IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AERATED FRESH WATER PROM SALT WATER
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Clegg and Richard Fell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 18th March 1859.
WC, ROBERT CLEGG, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, and RICHARD
FELL, of Saint Ann's Place, Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of tho said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING AERATED FRESH WATER PROM SALT WATER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in obtaining aerated fresh water from salt water in
apparatus of the following construction, said apparatus being composed of five
principal parts, namely, a generator, a condenser, a vacuum chamber, an air
pump, and a closed tank, all of which are connected together, and are con-
structed and operated with in the following manner:-The generator consists
of an air-tight vessel, in which are arranged longitudinally a series of water-
tight chambers for the passage of hot air from an ordinary cabouse, such as
is commonly used on shipboard for cooking. The aforesaid air chambers are
connected together, and terminate in a pipe passed through the top of the above
named iron vessel, said pipe being open to the atmosphere.
The condenser consists of a closed air-tight vessel, in which are arranged
longitudinally a scries of water-tight troughs, each divided into compartments,
a communication being established between each compartment by means of an
elbow pipe open at both ends; these several troughs are connected together
near their ends by vertical pipes, and the lowermost of such said pipes passes into

page_text: the before-mentioned vacuum chamber at the bottom thereof. This vacuum
chamber consists of an air-tight vessel, from which proceeds a bent pipe, one
end of which is fixed near the bottom thereof, and the other end of such said
pipe is connected to the bottom of an air pump, from whence proceeds another
bent pipe, which enters a tank or reservoir to contain the aerated fresh water
obtained in the abovo apparatus in the following manner and order, and by
the following process, that is to say, the apparatus is first exhausted of air by
means of the air pump, the generator is then charged with salt water, leaving
space at top for steam, which as the water is heated from the hot air chainbers
passes through a pipe into the condenser filled with cold salt water. The
troughs in the condenser at the commencement of the process should be filled
with fresh water, after which the process goes on as follows:-As the water in
the generator is converted into steam or vapour, the air in the water as it
becomes rarefied ascends, and mixing with the vapour or steam, passes into the
first compartment in the upper trough of the condenser, where the mixed
vapour and air are condensed, the air. being thus held in suspension in the
water; as this compartment becomes charged or filled with aerated fresh
water, it passes from thence to the next and adjoining compartment, and so on
throughout the whole series, and finally passes into and fills the pipe leading
into the air pump, and enters the barrel thereof; this pipe is fitted with a
valve, so that the down stroke of the pump closes such valve, and forces the
fresh water into the tank or reservoir, from whence it is to be drawn for use;
another valve preventing the return of the water into the barrel of the pump.
A mechanical arrangement of the following construction may be advan-
tageously employed for removing the saturated water from the bottom of the
generator periodically, and simultaneously admitting the water from the con-
denser into the generator. For this purpose it is proposed to employ two
flexible bags, one at top and the other at the bottom and outside of the
generator. Connected to the outer ends of these bags are, vibrating levers, the
other ends whereof are connected together by a long rod. The uppermost of
the aforesaid levers is connected with a cock, by which water is admitted from
the condenser into the generator as follows:-As the water in the generator
evaporates a partial vacuum is formed, the effect of which is to cause the
flexible bag situate at the top of the generator to collapse, thereby opening the
before-mentioned cock, and letting water flow from the condenser into
the generator. The lever at the bottom of the generator will be acted upon
by the aforesaid top lever, and let out some of the saturated water, and as the
generator fills with water the cocks will be closed by a reverse movement of
the levers. Instead of connecting the apparatus to the cabouse, as above

page_text: stated, it may be connected with a steam boiler, and atmospheric air be forced
into the condenser, so as to first mix with the vapour or steam, and then be
condensed in troughs, as before stated, and the condenser may be supplied from
the bilge water of the ship or vessel.
In connection with the above apparatus, it is proposed to place in each of
the compartments of the condenser small pieces of fire-clay and bone ash
mixed together to neutralize any vegetable matter contained in the water.