DESC:FLOAT TRAP WITH ROTARY BALL FLOAT MECHANISM

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to steam traps and more particularly, to a float trap having a rotary ball float mechanism.

Background of the invention

A steam trap is a device used to discharge condensates and non-condensable gases with a negligible consumption or loss of live steam. Most steam traps are nothing more than automatic valves. They open, close or modulate automatically.

Systems which operate on steam require being free of condensate, air and other non-condensable gases in order to function properly. Steam traps, as the name suggests, are devices that hold back steam and discharge condensates and non-condensable gases from a steam system.

The drawbacks in existing float traps are that the float arrangement has a complicated design. In the existing float traps, the cover is casted with the arrangement for mounting a valve seat, a steam lock release (SLR) seat and components required for holding the float arrangement together as a single unit with complex casting. Further, the prior float arrangements have rigid components and does not seat properly on an outlet orifice provided on the seat for the condensate to escape resulting in loss of steam.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a float trap with a rotary ball float mechanism and a seat plate arrangement that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Object of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a float assembly having a rotating ball for better sealing of an outlet orifice of a seat and a separate seat plate casting to eliminate cover casting cavity complexities.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a float trap with a rotary ball float mechanism. The float trap comprises a body, a cover, a seat plate, a float assembly, a sight glass and a sight glass cover.

The cover is mounted on the body. The seat plate is mounted on the cover. Specifically, the seat plate is a replaceable seat plate. The seat plate includes an outlet orifice for removing the condensate. The sight glass is provided for viewing condensate discharge. The sight glass is protected by the sight glass cover. The sight glass cover is connected to the body through screws.

The float assembly is connected to the seat plate. The float assembly comprises a float, a rotating ball and a lever. Specifically, the float is in the form of a hollow ball. The float is attached to the seat plate through the lever. The lever is attached to the float at one end thereof and fixed to the rotating ball at another end thereof. The rotating ball is rotatably mounted on the outlet orifice of the seat plate. The rotating ball being movable is aligned to an opening of the output orifice and opens the outlet orifice of the seat plate when the float is raised due to buoyancy force of the condensate thereby allowing the condensate to escape. Once the condensate is discharged from the trap, the rotating ball comes down by self weight and seats on the outlet orifice tightly causing closing thereof. The float trap is constructed using any one of stainless steel grades such as 304, 304L, 316, 316L, cast steel (WCB), spheroidal graphite (SG) iron, cast iron and any alloy steel construction.
Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a float trap with a rotary ball float mechanism, in accordance with present invention; and

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of a seat plate with a float assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a mechanical float trap having a replaceable seat plate design provided with a float assembly. The float assembly includes a rotating ball that seals an outlet orifice provided in the seat plate for condensate escape thereby eliminating steam loss.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the table given below.

Table
Part No. Part Name Part No. Part Name
10 Body 54 Lever
20 Cover 56 Rotating ball
30 Inlet port 60 Float assembly
40 Outlet Port 70 Sight Glass
50 Seat plate 80 Sight Glass cover
52 Float 100 Float trap

Figures 1-2 show a float trap (100) with a rotary ball float mechanism in accordance with the present invention. The float trap (100) comprises a body (10), a cover (20) an inlet port (30), an outlet port (40), a seat plate (50), a float assembly (60), a sight glass (70) and a sight glass cover (80).

The cover (20) is mounted on the body (10) of the float trap (100). The inlet port (30) is used for receiving the steam and the condensate. The outlet port (40) is used to discharge the condensate. The seat plate (50) is mounted on the cover (20). In an embodiment, the seat plate (50) is a replaceable seat plate. The seat plate (50) includes an outlet orifice (not shown) for removal of the condensate.

The float assembly (60) is attached to the seat plate (50). The float assembly (60) includes a float (52), a lever (54) and a rotating ball (56). The float (52) is attached to the seat plate (50) through the lever (54). In an embodiment, the float (52) is in the form of a hollow ball. However, it is understood here that the float (52) may have any other form in other alternative embodiments of the present invention.

The lever (54) is attached to the float (52) at one end thereof and fixed to the rotating ball (56) at another end thereof. The rotating ball (56) is rotatably mounted on the outlet valve of the seat plate (50). The rotating ball (56) is movable and is aligned to an opening of the outlet orifice of the seat plate (50). The rotating ball (56) opens the outlet orifice of the seat plate (50) when the float (52) is raised due to buoyancy force of the condensate thereby allowing the condensate to escape. Once the condensate is discharged from the trap, the rotating ball (56) comes down by self weight and seats on the outlet orifice tightly causing closing thereof. The separate seat plate casting helps to reduce core complexities of the cover casting resulting in zero rejection.

The sight glass (70) is provided for viewing the condensate discharge. The sight glass (70) is protected by the sight glass cover (80). The sight glass cover (80) is connected to the body (10) through screws (not shown).

In an embodiment, the float trap (100) is constructed using any one of stainless steel grades such as 304, 304L, 316, 316L, cast steel (WCB), spheroidal graphite (SG) iron, cast iron and any alloy steel construction. The float trap (100) is applicable in all types of industries that utilize steam.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The float trap (100) eliminates a steam diverter (erosion deflector) part in the assembly.
2. The float trap (100) provides the float trap cover design with the replaceable seat plate (50) that eliminates many assembly components like a valve seat, a SLR seat and components for float assembly holding arrangement.
3. Due to the replaceable seat plate (50), the cover casting rejection is reduced to zero as the seat plate casting eliminates cover casting cavity complexities.
4. The float trap (100) provides a trap assembly that is simpler because of self centering rotary ball mechanism.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.

,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A float trap (100) with a rotary ball float mechanism, the float trap (100) comprising:
a cover (20) mounted on a body (10);
a seat plate (50) mounted on the cover (20);
a float assembly (60) attached to the seat plate (50); and
a sight glass (70) for viewing condensate discharge, the sight glass (70) being protected by a sight glass cover (80), the sight glass cover (80) connected to the body (10) through screws,
characterized in that, the seat plate (50) being a replaceable seat plate having an outlet orifice for removing the condensate, and
the float assembly (60) having,
a float (52) attached to the seat plate (50),
a rotating ball (56) rotatably mounted on the outlet orifice of the seat plate (50), and
a lever (54) attached to the float (52) at one end thereof and fixed to the rotating ball (56) at another end thereof,
wherein, the rotating ball (56) being movable is aligned to an opening of the output orifice and opens the outlet orifice of the seat plate (50) when the float (52) is raised due to buoyancy force of the condensate thereby allowing the condensate to escape, and once the condensate is discharged from the trap, the rotating ball (56) comes down by self weight and seats on the outlet orifice causing closing thereof.

2. The float trap (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float (52) is in the form of a hollow ball.

3. The float trap (100) as claimed in claim 1 is constructed using any one of stainless steel grades such as 304, 304L, 316, 316L, cast steel, spheroidal graphite

iron, cast iron and any alloy steel construction.

Dated this 12th August, 2020 Shrinidhi Raste
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA- 3858)