I and the inlet and discharge side
of the valve, having independent passageways leading through it into the chamber I
from the inlet and discharge sides respectively.
4. The movable casing G and seat piece.
5. The screen J surrounding the seat piece and arranged so as to be removed
with it.
6. The expanding piece composed of an internal core piece and a compound
metallic spiral expanding piece surrounding the core piece and supported thereby
at one end and supporting the valve piece at the other end.
7. A thermostatic valve provided with an adjusting piece extended so as to
abut against the valve piece supported by the expanding piece.
Dated this 12th day of January 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.