US 6,588,443 B2Granted

Method of draining condensate and condensate drain device

AssigneeBeko Technologies GmbH

InventorsHerbert Schlensker, Berthold Koch

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method of draining condensate from a reservoir that communicates with a trap via a drain pipe. The reservoir is subjected to a gas pressure p(reservoir) that can be below atmospheric pressure p(air) or above atmospheric pressure p(air). The method involves the following steps: a) collecting condensate in the reservoir, b) acquiring the fill level by means of a level meter, c) providing a control pressure p(control) which, in any operating conditions of the compressed gas system, is above the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir and above atmospheric pressure p(air), d) providing, under control, a control conduit input of an exhaust valve, which is assigned to the reservoir and is intended to drain the condensate collected in the reservoir, with a pressure p(input).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for draining condensate from a reservoir of any configuration in which condensate produced in a compressed air or compressed gas system is collected, said reservoir connected for this purpose by way of a drain pipe for condensate, to a trap of the compressed gas system, the reservoir being put under a gas pressure p(reservoir) that may be, depending on the operating condition of the compressed gas system, a negative pressure p(negative) below atmospheric pressure p(air), an excess pressure p(excess) above atmospheric pressure p(air) or at atmospheric pressure p(air), the method comprising the following steps:

a) collecting condensate in the reservoir;
b) acquiring the fill level of condensate in the reservoir by means of a level meter and an electronics unit;
c) providing a control pressure p(control) which, in any operating conditions of the compressed gas system, is above the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir and above atmospheric pressure p(air);
d) providing, under the control of the electronics unit, a control conduit input of an exhaust valve which is assigned to the reservoir and is intended to drain the condensate collected in the reservoir with a pressure p(input), the pressure p(input)
i) substantially corresponding to the control pressure p(control) when the maximum fill level in the reservoir has not yet been reached or has been exceeded,
ii) substantially corresponding to the atmospheric pressure p(air) when the maximum fill level in the reservoir is reached or exceeded, and
wherein the position of the exhaust valve is controlled by the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir, the pressure p(input) at the control conduit input, the pressure on the exhaust side of the exhaust valve which can be atmospheric pressure p(air), and by a threshold value P,
wherein the exhaust valve for draining the condensate
iii) is closed when the pressure p(input) is above the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir plus the threshold value P, and
iv) is opened when the pressure p(input) is below the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir plus the threshold value P.

7 more elements

A condensate drain device for draining condensate from a reservoir in which condensate produced in a compressed gas system is collected, the reservoir being put under a gas pressure p(reservoir) that, depending on the operating condition of the compressed gas system, is at a negative pressure below atmospheric pressure p(air) at an excess pressure p(excess) above atmospheric pressure p(air) or at atmospheric pressure p(air), the condensate drain device comprising:

a) a level meter for acquiring the condition in which the maximum fill level in the reservoir has been reached or exceeded;
b) a control valve arranged in a control conduit via which a control pressure p(control) is delivered to the condensate drain device, the control pressure being above the pressure in the reservoir p(reservoir) under any operating conditions of the compressed gas system such that p(control)>p(reservoir), and p(control)>atmospheric pressure p(air), said control valve provided for controlling the flow of the control pressure p(control) through said control conduit;
c) an exhaust valve assigned to the reservoir and provided for discharging condensate from the reservoir against atmospheric pressure p(air), said exhaust valve provided with a control conduit input which is connected to said control conduit by way of said control valve so that, when said control valve is open, the control pressure p(control) substantially prevails at said control conduit input;
d) a venting valve arranged in said control conduit between said control valve and said control conduit input and which, when said control valve is closed, vents said control conduit between said control valve and said control conduit input;
e) an electronics unit that interprets the signal of said level meter arid closes said control valve when the maximum fill level in the reservoir has been reached or exceeded;
said exhaust valve provided with the following positions of control:
i) a locking position for condensate when the pressure p(input) prevailing at said control conduit input is higher than the pressure prevailing in the reservoir p(reservoir) plus a preset threshold value P, and
ii) a flow through position for condensate when the pressure prevailing at said control conduit input p(input) is lower than the pressure prevailing in the reservoir p(reservoir) plus threshold value P.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/172,237Filed 14 Jun 2002 · continuation
Priority: DE 199 60 93717 Dec 1999
Published: US 2002/0157705 A131 Oct 2002
Granted: 8 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16T 1/00
Steam traps or like apparatus for draining-off liquids from enclosures predominantly containing
Y10T 137/0324
Processes: with control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
Y10T 137/3024
Discriminating outlet for liquid: with alternately operated inlet and outlet valves
Y10T 137/3052
With fluid responsive valve: level responsive