Trane Direct Return Trap Steam System

I came across a steam boiler replacement bid, and the system had a Trane Direct return trap. "?What?" I have never seen one of these before. There were two swing check valves in the lower wet return; one on each side of where the Direct Return Trap connects to the wet return. "You have got to be kidding me!" After extensive research; I came across a 1920’s “Sweet’s Architectural Building Catalog”, with the Trane steam system’s specialty parts, with a cutout view of each part. Too Cool! I learned this system was created to work with coal burning boilers - “only!”, and it is a vapor and natural vacuum system; but the boiler to be replaced is a 1950's, Sears, single burner, gas boiler (I’m sure it had an oil burner when new). Someone replaced the original dry return and main air vents with radiator air vents (I guess that was all they can find that would fit without cutting a hole in the plaster ceiling). The original Main air vents were “float vent traps” so that air could not get back into the mains and dry returns. As the steam in the mains cooled down and changed back to condensation, the system would go into a natural vacuum and the condensation would then flash back into steam. Too Cool again!

Sadly, some trades person moved the radiators in the kitchen to the back of the rec room (when a rec room addition was added) and piped over to the radiators with 1-1/4" copper, then reduced the copper to 3/4" before going up through the floor to the radiator. Customer says that room has poor heat in it, and wants the radiators replaced with something larger. I told him he really just needs 1-1/4” iron pipe all the way to the radiator, and not a larger radiator.

Where are the professionals in this trade here in the Detroit area? Too often I see specialty systems molested by so-called technicians; mostly due to zero research... Is a Man’s ego that fragile that he can’t admit to himself that he has no idea what kind of HVAC system he is looking at, thus do zero research; or is it the company he’s working for refuses to invest time to learn how to do things correctly. Who knows...

Our bid is built on removing all the Trane specialty parts except the radiator steam traps, and all piping up to the ceiling, and a few pieces at the ceiling (there are two mains tied together at the ceiling); and then rebuild the “near boiler” piping to today’s standards and rules for a regular two pipe system. Also, there is one Trane steam trap not working; hope I can find parts for it. If anyone knows if there are still parts for these steam traps, please reply.