Steam Trap Insulating Cover with Wireless Monitoring

Abstract

A steam trap cover has a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, and a first and a second end panel joined along edges forming a rectangular enclosure, and a bottom panel joined along one edge, such that the bottom panel may be opened or closed, the first and second end panels each having a circular opening and a slit from a bottom edge of the end panel into the circular opening. The cover is characterized in that with the bottom panel open and the slits in the end panels separated the cover is adapted to be placed over a steam trap having an inlet and an exit pipe until the entrance and the exit pipe are enclosed in the circular openings, after which closing the bottom cover completely encloses the steam trap.

1 . A steam trap cover, comprising:
 a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, and a first and a second end panel joined together along panel edges forming a substantially rectangular enclosure open at the bottom, and a bottom panel joined along one lower edge of the front or the back panel, such that the bottom panel may be opened or closed, the first and second end panels each having a circular opening and a slit from a bottom edge of the end panel into the circular opening;   characterized in that with the bottom panel open and the slits in the end panels separated the cover is adapted to be placed over a steam trap having an inlet and an exit pipe until the entrance and the exit pipe are enclosed in the circular openings, after which closing the bottom cover completely encloses the steam trap.   
     
     
         2 . The steam trap cover of  claim 1  further comprising a first pipe clip carrying a first temperature sensor with a first conductor from the first temperature sensor and a second pipe clip carrying a second temperature sensor with a conductor from the second conductor from the second temperature sensor, the first and second conductors leading to a wireless transmitter in a transmitter pocket affixed to a surface of the back cover. 
     
     
         3 . The steam trap cover of  claim 2  further comprising a power supply providing electrical power to the wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         4 . The steam trap cover of  claim 3  wherein the power supply comprises a thermoelectric generator integrated with the top panel, the thermo-electric generator coupled to a cold heat sink outside the top panel and a hot heat sink inside the steam trap cover below the top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The steam trap cover of  claim 4  further comprising a closure panel joined to one upper edge of the transmitter pocket adapted to close a top opening of the transmitter pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The steam trap cover of  claim 1  further comprising an identity tag joined to the front or the back panel, the identity tag displaying an identity code unique to the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         7 . The steam trap cover of  claim 6  further comprising a QR code on the identity tag, the QR code providing information regarding a steam trap enclosed in the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         8 . The steam trap cover of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature-sensitive color changing indicator affixed to the front or the back cover. 
     
     
         9 . A method for insulating a steam trap having an entrance and an exit pipe, comprising:
 providing a steam trap cover having a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, and a first and a second end panel joined together along panel edges forming a substantially rectangular enclosure open at the bottom, and a bottom panel joined along one lower edge of the front or the back panel, such that the bottom panel may be opened or closed, the first and second end panels each having a circular opening and a slit from a bottom edge of the end panel into the circular opening;   enclosing the steam trap by the cover by opening the bottom panel, separating the slits in the end panels, placing the steam trap cover down over the steam trap until the entrance and the exit pipe are enclosed in the circular openings, closing the slits in the end panels and closing the bottom cover.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing a first pipe clip carrying a first temperature sensor with a first conductor from the first temperature sensor and a second pipe clip carrying a second temperature sensor with a second conductor from the second temperature sensor and coupling the first and second conductors to a wireless transmitter in a transmitter pocket affixed to a surface of the back cover of the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing a power supply providing electrical power to the wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising providing the power supply as a thermoelectric generator integrated with the top panel, the thermo-electric generator coupled to a cold heat sink outside the top panel and a hot heat sink inside the steam trap cover below the top panel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing a closure panel joined to one upper edge of the transmitter pocket, the closure panel adapted to close a top opening of the transmitter pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising joining an identity tag to the front or the back panel, the identity tag displaying an identity code unique to the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising displaying a QR code on the identity tag, the QR code providing information regarding a steam trap enclosed in the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising affixing a temperature-sensitive color changing indicator to the front or the back cover. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanging or steam transfer system, comprising:
 a plurality of steam traps connected in the system with each steam trap having an entrance and an exit pipe;   a plurality of removable steam trap covers each having a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel and a first and a second end panel joined together along panel edges forming an enclosure, the steam trap covers each further comprising a first pipe clip carrying a first temperature sensor with a first conductor from the first temperature sensor and a second pipe clip carrying a second temperature sensor with a second conductor from the second temperature sensor, the first and second conductors leading to a wireless transmitter in a transmitter pocket affixed to a surface of the back cover, the steam trap covers enclosing individual ones of the plurality of steam traps; and   a central digital hub having wireless communication circuitry coupled to a processor executing software, and a data repository;   wherein the temperature sensors at each steam trap having a steam trap cover in the system measure temperature of the inlet and exit pipes, the wireless transmitters in the transmitter pockets transmit the measured temperatures to the wireless communication circuitry, and the processor executing the SW determines condition or failure of each steam trap having a steam trap cover.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein each steam trap cover in the system has an identity tag joined to the front or the back panel, the identity tag displaying an identity code unique to the steam trap cover, and to the steam trap covered. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the identity tag on each steam trap cover further comprises a QR code providing information regarding the steam trap enclosed in the steam trap cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein each steam trap cover in the system has a temperature-sensitive color changing indicator affixed to the front or the back cover.