An Improved Trap for Condensed Steam or Water.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan.. 1896-Accepted, 22nd Feb.. 1896
An Improved Trap for Condensed Steam or Water.
I, GEORGE FLETCHER, of Masson and Atlas Works, Litchurch, Derby, in the
County of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved condensed steam or water trap.
According to my invention I form the trap of a closed vessel with inlet for the
steam and water and a discharge valve for the outlet of the same. The discharge
valve is preferably of the kind known as the equilibrium and it is controlled by a
float preferably of stone or a like substance, the weight of the said float being
partially counter-balanced by suitable counterpoises arranged at the ends of
pivotted levers, the other ends of which bear against a collar or flange on a spindle
passing through and supporting the float.
A thoroughfare spindle is provided which passes through the crap and is
furnished with a hand-lever outside the trap and a lever inside the trap adapted to
act on the valve spindle by means of which the discharge valve may be raised and
lowered if it should become stuck in its seat.
By this arrangement so long as there is a certain quantity of water in the trap,
the float will be raised and the valve opened for discharging but when the water
falls below a certain level in the box the float drops and the valve closes and
prevents the escape of any steam.
When my improved trap is used in conjunction with a multiple effect it will only
be used for taking coudensed water from the first steam drum, a pump or a
combination of a pump and a trap being used for taking the water from the
remaining drums.
Dated the with
A1005
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Trap for Condensed Steam or Water.
1, GEORGE FLETCHER, of Masson and Atlas Works, Litchurch, Derby, in the
County of Derby, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved condensed steam or water trap.
According to my invention I form the trap of a closed vessel or casing with an
inlet for the steam and water and a discharge valve for the outlet of the water.
The discharge valve is preferably of the kind known as the equilibrium and it is
controlled by a float preferably of stone or a like substance, the weight of the said
float being partially counterbalanced by suitable counterpoises arranged at the ends
of pivoted levers, the other ends of which bear against a collar or Hange on a
spindle passing through and supporting the float.

page_text: A thoroughfare spindle is provided which passes into the trap and is furnished
with a hand lever outside the trap and a lever inside the trap, adapted to act on
the valve-spindle, by means of which the discharge valve may be raised and
lowered if it should become stuck in its seat.
Instead of the thoroughfare spindle I may provide a spindle connected directly
to the valve spindle and passing through the cover of the trap. The said spindle
is provided with a handle outside the trap whereby the valve spindle may be raised
when desired.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a steam trap constructed according to my
invention; and,
Figure 2 is a plan of the trap with the cover and certain parts removed :
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 shewing the modified arrangement for
lifting the valve when stuck in its seat:
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4, Figure 3:
Figure 5 is a plan of the modified form of trap with the cover and certain parts
removed.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts in the several
figures.
a is the closed vessel or casing, a¹ the cover of the same, b the inlet for steam
and water, and c the outlet for the water. d is the discharge valve which regulates
the escape of the water of condensation, the said valve being of the kind known as
the equilibrium valve. e is. the valve spindle supported at its upper end in a
central bearing f in a support 9 which rests on a ledge in the vessel a as seen
clearly in Figures 1.and 3.
is the weight, of stone or other suitable substance, supported by the valve
spindle e. jjj are the counterpoises arranged on the ends of the levers k, k, k.
Each of the levers k is pivoted in a bracket / resting on the support g.and the free
end of the same presses on the underside of a .collar m on the valve spindle e in
such a manner that the three counterpoises together partially counterbalance the
weight of the float i.
n, Figures 1 and 2, is the thoroughfare spindle passing into the trap, and o is the
hand lever outside the trap for operating the same. p is the lever or arm inside
the trap, the said arm being adapted, when the thoroughfare spindle n is rotated,
to press on the underside of a collar g on the valve spindle e so as to lift the valve d
should it become stuck in its seat.
r, Figures 3, 4 and 5, is the spindle used instead of the thoroughfare spindle n,
the said spindle r.being attached to the valve spindle e by means of a sliding joint s
so as to allow the float to rise and fall without moving the spindle r. The spindler
passes through a stuffing-box t in the cover a¹ of the trap and is provided on the
outside of the same with a handle u for raising the valve spindle e should the
valve become stuck in its seat.
vis a plate acting as a stop to prevent the spindler. from falling too low and
keeping the discharge valve d closed as indicated clearly in Figure 4.
It will be obvious that so long as there is a certain quantity of water in the trap,
the float will be raised and the valve opened for discharging but when the water
falls below a certain level in.the box, the float drops.and the valve closes. and
prevents the escape of any steam.
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 I
claim.is:-
1. A trap for condensed steam or water having an inlet.for the steam, an outlet
for the water closed by a valve the spindle of which carries a partially counter-
balanced float, and means for lifting the valve when it becomes.stuck.in its seat
substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The improved trap for condensed water or steam hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved trap for condensed water or steam herein before described and.
illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of January 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant..