Patent GB-513481-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for effecting automatically the separation of aliquid from a gas or vapour under pressure
IPC: F04B39/16
Filed: 1938-04-05
Abstract: 513,481. Steam traps. BRITISH OXYGEN CO., Ltd., and MEAD, B. J. April 5, 1938, No. 10377. [Class 64 (ii)] [Also in Group III] Means for automatically removing liquid from a system under pressure, containing liquid and gaseous or vapour constituents, comprises a fluid tight receiver 10 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis so located that when the receiver is substantially devoid of liquid, the centre of gravity shifts to the other side to cause the receiver to rotate, the receiver being provided between the axis and the head 14, but on accumulation of liquid in the receiver the centre of gravity shifts to the other side to cause the receiver to rotate, the receiver being provided with an.inlet port 41, a vent for displaced gas, an outlet 54 for the discharge of the liquid and valve mechanism in the outlet conduit to open and permit the discharge of the liquid upon rotation of the receiver and to close on the return of the receiver to its original position. The receiver rotates on trunnions 23 and 24 running in glands and ball bearings 27 and 31. The inlet port of the receiver is connected to trunnion 23 by pipe 39 and thence to a collecting chamber while the outlet port is connected to trunnion 24 by pipe 55. In its normal position the receiver rests on a support 22 but in the discharging position rests on support 79, both these are covered with rubber, leather, felt or the like to,prevent rebound. Air displaced from the receiver passes via pipe 43, head 14, pipe 44, the union pipe 45 on the saddle 25 to the relatively stiff transverse pipe 47. The latter is connected by the head 48 to a relatively flexible pipe 49 which surrounds the trunnion 24 and is connected to the relatively stiff pipe 51 and leads back to the high pressure system. On rotation of the receiver a cam-wheel 76 operates the discharge valve via the thrust block 72 and tappels 71, 71<1> which have a clearance to allow the receiver to gain momentum before operating the valve against the spring 63, thus enabling the receiver to discharge by the pressure in the system via pipe 55, trunnion 24, pipe 58, valve and discharge pipe 64. The liquid when used as a lubricant may be discharged into an overhead tank whence it may be fed by a compressor pump to lubricate the cylinders. - The centre of gravity of the receiver is adjusted by means of a weight 19 so that the receiver returns to its normal position before the level of the liquid falls below the inlet of pipe 54 thus preventing escape of gas. Various modifications include the provision of a counting device on one of the trunnions to record the number of operations of the receiver, while a signalling device may also be fitted to indicate at a distance the frequency of operations and to serve as a warming if for any reason the cylinder fails to return to the normal position. The valve mechanism may be operated by suitable electric contacts and associated mechanism on the trunnion or according to the Provisional Specification instead of a cam mechanism a device comprising a disc with a rod pivoted on its outer edge and engaging the valve mechanism may be attached to tne trunnions. The arrangement of hollow trunnions and flexible tube 49 may be replaced by a corresponding number of flexible tubes attached to the cylinder and, for example, arranged as helices and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the helix. In the case where the gas is soluble in the liquid, e.g., nitrous oxide and water, the flow of liquid from the pressure system may be reduced to atmospheric pressure and the gas given off removed. The resultant liquid does not then give off gas on leaving the apparatus. By using the pressure of the system to discharge the liquid a consequent drop in pressure is caused and if this is undesirable a non-return or spring loaded valve may be fitted in the inlet conduit so that the pressure in the system does not fall below a preselected minimum. The apparatus is stated to be suitable for use in steam supply or compressed air systems or to remove liquid resultants from chemical reactions involving gaseous reactants such as in the manufacture of nickel carbonyl.