Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May,
1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1836
CHARLES HERBERT Mechanical Engineer of 35 Queen Victoria Street
London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to an apparatus generally known as a steam trap and is
generally used for the purpose of automatically discharging water from steam pipes
or other vessels containing steam and comprises improvements in the construction
and arrangement of the parts of such apparatus whereby water present in steam
pipes or other steam vessels may be discharged automatically (without loss of
steam) in a more effectual manner than heretofore.
The apparatus for this purpose according to this invention comprises a vertical
cylindrical casing with a top cover bolted on.
The inlet for steain or water entering
through the top cover is directed so that the condensed water is delivered to run
down the interior surfaces of the aforesaid cylindrical casing. There is a vertical
cylindrical hollow metal float open at the top and free to move vertically inside the
casing, the vertical movement of which is communicated through a lever and
connecting link to a discharge valve situated at the entrance of the discharge pipe,
the said discharge pipe and valve project from the top cover as far as possible down
into the hollow float, so that the discharge valve is more or less immersed in the
water contained in the hollow float.
The action of the apparatus is as follows;-From the steam piping or vessels
which require draining of water a connection is made to the inlet of the apparatus
so that the water will flow into the apparatus of its own gravity, and filling the
casing at once commences to raise the hollow float and by means of the lever &
connecting link closes the discharge valve. The hollow float (being now in its
highest position) ultimately becomes partly filled with water and commences to
siuk by its own gravity and in so doing communicates its motion through the lever
and connecting link to open the discharge valve. The pressure of the steam then
discharges the water from the hollow float through the discharge valve and pipe
until the hollow float commences to rise by its own buoyancy and again closes the
discharge valve.
These operations are repeated so long as there is water flowing into the
apparatus.
Dated this 16th day of May 1895
Improvements in Steam Traps.
CHARLES HERBERT Mechanical Engineer of 35 Queen Victoria Street
London E.C. 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 an apparatus generally known as a steam trap & is
generally used for the purpose of automatically discharging water from steam pipes
or other vessels containing steam & comprises improvements in the construction &

page_text: arrangement of such apparatus whereby water present in steam pipes & other
steam vessels may be discharged automatically (without loss of steam) in a more
effectual manner than heretofore.
The apparatus for this purpose according to this invention comprises a vertical
cylindrical casing with a top cover bolted on. The inlet for steam & water entering
through the top cover is directed so that the water is delivered to run down the
interior surface of the aforesaid cylindrical casing. There is a vertical cylindrical
hollow metal float open at the top & free to move vertically inside the casing, the
vertical movement of which is communicated through a lever and connecting link
to a discharge valve situated at the entrance to the discharge pipe, the said
discharge pipe projects from the top cover as far as possible down into the hollow
float so that the discharge valve is more or less immersed in the water contained in
the hollow float.
This invention will be more fully understood by reference to the letters on the
accompanying drawing which shews a sectional elevation of the apparatus:-
A is the vertical cylindrical casing on which the top cover B is bolted, C is the
inlet through the said top cover, D is the vertical cylindrical hollow metal float
connecting to the lever E, F is the connecting link (dotted in the drawing)
communicating to the discharge valve G, H is the discharge pipe, I is the outlet
through the top cover.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-From the steam piping or vessels
which require draining of water a connection is made to the inlet C so that the
water will flow into the apparatus of its own gravity & filling the casing A at once
commences to raise the hollow float D & by means of the lever E & connecting
link F closes the discharge valve G. The hollow float D being now in its highest
position ultimately commences to fill with water & then sinks by its own gravity
& in so doing cominunicates its motion through the lever E & connecting link F to
open the discharge valve G. The pressure of the steam then discharges the water
from the hollow float D through the discharge valve G & pipe H until the hollow
float D commences to rise by its own buoyancy & so closes the discharge valve G.
These operations automatically repeat so long as there is water flowing into the
apparatus.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a steam trap having a discharge pipe projecting downwards into a hollow
float the placing of such discharge pipe in a vertical position away from the centre
of the hollow float so as to allow for introducing a lever connection, substantially
as described.
2. In a steam trap having a discharge pipe projecting downwards into a hollow
float the employment of a lever communicating the motion of the hollow float to
the discharge valve, substantially as described.
3. In a steam trap having a discharge pipe projecting downwards into a hollow
float the employment of connecting links connecting the lever with the discharge
valve, in the manner substantially as & for the purposes described.
4. The combination of the hollow float D, the lever E, the connecting link F,
the discharge valve G, & the discharge pipe H.
Dated this 28th day of January 1896.
CHARLES HERBERT.