US2632467A - Gas valve - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1953 Q c. LAMAR 2,632,467

GAS VALVE Filed Aug. 30, 1947 2 SI-lEETS-Sl-IEET 2 YPaternal' Mar. 24, 1953 GAS VALVE Charles C. Lamar, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Harper-Wyman Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporaf tion of Illinois Application August d0, 1947, Serial No. 771,460

16 Claims.

.'*Ihe'present invention relates to gas valves and has for itsprimary object the provision of a new and improved broiler valve of the highlow type. l y

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved high-low gas valve including also `means for supplying gas to a pilot burner. Y Y `Afurtherobject of the present invention is to providea new and improved combined highlow and pilotburner valve wherein gas is supplied tothe pilot burner at a substantially constant rate and pressure in all operative positions of the valve,- and also wherein gas is supplied first to the pilot burner when the Valve is turned toward an operative position and the supply of gas to the pilot burner is cut off last when the valve is turned toward its off position. s VA further object Vof the present `invention is to provide anew, and improved high-low valve of the stem adjustment type and, furthermore, av valve of this character combined with means for providing gas to a pilot burner. n

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new Vand improved two position gas valve which will supply gas at two different rates to the same burner and having means for adjusting the flowgin a rst and low position located in the stem lof the valve Where it is readily accessible to the user for adjustment. Y f A further object of the present invention is to providea'new and improved high-low valve as well as a combined high-low and pilot lvalve whichV doesnot reduirel any auxiliary drilling in the valverv body, which auxiliary drilling in past constructionshas been of a complicated, and devious. angular nature` and, furthermore, to provide a construction using a rotatable valve plug rof shorterfbearing surface than wouldy otherwise be necessary. y' A further object of the presentinvention isto combine a high-low and pilot burner valve having a constant pilot which does notrequire any slot milling on the plug bearing surface, which inV the Ypast hasbeen difficult and has reduced themaximum bearingsurface. Y

A further object ofthe present invention is to providea new andimproved combined highloW and pilot burner valve enabling use of parts now utilized in other types of valves,fand, furthermorawh'erein the valve body issymmetrical fandfthus" made the same for either clockwise or counterclockwi'se `rotation of the valveplug from its otitoionpositions. ..1' I y, f n L Other' 'objects' .and advantages ,of fthe.; present (Cl. IS7-599.2)

2 Y invention will become apparent from" the ensuing description of, an embodiment thereof, in

companying drawings; in which?. l Fig. 1 is an axial cross sectional view of a .combined high-low and` pilot burner valve cons tructed` in accordance with the present invention, the valve being shown in its high position;V Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of .the =valve shown in Fig. 1, but in its off position;y Fig-3 is a fragmentary axial crossfsectional View similar to Fig'. l, illustrating -theyalvelplug in its loW-position;. Fig. 4 is aV vertical' cross sectional view taken alongthe broken line-,4 4 of 3,- illustrating the valve in its oif position; j l VFigs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig.. 4, illustrating the valve inr its low vand high positions, respectively;V and- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary developed view ofthe adjoining surfacesof the rotatablevalve plug and theplug receivingA chamber in 'the valve body, illustrating the valve substantially at its high position.v vn V f' Referring now to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 2, it may be noted that the valveas a Whole is kindicated by the reference character Ill. It' includes a valve body I2 land amovable control element in the form of a rotatable valve plug i4.. vThe valve plug has an outer tapered surface I6 at one end adapted to be received" in a tapered valve receiving chamberrlv 4formed in thevalvebody.. l

Gas is supplied to the' valvethrough aniinet passageway 20 illustratedas vbeinglo'cated at'the lower side of the valve 'and provided withfex? ternal threads 22 by. means of which it A cannbe readily secured to a gas supply manifold, not shown. A `v Q1 The valve of the present invention, as already indicated, is a combined high-low and pilot. valve especially designed for use with broiler burners'. Gas is suppliedto the broiler burner through an outlet passageway '24 illustrated as being located Vin weerstation,

the course of which reference is had to the` a"c Gas is supplied to the pilot burner associated with the broiler burner through a tting 30, which may contain an orifice determining the rate of flow to the pilot burner and which is threaded into an internally threaded boss 32 in the valve body, the inner end of which communicates with an outlet. chamber 3.4. atlthe inner end of the plug receiving chamber" I8; and, in elect', forming an extension of the latter.

In accordance with one of the features of the, present invention, gas is supplied to the pilot burner through an axial passageway 36 formedV- in the valve plug I4. The arrangement is such, as will be brought out shortly; that gas is supiplied at substantially a constant rate and' f'ull` pressure to the pilot burner in the various operative positions oi the valve and lz'iothib'efore'A and' after gas is supplied to the broiler burner. The arrangement is such, therefore, as to insure safe operation. l .Gas is suppliedito, the axial passageway 36- in the valve plug through a pair of' angularly displaced' inlet passageways` in the valveplug, one o f which may be somewhatv smaller than the other. The larger of the two plug inletpassageways,which is indicated by the reference characteri40`, isin effect a/high inlet and the smaller one,jindicatedl by thereference character 42, is a low inlet; Both of these inlets lead from the outside of thevalve plug tothe axial passageway ,352., Asa result, gasis supplied tothe pilot burner when either of the inletlpassageways is in registration with the gas inlet passageway in the valve body. Furthermore, the angular spacing of` the two isY such that gas isV continuously supplied to the axial passageway'36' asthevalve` plug 'is4 moved from a position substantially aligning one' ofthe inlet passageways in the valve plug with passageway 20 to a position aligning the other therewith.

In the highvposition of the` valve, gas is supplied, also to,A the broiler'burner through a radially' disposed high outletV passageway 44 which is` diametrically opposite the high inlet passageway,` 40, as clearly apparent, particularly, from Figs.,1'and'6. The arrangement isthus suchthat passageways 20; 28, 4D'and'44 can be'drilled in one operation. In the low position of the valve, gas is suppliedto thepilot burner through the axial passageway 36' and the low inlet. passageway 42. At the same time, gas is supplied at alow and` adj ustable rate through van auxiliary rvalve, unit 46, providing avcontrollableeffective,area passageway and locatedbetweenthe axial passageway 36`and allow outlet passageway 48 leading from the auxil'iaryvalve. unit lto thesurf'ace of the valve, plug at" a point where it can be brought into registry withpassageway 2B. The passageway 48 includes an axially inclined portionAA and a generally radial portion 48B which is somewhat smaller thanthe portion 28` ofthe burner outlet passageway but which is` so disposed axially of the valve plugas to register with the passageway 28 in the low position ofA the valve,` as best indicated. in Fig, 3'.

The construction is such, in accordance with anothery feature of the-present invention, that' gas isfsupplied rst to the pilot burner when the-valve is turned from its off toward its on position and that the gas supply to the pilot burner is cut oli lastasthevalve plug is moved in the opposite direction.- 'I-his advantageous result is obtained very simplyin accordance with the present invention by so locating the lowinletpassageway 42 relative to the inlet passageway 20 that they register before the plug outlet passageway 48 registers with the main -burner outlet passageway portion 28.

The extent to which the plug has to be rotated to move it to its full on position is reduced by spacing,v passageway 48B axiallyvfrom passageway 44. This spacing reduces the angular` distance between the high and low positions but does not reduce the plug sealing surface between the two passageways.

The auxiliary valve unit 46, as indicated, is adjustable to regulate the quantity of gas supplied tothe. burner'in'thelow position of the valve. It

1 maytake various forms and that illustrated includes features of` construction disclosed and cl'aimedlinLthe` copending applications of Philip S. Harpenerial No. 576,673, led February 7, 1945, nowV Patent No. 2,590,535, issued March 25, 1952, and of Vincent C. vPeterson, Serial No. 600,795, fll'ed June 2l, 1945, now. Patent'No.v 25590569, issued-March 25, 1952, both of which are assigned to the assignee'ofthis application.

The auxiliary valve unit 46 comprises an adjustable member 50' rotatable to regulate the effective area ofi an oricedelned by the apertures 52 and 54, the former ofwhich'. provides communication between an axial passageway 56 in the rotatable member (which communicates with plug passageway 36) andthe exterior ofthe rotatable member and` the latter of which is adapted to registermoreor less with the former and toprovide communication' therefrom to a peripheral passageway 5S communicating. with the-plug passageway 48` 'lhe'rotatable` member 50 is mounted inl an insert 60 xedly's'ecured within the valve plug in-a passageway 62A communicating with the ax-ialpassageway- 36and witha passageway 64' in the valve stem 66 which may be, as illustrated, a two-part stem including a rst part 68 secured to-andp-referably `an integral part ofA` the valve plug and a second part 'IU movable axially relative to the rstpart for'thepurpose of unlocking the valvefplug. Stem part 'l0 has a flat side 'Il for receiving a valve` handle, not shown.

The rotatable valve member 50 is accessible through the stem for adjustment. Ithas a slot 12 at its outer end so that it can readily be rotated, as by a screw driver insertable into the slot through passageway 64 in valve stem part 68 through the passageways- I4 and 16 in the valve stem part'lll.. v

Leakage of gas through the auxiliary valveis prevented by a seal' comprising a groove'lv in the rotatable. valve member 50 and an annular depressed portion ofr the. insert 60 whichextends into the groove 'I3'.

It should be*y noted, particularly, that in the low position the gas flows to the axial passageway 36- inthe valve plug andthence through the stem adjustment valve 46 and passageway 48 into the burner outlet passageway 28, 24. The ow of gas. in this manner eliminates the necessityy of providing any auxiliary inlets inthe valve body with the result. thatall they passageways in the valve body, except for the pilot burner outlet passageway and portion 28 of the main burner outlet passageway are inthe same radial plane. This construction enables a short plug to be used because the plug length. need be no greater than needed for the main burner outlet passageway 28 and the inlet passageway.

The plug is held in place by a spring. 82, one endfofwhich.abutsxagainst a shoulder 84'- formed at the end of the tapered portion offtheval've plug. 'Ihe other end of the spring vexerts a yforce against an end cap 86 secured tothe valve by a pair ofscrews 81, see Fig. 2p Actually, this other `end of the'spring bears against a locking andindicating washer 88 forming part of aV positioning and indicating means including also a lockingplate 90 and a driving plate 92 secured tothe inner end of valve stem portion 10 and splined to the valve stem portion 68. The valve is locked in its off position but can be unlocked by pushing the outer valve stemportion 10 inwardly to move washer 88. The'particular construction of the valvestem and the positioning stem could be used if locking in off position were not desired.

1` It is believed that the operation of the valve willbe `apparent from the foregoing description, Vbut it will be reviewed briefly. Assuming the rgas valve to be installed upon a gas stove for the purpose of supplying gas to a broiler burner and to` a pilot burner associated therewith, then with the valve in its off position, as indicated in.Figs.f2 and 4, no gas is supplied to either of the burners. To move the valve to an operative position the valve is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the stem end and infFigs. 4, 5` and 6. As it is turned, the low inlet passageway 42 first communicates with the inlet passageway 20 with the result that gas is supplied to the pilot burner. Then upon continued rotation in a counterclockwise direction the low outlet passageway 48 registers with the burner outlet passageway 28, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position gas iiows at a low and preadjusted rate throughl the low inlet passageway 42, axial passageway 36, the axial passageway 56 in the auxiliaryvalve unit 46, the more or less aligned radial openings 52 and 54 kin the rotatable and fixed portions of the auxiliary valve` unit, and passageway 48. At the same time gas is con- .tinued to be supplied to the pilot burner at a constant rate. i

To supply a high quantity of gas to the burner the valve plug is rotated further in a counterclockwise direction to align the high inlet pas` vsageway 40 with the inlet passageway 28. During this movement, gas continues to be suppliedto ther pilot burner because the inlet passageway 40 starts to register with the inlet passageway 20 in the valve body before inlet passageway `42 vmoves out of registry therewith. In the high positionthe gas ows to the burner outlet pas-v sageway 28 directly through the inlet and outlet , passages 40 and 44 in the valve plug, both of which open tothe axial passageway 36. The 4developed view of Fig. 7 illustrates the valve substantiallyat itsY high position. Y s

In the movement of the valve from its high kto its off position, the passageway 40 is moved .out of registry with the passageway 20 but before this occurs the passageway 42 registers with passageway 20 so that, as before, gas continues to bel supplied to the pilot burner in the resulting low position of the valve. From the `low position, v.the valve plug is turned to the off position and, as described earlier, the location of passageways 42and-48 is such that gaszis supplied .tothe 6 axial passageway 86 and thus to the pilotburner after passageway 48 has 'moved out of registry with the burner outlet passageway28.. i From the foregoing detailed description ofthe present invention it maybenoted that it has` a number of-advantages.- All of the ports open in the plane of the main inlet and outlet passageways with the result vthat the plugis'not lengthened by reason of the addition of the stem adjustment means. Furthermore, no slot mill-l ing is required on the exteriorsurface ofthe valve'plug. Also, the location of the portion 48B of the low outlet passageway oiiv center with respect to the main outlet passageway 44 in the valve plug reduces'the extent to which thevalve plug is to be rotated' to move it to its high Vposition. The valve body construction is symmetrie cal and no auxiliarydrilling in it is required. No slot with its reduction of bearing surfacev in the plug is required and parts of existing valve structures can be used to .provide greater standardization. e n

Having kthus described my invention, what l; claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. A gas valve including a valvel body having a plug receiving chamber, a valve plug mounted in said chamber having an axial passageway communicating with said chamber, a-pilot burner outlet passageway communicating4 with. said chamber, angularly spaced apart gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body lea-ding to said plug, and two pairs ofangularly spaced apart high and low passageways in said plug comjmunicating with said axial passageway and adapted to register withsaid angularly spaced apart inlet and outlet passageways, the surface openings of said two pairs of passageways in said plug and said angularly spaced apart inlet and outlet passageways in said body being located within the axial confines/of the largest of the passageways atthe plug surface. i

2. A gas valve including a valve body having a gas inlet, a plug receiving chamber communicating with sai-d inlet and a plurality of outlet passageways, one of said outlet passageways communicating with the end of said plug receiving chamber and another communicating with said chamber at a point substantially diametrically opposite said inlet passageway, a valve plug rotatably mounted in said chamber, said plug have ing an axial passageway communicating withsaid chamber, substantially vcliametrically opposite inl let and outlet passageways adapted to align with the inlet and burner outlet passageways in the valve body in one position of the plug,fsaid inlet and outlet passageways Vin said body and lplug being ci' substantially the same size,`said plug also having additional inlet and outlet passageways angularly spaced from the rst mentioned inlet and outlet passageways therein and locatedso as to register with said body inlet and outlet passageways in another position of said plug, said additional outlet passageway being inclined axially relative to the valve plug, and an auxiliary valve mounted insaid plug providing communication between 'said inclined passageway and the axial passageway, said auxiliary valve unit being accessible through the valve-stem forA ad- Justrnent of the flow therethrough, and said first mentioned and additional inlet and outlet passageways in said plug being so located that the inlet passageway and the" other outlet passage# wayin said .body are in continuous communica# tion in the operative positions ofsaidfplug.

31A gasivalve including` a valve'bodyfhavmg; a gas. inlet,. a plug` receiving chamber communicating with said inletA and a pluralityof outlet pais,- sagewaysy one* of: said outlet passageways communi'cating with: the.A end of said plug receiving chamber" and: another communicating with said chamber at a: point substantially diainetrically opposite said; inlet passageway, a valve plug rotatably mounted4 in said'- chamber, said plugY having. an ax-ial passageway: communicating with said chamber, substantially' diametrically opposite inlet and'` outletI passageways adapted to align with the inlet and burner outlet passageways-in the valve body in one position ofthe plug, said. inlet and outlet passageways in said body and.l plugbeing` of substantiallyl the. same size, said`V plug. alsohaving additional` inlet and outlet passageways. angularlyspaced from ther first mentioned inlet andv outlet passageways therein andlocated so as to register with said body inlet and loutlet passageways in another position of saidY plug, said additional outlet passageway being inclined axially relative to the lvalve plug, and opening at the plug surface with its center axially displaced from said firstV mentioned' plug outlet passageway, and an auxiliary valve mounted in 'sa-id' plug providing communication between ,said inclined passageway and the axialv passageway, said auxiliary'valve unit being accessible through the Vvalve stem for adjustment of the now therethrough, and said rst mentioned and additional inletV and outlet passageways in said plug being Vso located that the inlet passageway and the otheroutlet passageway in said body are in continuous communication inl the operative positions of sai'd'plug,

4`. A gas valve including a valve body having a gas-inlet, a plug receiving chamber communicatingr with said inlet and a plurality of outlet passageways, one of said outlet passageways communicating with the end of said plug receiving chamber and another communicating with said chamber at a point substantially dianietrically opposite said' inlet passageway, a valve plug rotatably mounted in said chamber, said plug having an Vaxial passageway communicating with said chamber, substantially diametrically opposite inlet* and outlet passageways adapted to align with the inlet and burner outlet passageways inthe valve` body in one position of the plug, all of said last mentioned inlet and outlet -passagewaysin said body and plug being of substantially the same size, said plug also having additionalinlet and'outlet passageways angularly spaced from the first mentionedA inletand outlet passageways'therein and located so as to register ,with said body inlet and' outlet passageways in anotherposition of said plug, said additional outlet passageway having axial andv inclined portions, and` an auxiliary valve mounted in` said ,axial portion providingV communication between said inclined passageway and the axial passageway, said auxiliary valve unit being accessible through the valve stem for adjustment of the ow therethrough, and said iirst mentioned and additional inlet and outlet passageways in said plug being so located that the inlet lpassageway and the other outlet passageway in said body are in continuous communication in the operative positions of said plug.

5. A' gas 4valve includingV a valve body having a ybearing surface, afrotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an axial passage-- way, a. pilot burner outlet passageway in said .body in` continuous communication with said axial pass ag,ewvay,v spaced gas. inletl and burner outlet passageways insaid. body leadingk to said surface, and a plurality of inlet and a plurality of outlet passageways in said element communieating with said axiall passageway andV adapted to register with said spaced inlet and outlet pas.- sageways, respectively, in different positions of saidelement.

6. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an axial passageway, apilot burner outlet passageway inA said bodyin continuous communication with said. axial passageway, gas inlet means and a burner outlet passageway in said body leading to said surface, and passageways including high and low passages in said element adapted to register with. said burner outlet passageway and communicating with said axial passageway.

7. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an axial passageway, a. pilot burner outlet passageway in said body in continuous communication with said axial passageway, angularly spaced apart gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, and a plurality of pairs-of angular-ly spaced apart high and low passageways insaid element communicating with said axial passageway and adapted to register with said angularly spaced apart inlet and outlet passageways.

8. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable Valve element bearing against Vsaid surface and having an axial passageway, a pilot burner outlet passageway in said body in continuous communication with said axial passageway, angularly spaced apart gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, and two pairs of angularly spaced apart high and low passageways in said element communicating with said axial passageway and adapted to register-with said angularly spaced apart inlet and outlet passageways.

9. A gas valve including a Valve body havinga bearing surface, a rotatable valve element bearing against said surface'and having an axial passageway, a pilot burner outlet passageway in said body in continuous communication with said passageway, spaced gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, and passageways in said element communicating with said axial passageway and adapted to register with said spaced inlet and outlet passageways", there being a plurality of passageways registrable with said spaced outlet passageway and one of said last mentioned passageways extending both radially and axially of said element,

10. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable valve element bearing against said vsurface and having an outlet passageway, an outlet passageway in said body permanently communicating with said rst mentioned outlet passageway, spaced gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, and two pairs of spaced apart inlet and outlet passageways in said element communicating'with said first mentioned passageway and adapted to register with said spaced inlet and loutlet passageways in different positions of said element.

l1. A gas valve including a valve body having a. bearing surface, a rotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an axial passageway, a pilot burner outlet passageway in continuous communication with said axialV passagewayspaced gas inlet andk burner outlet` passageways in said body leading to said surface, passageways in said element communicating with said axial passageway and adapted to register with said spaced inlet and outlet passageways, a passageway registering with said outlet passageway extending both radially and axially of said valve element. and adjustable valve means in the axially extending portion of said last passageway.

12. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an outlet passageway, a pilot burner outlet passageway in said body in permanent communication with said first mentioned outlet passageway, spaced gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, inlet and outletl passage ways in said element communicating with said rst mentioned outlet passageway and adapted to register with said body inlet and outlet passageways, and stem adjustment valve means in said second mentioned element outlet passageway.

13. A combined high-low and pilot gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a gas inlet passageway and outlet passageways for a burner and pilot burner, and a valve element rotatably engaging said surface, said valve element having passageways for providing high and low quantities of gas to said burner outlet passageway in diierent positions of said element and a substantially constant quantity of gas to said pilot outlet passageway in said positions, the element passageway through which the low quantity of gas is supplied including gas llow adjusting means accessible externally of the valve.

14. A combined high-low and pilot gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a gas inlet passageway and outlet passageways for a burner and pilot burner, and a valve element rotatably engaging said surface, said valve element having a hollow stem, spaced passageways for providing high and low quantities of gas to said burner outlet passageway in different positions of said element and an axial passageway for providing a substantially constant quantity of gas to said pilot outlet passageway in said positions, the element passageway through which the low quantity of gas is supplied including gas 10 flow adjusting means accessible through the stem.

t-wo outlet passageways, one of which is a passageway for supplying gas to a burner and the other for supplying gas to a pilot burner, a valve element having passageways therein for supplying gas at a substantially constant rate to said pilot Iburner in all operative positions of the plug and at high and low rates to the first burner outlet passageway, and adjustable means in said element for regulating the quantity of gas supplied to the burner in the low position of the valve.

16. A gas valve including a valve body having a bearing surface, a rotatable valve element engaging said surface and having an axial passageway, a pilot burner outlet passageway in vsaid body in continuous communication with said axial passageway, spaced gas inlet and burner outlet passageways in said body leading to said surface, a plurality of inlet and a plurality of outlet passageways in said element communicating with said iirst mentioned passageway and adapted to register with said spaced inlet and outlet passageways in different positions of said y element, and gas flow adjustment means in said element for predetermining the flow through one of said outlet passageways in said element.

CHARLES C. LAMAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,589,224 Rabe June 15, 1926 1,621,738 -Motherwell Mar. 22, 1927 2,113,027 Kindle Apr. 5, 1938 2,162,231 Schoenberger June 13, 1939 2,257,886 Mueller Oct. '7, 1941 2,262,703 Stuckenholt Nov. 11, 1941 2,249,982 Rutherford July 22, 1941 2,299,624 Harper Oct. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 656,682 Germany Jan. 27, 1938V 15. A gas valve including a valve body having

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