IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM,. AND IN COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Evans Blackwell, of Clifton, near Bristol,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM,.
AND IN COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS."
Sealed the 6th May 1856, and dated the 14th February 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Evans Blackwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th February 1856.
1, THOMAS EVANS BLACKWELL, of Clifton, near Bristol, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING
STEAM, AND IN COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS," to be as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements in condensing steam, and in
cooling and heating fluids, and consists of combining the apparatus with a
view to apply the action of a syphon to the tubes or spaces in which the
circulating water moves, in order that the water may rise above and descend
to its natural level in passing through the chamber or compartment in which
is introduced the steam to be condensed, or the fluid to be cooled or heated.
The form of the condensing, or cooling, or heating chamber, or compartment,
may be varied, and the arrangement of the tubes or spaces in which the water
circulates may also be greatly varied, but in all cases the apparatus is to be
arranged with reference to the action of a syphon, that is, the tubes or water
spaces are to rise into the chamber or compartiment above the natural level
of the water to be circulated therein, and then to descend and pass out of
the chamber or compartment, and in place of always using a long descending
Price 8d.1

page_text: leg to the syphon apparatus, a pump is sometimes to be employed to the
descending line, the action of which is to regulate the speed of flow of the
circulating water. This apparatus will be found peculiarly applicable for
the vacuum apparatus of sugar refiners, also in cooling worts of brewers and
distillers, as well also in other works for cooling and heating fluids.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Evans Blackwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EVANS BLACKWELL, of Clifton, near Bristol, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Evans Blackwell, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Evans Blackwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
1,the said Thomas Evans Blackwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed,should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM, AND IN COOLING AND HEATING FLUIDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Evans Blackwell,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their; or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Evans Blackwell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in condensing steam, and in
cooling and heating fluids, and consists of combining the apparatus with a view
to apply the action of a syphon to the tubes or spaces in which the circulating

page_text: water moves,in order that the water may rise above and descend to its natural
level in passing through the chamber or compartment in which is introduced
the steam to be condensed, or the fluid to be cooled or heated. The form of
the condensing, or cooling, or heating chamber or compartment may be varied,
aud the arrangement of the tubes or spaces in which the water circulates may
also be greatly varied, but in all cases the apparatus is to be arranged with
reference to the action of a syphon, that is, the tubes or water spaces are to rise
into the chamber or compartment above the natural level of the water to be
circulated therein, and then to descend and pass out of the chamber or com-
partment; and in place of always using a long descending leg to the syphon
apparatus, a pump is sometimes to be employed to the descending line, the
action of which is to regulate the speed of flow of the circulating water.
This apparatus will be found peculiarly applicable for the vacuum apparatus
of sugar refiners, also in cooling worts of brewers and distillers, as well also
in other works for cooling and heating fluids.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I will
now proceed to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figures 1 and 2 show two sections of apparatus arranged or combined
according to my Invention. Supposing the apparatus to be applied to a sugar
pan, the steam or vapour issuing from the pan (and such is also the case when
applied to other processes) is conducted through the tube a into the cylinder
or condenser (external of the numerous pipes therein), in which cylinder or
condenser are placed or arranged a number of pipes running through it; these
pipes have connections at their two ends with the ascending pipe c, and also
with descending pipe d. The joints of connectious between the parts of the
apparatus are all to be rendered as complete and perfect as possible. The
ascending pipe'c is provided with a flexible disc valve at e, to prevent the
reflux of water, and the descending pipe is shewn to be provided with a
pump for the purpose of drawing the water from and through the ascending
pipe through the tubes, and also through the descending pipe to the outlet of
the pump atg. The valve in the bucket of the pumpf may be converted into
a stop valve by bringing the bucket to rest against a stud h, which will retain
the valve closed so long as the bucket is allowed to remain at rest, by which
means the apparatus may be filled with water at starting, the valve in the
bucket of the pump preventing the water filled into the apparatus running
away. The valve of the ascending pipe, and the pump and its valves, and also
the outlets of the descending pipe, are to be placed beneath the surface of the

page_text: water in the pond, river, tank, or other large supply of cold water, to reduce
as far as possible the risk of ingress of air to the apparatus. In order most
fully to meet such a contingency of air getting into the apparatus, and for the
first filling and starting of the apparatus, a small pump i is provided, for
the purpose of completely filling the whole water space with water, and by
an arrangement which admits of the valves j, j, being kept closed after the
apparatus has been filled with water, when by the continued working of the
pump any air remaining in the pipe & will be withdrawn through the pipe l
and be forced out through the pipe m. This pump i can also be used for the
purpose of exhausting or partially exhausting the cylinder or condenser of
air or vapours, and of starting the flow of vapour from the sugar pan or other
evaporating vessel into the said cylinder. The condenser and apparatus is
also provided with a valve n for letting off vapour or air when the pressure
is in excess of the external atmospheric pressure, and by means of
blowing through" such valvė, similar results may be obtained.
The condensed vapour, resulting from the vapour passed through the
condenser, is carried down the pipe o into a tank or well, and in case of
applying the apparatus to the purposes of distilling, this pipe o will be the
outlet for the condensed vapour or spirit.
The height of the ascending and descending pipes may be varied,
depending on the circumstances of position of the condenser and on other
local circumstances, but in no case will the height exceed that to which
water may be raised by virtue of the external atmospheric pressure above
the surface of the pond, canal, or other supply of condensing water.
It may be remarked, that in cases where the descending pipe of this
apparatus can be longer than the ascending pipe, then the pumpf may
be dispensed with, and provision only made for filling the apparatus with
water and for extracting air.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Evans Blackwell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
year of
Witness,
GEO. PITT,
4, Old Square.
THOS E. BLACKWELL. (L.S.)