Steam trap

• US 5,335,686 A
• Filed: 08/18/1993
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loren Isringhausen Trust
• Original Assignee: Carl L. Isringhausen
• Inventors: Isringhausen, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/107,982
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 137/883, 137/14, 137/269, 137/887, 137/549, 73/29.04, 73/861.04
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/023 Y- pieces F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/16 the branch pipe comprising fluid cut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/07 Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining apparatus for draining F16T
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/34 without moving parts other than hand valves, e.g. labyrinth type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5109 Convertible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8085 Hollow strainer, fluid inlet and outlet perpendicular to each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87909 Containing rotary valve

Abstract

A steam system is provided with a steam trap including a Y-fitting having a single fluid inlet, a primary outlet for returning water to a boiler, and a secondary outlet for testing only, and a main valve in series with the primary outlet. Connected to the secondary outlet are an auxiliary valve and a replaceable test jet downstream of the auxiliary valve, the test jet terminating the auxiliary branch. Test jets of various sizes may be installed, and outflow through each visually observed or measured, until an optimum size is arrived at. A main jet of a corresponding size is then installed in the main valve.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a proper jet size for an orifice-type steam trap installed in a steam line, without disassembling the line, comprising steps of,

providing said steam trap with a Y-fitting having an inlet, a primary outlet for normally returning water to a boiler, and a secondary outlet, a main valve connected to said primary outlet and an auxiliary valve connected to said secondary outlet, said main valve containing a replaceable main jet and said auxiliary valve having means for receiving a replaceable test jet in its outlet, and, with the steam line in normal service,

installing a trial test jet in said auxiliary valve, then

opening said auxiliary valve and closing said main valve,

observing flow of steam and/or water through set test jet,

making a determination whether the test jet size is sufficient to prevent collection of water in the steam line, yet sufficiently small to prevent substantial steam from passing through the steam trap,

repeating the preceding four steps, if necessary, with test jets of different sizes, until said determination is positive, and then

replacing said main jet with a jet the same size as the test jet which produced the positive determination.

2. An improved steam trap comprising

a fitting having a single fluid inlet, a primary outlet for returning water to a boiler, and a secondary outlet for test purposes only,

a main valve in series with said main outlet said valve comprising a housing containing a rotatable member having a replaceable main jet and a lateral plug in the housing through which the main jet can be removed or inserted when the valve is closed, and

an auxiliary valve installed in series with said secondary outlet, and means for receiving a replaceable test jet downstream of said auxiliary valve, whereby test jets of various sizes may be installed, and flow through each observed or measured, until an optimum jet size is determined.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary valve has a threaded outlet, and said receiving means is said threaded outlet.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said main valve is a ball valve containing a rotatable ball with a threaded bore for receiving said replaceable main jet.

5. A steam system comprising a live steam line carrying steam from a boiler, a return line for returning condensed water to the boiler, and a steam trap between the live steam line and the return line, for permitting primarily only water to enter said return line, wherein the steam trap comprises:

a fitting having a single fluid inlet, a primary outlet for returning water to a boiler, and a secondary outlet for test purposes only,

a main valve in series with said main outlet, said valve comprising a housing containing a rotatable member having a replaceable main jet and a lateral plug in the housing through which the jet can be removed or inserted when the valve is closed, and

an auxiliary valve installed in series with said secondary outlet, and means for receiving a replaceable test jet downstream of said auxiliary valve, whereby test jets of various sizes may be installed, and flow through each observed, until an optimum jet size is determined.