AN IMPROVED CONDENSING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wright Cade, of Rock Ferry, in the County of
Chester, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONDENSING APPARATUS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wright Cade at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1881.
JOSEPH WRIGHT CADE, of Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester. "AN IMPROVED
CONDENSING APPARATUS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
(A communication from abroad by Alphonse Mention, of Paris, France.)
This Invention consists of an improved condensing apparatus chiefly designed
for the purpose of condensing steam and obtaining pure water therefrom on board
of sea going steamers, or other analogous condensing and cooling purposes.
The first part of the Invention consists principally in the use as a condensing or
cooling surface of tubes made of annealed glass, and in a method of supporting and
fixing such tubes in a frame, the said frame consisting of a number of metal pillars
supporting or dividing two metal plates provided with holes, the upper one of such
plates forming the bottom of a chamber into which the steam to be cendensed is
admitted.
The holes in the bottom plate are about the size or rather less than the inside of
the aforesaid tubes, and are so countersunk as to form a ledge to receive an india,
rubber washer (or its equivalent), upon which the lower end of the tubes rest.
The holes in the top plate or chamber are rather larger than the outside of the
tubes, and are tapped with a screw thread on the inside; the glass tubes are passed
through the top plate, their lower ends resting on the india rubber washers in the
holes of the bottom plates before mentioned, it being understood that the glass
tubes may be of any convenient length, the metal pillars (which connect the two
plates and bear all the strain so as to protect the tubes) being of proportionate
length.
I also provide glands or screws with a free passage through the centre, and made
with a screw thread on the outside to fit into the screwed holes tapped in the top

page_text: plate. When the glass tubes are in their place with their lower ends resting on
the india rubber washers in the recesses in the bottom plate, the glands or screws
are screwed into their places, a washer of india rubber being.interposed between
the top of the tube and the gland so as to secure the tube and make it water and
steam tight.
The plates or chambers and the glands and other parts may be enamelled or
otherwise coated with a non-corrosive material or substance.
The steam or vapor to be condensed, or the liquor to be cooled, is admitted into
the chamber, and passes through the tubes whilst a constant supply of cold sea or
other water circulates outside the same.
To adapt this condensing apparatus for producing pure water in sea going
steamers and other vessels I enclose the same in an outer casing, which is divided
by a partition into two compartments. The lower plate of the condensing apparatus
forms the bottom of the upper compartment; the cold sea water is admitted
continuously at or near the bottom, circulates outside the glass tubes and upper
metal chamber, and passes out at or near the top.
The steam to be condensed is admitted from the boiler into the upper metal
chamber, and in passing downwards through the glass tubes becomes condensed,
and runs out at the lower end of the tubes through perforations in the partition
made for that purpose, where it flows through a filter bed, and out at an opening
beneath provided with a tap.
I also provide for a constant blast of cold air entering the upper chamber with
the steam, or entering the tubes from the bottom so as to meet the steam in its
downward course, which blast may be supplied by means of a fan or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
-
by the said Joseph Wright Cade in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th August 1881.
JOSEPH WRIGHT CADE, of Rock Ferry, in the County of Chester. "AN IMPROVED
CONDENSING APPARATUS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
(A communication from abroad by Alphonse Mention, of Paris, France.)
This Invention consists of a new or improved apparatus chiefly designed for the
purpose of condensing steam and obtaining pure water therefrom on board ocean
going and other steamers and sailing vessels, but is also applicable for other
analogous condensing or cooling purposes.
The first part of the Invention consists in the use as a condensing or cooling
surface of tubes made of annealed glass, and in the method of supporting and fixing
such tubes in a frame; and the Invention consists, secondly, in the general con-
struction and arrangement of the condensing apparatus, wherein such annealed
glass tubes are employed.
In the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved condensing
apparatus.
a, a, are the annealed glass tubes fixed in a frame consisting of a number of
metal pillars b, b, supporting or dividing the metal plates c, c, and d, d, which are
provided with holes. The upper one of such plates c, c, forming the bottom of a
chamber e, c, into which the steam to be condensed is admitted.
The holes in the bottom plate a, a, (see detached section, Fig. 3), are about the
size of the inside of the aforesaid glass tubes a, a, or they may be rather less, and
they are countersunk from the top so as to form a ledge to receive an india rubber
washer, f, or its equivalent, upon which the lower end of the tube-a, a, rests.
The countersunk holes may also be provided with a lining of lead or rubber or
other suitable material.
The holes in the top plate c, c, (see detached section, Fig. 2), are rather larger
than the outside of the glass tubes a, a, and are tapped with a screw thread on
the inside. The glass tubes a, a, are passed through the top plate c, c, till their
lower ends rest on the india rubber washers f, f, in the holes of the bottom
plate d, d, it being understood that the glass tubes may be of any convenient
length.
The metal pillars b, b, bear all the strain so as to protect the glass tubes from
under pressure, the said pillars being of corresponding length. Glands or
screws g, g, (see Fig. 2), having a free passage through the centre and screwed
externally so as to fit the holes in the upper plate c, c, are also provided.
When the glass tubes a, a, are in their places with their lower ends resting on
the rubber washers f, f, (or other equivalent) in the recesses of the bottom tube
plate d, d, (Fig. 3) the glands or screws g, g, are screwed into their places, as shown
at Fig. 2, a washer j, j, (of india rubber or its equivalent) being interposed between
the top of the glass tubes and the gland so as to secure the tube and make it
water and steam tight. The whole is surrounded by an outer casing i, i.
The tube plates or chambers and the glands may be enamelled with non-corrosivo
material or substance.
The steam or vapour to be condensed or the liquid to be cooled is admitted into
the chamber e, e, and passes downwards through the tubes a, a, whilst a constant
supply of cold sea or other water enters at the opening h, h, into the main chamber
or outer casing i, i, circulates round the outside of the glass tubes a, a, and passing
upwards finds an exit at the opening ke, k
The condensed water (or the cooled liquid) falls into the lower chamber 1, 1,

page_text: beneath the plate d, d, and is drawn off through the tube m, m; n, n, is an
air pipe.
I also provide for a constant blast of cold air entering the upper chamber e, e,
with the steam, or entering the tubes a, a, from the bottom so as to meet the
steam (or the liquid to be cooled) in its downward course, which blast may be
supplied by means of a fan or in any other convenient manner. o, o, is a perforated
metal plate or cap for breaking up or distributing the volume of steam or hot
liquid entering the chamber e, e, so as to cause the cold air to be more intimately
combined therewith and to expedite the condensing or cooling operation.
The cold sea or other water constantly passing into the outer casing at h, h, and
circulating round the outside of the tubes a, a, filling the main chamber i, i, and
making its exit at k, k, keeps the glass tubes cool, which has the effect of causing
the condensed water and air, or steam and air, to become thoroughly condensed and
cool as it passes through the bottom d, d, into the lower chamber 1, 1.
This chamber may be fitted with a filter and so arranged as to cause no
impediment to the outflow of the condensed water, or a filter may be attached
outside.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as the Invention communi-
cated to me from abroad by the said Alphonse Mention,-
First. The use and application of annealed glass tubes for such purposes, and
the manner of fitting or fixing them in perforated plates, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the annexed Drawings, and
Secondly. The general construction and arrangement of the condensing or cooling
apparatus, as shown and described, or any mere imitation or modification thereof,
constructed and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Wright Cade, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
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