Improvements in Certain Steam-traps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
COMI DNIU DE BOILUATION.
Improvements in Certain Steam-traps.
We THOMAS OXLEY of Saint Mary's Parsonage, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster Engineer and ERNEST DUTCH. of 97 Dickenson Road, Rusholme,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, 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 :—
Our invention.relates to certain steam-traps for separating from steam contained
in or passing through steam-pipes, vessels or cavities any water which may result
from the condensation of steam therein or may be carried into such steam-pipes,
vessels or cavities with the steam passing therein.
The kind of steam-trap to which our invention relates is that in which the water
accumulating in the steam-trap from time to time is caused to exert an upward
pressure upon a body or float provided at its lower part with a valve and more than
counterbalanced by a weight and thus counteract the pressure exerted upon the
said valve by the steam and bring about the opening of such valve and so permit
the escape from the steam-trap of the water accumulated therein.
A steam-trap of the kind above mentioned is required to remain "open" to
permit the escape of water when there is no steam present in the steam-pipes,
vessels or cavities in conjunction with which it is employed and also in many cases
it is desirable that a steam-trap of this kind shall remain open to permit the escape
of water at all times at which the pressure exerted by the steam in the interior of
such steam-trap falls below a certain amount. It is therefore necessary that the
weight which is employed to counterbalance the weight of the valve and the body
or float employed in conjunction with such valve shall be capable of more than
counterbalancing the weight of the said valve. and body or float, so that the said
valve shall be raised from its seating whenever there may be no pressure of steam
in the steam-trap. As it is. also necessary that when. steam under pressure or under
the pressure at which the valve. aforesaid is required to be in contact with its
seating, passes into or is admitted to the steam-trap the said valve shall be brought
into contact with the seating in conjunction with which it acts in order that the
escape of steam may be prevented from taking place, it is necessary that the
pressure of such steam acting upon the said valve or upon the body or float
aforesaid shall be employed to press the said valve .into contact with the said
seating. The employment of the pressure of the steam passing into the steam-trap
to press the said valve into contact with its seating causes no or little difficulty in
the raising of such valve from its seating when a steam-trap of the kind above
mentioned is employed in conjunction with steam-pipes, vessels or cavities which
may contain steam at pressures not exceeding eighty pounds per square inch. If
however it is attempted to employ a steam-trap of the said kind in conjunction with
steam-pipes, vessels or cavities which may contain steam at high pressures such as
one hundred and fifty pounds per square inch the pressure of the steam upon the
valve of the steam-trap is so great that it is not practicable to employ in such
steam-trap a simple valve such as may be efficiently employed in a steam-trap to.
work with steam-pipes, vessels or cavities containing steam at a pressure not
exceeding eighty pounds per square inch.
Our invention consists firstly in improvements by which steam-traps of the kind
above mentioned may be rendered more efficient than they have hitherto been for
use in conjunction with steam-pipes, vessels or cavities to contain steam at pressures
higher than eighty pounds per square inch without being rendered complicated,
liable to derangement or inconveniently large or incapable of working efficiently

page_text: with steam-pipes, vessels or cavities containing steam at pressures below the
maximum pressure for which they are intended.
According to this part of our invention in constructing a steam-trap we arrange
the valve by which the opening for the escape of the water from the steam-trap is
closed when required to be closed, that while such valve is closed the pressure of
the steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity in conjunction with which the steam-
trap is employed acting on the whole area of such valve shall press such valve in
contact with the seating in conjunction with which it acts. In conjunction with
the said valve we arrange a piston upon which the pressure of the steam in the
steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which the steam-trap is applied, is allowed to act
whenever water is to be discharged from the steam-trap. To control the action of
the pressure of the steam upon the said piston we provide a valve which may be
termed a starting valve which is arranged to be lifted from the seating in con-
junction with which it acts, whenever water accumulates in the steam-trap to an
extent sufficient to bring about the lifting of such valve and this valve may be
moved either by means of a float simply or by means of a float and a weighted
lever acting in conjunction therewith. We also so arrange the valve employed to
close the opening by which accumulated water is to escape from the steam-trap
that when the pressure of the steam is allowed to act upon the piston above
mentioned such valve shall be placed in equilibrium or practically in equilibrium
by the downward pressure of the steam upon it being counterbalanced or practically
counterbalanced so that such valve may be raised from its seating by means of the
action of a body or float and a weighted lever acting in conjunction therewith
which may be the body or float and weighted lever employed to act in conjunction
with the starting valve above mentioned or another body or float and weighted
lever. We prefer however to so arrange the valves and piston which we employ
that the said piston shall be connected directly to the valve upon which it is
intended to act and the valve by which the pressure of the sieam from the steam-
pipe, vessel or cavity in conjunction with which the steam-trap is employed, is
allowed to act upon the said piston, shall act in conjunction with a seating formed
in the valve employed to close the opening by which the escape of accumulated
water from the steam-trap takes place and to employ one body or float and one
weighted lever to act upon both of such valves in the manner which we will now
proceed to describe in reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows one
form of steam-trap constructed according to our invention, Fig. I being a vertica!
section and Fig. 2 a vertical section showing upon a larger scale the piston and
valves employed according to this form of our invention and the part in which they
are mounted. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the
line (A) (B) of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the exterior of the lower portion
of the steam-trap illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 also serves to illustrate a further
part of our invention, which will be hereinafter described.
(a) is the chamber of the steam-trap in which the water produced by the
condensation of steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which the steam-
trap is applied or carried into such steam-pipe, vessel or cavity with the steam
passing therein accumulates and (b) is the body of float employed in the steam-trap.
The chamber (a) is closed at its upper end by a cover (c) secured to the casting (a¹)
in which such chamber (a) is formed, which casting (a) is formed with a circular
foot (a) upon which the steam-trap may stand. At its upper end the body or float (6)
is provided with a stud (6') which passes through a hole formed in a cross-bar (d)
secured to the wall of the chamber (a) so that the said body or float (b) is guided
in its upward and downward movements. The stud (6) is made of such length as
to limit the upward movement of the body or float (b) to the required extent.
its lower end the body or float (b) is provided with a projecting stud (63). (e) is
the valve by which when the parts of the steam-trap are in the position in which
they are indicated in Fig. 1 the egress of steam or water from the chamber (a) of
the steam-trap to the outlet-pipe (f) is prevented. The valve (e) acts in conjune-
tion with a seating (9') which is formed around an opening (1) communicating with
At

page_text: a chamber (i) formed in a casting (g) provided with screw-threads (9³) and screwed
into the casting (a¹). The casting (9) serves to close the lower end of the chamber (a)
except in so far as the portion closed by the valves which we employ is concerned.
In the casting (9) passages (k) are formed so that the chamber (i) is placed in
communication with the cavity (j) in the casting (a) with which cavity (j) the
outlet pipe (f) is in communication. To the valve (e) a piston (m) is connected by
means of the stem (n) which is formed in one casting with such valve (e) and
piston (m). The piston (m) fits and is capable of being slidden as will be herein-
after described in a cylinder (o) formed in the casting (g). Through the valve (e),
the stem (n) and the piston (m) is formed a passage (p) at the upper end of which
is formed a seating (/) in conjunction with which acts a valve (7) which at its
upper end is provided with a cup or socket (7) to receive the stud (6) secured to
the float or body (b) and at its lower end is provided with a stem (2) which passing
through the stem (") and through the piston (m) fits and is capable of being
slidden longitudinally through an opening formed in the portion (g) of the casting (g)
which closes the bottom of the cylinder (o). Flutes or grooves (93) are formed in
the upper portion of the stem (g) in order that such stem (4) may not entirely fill
the passage (p). The piston (m) is made to fit the cylinder (o) as closely as is
possible without the upward and downward movements of the said piston (m) in
such cylinder (o) being interfered with and in like manner the stem (72) is made to
fit the opening in the portion (g) of the casting (9) through which it passes as
closely as is possible without the upward and downward movements of such
stem (2) being interfered with so that leakage between the piston (m) and
stem (92) and the casting (9) is prevented as far as possible. As will be herein-
after pointed out the slight leakage which will necessarily take place around the
piston (m) and around the stem (9) although they closely fit the cylinder (o) and
the opening in the portion (93) of the casting (9) respectively, is necessary in the
working of the steam-trap. Against the lower end of the stem (92) bears an arm (r)
mounted upon a shaft (r) which is mounted at one end in a socket provided in the
interior of one side of the casting (a¹) and passes through the other side of the said
In the
casting (a) and a stuffing box of any suitable kind provided thereon.
stem (2) a very little distance below the lower surface of the piston (m) is secured
a pin (s) which if the valve (q) is raised arrives against the piston (m). Upon
that end of the shaft (1) which projects through the stuffing box above mentioned
is mounted an arm (2) upon which is secured a weight (3) which may be secured
in any suitable position upon the arm (r2). (a³) is a cover secured to the casting (a¹)
by set screws and serving to close the end () of the cavity (j) after the arm (r)
has been placed in position. The weight (3) is made of such mass and secured in
such position upon the arm (2) that when there is in the steam-pipe, vessel or
cavity to which the steam-trap is applied either no pressure or less than a certain
amount of pressure of steam the valves (e) and (g) and body or float (b) will be
raised so that the valve (e) is raised from its seating (g¹) in order that any water
which may be in or may pass into the chamber (a) will be allowed to escape from
such chamber (a) through the opening (h), the chamber (i) and passages (k) into
the chamber (5) and outlet pipe () and so escape from the steam-trap. The mass
of the weight () and its position on the arm (2) and the size of the seating (p') of
the valve (g) are so adjusted in relation to one another that when the steam-pipe,
vessel or cavity to which the steam-trap is to be applied contains steam at the
highest pressure which it is intended to contain, the weight (3) shall be sufficient
to raise the valve (g) from the seating (p') against the pressure exerted upon it by
the steam, whenever water accumulates in the chamber (a) to such height as is
necessary to relieve the valve (1) from a certain amount of the weight of the float
or body (b). The piston (m) is made equal or practically equal in area to the
opening (h) closed by the valve (e), but if it be considered desirable the piston (m)
may be made larger in area than the opening closed by the valve (e), and in some
cases if the steam-trap is intended for application to steam-pipes, vessels or cavities
to contain steam at comparatively low pressures the piston (m) may be made

page_text: smaller in area than the opening closed by the valve (e). The part of the stem (93).
which is intended to be slidden upwards-and-downwards.in.the opening formed in
the base (93) of the casting (g) and the opening through which it passes, are
preferably made smaller in diameter than the opening (p) in the valve (e) which
is closed by the valve (g).
The steam-trap illustrated in the accompanying, drawing, is connected to the
steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which it is to be applied by means of the pipe (t) and
when steam under a pressure exceeding a certain amount is contained in such
vessel, chamber or cavity and the parts of the steam-trap are in the positions in
which they are indicated in the accompanying drawing any water which may be
formed by the condensation of steam in such steam-pipe, vessel or cavity or may be
carried therein.along with the steam supplied thereto will pass through the pipe (t)
into the chamber (a) and accumulate in such chamber (a) until the upward pressure
exerted by such water upon the float or body (b) relieves the valve (9) of so much
of the weight of such float or body (b) as prevents the valve (g) from being raised
from the seating (p) by means of the weight (*). The weight (r) will then raise
the valve (g) from the seating (p¹) and allow water to pass down between the flutes
or grooves (9), between the stem. (q) and the walls of the passage (p) in the
valve (e) stem (n) and piston (m) through which such stem (n) passes, and so pass
into the cylinder (o) and act upon the piston (m). The pressure transmitted by
the water acting upon the piston (m) will practically counterbalance the pressure
exerted upon the valve (e) by the steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which
the steam-trap is applied, the valve (e) will be raised from the seating (9) by the
weight (3) acting by means of the lever (³) and the water which has accumulated
in the chamber (a) will pass out of such chamber (a) through the opening (h) the
chamber () and the passages (4) into the chamber or cavity (j) and thence to the
outlet pipe (/). When the escape of water from the chamber (a) allows the float
or body (b) to rest upon the valve (y) with the requisite portion of its weight the.
steam passing into the chamber (a) or its pressure acting upon the valve (e) will
overcome the upward pressure exerted upon such valve (e) by the weight (³) and
press such valve (e) against the seating (g') so as to prevent the further issue of
water or steam from the chamber (a) into the cavity (j) through the opening. (h).
Then as the water which is contained in or passes into the cylinder (o) through the
opening (p) and the passage (p) escapes around the piston (m) or around the
stem (9) from the cylinder (o) into the chamber or cavity (j) the valve (9) will
gradually pass into contact with the seating (p¹) and the egress of water or steain
from the chamber (a) into.the cavity (j) will be arrested until a further accumulation
of water in the chamber (a) brings, about the raising of the valve (g) from the
seating() in the manner above described. From the foregoing description it
will be obvious that the pressure to be overcome by the weight (3) in raising the
valve (9) from its seating (p') is only the weight of such. valve (9), the downward
pressure upon the valve (g) due to the steam, and that part of the weight of the.
float or body () which is not supported by the water in the chamber.(u). As
the opening in the seating (p') is only required to be of sufficient area to permit.
water to pass to act upon the lower surface of the piston (m) and is not intended
for the passage from the chamber. (a) of any material portion, of the water
accumulating therein, such valve (9) and the opening in the seating (p¹) may be.
made as small as may be necessary to enable such valve (9) to.be raised from the,
seating. (p) by a comparatively small 'weight (³) on the accumulation of a
comparatively small quantity of water in the chamber (a). As the downward.
pressure exerted by the steam and water upon the valve (e) is counterbalanced or
practically counterbalanced by the upward. pressure exerted by such steam and,
water upon the piston, (m). when the, said valve (e) is to be raised from..the
seating (g), the valve (e) and opening (h) may be made as large as may, be
necessary to allow the water, accumulating in the chamber (a) from time to time to.
be rapidly discharged.therefrom. As the valves (e) and (9) when. in, contact with
the seatings (g) and (p) respectively are pressed, upon, such, seatings by the pressure,
+

page_text: of the steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which the steam-trap is applied
there is little tendency for leakage to occur between such valves (e) and (9) and
their respective seatings (9') and (p'). Although the form of steam-trap illustrated
in the accompanying drawing being very efficient and simple in construction is that
which we prefer to employ, it is obvious that the principle of this part of our
invention which consists in causing the raising of a small valve from its seating to
bring about the counter-balancing or partial counter-balancing of a larger valve by
which the escape of water from a steam-strap may take place or the raising of such
larger valve from its seating may be carried into effect in other methods.
Steam-traps constructed according to this part of our invention may be made
convenient in size and may be readily constructed to work in connection_with
steam-pipes, vessels or cavities containing steam at very high pressures and are
efficient in allowing the escape of water while preventing the escape of steam at
lower pressures down to the lowest pressures at which it is intended that the steam-
traps shall remain closed to the passage of steam.
Our invention consists secondly in convenient and efficient means for preventing
dirt or particles of matter likely to injure or interfere with the proper action of the
valves of steam-traps of the kind above mentioned from passing into the interiors
of such steam-traps.
This part of our invention is illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing,
in which figure, (u) is a tube preferably of brass, copper or zinc and provided
throughout the upper and greater portion of its length with numerous small
holes (u) of such diameter that they will not permit to pass through them particles
so large as to be likely to injure or interfere with the action of the valves.of the
steam-trap to which this part of our invention is to be applied. In the lower end
of the tube (u) is secured a plug (u') which is formed with a flange (2) and with
screw-threads (3) capable of being screwed into corresponding screw threads
formed in the lower part of a chamber (v). In the upper end of the chamber (v)
are formed screw-threads. The chamber (v) is formed with a branch (v) projecting
at right angles to the other part of such chamber (v) and the branch (¹) is formed
with a flange (2) adapted to be secured by means of bolts to the flange (t) formed
upon the inlet pipe (t) of the steam-trap above described. The screw-threads
formed in the upper end of the chamber (v) enable such chamber (v) to be screwed
upon the pipe (w) by means of which the steam-trap is to be placed in connection
with the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity in conjunction with which it is to be employed.
The water or steam passing to the steam-trap is delivered by the pipe (w) into the
interior of the tube (u) and passes through the holes (u') formed in such tube (u)
into the space between the tube (u) and the wall of the chamber (♥) and by means
of the branch (v) the said water or steam passes into the pipe (t) and the
chamber (a) of the steam-trap. The water or steam passing to the steam-trap
being required to pass from the interior of the tube (u) to the outside thereof any
particles of dirt or other matter likely to injure or interfere with the action of the
valves of the steam-trap which may be contained in such water or steam will be
retained in the tube (u) and so be prevented from passing into the interior of the
steam-trap. Whenever dirt or other matter has accumulated in the interior of the
tube (u) to such an extent that the passage of steam or water from the interior of
the tube (u) to the exterior thereof is interfered with or as often as may be
considered desirable the plug (u¹) may be unscrewed from the chamber (v) so that
the tube (u) may be removed with such plug (u') from the interior of the
chamber (v) and emptied of the dirt or other matter which has accumulated in it
and then replaced in the said chamber (v).
The employment of the chamber (v) and flange (v2) as a means of connecting.
the steam-trap to the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity in conjunction with which it is to
be employed facilitates the connection of the steam-trap with the said steam-pipe,
vessel or cavity as the pipe (w) may be secured to the said steam-pipe, vessel or
cavity and then the chamber (v) may be screwed upon the said pipe (w) and

page_text: finally the flange (t¹) of the steam-trap may be secured to the flange (²) of the
chamber (v).
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of, our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a steam-trap of the kind above mentioned the combination of two valves
employed substantially in the manner hereinbefore described, one of which valves
being raised by the action of a float or the action of a float aided by a weighted
lever, from the seating in conjunction with which it acts, allows the pressure of the
steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which the steam-trap is applied to act
upon a piston connected to the other of such valves which being then placed in
equilibrium or practically in equilibrium and raised from the seating in conjunction
with which it acts by the pressure of such steam and the action of a weighted
lever, permits the escape of accumulated water from the steam-trap substantially in
the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawing.
2. In a steam-trap of the kind above mentioned, the combination of two valves,
such as (e) and (g), and a piston such as (m) so arranged in conjunction with a
float or body such as (b) and a weight such as (3) acting by means of a lever such
as (2) and arm such as (r) that when in consequence of an accumulation of water
in the steam-trap the valve (g) is raised from the seating in conjunction with which
it acts the pressure of the steam in the steam-pipe, vessel or cavity to which the
steam-trap is applied, shall be allowed to act upon the piston (m) so as to counter-
balance or practically counterbalance the downward pressure of the steam upon the
valve (e) so that such valve (e) may be raised by means of the weight ()
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described in reference
to and illustrated in and by the accompanying drawing.
3. In a steam-trap of the kind above mentioned, the combination with the float
or body (b) and weight (r) of the valves (e) and (9) and piston (m); arranged,
employed and operating for the purposes and substantially in the manner herein-
before described in reference to and illustrated in and by the accompanying
drawing.
4. For use in conjunction with a steam-trap of the kind above mentioned the
tube (u) formed with holes (u) and the chamber (v) to contain such tube (2);
arranged and employed in conjunction with each other for the purposes and
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described in reference to Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of September 1893.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.