IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM TRAPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Allmann, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM TRAPS."
Sealed the 8th June 1875, and dated the 18th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Allmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th March 1875.
I, JULIUS ALLMANN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the apparatus employed to effect the
discharge of water from steam piping and from drying cylinders and
other apparatus in which steam is employed.
According to the first part of my Invention I employ a hollow ball
or chamber, which is connected by means of a tubular arm with the
inlet passage through which the water to be discharged is admitted to

page_text: the apparatus. The lower part of the said chamber communicates with
a double seated poppet valve, so arranged as to form what is known as
an equilibrium valve. The valve may be attached to the said chamber,
and the seating be connected with the casing of the apparatus, or the
seating may be attached to the chamber and the valve be connected
with the said casing or be acted upon by stops fixed thereto. The
water flowing through the said tubular arm into the said chamber
depresses the same, and thereby effects the opening of the valve through
which the water is permitted to flow from the chamber. On the
chamber becoming empty, or as nearly empty as may be desired, the
chamber rises again, so as to close the said valve. I prefer to employ
an adjustable spring or a weighted lever to partly sustain the ball,
whereby the action of the ball may be regulated; and I also prefer to
enclose the apparatus in a suitable casing.
According to the second part of my Invention I admit the water to
be discharged into a casing in which a vessel is arranged to float. A pipe
descends into the said vessel, and the lower end of the said pipe is
provided with an equilibrium valve, which is arranged to be opened by
the sinking of the said. vessel, and to be closed by the rising thereof.
Water entering the said casing falls into the said vessel, and by causing
the same to sink to some extent effects the opening of the valve, through
which water is discharged until the rising of the vessel causes the valve
to be closed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Julius Allmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on 2
the 16th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
ALLMANN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting
Engineer, sond greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her a
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Julius Allmann, Her special
license that I, the said Julius Allmann, my executors, administrators, 3

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Julius Allmann, my exe-
cutors, 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
STEAM TRAPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Julius Allmann, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should par-
ticularly 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 Julius Allmann, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to the apparatus employed to effect the
discharge of water from steam piping, and from drying cylinders and
other apparatus in which steam is employed.
According to the first part of my Invention I employ a hollow ball
or chamber, which is connected by means of a tubular arm with the
inlet passage, through which the water to be discharged is admitted to
the apparatus. The lower part of the said chamber communicates with
a double seated poppet valve so arranged as to form what is known as
an equilibrium valve. The valve may be attached to the said chamber,
and the seating be connected with the casing of the apparatus, or the
seating may be attached to the chamber, and the valve be connected
with the said casing or be acted upon by stops fixed thereto. The water
flowing through the said tubular arm into the said chamber depresses
the same, and thereby effects the opening of the valve through which
the water is permitted to flow from the chamber.
According to the second part of my Invention I admit the water to
be discharged into a casing in which a vessel is arranged to float. A pipe
provided with an equilibrium valve descends into the said vessel, and
the said valve is arranged to be opened by the sinking of the said vessel,
and to be closed by the rising thereof.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be well understood I have
attached hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made about half the full size
and marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings I will now
refer.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of an apparatus constructed in
accordance with the first part of my Invention, a being the said hollow
ball or chamber; and 6, the equilibrium valve. The said ball is attached
to one end of a tubular arm c, and the other end of the said arm is
attached to the end of an arm or projection d which is cast upon the
chamber or casing e which encloses the apparatus. On the top of the "tee"
casting or coupling, by means of which the ball is connected with the
arm c in this example, is mounted a valve chamber f, which contains a
small valve arranged to remain open until such time as there is a
pressure of steam within the said ball, the intention being that the said
valve shall furnish means of escape for any air which may have collected
within the said ball. To the lower part of the said ball is attached
an elbow g, in which are formed two seatings to suit the double or
"equilibrium" valve b.
In order to obtain a more perfect equilibrium of pressure upon the
said valve it is formed in two parts, having as near as may be the same
area exposed to the pressure, the two parts being coupled together after
the inner part has been passed through the passage in the elbow g, and
has been placed in position. A bridle piece i, which is secured to the
outer casing furnishes top and bottom stops, which limit the rising and
falling of the said valve. A weighted lever j mounted on a fulcrum at k
partly sustains the ball a and contained fluid. The piping which
conveys the water to the apparatus is attached at 7. When in use the
water flows through the arm c into the ball a, and accumulates therein
until by reason of its gravity the resistances of the arm c and the
weighted lever j are overcome, and the said ball is depressed to some
extent, and as the valve is sustained by the bridle i the passages in the
seatings are opened and water is permitted to escape. During the con-
tinuance of the flow of water the ball a becomes further depressed by
an increase in the quantity of water entering the said ball, and rises
when the flow of water is diminished, thereby increasing and decreasing
the area for the discharge. The water so discharged flows from the
casing through the passage m. On the said ball becoming empty, or as
nearly empty as may be desired, the rising thereof causes the upper end

page_text: of the valve o to bear against the top of the bridle i, whereby the escape
of steam is prevented.
Fig. 2 illustrates a modification in the apparatus. In this example
the valve is formed with a hollow shank, and is attached to the ball a,
the seating being connected with the outer casing. The water is
discharged through the hollow shank of the valve, and through the
passages in the seating when the ball is depressed.
2"
•
Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of an apparatus constructed in
accordance with the second part of my Invention. In the said Fig. n is
a strong chamber, which is fitted with a cover o, in which are formed
the inlet passage p and the outlet passage q. Within the said chamber
a cylindrical floating vessel ? is suspended by means of a rod s from the
double or equilibrium valve h, which is mounted in seatings formed
in the casting t, which is fitted into an orifice bored in the cover o.
A pipe u, which is screwed into the casting t, extends nearly to the
bottom of the vessel r. A small valve vis employed to permit of the
discharge of air. The water entering at p causes the vessel " to float
and to press upwards upon the valve h, which is thereby kept tight
against its seat. As the water accumulates within the said chamber it
rises until it can flow over the upper edge of the vessel 7, within which
it accumulates until the buoyancy of the vessel is overcome, the said
vessel then sinking to some extent, and thereby opening the valve h,
through which water ascending the pipe u is permitted to escape into
the outlet passage 7.
Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in this arrangement. In this
example the valve h is fitted in a part which is secured to the lower end
of a discharge pipe w, which extends downwards into the vessel, the
action being similar to that of the apparatus last described.
Having now fully described and indicated the nature of my said
Invention, and means whereby the same may be carried into effect,
I would have it to be understood that I claim,―
First. The employment of the double or equilibrium valve, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth and indicated.
Secondly. The combination and arrangements of parts, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and indicated herein-before and by
Figs 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Tort and indicated herein-peiore and by Figs. ация от
panying Drawings.
ΙΠΟΛΟΥ ΑΠΟ
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Allmann, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
JULIUS ALLMANN. (L.s.)