IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS
Year: 1884

page_text: We GEORGE GORDON PICKING and WILLIAM HOPKINS both of Bow Road in
the County of Middlesex Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS to be as follows:-
•
This Invention relates to improvements in steam traps or apparatus employed
to automatically discharge the water of condensed steam and air from steam
engines, steam pipes, drying cylinders coils and all descriptions of engines and
apparatus and has for its object increasing the certainty of action by arranging the
float inside the box or cistern to work on a fulcrum and so gain extra power by the
leverage to open or close the end of the discharge pipe against any pressure of
steam or other cause that might tend to prevent the opening or closing of the end.
of the discharge pipe at the proper time.
The outer box or cistern may be made round, square, or rectangular and the float
inside arranged to suit the form of the outer box, the discharge pipe is taken from
near the bottom to the top of the outer box and arranged so that when the innor
float and the outer box are both full of water the float sinks and opens the end of
the discharge pipe, the pressure of steam then drives out the water in the float
and as soon as sufficient is discharged the float rises steadily and by so doing closes
the end of the discharge pipe and prevents any loss of steam or blowing through
and it does not open again until sufficient water has accumulated in the float to
sink it.
If found necessary a suitable valve may be attached to the float or to the end of
the discharge pipe to ensure it being perfectly tight when closed.
all
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page_text: GEORGE GORDON PICKING and WILLIAM HOPKINS both of Bow Road in the
County of Middlesex Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS" 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 improvements in steam traps or apparatus employed
to automatically discharge the water. of condensed steam and air from steam
engines steam pipes drying cylinders coils and all descriptions of engines and
apparatus And has for its object increasing the certainty of action by arranging
the float inside the box or cistern to work on a fulcrum and so gain extra power
by the leverage to open or close the end of the discharge pipe against any pressure
of steam or other cause that might tend to prevent the opening or closing of the
end of the discharge pipe at the proper time.
The outer box or cistern may be made round square or rectangular and the float
inside arranged to suit the form of the outer box. The discharge pipe is taken
from near the bottom to the top of the outer box and arranged so that when the
inner float and the outer box are both full of water the float sinks and opens the
.end of the discharge pipe the pressure of steam then drives out the water in the
float and as soon as sufficient is discharged the float rises steadily and by so doing
closes the end of the discharge pipe and prevents any loss of steam or blowing
through and it does not open again until sufficient water has accumulated in the
float to sink it. If found necessary a suitable valve may be attached to the
float or to the end of the discharge pipe to ensure it being perfectly tight when
closed.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood we shall now more
particularly describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the Figures on
the annexed Drawing the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a section of a steam trap constructed according to our Invention Fig. 2
is a similar section but shewing the steam trap when fitted with a valve on the end
of the discharge pipe. Referring to Fig. 1 A is the outer box of the steam trap
B is a cover bolted on to same C is the float placed inside the outer box and freely
moving up or down working on the trunnions D which drop into recesses in the
side of the outer box. The discharge pipe E is attached at the upper end to the
outer box A. The water enters at F and filling the outer space G it runs over into
the inside of the float C and causes it to sink this uncovers the end of the, pipe E
(or when the end of pipe is fitted with a valve the float sinking draws the valve
off its seat) the pressure of steam then acting on the surface of the water contained
in the float discharges the water up the pipe E and from the outlet H when
sufficient water is blown out of the float it rises and by so doing closes the valve I
or end of pipe J which remains closed until sufficient water accumulates in the
float to again sink it.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect we would observe that what we consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is
Firstly. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
steam trap substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the

page_text: Secondly. The arrangement of an inner cistern or float working on a fulcrum or
trunnions substantially as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. In steam traps in which the float works on a fulcrum or trunnions, the
arrangement whereby the discharge pipe is brought near the bottom of outer box
in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Fourthly. In combination with the discharge pipe outer box and float as described
the use of the valve to close the end of the discharge pipe substantially as
herein before described.
Dated this 92nd day of Anavat 1881
GEORGE GODON PICKING.
W. HOPKINS.