Improvements in Steam Trap Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., . 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Trap Apparatus.
A communication by FRANK ANNIS LITTLEFIELD, of Pepperell, in the State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Mechanic.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and
operation of steam traps, particularly what are known as return steam traps, for
returning water of condensation to a boiler.
The base to contain the various parts has secured to it at one end a U-shaped
support, into the hollow arm of which is tapped the steam supply pipe leading from
a boiler or generator, said pipe being provided with a valve containing a vertically
movable valve or stem carrying at its lower end the valve proper the latter
normally resting upon a suitable seat in the partition of the valve.
A revolving casting or head is supported between the arms of the U-shaped
support upon the ends of the inwardly extended axial pipes the former pipe being
tapped into the end of the one hollow arm through which it communicates with the
steam pipe while the latter pipe is in the present instance passed loosely through
the end of the other arm of the U-shaped support and leads to the boiler or other
receptacle to receive the discharge water.
A branch leading into the other pipe outside the support and connected with the
outlet of the steam heating system or other receptacle to be drained, is provided
with a check valve while the last named pipe between the said branch and boiler or
receptacle is provided with a check valve.
The check valve in the said branch permits communication with the said pipe
and prevents communication in the opposite direction; while the check valve in
the said pipe permits communication with the boiler but closes against the same in
the opposite direction.
The revolving casting or head mounted loosely upon the ends of the inwardly
extended axial pipes, is divided into two chambers, the said head being provided
with a neck which is threaded to receive the threaded end of an egg shaped or
spherical receiver which communicates directly with the chamber of the head.
The chamber of the head or casting communicates with the interior of the
receiver through a communicating pipe terminating at a point at or near the top or
highest part of the receiver, this being the location of the pipe when the trap is to be
used as a return trap to return the water into a boiler; when the trap is to be used
simply as a discharge pipe, however, the pipe will be directed downwardly, to a
point near the bottom of the receiver.
If desired, this pipe outlet may be formed in the wall of the receiver.
The receiver is connected by a link with one end of the lever fulcrumed at
between ears formed on a suitable frame mount on the base said lever at the
opposite side of its pivotal point sustaining a weight.
In one arrangement the stem of the valve is jointed to a rod which in turn is
passed through a collar centered between two set screws in the arm on the head and
the said rod is also threaded to receive lock nuts both above and below the arm
by means of which the valve stem and arm may be adjusted to produce proper
opening and closing of the valve by the rocking movement of the head and
receiver.
The lateral screws may be adjusted to vary the position of the collar and thereby
retain the valve stem in proper aligument.

page_text: The operation of the trap is as follows, iz.: Water of condensation from a
heating system or other receptacle flowing through the branch pipe enters the one
axial pipe and escapes therefrom into the chamber flowing thence into and collecting
in the receiver.
When the water of condensation has accumulated in the receiver in sufficient
quantity to overbalance the weight, the receiver falls thereby rocking the head on
the stationary pipes causing its arm to lift the valve stem and valve to admit steam
from the boiler through the valve, arm of the support, pipe, through the chamber,
thence by another pipe to the interior of the receiver above the surface of the
accumulated water therein.
The pressure upon the accumulated water is thus equalized, the pressure
upon the surface of the water in the receiver being the same as that from the
generator in the pipe back of the check valve so that the water accumulated
within the receiver will flow out from the chamber through the pipe thence through
the check valve to the boiler located at a level helow the trap.
When the water has escaped from the receiver the weight will return the same
thereby closing the valve and permitting the water of condensation from the branch
to again fill the receiver when the operation will be repeated, the water as fast as it
accumulates in the receiver being quickly returned into the boiler without attention
of an operator.
By carrying the steam to the top of the receiver, the steam pressure is exerted
over a greater area of the accumulated water than were the steam admitted at the
neck of the receiver below the water level, so that the water will be forced from the
receiver more readily than otherwise.
The trap will preferably be arranged so that in both of its positions the receiver
will lie above the axial pipes for when the pressure has been equalized by the
admission of steam above the water, the weight of the body of water in the receiver
being above the pipes will cause the water to empty into the boiler more quickly
than were the receiver on the same level as or below the pipe.
The action of the steam from the boiler on the top of the valve tends to hold the
same closed and to prevent tipping of the receiver for a period longer than would
be possible were the weight alone depended upon, so that receptacle really
contains a greater amount of water than that actually necessary to overbalance the
weight when the receptacle in fact does tip, so that when once started it moves quickly
and opens the valve wide, this large body of water being quickly returned to the
boiler.
While the action of the steam upon the receptacle tends to hold the valve closed,
and to increase the accumulation of water in the receptacle, when the valve has
once opened the action of the steam beneath the valve tends to hold the same open
and to prevent the weight returning the receiver to its elevated position as quickly
as would otherwise be the case, so that the water is more completely drained from
the receiver.
The casing of the steam valve has an air inlet which is controlled by a valve
attached to the extended stem of the steam valve so that when the steam valve is
closed against its seat, the air valve is open to permit the air within the receiver to
escape and be displaced by the inflowing water of condensation.
When, however, the receiver falls to discharge the accumulated water within
the receiver, the steam valve is then open to create a pressure upon the surface
of the water that the same may be equalized by the pressure in the boiler and

page_text: its check valve is omitted, and also the check valve and second axial pipe
connected directly with the discharge pipe of the circulatory system which is to be
drained.
-
The first axial pipe, arm of the U-shaped support, and steam pipe are then
utilized as a discharge passage, and assuming the communicating pipe to be extended
to a point near the bottom of the receiver the operation will be as follows, viz. :-
Water of condensation from the circulatory system flowing into the trap through
the second axial pipe fills the receiver until the weight of the accumulated water
overbalances the weight when the receiver will fall and open the valve permitting
the accumulated water to be forced from the receiver by the pressure therein out
through the pipe, chamber of the head first axial pipe, arm of the U-shaped
support, and steam pipe.
When the water has been sufficiently drained from the receiver but before it has
receded below the end of the outlet pipe, the weight will return the receiver to its
normal position, closing the valve to permit the receiver to again fill to operate as
before.
The fulcrum of the lever which carries the weight is located at quite a distance
below the lever itself, so that said fulcrum is below the line connecting the centre of
the weight with the point of attachment of the link.
The effect of this arrangement is as follows, viz. :- -Both the weight and point of
attachment of the link being above the horizontal line drawn through the fulcrum,
if the lever be tilted, as by the dropping of the receiver, the arm of the lever which
carries the weight moves upwardly in an are about its fulcrum and thereby shortens
the effective length of the arm, while the arm of the lever to which the link is
attached moving downwardly in its arc about the fulcrum is correspondingly
lengthened in effect, the result being that when the weight of the receiver over-
comes the weight and begins to fall, the leverage is immediately increased to permit
the receiver to move the weight more quickly and thereby fall more quickly than
would be the case were the fulcrum of the lever in a horizontal line with the centre
of the weight and the point of attachment of the link.
Also when the receiver is drained and the weight moves to return it to its
elevated position, the arm of the lever which carries the weight moving downwardly
through its arc is in effect lengthened, while the arm to which the link is attached
is correspondingly shortened in effect, so that the receiver is more quickly returned
to its elevated position than would be the case were the fulcrum in a direct line
between the point of attachment of the link and the centre of the weight.
Dated the 6th day of December 1892.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Trap Apparatus.
A communication by FRANK ANNIS LITTLEFIELD, of Pepperell, in the State
of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Mechanic.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London Chartered Patent Agent, 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 has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and
operation of steam traps, particularly what are known as return steam traps, for
returning water of condensation to a boiler.
Fig. 1 of the drawings represents in vertical section a trap embodying this
invention.
Fig. 2. a right hand end view of the same, the receiver being broken away.

page_text: Fig. 3, a sectional detail taken on the dotted line - Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional detail shewing the steam and air valves.
Fig. 5 a sectional detail shewing the method of securing the valve stem b' and
the arm on the rotating head D.
Figs. 6 and 7 modifications to be described.
Referring to the drawings the base A of suitable shape to contain the various
parts has secured to it at one end a U-shaped support a, into the hollow arm a¹ of
which is tapped the steam supply pipe leading from a boiler or generator, not
shewn said pipe being provided with a valve B containing a vertically movable
valve or stem carrying at its lower end the valve proper 2, the latter normally
resting upon a suitable seat in the partition 63 of the valve.
A revolving casting or head D is supported between the arms a¹, ax, of the
U-shaped support a, upon the ends of the inwardly extended pipe c, cx, the pipe c
being tapped into the end of the hollow arm a through which it communicates
with the steam pipe b, while the pipe ex is in the present instance passed loosely
through the end of the arm a* of the U-shaped support and leads to the boiler or
other receptacle to receive the discharge water.
A branch ² leading into the pipe c* outside the support a, and connected with
the outlet of the steam heating system or other receptacle to be drained, is provided
with a check valve e³, while the pipe ex between the said branch and boiler or
receptacle is provided with a check valve c'.
The check valve in the branch permits communication with the pipe c*
in the direction of the arrow 5, and prevents communication in the opposite
direction, while the check valve in the pipe cx permits communication with the
boiler in the direction of the arrow 6 but closes against the same in the opposite
direction.
The revolving casting or head D, mounted loosely upon the ends of the inwardly
extended axial pipes c, ex, is divided into two chambers d, d', the said head being
provided with a neck D* which is threaded to receive the threaded end of an egg-
shaped or spherical receiver D³ which communicates directly with the chamber d
of the head D.
The chamber d' of the head or casting D communicates with the interior of the
receiver D³ through a pipe d³ which is shewn in full lines Fig. 1, as terminating at
a point dat or near the top or highest part of the receiver, this being the location
of the pipe when the trap is to be used as a return trap to return the water into a
boiler; when the trap is to be used simply as a discharge pipe, however, the pipe
will be directed downwardly, as represented in dotted lines, to a point near the

page_text: to lift the valve stem and valve 6 to admit steam from the boiler through the
valve B, arm a¹ of the support a, pipe c, through the chamber d thence by the
pipe ds to the interior of the receiver D³ above the surface of the accumulated
water therein. The pressure upon the accumulated water is thus equalized, the
pressure upon the surface of the water in the receiver being the same as that from
the generator in the pipe c back of the check valve, so that the water
accumulated within the receiver will flow out from the chamber through the
pipe c*, thence through the check valve c' to the boiler located at a level below
the trap.
When the water has escaped from the receiver D³ the weight w will return the
same to its full line position Fig. 1, thereby closing the valve B and permitting
the water of condensation from the branch c² to again fill the receiver, when the
operation will be repeated, the water as fast as it accumulates in the receiver being
quickly returned into the boiler without attention of an operator.
By carrying the steam to the top of the receiver, the steam pressure is exerted
over a greater area of the accumulated water than were the steam admitted at the
neck of the receiver below the water level so the water will be forced from the
receiver more readily than otherwise.
The trap will preferably be arranged so that in both of its positions the receiver
will lie above the pipes c, ex, for when the pressure has been equalized by the
admission of steam above the water, the weight of the body of water in the
receiver being above the pipes c, cx, will cause the water to empty into the boiler
more quickly than were the receiver on the same level as or below the pipe c.
The action of the steam from the boiler on the top of the valve tends to hold
the same closed and to prevent tipping of the receiver for a period longer than
would be possible were the weight w alone depended upon, so that receptacle really
contains a greater amount of water than that actually necessary to overbalance the
weight w when the receptacle in fact does tip, so that when once started it moves
quickly and opens the valve wide, this large body of water being quickly returned
to the boiler.
While the action of the steam upon the receptacle tends to hold the valve closed,
and to increase the accumulation of water in the receptacle, when the valve has
once opened the action of the steam beneath the valve tends to hold the same open
and to prevent the weight w returning the receiver to its elevated position as
quickly as would otherwise be the case, so that the water is more completely
drained from the receiver.
The casing of the steam valve B has an air inlet m which is controlled by a
valve m' attached to the extended stem of the steam valve, so that when the
steam valve is closed against its seat, the air valve m' is open to permit the air
within the receiver to escape and be displaced by the inflowing water of
condensation.
When, however, the receiver falls to discharge the accumulated water within
the receiver, the steam valve 62 is then open to create a pressure upon the surface
of the water that the same may be equalized by the pressure in the boiler and the
air valve m³ is at the same time closed to prevent escape of steam through the
air inlet.
In lieu of the construction of head shewn in Figs. 1 to 3, I may form the bead
as in Fig. 7 with an opening in the partition D¹ through which is extended a
continuous pipe supported at its end in the upturned arms of the support a, said
pipe having openings ' communicating with the chambers d, d' in the head D, the
pipe being plugged between said openings.
When the trap is to be employed as a simple discharge trap to take care of the
water of condensation without returning the same to the boiler the branch pipe c³
and its check valve is omitted and also the check valve c' and pipe c* connected
directly with the discharge pipe of the circulatory system which is to be drained.
The pipe c, arm a¹ of the support a and pipe & are then utilized as a discharge
passage, and assuming the pipe d³ to be extended to a point near the bottom of the

page_text: receiver as represented in dotted lines Fig. 1, the operation will be as follows,
riz. Water of condensation from the circulatory system flowing into the trap through
the pipe ex fills the receiver until the weight of the accumulated water overbalances
the weight w, when the receiver will fall and open the valve B, permitting the
accumulated water to be forced from the receiver by the pressure therein out
through the pipe d³, chamber d, pipe c, arm a¹ of the support a, and pipe b.
When the water has been sufficiently drained from the receiver but before it has
receded below the end of the outlet pipe, the weight w will return the receiver to
its normal position, closing the valve B to permit the receiver to again fill to
operate as before. It will be noticed that the fulcrum e² of the lever e which
carries the weight w is located at quite a distance below the lever itself, so that
said fulcrum below the line connecting the centre of the weight with the point
of attachment of the link e¹.
The effect of this arrangement is as follows, viz. :-Both the weight and point
of attachment of the link e being above the horizontal line drawn through the
fulcrum e, if the lever be tilted, as by the dropping of the receiver, the arm of
the lever which carries the weight moves upwardly in an are about its fulcrum and
thereby shortens the effective length of the arm, while the arm of the lever to
which the link e is attached moving downwardly in its are about the fulcrum is
correspondingly lengthened in effect, the result being that when the weight of the
receiver overcomes the weight w and begins to fall, the leverage is immediately
increased to permit the receiver to move the weight more quickly and thereby fall
more quickly than would be the case were the fulcrum of the lever in a horizontal
line with the centre of the weight and the point of attachment of the link e¹.
Also when the receiver is drained and the weight w moves to return it to its
elevated position, the arm of the lever which carries the weight moving downwardly
through its arc is in effect lengthened, while the arm to which the link e' is attached
is correspondingly shortened in effect, so that the receiver is more quickly returned
to its elevated position than would be the were the fulcrum in a direct line between
the point of attachment of the link and the centre of the weight.
Fig. 6 shows a modified form of lever embodying principle of the lever Fig. 1.
This invention is not limited to the particular construction of the various parts
herein shewn to illustrate my invention as it is obvious the same may be varied
without departing from the scope of this invention.
1. In a steam trap, a support, a rocking receiver, a steam inlet pipe connected
therewith, a valve therein actuated by movement of said receiver, a single pipe
communicating with said receiver and serving both as a water inlet and water
outlet therefor, an inlet pipe leading to said single pipe and provided with a check
valve adapted to close when the single pipe serves as an outlet for the receiver, an
outlet pipe connected with said single pipe and provided with a check valve adapted
to close when said single pipe serves as an inlet for the receiver, whereby said single
pipe by the alternate closing of the said check valves is caused to serve first as an
inlet and then as an outlet for the receiver as described.
2. In a steam trap a U-shaped support having a hollow arm connected with a
steam supply, a steam valve to control the same, an inlet pipe carried by and
communicating with the hollow arm of said support, and an outlet pipe carried by
the other arm of said support with its axis in line with the axis of said inlet pipe,
combined with a rocking receiver connected with the said inlet and outlet pipes
and with and to move said steam valve, substantially as described.
3. In a steam trap, a rocking receiver and a steam inlet and water inlet and
outlet therefor, combined with a steam valve controlling the steam inlet, and an
air valve for the receiver actuated by said steam valve, to operate, substantially as
described,

page_text: 4. In a steam trap, a rocking receiver, a water inlet and outlet therefor, and a
steam inlet, combined with a steam valve to control said steam inlet, an air inlet
entering the casing of the said steam valve, and an air valve to control the air inlet
connected and moved with the said steam valve whereby the air valve is opened
when the steam valve is closed, and vice versa, substantially as described.
5. In a steam trap, the combination with two axial pipes c, cx, a valve B
controlling communication through one of said pipes, combined with a rocking head
interposed between and supported by the ends of the said pipes c, ex, and divided
into two chambers with which respectively the said pipes.communicate, a receiver
communicating with one of said chambers and a curved pipe within the receiver
communicating with the other of said chambers, and a counterbalance for the
receiver, all to operate, substantially as described.
6. In a steam trap, the combination with a rocking head divided into chambers,
a receiver communicating with one of said chambers, and a discharge pipe within
the receiver communicating with the other of said chambers, combined with an
inlet pipe entering one of the chambers and an outlet pipe entering the other of
said chambers, and a valve in the outlet pipe actuated by rocking of the head, to
operate substantially as described.
a
7. In a steam trap, the combination with a rocking receiver, and inlet and outlet
pipes therefor, of a lever connected with the receiver at one end and supporting
counter-balancing weight at its opposite end, and a fulcrum between the weight and
point of connection with the receiver, said fulcrum being located below a line
connecting said point and weight, substantially as described.
8. In a steam trap, a rocking receiver and inlet and outlet pipes therefor,
combined with a fulcrumed lever connected with the receiver at one side of its
fulcrum and supporting a weight at the other side of its fulcrum, the centre of said
weight and point of connection with the receiver both being in a horizontal plane
above the fulcrum, substantially as described.
9. In a steam trap a rocking receiver, a rocking head to support the same and
an arm on the head, a steam valve B, its valve stem provided with lock nuts f
and a collar r through which the stem is passed and centred between lateral screws
in said arm substantially as described.
Deted the 21st dor of June 1803
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.