IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM OR VAPOURS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Norris Groves, of Madras, in the
East Indies, and Conrad William Finzel, junior, of Bristol,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM OR
VAPOURS."
Sealed the 19th February 1853, and dated the 8th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Norris
Groves and Conrad William Finzel, junior, at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th
December 1852.
We, ANTHONY NORRIS GROVES, of Madras, in the East Indies,
and CONRAD WILLIAM FINZEL, junior, of Bristol, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING
STEAM OR VAPOURS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the employment of condensers of
a tubular or other form, similar to what have heretofore been used,
and which have effected the condensation by cooling the metal sur-
faces of which such apparatus is constructed, by means of fluids in
contact therewith; and the improvements consist of applying

page_text: streams of heated, cold, or dry air, by means of fans or blowers, in
such manner that the metal surfaces, being constantly moistened,
quick evaporation of the moistening fluid is effected, and cold in-
duced, which quickens the condensation of the steam or vapour
within the apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Anthony Norris Groves and Conrad
William Finzel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
ANTHONY NORRIS GROVES, of Madras, in the East Indies, and
CONRAD WILLIAM FINZEL, junior, of Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Anthony Norris Groves
and Conrad William Finzel, Her special license that we, the said
Anthony Norris Groves and Conrad William Finzel, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Anthony
Norris Groves and Conrad William Finzel, our exccutors, admi-
nistrators, 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, exer-
cisc, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM OR VAPOURS," upon the conditions
(amongst others) that we, the said Anthony Norris Groves and
Conrad William Finzel, or one of us, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
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

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that we, the said Anthony Norris Groves and
Conrad William Finzel, junior, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object the employing of condensers of
a tubular or other form similar to what have heretofore been used,
and which have effected the condensation by cooling the metal
surfaces of which such apparatus is constructed, by means of fluids
in contact therewith. And our improvements consist of applying
streams of heated coal or dry air, by means of fans or blowers, in
such manner that the metal surfaces, being constantly moistened,
quick evaporation of the moistening fluid is effected, and cold in-
duced, which quickens the condensation of the steam or vapour
within the apparatus.
And in order that our said Invention may be most fully under-
stood and readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the
incans pursued by us. Our Invention consists in a mode of con-
densing steam or vapours by means of external evaporation, caused
by internal heat, aided by external application of artificial currents
of air, in place of acting on pipes kept wet by a continuous flow of
water, and exposed to the natural action of the atmosphere; which
latter mode has been long in use, and was patented by Edward
Pontifex, in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.

page_text: series of copper pipes, b², b², are inserted and securely fastened, and
establish a free communication for the steam or vapour coming from
the pipe A; C, is a vessel forming the upper part of the condenser
B, so constructed as to cause water or other liquids to be distributed
over the pipes in the condenser B; D, is a pipe at the bottom of, or
under, the condenser, with a cock or valve (not shown) to draw off
the water or fluid; E, is a vessel forming the bottom part of the
condenser B, and so constructed with apertures as to allow the air
to be driven or drawn through, and to surround the pipes through
which the steam is passing, but so as not to admit the water or
fluid, on trickling over the pipes, to pass through the apertures
through which the air is driven; F, is an air-pipe connected with a
fanner, blower, or other mechanical agent, by which air can be
driven or forced; G, is the pipe- leading to a pump or other mecha-
nical agent, by which the condensed steam or vapour is pumped
away, and a partial vacuum obtained. In using this apparatus,
steam or vapour passes through the pipe A, into the pipes 62, 62, of
the condenser B, which may be in one compartment as shown, or in
several compartments, arranged so as to cause the steam or vapour
to take a tortuous course through them, in place of the direct one
shown in the Drawing; water or other fluid to be evaporated is
allowed to trickle over the pipes 62, 62, from the vessel C, or by other
convenient mode. The water or fluid thereby cools the pipes, and
is partially evaporated by the heat and by air driven or drawn
through the vessel, such air being by preference heated to about
200° of Fahrenheit; by which ineans a very rapid condensation of
the steam or vapour within such pipes will be produced, and consc-
quently a vacuity obtained to receive the steam or vapour, the pump
at G, aiding to maintain such vacuity. The external steam or
vapour arising from the water trickling on the pipes may be passed
through any ordinary worm or condenser, whereby the water taken
up by the air is returned to a vessel for supplying any deficiency
required for the boilers or other vessels, and the spent air may be
applied, if desired, for the purpose of creating a draft to the fire.
The air passing through the condenser B, may be heated by means

page_text: of pipes or other apparatus placed in the boiler, flues, or in any
other convenient way; and may be driven or drawn through into the
vessel E, from which it passes between the pipes or surfaces placed
in the condenser B, by a fanner, blower, or other mechanical means.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we would have it understood that
we make no claim to any of the parts of the machinery separately,
nor do we confine ourselves to the details herein shown and de-
scribed; but what we claim is, combination of means and apparatus
herein explained for condensing steam and vapour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Conrad William Finzel, junior,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three.
5
Witness,
W. BRITTAN,
CONRAD WILLIAM FINZEL, J'. (L.S.)
Solicitor,
Bristol.