Improvements in Condensers for Marine Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 23rd June, 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Condensers for Marine Engines..
I PETER DECKER of 53 West Avenue, Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield
and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Oysterman 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:
An inexpensive and efficient condenser for marine steam engines that actuate a
propeller of the screw type, consists of a tubular conduit for the exhaust steam,
which extends from the steam chest of the engine downwardly through a water
tight aperture in the vessel's hull, thence rearwardly along the keel on one side
around the stern post, returning forwardly on the opposite side of the keel, and
after entering the vessel terminating in a connection with some proper receptacle
for the water that results from condensing the steam that traverses the cold con-
densing pipe, from which receiver the water is forced again into the boiler, thus
saving the feed water for repeated use.
The simplicity of this device, and its reliability as a condenser. are meritorious
features; but it has been found that a rapid decomposition of the iron parts of the
shaft, the propeller and the supports for these parts that are exposed to the sea
water, soon takes place in consequence of the galvanic action resulting from
exposure to salt water of the copper tube forming the steam condenser and the iron
parts that rust; the shaft wheel and other exposed iron parts as ordinarily located
and connected, being in direct electric circuit with the condenser. tube.
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the condenser tube
will be held in connection with the exhaust pipe of the engine, and' be insulated so
as to-prevent transmission of galvanic currents through the parts affected' most by
the production of such currents.
To this end, my invention consists in the enterposition of a complete non-
conductor of electricity, between the adjacent portions of the exhaust steam pipe
and the copper condenser tube, and further consists in the construction and com-
bination of parts to carry into effect my invention, as is hereinafter described and
claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a plan of a steam yacht provided
with an elongated tube condenser connected to the engine by the improved means
to effect electrical insulation;
Figure 3 is an enlarged detached longitudinal section of a portion of the vessel
amidships, showing the improvement in connection with the exhaust steam-pipe of
the engine, and an attached condenser tube shown broken, the return end of the
condenser tube, and in-board end of the shaft being also shown.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detached broken section of attached ends of the engine
exhaust pipe and the tube condenser, with the improvement in position between
these parts.
Like letters denote Jike parts in all the figures.
It should here be stated, that the improvement may be used in connection with
any type of engine or vessel.using a steam engine provided with an clongated tube
condenser exposed to sea water to condense the exhaust steam.
To illustrate the application of the improvement, a steam yacht and its propeller
is shown, in which A represents the vessel's hull; B.the steam engine; C.the pro-
peller shaft whereon the propeller D, is secured in the usual manner, at the stern of
the vessel.

page_text: The exhaust steam pipe E, is attached to the steam chest F, and depends there-
from and is connected at a to the copper tube C, that forms the condenser.
The condenser tube G extends from its point of connection with the exhaust
steam pipe E, downwardly and through the hull A, as at b, any proper means
being provided to seal the opening in the hull where the tube passes through it.
The tube G is bent exteriorly of the vessel's hull so as to extend forwardly close
to the keel A', around which it is bent at its rear terminal at c and returns at c
forwardly on the opposite side of the keel to a point near the engine B, where the
terminal end of the pipe is preferably inserted within a tank or hot well I, or the
end of the pipe G, may be directly engaged with a pumping appliance (not
shown).
As ordinarily secured, the copper tube G is in electrical.connection with the
iron work of the engine B, and also with the shaft C, and parts connected with it,
these together forming a galvanic couple of powerful energy owing to the extent
of surface exposed to the sea water that affords an exciting solution, consequently
the portion of the iron work that is in direct contact with the sea water is rapidly
decomposed by galvanic action.
In order to neutralize the formation of electrical energy which has just been
described, and preserve the ironwork of the vessel that is affected thereby, a
flange a' is formed on the depending portion of the exhaust pipe E, (which pipe
may be of any suitable length).
On the adjacent end of the copper condenser tube G, a similar flange a², is
placed, and secured so as to lie in a plane parallel and near to the level face of the
Hange a', both flanges being rendered true on adjacent sides.
Between the true parallel faces of the flanges a¹ a², a joint washer e made of any
proper material that will provide a steam tight junction, and a non-electrical
connection, is introduced.
The flanges a a², are compressed together upon the insulating joint washer e, by
the bolts e, and their nuts e, any suitable number of these being provided to effect
the secure connection together of the exhaust steam pipe and the tube condenser.
As a means to prevent the bolts e¹, and nuts e, from affording an electrical con-
nection between the flanges a', a², there is an enveloping sleeve, placed upon cach
bolt, which sleeves intervene between the bodies of the bolts and walls of the
perforations made in the flanges a¹ a², to admit of their passage through said
flanges.
Insulating washers h, are also located on the bolts el between their heads and the
flange they bear upon, and similar washers ', are also placed on the bolts between
the Hange a', or a, and the nuts e², that may rest thereon, and so prevent the nut
and flange from having direct contact. The last named washers may, however, be
omitted if preferred and yet an insulation of parts be afforded.
As the introduction of an insulating joint between the copper condenser pipe and
the exhaust steam pipe of the steam engine is the essential feature of my invention,
I do not desire to limit myself to the exact forms shown for effecting such an
insulation, or to the exact point specified and indicated in the drawings for
producing the non-electric connection of parts, as a different steam engine may
require the disposition of the exhaust pipe in a different plane.
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. An elongated tubular condenser for a marine engine, connected to the steam
exhaust by a non-electric joint, substantially as described.
2. A. non-electric joint located between the exhaust pipe of a steam engine
used on a sea-going vessel, and a tube condenser therefor that is exposed to the
action of sea water outside of the vessel, substantially as described.
3. An electric insulator for a steam condenser on a marine vessel, composed of a
non-electrical joint washer secured between adjacent flanges of a steam exhaust

page_text: pipe and an elongated copper condenser tube, and insulating material between the
connecting bolts and flanges they connect, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1891.
PETER DECKER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
PETER DECKER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.