ICE AXE VALVE

• US 3,618,625 A
• Filed: 10/29/1969
• Issued: 11/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Walters
• Original Assignee: William R. Walters
• Inventors: Walters, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coham, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gerard, Richard
• Application Number:
  US04/872,109
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 137/59,60,62,301,468 236/93,93A 222/54
• US Class Current: 137/62
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/025 Water tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/027 Drinking equipment with water heaters, coolers or means for preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1353 Low temperature responsive drains
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7297 With second diverse control

Abstract

Water stored in a tank is prevented from freezing by opening of a valve device conducting a restricted outflow of water under control of a temperature-sensing element located adjacent the surface of the water where freezing begins. The outflow of water induces inflow of water at a higher temperature from a remote source to maintain the temperature level of the water within the tank above an adjusted value.

Claims

1. In combination with a container-storing liquid at a static level supplied from a remote source at a predetermined pressure, means for limiting the temperature of the liquid within said container comprising outflow-regulating means mounted by the container for inducing inflow of liquid at a rate equivalent to the outflow rate and at a relatively high temperature from the source in response to outflow of liquid from the container, and temperature-sensing means connected to the outflow-regulating means for producing said outflow therethrough in response to a relatively lower temperature in an upper strata of the liquid adjacent said static level thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outflow-regulating means comprises a valve device fixedly mounted by the container submerged within the liquid substantially below said static level, fluid pressure means normally biasing said valve device to a closed position, said valve device being opened by the pressure of the liquid to discharge a limited flow of the liquid to atmosphere.

3. The combination of claim 1 including inlet means connecting the source to the container for inflow of liquid in response to a drop in level of the liquid below said static level.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the outflow-regulating means comprises a valve device fixedly mounted by the container submerged within the liquid substantially below said static level, fluid pressure means normally biasing said valve device to a closed position, said valve device beinG opened by the pressure of the liquid to discharge a limited flow of the liquid to atmosphere.

5. In combination with a container-storing liquid at a static level supplied from a remote source at a predetermined pressure, means for limiting the temperature of the liquid within said container comprising flow-regulating means mounted by the container for inducing inflow of liquid at a relatively higher temperature from the source in response to outflow of liquid from the container, and temperature-sensing means connected to the flow-regulating means for producing said outflow therethrough in response to a relatively lower temperature of the liquid adjacent said static level thereof, said flow-regulating means comprising a valve device fixedly mounted by the container submerged within the liquid substantially below said static level, fluid pressure means normally biasing said valve device to a closed position, said valve device being opened by the pressure of the liquid to discharge a limited flow of the liquid to atmosphere, said valve device including an externally threaded outlet tube having a valve seat at one axial end, a support member threadedly mounted on the tube in adjustably spaced relation to the valve seat;

a tubular housing, a valve element connected to the temperature sensing means within the housing in axial alignment with the valve seat end of the tube, and spacer means connecting the housing to the support member in radially spaced and axially overlapping relation to the valve seat end of the tube.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said temperature-sensing means includes a bellows element enclosed within the housing, a tubular conduit connected to the bellows element externally of the housing and a sensing bulb connected to an end of the tubular conduit vertically spaced above the housing.

7. The combination of claim 6 including inlet means connecting the source to the container for inflow of liquid in response to a drop in level of the liquid below said static level.

8. In combination with a container-storing liquid at a static level supplied from a remote source at a predetermined pressure, means for limiting the temperature of the liquid within said container comprising flow-regulating means mounted by the container for inducing inflow of liquid at a relatively higher temperature from the source in response to outflow of liquid from the container, and temperature-sensing means connected to the flow-regulating means for producing said outflow therethrough in response to a relatively lower temperature of the liquid adjacent said static level thereof, said flow-regulating means including an externally threaded outlet tube having a valve seat at one axial end, a support member threadedly mounted on the tube in adjustably spaced relation to the valve seat, a tubular housing, a valve element connected to the temperature-sensing means within the housing in axial alignment with the valve seat end of the tube, and spacer means connecting the housing to the support member in radially spaced and axially overlapping relation to the valve seat end of the tube.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said temperature-sensing means includes a bellows element enclosed within the housing, a tubular conduit connected to the bellows element externally of the housing and a sensing bulb connected to an end of the tubular conduit vertically spaced above the housing.

10. In combination with a container-storing liquid under static conditions and a source of said liquid under pressure at a predetermined temperature, means for limiting the temperature of the liquid in the container comprising outflow-regulating means mounted by the container for conducting a restricted outflow of liquid from the container, temperature-sensing means connected to the outflow-regulating means for opening thereof in response to an excessive decrease in temperature in an upper strata of the liquid in the container, means responsive to said outflow of liquid from the container for conducting an inflow of the liquid from the source at a rate equivalent to the outflow rate and means for varying the temperature at which the flow-regulating means opens.