US2224929A - Air venting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1940. A. D. ROSE Em 2.224,929

AIR VENTING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1938 5 sheezs-sheet 1 Dec; 17, 1940.

Filed March .16, 1938 A. D. ROSE ET AL AIR VENTING APPARATUS C'r Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 17, 1940. A. D. ROSE ETAL AIR VENTING' APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illlllfrrlz Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED s'rATE-s- P'Arl-:NT oFFic cago, Ill.,

assignors to Jas. P. March Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 16, 1938, Serial No. 196,170

22 Claims.

Our invention relates to air-venting apparatus for air-bound containers. More specifically', it relates to air-venting apparatus for radiator-s used in a hot water heating system of the socalled closed type.

The trend in hot water heating systems is toward the use of the so-called 'fclosed",systems as against the so-called.open" expansion tank systems, operating under atmospheric pressures that have been used in the past. The closed systems Operating under higher pressures have the advantage of enabling the use of higher `tempera- "wturef water and promoting more rapid circulation of water, two factors that aid in securing economy of operation and more heating comfort;

The use of circulating pumps is becoming` general in order to still further speed up circulation. The use of circulating pumps and higher Operating pressures has also had the effect of permi'tting the use of smaller pipe and fittings and thus materially reducing the cost of installation.

In the so-called "closed systems the water naturally expands as it is heated and the surplus volume must be removed from the heating system. The removal of this water is accomplished by means of spring loaded pressure valves. Other spring loaded pressure valves act to replace this volume ofwater when the water temperature and pressure is lowered. Thus fresh water is continually being injected into the system. This fresh water from the city mains carries an appreciable amount of entrained air and this air has a tendency to collect in the individual radiators. The radiators become air-bound, the circulation of water may be impeded, and radiating capacity is reduced. It is of great importance. therefore, that the individual radiators frequently be vented so as to prevent air accumulation.

The conventional type of radiator air valve used on steam or vapor systems is not suitable for this operation, due to the danger that the float needle may not seat properly and the relatively high water pressure would cause disastrous leakage and flooding with great damage to the building structure and furnishings. As a result,V

the venting of hot water radiators is now done manually, each radiator being individually vented.

The venting of radiators, while being a simple operation, is being made more difficult by the use of concealed radiation. It is one of the home tasks that is usually neglected, much to the detriment of the home heating operation.

One of the objects of our invention is to'pro- (Cl. 237-56) l vide an improved air-venting apparatus that enables one to vent all of the radiators in a system simultaneously, either by manual, automatic, or Semi-automatic means.

- A further object of our invention is to provide 5 apparatus of the type indicated above in which the venting operation is accomplished by opening one or more centrally-located control valves. A further object of our invention is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated above in 10 which the individual vent valves are tightly closed by the relatively great Operating pressure of the water: in the system. thus precluding the danger of accidental fiooding.

A further object of our invention is to'provide 15 apparatus of the type indicated in which radiators in the same system on different levels may be vented from a central control station. w

A further object of our invention is to provide such a construction in which a valve controlled 20 by the liquid level in the radiator` acts as a relay valve. t I

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which several forms of our invention are shown,

Figure l is a view, partly in perspetive and partly in elevation, showing a hot water heating system in which our improved apparatus is used; 30

Fig. 2 is a Vertical, axial section of the control valve apparatus used in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

, Fig. 4 is a Vertical, axial, sectional view show- 35 ing a vent valve apparatus in which the venting is accomplished by a decrease of pressure in one position it assumes;

Fig. 5 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 4 in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a view of theapparatus of Fig. 4 showing still another position;v

Fig. 7 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 4 showing still another position;

Fig. 8 is a. perspective view showing a somewhat 45 different arrangement of control for -the supply of water to the heating system;

Fig. 9 is a Vertical, axial, sectional view of the control valve mechanism used inFig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an axial sectional view showing an 50 air vent control mechanism suitable for use where the venting is effected by an increase of pressure above the normal range in a system;

Pig. 11 is agdiagrammatic view showing automatic control means; and 55 Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic control valve in combination tank.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the construction shown in Fig. 1 comprises a hot water heater I, a plurality of radiators 2 located on different floors, supply pipes 3 for supplying hot water to the radiators, return pipes 4 for the return of the water from the radiators to the heater I, means 5 for controlling the supply of water to the system and the pressure of the water in the system, and means 6 Controlled by the water level in the individual radiators andby the pressure of the water in the radiators for controlling the venting of air from air-bound radiators.

As indicated above, in hot water heating systems of the closed type shown, means are usually provided which will in general maintain the pressure in the system between upper and lower limits. Thus, a pressure-regulating valve 'i is provided which in general will cause additional water to be supplied to the system if the pressure in the system drops below a predetermined level, and a relief valve 8 is provided which will open and allow water to escape from the system in the event that the pressure in the system rises above a predetermined level due to the heating up of the water in the system or 'any other cause.

A strainer 9 is also generally provided for preventing foreign matter from entering the heating system. A drain I is also usually providedto enable Vthe water to be drained from the system when desired. In our improved system, we provide in addition to this a valve apparatus ll by means of which when desired the pressure in the system, including the radiators, may be dropped below the lower pressure level normally maintained by the pressure-reducing valve, which drop in pressure inthe system is utilized in venting the air from air-bound 'radiators through the air vent valve mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 'L Before describing in further detail the control valve mechanism by means of which pressure in the system is dropped below the ordinary predetermined level, we will describe the construction and operation of the air vent valve mechanism provided for each individual radiator.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the valves in the air vent apparatus either when the system is empty or when the water level in the radiator is low and when the pressure in the system is subnormal.

Fig. shows the position of parts when the water level in the radiator is up to normal and the water pressure in the radiator is below normal.

Fig. 6 shows the position of parts when the waterlevel in the radiator is normal and the water pressure in the radiator is within the normal range.

Fig. 7 shows` the position of parts when the water level in the radiator is below normal (that is to say, when the radiator is air-bound) and the pressure in the radiator is within the normal view showing the with a compression range.

Each radiator is provided with a vent valve apparatus 6; thenipple |l`a of the air vent apparatus being connected so as to be in communication with the interior of the radiator so that the liquid level in the air vent apparatus will rise and ,fall with the liquid level in the radiator and so that the interior of the diaphragm will be subjected to a pressure equivalent to the pressure-in the radiator. Assuming that the system is empty and the apparatus is therefore in the position shown in Fig. 4 and it is desired to flll the system, the control apparatus ll will be set so as to supply water to the heating system. Water will thereupon rise in the different radiators, and when the liquid level in a radiator rises so that the liquid level in the air.vent apparatus is high enough to raise the float |2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the float valve |3 will close the passage H in the ported member I 5 carried by the upper end of the pressure-actuated bellows or diaphragm chamber the leakage of water from the radiator. When all of the float valves in the system have thus closed each passage Il, furth r supply of liquid will increase the pressure in t e system, causing each diaphragm chamber to expand to bring the upper end of the ported member` l5 against the conical valve member l'l as shown in Fig. 6, thus further sealing the passage I l against the leakage of water. As the area of this diaphragm IG which is acted on by pressure is of a considerable extent, the ported member l5 will seal against the conical valve member Il with considerable force so that'a-secure seal is effected between the ported member l5 and the conical valve member |1. It will be seen that if foreign matter is lodged in valve |3 or passage ll, this might temporarily prevent the effective closing of the valve but that the greater power of the diaphragm l6 will force the ported member 14 against'the valve ll regardless of the presence of the foreign material. Subsequent operation of the valve and urging of the pressure in the system will wash the foreign matter away so that the valve |3 will find a seat and effect a closure. When the pressure in the system has been brought up to the predetermined pressure, the control valve apparatus ll is set so that any further water supply to the system will be through the pressure-reducing valve .1. The radiators have now been filled with water to the desired level and pressure, and the heating system is ready for operation.

As previously explained, when water is supplied to the system, air is entrained with the water and in time will rise and accumulate in the upper portions of the radiators causing the radiators to become air-bound and causing the float valves l3 to drop to the position shown in Fig. 7 as the liquid level in the radiators falls. In order` to vent the air-bound radiators, the controlvalve H is placed in a position to connect the hot Water system with the drain |8, and a small quantity of liquid is drained from the heating system to lower the pressure in the system below that predetermined pressure maintained by the pressure-reducing valve 1 to enable the coil compression spring IS to compress the diaphragm chamber IG and to move the ported member 15 away from the conical valve member |-1 to the position shown in Fig. 4. As previously explained, Fig.4 shows the position of the valves in the air vent apparatus when the water level in the radiator is subnormal and the pressure in the system is subnormal, which is the condition when the radiator is air-bound and the pressure in the system is low enough to enable the coil compression spring I! to compress the'diaphragm chamber I 6. In this position of parts, the air can escape from the air-bound radiator, as the float valve l3 is open and the pressure-controlled valve l'l also is open. In explanation of the fact that air will escape from the system under these IG, thus preventing anetma conditions, it must be borne in mind thatthe mixture of water and entrained air in the heating system' expands upon a lowering of the Dres-- sure, due. to- 'the elasticity of the entrained air,

and the expansion' of the body of water' and entrained air will cause the air. in the air-'bound radiators to escape whenthe partsare in'the position shown in Flg.- 4. Thisexpansion of the medium inthe system will cause the liquid level in the float valve chambers to rise and eventually to bring the float valve i3 lto the position shown in Fig. 51m which it coses the' port throughthe ported. member 15,- thus preventing leakage of waterf past. the. float'yalve;A the radiatoi'sv have "all beenvented, whichrequires verylittle time,usually lessthanz.aminutthecontrolvalve-' il is moved to a position to Aprevent'further drainage of the systemv andV to vadd further water to the system fromfifthev city mam, whereui'ionthev pressure in the system rises and the diaphragm chambers ISv thereupon expand' to the position shown in Figi 6;., in' whichV position the 'ported member Vi'5`is pressed firnilyagainsttheV conical valve |1 by the pressure in the diaphragm chamber, thus effectually preventing any leakage through the ported member 15. If it should happen that no air is present in some of the radiators, the valve .parts will remain as shown in Fig. 5 during the period that a subnormal pressure prevails in thesystem.

By means of this control it is a simple matterV to vent all of the vair-boundradiators in a system from a central point so that this venting can be easily accomplished as often as once a day, or oftener if necessary, in order to keep the system in good working condition.

We will now briefiy describe the construction and operation of the control valve mechanism H shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

As here shown, the valve casing 20 is provided with four connections, one connection 2| with the water supply, such as the city main 22, another connection 23 for the pipe 24 leading to the pressure-reducing valve 1, another connec- 'tion 25 for a pipe 26 which by-passes the pressure-reducing valve 1 and the relief valve 3, and another connection 21 for the drain 10. This drainage connection |8 may be to the same drain pipe 28 which leads from the pressure relief valve 8.

The valve casing 20 is provided with a pressure indicator 29 of any suitable type connected as passage 32 in the valve, and through the' pipe connection 23 to the pipe 24 leading to the reducing valve 1. In' another position o f the valve, the passage 32 through the valve connects the system with the drain pipe |0 through the vby-pass 26, connection 25, passage 32, passage 33, an'd connection 21. In another position of the valve the passage 32 through the valve connects the water supply 22 directly with the heating system through the connection 2|, passage 32, connection 25, and by-pass 23.

Fig. 2 shows the normal position of the valve 30 in which the supply 22 is connected with the pressure-reducing valve 1 so that the pressure in the system will be kept up at least to the predetermined lower limit for which the pressurereducing valve 1.

vin' which the supply pipe '22 is connected with the by-pass pipe 26. the system can be quickly filled-without having to go through the pressure- As one'example of pressures which maybe used-,let 'it be assumed that the reducing valve 1 is setsofthat' the pressure at the gauge 23 will not normally` fall; below ten pounds perV square Vis fa ten-pound gauge pressure, the. pressure atV the upper endl of the radiator 2. will be seven poundsv per square inch and the pressure at the upper'end of the radiator 2a will be three pounds per square inch.

` Let .itbe assumed further that the air vent apparatus 6 of'the'radiator 2 on thelower floor is set so that the coil compression spring |9 will cause the ported member |5 to move away from the conical valve |1' when the pressure in the upper portion of the radiator 2 drops below `i've and one-half pounds per'square inch, and that the air vent' apparatus of the upper radiator 2a is set so that the coil compression spring IS will cause the ported member 15 to move away from the conical valve |1 when the pressure in the upper portion of the radiator 2a drops below one and one-'half pounds per square inch. Under these conditions, if the radiators are air-bound, they may be vented by dropping the pressure at the pressure gauge down to eight pounds per square inch, which will cause the pressure in the upper portion of the lower radiator2 to drop down to five pounds per square inch and will cause the pressure in the upper portion of the upper radiator 2a to drop down to one pound per square inch, since these pressures at the radiators of five pounds per square inch and one pound per square inch are less than the respective pressures of five and one-half pounds per square inch and one and one-half pounds per square inch at which these air vent valves open. As soon as the pressure has been maintained at this low level long enough to vent the radiators, the control valve may be moved back to filling position which will cut oif further drainage and connect the water supply with the system to cause the system to be filled up to the pressure which will be sufllcient to expand the diaphragm chambers to cause the ported members to seat against the conical valves. The control valve 30 may then be moved back to normal position.

The control valve mechanism ll may be provided with suitable indicia 3| co-operating with a pointer 35 on the valve handle 38 for indicating the' position to which the valve handle shall be turned for filling, normal operation, and venting operation. The gauge 29 may be provided with a scale 31 co-operating with a gauge index 38 showing the pressure in the system, the scaIe 31 having indicia 39 to show the pressure to which the system should be filled when the valve handle 36 is moved to filling position, and indicia 40 to show the pressure to which the system should be dropped' when venting the radiators.

Referring more specifically to the structure of the air vent apparatus, this comprises a casing 4| for enclosing the float 12 and diaphragm chamber IG, the float itself carrying at its upper end the conical valve member |3, the corrugated expansible 'diaphragm chamber IS, the ported member IS secured in fluid-tightengagement with the upper portlon of the diaphragm chamber IB, a guide sleeve 42 for the ported member IS depending from'the cap 43 of the casing, and a plug 44 from which the conical lvalve memlo ber depends having an adjustable screw-threaded engagement with the sleeve 42 which guides the ported member |5. Thecasing 4| as shown comprises the lower cup-like member .45 which receives the lower end of the float 12, a sleeve 15 46 having a fluid-tight engagement with this lower cup-like member 45, and the cap 43 on which the guide sleeve 42 and plug 44 are mounted. This cap43 is provided with a suitable opening 41 to enable the escape of air 'which 20 flows through the ported member IS. This ported member has a loose fit in the sleeve 42 so that the air can escape between the sleeve 42 and the, 'ported member IS. The diaphragm chamber IG may be mounted in any suitable manner as by 25 providing it with a flange 48 secured in fluidtight engagement with the casing sleeve 46.

It is obvious that if desired the heating system may be provided with a pump to force the water therethrough. 30 While we have descrlbed our invention in connection with a hot water heating system, it is obvious that in some of the phases, lt is applicable to a liquid cooling system or to any system in which a liquid circulates throughout the system 35 and in which the system has containers which become air-bound. While we have shown our invention in connection with a heating system in which separate piping is provided for the supply and return with respect to the radiators, it is 40 obvious that it is also applicable to a hot water heating system of the single flow type."

In Flg. 8 is shown an arrangement of control for the water in the heating system which may be substituted for that shown in Flg. 1. In this 45 arrangement the pipe 48a leading to the heating system corresponds to the pipe shown in Fig. 1, and the pipe 22a corresponds to the supply pipe 22 of Fig. 1. A pressure regulating valve 'I and a pressure relief valve 8 are provided correspond- 50 ing to the regulating valve 'l and the relief valve 8 of Fig. 1. A drain connection 28a leading from the. pressure relief valve 8 corresponds to the drain connection 28 of Fig. 1. A by-pass isprovided around the regulating valve 'I and relief 55 valve 8 in which .is located the control valve mechanism. This control valve mechanism comprises a casing 20a having three connections, one connection 2 la for the pipe 22a leading from the water supply. another connection 25a for the pipe 50 48a leading to the heating system, and another connection 2'la`for the pipe leading to the drain. This valve mechanism is also provided with an indicator 29a similar to the indicator 29 shown in Fig. 3. In the position of the valve shown, both 65 the connection 25a and the connection 21a are cut off from the supply pipe- 22a. If the plug valve is turned 90 clockwise, the supply pipe 22a will be connected With the pipe 48a leading to the heating' system, by-passing the pressure- 70 regulating valve 1. If the plug valve is turned 45 counterclockwise, the heating system will be connected with the drainage connection 21a. In thisl construction, as in the construction of Fig. 2, the gauge is provided with indicia co-operating 75 with the pointer 38a to show the pressure in the system. The indicia '39a show when the system has been. illled to the proper pressure, and the indicia 40a show when the system has been vented to an :extent sulciently to cause the collapse of lthe expansible lbellows IB to' open the valve l'l and vent the radiators.

The construction shown in Flg. shows a vent valve mechanism in which the opening of the air `vent valve is effected by an increase in the pressure in the radiator to supernormal as distin- 10 guished from the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, in which the opening of the air vent is eifected by a drop in. the pressure vto subnormal. The construction shown in Flg. 10 comprises a float I 2' and a float valve |3' similar to the fioat |2 and fioat valve II of Flg. 4, a casing comprising a cup member 45a having a nipple l la similar to the cup member 45 and nipple Ila of Flg. 4, an expansible diaphragm or bellows 49 carrying a valve member 50 at its lower end, a spring 5| urging the valve 50 to closed position, a ported member 52'having a passage 53 therethrough controlled both .by the fioat valve |3' and. the spring-pressed valve 50, a plate 54 bearing against the upper end 'of the spring 5|, and an adjusting screw 55 for adjusting the tension of the spring 5|. The ported member 52 is secured to a partition 56 secured to a sleeve 51 forming part of the casing. The casing comprises, in addition to the sleeve 51, an upper sleeve 58 having a screw-threaded connection with the sleeve 51, and a cap 59 having a screw-threaded connection with the sleeve 58. The sleeve 58 ls provided with a suitable vent 60 for the escape of air.

In this form the bellows 49 acts merely as a mounting for the valve. 50 and as a housing for the spring 5|. The interior of the diaphragm is not subjected to the pressure of 'the system as in the construction of Fig. 4.

.In a sealed pressure hot water system, the operation of the valveshown in Fig. 10 .will be as follows: Let it be assumed that the relief valve 8 is set to open at a pressure of thirty pounds per square inch.'thus establishing an upper limit for 'the normal pressure range. Under this condition the screw Elwill be adjusted to control the tension of the spring 5| in such a manner that the pressure in the system acting on the exposed surface of the valve will open this 50 valve at a pressure somewhat higher than the pressure at which the relief valve is set to open; for instance, at a pressure of thirty-flve pounds per square inch. When it is desired to vent the radiators, the pressure in the system will be increased to thirty-flve pounds per square inch or slightly above that. This may be accomplished byV any one of the followingmethods: (1) closing thedischar'ge from the relief valve until the de- .sired supernormal'v pressure has been attained and held for. a short'time; (2) closing the connection to the relief valve until the desired supernormal pressure has been attained and held for a short `time; (3) opening a by-pass connection from the water supply into the system until the desired supernormal pressure has been attained and held for a short time; and (4) opening a connection from the water supply to the heating system and closing the discharge from, or the connection to, the relief valve until the desired supernormal pressure has been accomplished and held for a short time. All of these may be accomplished by an arrangement similar to that shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Under any of lthe four conditions, if any air has been accumulated in a radiator, the fioat valve will be open, the supernormal pressure will open the spring-pressed valve I.,

and the air will be discharged. The water will rise in the float valve chambencausing the li'ioat valve to close. The pressure will then be permitted to drop back to the normal pressure at which the relief valveopens' and thereupon thevalve will close.

If it is desired to use the valv'e mechanism 'shown in Fig. 10 in an open gravity hot water sary to close the overflowrtemporrily, whereuponv the pressure in thesystemv can be'increased to something more than ten pounds per square inch, causing the pressure-opcrated 'valves ,50 to open and allow the venting lof any radiators which are airbound. As the Water rises in the radiator, the

iioat valve |3 will close and when all the radiatorsv have been vented-the pressure is allowed to drop;

back to normal whereupon the' valves 501 lwill close and the system can then operate'in a normal manner.

In Fig. 11 is shown diagrammatically an automatic time-controlled valve mechanism which can be substituted for the control valve mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 11 the connection 25h corresponds vto the connection 25a of Fig. 9, the connection 2lb corresponds to connection 2|a of Fig. 9, and the connection 2117 corresponds to connection 21a of Fig. 9. The connection 2ib will be placed in communication with the supply pipe 22a, the connection 25b will be placed in connection with the pipe 48a, and the connection 21h will be connected with the drain pipe 28a.

The construction shown in Fig. 11 co'mprlses the valve casing having the above-noted pipe connections 2|b, 25h, and 21h. a valve 6| controlling the port 62 leading to the connection 21h, a valve 63 controlling communication between the connections 2| b and 25D. solenoids 64 and 65 for controlling these valves 6| and 63, respectively, springs 64a and 65a for closing the valves 6| and 63, respectively, when the solenoids are deenergized, a time-controlled program cycle apparatus 66 of any suitable type controlling the solenoids and a time-controlled mechanism 61 controlling the program cycle mechanism 66. The time-controlled program cycle mechanism 66 may be controlled by the.

primary time-controlled mechanism 61 in such a manner that at a certain time or certain times during the period covered by the primarv mechanism 61, the program cycle mechanism 66 will be caused to make one complete revolution in a relatively short period, for example, in a minute or thereabouts. This complete revolution of the program cycle mechanism will cause the energization and deenergization of both solenoid magnets 64 and 61, which in tum will cause opening and closing of the solenoid controlled valves 6| and 63. The program cyclemechanism 66 may be so designed that the valve 6| will be opened and held open for a short period, say twenty or twenty-five seconds, long enough to lower the pressure in the system sufliciently to cause venting of the air-bound radiators in the system and so that thereafter the valve 63 will be opened .and held open for a short period, for

example, twenty or twenty-nve seconds, long enough to fill the systemagain to the desired pressure.

In hot water systems, it may sometimes be desirable to install venting apparatusonV the pipes leading to the radiatorsV sothat' some of. the air entrained' in the systemcan be vented' before it'reaches the radiators. g

It is obvious that, if desired,' two manually operated switches may be provided in addition to the time-controlled mechanism shown in Fig. 11 for controlling the action of the solenoids 64 and 65 so that i-f the time-controlled mechanism should fall or if it should be desired to ventthe radiators at some Vtime other' than the time-con! trolledperlod; this could'bc'd'one by Operating the manually-operated switches.

vFig,12- shows' an' arrangement in control valve mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be combinedv with lacompressed air: tank J which the' 68 which is in'communication. with the. piping j 3' leading to the radiators. This compressed. air tank is connected` with the 'piping 3.by means Iof" the-'pipe.'69.' 'As the pressure in the'pipev 3' rises and' falis, the air in the tank-68 will be comypressed lor expanded in accordance with the existing pressure. By c'onnecting the control valve mechanism 20a of Fig. 9 with the compressed air tank 68, as indicated in Fig'. 12, the venting of the radiators can be controlled'by manipulation of the valve handle 36. In 'this arrangement, the' connection 25a, of the valve 20a. will be connected with the compressed air tank 68 by means of the pipe 10, the connection 2|a of the valve will be connected with any suitable source of compressed air 1|, and the connection 21a will be connected with any suitable air exhaust pipe. With this arrangement, the air-bound radiators maybe vented by placing the valve in position to establish communication between the connection 25a and the connection 21a; This will allow the air to escape from the compression tank 68 through-the exhaust 21a, lowering the pressure in the system and causing the venting of air-bound radiators as previously described. After the radiators have been vented, thepressure in the system may be restored to normal by moving the valve to connect the compressed air source 1| with the pipe 10 leading to the comi pression tank 68. The valve will be held in this prior art and the scope of the appended'claims. v

Having thus described our. invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid heat 'transfer system comprising a source of liquid under pressure, a heat transfer liquid container in communication with said source, means for supplying heat to said system, and means for controlling the venting of air from the container when Vit becomes. air bound comprising means controlled by aA change of pressure of the liquid in the container and by a change in liquidlevelfin the container, and automatic means for changing the pressure in the container independently of any heat supply control.

2.`A liquid heat transfer system comprising a source of liquid underl pressure, a heat transfer liquid container in communication with said source, means for supplying heat to said system, and means for controlling the venting of air from the container when it becomes air bound comprising means Controlled by a change of pressure of the liquid intthe container and by a change in liquid level in the container, and time-controlled means for changing the pressure in the container independently of any heat supply control. i

3. A liquid heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer liquid under pressure, a liquid container in communication with said source, means for supplying heat to said system; and means for venting the air from the container when it' becomes air bound comprising means actuated by a change in pressure of the heat transfer liquid in the container, and timecontrolled means for changing the pressure in' the` container independently of any heat supply control.

4. Apparatus for controlling the venting of air from an air-bound heat transfer liquid container, said apparatus having a passage for the escape of air from the container, two valves in series in said passage, means controlled by the pressure of the liquid in the container for controlling one of said valves, means controlled by the liquid level in the container for controlling the other valve, and time-controlled means for changingl the pressure in the container independently of any heat supply control. r

5. A liquid heat transfer system comprising a source 'of heat transfer liquid under pressure, means for supplying heat to said system, a liquid container in communication with said source, and means for venting the air from the container when it becomes air bound comprising means actuated by a change in pressure of the heat transfer liquid in the container, and automatic means for changing the pressure in the container independently of any heat supply control.

6. Apparatus for controlling the venting of air from an air-bound heat transfer liquid container, said apparatus having a passage for the escape of air from the container, two valves in series in said passage, means controlled by the pressure of the liquid in the container for controlling' one of said valves, means controlled by the liquid level in the container for controlling the .other valve, and automatic means for changing the pressure in the container independentlyl of any heat supply control.

7. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer fluid, means for transferring heat with respect to said fluid, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for maintaining the pressure of said fluid in said container within a normal range for efi'ecting heat transfer, and means actuated by a fluid pressure outside of said range and independently of the action of said heat transferring means for venting the air trapped in said container.

8. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer liquid, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for supplying liquid to said container, means for maintaining the pressure of said heat transfer liquid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing the liquid pressure at a pressure outside said sure outside of said range for venting the air trapped in'said container, and means controlled by the rise of the liquid level in said container for causing said pressure-controlled means to close said air vent. i

9. A heat transfer system comprisinga source of heat transfer liquid, a heatv transfer container having an air vent, means for supplying liquid to said container, means for maintaining the pressureof said heat transfer liquid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, 'means for temporarily changing the liquid pressure at a pressure outside said normal range, means controlled by a liquid pressure outside of said range for venting the air trapped in said container, and means controlled by a rise in liquid level in the container for preventing the flow of air through said vent.

10. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer fluid, means for transferring heat with respect to said fluid, a plurality of heat transfer containers. each having an air vent,

means for maintaining the pressure of said fluid in said containers within a Vnormal range for effecting heat transfer, and means actuated by a fluid pressure, outside of said range and indenormalrange, means controlled by a liquid prespendently of the action of said heat transferring means for venting the air trapped in said con- -tainers.

11. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer liquid, a plurality of heat transfer containers, each having an air vent, means for supplying liquid to said container, means for maintaining the pressure of said heat transfer liquid in said containers within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing ,the liquid pressure at a pressure outside said normal range. means controlled by a liquid pressure outside of said range for venting the'air trapped in said containers, and means controlled by the -rise of the liquid level in said containers for causing said pressure-controlled means to close said air vents.

'12. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer fluld, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for transferring heat with respect to said fluid, means for maintainingthe pressure of said fluid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing the fluid pressure to a pressure outside of said normal range, and means controlled by said fiuid presand for opening the vent when the pressure is outside the normal range.

13. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer liquid, a heat transfer container having an air vent. means for supplying liquid to said container, means for maintaining the pressure of said heat transfer liquid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing the liquid' pressure to a pressure outside of said normal range, and means controlled by said liquid pressure for closing the vent when the pressure is within the normal range and for opening the vent when the pressure is outside the normal range.

14. A heat transfer system comprising a source of heat transfer liquid, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for maintaining the aaa-1,920

said vent closed at pressures within said normal range.A t

15. A heat transfer system comprising a source' of heat transfer liquid, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for maintaining the pressure of said heat transfer liquid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing the liquid pressure to a pressure outside of said normal range, means in said system controlled by the liquid level, means in said system controlled by the liquid pressure, and means controlled by said liquid level controlled means and by said liquid pressure controlled means for venting said container at coincident low liquid level and pressure outside said normal range and for closing said vent alt high liquid levels and at pressures within said normal range.

16. A heat transfer Vsystem comprising a source of heat transfer liquid, a heat transfer container having an air vent, means for maintaining the pressure of said heat transfer liquid in said container within a normal range for effecting heat transfer, means for temporarily changing the fluid pressure to a pressure outside of said normal range, means controlled by said fiuid pressure for closing the vent when the pressure is within the normal range and for' opening the vent when the pressure is outside the normal range, and means controlled by a rise in liquid level in the container for preventing the flow of air through said vent.

17. An air vent control device comprising pressure expansible chamber'means, a ported valve seat carried thereby for venting air through said chamber, a valve member cooperating with said seat to close the port by the pressure controlled movement of the chambe and a float valve for controlling the flow of air through said port.

18. An air vent control device comprising pressure expansible chamber means, a ported valve seat carried thereby for venting air through said chamber, a valve member co-operating with said seat to close the port by the pressure controlled movement of the chamber, and a valve-carrying iloat for controlling the passage of air through said port.

19. An air vent control device eomprising pressure expansiblo chamber means, a ported valve seat carried thereby for venting air through said chamber, a valve member oo-operating with saidv seat to close the port by the pressure controlled'movement of the chamber, and a valve- 5 carrying float for controlling the passage of air through said port, said float having a portion lying in said expansible chamber.

20. Thecombination of a liquid filled heat transfer system and means for venting the system at several points simultaneously from a single point, said means comprising a pressure controlling member designed to change the internal pressures of the system -to exceed the normal range of internal pressures, and a ported member at each of the points to be vented controlled by liquid pressure and liquid level, said ported members being designed to close when the internal pressures are `,within the normal rangeand to lbeopened when the internal pressures of the system exceed the normal range, said ported members being v`designed to close with the rise of liquid level.

21. A liquid fllled heating system comprising a means for heating the liquid, heat transfer units, connections therebetween, means for maintaining the internal pressure of the system within a predetermined range, means for changing said-pressure range independently of said heating means, a container at each of the several units to be vented commimicating with the interior ofsaid units, a port in each container communicating with the atmosphere, a pressure responsive member within each container, a valve member actuated by each said pressure responsive member cooperating to close each said port when the intemal pressure of the system is within the predetermined range, .and a float actuated valve member cooperating to close each of said ports to the passage of liquid. 40

22. A remotely operated leak-proof vent valve for venting the'air from air-bound hot water radiators comprising a chamber. the lower end of which is designed to be brought into communication with the interior -`of the radiator. the upper end of the chamber having a port communicating with .the outer atmosphere, a noat valve designed to cio the port to the passage of water, a second valve member, a pressure responsive member cooperating there'with 50 forcibly to close the port by the normal internal pressuresofthesystem.saidpressureresponsive member being adjustably set to open the port whenthepressurewithinthesystemisbelow normal, an'd meam for.reducing the internal pressures to below the normal range independently of any fire control. i

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