IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brookes, of No. 37, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent and Registration Agent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS." A communication
from abroad by Charles James Thornton, of the Thornton Woollen Mill
Company, of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia.
Sealed the 22nd August 1879, and dated the 26th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brookes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1879.
WILLIAM BROOKES, of No. 37, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
County of Middlesex, Patent and Registration Agent.
TRAPS." (A communication from abroad by Charles James Thornton, of tho
Thornton Woollen Mill Company, of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia.)
In carrying the improvements into effect a chamber is employed adapted to
receive by a suitable passage the water formed by the condensation of the sleam or
otherwise. This chamber is provided with an outlet passage, with valve thereto
for the outflow of this condensed water. This valve is connected by suitable con-
necting links with a slide piston capable of slight motion in a small cylinder, and
such link or links also bear a stone or other suitable float, the weight of which is
in part counter-balanced by an adjustably weighted lever or other counter-balanco
applied to the upper slide piston outside the chamber. The operating areas of the
outlet valve and of the slide above referred to are about equal, or as nearly so as
possible. As the water of condensation accumulates in the chamber the float therein
becomes raised thereby to open the outlet valve until sufficient condensed water
or other liquid has passed away by that valve to the outlet passage for that
purpose.
When the excess of the weight of the float in the chamber over that of the
counterbalance ceasing to be borne by the water or other liquid, the descent of that
float admits of the outlet valve closing the outlet passage.

page_text: The Drawing shows by sectional view a steam trap arranged according to my
Invention. a is the chamber for receiving by a passage b the water formed by the
condensation of steam, and c is the outlet passage therefrom when permitted by
the opening of the valve d to such passage, and e is the float in the chamber a for
effecting the raising of such valve & and the consequent opening of the passage c
as water of condensation rises by accumulation in the chamber a. The float e and
the valve d are connected together by the link f, which is formed in two parts,
connected by joint at f', and at its upper end is connected to the small slido or
piston g, and this piston g is capable of slight motion in a vertical direction in the
small cylinder / formed in the upper part or lid of the chamber a. The upper end
of this cylinder h is packed at h¹ to prevent the escape of steam between the
piston and the chamber h, and this packing is also formed to act as a stop at h²
to prevent the piston g from being blown or drawn out too far. The upper end
of the piston g outside the chamber h is by the upper end of the link f and link i
connected to one end of a lever; which is supported to rock on the axis j' carried
by the fixed standard k, and at its other end the lever ; carries a counterbalance
weight which is adjustable in position on that lever to the extent of counter-
balance to the float e desired; a³ is a stationary guide in the chamber a for the
link or spindle f.
9
As the water of condensation accumulates in the chamber a the float e therein
becomes raised thereby to open the outlet valve d until sufficient condensed water
or other liquid has passed away by that valve to the outlet passage c for that
purpose.
When the excess of the weight of the float e in the chamber a over that of the
counterbalance ceases to be borne by the water or other liquid, the descent of that
float e admits of the outlet valve d closing the outlet passage c until a fresh
accumulation in the chamber a arises, so as to lift the valve e sufficiently to raise
the valve d, and so on.

page_text: Having thus described the Invention as communicated to me I would have it
understood that what I claim is the arranging or combining parts forming a steam
trap, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brookes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM BROOKES. (L.S.)