Improvements in Steam Traps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
Improvements in Steam Traps.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM GOLBY, of 36, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by Antoine Musnicki,
of 7, Rue Pasteur, Brussels, Belgium, Engineer, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
The improved steam trap which forms the subject of this invention consists
essentially of two pipes one of which is arranged in the interior of the other and
acts as the steam conduit or of one pipe divided into two compartments.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figs. 1 and 2
are respectively longitudinal and transverse sections of one form of the invention
and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a modification thereof Figs. 5 to 9 are views
illustrative of the mode of action and arrangement of the improved steam trap.
In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 B is the outer pipe and C the inner
pipe forming the steam conduit. This steam conduit is provided with outlets F¹ F2 F3
etc., in the form of traps or falls, that is to say by the opening or arrange-
ment of falls E¹ E³ E³, (Fig. 1) through which the water from the steam conduit J
falls or drops into the water chamber J¹.
These falls are constructed, in that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 and 2,
as follows; convexities and incisions are made alternately, low down as at E¹, on
the right side as at E³, or on the left as at E³, (Fig. 2), in the sides of the
pipe C, so that traps E¹ E3 E3 etc. (Fig. 1) open into the interior of the pipe C,
thereby forming passages for the water condensed from the steam.
The two pipes B and C arranged in the manner hereinbefore described are held
firmly at both ends by means of the flanged pipes A and bolts and nuts D and
made steam tight both inside and outside.
In Figs. 3 and 4 a modification is illustrated in which, instead of an inner pipe C
the pipe B is divided into two compartments by means of a flat partition wall C¹
so arranged that a separation of the steam chamber J from the water chamber J¹
is likewise obtained as in Fig. 1 and 2. In this case the traps are indicated by
the letter G and the outlets by the letter H.
In order that, under this arrangement the partition wall C' of the chambers J
and J may be fortified against the steam pressing on the flaps G, internally screw
threaded pipes L into which bolts M and N are screwed are provided at suitable
places between the flaps G.
The partition wall C₁ is moreover fastened to the sides of the pipe B₁ by means
of rails or angle irons K, as preferred.
The essential feature of each form of the invention is that no kind of obstacle
is arranged in the steam conduit itself, but only on the partition surface of the
two chambers, that is to say on the bottom of the steam chamber J, so that the
passage of the steam is to a certain degree unobstructed.
The water carried into the steam conduit J falls naturally into the lower col-
lecting shamber J' and is there no longer affected by the velocity of the steam;
it flows therefore quietly away through the collecting pipes J".

page_text: In order to test the degree of dampness of the steam I employ the apparatus
shown in Fig. 5. This consists of a tube S externally threaded throughout its
length and which engages in a threaded aperture in the side of the pipe T, and is
secured in any desired position by means of a nut U. At the outer end of the
tube S is a cock V. When the tube is adjusted into the interior of the pipe T,
the nut U is first screwed up so as to make the tube S steam tight in relation to
the pipe T, and the cock V is then opened. Then steam, more or less damp, passes
out through the cock V, according as the open end of the tube S is further from
or nearer to the centre of the pipe T. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated this by means
of circles, the lighter lines indicating dry steam and the heavier lines moist steam,
the heavier the line, the more moist the steam.
In reality, under the horizontal arrangement, the separation of the water only
occurs as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 by reason of the different velocities of the water
and steam and the weight of the water and is consequent upon the fact that
the distribution of the condensed water extends over a surface of a crescent shape,
as shown in Fig. 8, that is to say, over a zone which becomes denser at the lower
part of the side of the pipe.
From the foregoing description it will be clearly seen that the arrangement of
the outlets FFFH and of the falls EFE³ or G G G correspond
exactly with the requirements of a rational separation of the condensed water.
It should be further mentioned that in a pipe conduit, such as O P Q R, as
shown in side elevation in Fig. 9 and in which the passage of the steam is in the
direction of the arrows, the insertion of the separator can only be made in the
section P, not, as indicated by dots, in the section R and especially not in
the section Q.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A steam trap to be inserted in a steam pipe or conduit, characterised by the
separation of the actual interior of the pipe, in the longitudinal direction of the
steam passage, into an upper steam chamber J and an under or condensed water
chamber J', such separation being effected by a partition wall C or C', in which
incisions are so made that convexities can be formed by bending upward the side
of the pipe at the points where the incisions are made, which form a kind of fall
trap E E E or G G G and outlets F1 F2 F3 or H H H through which the con-
densed water flows down from the steam chamber J into the water chamber J¹,
from whence it passes off through collecting pipes J¹ independently of the steam
velocity in the upper chamber, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1898.
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.