What do you make of this?

Sdress27

Not sure what this device is. Anyone have any idea? It is attached to a steam line. Its near a coil for an AHU also near a pressure reducing valve not sure if those context clues help. Thanks

Mad Dog_2

Just saw the sight glass.  Can u get a pic from a way back to see what its connected to?   Mad Dog 🐕 

Sdress27

The bottom line is going to a drain the top two appear to be part of a larger condensate line which goes to a condensate receiver/pump.

Mad Dog_2

Sight glass and a Pet cock....intriguing...Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2

Any check valves?  If u could draw a diagram of whats piped to and away from it , that would help.  Mad Dog 🐕 

Sdress27

No check valves in immediate area

Jamie Hall

How many of you were around and thinking about this sort of thing in the late '70s? Yogi Berra said, it's like deja vu all over again...

Steamhead

Any name on it?

mattmia2

Where does the tubing with the petcock go?

Pumpguy

It sure looks like a float type steam trap. These would not be bubble tight but having a level of water above the valve and seat, it would be water sealed, passing only water but not any gasses.

Now, why its there, and what its supposed to do; that to me is the real question.

reggi

Steam Trap 4721 😉 .. The stamped tag wired to valve in picture #2

Sdress27

Why the sight glass though? And I cant find any information on what kind or model that is to go off. 

Steamhead

reggi said:

Steam Trap 4721 😉 .. The stamped tag wired to valve in picture #2

That's probably an inventory number that the building's owner or manager put there.

The sight glass is probably there so one can see the rising and falling water level.

We have a lot of old literature- that's why the name is needed. Have you found names on any other old hardware on this system?

reggi

Sdress27 said:

Why the sight glass though? And I cant find any information on what kind or model that is to go off. 

Wire brush with on a pole extension if you can't reach.... it's just about flaked off already 😷🥽

Mad Dog_2

I see letters embossed under the crackled paint.  Mad Dog 🐕 

reggi

Mad Dog_2 said:

I see letters embossed under the crackled paint.  Mad Dog 🐕 

Hence the wire brush 😶... more specifically location 

Sdress27

I brushed it off couldnt get a good picture but it said
“Steam Trap Boylston Steam Special Chicago” I guess the mystery is kind of solved but still looking for another example on the internet or something similar. To see what it looks like inside and still fascinated by the sight glass. 

Steamhead

Well, we're always learning. I'd never heard of Boylston, but apparently they were founded in the late 19th century, and are still around. From what I can tell, they specialized in high-pressure steam specialties. I googled them and here's what came up:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=boylston+steam+specialty+co#ip=1

@Sdress27 , this may have been a high-pressure system. Is it in an old factory building?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Could it be a steam driven condensate pump?

reggi

Maybe @retiredguy or @Dave in QCA .. they seem to have some knowledge on Boylston ( prior posts)

Mad Dog_2

Are u sure its not Boynton? (Boynton & Richardson)  mad Dog 🐕 

dko

Not the exact one as I don't see two tappings on the side- possibly for different pressure ratings as there were 5 different styles (bottom of boylston4 pic). Attached some advertisements of the boylston steam traps. along with other steam traps that used sight glasses during the same time period.

Sdress27

Awesome thank you all for your contributions and assistance!

reggi

Glad you found what you needed..still a interesting history. . But anyway here's the original design and patent... not always the final product but interesting info