Improvements in Steam Traps and similar Apparatus for Removing Water of Condensation and in Low Pressure Indicators or Alarms for Steam Boilers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 10th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps and similar Apparatus for Removing
Water of Condensation and in Low Pressure Indicators or
Alarms for Steam Boilers.
We JOHN BIDDULPH STUBBS of 52 Greenhill Street Greenheys in the City of
Manchester Engineer and JOHN EDWARD THORNTON of New Lorne Street, Moss
Side, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer of Photographic Apparatus
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the improvements is to decrease the cumbersome length of expansion
steam traps and water ejectors, by employing an expansive coil, or coils of any
suitable form, thus dispensing with a great amount of the iron or other metal casing,
rods, bracing frames, and the like, customarily used, thereby gaining a greater lift of
the valve, and forming a neat and more compact steam trap to expel condensed steam
from high and low-pressure steam engine cylinders, steain chests, steam jacketings,
steam presses, steam piping, steam hammers, steam stoves, steam coils; drying
cylinders; and steam pans for sugar, preserving, chemical and other uses; wool
dryers, combing, dressing, tentering and other machines; from balloons for drying
purposes, tobacco ovens, and from any other vessel where it is desirable to expel
condensed steam or water from active steam.
The improvements are applicable also to steam boilers and other steam generators,
of any typo, as a low-pressure steam indicator or alarm, to blow off at a previously
arranged low-pressure of steam, to give the attendant in charge, warning of a
deficiency in the working pressure of steam.
To accomplish this, and to effect my improvements, I employ a solid or hollow coil,
or more than one coil, of the spiral, "worm, or any other suitable form of coil,
perforated or not, composed of copper, brass, steel, iron, or other metal, or combina-
tion of metals, the same being suitably attached inside an iron or other metal casing
of the tubular or other form. At one end of the aforesaid coil or coils is formed a
suitable ball and socket joint, attached thereto is a valve which is made capable of
bearing upon a seating fitted to the casing, by which means the escape or outlet is
completely closed when the coil or coils becomes expanded by the temperature of the

page_text: steam, the coil or coils being adjusted in proper position by means of a screwed
attachment or continuation which passes through the casing, spindle and stuffing box,
and set at a previously determined point by a hand lock wheel screwed down to the
gland cap, and by encasement of the same, so that it can be locked up to prevent
unauthorized tampering with the apparatus. A suitable inlet is provided for steam,
which entirely surrounds the coil or coils.
As condensation of the steam is taking place the heat of the coil or coils is
decreasing, causing the same to contract, and so lifting the valve from its seating
allows the water to be expelled at the consequent opening. As the water is emptying,
the steam gradually coming again in contact with the coil or coils increases the
temperature of the same, thus causing the necessary expansion to shut the valve again,
as soon as the condensed steam or water has been expelled.
I am aware the principle of expansion has already been applied for this purpose,
but not in the form of a coil or coils, this invention is entirely distinct from any which
have preceded, it for the purpose substantially as set forth.
The spindle stuffing box and casing may be cast in one piece.
I also form the valve box of the steam trap with a suitable sediment receiver, and
stop valve for cleansing the same.
I also attach a suitable whistle to the outlet of the low-pressure steam indicator ;
and 1 employ an expansive rod, or rods, straight, coiled or any other suitable form,
(for the low-pressure steam indicator only).
The inlet may be direct into the expansive hollow coil, by forming the same, so
that it may be suitably attached at one end to the casing itself, and a suitable seating
fitted to the outlet end of the coil, and the opening and closing of the escape,
actuated by means of a combination screwed continuation, ball and socket joint, and
valve, suitably attached and adjusted in proper position.
Instead of the coil being attached inside an iron or other metal casing, it may be
attached outside, by slight modifications of the mechanism employed.
Or the coil may be constructed without an iron or other metal casing, by employing
a bracing frame, rods, or the like; or in any other similar manner.
Variations in detail may be made without departing from the peculiar character of
the invention which chiefly consists in the employment of any suitable form of
expansive coil or coils to govern a valve or valves through suitable mechanism for the
purpose of expelling condensed steam or water from active steam, as described.
But, the low-pressure steam indicator mainly consists in the application of an
expansive rod, or rods, straight, coiled, or any other suitable form, to control a valve
or valves, through suitable mechanism for the purpose of giving warning of a
deficiency in the pressure of steam, as described.
Dated this Eighth day of January 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Steam Traps and similar Apparatus for Removing
Water of Condensation and in Low Pressure Indicators or
Alarms for Steam Boilers.
We, JOHN BIDDULPH STUBBS of 52 Greenhill Street in the City of Manchester
Engineer and JOHN EDWARD THORNTON of New Lorne Street, Moss Side, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Manufacturer of Photographic Apparatus 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:-
of
This invention relates to the use of a hollow or solid metallic or other coil or coils
any
suitable form, either enclosed in a case into which steam is admitted or the coil
or coils constructed without a case and in lieu thereof employing a bracing frame, rods,
or the like, the steam being caused to pass through said coil or coils: The length of
the coil or coils is effected in a greater or less degree according to the temperaturo at
which the steam is permitted to pass through either the case containing the coils or the
coils themselves, by which means the said coil or coils are more or less expanded, and
act on the valve through which steam is admitted. The object of this invention is to
obtain quicker results by the action of heat on an increased length of tube or rod
contained within shorter or less space than can be occupied when a straight rod or bar
is employed for the same purpose also by these means obtaining a greater lift of valve
and decreasing the length of casing, bracing frames, rods and the like, in expansion
steam traps and water ejectors, such as are used to expel condensed steam from high
and low pressure steam engine cylinders, steam chests, steam jacketings, steam presses,
steam pipes, steam haminers drying cylinders, steam pans for sugar, chemicals and all
other uses where it is desirable to expel condensed steam or water from active steam,
or returning water to boiler, and to which this invention is applicable; also as a low
pressure steam indicator or aların to blow off at a previously arranged pressure of
steam, to give the attendant in charge warning of a deficiency in the working pressure
of steam.
In order more clearly to describe this invention we have annexed hereunto a sheet
of drawings in the several views illustrated therein similar letters refer to similar
parts: Fig. 1. represents this invention applied within a case into which steam is
admitted, the case a only being shown in section. Fig. 2. is a transverso section of
the same construction.
In these views the coil m is shown formed hollow: One end of coil is attached or
fitted into a plate o which is secured to end of tubular case a by sediment receiver b
being screwed thereto; on the opposite end of coil m rests the valve seat which is
retained in a central position by a sliding guide plate l, the valve p is connected to an
adjusting screw by means of a ball and socket joint k. The coil m is adjusted in
proper position by means of the adjusting screw the spindle of which passes through
a stuffing box and terminates in a hand wheel g. The lower part of spindle h' rests
in the square termination of the ball cap which slides vertically in the guide a¹
formed on case a.
By these means the escape or outlet valve p is completely closed when the coil m is
expanded by the temperature of the steam. As condensation of the steam is taking
place the heat of the coil m is decreasing and consequently contracts the length of said
coil; the valve p is thus left open and the water expelled. As the water is driven out
the heat of the steam increases and gradually expands the coil thus again closing the
valve. In these views c is the inlet and d the outlet. The wheel g can be enclosed in

page_text: cape which may be locked up to prevent unauthorized tampering with the apparatus.
In the herein above description of Figs. 1 and 2 the steam is represented as passing
through the coil m.
The coil m may however if preferred be made solid, or if hollow formed with
perforations and the steam admitted to the case a so as to act either externally on said
coil, or both externally and internally: Fig. 3 shows transverse section of a case in
which this invention is represented applied so as to act on a lever and by theso means
open or close the valve: The upper end of coil m is suspended by means of a ball
and socket joint to the adjusting screw hand spindle hand is set by means of the
wheel g so that the lower end of said coil acts on one end of lever p': The lover p¹ is
fulcrumed at 2, the end p being inserted in a slot p which is forined in valve
spindle p. When the coil m is expanded by increased temperature of steam, the
end m¹ comes in contact with the short end of lever pl which causes the opposite
end p of lever to rise and thus close the valve: In this view the coil in is shown
hollow and perforated but may be formed solid if preferred. In this view c is the
inlet and d the outlet. .
Fig. 4. shows side and edge view of modified form of coiled rod or tube the same
being constructed so as to occupy a flat space.
:
Fig. 5 represents two coils interwoven and in a similar way a greater number of
coiled tubes or rods may be employed Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are modified forms of coiled
tubes, rods or bars: For the purpose of said expansion coiled bars or tubes herein
before described being used as a low pressure steam indicator, we attach a whistlo d'
or other form of alarm to the outlet d: We are aware that the principle of expansion
of metal bars, tubes or rods has been applied in various ways to effect the purposo
herein above set forth but not in the form of a coil or other irregular shape, nor has
it been applied in any form as a low pressure steam indicator or alarm to control a
valvo or valves for the purpose of giving warning of a deficiency in the pressure of
steam.
The several views herein above described are only intended to illustrate how this
invention may be applied as we do not confine ourselves to the precise form of case
or coils shown on drawings, but having now particularly described and ascertained
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
we declare that what we claim is
1st. In combination with any case or other construction employed for the purpose
of expelling condensed steam or water from active steam, or for returning water to
boiler, the use of one or more expansive bars, tubes or rods that are bent or formed
in a coil or in any irregular shape, in order that a greater length of bar, tube, or rod
may be contained in any given space than could be so contained when a straight bar,
tübe, or rod is employed, substantially as herein before described.
2nd. In a low pressure steam indicator the use of one or more expansive coils, or
other form of rod or tube for the purpose of giving warning of a deficiency in the
pressure of steam substantially as herein before described.
3rd. In combination with any bar, rod or tube employed expansively for the
purposes herein before described the use of a ball and socket joint for adjusting
said rods.
11.
4th. In combination with any bar rod or tube employed to act expansively for the
purposes herein before described, the use of a cover to protect adjusting screw from
unauthorized tampering.
二