Condensate discharging device

A condensate discharging device comprising:

• a condensate receiving chamber provided with a condensate inlet opening and a condensate outlet opening as well as an operating high pressure fluid inlet and outlet;
• a float of one of an open and a closed type disposed within said condensate receiving chamber and adapted to rise and drop along with a predetermined water level;
• an inlet valve connected to said float and used for opening and closing said high pressure fluid inlet;
• an exhaust valve connected to said float and used for opening and closing said high pressure fluid outlet;
• check valves, one arranged at said condensate inlet opening and the other at said condensate outlet opening;
• and
• a valve means connected to said float to open and close said condensate outlet opening independently of said check valves;
• said valve means comprises a main valve seat formed on the end of said condensate outlet opening which opens toward said condensate receiving chamber;
• a main valve body adapted to come into and out of seating engagement with said main valve seat;
• a sub-valve seat formed on said main valve body;
• and a sub-valve body adapted to come into and out of seating engagement with said sub-valve seat partially independently of the engagement and disengagement of said main valve body with said main valve seat;
• the engagement and disengagement of said sub-valve body with said sub-valve seat are carried out by the sliding motion of said main valve body along a plurality of guide ribs formed fixedly with said sub-valve body, said condensate receiving chamber and said condensate outlet opening communicating with each other through the spaces between adjacent guide ribs, and said communicating condition is opened and closed according to the engagement and disengagement of said sub-valve body with said sub-valve seat;
• said valve means being adapted to close said condensate outlet opening when the float is in its lowest position, and to open said condensate outlet opening as the float rises, so that an area of a passage between the receiving chamber and the condensate outlet opening gradually increases;
• whereby said float operates to close said high pressure fluid inlet and open said high pressure fluid outlet, the condensate is introduced from said condensate inlet opening into said condensate receiving chamber, until the water level in said condensate receiving chamber reaches a predetermined water level;
• as the float rises, along with the water level, condensate is discharged through said condensate outlet opening;
• and said high pressure fluid outlet is closed and said high pressure fluid inlet is opened, when said predetermined water level is reached, thereby discharging the condensate from said condensate outlet opening by introducing a high pressure fluid through said high pressure fluid inlet.