IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING FLUIDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lawrence and George Lawrence both of Saint
Mary Axe in the City of London for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING FLUIDS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lawrence and George
Lawrence at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th August
1882.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE and GEORGE LAWRENCE both of Saint Mary Axe in the
City of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING
FLUIDS
"
The improvements consist of sundry novel features which may be used separately
or in combinations of two or more and are intended for refrigerating condensing
calorifying and vaporizing fluids generally-The improvements consist in building
up corrugated, plain, tubular surfaced, or channelled plates of metal, glass, or earthen-
ware; or of metal coated with varnish or vitreous material; in certain ways parallel
to each other, or one plate or surface at an angle to the other, the corrugations
fitting into, upon, or lying across each other, or joining each other and so forming
tubes, for the purpose of constructing refrigerators condensers calorifiers and
evaporators said plates or a series thereof forming said apparatus being arranged
horizontally vertically or at any convenient angle, and in some cases in curved
forms, stacked above each other or alongside each other-Also of various modes of
staying and holding in position such stacks, plates, and their surfaces, in order to
ensure resistance to pressure, convenience for manufacture, renewal of parts, cleaning
and taking to pieces; together with the use of removable or fixed ends, covers,
partitions or supports and stays, supplied with hinged or other attachments, so that
said ends may be readily folded over and unfolded; and when in position serve as
stays supports or connecting pieces and form or hold passage ways for liquids to
from or between the plates-Also fitting such ends with rubber or other suitable
resistance, or non corroding material for chemical or steam tightening purposes-
TES 11

page_text: Also in building up or stacking such plates or surfaces in sets or series of apparatus
and thereby securing resistance to pressure, some of said sets or plates and surfaces
being arranged at an angle or otherwise to the other plates or parts thereof for this
purpose, and so forming stays or supports to each other-Also in placing such plates
in chambers or boxes with removable covers and providing suitable inlets and
outlets, or fixed covers may be used, the 'above arrangement being intended
principally for condensers. Also in suitable framing for the purposes last mentioned
and made to form inlet and outlet communications for fluid-Also in so arranging
the plates or surfaces as to secure a flow of fluids across or in other desired direction
to the course of the fluid for treating or acting on the flow of fluids-Also in the
use of fixed or removable stays, pin, bar, L. T. or H, or other convenient shape, and
outside stays which will allow of the plates or surfaces being readily taken apart
for cleaning or repairing purposes-Also in the use of apparatus causing a combined
or intermittent flow, or a vibrating or reciprocating flow of the treating fluids or of
the fluids to be treated in any and in various directions, over the plates and surfaces
and by or through or over their ends, covers, or partitions-Also in the use of
ribbed corrugated or channelled stays-Also in the method of construction and
arrangement for economising the heat by the use of the vapour heat off one set of
plates onto the next set at a less pressure, and so on, from plate or surface to
surface, by disposing a series of plates, surfaces, or cells one above, or alongside the
other, in the latter case the pressure being maintained by a column of liquid in a
pipe passing between the cells, and the condensed liquid allowed to flow off by
suitable outlets. Also in the construction of a strainer formed of or with perforated,
tubes, supplied with a screw or other equivalent for feeding and straining the fluids
-Also in coating the plates or surfaces with a fusible metal, or alloy, for the purpose
of freeing the said surfaces from accumulated matter. The said plates being
heated to a sufficient degree to cause the lining of metal or alloy to fuse and so
liberate the incrusted or accumulated matter. One suitable alloy can be made of
bismuth lead, and tin the proportions being varied to suit the temperature to be
experienced. Also in preventing the formation of globules of water by the rapid
action of heat on the condensing surfaces by the flow of fluid induced by the
Also in the
arrangement of corrugated surfaces herein described or some of them.
manufacture and use of a removable or fixed corrugated or ribbed false bottom or
strainer made in one or more pieces to be used in combination with the said
improvements or some of them, or for general purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lawrence and George Lawrence in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd February 1883.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE and GEORGE LAWRENCE, both of St Mary Axe, in the
City of London " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING
FLUIDS."
This invention relates in part to further improvements on Letters Patent
granted to William Lawrence in 1873 No. 1083 and in 1876 No. 3713 and to us in
1878 No. 580 and the invention consists of sundry novel features which may be
used separately or in combinations of two or more and are intended for refrigerating
condensing calorifying and vaporizing fluids generally. The improvements consist
in building up corrugated plain tubular surfaced or channelled plates of metals
glass or earthenware, or of metal coated with varnish or vitreous material, in
certain ways parallel to each other, or one plate or surface at an angle to the other,
the corrugations fitting into upon or lying across each other or joining each other
and so forming tubes for the purpose of constructing refrigerators condensers
calorifiers and evaporaters-said plates or a series thereof forming said apparatus
being arranged horizontally, vertically, or at any convenient angle and. in some
cases in curved forms stacked above each other, or alongside each other. Also the
improvements consist of various modes of staying and holding in position such
stacks plates and their surfaces in order to ensure resistance to pressure, con-
venience for manufacture; renewal of parts, cleaning and taking to pieces; together
with the use of removable or fixed ends, covers, partitions or supports and stays
supplied with hinged or other attachments, so that the said ends may be readily
folded over and unfolded; and when in position serve as stays supports or
connecting pieces and form or hold passage ways for liquids to pass to or from or
between the plates. Also the improvements consist in fitting such improved ends
with rubber gutta percha or other suitable resistance or non-corroding material, for
chemical or steam tightening purposes-Also the improvements consist in building up
or stacking such plates or surfaces in sets or series of apparatus and thereby
securing resistance to pressure, some of said sets or plates and surfaces being
arranged at an angle, or otherwise, to the other plates or parts thereof for this purpose,
and so forming stays or supports to each other-Also the improvements consist
in placing such plates in chambers or boxes with removable covers and providing
suitable inlets and outlets, or fixed covers may be used, this arrangement being
intended principally for condensers; also the improvements consist in making
suitable framing for the purposes last mentioned and made to form inlet and outlet
communications for fluid. Also the improvements consist in so arranging the plates
or surfaces as to secure a flow of fluids across, or in other desired direction, to the
course of the fluid; for treating or acting on the flow of fluids. Also the
improvements consist in the use of fixed or removable stays, pin, bar L, T or H
or other convenient shape, and outside stays which will allow of the plates or
surfaces being readily taken apart for cleaning or repairing purposes-Also the
improvements consist in the use of apparatus causing a combined or intermittent
flow, or a vibrating or reciprocating flow of the treating fluids, or of the fluids to
be treated, in any and in various directions over the plates and surfaces and by
or through or over their ends covers or partitions-Also the improvements consist
in the use of ribbed corrugated or channelled stays for general purposes-The
improvements further consist for the purposes of evaporation and condensation
of the method of construction and arrangement for economising the heat by the
use of the vapour heat off one set of plates on to the next set at a less pressure
and so on from plate or surface to surface, by disposing a series of plates surfaces
or cells one above or alongside the other, in the latter case the pressure being,

page_text: maintained by a column of liquid in a pipe passing between the cells and the
Also the improvements
condensed liquid allowed to flow off by suitable outlets.
consist in coating the plates or surfaces with a fusible metal or alloy for the
purpose of freeing the said surfaces from accumulated matter; the said plates
being heated to a sufficient degree to cause the lining of metal or alloy to fuse
and so liberate the incrusted or accumulated matter; one suitable alloy can be
made of bismuth lead and tin the proportions being varied to suit the temperature
to be experienced. Lastly the invention consists of the novel way of evaporating
or condensing fluids by treating them in a thin film in a closed chamber under
varying pressures or in vacuo.
.
The mode of performing the invention is fully described reference being had to
the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference refer to like parts.
The various parts of the apparatus being treated under different heads and are
shewn mostly in section, a refers to corrugated sheets, c to stays, the arrows
thus
denote generally the internal flow of fluids to be acted on, and the
arrows thus the external flow of fluids. For staying internally with fixed
stays an apparatus is shewn at Fig: 19 where the corrugations are held apart in
various modes to increase the area of the internal box or steam part-This form is
intended for Condensers. It may be attached to other corrugations fitted into each
other as shewn at Fig: 1. Another fixed internal stay is shewn at Fig. 7 where the
corrugations are placed in opposition to each other, and are held in position by a
ring or oval stay c.
For internal stays-not fixed-an oval or ring stay c is shewn also in Fig: 7 for
refrigerators, which take apart. In this case the oval stays are soldered alternately
to each of the corrugated sheets (a)-A pin passes through the stays vertically,
The corrugations being
holes being punched through the stays for that purpose.
dented in at c' the point where the pin passes. For such refrigerators the
connections for water are made by caps at their ends, and although the corru-
gations touch each other at the points (c2) a slight slip of water will happen, this
slip of water it is intended to allow to pass from one corrugation to another, but it
is the water that passes by at the ends which gives the reciprocating or backwards
and forwards flow. Fig: 40 shews specimens of ring stays of irregular shape
suitable for the flow of water, when it is backwards and forwards by means of the
covers at the ends, or by the slip flow above described. This stay is suitable for
When it is necessary to
corrugations where viscous fluids have to be treated.
prevent this water slip between the corrugations altogether, the corrugations are
soldered at these points of juncture. In such cases the stay is not removable.
When it is desired to increase this slip of water from one corrugation to another,
the corrugations are arranged as shewn in Figs: 31 and 34. They do not touch
each other. The slip of water being regulated as may be desirable by blocking
pieces d made preferably in metal, so as to limit the water flow to such apertures
as are necessary to give the desired water flow. The reciprocating or backwards and
forwards flow being given by that portion of the water flowing round the caps at
the ends, so as to make it pass down one pipe-like corrugation and back again
through the next corrugation above it-This flow being combined with that given
by the water slipping from one corrugation to another. When the corrugated
plates are placed flat and the liquid is to run parallel with the corrugations an
intermittent flow of liquid is desirable, this can be attained by any convenient
means, such as a cock to open and close intermittently.
Figs: 3, 3 and 6 shew forms of strip stays.
:
Fig 3 for a pin stay made to pass through the stays vertically. Fig: 3ª where
the pin stays e pass horizontally through the loop stays c.
Fig 6 is intended for an internal vertical pin stay same as in Fig: 3 but with
the addition of block pieces d as before described to give the backwards and
forwards flow.
At Fig: 4 a pin stay is made to pass through the corrugations, a piece being
clipped out and a stay c of cast metal having a hole in it for a pin to pass through

page_text: and having flanges to make the soldering secure. This refrigerator is arranged for
the plates to take apart as is shewn by the flanges at top and bottom. Fig: 45 is
a specimen of internal distance stay this is intended when the Refrigerator does
not require internal pressure stays. It is also applicable in some cases where the
systems of stacking is used when the stays are formed by the Refrigerators placed so
as to form their own staying as shewn in Fig: 28. Another form of stay is shewn
at Fig: 5 where the pin or the bar stay c is in conjunction with the loop stay, in
which case the bar stay forms the directing baffle plate for the flow of the water,
and at the same time allows the corrugated plates to be taken apart when the bar
is withdrawn.
In some cases, the pins or bars are made to project through the end covers of the
Refrigerator so as to form the bolts or stays to hold them in position. Figs : 8
and 9 are shewn with projecting baffle plates either attached to the corrugations or
made out of the corrugations themselves. A vertical pin stay e is shewn passing
through these projections, which are punched and strengthened up to receive the
pin. This form is also for taking the plates apart. Another form of stay is shewn
at Figs: 22, 37, 41 and 42. Fig: 22 shews a stay with loops through which the
pin e passes, the underside plate of the Refrigerator being recessed to receive the
pin. Figs: 41 and 42 shew the bottom plate of the Refrigerator with bar or angle
shaped stay c attached to it. This bar may be soldered direct on the corrugation
as shewn in Fig: 37 or may be bound on or attached to Band stays fixed on to
the corrugated plates. In order to keep the underneath or bottom plate of the
Refrigerator from bulging and to give it resistance to pressure, wooden boards or
strengthening pieces made of other suitable material are slid into the H shaped bar
or girder stays as at f.
External Stays are shewn in Figs: 1-11 and 12. These may be made of metal
and soldered on to the corrugated surface or they may have projecting bosses bored
out for bolts to pass through, of wood or any suitable material, in certain cases
India Rubber or Vulcanite is preferable where acids have to be treated. Figs: 11
and 12 illustrate this. Where Refrigerators are stacked, the edges of the stays
touching the corrugations may be ribbed at an angle to prevent the liquid from
running off the cooling surface as at Figs: 28 and 29 and where the distancing
pieces are required to be wide they may be perforated to admit of a free current
of air.
The improvements in closing the ends and tops and bottoms of the Refrigerators &c
by removable covers and other means are shewn in Figs: 1-4-8-11-12-15-16
21-23-24-25-26-45-46-47 and 48, also in some of the Figs: referring to the
stacking of Refrigerators and apparatus afterwards alluded to. In Fig 1 the tops
and bottoms are bolted on, in segments and form a separate part to the sides of the
apparatus. In Figs: 4 and 8 each plate is finished off with a flange and fitted for
bolts to allow the plates to take apart when the bolts are removed, together with
the pin and other stays and covers. The end covers are shewn in Fig: 34 which
help to secure the two sides of the Refrigerator or cooling plates in position and at
the same time give the reciprocating or backwards and forwards flow to the water-
Figs: 11 and 12 are used for securing the two cooling plates in position. The
internal part which forms a distance stay, and at the same time closes up the end
of the corrugations is made of India Rubber or other suitable material. The
outside part of the stays being of vulcanite wood or other material. The inlet and
outlet of water is formed as, at g the rubber being hollowed to receive a suitable
pipe. The tops and bottom flanges are made of vulcanite or other suitable material.
This form of Refrigerator is well adapted for certain chemical operations, for
instance where acids have to be treated, h are cramps placed at suitable distances
to hold the outside stay secure. In this form each side of the cooling surface is
made of one continuous plate of metal or other material. For some purposes
platinum would be most applicable. Also lead rolled on copper or other metal
backing, or corrugated glass or earthen ware plates. Figs: 25 and 26 shew a form
of closing up the ends of the corrugations, but in this form the corrugations are

page_text: :
either crushed down or pressed in a mould so that at the point (k) they form but
the thickness of the plate or a little more. The distance blocks c and the bolts l
passing through them close up the ends, suitable packing being used. This form is
for the stacking of Refrigerators and Condensers for various purposes where the
liquid to be condensed and the cooling water run either in the opposite or same
direction. When the condensing liquid runs across the flow or at an angle to the
liquid to be condensed the blocking pieces c are made hollow or pierced to allow
of the liquid to be condensed to pass in. The same as shown in Fig: 33 where
the apertures c' are for allowing the steam &c to pass through the hollow blocking
pieces. Another form of end and top stays is shewn in Figs: 15, 16 and 21 which
represent principally Condensers. Fig: 16 represents a Condenser with a hollow
cover running all down one side so as to admit of the vapour to be condensed to
pass freely into the corrugations at their ends and also from the top corrugations.
The steam or vapour enters at m. The condensed vapour passes out at m¹. This
apparatus in section is made as at Fig: 1. Fig: 21 shews the Condenser with
removable ends and fitted with top and bottom flanges to take a part. It may be
represented in section by Figs: 4 or 8 or any other of the forms to which the pin
and bar stay is applicable or where the cooling plates are intended to take apart.
Fig 15 is a Condenser where the ends have to be removed, only the cooling plates
are not intended to take apart. The internal section may be similar to Fig: 19 or
as at Fig: 31: the water used for condensing flows externally. The letter n at
Figs 1 and 4 shew suitable water troughs, for distributing the water on to the
apparatus. Figs: 23, 24, 45 and 45 shew a form of end castings with flanges to
allow the corrugated surfaces to take apart. Figs: 23 and 24 shew where the cast
flanged ends fit outside the corrugations-Figs: 45 and 45a where the cast ends fit
inside the corrugations. In this latter case the corrugations are quite free opened
or uncovered at their ends as far as the external surface is concerned-p shews a
projecting lip to prevent the liquid running off the corrugations at their ends,
pare the bolts holding the flanged frames together. Figs 46, 47, 48 and 49
shews covers for stacking Refrigerators, both one above the other and also by the
side of each other, so as to add to the size and power of the apparatus to any
desired extent either in height or in length--The covers which are vertical are by
preference in one piece each cover and they serve to form the water connections
between the various sections or parts of which the Refrigerator or Apparatus is
made up Fig: 46 shews an end view of such Refrigerator part in section.
Fig 47 is side elevation with part of the cover shewn in section-When this
cover b is removed the Refrigerator would be left free to take apart for cleaning-
These sections being. opened at their ends are only closed when the covers are on,
which covers also support the sections-The cooling plates of each section is made
with flanges, pin or bolt stays or with any of the before mentioned stays, in all
the figures where the plates are made to take apart or they may be made in any
other forms, in which the ends only take away so as to leave the interval spaces
open they may be made on any of the afore mentioned systems causing the
various descriptions of water flow previously described-The covers may be made
cellular as at b' so as to cause the backwards and forwards flow, or the water
passages may be connected when the two sections meet as is shewn at o; in this
case the end castings of the sections form or take the place of covers when bolted
together Fig: 48 shews where the sections are bolted one on to the end of the
other to make up an apparatus of any desired length. Fig: 49 shews in plan the
junetion of 4 sections, where they are bolted on to the end and also the top of
each other. The hollow space which two such covers enclose, form the water
communications and may be may cellular so as to form diverting caps either
shutting off the water where the ends are required to be closed as b in Fig: 47, or
form the water connections between the sections similar to b' Fig: 47.
Hinged Refrigerators-A specimen of the hinged arrangement is shewn at
Figs 4 and 8, in these arrangements the corrugated plates would open apart when
the bolts at the top are removed as well as the pin stays working on the hinge ɛ

page_text: Fig: 8. The end covers may also be hinged. The hinged arrangement may be
used where the stays are external and when end castings are used as at Figs: 23
and 24.
The various forms of stacking Refrigerators Condensers and Corrugated or other
sheets are found in addition to Figs: 46, 47, 48 and 49 already described in
Figs 13, 17, 18, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 43, 44, 50-2a 3a 4a and 5-
Figs 28 and 29 shew the sectional plan and elevation of one form of stacking
Refrigerators so as to take the place of internal stays, t shews the centre Refrigerator
which being a short section requires no stays; u are two Refrigerators at right
angles to the centre one and naturally would be double its length-A set of
these Refrigerators may be composed of any number. They are held together
by outside girder rods as shewn placed one at the top and one at the bottom
of each end or outside Refrigerators. V are bars bolts or pipes. Along one side
at the bottom a pipe is arranged to act as a bolt and at the same time to admit the
water to each section of the apparatus with suitable connections or T pieces
branching out of it-a similar pipe is used running along at the line of the top of
the Refrigerators to take away the waste water from each section and to form one
of the bolts-There will be four rods two of them being bolts and two of them
formed out of the pipes as described, and also four girder bars two at each end of
the outside Refrigerators-By this arrangement the breaking of the joint to allow
the sections to take apart also drains the water out of the Refrigerators-The
centre Refrigerators may be made with specially shaped ends having diagonal
projections on them to throw and keep the liquid on to the cooling surface. In place
of the Refrigerator placed in the centre may be substituted one or any number of
blocking pieces made of metal wood or suitable material and these may be
perforated and they may also form carriages with rollers or wheels fitted on to them
to wheel the sections apart. Figs: 17, 18, 27, 33, 38, 43 and 44 shew various
means of stacking corrugated plates so as to form a series of Refrigerators
Condensers or Calorifiers the surfaces of which alternately form the spaces for the
acting liquid and the liquid to be acted upon. In Fig 17 which is a sectional
elevation of this apparatus with end cover removed and Fig: 27 which is a side
elevation with the end cover on as well as top and bottom covers and Fig: 18
which is a plan view in part section shewing the top cover-the apparatus composed
of the series is built up of a number of corrugated plates in pairs each pair being
left open at their ends but soldered or fastened together at their tops and bottoms
or they may be independent plates held in position by renovable stays or distance
pieces and bolted together by bolts. The plates being alternately closed at their
sides and left open at their ends and closed at their ends and left open at their
sides cause liquid acting to flow at right angles to the liquid acted upon as shewn
by the arrows-The covers at top and bottom serve for inlet and outlet of the one
and cover at the side or ends as inlet and outlet for the other-In some cases for
chemical purposes the packing used forming and closing up the ends may be of
India Rubber Vulcanite or some suitable acid resisting material somewhat similar
to that described in Figs: 11 and 12 but made in form as in Fig: 17. When it is
desired to take the apparatus apart for cleaning the bolts and covers may be
removed and where each pair of plates are soldered together they may be unsoldered
at their tops and bottoms as shewn--When it is desirable to have the plates all
separate and not solder them at the top and bottom it is then necessary to use
distance pieces to join or force the plates together to make the joints tight but in
such cases the distance or blocking pieces must be cellular or perforated somewhat
as shewn at Fig: 33-The apparatus being closed in with covers on four sides
requires only the plates on the two remaining sides-these plates must be made of
sufficient strength and flanged on their edges to receive the covers and make
sufficient packing surface for the same. Fig: 33 shews a system of building up
plain instead of corrugated plates-The distance frames and plates are placed
alternately-The part shewn in section gives the perforations in the distance
frames as shewn by the arrows top and bottom and the curved arrows shew the

page_text: perforations at their ends, the distance frames being thus perforated alternatively
top and bottom and at each of their ends admit the liquid to be acted upon and
the acting liquid at right angles to each other so that they may flow in that
direction The series of apparatus thus built up may be fitted with covers such as
described above in Fig: 17 or the covers may be fitted with divisions to cause an
alternating or backwards and forwards flow-The whole apparatus may be secured
with bolts as shewn in Fig: 17-Figs: 1, 38, 43 and 44 shew a somewhat similar
apparatus to that last described, the plates being arranged in pairs but instead of
being soldered at their tops and bottoms the corrugations are crushed or flattened
down at their ends or the corrugations may be stamped in the plates leaving the
edges or margin plain as in Fig: 26-The pairs are arranged so that the corru-
gations generally run parallel to each other-Each pair of corrugations may be
fitted with flanges at tops and bottoms as shewn at Fig: 44 or by any other
auitable arrangement bolted together by bolts-The outside corrugations are fitted
with flanges as shewn and outside these again are the flanged plates similar to
those already described in Fig: 17. In forming a box or casing for same-these
plates together with two covers at the sides entirely close the apparatus. Fig: 44
is a section at x-y of Fig: 43-The inlets and outlets are as shewn by the arrows
This form of apparatus last mentioned is particularly adapted for Condensers.
One great feature in all these forms of Condensers is the prevention of all formation
of Globules in the water. In this particular figure it is done by the vertical and
peculiar action of the currents, whereby the cooling water moves so rapidly against
the surface-This form of Condenser may be made with the corrugations running
parallel to each other as shewn or they may be placed back to back as in Fig: 17.
Fig: 35 shews apparatus somewhat similar to the above but where each pair of
plates is made into a distinct apparatus, condenser or Refrigerator one or any
number of such may be put into a box all connected together with the inlet and
outlet service pipe as illustrated-This is also particularly adapted for condensing
or heating feed water for boilers-Fig: 36 is a similar apparatus with only one
Refrigerator fitted into a box-In this case the box is made in two halves and
shaped in a corrugated form on two sides and plain on the other two-The inlets
and outlets of water are shewn by the arrows
forms the packing and
'+
distance piece at the same time-The apparatus will take apart by removing the
bolts a suitable packing being used for each side of the plates. Another combined
arrangement of corrugated Condensers is shewn at Fig: 32-This apparatus is
intended for condensing steam by means of a current of air and by radiation-The
apparatus is shewn in section and is adapted for steam Trams q shews the roof of
the Tram Engine Car-The apparatus is coated with a paint or varnish of a dull
color best known for inducing radiation-One mixture might be lamp black with
varnish The arrows shew the inlet and outlet of steam and condensed water-
Fig 10 shews apparatus built up of fish shaped pipes made with internal
diaphragms in order to ensure resistance to pressure. They are stacked so as to
fit between each other and to give facility for cleaning by a brush-The water used
for condensing would fall vertically and the passage of the steam would be horizontal
and when used for condensing purposes the apparatus should be placed in a case-
Figs 30, 50 and 1ª, shew an important form of evaporating and condensing
apparatus whereby the heat is utilized over and over again and economised-The
apparatus is as follows-viz; Corrugated or plain plates are arranged so as to form
separate cells each at different pressures arranged either side by side or one above
the other, or when vertical and in a circular form concentrically. Each cell being
fitted with an arrangement for admitting the water to be evaporated and taking
away the condensed water as well as air or gases. Fig: 30 shews a sectional
elevation of apparatus with cells arranged side by side 1 shews the generator in
which steam from a boiler is maintained at any desired pressure-The water to be
evaporated enters the trough through the pipe c¹ falling over the corrugated surface
in the direction shewn by the arrows and thus forms steam in these cells d' which

page_text: pressure in the next cell of 55 lbs
=
will attain a pressure within a few pounds of that in the generator itself—The
difference being the few degrees necessary to transmit the heat to the other side of
the plate. Thus a pressure in one cell say 60 lb: = temperature of 292° Faht, a
287° Fah. These being the boiling temperatures
of water under those pressures-Therefore the water running down on one side
of the plate of each cell will become boiled and form steam and the surplus water
will be thrown up the pipes f' and enter the trough supplying the next cell-The
same operation will again take place cell after cell-The steam formed in each
being condensed by the next one-there are receiving troughs for the condensed
water for each cell, which is let out by a suitable steam tap or steam traps-Steam
inlet is at m' outlet at n¹-Fig: 30 also illustrates the application which is intended
for evaporation in vacuo and on a thin film principle-In this arrangement the
liquid to be evaporated enters the trough on either side at the top of steam heater
and as it flows over the surface cold water flows down the corrugations which in
this case form the outside casing, any usual air pump will preserve the vacuum and
keep down the temperature to the lowest point for boiling. This is of great
importance, as by this system liquids may be evaporated at very low temperatures
and prevent chemical changes that happen by prolonged treatment at higher heats,
as an illustration the boiling of syrups milk and other substances that require to
be concentrated without being altered chemically by heat may be evaporated and
concentrated by this apparatus.
Fig 1 is an improved condensing or evaporating apparatus arranged in a
circular form-The pressure on each cell or chamber d' is modified and maintained
by means of either stand pipes, to represent the column of water equal to the
required pressure or other suitable means such as pressure valves p as shown. In
this cylindrical system the centre cylinder 6¹ forms the generator on its inside and
contains the steam from the boiler, the condensed water from which returns to the
boiler through pipe n. On the outside of this cylinder water is distributed being
forced in under pressure through the pipes f¹, this water runs down the corru-
gations in the direction shown by the arrows and becoming in its passage partly
distilled or evaporated, the steam formed acts upon the inside of the second or
next cylinder d¹, and becoming or forming the heating or evaporating power for
the next cell and so on- -The surplus water or that not evaporated passes up
through the pipes f¹ into the supply for the next chamber and the pressure valve
regulates the rate of flow of this water into the chamber down the corrugated
surface of which it flows, the evaporation from this water acting on the next
cell as heating power and the water not evaporated passing upward through the
pipes into the supply for next chamber and so on until it makes its exit at 9, and
either runs to waste or else runs down the outside of the outside cylinder to
condense the steam within-By the use of fresh cold water the number of cells
may be increased and more evaporations carried on partly in vacuo or entirely
so by the use of an ordinary air pump-The condensed water from each cell or
chamber passes out by the pipes h, which are steam trapped or fitted with
regulating cocks. The condensed water is kept separated from the crude water
by the plain cylinders k, placed intermediately between the corrugated cylinders d,
these intermediate cylinders are plain about one third of their height but perforated
above for the remaining part, to allow the steam to pass through the perforations
at the same time and to prevent any splashings from passing-In the case of the
evaporation of fluids, if the residuum should have a tendency to crystallize or
corrode, suitable chambers may be employed placed underneath the cells so as to
keep these cells or chambers in the apparatus proper from becoming blocked by
the refuse or accumulations. Such underneath chambers may be made easily
removable to take to pieces for emptying and cleaning, and the water pipes h
connecting and supplying the cells may be led away from these underneath
chambers instead of from the chambers themselves-m' in Fig: 1a is steam inlet
and condensed water exit. A modified form of apparatus for re-distillation
purposes may be made by using a number of separate vessels in combination,

page_text: For instance we can employ cylinders or suitable vessels each containing a coil or
heating apparatus and having a communication for both steam and water, to connect
one to the next and so on. Thus the steam distilled in the one chamber would
enter the inside of the heating apparatus in the next and the water condensing
would be thrown up from the bottom of the one chamber to the top of the next
and so on and be distributed on to the coil and heating apparatus-This arrange-
ment is somewhat cumbrous but it would answer the purpose in a rough way.
The condensed water happening in each coil would be run off in the usual way,
the evaporation in the one cell forming the steam for the next coil and becoming
condensed water running away at the bottom by means of suitable traps or taps.
In all these apparatus should the crystallizable residuum become too strong
separate vessels may be provided under each chamber to keep the salts from
crystallizing in the chambers proper of the apparatus. The crystallizing happening
in the underneath chambers special provision may be made to remove the saline
and corroded matters. Fig: 2a shows a plan view partly in section of a voluted
arrangement for condensing and cooling purposes in which the corrugated plates
(or they may be plain) are arranged to form a condenser made of volutes the centre
of which is the general water supply and contains a perforated strainer 8 to keep
back weeds and small fragments from which the water flows into each of the
volutes, the outflow of water is at t. Fig: 3 shows part elevation and part section
of same and Figs: 4 and 5 show details of a somewhat similar arrangement but
the condenser is made up of separate voluted corrugated or plain plate refrigerators
and condensers. In this case the water is admitted in the central box x and the
water runs from this box to either one or both ends of each refrigerator. When
the water runs to both ends the top and bottom chambers must be connected by
a pipe which may contain a strainer. The escape of water is the same as in the
former (Fig 3a). Fig: 4ª is a plan view of the central arrangement and Fig: 5
are vertical sections of the top and bottom chambers for admitting the water at
one end of each refrigerator.
:
Fig 14 shews a baffle diaphragm as previously mentioned but in a circular or
curved form instead of straight-Figs: 23 and 24 shew a pin and loop stay, a is
the corrugated sheet, X, the pin and Y the stay-the sheets are placed and slide
one over the other into position the pin shooting into the holes in the stays when
the sides or frames are bolted together-Fig: 50 shews apparatus similar to
Fig 30 but in which the cells d' are placed one above the other b¹ being the
generator, m¹ steam inlet, n¹ steam outlet, the steam condensing in each cell is
received in the trays o'. The pipes at side p¹ are fitted with regulating valves
and are for the purpose of supplying fluid to be evaporated at the desired levels
instead of allowing it to run over in a thin film as in Fig: 30, the pipes o¹ are
steam trapped-The heat is thus utilized over and over again in the cells, the
steam from one forming the generator for the next and so on-suitable man holes
and doors can be provided.
We claim-The mode of constructing apparatus for treating and the treating
fluids by the use of corrugated plates and their accessories or by other modes
all substantially as herein described and illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
In Witness whereof we the said William Lawrence and George Lawrence
have hereunto set our hands and seals this third day of February A.D.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE (L.S.)
GEORGE LAWRENCE
(L.S.)