Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13:h Nov., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan.. 1895
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, GEORGE CULPAN of No. 4, Derby Terrace Rawtenstall, Lancashire
Engineer and Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention consists of improvements in steam traps used for automatically
discharging water of condensation from steam pipes & other vessels. A cast iron
water cistern containing a hollow float attached to a hollow arm or lever the
opposite end of which arm or lever is formed into an elbow and extended at right
angles in the form of a hollow tube into a valve chamber and supported on each
side of the valve chamber in suitable bearings being free to revolve as the float is
raised or lowered in the cistern. Inside the valve chamber and between the
bearings a hole or portway is cut or cast in the hollow tube for the passage of the
water from the valve to the float through the hollow arm or lever.
In order to
A valve is carried in a guide inside the valve chamber and one side of the port
way in the hollow tube coming in contact with, closes the valve as the float is raised
in the cistern. The valve seating which may be of brass or other suitable material
is made adjustable for wear by means of screw thread & lock nut.
allow the air which generally accompanies the water to escape freely without
preventing the proper action of the trap, I provide special portways in the hollow
tube and the bearings of the valve chamber which support the tube, so placed as to
be full open for the free escape of air when the float is at its lowest position at the
bottom of the cistern and closed against the escape of steam when the float has
risen in the cistern to the surface of the water. The action of the trap is generally
as follows:-The cistern being filled with water the float gradually fills through a
hole in the bottom provided for the purpose. Loosing its buoyancy the float sinks
to the bottom of the cistern, turning the hollow tube on its axis and allowing the
valve to be forced from its seat by the pressure of the water, air or steam. The
water makes its way through the hollow lever into the float and by means of a dip
pipe escapes through the top of the float into the cistern and runs away by gravita-
tion, the air at the same time escaping through the special ports before mentioned.
The float remains at the bottom of the cistern untill the water is drained when the
steam following along the hollow arm to the float drives all the water from the
float which at once rises to the surface and closes the valve against the steam
pressure.
Dated thin 19th d...
Waha 1901

page_text: Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, GEORGE CULPAN, No. 4 Derby Terrace Rawtenstall Lancashire Engineer
and Draughtsman 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 consists in improvements in steam traps used for automatically
discharging the water of condensation from steam pipes or other vessels.
As indicated by the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein Fig. 1. represents
a vertical section through valve chamber of steam trap and Fig. 2. a plan partly
in section, I employ a cast iron cistern a. containing a hollow float b attached to a
hollow lever c the opposite end of which lever is formed into an elbow and extended
at right angles in the form of a hollow tube i into a valve chamber d and supported
on each side of the valve chamber in suitable bearings being free to revolve as the
float b. is raised or lowered in the cistern. In this invention a port or slot e is
constructed in that part of the hollow tube which is inside the valve chamber and
between the bearings for the passage of water from the valve chainber. A valve f
is supported in a guide and one side of the port or slote coming in contact with the
illustrated
valve as the float is raised forces it against its seating. An air port g.
by Fig. 3. & 4. in cross section and by Fig. 5. in longitudinal section is formed in
the hollow tube and a corresponding port is formed in its bearing so arranged in
position as to be fully open as shown by Fig. 3 when the float is at its lowest
position indicated by dotted lines Fig. 1. and closed as shown by Fig. 4. when the
float has risen from its lowest position.
The action of the trap is generally as follows.
The pipes or vessels to be drained of water having been coupled to nipple
which is the inlet to the trap and the cistern filled with water the float gradually
fills through a hole in the bottom provided for the purpose losing its buoyancy the
float sinks to the bottom of the cistern turning the hollow tube i on its axis
causing the side of the port or slot e to leave the valve which is at once forced
from its seating by the pressure of the water entering the trap. The water then
passes into the valve chamber and through the port or slot e into the hollow tube i
and along the hollow arm c into the float and by means of a dip pipe escapes
through the top of the float into the cistern and runs away by gravitation through
outlet k.
When all the water is discharged from the pipes or vessels, the steam follows
along through the valve chamber and hollow lever to float and forces the water
contained in the float up the dip pipe in the direction indicated by arrows Fig. 1.
and through slots in the top of the dip pipe and immediately underneath the
concave shield l. and outside the float. Partly by this means and partly through
the hole in the bottom of the float all the water is expelled from the float which
thereupon recovers its buoyancy and rising to the surface of the water in the cistern
forces the valve to its seating closing the inlet & preventing the waste of steam.
It frequently occurs that air accompanys the water to the trap and if allowed to
enter the float would force the water out and thereby raise the float and close the
inlet valve before the water was all discharged. The air port g. being so arranged
as to be open when the float is at its lowest positiou any air which may accompany
the water finds a ready means of escape into the cistern and through the outlet k.
without passing through the float thus allowing the water to be properly dis-
charged. When this is done steam finds access to the float and forces the water
therefrom the float recovers its buoyancy and rising in the water closes the
air port g. Fig. 4. and prevents any waste of steam.

page_text: The air port may be situated in any position around the circumference of the
hollow tube and the valve and valve chamber may be modified without departing
from the nature of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I do hereby declare that
what I claim is
First. I claim the air port g in a hollow tube when used in combination with
hollow lever and float for the purpose and in the manner set forth herein and by
the accompanying drawings.
Second. I claim in a steam trap having a hollow lever and float the port or slot e
for the passage of the water one side of the port or slot being used for actuating
the valve substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of December 1894.
GEORGE CULPAN.