Year: 1886

page_text: I, WARREN SEYMOUR JOHNSON, residing at 2429 Cedar Street Milwaukee, in
the County of Milwaukee, & State of Wisconsin in the United States of
America, Electrician, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus designed to control valves,
such as steam valves or dampers on furnaces, windows, transoms, ventilators, etc.
by means of a current of electricity.
When temperatures are governed by such apparatus, it is usually done auto-
matically by a thermostat which makes and breaks the electric circuit. For this
purpose a constant or closed circuit form of battery is used.
My invention consists of certain improvements which will be fully described
hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims, the said improvements including the
substitution for à closed circuit battery, of what is called an open circuit battery,
i.e. one in which the current is used only momentarily instead of for considerable
periods of time as in the ordinary closed circuit battery.
By my invention the parts are so arranged that when a circuit is closed by
some exciting cause external to the valve itself, it is instantly broken by the
mechanism of the valve, thus economizing in the greatest degree the electric
energy. I am thus enabled to use a battery which requires less attention and
one that is less liable to become deranged when left without care for long periods
of time.
In the drawings;
Fig. 1, is a combined plan and sectional view of my invention, and Fig. 2, is a
section on line, x-x, fig. 1.
A, is the main valve; B, the electrically actuated secondary valve, which serves
to operate the main valve, A; C, is a thermostat which makes at a remote point
the electric circuit which operates the valve, B.
The source of electricity is any convenient generator of electricity, prefer-
ably an open circuit battery like the Leclanché indicated in the drawing at D.

page_text: A pipe, E, leads from some convenient reservoir of compressed air, or other fluid
under pressure, as water, steam, etc.
The fluid under pressure is controlled by the valve, B, in such a manner that
it in turn will operate the valve, A, as will be shown.
In fig. 1, the main valve, A, is composed of the valve chamber, a, the valve
disk, b, whose stem, c, passes through the stuffing box, d, the support, e, with
fulcrum, f, the lever, g, & cup, h, which rests upon the flexible diaphragm i, of
rubber or other suitable material and the rigid cup shaped backing, j, which with
the diaphragm i, forms an air tight chamber, k. This chamber, k, has a bottom
orifice through which any fluid under pressure may enter the chamber k.
It is evident that if any fluid under pressure, as air or steam be admitted to
the chamber k, it will force the cup, h, upward carrying the long arm of lever, g,
with it, thereby forcing the short arm downward and closing valve disk, b, to
its seat.
The pipe, m, leads to the secondary valve, B, which serves to control the
admission and release of the fluid under pressure to and from the chamber, k.
It is evident that any other form of chamber would do as well, for instance,
a cylinder having a piston in place of the flexible diaphragm, i. In fig. 1, of the
.drawings the cover of the valve casing is removed so as to show the internal
working parts.
'
In practice the cover is screwed down or in any other way made air tight,
thus enclosing the valve chamber from the external air, although this particular
arrangement is not essential to my device as any other arrangement embodying
the same functional relation of parts would do as well.
2,2, are electro-magnets whose poles, 21, 21, project through the valve casing
and appear upon the inside so as to bring the field of magnetic force within the
valve casing which avoids the unnecessary friction which might occur if any of
the working parts passed through air tight joints.
The upper pole only of each magnet is shown in the drawings the other pole and
coil of each magnet being hidden by the one shown.
Pivoted at 3, (the centre of the valve casing) is the armature, 4, which is
common to the magnets, 2, 2, but so placed that while it is facing one of the
magnets it is not in the direct field of the other magnet.
By this arrangement, whenever either of the electro-magnets is excited, it will
draw the armature into its own field and out of the direct field of the opposing
magnet, the circuit of the other magnet being open at some external point. By
alternating the excitation of the magnets, the armature, 4, 4, may be made to
oscillate and perform the desired functions.
.
Within the same valve casing is the disk 5, pivoted at 6, and having the pro-
jecting arms 7, 71, which arms are faced with leather or other suitable substance
as shown at 8, 8, for covering openings, as next described.
Through the valve casing there project the hollow cones, 10 and 11, whose
internal extremities form seats for the leathers 8-8, when they are brought before
them by the movement of the disk, 5.
The cone 10, is the extremity of the pipe, E, leading from the reservoir of
compressed air, or other suitable fluid and the cone 11, simply communicates with
the open air through the valve casing 1, which is non-magnetic or of non-magnetic
material, such as brass.
The motion of the armature, 4, 4, is communicated to the disk 5, through the
rigid lever, 12, which is pivoted to pin 13, in the disk. As the armature stands
in the drawings the orifice of the cone, 10, is closed by the arm, 7, of the disk 5.
When the armature oscillates so as to face the opposing magnet, the disk, 5,
will be rotated sufficiently to close the orifice of the cone, 11, by means of the
arm 7¹
For the purpose of holding the arms, 7-71, close against the cones 10-11, so as
to make them air tight, also to hold the armature in its proper position while
at rest and to insure the breaking of the circuit by the circuit breaker, the disk, 5,

page_text: is furnished with a spring, 14, fastened at the pin, 13, at one extremity, and to the
valve casing or other support at 15.
This spring being at its fixed end fastened eccentrically to the centre of the
disk, 5, tends to hold one of the arms 7 or 71, of the disk firmly against one of
the cones 10, and 11, whichever it may be in contact with. Another important
feature of this spring is its movement over a sensitive centre that is, in the
movement from one side to the other it has a tendency to hold either of the ports
closed and not to remain midway.
The tension of the spring while at rest is always in favor of the last magnet
excited and does not tend to bring any of the operative parts into equilibrium.
It is evident that an inverted pendulum or similar device would serve the same
purpose. In connection with the casing 1, of the secondary valve, B, are the
binding posts, 16,-16¹, a prolongation of each post passes through the valve casing
Bo as to project into its interior.
These posts are insulated from the valve casing by means of the hard rubber
bushings shown at 17-17. Attached to the armature, 4, 4, at either end are the
strips, 18-18, which in their journeyings alternately break the electrical contact
with the posts, 16-161, and thus prevent the spark at the thermostat C. Such
spark would soon spoil the delicate points and make the apparatus inoperative.
1 do not deem it essential to minutely describe the thermostat, C, which is of a
well known form and whose operation depends on the differential expansion of
two substances. In the thermostat shown, 19, is the fixed end of the differential
bar and 22, the free end of said bar having contact plates. 23, is an adjusting
screw to set the thermostat at different temperatures. 20-20¹, are opposing contact
posts which serve with the differential bar to close separate electric circuits-From
these points respectively there pass the wires, 24, 24', to, the magnets, 22, and from
the thermostatic bar there passes the wire, 25, to the battery and then to the
casing of valves, B, which is metallic although non-magnetic as stated. As shown
in the drawings the valve, A, is open since the valve disk b, is raised from its seat.
The chamber , is not expanded since there is a free egress for its contents through
the opening, l, to the open orifice, 11, in B. The arm 7, of the disk 5, in valve, B,
closes the orifice, 10, and prevents the escape of the fluid from the reservoir into
the interior of valve, B. If now the thermostatic strip in C, moves to the left and
touches the point 20 a circuit will be formed through 25, 4, 18-16-2 and 2*,
the armature, 4-4, will be attracted to the magnet in circuit and the spring, 14,
will be thrown to the opposite side of the center, 6, of the disk, 5, at the same
time the port, 10, will be opened and the port, 11, closed; also the contact
strip, 18, on the left of the armature, 4, will have left the point of post 16, thus
breaking the electric current. The breaking of the current at this point is a very
important feature of my device for the extra current produced by the breaking
does not burn the delicate points of the thermostat. As the breaking is produced
by the direct movement of the armature it is always certain and as the contacts
are sliding they wear themselves bright.
The strip, 181, on the right of the armature will have come into contact with
the point of post, 161, so that the opposing magnet shall be in circuit whenever
button, 22, shall touch post 20¹ in C. As a result of this movement just traced
the interior of valve, B, and the expansible chamber, k, in A, will be filled with the
fluid under pressure.
The expanding of chamber, k, will close the valve, A, and it will remain closed
until by a change of temperature the thermostat is thrown in circuit with the
opposing magnet when the disk 5, with arms, 7, 71, will be partly revolved so as to
close port, 10, and open 11, and the armature will again stand as shown in the
drawing; the fluid under pressure is now free to escape, and the valve A, to open.
When this invention is attached to a heating apparatus the movements of the
thermostatic bar due to the variations of the temperature operates the main valve
and thus regulates the supply of heat.
By the mutual reaction thus produced a uniform temperature may be kept,

page_text: 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. The combination of a main valve serving to govern a passage for steam, gas,
air or other substance; an expansion chamber whose movable wall, through proper
mechanism, operates said valve, an electric valve serving to admit a fluid under
pressure into said expansion chamber, said electric valve consisting of opposing
electro-magnets, an armature, valve mechanism controlled by the armature, and
suitable circuit breaking devices for the circuits of the opposing magnets also
controlled by the armature, said circuit breaking devices being independent of
external closing devices, and said external circuit closing devices, whereby a move-
ment of the armature in one direction breaks the circuit of said magnet at a point
distinct from its initial closing point, and places the opposing circuit in condition to
he closed by the action of external closing devices, actuates the electric valve, and
admits the fluid under pressure into said expansible chamber, and thus operates the
main valve in one direction, and the closing of the opposing circuit by its external
closing device allows the escape of the fluid under pressure from said expansible
chamber, and operates the valve in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.
2. In an electric valve, the combination of opposing electro magnets, and arma-
ture, valve mechanism controlled by the armature, & suitable contacts for the
circuits of the opposing magnets also controlled by the armature but distinct and
independent from external and primary closing devices, & the external closing
devices, whereby the closing of one circuit at an external point causes a move-
ment of the armature in one direction and breaks the circuit of said magnet at the
magnetically actuated circuit breaker while it is not broken at the initial point and
at the same time places the opposing circuit in condition to be closed by the action
of external closing devices, substantially as set forth.
3. In an electrically actuated valve the combination of opposing electro-magnets,
& armature, valve mechanism controlled by the armature, & suitable contacts for
the circuits of the opposing magnets also controlled by the armature, said contacts
being independent of external closing. devices, & a thermostat in circuit with the
opposing magnets, whereby a movement of the armature in one direction by one
of the electro-magnets breaks the circuit of said magnet at one point, and places
the opposing circuit in condition to be closed by the thermostat, substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination in the casing of valve, B, of a pivoted armature and a
swinging disk, the latter having arms as described, with a connecting arm 12,
spring, 14, and the inlet and outlet ports of the valve casing, opposing electro-
magnets, a thermostat, and suitable circuits controlled by said thermostat, whereby
the said magnets are energized, as set forth.
5. The combination in a temperature regulator of the valves, A & B, & inter-
mediate expansible chamber connected with the disk of valve, A, by a lever &
with the interior of valve, B, by a pipe, & armature & opposing electro-magnets in
circuit with a thermostat, inlet & outlet ports for compressed air and a device
operated by the armature for opening & closing the air ports, as set forth.
6. In an electrically actuated valve, the combination of opposing electro-magnets,
opposing air ports, mechanism actuated by said electro-magnets to alternately close
one port while it opens the other, and a spring or its equivalent serving when said
electro-magnets are not excited to hold one or the other of the ports closed and the
armature before the magnet last excited, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a main valve operated by fluid pressure, of a secondary
valve actuated by opposing electro-magnets, said secondary valve having opposing
air ports actuated by said magnets, and a spring or its equivalent attached to the
valve mechanism, serving when said electro-magnets are not excited to hold one or
the other of the ports tightly closed and the armature before the magnet last
excited, as set forth,.

page_text: 8. In an electrically actuated valve, the combination with opposing electro-
magnets and their armature, valve mechanism and circuit breaking devices operated
by said armature, of a spring or its equivalent moving over a sensitive centre
whenever either electro-magnet is energized, whereby the action of said spring
tends to hold either one or the other port tightly closed, the armature before the
magnet last energized, and the circuit of said magnet broken, substantially as set
forth.
9. In an electrically actuated valve the combination with the electro-magnets,
the armature and the valve mechanism operated thereby of sliding circuit breaking
strips, whereby a movement of the armature in either direction breaks the current
which produced said motion and places the opposing circuit in position to be closed
from an external source and at an external point, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination of a main valve operated by pressure and a secondary
electrically actuated valve serving to operate the main valve by fluid pressure,
said secondary valve consisting of electro-magnets, a magnetically moved armature,
valve mechanism and circuit breakers, whereby the closing of the circuit at a
remote point operates the secondary and main valves and breaks the circuit at the
circuit breaker within the valve itself, substantially as set forth.
11. In an electrically actuated valve for controlling fluids the combination with
the valve proper of electro-magnetic actuating mechanism, electric circuits con-
trolled by external circuit closing devices, and circuit breaking devices also controlled
by said electro-magnetic mechanism whereby the closing of one circuit by its
external circuit closing device serves to operate the valve in one direction, breaks
said circuit at one circuit breaking point while it remains closed at the external
closing device, and places the other circuit in condition to be closed by the action
of its external closing device, and whereby the closing of said other circuit by its
external closing device serves to operate the valve in the other direction, breaks
said circuit at the other circuit breaking device and places the opposing circuit
in condition to be closed by the action of its external circuit closing device,
substantially as set forth.
12. The combination of a main valve actuated by fluid pressure of an electrically
actuated secondary valve said secondary valve consisting of electro-magnetic
actuating mechanism, and circuit breaking devices also actuated by the magnetic
force whereby the closing of the electric circuit from some external source operates
the secondary valve and by its means the main valve, at the same time breaks said
circuit at a point distinct from its initial closing point and leaves the armature at
the opposite point of its prescribed movement, substantially as set forth.