AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STEAM TRAP
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No 11 Wellington Street Strand London in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STEAM TRAP" (communicated to me from abroad
by Jean Benoit Granjon of Rives in the Department of the Iserè and Republic of
France Mechanician) to be as follows :-
This invention relates to an apparatus intended to automatically trap or relieve
steam pipes and passages from the condensed steam which they contain. It is based
on the use of a metallic plate or membrane which, under the influence of the
condensed steam vibrates and opens, at intermittent and regular intervals, the
joint which it makes with the outside of the steam admission pipe for the expulsion
of the condensed steam.
I will now proceed to describe the method of using this vibrating plate and also
the simple and rational general arrangement which characterizes this improved
trapping apparatus. It is composed of a body of any suitable shape cast with a
central-tube and an elbow pipe and covered with a cap or chamber secured on the
rim or edge of the body by a bridge or bow and an adjusting screw, by a simple
screw thread, or by any other suitable means.
This cap, more or less spherical, receives upon a circular shoulder which it carries,
a thin metallic membrane secured in position by the pressure of a screw ferrel or
ring upon its entire circumference.
A hole is pierced through the centre of this membrane, and when the cap is
placed upon the body, the edge of this hole rests upon a shoulder formed on the
ends of the central tube.
In this way the capacity of the body, is separated from that formed by the cap;
this latter communicates by the central tube with a steam pipe, while that of the
body communicates with another pipe which, as will be hereinafter explained,
serves for the escape of the condensed steam.
A cock or valve of any suitable kind, situated between the steam pipe which
connects the steam trap with a steam pipe or conduit to be released of condensed
steam; and the central tube, has for function to make or break communication

page_text: between the said conduit to be releived and the trap; further it may have three
ways and possess an adjustment, it is independent of the steam trap, and a screw
thread bib or any other means serves for the connection.
In case that the cock or valve should not be used the steam pipe would be cast
with the body.
Working. Assume the steam trap which I have described fitted on steam pipe
and steam admitted by opening of the cock or valve.
The steam arrives in the receiving cap or chamber where, by reason of its elevated
temperature it expands the metallic membrane which, under the influence of the
pressure which it undergoes, comes firmly on to the shoulder of the tube and inter-
cepts all passage towards the body and consequently towards the pipe by which
the condensed steam is to escape. But when the steam is condensed, the water
which fills the cap, by reason of its temperature being less elevated than that of
the steam contracts the membrane which then vibrates with rapidity and noise,
thus breaking its joint with the shoulder on the central tube and thereby assisting
the flow towards the escape pipe.
The discharge of the condensed steam, or water, is thus produced automatically
until the relief or clearance is complete, and that the steam comes into contact with
the membrane and expands it again to obturate or close the passage..
When it is desired to inspect the membrane or to replace it by another, it is
only necessary to turn the key of the cock or valve to remove the cap either by
unscrewing it, or by releasing the fastening screw and lowering the bridge or bow
which is hinged round the body.
The working of this steam-trap is absolutely automatical, it is of extreme
simplicity and its cost price is as small as possible.
It will be understood that the forms or shapes of this trap are optional as well
as the dimensions and the materials used in fitting it.
The obturating membrane will be of metal very easily expanded, preferably of
copper; its thickness will vary according to the steam pressure; it will be fixed to
the receiving-cap or chamber so as to be easily replaced and as far as possible so as
to dispense with elastic packing.

page_text: An improved Automatic Steam Trap.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of N° 11 Wellington Street Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC STEAM TRAP (a communication from abroad by
Jean Benoit Granjon of Rives in the Department of the Iserè and Republic of
France Mechanician) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
It is
This Invention relates to an apparatus intended to automatically trap or relieve
steam pipes and passages from the condensed steam which they contain.
based on the use of a metallic plate or membrane which, under the influence of the
condensed steam vibrates and opens, at intermittent and regular intervals, the joint
which it makes with the outside of the steam admission pipe for the expulsion of
the condensed steam. Not only the method of using this vibrating plate, but also
the simple and rational general arrangement which characterizes this improved
trapping apparatus will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, to
which the following detailed description refers.
The steam trap in question shown in section Figure 1, is composed of a body A,
of any suitable shape cast with a central tube T and the elbow pipe B, and covered
with a cap or chamber D secured on the rim or edge a by a bridge or bow E and
an adjusting screw V, by a simple screw thread, or by any other suitable means.
This cap, more or less spherical, receives upon the circular shoulder b which it
carries, a thin metallic membrane M secured in position by the pressure of a screw
ferrel or ring upon its entire circumference.
A hole is pierced through the centre of this membrane, and when the cap D is
placed upon the body A, the edge of this hole rests upon the shoulder t formed on
the end of the central tube T.
In this way the capacity of the body A, is separated from that formed by the
cap; this latter communicates by the central tube T with a steam pipe B', while
that of the body A communicates with the pipe B which, as will be hereinafter
explained, serves for the escape of the condensed steam.
A cock or valve R of any suitable kind, situated between the pipe B¹ which
connects the steam trap with a steam pipe or conduit to be relieved of condensed
steam; and the central tube T, has for function to make or break communication
between the said conduit to be relieved.and the trap.
The front view of its seat, Figure 2, shows that further it may have three ways
and possess an adjustment F. This cock or valve is independent of the steam
trap; a screw thread or bib r¹ or any other means serves for the connection.
In case that the cock or valve should not be used the pipe B¹ would be cast with
the body A.
Working. Assume the steam trap which I have described fitted on a steam pipe,
and steam admitted by opening the cock or valve R.
In following the direction indicated by the arrows the steam arrives in the
receiving cap or chamber D where, by reason of its elevated temperature, it
expands the metallic membrane which, under the influence of the pressure which

page_text: it undergoes, comes firmly on to the shoulder t of the tube T and intercepts all
passage towards the body A and, consequently towards the tube B. But when the
steam is condensed, the water which fills the cap, by reason of its temperature
being less elevated than that of the steam, contracts the membrane which then
vibrates with rapidity and noise, thus breaking its joint with the shoulder t and
thereby assisting the flow towards the tube B.
The discharge of the condensed steam is thus produced automatically until the
relief or clearance is complete, and that the steam comes into contact with the
membrane and expands it again to obturate or close the passage.
When it is desired to inspect the membrane or to replace it by another, it is
only necessary to turn the key of the cock or valve R, to remove the cap either by
unscrewing it or by releasing the fastening screw V and lowring the bridge or
bow E which is hinged round the line x y of the body A.
The working of this steam trap is absolutely automatical, it is of extreme
simplicity and its cost price is as small as possible.
It will be understood that the forms or shapes of this trap are optional as well
as the dimensions and the materials used in fitting it.
The obturating membrane will be of metal very easily expanded, preferably of
copper; its thickness will vary according to the steam pressure; it will be fixed to
the receiving cap or chamber D so as to be easily replaced and as far as possible to
dispense with elastic packing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The above described automatic Steam Trap or apparatus for automatically
relieving steam pipes or passages, characterized by its general arrangement and by
the metallic obturating membrane arranged substantially in the manner and with
the object herein before set forth and illustrated on the annexed Drawing.
Dated this Seventh day of Sentember 1886