US1376214A - Steam-trap - Google Patents

Description

H. H. MEAD. STEAM TRAP. AIPPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1919.

Patented Apr. 2 6, 1921.,

Mn. f

i, W 5 WW i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. MEAD, OF QUINCY, MICHIGAN.

STEAM-TRAP.

esteem.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,967.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD H. MEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam traps, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of few parts, readily and quickly assembled and in which repairs and adjustments may be easily made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the action may be observed without shutting off the flow of the steam.

\Vith these and other objects in view, invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then speclfically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invlention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the shell in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modificataion in the construction.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional details illustrating the improved trap arranged as a balanced valve.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The improved trap comprises a main body or shell formed of a' relatively large, preferably cylindrical, portion 10 and a reduced, preferably oblong, communicating portion 11.

The side walls of the reduced portion 11 of the shell are connected by a horlzontal partition 12 and a vertical partition 13 forming an air or expansion chamber 14 therein as shown.

The side walls of the portion 11 of the shell are likewise connected by a web 15 having an internally threaded boss 16 to receive the intake pipe 17 v The lower sides of the portions 10 and 11 of the shell are closed by a continuous bottom 18. the part of the bottom which is disposed beneath the portion 11 being dethe Ipressed as shown to form a settling cham- The cylindrical portion 11 of the shell 1s provided with a detachable closure 19 preferably arched upwardlv as shown. while the chamber 14 is provided with a detaehable closure 20. By this arrangement the two parts of the interior of the shell are readily and independently accessible.

Formed through the bottom 12 of the chamber 14 is an opening 21 having a valve seat'to receive a downwardly opening valve 22.

A relatively large float 23 is located with n the portion 10 of the shell, and is provlded with a depending hanger 24 to which an operating lever 25 is pivoted as shown at 26.

The lever is provided with a plurality of apertures for the pivot 26 so that the lever may be achustably coupled to the hanger and float. The float is thus free to adapt itself to the level of the water in the casing 10 and engages the same with equal pres sure at all points.

Supports 28 are formed upon the inner faces of the side walls of the reducedportron 11 and recessed, preferably in V shape, to receive the terminals of the fulcrum pins of the lever 25, as shown.

The fulcrum element of the lever 25 is 7 located relatively near the valve 22, to provide a strong leverage to the float in its operation of the valve.

By this arrangement, it will be obvious that the vertical movement of the float will control the position of the valve 22.

The bottom 12 of the chamber 14 is spaced a considerable distance above the bottom of the shell, and the water will stand normally above the lower line of the chamber, or so that the lower portion of the chamber is constantly immersed in the water. The only means of communication between the body of the shell and the chamber 14 is through the valve opening 21, and this opening is sealed by the condensate in the shell in coaction with the valve 22.

By this arrangement the steam under pressure will not pass to the chamber 14, while the surplus condensate when a suflicient amount accumulates to elevate the float 23 above a predetermined distance, will open the valve 22 and permit the surplus to pass to the chamber 14 and thence through the escape pipe 29.

and is an important feature of the device.

Another important function of the chamber 14 is that the valve 22 or its seat are unaffected by any bending or displacing of the discharge pipe 29, when assembling or installing the apparatus.

By providing the stem 27 of the ,valve 22 with the adjusting nuts, as shown, the valve may be set to open at any predetermined stage of the condensate. With a trap thus constructedv it is immaterial how high or low the pressure may be as it will not permit steam to pass to the chamber 14, nor will it hold water back, and cause it to overflow into the coils or other portions of the system..

The capacity of the shell will be the sizes of the pipes and coils with the trap.

\Vhen the trap is installed in a line under boiler pressure, with a. discharge pipe 29 about 1 inch in diameter, the capacity of the trap will be equal to the amount of condensate that can be forced through a 1 inch pipe at the pressure under which the trap is working no matter what the gage pressure may be.

The improved trap may also be effectually used in an exhaust steam line, as will be obvious.

The trap operates automatically after being properly installed and adjusted and automatically regulates itself and does not depend upon the expansion or contraction of members.

If found necessary the cover 20 of the chamber 14 may be detached without disgaged by associated connecting the trap, as the steam cannot blow through, thus permitting the inspection of the interior of the chamber and the operativeness of the valve 22 at all times.

Detachable plugs indicated at 30 are preferably provided in the walls of the shell opposite the fulcrum device to enable the latter to be inspected without removing the bottom 18 or other parts.

The whole shell or body is in four parts only, connected by bolts or like fastening devices, and also provided with suitable-dowel pins, indicated at31, to insure the ready and accurate assembling of the parts, and the corresponding accurate seating of the valves.

Under some circumstances a more rapid discharge of the condensate may be required, and in that casethe modification shown in Fig. 3 may be employed consisting in providing an opening 32 in the deflected portion of the bottom 18 and seating a valve 33 in its inner end and coupling this valve by its stem 34 to the lever 25; When the modified structure is employed the opening 21 will be moved nearly to the discharge end of the chamber 14 and the fulcrum device located midway between the valves.

By this arrangement the valves will be operated simultaneously and the discharge of the condensate accelerated.

The intake 17 may be located at other points than in the web 15, instance in the main body 10 dotted lines 35 in Fig. 1.

The improved device may likewise be arranged for use as a balanced valve, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

What I claim is: 1. In a trap of the class described, :1 casif required, for as indicated by ing including a laterally enlarged chamber at one end and an elevated expansion chamber at the other end, said elevated chamber having an intake valve and a discharge opening, a lever poised near one end and attached at its shorter end to the valve, and a float within the enlarged chamber and pivotally supported on the longer end of the lever.

2. In a. trap of the class described, a casing including a laterally enlarged chamber at one end and an elevated chamber at the other end and a settling chamber beneath the elevated chamber, said elevated chamber having an intake valve and a discharge opening and said settling chamber having a depression in alineme-nt with the valve, apiston operative in the depression and connected to the stem of the valve, a lever poised near one end and attached at its shorter end to the stem of the valve, and a float within the enlarged chamber and supported by the longer end of the lever.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

HOWARD H. MEAD.

Images