IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Lancaster and Thomas Dixon, both of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
TRAPS."
Sealed the 8th April 1879, and dated the 9th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Lancaster and Thomas
Dixon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1878.
HENRY LANCASTER and THOMAS DIXON, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS."
This Invention relates to that description of steam trap in which there is a com-
paratively short tube, having at one end an inlet box or chamber, and at the other
end an equilibrium valve placed in a valve box provided with an outlet passage or
nozzle; the tube being capable of expanding and contracting according to the
temperature.
Our improvements consist in improved arrangements and combinations of rods.
and levers for closing the valve when the tube expands, and opening it when the
tube contracts; and also in the employment of a special metallic alloy for the
manufacture of the tube for enabling it to be expanded and contracted to the largest
possible extent compatible with strength; and we may here state that the alloy we
prefer is composed of four parts of copper to one of tin, or thereabouts. To the
valve box we connect one end of a rod hinged at its other end to a lever jointed to
one end of a rod connected to one arm of a double lever, having the end of its
other arm placed in a slot or socket at the outer end of the valve spindle, and the
first-mentioned lever is connected to the inlet box by an adjusting screw,

page_text: These levers can be so arranged that the largest amount of leverage may be
obtained either in the single lever or the double one, as may be desired, it being
understood that in all cases we place the rods in such positions in relation to the
tube that the levers can act on the valve without any straining or twisting.
These improved steam traps are to be applied to steam engines, steam pipes,
drying cylinders, and all descriptions of engines and apparatus in which the water
of condensed steam has to be automatically discharged; and when the tube is cooled
by the water it contracts to open the valve to the discharge passage; but when it
is heated by the steam it expands and closes the valve to prevent the steam from
cscaping.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Lancaster and Thomas Dixon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th April 1879.
HENRY LANCASTER and THOMAS DIXON, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS."
This Invention relates to that description of steam trap in which there is a com-
paratively short tube, having at one end an inlet box or chamber, and at the other
end a differential or equilibrium valve placed in a valve box provided with an outlet
passage or nozzle; the tube being capable of expanding and contracting according
to the temperature acting upon it; and our Invention consists in improved arrange-
ments and combinations of rods and levers for closing the valve when the tube
expands, and opening it when the tube contracts; and also in the employment of a
special metallic alloy for the manufacture of the tube for enabling it to be expanded
and contracted to the largest possible extont compatible with strength, and the alloy
we prefer is composed of four parts of copper to one of tin, or thereabouts.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view; Figs. 2 and 3,
end views; and Fig. 4 a plan of one of our improved steam traps; and Figs. 5, 6,
7, 8, and 9 are different views of modifications of the same; and in the Figures a
represents the valve box; b, the inlet box; c, the valve; d, the valve spindle; e, the
expanding and contracting tube; and f, the discharge or outlet passage.
In the steam traps shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, we connect to a flange g cast to
the valve box a one end of a rod / jointed at the other end to one arm of the lever i,
the other arm of which is connected by the rod j to the arm k of a double lever k, l,
the end of the arm being placed in a slot at the outer end of the valve spindle d;
and as the lever i works on a pin fitted into holes in cheeks cast to the inlet box b,
it moves with the tube as it expands and contracts, and closes and opens the valve,
and for adjusting or regulating the valve with great nicety the rod h is provided
with a regulating screw and nuts m.
In the steam trap shewn in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 we dispense with the lever at the
outer end, and one of the connecting rods, and only employ the single rod o,
one end of which is jointed to the arm k of the double lever k, l, and the other
end passed through brackets 2 cast to the inlet box b, this end being screwed
and provided with a milled adjusting nut q and a set nut r for regulating and
setting the valve; and the only difference between this trap and that shewn in Fig. 9
consists in the reverse positions of the levers k, l, and in either case the milled nuts
may be dispensed with and ordinary nuts used as shewn at Fig. 1.
It will be seen that the arm k is much shorter than the arm of the double
lever k, l, and this in conjunction with the extreme sensibility of the expanding and
contracting tube causes the valve to have a much greater movement than in any
other trap having a short expanding and contracting tube.
We have only described a few arrangements and combinations of levers, but these
may be modified as desired so long as the rods are placed in relation to the tubes so
that the levers can act on the valve without any straining or twisting, and it is
evident that these improved steam traps can be applied to steam engines, steam
pipes, drying cylinders, and all descriptions of engines, machines, and apparatus in
which the water of condensed steam has to be automatically discharged.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, we desire
it to be understood that in steam traps we claim,-
Firstly. The various arrangements and combinations of rods and lovers, or
modifications thereof, for acting directly on the valve without straining or twisting,

page_text: and, Secondly. The employment in steam traps of a metallic alloy composed of four
parts of copper to one of tin, or thereabouts.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Lancaster and Thomas Dixon, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
C. W. COLLINS,
HENRY LANCASTER. (L.S.)
THOMAS DIXON.
(L.S.)