IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING AND IN RELIEVING DISTILLED AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM GASES MECHANICALLY MIXED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Norman Willis Wheeler, of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, and State of New York, in the United States of
America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING AND IN
RELIEVING DISTILLED AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM GASES MECHANICALLY MIXED
THEREWITH."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Norman Willis Wheeler
. at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 27th December 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NORMAN
WILLIS WHEELER, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIS-
TILLING AND IN RELIEVING DISTILLED AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM GASES MECHANICALLY
MIXED THEREWITH," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first
Inventor thereof..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Norman Willis Wheeler, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement:-
One portion of my Invention relates to the use of a static column of
water communicating with a reservoir, or with the sea if on ship board, in
combination with suitable steam heating surface and automatic discharge
in such a way that it will distil pure water from salt, or otherwise impure
water without requiring attention or manipulation except at long intervals
of time.
:
Another portion of my Invention relates to liberating and discharging
whatever unabsorbed air or gas exists in water or other liquids which are
being pumped or otherwise forced under pressure, and consists in so
combining a liquid trap with the discharge pipe of the force pump, or the
vessel containing the liquid and gas, that that part of the gas as air not
intimately mingled or absorbed by the liquid will be automatically set free.
It is important that the difficulties heretofore met. with be explained in
order that my Invention be properly understood. If we observe what
takes place when a steam engine fitted with a surface condenser in the
usual way is set in motion, we shall find that from leakage or other causes
there has considerable water collected in the condenser and is thrown by
the first movement of the air pump into the hot well and the feed pump
receives for a time a full charge of water at each stroke, but as the feed
pump has usually and necessarily a much greater capacity than that
required to barely supply the boiler when all parts are tight, in good order,
and in perfect adjustment, it will quickly empty the hot well of its surplus
water, and after having been at work a considerable time there will not be
sufficient water condensed to fill the pump at every stroke, and hence it
will receive and discharge air as well as water, which air will pass into the
boiler, mingle with the steam, and pass with it through the engine into the
condenser, vitiating the vacuum. To remedy this defect, attempts have
been made to prevent air entering the suction pipe by placing therein a
valve connected by a system of levers and rods to a float in the hot well in
such a way that when the water in the hot well fell below a certain level,
the valve in the pipe should be closed and the supply to the feed
pump
shut off, but the extreme delicacy and exactness required in the construc-
tion and adjustment of this device and the disturbance to which it is
exposed by the motion of the vessel, and further, its liability to derange-
ment from the collection of sediment about its parts, renders it practically

page_text: useless, and the vitiation of the vacuum is generally endured. But could
such device be made durable so as to accomplish the object sought
continuously, it is questionable whether there would be a satisfactory
result. It is well known that water that has been newly condensed from
steam with such limited contact with air or gases as is the case when
ordinary surface condensers are used is very nearly deaërated, and when
such is returned to the boiler in that state it requires a greater amount of
heat to vaporize it than if it is aërated, and its ebulition may at any time
become uncertain and dangerous. Many of the boilers of lately built
naval steamers fitted with such floats and valves foamed or "primed" to
an almost disabling degree for a considerable time, but performed after-
wards in a much more satisfactory manner. I surmise that a disabling of
the float apparatus was connected with the phenomenon, because so long
as such occurred the feed water would be aërated and would boil in the
ordinary manner. It is intended to replace the water lost by leakages,
etc., with freshly distilled water, in my Invention, and thus to avoid these
difficulties and to provide for the furnishing of such freshly distilled water,
as also the larger quantities due to the condensation of the steam in an
aërated condition without a possibility of any great excess of air.
I will now proceed to describe what I esteem the best mode of
carrying out my Invention, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings making a part of this Specification, in which Figure 1 is a
vertical section of the distilling apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the same;
and Figure 3. is a vertical section of the parts for discharging air, etc.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same; like letters of reference indicate the same
parts in all the Figures.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is a tall metallic vessel of such height and so
placed in the ship with reference to the surface of the water in which
she floats, that the top of the vessel a shall be higher when she is deep
loaded, and the bottom below the surface when she is light. The top
of the vessel a is closed by the cap u. A steam jacket b, b, surrounds
the lower part of the vessel a; a nozzle c communicates with the
lower part of the vessel a, and a nozzle f communicates with the lower
part of the steam jacket b, b. A steam pipe t leads from a steam boiler,
not represented, into the upper part of the steam jacket b, b, and-a-
discharge pipe o leads from the upper part of the vessel a.
v is a stop-
cock. or valve communicating with the sea by means of the pipe e and
with the nozzle c by the pipe d. A check valve n opens outward from
the vessel a and pipe o to allow the escape of vapor from the vessel a, and

page_text: to prevent the return of vapor and liquid thereto; m is a screw so
arranged that by turning it the check valve n may be closed or made free
to open at will; g is a steam trap similar to those in common use, of
which is the floating pot, and i the discharge pipe. This steam trap is
connected at the nozzlef to the lower part of the steam jacket b, b. There
is a continuation j of the discharge pipe i, a continuation p of the pipe o,
a jacket r around a portion of the feed pipe q, q, of the boiler, and a final
discharge pipe s leading to a proper receptacle for the fresh water. To
put this apparatus in operation the stop-cock v should be opened, steam
above atmospheric pressure be let into the jacket b, b, through the pipe t,
and the screw m turned so as to allow the check valve n to open, when
the salt or impure water will flow through the pipe e, cock v, pipe d, and
nozzle c, into the vessel a, and fill it level with the outboard surface, say to
1, 1, while steam will fill the jacket b, b, and trap g. The abstraction of
heat from the steam contained in the jacket b, b, will cause it to condense
into water and fall to the bottom, the loss being continually supplied from
the boiler through the pipe t. It will generally occur that the heat
abstracted from the steam at the instant of contact with the metal of the
apparatus will cause the condensation of water enough to float the pot /
and prevent the escape of steam through the pipes i and j; where this is
not the case a stop-cock should be placed in the pipe j and opened after
sufficient condensation has taken place. The apparatus being in the con-
dition before described, heat from the steam in the jacket b, b, will pass
through the walls of the vessel a and cause the water in a to boil, the
vapor passing out through the pipe o, check valve n, and pipe p, into the
jacket r. Here the passing feed water in the pipe q, q, will condense it
into water which will flow through the pipes into tanks, "hot wells," or
wherever desired. The loss of water in the vessel a by vaporization will
be supplied by a slow current upward through the pipes e and c, and
according to a well-known law the water contained in these pipes will not
be heated much lower down than the base of the jacket b, b. When water
enough has condensed to bring the surface above the nozzle f, the con-
tinued accumulation will cause it to rise in the trap g by reason of the
pressure upon the surface in the jacket b, b, and float the pot h, so that its
bottom is held tightly against the lower end of the pipe i, thus closing
the orifice and preventing any escape, but when the water has accumulated
in such quantity as to fill the trap to the top of the pot it will run over
and fill the pot and cause it to sink. The bottom of the pot h being
now out of contact with the end of the pipe i, the water within the pot h

page_text: will be forced up through the pipes and j by virtue of the pressure in
the jacket b, b, and trap g, until the water being nearly all driven out of
the pot h, it will again float in the water surrounding it, and close the pipe
i until another accumulation and sinking occurs, and so on so long as the
apparatus is in use. The water forced from the trap g passes through the
pipes i, j, and p, into the jacket 7, and is cooled by the feed water in the
pipe 9, 9, as before described in the case of the vapor from vessel a.
Although the pipe-j may lead directly to the condenser or hot well or yet
to the potable water tanks, yet it is better that the heat contained in it
shall be transferred to the feed water as described, so that little is lost by
the act of distillation, and so that the freshly distilled water will not
retain an undue amount of heat. In this connection it is well to say that
the pipe o or p should not be connected to a condenser wherein a vacuum
is maintained, as in that case the vacuum would extend to the vessel a and
draw over the impure water and defeat the object in view. When the
periodic discharges from the trap g takes place, the pressure in the pipe p
may exceed that in the vessel a, and the condensed water have a tendency
to flow back through the pipe o into the vessel a; but in that case the
check valve'n will close and prevent it.
The check valve n again reopens
for the passage of vapor when the discharge shall have ceased.
Thus far the described action of the apparatus is automatic after once
having been set in operation. After a considerable time, however, the
water in the vessel a will be found to have the impurities concentrated to a
degree that will require the substitution of less impure water in its stead.
This can be accomplished by turning the hand wheel m so as to close the
check valve n and prevent the escape of vapor, when the continued vapori-
zation will generate a sufficient degree of pressure in the vessel a to force
the water downward and out through the pipe d, cock vand c, and nearly
empty the vessel a, the accomplishment of which can be ascertained by
means of a try cock inserted in the nozzle c for instance. When the
impure water has been expelled as described a new supply may be admitted
by reopening the check valve n, when the pressure will be relieved and
water again flow into the vessel a and distillation proceed as before. After
long use it will be found that the interior of the vessel a will need cleaning,
and if working in salt water a coating of scale will probably be found
adhering to the surface; in which case it will be requisite to shut the cock v,
remove the cap u, free the passage a of water, and remove the impurity in
the usual way in such cases. Should the action of the apparatus be inter-

page_text: fered with by the pipe e becoming filled with mud, which may occur if the
ship takes the ground, it may be cleared by introducing water into the
vessel a if none be there, and turning steam into the jacket after having
closed the check valve n, when the pressure generated will usually clear
away obstructions. It is obvious that the water condensed in the jacket b, b,
may be returned to the working boilers with little loss in quantity, and
also that the water derived from vaporization in the vessel a may be.added
to the existing stock of pure water, and make good the wasteage occurring
about the boilers and engines, or that it may be used for drinking or other
purposes without subtracting from the supply in the boilers.
I will now describe the construction and operation of my air discharging
apparatus adapted to the purpose of relieving water of any excess of air.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 A. is a portion of a hot well or fresh water
tank which receives the fresh water from a surface condenser; B is the
suction pipe of a force pump; C, the pump; and D, the discharge pipe
thereof, which leads from the pump to the boiler and through which the
feed water is forced; E is a branch pipe connected by preference to the
highest part thereof; G is a liquid trap; Hits floating pot; I its discharge
pipe; I, a stop cock, and J, a pipe leading from the cock I and communi-
cating with the hot well A. The trap is constructed in the same manner
as the trap g and its appurtenances before described, the floating pot being
open at the top and fitted with proper guides. In the Drawings the guide
is shown as a tube surrounding the pipe I, enlarged at the lower end and
secured to the bottom of the pot H by a flange, the enlarged part of the
guide pipe having several holes therein to admit freely the liquid or gas
around the lower end of the pipe I; the lower end of the pipe I is faced
off and made smooth, so that it will fit tightly against the bottom of the
floating pot H, or by preference a piece of vulcanized rubber is secured
thereto as represented. The operation is so conducted that the trap will
discharge the air and retain the water. When the bottom of the floating
pot H is pressed up against the lower end of the pipe I no escape can take
place through the pipe I, but when the floating pot H is not pressed
against the lower end of the pipe I, gases or liquids present in the pot H
may escape freely through the pipe I. When the engine to which my
Invention is attached is set in motion, and the feed pump begins to force
water into the boiler, there will probably be a sufficient quantity of water
in the condenser, which being thrown by the air pump into the hot well
furnishes the feed pump with full charges for a number of strokes. The

page_text: water will be forced into the pipes D and E, and the trap G compressing
what air was contained in them into the upper part of the trap.
At starting
the stop-cock I should be closed and air retained in the trap G. The feed
pump will speedily dispose of the surplus water in the hot well, and after
a short time force mixed air and water through the pipe D. The passage
of air and water through the feed pump and its valves will cause the fluids
to be intimately mixed while under considerable pressure, and will cause a
portion of the air to combine with the water as they are found combined in
nature, or, in other words, the previously deaërated water will become.
aërated. That portion of the air which does not combine with the water
will be left free, and seek the highest part of the pipe D and its connec-
tions, and will eventually lodge in the upper part of the trap G. The stop
cock I must be opened after the feed pump C has been in operation a little
time, and when the greater part of the trap G is filled with air so that the
pot H does not float. Under these conditions what water is contained in
the pot H will be blown out through the pipe I, J, followed by air until
the water will be all drawn out from the pot H, and the water will rise
around the pot H and float it into contact with the lower end of the pipe I
and stop the further escape through said pipe and its connections. The
pump C continuing in action, more air will find its way into the trap G,
displacing its bulk, of water and therefore lowering the surface. The water
will flow slowly back through the pipe E until there will not be enough
water in the trap G to float the pot H, when it will again fall out of contact
with the pipe I and discharge air through the pipe I, J. As the air escapes
the water again rises and enters the trap G until the pot H again floats and
the escape is stopped as before described, and so on continually. It is not
necessary that the pipe J discharge into the hot well, but in most cases it
will be convenient to so construct it. The pipe E will be replaced by two
pipes, one leading from the higher part of the feed pipe D to the upper
part of the trap G, and the other connecting the lower part of the trap G
with the lower part of the pipe D, thus avoiding counter currents of air
and water in the same pipe; or the pipe E may have a partition extending
longitudinally within it, to divide it into two passages and prevent the con-
flict between the two currents. The trap G and the other parts of this air
discharging apparatus may be made in many different forms, and I desire it
to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise forms herein
described.
Referring back to my means for distilling and refrigerating, as shown in

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, it is easy to see that useful effect may be attained without
the steam jacket b, b, by substituting a series of steam pipes within a
vessel.
There have been attempts made to procure pure water on ship board by
vaporizing the upper portions of static columns by building within the
ship water-tight boxes or "stand pipes " with their tops closed, and
extending above the outboard surface, those portions of the bottom of the
ship corresponding to the bottoms of the boxes being cut away, and with
steam pipes traversing the boxes; but it is easy to see that in a sea-way the
motion of the water within the boxes would defeat the object by con-
tinually changing the water, that the apparatus would be a source of danger
to the ship from possible leakage, and that many of the parts would be
inaccessible for cleaning or repair while in place unless the ship were
docked.
My Invention is preferable on account of the convenience of access and
cheapness of construction. All or nearly all the apparatus heretofore
known for similar purposes have, besides other objectionable features, been
constructed of great numbers of pipes and pieces, and have usually required
especial pumps, gauges, and instruments, as well as almost constant atten-
dance while in use, and frequent repairs. With my Invention many of the
annoyances and losses, and much of the expence heretofore endured may
be avoided. I find in practice that if the vessel a and jacket b, b, are
made of cast iron, and in one piece, it makes an efficient still, and cannot be
caused to leak by different expansions of different parts. An inspection of
the Drawings will show that very little brass or other high priced material
need be used, and that-the amount of labor required to construct my
apparatus will be comparatively small.
It is obvious that the same arrangement above described for relieving
feed water from an excess of air which may have passed through the feed
pump with it on its way to a steam boiler, will serve for relieving water,
etc. to be used for other purposes than supplying boilers, and may be of
use in chemical or other processes.
Having now fully described my Invention, what I claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First, I claim the combination of the vessel a, steam jacket b, trap g,
and sea cock v, or their equivalents, substantially as described.
Second, I claim the combination of the valve n, vessel a, jacket b, and
sea cock v, or their equivalents, substantially as described.

page_text: Third, I claim the cooling jacket r, or its equivalent upon the feed pipe q,
in combination with an automatic still, substantially as described.
Fourth, I claim relieving liquids of free gases or air while they are under
pressure by means of the liquid trap H, or its equivalent, when the trap H
is combined with the pump C, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Norman Willis Wheeler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of December, A.D. 1865.
NORMAN WILLIS WHEELER. (L.S.)