Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1396-Accepted, 2nd Jan.. 1897
Improvements in Steam Traps.
GEORGE GORDON PICKING and WILLIAM HOPKINS both of Bow Road in the
County of Middlesex Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in steam traps or apparatus employed to
automatically discharge the water of condensed steam and air from steam engines
steam pipes drying cylinders coils and all description of engines and apparatus
(also same can be applied to return the water of condensation direct into the steam
boiler by maintaining the boiler pressure of steam in the steam trap) and has for
its object increasing the certainty of action and simplicity of construction (thereby
rendering same easy of examination and repair) by arranging the outlet valve with
a lever and fulcrum, the lever of the valve being worked from the float inside the
box or cistern which also works on a fulcrum by this means extra power is gained
to open and close the end of the discharge or outlet pipe against any pressure of
steam or other cause that might tend to prevent the opening or closing of the end
of the discharge pipe at the proper time.
The outer box or cistern may be made round square or rectangular and the float
inside arranged to suit the form of the outer box the discharge pipe is taken from
near the bottom to the top of the outer box and arranged so that when the inner
float and the outer box are both full of water the float sinks and at the same time
draws down the lever of the discharge valve and opening the end of the discharge
pipe the pressure of steam then drives out the water in the float and as soon as
sufficient is discharged the float rises steadily and by so doing raises the lever and
closes the end of the discharge pipe and prevents any loss of steam or blowing
through and it does not open again until sufficient water has accumulated in the
float to sink it.
If found necessary a suitable valve may be attached to the float or to the end of
the discharge pipe to ensure it being perfectly tight when closed.
Dated this 7th February 1896
GEORGE GORDON PICKING.
WILLIAM HOPKINS.
ORGE GORDON PICKING and WILLIAM HOPKINS both of Bow Road in the
County of Middlesex Engineers 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 improvements in steam traps or apparatus employed to
automatically discharge the water of condensed steam and air from steam engines,
steam pipes, drying cylinders, coils and all description of engines and apparatus
(also same can be applied to return the water of condensation direct into the steam
boiler by maintaining the boiler pressure of steam in the steam trap) and has for
its object, increasing the certainty of action and simplicity of construction (thereby
rendering same easy of examination and repair) by arranging the outlet valve with
[Price 8d.]

page_text: a lever and fulcrum; the lever of the valve being worked from the float inside the
box or cistern, which also works on a fulcrum, by this means extra power is gained
to open and close the end of, the discharge or outlet pipe against any pressure of
steam or other cause that might tend to prevent the opening or closing of the end
of the discharge pipe at the proper time.
The outer box or cistern may be made round square or rectangular, and the float
inside arranged to suit the form of the outer box, the discharge pipe is taken from
near the bottom to the top of the outer box and arranged so that when the inner
float and the outer box are both full of water the float sinks and at the same tiine
draws down the lever of the discharge valve and opening the end of the discharge
pipe, the pressure of steam then drives out the water in the float and as soon as
sufficient is discharged the float rises steadily and by so doing raises the lever and
closes the end of the discharge pipe and prevents any loss of steam or blowing
'through and it does not open again until sufficient water has accumulated in the
float to sink it.
If found necessary a suitable valve may be attached to the float or to the end of
the discharge pipe to ensure it being perfectly tight when closed.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood, we shall now more
particularly describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the figures on the
annexed drawing the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
the figures.
Fig. 1 is a section of a steam trap constructed according to our invention fitted
with a lever valve worked from the bottom of the float.
Fig. 2 is a similar section but showing the steam trap when fitted with a lever
valve worked from the top of the float.
Referring to Fig. 1 A is the outer box of steam trap. B is a cover bolted on
"same. C is the float placed inside the outer box of the steam trap and freely
moving up or down working on the trunnions D which drop into recesses in the
side of the outer box. The discharge pipe E is attached at the upper end to the
outer box A. The water enters at F and filling the outer space G it runs over
into the inside of the float C and causes it to sink. This draws down the lever E¹
and opens the valve F. The pressure of steam then acting on the surface of the
water contained in the float discharges the water up the pipe H and from the
outlet I. When sufficient water is blown out of the float it rises and by so doing
raises the lever E¹ and closes the valve F which remains closed until sufficient
water accumulates in the float to again sink it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
Firstly. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
steam trap substantially as herein before described and represented in the
accompanying drawing...
Secondly. In steam traps in which the float works on a fulcrum or trunnions the
arrangement where the valve on the end of the discharge pipe is worked by a lever
in the manner and for the purpose herein before described.
Thirdly. In combination with the discharge pipe outer box and float as
described the use of the valve worked by a lever to close the end of the discharge
pipe substantially as herein before described and
Fourthly. The combination of the discharge pipe outer box float and valve as
⚫ described for the purpose of returning the water of condensation from coils pipes
and other apparatus direct into the steam boiler.
Dated 6th November 1896
GEORGE GORDON PICKING.
WILLIAM HOPKINS.