US 11,788,684 B1
Steam trap construction with ease of access for maintenance
Constantine N. Stavropoulos, Northbrook, IL (US); and Charles N. Miller, Grayslake, IL (US)
Assigned to STEAMGARD, LLC, Vernon Hills, IL (US)
Filed by STEAMGARD, LLC, Vernon Hills, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/962,483.
Int. Cl. F16T 1/34 (2006.01)
CPC F16T 1/34 (2013.01) [Y10T 137/3021 (2015.04); Y10T 137/794 (2015.04)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steam trap for removing condensate from a process line of an apparatus carrying a working fluid including steam used by the apparatus, the steam trap comprising a steam trap body having an internal flow path from a trap inlet to a trap outlet, said trap inlet being constructed for introducing working fluid to said internal flow path from the process line at an operating temperature and pressure causing the working fluid to include a liquid fraction and a gaseous fraction during operation of the apparatus, wherein:
said steam trap includes a venturi nozzle comprising a single, straight-line venturi flow path portion that forms the only venturi nozzle in said internal flow path between said trap inlet and said trap outlet, said straight-line venturi flow path portion being configured to reduce the pressure of working fluid in said internal flow path by an amount sufficient to cause at least a portion of the liquid fraction thereof to convert to a gaseous phase and at least partially restrict flow of the gaseous fraction through said straight-line venturi flow path portion while discharging as condensate another portion of the liquid fraction at a pressure less than the operating pressure;
said straight-line venturi flow path portion is formed by a through passage in a condensate nozzle secured to said steam trap body and having a nozzle inlet in fluid communication with said trap inlet for introducing said process fluid therein to said through passage and a nozzle outlet for discharging said condensate from said through passage into a reduced pressure region of said internal flow path forming a discharge chamber in fluid communication with said trap outlet for discharging from said steam trap body condensate discharged from said nozzle outlet;
said condensate nozzle comprises a nozzle cartridge assembly including a nozzle holder and a separate nozzle insert secured in said nozzle holder;
said discharge chamber has an access opening sealed by a removable cover to provide access to said condensate nozzle; and
said nozzle holder is removably secured to said steam trap body by removable fasteners with said nozzle inlet sealed to an inlet of said discharge chamber and said nozzle holder disposed in said discharge chamber, said fasteners being accessible for removing said nozzle cartridge assembly from said steam trap via said access opening when said cover is removed.