Wafer Type Patents (Class 236/58)
  • Patent number: 10247325
    Abstract: A condensate drain is described. The condensate drain comprises a thermodynamic actuator and a closing arrangement. The closing arrangement is configured to switch a fluid connection between a first connector and a second connector of the condensate drain in a thermodynamically controlled manner by the thermodynamic actuator. In order to achieve an improved cleaning capability, the condensate drain further comprises an adjusting device attached to the closing arrangement, wherein the adjusting device switches the fluid connection between the first connector and the second connector. A processing system simplified by the condensate drain is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GEA Aseptomag AG
    Inventor: Thomas Hagnauer
  • Patent number: 8863740
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kingspan Holdings (IRL) Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Williamson, Boris Bauer, Paul Thomas McEntee
  • Patent number: 6220519
    Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap for use in sanitary environments has a steam trap body defining a steam trap cavity and consisting of an inlet body portion defining an inlet port in communication with an inlet cavity portion and an outlet body portion defining an outlet port in communication with an outlet cavity portion. The inlet and outlet cavity portions are disposed in communication to define the steam trap cavity. A centering member is disposed generally between the inlet and outlet body portions. A thermostatic bellows/plug assembly mounted to the centering member moves within the steam trap cavity between a first position in engagement with a seat defined by the steam trap body, thereby to resist flow of fluid between the steam trap cavity and the outlet port, and a second position spaced from engagement with the seat, thereby to permit flow of fluid between the steam trap cavity and the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Watts Investment Company
    Inventors: George W. Page, Jr., Dan W. Cole
  • Patent number: 6148845
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Gestra GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Borowski
  • Patent number: 5884654
    Abstract: A condensate discharge device which prevents metal ions from attaching and depositing on the condensate discharge port surface. An inlet, a condensate discharge port, and an outlet are formed in a valve casing, which valve casing includes an upper casing and a lower casing. A valve seat member having a discharge passage is screwed into the lower casing. The discharge passage includes a first orifice having a smaller opening area than the condensate discharge port, and a second orifice having a smaller opening area than the first orifice. A movable member is mounted through the second orifice. On end of the movable member rests on one side of the second orifice, and another end is located on the other side of the second orifice. Condensate flows slowly through the condensate discharge port, preventing metal ions from attaching there, and flows rapidly through the second orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Oike
  • Patent number: 5833135
    Abstract: A thermally-actuated steam trap comprises a valve casing having an inlet, a valve chest and an outlet. A valve seat member with a discharge passage is disposed between the valve chest and the outlet. A temperature control element with an expansible medium sealed therein is disposed within the valve chest, and consists of two disk-shaped wall members, at least one wave-like diaphragm member provided between the wall members, and a valve member secured to the diaphragm member. Displacement of the diaphragm accompanying the expansion and contraction of the expansible medium causes the valve member to come into and out of a seating engagement with the valve seat member to close and open the discharge passage. In order to avoid a state of producing a permanent deformation of the diaphragm of low elastic material and not to be affected by repeated use of the diaphragm, the upper surface of the lower disk-shaped wall member has a curved region corresponding to the wave form of the diaphragm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5546976
    Abstract: A condensate trap installation comprises a condensate trap 6 and one or more further components such as a strainer 8 and a check valve 10. The condensate trap 6 and the further components 8, 10 are placed in face-to-face engagement at end faces 30 and clamped together by a clamping device, comprising bolts 22 or comprising a carrier 60, which applies a compressive force by means of a clamping body 18 and a flange 20 provided respectively on pipe ends 2 and 4. An isolating valve 14 is provided to isolate the condensate trap 6 and the components 8, 10 so that they can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventor: Keith Farquhar
  • Patent number: 5478012
    Abstract: In a thermally-actuated steam trap, a valve casing is formed therein with an inlet, a valve chest and an outlet, and a valve seat member is disposed between the valve chest and the outlet. Within the valve chest, there is further provided a temperature control element including two disk-like wall members and a diaphragm member provided between the wall members. The diaphragm member is secured at the peripheral edge to both the wall members, and the inner space formed thereby accommodates an expansible medium. The diaphragm member carries a valve member cooperating with the valve seat member at the side opposite the expansible medium side, and in the central region of the valve member directed toward the diaphragm member is provided a recess portion which becomes deeper as it proceeds toward the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Fujiwara, Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5405078
    Abstract: A thermally-actuated steam trap, which performs the opening and closing operations of a valve according to a change in the volume of an expansible medium, comprises at least two diaphragms and a valve member fitted to the lower diaphragm. The lower diaphragm is shaped so that it comes to be more sensitive to a change in pressure than the upper diaphragm, to provide a steam trap which permits a discharge passage to be opened also when the fluid pressure at the inlet side is relatively week, and which is stable in operation from the initial stage as the opening and closing operations of the valve are performed intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: TLV Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5316213
    Abstract: A condensate trap (2) comprises a valve disposed within a casing comprising a peripheral wall (3) and end walls (6,7). Each end wall has an aperture (9,10) for the passage of fluid into and out of the casing, the end walls having mutually parallel flat end surfaces (14) for clamping between two flanges (5) in a fluid line (4). Connection means (11,12) external to the condensate trap (2) connect the flanges (5) allowing simple installation and removal of the trap (2) in existing fluid lines which include a flanged connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventor: Roy J. Gooderham
  • Patent number: 5275334
    Abstract: In order to open a valve member during the breakage of a temperature control element and to prevent the couterflow of fluid from an outlet side to an inlet side even when pressure at the outlet side becomes higher than that at the inlet side, there is provided a thermally-actuated steam trap comprising: a valve casing having an inlet, a valve chest and an outlet, a valve seat member having a discharge passage between the valve chest and the outlet, a temperature control element disposed in the valve chest and including a cover member, a first diaphragm, a second diaphramg and a valve member and containing expansible medium, and a through hole formed respectively on the second diagragm and the valve member attached thereto, through which a face of the first diaphragm being not in contact with the expansible medium communicates with the discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5197669
    Abstract: In order to open a valve member during the breakage of a temperature control element and to prevent the counterflow of fluid from an outlet side to an inlet side even when pressure at the outlet side becomes higher than that at the inlet side, there is provided a thermally-actuated steam trap comprising: a valve casing having an inlet, a valve chest and an outlet, a valve seat member having a discharge passage between the valve chest and the outlet, a temperature control element disposed in the valve chest and including a cover member, a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm and a valve member and containing expansible medium, and a through hole formed respectively on the second diaphragm and the valve member attached thereto, through which a face of the first diaphragm being not in contact with the expansible medium communicates with the discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Tlv Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 4995553
    Abstract: There is provided a thermally controlled valve having a valve seat, a closure valve associated therewith, an expansion capsule containing an evaporation medium which actuates the closure valve by a stroke displaceable wall part, and a snap spring biasing the closure in the opening direction and arranged so that in the closed position of the valve, the spring occupies a position of stroke lying in the range of stroke between the force maximum and the force minimum of its force stroke characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: GESTRA Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Foller, Holm Klann
  • Patent number: 4955536
    Abstract: A thermally controlled valve is provided having a valve seat, a closure valve cooperating with the valve seat, a diaphragm capsule, a plate spring, and an abutment supporting the plate spring along its outer edge. The diaphragm capsule includes a rigid wall part and a diaphragm component actuating the closure valve, the wall part and the diaphragm component being joined with each other along their outer edges and forming a reservoir therebetween for an evaporation medium. The plate spring rests against the face side of the diaphragm component which is averted from the wall part of the diaphragm capsule, and the inner edge of the plate spring engages the closure valve so as to act thereon in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Gestra Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Foller, Holm Klann
  • Patent number: 4781325
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve such as a steam trap, incorporates a cup shaped trap repair cartridge having the lower end of an annular intermediate valve body of cast metal threaded into an upwardly open, internally threaded cup shaped valve casing. The trap repair cartridge in turn receives the external threads of an inverted cup shaped cover of cast metal whose lower annular wall has threads on its outer periphery matching the internal threads of the annular intermediate valve body. The trap repair cartridge includes a conical bottom wall terminating in a flat, central horizontal bottom wall portion which is provided with an axial hole defining a valve seat. A hollow sheet metal thermostatic actuator is provided with an axial projection on one surface which projection is threaded about its outer periphery and which projection is threaded into a mating tapped hole within the bottom of an adaptor post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Dunhyam-Bush, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon W. Finders, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4634048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a volatile-liquid-filled, encapsulated diaphragm valve for the thermal control of condensate water drains. The capsule consists of two unhardened turnings which are welded together, the lower capsule part having a threaded stem to be screwed into the bore of the condensate drain. In the outlet passage in the threaded stem of the lower capsule part there is press-fitted a hardened valve seat body having valve seats at both ends, the seat cone on the outlet side, which cooperates with a check valve body, being prolonged in the outlet passage all the way to the end of the threaded stem, terminating in a narrow edge. The entire conical flare forms the chamber for the movement of the check valve body, which is limited by a sieve plate. Above the threaded stem the capsule bottom part's diameter reaches all the way to the diaphragm clamping zone, while the lateral inlet ports in the bottom part consist of bores having an inside diameter corresponding to the wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: ASCA Equipamentos Industriais LTDA.
    Inventor: Erich Hasse
  • Patent number: 4616778
    Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap is disclosed in which a control chamber contains an insert enclosing a bellows adapted to force a valve member to a closed position in a direction opposite the normal flow of fluid through the trap together with self-centering means to center and align the valve member with respect to the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: YWHC, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst R. Thieme
  • Patent number: 4560105
    Abstract: In a bellows-actuated thermostatic steam trap (A) having a bellows (41) carrying a valve member (45) of a valve (45/22) for opening and closing the trap, the bellows is disposed between connections (20/21 and 30/31) which are identical to one another so as to be selectively connectable in a steam flow line with the valve (45/22) disposed either downstream of, or upstream of, the bellows (41). The trap includes a metal housing (11/12), the mass of which constitutes at least 70% of the mass of the trap. The trap operates, when connected with the valve disposed downstream of the bellows, in a first mode in which, in normal operation, the trap discharges condensate at a temperature close to saturated steam temperature. When connected with the valve disposed upstream of the bellows, the valve operates in a second mode in which in normal operation condensate is discharged at a temperature significantly below steam temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Spirax Sarco, Inc.
    Inventor: Niranjan T. Jiandani
  • Patent number: 4549691
    Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap, which operates either as a blast trap or a liquid expansion trap, depending solely on reversal of inlet and outlet function, has a generally cylindrical housing containing an internal cavity. The housing has two parts, the first of which contains a passage leading to a valve seat and the second of which contains a passage leading, via a plurality of bores, to the cavity. Within the cavity is a bellows, filled with a volatile liquid, having a valve on its top which mates with the valve seat and connected at its bottom to the second housing part. The connection is pivotal to permit self-centering of the valve. Either passage can serve as an inlet depending on which operating modality is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Spirax Sarco, Inc.
    Inventor: Niranjan T. Jiandani
  • Patent number: 4356964
    Abstract: A thermic control element has a plate-like wall part and a membrane member which is peripherally coupled therewith which, on its one side, supports a locking element and, on its other side, a counter plate facing the wall part. The locking element, the membrane member and the counter plate are rigidly coupled with each other in their central area and the wall part has a cup-shaped curvature with a support face for the outer edge zone of the counter plate. An expansion medium is contained in a receiving chamber formed between the wall part and the membrane member. In the open end position of the locking element, the locking element and the wall part are provided with corresponding cooperating stroke engaging faces and, in the locking element closing position, the axial distance between the stroke engagement faces of the locking element and the wall part is smaller than the axial distance between the support face and the outer edge zone of the counter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Gestra-KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Foller
  • Patent number: 4248376
    Abstract: A valve is provided of the type which includes a valve housing having a valve seat, a thermal control element mounted in the valve housing having a thin, rigid wall portion and a membrane member coupled peripherally with the wall portion, so as to define an expansion chamber therebetween in which an expansion medium is disposed and a locking member which is activated by the membrane for cooperative coaction with the valve seat. The valve is characterized by the provision of a valve housing having an inner chamber which substantially corresponds in size and shape to the outer configuration of the thermal control element. The inner chamber is provided with flow conduits disposed along the surface of the control element. The flow conduits are coupled to an inlet opening of the valve housing and an outlet opening defined by the opening of the locking member relative to the valve seat. The valve is especially intended for steam traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Gestra-KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Foller
  • Patent number: 4244518
    Abstract: A valve is disclosed of the type which includes a thermal control element having at least one relatively thin rigid wall portion, a flexible membrane coupled to the periphery of the wall portion so as to define therebetween an expansion chamber in which an expansion medium is disposed, and a locking member which is actuated by the membrane for cooperative coaction with a valve seat. The valve is characterized by the provision of a relatively thick-walled, jacket-type housing which encompasses the control element in a supporting manner. The housing has flow conduits which oppose and run along the surface of the control element; the flow conduits being provided with an input and output opening for the medium to be discharged. The valve is particularly useful for steam traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Assignee: Gestra-KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Foller
  • Patent number: 4226362
    Abstract: A high pressure steam trap is provided of the type which has at least two serially-connected and operated discharge control assemblies which are switched in series in the flow direction of the condensate, each of which includes a thermal control element which is exposed to the condensate to be discharged, a valve seat, and a throttle element which is actuated by the thermal control element for movement relative to the valve seat. Expansion capsules serve as the thermal control elements and these capsules contain an evaporation liquid, the steam pressure of which, measured at the same temperature, is higher than the steam pressure of the evaporation liquid in the successively-disposed expansion capsules downstream therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: GESTRA-KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Foller
  • Patent number: 4023730
    Abstract: A steam trap comprising a housing forming a low pressure chamber and an it opening and an outlet opening and a valve seat formed at the inlet opening. A thermal control device filled with an expansion medium is disposed in the low pressure chamber, and includes a locking part for the valve seat actuated by the thermic control device. A separating wall divides the low pressure chamber into two chambers, one of which is connected to the inlet opening and containing the control means, the other of which is connected with the outlet opening. The separating wall has a porthole positioned on another side of the control device with respect to the outlet opening in radial and/or axial direction relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Gestra-KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft Bremen
    Inventor: Foller Werner