IM- PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING AIR AND WATER OF CONDENSATION FROM VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STEAM REDUCING OR DIMINISHING VALVE, AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DAMPERS OF STEAM BOILER FURNACES
Year: 1874

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John James Royle, of Pendleton, in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING AIR AND WATER OF
CONDENSATION FROM VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STEAM REDUCING OR DIMINISHING
VALVE, AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DAMPERS OF STEAM BOILER
FURNACES."
caled the 8th June 1875, and dated the 9th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Royle at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th December 1874.
I, JOHN JAMES ROYLE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster,
5 Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING AIR
AND WATER OF CONDENSATION FROM VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STEAM REDUCING OR.

page_text: DIMINISHING VALVE, AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DAMPERS OF
STEAM BOILER FURNACES," to be as follows:-
The essential feature of my Invention, which with slight modification
is applicable to the purposes of discharging air and water of con-
densation from vessels containing steam as a steam reducing or
diminishing valve, and for automatically controlling the dampers of
steam boiler furnaces, consists in the employment of an open bottomed
condensing chamber (herein-after called the condensing chamber), fitted
to rise and fall in a suitable reservoir of water (hereinafter called the
reservoir). Steam is admitted by suitable means in each case into and
beneath such condensing chamber, and the buoyancy thus obtained is
employed to actuate the necessary valves or damper in one direction,
whilst the condensation constantly taking place within such chamber is
taken advantage of to actuate the valves or damper in the contrary
direction.
As applied to the purpose of discharging air and the water of
condensation from vessels containing steam I mount a plug cock (by
preference formed with a steam space surrounding the plug) upon the
side of the reservoir in which the condensing chamber rises and falls, the
outlet of which cock is provided with a bent pipe leading downwards to
the bottom of the reservoir, thence underneath the edge of the con-
densing chamber, and upwards within such condensing chamber to near
the top, when such chamber is in its lowest position. The plug of the
cock before mentioned is connected by a lever or key to the top of the
condensing chamber. The air is discharged through a valve in the top
of the condensing chamber opening outwards, and ordinarily kept open
by resting upon an expansion bar within the condensing chamber. This
expansion bar is constructed of two metals possessing different degrees
of expansion, say iron and brass, the two metals being rivited or other-
wise fastened together, or which I prefer the iron should be cast as a
rigid bar and secured to the top of the condensing chamber. The brass
bar is then sprung in tightly between suitable abutment pieces at the
extremities of the iron bar. The spindle of the air valve before
mentioned bears upon the brass bar, which when cold is nearly straight,
and such air valve is so held open to allow of the free escape of the air.
The apparatus so constructed being now connected to the vessel or steam
pipe from which the air and water of condensation are desired to be
withdrawn, its action may be thus described. The condensing chamber

page_text: by its own gravity sinks to the bottom of the reservoir and so opens the
plug cock. The steam being now turned on the air is chased out
through the open cock and bent pipe into the condensing chamber,
whence it finds a free escape to the outer atmosphere through the now
open air valve. All the air being thus discharged the water next finds
its way through the cock and bent pipe to the under side of the con-
densing chamber, but as such condensing chamber is wholly without
bottom it simply adds to the quantity of water in the reservoir in which
the chamber, is immersed. An overflow pipe is fixed to the reservoir,
down which the surplus water flows. All the water having been now
discharged the steam follows, and escaping bencath the condensing
chamber heats the expansion bar, and the brass expanding more than
the iron is forced out of its nearly streight form into a slightly bowed
shape, which allows the air valve to fall to its seat. The outlet from the
top of the condensing chamber being thus closed, the steam rapidly
displaces the water within the condensing chamber until such chamber
rises and so nearly closes the plug cock, but preserving just sufficient
opening to supply the loss arising from the slight condensation of steam
always going on within the chamber. The condensing chamber has
therefore a constant tendency to settle down in the reservoir, and if any
water of condensation now accumulates within the pipe leading to the
apparatus so as to cut off this necessary supply of steam, the condensing
chamber gradually settles down and opens the cock, and permits such
water to escape until the steam again arrives, when the condensing
chamber immediately resumes its former position.
Instead of a plug cock an ordinary conical valve and lever may be
used, or a valve with screwed spindle and lever, or for low pressures the
condensing chamber may bear directly upon a circular slide valvo
mounted within the condensing chamber, the inlet pipe in this case
rising through the bottom of the reservoir in the centre of the con-
densing chamber. And in lieu of the expansion air valve just described,
the air valve may be held open by a spindle passing to the bottom of the
reservoir, the amount of opening being so proportioned as to pass the air
but to close immediately the steam follows. I wish it to be understood
that an open bottomed condensing chamber constructed in accordance
with my Invention is capable of being used in those descriptions of
steam traps in which the body of a three-way cock is turned upon a
fixed taper plug by means of an enclosed float, the open bottomed

page_text: condensing chamber in this case being employed as a substitute for the
hollow float and discharge pipe hitherto used in such steam trap.
As a steam diminishing or reducing valve the condensing chamber
through a suitable lever bears upon the spindle of an inlet valve
mounted in the supply pipe from which the steam is to be diminished or
reduced. A small escape valve is placed beneath the condensing
chamber connected to the reduced pressure side of the inlet valve, and
weighted to the pressure to which the steam is desired to be reduced.
The condensing chamber, as in the former instance, settles down within
the reservoir of water, and allows the steam to pass the inlet valve freely
until the desired reduced pressure is obtained. If this pressure is
exceeded the escape valve commences to blow, and the steam escaping
therefrom buoys up the condensing chamber and so partially closes the
inlet valve in the steam pipe, and prevents it passing more steam than
the pressure to which the small escape valve is weighted. For large
sizes it will be necessary to substitute an equilibrium or partial equili-
brium valve for the single inlet valve herein-before alluded to, and
instead of the escape valve itself being within the condensing chamber
it may be situated outside thereof, the steam in this case being conducted
into the condensing chamber by a small escape pipe.
Applied to the regulation of the dampers of steam boiler furnaces, the
condensing chamber is connected to an equilibrium damper, which I
prefer to set so as to swivel on horizontal centres. An escape valve,
weighted to the working pressure of the boiler, is fixed either under the
condensing chamber or, which I prefer, to the side of the outer vessel or
reservoir, and the steam conducted from it to the inside of the condensing
chamber by a bent pipe similar to the one herein-before described. The
condensing chamber, as in the two former applications of my principle,
settles to the bottom of the vessel, and in so doing opens the damper to
its widest extent. If the working pressure be exceeded the escape valve
opens and permits the steam to accumulate beneath the condensing
chamber until such condensing chamber becomes buoyant, and in rising
closes the damper, which now remains closed until the pressure in the
boiler becomes reduced, when the escape valve falls and the steam within
the chamber condensing such condensing chamber sinks in the reservoir
and again opens the damper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John James Royle in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Joпn
JAMES ROYLE, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John James Royle, Her
special licence that I, the said John James Royle, my executors;
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John James
Royle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should, at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING AIR AND WATER OF
CONDENSATION FROM VESSELS CONTAINING STEAM, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STEAM REDUCING OR DIMINISHING VALVE,
AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE DAMPERS OF STEAM BOILER FURNACES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John James Royle,
my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John James Royle, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The essential feature of my Invention, which with slight modifications;
is applicable to the purposes of discharging air and water of conden->
sation from vessels containing steam, as a steam reducing or diminishing:

page_text: valve and for automatically controlling the dampers of steam boiler
furnaces, consists in the employment of an open-bottomed condensing
chamber (herein-after called the condensing chamber), fitted to rise and
fall in a suitable reservoir of water (herein-after called the reservoir).
Steam is admitted by suitable means in each case into and beneath such
condensing chamber, and the buoyancy thus obtained is employed to
actuate the necessary valves or damper in one direction, whilst the con-
densation constantly taking place within such chamber is taken advantage
of to actuate the valves or damper in the contrary direction.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more thoroughly
understood and more readily carried into effect, I have hereunto annexed
two Sheets of Drawings illustrative of the same, and will now proceed to
describe my improvements, reference being had to the several letters
marked thereon and herein-after mentioned.
The principle upon which my Invention is based will be best under-
stood by a consideration of the Diagrams 1 and 2, where a is an open-
bottomed vessel, which I call the condensing chamber, arranged to rise
and fall in a reservoir of water 6 in a somewhat similar manner to gas
holder. The top of this vessel is connected to any convenient form of
valve or tap c upon the pipe d, the construction of such tap or valve
being immaterial so long as it is capable of being opened and closed by
the rise and fall of the condensing chamber a in the reservoir b.
If the apparatus is to be used for discharging water of condensation
from steam pipes or other vessels containing steam the tap or valvo c is
connected to such vessel by the pipe d', and the outlet end of the pipe d
carried up into the interior of the condensing chamber a. In Diagram 1
the condensing, chamber a is shewn at its lowest position, the tap or
valve c being open and the apparatus ready for action. If there be any
water of condensation in the steam pipe d' or other vessel to which the
apparatus is attached such water flows out through the open tap or
valve c into the interior of the condensing chamber a, but as such con-
densing chamber is without bottom the water entering it simply adds to
the quantity of water already contained in the reservoir b; the overflow
water escaping by the pipe e. As soon however as all the water has been
discharged the steam which follows accumulates within the condensing
chamber a, gradually displacing the water contained therein through the
open bottom into the reservoir b and down the overflow pipe e until such
.

page_text: off the surplus water. F is an expansion bar, consisting of two flat strips
of metal possessing different ratios of expansion (say iron and brass),
riveted together along their whole length. This expansion bar is secured
inside the condensing chamber at one of its extremities by the bolt or
rivet F', taking care that the metal (brass in this case) which expands
most is placed uppermost, and the other extremity of this expansion bar
is designed to lift the air valve G (which opens outwards) off its seating
when the apparatus is cold (in consequence of such expansion bar being
then straight, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2), and to permit such air
valve G to fall to its seat when the apparatus becomes heated by the
steam entering the condensing chamber and causing such bar (owing to
the unequal expansion of the two metals of which it is composed) to
bend, as seen in Fig. 2.
The action of this steam trap is as follows:-When the steam is
turned on into the pipe or other vessel to which the inlet end D is con-
nected the air first escapes through the plug cock C and bent pipe D'
into the condensing chamber A, and thence through the now open air
valve G to the outer atmosphere. The water which next follows is also
discharged into the condensing chamber A, and escape therefrom by
the overflow pipe E in the same manner as described in reference to the
Diagrams 1 and 2. All the water being now discharged from the steam
pipes the steam follows and rapidly heats the expansion bar F, causing
it to assume its bent form, and so permitting the air valve G to close,
when the condensing chamber A. rises and closes the cock C, the sub-
sequent action being the same as that herein-before described in reference
to the Diagrams 1 and 2.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the same letters of referenco are used to represent
corresponding parts to those illustrated and described in reference to
Figs. 1 and 2, and the action of the condensing chamber A is the same,
but the plug cock in this case is substituted by a valve H, the spindle of
which passes through the valve body, and such valve H is closed by its
spindle being in contact with the condensing chamber A, which is hinged
at H', such valve H being pushed open by the pressure of steam when
the condensing chamber falls to the position seen in dotted lines in
Fig. 4, and the air and water of condensation will then flow down the
bent pipe D into the condensing chamber. The air valve I in this
modification is not shewn worked by unequal expansion of metals as in
Figs. 1 and 2, but has a long spindle I' attached to it which comes in
J

page_text: contact with the bottom of the reservoir B before the condensing
chamber A has sunk to the lowest point in such reservoir, and so is held
open until the pressure of steam accumulating in the condensing chamber
is sufficient to render such chamber buoyant when the air valve falls to
its seat as the chamber carrying the valve seating rises towards it.
In Figs. 5 and 6 (Sheet 1) representing respectively a vertical section
and plan of another modification of my Invention, the condensing
chamber J simply rests upon without being secured to the top of the
cylindrical sliding valve K, which closes by the action of a spiral
spring K³, is provided with ports K¹ corresponding to passages K³
formed in the upward extension of the inlet pipe L. In this modification
the bottom of the reservoir M is carried upwards inside the condensing
chamber J in order to displace the greater part of the water from such
chamber and prevent any tendency to vibration, and the spindle of the
air valve is considerably shorter in consequence.
In Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet 2, representing respectively a vertical section
and plan of another modification of steam trap, the bent pipe is dispensed
with and the condensing chamber is connected direct to the plug N of
the plug cock O by the nut N¹. The port or passage O' in plug N
communicates with a corresponding passage O2 in the body of the cock O
when the condensing chamber P is in its lowest position in the reservoir,
as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. The air valve in this is of
the same description and action as in the two last described modifica-
tions, and the action of the whole will be obvious from the foregoing
descriptions, the condensing chamber P as it rises actuating the plug N
of the plug cock O. Instead of a plug cock it will be obvious that a
valve actuated by a screwed spindle may be employed, as seen in Fig. 7*,
the hollow screwed spindle Q being connected to the condensing
chamber P, so that as it rises in the reservoir the valve R is closed
against its seating, and vice versa.
I would here remark that in all the foregoing modifications it is advisable
to place the orifice which discharges into the condensing chamber well
above the ordinary level of the water in the reservoir to avoid vibration
owing to the steam mingling with the water. Otherwise it will be
necessary to cast or form the bottom of the reservoir so as to project into
the condensing chamber, as described in reference to Figs. 5 and 6,
Sheet 1, and so to partially displace the water. It will thus be seen that
the reservoir in all the modifications of my improved steam trap are

page_text: open to the atmosphere, the reservoir in each case being simply covered
by a loose cover, so that in case of the tap or valve being out of
order ready access may be obtained to the same without loss of
time.
I wish it to be understood, although I have only shewn my
Invention of a condensing chamber as applied to actuating the plug of
a plug cock, that it is equally applicable for rotating the body of a plug
cock upon a fixed horizontal plug for the same purpose, and that such
condensing chamber is capable of being used in those descriptions of
steam traps (known as Robinson's Patent, No. 253, A.D. 1871) in
which the body of a three-way cock is turned upon a fixed taper plug by
means of an enclosed ball float, the condensing chamber in this case
being employed as a substitute for the enclosed ball float and discharge
or vent pipe used in such steam traps.
In Figs. 8 and 9, which illustrate respectively a vertical section and
plan of my improved steam reducing or diminishing apparatus, drawn to
a scale of about half full size, F is the condensing chamber connected on
its upper side with the longer arm of a double arm of a double armed
lever G centred at H, the shorter arm of which lever bears upon the
spindle I, and so controls the valve J fitted in the main steam pipe K.
L is a small escape valve connected to the reduced pressure side M of
the valve J, and weighted by the loose weights N to the desired reduced
pressure; O is a drip pipe for carrying off the condensed water.
The action of this steam reducing or diminishing apparatus may bel
thus described: When the apparatus is at rest the condensing chamber F
sinks to the bottom of the water contained in the reservoir F³, so per-
mitting the valve J to open when the steam is turned on, and allow it to
pass freely through the valve J to the reduced pressure side M until the
desired reduced pressure is obtained. If this pressure be exceeded the
escape valve L lifts and permits a quantity of steam to escape beneath
the condensing chamber F, so raising it and through the lever G closing
or partially closing the valve J. If, on the other hand, the reduced
pressure should now fall below that to which the escape valve L is
weighted, such valve L falls to its seat, so cutting off the supply of
steam to the condensing chamber F, which gradually sinks in the
reservoir F¹, and permits the valve J to open to a further extent until
the reduced pressure is again reached, at which instant the escape

page_text: valve L again lifts and passes sufficient steam to prevent any further
descent of the condensing chamber. An equilibrium is thus established
and maintained until the pressure again varies, and so an exceedingly
sensitive action is obtained for controlling the valve of a steam reducing
or diminishing apparatus.
For larger apparatus, and when very high pressure steam is employed,
it will be necessary to substitute an equilibrium or partial equilibrium
valve for the valve J, and instead of the escape valve L being placed
wholly within the condensing chamber it will be apparent that it may
be placed outside the reservoir F', the escaping steam therefrom being
conducted within and beneath the bottom edge of the condensing
chamber by a suitable pipe.
In Figs. 10 and 11, which illustrate respectively a vertial section and
partial front view of my improved self-acting damper for the flues of.
steam boiler furnaces drawn about quarter size, P is the condensing
chamber arranged to rise and fall in the reservoir of water Q. A small
escape valve, by preference of dead weight construction, and a suitable
form of which is illustrated half size in section in Fig. 12, is connected
to the boiler or to a steam pipo leading from the boiler to the apparatus,
and the escaping steam therefrom conducted beneath and into the con-
densing chamber P by the pipe R. The motion of the condensing
chamber P is communicated to the swivelling damper S by the rod T
working through the water lute U. The damper S is arranged to swivell
upon horizontal centres V rolling in slots W in the framing X, so as to
reduce friction to the minimum. The rod T is connected to the extension
bar T, which is curved or shaped at its lower extremity, as illustrated,
where it passes through a slot V¹ in the damper S, and is centred upon
a bolt a passing through two brackets b, b, cast upon or attached to the
rear of the damper S. The-escape valve last mentioned (see Fig. 12) is
weighted to the desired working pressure of the boiler by the weights 1
placed upon the saddle 2 suspended upon the spindle 3 of the valve 4,
and as long as such pressure is not exceeded the condensing chamber P
remains at the bottom of the reservoir Q, and pushes the damper S open
to the widest extent (the weight of the condensing chamber, together
with the rod T and extension bar T¹, being sufficient for this purpose:-
If the working pressure be exceeded the escape valve 4 lifts and dis-
charges a quantity of steam through the pipe R into and beneath the
condensing chamber, so raising it and closing or partially closing the

page_text: damper S, and consequently reducing tho draught in the furnace.
Should the steam pressure fall below that to which the escape valve 4 is
weighted, the supply of steam necessary to raise and retain the condensing
chamber being cut off by such escape valve closing, such condensing
chamber gradually falls and opens the damper S until the desired amount
of opening is obtained, when the escape valve 4 commences to blow
slightly, and prevents the damper opening further until the pressure
again varies. A nut c is placed upon a screwed extension d of the rod T,
which comes against a transverse bar e fixed across the upper part of the
reservoir, by adjusting which nut the damper is prevented closing beyond
what is absolutely necessary to pass the smoke of the furnace.
In Fig. 13, which represents a front exterior view of a steam boiler
shewing my improved method of actuating a damper applied in front of
the furnaces, drawn to a scale of about 3 of an inch to the foot, the
dampers f, f, are hung upon a rod g working in bearings h bolted to:
the boiler front or fire-door framing, and counterbalanced by the weight:
upon the lever arm j.
The self-acting arrangement contained in the reservoir K is the same
as that illustrated in section and marked Q in Fig. 10, the rod being
connected direct to the lever arm j, and steam being supplied to the a
reservoir K by the escape valve m; the action in both cases is the
same.
Although I have only described the application of this self-acting
appliance to the regulating of two descriptions of horizontal swivelling
dampers it will be obvious that it might be employed to work a damper
swivelling vertically by forming a male spiral on the rod T (Fig. 10)
working through a corresponding female nut carried by the condensing
chamber P, so that as the latter rises and falls it may impart a partial-
revolution to such rod T, and so actuate the damper.
I prefer to construct the condensing chamber for all the modifications a
herein-before described of sheet metal, say of copper or zinc, and the
reservoirs of cast iron, and to ensure such condensing chambers always
falling they should in no case be absolutely air-tight, a slight leakage
being advantageous in permitting the escape of any air which may from
time to time come over with the steam.
Lastly, I would observe that I do not confine myself to the precise
details relative proportions. or dimensions of th
3

page_text: apparatus herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings, nor to any particular form or shape of the condensing
chambers, nor to the exact amount of area of opening at the bottom of
the condensing chambers, provided that a free outlet is afforded for the
water contained in such condensing chamber, as the same may be con-
siderably varied without departing from the Invention; and I claim,
apparatus herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings, nor to any particular form or shape. of the condensing
chambers, nor to the exact amount of area of opening at the bottom of
the condensing chambers, provided that a free outlet is afforded for the
water contained in such condensing chamber, as the same may be con-
siderably varied without departing from the Invention; and I claim,
particularly,
1st. For discharging air and water of condensation from vessels con-
taining steam, the employment of an open bottomed condensing
chamber for actuating a plug, cock, or valve, substantially as described
and illustrated.
2nd. The methods herein-before described and illustrated of mounting
and working the air valve of steam traps. .
3rd. As applied to the construction of steam reducing or diminishing
apparatus, the employment of an open-bottomed condensing chamber
capable of rising and falling in a reservoir of water, and controlled by an
escape valve, substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The use and application of an open-bottomed condensing chamber
capable of rising and falling in a reservoir of water, and controlled by
an escape valve in combination with a swivelling damper for regulating
the draught in steam boiler furnaces, substantially as described and
illustrated.
set
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Royle, have hereunto
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office,
71, Market Street,
Manchester.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE.. (L.S.)