IMPROVED MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING THE WATER PRODUCED BY CONDENSATION FROM STEAM CYLINDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 6 Bream's Buildings,'
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the.
nature of the invention for IMPROVED MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING THE WATER
PRODUCED BY CONDENSATION FROM STEAM CYLINDERS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to a means for clearing the steam pipes and cylinders of
steam engines, of the water which accumulates therein as the result of the
condensation of the steam, it being the object of the invention to provide a simple
and effective means by which this result can be accomplished, without the loss of
any of the live steam, and, in the case of condensing-engines, without destroying.
the partial vacuum in the exhaust end of the cylinder and thus impairing the
efficiency of the condenser.
To this end the invention consists generally in a system of drain pipes leading.
from the cylinder or cylinders to a steam trap or traps, and provided with a suitable
valve or valves so arranged that the steam cannot pass from the end of the cylinder.
into which it is being admitted or from the trap into the opposite end of the cylinder.
from which the steam is being exhausted. The invention also embraces connections
by which the water resulting from condensation is drained directly from the supply
pipe or pipes to a steam trap, and also various details of construction and com-
binations of parts in the means employed for effecting these results, all of which
will be hereinafter fully explained and particularly pointed out in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an end, elevation, partly in section, of an ordinary duplex engine'.
provided with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation, also partly in section, of the same.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon an enlarged scale, of one form of check valve
for preventing the steam from passing from the end of the cylinder into which it
Elvin Cil

page_text: is being admitted, and from the trap, into the opposite end of the cylinder from
which the steam is being exhausted.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken upon the line x x of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a valve of a slightly different construction.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the steam trap, and
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the same taken upon the line xx of Fig. 6.
Referring to said figures it is to be understood that 10, 11 are the cylinders
and 12, 13 the steam chests of an ordinary duplex engine. The steam chests 12, 13
are connected in the usual manner through a T, 14, with the main steam pipe 15,
by which they receive steam from the generator or other source of supply, and
with exhaust openings (not shown) through which the steam is exhausted after
performing its work in the cylinders."
Each of the cylinders 10, 11 is provided upon its under side and at points near
its opposite ends, with small openings, 9, which communicate by pipes 16 extending
lengthwise of the cylinders, with a cross pipe, 17, which in turn communicates
through a branch 18 with a steam trap 19. The pipes 14, 15 through which the
steam passes to the chests 12, 13 are also provided with a small branch pipe 20
which leads directly to the steam trap 19, the purpose of which will be hereinafter
explained.
Each of the pipes 16 is provided with a cock S by which it can be closed so as
to shut off communication between the cylinders and the trap 19 when desired.
These pipes are also provided with suitable valves which operate to permit the
steam and water to pass from the end of the cylinder which is receiving steam, to
the trap, but to prevent the steam from passing either from that end of the
cylinder, or from the trap, into the other end of the cylinder from which the steam
is being exhausted.
This result may be accomplished by providing each of the pipes, 16, with an
ordinary outwardly opening check valve located between the opening 9 and the
junction, of said pipe with the pipe 17. The same result can, however, be more
readily accomplished by means of a single valve located at. the point of junction of
the pipes 16, 17, and arranged to open and close communication between the
trap 19 and the opposite ends of the cylinder alternately. Such a valve may be
constructed in a variety of ways, two constructions which I regard as suitable for
the purpose being illustrated in the present case.
In both of these constructions the valve is located in a chamber 21 formed in a
shell 22 which is provided with three ports 5, 6, 7 the ports 5, 6 opening from
opposite sides of the chamber 21 into the pipes 16, while the port 7 opens downward
into the pipe 17 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The valve chamber 21 may be of any
desired form but will preferably be of cylindrical form, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3
and 4, the valve, 23; which is composed of metal, rubber or other suitable material,
being of corresponding form and, of a size somewhat less than that of the
chamber. The valve chamber and valve may, however, be of spherical form, as
shown in Fig. 5, the ports 5, 6, 7 being arranged in the same manner as in the
other construction.
With a valve constructed and arranged in either of these ways it will readily be
seen that whenever the pressure in one of the pipes 16 becomes greater than it is
in the other, as when steam is being admitted to one end of the cylinder and
exhausted from the other, the valve 23, will be forced over to one side of the
chamber 21 so as to open communication between the port 7 and one or the other
of the ports 5, 6 and at the same time close the other of the ports 5, 6, so as to shut
off communication with the exhaust end of the cylinder.
The operation of the apparatus just described is as follows:-
Whenever in operating the engine it becomes necessary to clear the cylinders of
any water which may accumulate therein from the condensation of the steam, it is
only necessary to open the cocks 8. When this is done the steam as it is admitted
into either end of the cylinders will pass through the opening 9, and enter the

page_text: pipe, 16. The exhaust port of the opposite end of the cylinder being, however, at
that time open, there will be a minus pressure in the opposite pipe 16, so that the
valve, 23, will be at once forced over to the opposite side of the chamber 21, as
shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, so as to open communication between the end of the
cylinder which is receiving steam and the trap 19, and thus permit the water of
condensation to drain out of the cylinder and into the trap, the trap acting in the
well-known manner to conduct the water away, but at the same time prevent
the escape of any of the live steam from the cylinder to the open air, while the
valve 23 at the same time prevents any portion of the steam from the cylinder, or
from the trap, from passing to the exhaust end of the cylinder and becoming
wasted; and also, if the engine is of the condensing type, preventing the destruction
of the partial vacuum in the exhaust end of the cylinder and the impairing of the
efficiency of the condenser. As soon as the piston has completed its stroke and
steam is admitted upon its opposite side, the operation will be reversed, the
valve 23 being forced over to the opposite side of the chamber 21 so as to close
the other of the ports 5, 6, and open communication between the other end of the
cylinder and the trap 19. Whatever water accumulates in the pipes 14, 15 that is
not drawn into the steam cylinders, will pass without. hindrance through the
pipe 20 into the trap, the trap operating as just stated to prevent the escape of the
stean. This is a feature of considerable importance.
The trap 19 may be of any of the common and well-known constructions, the
well-known Curtis Trap has however been selected for the purpose of illustration.
in the present case. This trap consists of a casing or body 19 having an induction
opening 24 to which the pipe 18 is connected, and through which the water and
steam enters the trap, and an outlet pipe or passage 25 through which the water is
conducted out of the trap. The pipe 25 is controlled by a weighted valve 27 to
the top of which is secured a small piston or plunger 26 which fits loosely in a
small cylinder 28 located upon the top of the pipe 25. The upper end of the
cylinder 28 communicates through a passage 29 with the passage 25 upon the under
or outer side of the valve 27. The passage 29 is controlled by a sliding plunger 30,
the inner end of which extends into the trap casing, and is connected to one arm of
a bell crank lever 31 the other arm of which is provided, with a float 32. The
casing 19 and the cylinder 28 are provided with relief cocks 33, 34, by which the
air can be allowed to escape from the casing and cylinder when found necessary.
The operation of the trap thus constructed is as follows: The water passing
through the pipe 18 will accumulate in the trap and will pass upward between the
plunger 26 and the walls of the cylinder 28 so as to compress the air or steam
confined in the upper end of the cylinder, until the float 32' is raised far enough to
partially withdraw the plunger 30 and open the passage 29. As soon as this takes
place the air or steam confined in the upper end of the cylinder 28 will escape
through the passages 29, 25. This will remove the pressure from the plunger 26
so that the pressure of the water below the plunger will raise the same and open
the valve 27 and thus permit the water in the trap to pass through the valve
opening and escape. As the water is drawn from the trap, the float 32 will be
lowered so as to again move the plunger 30 outward and close the passage 29,
after which the valve 27 will move back to its seat and stop the further egress
of water from the trap. It will be observed that the parts are so positioned
that the water in the trap is never allowed to fall below the upper edge of the
passage 25, so that none of the live steam is permitted to escape when the valve 27
is raised.
Although the invention is herein shown as applied to a duplex engine it is
of course to be understood that it is equally applicable to reciprocating engines
of all other constructions..
It is also to be understood that the arrangement of the drain pipes and valves
may be varied considerably from that shown without departing from the principle
of the invention. For example, the pipes 16 of the two cylinders, instead of
communicating with the single pipe 17, inay be provided. with independent pipes

page_text: leading to the steam trap, or each of the openings 9 may be provided with an
independent pipe leading directly to the trap, each of said pipes being provided
with an outwardly opening check-valve to prevent the steam from passing from
the trap into the end of the cylinder from which the steam is being exhausted.
The pipe 20 may be connected with a separate trap from that to which the pipes 16
are attached, if it is found under any circumstances preferable..
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. In a steam engine, the combination with the steam cylinder, of a steam trap,
a pipe or pipes for conducting the water from each end of said cylinder to said trap,
and a valve or valves arranged to prevent the passage of the steam from one end of
the cylinder to the other, and from the trap to the end of the cylinder from which
the steam is being exhausted, substantially as described.
2. In a steam engine the combination, with the steam pipe or pipes for supplying
the cylinder or cylinders with steam, of a steam trap, and a pipe connecting said
trap with the supply pipe or pipes, and arranged to conduct the water from said
supply pipe or pipes to said trap, substantially as described.
3. In a steam engine the. combination with. the steam cylinder and the pipe or
pipes for supplying the same with steam, of a steam trap or traps, pipes for
conducting the water from said supply pipe or pipes and from each end of said
cylinder to said trap or traps, and a valve or valves arranged to prevent the passage
of the steam from one end of said cylinder to the other, and from the trap or traps
to the end of the cylinder from which the steam is being exhausted, substantially
as described.
4. In a steam engine the combination with the steam cylinder, of a steam trap,
pipes as 16, communicating with the opposite ends of said cylinder and said trap,
and a single valve arranged to shut off communication between said trap and the
end of said cylinder from which the steam is being exhausted, substantially as
described.
5. In a duplex engine the combination with the steam cylinders, of a steam trap,
pipes as 16, communicating with said trap and the opposite ends of said cylinders,
and valves for preventing the passage of the steam from one end to the other
of said cylinders, and from said trap to the ends of the cylinders from which the
steam is being exhausted, substantially as described.
6. In a duplex engine the combination with the steam cylinders and the pipe or
pipes for supplying them with steam, of a steam trap, a pipe as 20, leading from
said supply pipe or pipes to said trap, pipes as 16, communicating with said trap
and the opposite ends of said cylinders, and valves for preventing the passage of the
steam from one end to the other of said cylinders, and from said trap to the
ends of the cylinders from which the steam is being exhausted, substantially as
described.
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