AN IMPROVED APPARATUS POR CONDENSING STEAM
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Barreau Pinchon, of the City.
3
of Amiens, in the Department of the Somme, France, Brazier,
for the Invention of AN IMPROVED APPARATUS POR CONDENSING
STEAM."
Sealed the 7th January 1870, and dated the 31st July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Barreau
Pinchon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 31st July 1869.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE BARREAU PINCHON, of the City of Amiens, in the
Department of the Somme, France, Brazier, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM,"
to be as follows:
3
The principle of the present Invention is the separation of the con-
densed water and condensed steam, admitting of its exclusive employ-
ment in feeding the boiler, and at the same time avoiding incrustations,
since this water is naturally distilled....

page_text: The following description of the condenser will more clearly explain
the system :-
On leaving the motive-power cylinder the steam is directed to the
condenser after having passed through a series of horizontal tubes in
which a current of cold water circulates; it then enters a second series
of metal tubes arranged in a vertical position; these are perpetually
surrounded with cold water, which is constantly renewed. The steam
on leaving these tubes is coudensed, and is taken by the air pump and
directed to a special reservoir where the boiler is fed. The cold or con-
densing water is also taken by the same pump which supplies the
apparatus therewith, after which it escapes outside either to be lost or
to be employed in any suitable manner. The regular and effective
working of the apparatus is effected by the air pump, which requires
little force and produces a perfect vacuum in the condenser by a few
strokes of the piston; it conducts the condensed water in any desired
direction for supplying the boiler, acts as a sucking pump for furnishing
the apparatus with the condensing water, forcing it to enter a series of
vertical tubes, and thence to rise and pass into the horizontal conduits,
finally escaping outside the apparatus. The valves and the piston are
hydraulic, which prevents any escapes, and is of essential importance
in producing a perfect vacuum in the condenser.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jean Baptiste Barreau Pinchon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE BARREAU PINCHON, of the City of Amiens, in the Depart-
ment of the Somme, France, Brazier, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters l'atent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Jean Baptiste Barreau Piuchon, Her special
licence that I, the said Jean Baptiste Barreau Pinchon, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Jean
Baptiste Barreau Pinchon, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: 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, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste
Barreau Pinchon, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Baptiste Barreau Pinchon,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 certain improvements in the apparatus
used for condensing steam, by means of which condensed steam may be
exclusively supplied to boilers, thus preventing all incrustation, a very
considerable economy be effected on any condensing apparatus as yet.
employed for this purpose, and of which the construction and working
is simple and uncomplicated.
On issuing from a steam cylinder the steam passes into the coudenser
after having turned around a series of horizontal tubes in which a
current of cold water circulates; it passes into a second series of similar
tubes of highly conducting metal, but placed vertically and surrounded
by cold water, which is constantly renewed. The steam after its passage
is condensed, and conducted by the air pump to a particular kind of
reservoir, where the feeding of the boiler is operated. The cold or con-
densing water is discharged by the same air pump through the tubing
apparatus around and through which it is intended to pass, and when
it has produced the requisite effect it escapes either to be lost altogether
or to be employed for any desired purpose. The regular working of my
apparatus is due to a particular arrangement of the air pump, which
enables it with a minimum of power to produce a complete vacuum in
the condenser to discharge and conduct the condensed water to any
desired spot for the supply of the boiler, and to aspire the cold or

page_text: condensing water so as to force it into the apparatus, and there compel
it to turn around a series of vertical tubes, and then rise through
the other series of horizontal ones, and finally to escape altogether. The
valves and the piston are hydraulic, which avoids all possibility of
escape, and is an essential condition in order to have a perfect vacuum
in the conde
Having thus briefly described the Invention, I will now proceed to
describe the same more fully, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, which are only given as an example of one of the applications
of my Invention, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, it being
thoroughly understood that this system may be applied in any cther
suitable manner according to circumstances.
Fig. 1 is a view seen in elevation, parts being sectional views of my
improved condensing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side and partly sectional
view of the same. In these two Figures the principal parts of the
apparatus are exposed, the exterior enveloppe being taken away. Fig. 3
is a transversal section by the line 1-2, Fig. 2, exposing the vertical
tubes.
The condenser consists of a case well closed in constant communica-
tion with the steam cylinder by means of the escape pipe A. The steam
arrives at the upper part of this case, spreads around a series of hori-
zontal tubes m, and from there proceeds into the vertical pipes a,
supported by two horizontal plates a, a. The tubes a are adjusted on
the plates a, x, by means of rubber washers, which constitute well closed
joints around each of these tubes, and by admitting of a certain difference
in their size facilitates displacing and replacing them. Around the
pipes a, a, a, are left intervals in which circulates cold water, which
being forced to rise enters the pipe M, and fills the tube m, m; upon its
issue from these tubes it is conducted by the pipe P into a reservoir H,
O from which it overflows by the escape pipe J into any desirable spot.
Consequently by means of this system the steam in the tubes a, a, a,
and around those m, m, is in contact with the cold water, which con-
denses it rapidly. The condensed steam falls into the lower space y of
the case, and is aspired by the air pump to feed the boiler. The pump
consists of the body of a pump G, containing a piston p, which by means
of cams or eccentrics receives a vertical reciprocating movement. To
this pump body G are connected, first, a pipe B, whose end is in com-

page_text: This suction is
draw the con-
munication with the reservoir y, and which serves for the suction of the
condensed steam and for creating the vacuum in the apparatus ; secondly,
of the pipes E, F, E serving as guide to the condensed water to the
reservoir O, and F being arranged to facilitate the escape of air; thirdly,
the pipe C, by which is operated the suction of the cold water from a
river, pit, or any other source of cold water; fourthly, the pipe D,
through which runs the condensing water, which pipe conducts the
said condensing water toward the lower part of the case of the con-
In order to
denser in the empty space around the vertical tubes a, a.
understand the working of the pump, suppose the piston p at the
bottom of its course, and then for it to be raised, the result is, first,
suction in the pipe B, the valves b, b, opening, and the suction being
operated in the lower reservoir y of the case, and in the vertical tubes
a, a, around those m, m, and up to the escape pipe A.
intended by producing the vacuum in the condenser to
densed water into the pipe B for it afterwards to occupy the space in
the pump body G, in proportion as the piston p rises; secondly, the
valves e, e, are strongly drawn on to their seats, and shut off all com-
munication between the pipes B and F, E; thirdly, the piston forces
the cold water above it aspired from the pipe C by the descent of the
piston into the pipe D, and thence around the vertical tubes a, a, in
order from there to raise it into the pipe M for it to run through
the horizontal tubes m, m. When the piston is lowered a contrary
result is produced, that is to say, 1st, the valves b, b, close, and all
suction in the tube B is stopped; 2nd, the valves e, e, rise, the con-
densed water and the air above the piston p are forced, the air into the
pipe F and the water into the pipe E, which discharges it into the
reservoir O; 3rd, the valve d of the pipe D falls back, that c of the
pipe C rises and permits the cold water drawn by the suction to be
introduced into the pump body's vacant space G underneath the piston.
These operations are repeated, and, as stated, after a few strokes of the
piston I obtain a perfect vacuum in the condenser, the manometre I
indicating regularly the state of the apparatus with regard to vacuum
and depression. The Drawing clearly shows that the valves and the
piston are essentially hydraulic. The valves whose rods, are hollow are
bevel shaped on their lower surface, so as to have but one line of contact
with their seats, which latter terminate in a plane surface with sharp
corners. This arrangement completely neutralizes the effect of the
grease passing on to the seat of the valves.

page_text: As there is always a loss in the liquid serving continually to feed the
boiler, which loss is almost imperceptible with my apparatus, I establish
a compensating cock k on a pipe K, which branches from the discharge
pipe of the condensing water, and which discharges into the reservoir of
the condensed water O. When it is thought the level in this reservoir O
is lowering it suffices to open the cock K, which takes water from the
pipe P, where it is already at a high temperature; as soon as the level
has regained its desired height the cock K is shut. Thus the steam
engine receives the condensed water from the reservoir O through the
pipe N and sends it to the generator. A float V is arranged in such a
way that being in direct communication with the cock n of the pipe N,
it only permits the suction of the condensed water when the level of
the reservoir O is at a suitable height. If there were no more water
the cock n would open, and the supplying apparatus would only
aspire air.
Finally, to effect the suction of the condensing water with nicety by
the air pump in the pipe C, I arrange a cock c in this pipe, by means of
which a mixture is effected of air in a larger or smaller quantity with
the aspirated liquid. When the working of the apparatus necessitates
using all the cold water that the pump can supply the cock c is
closed.
In the Drawings is represented by a blue line a system of arranging
the reservoir of the condensed water in the upper part of the case of
the apparatus, but this arrangement would only answer in places where
there is an abundant supply of cold water. In this case the pump
arrangement remains the same. On the forcing pipe of the condensed
water E is soldered a vertical pipe S, which when the cock R of the
pipe E is shut serves to direct the condensed water into the reservoir Q
placed on the top or cap of the apparatus. In this position the
reservoir will absorb a certain amount of heat from the pipes near the
escape steam, and will serve to warm the condensed cold water which it
contains. The pipe T of this reservoir Q discharges into the one O.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein indicated and repre-
sented in the Drawings, as these may obviously be modified without
departing from the principle of my Invention; but what I claim and
desire to secure by the said Letters Patent is,-

page_text: First. The novel arrangement of a condenser by means of which the
same water is used for the supply of the generator, and the escape steam
acted on by a current of cold water in the interior and on the exterior
of two series of highly conducting metal tubes, the one horizontal and
the other vertical, said steam on issuing from the steam cylinder passing
around the one and through the other series, as it has been described
and shewn in the Drawings.
2ond. The combined arrangement of the air pump producing the
results described, and effecting the uniform working of the apparatus,
as has been described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Barreau Pinchon,
have hereto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
J. B. BARREAU PINCHON. (L.S.)