US2361084A - Drain valve apparatus - Google Patents

Description

0d. 24,4 1944. CANET-TA 2,361,84

DRAIN VALVE AFPARATUS Filed May 3l, 1943 56 3? 47 45 I 4o 34 W A W 33 3/,53 Ka2 5 ,aa i? JOHN CANETTA aim ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OSFF ICE 2.361.084 f v l DRAIN VALVE APPARATUS Jo'hn Canetta, Wilknsburg1a., assigner* to The Westinghouse Brake Company, Wilmer'- din'g, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application May 31,y 1943, Serial-.Nm 489,181

7 Claims.

'I hisr inventionV relates to drain valve apparatus. for receptacles containing. fluid under pressure.v

and more particularly toa drain valve equipment embodying means for effecting periodic operation thereof at predetermined intervals.

The receiving reservoirs of a compressed air.

system, such as the main reservoirs or aftercoolers associated. with an air brake system on alocomotive, are customarily equipped with drain valve devices which are designed for operation from time to time toeject. condensate accumulating within the receptacle. It has been found.

desirable to. provide. such drain Valve devices with means automatically operative to cause periodic operation atpredetermined intervals., The principal object of. my invention is to provide an improved automatic drain valvel apparatusembodying a uid pressure actuated'tiin-- ing mechanism, which` may be employed on a` locomotive throughout a long service period without requiring expensive repairs or adjustments..

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatusof the above description includingv atimingvalve mechanismoperative at predetermined intervals to effect quick, positive movement of.. the discharging valve portion. of the drain valve device associated with the pressure reservoir. n

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in. the. following more detailed description thereof,` taken.. in connection with the.

The equipment. illustrated in schematicv form in Fig. 1 of the drawing. comprises a main reservoir l, which is adapted to be charged with com-v pressed4 air by means of` a suitable compressor, not shown, and whichhas. associated therewith a iiuid pressure actuated drain. valve device' 2..

and a timing valve device 4. It will be understood that in actual practice'. the drain valve.

device and timing valve device may be associated with more than one mainreservoir, orwith an aftercooler or'the'like, depending upon the. equipment. carried by the locomotive.

The drain.. valve device 2. comprises; a casing-r section 5 suitably securedv to the bottomof. the..

main reservoir I, a casing section l boltedto the casing. section 5, and. a... flexible diaphragm l which is clamped! between the two casing. sections ina canted. position,. forming on one side thereof a pressure chamber 8. and'. on the opposite side aa chamber 9 communicating. with. a. drainage tube I0. FormedA in the. casing. section. 5. is. a condensateA collecting chamber I2 which. communicatesby way of'a. passage I3' with the interior ofthe mainreservor l. A. bore I connects the. chamber i2. with a.l valve. chamber t5.. also formed in. thecasing, section andi com` municating by way.` of. aborel I6. with the chaire ber 9. A double valvezelement, I8 disposed within the valvey chamber. l5.. isleng-ageable with a seat I9 for controlling communication vbetween the chambers. I2 and` l5.. or. alternatively with a valve seat 20. for. controlling. communication between chambers. I5 ands. Thev double valve element, I8. is supported through. the medium of.l a flutedy stem 23.s1idabl'y ttingthebore I'4`, and` asimilar stem 24 slidably. mounted.' in the other ajo bore I6, it. being noted that. the valve element and. stems. are.: inclined. in.. alignment with. the. axis of the cantecl.. diaphragm 'L4 The flutedstem. 24. operatively engages. aV follower member' 25' whichis attached to the diaphragm 1, and which is subject. to the force exerted by a coil spring 2.6- interposed between the follower element and the'. upper wall. ofY the. chamber 9. The spring 26 normally urges. diaphragm 'l' downwardlyV and into. engagement witha stop portion 21 ofthe casing.. A coil spring. 28 is interposed between the nuted stem. 23` and" an upper wall of the chamber |2`ior urging. the double. valve elementr I8.. downwardly into engagement. with the seat 2`U.as shownin the drawinain which position' oi the valve element communication is main-1y tainedbetween the Chambers I5 and |2`.

The timingy valve. device 4' has a casing struc ture. comprising amainsection 30 having.' an end' wallA 3l and. a. centralA wall 32, and carrying. at'

theI open .end a. cover. section 33", and supporting. acasing section 34` adjacent the wall 31. Formed" in` the. casing, section.: 314 is. a` valve chamber 315.y whichcommunicates. by way. of. a passage forming.` a .valve seat. 38.* with a timing chamber 39; withinv thev casingsection 3.,.and,a1so. by way. of'

wall 32 andathefcover. section 33-is formed` a bore...

ber 39, Where' theendof 'the lrod isfsecured tok a cage structure 53 having an interior chamber spring 54 is adapted to yield upon movement of the valve 56 to seated position in order to compensate for the somewhat greater traverse of the valve piston 46.

The pressure of uid supplied to the pressure chamber 8 of the drain valve device 2 meanwhile operates the diaphragm 1, follower member 25,

' and stem 24 to shift the double valve element I8 containing a spring 54. Ihe spring 54 is adapted to bear against a collar formed on the end or a valve stem 55 which is operatively mounted fthe cage structure 53 and terminates in a valve, 56, which is disposed in the.`l valve chamber 31- and is adapted-for engagementwithntheseat..

'It will be noted that with tljleA relatively Vlarge valve piston 46 held against the seatfrib- 41 by unseated position.

Referringag'ain to the valvepiston 46, tfwill be observed-thatthis element is cylindrical in shape, f`in i"that'` the open endthereof' opposite the'portion en'gaigeablewiththe seat rib 41 carries an annular rib-'60, whoh isadapted to be moved intoI engagementwith anv annular gasket 6I carried'by the'jcover section' 3 3-'for controlling communication between` alportfz in the casing and the bore'45`, which 'is at all 'tir'nesl open toI the atmosphere by wayofja' restrictedexhaust passage I`3lfA Thel port 62 'co'mmuriicatesby Way of a pipe 65 withthe pressure chamber'ioi the drain valvev device 2, and is alsof open `to the vatrnospl'iere through'afchoke`66 connected'to the pipe. One end of thev4 port 62 is'fadapted lt'ojbe' uncovered,y upon y'r'novement 'of the valve piston'j46 tothe right, to establish communication"between'4 thepipe 65 and a chamber'48'formedfbetweenv the end vfac of the valve piston 'andth'efwall 32'.-

operation, fluidsupplied-under pressure to the'mainfres'ervir I' no ws'j therefrom by'way of ber39, at arate determined Aby-the size of thel restricted"l passage. jThe VYgradually increasing pressure 'of'u'i'df the',v timing chamber 39 acts against'theportionoithevalve piston 46 exposed withintle sean rib j41luntiL-after a predetermined interval,` this'l fluid 'pressurefbeoomes "highenough limitedasto permit theu initial increase in fluid pressure "thechamber" '8; necessary to feifect immediate operation ofthe drain valve 'de'vice Atthejsame timef-'as the valve piston 46 moves tb'tlle right, as'vewd iff-Figli, `tllevalv'e 555 operativelyconnected thereto is brought into seatl ing engagement with the seat 38 for=cutting offl further supply-of fluid 'undenpressure from the main reservoir I v tothe-timing ch-amberl39.A '-The 75k awayfrom the lower seat 2Il,`and into engage? ment with the upper seat I9, in opposition to the combined forces of the springs 26 and 28. As the y double valve element I8 traverses the distance between the two seats, the pressure of uid contained in the main reservoir I acts against the water which has accumulated in the chambers I2 and I5 to effect quick discharge thereof, the

water being vdriven out past the valve seat 20 and through the chamber 9 and drainage tube I0.

the spring 49, the valve 56 is maintained Itwillbe `understood that this movement of the doublevalve yelement I8 into engagement with the upper seat I9 is accomplished quickly, so that the amount of compressed uid required for the operation to expel'the condensate is limited.

Since the rvalve56 has been operated to cut off the supply of'compressedflu'id from thev main reservoir, as just explained, they quantity'of compressed fluid bottled up in the timing'chamber 39 and inthe communications therefrom leading to the pressure chamber 8 of the drain valve de- I vice is gradually reduced by flow fromthe pipe tion in the-fluid pressure in the chamber 48 acting on the valve `piston 46 the spring 49 is rendered'eiective to move the'valve piston into engagemenfI with the seatl rib 41, thus reestablishing communication between the port 62 and the atmospheric exhaustpassage v63. The pressure f of fluid in the diaphragm chamber 8 of the drain valve device V2 isl then reduced tofthat of 4the atmosphere, andthe springs 28, and26 again become effective to move the double valve 'element I8' and theas'sociated elements downwardly into the position in which they are'shownk in'Fig. l. While the double valve element I8 isV thus moved from the scarl I9 to the seat 2U, it effectsl another discharge ofy accumulated condensate from the chamber I2,`as hereinbefore `explained.'

The various elements vof the drain valve appara-tus 'are thus returned to their: initial positions, ready for the next cycle of operation.

n Embodiment in Figure 2 'I'n Fig. f2 of the drawing there is illustrated a different form of timing valve device'10, which, like' the timing valve device'4 of- Fig. 1,'is adapted to be associatedwith a main reservoir and drain valve device,'the latter elements of the complete d apparatus having been omitted in this view.4 It

cl evir :'e` 2y the elements of "which willffb'e under s'toodto have 'been initially positionedas shown" lflfF'gL 1f" It Will'be 'apparent xthat" altli0l1'g'l1'l'ludl under@ pressure is 'meanwhile gradually vented f'rforri j'the'ipipe'm'i through' the 'restricted branchv communication 66j`the rate: of` such 'venting' is so will be understood that the 4'I`a shown in Fig. 2 is adapted to, be connected .to :the main reservoir, and that the pipe 65a is arranged tob'e connected to the pressure chamber of the ,drain4 valve device, which is adapted to function in cooperation with Vthe timing valve device 10 lin the same manner as has been described in connection with the similar equipment shown in Fig. ,1. AThe timing valve device 1I] comprises afppe, bracket 12 to which the pipes65av and .,f4la may be attached anda casing rsection 13 mounted .on the pipe bracket and '.having formed therein aspring chamber 14,=a=valve, chamberj15.,fand a piston valve bores16 ythats arrangedsubstantially in alignment'wwith the chambers.v Q;i;

Mounted in the valve chamber'15 is a valve element 19, which is engageable with a seat rib 80 and has a fluted stem 8| slidably disposed lin a bore 82 connecting the valve chamber with the spring chamber 14, the valve element being thus disposed to control communication between the two chambers. A plunger 83 and biasing spring 82 are operatively lmounted within the spring chamber 14, the spring being arranged to act through the medium of the plunger and stem 8| for urging the valve 19 away from the seat 80. The spring chamber 14 is connected to the main reservoir pipe 4|a, by way of a passage 84 having a restricted portion 85. Suitable air straining means 85 may be interposed in the passage 84, if desired.

Also mounted in the valve chamber 15 is a valve element 89, which is adapted to engage a seat 90 for controlling communication from the Vvalve chamber by way of a bore 9| to apassageway 92, which in turn communicates with the drain valve pipe 65a and with a restricted atmospheric exhaust port 93.

For actuating the abutting valve elements 19 and 89 there is provided a valve piston 95, which is slidably mounted in the bore 16 and has formed on the upper side thereof a spring chamber 91 communicating with an atmospheric exhaust passage 98, and at the lower side thereof a chamber 99, which communicates with a timing chamber |90 formed in the pipe bracket 12. At the side adjacent the chamber 99, the valve piston 95 carries an annular seat rib |02, which is adapted to engage a gasket |03 while the piston valve is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. An annular `seat rib |05 is formed on the valve piston within the chamber 91, which seat rib is adapted for engagement with a gasket |06 upon upward movement of the element. as hereinafter explained. A coil spring |98 is interposed between the upper wall of the chamber 91 and a central wall |09 of the valve piston 95 for biasing it downwardly. The valve piston 95 is operatively associated with the valve element 89 through ,the medium of a plungerl engageable with the stem of the valve element, and a coil spring ||2, which is interposed between the enlarged lower end of the plunger and an interior wall of the valve. element, the plunger being guided in a suitable bore formed in the wall |09.

It wm be understood that the valve piston 95 v chamber |00 which is connected to the chamber 99 also communicates with the valve chamber 15 by way of a passage ||1 having a restricted portion ||8. A branch ||9 of the passage ||1 bypasses the restricted portion ||8 and opens into the valve chamber 15 by way of a port which is normally closed by a ball check-valve |20.

In principle, the operation of the timing valve device 10 is similar to that of the corresponding device 4 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Fluid under pressure is supplied from the main' reservoir by way of the pipe Ala. and flows through the passage 84 having the restricted portion 85 to the chamber 14, and thence through the bore 82 and past the normally unseated valve element 19 to the valve chamber 15. vWith the valve element 89 and ball check valve |20 seated as shown in Fig. 2, iiuid under pressure can ow from the valve chamber 15 onlythrough the passage r|"|1 having the restricted portion IlA to the timing chamber |00, and to the chamber 99 beneath the valve piston 95. -The pressure of vfluid in the' timing chamber |00-and chamber 99 is gradually increased during anA interval of timel determined by the rate of flow through the restricted passage I8, and when this fluid pressure becomeshigh enough to overcome the downwardfforce of the spring |88,the valve piston 95 is lifted tol expose thel full pressure area thereof to the chamber 99, and is then quickly forced to its upper seated position. Upward movement of the-valve piston95is transmitted through the medium of the coil spring ||2 and plunger I |A to the valve elements 89 and 19, which are thereby'raised to their unseated and seated positions, respectively. The valve element 19 is thus positioned `for cutting 01T further supply of fluid underpressure from the main reservoir to the valvevchamber' 15, while the valve element 89 establishes com`` munication fromthe valve chamber to the pas-l sage 92 leading by way of pipe 65a to the operati ing chamber of the associated drain valve device. The drain valve device is thereby operated to ejectr condensate as hereinbefore explained in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig.' l.,v The compressed uid eifective invcausilgtheoperation of the drain'valvevr device as just eX- plained is supplied from the timing chamber |00 by way of the passage ||1, branch ||'9, and past the ball check valve |20, which is unseatedfto allow the air to flow at a faster rate than can be obtained by way of the restricted passage ||8 alone.

The pressure actuated elements of the drain valve device are than maintained in the positions to which they have been forced under the pressure of fluid in pipe 65a for a predetermined interval of time, which is terminated when the gradual venting of fluid through restricted port 93 has reduced the fluid pressure in the connected chambers 15, |09, and 99, suiciently'to permit the spring |08 to movel the valve piston 95 downwardly. As the seat rib |05 on the valve piston is thus disengaged from the gasket |96, communication is momentarily established between the chamber 99 and the atmospheric exhause chamber 91 by way of the passage ||5 and past the ball check valve H8, and the resultant equalization of pressures of fluid below and above the valve piston facilitates the desired snap-action thereof, together with the associated valve elements 89 and 19, in assuming the positions in which these elements are shown in Fig. 2. The remaining pressure of fluid in the pipe a is quickly reduced to thatl of the atmosphere upon establishment of the communication between'the passage 92 and the atmospheric exhaust chamber 91. It will be understood that the drain valve device to which the pipe 95a is connected is thereby rendered operative again to discharge condensate from the associated reservoir.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of two preferred embodiments of-my invention that a timing valve means constructed in accordance therewith will be operative to eifect quick and positive operation of an associated drain valve mechanism in cycles of operation that may be` accurately predetermined, according tov 1. In an automatic drainage'equipment for a fluid pressure receptacla, the combination ofan automatic drain valve device having -valve means responsive to variationsin fluid pressure in a chamber for ejecting condensate deposited in said receptacle, and timing means comprising a casing having a timingchamber, a lfirst valve controlling admission of,` uid; under pressure to said timing chamber,and snap-acting 4piston valve means cooperative with said rst valve and also operative to controla communication from said timing chamber to said chamber in the drain valve device.

2. In an automatic vdrainage equipment for a iiuid pressure receptacle, the combination of an automatic drain valve device having valve means responsive to variations -in fluid pressure in a chamber for ejecting condensate deposited in said'receptacle, and timing means comprising a casing having a timing chamber, a first valve 'controlling admission of iiuid under pressure to said timing chamber, at a restricted rate, and snap-acting vpiston valve .means cooperative with said rst valve and also operative to establish a communication having one branch leading from said tim-ing chamber to said'chamber in the drain valve device and another restricted branch opening to the atmosphere. i

3. In an automatic drainage equipment for a fluid pressure receptacle, the combination of an automatic drain valve device having valve means responsive to variations in fluid Apressure in a chamberfor ejecting condensate deposited in said receptacle, and timing means comprising a casing having a timing chamber, a rst valve controlling admission of fluid under pressure to said timing chamber, a passageway in said casing connected to said chamber inthe drain'valve device and to a restricted vent port,` and snapacting piston valve means cooperating with said` having va timing chamber, a first valve controlling admission of fluid u nder pressure to said timing chamber, another valve controlling communication from said timingchamber to said chamber in the drain valve device, and fluid pressure responsive means controlled in accordance with variations in the pressure of fluid in said timing chamber for actuating both of said valves.

5. In an automatic drainage equipment for a uid pressure receptacle, the combination of an automatic drain valve device having valve means responsive to variations in fluid pressure in a chamber forejecting condensate deposited in said receptacle, andtiming means comprising a casing having a timing chamber, a rst valve controlling admission of fluid under pressure to said timing chamber, another valve controlling communicaton fromv said timing chamber to said chamber in the drain Vvalve device, and a reciproeating valve vpiston controlling communication from'said timing chamber to said chamber in the drain lvalve device, said valve piston being constructed and arranged to move suddenly from one position to the other in response to predetermined changes in the pressure of fluid in said timing chamber.

6. An automatic timing valve mechanism adapted for association with a uid pressure responsive drain valve device for a uid pressure reservoir, comprising a casing having a timing chamber, a valve controlling admission of iiuidv undervpressure from the reservoir to said timing chamber, snap-acting valve piston means subject to the pressure of fluid in said timing reservoir and operative to establish communication therefrom to said drain valve device, and yieldable means operatively connecting said piston valve means with the iirst named valve. y

7. An automatic timing valve mechanism adapted for association With'a fluid pressure responsive drain valve device for a fluid pressure

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