Improvements in Steam Purifiers and Dryers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1893—Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Purifiers and Dryers.
I ROBERT GRUNDY BROOKE, Engineer of St. Simons Works, Salford in the
County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
When in
It is an improved apparatus for removing moisture, grease or particles out of
steam. One arrangement consists of a suitable casing containing an inlet and an
outlet passage for the steam that is to be dried or purified. The casing contains
one or more cylinders placed one within the other and of such diameters, less than
that of the interior of the casing, as to leave a suitable annular space between any
two of them or between the largest of them and the casing. Each of these inside
cylinders is constructed with a slot or series of holes running longitudinally along
its side but confined circumferentially to one part of the cylinder.
position in the casing the cylinders are so arranged that the slot or holes of one
cylinder face in a different direction to the slot or holes of the cylinder next to it,
or, if there is only one cylinder, so that its slot faces in an opposite direction to
the outlet passage in the casing. The result of this arrangement is that the steam
in passing from one cylinder to another or from the outer cylinder to the casing
outlet is forced to travel in a circular direction in passing round the annular space
between one cylinder and another or between a cylinder and the casing. It is
in this passage round the annular spaces that the steam deposits such moisture,
grease or grit as it may contain. The holes or slots in the cylinders may be so
arranged as to bring the various annular spaces into communication with each other
in such manner that the deposits may be discharged by a common exit, such means
of exit being provided in the casing as required.
The cylinders are closed from one another at their ends the only communication
from one to another of them being through the slots or holes above described.
Steam may pass in at the inner cylinder and work its way outwards through
the other cylinders, if there are more than one, into the casing and so out by the
exit passage, or steam may enter the casing first and work its way inwards through
the larger and outer cylinders into and through as many inner and smaller cylinders
as there may be, passing finally away to the exit passage through an open end
of the inner cylinder, the process and effect on the steam in either case being
the same.
The apparatus may be employed for either live or exhaust steam, and may be
fixed direct onto a boiler or cylinder, or at any point in a length of piping or in
any other suitable manner. It may also have a steam valve or any other fitting
combined with it if required.
15th June 1800
ROBERT GRUNDY BROOKE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Puriflers and Dryers.
I, ROBERT GRUNDY BROOKE, Engineer of St. Simon's Works, Salford, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 improvements in apparatus (hereinafter called a

page_text: purifier) for purifying and drying steam by removing moisture, grease or other
suspended matters therefrom. A steam purifier for this purpose according to this
invention comprises a casing formed with an inlet and an outlet for steam and
containing one or more cylinders each formed with a lateral slot or series of
openings so arranged that the steam must travel around the outside of the cylinder
or of each cylinder when two or more are used before it can find its way to the
outlet branch of the casing. In this way the direction of the steam is repeatedly
changed in its course through the purifier, in a manner very conducive to the
deposit of any suspended matters therein which collect in the lower part of the
cylinders and can be drawn off, or allowed to return to the boiler as may be desired
by a pipe provided for that purpose.
The apparatus may be employed for purifying and drying either live or exhaust
steam, and may be applied in various ways. Thus it can be fixed direct on a
boiler, or on a motor cylinder, or at any point in a length of piping. It may
also have a steam valve or any other desired fitting combined with it where required.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of a steam purifier constructed according to
this invention and showing also the adjacent parts of the boiler and main steam
pipe to which the purifier is applied.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on the line xx Fig. 1.
Fig 2 is a vertical section partly in elevation of a slightly modified arrangement
for use between two lengths of steam pipe arranged in line with each other.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line y y Fig. 2.
Figs. 3, 4 5 and 6 are side elevations showing the apparatus applied to differently
disposed steam pipes.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the steam purifier comprises an outer
cylindrical casing formed in two parts A, A¹ connected by flanges A2 the lower
part A having an inlet passage B, and the upper part A' having an outlet passage C
for the steam that is to be purified or dried. The said purifier is mounted on a
short conical or other pipe A³ opening into the steam space of the boiler, while its
outlet opens into the main steam pipe A. The casing of the purifier in this case
contains two cylinders D D¹ which in the example shown are placed concentrically
one within the other so as to form an annular space between them and also between
the outermost of them and the casing A. Each of these cylinders D D¹ has
formed therein a slot E or it may be a series of slots or holes, extending
longitudinally along it parallel with its axis but confined circumferentially to
one part of the cylinder. When in position in the casing, the cylinders are so
arranged that the slot E, or series of holes, as the case may be, of one cylinder
face in a different direction to the slot, or series of holes, of the other cylinder.
The inlet B communicates by the semi-annular opening, B' with the outer annular
space B³ next the casing, and the outlet C communicates with the interior of
the innermost cylinder D. By this arrangement the steam in passing through
the purifier travels from one cylinder to another in semi circular paths in passing
through the annular space outside each of the cylinders and moves alternately
in opposite directions on its way to the outlet branch. It is in this passage round
the annular spaces that the steam deposits any moisture grease, or other suspended
matter it may contain. These collect in the lower part of the purifier and pass by
the slot or holes E into the innermost cylinder whence they are discharged by a
pipe G back into the boiler, or through the side of the casing to any other desired
place.
The ends of the cylinders D D' are secured between inwardly projecting webs or
partitions F F on the lower and upper parts A A' respectively of the casing so that
the only communication from one to the other and from the outer to the casing is
through the slots or holes E.
Instead of using two cylinders D, D, three or more may be arranged on the same
principle, each with its slotted or perforated part on the opposide side to that of
the next outer cylinder. In some cases only one such cylinder may be employed

page_text: with its slotted or perforated part turned in the opposite direction to the passage
corresponding to B', Figs. 1 and 2.
The modified form of apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 24 is adapted to be inter-
posed between two lengths of main steam pipe for the purpose of drying and
purifying steam at a distance from the boiler in which it is generated.
In this case
both the steam inlet B and the outlet C are formed in the upper part A' of the
casing. The web or partition F¹ formed in the interior of the said upper part A¹
is in this case however so shaped that it divides the inlet from the outlet and causes
the steam to pass downward into the lower part A of the casing whence it passes
round and through the slotted cylinders D D therein in a circuitous manner as
indicated by the arrows on its way to the said outlet. The said cylinders rest
directly against the lower end of the part A which in this case has only one central
aperture for the discharge pipe G. In cases where this pipe is so arranged as to
lead the deposited moisture etc. back to the boiler, it should be provided with a
non-return valve to prevent water being forced from the boiler into the purifier
and main steam pipe, should the steam pressure in these parts fall below that in the
boiler with which they are connected.
The arrangements shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are merely adaptations of those
previously described with reference to Figs. 1, 14, 2 and 2^.
In Fig. 3 the casing has a lateral inlet B in its lower part A and a lateral
outlet C in its upper part A' while the discharge pipe G is arranged vertically as
in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 4 the outlet C is lateral and the inlet B is vertical as in Fig. 1, but the
discharge pipe G instead of passing centrally down through the inlet is taken out
laterally.
The same arrangement is adopted with regard to Fig. 5 with the exception that
the outlet C is arranged vertically, while Fig 6 corresponds with Fig. 1 in all
respects save that the outlet C is also vertical.
It is obvious that by reversing the connections, the steam may be caused to first
enter the inner cylinder and travel outwards through the other cylinder or cylinders,
into the casing and so out by the inlet passage, the purifying effect on the steam in
each case being the same. Thus in Figs. 2, 3 4 and 5, C might serve as the inlet,
and B as the outlet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A steam purifier or drier comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet
for steam, a discharge pipe or outlet for water or other matter separated from the
steam, and one or more slotted or perforated cylinders arranged within the casing
so as to form one or more annular steam spaces, the slots or perforations in each
cylinder being formed at one side thereof, and so arranged with reference to the
slot or slots or perforations in the other cylinder or cylinders when more than one is
used, and to the steam inlet and outlet so that steam passing through and around
the cylinder or cylinders will have its direction of flow frequently changed, and
that matter thereby separated from the steam can readily pass to the discharge pipe
or outlet when it can be removed substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. My improved steam purifiers or driers constructed arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in
Figs. 1 and 14, and in Figs. 2 and 2ª or modified according to Fig. 3, or to Fig. 4
or to Fig. 5, or to Fig. 6, of the accompanying drawings.
Daleu UHLIS
R. G. BROOKE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.