Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil, Grease and like Impurities irom Steam, Water and other Fluids.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil, Grease and like
Impurities irom Steam, Water and other Fluids.
I, GEORGE ILSLEY ROBERTS, of 471 and 473, 4th Avenue, New York City, New
York, U.S.A., Dealer in Engineers' Supplies, 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 steam and water traps or separators, and has for its
object a complete and successful separation of the contained grease, oil or other
impurities, from the vapor, steam or water delivered to and passing through the
apparatus from steam users of all kinds, house heating and power plants, a further
object is to provide against all possibility of the refuse grease, oil or foreign matter
or material, passing in any direction other than that laid out for it, through their
proper and designated channels or paths of exit, also to assure a ready cleansing
of all parts or portions, likely to become dirty with use.
My improvements consist in the special construction, arrangement and com-
bination of the several parts or portions comprising the apparatus as hereinafter
described, shown and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a
vertical 1
longitudinal
section of an apparatus embodying my improvements, Figure 2 represents a trans-
verse section of the same on line,, Figure 1, Figure 3 represents a transverse
section of the same on line y. y. of Figure 1, Figure 4 represents a partial sectional
view showing perforations instead of an open space at bottom of partition apron 10,
Similar figures of reference designate like parts or portions in all the figures.
In the several figures, 2 designates the main shell of the steam separator within
which the several parts, portions and compartments comprising the apparatus are
enclosed. This shell 2, may of course, be of any desired form or configuration, but
for strength and minimum weight, it is preferably made cylindrical. 3 designates
an upper or steam receiving chamber or compartment into which all surplus,
exhaust unused or refuse steam or vapor is delivered for treatment and cleansing,
and 5 designates a lower or drip compartment for the reception and cleansing of
the water, extraneous oil, grease foreign matter or material sifted, separated or
taken from the steam passing through the apparatus. 6 designates a pair of
supporting strips fastened along the central longitudinal sides of the main shell,
to support a longitudinal removable partition plate 8, and a plurality of separating,
baffle or sediment collecting devices 7, for the interception and sifting of water,
grease, oil or other foreign matters or impurities from the steam passing in through
the opening 9 and out through opening 11 or vice versa as may be desired. The
partition plate 8 may extend the whole distance under baffles 7 to connect with
partition apron 10 and be perforated beneath the baffles 7 so that the grease, oil,
water &c. may readily drain from the baffles into the lower drip-receiving compart-
ment. It is however preferably extended from the bonnet or cover 20, to the first
of the baffle devices 7, assisting in holding the said baffles 7 to a perpendicular
position and in place, thus leaving a clear drip admission opening to compartment 5
bonaath the baffles 7.

page_text: ment 13. The water of condensation, or resulting liquid being the heavier, re-
mains within the drip receiving compartment 5, passes downward through the
perforations or under partition apron 10 over the retarding dam 15 into settling
chamber 19 and finally overflowing partition dam 16 into the exit compartment 17
for withdrawal, automatic or otherwise.
Before commencing to use the device, sufficient clean water should be entered
into the lower compartment 5, to cover thoroughly the bottom edge or the perfora-
tions of the partition apron 10, and the discharge nozzle 14, so that no drip
grease, oil or foreign matter or material shall reach or pass under the lower edge or
through the perforations of partition apron 10.
To clean the apparatus, the cover 20 is removed, partition plate 8 and baffle
frames 7 withdrawn, and free access is attained for the cleaning of every portion
likely to get dirty, and the filtering or clarifying material removed from its com-
partment 18. In the drawings thirteen of the baffles 7 are shown. This number
may be increased or decreased according to requirements, and the inlet to drip
compartment 5 reduced in area by extending either the partition 8, the partition
apron 10, or both to reach the baffles according to their extent and preferred
location.
23 designates a float automatically operating valve 24 to effect the emptying of
the water compartment 17 by gravity, pressure, pump or any well known means.
The same automatic method is preferably used for emptying compartment 13,
as well as, primarily, to save the oil and grease for future use, and secondarily to
so control the oil or grease level that it shall not flow back towards compartment 5,
In such case outlets 21 and 26 may
and mar the efficiency of the separator.
either one or both be used for the purpose.
These same outlets 21 and 26 may be used as ordinary blow outlets for discharg-
ing the oil or grease by hand according to the designated levels shown by the
gauge glass, the oil or grease being saved or thrown away as desired. With
outlet 26 used as a surface blow, partition dam 12, may be omitted if desired,
and lower drip compartments 5 extended to end of shell. 22 designates the dis-
charge or blow-off pipes and valves for cleansing the several compartments of
any accumulated foul or undesired waste matter or material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1: In a steam separator, in combination with an upper compartment having
inlet and outlet openings, a lower compartment having inlet and outlet openings,
a partition between the said compartments within which the said inlet for lower
compartment is situated, and a surface overflow partition dam in said lower
compartment as and for the purposes set forth.
2: In a steam separator, in combination with an upper compartment having
inlet and outlet openings, a lower compartment having inlet and outlet openings, a
removable partition plate, a fixed partition apron separating said compartments
and a plurality of partitions in said lower compartment for controlling the move-
ments of the several drip matters or materials as and for the purposes set forth.
3: In a steam separator, in combination with the upper and lower compart-
ments each having inlet and outlet openings, a removable partition plate, a fixed
partition apron, and a centrally located baffle device in the upper compartment, as
and for the purposes set forth.
4:-In a steam separator, in combination with the upper and lower compart-
ments, each having inlet and outlet openings, a removable partition plate, a fixed
partition apron, a centrally located baffle device, in the upper compartment, an
overflow and an underflow exit for the said lower compartment as and for the
purposes set forth.
5: In a steam separator, in combination with the lower or drip receiving
compartment, a partition dam over which the lighter foreign matters or materials