# US 2011/0209776 A1 · Tank Condensation Drain > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2011/0209776 A1 - Document ID: US20110209776A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/714,599 - Filed: 2010-03-01 - Published: 2011-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-01 - Assignees: Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer Company - Inventors: Berlie E. Parks; William Alan Bryant - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20110209776A1 ## CPC - F01K 5/02: used in regenerative installation - Y10T 137/3021: Discriminating outlet for liquid - Y10T 137/3102: With liquid emptying means - Y10T 137/3115: Gas pressure storage over or displacement of liquid - Y10T 137/86348: Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A drain for a pressure vessel includes a valve, a knob, a tube, a passageway, and a drain cup. The valve is coupled between an interior surface and an exterior surface of a tank. The knob is coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The tube has a top end and a bottom end and is coupled to the valve at an interior surface of the tank at the top end and extends into a bottom of the tank at the bottom end. The passageway extends through the valve and has an opening coupled to the tube at a first end and an exit at a second end. The passageway is openable and closeable by the knob. The drain cup is associated with the exit of the passageway and is positioned on an exterior surface of the tank for collecting condensation from the interior of the tank. The valve is positioned at a height that is vertically higher than the bottom end of the tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drain for a tank comprising: a valve coupled between an interior surface and an exterior surface of a tank; a knob coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve; a tube having a top end and a bottom end, said tube being coupled to the valve at an interior surface of the tank at the top end and extending into a bottom of the tank at the bottom end; a valve passageway extending through the valve and having an opening coupled to the tube at a first end and an exit at a second end, with the valve passageway being openable and closeable by the knob; and a drain cup associated with the exit of the valve passageway positioned on an exterior surface of a tank for collecting condensation from the interior of the tank, wherein the valve is positioned at a height that is vertically higher than the bottom end of the tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, further comprising a weight positioned at the bottom end of the tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, wherein the weight is seated against a bottom surface of a tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, wherein the valve has an open position and a closed position, and when the tank is under pressure and the valve is in the open position, a siphon is created in order to suction condensation from the bottom of the tank through the valve passageway into the drain cup. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drain of claim 4, wherein the valve includes the knob, a drive shaft, and a shaft bushing, with the drive shaft being positioned in the shaft bushing and axially coupled to the knob, said knob being rotatable relative to the bushing to move the drive shaft from the closed to the open position such that when the drive shaft is in an open position, liquid may be suctioned through the tube, though the valve passageway, and into the drain cup. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, wherein part of the valve passageway is horizontal and part of the valve passageway is vertical. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, wherein the drain cup is removable and replaceable on an exterior surface of the tank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, further comprising a shroud positioned around the valve and coupled to an exterior surface of the tank, with the shroud having features for mating with features on the drain cup. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drain of claim 1, wherein the tube is flexible and is coupled to a nipple that extends from the valve into the tank at a top end of the tube. ### Claim 10 A drain for a pressure vessel comprising: a drain mechanism coupled to a pressure vessel and communicating with an interior of a pressure vessel, said drain mechanism having an open and a closed position, wherein in the open position liquid may be extracted from the interior of the pressure vessel; and a collection cup coupled to an exterior surface of the pressure vessel and associated with the drain mechanism, said collection cup for collecting any liquid that is extracted from the interior of the pressure vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drain of claim 10, wherein when the pressure vessel has an interior pressure that is greater than an atmospheric pressure and the drain mechanism is in an open position, liquid is extracted from the interior of the vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The drain of claim 10, wherein the collection cup includes at least one outwardly extending hook for mating with a part of the pressure vessel such that the collection cup is help in position near the drain mechanism on the pressure vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drain of claim 12, further comprising a shroud positioned on an exterior surface of the pressure vessel, with the drain mechanism being coupled to the shroud and the collection cup being removably coupled to the shroud. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drain of claim 13, wherein the collection cup includes two outwardly extending hooks and the shroud includes two holes that define a ledge below each hole, with the hooks of the collection cup engaging the holes and the ledges for holding the collection cup on the shroud in the vicinity of the drain mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The drain of claim 10, wherein the collection cup is at least partially transparent so that a user may view the liquid level in the collection cup. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The drain of claim 10, wherein the drain mechanism includes a passageway that extends from the interior of the pressure vessel to the collection cup, with the passageway being openable and closeable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drain of claim 16, wherein the passageway of the drain mechanism has an exit and the collection cup is positioned vertically beneath the exit of the passageway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The drain of claim 13, further comprising a pressure gauge and a safety valve coupled to the shroud.