Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating or Evaporating Liquids by Means of Steam.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating or
Evaporating Liquids by Means of Steam.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON of the Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool, in
the County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
My invention of improvements in and relating to apparatus for heating or
evaporating liquids by means of steam has reference to an improved construction
and arrangement of the heating coils in such apparatus whereby the same can be
readily withdrawn from the evaporating vessel for cleaning or other purpose, and
to improved means for regulating the discharge of liquid from said vessel so as to
prevent it rising above a predetermined level.
When one
To enable the heating coils to be readily removed, they are, according to this
invention, connected to one or more tubes constituting the inlet passage or passages
for the heating steam, and the outlet passage or passages for the condensed water,
and such tube or tubes is or are connected to a hollow plug or plugs in such a
manner that on a door with which the vessel is provided for obtaining access to its
interior being removed, the tube or tubes on which the coils are mounted can be
revolved on the hollow plug or plugs as a centre until the coils are moved outside
the vessel and into a position affording facilities for cleaning them.
tube and one plug are employed the tube and plug are divided so as to constitute
the inlet and outlet passages. When two tubes are employed, one forming the
inlet to the coils and the other the outlet therefrom, the tubes may be arranged
outside of the coils, and the coils be arranged in pairs, one coil of each pair being
connected to the inlet tube and the other coil of the pair being connected to the
outlet tube thus allowing the coils considerable freedom of movement and at the
same time affording facilities for connecting them to the tubes.
The vessel containing the heating coils and which is provided with the usual
fittings may be constructed in various forms. In one arrangement the part of the
vessel containing the heating coils is of approximately cylindrical form with its axis
horizontal, the removable door being placed at one side thereof and the tubes
carrying the heating coils being hinged or jointed at one end, and normally held at
the other end in a suitable position for use. This horizontal cylindrical vessel
which forms the base of the apparatus, may be provided with a steam dome.
In order that the brine within the vessel shall not rise beyond a predetermined
level, a pipe or passage is connected at one end with the lower part of the vessel,
where the liquid is densest, and the other end with the steam space in the upper
part of the vessel and at part of this pipe or passage corresponding to the maximum
level at which it is desired to maintain the salt water in the vessel is arranged a
branch pipe which is connected to a second vessel provided with a float adapted to
govern the discharge of such brine as flows from the branch on the said pipe or
passage. This second vessel may be constructed to form part of the evaporator, or
may be made separate and be arranged at a distance from the evaporator and the
float may be so arranged that its action will be intermittent.
1600

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Heating or
Evaporating Liquids by Means of Steam.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON, of the Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool, in
the County of Durham, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention of improvements in and relating to apparatus for heating or
evaporating liquids by means of steam, has reference to an improved arrangement
of the heating coils in such apparatus whereby such coils can be readily withdrawn
from the evaporating vessel for cleaning, or other purposes, and also to improved
means for regulating the discharge of liquid from said vessel so as to prevent it
rising above a predetermined level.
To enable the heating coils to be readily removed, they are according to this
invention, connected to one or more tubes constituting the inlet passage or passages
for the heating steam and the outlet passage or passages for the resulting water of
condensation, and such tube or tubes is or are connected to a hollow plug or plugs in
such a manner that on the door with which the vessel is provided for obtaining access
to its interior being removed, the tube or tubes on which the coils are mounted can
be revolved on the hollow plug or plugs as a centre until the coils are moved outside
the vessel and into a position affording facilities for examination and cleaning,
When one tube and one plug are employed the tube and plug are divided so as to
constitute the inlet and outlet passages. When two tubes are employed one forming
the inlet to the coils and the other the outlet therefrom, the tubes may be arranged
outside the coils, and the coils be arranged in Fairs, one coil of each pair being
connected to the inlet tube and the other coil of the pair being connected to the
outlet tube, thus allowing the coils freedom of movement and at the same time
affording facilities for connecting them to the tubes.
or
The vessel containing the heating coils and the liquid to be heated
evaporated, and which is provided with the usual fittings, may be constructed in
various forms.
The accompanying drawings show my invention applied to various arrangements
of apparatus suitable for evaporating salt or impure water by means of steam.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one arrangement of such apparatus with the door
removed and the heating coils connected to two tubes one being the inlet tube and
the other the outlet tube each tube terminating in a cap which fits on a hollow
plug.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same with the coils withdrawn from the vessel
the tubes having been turned on the inlet and outlet plugs and brought into a
position for cleaning or removal.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line a 6 of Fig. 2 of the tubes and coils when
lifted from off the hollow plugs.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section; and
Fig. 5 a sectional plan, to a larger scale showing a form of hollow cap and plug
hereinafter referred to.
The evaporating vessel in this arrangement comprises a lower horizontally
arranged water vessel 1 provided with a vertical cylindrical extension 2 having a
spherical top and forming a steam dome. The vessel 1 is fitted with a removable
door 3 which can be swung by a pivoted arm or bracket 4, to which it is attached
by a link 5, into such a position as will enable the heating coils 6 to be readily
withdrawn from the said cylinder 1. The heating coils 6, in this example are
shown arranged vertically in pairs, and are detachably connected to two horizontal
tubes 7, 7¹ that form respectively the inlet for the heating steam employed and the
outlet for the resulting water of condensation. Each of these tubes is closed at

page_text: its free end, and terminates at the other end in a cap 8 mounted on a hollow plug 9
as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the tubes and connected coils can, when desired,
be readily turned on the plugs, from the inward position shown in Fig. 1 to the
outward position shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement being practically similar in
working to an ordinary cock or tap and thus renders it unnecessary to break and
remake the joint or connection between the coils and the steam supply pipe or
passage, or between the coils and the water outlet pipe or passage, as has heretofore
been necessary. Each plug is attached to the vessel 1, and may be either conical,
or parallel, and may be arranged in various well known ways. In the arrangement
shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper end of the plug is provided with a screw
threaded stem 10 fitted with a nut 10¹ so that on the cap being placed on the plug,
the requisite pressure for making it steam tight can be obtained by tightening the
said but, in the usual manner, and upon removing the said nuts, the tubes and coils
are capable of being lifted off the plugs, and if desired, replaced by a clean set of
tubes and coils. In each plug, and in the cap therefor, are corresponding ports or
passages 11 and 11' respectively, so that when the coils are moved into the vessel,
there is a free passage for steam or water between the hollow plugs and the
tubes 7, 7, and connecting coils 6. 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) is a steam valve for
controlling the flow of steam to the upper plug 9 and tube 7, and 13 is a cock for
controlling the discharge from the lower tube 7' and corresponding plug 9. The
free ends of the tubes 7, 7' may, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, be connected by a
plate 7 provided with a bent projecting portion 7 which, by entering a recess
in 7 in the vessel 1, serves to limit the inward movement of the tubes and coils,
the door 3 when secured in place, serving by holding the projecting portion 7" in
the recess, to hold the tubes and coils in position.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 which are similar views
to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively, the tubes 7 and 71 are of such length and so
arranged that two pairs of them can be used, the two pairs of hollow plugs used
in this case being at opposite ends of the cylinder or vessel 1 as shown. In this
arrangement steam enters through the valve 12 and is thence divided into two
portions, one portion entering the hollow plug 9 and tube 7 on the right hand
side of the apparatus, and the other portion being conveyed by means of any
suitable passage 14 which is shown as being cast in or on the cylinder 1, to the
left hand side of the apparatus, and entering the corresponding hollow plug and
tube 7 on that side. In a similar manner, the water of condensation is discharged
through a passage corresponding with 14, on the lower left hand side of the
apparatus, and from thence is discharged through the cock 13 together with the
water of condensation from the right hand set of coils and pipes. Instead of a
passage 14 there may be suitable pipes arranged on the outside of the apparatus
for the same purpose, or, there may be two steam inlet valves 12 with corresponding
outlet cocks 13, one for each set of tubes and coils. The tubes and coils may be
arranged in various positions as shown in the plan Fig. 7, the object being to obtain
a maximum amount of heating surface on the coils for a given size of evaporating
vessel !, and at the same time enable each of the two sets of coils to be removed
from the apparatus. This arrangement is suitable for evaporators of large
capacity.
In the modified construction shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, which are also corre-
sponding views to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively, the evaporating vessel I is of
vertical tubular form, and the heating coils 6 are connected to vertical tubes 7 7'
which are arranged to withdraw outward and downward as shown in Fig. 10
instead of outward and sideways as in the previous arrangements.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate an arrangement in which there are two sets of
tubes and coils each arranged like the single set shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the
casing of the evaporator in this case being provided with two doors. In this
arrangement the steam may be taken from the right hand portion of the apparatus
to the left hand portion, or vice versa by means of a passage cast in or on the
vessel 1, or by means of suitable pipes arranged on the outside of the said vessel ;

page_text: or there may be two steam inlet valves 12 with corresponding outlet cocks 13, as
described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.
Figs. 15 and 16 show an arrangement of the apparatus in which the heating
coils 6 are connected to a single vertical tube or tubular support 7 that is provided
internally with a central dividing rib 7 and is mounted on a hollow plug 9, also
provided with a central division rib 9¹, as shown more clearly, and to a larger
scale, in the detail views Figs. 17 and 18. The plug is formed with ports or
openings 11, 11' which, when the coils 6 are within the vessel 1, correspond with
similar ports or openings 11, 11' in the lower end of the said tube 7, which is
adapted to fit over the plug as shown. The heating steam enters the said plug 9
through one or other of the branches 121 or 13¹, and the steam, after passing
through the heating coils and becoming condensed therein, is discharged as water
of condensation through the opposite branch 13¹ or 12', as the case may be. The
upper end of the tube 7 may be held in place by any suitable means such for
example as a pivot screw 15 (Fig. 19) that enters a fixed part 1 of the casing and
is provided with an adjusting nut 16 by which the said tubular support can be
tightened as desired upon the plug 9 to insure a fluid tight joint therewith.
Figs. 20 and 21 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing another
arrangement in which the coils 6 are connected to short tubular supports on the
caps 8.
In the example shown, two spiral coils 6 only are shown, connected in
series. Where it is desired to use more than two coils, some of them may be
connected at one end to a tube 7 as shown in plan Fig. 22, the other ends of the
said coils being connected in series with other coils that are connected in like
manner to another tube similar to and arranged below the tube 7. Or, as shown
in Fig. 23, one of the coils may be jointed to a hollow plug on a tube 7 which
in turn may be jointed to a hollow plug at 7* to which another coil 6' is also
jointed.
Fig. 27 is a side view of the tube 7 with jointed caps 8 and plug 9 suitable for
supporting the coils 6 6¹ in the manner described. The other ends of the coils 6, 61
are connected in series to other coils similarly arranged. In withdrawing the coils
by this arrangement, the coils 6' are first turned on the hollow plugs 92, the coils 6
are then turned first on the hollow plugs 93 as a centre and then on 92 as a centre
until they are without the vessel.
The tubes or their equivalent constituting the beating surface may be of any
section or shape and in some cases a single heating coil or pair of coils only may he
used mounted in either of the ways hereinbefore described.
In the various illustrations the evaporating vessel is shown as being made of cast
metal. The vessel or any part of it, may however be made of any suitable material,
either cast, stamped or rivetted as may be desired. The coils may also be of any
desired form and any suitable number of sets thereof may be employed, according
to requirements and the size of the heating or evaporating vessel.
As will be obvious, the positions of each of the caps, or sockets and plugs may
be reversed, that is to say the cap or socket may be fixed, and the hollow plug
may be at one end of the tube in which case the plug would turn in the cap or
socket instead of the cap or socket turning on the plug.
In order that the brine within the evaporating vessel shall not rise beyond a
predetermined level, special regulating apparatus may be combined with such vessel
as shown in Figs. 24, 25 and 26 which are respectively a front elevation, a plan,
and a sectional detail view. This regulating apparatus comprises a pipe 17
connected at its lower end with the lower part of the vessel where the liquid is
densest, and at its upper end with the steam space in the upper part of the
evaporating vessel, and at that part of the said pipe 17 corresponding to the
maximum level at which it is desired to maintain the salt water in the vessel 1,
there is arranged a branch pipe 18 which is connected to a second vessel 19
provided with a float 20 adapted to govern the discharge of such brine as flows
through the branch 18. The vessel 19 may be constructed to form part of the
evaporator or it may be made separate therefrom as shown. The float 20 may be

page_text: arranged to control the exit of surplus salt water in various ways. In the example
shown in Fig. 26 an attachment 21 is made at its lower end, which constitutes a
valve, which opens or closes on a valve seat below according as it is raised or
lowered the arrangement being such that when the water in the evaporator is at
the required level, it will permit the float to assume its lowest position and close
the valve opening, and that when the water level in the evaporator rises above the
predetermined level, there will be a corresponding rise of water in the vessel 19,
and the float will consequently be lifted and allow the excess of water to escape
through the discharge pipe 22. The arrangement shown allows the float tank to
be situated at a distance from and below the working water level in the evaporating
vessel. If the float tank forms part of the evaporating vessel or is situated at the
water level the branch 18 is not necessary, the tank in this case being interposed
in the length of the pipe 17 so that the upper and lower parts thereof will be in
communication with the top and bottom respectively of the tank.
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 apparatus for heating or evaporating liquids by means of steam in which
the heating coil or coils is or are connected with a steam supply and water outlet
branch or branches by a plug and socket joint or joints the arrangement being
such that the said coil or coils can be readily turned about the said plug and
socket joint or joints into a position out of or within the evaporating vessel without
having to break and remake the joint or connection between the coil or coils and
the steam supply pipe or passage or between the coil or coils and the water outlet
pipe or passage as above set forth.
2. An apparatus for heating or evaporating liquids by means of steam in which
the heating coils are connected through a tube or tubes such as 7, 7¹ serving to
support the coils and through a plug and socket joint or joints with a pipe or
passage for supplying steam and with a pipe or passage for carrying away water of
condensation as referred to in the preceding claim.
con-
3. In heating or evaporating apparatus, the combination with the evaporating
vessel, of heating coils, one or more tubes to which the said coils are
nected and whereby they are supported, and one or more fixed steam inlet and
water outlet plugs, sockets or unions to which the said supporting tube or
tubes is or are detachably jointed, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the several examples illustrated in Figs. 1 to 23 inclusive of the
drawings annexed for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with apparatus for heating or evaporating liquids by means
of steam, of the improved means for regulating the discharge of liquid from said
vessel so as to prevent it rising above a predetermined level therein and comprising
a tank in communication with the steam and water spaces of the evaporating vessel
and provided with a discharge outlet or outlets controlled by a valve and through
which excess of liquid will be discharged substantially as described and shown, or
modified as set forth.