Drain discharging apparatus

Claim 1

A drain discharging apparatus for automatically draining drainage from a compressed air source, said apparatus comprising: a body having therein a drain reservoir chamber, an inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air and drainage, an outlet port adapted to be connected with a drain, and first and second valve ports respectively connecting said inlet and outlet ports to said chamber for respectively introducing compressed air and drainage from said inlet port into said chamber and discharging compressed air and drainage from said chamber through said outlet port, said valve ports opening into said chamber at an inner periphery thereof; first and second poppet valves positioned in said body, each said valve including a valve body urged by a respective spring into a first position closing communication through a respective said valve port; a cam mounted in said body for rotation about an axis; said cam having first surface means for urging said valve bodies against said respective springs to second positions opening communication through said respective valve ports; motor means for continuously rotating said cam about said axis such that said first surface means alternately moves said valve bodies of said first and second poppet valves from said first positions thereof to said second positions thereof without simultaneously moving both said valve bodies from said first positions thereof; means for mounting said cam for movement with respect to said body along said axis; spring means for urging said cam in a first axial direction to position said first surface means adjacent said valve bodies; and said cam having second surface means for, upon movement of said cam in a second axial direction against said spring means, moving one of said valve bodies which is in said first position thereof to said second position thereof, while maintaining at all times during said movement said first surface against the other said valve body in said second position to thereby open both of said poppet valves to discharge said compressed air and said drainage.