IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND COOLING PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER
Year: 1884

page_text: I FRANKLIN HOCKING of 16 Spellow Lane, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of iny said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND COOLING
PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER FROM SALT
WATER to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of condenser and cooler which is used in the
production of fresh water by distillation and especially for obtaining fresh water
by the condensation of steam generated from salt water, and has for its object the
construction of an apparatus for condensing, in which the water (obtained by
condensation of the steam) is cooled in passing through the apparatus; also the
obtainment of a large cooling surface and a simple arrangement and construction
of parts allowing the apparatus to be readily taken to pieces and the construction
providing for expansion and contraction of parts.
The following is a description of an apparatus according to my Invention for
condensing and cooling and as suitable for use on board ship for obtaining fresh
water from salt water by distillation, and it consists of a system or series of spiral
ways or passages constructed and arranged as follows. Within a cylindrical or
other suitably shaped vessel I arrange a system, or series of spiral ways one within
the other. These spiral ways are formed of sheet metal tubes by spirally indenting
the surfaces of the tubes of sheet metal, which are placed one within the other
namely the outer, or the inner tube is indented, or both tubes are indented, or the
spiral way is formed by placing a spiral bar or pipe between the tubes. The
condenser is composed of one, or more of the spiral ways constructed as above
described. When two, or more ways are used I place them one within the other.
Each of the spiral ways is fitted at each end into a channelled ring, so as to close
the ends, the channelled ring being grooved at each corner to receive the ends of
the sheet metal tubes forming the spiral ways. The containing vessel is provided
with top and bottom covers and is inounted over a chest, or filter box and the top
cover is provided with a steam inlet chest and safety valve. Communication
between the steam inlet chest and the spiral ways is effected by pipes, one for each
DO.71

page_text: spiral way and fitted to and opening through an extended mouth into the spiral
ways; The top of each communicating tube passes through a stuffing box and into
the steam inlet cheat; At the bottom communication between the spiral ways and
the lower chest, or filter box is effected by similar pipes to those used for the steam
inlet, but these pipes are secured by nuts where they pass through the bottom of
the containing vessel. To further support the spiral ways standards are provided
between the bottom of the containing vessel and the bottom channelled rings of
the spiral ways the standards screwing into bosses on such channelled rings and
are secured by nuts to the bottom of the containing vessel.
The lower part of the containing vessel is provided with an inlet branch for the
inlet of condensing, or circulating water, and the upper part of the containing
vessel is also provided with a branch which serves for the outlet of such water.
The vessel is also provided with a relief valve for the circulating water. The
lower chest, or filter box is provided with a stand pipe and rose for an inlet of air
to the condensed water.
In operation cold water is caused to circulate through the containing vessel and
round the outer surfaces of the spiral ways and the steam to be condensed is led
from any suitable generator to the steam inlet chest of the apparatus from whence
it passes through the communicating pipes into the spiral ways. Condensation
takes place in the upper portion of the spiral ways by the surface contact on the
sides of the ways. The spiral ways carrying the steam and the water condensed
therefrom a number of times round through the circulating or condensing water,
and the condensed water is delivered through the lower communication pipes into
the lower chest, or filter box cooled from whence it is drawn off for use.

page_text: In construction the sheet metal tubes 6 6' may be rivetted together where they
form the spiral ways in manner such as shown at Figure 10.
An example of condenser provided with tubes according to my Invention is
shown at Figure 1. It will be seen that the condenser is composed of three spiral
ways a a a placed one within the other and in the vessel B. Each of the spiral
ways a is fitted at each end into a channelled ring e, which ring closes the ends of
the spiral ways a.
The channelled rings e are grooved at e¹ to receive the ends of
the sheet metal tubes b b' within which the spiral ways a are formed. The
containing vessel B is provided with a top cover D and with a bottom cover E and
is mounted over a chest, or filter box F. The top cover D of the vessel B is
provided with a steam inlet chest H steam inlet pipe, or passage I and a safety
valve J. Communication between the steam inlet chest H and the spiral ways a
is effected by the pipes one for each spiral way a. The pipes opening through
an extended mouth as shown at Figure 14 into the spiral ways a. The top of each
pipe h passes through a stuffing box h¹ into the steam inlet chest H. At the
bottom, communication between the spiral ways a, and the chest, or filter box F is
effected by the pipes i. The pipes pass through the bottom cover E into the
filter box F and they are secured to the cover E by nuts so that they support
one side of the spiral ways a. To further support the spiral ways a there are
provided the standards K which screw into the channelled rings e and are secured
to the bottom cover E by the nuts K¹.
The
The
The lower part of the vessel B is provided with a branch L for the inlet of the
condensing, or circulating water, and the upper part of the vessel B is provided
with a branch M for the outlet of the condensing, or circulating water.
vessel B is also provided with a relief valve N for the circulating water.
filter box F is provided with a stand pipe and roso P for an inlet for air to the
condensed water. The filter box is filled with charcoal in the usual way which
charcoal is supported by the perforated diagram F¹. F' is an outlet pipe for the
condensed and cooled water.
In operation, cold water is caused to circulate through the containing vessel B
and round the outer surfaces of the spiral ways a and the steam to be condensed
is led from any suitable generator to the steam inlet chest H of the apparatus from
whence it passes through the communicating pipes into the spiral ways, or
passages a condensation of the steam takes place in the upper portion of the spiral
ways, or passages a by the surface contact with the sides b b of the ways a.
spiral ways a carry the steain and water condensed therefrom a number of times
round and through the circulating, or condensing water and thereby cooling the
condensed water which is delivered through the pipes into the filter box F cooled,
from whence it is drawn off for use through the pipe F².
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
In apparatus for condensing and cooling, a spiral way, ways, or passages, formed
by, or in tubes, and in which the steam and water pass a number of times
round the tube, substantially as set forth and as shown in the Drawings hereto
annexed.