IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR CONDENSERS FOR ENGINES, VACUUM PANS AND OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR
CONDENSERS FOR ENGINES, VACUUM PANS AND OTHER APPARATUS,". and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The improvements constituting the present invention are applicable alike to all
classes of condensers, whether of the "injector" or "ejector," or other form, in which
a pump is employed to withdraw the water and air from the condenser and assist
in maintaining the proper vacuum,
In operating engines, vacuum pans and other apparatus provided with such
condensers, serious damage has sometimes been occasioned by the failure of the
pump to withdraw the water from the condenser as fast as it accumulates therein.
This failure of the pump to properly withdraw the water from the condenser is
sometimes occasioned by carelessness on the part of the engineer in not regulating
the flow of the condensing water to conform to the speed of the pump, thus
allowing an amount of water to enter the condenser which it is beyond the capacity
of the pump to withdraw. It is also sometimes occasioned by the pump getting
temporarily out of order so as not to operate properly, or by some obstruction
between the condenser and the pump. It is more frequently occasioned, however,
by the failure of the engineer to shut off the flow of the condensing water before
stopping the pump.
Whenever the water is allowed to flow into the condenser after the pump has
been stopped, or in greater quantity than can be withdrawn by the pump, it will
accumulate and fill the condenser so as to destroy the vacuum and if means are not
provided for withdrawing it, it will finally overflow and flood the cylinder or cylinders
of the engine, or the vacuum pan or other apparatus with which the condenser is
connected, and thus in. the case of a pan, cause damage to the contents, or in the
Prien 11

page_text: Fig 4 is a horizontal section of the same.
Fig 5 is a view similar to Fig: 2 showing the parts in the reverse position.
Fig: 6 is a view similar to Fig: 2, showing the invention embodied in a different
form.
Fig: 7 is a similar view of the same construction showing the parts in the reverse
position; and
Fig: 8 is a sectional elevation of an ordinary condenser which is adapted to
operate in connection with an air pump, showing the present invention applied
thereto.
Referring to Figs: 1 to 7 it is to be understood that A, B, is the pipe leading
from the exhaust of the engine, or from the vacuum pan or other apparatus, to the
condenser E, which condenser, as before stated may be of any approved form.
Located at some convenient point in the pipe, A, B, is a casing or enlargement C
which is arranged to extend below the pipe so as to form a chamber D in which
any water passing through the pipe A, B, will accumulate. The casing C is
provided upon one side at or near its bottom with an opening c which is covered
by an outwardly opening hinged valve d, the edge of the opening being made to
form a seat for the valve and provided with a rubber or other suitable packing e
which serves to form a perfectly tight joint between the casing and the valve. The
opening a where the pipe A B enters the casing D is covered by an inwardly
opening hinged valve 6 similar to the valve d, the edges of this opening being also
made to form a seat for the valve and provided with a packing f similar to the
packing e which serves to form a perfectly tight joint between the casing and the
valve. The casing D is provided at its top with a removable cover g through
which access can be had to the interior for the insertion and repair, or removal, of
the valve b.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-As long as the water is being
properly withdrawn from the condenser E so as to maintain the proper vacuum
therein and in the cylinder or cylinders of the engine or other apparatus to which
the condenser is connected, the pressure of the atmosphere will hold the valve d
closed as shown in Fig: 2, while the valve b will be swung away from its seat by
the exhaust steam so as to allow the steam to pass freely through the pipe A, B to
the condenser, as indicated by the arrows in said figure. If, however, at any time,
either from the stopping of the pump or for any other reason, the water accumulates
in the condenser to such an extent as to enter the pipe A B, and flow toward the
engine or other apparatus to which the condenser is connected, it will fall into and
accumulate in the chamber D. As the water rises in the chamber D the vacuum
in the chamber will be reduced in tension so that the valve b will fall to its seat,
as shewn in Fig: 5 and prevent the water from passing through the opening a and
flooding the engine or other apparatus. By the time or shortly after the valve b
has been thus closed the pressure of the water accumulated in the chamber D will
open the valve d so that the water will be allowed to escape through the opening c
as also shown in Fig: 5 and at the same time admit the air so as to entirely destroy

page_text: the vacuum in the chamber D and this will continue as long as the water continues
to flow into the chamber. As soon as the water ceases to flow into the chamber D,
and the pump again begins to create a vacuum in the pipe A, B and the chamber,
the pressure of the atmosphere will at once close the valve d and the valve b.will
be opened by the force of the exhaust steam, when the engine is again started.
The casing or enlargement C may, and preferably will be provided at its bottom
with a small drain pipe h leading either to the condenser or to a steam trap by
which any water resulting from condensation will be withdrawn from. the
chamber D.
The apparatus just described may, as will readily be seen, be varied considerably
as to its details without departing from the principle of the invention. For example
as shown in figures 6 and 7, the part A of the pipe A, B instead of being connected
to the side of the casing C may be connected to the top of the casing and the
opening a controlled by a float valve b instead of a hinged valve. In such case the
valve b will be guided by a stem i extending from the top of the valve and passing
through a guide k located in the centre of the opening a. The valve will be
supported when in its open position by a projection w extending from the bottom
of the casing C, and may also be provided with a number of lateral projections 7,
which rest against the sides of the casing C. In this construction the bottom g of
the casing will preferably be made removable to gain access to the valve b.
The operation of the apparatus when thus constructed is substantially the same
as already described. As long as the pump keeps the water withdrawn from the
condenser so as to maintain the vacuum in the pipe A B and chamber D, the
valve d will be held closed and the valve b will fall to the position shown in Fig: 6.
As soon however as the water fills the condenser so as to flow through the pipe A B.
into the chamber D, the valve 6 will be raised by the water so as to close the
opening a, and as soon as, or immediately after, this takes place the pressure of
the water will open the valve d as shown in Fig: 7, so as to allow the water to
escape.
It is to be understood that the valves bd may be of other forms than those
shown without departing from the invention. The forms shown are regarded as
the best for the purpose, but any other form which will perform the function
required may be used without departing from the invention. It will also be seen
that in either of the constructions shown, the portion B of the pipe A B may be
connected to the bottom of the casing or enlargement C instead of to the side, and
in such case, the pipe B will perform the same function as the drain pipe and will
clear the chamber D of the water of condensation.
In those cases where the condenser is of the common form which is used in
connection with an air pump, the casing or enlargement C in the pipe A B may be
dispensed with, and the valves b d arranged in the condenser, as shewn in Fig: 8;
E being the condenser, F the pipe leading to the pump and C the pipe for the
condensing water. In this case the operation will be the same as already described,
the valve & will be held closed as long as the vacuum is maintained in the condeuser,
but as soon as the water accumulates in the condenser so as to destroy the vacuum,
the valve 6 will rise to its seat and the valve d be opened so as to allow the water
to escape.
In some cases it may be desired to deliver the exhaust steam from more than one
engine or other apparatus to a single condenser, so that more than one exhaust pipe
will enter the casing C, or the condenser. In such case, the single valve b may be
arranged to close all the pipes, or there may be one of the valves b provided for
each pipe entering the casing or condenser.
In those cases where the pump which withdraws the water from the condenser
forces the water into an elevated tank it sometimes happens that the valves of the
pump become so worn or disordered that, after the pump has stopped, the water
from the tank will leak backward through the pump to the condenser and finally
flow into the pipe A B. If this happens, the valve 6 will be closed and the valve d
opened so as to allow the water to escape and thus prevent damage.

page_text: The apparatus may be provided with a pipe or trough by which the water
escaping through the opening c.will be conducted away from the apparatus and
delivered at some convenient point of discharge.
;
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with a condenser, of the valves bd, the former arranged to
close the pipe or pipes through which the exhaust steam enters the condenser, and
the latter arranged to open outward, or to the atmosphere, to allow the escape of
the water and destroy the vacuum, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the condenser and the pipe or pipes through which the
exhaust steam is conducted thereto, of the casing C forming the chamber D for the
collection of the condensing water, and the valves bd the former arranged to close
the pipe or pipes through which the steam enters the condenser and the latter
arranged to open outward, or to the atmosphere to allow the escape of the water
and destroy the vacuum, substantially as described.
1J
3. The combination with the condenser and the pipe or pipes through which the
exhaust steam is conducted thereto, of the casing or enlargement C forming the
chamber D for the collection of the condensing water, the valves bd, the former
arranged to close the pipe or pipes through which the steam enters the condenser,
and the latter arranged to open outward, or to the atmosphere, to allow the escape
of the water and destroy the vacuum, and a pipe for draining said chamber of the
water of condensation, substantially as described.