Improvements in or connected with Automatic Controlling Valves for Vapour Burners.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
Improvements in or connected with Automatic Controlling Valves
for Vapour Burners.
We, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Senior, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Junior, both of
the Columbine Ship Yard, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Engineers, and ROBERT
RINTOUL SYMON, of 20 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London, Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention comprises improvements in apparatus for burning a vapourized
hydrocarbon or other volatile oil, and consists in an improved valve for controlling
the admission of oil to the burner, and an attachment for such valve adapted by its
operation to shut off the supply of oil to the said burner, or to the the vapourizing
chamber with which the burner is connected, when for any reason the flame of the
burner is extinguished and the heating action upon the vaporizing chamber
required for the volatilization of the oil therein is thereby withdrawn.
In apparatus of this description generally, the oil is vaporized in some reservoir
or receptacle exposed to the heat of the burner, the vapour being then passed to
the burner proper, where it is mixed with or takes up air and is consumed. It
may happen from numerous causes, (as for example, by the passage to the burner
of aqueous vapour, due to the presence in the oil of a small quantity of water,
which is suddenly expanded on reaching the highly heated parts of the burner,)
that the flame is extinguished, and the result of this gradual flow of oil in the
liquid state to and out of the burner proper. It is also important in such burners
to provide for an escape back into the supply tank of the oil in the vaporizing
chamber, or in the pipe leading thereto, in case of an expansion of such oil which
would be likely to cause an explosion.
The present improvements consist of devices designed to prevent flooding or
overflowing of oil from the burner, and to provide for a return of the oil to the
tank in case of need and they consist in an improved form of valve, and in a
counterbalanced receptacle placed under the burner, or in any position where it will
intercept or receive the drip or overflow from said burner, and by the additional
weight of such accumulating oil will overbalance an adjusted weight, or its
equivalent, and turn the valve or cock in the oil supply pipe, thereby shutting off
the supply of oil to the vaporizing chamber, and preventing its further access to
the burner.
In the drawings hereto annexed of the improved apparatus, Figure 1 shows the
same in side elevation, partly in central section, as applied to a burner of a special
type. Figure 2 is a central vertical section, and Figure 3 is a horizontal section
of the improved valve to a larger scale. It will be understood that the improve-
ments are applicable to any form of burner which is supplied with oil by a pipe A,
and which has a vaporizing chamber B, into which the oil is introduced, and where
it is exposed to the heat of the flame, so as to be vaporized and passed to the
burner. In the present case the oil vaporized in the chamber B passes by a pipe C
into an annular chamber D, from which it issues through orifices controlled by
weighted valves E. The jets of vapour escaping around these valves draw up air
through openings F in the bottom of the chamber G, and also through the
openings H around the bottom of the burner I, at the top of which burner the
mixture of vapor and air is burned.
Should the flame from any cause be extinguished, the oil in the chamber B is
no longer vaporized, but overflows down the pipe C into the annular chamber D

page_text: where it gradually accumulates until it overflows through the orifices in the top of
said chamber, and runs down over the sides of the burner.
Any oil which thus drips from the burner is intercepted by a pan K placed below
the burner. This pan is carried by a bar L, the pivotal support of which is the
plug M of a controlling cock in the oil pipe A. The weight of the pan K is
counterbalanced by an adjustable weight N, and by such weight it is normally held
in a horizontal position, or so that the cock M is open to permit the free passage
of oil through the pipe A. The tilting of the pan, when weighted with oil, closes
the cock M. We usually place in the pan K some fibres of asbestos, or other
material, which will take up the dripping oil from the burner, and prevent it from
running out of the pan when the latter is tilted. This apparatus constitutes an
effective device for protecting the burner from flooding with oil, and is purely
automatic in its action. In Figures 2 and 3 my improved form of valve is illustrated.
This consists of a chamber Ŏ similar to that of an ordinary globe valve, but
containing a perforated table P.
The stem M enters the chamber at right angles to the surface of the table, which
latter is ground smooth. The valve consists of a smoothly ground plate R fitted
over the perforated table, and having an opening R'. Secured to this plate is a
central stem S that enters a socket in the end of the stem M, and in which a
spiral spring S¹ is confined, that forces the plate R down upon the table P. A slot
is formed across the end of the stem M into which lugs T T on the plate R extend,
and by which, when the stem is turned, the valve is more or less opened or closed.
The oil passes through the valve in the direction of the arrow, but should a
sudden increase of pressure occur on the burner side of the valve, the oil is forced
back through the valve by lifting the plate R off its seat.
The special form of vapour burner which we have shown in illustration of this
invention is not specifically claimed herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination with the supply pipe of an oil burner, of a valve chamber,
a perforated table or partition dividing the chamber, a valve plate with an opening
therein fitting over the table, a valve stem for turning the plate, and a spring
interposed between the stem and plate, whereby the latter is capable of independent
movement away from its seat in case of back pressure, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the oil supply pipe of a vapour burner, of a valve
controlling the flow of oil in said pipe, and a counterbalanced receptacle, adapted
to receive the drip or leakage of oil from the burner, and operatively connected
with said valve, whereby the latter will be closed by the overloading of the
receptacle with oil, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the oil supply pipe of a vapor burner, of a valve for
controlling the flow of oil in said pipe, a lever pivotally supported by the plug or
stem of said valve, a drip pan carried by the lever, and placed under the burner,
and a counterbalancing weight on the said lever, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the oil supply pipe of a vapour burner, of a valve for
controlling the flow of oil in said pipe, a tilting receptacle, adapted to receive the
drip or leakage of oil from the burner, and containing an absorbent inaterial, and
connected with the said valve, whereby the latter is operated by the movement of
the receptacle, substantially as described.
BATCH CO May of August.D. 1094.
H. A. HOUSE, SENIOR,
H. A. HOUSE, JUNIOR,
R. R. SYMON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.