Improvements in and relating to Steam Traps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Traps.
I, JOHN MACKIE, of Crofthead, Neilston, Renfrewshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts of steam traps which will give a
periodic alternating discharge of the accumulated water and be more simple and
efficient in their action than steam traps as heretofore constructed.
According to one construction and arrangement embodying my improvements I.
use a reciprocating open float vessel within a close trap box. In the centre of the
bottom of the open-float vessel, 1 form a hole over which on the under side I joint
or rivet a short piece of tube which is closed at the bottom end thus forming a well
two or three inches deep in the centre and bottom of the float. To the ordinary
cross arms or bridge at the top of the float 1 rivet a central tube, the bottom
flanged end of which is made to dip about a quarter of an inch into the well,
openings being cut in the flange to allow the water to flow from the inside of the
float into the well. The discharge tube which is fixed to the valve case in the
cover of the trap box passes through the central tube of the float vessel and dips
to the bottom of the well when the float is at its highest level. The discharge
valve which opens inwards, is also placed in the centre of the cover of the trap box
at the top of this tube and its spindle is taken down inside the discharge pipe at
the bottom of which is an opening to admit of a cotter passing through the valve
spindle with a slight amount of motion or play in the spindle. The open float is
thus free to move vertically guided by the central tube sliding outside of the
discharge pipe and the lower end of the valve spindle guided inside the discharge
pipe by cross arms. The water is admitted to the trap box by a branch near the
top, with a fan or baffle plate to cause the water to descend and collect within
this box and raise the float vessel and shut the outlet valve until the water rises
over the top lip of the float box. Thus when water collects in the trap the float
rises and pressing against the spindle of the discharge valve closes it, the water
continuing to rise in the trap over flows into the float vessel which causes it to sink
to the bottom where the lower end of the central tube strikes against the cotter in
the valve spindle and opens the discharge valve, the water in the float is then
discharged by the steam pressure in the box and float vessel and the float thus
regaining its buoyancy immediately rises and closes the valve as before described.
The small quantity of water contained in the well at the bottom of the float serves
as a trap to enclose the steam.
Dated the 5th January 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Steam Traps.
I, JOHN MACKIE, of Crofthead, Neilston, Renfrewshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that is
to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts of steam traps which will give a
periodic alternating discharge of the accumulated water, and be more simple and
efficient in their action, than steam traps as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a steam trap as constructed in accordance
with one arrangement of my improvements.
Figure 2, is a plan view broken away corresponding to Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section as taken on the line 1-1 Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 represent detached elevations and end sections respectively
of the moving valve and valve spindle and enclosing outlet fixed tube 2, and
Figure 6 is a section through the guide spindle or tube of the float vessel B.
Referring to these drawings, I use a reciprocating open float vessel B with in a
close trap box A. In the centre of the bottom of the open-float vessel B, I form a
hole over which on the under side I joint or rivet a short piece of tube B' which
is closed at the bottom end B thus forming a "well" two or three inches deep in
the centre and bottom of the float vessel B. On the ordinary cross arms or
bridge B at the top of the float vessel B, I form or it may be rivet a central guide
tube or hollow spindle 7, the bottom flanged end of which is made to dip about
a quarter of an inch into the well B', openings being cut in the flange b' to allow
the water to flow from the inside of the float B into the well B'. The discharge
tube which is fixed to the valve case a in the cover A¹ of the trap box A passes
through the central annular tube b of the float, vessel B and dips to or near the
bottom of the well B' when the float B is at its highest level. The discharge
valve which opens inwards is also placed in the centre of the cover A¹ of the
trap box A at the top of this tube and its spindle is taken down inside
the discharge pipe at the bottom of which are openings to admit of a cotter b',
passing through the valve spindle to which it is secured by a pin, and
to give a slight amount of motion or play to the spindle and valve The
open float chamber B is thus free to move vertically guided by its central tube b
sliding outside of the discharge pipe 62, and the lower end of the valve spindle ³
is guided inside the discharge pipe by the cross cotter and pin shown in
Figure 4. The water is admitted to the trap box A, by a branch A2 near the
top, with a fan or baffle plate A" on the cover A¹ to cause the water to descend
and collect within this box A and raise the float vessel B and shut the outlet
valve 6 on its seat a' to the discharge branch and pipe A until the water rises
over the top lip of the float vessel B and overcomes its buoyancy. An ordinary
air escape tap a' is fitted in the cover A¹ for occasional use. Thus when water
collects in the trap vessel A. the float vessel B rises through a considerable space
and its lower tube eud B presses against the spindle of the discharge valve 5",
and at once closes the valve " with force against its seat a', and the water con-
tinuing to rise in the trap A over-flows into the float vessel B, and when this gets
sufficiently filled to overcome its buoyancy it immediately sinks to the bottom

page_text: where the lower end of the central tube strikes against the cotter in the
valve spindle 6 and opens the discharge valve 6". The water in the float vessel B
is then discharged up through the tube by the steam pressure in the box A and
float vessel B, as also the water in the trap A above the level of the float vessel B,
while this is descending, and the float thus regaining its buoyancy immediately
rises and closes the valve 6" as before described, and does not discharge again until
the water rises above the top of the vessel B and partially fills it, the trap thus
working intermittently discharges a considerable quantity of water at each action;
the direction of flow of the liquid being indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.
small quantity of water contained in the well B at the bottom of the float
vessel B serves as a trap to prevent escape of steam.
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of a steam
trap with outer liquid accumulating vessel and intermittent acting inner open float
vessel, which rises and quickly actuates to keep shut a separate discharge valve
while the liquid is accumulating, and immediately falls after its buoyancy has been
over-come, to operate by its descending impact, and quickly open the valve and
discharge the liquid, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in
reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In steam traps the arrangement and use of an inner open float vessel
separate from, or unattached to, but intermittently operating a liquid discharge
valve, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and by
way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a steam trap the combination comprising a float vessel with contracted
or "well" shaped lower end, and a separate discharge upward closing valve and
valve spindle within a discharge tube, substantially as and intermittently operated
in the manner and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 4th October 1892
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.