IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING THE WATER OF CONDENSATION FROM STEAM PIPES; STEAM CYLINDERS, JACKETTED PANS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH JOHNSON of number 30 Norfolk Street, Mile End, London E in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING THE WATER OF CONDENSATION
FROM STEAM PIPES; STEAM CYLINDERS, JACKETTED PANS AND THE LIKE" to be as
follows:-
The apparatus according to my Invention consists of an improved device or
contrivance for performing the functions of what is technically known as a
trap," as indicated in the title of this my said Invention.
" steam
I am aware that the expansive and contractive properties of metals under the
action of heat and cold respectively have been already utilised in the construction
of certain. types of the above referred to "steam traps." But, hitherto such
apparatus have possessed the following deteriorating features; inasmuch, as no
efficient, thoroughly reliable provision has been made to ensure the said types of
apparatus being rendered automatic or self-acting under the altered conditions
arising from variations in the steam pressure and consequent temperature thereof.
Or when this has been attempted, the efficiency of said apparatus has been
impaired, owing to the risk of structural derangement.
Now, the above mentioned objectionable features are effectually removed in the
device or contrivance according to my Invention which is, generally, as follows:
that is to say, it comprises an enclosing chamber of iron, preferentially, centrally
arranged within which is a thin copper tube or a tube of other metal having greatly
increased expansive properties relatively to that of the metal of which the
surrounding chamber or vessel first named, is made. The steam from which the
water of condensation is to be drained, passes down said internal copper or other
tube. The bottom of said tube is fitted with a gun metal plug or plug of other
suitable metal; and, above the top of said plug the tube is pierced circumferentially
with a series of exit holes. The plug before mentioned, when the apparatus is in
its normal condition-the internal tube being then in expansion-closes the valve-
way or discharge passage from the enclosing chamber, and vice versa.

page_text: Further, with a view to allow for the altered conditions which arise when the
pressure of steain varies, the internal tube before mentioned, is provided with an
expansion joint" preferentially of copper, and of the well known construction
adopted in main and other steam pipes.
"
The apparatus according to my Invention, previously to being fixed in position
is set or adjusted to work at a given pressure of steam, the variations which
may afterwards arise therefrom, being compensated for by means of the above
mentioned "expansion joint."
The apparatus according to my Invention also possesses a feature of advantage
additional to those already pointed out and which consists in its allowing of the
water of condensation being passed from the apparatus into a feed tank, from
which it may be supplied to the boiler as part of the "feed" and at a reduction of
pressure of say only half of that existing in the boiler.

page_text: +1
I JOSEPH JOHNSON of 30 Norfolk Street Globe Road, Mile End, London E in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING THE WATER OF CONDENSATION
FROM STEAM PIPES, STEAM CYLINDERS, JACKETTED PANS AND THE LIKE, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
i
The apparatus according to my Invention consists of an improved device or
contrivance for performing the functions of what is technically known as a
"steam
trap" as indicated in the title of my said Invention Said device or contrivance
also allows of the water of condensation ejected from the steam trap being utilised
in a specially advantageous manner as herein after described.
°
I am well aware that the expansive and contractive properties of metals under
the action of heat and cold respectively, have been already utilised in the construc-
tion of certain types of steam traps. But, hitherto such apparatus have possessed
generally deteriorating features arising from their not including an efficient,
thoroughly reliable provision to ensure said types of apparatus being rendered
automatic or self-acting under the altered conditions arising from variations in the
pressure of the steam and consequent temperature thereof. Or, when this latter
object has been attempted, the means hitherto employed have been such as to
impair the efficiency of the apparatus employed owing to the risk of structural
derangement. The objectionable features above referred to are effectually removed
in the apparatus constructed and arranged according to my Invention, and of which
the following is a general description; reference being had to the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
The steam from which the water of condensation is to be drained, enters the
apparatus at A and passes through grids B in the upper part D¹ of the expansion
valve forming the top of the expansive tube D, the latter being made of thin
copper, brass, or other metal having greatly increased expansive properties relatively
to the metal of which the surrounding chamber or casing C, is composed. The
steam, and water of condensation pass down the expansive tube D, all impurities
or foreign matters being retained in the interior of casing C; and, are blown out,
as required, through the nozzle F at bottom of said casing.
Now, the tube D when expanded by the heat of the steam, presses the gun metal
plug valve or a plug valve of other suitable metal-E into its seat. When how-
ever the water of condensation by reason of its temperature being lower than that.
of the steam from which it is condensed, causes the tube D to contract, the valve E
is thereby opened and the water is ejected or emitted through the nozzle F
aforesaid.
The expansive tube D is pierced at its lower part, as shewn, with a number of
small apertures a through which the water of condensation passes into the casing O

page_text: aforesaid, and entirely surrounds the expansive tube D; whereby the expansion
and contraction of said tube D and corresponding movement of the valve E are
rendered extremely sensitive to comparatively slight variations of temperature.
The apparatus according to my Invention, previously to being fixed in position,
is set or adjusted to work at a given pressure of steam, the variations which may
afterwards arise therefrom, being compensated for by operating the spindle G
'arranged to be fitted with and worked by a hand wheel or equivalent therefor.
Said spindle G is formed with a screw thread and fitted as shewn, in order to allow
'of, and partake with, the "travel" or "play" of the expansion tube D, to the
upper part D¹ D' and B B of which it is connected with, or forms part. Thus, in
the arrangement according to my Invention as above described, when the apparatus
has been adjusted-say for instance in connection with boiling purposes-it will be
found to answer with equal efficiency from the boiling point up to any pressure or
temperature of steam, without requiring re-adjustment.
I am also enabled by the use of the apparatus according to my Invention to
eject the water of condensation at a pressure equal to half the initial steam pressure.
Said water may be ejected from the apparatus above described into a feed tank,
whence it may be supplied to the steam boiler.
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
31
Firstly-The herein described apparatus substantially as, and for the purposes,
'set forth.
:
Secondly: The novel device or contrivance comprised and indicated by the
letters of reference B, B; D¹ D'; G, by the use of which I effect both the adjust-
ment, and the automatic working of, the apparatus according to my Invention,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dth L
1007