Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I DONALD BARNS MORISON of Hartlepool Engine Works Hartlepool in the
County of Durham, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
My invention relates to steam traps in which the accumulated water is discharged
periodically through a valve actuated by a float, suitable provision being made for
the periodical discharge of air if connected to steam jackets of cylinders, or any
apparatus where the discharge of air is essential.
A trap with an open float which actuates the discharge valve or valves is
constructed as follows:
The vessel or outer casing is suitably formed and provided with a cover for
giving access to the interior; within is the float which is open at the top and is
guided on a central vertical tube which forms the discharge, the upper end of
which is horizontal and attached to the side or sides of the outer vessel. At the
lower end of the vertical portion of the discharge tube is a port or opening provided
with a valve the port being preferably of a form which gives a diminishing area at
its ends.
.
The valve is attached to a lever working on the horizontal portion of the tube
When water
an attachment also being made between the float and the lever.
accumulates in the vessel it overflows into the float which gradually loses its
buoyancy and sinks to the bottom of the vessel, thus opening the valve and allowing
the water to discharge. The float on being emptied regains its buoyancy and closes
the valve.
When arranged for the intermittent discharge of air, a port is formed on a
portion of the discharge tube, above the high water level, which is opened and
Provision may be
closed by the before described lever or other suitable means.
made in the outer casing whereby the float can be raised and lowered in order to
test the efficiency of the apparatus. In order that the periodical discharge of
water may be seen a short tube of glass is suitably fixed on the exterior of the
vessel, means being provided for cleaning or replacing it when required.
In order to obtain the intermittent discharge of water or air or both in an
apparatus with a closed float of small dimensions I utilize the float in order to
open and close the valve of a small steam cylinder by means of which the discharge
valve is opened and closed at intervals.
One or more traps may be contained in one outer casing.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON, of Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool in the
County of Durham, 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 :-
My invention relates to a construction of steam trap in which the accumulated
water is discharged periodically through a valve actuated by a float, suitable
5 provision being made for the periodical discharge of air when necessary, as for

page_text: •
example when the steam trap is connected to the steam jackets of cylinders or
other apparatus where the discharge of air is essential or advantageous.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to explain
the same by aid of the accompanying illustrative drawings in which
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations at right angles to each other of a steam
trap constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 1 also showing an arrangement for the periodical discharge of air.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but without such an arrangement.
Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive are detail views to a larger scale showing various parts of
the steam trap.
.
1 is a vessel or outer casing (hereinafter referred to as the casing) provided
with a cover 2. 3 is a float consisting of a cup-shaped sheet metal vessel open at
the top and provided with brackets 4, 4 by which it is guided on a central vertical.
tube 5 which also forms the discharge passage. The upper end of this tube 5 is
horizontal and is attached to the side of the casing 1 by a flange 6 or by any other
suitable means.
On the outside of the casing and in communication with the
tube 5 is a flange or coupling 7 to which is connected the discharge pipe for
conveying away the water expelled from the trap. Near the lower end of the
discharge tube 5 and at the side thereof is formed a port or opening 8 preferably
having a diminishing area at its two ends as shown in Fig. 7.
This port or opening 8 is controlled by a valve 9 arranged to work on a face 10
by means of a rod 11, one end of which is connected to the valve 9 and the other
end to one arm of a lever 12 which works on a pin 12ª carried by the horizontal
portion of the discharge tube 5 and the other arm of which is connected to the
float 3 by means of a link. 13. The lengths of the two arms of the lever 12 are
preferably unequal and so proportioned that the stroke of the valve is small
relatively to the rise or fall of the float. By this arrangement the power required
to open and close the valve 9 is obtained with a minimum size of float, whether of
the open or closed type. 14 is an adjustable projection or stop fitted at the bottom
of the vessel and by means of which the extent of fall of the float can be regulated.
Water enters the casing through a connection or coupling 15 and opening 16
opposite which is arranged a baffle plate 17 for directing the inflowing water to the
bottom of the casing 1. To enable this baffle plate to be easily removed for
cleaning purposes, it may advantageously be constructed with projections a¹ as
shown in front elevation, plan and end elevation in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 respectively,
these projections being arranged to fit into recesses formed in the casing i and into
which they are normally held by the cover 2. 18 is a gauge glass fixed on the
exterior of the casing but in communication with the interior thereof so that the
periodical discharge of water can be readily observed.. The lower cock 20 of this
gauge is connected with the lowest part of the casing by a channel 19 so that any
accumulation of deposit which may take place at the bottom of the casing can be
easily expelled. Anair cock 21 may be attached to the cover 2 for the purpose
of extracting air before starting the apparatus.
To provide for the intermittent discharge of air, a port or passage 22 is formed
when necessary, in the upper end of the discharge tube 5 as shown in Figs. 178
and 10. This port or opening which is arranged at a point above the highest
water level and is adapted to place the interior of the upper part of the said tube
in communication with the interior of the casing 1 is controlled by the lever 12
which is pressed against the end of the tube 5 by a spring 24 and is formed
with a corresponding port or passage 23, the arrangement being such that the
opening and closing of the port or passage 22 depends upon the position of the
said lever 12.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Water of condensation enters the casing 1 through the opening 16 and falls to
the bottom of the casing upon which the float rests when in its lowest position as
shown in Fig. 2. As the level of the water rises in the casing, the float is
gradually lifted into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which position it

page_text: remains until the water flows over its upper edge whereupon it loses its buoyancy
and sinks to the bottom of the vessel. The float by this downward movement
operates the lever 12 in such a manner as to raise the valve 9 and uncover the
port 8 through which and the tube the water is then discharged. When the
Hoat is emptied and again rises, the lever 12 is operated in the reverse manner so
as to close the valve 9 and keep it closed until a sufficient quantity of water has
again entered the float.
When the steam trap is constructed to admit of an intermittent discharge of air
therefrom, the port or passage 23 in the lever 12 can be so arranged that the port
or passage 22 will be opened and closed at any predetermined part of the upward
and downward stroke of the float.
As will be obvious two or more floats, with discharge tubes and controlling
valves arranged and operating as hereinbefore described may be enclosed in one
casing adapted to receive them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A steam trap in which the accumulated water of condensation is discharged
periodically by means of a valve actuated by a float through a lever and rods
substantially as described and shown.
2. A steam trap in which the accumulated air is discharged periodically
through a passage controlled by a lever actuated by a float substantially as
described and shown.
3. A steam trap constructed arranged and operating substantially as described
and shown whether or not the discharge tube 5 be provided with an air exit
passage 22 controlled by the lever 12 as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of April 1893
W. Lloyd Wise,
D. B. MORISON.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.