Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1888
Complete "pecification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
We BARTHELEMI JOSEPH SPRINGUEL and ARTHUR BOLLINCKS, Manufacturers
respectively of Hug and Brussels, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be.
as follows:-
This invention relates to certain automatic apparatus by which liquid produced by
condensation in any apparatus, pipos, and the like containing steam or vapour may
be removed and got rid of at any suitable periods of time.
The apparatus consists essentially in the arrangement of a receiver connected with
the medium wherein condensed liquid is generated or deposited by a flexible metallic
tube and suspended from one of the arms of a balanced beam whose other arın
supports a counterweight sufficient to balance the said receiver when not quite filled
with liquid. As soon as the condensed liquid (compressed either by steam or by its
own weight) has filled the receiver it descends suddenly. By this movement a valve
with a straight spindle with which the receiver is provided is opened and the condensed
liquid contained therein is ejected very rapidly.
If the pressure of steam in the apparatus or pipes is very low the above mentioned
valve is preferably situated at the lowest point of the receiver and its spindle passes
through and below the bottom of the receiver in such a way that when it descends
(when filled with water as described) the spindle just comes in contact with a fixed
stop placed on the bed plate below and at a suitable distance from the bottom of the
receiver and thus opens the valve and permits discharge. If on the contrary as
happens most frequently the invention is to be designed for apparatus or pipes in
which a fixed pressure exists it is preferable to arrange the valve on the top of the
receiver so that it may be more accessible. In such cases we provide the straight
spindle of the valve with projecting flanges with which engages the forked part of
a lever having one end pivotted to a fulcrum fixed to the receiver and its other and
free end resting on a fixed and immovable support. When the receiver oscillates
the fulcrum of the lever moves with it and on descent its free end remaining
supported on the immovable support, its forked part engaging with the flanges of

page_text: the valve spindle forces the valve to leave its seat; the pressure in the receiver then
acting on the liquid contained in it forces it rapidly through and along a pipe
commencing a little above the bottom of the receiver and having a discharge connection
with the valve casing.
As soon as empty the receiver re-ascends by the action of the counterweights and
the valve is shut. In order to prevent impurities lodging between the valve and its
seat and to prevent liability of leakage, the straight cylindrical spindle of the said
valve carries at its upper end a small hand wheel by means of which the said spindle
and valve may be rotated, and thus any obstacle interposed between the valve and its
seat will be removed; also a grinding action may be produced by which perfect contact
between the valve and its seat may be secured. It is to he remarked that during
operation of the apparatus the receiver being freely suspended from one of the arms
of the balance beam never departs from the vertical therefore we have introduced
to our apparatus an additional improvement of great value, this consists in the arrange-
ment of a water level indicator similar to water gauges used for steam boilers by
which it is possible to ascertain at any time whether the apparatus is doing its duty
properly or not.

page_text: Improvements in Means and Apparatus for Removing Liquid
Produced by Condensation.
We BARTHELEMI JOSEPH SPRINGUEL and ARTHUR BOLLINCKX, Manufacturers
respectively of Hug and Brussels, 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 automatic apparatus by which liquid produced by
condensation in any apparatus, pipes and the like containing steam or vapour may be
removed and got rid of at any suitable periods of time.
The apparatus consists essentially in the arrangement of a receiver connected with
the medium wherein condensed liquid is generated or deposited by a flexible metallic
tube, and suspended from one of the arms of a balanced beam whose other arm
supports a counterweight sufficient to balance the said receiver when not quite filled
with liquid. As soon as the condensed liquid (compressed either by steam or by its
own weight) has filled the receiver it descends suddenly: By this movement a valve
with a straight spindle with which the receiver is provided is opened and the condensed
liquid contained therein is ejected very rapidly.
If the pressure of steam in the apparatus or pipes is very low the above mentioned
valve is preferably situated at the lowest point of the receiver and its spindle passes
through and below the bottom of the receiver in such a way that when it descends
(when filled with water as described) the said spindle just comes in contact with a
fixed stop placed on the bed plate below and at a suitable distance from the bottom
of the receiver, and thus opens the valve and permits discharge.
If on the contrary as happens most frequently the invention is to be designed for
apparatus or pipes in which a certain pressure exists, it is preferable to arrange the
valve on the top of the receiver so that may be more accessible. In such cases we
provide the straight spindle of the valve with projecting flanges with which engage
the forked part of a lever having one end pivotted to a fulcrum fixed to the receiver,
and its other and free end resting on a fixed and immovable support. It is this the
most usually employed arrangement which we have illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of our apparatus, and Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3 is a
perspective view showing the direction of flow of the liquid.
In the following description we will simply explain the operation of our apparatus
referring to the reference letters of the drawings.
When the receiver A oscillates the fulcrum m of the lever L moves with it, and
on descent its free end n remaining supported on the immovable support D its middle
part forined as a fork engaging with the flanges ii of the spindle I of valve F
prevents the lever descending and forces the valve to leave its seat G ; the pressure
in the receiver A then acting on the liquid contained in it forces it rapidly through
and along a pipe N commencing a little above the bottom of the receiver A and having
a discharge connection with the valve casing.

page_text: As soon as empty, the receiver A re-ascends by the action of the counter-
weights B and the valve is reclosed. In order to prevent impurities lodging between
the valve F and its seat G and to prevent liability of leakage, the straight cylindrical
spindle I of the said valve carries at its upper end a small band wheel V by means of
which the said spindle I and valve may be rotated, and thus any obstacle interposed
between the valve F and its seat G will be removed; also a grinding action may be
produced when desired by which perfect contact between the valve and its seat may
be secured.
It is to be remarked that during operation of the apparatus the receiver A being
freely suspended from one of the arms of the balance beam C in the socket never
departs from the vertical therefore we have been able to introduce to our apparatus
an additional improvement of great value, this consists in the arrangement of a
water level indicator S, similar to water gauges used for steam boilers, by which it
is possible to ascertain at any time whether the apparatus is doing its duty properly
or not.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In steam traps, the combination of an equilibrated vessel receiving the condensed
water through a flexible rod with a direct acting valve fixed to the vessel, so that
when the vessel is nearly filled with water it overbalances the counterweight and
descends, and in so doing causes the valve to be opened.
2. In steam traps, with equilibrated vessels and outlet valves, the combination of
two levers attached one to the vessel the other to its fixed support with a direct
acting valve whose rod is operated by a fork formed in the latter of said levers.
3. In an outlet valve as applied to steam traps, the construction whereby the
valve may be revolved on its seat in order to remove any substances happening to
enter between them.
Dated this 5th day of November 1988.