AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PURGING OR RELIEF COCK OR APPARATUS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1878. A communication
from abroad by Pierre Schrabb and Auguste Terrien, both of Paris, France.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PURGING OR RELIEF
COCK OR APPARATUS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES." A communication from
abroad by Pierre Schrabb and Auguste Terrien, both of Paris, France.
The object of the very simple apparatus, the subject of this Invention, is to let
out automatically the water which forms by condensation in the cylinders of steam
engines, in apparatuses heating by steam, and others.
It may also effect a similar purpose in gas, air, and other conduits, whenever it
is desired to obtain the discharge of a liquid automatically.
In steam engines this apparatus is screwed in the place of the actual pet or
purge cock, which is worked by hand and absolutely prevents the accidents
occasioned by neglect of this manoeuver when the cock remains closed, as also the
overcharge of the machine when the water cannot issue freely during the working;
further, it prevents the waste of steam which takes place when the ordinary cock
remains open too long.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing shows an apparatus embodying this
Invention.
Figure 1 representing a section at E, F, Fig. 3.
Figure 2, a section at C, D, Fig. 3, and
Figure 3, a section at A, B, Fig. 1, and a bottom view of the apparatus.
a indicates a piece made of bronze or gun metal, screw tapped at both ends, and
the end a of which screws on to the cylinder; it is pierced with two channels b
and c, the channel b communicating with the cylinder and terminating in the
annular groove or recess 6¹.
The channel c starts from the centre c¹ of the apparatus and leads outside; d is
a washer, hermetically closing the openings 61 and c like an ordinary valve; e is a
cap screwed on to the piece a, and hermetically closing the space in which the
Pri A1

page_text: washer d plays. Assuming this apparatus to be screwed on to a steam engine, and
the engine at rest, the washer d falls by its weight to the bottom of the cap, air
may re-enter the cylinder, and the condensed water runs out.
Directly the steam-cock of the engine is opened the air shut in the conduits and
the cylinder escapes freely, the steam drives all the water before it to the outside,
and directly the dry steam arrives it causes the washer d to rise and come against
b', c', so as to permit nothing more to issue, excepting the water, which oozes drop by
drop according to the condensation that takes place in the working of the engine.
The water condensed during the working issues freely without loss of steam.
The steam shut in the cap e cools by degrees in consequence of the introduction
of a few drops of water which lodge in it, and when it is full the apparatus opens
entirely.
In condensing engines the channel c communicates with the condenser.
To ensure proper working the flanges of the orifices 6¹ and c¹, and the washer d,
should be well prepared and carefully fitted to each other; the washer & may be of
any shape ordinarily used in valves, preference is however given to the shape shown
on the Drawing as being the most convenient.
The orifices b¹, c¹, may be arranged as shown, Figs. 4, 5, and 6; this arrange-
ment is most suitable for gas engines, it goes well with steam; but for steam,
preference is given to the arrangement first described.