Condensate drain valves
First Claim
1. An electronically operated condensate drain valve arrangement for draining condensate from a steam system, the arrangement comprising a condensate drain valve, an electronic circuit for controlling operation of the valve, and a sensor for insertion in the fluid transfer system to trigger the electronic circuit for closing the valve when the sensor senses that condensate level is below the sensor, the sensor also serving to sense when there is condensate to be discharged at a level about at least part of the sensor and to thereupon trigger the circuit to open the valve, the electronic circuit including a monitoring circuit that monitors the lengths of the intervals between successive valve opening operations and that triggers the electronic circuit so that the valve opens for a predetermined time and then closes again upon the interval between successive valve opening operations exceeding a predetermined maximum.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Solenoid operated condensate drain valve arrangements for steam systems are described having the following features:
(a) powered by electromotive force obtained by the Seebeck effect;
(b) where electrical sensing probe means control operation of the arrangement, the provision of thermal switch means overriding the action of the probe means and enabling air to escape from the system under start-up conditions;
(c) provision of a monitoring circuit that allows escape of trapped steam which may be having a steam locking effect;
(d) provision of a monitoring circuit that gives a measure of automatic drainage in the event of some failure in the drain valve arrangement.
13 Citations
3 Claims
- 1. An electronically operated condensate drain valve arrangement for draining condensate from a steam system, the arrangement comprising a condensate drain valve, an electronic circuit for controlling operation of the valve, and a sensor for insertion in the fluid transfer system to trigger the electronic circuit for closing the valve when the sensor senses that condensate level is below the sensor, the sensor also serving to sense when there is condensate to be discharged at a level about at least part of the sensor and to thereupon trigger the circuit to open the valve, the electronic circuit including a monitoring circuit that monitors the lengths of the intervals between successive valve opening operations and that triggers the electronic circuit so that the valve opens for a predetermined time and then closes again upon the interval between successive valve opening operations exceeding a predetermined maximum.
Specification