JP7466240B1 - Trapping Device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a trap device that can suppress uneven wear on the outer surface of the float while suppressing increases in manufacturing costs, thereby ensuring high sealing performance when the valve is closed regardless of the length of use. [Solution] The trap device 1 includes a casing 10 and a float 20. The casing 10 has a storage chamber 10a into which a fluid including steam is introduced. The float 20 has a hexahedral external shape, and is stored in the storage chamber 10a so as to be able to move up and down. The outer surface of the float 20 protrudes toward the inner side wall 10g of the casing 10, and has a linear protrusion 20d extending in the Z direction. The inner side wall 10g of the casing 10 has a guide groove 10j that allows the linear protrusion 20d to fit into and is formed to extend in the Z direction. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a trap device used to drain condensate from piping equipment through which steam flows, and in particular to a lever-free type trap device in which a lever is not connected to the float.

Piping equipment through which steam flows is provided with a trap device such as a steam trap that discharges condensate (drain) from the piping equipment. Trap devices include lever-free types in which a lever is not connected to a float housed in a casing (Patent Document 1, etc.). A trap device according to the prior art will be described with reference to Figure 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the trap device 9 according to the prior art includes a casing 90, a float 91, a screen 93, and an air vent 94. The casing 90 has a storage chamber 90a in which the float 91 can move up and down as indicated by the arrow E. The casing 90 also has an inlet 90b through which steam and condensate flow in, an outlet 90c through which the condensate flows out, and a valve hole 90e that opens into the storage chamber 90a. The valve hole 90e opens into the storage chamber 90a at the tip of a pipe-shaped portion (valve seat 90i) that protrudes obliquely upward from the lower end portion of the inner side wall of the casing 90. The periphery of the opening of the valve hole 90e in the valve seat 90i contacts the outer surface 91a of the float 91. The valve hole 90e is connected to the outlet 90c by an internal communication passage 90h. In addition, the casing 90 also has a valve holder 90j that holds the float 91 when the float 91 descends to the lowering end.

Patent No. 4002724

However, in the trap device 9 according to the conventional technology described with reference to FIG. 8, it is difficult to ensure high sealing performance when the valve is closed and durability while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs. That is, in the trap device 9 according to the conventional technology, a spherical float 91 is used, so that when the opening of the valve hole 90e is closed, the contact between the valve seat 90i and the outer surface 91a of the float 91 is a line contact. In addition, the float 91 may not be restrained in its position during up and down movement and may rotate. For this reason, in the trap device 9, the part of the outer surface 91a of the float 91 that contacts the opening of the valve hole 90e cannot be limited to a predetermined part. Therefore, in the trap device 9 according to the conventional technology, the use of a float 91 with high sphericity is an essential requirement for ensuring sealing performance when the valve is closed, which leads to an increase in manufacturing costs.

In addition, in the trap device 9 according to the conventional technology, as described above, the point on the outer surface 91a of the float 91 that contacts the valve seat 90i changes each time depending on the position of the float 91 when it descends, and the outer surface 91a of the float 91 is unevenly worn due to contact with the valve seat 90i. For this reason, if it is used for a long period of time, the uneven wear on the outer surface 91a of the float 91 makes it impossible to completely close the opening of the valve hole 90e, and the trap device 9 according to the conventional technology also has problems in terms of durability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a trap device that can suppress uneven wear on the outer surface of the float while preventing an increase in manufacturing costs, thereby ensuring high sealing performance when the valve is closed regardless of the length of use.

The trap device according to one aspect of the present invention is a trap device that discharges condensate from a fluid that includes steam, and includes a casing and a float. The casing has an inlet for the fluid, an outlet for the condensate, and a storage chamber that stores the fluid introduced from the inlet. The float is housed in the storage chamber of the casing and can move up and down depending on the amount of the condensate in the storage chamber.

In the trap device of this embodiment, the float is formed to have a hexahedral external shape and is contained in the storage chamber in either a first position in which the underside of the float faces downward so as to be parallel to the inner bottom wall surface of the casing, or a second position in which the underside of the float faces diagonally downward so as to be oblique to the inner bottom wall surface and inner side wall surface of the casing, and is capable of moving up and down within the storage chamber while maintaining the above positions.
In the trap device of this aspect, the casing further has a communication passage connecting the outflow portion and the storage chamber, a valve seat which protrudes upward from the inner surface of the bottom wall of the casing toward the storage chamber when the float is in the first position, and which protrudes diagonally upward from the inner surface of the side wall of the casing toward the storage chamber when the float is in the second position, and a valve hole which is an end of the communication passage facing the storage chamber and opens into the storage chamber at the tip of the valve seat .

In the trap device according to this aspect, the periphery of the opening of the valve hole in the valve seat is parallel to the underside of the float and is configured as a flat surface capable of surface contact with the underside of the float when the float is at its lowered end. One of the inner sidewall of the casing and the outer surface of the float facing the inner sidewall of the casing has a linear protrusion that protrudes toward the other surface and is formed to extend in the vertical direction, and the other of the inner sidewall of the casing and the outer surface of the float facing the inner sidewall of the float has a guide groove that allows the linear protrusion to fit into and is formed to extend in the vertical direction.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the portion of the valve seat surrounding the opening is formed flat, and when the float is lowered to the lower end, the underside of the float comes into surface contact with the flat portion (flat surface portion) of the valve seat, thereby closing the valve. Therefore, in the trap device according to the above aspect, high sealing performance when the valve is closed can be ensured simply by ensuring parallelism between the underside of the float and the flat surface portion of the valve seat, and manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to trap devices according to conventional technology that are equipped with a spherical float, which requires high sphericity.

In addition, in the trap device according to the above aspect, when the opening of the valve hole is closed, the underside of the float comes into surface contact with the flat surface of the valve seat, dispersing the load input to the underside of the float and the flat surface of the valve seat, and reducing wear on the underside of the float and the flat surface of the valve seat. Therefore, the trap device according to the above aspect can maintain high sealing performance when the valve is closed, even after a long period of use.

In addition, in the trap device according to the above aspect, one of the inner surface of the side wall of the casing and the outer surface of the float has a linear protrusion, and the other has a guide groove. That is, in the trap device according to the above aspect, the linear protrusion fits into the guide groove and slides along the guide groove. Therefore, in the trap device according to the above aspect, the float's position can be prevented from being disturbed when it moves up and down. As a result, in the trap device according to the above aspect, when the float is at the lowest point, the bottom surface of the float and the flat portion of the valve seat can be reliably brought into surface contact, and uneven wear of the bottom surface of the float and the flat portion of the valve seat can be prevented.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the casing may have four sidewall inner surfaces, one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed on each of the four sidewall inner surfaces, and the other of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed on a portion of the outer surface of the float that faces the one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, one of the linear protrusions and guide grooves is formed on each of the four inner sidewall surfaces of the casing, and the other of the linear protrusions and guide grooves is formed in a corresponding location on the outer surface of the float. In other words, in the trap device according to the above aspect, four guide mechanisms are provided between the outer surface of the float and the inner sidewall surface of the casing when the float moves up and down. Therefore, the trap device according to the above aspect allows the float to move up and down in a more stable position.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the casing may have four sidewall inner surfaces, one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at a corner portion that is a boundary between the four sidewall inner surfaces, and the other of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at a portion of the outer surface of the float that faces the one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove.

In the trap device according to the above embodiment, one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at each of the four corners of the casing, and the other of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at the corresponding portion on the outer surface of the float. Therefore, even with the trap device according to the above embodiment, the float can be moved up and down in a more stable position.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the lower surface of the float may be a surface that is perpendicular to an axis along the vertical direction.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the float is arranged so that its underside is made up of the above-mentioned perpendicular surfaces, so that the valve hole can be reliably closed when the float reaches its lowering end.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the lower surface of the float may be a surface that is inclined at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to an axis along the vertical direction.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the float is arranged so that its underside is inclined at an angle (a surface inclined at an angle in the range of more than 0° and less than 90° with respect to an axis along the vertical direction), so that the force required to separate the float and the valve seat when changing from a closed state to an open state can be kept small. In other words, by inclining the underside of the float at an angle, the vertical force required for the separation is a component force of the force normal to the underside, so that the force required for the separation can be kept small.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, ribs may be formed on the outer surface of the float, except for the contact area with the flat surface around the opening.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, ribs are provided on the float except for a portion of its outer surface (the contact area with the flat surface of the valve seat), so deformation and damage to the float can be suppressed even when subjected to pressure from steam or the like introduced into the storage chamber. In other words, the trap device according to the above aspect employs a hexahedral float whose outer surface is composed of six flat surfaces, thereby achieving the above effects while suppressing deformation and damage to the float and ensuring accurate operation.

In the trap device according to the above aspect, the float may have a plurality of pieces, each of which has a hexahedral external shape and is joined together.

The trap device according to the above embodiment uses a float formed by joining multiple pieces, so various hexahedral shapes (regular hexahedron, hexahedron long in one direction, hexahedron flattened in one direction, etc.) can be formed depending on the combination of the pieces. Therefore, forming a float by joining multiple pieces as described above is advantageous for forming a trap device according to required specifications.

In addition, in the trap device according to the above aspect, a single float is formed by joining multiple pieces, and therefore a partition wall is formed inside by the walls of each piece. Therefore, in the trap device according to the above aspect, the float has even higher rigidity, which is even more advantageous in ensuring resistance to the pressure of steam introduced into the storage chamber.

The trap device according to each of the above aspects can suppress uneven wear on the outer surface of the float while preventing an increase in manufacturing costs, ensuring high sealing performance when the valve is closed regardless of the length of use.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a trap device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a trap device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a force required when the float separates from the valve seat. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a trap device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a float provided in a trap device according to a modified example. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a trap device according to a conventional technique.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below except for its essential configuration.

[First embodiment]
1. Overall Configuration of Trap Device 1 A trap device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a trap device that discharges condensate from a fluid that contains steam. The overall configuration of the trap device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the trap device 1 includes a casing 10, a float 20, a screen 30, an air vent 40, and an air vent plug 50. The casing 10 includes an inlet 10b, an outlet 10c, a storage chamber 10a, a vent chamber 10d, an internal communication passage (communication passage) 10h, and a valve seat 10i. The inlet 10b is a portion where fluid including steam flows in, and opens to the left in the X direction. A steam pipe or the like is connected to the opening. The outlet 10c is a portion where air and condensate flow out, and opens to the right in the X direction. A drain pipe or the like is connected to the opening. The storage chamber 10a is a portion where the fluid (steam, condensate) introduced through the inlet 10b is stored, and is connected to the inlet 10b. The casing 10 has four inner sidewall surfaces 10g that surround the sides of the storage chamber 10a and an inner bottom wall surface 10f that faces downward in the Z direction.

The vent chamber 10d is a portion that houses a part of the air vent 40 and is connected to the outflow portion 10c. The vent chamber 10d is formed above the storage chamber 10a, and the upper opening is blocked by an air vent plug 50. The internal communication passage 10h is provided in each part of the side wall and the bottom wall of the casing 10, and connects the storage chamber 10a and the outflow portion 10c.

The casing 10 is constructed by hermetically joining the body 11 at the top in the Z direction and the bottom cover 12 at the bottom in the Z direction. This ensures that the storage chamber 10a and the internal communication passage 10h are airtight at the joint between the body 11 and the bottom cover 12.

In this embodiment, the valve seat 10i is formed to protrude from the bottom wall inner surface 10f of the casing 10 toward the storage chamber 10a upward in the Z direction. The valve seat 10i is provided with a valve hole 10e that is an end of the internal communication passage 10h on the storage chamber 10a side and opens into the storage chamber 10a at the tip of the valve seat 10i. In this embodiment, the periphery of the opening of the valve hole 10e in the valve seat 10i is formed as a flat surface (flat surface portion of the valve seat 10i).

Here, each of the four side wall inner surfaces 10g of the casing 10 has four guide grooves 10j extending in the Z direction and recessed into the inner thickness direction of each wall (only three guide grooves 10j are shown in Figure 1).

The float 20 has a hexahedral external shape (a regular hexahedron, for example). The float 20 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 10a so that it can move up and down as indicated by the arrow A. The downward end of the up and down movement of the float 20 is the position where the lower surface 20c of the float 20 makes surface contact with the flat portion of the valve seat 10i. The float 20 is formed with a size (size in the direction perpendicular to the Z direction) that allows it to slide with a small gap against the inner surface 10g of the side wall of the casing 10.

In addition, each of the four side surfaces 20a of the float 20 extends in the Z direction and has four linear protrusions 20d formed to protrude and fit into the guide groove 10j of the casing 10. Each linear protrusion 20d fits into the guide groove 10j so that it can move up and down. That is, in the trap device 1 according to this embodiment, the guide groove 10j and the linear protrusions 20d form a guide mechanism for the float 20 to move up and down.

The screen 30 is provided between the inlet 10b and the storage chamber 10a in the fluid introduction path. The screen 30 prevents dirt and scale from entering the storage chamber 10a. The air vent 40 discharges air that has accumulated in the storage chamber 10a to the outlet, such as during the initial stage of ventilation.

2. Detailed Structure of the Float 20 The detailed structure of the float 20 will be described with reference to Figs.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the float 20 has multiple ribs 20r on the top surface 20b and the four side surfaces 20a. Each rib 20r is formed so as to protrude outward from other parts of the outer surface on which the rib 20r is formed. Each rib 20r is also formed in an X-shape so as to follow the diagonal of the outer surface on which the rib 20r is formed.

In addition, in the float 20, no ribs are provided on the lower surface 20c having a portion that is in surface contact with the above-mentioned flat portion of the valve seat 10i. However, ribs may also be formed on the lower surface 20c, excluding the portion that is in surface contact with the above-mentioned flat portion of the valve seat 10i.

As described above, guide grooves 10j are provided on each of the four inner sidewall surfaces 10g of the casing 10. Furthermore, linear protrusions 20d that fit into the guide grooves 10j are provided on each of the four side surfaces 20a of the float 20.

3. Effects In the trap device 1 according to this embodiment, the portion around the opening in the valve seat 10i is formed flat, and when the float 20 is lowered to the lower end, the lower surface 20c of the float 20 comes into surface contact with the flat portion around the opening of the valve hole 10e in the valve seat 10i, thereby closing the valve. Therefore, in the trap device 1, high sealing performance when the valve is closed can be ensured simply by ensuring parallelism between the lower surface 20c of the float 20 and the flat portion of the valve seat 10i, and manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to when a spherical float that requires high sphericity is provided as in the conventional trap device.

In addition, in the trap device 1, when the opening of the valve hole 10e is closed, the lower surface 20c of the float 20 comes into surface contact with the flat surface of the valve seat 10i, so wear on the lower surface 20c of the float 20 and the flat surface of the valve seat 10i can be kept to a minimum. Therefore, the trap device 1 can maintain high sealing performance when the valve is closed, even when used for a long period of time.

In addition, in the trap device 1, the four side surfaces 20a of the float 20 have linear protrusions 20d, and the four sidewall inner surfaces 10g of the casing 10 have guide grooves 10j, so that the linear protrusions 20d fit into the guide grooves 10j and slide along the guide grooves 10j as the float 20 moves up and down. Therefore, in the trap device 1, the float 20 can be prevented from being disturbed in its position when it moves up and down, and the float 20 can be prevented from rotating, so that the bottom surface 20c of the float 20 and the above-mentioned flat portion of the valve seat 10i can be reliably brought into surface contact, and uneven wear of the bottom surface 20c of the float 20 and the above-mentioned flat portion of the valve seat 10i can be prevented.

In addition, in the trap device 1 according to this embodiment, guide grooves 10j are formed on each of the four inner sidewall surfaces 10g of the casing 10, and linear protrusions 20d that correspond to (fit into) the guide grooves 10j are formed on each of the four side surfaces 20a of the float 20. That is, in the trap device 1, four guide mechanisms are provided between the side surface 20a of the float 20 and the inner sidewall surface 10g of the casing 10 when the float 20 moves up and down. Therefore, in the trap device 1, the float 20 can move up and down in a stable position.

In addition, in the trap device 1 according to this embodiment, the underside 20c of the float 20 is arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, so that when the float 20 descends to the lower end, it can reliably come into surface contact with the flat portion of the top of the valve seat 10i that extends in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction.

In addition, in the trap device 1 according to this embodiment, the float 20 has ribs 20r on the top surface 20b and side surface 20a, so deformation and damage to the float 20 can be suppressed even when subjected to pressure from steam or the like introduced into the storage chamber 10a. In other words, the trap device 1 employs a regular hexahedral float 20, which provides the above-mentioned effects while suppressing deformation and damage to the float 20 and ensuring accurate opening and closing operations.

Furthermore, the trap device 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a float 20 having an external shape of a regular hexahedron, as an example, and therefore the dimensions (dimensions in each of the X, Y, and Z directions) of the float 20 can be made smaller than in the case of a spherical float of the same volume and thickness (for example, the float 91 in FIG. 8 ). In other words, assuming that the spherical float 91 and the regular hexahedral float 20 have the same volume, the outer diameter of the float 91 is D, and the length of one side of the float 20 (the length excluding the rib 20r) is X, the following relationship is satisfied.
(4π/3) × (D/2) ³ = X ³ (1)
From the above formula 1, the relationship between D and X is as follows:
0.806D = X (2)
From the above formula 2, if the thickness of the float 91 and the thickness of the float 20 are required, to ensure the same volume of internal space, the length of one side of the regular hexahedral float 20 can be made approximately 20% smaller than the outer diameter D of the spherical float 01. Therefore, in the trap device 1, the size of the float 20 can be made smaller than the outer diameter D of the spherical float 91 of the prior art, and accordingly the size of the casing 10 can also be made smaller.

As described above, the trap device 1 according to this embodiment can suppress uneven wear on the underside 20c of the float 20 while preventing an increase in manufacturing costs, thereby ensuring high sealing performance when the valve is closed regardless of the length of use.

[Second embodiment]
The trap device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is also a trap device that discharges condensate from a fluid containing steam. The overall configuration of the trap device 100 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Note that the trap device 100 according to this embodiment differs from the trap device 1 according to the first embodiment in the attitude of the float 120 in the accommodation chamber 100a, the formation of the linear convex portion 120d of the float 120, and the formation of the valve seat 110i, but the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the differences from the trap device 1 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the trap device 100 includes a casing 110, a float 120, a screen 30, an air vent 40, and an air vent plug 50. The casing 110 has an inlet section 110b, an outlet section 110c, a storage section 110a, a vent chamber 110d, an internal communication passage (communication passage) 110h, and a valve seat 110i. The casing 110 is formed by joining a body 111 and a bottom cover 112.

In the trap device 100 according to this embodiment, the valve seat 110i is formed at the X-direction end of the bottom wall inner surface 110f of the casing 110, and protrudes obliquely upward from the Z-direction lower end of the side wall inner surface 110g. A valve hole 110e is provided in the valve seat 110i, and the periphery of the opening of the valve hole 110e in the valve seat 110i is formed as a flat surface, which is the same as in the first embodiment.

The float 120 has an external shape of a regular hexahedron. The float 120 has a different posture in the storage chamber 110a from the float 20 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the float 120 has a posture rotated a predetermined angle (greater than 0° and less than 90°) from the float 20 of the first embodiment about an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3. In other words, the float 120 is arranged so that the lower surface 120c extends in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis along the Z direction.

In this embodiment, the predetermined angle is, for example, in the range of 30° to 60°, and is, for example, approximately 45°. The size of the float 120 is set according to the size of the storage chamber 110a of the casing 110 (the size in the direction perpendicular to the Z direction).

As in the first embodiment, guide grooves 110j are provided on each of the four sidewall inner surfaces 110g of the casing 110. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the float 120 is provided with linear protrusions 120d that protrude toward each guide groove 110j. The linear protrusions 120d fit into the guide grooves 110j and are capable of sliding along the guide grooves 110j. In the trap device 100 according to this embodiment, the guide grooves 110j and the linear protrusions 120d also function as a guide mechanism to stabilize the position of the float 120 when the float 120 moves up and down as shown by arrow B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the trap device 100 according to this embodiment also has ribs 120r on the inner surface of the outer surface of the float 120, excluding the lower surface 120c.

In this embodiment, the lower surface 120c of the float 120 is inclined at approximately 45° with respect to an axis along the Z direction, and the effect obtained by this will be explained using Figure 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the float 120 descends to the lower end and the underside 120c of the float 120 makes surface contact with the flat portion 110k around the opening of the valve hole 110e in the valve seat 110i, and then the float 120 rises as indicated by arrow C to transition to an open valve state, a normal force F acts between the float 120 and the valve seat 110i.

In this case, the bottom surface 120c of the float 120 is inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the axis along the Z direction, so the force F is a resultant force of a Z direction component Fz and an X direction component Fx. Therefore, the force acting on the float 120 is kept small compared to when the bottom surface of the float 120 is arranged perpendicular to the axis along the Z direction. As a result, in this embodiment, even if the size of the float 120 is small, the valve can be smoothly switched from closed to open.

The trap device 100 according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the attitude of the float 120 in the storage chamber 100a, the formation of the linear convex portion 120d on the float 120, and the formation of the valve seat 110i, but can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment. Also, as described above, the lower surface 120c of the float 120 is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the axis along the Z direction, so that the movement from the closed state to the open state can be made smooth without employing a large float 120.

In the trap device 100 according to this embodiment, the float 120 is rotated about an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 compared to the trap device 1 according to the first embodiment, but it can also be rotated about the Z axis. Even in this case, it is sufficient that the flat surface portion 110k of the valve seat 110i is formed parallel to the lower surface 120c of the float 120 so that it can come into surface contact with the float 120.

[Third embodiment]
The configuration of a trap device 200 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 illustrates only a portion of a casing 210 and a portion of a float 220, with other components omitted. The trap device 200 according to this embodiment can employ the same configuration as the first embodiment for the portions omitted from Fig. 6. The following description will focus mainly on the differences from the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the trap device 200 includes a casing 210 and a float 220. The casing 210 has a rectangular parallelepiped storage chamber 210a. The storage chamber 210a is surrounded by four inner sidewall surfaces 210g. In this embodiment, guide grooves 210j are provided at the corners that are the boundaries between the inner sidewall surfaces 210g. Each guide groove 210j is formed so as to recess obliquely into the inner sidewall surface 210g.

On the other hand, the float 220 is arranged to protrude from the corners that are the boundaries between the four side surfaces 220a toward the guide groove 210j.

In the trap device 200 according to this embodiment, the formation form of the guide groove 210j in the casing 210 and the formation form of the linear protrusion 220d in the float 220 are different from those in the first embodiment, but the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification]
The configuration of the trap device according to the modified example will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 illustrates only the float 320, which is a difference between the trap device according to this modified example and the first embodiment. The components not illustrated in Fig. 7 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Below, only the configuration of the float 320, which is a difference from the first embodiment, will be described, and descriptions of the other components will be omitted.

As shown in Figure 7, the float 320 of the trap device according to this modified example is made up of eight pieces 321-328, each of which has a regular hexahedral external shape and is joined together (arrows D1, D2). Each of the eight pieces 321-328 has ribs formed on part of its outer surface, and linear protrusions 321d, 323d, 325d, 326d, 327d, and 328d extending in the Z direction. Pieces 322 and 324 also have linear protrusions formed, but these are not shown in Figure 7.

Each linear protrusion 321d, 323d, 325d, 326d, 327d, and 328d fits into a guide groove provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the casing and is formed to be slidable in the Z direction.

The trap device of this modified example differs from the first embodiment in that it has a float 320 made of eight pieces 321 to 328 joined together, but it can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

In this modification, the float 320 is formed by joining eight pieces 321-328, but the number of pieces that make up the float is not limited to this. For example, it may be seven or less, or nine or more. Also, in this modification, pieces 321-328 each having a regular hexahedral external shape are used, but in the present invention, the external shape of the pieces may be a hexahedron other than a regular hexahedron, or may be another three-dimensional shape (such as a triangular prism).

[Other Modifications]
In the above first embodiment, second embodiment, third embodiment, and modified example, the trap devices 1, 100, 200 are provided with a screen 30, an air vent 40, and an air vent plug 50. However, in the present invention, the screen 30, the air vent 40, and the air vent plug 50 are not essential components.

In the first, second, and third embodiments, and the modified examples, floats 20, 120, 220, and 320 are used that have X-shaped ribs 20r and 120r on a portion of their outer surface, respectively. However, in the present invention, the shape of the rib is not limited to an X-shape. For example, linear ribs that extend along the outer edge of the outer surface of the float, or ribs that are circular in plan view, etc., can also be used.

In addition, in the first, second, and third embodiments, and the modified examples, the float 20, 120, 220, and 320 are provided with linear protrusions 20d, 120d, 220d, 321d, 323d, 325d, 326d, 327d, and 328d, and the casing 10, 110, and 210 are provided with guide grooves 10j, 110j, and 210j, respectively. However, in the present invention, the guide grooves may be provided on the float side, and the linear protrusions may be provided on the casing side.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the modified example, the floats 20, 120, 220, and 320 are regular hexahedrons, but in the present invention, various hexahedron floats can be used, such as rectangular parallelepipeds that are long in the Z direction or rectangular parallelepipeds that are flat in the Z direction.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the modified example, no specific method for forming the floats 20, 120, 220 and the pieces 321 to 328 was mentioned, but they can be formed by various methods. For example, they can be formed by joining metal plate materials together by welding or adhesive, or they can be formed using the AM method (Additive Manufacturing method).

In addition, in the first, second, and third embodiments, and the modified examples, the valve hole 10e, 110e and the outflow portion 10c, 110c are connected by the internal communication passage 10h, 110h, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the opening of the valve hole and the outflow portion may be connected by a pipe or the like arranged on the outside of the side wall of the casing 10, 110, 210.

1,100,200 Trap device 10,110,210 Casing 10e,110e Valve hole 10i,110i Valve seat 10j,110j,210j Guide groove 20,120,220,320 Float 20c,120c Lower surface 20d,120d,220d,321d,323d,325d,326d,327d,328d Linear convex portion 20r,120r Rib 321-328 Piece

Claims (7)

1. A trap apparatus for draining condensate from a steam-containing fluid, comprising:
a casing having an inlet for the fluid, an outlet for the condensate, and a storage chamber for storing the fluid introduced from the inlet;
a float accommodated in the accommodation chamber of the casing and movable up and down according to the amount of the condensate in the accommodation chamber;
Equipped with
the float is formed to have a hexahedral external shape, and is accommodated in the accommodation chamber in either a first position in which a lower surface of the float faces downward so as to be parallel to the inner bottom wall surface of the casing, or a second position in which the lower surface of the float faces diagonally downward so as to be oblique to the inner bottom wall surface and the inner side wall surface of the casing, and is movable up and down within the accommodation chamber while maintaining the first position;
the casing further includes a communication passage that communicates the outflow portion with the storage chamber, a valve seat that is formed to protrude upward from the inner surface of the bottom wall of the casing toward the storage chamber when the attitude of the float is in the first attitude and that is formed to protrude obliquely upward from the inner surface of the side wall of the casing toward the storage chamber when the attitude of the float is in the second attitude, and a valve hole that is an end of the communication passage on the storage chamber side and opens into the storage chamber at a tip of the valve seat,
the periphery of the opening of the valve hole in the valve seat is parallel to the lower surface of the float and is configured as a flat surface capable of surface-contacting the lower surface of the float when the float is located at the lower end,
one of the inner sidewall surface of the casing and the outer surface of the float facing the inner sidewall surface has a linear protrusion protruding toward the other surface and extending in a vertical direction, and the other of the inner sidewall surface of the casing and the outer surface of the float facing the inner sidewall surface has a guide groove that allows the linear protrusion to be fitted therein and that extends in a vertical direction.
Trap device. The casing has four sidewall inner surfaces,
one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed on each of the four side wall inner surfaces, and the other of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at a portion of the outer surface of the float facing the one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove.
2. The trapping device of claim 1. The casing has four sidewall inner surfaces,
one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at a corner portion which is a boundary between each of the four sidewall inner surfaces, and the other of the linear protrusions and the guide groove is formed at a portion on the outer surface of the float opposite the one of the linear protrusions and the guide groove.
2. The trapping device of claim 1. The lower surface of the float is a surface perpendicular to an axis along the vertical direction.
The trapping device according to claim 2 or 3. The lower surface of the float is inclined at an angle in the range of more than 0° and less than 90° with respect to an axis along a vertical direction.
The trapping device according to claim 2 or 3. A rib is formed on the outer surface of the float except for the contact area with the flat portion around the opening.
The trapping device according to claim 2 or 3. The float has a plurality of pieces joined together, each of which has a hexahedral external shape.
The trapping device according to claim 2 or 3.