A New or improved Automatic Drain Valve for Steam Engine Cylinders, Steam Heaters or other analogous purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: A New or improved Automatic Drain Valve for Steam Engine
Cylinders, Steam Heaters, or other analogous purposes.
I, ALPHONSE HENRY EMANUEL BERCIIEM, of 107, Hopton Road, Streatham,
London, S.W., Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved automatic drain valve for the
cylinders of steam engines or pumps steam heaters or for any other purposes to
which same may be applicable.
The use of a reliable draining attachment and the regular escape of water from
the cylinders of steam engines is of very great importance and this invention is
designed to provide means for automatically effecting or permitting the escape
of any such water of condensation this automatic drain valve being so constructed
that when starting the engine or pump etc. (whatever it may be applied to) it
automatically allows the discharge of water of condensation and the valves do
not close until the live steam attempts to pass while they will automatically
open and allow even the smallest quantity of water to pass.
The automatic drain valve according to my present invention for draining the
cylinders of steam engines, etc., is as follows:-
For the sake of example I will describe the valves (hereinafter described) as
arranged and mounted in a T-piece the arms of the T being connected to the
drain pipes from the cylinder while the shank of the T forms an outlet for the
water discharged through this drain valve.
A valve is arranged inside of and towards the end of each arm each such
valve being provided with a valve spindle in the same axial line with one another
the inner ends of said valve spindles having a spring interposed between same
or combined therewith in such wise that when one said valve is pushed inwards
against its seating so as to prevent steam passing same to the shank of the T-piece
thereby the aforesaid spring is compressed and has a further tendency to press
outwards and thereby keep open the opposite valve and vice-versa-while at same
time the two said valves and the spring or springs combined therewith are so
arranged that both valves can at the same time be firmly pressed inwards in a
steam-tight manner against their seatings both together.
The valves are advantageously circular discs with coned faces adapted to fit
closely against corresponding coned seatings provided for same in each arm of
the T-piece.
The valve spindles are supported in sleeves or bearings provided in the interior
of each said arm of the T-piece advantageously such bearings and the valve
seating being cast in integral with the T-piece.

page_text: The end of each arm of the T-piece may advantageously be screw-threaded
on the exterior or otherwise fitted with valve caps to receive the drain pipes from
the steam cylinder etc. and furthermore I find it advantageous to provide an
opening provided with a screw plug (or adapted to be otherwise suitably closed)
to afford access to the interior of the T-piece and to the internal working parts.
Means may advantageously be provided to adjust the tension of the aforesaid
spring or springs for instance means may be provided to alter the length of the
valve spindles such as by providing an adjustable screw nut on the inner end of
each valve spindle.
I do not confine myself to forming the valve casing in the form of a T-piece
only as my present invention may be carried out with other suitable form of
valve casing; neither do I confine myself to mounting the spindles of the two
valves aforesaid in the same axial line nor controlled by the same spring as if
desired each valve may be mounted with a separate spring independent of the
other valve and spring and moreover the one valve may be mounted and arranged
so as to open into the discharge chamber at a different point from that at which
the other valve is arranged and communicates with said discharge chamber or
common outlet.
Automatic drain valves according to my present invention have the following
advantages:
:-
(1) Neatness and compactness as well as non-liability to get out of order.
(2) Water hammer in steam cylinders and pipes in connection therewith is
obviated.
(3) The opening by the attendant of drain cocks before starting and when
stopping engines, pumps, etc., is obviated and moreover the provision of such
drain cocks will no longer be necessary.
(4) This drain valve allows particles of water to separate from steam and
consequently dry steam is thereby ensured.
(5) Damage which often results to engines owing to the presence of water is
obviated.
Dad this 11th
عمل
of Tonu 1808
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
hampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
A New or Improved Automatic Drain Valve for Steam Engine
Cylinders, Steam Heaters, or other analogous purposes.
I, ALPHONSE HENRY EMANUEL BERCHEM, of 107, Hopton Road, Streatham,
London, S.W., Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to a new or improved automatic drain valve for the
cylinders of steam engines or pumps, or steam heaters, or for any other purpose
to which same may be applicable.
The use of a reliable draining attachment and the regular escape of water from
the cylinders of steam engines is of very great importance, and this invention is
designed to provide means for automatically effecting or permitting the escape
of any such water of condensation this automatic drain valve being so constructed
that when starting the engine or pump etc., (whatever it may be applied to) it

page_text: automatically allows the discharge of water of condensation and the valves do
not close until the live steam attempts to pass, while they will automatically
open and allow even the smallest quantity of water to pass.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will describe same
having reference to the accompanying drawing. In this drawing I show the
valves arranged and mounted in a † piece, the arms (k) of the T being connected
to the drain pipes from the steam cylinder while the shank (!) of the T forms
an outlet for the water discharged through the valves (m, m).
A valve (m) is arranged inside of and towards the end of each arm (k) each such
valve being provided with a valve spindle (d) in the same axial line with one
another, the inner ends of said valve spindles having a spring (h) interposed
between them or combined therewith in suchwise that when one said valve is
pushed inwards against its seating (e) so as to prevent steam passing to the
shank (k) of the T piece, thereby the spring (h) is compressed and has a further
tendency to press outwards and thereby keeps open the opposite valve and vice
versa, while at the same time the two said valves (m, m) and the spring or
springs (h) combined therewith, are so arranged that both valves can at the same
time be firmly pressed inwards so as to make a steam tight joint against their
seatings (e, e):
The valves are, as shown in the drawing, advantageously circular discs with coned
faces adapted to fit closely against corresponding coned seatings provided for
same in each arm of the T piece.
The valve spindles (d, d,) are supported in sleeves or bearings (f f) provided
in the interior of each arm of the T piece, as shown in the drawing, euch
bearings (f, f.) and the valve seatings (e, e) being advantageously cast in one
with the T piece.
The end of each arm of the T piece may advantageously be screw threaded
on the exterior or otherwise fitted with valve caps (a, a,) to receive the drain pipes
from the steam cylinder &c., and furthermore I find it advantageous to provide
an opening (b) protected with a screw plug (or adapted to be otherwise suitably
closed) to afford access to the interior of the T piece and to the internal working
part.
Means may be advantageously provided to adjust the tension of the springs (h)
for instance means may be provided to alter the length of the valve spindles (dd)
as shown in the drawing by providing an adjustable screw nut or bracket (g, g)
on the inner end of each valve spindle (d, d).
I do not confine myself to forming the valve casing in the form of a T piece
only, as my present invention may be carried out with other suitable form of
valve casing. Neither do I confine myself to mounting the spindles of the two
valves (m, m,) in the same axial line for controlling by the same spring, as if
desired each valve may be mounted with a separate spring, each independent of
the other valve and spring and moreover the one valve may be mounted and
arranged so as to open into the discharge chamber at a different point from that
at which the other valve is arranged and communicates with said discharge
chamber or common outlet.
Automatic drain valves according to my present invention have the following
advantages:
(1) Neatness and compactness as well as non-liability to get out of order.
(2) Water hammer in steam cylinders and pipes in connection therewith is
obviated.
(3) The opening by the attendant of drain cocks before starting and when
stopping engines, pumps, etc., is obviated and moreover the provision of such
drain cocks will no longer be necessary.
(4) This drain valve allows particles of water to separate from steam and conse-
quently dry steam is thereby ensured.
(5) Damage which often results to engines owing to the presence of water is
obviated.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The use of automatic drain valves in connection with steam cylinders, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
2. Automatic drain valves as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of September 1898.
ALPHONSE H. E. BERCHEM.