US711828A - Steam-trap. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

FRANK CORNWELL, OF HUTCHINSON, KANSAS.

STEAM TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,828, dated October 21, 1902. Application led January 13, 1902. Serial No. 39,548.i (No model.)

Toa/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CORNWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, of which the followingvis a specification.

This invention relates to steam-traps adapted for general application; and the object of the same is to introduce into this class of devices a specific form of leverconnections and iioat whereby a more positive and regular operation will ensue in the separation of steam from water of condensation and discharge the latter at regular intervals from the trap by automatic actuation of the con` tributing components, the improved trap also having the general functions of this class of` The numeral'l designates an upright cyl-v inder or body of the trap, which is formed from suitable metal having the required pressure resist-ance and exteriorly screw-threaded at its opposite terminals to receive the cap 2 for attachment to a base or, stool-plate 3, to

, which is secured an interiorly-screw-threaded annulus 4, engaging the lower screw-threaded terminal of the said cylinder or body. The stool-plate 3 may be attached in suitable proximity to an engine or other steam-motor or to any device with which it is desired to use the improved trap, and above the said stool-plate the cylinder or body l at a suitable elevation has a petcock 5 attached thereto for the purpose of draining ed oil or sediment from the water of condensation and carried by the upper portion of the column of Water. To the cylinder or body a watergage 6 of any preferred form of construction trance of moisture thereinto.

is applied, and connecting with the cap 2 is a steam-gage 7. The valve supply-pipe 8 connects with a union or four-way coupling 9, from which extends a feed-pipe 10, having a vertical section 11 passing through the stoolplate 3 upwardly into the lower portion of the cylinder or body 1 a suitable distance. Also connecting with the union or coupling 9 is a vertical pipe 12, having on the upper extremity thereof a T-coupling 13, attached by a branch pipe 14 with the upper extremity of the cylinder or body 1 and serving to admit steam at this point for equalizing purposes. The T-coupling 13 also has a petcock 15 attached thereto for exhausting the air from the pipe 12 and the connected parts when preparing the trap to perform its intended function, and depending from the union or coupling 9 is a valve outlet-pipe 16, by means of which the'cylinder or body 1 can be drained of itscontents at any time desired l for the purpose of cleaning, and during such operation the valve in the pipe 8 will be closed. The vertical section 11 of the inlet-pipe 12 passes through the stool-plate 3 into the lower portion of the body or cylinder 1 to one side of the center of the said plate and cylinder or body, and extending upwardly through the center ofthe said plate 3 is an outlet-pipe 17, having a valve-seat 18 on the upper extremity thereof in the form of a cage 19, with a central bore for the application and operation `of a needle-valve 20,]movably and vertically dependinginto the bore of the seatand opened and closed by a mechanism which will nowl be described.

Within the cylinder or body 1 is a ioat 21, which is hollow and constructed of metal, the parts comprised in the .construction of the said Iioat being tightly joined to prevent en- The top 22 of the iioat is convex, and this convexity of the top permits the float to work when the slightest pressure is exerted underneath by the water rising up against the bottom of the float, and this construction is a material advantage in view of the ordinary fiat-topped ioats, which will frequently stick until con- ICO siderable pressure is generated below. The v bottom 23 of the float is concave or of arcuate form to provide an air-chamber, which also materially assists in starting the-float to move the moment the slightest pressure is exerted on the said float.

The convex top 22 owing to its curvature will relieve the float of considerable resistance in its upward movement in view of the fact that the steam or air will ride off the said curved top in contradistinction to a direct impact of the steam or air,which would result against a fiat surface. The lower concave end or bottom of the float will permit air to be forced upwardly into the chamber so formed ahead of the rising water in the cylinder 1 with sufficient pressure to start the iioat in its upward movement before the water has reached the said concave bottom thereof.

From the center of the concave bottom 23 of the float a connecting-plate 24,depends and thereto the upper end of a connecting-bar 25 is movably attached. To the lower end of the connecting-bar 25 a lever 26 is secured at one extremity and has its opposite extremity fulcrumed to the upper end of a fulcrum-bar 27,having a lower screw-threaded terminal 28 fitted in a suitable socket formed in the stoolplate 3, the said fulcrum-bar rising vertically above the planes of the upper ends of the pipes 11 and 17. Depending from the lever 26 and movably attached to the latter are a pair of links 29, having their lower ends movably attached to one end of a lever 30, which is considerably longer than the lever 26, the said lever 30 having its opposite end movably secured to the upper end of a second fulcrumbar 31, which is shorter than the bar 27 and also has a lower screw-threaded terminal 32 `fitted in a suitable socket in the stool-plate 3. To the lever 30 the upper bifuroated extremity 33 of the needle-valve 2O is movably attached, and through the system of levers and connecting devices set forth considerable power is gained and the oat is given quite a purchase in its operation.

In the operation of the improved trap the air is irst released therefrom through the medium of the petcock 15 and the connections heretofore set forth, and at this time the float 21 will be in its lowest position and the needle-valve 20 will be held firmly down in its seat to close the pipe 17. The water of condensation entering the cylinder or body 1 gradually elevates the float 2l, and after the latter has attained a certain elevation the lever 26 is pulled upwardly at its inner extremities, and through the links 29 the opposite extremity of the lever 30 is similarly elevated, and the valve 2O will be gradually raised, so as to open the pipe 17 and permit the escape of the accumulation of water of condensation. Through the arrangement of the levers and the connections as set forth the float 21 will be permitted to elevate a considerable distance within the cylinder or body 1 before opening the valve 20, thereby permittingthe accumulation of a large amount of water of condensation within the cylinder or body 1 before an outlet ensues,

and as the float 21 gradually lowers with the fall of the column of water within the cylinder or body the valve 2O is correspondingly gradually closed. The function of the steampressnre on the convex top of the iioat 21 will be readily understood, and the mechanism set forth will regularly and automatically operate at intervals in the manner stated.

The valve 20 is elevated far enough above the kstool-plate 3 or bottom ofthe trap to prevent scales or dirt from entering the same, and by this arrangement the disadvantage encounted in many traps as heretofore constructed, wherein the scales and dirt were allowed to interfere with the positive operation of the outlet-controlling valve, is obviated. Moreover, the use of a needle-valve as an outlet-valve'is materially advantageous because of the surety of the operation thereof, and particularly when combined with the lever mechanism set forth.

In constructing the cylinder or body 1 a piece of wrought-iron pipe of suitable diameter can be employed and threaded, as shown, and between the lower end thereof and the stool-plate a suitable gasket or packing will be inserted to forma tight joint and obstruct any tendency to leakage. The manner of securing the cylinder or body 1 to the stoolplate 3 through the medium of the annnlus 4 is also of material advantage in View of the convenience in assemblage that results, and it will also be seen that the several parts lof the device are constructed with a view to economizing in the instance of manufacture as well as to strengthen and reinforce the trap at points where wear is liable to occur, and thus produce a more durable trap. For convenience in applying the pipes 1l and 17 they are intermediately screw-threaded, as shown by Fig. 1, and, if desired, suitable packings may be introduced in the joints between the said pipes and the stool-plate 3, this form of joint insuring a tight connection between the pipes 11 and 17 and said stoolplate. It will also be seen that the fulcrumbars 27 and 31 can be easily set up in operative position in the stool-plate,and when desired all the parts can be dismembered and reduced to compact form, which is an exceptional advantageous feature in transporting or packing the traps in bulk.

IOO

IIO

The mode of assembling the several'parts of the trap is simple and can be readily understood by any one, whether skilled in the art or not. Between the upper end of the cylinder or body 1 and the cap 2 a suitable packing is also inserted to form a tight joint at this point.

Having thus described the'invention, what is claimed as new is'- 1. The combination with a steam-trap having inlet and outlet devices, the voutlet device being controlled by a valve, of a iioat mounted in the body of the trap and having a convex top and a concave bottom, and connections between the bottom of the oat and the said Valve and including a pivotally-supported horizontally-disposed lever having its inner end mov ably attached to the concave bottom of the ioat and a horizontally-disposed pivotallysupported lever movably attached to the valve and connected to the lever` attached to a loat.

2. The combination, in a steam-trap, of a body having upper and lower eXteriorly-screwthreaded terminals, a cap mounted on the top of the body,a stool-plate having an interiorlyscrewthreaded annnlus structurally independent of the plate and removably secured thereto and engaging the lower end of the body, and devices in connection with the body and stool-plate and partially located inthe body for controlling the feed and outlet of the water of condensation.

3. In a steam-trap, the combination of a body having a ioat mounted therein, inlet and outlet pipes extending upwardly into the body through the bottom thereof, the outletpipe being centrally located and having a valve at its upper end, fulcrum-uprights secured to lthe bottom of the body and extending upwardly into the latter, the one being shorter than the other, horizontally-disposed 25 levers pivotally connected to the upper ends of the said nprights, the lower lever being movably attached to and controlling the valve operating in connection with the upper end of the inlet-pipe, a link pivotally connecting 3o the said levers, and a ventically-disposed connecting-bar pivotally attached to the upper lever and at its upper end to the center of the bottom of the ioat.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature 35

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