Improvements in Steam Separators.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Steam Separators.
I, E. PLATT STRATTON of College Point in the County of Queens and State of New
York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 certain improvements in separators, adapted for the
separation of the condensed portions of steam which occur during the conveyance of
the latter from the generator to the consuming point.
The invention consists in certain improved features of construction relative to the
deflecting shield which surrounds the margin of the depending curtain or delivery
pipe nozzle of the apparatus, and the combination therewith of a system of drainage,
and of a diaphragm or preventer for the positive repression of the separated water in
the trap beneath from the dry steam eduction current. In order to enable others to
understand and practice my said invention I will proceed to describe the several
features of improvement, explain the effect of the same with relation to the general
operation, and subsequently point out the novel features in the appended claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of the complete apparatus; and
Fig. 2 a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the deflecting shield and diaphragm.
Fig. 4 a plan view of the same; and
Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional view of the base showing a means of attaching the
shield supporting column thereto.
In the present instance the shell A is composed of two separable cast sections of
cylindrical form, the upper one having provided near its top a tangential steam
induction opening a, a, and having connected also at its upper end the delivery or
eduction steam pipe B, provided with a downwardly projecting nozzle or curtain b;
the lower section of the apparatus constituting the water repository or chamber C
which being of enlarged diameter and capacity obtains a reduced velocity of steam
current at the point where a change in its direction and a final separation from the
water takes place. A suitable water guage c, and a drainage pipe d at the lowermost
Price 8d l

page_text: point of the concave base are also provided for the indication of the quantity of water
accumulation, or the occasional removal of the same respectively.
The improved deflecting shield D is preferably of conical form, surrounding and
extending a distance above and beneath the depending end of the nozzle or curtain ₺
and forming an annular steam and water passage f and a steam passage g; the latter
being equivalent in area to that of the nozzle for the purpose of admitting the main
portion of dry steam current through said passage g. The lower edge or margin of
the deflecting shield D, is provided with a lip forming a channel into which the
water carried by the current through the passage f is mainly deposited. The channel h
is provided with drainage tubes, i passing through the diaphragm or preventer E to
the trap C beneath. The manner herein shown of supporting the deflecting shield
and the diaphragm is found to be advantageous for readiness of removal, or
accessibility of the parts; the arrangement consisting in centering the deflecting shield
by means of the projections ; cast thereon, the ends of which fit to the diameter of the
chamber and sustaining the said shield together with the diaphragm vertically by
means of the column F; the latter consisting preferably of a piece of tubing threaded
at its top into the hub of the said diaphragm and at its lower end into the webbed
casting & constructed as shown so as to permit the water drainage, and form a
supporting hub for said column. As will be seen by Fig. 4 the projections jare
placed coincident with the channel drainage tubes i the said projections forming a part
of said drainage tubes and also serving as lugs for bolting the diaphragm in place.
The drainage tubes i are carried in toward the centre by means of the extensions for
the purpose of delivering the water at a point remote from the steam current; or said
tubes may be carried beneath the water's level if required.
In operation the saturated steam is introduced through the tangential orifice a into
the cylindric space surrounding the nozzle or curtain b whereby a circular or
downward spiral motion is imparted to the current, and the water particles thrown by
centrifugal action, upon the outer space surface upon which it gravitates to the trap
chamber, passing outside the deflecting shield D while the current of steam follows
the depending nozzle or curtain to the interior of said shield and escapes in a dry
state upward through the delivery nozzle. But it is found expedient in practice to
effect also a further positive separation of the portions of steam carried over with the
water to the exterior of the deflecting shield. Herein occurs the function of the
channel which intercepting the downward flow of the saturated steam as it is thrown
upon the cone surface, collects the heavier particles or condensed portions, the same
escaping by gravity through the tubes i, beneath the diaphragm E and into the trap
while the dryer portions are drawn through the space beneath said channel above the
diaphragm E. The diaphragm or preventer E is preferably inade of the convex form
shown on its upper surface for the purpose of assisting in directing the steam toward
the delivery pipe and also in order that the out-flow of any water particles carried
over may tend to discharge by gravity.
The diaphragm E also prevents a volume of the water contained in the trap
chamber C, from being suddenly carried upwardly with the steam in the event of an
unusual use of the latter, or occasioned when used for marine purposes by a rolling
motion of the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is :-
1. In a steam separator arranged to secure a centrifugal action to the steam, a
deflecting shield surrounding the lower portion of the depending delivery nozzle and
provided with an exterior marginal channel and a drainage tube or tubes, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a steam separator arranged to secure a centrifugal action to the steam, a
deflecting shield surrounding the lower portion of the depending delivery nozzle, said
shield forming an internal annular orifice equal in capacity to that of the delivery pipe
and an external annular orifice provided with a drainage channel, and an orifice for

page_text: the final delivery of dry steam to said delivery pipe from beneath said shield
substantially as described.
3. In a steam separator the combination with a deflecting shield surrounding the
lower portion of the delivery nozzle, an exterior marginal shield channel, and a
drainage tube or tubes, connecting said channel with a water repository, of a
diaphragm located beneath said shield and intersected by said tube or tubes for the
delivery of condensed portions of steam to said water repository beneath said
diaphragm as set forth.
4. A steam separator having a deflecting shield, a depending delivery nozzle,
a diaphragm, and a water trap beneath the same, the deflecting shield being provided
with drainage tubes passing beneath the diaphragm, whereby the return of the
drainage and condensed portions of the steam current delivered to the trap is
prevented, as set forth.
DJ
1
1
1
1000
E. PLATT STRATTON.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London,
Agents to Applicant.