Improvements in Steam Traps and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Traps and the like.
JOSEPH EASBY 161 Spring Vale Road Sheffield, in the County of York,
Whitesmith do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I have a steam tight metal box with the inlet in any convenient place and with a
tap fastened in one side near the bottom, the spindle of which slides and has a
suitable hole for the end of a lever to fit in, the lever works on a pillar which is
fastened to the tap or other convenient fastening, the other end of the lever is
fastened to a rod which connects it with another lever, which has a float fastened
to the other end, this lever works ou a fulcrum suspended from the top of the metal
box or any other convenient fastening. I have another pillar fastened to the
bottom of the box with a lever working on it with a float at one end and a catch
at the other, which catches the screw that fastens the connecting rod to the lever
which is attached to the spindle of the tap this catch prevents the lever which opens
the tap, coming down until the top float is lifted with the rising water. When
this float is lifted the catch comes on the top of the screw and holds it down until
the water falls and the bottom float drops, when the top float is able to drop and
close the tap.
use the above apparatus to return water, run into the trap through check
valves at a lower pressure, into the boiler by having a tap to admit boiler pressure.
I claim the right to use a flexible seat, made of vulcanized fibre or any other
suitable material, either screwed or pressed in or fastened down by a screwed
metal ring.
I claim the right to use the above for steam pipes and gas pipes. With gas
pipes I fix the trap so that the condensed water will run into the trap which when
full empties itself as described above and so keeps the pipes clear of water.
Dated this Ninth day of October 1895.
JOSEPH EASBY.
Improvements in Steam Traps and the like.
JOSEPH EASBY 161 Spring Vale Road Sheffield in the County of York,
Whitesmith 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 aud
by the following statement:-
In carrying out my invention of improvements in steam traps and the like which
is illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, I construct a steam tight metal
box A, provided with an inlet B, placed in any convenient and suitable position for
the entrance of steam and water of condensation.
An escape valve C, is fixed near the bottom of the box A, and is by preference
constructed to be opened and closed by the vertical movement of the valve rod D,
the downward movement closing the valve upon the seating.
The object of the invention is to cause the valve to open when the water of
condensation has risen to the desired height in the box, and to close the valve

page_text: before the water has run down to the level of the valve, so as to prevent the
escape of steam, and 1 accomplish this by the mechanism shown in the drawing
and described as follows:
I connect by a joint or pivot to the upper part of the valve rod D, a horizontal
lever E, with its fulcrum at F, and to its opposite end I joins the lower end of an
approximately vertical rod G, which is also similarly jointed at its upper end to a
second horizontal lever H.
This lever H, is pivotted at I, to the side of the box and carries at the end of the
long arm a water float .J, (preferably a thin metal cylinder with an inlet through
the top to admit water) and at the end of the short arm, a counterbalance K.
Near the float, projecting from the sides of the lever H, are a right and left
hand pin or catch at L, by means of which the lever H, is retained in its highest
and lowest position or when the valve C, is open and closed.
In order to accomplish this retaining action employ two levers pivotted to the
side of the box, the upper one marked M, to hold the lever H, in its lowest
position, and the lower one N, to retain it in its highest position.
In the drawing the lever M, is shown holding down the lever H, the lever N,
being out of action.
The lever M, is provided with a waterfloat O, and a stop P, to prevent that end
of the lever rising too high, at the other end is a balance weight Q, and a depending
finger R, the extreme end of which engages with the pin or catch upon the far
side of the lever II.
The lever N, is provided with a waterfloat S, and a balance weight T, upon the
retaining finger U, which moves into position to catch and retain the lever H,
when the water rises in the box and raises the water float S, causing the lever N,
to turn upon its fulcrum V.
Thus the water having escaped from the box, and the levers being in the position
shown the escape valve C, is closed and water of condensation will begin to rise.
First the rising water will act on the flont S, enabling the weight T, to bring down
the finger U, to the engaging position, and as it continues to rise it would act upon
the float J, of the lever 1, but that it is held by the finger R.
When the water has risen high enough to net up in the float O, the balance
weight Q, turns the lover M, upon its pivot and relenses the finger R, from the
catch or pin of the lever H, which is now turned upon its pivot at 1, by the descent
of its weighted end K the opposite or float end being raised and its near pin or
catch engaging with the end of the finger U, of the lever N. This action of the
lever H, is transmitted through the roi G, to the lever E, pressing it down and
opening the valve C, for the escape of the water.
It will be understood that when the so called water float is covered with water
it practically offers no resistance to the action of the balance weight, but when the
water sinks in escaping through the escape valve, the float being full of water
overcomes the balance weight and reverses the position of the lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The combination and arrangement of levers with weights and waterfloats, in
connection with an escape valve, and a box containing same, constituting a steam
trap, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 29th day of June 1898
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.