US902321A - Return steam-trap. - Google Patents

Description

H. V. PEARCE, RETURN STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.10,1908

902,321 I Patented 0ct .27,1908

WITNESSES. INVENTOR. fiM v W, CQLM Attorneys.

HUBERT V. PEARCE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RETURN STEAM-TRAP.

Application filed February 10, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT V. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Imrovement in Return SteamTraps, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference eing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to traps adapted to collect water of condensation in a system of steam heating, and periodically return such water of condensation to the boiler in which the steam was originally-produced. Where steam is used for heating large plants, such as greenhouses, and other similar structures, in which there is a large amount of radiating surface, and in which the water of condensation gets quite cold, the return of the condensed water to the boiler is accomplished only by means of some special mechanism, which can equalize the pressure of the steam in the boiler against which the water enters, and the pressure which forces the water to enter the boiler, and the object of this inven tion is to produce a structure in which such condensed water is accumulated at a level higher than that of the boiler, and while accumulating is not subject to the back pressure from the boiler, or pressure coming from the boiler through the piping, through which the water itself must be forced into the boiler. After the water has been collected in the receptacle at a higher level than the boiler, the boiler pressure is brought into action on both the boiler side of the receptacle and what must be called the water side, or radiating side, and the equalized steam pressure enables the water collected in the receptacle to flow into the boiler by gravity, and the object of this invention is to produce a device in which this operation may be carried on automatically and continuously, so long as the steam is generated in the boiler.

In the drawings :-Figure 1, is a side elevation showing the device. Fig. 2, is an end elevation showing in dotted lines the in cluded pipes and check valves. Fig. 3, shows the relief valve.

1 is a tank into which leads an inflow pipe 2, and out of which leads an outflow pipe 3. The pipe 2 generally leads from a well or tank into which the water of condensation Specification of Letters Patent.

erally about Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Serial No. 415,102.

runs by gravity from the system of piping, in which the steam condenses. The well is closed, and the water therein is under pressure sufficient to drive it up from the well into the tank 1. The inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 are branches from a single standard pipe 4, that leads into the bottom of the tank 1. Mechanically the pipe 4 is a mere continuation of the tank 1. A small conduit pipe 5 located within the pipe 4, projects above the top of the pipe 4, and part way across the tank 1 to the level to Which it is desired to have the water accumulate in the tank before it is driven into the boiler. Genone-half or two-thirds of the tank is devoted to the accumulation of water, and one-third to one-half is used as a steam space, as will be hereinafter explained. The pipe 5 leads with suitable connections through the pipe 4, and extends as the pipe 5 to a small gravity tank 6 located in suitable relation to the tank 1, and to the steam valve 7 next to be referred to. Near the point where the pipe 5 emerges from the pipe 4 and external to the pipe 4, is a flexible sec tion 5*, adapted to bend slightly and easily. To the upper side of the tank 1 is a steam inlet 8 controlled by a balanced valve 7, which is adapted to be actuated by a lever arm 7*. The lever arm 7 a is connected by a link 9 to a short lever 10 pivotally supported above the tank 6. The lever arm 10 controls a small relief valve 11, which closes when the free arm 10' of the lever 10 rises, and opens, when the free arm 10 is pushed downward relatively to its fulcrum by any means. The tank 6 is counter weighted by a counter weight 12 on the long arm of a lever 12 supported on a bracket 13 from the end of the tank 1. The short arm of the lever 12 is connected by a link to the lever 10, or to the link 9 at or near its point of junction with the lever 10. The pipe 5 leads into the tank 6 on its under side, and is provided with an upturned end 5 that extends nearly to the upper side of the tank 6. A discharge pipe 14 for water from the tank 6 leads past flexible section 14 through a small section of pipe 15, into the pipe 2. The chamber in pipe 4 does not communicate with the duct in pipe 14; the two parts are mechanically held together by short coupling 4. Between the mouth of the pipe 15 as it enters the pipe 2 and the upturned branch 4, is a check valve 2 which prevents the backward flow of any water that may have once entered the tank,

prevent the backward flow when steam under pressure enters the tank 6, as will be explained. The water of condensation in the system of piping is under suflicient pressure to lift it into the tank 1, and as it accumulates in the well, it is transferred into the tank until the tank 1 becomes filled to the top of the small pipe 5. When filled to this point, a portion of the water passes down through a small pipe 5, and through the pipe 5 into the small tank 6, and accumulates in the tank 6 until the weight becomes sufficient to cause the tank 6 to fall against the counter weight 12, and the counterweight 7 During the time that the tank 6 was still unfilled with water, the tank, lifted by the counter weights, has caused the arm 10 of the lever 10 to engage against the underside of the tank 1, and free the small relief valve 11, so that the air contained in the tank 6 can freely escape therefrom, and ofier no obstruction to the free entrance of water thereinto.

As soon as the tank 6 falls, the lever arm 10 rises, and the relief valve closes, and the tank is now closed, and will remain closed until steam shall have entered it and driven the water out of it, lightened it, and permitted action of the weights to lift it to its original place. As the small tank 6 falls, it pulls down the arm 7", and opens the balanced valve 7 admitting steam into the tank 1 from the pipe 8 and through the pipe 8. The mouth of the pipe 8 is directed downward against the surface of the water, and the first steam entering is driven with some force into the water, and becomes condensed, and the steam does not at once act to drive the water from the tank, but acts only after the incoming steam shall have raised the temperature of the water in the tank to an extent sulficiently not to condense the steam and de stroy the pressure of it to such an extent as to prevent its driving action on' the body of water in the tank. The water is thus warmed to a temperature to make its admission into the boiler unobjectionable, and having become warm, the steam now accumulates over its surface with pressure, and drives it through the pipe 4, and the pipe 3 into the boiler. In the pipe 8 is inserted a proper check valve 3 to prevent the back action of the steam from the boiler, or back action of water from the boiler into the tank. The steam having driven the water out of the tank 1, acts also to drive the water out of the tank 6 into which it enters through the pipe 5, and the pipe 5 and drives the water from the tank 6 back into the system of piping, whence it is driven soon by the force of the steam in the system into the tank 1. The relief valve 11 acts automatically if the passage to it is free. The passage to it is controlled by a hand actuated valve 17, which regulates the amount of escape through the relief valve, or closes it entirely if it be desired to close it. So long as the lever 10 is free and there is any steam pressure in tank 6, the relief valve will permit steam to escape from said tank, but so soon as pressure in tank 1 drops to atmospheric pressure, the relief valve 11 seats and prevents air from entering the tank. Generally after tank 6 empties there is a partial vacuum formed therein by the condensation of steam in this tank and in tank 1, and both tanks are in condition to offer no resistance to the free entrance of water.

What I claim is 1. A water trap having in combination a main tank provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a steam inlet, a movable tank connected with the main tank by a conduit aving a flexible section therein, and with the water inlet pipe by a conduit having a flexible section therein, the first mentioned conduit having a terminal located within and near the top of the main tank and a second terminal located within and near the top of the movable tank, whereby the movable tank secures a supply of water from the already filled main tank, a valve controlling the steam inlet, a lever adapted to actuate said valve connections between the lever and the movable tank, substantially as described.

2. A water trap having in combination a main tank provided with a water inlet, a water outlet and a steam inlet, a movable tank, a conduit for admitting water into said movable tank having one terminal located within and near the to of the main tank and one terminal located within and near the top of the movable tank, a conduit for discharging Water from said movable tank having its discharge terminal opening with the main inlet pipe, a check valve in said discharge conduit, a steam valve, a controlling lever adapted to actuate said valve, connections between the lever and the movable tank whereby the descent of the movable tank opens said valve, a relief valve to said movable tank, a lever adapted to open said valve contemporaneously with the rising of said movable tank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

HUBE RT V. PEARCE.

Witnesses ALECIA TOWNSEND, VIRGINIA O. SPRATT.

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