Water Heating Apparatus for Immersion in the Water to be Heated, with Means of Evaporating any Water of Condensation Internally Formed therein, for Attachment to Gasometers, or for other uses or purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Water Heating Apparatus for Immersion in the Water to be Heated,
with Means of Evaporating any Water of Condensation Internally
Formed therein, for Attachment to Gasometers, or for other uses
or purposes.
1, CHARLES HENRY TRITTON of 78 Nutcroft Road, Peckham, London S.E.
Gas-fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to apparatus for heating water with means to evaporate
any water of condensation internally formed therein and has for its object primarily
to prevent freezing of water in exposed positions such as the water in the "cups
of gas-holders or tanks or other vessels or places-my present invention however
being applicable to other uses or purposes.
Heretofore various attempts have been made to prevent the water freezing in
the cups of gasometers or other exposed positions by immersing water-heating
apparatus therein but owing to considerable quantities of water of condensation
forming internally in such apparatus and there being no means of draining off such
water of condensation the latter has extinguished the gas flame or other heating
medium and consequently such water-heating apparatus has been rendered
unworkable after a short time and therefore useless.
Now my present invention relates not only to an improved water-heating
apparatus for immersion in the water to be beated but futhermore I provide means
for evaporating any such water of condensation which may form internally in the
water heating apparatus so that according to my invention this water-heating
apparatus can be immersed or partially immersed in the water to be heated (for
instance in the water in the cup of a gas-holder) and as I thus get rid of any water
of condensation formed therein such water heating apparatus will work continuously
and for as long as desired..
My present invention is as follows:-
The apparatus consists of an outer wall or case of any suitable shape (for instance
of an oblong shape) having a boiler or water heater arranged therein of corre-
sponding shape or thereabouts such water heater consisting of an inner and outer
shell between which a water space is thus formed a suitable inlet or inlets for the
water being provided advantageously at one end near the bottom. A vertical
shaft or passage is thus formed right through from the bottom to the top of this
water heater and a series of pipes (advantageously round tubes) arranged
horizontally pass from the water space at one end across this shaft into the
water space at the other end-means being provided if desired to prevent the
flow of water round the casing from one end of the chamber to the other in
which case the water passing through such apparatus will all have to pass through
these horizontal tubes or equivalents therefor for instance instead of tubes
vertically arranged hollow plates may be arranged in this said shaft through
which hollow plates the water circulates the beat passing up on both sides of said
plates.
Or I may use other well-known or suitable means for rapidly beating water such
as are used in the well-known bath water heaters or "geysers" for instance hollow
plates extending partially across said shaft alternately from each side thereof so
that the ascending heat has. to take a zigzag course and thereby heats each side of
said plates which may be arranged horizontally or otherwise as desired so as to act
as baffle plates or deflecting plates.
Or instead of the foregoing I may use a coil or coils or other suitable

page_text: arrangement of pipes tubes or water passages to or through which water is conducted
in any suitable manner either direct from the exterior of the apparatus or from an
internal chamber or chambers in such apparatus such as the water space as stfir
herein before described and for the sake of example I will now continue the
description of the latter as affording a suitable apparatus for my present purpose.
A suitable water outlet or outlets (advantageously towards the top part of the
water-heating apparatus and at the opposite end thereof to the aforesaid water
inlet) is provided both the said inlet and outlet respectively being below the
surface of the water in which this apparatus is immersed or partially immersed the
sides and ends of the outer wall or casing being carried to a sufficient height above
the water in which the apparatus is immersed to prevent any such water passing
into the apparatus over the top thereof and the top of this outer case is closely
covered in in any suitable manner advantageously with a removable cover so that
access can be gained to the interior thereof.
66
be
Within this outer wall and over the shaft from the water heater I arrange a top
or cover (advantageously sloping from the middle towards each side) the lowermost
edge of said cover being advantageously above the water level so that any water
collecting on this cover can drain through the holes formed in the said side wall
above the water level; and under this cover advantageously at the highest
converging point of said cover I mount a suitable chimney or outlet which may
be provided with any suitable "cowl or "down draught preventer" or air
extractor" which while it will permit the products of combustion to freely pass
away yet effectually prevents any rush of air or down dranghts from putting out
the gas flame or other heating medium in such water-heating apparatus for
instance the chimney which rises vertically through the aforesaid cover may
bent or turned at right angles or thereabouts and pass into or terminate in a
vertical shaft or cowl the lowermost end of which latter is quite open and having
a series of diagonally arranged passages or inlets just above where such horizontal
chimney enters such last-named vertical shaft so that any rush of air may enter
at the bottom of this vertical shaft or diagonal passages and pass out through the
top and thus cause an up draught-a conical or curved hood being provided just
over the top of this shaft to prevent down draught but permit air etc. coming
up said vertical shaft to pass out between the latter and said hood or cover and
furthermore if desired an outer casing may be mounted around the top part of
said shaft or cowl with a diagonally arranged opening so that any rush of air on
the exterior of this cowl will pass up this annular space and then passes out in a
slightly downward direction just below the outlet from the said cowl so as to assist
the extraction or passage of air or products of combustion passing out round the
edges of said bood but I do not limit myself to the foregoing or any particular form
of hood or cowl or down draught preventer for use with such apparatus.
Air to support combustion is passed into the apparatus in any suitable manner
but advantageously through gauze or baffle plates or other means of checking the
in-rush of air (for instance such as the well-known means used in miners' safety
lamps) in order to prevent high wind or sudden gusts of wind putting out the
burner. For instance 1 may use a large tube horizontally mounted just across the
top of the outer case the inlet of each end of this tube being provided with two or
more sheets of gauze perforated zinc or a system of baffle plates and thence a
communication from this passage leads to the burner or to the interior of the main
chamber.
"
The heating medium may be of any suitable character but for use on
gasometers may advantageously be a gas burner of the well known "Bunsen
burner principle.
This "Bunsen burner advantageously extends the whole length of said water
heater and around that part of the Bunsen burner which lies beneath the aforesaid
vertical shaft or central passage through the water heater I arrange and mount a
large slotted tube or enclosing device (advantageously formed of copper) the longi-
tudinal slot or opening being provided in the top of this enclosing device through

page_text: which the flames or products of combustion can pass up into the vertical shaft
aforesaid the jets or flames from said Bunsen burner being so arranged as to
impinge on the underside of said enclosing device as well as directly upwards
through the aforesaid slot or opening therein and thus this tube becomes
intensely hot and forms the evaporating device according to my invention and
acts as follows:-
This evaporating device may be formed smooth as an ordinary copper tube or
may be corrugated or ribbed or have a series of projections arranged on the
exterior thereof so as to catch and temporarily hold in any such depressions or
channels or the like formed on the exterior thereof the water of condensation
dropping from above.
This evaporating device is so arranged with reference to the aforesaid vertical
shaft through the water heater that the water of condensation formed on the
side walls of the said vertical shaft trickles down and drops off the bottom edge
thereof on to said evaporating device (or a lip or gutter may be arranged along
each such bottom edge with spouts or openings at regular intervals therein to thus
guide the water of condensation on to said evaporating device) near to the edge
of the slot or opening in said evaporating device which being intensely hot at this
point will convert such water of condensation into steam so that the latter will
then pass away with the products of combustion up through the central air shaft
and chimney to the exterior atmosphere.
Or any water of condensation not immediately evaporated as same falls will pass
downwards to the bottom of the apparatus on which latter the said evaporating
device is supported in any suitable manner advantageously just above said bottom
for instance ou strips of asbestos or other suitable material while the heat of this
said evaporating device will be sufficient to evaporate any such water of condensa-
tion accumulated in the bottom of said apparatus and thus pass same (as steam) to
the outside of said apparatus as before.
I do not wish to confine myself to any particular shape or material in making
this evaporating device provided same is so mounted with relation to the burner as
to be very highly heated by the latter and so arranged with relation to the boiler
or water heater that any water of condensation formed on the walls of the latter
will be guided on to this evaporating device advantageously so as to fall on to the
hottest part thereof and thus immediately convert such water of condensation into
steam.
It will be obvious that this water-heating apparatus if desired may be used for
water heating purposes other than the prevention of freezing where the conditions
require the total or partial immersion of the apparatus in the water to be heated.
Dated this 23rd April 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C..
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Water Heating Apparatus for Immersion in the Water to be Heated,
with Means of Evaporating any Water of Condensation Internally
Formed therein, for Attachment to Gasometers, or for other uses
or purposes.
I, CHARLES HENRY TRITTON of 78 Nutcroft Road, Peckham, London, S.E.
Gas-fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for heating water with means to evaporate

page_text: "
any water of condensation internally formed in said apparatus (ie. on the interior
walls tubes etc. in said apparatus) the object of such apparatus being primarily
to prevent freezing of water in exposed positions such as the water in the "cups
of gas-holders or tanks or other vessels or places-my present invention however
may be used in any other places or for any other purposes to which same is
applicable.
Heretofore various attempts have been made to prevent the water freezing in the
cups of gasometers or other exposed positions by immersing water-heating apparatus
therein but owing to considerable quantities of water of condensation forming
internally in such apparatus and there being no means of draining off such water
of condensation the latter has extinguished the gas flame or other heating medium
and consequently such water heating apparatus has been rendered unworkable after
a short time and therefore useless.
Now my present invention relates to an improved water heating apparatus for
immersion in the water to be heated in which I provide means for evaporating such
water of condensation as may form internally in the water-heating apparatus so that
according to my invention the latter can be immersed or partially immersed in the
water to be heated (for instance in the water in the "cup" of a gas-holder) and as
I thus get rid of any water of condensation formed in such water-heating apparatus
the latter will work continuously and for as long as desired.
Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of my apparatus—showing same in position
in the "
'cup."
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of my apparatus apart from the "
on line 1-1 Fig. 1.
cup "-
Fig. 3 is a horizontal view taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
The apparatus consists of an outer wall or case a of any suitable shape (for
instance of an oblong shape as shown in the drawings) having a boiler or water
heater arranged therein of corresponding shape or thereabouts such water heater
consisting of an inner and outer shell between which a water space is thus formed
see Fig. 1 a suitable inlet (or inlets) for the water being provided advantageously
at one end near the bottom. A vertical shaft or passage c is thus formed right
through from the bottom to the top of this water heater and a series of pipes d
(advantageously round tubes-arranged horizontally or approximately so or on a
suitable slope such as shown in the drawings) pass from the water space e at one
end across this shaft into the water space at the other end-means being
provided if desired to prevent the flow of water round the casing from the end e
of the chamber to the other end fƒ (such as forming or arranging a division down
each side between the said inner shell and the aforesaid outer casing aor the
water chambers e and f may each be a separate compartment connected only to one
another by means of the tubes d) so that the water passing through such apparatus
will all have to pass through these horizontal tubes d or equivalents therefor for
instance-instead of tubes as shown-vertically arranged hollow plates (not shown)
may be arranged in this said shaft c through which hollow plates the water
circulates and the heat passing up on both sides of said plates.
Or I may use other well-known or suitable means for rapidly heating water such
as are used in the well-known bath water heaters or "geysers" for instance hollow
plates extending partially across said shaft alternately from each side thereof so
that the ascending heat has to take a zigzag course and thereby heats each side of
said plates which may be arranged horizontally or otherwise as desired so as to act
as baffle plates or deflecting plates.
Or instead of the foregoing pipes d I may use a coil or coils or other suitable
arrangement of pipes tubes or water passages to or through which water is conducted
in any suitable mauner either direct from the exterior of the apparatus or from an
internal chamber or chambers in such apparatus such as the water space e as first
hereinbefore described and for the sake of example I will now continue the
.description of the latter as affording a suitable apparatus for ny present purpose.

page_text: A suitable water outlet g or outlets (advantageously towards the top part of the
water heating apparatus and at the opposite end thereof to the aforesaid water
inlet) is provided both the said inlet and outlet g respectively being below the
surface of the water in which this apparatus is immersed or partially immersed the
sides and ends of the outer wall or casing being carried to a sufficient height above
the water in which the apparatus is immersed to prevent any such water passing
into the apparatus over the top of the casing a thereof and the top of this outer
case a is covered in in any suitable manner so that air can gain access to the
burner and advantageously with a removable cover in two parts such as (as
hereinafter explained) so that same can be readily removed to gain access to the
interior of the apparatus.
C
Within this outer wall a and over the shaft c from the water heater I arrange a
top or cover (advantageously sloping from the middle towards each side) the
lowermost edge of said cover being advantageously above the water level so that
any water collecting on this cover can drain through holes (not shown) formed in
the said side wall a above the water level; and to this cover h (advantageously at
the highest converging point thereof) I mount a suitable chimney or outlet which
may be provided with any suitable "cow!" or "down draught preveuter" or "air
extractor" which while it will permit the products of combustion to freely pass
away yet effectually prevents any rush of air or down draught from putting out
the gas flame or other heating medium in such water heating apparatus for instance
the chimney i which rises vertically through the aforesaid cover may be bent.or
turned at right angles or thereabouts at and pass into or terminate in a vertical
shaft or cowl the lowermost end of which latter is quite open and having a series
of diagonally arranged passages or inlets just above where such horizontal part
of the chimney enters such last-uamed vertical shaft ; so that any rush of air may
enter at the bottom of this vertical shaft or diagonal passages and pass out
through the top and thus cause an up draught-a conical or curved hood k being
provided just over the top of this shaft to prevent down draught but permit air etc.
coming up said vertical shaft j to pass out between the latter and said 'hood' or cover
and furthermore if desired an outer casing may be mounted around the top part of
said shaft or cowl with a diagonally arranged opening so that any rush of air on
the exterior of this cowl will piss up the annular space j thus formed and then
passes out through the same outlet as that from the main passage and thereby
assists the extraction or passage of air or products of combustion passing out
round the edges of said hood but I do not limit myself to the foregoing or any
particular form of hood or cowl or down draught preventer or extractor for use
with such apparatus.
$$
Air to support combustion is passed into the apparatus in any suitable manner
but advantageously through gauze-such as the double metal gauze n n' or baffle
plates or other means of checking the in-rush of air (for instance such as the well-
known means used in miners safety lamps) in order to prevent high wind or sudden
gusts of wind putting out the flame from the burner. For instance I may use a
large tube (not shown) or a semi-circular cover horizontally mounted just across
the top of the outer case the inlet of each end of this cover being provided
with two or more sheets m m³ of gauze perforated zinc or a system of baffle
plates and thence communication is free from this passage to the burner or to
the interior of the main chamber and thence through the double gauze n n' to
the burner.
vis a sight hole (and a loose cap fitting over same) through which the burner
can be seen.
The heating medium may be of any suitable character but for use on gasometers
may advantageously be a gas burner of the well-known "Bunsen" burner principle:
viz.; a perforated pipe o with gas inlet pipe o' entering the open end o² of said
pipe o as is well: understood.
This Bunsen burner advantageously extends the whole length of said water heater
and around or along that part of the Bunsen burner which lies beneath the aforesaid

page_text: vertical shaft or central passage c through the water heater I arrange and mount a
large slotted tube or enclosing device p (advantageously formed of copper) a
longitudinal slot or opening p* being provided in the top of this enclosing device p
through which the flames or products of combustion can pass up into the vertical
shaft c aforesaid the jets or flames from said Bunsen burner being so arranged as
to impinge on the underside of said enclosing device near the said slot p* as well
as passing upwards through the aforesaid slot or opening p* and thus this tube p
becomes intensely hot and forms the evaporating device according to my invention
and acts as follows;-
This evaporating device may be formed smooth as an ordinary copper tube or
may be corrugated or ribbed or have a series of projections arranged on the exterior
thereof for instance longitudinal gutters or channels p' and p² as shown see Fig. 1
so as to catch and temporarily hold in any such depressions or channels such
as p' and p² or the like formed on the exterior thereof the water of condensation
dropping from above.
go
This evaporating device is so arranged with reference to the aforesaid vertical
shaft c through the water heater that the water of condensation formed on the inside
walls of the said vertical shaft e trickles down and drops off the bottom edge
thereof and also from the tubes d on to said evaporating device p-or a lip
(or gutter may be arranged along each such bottom edge with spouts or openings
at intervals therein) may be arranged to thus guide the water of condensation on
to said evaporating device p (pear to the edge of the slot or opening p* in said
evaporating device) which being intensely hot at this point will convert such
water of condensation into steam so that the latter will then pass away with the
products of combustion up through the said central air shaft and chimney ij to
the exterior atmosphere.
Or any water of condensation rot immediately evaporated as same falls will pass
downwards to the bottom of the apparatus on which latter the said evaporating
device p may be supported in any suitable manner advantageously just above said
bottom for instance supported by the burners o or resting on strips of asbestos
or other suitable material (not shown) while the heat of this said evaporating
device p
will be sufficient to evaporate any such water of condensation accumulated
in the bottom of said apparatus and thus pass same (as steam) to the outside of said
apparatus as before.
s is a collecting gutter across each end of the shaft c to guide any water of
condensation coming down same into channels p' and p³ of the evaporating device
through short tubes or connections s'.
P
I find it a good plan to arrange separate water chambers e and fat each end
of the shaft cas shown in the drawings and then to pack or fill the space (see
Figs. 1 and 3-between the outer casing a and the wall of said shaft c) with any
suitable material which will not conduct heat such as asbestos slag wool etc: whereby
radiation is to a large extent prevented or reduced.
to is the "cup" formed by the part y of the gasometer into which fits the lip
or turned over part z of said gasometer as is well understood-my apparatus
being mounted in said cup wo in any suitable manner for instance by brackets z¹
bolted thereto and to the said part z of the gas holder.
I do not wish to confine myself to any particular shape or material in making
this evaporating device p provided same is so mounted with relation to the burner o
as to be very highly heated by the latter and so arranged with relation to the
boiler or water-heater that any water of condensation formed on the walls or tubes
etc. of the latter will be guided on to this evaporating device advantageously so as
to fall on to the hottest part thereof and thus immediately convert such water of
condensation into steam.
In some cases for instance in order to ensure circulation of the heated water
all round the gas-holder I may connect up the outlet g by a suitable length
of pipe to the inlet of the next heating apparatus and so on to completet he
circuit.

page_text: It will be obvious that this water heating apparatus if desired may be used"
for water heating purposes other than the prevention of freezing where the
conditions require the immersion or partial immersion of the apparatus in the water
to be heated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In water heating apparatus for immersion or partial immersion in the water
to be heated-the combination with the burner or source of heat of an.
evaporating device heated by said burner and means to conduct the water of
condensation formed in the interior of the apparatus into or onto such evaporating
device.
2. In water heating apparatus for immersion or partial immersion in the water-
to be heated-the combination with the burner or source of heat of an
evaporating device heated by said burner and means to conduct the water of
condensation formed in the interior of the apparatus into or onto such evaporating
device substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
3. In water heating apparatus for immersion or partial immersion in the water
to be heated the arrangement and combination with a boiler or coil or tubes etc. or
other means for heating water and a burner such as o of an evaporating device
consisting of a large slotted tube such as pencircling said burner o and lips or
gutters such as rands to conduct any water of condensation trickling down the
inside wall of the heater onto the said- evaporating device p substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
4. Water heating apparatus for immersion or partial immersion in the water
to be heated with means for evaporating any water of condensation internally
formed therein arranged constructed combined and acting substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings..
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1896.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicant.