GB600081A - Improvements in and relating to cleaners for compressed air arranged for automatic draining - Google Patents

Abstract

600,081. Steam traps. AIR-EQUIPEMENT. May 18,1945, No. 12516. Convention date, Aug. 10, 1943. [Class 64(ii)] A compressed air cleaner for automatic draining of the liquid separated in which the draining port co-operates with a closing valve, the opening of which is generated responsive to the slight over-pressure generated in the cleaner casing when its outlet port is closed by a valve controlled by a lifting body immersed in the liquid, is characterised in that said closing valve is urged to a position closing said draining port by a pressure responsive member subjected to the pressure prevailing in an auxiliary enclosure communicating with the interior of the cleaner casing through a port (for example the air outlet port of the cleaner) which can be closed by a valve controlled by the control lifting body. The cleaner comprises a separator vessel 1 provided with a liquid particle separator 3 and a drainage port 4 closable by a valve 5 operated by a plunger in conjunction with a membrane 12. The compressed air enters at port 2 and exits through conduits 13, 14 a by-pass 23 being provided. Compressed air flows through inlet port 2, raising the pressure inside body 1 and enclosure 13, and membrane 12 since its area is larger than that of drainage port 4 applies valve 5 against its seat and membrane 31 is compressed to lift plunger 30 off lifting body 27. Valve 18 of equal sectional area to membrane 21 is held closed by spring 19, and air cleaned by separator 3 of known construction leaves through non - return valve 16. The combined thrusts of collected liquid and spring 28 gradually lift body 27 until the air outlet port 14 is closed by valve 29. The resulting pressure increase in body 1, duct 23, and chamber 22 is not sufficient to open valve 5 due to the greater area of membrane 12 than port 4, but valve 18 is opened by membrane 21 to provide communication between enclosure 13 and the atmosphere, the drop in pressure in enclosure 13 then being sufficient to allow draining valve 5 to open. When draining is complete air escapes through port 4, the pressure falls in casing 1 and spring 33 then elongates membrane 31 to push down body 27 to open valve 29 and equalise the pressures in enclosures 1 and 13 so that the drainage valve 5 is closed by the action of membrane 12. Simultaneously equalisation of pressure in chamber 22 and enclosure 13 permits spring 19 to close valve 18. In a modification, lever 8 may have unequal arms and membrane 12 have equal area to port 4. Port 14 may also be made separate from the air outlet of the cleaner, its closing valve still being operated by member 27.