Improvements in Steam traps and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam traps and the like.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER CLARK, of 15, Fairthorn Road, Charlton, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the complete separation of water from steam
without any loss of the latter. It consists of a suitable vessel placed to receive the
condensed water with an automatic air inlet and outlet valve for water.
When the water increases or rises in the trap it lifts a hollow ball or float that
operates an equilibrium or balance slide-valve, placed in any convenient position,
and this by opening an outlet allows the water to be forced into a second compart-
ment in the trap, which I will call the condensing chamber, and which always
remains nearly full of water, by the pressure derived from the first chamber.
The peculiar construction of my improved balance slide-valve is such that it is not
affected in its action by high pressure, as it is supported on, or sliding upon, fine
projecting ridges around the outlet. This formation of seat also removes any grit
or sediment in the water around the valve. An air valve is placed in the top cover
of the trap that automatically allows the discharge of all air from the trap when
the steam is turned on. This air valve is constructed of a small pin with a conical
seat attached to the centre of an arched copper band confined at each end so that
as it expands under the influence of the steam, it closes the air valve. When the
steam is shut off the band contracts and opens the valve so as to admit a small
supply of air.
A small cover is bolted on a hole in the lower side of the condensing chamber, to
allow the back nut of the balance valve to be fixed.
It is obvious that the shape of the trap may be varied and also made without the
condensing chamber without altering the nature of my invention. The balance
slide valve may be further protected from sediment or impurities in the water, by a
shield of wire gauze placed around the valve. The arm of the hollow ball or float
is furnished with an adjustable joint for regulating the angle of the float to the
valve.
Dated this 26th day of March 1800
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam-traps and the like.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER CLARK, of 15, Fairthorn Road, Charlton, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object the complete separation of water from steam
without any loss of the latter, and consists of a suitable vessel placed to receive the
condensed water with an automatic air inlet and outlet valve and an automatic
outlet valve for water.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings

page_text: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve seat.
a, is a vessel or chamber for receiving the condensed water. When the water
increases or rises in the chamber a, it lifts the hollow ball, or float f, and its lever as
in ordinary steam traps. It then operates the equilibrium or balancé slide valve b,
placed in any convenient position; and this by opening an outlet allows the water to
be forced into the coil c, in the second compartment a.
This second compartment, can either be made in one piece with a, or separate
therefrom. For convenience I prefer to make it separate and attach it to ȧ, by the
set screws k. Inside the chamber a, is the coil c, formed of thin copper or other
suitable metal tube and attached by the coupling nut d, to the outer end of the
is the cylinder fixed on the end of trap as shewn, to form the
chamber, and protect the coil c. Both can readily be removed at pleasure for
examination or cleaning.
outlet valve b.
e,
The peculiar construction of my improved balance slide valve b, is such that it is
not affected by high pressure, as it is supported by or sliding upon fine projecting
ridges i Fig. 3 around the outlet which by diminishing the friction and allowing the
pressure of the steam to act beneath as well as above the valve door minimises the
effect of high pressure.
This formation of seat not only forms a balanced valve but also effectually
removes any sediment or grit in the water by simply pushing it in front of the valve.
The valve b, may be further protected from any large particles of cement or other
substances that sometimes come from joints and the like, by a guard of fine wire
gauze which can be placed around it if desired.
An air valve 9, is placed in top cover h, which automatically discharges all air
when the steam is turned on. The valve seat is screwed in top cover h, and made
to move up and down and set or adjusted as required while the trap is at work. A
lock-nut is provided on top.
Two metal studs m, m, are screwed into the lower side of cover h, which support
an arched copper band n. It will readily be seen that the valve seating and
valve g, can be moved up or down until the pin head of the valve rests or nearly
rests upon the arched copper band n, confined at each end by the two metal
studs m, m.
When the steam is turned on, all the air is discharged through the
seat g' of the air valve g, which opens downwards.
All the condensed water collected in the steam pipes is then forced into the trap
through the port p. The water then rises to a higher level carrying the float with
it which operates or opens the balanced slide valve b, and allows the water at high
temperature to be forced through the cooling coil c, in the second chamber. Then
the steam comes last, the pressure of which together with the combined action of the
expansion of the arched copper band through high temperature automatically closes
the air valve 'g.
The balanced slide valve b, after the rush of water has been discharged returns
to its normal position, and allows a fresh supply of water to accumulate, for it is 80
made that the valve and float remain at rest till the water rises when the ball
leverf, again opens the valve b.
In cases of very high pressure I prefer to make the hollow ball or float with a
screw opening to allow of the ball, being filled with cork sawdust or other suitable
light material so as to prevent the float from being injured by the pressure.
It will be seen that there is an adjustable joint s, in the arm of the ball lever
which enables the ball to be adjusted to any preferred level of water, or pressure of
steam.
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 :-
1. In a steam trap and for similar purposes, the automatic equilibrium valve b,
having a seat formed of projecting ridges and an adjustable lever actuated by a

page_text: 2. In a steam trap the automatic air valve
and studs as herein explained and set forth.
with arched metal expansion band
3. In a steam trap the cooling coil c, formed of thin metal tube as herein
explained and set forth.
4. In a steam trap the general arrangement, construction and combination of parts
as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1890.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.