Steam-trap or Reducing Valve.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Steam-trap or Reducing Valve.
DAVID GREER Engineer 1 Denmark Terrace Harvey Road Leytonstone Essex
England do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus for draining off water or other liquids from pipes or other vessels
which may be under pressure of steam or other gas without allowing the steam or
gas by which the pressure is produced to escape.
This function is performed by the machine when a particular end of same is
connected with the vessel which is to be drained. But this apparatus can also be
used as what is called-a reducing valve for reducing the pressure of steam or
other gases when the same is required to be used at a lower pressure than that of
the boiler or other vessel in which it is produced or contained.
The action of the apparatus will be understood from the accompanying
drawing.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation which essentially consists of a box or casing A. B.
containing the lever C fixed on the fulcrum D and to the longer end of which is
attached the smaller valve E and to the shorter end, the flexible valve F. The
ratio of sizes of these valves correspond with the ratio of lengths of the two arms
of the lever to each other; but these sizes are subject to modification.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the machine with the cover removed off casing or box, and
Fig. 3. a section of box at X. Y., but neither of these latter views are essential to
a description of the apparatus.
The weight G. (Fig. 1) is intended to counteract the weight of the small valve E
with rod H. &c. connecting same to lever C and also to allow of a quantity of
water to lie above this valve when the machine is being used as a drainer; the
action of which in this case will be as follows:-
If the orifice at B be used as the inlet and this be connected with the vessel from
which it is desired to drain off water; any pressure of steam or other gas would
practically have no effect in moving any of the two valves. But supposing water
should run down & accumulate over the small valve E, when this water had
reached a height greater than that for which the weight G is set, this water owing
to its weight will open the small valve and escape as desired until the water again
reaches the height over the valve to which the weight is set.
Fig. 4. is also a sectional elevation of the machine with the slight difference that
the small valve E is shown closer up to the lever arm than in Fig. 1. And the
weight G with its lever I is reversed in this case thereby putting compression on
the outside of the flexible valve F. And this arrangement is intended to show the
action of the apparatus when it is being used as a reducing valve. In this case
the inlet for the high pressure steam or gas would be by the smaller valve E as
shown by the arrow, and the orifice at B would be the outlet for the steam or gas
reduced in pressure. The flexible valve F will be loaded to the required pressure
of steam or other gas and it will be seen that any reduction of pressure below what
this valve is set for will admit of this valve being pressed inwards and thus open
the small valve E for the admission of more, and any excess of pressure in the
casing will have the opposite effect.
In the drawing I have shown one of the simplest sort of flexible valves but this
is done rather for facility of description, as in carrying out my invention I hold
myself free to use any other sort of flexible valve or piston for the purpose for
which this is used and this remark also applies to the weight G with its lever I as
a spring may be substituted for these. I may also use compound levers for the

page_text: single lever C or may otherwise modify the construction upon the general principals
of the machine as set forth above.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November 1893
Steam-trap or Reducing Valve.
DAVID GREER Engineer 1 Denmark Terrace Harvey Road Leytonstone Essex
England do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
Bame is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Now
my
invention consists in an apparatus for automatically draining off water
or other liquids from pipes or other vessels which may be under pressure of steam
or other gas without allowing the steam or gas by which the pressure is. produced
to escape.
This function is performed by the machine when a particular end of it is
connected with the vessel which is to be drained. But this apparatus can also be
used as what is called-a reducing valve for reducing the pressure of steam or
other gases when the same is required to be used at a lower pressure than that of
the boiler or other vessel in which it is produced or contained.
The action of the apparatus will be understood from the drawing left with
Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation which essentially consists of a box or casing A. B.
containing the lever C fixed on the fulcrum D and to the longer end of which is
attached the smaller valve E and to the shorter end the flexible diaphragm F.
The ratio of sizes (areas) of these correspond with the ratio of lengths of the two
arms of the lever to each other but these sizes are subject to modification.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine with the cover removed off the casing or box and
Fig. 3 a section at X. Y. but neither of these latter views is essential to a
description of the apparatus.
The weight G. (Fig. 1) is intended counteract the effect of the weight of the
valve E combined with the rod H and the longer end of lever C so as to keep the
whole in equilibrium or to press the valve E slightly unto its seat and also to
always retain a small head of water above this valve when the machine is being
used as a drainer, the action of which in this case will be as follows:-If the
orifice at B be used as the inlet and this be connected with the vessel from which it
is desired to drain off water; any pressure of steam or other gas would practically
have no effect in destroying the equilibrium of the apparatus. But supposing water
should run down and accumulate over the valve E, when this water had reached a
height greater than that for which the weight G is set this water owing to its
weight will open the valve E and escape as desired until the column of water again
falls to the height for which the weight G is set.
This apparatus may be conveniently connected to a filter or strainer for arresting
grease or dirt as in the case of steam engines where the water drained off from
valve casings and steam cylinders and the like has to be returned to the boilers.
Fig. 4 is also a sectional elevation of the machine similar to Fig. 1 but with the
slight difference that the valve E is shown closer up to the lever arm than in Fig. 1
and the weight G with its lever I is reversed in this case, thereby putting com-
pression on the outside of the flexible diaphragm F. And this arrangement is
intended to show the action of the apparatus when it is being used as a reducing
valve. In this case the inlet for the high pressure steam or gas would be by the
valve E as shown by the arrow and the orifice at B would be the outlet for the
steam or gas reduced in pressure.

page_text: The flexible diaphragm F will be loaded to the required pressure of steam or
other gas as the case may be and it will be seen that any reduction of pressure in
the inside of the apparatus below what this diaphragm is set for, will admit of its
being pressed inwards and thus further open the small valve E for the admission
of more. Any excess of pressure in the casing will have the opposite effect.
In the drawing I have shown the simplest sort of valve diaphragm for facility of
description but in carrying out and applying my invention I hold myself free to
use pistons or piston-valves or any of the numerous common valves in use such as
annular valves or equilibrium valves or metallic flexible diaphragms.
I also hold myself free to use one or more springs in substitution for the
weight G with its lever 1. I may also use compound levers for the lever C or by
making the valve E and diaphragm F of equal size and on the same rod dispense
with this lever or otherwise modify the construction of the machine on the general
principles as set forth above.
I do not confine myself to any dimensions, dispositions or modes of attach-
ment of my invention as hereinbefore described nor do I confine myself to the
use of any particular material in the construction of same.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one method of carrying my invention into
effect but there are many other ways of accomplishing the same object as will be
seen by persons skilled in engineering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not
limit my claims to the precise arrangements and particulars hereinbefore described
as the same may be varied and extended within the scope and carrying out of my
invention but what I claim is
1. The arrangement of levers and valves as an automatic steam trap substantially
as described.
2. The arrangement of levers and valves as an automatic reducing valve
substantially as described.
DL: TL 1.
.
1001
DAVID GREER.