Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER, of Poplar Villa, New Moston, Failsworth, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the arrangements and construction of
steam traps, and my object is to produce a trap which is cheaply and readily manu-
factured while it is more effective in action than any hitherto produced.
Described generally, my invention consists of a compact arrangement of levers,
toggle links, float and balance weight, so combined within a metal casing as to act
powerfully and promptly on a discharge valve; opening the said valve when water
accumulates and closing it when water is discharged from the trap.
In one mode of carrying my invention into effect, I construct a cylindrical casing
sufficiently strong to withstand the particular steam pressure to be used, and I bolt
this cylindrical cap or casing on a cylindrical base, uniting the two parts at a faced
joint, preferably with bolts. An opening in the upper part of the casing or cap
connects the trap by a branch pipe to the steam pipes to be drained, and an aperture
in the middle or centre of the base opens to a discharge pipe. A brass or gun
metal seating is fitted in this bored discharge aperture and carries a valve also
preferably of gun metal, closing down on the said seat by the pressure from
within.
Upon the base within, I mount a turned ring upon a turned seat, and this ring
carries projecting arms or brackets, projecting upwards within the casing or cap.
Between these arms towards their upper extremity I pass a turned bolt or pin,
which pin serves as fulcrum or pivot to two pairs of levers preferably upper and
lower. The lower pair of levers carry by hooks or links at their external ends a
circular or rather annular tile float. The aperture in the centre of the float
surrounds the discharge valve and leaves a clear way for connecting links to pass
from the lower levers to the said discharge valve. The two lower levers are
projected downwards at their inner ends in bell crank form, and from these ends
depend links pivoting in the levers and pivoted to a projection or stem from the
discharge valve. The connecting links and the inner ends of the two levers are so
arranged that when the valve touches its seat toggle action comes into play; that
is, the depending links, their points of action in the lower levers and the fulcrum of
the lower levers come nearly into line. In this manner a very great leverage is
obtained on the discharge valve.
Suitable stops may be provided to prevent the toggle linkage from being forced
over its centres and so tending to lift the valve off its seat again.
The ring float being suspended from the outer ends of the lower levers bears
hard upon the levers when the water is discharged and so presses the discharge
valve powerfully home to its seat. When the trap fills with water however the
effective weight of the float is diminished by the extent of its displacement, and a
balance weight then comes into action and raises the valve from its seat.
I prefer to use a ring shaped balance weight as well as a ring shaped float,
and I mount the balance weight above the float and suspend it from two levers
preferably pivoting on the same pin or centre as the lower levers. Each upper
lever so bears upon the lower lever upon the opposite side of the centre or fulcrum
that the annular balance weight causes both upper levers to act against the weight
of the float and so tend to raise the said float. The upper levers may be connected
and caused to act upon the lower levers in several ways, but I prefer to half check

page_text: each upper lever boss or centre upon its opposing lower lever similarly half checked,
or I make each upper lever as a continuation of the lower opposing lever and
fulcrum the two double levers together by one pin. The weight of the ring balance
weight is so proportioned to the weight and displacement of the ring tile float that
when the water level rises to immerse the tile float, then the balance weight is in
excess and the proportions are so designed that this excess weight applies sufficient
force to open the discharge valve to discharge water. When the water level falls
the tile float again acts and closes the valve by the toggle arrangement hereinbefore
described. Both weights thus act through the toggle links to raise or lower that
is open or close the discharge valve. In order to make the casing or cap quite
independent of the mechanism I so mount the levers and so arrange the projecting
bracket from the base, that the whole mechanism is carried by the base and is quite
clear of the cap so that the cap casing may be removed without interfering with the
internal mechanical arrangements.
In order to prevent the admission of solid material to the trap from the steam
pipe, I provide a circular bell shaped casting which I bolt against the inlet hole
preferably by crossbar and single bolt. I cut slits or apertures in the upper edge
of this ball shaped casting and so the water entering the trap is strained free from
solid material of any bulk.
To test the action of the levers from the exterior of the trap I may arrange a
rod passing through a packing gland and actuated by an external handle to strike
the levers and open the valve.
Or I may arrange an oscillating or rotating spindle to act upon cams or projec-
tions mounted within so that when the said spindle is oscillated or rotated from
an outside handle the levers are moved to make certain that nothing is getting
fast within.
Instead of using a plain single discharge valve I may adopt a balanced valve
which valve may be arranged as a hollow globe and so proportioned that two seats,
an internal and an external one, are situated on the surface of one sphere or two
concentric spheres struck from a common centre.
The casing of my trap may be arranged in other than circular form, but I prefer
that the exterior should be cylindrical for convenience in manufacture.
Dated this 1st day of February 1899
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
1, WILLIAM HENRY FOWLER, of Poplar Villa, New Moston, Failsworth, in
the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the arrangements and construction of
steam traps, and my object is to produce a trap which is cheaply_and_readily
manufactured while it is more effective in action than any hitherto produced.
Described generally, my invention consists of a compact arrangement of levers,
toggle links, float and balance weight, so combined within a metal casing as to act
powerfully and promptly on a discharge valve; opening the said valve when water.
accumulates, and closing it when water is discharged from the trap.
Referring to the four sheets of drawings accompanying-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my steam trap in which the float is arranged to.
open an unbalanced valve.

page_text: Figure 2 is a similar section in which a balanced valve is operated.
Figure 3 is a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 also in vertical
section, but having a hollow ring float instead of a tile float.
Figure 4 shows in section an arrangement for moving the levers from the
exterior.
Figure 5 is a section similar to the other showing the application of a ball float
to my invention.
In one mode of carrying my invention into effect (see Figure 1), I construct a
cylindrical casing A sufficiently strong to withstand the particular steam pressure
to be used, and I bolt this cylindrical cap or casing on a cylindrical base B, uniting
the two parts at a faced joint preferably with bolts. An opening M in the upper
part of the casing or cap connects the trap by a branch pipe to the steam pipes to
be drained, and an aperture L in the middle or centre of the base opens to a
discharge pipe.
A brass or gunmetal seating K' is fitted in this bored discharge aperture and
carries a valve K, also preferably of gunmetal, closing down on the said seat by the
pressure from within.
Upon the base B within, I mount a turned ring C upon a turned seat, and, this
ring carries projecting arms or brackets, projecting upwards within the casing
or cap.
Between these arms towards their upper extremity I pass a turned bolt or pin P,
which pin serves as fulcrum or pivot to a pair of levers D, E. The lower
portions of the levers D, E carry by hooks or links at their external ends a circular,
or rather annular tile float F. The aperture in the centre of the float surrounds
the discharge valve K and leaves a clear way for connecting links H, H to pass
from the lower ends of the levers D. E to an attachment to the said discharge
valve K. The two lower parts of the levers D, E are projected downwards at I, I at
their inner ends in bell crank form, and from these ends 1, I depend links H, H pivoting
in the levers D, E at I, I and pivoted to a projection or stem from the discharge
valve K. The connecting links H, H and the inner ends I, I of the two levers D, E are
so arranged that when the valve K touches its seat toggle action comes into play;
that is, the depending links H, H, their points of action in the lower parts of the
levers D, E and the fulcrum P of the levers D, E come nearly into line. In this
manner a very great leverage is obtained on the discharge valve K.
Suitable stops as shown on I, I may be provided to prevent the toggle linkage
from being forced over its centres and so tending to lift the valve off its seat
again.
The ring float F being suspended from the outer ends of the lower parts of the
levers D, E bears hard upon the levers when the water is discharged and so presses
the discharge valve K powerfully home to its seat. When the trap fills with water,
however, the effective weight of the float F is diminished by the extent of its
displacement and a balance weight G then comes into action and raises the valve K
from its seat.
I prefer to use a ring shaped balance weight G as well as a ring shaped float F
and I mount the balance weight G above the float F and suspend it from the upper
parts of the two levers D, E. Each upper part of each lever D or E so acts upon
the lower part upon the opposite side of the centre or fulcrum that the annular
balance weight G causes both levers to act against the weight of the float F and so
tend to raise the said float.
I make each upper lever as a continuation of the lower opposing lever and
fulcrum the two double levers together by one pin as shown at Figure 1, or I may
arrange the opposing parts of the levers separately half checked on to the lower
parts, or if desired may mount them on separate pins and cause them to act by
contact against the lower levers.
The weight of the ring balance weight G is so proportioned to the weight and
displacement of the ring tile float F that when the water level rises to immerse the

page_text: tile float F then the balance weight is in excess and the proportions are so designed
that this excess weight applies sufficient force to open the discharge valve K to
discharge water. When the water level falls the tile float F again acts and closes
the valve by the toggle arrangement hereinbefore described. Both weights thus
act through the toggle links H, H, I, I to raise or lower, that is open or close
the discharge valve. In order to make the casing or cap quite independent of the
mechanism I so mount the levers D, E and so arrange the projecting bracket from
the base B, that the whole mechanism is carried by the base, and is quite clear of
the cap A so that the cap casing A may be removed without interfering with the
internal mechanical arrangements.
In order to prevent the admission of solid material to the trap from the steam
pipe at M, provide a circular bell shaped casting N which I bolt against the
inlet hole M, preferably by crossbar and single bolt as shown at Figure 1. I cut
slits or apertures in the upper edge of this bell shaped casting and so the water
entering the trap is strained free from solid material of any bulk.
To test the action of the levers from the exterior of the trap I may arrange
a rod O passing through a packing gland and actuated by an external handle to
strike the levers or lever and open the valve.
Or I may arrange an oscillating or rotating spindle Q Figure 4 to act upon
a cam Q (Figures 3 and 4) or projections mounted within, so that when the said
spindle is cscillated or rotated from an outside handle the levers D, E, are
moved to make certain that nothing is getting fast within. Instead of using a
plain single discharge valve K as shown at Figure 1, I may adopt a balanced
valve a,
bas shown at Figure 2, which valve may be arranged as a hollow globe
and so proportioned that two seats a, b, an internal and an external one, are
situated on the surface of one sphere or two concentric spheres struck from a
common centre. The casing of my trap may be arranged in other than circular
forms but I prefer that the exterior should be cylindrical for convenience in
manufacture.
In Figure 2 the other arrangements of the trap are precisely similar to those
shown in Figure 1 and are similarly lettered. Figure 2 differs from Figure 1 only
in the substitution of the balanced valve a, b for the single valve K.
In Figure 3 I have shown a trap in which the tile float is dispensed with and
the tubular ring float is substituted and in this trap the said tubular float
performs the functions of both the tile float F and the balance weight G, that is
the balance weight is entirely dispensed with. The action on the levers D, E and
the toggle links H, H will be readily understood from the hereinbefore description
of the action in the case of a trap constructed according to Figure 1.
It will be readily understood that a balance weight may be dispensed with in the
case of a hollow or tubular float as the hollow float is bulk for bulk considerably
lighter than water while the tile float is heavier.
In Figure 5 I have shown a trap similar to Figure 3 but having a hollow ball
float F instead of the tubular float shown in Figure 3.
My hollow spherical and tubular floats I preferably construct of copper, but
other metals may be adopted, and any known method of manufacture may be
used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. In steam traps; mechanism for operating a water discharge valve comprising
levers, annular float, annular balance weight, and a toggle linkage connecting the
discharge valve to the levers, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In steam traps; mechanism for operating a water discharge valve comprising
a hollow metallic float connected by levers to a toggle linkage and a discharge

page_text: valve, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, reference being
had to Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings.
3. The arrangement and construction of steam traps with independent removable
case or cap as A as hereinbefore described and as illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 3
and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of November 1892.
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.