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.

1 . A valve system for draining condensate from a gas-pressurized fluid system comprising a condensate collection chamber;
 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;   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, and   when 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.   
     
     
         2 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the valve body of the first valve is spherical. 
     
     
         3 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the valve body of the second valve is spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the valve body of the first valve is cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the valve body of the second valve is cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The valve system of  claim 1  further comprising means for detecting the amount of fluid in the condensation chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The valve system of  claim 6  wherein the detecting means is a view window. 
     
     
         8 . The valve system of  claim 6  wherein the detecting means is electrically actuated. 
     
     
         9 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second valves are mechanically actuated. 
     
     
         10 . The valve system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second valves are actuated by an electric powered actuating means. 
     
     
         11 . The valve system of  claim 1 , in which the first valve and the second valve are gate valves. 
     
     
         12 . The valve system of  claim 11 , 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. 
     
     
         13 . The valve system of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The valve system of  claim 12 , 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.