An Apparatus for Obtaining Fresh Water for Ships' Use.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 24th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Nov., 1887
An Apparatus for Obtaining Fresh Water for Ships' Use.
I, HAMILTON DANSEY, of Gracechurch Street, in the city of London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by Louis
Carnagy Auldjo, of "Troja Ballast Point Road, Suails Bay, Balmain, near
Sydney, New South Wales, Draughtsman,) to be as follows:-
>>
The apparatus consists of a vertical tube fitted in the smoke-box, uptake, and funnel
(either or all), its lower end is led into a tank open to the atmosphere, the said tank
being partially filled with water, the end of the tube is placed so far under the surface
of the water (nearly to the bottom of the tank) as to make a good seal, the level of the
water in the tank is regulated and maintained by water which is allowed to flow into it
from the sea or other source. The density of the water in the tank is regulated by the
quantity of water allowed to flow into it and overflow into the bilge. The upper end
of the tube is connected to a pipe which is fitted to a surface condenser in which a
vacuum is maintained by any of the ordinary methods.
The height to which the vertical tube is carried is such that with the highest possible
vacuum and atmospheric pressure with due allowance for the rolling of the vessel it
shall not be possible for the water from the tank to overflow through the vertical
tube into the condenser.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The tank being filled as far as necessary
with water and the vacuum opened onto the top of the vertical tube causes the water
from the tank to rise in the vertical tube to a height due to the vacuum and
atmospheric pressure. The water in the tube is evaporated by the heat from the
waste gases escaping from the furnace up the funnel, and this water being in a partial
vacuum, evaporation takes place at a low temperature and rapid rate. The steam
passes to the condenser and is condensed.
To prevent the water in the vertical tube from priming over into the condenser it
may be fitted with a pipe of larger diameter at its upper end or with any other
known arrangement for preventing priming.

page_text: To prevent the sediment from depositing on the inside of the vertical tube, a second
tube may be added, the lower end of which is also carried into the tank and upper
end connected to the vertical tube so as to ensure a more perfect circulation.
The apparatus can be applied to any steamship which has a vertical height from the
stokchole platform to the top of the funnel sufficient for the purpose (about
forty feet).
The fresh water obtained can be used as supplementary feed for boilers or
ship's use.
The heating surface may be increased as required by adding coils of pipe or
horizontal pipes in the funnel connected to the vertical tube.
Dated the 21th day of January 1887
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Obtaining Fresh Water for Ships' Use.
I, HAMILTON DANSEY, of Gracechurch Street, in the city of London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by Louis
Carnagy Auldjo, of "Troja" Ballast Point Road, Snails Bay, Balmain, near
Sydney, New South Wales, Draughtsman,) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention consists in an apparatus for obtaining fresh water for ships' use, in
which the waste gases escaping from the ship's boiler furnace are utilized to effect the
evaporation of sea or other water while in a partial vacuum.
The apparatus comprises a vertical tube fitted in the smoke-box, uptake or funnel
of the ship's steam boiler (or in all of these). Its lower end is led into a tank open
to the atmosphere, the said tank being partially filled with water from the sea or
other source; the lower end of the vertical tube is placed far enough under the
surface of the water in the tank to ensure a good seal; the density of the water in
the tank is regulated and its level maintained by the water being allowed to flow
into it, and overflow, through a pipe fixed in the tank, into the bilge. The upper
end of the vertical tube is connected to one end of a pipe the other end of which
is fitted to a surface condenser in which a vacuum is maintained by any of the
ordinary methods.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood 1 will describe how it
can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing which
represents a sectional elevation of a marine boiler of ordinary construction with the
apparatus for obtaining fresh water for ships' use applied thereto.
A is the vertical tube which in the drawing is shewn fitted in the funnel or
uptake B of the boiler C, but which can obviously be fitted, if required, in the
smoko-box of a boiler. D' is the tank partially filled with water from the sea, main
discharge or other source, into which water the lower end of the tube A dips as
herein before explained. E is the pipe provided with a cock F, by which the required
quantity of water is introduced into the tank D. G is the pipe through which the
overflow from the tank passes to the bilge. His the pipe one end of which is fitted
to the upper end of the vertical tube A the other end leading to a surface condenser
(not shewn in the drawing) in which a vacuum is maintained. Communication
between the condenser and the vertical tube A is opened and closed by means
of a cock 1.
The height to which the vertical tube is carried is such that with the highest
possible vacuum and atmospheric pressure with due allowance for the rolling of the
vessel it shall not be possible for the water from the tank to overflow through the
vertical tube into the condenser.
The action of the apparatus is as follows :-The tank D having been supplied with
the necessary quantity of water and communication opened between the vertical

page_text: tube A. and the condenser the water in the tank D will be caused te rise in te
vertical tube A to a certain height by reason of the vacuum and atmospheric
pressure, and will become heated and evaporated by the heat from the waste gases
escaping from the ship's boiler furnace and passing up the funnel B. The water
being in a partial vacuum, evaporation takes place at a low temperature and rapid
rate. The steam passes to the condenser and is condensed.
To prevent the water in the vertical tube A from priming over into the condenser
it may be fitted at its upper end with a pipe of larger diameter or with any other
known arrangement for preventing priming.
To prevent sediment from depositing on the inside of the vertical tube A a second
tube may be added the lower end of which is carried into the tank D whilst the upper
end is connected to the upper end of the vertical tube so as to ensure a more perfect
circulation.
The apparatus can be applied to any steamship which has a vertical height from
the stokehole platform to the top of the funnel sufficient for the purpose (about
forty feet).
The fresh water obtained can be used as supplementary feed for boilers or it can
be for ships' use. The heating surface may be increased as required by adding in
the funnel coils of pipe or horizontal pipes connected to the vertical tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An apparatus for obtaining fresh water for ships' use, in which the waste gases
escaping from the ship's boiler furnace are utilized to effect the evaporation of sea
or other water whilst the latter is in a partial vacuum.
2. The apparatus for obtaining fresh water for ships' use herein before described by
reference to the accompanying drawing.
11 22.1 dox of Datalia 1987
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.