Apparatus for Automatically Controlling the Temperature of Fluids.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Automatically Controlling the Temperature of Fluids.
FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, Engineer, Glen Ridge, New Jersey, State of New
York U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In a fluid container my governing or controlling element consists of a flexible
diaphragm chamber containing a volatile fluid that will volatilize at a low
temperature and gather pressure as the temperature rises.
This chamber after being charged with the volatile fluid is hermetically sealed
so that there is no possibility of same escaping. In the bottom of container is
fixed a flexible diaphram which when depressed acts upon the gas valve and air
inlet closing same so that according to the pressure exerted the escape of gas
through central valve to burners beneath container is controlled.
a
The controlling element is fixed on the inside of container slightly above the flexible
diaphragm by means of an adjusting screw in a cross bridge, above the bridge
rod ascends to the top of container terminating in a suitable handle for the purpose
of enabling the operator to adjust the controlling element to a suitable distance
from the flexible diaphragm to give the required temperature the action of the
whole being as follows.
When the contents of container are cold the gas valve is full
open so that
gas is
admitted freely to the burners, as the temperature in container rises-the volatile
fluid in the controlling chamber will volatilize and cause same to expand this
expansion will act on the flexible diaphragm in bottom of container which in turn
will close gas and air inlet continuing to close same until the required temperature
is reached when just sufficient gas will be left burning to keep the liquid in
container at a constant temperature.
When oils are used in place of gas the same controlling element is used inside
the container and arranged so that the expansion of same and depression of the
flexible diaphragm will cover up the wick of lamp or uncover same, giving the
results hitherto explained.
Dated this 25th day of April 1895.
Apparatus for Automatically Controlling the Temperature of Fluids.
I, FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, Engineer, of Glenridge, New Jersey U.S.A.
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
staternent:-
My apparatus consists of a hermetically sealed expansible regulating chamber,
containing a volatile, or expanding substance, connected with a device for governing
the amount of heat imparted to the body, the temperature of which is to be
regulated. The regulating chamber is preferably placed in direct contact with the
body to be controlled, and may contain any suitable expanding substance. I prefer
[ Prinz 8.17

page_text: point below the temperature to be maintained, such as alcohol, ether, and the like.
That my invention may be more readily understood, I have caused four sheets of
drawings to be attached hereto, in which
Fig. 1 is the section of a steam regulator,
Figs. 2, 5 & 6 sections of gas regulators, and
Figs. 3 & 4 an oil lamp regulator ;
Similar letters in the various figures referring to the like parts.
The steam regulator, as Fig. 1, may be entirely immersed in the liquid or space
to be heated or controlled and consists of a chamber A formed of two corrugated
expansible discs joined at their periphery, and connected at the centre to the
adjusting screw B, and pad C. The chamber A is charged with the volatile liquid
and hermetically sealed. The number of corrugations or thickness of the
diaphragms, is arranged to allow a continuous and suitable varying expansion, as
the tension of the vapor increases within the chamber. The pad C, actuates the
spindle D, carrying the valve F, preferably of the equilibrium type working
against the seating. G. The valve case H, has the usual inlet K, and outlet L, and
is also provided with two corrugated diaphragms E and M fixed at the peripheries
to the said case, and at their centre to the spindle D. It will be readily understood
that if the pressure of the steam in the valve case H acts, equally upon each of the
diaphragms E, & M, the valve F will be so nearly balanced that it can be easily
operated by the expansion chamber A. For direct steam heating, the top
diaphragm may alone be required in combination with a single valve. The
adjusting screw B, works through a bracket N, preferably attached to the valve
case. It may be more convenient in many instances to keep the regulating valve
itself outside the container of the liquid, in which case the bottom of the said
container may be formed into the diaphragm E, or may be in the same plane
therewith, as shown at O, Fig. 2.
The gas regulator Fig. 2, consists of a chamber A, adjusting screw B, pad C,
bracket N, spindle D, valve F and diaphragın E, all as previously described.
The bottom of the container is preferably in one with the diaphragm E, and the
valve F works against two seatings G & P, where an atmospheric gas burner is
used. The gas will enter at S and pass up between P & G while the air will enter
at R, and mix with the gas while passing under the valve F, into the case H, and
through the radial arms T to the usual ring burner V. The face G is made
slightly higher than the face P, to prevent an excess of air extinguishing the flame
when the valve F is nearly closed. A suitable piece of guaze may be placed over
the openings T, to prevent the gas lighting back into the case H.
The adjusting screw B may be prolonged above the surface of the liquid in the
container, and may be fitted with a suitable hand wheel W, pointer, and index for
the more accurate adjustment of the apparatus.
The adjustment may also be made as shown in Figs. 5 & 6, where A is the
chamber and F, the valve, which closes against a movable seating P. This seating
works in guide 9 formed in the casing H, and is raised and lowered by the
eccentric 3, strap 2 and pin 1. The eccentric is formed with the spindle 4 carried
in the bearings 5 & 6 and the stuffing box and gland 7 & 8, preferably formed on a
bend in the inlet pipe R. The spindle 4 is operated by the wheel W.
Another method of carrying the invention into effect is shown in Fig. 7, the
chamber V taking the place of the pipe V (Fig. 5). The gas is admitted at R
& meets the air entering through the annular iolet R, which is preferably protected
with wire guaze. The seating P and valve F with their connections are practically
as herein before described. The Hame is formed at the holes V, which are
conveniently arranged on the periphery of the chamber V, the position. and
distribution of the said holes being made to suit the requirements.
The oil regulator shown in section in Fig. 3, and in plan in Fig. 4 is similar to
those described with reference to Figs. 1 & 2 but the diaphragmn E is connected
to a spindle D which bears on the inner ends of the levers Y. The levers are

page_text: pivotted at Z, and are jointed at their outer ends to an envelope X sliding on the
wick X1 of the oil lamp. The raising or depressing of the envelope X will
decrease or increase the flame in the usual well known way. A suitable spring Y¹
brings the levers to their normal position.
The action of the apparatus when a volatile liquid is employed is as follows:-
The contents of the container being cold the chamber A is contracted, and the
diaphragm E is in its normal position as shown on the drawings. The valve F is
therefore raised from its seating G to the position of "full open "and the gas or
steam ete. escape freely to raise the temperature of the container & its contents.
As the temperature of the said contents are raised the liquid in the chamber A
will be vaporised and a pressure accumulate causing the chamber to expand. This
expansion acting through the pad C and spindle D, will gradually close the valve F,
until the required temperature is reached, when the gas or steam etc. will only
impart sufficient heat to make good that lost by radiation alone. So soon as the
contents of the container are reduced in temperature the action of the regulator
will be reversed. By raising or lowering the chamber A, by means of the adjusting
screw B, the valve will be actuated sooner or later, and as the said chamber A.
will expand more as the temperature increase, the apparatus can be set as desired.
The apparatus bereinbefore described may be employed for maintaining or
regulating the temperature of rooms, for domestic or manufacturing purposes,
whether air or gas be the contents thereof. It may also be used for regulating the
dampers of steam boilers, or furnaces of any kind, as well as in connection with
the heating of any solid substance the regulator can be conveniently applied to
such as metals, bricks, china &c.
The regulating screw B may be replaced by any other well known and suitable
device for effecting the same purpose, and the bridge N may be at the top of the
container or fixed to the sides thereof; but is preferably arranged in one with a
ring as shown for the purpose of fixing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures the formation or use of the
whole, or part, of the bottom of container as a flexible diaphragm E, as and for
the purposes herein described.
2. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures, the method of carrying the
operating valve F, suspended from the diaphragm E in the bottom of the container
as and for the purposes herein described.
3. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures as described the arrangement of
the valve seating P, G, of an atmospheric burner, whereby an excess of air cannot.
pass to extinguish the flames when said flame is of low power, as and for the
purposes herein described with reference to Fig. 2.
4. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures as described an equilibrium or
other steam valve F, controlled by an hermetically sealed chamber A, containing a.
volatile liquid, or other suitable expanding substance, and combined with one
or two diaphragms E, M, as and for the purposes herein described with reference
to Fig. 1.
5. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures the envelope X for controlling
the flame from a wick of an oil lamp, actuated by levers Y from the diaphragm E,.
as and for the purposes herein described.
6. The combination of the various parts to form an apparatus for regulating
temperatures as herein described.
7. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures the chamber A having a
diaphragm and connected to the case H so as to make a joint on the bottom.

page_text: of the vessel O, as and for the purposes herein described with reference to
Figs. 5, 6 & 7.
8. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures, as described, the adjustable valve
seat P, as and for the purposes herein described with reference to Figs. 5 & 6 & 7.
9. In an apparatus for regulating temperatures, as described, the spindle. 4,
eccentric 3, strap 2, & pin 1 or their equivalents, as and for the purposes herein
described with reference to Figs. 5 & 6 & 7.
Dated this Fourteenth day of December 1895.