IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISCHARGING WATER OR OTHER LIQUID FROM PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald McLaren, of Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISCHARGING WATER OR
OTHER LIQUID FROM PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM."
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 15th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald McLaren at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1876.
"
ARCHIBALD MOLAREN, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
DISCHARGING WATER OR OTHER LIQUID FROM PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING
STEAM."
This Invention has for its object to construct steam traps or apparatus for
automatically discharging water or other liquid froin pipes or vessels in an improved
manner, so as to suit any pressure and not be liable to get out of order.
The improved apparatus comprises a box or vessel to be attached to the pipe or
other vessel, so that the liquid to be discharged may descend into it. A discharge
pipe from the box has fitted in connection with it an equilibrium or double-beat
valve, the rod of which passes out through a stuffing box, and is connected to a
lever to which there is also connected a second rod, passing through a stuffing box
into the box and having attached to it a float made of fire brick or other suitable
material. A weight is fixed adjustably on the lever to partly counterbalance the
weight of the float, and when the liquid accumulates in the box above a certain
extent it by buoying up the float causes it through the lever to open. the valve or
valves. As the liquid is discharged the float descends and closes the valve or valves
again before the liquid in the box becomes low enough to uncover the outlet orifice
leading to the valve or valves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Archibald McLaren in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
September 1876.
ARCHIBALD MCLAREN, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
DISCHARGING WATER OR OTHER LIQUID FROM PIPES OR VESSELS CONTAINING
STEAM."
My said Invention has for its object to construct steam traps or apparatus for
automatically discharging water or other liquid from pipes or vessels in an improved
manner, so as to suit any-pressure and not be liable to get out of order.
My improved apparatus comprises a box or vessel to be attached to the pipe or
other vessel, so that the liquid to be discharged may descend into it. A discharge
pipe from the box has fitted in connection with it an equilibrum or double-beat
valve, the rod of which is connected to a lever, to which there is connected a second
rod passing into the box and having a float attached to it. A weight fixed
adjustably on the lever partly counterbalances the. weight of the float.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the samo
may be properly understood, I hereunto append an explanatory Drawing to be
herein-after referred to, and representing a modification of my improved steam
trap.
The improved apparatus, which is shown. in longitudinal vertical section in the
Drawing, comprises a closed cast iron box or vessel 1, into which the water to be
discharged descends by a pipe 2, shown as fixed into the cover 3 of the box, but
which might be fixed into the upper part of the side of the box if preferred. The
outlet for the water is by a flanged branch pipe 4 fixed to the box, and which is
formed on a vertical valve box 5 containing an equilibrium or. double-beat pair of
conical valves, 6, 7, past which when they are open the water flows by two ducts
8, 9, to a discharging nozzle 10. The seats for the valves 6, 7, are formed in the
valve box 5, and the valves 6, 7, which open downwards, are entered through the
lower end of the valve box, which has a removable bottom 11, the lower valvo
seat being made large enough for the introduction through it of the upper valve 6.
The upper valve 6 is fast on the valve spindle 12, but the lower valve 7 is
adjustable, the lower part of the spindle 12 being screwed and screw nuts are
applied above and below to fix the disc accurately and so that the two valves 6, 7,
may simultaneously close up against their valve seats. The valve rod or spindle
12 passes out through a stuffing box 13 at the top of the valve box 5, and is
connected by a tubular spindle 14 to a lever 15, supported above the box by a
fulcrum pin on a standard 16, fixed on the cover 3 of the box 1. To the other end
of this lever 15 there is connected a second rod 17, passing through a stuffing
box 18 into the box 1, and having adjustably attached to it a float 19, made of
fire brick or other suitable material. A weight 20 is fixed adjustably on the lever
15, to partly counterbalance the weight of the float 19, and when water or liquid
accumulates in the box 1 above a certain extent, it by buoying up the float 19
causes it through the lever 15 to open the valves 6, 7. As the liquid is dis-
charged the float descends and closes the valves again before the liquid in the box
becomes low enough to uncover the outlet orifice leading to the valve or valves.
A small cock 21 is provided for discharging air on first admitting steam to the
apparatus.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is-
The combination of the equilibrium or double-beat discharge valves (6, 7,) with

page_text: the partly counterbalanced lever (15) and float (19), substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archibald McLaren, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
ATT LYO
AYAKK
ARCHIBALD MAREN. (LS.)