US2531878A - Condensate drain system for steam engines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. GRIFFIN ETAL 2,531,878

CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEM FOR STEAM ENGINES Filed Jan. 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. GRIFFIN ETAL CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEM FOR STEAM ENGINES Filed Jan. 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VNTOR5 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 CONDENSATE DRAIN SYSTEM FOR STEAM ENGINES Joseph F. Grifiin, Hammond, and Ralph G. Skoog,

(Jrown Point, Ind., assignors to Combustion Engineering- Superheater, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application January 25, 1947, Serial No. 724,454

) 11 Claims. (Cl. l0537) The present invention relates to hydraulic pumps and particularly to an automatic drain system for the steam cylindersof a locomotive feed water pump of the reciprocating type.

When a water pump or other apparatus driven by a reciprocating steam engine is stopped after operating, quantities of steam remain in the engine cylinders and condense. Conventionally, the engine cylinders are provided with vent cocks that are opened automatically as by a spring when the engine stops. These however do close by steam pressure as soon as the engine starts and hence do not remain open long enough to permit ejection of the condensate from above the pistons by-reciprocation of the latter. This condensate forms a body of water in the cylinders and provides a hammer effect when the pistons are again reciprocating with the result that the pressure built up frequently causes deterioration to and destruction of the top head gaskets for the steam cylinders. The material cost of replacing these gaskets in and by itself is not serious but considerable labor is required to take oh the cylinder heads and replace the gaskets and where the pump supplies. feed water to a locomotive boiler the necessity of holding the engine out of service until there is an opportunity to perform this rather substantial job is a serious matter. Conventional drain cocks on the cylinders would not be satisfactory on a locomotive feed water pump since as will be apparent it would be impractical for the engineman to climb out on the running board and open the drain cocks preliminary to starting of the pump and then close them after the condensate has been ejected by the reciprocation of the steam pistons.

Likewise the spring actuated automatic check valves for this purpose which would be lifted open by 'means of springs and close under steam pressure would not prove satisfactory because such valves would open and close with each reversal of the pump. Drain passages from the top to the bottom portions of the cylinders through the pistons are also impractical.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an automatic drain system for the steam cylinders of a locomotive feed water pump of the reciprocating type which will assure that the engineman takes positive action to see that the piston cylinders are properly drained.

In its preferred form the drain system contemplated by the present invention has automatic devices which assure proper draining of the cylinders and the system is rendered fool-proof in that the pump will not operate in a manner satisfactory to the engineman unless he takes the Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a drain system for the steam cylinders of a locomotive feed water pump embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a multiple drain valve unit for the steam cylinders of the pump;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a drain valve on the 1ine-33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a control valve that may be utilized in the'system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the automatic drain system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 isa sectional view of the control valve forming part of the system illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a preferred form of multiple drain valve;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 in Figure 7.

In Figure 1 the: numeral Ill designates a. locomotive feed water pump of the reciprocating type which draws water from the tender through the suction line l2 and discharges it through the delivery line l4 into the locomotive boiler.

reciprocating steam engine, designated as a whole by the numeral it, which is supplied with steam from the turret 18 of the locomotive boiler through the steam line 20, 2'! subject to the manually operated pumpthrottle valve 22 which 25, 26, are maintained off the valve seats 39.

around ports 34 by the springs is acting on the valve stem. 42. To close the valves 33 against the force of their springs til, steam to act on pistons Thepump it is operated bya vertically arranged closed when previously stopping the pump and 2 the control valve 59 also is in closed position, provided the engineman has properly performed his duties. Under these conditions the valve or valves 38 are open and any condensate remaining in the bottom portions of the steam cylinders could drain through the pipes 26 into the drain discharge pipe 36. To place the pump in operation the throttle valve 22 is opened to supply steam to the engine It and as the pistons thereof reciprocate any condensate remaining in the top portion of the cylinders is forced therefrom in the first few pump strokes and passes through the piping 24 to the open drain valves 38 and out through the pipe 36. After the condensate has been forced from the engine cylinders each reciprocation of its pistons will cause an amount ofsteamto' blow out through the drain discharge pipe 36 past the drain valves 38 which are now in open position and the noise of the escaping steam should draw the attention of the engineman to this fact. The engineman noting this noise and the attendant waste of steam opens the control valve 58 admitting steam from the line 2i on the down stream side of throttle 22 to the multiple drain valvecylinders' 46 with the result that the valves 38 are shifted to the right in Figure 3 on to their seats 40 to be held by steam pressure and close the escape ports 34.

The arrangement described above provides for effectively draining the steam cylinders of the pump of condensate which forms after a period of operation of the pump provided the drain valves 38 are opened after the pump stops and remain in this position for at least a short period after the pump is again placed in operation. Even though the engineman neglects to close the control valve 59 as well as the pump throttle 22 the steam pressure in the drain valve cylinders 46 would bleed off through the conduit 48 past the open valve 50" and conduit 4! into the down stream side 2| of the pump steam line and through the pump cylinders thus relieving the pressure so that the springs 40 act to open the drain valves '38.

However, if the engineman on stoppin the pump allows the control valve to remain opened, the opening of the throttle valve to start the pump would simultaneously supply steam past the open control valve 56 to the drain valve piston cylinders 46 through the conduit 41, 48 thereby causing closing of the drain valve 38 promptly upon starting of the pump and possibly before the reciprocation of the engine pistons ejected condensate from its cylinders. To provide a fool proof system and guard'against the possibllityof the engineman overlooking closing the control valve it .is desirable that the opening and closing of the drain valves 38 be rendered as fully automatic as possible. This additional feature for full automatic operation is shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fi ures 4 and 8.

In Figure 4 the numeral 52 designates as a whole an automatic control valve which may be substituted for the globe valve 50 in Figure 1.

Its construction assures that the control and drain valves are in proper condition to assure drainin of the pump steam cylinders subsequent to stoppage of the pump although the engineman may overlook shutting the control valve again after hehas once operated it to close the drain valves when starting the pump. With this form of control valve the engineman upon noting the blowing of steam through the drain discharge pipe 36 after starting the pump efiects closing of the drain valves 38 by operating a lever 54 to move the valve member 56 from its seat 51 against the action of spring 53. As the stem Bil of valve 56 is retracted a collar 62 thereon is drawn rearwardly so that it becomes positioned behind a latch member 64 projecting from the valve casing. The latch 64 is projected against the force of a spring 66 when steam pressure is admitted, upon opening, pump throttle 22, to a chamber i2 in which the piston 76 fits loosely so steam may enter from the body cavity 68of into the chamber 58 of the control valve builds uppressurein the space 12 behind the piston I0 causing, the latch pin 64 to be projected. from the "valve housing. So long as the drain valves" 38 remain open steam blows from the drain dis' charge pipe" 36' until the engineman takes note of this fact and operates the lever 54. There'- upon' control valve 56 is drawn away from its seat" 53- against the action of spring 58. The

operationlof lever '54 in retracting the valve stemv Ell causes the collar 6.2 thereon to move totheright raising thelatch pin 64 against the steam pressure onits piston 10.

As the collar moves to the right beyond the latch pin the steam pressure acts on piston i6 to again project the latch pin 64 into locking position at the left of collar 62 thus holding the control valve-55 off its seat. Steam pressure then being supplied to the piston cylinders 46" for the drain valves 38 moves them to closed position and-holds them there so long as the throttle valve 22 is open. Upon closing of the throttle valve 22. to stop the pump pressure in the chamber 68 and piston cylinder '12 of the control valve 52 is bledoff through the piping 41 and steam line 20' to the pump cylinders sothat the spring 66 becomes efiective to retract the latch pin 64 thereby releasing valve stem 59 so that the spring 58 may seat the control valve-56. The steam pressure in the piston cylinders 46 for the drain valves 38 is similarly relieved of pressure so that the springs 4i! may open the drain valves 38 and condition the system for draining the engine'cylinders when the pump is started again.

Instead'of utilizing amechanical latch to hold it in open position the control valve 88 illustrated in Figure 6 is maintained in open position by steam pressure passing therethrough. Whenthe handle 82'is drawn to the right to move the valve 34 off its seat for supplying steam through the piping 4'1, 48 to close the drain valves 38, steam flows through an axial passage 86 in the valve stem from the chamber for the valve 84 andthrough radial passages 81 into a piston cylinder BSwhere it acts upon the piston 90 to hold the valve 84 off its seat. This movement of the piston 90 also moves a vent valve 92 against its seat 93 Shutting off communication with a vent pipe 94 through the intermediate chamber 95. Thus, when after starting the pump the engineman notices the blowing off of steam and opens the control valve i l to supply steam to effect closing of the drain valves 33, the pressure of steam in valve chamber 95 being communicated through the axial and radial passages 89, 81 to piston 90 holds the control valve 84 open. When the throttle valve 22 is closed the bleeding of steam from the chambers 85 and 88, simultaneous with bleeding of the piston cylinders 46 for the drain valves 58 to allow the latter to close, permits the spring 95 to act to close the control valve 84 as the pressure in chamber 88 is relieved.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a simplified form of drain valve H38 in which a single valve member IE2 is utilized to control communication between the several drain lines 24, '26 leading from the engine cylinders and the condensate discharge conduit 36. The various drain lines 24, 26 are connected in circumferentially spaced relation to the central chamber H33 which leads past the valve seat 96 to an outlet chamber I05 into one side of which the drain line 35 is tapped. A vent pipe Hi is provided, for venting the valve casing. When the control valve is opened by the engineman for admitting steam to the piping 48 to cause closing of the drain valve the steam acts on the piston portion Hi6 of the valve member I02 to move it against its seat 404 against the resistance of a spring is? and cuts off communication between the chamber 33 and the chamber [35 from which latter the drain pipe 36 leads. Simultaneous with the seating of the valve member I92 the piston portion 108 thereof closes ofi ports H 9 in a sleeve H9 which serves as a guide for the valve 382, and its piston I06, the ports I99 being in alinement with the drain pipe connections 24, 28. Upon closing of the throttle valve pressure against piston I95 is relieved through the conduit 58, A! and the spring I01 thereupon becomes efieetive to move the valve member 62 from its seat I04 thereby restoring the drain valve to condition for effecting drainage of the engine cylinders when the pump is again started.

To recapitulate: (1) When the engineman opens the throttle to start the pump condensate is discharged from the cylinders of its engine and then steam blows out through the drains attracting the attention of the engineman. (2) The engineman then opens the control valve which supplies steam to close the drain valves. (3) With the pump in operation the drain valves are held closed by steam pressure admitted by the control valves which remain open. (4) When the pump is stopped by closing its throttle the drain valves open under pressure of their springs as steam bleeds from the piston chambers of the related pistons. (5) In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the enginernan to assure continued proper oper- 6 the automatic release of the mechanical or pressure latch for the control valve in form Figures 3 to 8 positively assures proper sequence of events for continuous operation Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein it is to be understood that many changes and embodiments may be made without departing from the invention and therefore it is desired and intended to include all such changes and embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by a reciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttle valve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engine and pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connectedto said drain pipes, normally open drain valve means interposed between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, means operable by steam pressure in said line, when said throttle is open to operate said pump, for closing said drain valve means; and manipulative means located in the locomotive cab operative to render said means for closing said drain valve means efifective to close said valve means and maintain it closed during operation of said pump.

2. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by a reciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttle valve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engine and pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to said drain pipes, drain valve means interposed between said drain pipes and said disin closed position to cut ofi flow of steam to said operating means for closing said discharge Valve means, and means subject to the opening of said throttle for maintaining said control valve in open position during periods when said throttle is open and said pump is in operation.

3. In a locomotive feed water system having a pump driven by a reciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttle valve in the locomotive cab for regulating the operation of said engine and pump, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to said drain pipes, drain valve means interposed between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, means acting to normally maintain said valve means in open position, steam actuated operating means for moving said drain valve means to closed position; and a conduit connecting said operating means to said steam line at a point between said engine and the throttle therein; a control valve located in the locomotive cab and interposed in said conduit adapted when in open position to permit flow of steam to said operating means for closing said discharge valve means and means automatically operative to hold said control valve in open position during periods when said throttle is open and said pump is in operation.

aceaszzs;

ealntalocomotive. feedwater systemrhaving:

aapump's. driven: by a reciprocating steam engine. amine; steamrlineprovided with a throttle valve in the locomotive cab for regulating theoperation; of'sa-idiengmez anduspump, condensate drain pipes conneutedinto the. ends of the cylinders: of said enginezia". condensate discharge pipe connected .to. saidi draini pipes, drain. valve means interposed. between said drain .pipesandsaid dischargepipe, means. acting to normally maintain said valve means in open position, steam. actuated operating: means for moving said drain valve; means: to closed; position; and a. conduit connecting? said operating means to-said: steam line at apoint be? tween the said engine and the-throttletherein; a. control. valve located in the locomotive cab: andinterposed. in said conduit adapted when inopen position. to permit flow-of steam to said operating, means: for closing. said control valve; and

locking means associated withsaid throttlevalve and. said control valve for maintaining the latter when opened. in such condition so longas said throttle is. open andfor. causing it to close upon closingsaid throttle;

5.- In combination with a. reciprocating steamengine havinga throttle regulated steam .linefor supplying the latter, condensatedrain pipes connected intov the ends of thecylinders. of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to, saiddrain. pipes, drain valve means. interposed between said drain pipesand said. discharge pipe,

means, acting to. maintain said valve means inv openpositiorr fluid actuated operating means f or closing saidvalve means and a. conduitfor supplying fluidtosaid valveoperating means; a control valve in. saidfluid conduit adapted. when closedto cutofi the supply of fluid to said operatingineans for closing. said drain valve. means,

manipulative means. for opening. said. control.

valve; and means subject. to opening of. said.

throttle operative to. hold said control valve in.

openposition during'operation of saidenginer 6. In combination with a reciprocating steam engine having. a throttle regulated steam line-for supplying the. latter, condensate. drain pipes con.- nected into the. ends. of the-cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe'connectedto said drain pipes;.valve means interposed between.

saiddrain, pipes and said discharge pipe, means acting tomaintain said valve means in open posiw tion,. fluid actuated operating means. for closing; said valve means; and a conduit for supplying fluid tosaid valve operating means; a control valve in said fluid conduitadapted whenv open to: supply fluid-to said operating means for closing said drain valve means; and means operative to hold. said control valve in open position during, operation of said engine.

7. In. combination witha-reciprocati-ng steam. engine having a throttle regulated steamline. for supplying the latter, condensate drain-pipes con nested into the ends of the cylinders of said en gine;a. condensate discharge pipe connectedltosaid drain-pipes, valve means interposed between saiddrain pipes. said drain discharge pipe-, means. acting to maintain said valvemeans in open posi-- tion, fluid. actuated operating; means forclosing-said valve means"; and a conduit for supply ing fluid to said valve operating means; a.controivalve in said ii id conduit adapted when open. to permit the how of fluid to said operating. means. for closing drain valve means steam actuated means associated with said throttle. valve and said control valve ior maintainingthe latter;

when opened in such condition when supplied;

8 with :steam so long: assaid: throttle is open; and; means for causing said-control valve to closeupon: closing'saidthrottle.

8; In combination witha reciprocating steam; engine and'a steam line provided with a throttle valve :for; regulating its operation, condensate: drain-pipes connected" into the ends of the cylinders of-Jsaid engine; a condensate discharge pipe. connected to-said drain pipes; valve means inter-- IIIOSBdiZbEtWEfiIl. said drain pipes and said discharge? pipe, means acting to normally maintain. said. valve means in open position, operating. means for moving said discharge valve means to': closed: position; and: a conduit connecting saidoperating: means to said steam line at'a' point. betweensaid engine and the throttle therein; a.-

oontrol valve. in' said conduit adapted when: in: open-position: to permit steam flow to said. operatingvmeans: for: closing said discharge valve;j. a-steam; actuated" piston and cylinder therefor associated'with said control valve and operativeto hold. the: latter in open position; and .a' cone nectionz. between said piston cylinder and said-'1 conduitota point intermediate said discharge,

.valve operating means'and said throttle for supplying steam. to operate said piston to automaticall maintain said control valve in its open: position.

9: In combination with a reciprocating steam. engine and a. steam line provided with a throttle. value: for regala-tin its operation, condensate: drainwpipes connected into the ends of the cyl-.- indersof saidengine, a condensate-discharge pipe connectedto-said drain pipes, valve means-in. terposed'ibetween said drain-pipes and said discharge pipe; means actin to normally maintain said-.va'lve-iir open position, operating means for" movingsaid discharge valve means to closed posi-ation; and. a conduit connecting said operating means: to saidz'steamnline, at a point between saidv engine and the-throttle therein; a control valve in saidconduit-adaptcdwhen in open position tor-permit steam flow to said operating means. for closing said discharge valve; a steam actu.-- ated' piston and cylinder therefor associated with saidicontrolrvalve and operative to hold the lat.- ter'in open position; a connection between saidpistonncylinder and said conduit at a point intermediate said discharge valve operating means andrsaid -throttle for supplying steam to operate saictpiston to automatically maintain said con-- trol valvein its open position; and means operative-upon closing of said throttle for closing said control valve;

It.' In combination with a reciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttle valve for regulating its operation, condensate dra-inrpi-pes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipes connected. to said drain pipes, valve means interposed-1. between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, means acting to normally maintain; said valve means in open position, operating. means-forrmovingsaid discharge valve meansto, closed-position; and a conduit connectingsaid; operating means to said steam line at a point... between saidengi-ne and the throttle therein; a control valve m said. conduit adapted when in; open position to permit steam flow to said operating. means for closing said discharge valve;- a steamractuated piston and cylinder. thereforassooiated. with said control valve and operativetorhold. the latter in open position; a. connec tiom between: saidxpiston cylinder and saidconi duit: atiappoint intermediate said-throttle. and.

valve operating means for supplying steam to operate said piston to automatically hold said control valve when moved to its open position, said piston cylinder being automatically vented through said conduit upon closing of said pump throttle; and means operative upon venting of said piston cylinder for closing said control valve.

11. In combination with a reciprocating steam engine and a steam line provided with a throttle valve for regulating its operation, condensate drain pipes connected into the ends of the cylinders of said engine, a condensate discharge pipe connected to said drain pipes, valve means interposed between said drain pipes and said discharge pipe, means acting to normally maintain said valve means in open position, operating means for moving said discharge valve means to closed position; and a conduit connecting said operating means to said steam line at a point between said engine and the throttle therein; a control valve in said conduit, adapted when in open position to permit flow of steam to said operating means for closing said discharge valve means; latching means associated with said control valve for holding it in open position; a steam actuated piston and cylinder therefor acting on REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 692,172 Wescott et a1 -1 Jan. 28, 1902 917,218 Westinghouse Apr. 6, 1909 1,514,080 Gunning Nov. 4, 1924 1,677,729 Sams July 17, 1928 1,724,389 Abel Aug. 13, 1929 2,136,952 Ploen et a1 Nov. 15, 1938 2,327,055 McMahon Aug. 17, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Locomotive Cyclopedia, 11th Edition, 1941, A. A. R., pages 410-411.

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