or other Liquids from Steam Vapours or Gases.
Year: 1885

page_text: or other Liquids from Steam Vapours or Gases.
We ISAAC SHIMWELL MCDOUGALL and JAMES THOMAS MCDOUGALL both of
Irk Vale, Chadderton, near Manchester in the County of Lancaster Manufacturing
Chemists and THOMAS SUGDEN of Greengate Street Oldham in the County of
Lancaster Mechanical Engineer in the employ of M'Dougall Brothers do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS
OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS FROM STEAM VAPOURS
OR GASES" to be as follows:—
This Invention has for its object to provide a strong effective simple and cheap
steam trap or apparatus for the separation of water or other liquids from steam
vapours or gases in such a manner as to effect the separation automatically the said
trap or apparatus being readily adjustable and being provided with an arrangement
for testing the apparatus whilst at work for clearing the valve and seatings of dirt
and grit and for the discharge of air.
According to the said Invention a vessel is provided in which the water
accumulates the said vessel having a fulcrum in its interior on which is mounted
horizontally a lever having at one end a solid piece of light specific gravity
which we will call a float and at the other end a solid piece of greater specific
gravity which we will call a weight both the float and the weight being adjustable
on the lever:
An equilibrium or balanced stop valve is situated in the lower part of the vessel
and is provided with a passage between the upper and lower valve for the con-
venience of outlet. The upper part of valve is connected to the horizontal lever at
the same end as that to which the float is attached. The float may be with
advantage of a material such as earthenware. This is counterbalanced by the
weight which may be for example of iron or lead. The vessel is provided with a
suitable inlet. The position of the weight and float on the horizontal lever is such
as to keep the valve on its seating when there is no water in the vessel that is the
float exerts a greater pressure downwards on the valve than the weight exerts
upwards hence when the vessel is empty of water the valve is closed.
The float and weight are so arranged that the float only is immersed in water
the weight being situated above the water level.
If steam only be admitted into the vessel the valves are not affected owing to
the pressure of the steam acting on equal and opposite surfaces. When however

page_text: water enters the vessel the upper and lower valves become immersed in water but
no action takes place until the water rises sufficiently high to nearly immerse the
float which then loses its downward force and the opposed weight raises the float
and with it the valves which then allow the water to be discharged-This continues
until the water has nearly left the float when the said float regains its power over
the weight and consequently the valve is again closed, although the valve is still
immersed in water so that the water is discharged without loss of steam.
A testing rod works through a gland or the like in the vessel the bottom part of
the rod inside the vessel when testing coming into contact with the lever or the
weight thereon for opening the valve for blowing off and by this means the valve
and seating are cleared of dirt without taking off the cover or detaching the valve
and seating. A small bracket is fixed with a stop peg and suitable holes are
provided in the test lever so that the valve may be kept open to allow the escape
of air when steam is just turned in so as to avoid excessive pressure due to
expansion of air or gases.
Although we have described the apparatus as used for the separation of water
from steam it is equally applicable for the separation of liquids from vapours as
gases generally.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
Agent for the said Isaac Shimwell M°Dougall,
James Thomas M'Dougall and Thomas Sugden.

page_text: Improvements in Steam Traps or Apparatus for Separating Water
or other Liquids from Steam Vapours or Gases.
We ISAAC SHIMWELL MCDOUGALL and JAMES THOMAS MODOUGALL both of Irk
Vale Chadderton near Manchester in the County of Lancaster manufacturing
Chemists and THOMAS SUGDEN of Greengate Street Oldham in the County of
Lancaster Mechanical Engineer in the employ of McDougall Brothers 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 has for its object to provide a strong effective simple and cheap
steam trap or apparatus for the separation of water or other liquids from steam
vapours or gases in such a manner as to effect the separation automatically, the
said trap or apparatus being readily adjustable and being provided with an arrange-
ment for testing the apparatus whilst at work for clearing the valve and seatings
of dirt and grit, and for the discharge of air.
We will describe the Invention with reference to the accompanying drawing
which represents a section of an apparatus constructed according thereto.
A is the vessel or casing in which the water accumulates the said vessel having
in its interior a fulcrum pin a³ carried by the standard a or otherwise, on which
fulcrum is mounted a lever B having at one end a piece C of light specific gravity
(and preferably solid) which we will call a float and at the other end a piece D of
greater specific gravity (which is also preferably solid) which we will call a weight
both the float and the weight are enclosed in the vessel A and are preferably
adjustable on the lever B A valve which is by preference an equilibrium or
balanced stop valve E is situated in the lower part of the vessel and is provided
with an outlet passage A' which in the case of an equilibrium valve as shown is
between the upper and lower members of. the valve for the convenience of outlet.
The valve is connected to the lever B at the same end as that to which the float C
is attached. The float C may be with advantage of a material such as earthenware.
The float is counterweighted by the weight D which may be for example of iron
or lead. The vessel A is provided with a suitable inlet A°. The position of the
weight D and float C on the lever B is such as to keep the valve E closed when
there is no water in the vessel A or when there is only a predetermined amount of
water therein that is the float exerts a greater pressure on the valve in one direction
than the weight exerts in the other direction.
The float Ĕ and weight D are preferably so arranged that the float C only is
immersed in the water in the vessel the weight D being situated above the water
level, as shewn clearly in the Drawing. If steam only be admitted into the vessel
the valve is not affected owing to the pressure of the steam acting on equal and
opposite surfaces. When however water enters the vessel A the valve E becomes
immersed in water but no action takes place until the water rises to a certain level
say sufficiently high to nearly immerse the float C, which then loses its downward
force and the opposed weight D raises the float and with it the valve E which then
allows the water to be discharged through the outlet A³. This continues until the

page_text: water has nearly left the float C when the said float regains its power over the
weight D and consequently the valve E is again closed although the valve is still
immersed in water so that the water is discharged without loss of steam.
A testing rod G works through a gland or the like in the vessel A the bottom
part g of the rod inside the vessel when testing coming into contact with the lever
or (as illustrated) the weight D thereon for opening the valve E for blowing off
and by this means the valve and seating are cleared of dirt without taking off the
cover or detaching the valve or seating. A bracket h is fixed on the casing A and
is provided with a stop peg h² and suitable holes are provided in the test rod G so
that the valve may be kept open to allow the escape of air when steam is just
turned in so as to avoid excessive pressure due to expansion of air or gases.
Although we have described the apparatus as used for the separation of water
from steam it will be evident that it is applicable for the separation of liquids from
vapours or gases generally. It will further be evident that the details may be
varied without departing from the nature of the Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is
First. In apparatus for the purposes described the combination of a vessel or
casing and a "float" and "weight" or their equivalents enclosed therein, with an
outlet valve substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In apparatus for the purpose described the testing rod G arranged and
operated substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the apparatus
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Tin 09.1 law of Fabsuonu 1002