Bi-metallic steam trap

A steam trap comprising, in combination, a housing having a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, and valve means within said housing between the inlet port and the outlet port comprising a valve having a valve stem adapted to seat on a valve seat for controlling fluid flow through said steam trap from said inlet port to said outlet port, a bimetallic assembly responsive to temperature variations for controlling the opening and closing of said valve means, said bimetallic assembly comprising a primary plurality of stacked bimetallic members mounted within said housing operably connected to said valve stem to open and close the valve on the valve seat, and at least one secondary bimetallic member adapted to be loosely supported in proximity to an end of said primary stacked bimetallic members, said secondary bimetallic member arranged such that said secondary bimetallic member changes configuration from a substantially planar configuration to an arcuate configuration to abut and oppose opening of the valve stem, whereby said primary stacked bimetallic members expand during initial heating thereof without interference from the secondary bimetallic member but continued expansion of said primary stacked bimetallic members and closing of the valve on the valve seat are opposed by said secondary bimetallic member whereby closing of the valve on the valve seat by the primary bimetallic member is resisted as the temperature of the fluid increases.