Year: 1888

page_text: We, WILLIAM MATTHEWS and JOSEPH YATES both of 35 Lover Street Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Ventilating and Sanitary Engineers, 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 :-
This Invention relates to that class of Steam Traps in which the escape or discharge
of the water of condensation is controlled by a valve operated by and connected
with a hollow ball and lever, and it has for its object to prevent sticking of the
valve.
These Improvements consist in a novel construction and arrangement of the valve
as illustrated by the accompanying two sheets of Drawings on which Fig. 1, represents a
vertical section; and Figs. 2 and 3 sectional plans of steam traps having our
Improvements applied thereto. Fig 4 is a cross section and Fig. 5 a longitudinal
section of the valvo shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The valve consists of two discs one of which is stationary while the other is capable
of being turned upon its axis in contact with the fixed disc. Each of the discs is
perforated in such a manner that, by the movement of the movable disc, the holes
may be coincident as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the valve is consequently open, or
non-coincident as shown in Fig. 1, when the valve is closed.
The movable disc A is connected to or formed upon the end of a short tube B the
other end of which is connected to the hollow ball lever C. The holes in the respective
dises are relatively in such a position that when the ball D is in the position shown in
Fig. 1, they do not coincide, but when the ball sinks, they are concentric. Therefore,
when the ball floats, the valve is closed and when it sinks the valve opens. The
movable disc A may be internal to the fixed disc E as in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, or
external thereto as in Fig. 3; in each case the necessary niodifications of construction
are substantially as represented.

page_text: When the movable disc is internal, the water of condensation or the steam as the
case may be, can pass direct through the perforation of the two discs to the short
tube B, and the hollow lever to the interior of the ball. When the movable disc is
external, the steam or water can pass through the perforations in the discs into the
interior of the hood or chamber F and thenco through perforations in B to the interior
of the ball.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the valve, represented in Figs. 1, and 2, is shown in transverso
and longitudinal section respectively on an enlarged scale. In each of the Figures
one circular perforation in each disc is shown but we desire it to be understood that we
do not limit ourselves to the form or number of the perforations.
The action of the operating device for controlling the valve is well understood but
may be shortly explained. If the ball is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 and full of
steam, the valve being closed, the steam will condense and water will enter the hole in
the bottom of the ball and cause it to sink and thereby open the valve. Any water
there may be behind the valve will now be forced by the pressure of the steam through
the valve and up the dip pipe in tho ball until the water has been expelled, when
steam will enter the ball and displace the water therein. The ball then becomes
buoyant and, regaining its original position, closes the valvo and the cycle is
repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declaro that what
wo claim is :
(1). In a steam trap having its valve operated by a hollow ball and lover, a valve
consisting of two perforated dises one of which is fixed and one of which has its position
controlled by the position of the hollow ball; substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2). In a steam trap, the construction arrangement and combination of a double
dise valve, a hollow ball and lever, and a connecting tube; substantially as herein before
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this day of March A.D. 188s
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.