Year: 1886

page_text: I PHILIP ARTHUR 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 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 more particularly to condensers which are arranged in the
suction pipe of a steam pump, or otherwise supplied with water, and which, by
their connection with the steam cylinder of a pump, or with the cylinder of a
motive power engine, or with a vacuum pan, produce a vacuum on the exhaust
side of the steam piston, or in a vacuum pan; the quantity of water entering the
condenser being controlled by a float so as to prevent the condenser from being
flooded with water and the vacuum destroyed.
Important objects of the invention are to enable a float consisting of a simple
hollow sphere, or of other simple shape, to be used, as distinguished from an
annular float; and to shield the float from the weight of falling water entering the
main body of the condenser through a central passage at the top, and to prevent
the float from being affected by the agitation of water in the condenser, and to
cause the water supporting the float to remain in a comparatively still condition.
In accomplishing these objects, the valve, which is moved by the float to control
the inflow of water, is operated or controlled with much greater steadiness, and
without quick and sudden movements, and a more even degree of vacuum can
therefore be maintained.
In carrying out this invention, a spherical or other float of simple form is used
in connection with the body of the condenser, and an upper compartment or
chamber provided with inlets for steam and water, and communicating with the
body by a throat controlled by a vertically moving valve.-This spherical or other
float is arranged in the body, and connected by a stem with the valve, and a shield
is also arranged in the body of the condenser above the float, and through which
the float stem works; the shield serving to protect the float from the action of
falling water descending through the aforesaid throat. This shield may, with
advantage, comprise a pipe or tubular casing formed integral with it, and forming

page_text: a downward continuation of the throat, through which the steam and water
descend, and insuring a more complete condensation of the steam; and this pipe or
casing has lateral openings near the shield providing for the ready escape of water
from the pipe or casing into the body of the condenser.
It is also preferred to employ a valve arranged opposite the float-controlled
valve, for more accurately controlling, by adjustment, the opening through which
water must pass to escape from the upper chamber into the body of the condenser.
The invention will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims, and it consists in combinations including most or all of the parts above
referred to..
I
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 A vertical section of a condenser
embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the body of the condenser ;
the head or cover, which forms the upper chamber or compartment, being removed :
and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon the plane of the dotted line xx, Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several
Figures.
A is the body of the condenser, and A¹ an upper chamber or compartment con-
structed with an inlet, A², for steam, and communicating by a passage or port, &
with a water inlet nozzle, A³, here represented as cast integral with the body of
the condenser. At the bottom of the body A, is a water outlet, A, which may be
connected with the suction pipe of the steam pump.
The steam inlet, A', is presented downwards, and is provided with a valve b,
which may be adjusted upward and downward by a stem, b¹, projecting upward to
the top of the condenser; and opposite the downwardly presented steam inlet, A
is a throat B, through which steam and water must pass downwards to the body A
of the condenser, from the upper chamber or compartment A¹. In the throat B is
a valve c controlled by a float C through a stem or rod c¹, and as the float rises and
falls, the valve o will be adjusted upward and downward. As here represented, the
valves, b, c. are of ring-shape, and their stems b, c, are connected with cross bars
formed within the valves, and which do not impede the free passage of steam and
water in an axial direction through the valves; the valves serving simply to control
the size of the lateral opening d afforded between them, and through which water
must pass to enter the throat B. The steam passes directly downward from the
inlet A through the throat B and the valve c, and the water pouring inward
through the lateral opening d, and downwards upon the steam in every direction;
or entirely around the circumference of the throat, is very effective in condensing
the steam. As here represented, the valve b has a circular projection 63 at its end,
which enters within the valve c, and serves to direct the water pouring through
the lateral opening d downward upon the steam passing downward through the
valves b, c.
The float C, is of spherical or other simple form, and its stem c¹ below may be
guided in a bridge, e.
Before the water rises in the body of the condenser so as to materially lessen the
vacuum space therein, the rising of the float raises the valve o, and reduces the area
of the lateral opening d; so as to lessen the volume of water entering the body of
the condenser.
.
Above the float. C is a shield D, which is of inverted cup-shape, or raised at the
centre, and is shown as having formed integral with it, a pipe or tubular casing D¹;
which extends upward to the throat B, and near the shield has lateral openings d¹
for the escape of water into the body of the condenser.-The steam passing down-
ward through and from the throat B, cannot escape from the pipe or casing D¹ at
any point above the openings d¹, and before it reaches said openings, it is condensed
by the falling water. The pipe or casing D, is here represented as provided
immediately below the throat B with an inwardly projecting annular lip s¹, which
slightly underlies the valve c, and which serves to direct inward; upon the steam;
any water which may leak downward between the valve o and the throat B; in
which it fita

page_text: By the shield D, the float C is protected against being struck by the falling
water, and remains in comparatively still water, so that its operation acts more
perfectly to control the valve c.-The construction described permits of a float of
spherical or other simple form being employed, and renders it unnecessary to use
an annular float such as has heretofore been employed in condensers of this class.
The shield D may be supported so that water can pass freely downwards around
and through the body of the condenser to the outlet A', and the body A is here
shown as having an inwardly projecting flange f, and the shield D, as provided
with lugs or ears f¹ resting thereon, (see Fig. 3), and leaving clear spaces f³ (see
Fig. 3) for the downward flow of water.
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 body and an upper chamber having inlets
for steam and water, and communicating by a throat with the body, of a valve in
said throat and a float whereby the valve is controlled, and a shield arranged in
the body of the condenser and above the float, to protect the latter from falling
water, substantially as herein described.
2. The combination with the body and an upper chamber provided with steam
and water inlets, and communicating by a throat with the body, of a float in the
body, and a shield above the float for protecting it from falling water, and the two
valves arranged in the steam inlet and opposite the throat or passage, and serving
to control the lateral opening d for the admission of water, one valve being
adjustable by hand, and the other being connected with, and controlled by the
float, substantially as herein described.
3. The combination with the body and the upper chamber provided with steam
and water inlets, and communicating by a throat with the body, of a valve in said
throat, a float arranged in the body and connected with said valve, a shield above
the float, and a pipe or tubular casing extending from the shield upwards to the
throat, and provided near the shield with lateral openings, substantially as herein
described.
4. The combination with the body and the upper chamber having steam and
water inlets, and communicating with the body by a throat B, of the valve c in the
throat, and the float C connected with the valve, and the shield D having formed
integral with it the upwardly extending pipe or casing D¹ provided with lateral
openings d', substantially as herein described.