IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM AND COOLING LIQUIDS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hughes, of the City of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Machinist, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM AND COOLING
LIQUIDS." A communication from abroad by Charles Hughes, of
the Island of Cuba, Engineer.
Sealed the 3rd November 1871, and dated the 6th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hughes at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th May 1871.
I, WILLIAM HUGHES, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
3 Lancaster, Engineer and Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM AND
COOLING LIQUIDS," being a communication to me from abroad by Charles
Hughes, of the Island of Cuba, Engineer, to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to improved valves for spread-
ing and spraying the water in jet and surface condensers, and one
arrangement consists in fixing on a valve stem within the condenser a

page_text: valve having a perforated disc, so that when the valve is raised from its
seating the water will spread out in a sheet, and also be divided and
reduced to spray by means of the perforated disc, and in the condenser
there are perforated diaphragms for retarding and dividing the water as
it falls. The valve stem is placed in a stationery guide within the
condenser, and the distance at which the valve is allowed to risc is
regulated by a screw and nut. The valve is raised from its seating by
the force of the water injected, and whether the water is supplied by a
pump or a pressure main it is minutely divided and thrown laterally in
all directions. In some cases the perforations in the valve are dispensed
with and the water flows in a sheet through the space between the valve
and its scating.
When required the water from the condenser is passed to another
disc valve at the outside, so that the water shall be spread or tlırown
on cooling towers or other places, and be cooled to be again used for
injection or other purposes, and in this case the valve may be either
with or without the perforations.
The second part of this Invention relates to condensing vessels having
my improved valves in their interiors, or without-them, and consists in
surrounding the vessel with a tank or jacket, into which cold water
falls from a perforated ring pipe above, the water being discharged in
small jets which fall upon the upper end of the condensing vessel and
trickle down into the tank, the surplus water being carried off by a
waste pipe to be used as feed water for the boiler or for other purposes.
The condenser in combination with the tank may be used for either:
jet or surface condensation or both combined, thereby adapting it to all
purposes for which condensers are required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HUGHES, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer and Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Hcr
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Hughes, Her special, licence that I, the
said William Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Hughes, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CONDENSING STEAM AND COOLING LIQUIDS," a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Hughes, of the Island of Cuba, Engincer, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Hughes, 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 William Hughes, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
The first part of this Invention relates to improved valves for spread-
ing and spraying the water in jet and surface condensers, and one
arrangement consists in fixing on a valve stem within the condenser a
valve having a perforated disc, so that when the valve is raised from its
seating the water will spread out in a solid sheet, and also be divided
and reduced to spray by means of the perforated disc, and in the
condenser there are perforated diaphragms for retarding and dividing
the water as it falls. The valve stem is placed in a stationary guide
within the condenser, and the distance at which the valve is allowed
to rise is regulated by a screw and nut. The valve is raised from its
seating by the force of the water injected, and whether the water is
supplied by a pump or a pressure main it is minutely divided and
thrown laterally in all directions; but in some cases, when used for
condensation, the perforations in the valve are dispensed with and the
water flows in a solid sheet through the space between the valve and

page_text: its seating across the whole of the inside of the condenser, thus forming
a more perfect condensation.
When required the water from the condenser is passed to another
disc valve at the outside, so that the water shall be spread or thrown
on cooling towers or other places and be cooled to be again used for
injection or other purposes, and in this case the valve may be either
with or without the perforations.
The second part of this Invention relates to condensing vessels having
my improved valves in their interiors, or without them, and consists in
surrounding the vessel with a tank or jacket into which cold water:
falls from a perforated ring pipe above, the water being discharged in
small jets which fall upon the upper end of the condensing vessel and
trickle down into the tank, the surplus water being carried off by a
waste pipe to be used as feed water for the boiler or for other purposes.
The condenser in combination with the tank may be used for either
jet or surface condensation or both combined, thereby adapting it to
all purposes for which condensers are required.
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the
figures and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical and horizontal sections of the improved valve,
shewing its form and the manner of construction, with its seat and jet
pipe, Fig. 1 being a section of Fig. 2 at the line w, w, Fig. 2, and Fig. 2
a section of Fig. 1 at the line x, x; and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical and
horizontal sections of the condenser and jet pipe surrounded by a tank
or jacket in combination with a perforated ring, Fig. 3 being a section a
of Fig. 4 at the line y, y, and Fig. 4 a section of Fig. 3 at the line z, z.
In Fig. 1, a represents the valve; b, Figs. 1 and 2, the valve stem;
c, the valve shell; d, the valve guides; and e, the jet or supply pipe.
The top of the shell forms the seat of the valve, and across the bottom
there is a guide ƒ for the valve stem b, and the stem and valve are
adjusted as required by the screw and nuts g, h. The valve a, which
when closed is seated on the top of the shell, is a disc perforated with
small holes, as seen in the Drawing, and the valve is raised from its
seat by the force of water injected, and whether the water is forced in
by a pump or from a fountain head it is minutely divided by passing
through the perforations in the valve, and is deflected and thrown
laterally in all directions by the valve disc, so that the jet will appear
of an umbrella form, and the effect upon the steam is instantaneous and

page_text: perfectly effectual. In the use of this valve I do not confine myself
exclusively to the condensing of steam, but also use it for cooling water
in surface condensers, so that the same may be used as injection water
and for other purposes.
In Figs. 3 and 4, representing the condensing vessel surrounded by a
tank in combination with a perforated ring pipe, i is the condensing
vessel; j, the tank around it; k, a spray valve through which the
injection water is discharged; 1, 1, perforated diaphragms; m, the steam
pipe; n, the ring pipe perforated with small holes through its bottom
side and placed around the steam pipe; o, the man-hole for giving
access to the spray valve; and p, the injection pipe through which the
injection water may be forced by a force pump or water head. If cold
water is introduced into the perforated ring pipe n through the pipe q,
Fig. 4, the water is discharged in small jets which fall upon the upper
and of the condenser, trickling down and filling the tank j, thereby
converting it into a surface condenser producing of itself a good vacuum
without the interior valve jet. The surplus water runs off through the
overflow piper, but the water may be withdrawn by a cock at a for
feeding the boiler, or for other purposes, so that a constant circulation
is kept up. The very large surface exposed renders this tank very
effective as a surface condenser, and the water from the condensed steam
being pumped up into the ring pipe to fall into the tank may be used
over and over for boiler feed or for other purposes, and where pure
water is scarce this is a matter of great importance. When the
interior valve jet is used the mingled injection water and the water of
condensation descend to the pipe t, from whence they are discharged as
may be desired.
It will be seen that the condensing vessel i in combination with the
tankj may be used for either jet or surface condensation, or for both
combined, thus adapting it to all purposes for which condensers are
required in steam engineering. represents a pipe from whence the
exhaust steam is discharged, and is a part of the apparatus connected
with sugar works, and has no particular relation with the condenser.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
as communicated to me from abroad by the said Charles Hughes, I
desire it to be understood that in apparatus for condensing steam and
cooling liquids I claim,-

page_text: First. The construction, arrangement, and operation of the valve a,
Fig. 1.
Secondly. The condensing vessel i, Figs. 3 and 4, the tankj enclosing
it, and the perforated ring pipe n in combination with them, as all such
improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hughes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hughes, have hereunto set
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
my
Signed, sealed and delivered by
the said William Hughes, in
the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
WILLIAM HUGHES. (L.S.)