Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Water of Condensation from Steam Traps or for other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 15th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Water of Condensation
from Steam Traps or for other Purposes.
I, VICTOR CLEMENT JOSEPH ORTMANS, of 3, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique,
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for extracting water of condensation from
steam traps and for other purposes, of the kind in which deviations produced by
changes of temperature on a set of tubes or their equivalent arranged to co-
operate on the principle of a compound metal strip, serve to control a valve;
and has for its object to increase the efficiency of such apparatus.
In this class of apparatus it is usual to employ two metal tubes or their
equivalents each having a different coefficient of expansion, and having their
ends at one extremity fixed to a suitable casing and their ends at the opposite
extremity connected by means of a chamber and free to move when caused to do
so by variation in temperature, such movement controlling the outlet tap or
valve from said tubes which conduct away the condensed water from a steam
cylinder or other receptacle.
According to my invention I arrange two metal tubes having different co-
efficients of expansion, parallel to one another and having their ends at one
extremity fixed to a suitable casing and their ends at the opposite extremity
attached to a valve chamber with which they communicate. The water of
condensation enters the valve chamber through one of said tubes and after
passing through a lift valve passes through the other of said tubes to the outlet.
These tubes may be arranged horizontally or may be set at an angle to the
horizon.
Or in place of arranging said tubes parallely, I may employ two metal tubes
having the same co-efficient of expansion in combination with a third metal
tube or rod of a different co-efficient of expansion; the two tubes and the rod
having their ends at one extremity fixed to the casing and their ends at the
opposite extremity carrying the valve chamber, and the tubes with the same
co-efficients of expansion conducting away the water of condensation. In this
case the third tube or rod is arranged so as to pass between the two water
conducting tubes, and has its end that is fixed to the casing situated at a point
ID 77

page_text: above the said tubes and its end at the opposite extremity attached to the valve
chamber somewhat below the said tubes; the said water-conducting tubes and
third tube or rod being arranged somewhat in the form of a truncated pyramid
having a triangular base and plane and irregular faces...
Pivoted to a bracket carried either by the valve chamber or by the casing,
is a lever one end of which is jointed to one end of an adjustable rod which
passes through a supporting bracket carried by the casing, where its free end
is secured and may be adjusted by means of suitable screw nuts.
spring surrounds this adjustable rod and tends to depress the lever. By means
of adjusting the length of the said rod, the position of the lever with respect to
the valve spindle can be varied.
A coiled
The water of condensation enters the valve chamber through one of the tubes,
passes through the lift valves, and escapes through the other tube. Should
steam enter these tubes, the increase of temperature causes them to expand
and in so doing to raise the valve chamber and bring the outer end of the valve
spindle in contact with the lever which thus closes the valve and prevents the
escape of steam. Should the steam pressure exceed a certain limit the tempera-
ture will increase with the pressure, the tubes will in consequence tend to raise
the valve chamber still further and the lever will then give way and thus allow
the valve chamber to rise and obviate any risk of injury to the apparatus.
Dated this 15th day of February 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Water of Condensation
from Steam Traps or for other Purposes.
I, VICTOR CLEMENT JOSEPH ORTMANS, of 3, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique,
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil 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 is based upon the principle of expansion and contraction
obtained by the combination and arrangement of metals having different co-
efficients of expansion and contraction, and consists in utilizing such expansion
and contraction to convert such linear expansion into an oblique or lateral
movement, in such a manner, that with the arrangement adopted, and by the
effects of the expansion obtained, there is produced, at the terminating point of
the expansion device in connection with the valve a movement amply sufficient
to actuate the valve, the said valve being controlled by the weighted arm of a
beam or lever adapted to be adjusted according to the pressure to be overcome.
One form of device is constructed in the form of a parallelogram of any desired
description, with means for regulating and for closing the valve.
Another form is arranged as a truncated pyramid having a triangular base
and with plane and twisted sides and a system of automatic regulation adapted
to close the valve (whether simple or balanced valve), such system being directly
operated by the expansion device in order to reduce in a great degree the
resistance offered to the closing of the valve.
These two methods of regulating and closing the valve may obviously be
applied indiscriminately to either form of apparatus.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 are a longitudinal section and a front-end elevation respec-
tively, the latter showing in dotted lines a transverse section.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation.
Figure 4 is a front-elevation showing in dotted lines a transverse section.
Figure 5 is a general plan.
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the valve box of the automatic condensation
water extracting apparatus, similar to the apparatus above described, but of
which the arrangement represents a different combination.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate balanced valves hereinafter referred to.
Figure 9 shows a tappet or fixed stop R for the valve receiving the impulses
from the dilatation mechanism, which limits the downward stroke of the beam
while also compressing, at a given moment, the spring, in such a manner as to
preserve a uniform stroke of valve for different pressures.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the automatic condensation-water extracting
apparatus, is provided with two tubes fixed at one end in the frame, and at the
other end to a valve casing arranged in the form of a parallelogram of any
description, and at such an angle of inclination so as to provide the required
movement for, and the constant immersion of the valve in water, and under
the progressive and continuous effects of the expansion of the tube, there is
ensured a regular action at all pressures.
The lower tube is made of a metal having a greater coefficient of expansion
than the upper tube, the expansion of these two tubes being parallel and in the
direction of their length; but owing to the difference in the degree of expansion
which exists between them, the upper and less expansible tube is subjected to
constant tension, and cannot descend, its travel in the downward direction being
limited by the inclination given to it. It therefore causes, under the influence
of the variation in expansion, an oscillatory and upward movement of the lower
tube, both tubes bending slightly, thus imparting the necessary movement to the
exhaust valve for condensation water.
The water to be extracted enters at A and leaves at B; e valve C is regulated
at D; the spring E serves to maintain the rod in a raised position. The beam F
is supported upon the frame work, its short lever arm G alone serves for operating
and regulating the valve, and into its extremity a bolt H is inserted and suspended
from a fixed part H¹ of the body of the frame. This bolt carries two regulating
nuts D and is provided with a helical or other spring D*. By means of this spring
the required load can be put on the short arm G for regulating the stroke of the
valve and constitutes the pressure to be overcome. C is a balanced valve
Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 3 to 6 the apparatus takes the form of a truncated pyramid
having a triangular base and straight but twisted sides. It comprises two tubes
of the same metal arranged in the same plane so as to form a trapezium which
is divided into a double triangle by means of a stay of less expansible metal
which unites the base to the apex thereof, in such a manner as to act directly
upon the diverging axes of the more expansive tubes, and thus obtain the
maximum of movement for the valve.
In this arrangement the operation of the valve is effected automatically, it
being possible to increase, in appreciable proportions, the travel of the short arm
of the beam, which under these conditions acts as a lever.
The longer arm of the beam serves only as a means for facilitating the adjust-
ment and the controlling of the loading-spring.
The water to be extracted enters at I and leaves at J through the two tubes
of the same metal by passing through the stop valve K, the stroke of which is
regulated by the nuts L.
The differential movement of expansion and impulse is due to the stay M
being of less expansible metal than that of the aforesaid two tubes. This stay
is arranged between the two tubes and forms therewith a double triangle, it
may be either solid or hollow and is heated internally if desired.

page_text: The regulating beam N is arranged upon the valve casing K and consequently
follows all the movements of the expansion device. The bolt P suspended upon
the frame causes this beam to be dependent upon a fixed point H¹ and imparts
to it an alternating movement in a vertical direction, while the spring Q is set
to balance the pressure to be overcome by regulating its travel by the adjustment
of the nuts L. C is a balanced valve Figure 8.
By varying the position of the points of contact of the beam or lever the
travel or stroke of the valve may be varied at will, and in this manner it is
easy to obtain a greater opening of the valve for discharging the condensed
water.
Figures 7 and 8 show balanced valves in which the pressure is balanced
between the valve C and the steam piston.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the precise
details herein described and illustrated, as they may be modified without departing
from the nature of my invention.
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. The combination and the general arrangement of the parts constituting
the apparatus for the automatic extraction of condensation water; substantially
as before described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
2. The general arrangement of the automatic extraction apparatus herein
described and particularly the application of the principal parts arranged to
form a parallelogram of any description, or to form a truncated pyramid having a
triangular base and straight but twisted sides.
3. The tappet or stop (see Figure 9) fixed to the valve box which receives the
movements resulting from the expansive arrangement, and limits the down
stroke of the beam, whilst compressing, at a given moment, the loading spring
in such a way as to preserve a uniform stroke to the valve under different
pressures.
4. The arrangement of controlling the closing of the valve by means of a beam
or lever for balancing the pressure to be overcome, which is either fixed to the
frame or placed directly upon the expansion valve automatically regulating
and varying the travel of the valve, at all pressures; the valves can be either
simple, or balanced as before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.