Improvements in Steam Traps, Acting also as Pumps if Required.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1888
'Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps, Acting also as Pumps if Required.
I JOHN GARRETT TONGUE of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck Patent Agents
and Engineers of 34 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane London in the County
of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents (a communication to me from
abroad by John Murray Mitchell Lawyer of New York in the County and State of
New York United States of America) do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of
machines known as steam traps which serve for the purpose of conducting water of
condensation from steam pipes radiators engines etc. back into the boiler.
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved steam trap which is
simple in construction, effective in use, and not liable to get out of order.
The invention consists in the combination with a steam cylinder of a water cylinder
in the same closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, a piston formed on each
end of the water cylinder a neck fitting closely in said inner or water cylinder and
suitable valves and mechanism for operating the same.
The invention also consists in the construction and combination of certain parts
and details hereinafter referred to.
This improved steam trap consists of a steam cylinder which is turned off smooth on
its inside and provided with a top head and a bottom head secured on the ends of the
cylinder in the usual well known manner. The water cylinder having less diameter
than the steam cylinder is closed at its bottom and is provided at its top and bottom
with exterior annular pistons said pistons fitting closely within the steam cylinder and
being provided with grooves for receiving suitable packing. The top head of the
steam cylinder is provided on its under side with a downwardly projecting nock the
lower end of which fits closely within the water cylinder said neck being provided at
its lower end with exterior annular grooves for receiving packing.
The said neck may be contracted for a part of its length between its upper and
lower ends for the purpose of increasing the space between the inner surface of the
upper part of the steam cylinder and the outer side of said neck. The top head of
the steam cylinder is provided with an opening of the same diameter as the top part
of the neck and above said opening a bonnet is held by suitable bolts on the upper
surface of said top head. A shaft journaled transversely in one part of the bonnet
has one end projecting beyond the bonnet, which end is provided with an arm to which
one end of check rod is pivotted. Within the bonnet an arm projects from. the said
shaft and from the swinging end of said arm a float is suspended within the enlarged
upper end of the said neck.
On the upper surface of the top head the valve casing is secured in which a rocking
valve is mounted to turn, said valve being rigidly mounted on a transverse shaft pro-
vided at one end with an arm carrying a weight. Adjacent to said arm or if desired
on the opposite end of the shaft and outside of the valve casing a sleeve is loosely
mounted on the shaft and is provided with a notch the ends of which can engage a pin
or stud projecting from the said shaft. Said sleeve is provided with an arm connected
by a rod with the outer end of another arm on a transverse shaft journaled in a pro-
jection of the steam cylinder. Within said projection another arm projects from the
said transverse shaft into the interior of the steam cylinder and into the space
between the top and bottom pistons, (before referred to) of the water cylinder. .
A channel for the exhaust steam leads from the valve casing to the top of the steam
cylinder and another channel leads from the valve casing through a suitable pro-
jection on the outside of the steam cylinder to the bottom of said steam cylinder. The

page_text: hrst mentioned channel is curved around said projection or the channel is arranged at
one side of the same. A rocking valve is provided in its rim with a recess and the
casing is provided on its inside with a recess also.
That end of the rod opposite the one connected with the arm outside the bonnet is
guided by a suitable lug on the valve casing. A channel leads within the top head
from the other channel to an opening in said top head, and the end of said channel is
closed by a screw. plug which can also be screwed into the lower end of the other
channel. A projection on the side of the steam cylinder is provided with an opening
with which a pipe is connected which pipe is also connected with another pipe. The
valve casing has a neck for receiving a pipe that conveys live steam to the valve.
Another pipe serves to conduct the water of condensation into and out of the trap and
is connected with a pipe that conveys the water from the return pipe and with a pipe
leading to the boiler. The said pipes are provided with check valves both opening in
the same direction.
The operation is as follows:-Assuming that the trap is empty and the water
cylinder and its pistons are lowered. The live steam is shut off and the water from
the returns passes through certain pipes into the bonnet and flows over the float
through the neck into the water cylinder in which it accumulates and rises. When
said water cylinder is filled the water rises in the neck.and finally raises the float
whereby an arm is swung upward.
Thereby the arm on the end of the shaft outside the bonnet together with the arm
on the same shaft are moved and the rod connected therewith is moved from the
arm which it has supported thus permitting the said arm to swing under the action of
a weight. Thus the valve is turned and brought into another position. The upper
end in the channel before referred to is now closed and the recess before referred to
establishes communication between the other recesses and the upper end of the other
channel thus permitting the live steam to pass through the channel to the bottom of
the steam cylinder and below the piston of the water cylinder.
The live steam passing into the bottom of the steam cylinder forces its piston and
the water cylinder on the same upward whereby the water in the neck is forced out
through a pipe and into the boiler through another pipe the float being kept in the
raised position. At the same time the pistons on the water.cylinder force the exhaust
steam of the previous stroke and which is now in that space of the steam cylinder
bounded by the upper part of said steam cylinder..and therneck out through pipes
provided for this purpose.
▾
The upper piston of the steam cylinder has a series of tapertures through which
the exhaust steam can pass as said. piston rises that part of the steam that passes
through said apertures being forced out of the steam cylinder into a pipe by the top
of the bottom piston. The water cylinder continues its upward movement until the
top of the bottom piston strikes the end of an arm and swinging the same into another
position whereby an arm is moved downward a rod is pulled downward and an arm
is swung outwards.
The end of the notch or slot inithe sleeve before referred to by acting on a pin
turns the shaft it is mounted upon whereby the arm and its weight are raised. The
valve is thus brought into another position the communication between the pipe and
steam channel before referred to is interrupted and the other channels connected.
The water cylinder now begins to descend under the action of its own weight and
the water still contained therein thus permitting the float to descend whereby the
arm before referred to is removed and the rod before referred to is also moved the
end of the rod is thus brought. against the raised arm forming anstop of the same
and preventing it from swinging. As the water icylinder and its pistons descend
the exhaust steam, thattis, the steam in the lower part of the steam cylinder and
below the upper piston is forced up through the channel in the steam cylinder
through recess of the valve, and through othe, channel in the top. part of the steam
cylinder.
Just before the water cylinder completes its down stroke the under side of the
upper piston strikes. the "endiof.a lever arm and swinging the same downward whereby

page_text: the arm and rod connected therewith are raised the rod is brought into another
position without in any way affecting the weighted arm. The water now again
accumulates in the water cylinder after a time the float is raised the weighted arm is
released the valve is turned and the above described operation is repeated.
To adjust the apparatus for pumping cold water at the same time that it forces the
returns into the boiler the bonnet is removed the plug is removed from the end of its
channel the top head of the steam cylinder is removed and said plug is screwed into
the lower end of the channel to close the same and then the head and bonnet are
replaced.
The pipe connected with the steam cylinder is now connected with another pipe
having opposite check valves and connected with the tank or pipe from which the
water is to be pumped and the tank or receptacle into which the water is to be
pumped. When the pistons in the steam cylinder descend they create a vacuum
between the inner surface of the steam cylinder and the outer surface of the water
cylinder and neck whereby water is drawn from the tank into said space. At the
same time the exhaust steam below the lower piston is forced through the channel in
the steam cylinder the valve and its channel and the channel into the bonnet where it
is condensed and mixed with the water flowing into and through the neck. When
the steam forces the upper and lower pistons and the water cylinder upward the cold
water that has been drawn into the space between the inner surface of the steam
cylinder and the exterior surface of the water cylinder and neck is forced out through
the connecting pipe into the receptacle provided for this purpose and can be raised to
the desired elevation at the same time the warm water in the water cylinder and neck
is forced out in the manner previously described. The pump thus serves at the same
time for convoying the water of condensation. or returns into the boiler and at the
same time pumping and elevating cold water.
Dated this 11th day of December 1888
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,.
34, Southampton Buildings, London,. W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps, Acting also as Pumps if Required.
I JOHN GARRETT TONGUE of the firm of Tongue and Birkbeck Patent Agents and
Engineers of 34 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane London in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents (a communication to me from
abroad by John Murray Mitchell, Lawyer of New York in the County and State of
New York United States of America) 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of
machines known as steam traps which serve for the purpose of conducting water
of condensation from steam pipes radiators engines etcetera back into the boiler..
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved steam trap which is
simple in construction effective in use and not liable to get out of order.
The invention consists in the combination with a steam cylinder of a water cylinder
in the same closed at its lower end and open at its upper end a piston formed on each
end of the water cylinder a neck fitting closely in said inner or water cylinder and
suitable valves and mechanism for operating the same.
The invention also consists in the construction and combination of certain parts and
details hereinafter referred to.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of
this improved steam trap showing the piston lowered.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the piston partially raised.
Figure 3 is a diagramatic view showing the connections between the boiler and the
steam trap.

page_text: Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
This improved steam trap consists of a steam cylinder A which is turned off
smooth on its inside and provided with a top head A and a bottom head A² secured
on the ends of the cylinder in the usual well known manner. The water cylinder C
having less diameter than the steam cylinder A is closed at its bottom with exterior
annular pistons and respectively said pistons fitting closely within the steam
cylinder and being provided with grooves for receiving suitable packing. The top
head A' of the steami cylinder is provided on its under side with a downwardly pro-
jecting neck D the lower end of which fits closely within the water cylinder C said
neck being provided at its lower end with exterior annular grooves for receiving
packing.
The neck D may be contracted for a part of its length between its upper and lower
ends for the purpose of increasing the space between the inner surface of the upper
part of the steam cylinder A and the outer side of said neck. The top head A¹ of
the steam cylinder A is provided with an opening B of the same diameter as the
top part of the neck D and above said opening a bonnet E is held by suitable bolts
on the upper surface of said top head. A shaft F journaled transversely in one part
of the bonnet has one end projecting beyond the bonnet which end is provided with
an arm F¹ to which one end of a check rod G is pivoted. Within the bonnet an
arm H projects from the shaft F and from the swinging end of said arm a float J is
suspended within the enlarged upper end of the neck D.
On the upper surface of the top head A' the valve casing K is secured in which
the rocking valve L is mounted to turn said valve being rigidly mounted on the
transverse shaft M provided at one end with an arm Mi carrying the weight M².
Adjacent to said arm M' or if desired on the opposite end of the shaft M and outside
of the valve casing a sleeve N is loosely mounted on the shaft M and is provided with
a notch N¹ the ends of which can engage a pin or stud N2 projecting from the
shaft M. Said sleeve N is provided with an arm 0 connected by a rod O¹ with the
outer end of an arm P¹ on a transverse shaft P journaled in a projection of
the steam cylinder. Within said projection an arm R projects from the shaft Pinto
the interior of the steam cylinder and into the space between the top and bottom
pistons (and C of the water cylinder C.
The channel S for the exhaust steam leads from the valve casing K to the top of
the steam cylinder and another channel T leads from the valve casing K through a
suitable projection on the outside of the steam cylinder to the bottom of said steam
cylinder. As shown in the drawings it would seem that said channel T was closed by
the projection Q but said channel is curved around said projection or the channel is
arranged at one side of the same. The rocking valve L is provided in its rim with a
recess V. and the casing K is provided on its inside with a recess 1.
The
That end of the rod G opposite the one connected with the arm F¹ is guided by a
suitable lug G³ on the valve casing K. The channel a leads within the top head A¹
from the channel S to the opening B in said top head and the end of the channel a is
closed by a screw plug 6 which can also be screwed into the lower end of the channel S.
The projection Q on the side of the steam cylinder is provided with an opening with
which a pipe d is connected which pipe is also connected with the pipe r or m.
valve casing K has a neck g for receiving the pipe that conveys live steam to the
valve. Another pipe o serves to conduct the water of condensation into and out of
the trap and is connected with a pipe m that conveys the water from the return pipe
and with a pipe leading to the boiler. The pipe m is provided with a check valve m¹
and pipe with a check valve ¹ both opening in the same direction.
The operation is as follows:-As shown in Figure 1 the trap is empty and the water
cylinder and its pistons are lowered. The live steam is shut off and the water from the
returns passes through the pipes m and o into the bonnet E flows over the float J
through the neck D into the water cylinder C in which it accumulates and rises. When
said water cylinder is filled the water rises in the neck D and finally raises the float J
whereby the arm H is swung upward.
Thereby the arm F' which is on the same shaft F with the arm H is moved in the

page_text: direction of the arrow x¹ and the rod G is moved in the direction of the arrow and
from the arm M which it has supported thus permitting the said arm to swing under
the action of the weight M' in the direction of the arrow ³. Thereby the valve L is
turned in the direction of the arrow and brought into position shown in Figure 2.
The upper end in the channel S is now closed and the recess V establishes communi-
cation between the recess I and the upper end of the channel T permitting the live
steam to pass through the channel T to the bottom of the steam cylinder and below
the piston (of the water cylinder C.
I will here state that the swinging of the arm M in the direction of the arrow ³
does not move the arm O and only brings the pin N2 against the right hand end of the
notch or slot N¹ in the sleeve N from which the arm O projects the arms R and P¹
remaining in the position shown in Figure 1.
The live steam passing into the bottom of the steam cylinder forces the piston C
and the water cylinder on the saine upward whereby the water in the neck D is forced
out through the pipe o and into the boiler through the pipe r the float J being kept in .
the raised position. At the same time the pistons C₁ on the water cylinder force
the exhaust steam of the previous stroke and which is now in that space of the steam
cylinder bounded by the upper part of said steam cylinder and the neck D out through
the pipe & and into the pipe r or m.
The piston C has a series of apertures n' through which the exhaust steam can pass
as said piston rises that part of the steam that passes through said apertures being
forced out of the steam cylinder into the pipe d by the top of the bottom piston 02.
The water cylinder continues its upward movement until the top of the bottom
piston C² strikes the end of the arm R and swinging the same into the position shown
in Figure 2 in dotted lines whereby the arm P is moved downward the rod O¹ is
pulled downward and the arm O swung in the direction of the arrow a¹.
The end of the notch or slot N acting on the pin N turns the shaft M in the
inverse direction of the arrow whereby the arm M' and its weight M are raised
that is swung in the inverse direction of the arrow a³. The valve L is thus brought
into the position shown in Figure 1 the communication between the pipe and steam
channel T is interrupted and the channel S is connected with the channel T. The
cylinder now begins to descend under the action of its own weight and the water
still contained therein thus permitting the float J to descend whereby the arm F' is
removed in the inverse direction of the arrow r¹ and the rod G is moved in the
inverse direction of the arrow . The end of the rod F¹ is brought against the
raised arm M' forming a stop of the same and preventing it from swinging in
the direction of the arrow³. As the water cylinder and its pistons descend the
exhaust steam that is the steam in the lower part of the steam cylinder and below
the piston is forced up through the channel T through the recess V of the
valve Land through the channel S in the top part of the steam cylinder.
Just before the water cylinder completes its down stroke the under side of the
piston C strikes the end of the arm K and swinging the same downward, whereby
the arm P and the rod O¹ are raised and the arm O¹ is brought into the position
shown in Figure 1 without in anyway affecting the arm M¹. The water now
again accumulates in the water cylinder, after a time the float is raised the arm M¹
is released the valve L is turned and the abové described operation is repeated.
To adjust the apparatus for pumping cold water at the same time that it forces
the returns into the boiler the bonnet E is removed the plug b is removed from the
end of the channel a the top head A' of the cylinder A is removed and said
plug bis screwed into the lower end of the channel S to close the same and then
the head A and bonnet E are replaced.
The pipe d is now connected with another pipe (having opposite check valves as
shown in Figure 2) and connected with the tank or pipe from which the water is to
When
be pumped and the tank or receptacle into which the water is to be pumped.
the pistons and C descend they create a vacuum between the inner surface of
the cylinder A and the outer surface of the water cylinder C and the neck D whereby
water is drawn from the tank into said space. At the same time the exhaust steam

page_text: below the piston 13 forced through the channel T the valve Lathe channel. S and
the channel a into the bonnet where it is condensed and mixedi with the water. flowing
into and through the neck D. When the steam forces the pistons and C² and the
cylinder upward the cold water that has been drawn into the space between the
inner surface of the cylinder. A and the exterior surface of the cylinder C and neck D
is forced out, through the pipe d into the receptacle provided for: this
be raised to the desired elevation at the same time the warm water in the water
purpose and can
cylinder C and neck D is forced out in the manner> previously described. The pump
thus serves at the same time for conveying the water of condensation or returns into
the boiler and at the same time pumping and elevating cold water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner. the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a steam trap the combination with a cylinder of a piston in the same an
interior cylinder formed upon said piston and a neck fitting closely on said interior
cylinder substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a steam trap the combination with a cylinder of a piston in the same an
interior. cylinder formed upon said piston and provided. at its upper end with an
exterior flange fitting against the inner surface of the exterior cylinder and a neck
projecting from the upper head of said exterior cylinder into the open end of the
interior cylinder substantially as berein shown and described.
3. In a steam trap the combination with an exterior cylinder of a piston in the
same an interior cylinder on said piston a neck projecting from the top head of the
exterior cylinder, into the upper open end of said interior cylinder a float within
said neck and a valve controlled by said float substantially as herein shown and
described.
4. In a steam trap the combination with an exterior cylinder a piston in the same
an interior cylinder formed upon said piston a neck projecting from the top head of
said exterior cylinder into the upper open end of said exterior cylinder a float
within said neck a valve controlled by said float. the exterior cylinder and its head
being provided with channels connecting the valve with the top and bottom of said
exterior cylinder substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In a steam trap the combination with an. exterior cylinder of a piston in the
same an interior cylinder formed upon said piston a neck projecting from the top
head of said exterior cylinder into the upper open end of the interior cylinder and a
pipe communicating with the space between the inner sides of the exterior cylinder
and the outer sides of the interior cylinder and neck substantially as herein shown
and described.
6. In a steam trap the combination with an exterior cylinder of a piston in the
same an interior cylinder formed on said piston a neck projecting from the top head of
said exterior cylinder into the upper open end. of the interior cylinder a float in the
upper end of said neck a bonnet on the top head of the exterior cylinder and a valve
controlled by said float substantially as herein shown and described.
7. In a steam trap the combination with an, exterior cylinder of a piston in the
same an interior cylinder formed on said piston a neck projecting from the top head
of the exterior cylinder into the upper open end of the interior cylinder a float in the
said neck a rocking, shaft having an arm from which the float is suspended an additional
arm on said rocking shaft a check rod connected with said additional arm a rock valve
and a weighted arm, for operating said valve which arm can swing against the above
mentioned check rod an arm for operating the valve a rock shaft in the side of the
exterior cylinder an. exterior arm of said rock shaft connected with the arm for
operating the valve, and an interior arm on said rock shaft projecting into the exterior
cylinder substantially as herein shown and described.
8. In a steam trap, the combination with an exterior cylinder of a piston in the
same an interior cylinder formed on said piston a neck on the top head of the exterior
cylinder a float.in. said..neck. a valve.controlled by said.float a rock shaft on the side

page_text: of the exterior cylinder an arm projecting from the said shaft into the cylinder and
a rod connecting said rock shaft with the above mentioned valve substantially as
herein shown and described.
9. In a steam trap the combination with a steam cylinder A and its head A' said
cylinder head and casing having steam channels S, T and a of the valve casing K
the plug 6 the valve L in the casing K the piston C and cylinder C the neck D
and the float J substantially as herein shown and described.
10. The combination with a cylinder of a piston in the samo a float in the cylinder
a valve acted upon by said float and a lever in the path of the piston and connected
with the valve substantially as set forth.
11. The improved arrangement combination and construction of parts forming the
improved steam trap substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore fully described
and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 11th day of September 1889
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Patentee.