Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, WILLIAM JEFFERY of No. 17 George Street, Bradford in the County of
York, Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
It relates to an improved method of construction followed in the production
of steam traps, by which while the cost of production is comparatively little
yet thorough efficiency in the operations of the apparatus is fully secured.
In carrying this invention into effect I employ a rectangular box having at one.
end a stuffing box through which passes the steam pipe and by which although
steam tight, it is allowed to move within it as it expands and contracts by its.
varying temperature.
This steam pipe is preferably made of copper or such metal as will have a
greater degree of expansion by heat than have the materials or substances
surrounding it as the walls and floors of the building, in which the apparatus has
to be fixed, and the opposite end of this pipe to that which slides within the
stuffing box, is fixed in the usual position on the circuit of steam pipes where traps
are mounted, and in such a manner that it (that is this end of the pipe) cannot
have, while the rectangular box before described is also fixed as to the walls or
floor of the building or is by suitable iron or other rods or bars so attached to the
outer end of the circuit of steam pipes to which the expansive pipe is secured that
it (said box) is at all times stationary relative with this part.
The loose end or that end of the expansive pipe within the box is turned or made
straight and even in order that by its pressing against a properly prepared seating
a perfectly steam tight joint is formed, thus as the expansive pipe is decreased in
length as will be the case when it contains water condensed from the steam, its
outer end recedes from its said seating sufficiently to allow this water to escape at
the opening thus formed, into the box, while when the expansive pipe is thus freed
of its water the steam from the other pipes is allowed to enter therein, by which its
temperature is increased and consequently so is its length and the latter to such an
extent as to bring its outer end against the seating above described on which the
opening is closed and the steam is prevented from escaping.
To enable the seating to recede should the expansive pipe continue to increase
its length after having closed the joint, a spring or other elastic device is
mounted at the back of said seating to allow same to recede as the end of the pipe
advances.
Provision, as a proper outlet with suitable piping attached thereto or leading
therefrom, is made in the box for the discharge or escapement of the condensed
water.

page_text: Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, WILLIAM JEFFERY of No. 17 George Street, Bradford in the County of
York, Plumber, 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, that is to say :-
It relates to an improved method of construction followed in the production of
steam traps, by which, while the cost of production is comparatively little yet
thorough efficiency in the operations of the apparatus is fully secured.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings,
Fig. 1 is sectional side elevation of apparatus made in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a top view of same with certain parts omitted so that other parts may
be more clearly seen.
Fig. 3 is end elevation of parts shown by Fig. 1 and as seen in the direction
indicated by arrow A.
Fig. 4 is a view (reduced scale) showing the method of applying my invention.
In carrying this invention into effect I employ a rectangular box a having at the
end b a stuffing box c through which passes the steam pipe d and by which box or
packed joint e the pipe d is allowed to move by expansion and contraction although
a thoroughly steam-tight joint is formed at this part.
The pipe d is preferably made of copper or such other metal as will have a
greater degree of expansion by heat than have the materials or substances
surrounding it as the walls and floors of the building in which the apparatus has to
be or is fixed, and the end d¹ of this pipe d is fixed in the usual position on the
circuit of steam pipes e where traps are usually mounted, and this fixing is
effected in such a manner that this end d' of the pipe d cannot at any time move,
while the box a is also fixed, as to the walls or floor of the building or it may be,
by suitable iron or other rods or bars being attached to the outer end of the
circuit of pipes e to which the pipe d is secured, as well as being also attached to
said box a, so held that said parts d' and a are relatively immovable.
The loose end d³ of the pipe d is turned or made straight and even in order that
by its pressing against a properly prepared seating f¹ (which is preferably formed
of the vulcanite part being placed within the cap g or other substance as
compressed leather or the like may be employed instead of this vulcanite) a
perfectly steam tight joint is formed, thus as the pipe d is decreased in length as
will be the case when it contains water condensed from the steam, its end d' recedes
from its seating as shown by Fig. 1, sufficiently to allow this water to escape at
the opening thus formed into the box a, while when the pipe d is thus freed of its
water the steam from the other pipes e is allowed to enter therein, by which its
temperature is increased and consequently so also is its length and the latter to such
an extent as to bring its outer end d² against the seating on which the opening is
closed and the steam is prevented from escaping.
To enable the cap g and its seating f to recede should the pipe d continue to
increase in length after having closed the joint, a spring h (or other elastic or
yielding device may be employed) is mounted at the back of the cap 9 preferably
by taking over the threaded or screwed shank g', to allow said seating to recede as
the end d² of the pipe d advances. By this screwed shank g₁ and nut k being
employed the resilience of the spring may be regulated as occasion may
require.
Provision is made in the box a for the discharging of the water of condensation
as may be found necessary. Such provision may be by the openings m m made in

page_text: the walls of the box a (and which are shown to be stopped by the screwed.
stoppers nn) to which a discharge pipe may be fixed or one or the other of the
stoppers n may be removed from time to time to allow such water to flow into any
suitable receptacle.
Over the box a is made to fit the lid or cover p (which is omitted from Fig. 1) in
order to protect the parts within from being tampered with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The combination in a steam-trap of an expansive pipe and yielding seating
together with means for retaining same in the relative positions described
substantially as herein specified.
2. The combination of the pipe d, the seating cap 9 spring h, nut k and box a
substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
3. The combination and arrangement of the several parts forming a steam trap
substantially as herein set forth and described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1895.
"
WILLIAM JEFFERY,
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.