Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, BURCHARD THOENS, of 162, Annunciation Street, in the City of New Orleans,
State of Louisiana, United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to steam traps for discharging the water of condensation from
radiators, steam heating coils and other steam apparatus.
Many steam traps are objectionable because the trap-valve is not balanced and when
steam pressure is exerted a preponderence of weight or buoyancy is required to open
and close the said valve, and since the steam pressure is subject to variation and is
frequently higher than the counter acting weight or buoyancy of the valve, the latter
force is insufficient to overcome the steam pressure, in consequence of which the valvo
remains closed.
This objection is avoided by my invention and to such end it consists in the features
of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described in detail reference being
made to the accompanying drawing which shows a vertical, central sectional view of
a steam trap embodying my invention.
1 indicates a closed casing of substantially bell-shaped form having a lateral base
flange 2 bolted to the horizontal plate 3 which is formed with a central, pendent well
or chamber 4 having a bottom wall 5 in the lower portion and a chamber 7 below
such wall.
A. stationary tube or pipe 6 rises from and is tapped through the wall 5 to commu-
nicate with the chamber 7 and from the latter extends an exit pipe 8, while from the
well 4 at a point above the wall 5 extends an inlet pipe 9.
A sleeve 10 surrounds the vertical tube or pipe 6 and on its interior the sleeve is
provided with channels 12, to remove or diminish friction, and to receive packing
should the latter be necessary. This sleeve moves vertically upon the tube or pipe 6,
and is provided at its upper ead with a valve seat 13, which, as the sleeve rises,
engages with a valve plug 14, mounted on the end of said tube or pipe. Immediately
beneath this valve plug the openings 15 are cut in the end of the tube or pipe, whereby
water may flow into the chamber 7 below.
Upon the upper end of the sleeve 10 is a flange 16, upon which is mounted a
float 17, having an open mouth at its upper end which, in the elevated position of the
sleeve, lies nearly at the top of the casing 1. The float is composed of a cylindrical
vessel of sheet metal or other suitable material of such size as to leave a small annular
space between its circular wall and the wall of the casing.
The operation is as follows:-
The trap being empty the float with its sleeve 10 sinks down by gravity leaving the
passages 15, open or exposed. As steam enters by the inlet pipe 9, the air is driven
out of the trap, and the incoming water accompanying the steam gradually fills the
well or chamber 4 and rises in the casing 1, thereby lifting the float until the
openings 15 are closed by the sleeve 10 as shown in the drawing. As the water cou-
tinues to enter, it rises around the float and enters the same by flowing over its top,
until the weight of water therein becomes sufficient to depress the float whereupon the
water passes through the openings 15 and thence through the tube 6 and chamber 7
into the outlet pipe 8. If the water ceases to flow, the steam will blow what remains
in the float out through the pipe 6 until the float becomes light enough to rise and
close the openings 15, after which the parts remain in that position until more water
accumulates, when the operation is repeated.
The well or chamber 4, serves to check the velocity or force of the inflowing water
to some extent, thereby preventing it from exerting a violent upward movement upon
the float

page_text: It is evident that the chamber 7, may be omitted and the exit pipe 8 connected
directly to the lower end of the upright tube or pipe 6.
The sleeve 10 is loosely fitted on the tube or pipe 6, so that the trap empties itself
after it is out of use, the remaining water leaking out between the sleeve 10 and the
tube or pipe.
I also provide the trap with an air cock on its highest part so as to discharge any
air which may accumulate during operation.
The construction shown and described provides a novel and useful steam trap
apparatus wherein the valve is balanced, while the float is not collapsible, there are not
stuffing boxes, a large discharge is provided, it is simple reliable and inexpensive, the
outlet is water-sealed immediately when the device is worked, it operates equally well
at any pressure, it blows air out when starting and empties itself when stopping.
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 what I
claim is :-
First. A steam trap having a closed chamber, an inlet pipe, a vertical tube or pipe
rising therein, connected to an outlet pipe and having openings at its upper end and
an open float rising and falling on the vertical tube or pipe to cover and uncover said
openings.
Second. In a steam trap, the combination with a closed casing having a pendent
well, of a vertical tube or pipe rising in the well and having openings at its upper end,
a sleeve rising and falling on the tube or pipe, an open float carried by the sleeve, and
inlet and outlet pipes.
Third. In a steam trap, the combination of a closed casing having a pendant well
provided with a bottom wall, a tube tapped through said wall, rising therefrom and
having openings and a valve at its upper end, a sleeve rising and falling in the well on
the tube and having a valve seat on its upper end, an open float carried by the sleeve
and inlet and outlet pipes.
Fourth. A steam trap consisting of a horizontal plate formed with a central pendent
well having a bottom wall, a closed bell-shaped casing surmounting the horizontal
plate, a float located in the bell-shaped casing and open at its top, a vertical tube
secured to the bottom wall of the well, rising in the latter above its horizontal top
plate and having its upper end provided with a valve and lateral orifices, a sleeve
extending down into the well from the bottom wall of the float, sliding up and down
on the valved pipe and having its upper end opening through the bottom wall of the
float and there provided with a valve seat.
D
101 1
'
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.