Improvements in Water Heaters Heated by Gas partly applicable to Pilot Light Gas Burners used for other purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
Improvements in Water Heaters Heated by Gas partly applicable to
Pilot Light Gas Burners used for other purposes.
I, AUGUST BUERKLE, Plumber residing at Troy Hill, in the City of Allegheny,
County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America, 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.
The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in valve
mechanism for water heaters, especially of that class or kind known as domestic
heaters. The invention has for its object a construction of valve mechanisms for
controlling the flow of gas and water, the mechanisms being so connected that
the flow of gas and water is controlled by and proportioned in accordance with
the flow of water from the heater. It is a further object of the invention to
provide an increased flow of gas to the pilot light at such times as it is liable to
be extinguished by the flow of gas from the main burner and its cut-off there-
from. The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a heater having my improve-
ments applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, of
the valve mechanisms controlling the flow of water and gas to the heater; Fig. 3
is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the mechanism
employed for increasing the flow of gas to the pilot light; and Fig. 4 is a sectional
plan view, the plane of section being indicated by the line IV-IV, Fig. 3.
In the practice of my invention I provide a heater 1, of any suitable con-
struction, but preferably consisting of a coil of pipe arranged within a suitame
shell. This coil is arranged in the upper part of the shell 1, and in the lower
part of the shell is located the annular burner 2. This burner is connected to the
nozzle of the gas valve mechanism, and the gas supply pipe is similarly con-
nected to the nozzle 4. The flow of gas is controlled by a plug 6, preferably
tapered as shown, so that the flow of gas will be proportioned in accordance with
the elevation of the plug. On the upper end of the plug 6 is secured a washer 7,
preferably formed of rubber, and a supporting metal washer 8. The rubber washer
serves to entirely cut off the flow of gas, while the tapering plug below the washer
will regulate the flow in accordance with the flow of water, as will be hereinafter
described. The plug 6 and washer 7 are secured to the upper end of a rod 9
which extends down through suitable stuffing boxes into the cylinder 10, within
which is arranged the piston 11 provided with a packing 12, forming a water-
tight joint with the walls of the cylinder. The water supply pipe 13 is connected
to a threaded nipple 14, formed on the lower cap 15 of the cylinder, and the latter
is connected to the heating coil within the case 1 by a pipe 16, and the coil is
connected by a pipe 17 to the service pipes of the house. By reference to Fig. 2,
it will be observed that the outlet pipe 16 is connected to the cylinder 10 at a
point above the normal stroke of the piston 11, and in order to permit water to

page_text: on
such a
the
flow by the piston into the upper part of the cylinder, an opening which me be
conical is formed through the piston, and in said opening is arranged a tapering
plug 18. While this plug will be held normally seated within the opening in
the piston by the pressure of water, it is preferred to reinforce the water pressure
by a spring 19 surrounding the stem 20 of the plug, and bearing at one end
against the piston, and at the opposite end against the shoulder 21
the stem. This stem is made of
as
length, that
piston commences its upward movement, the stem will bear against the end of
the cylinder so as to hold the plug stationary during the continued upward
movement of the piston. It is preferred to arrange an auxiliary regulating valve
in the lower end of the cylinder, or in its cap 15, to prevent a flow of water greatly
in excess of the capacity of the opening through the piston. A convenient form
of such mechanism is shown in Fig. 2, and consists of a conical block 22, provided
with a threaded stem screwed into a spider 28 secured in the cap and locked in
its adjusted position by a nut 24. It will be observed that this auxiliary valve
mechanism is arranged entirely within the cyluder or its cap, and hence cannot
be tampered with after having been adjusted in its desired position.
The piston 11 is normally held at the lower end of the cylinder 10 by means
of a spring 25 arranged in a cap 26 on the shell of the gas valve mechanism, and
bearing at one end against the washer 8, and at the opposite end against the
threaded plug 27 screwing into the cap 26. whereby it is possible to adjust the
tension of the spring 25 as required. This adjusting plug is protected by an
internally threaded cap or plug 28 screwing onto the cap 26, as shown in Fig. 2.
Care should be taken in adjusting the tension of the spring 25 not to render
it so great as to prevent the easy shifting of the piston when the pressure of
water above the latter is relieved. As soon as this pressure on the upper side of
the piston is relieved, the pressure of water on the under side thereof will force
the piston and the block 6 upward, thereby unseating the washer 7 and the
tapering plug 18. permitting gas to flow to the annular burner 2, and water to
flow to the coil in the ense or shell 1. If the faucets in house service pipes are
fully opened, all fluid pressure above the piston will be relieved, and the latter
can be shifted to the limit of its movement by the pressure in the supply pipe,
thereby effecting an opening of the passage through the piston, and also through
the gas valve mechanism to the fullest limit. If the fluid pressure above the
piston is not entirely relieved by opening the faucets, the piston will be raised
only a short distance and the gas and water valves only slightly opened. It is
thus seen that the flow of gas will be always proportioned to the flow of water
through the coil.
Considerable trouble is experienced by reason of the blowing out of the pilot
light on the sudden flow of gas from the main burner 2, and the puff or quick
In order
explosion which occurs when the gas is cut off from the main burner.
to overcome this difficulty. I provide for an increased flow of gas to the pilot light
just prior to the flow of gas to the main burner and its cut-off therefrom. To
this end the gas supply pipe 29 is connected by a branch 30 to a passage 31 in
the walls of the cylinder 32. the ends of said passage being connected with the
upper and lower ends of the cylinder 32 respectively. The pilot light 33 which
may be of any suitable construction, is connected by a pipe 34. to a passage 35,
formed in the walls of the cylinder 32 and connected to the upper and lower ends
of said cylinder as shown in Fig. 3. The passage 31 is provided at or near its
ends with check valves 36, 36", which will permit the easy flow of gas to the
cylinder, but will prevent its flow therefrom into the passage 31. The passage 35
is similarly provided with check valves 37, and 37°, adapted to permit the flow
of gas from the cylinder, ut to prevent any return thereto. Within the cylinder 32
is arranged a piston 38, having its stem 39 connected tri one end of a lever 40, the
opposite end of which is provided with a slot which engages trunnions 41, formed
on or secured to the rod 9. It will be observed that under normal conditions gas
from the supply pipe 29 will flow easily through the pipe 30 and passage 31, to

page_text: the cylinder 32, and from thence through the passage 35 and pipe 34 to the pilot
burner.
As soon as the piston 11 commences its upward movement, the lever 40
will be so shifted by the rod 9, as to pull the piston 38 down with considerable
rapidity, thereby forcing the gas below the piston through the passage 35 and
pipe 34 to the pilot light, causing a sudden increase and steadiness to the pilot
flame. As the piston 11 is moved down by its spring 25, the piston 38 will be
forced up pushing the gas from the upper end of the piston 32 to the pilot light,
so as to steady the flame and prevent its being blown out by the puff or explosion
consequent on the turning off of the gas from the main burner. As soon as the
piston 38 becomes stationary, the gas will flow normally to the pilot light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In water heaters the combination of a cylinder, an inlet supply pipe passing
to one side of its ends an outlet pipe passing from its opposite end to a fluid
receptacle heated by a gas burner, an outlet pipe from this receptacle-a piston
adapted to be shifted endwise in one direction within the cylinder by the pressure
of water upon it when the outlet pipe from the heated receptacle is opened and
in the opposite direction by a weight or spring when the outlet pipe is closed-a
passage formed through the piston-a valve normally closing this passage but
restrained from moving with the piston when the piston is moved endwise on
the opening of the outlet pipe so that the passage through the piston is them
opened and water flows through it to the heater and to its outlet pipe-and a
valve for regulating the flow of gas to the burnwr opened and closed by the move-
ment of the piston.
'
2. Regulating mechanism constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawings annexed for regulating the flow of gas to the
burner used for heating a water heater.
3. The combination of a main gas burner, a pilot light burner and means
operative on the flow of gas to the main burner and its cut-off therefrom for
increasing the flow of gas to the pilot burner, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a main gas burner, a pilot light burner and means
operative on the flor of gas to the main burner for increasing the flow of gas
to the pilot burner, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of a main gas burner a pilot light burner and means
operative on the cut-off of gas from the main burner for increasing the flow of
gas to the pilot burner, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a fluid receptacle having inlet and outlet pipes, a
cylinder arranged in the line of connection of the inlet pipe, a piston arranged to
operate between the inlet and outlet ports of the cylinder, and provided with a
passage therethrough, a valve controlling the flow of water through the piston
and adapted to be unseated on the movement of the piston, a gas burner for
heating the receptacle, and a valve connected to the piston for regulating the flow
gas to the burner, substantially as set forth.
of
Witnesses:
F. E. GAITHER,
AUGUST BUERKLE.
Dated at Pittsburg, Pa., U.S.A.. this twenty third day of August, A.D. 1897