Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Feb. 1898
FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, Engineer, Glen-ridge, New Jersey, State of New
York, America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to that class of traps employed where it is desired to
permit the escape of liquids, such as water, of condensation & prevent the escape
of vapour, such as steam.
My improved trap depends in operation upon the principal of movement by
expansion and contraction under changes of temperature.
The action of the trap is compound, that is to say, I use a floating or flexible
piston & control came by means of an adjustable alcohol chamber, said chamber
having an internal flexible diaphragm the outer walls of chamber being exposed
to the nir causing rapid condensation of the alcohol after game has been volatilized
thereby rendering the trap supersensitive in action. The alcohol chamber or
condenser also forms the adjusting feature of the trap for setting same to different
temperatures.
The working of the trap is as follows:-
A piston either solid or flexible is placed opposite the discharge opening of the
trap & is fitted with a valve at one end so that when the piston moves to or recedes
from the discharge opening, the closing or discharge from the valve takes place.
Steam or water is admitted to the back of piston for the purpose of closing samo
through a suitably arranged orifice. An outlet orifice of equal diameter to the
admission opening to back of piston is controlled by the alcohol diaphragm before
referred to, so that when expansion of the alcohol takes place the outlet orifice is
closed, pressure then accumulates at the back of piston & the main discharge
opening covered by piston valve being forced against it. On a cooling of the
alcohol chamber taking place, the discharge orifice being uncovered, the escape
from back of piston is equal to the inrush at supply opening, consequently the
pressure acting on face of main valve causes same to open & the discharge of the
liquids of condensation takes place. On steam striking the alcohol diaphragm
the alcohol is volatilized, diaphragm expands, & the main valve closes until further
condensation takes place. In small traps & where moderate pressures are to be
contended against I dispense with the piston & merely use an opening for discharge
& keep same opened & closed by the direct notion of the adjustable feature of my
trap, viz. the diaphragm of the alcohol chamber and condenser.
For the purpose of seeing if any accumulation of water takes place the valves
can be fitted with a sight inlet & a sight discharge formed in a similar manner to
the guage glass on a steam boiler or the glass of a sight feed lubricator. When.the
traps are used directly vertical the controlling valve can be adjusted by means of
the alcohol chamber being supported by a hinged bridge the loose end of same being
controlled by a screw from outside of valve casing, the condensation of alcohol
inflexible controlling chamber being assisted by holes drilled in upper part of valve
casing so that a current of air is induced by warinth of valve shell or casing thus
insuring correct expansion and contraction of diaphragm it being obvious that the
controlling feature of the valve need not be an alcohol chamber as the valve can

page_text: be controlled by means of any other expansive medium such as solids or hermetically
sealed fluids.
In constructing my diaphragms I prefer to use them laminated as I get a better
result from a laminated or built up diaphragm than with a solid one-the lamination
prolonging the life & enhancing the flexibility of the diaphragm.
Dated this Fifth day of March 1895.
Improvements in steam-traps.
I, FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, of Glenridge, New Jersey, New York, America,
Engineer 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 relates to that class of traps employed where it is desirable to
pormit the escape of liquids such as wuter of condensation and prevent the escape
of vapour, or gas, such as steam.
My improved trap depends in its operation upon the principle of the movement
caused by expansion and contraction under changes of temperature; a closed
chamber containing alcohol or other suitable substance, being the means
employed.
That my invention may be more readily understood 1 have caused to be attached
hereto, two sheets of drawings in which Figs. 1, 2, 4, & 5, aro modified forms of a
complete trap, and Fig. 3 an alternative arrangement for the use of a piston
instead of a diaphragın, ns hereinafter described.
Similar letters in the various figures refer to similar parts.
Referring to Fig. 1 the body of the trap is preferably formed as A, with a
screwed inlet at B, a central passage at C, and a screwed outlet at E. The part
of the body D is also screwed to receive the extension M of the case K of the
closed chamber 15, which is provided with a flexible diaphragm H. The centre of
the diaphragm is connected to a suitable valve F by the screw G, while the
periphery of the said diaphragm is fixed to the case K, and the cover L. The
space between the diaphragm H & cover L is partly filled with alcohol, for
preference, and the extension M of the case K, can be adjusted and locked by the
nut N, so as to give the proper regulation to the movement of the valve F, which
seats itself on the end of annular portion containing the passage C. The
diaphragm is preferably made up of laminations of suitable metal, so as to be
more durable.
The action of the trap is as follows.
The valve F having been properly adjusted by means of the screwed extension M
and lock out N, and the steain pipe connected to the inlet B, the heat of the steam
passing through the passage C to the diaphragm B, will volatilise the alcohol in
the chamber 15 which in expanding will distend the said diaphragm so that the
valve F, will close the orifice C. So soon however as the water of condensation
accumulates in the passage C, and the alcohol is condensed by the decrease of
temperature due to the presence of such water, together with the radiation to the
atmosphere through the cover L, the diaphragm resumes its original position an
opens the valve F. The condensed water is thus discharged, but immediately the
steam impinges ou the diaphragm, the valve F is closed again.
That the discharge of the condensed water may be observed I attach to the
outlet of the trap E, a transparent attachment consisting of a perforated case Q
surrounding a glass cylinder R aud held together by the caps & P, containing
suitable packings and washers of the well known type. The caps may have

page_text: extensions S and T projecting into the glass for directing the stream of water.
The same attachment can be applied to the inlet to show the accumulation of the
condensed water, and the formation of the attachment will be varied to suit the
sizes of the traps and the pressures of the steam to be dealt with.
For high pressures I may use an arrangement as shown in Fig. 2, the form of
the body A, and the chamber 15 together with their various adjuncts being similar
to that herein before described. But the part M of the case K, screwed into an
extension 7 of a second chamber formed by the parts Z, Z, the other screwed
portion 2 of which enters the end D of the trap body A. The parts Z, Z, are
preferably held together with screws as 4 which also bind the periphery of a second
diaphragm Y, between said parts Z, Z. The centre of the diaphragm Y, is fixed
to a second valve W, by means of the screw 3 and the extension of the said valve
at U and X may be hollow.
One part of Z is provided with a tubular piece with the passage 6 against
which the valve F works, and the extension U of the second valve W may have a
guide as V, and a perforated end as shown. A. bye pass pipe 8 is arranged between
the extension 7, and the outlet pipe 11 a suitable nipple 10, couplings 9 and back
nut 12 being provided, if required. A screw and nut as G¹ may be arranged in the
спр L for charging the chamber 15.
The operation of the trap is then compound the action of the diaphragm H and
valve F being the same as berein before described but when the passage 6 is closed
by Enid valve F, pressure accumulates at the back of the diaphragm Y, forcing
said diaphragm together with the valve W against the passage C, and 50 closing
game.
When the chamber 15 cools, the valve F opens the passage 6, which is the same
size as the passage in the extension U and X of the valve W. The steam is
therefore liberated from behind the diaphragm Y and through the bye pass 8 as
quickly as it passes through the passage through the extension of the valve W.
The said diaphragm therefore assumes its original position, and opens the valve W.
The discharge of the condensed water then takes place, and continues until the
diaphragm H again comes into operation.
Fig. 3 shows a modification of Fig. 2 wherein a piston 14 is formed on the
extension X of the valve W, said piston working in a cylinder 13, with a screwed
extension 7 with tubular part 5 and passage 6 as hereinbefore described. It will be
readily understood that the action is the same as described with reference to the
diaphragm Y.
Fig. 5 is a variation of Fig. 3 and is preferably employed for high pressures.
The piston 14 works in the cylinder 13 and is fixed to the valve W as before
described.
The movement of the said piston is however adjustable by means of the
screw 31, and openings 30 are provided to allow the steam to get between
the piston and the cover 32. The byepass consists of a channel 33 connecting
the cylinder 13 with the valve F, and steam passing through the valve F will get
clear away to the outlet E by menus of the channels 34.
Fig. 4 is another modification of the steam trap, in which the alcohol chamber
is situated at 15 and is preferably formed with an elastic case, so as to act as if it
were composed of two diaphragms I joined at their peripheries. The body of the
trap is A, with au inlet B, outlet E, and passage C.
The body of the trap A is preferably made in two parts as shown for the
purpose of fixing the ring 20, as herein after described. The second valvo W,
has hollow extension U, a rigid chamber 16, and two flexible chambers 17, and 18
formed similarly to chamber- 15. The valve W and its adjuncts as well as the
chamber 15 are carried by the ring 20 as shown.
A passage 19 makes connection between the chambers 16, 17 and 18 while the
central passage X opens out against the valve F. The chamber 15 is carried
by a pin 28 on the lever 24, and is guided by the projections 21 and 22.
The lever 24 works on a pin 23, in the projection 21, and at the other end

page_text: has a plate 25 in contact with an adjusting sorew 26, which is fitted with a suitable
lock nut 27, for the purpose herein before described.
It will be readily understood that the action of this trap is similar to that
described with reference to Fig. 2 except that the condensation of the alcohol is
accelerated by the current of air induced through the outlet E and the holes 29 in
the case A. The chamber 16 will forn a condenser and so keep the flexible
chambers 17 and 18 charged with water which will pass down the passage 19
thereto. The life of the diaphragm is thus much lengthened. One chamber 17
may be employed, or more than two as shown, according to the sensitiveness
desired.
It will be obvious that any other suitable expanding medium may be employed
besides alcohol whether solids or hermetically sealed liquids.
The chamber 15 as described with reference to Figs. 1 & 2 can be arranged for
using it & the valve Fl as a stop valve, when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
.claim is
1. In traps the chamber 15 containing an expansible substance and having a
flexible diaphragm H exposed to the steam and condensed water or other liquids,
and a cover L exposed to the air to form a condenser, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
2. In traps the combination of the expansion chamber 15, adapted to operate
under changes of temperature with a valve working against a discharge orifice C
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
3. In traps the combination of the expansion chamber 15, valve F and
accessories, with a second diaphragın Y or piston 14, having a valve W with
hollow extensions U and X, with or without the bye pase 8, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 & 5.
4. In traps a bye pass arranged substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 5.
5. In traps the combination of the expansion chamber 15, with a screwed
extension M, with or without the lock uut N, to form a stop valve or for the
purposes of adjustment and substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1
and 2,
6. In traps the use of the expansion chamber 15 as a handle or wheel for the
purposes set forth in Claim 4, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2.
7. In traps the sight inlet or discharge substantially as described with reference
to Fig. 1.
8. In traps the combination of one, two or more flexible chambers 17 & 18, with
the valve W substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4.
9. In traps the combiuntion of the rigid chamber 16, with the flexible
chambers 17 and 18, together with the central tube X and surrounding passage 19,
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4.
10. In traps the flexible chamber 15 containing an expansible substance and
consisting of two diaphragms H, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 4.
1. In traps the flexible chamber 15 and its accessories in combination with the
bridge ring 20, the projections 21 & 22, and the lever or bridge 24, substantially as
described with reference to Fig. 4.
12. In traps the parts set forth in Claim 10 in combination with an udjusting
screw 26, with or without the lock nut 27, substantially as described with reference
to Fig. 4.
13. In traps having a flexible chamber 15 containing an expausible substance,
the ventilation of the interior of said trap by means of the holes 29, or their
equivalent substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4.

page_text: 14. The construction of flexible diaphragms in laminations, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described.
15. The construction and arrangement of traps substantially as described with
reference to all or any of the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 or modifications thereof.
Dated this Fifth day of December 1895.
G. T. HARKAP,
Agent for Applicaut.