Float-Based Automatic Drain Valves and Related Methods

The technology includes an automatic drain attachment for an air compressor. The drain maintains air tank pressure and seal while periodically allowing accumulated moisture to be drained from the tank without depressurization or interruption to air compressor operation.

During operation, air compressors accumulate moisture within the pressure tank. Large industrial compressors may be fitted with electric drain valves; however these devices are too cumbersome and expensive to be fitted to smaller shop and home compressors. In these cases, water is normally drained manually from a water trap by opening a drain in the bottom of the compressor tank. This is usually done by depressurizing the tank as a daily manual task; but when forgotten or neglected, water may accumulate in the tank, causing the tank to rust and eventually fail.

This invention features a small attachment to the manual drain opening of the air compressor. It is a spherical chamber with an inlet to be screwed onto the existing compressor drain (locked open) and an exit port in the bottom of the chamber. Within the chamber is a round buoyant ball. At rest, the ball sits on the exit port. When moisture is present in sufficient quantity, the air pressure acting on the ball is relieved as fluid covers it, allowing it to float away from the drain opening so that fluid drains.

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