US1886500A - Thermostatic trap - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1932. F. E. SCHMIDT `l,4886,500

THERMosTATIG TRAP Filed Aug. 7, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1932.

F. E. SCHMIDT 2 Sheeis-Sheet Filed Aug. '7. 1930 g Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FERDINAND EDWARD SCHMIDT, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOB T0 C. A. DUNHAI \COMPANY, OF MIARSHALLTOYTN',` IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA THERHOSTATIC TRAP .Application med August 7, 1930. Serial No. 473,712.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thermostatic traps, and more particularly to' such traps adapted to drain the condensate'and permit the escape of air from radiator equipment using steam at relatively high pressures.

Since steam condenses within the radiators it is desirable to permit the condensate to drain out without permitting the escape of steam from the radiators, and traps are used for this purpose. Thermostatically operating traps are especially valuable in draining high pressure radiator equipment inasmuch as they can release the air or non condensablegases initially in the radiators before the operation is started. This initial release of air promotes the eiciency and economy of the system, and increases the capacity of the apparatus since the time required to bring the equipment up to the desired temperature is very materially reduced.

The rate of wear of control equipment handling the condensate from radiators using steam at vhigh pressures is ordinarily rather high, due to the cutting of thevalve seats through what is known as wire drawing. Accordingly, easy access to the trap so that parts may be renewed, re laced or readjusted with a minimum of e ort is desirable. Also interchangeability of parts in equipment of different sizes, and equipment that can 'be depended upon to operate satisfactorily even though a certain tolerance is allowed in the standard dimensions is practically essential.

According to the present invention, a freely removable assembly comprising a thermo- 1 moved from the housing when th'e upper covstatic disk of improved construction, a lower valve, an upper abutment member, and a supporting plateadapted to engage a portion of the housing, may be instantlyv reer member thereof is taken off. This assembly is self-adjusting within the housing, and selfaligning bearing surfaces are provided between this assembly and the closure mem,

ber which engage when the valve is forced against the -valve seat by the expansion of the disk.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved thermostatic trap rosive substances and will remain hermeti-l cally tight over long periods of time.

`Another object is to provide improved means for adjustably mounting the valve member on the thermostatic element. y

Another object is to provide improved self-aligning abutment means on the thermostatic assembly and trap closure respectively.

Another object is to provide lmproved sealing means between the trap housing and closure cap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of apparatus embodying the principles of this invention. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the assembled trap.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 2 2 'of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are central vertical sections respectively through the two circular flexible plate members used in forming the expansible disks.

Fig. 5 is a partial Vertical section throughv the reinforcing ring' used to'clamp togetherv to receive a connecting pipe leading from the radiator. A central downwardly extending j nipple houses the outlet passage 6 which is internally threaded at 7 to connect with the drain pipe.

The removable valve seat 8 is threaded at 9 to engage within the -upper end of outlet passage G, and is preferably formed with a hexagonal or other non-circular upper collar 10 to provide a wrench grip in order that the seat may be screwed into or out of position. A renewable valve ring 11 of suitable resistant material, for example Monel metal, is seated within the main valve seat 8, this ring having a central steam passage 12 and an upper beveled inner edge portion 13 to cooperate with the conical valve member 14 which may also be formed of Monel metal and will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The u per end of housing 1 is open and is provided) with a machined upper surface 14',

the housing being internally threaded adja-v cent the upper end at 15. An annular recess 16 is provided in the upper inner edge portion of the housing above the threads so as to provide an inwardly and upwardly'projecting sharp edge portion 17 for the purpose hereinafter described.A The circular closure or cap member 18 has an outwardly projecting flange 19 machined on its under surface toengage the upper surface 14 of the housing, and has a downwardly projecting annular iiange 20 externally threaded to engage the threads 15 within the housing. An annular recess 21, of semi-circular cross section is formed in the lower surface of flange or collar 19 adjacent the upper outer edge of iange 20, from which extends inwardly a second tapered recess 22 above the threaded portion of collar 20. A ring of suitable gasket material 23, preferably a rubber composition, ,is inserted withv in recess 21 and when the closure 18 is screwed into the housing the sharp upper edge porti0n17 of the housing will engage within this gasket material, the surplus material being tion 15, the housing 1 is provided with an internally projecting annular shoulder or collar 24 provided with an upper flat machined surface 25 rom which the removable thermostatic valve assembly, now about to be described, is freely supported. This thermostatic valve assembly comprises, among other parts, the expansible thermostatic disk indicated generally at 26, the valve 14 adjustably supported from the lower surface of this disk, the abutment cap 27 adapted t0 engage at times with the inner surface of closure'- 18, and the supporting plate or spider 28 which rests upon the shoulder 24 in order to normally support the valve assembly within the housing.

The disk 26, as is usual in such constructions, comprises flexible top and bottom walls j with central openings 32 and 33 respectively' for purposes hereinafter referred to and are each circularly corrugated as indicated at 34 to increase their flexibility. The upper plate member is'downwardly concaved as indicated at 35 and the lower plate member 31 is correspondingly upwardly concaved as indicated at 36 so that when the two plate members are fitted togetherV they will inclose the central chamber 29 for holding the volatile fluid. The upper flexible plate 30 is pro- 9 vided with a reversely bent outer edge portion 37 adapted to partially inclose an upper annular recess 38. The lower iiexible plate 31 has a reversely curved edge portion 39 i adapted to fit about the lower portion'of the curved edge portion 30 of the upper plate, and an upwardly projecting annular ange 40 which iscrimped over the upper edge of the curved edge portion 37 of the upper plate. The reinforcing ring 41 (partially shown in Fig. 5) comprises a curved portion 42 ada ted to tit about one side of the assembled e ge flanges 37 and 39, and an upstanding annular flange 43 which is adapted to be crimped over the other side portions of the flanges 37 and 39, all as indicated in Fig. 1. When these edge portions of the disk-plates are joined, they are irst tinned and then the flanges are folded over one another and soldered. Subsequent to this ,the reinforcin ring 41 is curled over the edge portions o the plates and soldered in place. Preferably the solder will enter the annular recess 38 as indicated at 44 in Fi 1' thus forming a liller so as to prevent t e curled edge portions 37 and 39 from being attened down which would tend to break or weaken the metal. It is desirable that no flatly folded portions be formed in either of the edge portions 37I or 39 or the reinforcing ring 41 but that these members be continuously curled over one another as indicated in Fig. 1.

The valve ho der 45 (see Fig. 7) comprises a central outwardly projecting collar 46 from which projects upwardly a threaded stud 47,

and downwardly a longer threaded stud or stem 48.Y Before the disk plates 30 and 31 are Aassembled with one another, the valve holder 45 is attached to thelower plate 31 to form a surface where there is a negligible thickness of'solder so that the surfaces are joined together more by the solvent action of the solder oing intosolution with the metal portions og the plate, nuts and valve holder rather than through the film of solder itself. It is well understood that this gives a superior form of joint as far as strength is concerned.

The filling nozzlemember (see Fig. 6) comprises, like the valve holder 45, a central outwardly projecting flange or collar 51, a downwardly projecting'threaded stud 52 and an upwardly projecting threaded stud 53. A central filling passage 54 extends concentrically through the two studs 52 and 53. The filling nozzle 50 is assembled with the upper flexible plate 30 in a manner similar to that described for the lower plate and the valve holder, by inserting the downwardly projecting stud 52 through the central opening 32 inplate 30 and then screwing and soldering in place one of the locking nuts 49. After theV valve holder 45and filling nozzle 50 have been assembled with the respective plates 31 and 30 as kjust described, the disk-plates 30 and 31 are secured together at their outer edges and the reinforcing ring 41 attached, all as described hereinabove.' The natural elasticity of the plate members will now -be such as to hold' the two inwardly projecting studs 47 and 52 in engagement with one another, asillustrated in F ig. 1, thus limiting the collapsin movement of the disk member. A filler-ring '0, as usual in such devices, also prevents excessive collapsing of the flexible walls of the disk. The thermostatic liquid is now poured in through the iillingpassage 54,

47 are in contact.

a notch 55 being provided in the lower end of stem or disk.52 to permit this liquid to flow into chamber 29 when thestuds 52 and The disk is then sealed under a vacuum by placing the plug 56 in the passage 54 and'soldering the plug in place as indicated at 57 so as-to hermetically seal the volatile liquid within the container.

The supporting plate or spider 28 is formed with a central aperture 58 adapted to fit about the stud 53 of the filling nozzle against the upper surface of flange or collar 51. The abutment cap 27 is internally threaded at 59 to screw onto the upper end portion of stud 58 and clamp the supporting plate 28 in place on the valve assembly. The supporting plate 28 is pref/erably provided with a plurality of passages 60 to perlnit free flow of steam therethrough, and at its outer edgel is provided with a plurality of spaced apart downwardly and outwardly projecting fingers 61 adapted to rest on the supporting surface 25 of shoulder 24.- Theselingers reduce the friction and permit the plate to shift its position readily within the housing.'

The top of abutment cap 27 is preferably formed with an vupwardly curved spherical surface 62 adapted to engage with the lower surface of an abutment 63 whichvprojects downwardly centrally from the closure member 18. 'Preferably this boss or abutment 63 is centrally counter-bored as indicated at 64 to prevent any central projecting portion of metal resulting from the machining opera- -tion and at the same time to provide an annular surface with which the upper spherical e vsurface 62 of cap 27 may contact thus facilitating the self-alignment of these parts. Normally -a slight clearance will exist between the abutment cap 27 and the boss 63.

when the valve assembly is contracted and supported from shoulder 24\by the supporting plate or spider 28. When the disk eX- pands and the Valve is closed the upwardl l vertical thrust will be taken by the cap 27 moving into engagement with the b/oss 63 and the machined surfaces of these members as already described, are so formed as to secure a propel` alignment of the members and insure a proper seating of the'valve 14 in the valve seat 13.

The valve member 14 is exteriorly conical as already described, and is formed with a central internally threaded cylindrical passage 65 adapted to screw onto the stem or stud 48 of the valve holder with capacity for vertical adjustment. A lock nut 66 threaded on is then set at the proper position on stem 48 to insure the proper movement and positioning of the valve when subjected to the temperature conditions existing in the trap. These valve assemblies, when ordered for repair parts, are filled, tested and shipped out as an assembly, ready for inserting in the' v-alve housing by merely removing the closure 18 and then dropping the assembly into position so that supporting plate 28 rests on the shoulder 24. -The closure 18 is then screwed into place and the trap is ready for service.

The valve assembly'is normally collapsed, or in the relative position of parts shown in Fig. 1, when-separated from the housing or when the trap housing is not filled with steam or subjected to high temperatures. In operation, after the condensate `and air have drained or been withdrawn from the trap, the

chamber 2will fill with steam and the thermostatic disk will immediately expand. This movement will first be downward since the assembly is suspended from the shoulder 24, soas' tomove the conical valve member 14 downwardly into the seat 13 after which the upward thrust will be taken by a movement of cap member 27 upwardly into engagement with boss 63. This will tend tolift the spider collapse so as to. again lift the valve 1 4 from 28 from the collar 24 or at least relieve the downward pressure of the assembly on this collar so that the parts can easily adjust themselves to secure a proper seating of the valve member in the valve seat. When the chamber 2 again ills with condensate or air, the disk 26 will be .cooled and will contract or its scat, whereupon the assembly will again be suspended or hung from the annularcollar 24 by means of the supporting plate or spider static assemblies are entirely interchangeable and suliicient lateral shifting is permitted to readily permit proper valve alignment. The supporting plate'28 merely serves as a suspending member when the valve is open or not in operation and does not take any part of the thrust when the valve is closed. However, when the disk contracts to lift or open the valve the thrust of lifting the valveagainstthe pressure within chamber 2 is taken by the ledge 25 through spider 28. No springs or other resilient members are necessary for holding the valve in place or moving the valve into closed position, all of this movement being provided for by the resiliency of the thermostatic disk itself. i

I claim:

l. A thermostatietrap comprising a closed housing having an outlet passage in the bottom thereof, and having a. constantly open inlet passage positioned out of alignment with the outlet,'a valve seat in the outlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the `imusing in alignment with the valve seat, a thermostatic assembly comprising an expansible disk and a valve carriedby the lower face thereof, and means for loosely suspending said assembly inthe housing between the valve seat and thrust member but normally out of engagement with either.

2. A thermostatic trap comprising a closed housing having an outlet passage in the bottom thereof, and having a constantly open in let passage positioned out of alignment with the outlet, a valve seat in the outlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the housing in alignment with the valve seat, a thermostatic assembly comprising an expansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereofand a thrust member carried by the' sage, a. thrust-receiving member in the top of the housing i'n alignment with the valve seat, a. thermostatic assembly comprising an expansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereof and a thrust` member carried by the upper face of the disk, the two thrust members being formed with self-aligning surfaces adapted for mutual engagement, and means for loosely suspending the assembly within the housing with the valve normally above but out of engagement with the valve seat andthe thrust members in alignment and closely adjacent one another but normally out of engagement.

4. A thermostatic trap comprising a closed housing having an outlet passage in the bottom thereof, and having a constantly open inlet passage positioned out of alignment with the outlet, a valve seat in the outlet passage, a thrust-receiving member in the top of the housing in alignment with the valve seat, a thermostaticassembly comprising an eXpansible disk, a valve carried by the lower face thereof and a thrust member carried by the upper face of the disk, said assembly thrusting in opposite directions against and being supported entirely between said upper abutment and said valve seat when the disk is expanded, and a supporting member attached to the upper portion of the thermostatic assembly and freely resting on a portion of the housing v`for suspending said assembly between the valve seat and upper abutment but out of engagement with either when the diskis contracted.

5. A. thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having a constantly open inlet and an outlet, a valve seat in the outlet, an annular shoulder in the housing substantially coaxial with the outlet, an expansible thermostatic disk, a supporting plate attached to the disk and adapted to rest on the shoulder with freedom for limited lateral movement, a valve carried by one side of the disk coaxially with the. valve seat, and an abutment carried by the opposite face of the of the housing, the upper end of the housing v being open, a closure cap having threaded engagement withthe open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in the housing between the opening and outlet passage', a valve seat in the outlet, an expansible thermostatic disk, a supporting plate attached to the top of thedisk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limited vlateral movement, a valve carried by the lower face of the disk for engagement with the valve seat, and an abutment capon the top of the diskwhich is moved into engagement with the lower face v ofthe closure member after the expansion of the disk has seated the valve.

7. A thermostatio trap comprising a main housing member having an inlet in one side thereof and an outletvpassage in the ybottom of the housing, the upper end of the housing being open, a closure cap having threaded engagement with the open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in the housing between the opening and outlet passage, a valve seat in the outlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting plate attached to the top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limited lateral movement, a valve vertically adjustable on the lower face of the disk and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to close the outlet passage when the'disk expands, and an abutment cap on the top of the disk which is moved into engagement with the lower face of the closure member after the expansion of the disk has seated the valve.

8. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having an inlet in onejside thereof and an outlet passage in the bottom of the housing, the upper end of the housing being open, a closure cap having` threaded en gagement with the open top ot the housing, an annular shoulder in the housing between the opening and outlet passage, a valve seat in the outlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting late attached to the top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limited lateral movement, there being a centering abutment extending inwardly from the closure, a valve carried by the lower face of the disk for engagement with the valve seat, and an abutment cap on the upper face of the disk which is moved into engagement with the centering abutment after the expansion of the disk has seated the valve;

9. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having an inlet in one side thereof and an outlet passage in the bottom of the housing, the upper end of the housingl being open, a closure cap having threaded engagement with the open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in the housing between the opening and outlet passage', a valve seat in the outlet, an expansible thermostatie disk, a supporting plate attached to the top of the disk and resting on the shoulder with freedom for limited lateral movement, there being a centering abutment extending inwardly from the closure, a valve vertically adjustable on the lower face of the disk and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to close the valve when the disk expands, and an abutment cap on the upper face of the disk which is moved into engagement with the centering abutment when the expansion of the disk has seated the valve. l

l l0. A thermostatic trap comprising a main housing member having an inlet passage in one side thereof and having an outlet passagev in the bottom thereof, a valve seat in the outlet passage, the upper end of the housing being open, a closure cap having threaded engagement with the open top of the housing, an assembly comprising an expansible disk anda valve carried by the lower face of the disk and adapted to engage the valve seat to close the outlet passage, m'eans for loosely supporting'the assembly from the4 walls of the housing with the valve above the valve seat and so that the disk may move freely in the housing, and self-aligning members on n in the bottom thereof, a valve seat in the outlet passage, the upper end of the. housing being open, a closure cap having threadedengagement with the open top of the housing, an annular shoulder in the housing, an assembly comprising an expansible disk, a sup'` porting plate attached to the upper'face of the disk and adapted to rest freely on the shoulder in the housing and a valve carried by the lower face of the .disk and adapted to engage the valve seat to close the outlet passage, and self-aligning thrust members in the top of the disk and lower face of the closure which are normally unengaged' but are adapted to be engaged after the expansion of the disk has seated' the valve. V

12. A thermostatie trap comprising a main housing member having an inlet passage in one side thereof and having an outlet passage and adapted to rest freely on the shoulder' in the housing and a valve Icarried by the lower face of the disk and adapted to engage the valve seat to close the outlet passage, and selfaligning thrust members on the top of the disk and lower face of the closure which are normally unengaged but are adapted to en age after the expansion of the disk has seate the valve, at which time the pressure of the supporting plate on the annular shoulder will be relieved.

13. In a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concaved circular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, the edge portions of one plate being reversely curved to form a hollow bead- A portions and ring being soldered, the solder i ed edge, the edge portion ofthe other disk being inwardly curved to fit about the beaded edge, and a clamping ring of curved lcrosssection enclosing said overlapped edge portions.

14.1n a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concaved circular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, the edge portions of one plate being reversely curved to form a hollow beaded edge, the edge portion of the other disk being inwardly curved to fit about the beaded edge, and a clamping ring of curved cross-section enclosing said overlapped edge portions, the overlapped surfaces ofthe edge also lforming a filler within the beaded edge. i5. En a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk 4 comprising a pair of concaved circular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, means for securing the edges of the plates together, there being a central opening in each plate, a valve-holder and a `iilling nozzle each formed with a central annular coilar from which threaded studs project in -aiignment in each direction, the inwardiy projecting studs-extending through the plate openings, lock nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, a valve member and a lock nut adjustably threaded on ,the outwardiy projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle-member being formed with a. filling opening extending axially through the studs,

a plug sealed in the opening, and a cap nut P vthreaded on the outer stud of the nozzle member.

16. in a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concaved circular plates adjustably threaded on the outwardly projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle member being formed with a filling opening extending axially through the studs, a plug sealed in the opening, and a cap nut threaded vwardly projecting studs extending through the plate openings, lock nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, a valve member and a lock nut adjustably threaded on the outwardly projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle member being formed with a filling opening extending axially through the studs, a plug sealed in the opening, an annular supporting plate i'tted over the outer stud of the nozzle member, and a cap nut threaded on the outer stud and holding the supporting plate thereon. f

18. In a thermostatic trap, a hollow disk comprising a pair of concaved circular plates positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, means for securing the edges of the plates together, there being4 a central opening in each plate, a valve-holder and a filling nozzle each formed with a central annular collar from which threaded' studs project in alignment in each direction, the inwardly projecting studs extending through the plate openings, lock nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, a valve member and a lock nut adjustably threaded on the outwardly projecting stud of the valve-holder, the nozzle member being formed with a filling opening extending axially through the studs, a plug sealed inthe opening, an annular supporting plate fitted over the outer stud of the nozzle member and provided with a circular series of outwardly projecting supporting lingers, and a cap nut threaded on the outer stud and holding thesupporting late thereon.

FERDINAND EDWARD SCHMIDT.-

positioned with their concave sides opposed to one another, means for securing the edges of the plates together, there being a central opening in each plate, a valve-holder and a filling nozzle each formed with a central annular collar from which threaded studs project in alignment in each direction, the inwardly projecting studs extending through the plate openings, lockI nuts positioned on the studs within the disk, a downwardly pro-` jecting conical valve member and a lock nut v mav uit

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