Strange device on one pipe steam system

aaronspicer · January 16

anyone have any idea what this thing is?

STEAM DOCTOR · January 16

Service person probably didn't have a plug in his truck. It's effectively a modified plug.

Mad Dog_2 · January 17

Looks like an ancient Hot Water bleeder cock. Probably an attempt at venting. Mad Dog

mattmia2 · January 17

looks like a try cock that the handle rotted off of.

Steamhead · January 17

@Mad Dog_2 and @STEAM DOCTOR are right. The earliest steam systems had manual vents because automatic vents as we know them today had not been invented yet. I still occasionally see these in the field.

How does that vent fit into the system?

mattmia2 · January 17

https://godshallscustommachining.com/products/boiler-try-cock-mtp?variant=19629013729377

aaronspicer · February 20

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1882627#Comment_1882627

this had been 10/10 helpful. its awards the end of the steam system would it be a a good idea to swap this out with a vent?

aaronspicer · February 20

its on the bottom leg of the one pipe system about 200 ft away from the boiler right before the one pipe system drops down 6 feet then runs straight back to the boiler. the only other main vents in the system seem to be 3 vents side by side installed 5 story up. after those 3 vent the steam then drops down to heat all of the pipes on that side of the building (that side is typically the coldest)

Steamhead · February 20

Put a huge vent there and watch how much better it works.

Strange device on one pipe steam system

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