116 Year Old Barnes & Jones Trap Design Increases Performance of Today's High Tech Systems
Barnes & Jones was founded before the turn of the century by two engineers: Walter Barnes, a graduate of The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Bill Jones, a graduate of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Around 1897, the two joined forces to design and layout two-pipe steam heating systems for new commercial construction projects throughout Boston, New York City and Chicago.
By applying their engineering expertise, the partners built a strong reputation for designing quiet, trouble free and efficient steam heating systems. Because most steam traps of the day were inherently inefficient and problematic, Barnes and Jones focused their talents to develop a more efficient and reliable steam trap. In 1902, Barnes & Jones introduced their first line of balanced-pressured thermostatic steam traps to improve overall system performance.
The new Barnes & Jones thermostatic steam trap featured a bellows, containing a small amount of distilled water, with a ball and seat to provide rapid venting and positive closure at the exact flash point of steam. The Barnes & Jones steam trap was an immediate success due to its innovative design which enhanced system performance and reliability. Thus, Barnes & Jones began to supply their steam traps to area contractors and distributors serving the Boston, Hartford and Providence market.
Knowing that all makes of thermostatic steam traps will eventually fail, Barnes and Jones recognized the need for a one-piece, pre-assembled repair kit that would easily replace all the internal components of a thermostatic steam trap. Thus eliminating the need to replace the entire steam trap or field assemble multiple internal components. This one-piece insert design was developed and given the name “Cage Unit”.
By 1930, the Barnes & Jones Cage Unit had become the standard for steam trap repair. The Cage Unit was specifically designed to operate as a “trap within a trap” and to make steam trap repair “as simple as changing a light bulb”. Within a year of its introduction, the Cage Unit line was expanded to accommodate the repair of other makes of thermostatic steam traps by various manufacturers like Warren Webster, Trane, Dunham Bush, Hoffman and many more.
Today, Barnes & Jones continues to manufacture Cage Units and complete steam traps for a host of steam system applications. Barnes & Jones Steam Specialty products are distributed worldwide and the company remains the recognized leader as the “Single Source for Steam Trap Repair”.
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