IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE CONDENSING OF STEAM AND HEATING OF THE FURNACE SUPPLY DRAUGHT OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE CONDENSING OF STEAM AND HEATING OF THE FURNACE SUPPLY DRAUGHT
OF STEAM ENGINES" to be as follows.:―
My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the condensing of
steam and heating of the furnace supply draught to steam engine boilers, and is
designed to secure a thorough current of cold air through the tubes of a surface
condenser, without abstracting any of the engine power for driving a fan or other
mechanical draught-creating appliance, and at the same time to utilize the heat
abstracted from the steam to raise the temperature of the air, which constitutes
the furnace supply draught.
My invention consists essentially in the combination of a surface condenser with
the furnace supply draught and its operation thereby, and I effect this by placing
a condensing chamber, traversed by numerous tubes (preferably of very thin section
of metal) in front of the closed ash pan of the furnace, and, in the case of a
locomotive engine, with the mouths of the tubes preferably facing the direction of
travel of the engine, which will to some extent aid the draught. These air tubes
are in communication with the ash pan of the furnace by a suitable pipe or trunk.
Consequently all the air drawn through the furnace bars, either by the natural
draught or by a forced blast, is made to pass through the tubes of the condenser,
and, abstracting the heat from the steam in the chamber, condenses same, and is
itself raised in temperature by the heat so acquired in its passage before entering
the furnace.
By suitable pipes I lead into the condensing chamber the exhaust from the
cylinders and discharge from the safety valve or other waste, and what steam
remains uncondensed I lead to the chimney in the usual manner.
1
T
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM WILKINSON, of Wigan, in the county of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR. THE CONDENSING OF STEAM, AND HEATING OF THE FURNACE SUPPLY DRAUGHT
OF STEAM ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the condensing of
steam, and to the heating of the furnace supply draught of steam engine boilers, &c,
and is designed to secure a thorough current of air through the tubes of a surface
condenser, without abstracting any of the engine power for driving a fan or other
draught creating appliance, and at the same time to utilize the heat abstracted
from the steam to raise the temperature of the air which constitutes the furnace
supply draught.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same with relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, which show my
device applied to a locomotive boiler.
My invention consists essentially in the combination of a surface condenser with
the furnace supply draught, and its operation thereby, and I effect this by placing
the condensing chamber C, traversed by numerous tubes T (preferably of very thin
section of metal) either straight, or bent to a reverse or any other form of curve,
to relieve the longitudinal strains caused by contraction and expansion, also to get
more superficial surface for cooling purposes in the same space, in front of the closed
ashpan A of the furnace, and in the case of a locomotive engine, as shown, with
the mouths of the tubes T preferably facing the direction of the travel of the
engine which will to some extent aid the draught.
These air tubes T are in connection with the ashpan A of the furnace by a
suitable pipe or trunk P, consequently all the air drawn through the furnace bars B
either by the natural draught, or by the forced blast, is made to pass through the
tubes of the condenser, and, abstracting the heat from the steam in the chamber,
condenses the same and is itself raised in temperature by the heat so acquired in
its passage, before entering the furnace through the trunk P.
By suitable pipes D I lead into the condensing chamber the exhaust from the
cylinders, and discharge from the safety valve or other waste; and what steam
remains uncondensed I lead to the chimney in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention I would have it understood that what I consider novel and claim to
protect in my Letters Patent is :—
1st The combination of a condensing chamber traversed by numerous tubes with
the closed ash-pan of the furnace, connection between them being effected by
a trunk or pipe, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2nd The combination of my device as aforesaid with pipes leading from the
cylinder exhaust, safety valve discharge, or other waste, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
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