Improvements in the Construction of Steam-traps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Steam-traps.
I, ARTHUR JOHN BAYLEY, of Number 225, Cedar Street, in the City and
County of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object the construction of a simple, quick-acting steam-
trap that is not liable to get out of order and which requires but little attention to
insure its automatic action under the various conditions to which such devices
are ordinarily subjected, and to that end my said invention consists in certain
peculiarities in the structural details and combination of parts in the said device,
all as hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and
subsequently claimed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a steam-trap constructed according to my
invention, and
Figure 2, an elevation of a valve and holder for the same that constitute parts of
Baid trap.
0
Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents the base of my improved
steam-trap provided with legs b, and the central portion of this base is preferably
indented, the underside being concave and the upper side convex, thus forming a
dome, as herein shown. The base is also provided with an annular wall B that
Surrounds its indented central portion, and supported on a horizontal flange c of the
wall is a preferably corrugated metal. diaphragm C surmounted by a stay-ring D
bolted to said flange.
From the foregoing it will be seen that a reservoir is provided for a suitable
fluid, and the latter may be supplied from time to time through an opening in the
base A, this opening being normally closed by a screw-plug d as herein shown.
The fluid is preferably one that has a greater expansion than water, at a known
temperature, although water or a mixture of the same with other expansible fluid
may be used according to the pressure it is desirable to exert upon the diaphragm
from within the reservoir at a predetermined temperature. The volume of fluid in
the reservoir is preferably such as not to have ite level above the indentation of the
trap-base.
Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the base A is a flanged shell E, and
connected to the shell is a flanged cover F, the latter having a porte communi-
cating with a recessed portion of the shell-wall to form an outlet for water-of-
condensation from the trap, this water being led off through a pipe G fitted in the
recessed portion of said shell-wall.
The space intermediate of the fluid-reservoir and shell E constitutes an annular
chamber H, and a hollow boss-portion g of said shell serves as the entrance to the
chamber, a pipe being employed to connect the boss with heating-coils or other
steam-using apparatus.
The chamber H is shown as having its outlet through a port h leading into that
portion of the trap above diaphragm C, and the discharge of water accumulating

page_text: 10 Baid trap takes place through the valve-controlled pipe J that depends from
the shell-cover F, this pipe being in register with the outlet-port e above
specified.
The pipe J is preferably screw-threaded in the shell-cover and held in place
by a lock-nut i, and the valve K which controls the lower end of said pipe is
supported in a holder attached to the expansible metal diaphragm that constitutes
the top of the reservoir.
The valve-holder herein shown consists of a disk L having a screw-threaded
sbank extended through the diaphragm C to receive a washor k and locking-
nut m, the upper face of said disk being provided with hook-arms n with which
lateral lugs p of the valve K are engaged.
The hook-opposing faces of the lugs p are preferably convex in order to facilitate
a perfect seating of the valve, the Intter being preferably conical and capable of
some play in pipe J to also facilitate its perfect scating.
J
The pipe being adjustably fitted in the shell-cover F the vertical play of the
valve K may be varied, and the shank j of the valve-holder is preferably long
enough to come against the dome-portion of the trap-base when diaphragm C is
in normal position, whereby provision is made for limiting contraction of said
diaphragın.
The preferred peculiar construction of the base A, as herein shown, renders the
liquid in the reservoir as sensitive as possible, and also renders it possible to obtain
satisfactory results with the use of a small quantity of said fluid, while at the same
time provision is made for rapid condensation of the aforesaid fluid owing to the
amount of surface exposed to external influences.
In practice, the water-of-condensation from heating-coils or other steam-using
apparatus enters the chamber H of the trap through pipe I, and filling said
chamber H, rises through port h into the shell-portion E of said trap, and as the
diaphragm Cand valve K are lowered to their normal positions shown in Figure 1
by the temperature of this water, the latter will find its way out of the shell E
through the pipe J, cover-port e, recess in the shell-wall, and pipe G.
The steam that follows the water into the trap-chamber H will cause the fluid in
the reservoir to boil and thereby generate a greater pressure below diaphragm C
that is above the same, this increased pressure forcing up said diaphragm and
attached valve-holder to seat the valve and thereby cut off the pipe J, thus
preventing loss of steam through the trap. Now, if water, accumulates in the trap
chamber until the latter is partially filled, the temperature of this water and
exposed surface of the trap-base will cause a condensation of the reservoir-
contents, thus reducing the pressure below diaphragm C to a degree less than that
above the same, consequently there is contraction of said diaphragin to bring the
valve K away from its seat and again permit the escape of water-of-condensation
from the shell-portion of the trap. The operations above described continue at
such intervals that the flow of water from the trap is practically continuous without
loss of steam.
Owing to the structural detail of the steam-trap herein set forth, ready access
may be had thereto at any time inspection or repair of the same is found necessary
or desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I deolare that what I
olaim is :
1. A steam-trap comprising a base provided with a fluid reservoir having an
expansible diaphragm for its cover, a closed shell on the base provided at its lower
end with a pipe-connecting hollow boss and having such dimensions that an annular
chamber is formed adjacent to the reservoir open to said boss, this chamber and
that portion of the shell above the diaphragm being in communication, a
drain-pipe hung within said shell, and a valve for this pipe mounted on the
diaphragm.

page_text: 2. A steam-trap comprising a base having a dome-like indentation surrounded
by a wall surmounted by an expansible diaphragm, a closed shell on the base of
such dimensions that a chamber is formed between it and the reservoir surrounding
the latter, there being an inlet to the chamber, a port leading therefrom into that
portion of the shell above the diaphragm and an outlet from said shell; a pipe.
communicating with the outlet from within the aforesaid shell, and a pipe-valve
mounted on said diaphragm.
3. A steam-trap comprising a base provided with a fluid reservoir surmounted
by an expansible diaphragm, a shell on the base provided with an inlet and an
outlet, the dimensions of the shell being such that an annular chamber is formed
between it and the reservoir open to said inlet, this chamber being in communi-
cation with that portion of said shell above the diaphragm, a shell-cover provided
with a port leading to said outlet, a pipe depending from the cover in communi-
cation with the latter port, and a pipe-valve mounted on said diaphragm.
4. A steam-trap having a water-escape controlled by a valve provided with
lateral lugs, a valve-holder comprising a disk having hook-arms engaged by the
valve-lugs, and suitable means for seating and unseating the valve.
5. A steam-trap having a water-escape controlled by a valve provided with
lateral lugs, a valve-holder comprising a disk having hook-arms engaged by the.
valve-lugs and a depending shank held in an expansible diaphragm, and a stop.
opposing said shank to limit contraction of the diaphragm.
ARTHUR JOHN BAYLEY.
Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, WC., Patent Agents..