IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOR, AND PRODUCING A VACUUM
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wimshurst, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM
OR OTHER VAPOR, AND PRODUCING A VACUUM."
Sealed the 20th August 1878, and dated the 28th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wimshurst at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th March 1878.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JAMES WIMSHURST, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey.
APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOR, AND PRODUCING A
VACUUM,"
The objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in apparatus for
condensing steam or other vapor and producing a vacuum, are, to render the
working of such apparatus more economical than hitherto by utilizing the exhaust
steam from the cylinder or cylinders of the engine in lieu of live or fresh steam
from the generator as hitherto most generally practised, and to dispense with the
usual accessory of an air pump.
The improved apparatus is constructed with a vessel or chamber which may
be of any suitable size and shape, and to which the exhaust steam is suitably
led.
The chamber is provided with an arrangement of inlet and outlet valves which
are fitted or adapted to the chamber in such a manner as to regulate the admission
of the injection water, and to prevent the return of the waste water and vapor
expelled from the chamber by the exhaust steam; or in lieu of or in combination
with the use of injection water, I arrange in connection with the chamber a series
of tubes which may pass into or through the chamber and have water passing
through them.
The chamber may be disposed under or surrounded by water, but should it be
exposed or not so surrounded with water, I arrange a suitable water reservoir round
or in connection with the inlet valve; and I also arrange a suitable reservoir round
or in connection with the outlet valve.

page_text: The action of the improved apparatus will be at once understood; the chamber
being in communication with the water reservoirs the exhaust steam is let into the
chamber which expels the vapor and waste water, and then being condensed causes
the vacuum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Wimshurst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th Septem-
ber 1878.
JAMES WIMSHURST, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOR, AND PRODUCING A
VACUUM."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to certain improvements in apparatus
for condensing steam or other vapor, and which apparatus is especially applicable in
producing a vacuum in the exhaust pipe or cylinders of steam or other engines, are,
to render the working of such apparatus more economical than hitherto by utilizing
the exhaust steam or vapor from the cylinder of the engine in lieu of fresh unused
or live steam from the generator as hitherto most generally practised, and to
dispense with the usual accessory of an air pump.
The improved apparatus (which I purpose to call "the automatic condenser ") is
illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings in one modification of its
construction, and this Figure illustrates clearly the main principle upon which the
Invention is based, but the construction of the various component parts which will
be herein-after referred to may be variously modified without deviating from the said
principle, the parts themselves not being of any arbitrary construction, excepting so
far as is herein-after specified. In this illustration the automatic condenser is
shown as being constructed with a condensing chamber 1 having at or near its
top an inlet aperture 2, through which the exhaust steam is admitted into the
chamber, and near to which is a second inlet aperture 3 through which the injection
water is introduced into the chamber, while at or near the base the chamber is
formed with larger outlet apertures 4 for the exit of the waste water, these outlets
being suitably fitted with or covered by ring or other suitable valve 5 of a com-
paratively larger combined area.
The inlet 3 may be fitted with a rose or with a nozzle and dash plate, or other-
wise provided or formed so as to obtain a minute spraying or subdivision of the
injection water which may be supplied by a tube G fitted with a suitable stop or
non-return valve 7; or the chamber may be encircled by a jacket 8 and pierced
with small holes 9, as shown in the detached view Figure 2, the jacket being
supplied with water by an arrangement similar to that (6, 7,) just described, and
the water having ready access to the chamber through the circumferential series of
holes 9.
To prevent the water within the chamber 1 from entering the exhaust steam
pipe through the omission of the engineer shutting off the injection when the

page_text: engine is at rest, a valve carried by a joint, or by a float, or a hollow ball valve
may be fitted to the mouth of the inlet 2 as has been previously effected.
The shape or form of the condensing chamber (the peculiarity of which con-
stitutes a material and distinguishing feature of my Invention) is such as to present
but a comparatively small surface of water or waste water to the exhaust steam at
the time of each exhaust from the cylinder of the engine, and a rapidly increasing
water or wet surface with a comparatively small fall in the water level as the water or
waste water is expelled from the condensing chamber; and this result may be
attained in various ways either by suddenly increasing the size or diameter of the
chamber at its bottom end, or by more gradually increasing it by forming it some-
what in the manner of a bell, or of a funnel, or of any other equivalent shape.
The internal capacity of the chamber 1 bears no general definite proportion to
that of the steam cylinder, but it will under ordinary conditions be considerably
smaller than that of the steamn cylinder.
To obtain a still further increased water or wet surface within the chamber 1,
one or more rows of tubes, such as have been previously used for surface conden-
sation, may be fitted at or near the bottom of the chamber, the water or waste
water having access through them, and their situation exposing the steam to their
action at such times only as the waste water may have been lowered to an
abnormal level, or nearly expelled from the chamber.
When in order for use the automatic condenser is partially or wholly surrounded
or covered and filled with water of about the atmospheric temperature; the exhaust
steam or vapor from the engine can then be freely admitted to the condensing
chamber; each discharge thereof displaces as much waste water from the chamber as
will be sufficient to produce a vacuum therein for the following stroke of the engine
piston; and also to afford space to hold as much injection water as may be admitted
and necessary.
To adapt the automatic condenser to work in situations where economy of
space is advantageous and the supply of water not abundant, a hot well 10 may be
fitted so as to surround the lower portion or the whole of the chamber 1, the water
being conducted therefrom through the outlet 11 by ordinary means.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the
construction or formation of the condensing chamber (of apparatus used for con-
<lensing steam or other vapor and producing a vacuumn) of such a shape as that at
the time of each exhaust from the cylinder of the engine, the water or wet surfaces
are suddenly or rapidly increased in area with a comparatively small fall in the
water level as the waste water is expelled from the chamber, substantially as above
specified and referred to.
And I also claim the above-described general arrangement of the component
parts of condensing apparatus in combination with such a form or shape of con-
lensing chamber producing a condenser, especially applicable in forming a vacuum
in the exhaust pipe or cylinders of steam or other engines, substantially as described
and referred to.
In witness whereof I the said James Wimshurst have hercunto set my