Drain device for compressed air lines

Claim 1

An automatic drain device in combination with a compressed air conduit in a pneumatic system in a position to remove water, oil, rust particles and other contaminants therefrom comprising, a cylindrical housing providing a cylindrical wall and first and second end walls defining an inner chamber, an inlet port through said cylindrical wall for connection to the compressed air conduit and an outlet drain port, a cylindrical rotor axially rotatably journalled within said housing inner chamber providing a cylindrical wall and first and second end walls defining an inner collector chamber, and a single port through said cylindrical wall in a position for sequential alignment with said inlet and outlet ports, said rotor being reduced in size relative to said housing inner chamber to define a slight space between said housing and rotor walls, means to automatically rotate said rotor to sequentially position said single port with said inlet and outlet ports at predetermined time intervals; valve means comprising a first normally closed spring loaded ball valve extending through said rotor first end wall and a second normally closed spring loaded ball valve extending through said housing first end wall; and means to open said valve means comprising a first cam segment of a predetermined length extending inwardly from said first housing end wall into said slight space and a second cam segment of a predetermined length extending inwardly from said first end wall, said first and second cam segments being positioned and sized to simultaneously actuate said first and second spring loaded ball valves to open positions when said single port is in general alignment with said outlet port.