Condensate Collection System and Drain

Abstract

A valve system for collection and removal of condensation from a gas-pressurized fluid system. In one embodiment a single valve is used, having inlet, outlet and condensate collection ports and a valve body capable of movement between a position which connects the inlet port to the condensate collection port and a position which connects the condensate collection port to the outlet port. The valve is formed such that the inlet port is not connected to the outlet port while the valve is moved between the two positions, so that the pressurized system is not depressurized. A second embodiment uses two coupled valves replacing the single valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the system of the invention, in a single-valve embodiment.

FIG. 2. shows a block diagram of the system of the invention, in a two-valve embodiment.

FIGS. 3-4 show an embodiment of the valve of the invention with an “L” ported ball, in a “collect” and a “drain” position, respectively

FIGS. 5 a-c show the three positions of a four-port embodiment of the valve.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a “double L” ball embodiment of the invention, in the “collect” and “drain” positions, respectively, in an embodiment with a collection chamber integral with the valve body.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the invention using a slotted ball in the “collect” and “drain” positions, respectively.

FIG. 10 shows a slotted ball from the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention using two gate valves.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a variation on the embodiment of FIG. 11, using a crossed chain to link the gate valve shafts.

FIG. 14 shows a variation on the embodiment of FIG. 11, using gears to link the gate valve shafts.

FIGS. 15 a-15b show an embodiment of the invention using a slotted ball in the “collect” and “drain” positions, respectively, in which the ball rotates about an axis perpendicular to the paper.

FIGS. 16 a-16b show an embodiment of the invention using a slotted ball in the “collect” and “drain” positions, respectively, in which the ball rotates about an axis parallel to the paper.

FIGS. 17 a-17b show an embodiment of the invention using a double-slotted ball in the “collect” and “drain” positions, respectively.

Claims

1. A valve for draining condensate from a gas-pressurized fluid system comprising a) a valve case comprising: i) an inlet port for coupling to the system;ii) an outlet port for coupling to a drain;iii) a condensate collection port for coupling to a condensate collection chamber; andb) a rotating valve body within the valve case, coupled to the inlet port, the outlet port and the condensate collection port, the valve body being formed such that: i) when the valve body is in a first position the inlet port is in communication with the condensation collection port and the outlet port is blocked,ii) when the valve body is in a second position the output port is in communication with the condensate collection port and the inlet port is blocked, andiii) the inlet port is not in communication with the outlet port when the valve body is at any position between the first position and the second position.

2. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a condensation collection chamber coupled to the condensate collection port.

3. The valve of claim 2, in which the condensation collection chamber is inside the valve case and outside the rotating valve body.

4. The valve of claim 2 wherein the condensation collection chamber is external to the valve case.

5. The valve of claim 4 wherein the condensation collection chamber is removable from the valve case.

6. The valve of claim 1 wherein the rotating valve body is spherical.

7. The valve of claim 6 wherein the spherical valve body has an internal “L” shaped passage having a first leg and a second leg orthogonal to the first leg, such that when the valve body is in the first position the first leg is coupled to the input port and the second leg is coupled to the condensate collection port, and when the valve body is in the second position the first leg is coupled to the condensate collection port and the second leg is coupled to the drain port.

8. The valve of claim 6 wherein the spherical valve body has an internal double “L” shaped passage, having a first leg, a second leg orthogonal to the first leg, and a third leg and orthogonal to the first leg and the second leg, the third leg being aligned along a rotational axis of the spherical valve body and coupled to the condensate collection port, such that when the valve body is in the first position the first leg is coupled to the input port, and when the valve body is in the second position the second leg is coupled to the drain port.

9. The valve of claim 6 wherein the spherical valve body has a slot passage around a portion of a circumference thereof, such that when the valve body is in the first position the slot passage couples the input port to the condensate collection port, and when the valve body is in the second position the slot passage couples the condensate collection port to the drain port.

10. The valve of claim 6 wherein the spherical valve body has a collection slot passage and a drain slot passage, formed ninety degrees apart around a circumference of the spherical bodysuch that when the valve body is in the first position the collection slot passage couples the input port to the condensate collection port, and when the valve body is in the second position the drain slot passage couples the condensate collection port to the drain port.

11. The valve of claim 1 wherein rotating valve body is cylindrical.

12. The valve of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting the amount of fluid in the condensation chamber.

13. The valve of claim 12 wherein the detecting means is a view window.

14. The valve of claim 12 wherein the detecting means is a flow meter.

15. The valve of claim 12 wherein the flow meter is mechanically actuated.

16. The valve of claim 12 wherein the flow meter is electrically actuated.

17. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to the valve body for manually moving the valve from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

18. The valve of claim 1 further comprising an electric powered actuator coupled to the valve body for moving the valve from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

19. The valve of claim 1 further comprising means coupled to the valve body to return the valve to a default first position.

20. The valve of claim 19 wherein the return means comprises a spring.

21. A valve system for draining condensate from a gas-pressurized fluid system comprising a) a condensate collection chamber;b) a first valve comprising an inlet port for coupling to the fluid system, a condensate collection port coupled to a condensate collection chamber, and a first valve body coupled to an actuator for selectively blocking and permitting fluid flow from the inlet port to the condensate collection port;c) a second valve comprising an outlet port for coupling to a drain, a condensate collection port coupled to the condensate collection chamber and a second valve body coupled to an actuator for selectively blocking and permitting fluid flow from the inlet port to the condensate collection port;the actuator of the valve body of the first valve and the actuator of the valve body of the second valve being coupled such that: when the valve body of the first valve is in a position to permit the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the condensation collection port of the first valve, the valve body of the second valve is moved to a position to prevent the flow of fluid from the condensate collection port of the second valve to the outlet port, andwhen the valve body of the first valve is in a position to prevent the flow of fluid from the inlet port, the valve body of the second valve is moved to a position to permit the flow of fluid from the condensate collection port of the second valve to the outlet port.

22. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the valve body of the first valve is spherical.

23. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the valve body of the second valve is spherical.

24. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the valve body of the first valve is cylindrical.

25. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the valve body of the second valve is cylindrical.

26. The valve system of claim 21 further comprising means for detecting the amount of fluid in the condensation chamber.

27. The valve system of claim 26 wherein the detecting means is a view window.

28. The valve system of claim 26 wherein the detecting means is electrically actuated.

29. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the first and second valves are mechanically actuated.

30. The valve system of claim 21 wherein the first and second valves are actuated by an electric powered actuating means.

31. The valve system of claim 21, in which the first valve and the second valve are gate valves.

32. The valve system of claim 31, further comprising a first sprocket on the actuator of the first valve and a second sprocket on the actuator of the second valve, and the first sprocket and the second sprocket are coupled by a chain around the sprockets.

33. The valve system of claim 32, in which the actuator of the first valve and the actuator of the second valve are threaded in opposite directions, so that when the actuator of the first valve is turned to move the body of the first valve in one direction, the actuator of the second valve is turned to move the body of the second valve in an opposite direction.

34. The valve system of claim 32, in which the actuator of the first valve and the actuator of the second valve are threaded in the same direction and the chain is crossed, so that when the actuator of the first valve is turned to move the body of the first valve in one direction, the actuator of the second valve is turned to move the body of the second valve in an opposite direction.