Abstract: A heat pipe comprises an evaporator section 5 having a radiation absorbing plate 6 a portion of an elongate tube 7, and a condenser section 10 at a distal end of the elongate tube 7 remote from the evaporator section 5. A flow control valve 20 is provided between the evaporator section 5 and the condenser section 10 to selectively interrupt communication between said sections when the temperature within the condenser section 10 exceeds a predetermined maximum. A temperature sensitive member, (coil of memory metal 34?, or discs 34?) acts between a support plate 26 and a seat 36 located on a valve pintle 30 to urge the valve head 22 towards the valve seat 24 when the temperature of the temperature sensitive member 34 exceeds a predetermined limit. A return spring 38 is provided to bias the valve head 22 away from the valve seat 24.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing condensate and unwanted gas from vapor/liquid systems while preventing steam loss are provided. The steam trap apparatus replaces the automatic valve type, non-sanitary steam trap with an efficient, controllable, and sanitary steam trap. In addition, the improved steam trap apparatus allows for real-time data collection and eliminates the need for additional piping and actuated valves for sterilization and cleaning purposes.

Abstract: A valve for automatically modulating fluid flow includes a flexible flow adjustment member having a variable diameter passage therethrough and an outer surface and a shell surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface and creating a void between the shell and the outer surface. The shell is in contact with the flow of fluid. A thermally reactive material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled is a substantially non-volatile heat transfer liquid that does not undergo a phase change in use and contains inert particulate filler within the void and is in contact with the outer surface of the flexible flow adjustment member. The thermally reactive material exerts pressure on the adjustment member in response to heating the thermally reactive material to cause the passage to narrow and relieves pressure thereon in response to cooling the thermally reactive material to permit the passage to widen.

Abstract: A valve for automatically modulating a flow of fluid. The valve includes a flexible flow adjustment member having a variable diameter passage therethrough and an outer surface and a shell surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface and creating a void between the shell and the outer surface. The shell is in contact with the flow of fluid. The valve further includes a thermally reactive material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled. The thermally reactive material is within the void and is in contact with the outer surface of the flexible flow adjustment member. The thermally reactive material exerts pressure on the flexible flow adjustment member in response to a heating of the thermally reactive material to cause the variable diameter passage to close and to relieve pressure thereon in response to a cooling of the thermally reactive material to permit the variable diameter passage to open.

Abstract: The valve housing can be used for valves and steam traps with a compact automatic control unit. It has a connecting part with two flow ducts and a base on which the open end of a cap rests tightly. Two post-like projections with fastening orifices are provided on the longitudinal axis of the flow ducts on the connecting part next to the base and the cap. The cap has two laterally projecting screw bearings. They are arranged at a distance from the open end of the cap in front of the ends of the projections on the longitudinal axis of the flow ducts and are provided with screw holes. The cap is connected to the connecting part by two fastening screws which penetrate through the screw holes and are screwed into the fastening orifices of the projections.

Abstract: A condensate trap assembly comprises a valve body 2 having a housing 14 which defines an inlet passage 10 and an outlet passage 12, and an access passage 16 within which a condensate trap 4 is housed. The housing 14 also defines a valve chamber 18 within which a valve element 6 is received for rotation, the valve element 6 comprising a body within which there are provided flow passageways 22A, 22B, 22C. The valve element 6 has a projection 36 which extends into the access passage 16. The projection 36 prevents debris from collecting within the valve chamber 18, and the projection 36 may have a recessed channel 40 for catching any such debris.

Abstract: There is provided, in a thermostatic steam trap that can operate in either of two modes merely dependent upon which way round the trap is connected in a steam flow line, a temperature-responsive element (9) in which there is a valve member (23) that projects from a housing (16) of the element (10) to an extent dependent upon movement of a diaphragm (19) within the housing (16). Movement of the valve member (23) out of the housing (16) to close on a seat (6) is opposed by a spring clip (8), arms (14) of which embrace the outside of the housing (16), so that if the diaphragm (19) fails the trap as a whole fails with the valve (23/6) open. Conveniently the spring clip (8) serves a further function in that lugs (15) of the clip locate on a wall of the valve seat (6) to locate the element (9) in the trap.

Abstract: There is provided, in a thermostatic steam trap that can operate in either of two modes merely dependent upon which way round the trap is connected in a steam flow line, a temperature-responsive element (9) in which there is a valve member (23) that projects from a housing (16) of the element (10) to an extent dependent upon movement of a diaphragm (19) within the housing (16). Movement of the valve member (23) out of the housing (16) to close on a seat (6) is opposed by a spring clip (8), arms (14) of which embrace the outside of the housing (16), so that if the diaphragm (19) fails the trap as a whole fails with the valve (23/6) open. Conveniently the spring clip (8) serves a further function in that lugs (15) of the clip locate on a wall of the valve seat (6) to locate the element (9) in the trap.

Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap is described wherein a thermostatic actuating means including a valve is mounted for axial movement of the valve into and away from sealing contact with a valve seat positioned axially of the hollow cylindrical body of the steam trap by a circular baffle which loosely engages both the actuating means and portions of the body of the steam trap. The baffle is oriented transversely of the hollow cylindrical body at the inlet end of the steam trap and has nonarcuate segments formed upon its periphery, thereby causing diversion of the steam flow away from direct impingement upon the thermostatic actuating means, while ensuring good heat transfer to the thermostatic actuating means. This construction provides for a self-centering steam trap valve.

Abstract: There is provided a steam trap having a thermal control element arranged on the high-pressure side containing an expanding medium and a shut-off unit closing in the direction of flow. The shut-off unit includes two closure members and two valve seats forming two series-connected, independent sealing units, which are opened or closed one after the other in series fashion by the control element so as to reduce wear of the shut-off unit. The two sealing units are arranged in a single assembly which is coupled to the control element for ease of installation.

Abstract: A steam trap valve assembly designed to be connected to a steam piping system to trap and remove water of condensation, air and other gasses from the steam piping system while preventing the escape of steam therethrough. The assembly comprises a housing having an upper inlet and a lower outlet, a buoyant float element within the housing and movable between raised, outlet-open position and lowered, outlet-closed position in which it seals the outlet in the absence of sufficient condensate in the housing to float the buoyant element. The float element is connected to the housing by means of a thermostatic member which maintains the float element in a raised, outlet-open position when cool but which releases the float element into lowered position, when heated, to seal the outlet in the absence of sufficient condensate in the housing to float the buoyant element.

Abstract: A control valve used as a steam trap including a flexible flow adjustment restriction device, such as a flexible tube, with a chamber filled with a control fluid having a high co-efficient of thermal expansion and a heat conduction configuration conveying heat from the flow to the control fluid, such that a change in the flow temperature causes expansion or contraction of the control fluid to adjust the flexible flow adjustment member; to provide a universal steam trap.

Abstract: A steam trap includes a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a cover secured to the casing to enclose a condensate reservoir in the casing and a trap unit having a valve closing and opening by thermal expansion and contraction of a thermoelement such as thermowax in response to temperature in the reservoir and a counter spring whose spring force acts against the thermal expansion of the thermoelement. The disclosed steam trap comprises connection means for connecting the cover and the trap unit only by relative movement therebetween and a support spring arranged between the cover and the thermoelement. The steam trap is therefore, conveniently adaptable to change in used conditions by suitable selection of trap units having various temperature characteristics previously prepared and is capable of effectively replacing its trap unit with a new one for repairing.

Abstract: A valve body member and various insert assemblies usable with the body member to form steam traps of different types are disclosed in this application. The body member includes an internally threaded, generally cylindrical recess extending inwardly from an outer surface and terminating in an end face, an inlet passage communicating with the recess through a passageway terminating in the end face of the recess, and a discharge passage also communicating with the recess. An annular rib is formed on the end face of the recess around the passageway and includes a surface on which is seated a first sealing ring clamped in place by a first bearing surface of the particular insert assembly used to form the steam trap; an annular seat is formed on the outer surface of the body member around the cylindrical recess and this seat receives a second sealing ring which is clamped in place by a second bearing surface of the insert assembly.

Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap having a balanced pressure thermostatic element (2,2A,2B) operated by volatile fluid (15) is disclosed in which an internal void (10) of the element is open to steam/condensate within the trap, and in which the volatile fluid fills a housing (6) outside the element when the trap is fully open thereby to support the element against high pressure within the element. In the trap fully-closed condition the element adopts a nearly nesting condition so that if the element is then subjected to higher pressure externally it adopts a fully nesting condition in which it can withstand great external pressure.

Abstract: A valve body member and various insert assemblies usable with the body member to form steam traps of different types are disclosed in this application. The body member includes an internally threaded, generally cylindrical recess extending inwardly from an outer surface and terminating in an end face, an inlet passage communicating with the recess thrugh a passageway terminating in the end face of the recess, and a discharge passage also communicating with the recess. An annular rib is formed on the end face of the recess around the passageway and includes a surface on which is seated a first sealing ring clamped in place by a first bearing surface of the particular insert assembly used to form the steam trap; an annular seat is formed on the outer surface of the body member around the cylindrical recess and this seat receives a second sealing ring which is clamped in place by a second bearing surface of the insert assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to automated drain valves for pressurized fluid conduits such as steam conduits. Recognizing that there is a direct relationship between steam temperature and steam pressure at the saturation line; the saturation line is used to derive a variable set point for an automated drain system and method. The saturation temperature is compared with the actual temperature to determine the positioning of the conduit drain valves.

Abstract: A thermally-controlled valve for a steam trap and the like, includes a thermally-controlled element including generally plate-like outer and inner wall portions and a generally plate-like, resilient membrane member disposed between and welded at its outer edges to the wall portions. The outer wall portion and the membrane define therebetween a chamber for accommodating an expanding medium and a reciprocably movable locking member is disposed generally between the membrane member and the inner wall portion, and is disposed for cooperative engagement with the valve seat of the steam trap. The membrane member is coupled to the locking member to effect movement of the locking member relative to the valve seat, and is comprised of a plurality of superimposed membrane lamellae, which permits proper functioning of the valve under high operating pressures.

Abstract: A condensate removal device which includes two parallel paths for removal of condensate and gases from a fluid system is provided with a thermostatically operated valve in one path and a drain orifice of a preselected size in the other path. The combination is disclosed as it is used in drain lines of a steam system. A bellows or other thermostatically operated valve controls one path to the drain and is in the open position during warmup of the system to permit the passage of the large quantities of air, condensate, particulates and other matter which are present in the system during the warmup stage of operation. The thermostatic element is designed to be closed at operating temperatures. The drain orifice in the other path is designed to continuously pass the condensate and the like which will form in the line when the system is at or near operating temperatures while restricting the passage of working vapor.

Abstract: A swimming pool heater has a fire chamber with a fuel feeding opening closable by a door which is removable to use the heater as a fireplace. A heat exchanger comprises a continuous length of copper tubing paralleled by an adjustable bypass. Air is supplied through a preheating manifold and regulated by a thermostatically controlled damper. A baffle delays escape of smoke and gases from the chamber.

Abstract: A steam trap allowing the escape of condensate from a working fluid of steam comprises an escape valve mounted in a chamber in which the working fluid flows. The escape valve includes a valve seat member and a deformable metal diaphragm normally closing the steam trap and preventing the escape of steam. The diaphragm closes a housing in which a control fluid of water initially only partially fills the housing to which a vacuum is later applied. The housing bears along the periphery of the diaphragm where the diaphragm is supported by a shoulder in the valve seat member. The valve seat member includes a cylindrical central chamber radially inwardly of the valve seat and an annular chamber radially outwardly of the valve seat. The cylindrical chamber is larger in diameter than and upstream of an escape passageway for carrying away condensate also in the valve seat member. The annular chamber is in communication through a check valve and passages with the chamber in which the escape valve is mounted.

Abstract: A fluid temperature actuated valve for trapping fluids in a system, having particular utility as a steam trap. The valve is closed by the expansion of a wax pellet type thermal actuator working against the valve opening force of an operating spring. The valve may be provided with an ambient sensing on-off control in the form of an air temperature responsive actuator which is coupled to the fluid sensing actuator by a suitable insulator. The air sensing actuator upon the occurrence of a predetermined ambient temperature condition will displace the fluid sensing actuator a sufficient degree to prevent the opening of the valve. The valve with the ambient sensing control may be employed as the only control on a steam tracer line, serving the dual function of a steam trap as well as an on-off control response to the ambient temperature.

Abstract: In addition to a deformable disk membrane with a valve seat on a portion of a flange immediately surrounding a discharge opening, there is provided a similarly deformable annular disk membrane on a valve seat surrounding that of the disk membrane set back into the flange surface by at least the thickness of the annular disk membrane somewhat obliquely to form a wedge-shaped flow channel communicating with the inlet opening for the working medium. The two membranes are clamped together at their outer edges with an O-ring and a cap providing the chamber for the control medium. The annular membrane operates as a built-in check valve when back pressure of the condensate pushes the disk membrane off its seat, the annular membrane remaining on its seat and blocking the inlet opening against backflow.