IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF Steam Traps AND IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DIMINISHING VALVES AND FOR RECILLATING THE FLOW OF PROALATIONROUGH FLEXIBLE TUBING AND IN FITTINGS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Royle of 27 and 29 King Street West
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF Steam Traps AND IN APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS APPLICABLE IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF DIMINISHING VALVES AND FOR RECILLATING THE FLOW OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Royle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1882.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE of 27 and 29 King Street West Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEAM-TRAPS AND IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS AND
LIQUIDS APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DIMINISHING VALVES AND FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS THROUGH FLEXIBLE TUBING AND IN FITTINGS
FOR THE SAME
"
This invention refers to the construction of that class of apparatus technically
known as
'Steam-Traps (for regulating the discharge of condensed water from
steam apparatus) which are constructed with the actuating mechanism on the
atmospheric side of the regulating valve and which usually have a casing with a
loose cover open to the atmosphere.
I employ an open-bottomed float working in a reservoir of water provided with
a pipe or outlet passing through the bottom of the outer vessel but rising above
the level of the water contained in such outer vessel. The top of the float vessel is
connected to a lever operating a valve which discharges into the outer vessel. In
another arrangement I invert the float vessel and reverse the position of the valve
and employ a syphon pipe passing to the bottom of the float vessel and discharging
at or about the top of the outer vessel In another modification I employ a float
at the end of the valve lever and I divide the outer vessel by a partition rising up
to near the top, into two compartments. Into one compartment the condensed
Doll

page_text: water falls from the valve, whilst the float is designed to work in the other com-
partment in which is also situated a syphon pipe as in the last mentioned
arrangement These compartments are in communication through a small hole at
the bottom so that the water stored up in one is constantly trickling through the
small hole and so by altering the level of water in the other compartment is giving
the valve a tendency to open-and when a rush of water passes, it overflows the
partition and so opens the valve to its full extent. This last modification is also
applicable in the construction of what is known as a return steam-trap.
In all the foregoing modifications it is necessary that the outer vessel should be
covered in by a suitable lid-it is not necessary however that this lid be fastened
down, as there is never more than a very slight pressure under the cover, except
in the case of the return steain trap. AV groove and gaskin is most suitable and
the lid may be held on either by its own dead weight or by one or more bolts.
This construction of semi-open steam trap possesses all the advantages of a
closed trap combined with the ready accessibility of what is known as the open
construction.
My invention further relates to improvements in that class of steam trap, con-
structed upon the expansion principle. I employ an outer tube of brass, copper or
other metal of high expansive property, and inside this tube I arrange an inner
core of earthenware-the outer tube terminating in a valve-box fitted with a ball
valve by preference and which is held off its seat by the earthenware core when
the trap has been properly adjusted. The expansion of the outer tube or casing
permits the valve to fall to its seat when heated by the steam.
In constructing Diminishing Valves for regulating the flow of fluids I employ an
open bottomed inverted float working in an enclosed outer casing and connected as
hereinafter described to a valve and I provide an additional vessel fixed and
preferably of copper or thin metal to isolate the float vessel from the side of the
outer casing the steam having free access to the space so formed between the
additional vessel and outer casing. The float vessel dips into a dish containing
water from the centre of which rises a pipe or tube. This tube acts as a guide for
a rod which depends from the top of the float vessel and passes down to a lever
which actuates a valve or valves (preferably a double beat valve as near as possible
in equilibrium) inside a suitable chamber situated below the dish before mentioned.
A dead weight escape valve, weighted to the desired reduced pressure is situated
on the top of the outer casing and communicates with the space between the float
vessel and the additional isolating vessel before mentioned.
For regulating the flow of liquids through flexible tubing I employ a screw
clamp mounted in a suitable casting through which the flexible tubing is passed.
By screwing down the clamp the tubing is pressed together and a perfect valve
action obtained by which the flow of liquids or fluids may be regulated to the
greatest nicety or absolutely closed at will. A cam action may be used in lieu of
the screw. A rose and jet may be applied at the end of the tube to direct the
water, but in constructing the tail which connects the rose and jet to the India
rubber tube I prefer to make the tail slightly conical with a coarse screw thread
formed about half way up the cone commencing from the smaller end. This
construction of tail can be screwed into the tube and in many cases forms &
perfectly water tight joint without the necessity of wiring This part of my
invention it will be obvious is applicable to all descriptions of water fittings which
require to be inserted into flexible tubing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John James Royle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th June 1883.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE of 27 and 29 King Street West, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STEAM-TRAPS AND IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS AND
LIQUIDS, APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DIMINISHING VALVES, AND FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS THROUGH FLEXIBLE TUBING, AND IN FITTINGS
FOR THE SAME
This invention refers to the construction of that class of apparatus technically
known as "Steam Traps" (for regulating the discharge of air and condensed
water from Steam apparatus) which are constructed with the actuating mechanism
on the atmospheric side of the regulating valve and which usually have a casing
with a loose cover open to the atmosphere. I employ an open bottomed float
working in a reservoir of water provided with a pipe or outlet passing through
the bottom of the outer vessel but rising to about the level of the water contained
in such outer vessel. The top of the float vessel is connected to a lever operating
a valve which discharges into the outer vessel. In another modification I employ
a float at the end of the valve lever and I divide the outer Vessel by a partition
rising up to near the top into two compartments into one compartment the
condensed water falls from the valve whilst the float is designed to work in the
other compartment in which is also situated a syphon pipe as in the last mentioned
arrangement. These compartments are in communication through a small hole at
the bottom so that the water stored up in one is constantly trickling through the
small hole and so by altering the level of water in the other compartment is giving
the valve a tendency to open and when a rush of water passes it overflows the
partition and so opens the valve to its full extent. In all the foregoing
modifications it is necessary that the outer vessel should be covered in by a suitable
lid It is not necessary however that this lid be fastened down as there is never more
than a very slight pressure under the cover. A. V grove and gaskin is most suitable
and the lid may be held on either by its own dead weight or by one or more
bolts-This construction of semi-open steam trap possesses all the advantages of a
closed trap combined with the ready accessibility of what is known as the open
construction. And in order that this the first part of my said invention may be
the more readily understood and carried into practical effect I have hereunto
annexed drawings illustrative of my improvements in steam traps and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon-Fig 1 (Sheet 1) is a side sectional view of a steam
trap constructed in accordance with the first part of my provisional Specification
in which A is an open bottomed float working in a reservoir of water b provided
with a pipe or outlet c passing through the bottom d but rising to about the level
of the water contained in the reservoir b. The top of the float vessel a is connected
to a lever e operating a hinged valve f which discharges into the reservoir b. This
outer vessel or reservoir b is covered in by a suitable heavy lid g which however is
not fastened down as there is never more than a slight pressure under the cover
the necessary sealed joint being effected by the rim of the lid g dipping into the
V groove g¹ containing gaskin as hereinafter more particularly described The
action of this steam trap being substantially the same as in the modification
hereinafter immediately following I will not here further allude to it-In figs 2
and 3 (sheet 2) I illustrate by side sectional view and half plan respectively a

page_text: modification of my invention in which A is the outer box or casing preferably of
iron provided with a cover B held on by wing bolts C made tight in a gaskin
groove C formed in the box and not in the lid as heretofore which prevents any
water trickling down the box. Instead of the lid being held down by bolts it may
be weighted or held down by other means the end to be attained being to retain a
very slight pressure of steam under the said cover sufficient to eject the condensed
water by the syphon pipe H-E is a hinged valve actuated by a lever and
ball float F-L is an air valve heavy enough to close by its own dead
weight against any pressure that may be in the box A and is held open
by the brass expansion bar M. fastened at each extremity to the iron
cover B as shown-The apparatus to be drained of air and water of conden-
sation is connected by the union O and the box A filled with water to the level of
the outlet D of the ejection pipe H. The cover is then put on and the apparatus
is ready for action. The air valve L is fully open owing to the expansion bar M
being cold and nearly straight as illustrated-The ball float is in the position shewn
by the dotted lines in fig. 2 and the hinged valve E therefore fully open-The air
has therefore freedom of egress through the open air valve L to the outer atmo-
sphere whilst the water of condensation is free to overflow through the ejection pipe
as indicated by the arrows. As soon however as the steam arrives the expansion
of the brass bar M causes it to lengthen and bow downwards and allow the air
valve L to close on to its seating-In passing I would here observe that this
air valve may be dispensed with in positions where there is no air to discharge
and it must be understood that its absence will not interfere with the action of
the other part of the trap. The closing of this air valve causes the steam to
accumulate under the cover B and eject the water from the box through the
ejection pipe H. The ball thus descends and partially closes the hinged valve E
to diminish the supply of steam to the box-It will be obvious that this ejection
action will cease as soon as the ball has so far closed the valve E that the amount
of steam passing is absorbed by the natural condensation of the box. This valve E
therefore never absolutely closes and any condensed water collecting above the
valve E would at first slowly pass the valve and add to the water in the box and
raise the ball, thus opening the valve wider and so on in a rapidly accelerating
ratio until the steam again arrives when all the water would be descharged through
the ejection pipe H and the valve E closed as before. K is a small hole formed in
the division plate N which when the trap is at rest allows the water to run from
the compartment I into J until they are both on a level, so lifting the ball F and
opening wide the valve E to about the position indicated by the dotted lines in
fig. 2 to allow of the utmost freedom of escape for air on starting-By lifting off
the cover B the ball and lever F can be thrown back (as indicated by the dotted
lines passing through the cover) so opening wide the valve E for blowing out any
dirt or obstruction which may have collected above the valve-This valve E and
float F arranged and acting as described possess a special advantage over other
descriptions of Steam traps inasmuch as besides performing their other functions
they operate as a safety valve to prevent over pressure in the apparatus to which
the steam trap is connected-The escape of the water through the hole K goes on
continuously and doubtless accelerates the action as described in my provisional
specification-It will thus be observed that the distinctive feature of my improve-
ments in Steam traps lies in applying a syphon or ejection pipe or its equivalent
in the box or reservoir and thus retaining a very slight pressure of steam within
the box or reservoir sufficient to eject the condensed water over the syphon pipe
and that from this the necessary trapping action is derived-Having thus described
the principle and practical application of this part of my Invention I would
observe that the essential action of the Steam trap illustrated in Fig: 1 is the
same as in the modification just described. The water being discharged and passing
under the float a and over by the pipe c in the direction of the arrows and so
giving the same ejection action-The float and lever in this case however are counter-
balanced by a springh on the rod which rod also serves the purpose of lifting the

page_text: valve to blow through without removing the cover-Instead of the valve E (Fig 2)
Sheet 2 and valve f(Fig 1) Sheet 1 any well known construction of plug cock may be
used the action being substantially the same or I may employ other forms of valves
but I have found the valves as described very convenient in practice-My invention
further relates to that class of Steam trap constructed upon the expansion prin-
ciple. In Figs 1 and 2 (sheet 3) I illustrate by a side sectional view and exterior
view respectively, one method of carrying out my Invention-A is an outer
tube of brass, copper or other metal preferably of high expansive property, and
inside this tube I place a core of earthenware glass or other similar material B with
a low ratio of expansion C is a valve closing to its seat as shown. D is a screwed
spindle operated by the band wheel E-The trap so constructed is attached by the
inlet end F to the apparatus to be drained of condensed water and the valve C is
first opened by screwing up the hand wheel to its full extent-As soon as the
steam blows freely through, the hand wheel should be screwed back until the
valve comes to its seating and then be fastened with the lock nut G provided for
this purpose.
The trap is then "set" The tube A is now at its greatest length
and any condensed water accumulating above the valve C would cause the tube A
to contract by cutting off the supply of steam to it and allowing it to cool―Thus
by contraction of the outer tube the valve would be forced open until the steam
again arrives and raises it to its normal temperature, the earthenware or glass core
of low expansion in conjunction with an outer tube of high expansion allows of the
utmost movement of the valve C by direct expansion whilst the valve C comes to
its seating "permissively" and not as in ordinary direct action expansion traps by
the direct thrust of the expansive metal-Thus one fertile cause of failure in
expansion traps is here removed namely the tendency of the valve to indent itself
into the seating and destroy itself by crushing the particles of grit-Any dirt
under the valve can be readily removed by blowing through whilst any larger
obstruction can be taken out through the cap H-Further this invention relates to
the construction of a diminishing valve (or apparatus for regulating the flow of
fluids or liquids at a reduced pressure) which is extremely sensitive in its action
and not liable to "stick" in the working parts and free from springs or mercury
which have been found to have serious defects in practice-I employ a small
weighted escape valve preferably of dead weight construction on the reduced
pressure side of the main valve-The reliable character of this description of valve
is well known and I employ it in conjunction with a steam jacketed float (or its
equivalent) and lever and equilibrium valve to give the reducing action as herein-
after described. On sheet 4. (Fig 1) is a sectional view of my improved diminishing
valve and Fig 2 is a sectional plan of Fig 1. across the line a-b. Fig 3 is a
sectional view and Fig 4 a sectional plan of the same diminishing valve but
showing the bottom of the inverted vessels dipping into a tray containing water-
The same letters of reference are used to denote similar parts in all the views-a
is a valve preferably of equilibrium or nearly equilibrium construction connected
through a lever b with the inverted float c working in water as shewn and
rising into an outer casing d-I surround the float c with a second inverted
vessel e fixed as shewn and having a steam pipe frising to nearly the top-
or such float and vessel e may dip into a tray g containing water as seen
in Figs 3 and 4 in which case the steam pipe f is dispensed with-These
arrangements thus form a steam jacketed vessel for the inverted float to
work in and so to prevent any irregularity of action arising through conden-
sation on the sides of the outer casing d. his the dead weight escape valve
weighted to the desired reduced pressure. i is a small hole in the float c. This
hole it is obvious will cause the float c to descend to the bottom of the casing and
open the main valve a to its fullest extent the steam thus flows freely through
until the reduced pressure is reached when the escape valve h lifts and permits a
small quantity of steam to escape--If more escapes than can pass the small hole i
it will be obvious that the float c will rise and partially close the main valve a
until the escape valve discharges the exact quantity passing through the small

page_text: hole i and no more, the float c will then remain stationary. Any alteration of the
consumption of steam on the reduced side will affect the escape valve and bring
about a new position of the float corresponding to the altered condition-It will thus
be seen that the controlling agent is the escape valve h which in turn controls the
steam jacketed float c and with it the main valve a. For marine purposes where
oscillation would prevent the use of an inverted float working in water I substitute
the arrangement shewn in side section in Fig 5 consisting of a loosely fitted disc m
to permit the steam to escape past the disc in sufficient quantity to ensure the
requisite falling action-This disc m connected as illustrated to the lever b also
works by preference in a steam jacketed cylinder n In this arrangement the
nction is substantially the same as when an inverted float is employed but for
obvious reasons when used for marine purposes in place of the dead weight escape
valve I employ a spring safety valve o adjusted by the set screw p-It will thus
be seen that the loosely fitting disc m is in action the mechanical equivalent of the
inverted float c and I have found in practice that the same may be made to fit
very loosely in the cylinder if of moderate diameter and thus avoid all possibility
of "sticking" Although I prefer to employ an intermediate lever b between the
disc and the valve, I would here observe that this this is not essential as by having
the valve in equilibrium the disc might be situated immediately over the valve
and that in this case instead of a disc a diaphragm might be substituted by having
a passage formed between one side of such diaphragm and the other to impart the
necessary falling action and as an equivalent for the hole i in Figs 1 and 3-For
regulating the flow of liquids through flexible tubing I employ a screw, clamp
mounted in a suitable casting through which the flexible tubing is passed. This
is illustrated by a side sectional view in Fig 2 Sheet. 1. Fig 3 shews a side
sectional view and Fig 4 a plan partly in section of the fitting removed from the
tube and Fig 5 is a transverse section of Fig 2-In all the views Z is a casting or
ferrule through which the flexible tube y, is passed as seen in Fig 2. x is a thumb
screw by means of which the sliding piece w is screwed down in order to press the
sides of the tube y together and so to regulate or stop the flow of the liquid passing
through-In this manner a perfect valve action is obtained which is absolutely leak-
less either outwardly or through the tube and practically indistructible for if the tube
breaks at the point where the pressure is exercised by drawing the tube through
the ferrule and cutting off the faulty inch or two of tube a new valve is formed
In constructing the tail piece of the rose or jet e which is secured at the end of the
flexible tube y I make the same of a conical form and with a coarse screw thread f
formed along the outer surface nearly but not up to the collar as illustrated. This
construction of tail piece can thus be screwed into the end of the flexible tube
and in many cases forms a perfectly water tight joint without the necessity of
wiring This part of my invention it will be obvious is applicable to all
descriptions of water fittings which require to be inserted into flexible tubing―
In conclusion I would here remark that I am well aware that the employment of the
description of float and hinged valve (illustrated in Figs 2 and 3 sheet 2) in steam
traps is not novel being similar to that used in practically carrying out their
invention the subject of Letters Patent N° 734 and dated seventeenth March in
the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty two by Messieurs
John and William Weems but such ball and valve have always been used on the
pressure side and within a tightly bolted vessel under the full steam pressure
and not as herein employed on the atmospheric side of the valve and I therefore
make no claim to such valve and float used as aforesaid. Nor do I claim the
expansion of metals for closing the air valve of steam traps. Further in my
provisional specification I described a modification of my improved steam trap
as what is known as a "Return Steam Trap" but I have found the arrangement
therein proposed not so effective as I then believed it was and consequently I make
no claim to the same but what I do claim is, :-
"
1 The herein before described syphon or ejectment action and apparatus for
operating the valve of Steam traps on the atmospheric or low pressure side of

page_text: the valve substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated or any mere
modification of the same.
2nd The general construction and arrangement of Steam traps including the
improved Gaskin groove and the division plate N as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing
3rd The combination of an inner earthenware glass or other similar core in
combination with an outer expansive metal core supporting a valve and forming
an expansion steam trap substantially as described and illustrated in Figs 1 and 2
sheet 3
Referring to my improvements in Diminishing valves and other apparatus
hereinbefore described I wish it to be understood that I do not here claim any
portion of the present apparatus included in my previous specification of Letters
Patent No 4895 and dated thirtieth November in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight nor do I claim equilibrium valves
except in combination as aforesaid but what I do claim subject as aforesaid is:-
The improvements in reducing valves substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated or any mere modification of the same.-I also claim :—
The improvements in regulating and other apparatus for hose pipes or flexible
tubing substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
In witness whereof I the said John James Royle have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty ninth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.