AUTOMATIC CONDENSATE VALVE

• US 3,575,199 A
• Filed: 11/04/1968
• Issued: 04/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Henry C. Beattie
• Inventors: Beattie, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US04/773,066
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• US Class Current: 137/341
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/00 Steam traps or like apparatus for draining-off liquids from enclosures predominantly containing gases or vapours, e.g. gas lines, steam lines, containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3102 With liquid emptying means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 With electric heating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86405 Repeating cycle

Abstract

The automatic condensate valve includes a housing having a chamber for the accumulation of liquid, and a valve member normally closing an outlet from the chamber. Electromagnetic means are provided including an actuator for opening the valve member at predetermined intervals of time.

Claims

1. A condensate valve comprising a housing, a liquid chamber in the upper portion of said housing for the accumulation of liquid, a liquid inlet to said liquid chamber, a second chamber in said housing beneath said liquid chamber having a port opening through said housing to the atmosphere, a flexible diaphragm defining the bottom wall of said second chamber, an outlet passage extending downward from said liquid chamber to said second chamber, an elongated upright valve member vertically reciprocable in said outlet passage and being of reduced diameter relative to the latter to allow liquid to pass from said liquid chamber to said second chamber when said valve member is in its upper open position, said valve member having a head at the upper end disposed in said liquid chamber and provided with an annular seal adapted to seal said outlet against the passage of liquid from said liquid chamber upon movement of said valve member to its lower closed position, spring means urging said valve member downwardly to its lower position, a third chamber in said housing beneath said second chamber, said valve member extending downwardly through said diaphragm in sealed relation therewith and terminating at its lower end in said third chamber, electromagnetic means in said third chamber including a vertically movable armature having a valve actuator normally spaced beneath the lower end of said valve member, said armature being movable upwardly in response to energization of said electromagnetic means to cause said actuator to contact the lower end of said valve member and lift the same to its open position, and timer operated means for automatically energizing said electromagnetic means at predetermined intervals.

2. The condensate valve defined in claim 1, wherein said armature is a horizontal plate guided by the sidewalls of said third chamber for vertical movement, and said actuator is a pin carried by and extending vertically upward from said armature.

3. The condensate valve defined in claim 2, wherein heating means are provided to prevent the formation of ice in said liquid chamber, and thermostat means are provided to energize said heating means in response to a drop in temperature of said valve below a predetermined value and to deenergize said heating means in response to a rise in temperature of said valve above a higher predetermined value.

4. A condensate valve comprising a housing, a liquid chamber in the upper portion of said housing for the accumulation of liquid, a liquid inlet to said liquid chamber, a second chamber in said housing beneath said liquid chamber having a discharge port opening through said housing, a flexible diaphragm defining the bottom wall of said second chamber, an outlet passage extending downward from said liquid chamber to said secoNd chamber, an elongated upright valve member vertically reciprocable in said outlet passage and being of reduced diameter relative to the latter to allow liquid to pass from said liquid chamber to said second chamber when said valve member is in its upper open position, said valve member having a head at the upper end disposed in said liquid chamber and provided with an annular seal adapted to seal said outlet against the passage of liquid from said liquid chamber upon movement of said valve member to its lower closed position, spring means urging said valve member downwardly to its lower position, a third chamber in said housing beneath said second chamber, said valve member extending downwardly through said diaphragm in sealed relation therewith and terminating at its lower end in said third chamber, electromagnetic means in said third chamber operative when energized to lift said valve member to its open position, and means for energizing said electromagnetic means.