IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION " OF MULTITUBULAR APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 6 Bream's
Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
"
OF MULTITUBULAR APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS, ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO SURFACE CONDENSERS FOR STEAM ENGINES," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates principally to that class of multitubular apparatus for
cooling, condensing or heating, in which the tubes are of U-form, or each composed
of members connected by a U-shaped or return connection and the two ends of
which are connected with separate chambers provided in one of the heads or at
one end of the tube-containing body or shell of the apparatus, so that there is a
circulation from one of the said chambers through the tubes to another of the said
chambers.
The invention consists in the novel construction of such multitubular apparatus
as hereinafter fully described and claimed whereby its efficiency is greatly increased,
and also consists in a multiple connection of a novel kind whereby several tubes in
a multitubular structure may be connected with a single opening in a chamber,
vessel or tube sheet, and the number of joints to be made in multitubular apparatus
may be greatly reduced.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig: 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a multitubular condenser constructed
according to this invention, and adapted for use in cases where a long range of tube
circulation is desirable.
Figia e bonienntal coating of the mome

page_text: Fig 3 is a central longitudinal section of one of the multiple tube connections
on a larger scale.
Fig 4 is an end view corresponding with Fig: 3.
Fig 5 is a section of one of the return connections of the two members of a
single tube.
Fig 5* is an elevation of a modification of the return connections.
Fig 6 is a vertical section of another multitubular condenser constructed
according to this invention and adapted for use in cases where a very large tube
surface with short circulation is desirable.
Fig 7 is a horizontal section of the same.
:
Fig: 8 is an end view of the same with the covering plate removed.
Fig 9 is a transverse section in the line xx of Fig: 6, of the head containing
the chambers with which the ends of the tubes communicate.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A is the tube-containing body or shell of the condenser, of parallelopipedal or
other convenient form, and with its ends removable for the purpose of inserting
and removing the tubes. At one end of this body or shell is the chambered
head B.
In the example of the invention shown in Figs: 1 and 2, which will be first
described, the chambered head B is divided into four chambers B1, B2, B3, B4, by
horizontal partitions b, b, b. The uppermost chamber B¹, which is the steam inlet
or receiving chamber connects at b¹ with the exhaust pipe of the steam engine, or
with the pipe by which the steam or vapor to be condensed is introduced; and the
lowest chainber B which is the outlet chamber has connected with it at b' the
pipe which carries off the water or liquid of condensation. The division between
the chambered head B, and the tube-containing body or main shell A, is formed by
the tube sheet E which is bolted to the partitions b, b, b, and also screwed between
the outer flanges of the body or shell and the chambered head.
C, C, are the tubes of the multitubular system, each consisting of two parallel
members of a length nearly equal to that of the interior of the body or shell A.
The two members may be made of a single length of tubing bent at the middle of
its length, as shown at c in Fig: 1, or of the lengths of tubing connected by a
return connection consisting of a U-shaped socketted bend c¹ as shown in the same
Figure, and in Fig: 5; one end of each of the said tubes communicating with
one of the chambers B' B2 B3 B4, and the other end with the chamber next below
as shown in Fig: 1.
Instead of each tube c having a separate connection at each end with the tube
sheet or tube sheets, with a separate hole in the tube sheet for each end of a tube,
as is most common in condensers, a group consisting of several tubes (four in the
example represented) is connected at either end with the tube sheet E by a
multiple connection D, so that there is only a single hole provided in the tube
sheet for the corresponding ends of four tubes. The construction of these multiple
connections will be hereinafter more fully described.
The groups of tubes are arranged in tiers, one above another, the number of tiers
being one less than the number of chambers in the head, the tubes of each tier
forming communication between one of the chambers in the head B and the next
chamber below it. The several tiers are partly separated by diaphragm plates F F
which extend across the body or shell A from side to side thereof and nearly from end
to end thereof there being only an opening f, at one end of each diaphragm plate, and
the said openings f being at opposite ends of the body or shell, so that they-cause-
the cooling water which enters the body or shell by pipes G, G, at opposite sides
near the bottom and near one end to circulate back and forth as indicated by
arrows in Fig: 1, along the exteriors of the several tubes before making its exit
by the pipe H, at the top of the condenser, while the course of the steam back and
forth through the tubes is in a contrary direction from the chamber B, thence
through the next tier of tubes to the chamber B³, and thence through the lower

page_text: tier to the chamber B4, wherein the water or condensed liquid is collected, and
whence it passes out at b'.
:
I, in Figs 1 and 2 designates a spreading plate arranged within the chamber B¹
opposite the steam inlet 61 and reaching nearly across the said chamber for
spreading the incoming steam or vapor so that it may be distributed equally
through the several tubes of the upper tier.
L L are stationary bars placed across and secured to the body or shell A, for
supporting the parts of the tubes at or near their bends c, c'. Two tubes of each
group, have short bends c¹, and two have longer bends c which are outside of the
shorter ones cas shown in Fig: 1. Each of the shorter bends c¹ has provided on
it a pin & shown in Figs: 1 and 5, which is parallel with the straight members of
the tube and which enters one of a series of holes in one of the said bars; and
each of the said bends has also provided on it a socket e to receive a ping which
is provided on one of the longer bends c. The bars L L support the tubes having
the shorter bends c¹ c¹ by the pins d d; and the sockets e e support the tubes
having the longer bends c, c, by the pins g. The pins d d having free longitudinal
play in the holes in the bars L L, and the pins gg having free longitudinal play
in the sockets e e the free expansion of the several tubes is provided for.
The tube-containing shell A is provided with as many hand holes J as may be
desirable fitted with suitable bonnets, and it is also provided with as many smaller
openings K K as may be desirable for the introduction of hose nozzles for washing
out the interior, the said openings being closed by screw plugs or by other means.
The condenser illustrated by Figs: 6, 7, 8, 9 differs from that shown in Figs: 1
and 2 in having its chambered head B divided into but two chambers B B¹, so
that one end of each tube connects with the chamber B¹ which is the inlet chamber
and to which the steam is admitted at 61, and the other end of each tube connects
with the chamber B2, which is the outlet chamber, and in which the water of
condensation from all the tubes is collected to be drawn off at b². Another
difference is, that the bends of the tubes are in this example horizontal instead
of being vertical as in the first example.
The partition m provided in the box B, of the second example to divide it
into the two chambers B B¹ is of peculiar form and may be best understood by
reference to Fig: 9, but it is also shown in dotted outline in Fig: 8. It is such
that a part of the inlet chamber B' occupies the central portion of the head B
and other parts of it occupy the side portions, parts of the outlet chamber, B²,
intervening between the central and side parts of the inlet chamber B¹. The
connections of the tubes C C with these chambers, in groups, by means of the
multiple connections D D, is illustrated in Figs: 7 and 8 by reference to which it
may be understood that the steam filling the central and side parts of the chamber B¹
at once enters all of the tubes. The condensation is effected by one direct and
return run through the tubes, that is to say a direct run through that member of
each tube which connects with the chamber B¹, and a return run through that
member which connects with the chamber B2, as is illustrated by arrows on the
tubes in Fig: 7 and the water condensed and delivered into the chamber B² is
collected at the bottom thereof whence it passes off at b².
The cooling water enters the body or shell A, of this condenser by the pipe G,
connected with it at the end furthest from the head B, and near the bottom
thereof, and passes off at the opening H in the top thereof, near the head B.
The bends of the tubos are supported in this condenser in the same way as in
the first example, as may be understood by a comparison of Figs: 6 and 7, with
Figs 1 and 2, only the supporting bars L, in this, instead of being horizontal, are
vertical.
The multiple connections D, D, the construction of which is shown in Figs: 3
and 4, consist each of a box having at one end a number of parallel sockets i i
corresponding with the number of tubes C, C, to be connected (four in the example
represented); and having at the other end a single socket j which is received in a

page_text: hole provided for it in the tube sheet E, the said socket j being of a calibre equal
to that of the whole number of tubes to be received in the sockets ii. The said
socket is externally screw-threaded at its end, and made with a collar or
shoulder, and is furnished with a packing ring of india-rubber or other
suitable material, and with a nut Z.
The tubes CC may be fastened in the sockets i i, in any suitable manner as by
soldering. The shoulders j' of the sockets are preferably bevilled inwards, as
shown in Fig: 3, in which case the contiguous faces of the packing rings are of
corresponding form. In this way the packing rings are securely held and
concentrated, or prevented from spreading when the nut is screwed up; and
tightness between the socket and the tube sheet is insured.
It will be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4, that the socket j is not arranged
centrally; but is offset from the centre of the box to bring it down to the level of
the lower tubes C, C, inserted therein so that the tubes may be completely
drained through the sockets. In the modification shown in Fig. 5* instead of the
two straight members of each tube being connected by a separate bend or return
connection, a single return connection is used for two tubes.
In either of the examples of the invention illustrated and described, access can
be had to all the tube connections of the condenser, by taking off the front plate
of the chambered head B.
It is obvious that the same arrangements and organizations of tubes, chambers
and casings, and the same kind of multiple tube connections as are herein described
are adapted to all or most kinds of multitubular structures used in the arts for
cooling and heating fluids, such as condensers for steam engines, condensers for
distilleries, refrigerators, heaters for heating feed water for steam boilers, etc, and
I wish it to be understood that my invention includes multitubular structures for
all cooling and heating purposes to which its construction renders it applicable.
F
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1st The combination with the tube-containing body or shell having at one end a
head containing two or more chambers of which one is an inlet or receiving
chamber and another an outlet chamber; of U-shaped tubes, or tubes composed
each of two straight members united by a return connection, the said tubes being
connected together in groups by multiple connections at both ends; and one of the
said multiple connections of each group connecting its several tubes at one end
with one of said chambers and the other connecting them at the other end with
the other of the said chambers, substantially as herein described.
2nd The combination of the tube containing shell or body A having partitions F F,
with openings f, at their ends, the chambered head, B, having in it several
chambers one above another, the tubes C, C, connected at their ends in groups by
multiple connections, and the groups being each connected by said connections
with two of the chambers in the head, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
3rd The combination of the tube-containing shell or body A, the chambered
head B, having a partition, m, which divides it into two chambers B¹ B², of
which B¹ occupies the central and the side portions of the head, and B2 intervenes
between the central and side portions of B', and the tubes C, C, connected in
groups at both ends by multiple connections which form communication between
the central and side portions of B¹, and the intervening portions of B2, substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9.
4th The combination with the tube bends c¹ c¹, of the pins, d, attached to said
bends and the supporting bars L, with which said pins engage, substantially as
herein described

page_text: 5th The combination with the tube bends c c¹ of the supporting bars L, the
pins d, and the sockets e, substantially as herein described.
6th The multiple tube connection consisting of the box D, having at one end a
number of tube sockets i, i, and at the other end a socket j, furnished with a nut
substantially as herein described.
7th The multiple tube connection consisting of a box having several tube
sockets at one end, and having at the other end a single screw-threaded socket
fitted with a nut and packing ring and constructed with an inwardly bevelled
shoulder for the concentration of the packing ring, substantially as herein
described.