Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, JOIN EDWARD SLACK, of Chester Road, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the present construction of steam traps with hollow or solid floats there
is a considerable disturbance of the water in the traps due to the rising and
sinking of the floats and consequently a strain is set up in the working parts
and the frequent upward and downward movement of the floats due to the
least rise and fall of the water causes wear necessitating the frequent renewal
of the valve parts connected with the trap outlet.
This invention consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with a hollow
float which is retained entirely under the surface of the water in the trap
(whereby the level of the float is not altered by the rising and falling of the
water in the trap) the outlet of the float being out of contact with the water
in the trap and the inlet to the float at some distance above its body so that a
considerable body of water must accumulate in the trap before it enters the
float thereby obtaining a lengthy period of rest between the opening and closing
and the closing and opening again of the outlet valve.
I employ and fix under the trap a hollow float preferably of cylindrical shape
having a small opening both at the bottom and the top the former serving as
outlet and the latter as inlet. To the outlet end I attach a pipe or tube and
the outlet end of this pipe or tube I connect up with a swivel valve or cock
which serves as the outlet from the float. The said pipe or tube is of sufficient
length to provide ample leverage for the opening and closing of the valve or
cock.
At the inlet end to the float I attach another pipe or tube which extends
nearly to the top of the trap and is open at both ends for the inlet of water from
the trap. The water enters the top of this pipe or tube and thus the trap has
to become nearly full before the water overflows into the float.
The float when empty is buoyed up by the water surrounding it in the trap
and in this position the outlet valve or cock remains closed gradually water
accumulates in the trap and in moving the tap it overflows down the upper
pipe or tube and fills the float which with it increased weight sinks; this sinking
of the float causes the valve or cock to open and the latter remains open until
the float is nearly emptied, the water in the trap having lowered down to the
level to which the top of the inlet pipe or tube has descended. The float then
rises and closes the valve or cock and before the latter again opens water must
accumulate in the trap until it has risen to the top and over-flowed into the
float.
The float being always under water and having a direct discharge outlet inde-
pendent of the water in the trap prevents the disturbing of the water level in
the trap and so ensures the proper closing of the outlet valve and gives
steadiness to the movement of the float.

page_text: The float is also always subject to the, same pressure internally and externally
and although always under water only commences to fill with water at lengthened
intervals discharging the water from the trap periodically thereby considerably
reducing wear and tear.
Dated this 12th day of October 1899.
WM. P., THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, JOHN EDWARD STACK, of Chester Road, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical 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:-
In the present construction of steam traps with hollow or solid floats there
is a considerable disturbance and displacement of the water in the traps due to
the rising and sinking of the floats and consequently a strain is set up in the
working parts and the frequent upward and downward movement of the float
due to the least rise and fall of the water causes wear necessitating the frequent
renewal of the valve parts connected with the trap-outlet.
.
This invention consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with a hollow
float which is retained entirely under the surface of the water in the trap
(whereby the level of the water is not altered by the rising and falling of the
float in the trap) the outlet of the float being out of contact with the water
in the trap and the inlet to the float at some distance above its body so that a
considerable body of water must accumulate in the trap before it enters the
float thereby obtaining a lengthy period of rest between the opening and closing
and the closing and opening again of the outlet valve.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation.
Fig. 3. Plan.
The trap-casing A is made of any convenient size and shape preferably of the
shape shown with a steam inlet pipe B and a water outlet pipe C.
Inside the trap I fix a hollow float D preferably of cylindrical shape with a
small inlet aperture at the top and an outlet aperture at the bottom.
To the outlet aperture I attach a pipe or tube E which is connected with
a swivel valve or cock F attached to the outlet pipe C. This valve F serves
as an outlet valve for the float and the pipe or tube E is of sufficient length
to provide ample leverage coupled with the weight or buoyancy of the float D
to open and close the valve.
To the inlet aperture d another tube or pipe G is attached which extends
nearly to the top of the trap and is open at the end to admit water from the
top to the interior of the hollow float D. The trap has therefore to be nearly
full of water before the water flows into the float.
The float D when empty is buoyed up by the water surrounding it in the trap
and in this position the outlet valve or cock F remains closed. The water
gradually accumulates in the trap and on nearing the top it overflows down the
upper pipe or tube G and fills the float I which on account of the increased
weight sinks to the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2. The sinking of the
float opens the valve or cock F and the latter remains open until the float is

page_text: nearly emptied. The water in the trap has at the same time been lowered down
to the level to which the top of the inlet pipe or tube has descended. The float D
then rises and closes the valve or cock F and before the latter again opens
water must accumulate in the trap until it has risen to the top and filled the
float.
The float D being always under water and having a direct discharge outlet </¹
independent of the water in the trap the disturbing of the water level in the
trap is prevented and the proper closing of the outlet valve ensured and also
a steadiness of movement to the float.
The float is also always subject to the same pressure internally and externally
and although always under water only commences to fill with water at lengthened
intervals discharging the water from the trap periodically thereby considerably
reducing wear and tear.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A steam trap constructed with a hollow float which is retained under the
surface of the water in the trap and provided with an outlet aperture and valve
and an inlet aperture and pipe extending to the top, of the trap to permit of
a considerable body of water accumulating inside the trap and ensure a con-
siderable interval between one period of emptying and another substantially as
described.
2. A steam trap constructed with a hollow float wholly submerged, an inlet
pipe attached to top of the float by which it is filled and an outlet pipe and
Swivel valve by which the water is discharged substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A steam trap having the several parts constructed and arranged in com-
bination substantially as described and shown.
בד
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, London and Birmingham, Patent Agents.