FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of steam trap mechanisms, and particularly to steam taps incorporating a float.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Steam traps operate on the principle of specific gravity that allows a valve inside the steam trap to open and close due to the movement of a float that rises and sinks with the flow of condensate.

A known type of the steam trap is a steam float trap which utilizes a sealed spherical float whose position is affected directly by the level of condensate in the trap. The float trap works on the principle of buoyancy, wherein the float is fixed to a lever in such a way that the buoyant force is sufficient enough to overcome the self-weight of the steam trap and the force due to the differential pressure across the orifice. The size of the float of a conventional steam float trap is hence governed by the force/ moment balance between the force due to differential pressure across the orifice, weight of the float, lever length and the location of centre of gravity of the float.

In some alternatives of the float traps, the lever is not present and the float moves freely in the trap enclosure. These types of float traps also operate on the principle of buoyancy. However, as it is a free float steam trap, there is no lever arm available for the buoyant force to be amplified, thereby making the float relatively bigger in diameter as compared to the conventional steam trap. Additionally, the free float mechanism makes the conventional steam trap larger in size.

There is therefore felt a need for a steam trap that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows: An object of the present disclosure is to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that can be actuated by a float of any shape.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that has a float with an axis of rotation independent of the lever of the float.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that can operate with a relatively smaller float. One object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that has a mechanism which has a flexible configuration.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that has enhanced discharge capacity.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that operates in precise response to the flow of condensate without compromising on its performance by external factors.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a miniature steam trap that is compact and is simple to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure envisages a miniature steam trap. The steam trap comprises a base having a valve seat mounted at a through hole provided thereon. The valve seat has an opening that allows flow of condensate through the through hole and out of the enclosure of the steam trap. A mounting bracket is attached to the base. A lever is pivotably attached to the mounting bracket at a first end of the lever, and has a valve head formed thereon. The valve head is configured to close the opening of the valve seat when the lever is in a lowered state. A float is pivotably attached to the lever at a second end of the lever. The lever is configured to pivot about the mounting bracket due to the buoyant force of the float exerted by condensate rising in level in the enclosure boundary of the steam trap and thereby lift the valve head from the valve seat.

In an embodiment, the steam trap includes a main pivot pin for attaching an operative first end of the lever to the mounting bracket.

In another embodiment, the steam trap includes a float pivot pin for attaching the float to an operative second end of the lever.

In yet another embodiment, the float is a sphere or cylinder, provided with a circumferential extension for receiving the float pivot pin. In still another embodiment, the centre of gravity of the float, in a lowered state of the lever, is configured to be positioned closer to the axis of the valve head than the second end of the lever.

In another embodiment, the axis of the valve head lies between the first end and the second end of the lever. In yet another embodiment, the buoyant force acting on the float is where:

Fb: Buoyant force required for operating the steam trap;

Fp: Pressure force action across the orifice by the virtue of differential pressure; Fw: Force due to self-weight of float and lever; and x, y, z: Lever arm for the forces, respectively (Fp), (Fw), (Fb).

In still another embodiment, a predetermined clearance is provided between the farther surface of the float relative to the axis of the valve head and a proximal wall defining an enclosure boundary of the enclosure of the steam trap in a lowered state of the lever. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING A miniature steam trap of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of the miniature steam trap, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 illustrates a free body diagram of the steam trap of the Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a free body diagram of a conventional steam trap;

Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of a float mechanism of the steam trap of Figure 1, in closed state;

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of a float mechanism of the steam trap of Figure 1, in open state; and

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view showing a clearance C provided between an enclosure boundary and float walls of an enclosure of the float mechanism of Figure 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 - Miniature steam trap 01 - Float

02 - Lever 03 - Main pivot pin 04 - Mounting bracket 05 - Seat 06 - Float pivot pin

07 - Base

08 - Enclosure boundary

09 - Valve head I - Initial level of float

II - Final level of float

C - Clearance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element is referred to as being “mounted on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

Terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures. A miniature steam trap, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 6. Figure 1 illustrates a miniature steam trap 10 (hereinafter referred to as ‘steam trap 10’). The steam trap 10 comprises a base 07 having a valve seat 05 mounted at a through hole provided thereon. The valve seat 05 has an opening that allows flow of condensate through the through hole and out of the enclosure of the steam trap 10. A mounting bracket 04 is attached to the base. A lever 02 is pivotably attached to the mounting bracket 04 at a first end of the lever 02, and has a valve head 09 formed thereon. The valve head 09 is configured to close the opening of the valve seat 05 when the lever 02 is in a lowered state. A float 01 is pivotably attached to the lever 02 at a second end of the lever 02. The lever 02 is configured to pivot about the mounting bracket 04 due to the buoyant force of the float 01 exerted by condensate rising in level in the enclosure boundary 08 of the steam trap, and thereby lift the valve head 09 from the valve seat.

The float 01 and the lever 02 are designed in such a way that the buoyant force generated is sufficient enough to open the valve head 09 against the moments produced due to self-weight of float 01 and lever 02 and the force due to differential pressure across the orifice.

The float 01 is a sphere or cylinder provided with a circumferential extension for receiving the float pivot pin 06.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate a free body diagram that demonstrate the forces acting on the lever of the steam trap 10 and conventional steam trap, respectively.

The moment balance equation for the lever is:

Where,

Fb: Buoyant Force required for operating the steam trap 10;

Fp: Pressure force action across the orifice by the virtue of differential pressure; Fw: Force due to self-weight of float 01 and lever 02; and x, y, z: Lever arm for the forces in the order Fp, Fw, Fb. Distance x has a constructional constraint as it is the distance of orifice from the main pivot pin 03.

Distance y is the distance of resultant centre of gravity (Cg) of the float 01 and lever 02 from the main pivot pin 03. As the weight of the float 01 is a major contributor in locating the centre of gravity, distance y remains close to the geometric centre of the float 01.

More specifically, for a given differential pressure, the size of the orifice, the self-weight of the float 01 and lever 02, and the buoyant force Fb required depends on the distance of the forces from the main pivot. If the distance of the lever arms x and y increase, the buoyant force required increases. Therefore, it is necessary that the distance of the lever arms x and y should be maintained as minimum as possible in order to optimize the steam trap.

If the conventional steam trap is considered, the float is rigidly connected to the lever. Therefore, the distance of the lever arm y for force due to weight is nearly same as the distance of the lever arm z for the buoyant force.

In the steam trap 10, the float 01 is pivotally mounted on the lever 02. Therefore, the buoyant force acts at the joint of the float pivot pin 06, thereby, resulting in the increase in distance of the lever arm z for buoyant force. Secondly, by virtue of the joint of the float pivot pin 06, the centre of gravity of the float 01 lies quite close to the main pivot, thus reducing the distance of the lever arm y for force due to weight. More specifically, the centre of gravity of the float 02, in a lowered state of the lever 02, is configured to be positioned closer to the axis of the valve head 09 than the second end of the lever 02.

In an embodiment, the axis of the valve head lies between the first end and the second end of the lever 02. In another embodiment, the valve head 09 extends perpendicularly to the lever 02.

The buoyant force required to operate the pivoted float steam trap 10, of the present disclosure, is less as compared to that of equivalent conventional steam trap.

By the virtue of the flexibility gained due to pivoted float 01, the moment arm at which the weight of the float 01 acts reduces, which results in a float 01 of smaller dimensions as compared to conventional float traps having the same specifications.

Further as the travel of the float 01 of the steam trap 10, of the present disclosure, is in a straight line rather than a curvature as seen in the conventional steam trap, the curved flow path of the conventional steam trap is tortuous. The steam trap 10 of the present disclosure aims to eliminate the tortuous flow path by pivoting the float 01. This will enhance the discharge capacity of the steam trap 10 for any given flow conditions.

Additionally, casting of the components of the steam trap 10 is compact, and simple to manufacture.

Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate the float mechanism in closed and open state respectively, along with the physical constraints. In the closed state (as shown in Figure 4), the float 01 lies at its initial lowered level. Flowever, as shown in Figure 5, in opened state the float 01 is raised till a final level is achieved.

In an embodiment, the base 07 can be integral mounted on the seat 05. In another embodiment, the base 07 can be a separate entity configured to be removably fitted on the seat 05.

Figure 6 illustrates a clearance C provided between the enclosure boundary 08 and the float wall of an enclosure. The clearance C is maintained in such a way that it gives sufficient freedom to the float 01 to rise in the enclosure, and at the same time the clearance C guides the float 01 to attain its original position when the floating mechanism is in its closed condition.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a miniature steam trap that:

• can be actuated by a float of any shape;

• has a float with an axis of rotation independent of the lever of the float; • has a flexible configuration;

• can operate with a relatively smaller float;

• has enhanced discharge capacity;

• operates in precise response to the flow of condensate without compromising on its performance by external factors; and

• is compact and is simple to manufacture.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application. While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.