US2084571A - Heating system - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1937. c. G. BORDEAUX 2,084,571

HEATING SYSTEM Filed April 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN To@ 7a/a@ O/weal/X Arran/v5 Ys vJune v2.2, 1937. c. G. BORDEAUX HEATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1932 5) m ma ,drraP/Vs Ys Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 29,

11 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a steam heating system utilizing a closed circuit and employing a relatively small amount of uid. My invention is particularly useful for the heating of automobiles or other vehicles where the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine may be utilized for heating although it will, of course, be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular use.

One of the objects of my invention is a heating system in which the pressure and the temperature are automatically maintained substantially constant.

A further object of my invention is a heating system which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Other objectsof my invention will appear in the specification.

My invention will best be understood by referencev to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment and in which- Fig. 1 is a side View partially broken away illustrating somewhat diagrammatically a heating system embodying my-invention; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through a liquid'supplyv reservoir to which the water is conducted from the radiator;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a device comprising a chamber to which the liquid is conducted from the supply reservoir and from which it is led to the heater;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lower portion of the pipe which leads from the radiator to the liquid supply reservoir;

Fig. 5 is a side view partially in section of the connection leading fromthe regulating chamber to the heater; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the check valve.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, IU is a steam generator which, in the embodiment illustrated, is in the form of a coil enclosed in a housing II forming a part of the exhaust pipe I2 leading from an internal combustion engine.

The device embodying my invention may readily be applied to the ordinary exhaust pipe I2 of an automobile. The exhaust pipe may conveniently be cut as at I3 and the exhaust end I2I of the exhaust pipe may be moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1 and the steam generator and associated parts applied directly to the exhaust pipe. Section III which is in the form of a tube is secured by a flange II2 to the housing II and abuts against the cut section I2 of the exhaust pipe. The housing is also provided with a sleeve H3, the end of which is preferably serrated as at II4 and is received over the exhaust end I2I 1932, Serial N0. 608,266

of the exhaust pipe and is frictionally secured thereto. The heater may conveniently be secured to the pipe section I2 by a sleeve I I5 which is secured in position by a clamping collar H5.

The steam generator III is connected by a steam supp-ly pipe I4 to a radiator indicated generally at I5. While the particular form of radiator constitutes no part of my present invention, I have, for convenience of illustration, shown a radiator which comprises a coil or pipe I6 which extends back and forth across the radiator and to which is connected a plurality of radiating ns Il'. Air may be forced over the radiator to the interior of a car by a ian iS which is driven by a suitable motor I9 which may be supported by brackets 2li which are in turn attached to the wall 2I of the body of a car. Adjustable vanes 22 may be utilized for directing the air from the radiator to desired points within the vehicle. The radiator is illustrated within the body of a car, and while the relations of the remaining portions of the heating system are not illustrated, it will be understood that they are mounted on the vehicle without the closed body.

The water supply reservoir 23, which is located at a lower level than the radiator, is connected thereto by a pipe 24 preferably jointed as at 25 and extending to the lower portion of the reservoir, as best shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of said pipe preferably being curved upwardly as at 24| and provided at its end with a seat 25 in which is received a check valve 2l, preferably in the form of a ball. A cap 28 provided with openings 29 may be secured to the end of the pipe by any suitable means, such as a cotter pin 30 and forms a housing forthe ball valve. The pipe 24 is preferably welded to the wall of the reservoir as at 3l to form a fluid-tight joint. The reservoir may conveniently be closed by a bottom plate 32 which is also welded around its periphery to the lower wall 33 of the reservoir. It will be understood that the water level in the reservoir 23 is normally located above the bent end 24| of they inlet tube.

In accordance with my invention, a device is interposedbetween the liquid supply reservoir and the steam generator for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to the generator. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, such device comprises a chamber 34 connected by a pipe 35 to the lower end of the supply reservoir 23. The bottom of the chamber 33 is closed by a plate 36 provided with a conical valve seat 3l against vwhich seats a poppet valve 33 which is mounted on the lower end of a valve stem 39, the valve being normally open. The upper end of the valve stem, in the embodiment illustrated, is connected to the closing plate 4l) of a bellows diaphragm 4I which is located in said chamber and which is suitably secured to a cap 42. The

plate 40 normally rests against and is supported by standards iti secured to or integral with the bottom plate 36.

The cap 42 is provided with a screw-threaded opening d3 in which is received a suitable screwthreaded plug i4 provided with an opening 45 by which the interior of the bellows diaphragm communicates with the atmosphere. The plug 44 is preferably provided with a downwardly extending stem 36 and a coil spring M surrounds said stem and engages the plug M; while the lower end thereof engages the lower closing plate i0 of the bellows diaphragm. The compression in the spring 47 is so adjusted as normally to maintain the bellows diaphragm in expanded condition but permits the collapse of the diaphragm when a predetermined abnormal pressure is reached within the chamber Se.

While the ball valve 2l substantially prevents the return of uid from the reservoir to the radiator, it does not entirely prevent such return for the reason that in practice, there is always a slight amount of slow leakage between a valve and its seat, particularly aA ball valve of the character illustrated. The same is true of the check valve 53 hereinafter described. Such leakage eventually relieves the excess pressure in th-e supply reservoir. Furthermore, when the pressure in the generator drops due to the absence of water and the generation of steam therein, there is a drop in pressure on the under side of the valve 3B, and such drop in pressure would create a variation in the differential in pressure on opposite sides of the valve which would also tend to open the valve.

The housing which encloses the chamber 3d is screw-threaded on its interior as at 48 and receives the screw-threaded end of a connection Ml, the end of which is preferably secured to one end of a check-valve casing 5S, as by silver brazing. The steam generating coil is preferably formed of a compound tubing comprising an inner tube 5l, which is preferably formed of copper to withstand the corrosive effects of water in the steam generator, and an outer tube 52 which is preferably formed of steel which is well adapted to withstand the corrosive effect of the exhaust gases. The tubular heating element is preferably formed by placing a copper tube within the steel tube and then swaging the two tubes down together. The end of the copper tube is attached to the valve casing as by silver brazing. The check valve, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a ball valve 53 which normally rests against a seat 54. While I have described water as the liquid medium which is converted into vapor in my system, it will, of course, be understood that other liquid media which are converted into vapor may be utilized.

The operation of the device embodying my invention will readily be understood from the foregoing description and is as follows- Water may be introduced into the system through the joint 25 in the pipe 24 until the desired amount of Water has been received in the supply reservoir, the chamber 3d and in the steam generator iii. As heretofore stated, the device embodying my invention operates as a closed system and utilizes a comparatively small amount of water, for example, 7 cubic inches for an ordinary automobile heater. The joint 25 is then closed and the system is ready for automatic operation. As soon as the steam generator l0 is subjected to the hot gases Within the eX- naust manifold, the small amount of water within the generator is vaporized and the steam is forced into the radiator. A substantially uniform pressure is then present throughout the system. I have found 75 pounds to be a convenient operating pressure when the device is used for heating an ordinary automobile although it will, of course, be understood that my invenn tion is not limited to any given pressure.

It will be understood that the steam generator operates intermittently and flashes or vaporizes all of the water that is in the generator at a given time. Now, as soon as the steam within the radiator condenses, the pressure within the radiator drops, for example to 72 pounds, when the system is operating at a normal pressure of 75 pounds, and the pressure in the steam gener ator also drops. The water level within the liquid supply reservoir 23 is intermediate the top and bottom thereof so that an air space is provided above the fluid therein. The original pressure within the supply reservoir 23 temporarily remains the same with the result that a small amount of water is forced past the check valve 53 into the generator. The water thus introduced is vaporized and the cycle of operations is repeated.

In case the temperature of the radiator and correspondingly the pressure within the radiator become unduly high due, for example, to the stopping of the fan motor which forces air over the radiator, the abnormal pressure is transmitted to the liquid supply reservoir and. then to the chamber 3ft and causes the collapse of the bellows diaphragm and correspondingly the upward movement of the valve stern and the valve 38 is seated to prevent further now of water from the chamber 34 to the steam generator le. The dangerV of burning out the radiator which would otherwise be present, is, therefore, avoided.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description and not of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator communicating therewith. a liquid. supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and Aat a higher level than said generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid therein, a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator, means providing a communicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in the air chamber of said reservoir for preventing the flow of liquid therefrom to said generator.

2. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir through r which liquid flows by gravity, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid therein, a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially preu vent the return of'luid from said reservoir to said radiator, means providing a communicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in the air chamber of said reservoir for preventing the flow of liquid therefrom to said generator.

3. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a. vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid therein, a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator, means providing a communicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, a normally open automatic valve interposed between said reservoir and said generator, and a pressure-actuated part for automatically closing said valve whenever the pressure on the fluid in said reservoir reaches a predetermined point.

4. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator, .means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, means providing a communicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, a check valve being interposed in the passage between said reservoir and said radiator constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return of iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventing the iiow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

5. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir through which liquid flows by gravity, means providing a communicating passageway between said reservoir and said generator, a check valve being interposed in the passage between said reservoir and said radiator constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return of iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and means operable lwithin predetermined limits of pressure within said reservoir for controlling the flow of liquid therefrom to said generator and operable to prevent ow to said generator above said upper limit.

6. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a vapor generator the outlet of which communicates with the inlet of said radiator, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than said generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid, means providing communication between said reservoir and said generator, means for substantially preventing return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator, and a check valve disposed between said reservoir and said generator and opening towards said generator.

'7. In a heating system, a vapor generator, a

vapor radiator located above said generator, the inlet of said radiator communicating with the outlet of said generator, means for heating said generator, a liquid supply reservoir located above said generator and below said radiator and communicating with said generator, a pipe connecting said radiator to said reservoir and provided with a check valve constructed and arranged to substantially prevent the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator, said reservoir being provided with an air space permanently closed during normal operation and communicating with the liquid in said reservoir, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventing the ow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

8. In a heating system, a Vapor generator, a vapor radiator located above said generator, the inlet of said radiator communicating with the outlet of said generator, means for heating said generator, a liquid supply reservoir located above said generator and below said radiator and communicating with said generator, a pipe connecting said radiator to an intermediate portion of said reservoir, said pipe being provided with a check valve opening toward said reservoir for substantially preventing the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator thereby forming an air space in the upper portion thereof, said air space being permanently closed during normal operation, and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventing the flow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

9. In a heating system, a Vapor generator, means for heating said generator with waste gases, a vapor radiator located above said generator and communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located above said generator and below sai-d radiator and communicating with each, said liquid supply reservoir being provided with an air space permanently closed during normal operation and communicating with the liquid in said reservoir, means for substantially preventing the return of iiuid from said reservoir to said radiator and means responsive to a predetermined pressure in said reservoir for preventing the iiow of liquid from said reservoir to said generator.

10. In a heating system, a vapor radiator, a

vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than said radiator and at a higher level than sai-d generator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid, means providing communication between said reservoir and said generator, and means for substantially preventing the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator.

11. In a heating system, a Vapor radiator, a Vapor generator communicating therewith, a liquid supply reservoir located at a lower level than sai-d radiator, means providing a communicating passage between said radiator and said reservoir, said reservoir being constructed and arranged to provide an air chamber above the liquid, means providing communication between said reservoir and said generator, and means for substantially preventing the return of fluid from said reservoir to said radiator.

CLAUDE G. BORDEAUX.

Images