Improvements in Apparatus applicable for Use as a Condenser, Feed Heater, or Evaporator.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus applicable for Use as a Condenser, Feed
Heater, or Evaporator.
I, SINCLAIR COUPER, of Moore Park Boiler Works, Govan, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer and Boilermaker, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say: -
. My said invention relates to the class of apparatus applicable for use as a
condenser, feed heater, or evaporator, in which a number of straight tubes are
arranged in an outer shell or casing; and the object of my invention is to improve
the construction of such apparatus so that the outer shell and the internal parts
may be readily and easily removed for cleaning or inspection and so that the
space required to be provided to permit of such removal may be reduced to very
small dimensions instead of having to provide for this purpose an additional
space in the building or structure where the apparatus is to be placed equal to
the whole length of the tubes as has been necessary with this straight-tube type
of apparatus as hitherto constructed. By my invention improved means are also
provided to permit of the free expansion or contraction of parts of the structure.
My improved apparatus may be arranged to occupy either a horizontal or a vertical
position.
In carrying out my invention the tubes extend between and are fixed in the
usual manner into tube plates at opposite ends of the apparatus and I divide
the outer shell surrounding the tubes into two portions, one forming the base
or fixed end of the apparatus. The other portion, forming the remainder of the
outer shell, is connected to the first portion by means of a flange and bolts, with a
suitable jointing material interposed. The upper or outer end of the outer shell
is secured in a similar manner to the tube plate at that end. Headers or domes
with the usual inlet and discharge passages are fixed to the outside of the tube
plates and similar passages are also provided as usual in the outer shell. On
removing the bolts securing the two portions of the outer shell together the upper
or outer portion of the shell and the nest of tubes may be easily withdrawn
the space required to be provided to permit of such removal being only that equal
to the depth of the fixed end of the shell and the header at that end; or if the
header be first removed the space required is only equal to the depth of the fixed
end of the shell. The tube plate and header at the fixed end of the structure are
made with cheeks or recesses so that a suitable jointing. material may be inserted
between them and an inclined flanged ring or hoop secured on the underside of the
fixed end of the outer shell so that free expansion or contraction of the structure
can take place without permitting the contents of the apparatus to escape.
The proportions of the apparatus and the number and arrangement of the
tubes may be varied as may be required according to the particular use or applica-
tion of the apparatus and the space available where it has to be applied.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
....מ
071

page_text: be hereinafter referred to and showing, by way of example, in vertical section, a
simple modification arranged to occupy a vertical position.
otherwise
As shown in the drawings there are two tube plates A, B, and into these
plates, tubes, C, of brass or other suitable material are secured by the usual method
of expanding the ends. Stay rods, D, also extend between the plates, A, B. This
nest of tubes is arranged in an outer shell or casing and, according
to my invention, I divide this outer shell into two portions one, E,
forming a base or fixed end which rests on feet, F, or is
supported. The other portion, G, forming the remainder of the outer shell, is
provided with a flange, H, J, at each end and is bolted to the fixed end, E, a
suitable jointing material being interposed to prevent the escape of the contents
of the shell when the apparatus is at work. The other end of the portion, G, of
the outer shell is similarly secured to the tube plate, B. The tube plates, A, B,
and the open ends of the tubes, C, are covered by headers or domes, K, L, secured
by bolts to the plates. The usual inlet and discharge passages or openings, M, N,
are provided in the headers, K, L, and similar passages, P, Q. are also provided
as usual in the outer shell, E, G, for the inlet or outlet of the water or other
fiquid or steam or vapor as may be required under the several uses or applications
of the apparatus. On removing the bolts securing the flange, H, to the fixed end, E,
of the outer shell the portion, G, of the outer shell together with the tube
plate, B, attached to it and the header or dome, L, attached to the tube plate, B,
along with the whole of the tubes, C, and the other tube plate, A, and header, K,
may be readily withdrawn up through the base or fixed end, E,
for the purposes of examination, cleaning, or repair. The space through which
this movement of withdrawal has to be made may be still further reduced if the
header or dome, K, be previously taken off, as the space then through which the
parts have to be moved is thereby practically only equal to the depth of the base
or fixed end, E.
An apparatus of the vertical type shown in the drawings may accordingly be
placed under a comparatively low roof or structure as the free headroom required
above the apparatus for the purpose of removing the upper portion, G, of the
outer shell and the internal parts is reduced to a minimum.
In the case where the apparatus is arranged to occupy a horizontal or inclined
position the space required to permit of the withdrawal of the shell, G, and
the internal parts is reduced to very limited dimensions and the apparatus may
accordingly be placed in a very confined situation, at the same time having the
advantage of being so designed as to give free and ready access to all its internal
parts.
The tube plate, A, is made so as to have a check or recess on its circumference
this check being formed either, as shown in the drawings, by securing a separate
piece or ring, R, to the tube plate, A, by rivets, bolts, or welding. The header
or dome, K, is also formed with a check or recess in its circumference and when
the header, K, is bolted to the tube plate, A, a space is provided by the two
checks to receive a suitable jointing material, S. In some cases the check or
recess formed in the header, K, may be dispensed with. This jointing material
is preferably composed of rings. S, made of rubber or other flexible material,
either solid or hollow, or made with a core of material either similar to or differing
from the material of the rings themselves. Or the jointing rings, S, may be made
hollow and arranged to be inflated after the manner of a pneumatic tire.
the outer side of the jointing material, S, there is an inclined flanged ring or
hoop, T, fixed to the underside of the base, E, the inclined surface being obtained
by machining the inner circumference to the frustrum of a cone whose smaller
diameter is remote from the tube plate, A. By these means just described any
expansion or contraction of the structure due to differences in temperature between
its constituent parts can take place with freedom, without at the same time
permitting of the escape of the steam, vapor, or liquid contained within the shell
of the apparatus.
On

page_text: 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:-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved
apparatus applicable for use as a condenser, feed heater, or evaporator sub-
stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In a condenser, feed heater, or evaporator of the straight tube type, an outer
shell or casing made in two portions, one portion forming a base or fixed end and
the other portion, forming the remainder of the outer shell, being made with a
flange at each end to permit of it being bolted to the fixed end and to an upper
or outer tube plate substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In a condenser, feed heater, or evaporator, a tube plate made with a check or
recess in its circumference, with or without a similar check in the circumference
of a header fixed to the plate, forming a space to receive jointing material on the
outer side of which is a fixed ring or hoop or part having an inclined surface
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this First day of December 1899.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.