Improvements in Surface Condensers for Tramway and other Engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
Improvements in Surface Condensers for Tramway and other
Engines.
I GEORGE WILLIAM BLACKBURN of Spencer Place Leeds in the County of York,
Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Improvements is to increase the efficiency of such surface
condensers by facilitating the circulation of cold air around the spaces or chambers
containing the steam, and more especially also by providing readier means of escape
for the air after it has been heated by contact with such pipes or chambers; whilst at
the same time the cost of construction may be more or less reduced.
8
In order that my Improvements may be more clearly understood reference will at
once be had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
The above object of my Invention I effect by Improvements in the design (or shape)
and arrangement of the spaces or chambers s into which the exhaust steam is admitted
to be condensed. Fig. 1 represents the first of my improved designs for a condenser
pipe. The pipe consists of two almost complete cylinders of copper or other material,
the smaller placed concentrically within the larger thus enclosing an annular space s,
within which the steam traverses from one end to the other. The condenser pipe thus
forms an unclosed cylinder, the opening c running the full length of the condenser
pipe. It will be seen that the cold air readily finds entrance at one end of the
condenser pipe and passes along the inside a as well as the outside of the pipe. The
longitudinal opening c by permitting the ready escape of air from within the
condenser pipe as such air becomes heated greatly increases the circulation of cold
air through the inside of the condenser pipe, increasing consequently its efficiency as
a condenser. In Fig. 2 the condenser pipe is shewn formed in two halves so that
there is an opening d along the underside as well as on the top (at c) of the pipe, and
the entrance of cold air to the inside of the condenser pipe (through such opening d)
to replace the warm air escaping through the top opening c is thus greatly facilitated.
It will of course be readily understood that the section of the condenser pipe may be
oval rectangular (see Figs. 3 and 4) or of other suitable sections, without materially

page_text: altering the nature of this my said Invention, such sections being so arranged, that
the air traversing such condenser pipe may readily escape as it becomes heated through
a longitudinal opening c on the upper side, and in some cases a similar opening d
being provided below for the ready admission of air.
A further modification of this my Invention is shewn in Fig. 5 in which the
exhaust steam space is formed between two corrugated plates, two sets of such
plates being placed side by side so as to enclose air spaces a between them, along
which cold air passes. As the two sets are not placed in actual contact, openings c
and d corresponding to the openings similarly lettered c and d in the other Figures
are thereby provided and for a similar purpose or purposes.
It will be readily understood that the above described condenser pipes, spaces, or
chambers may be coupled together zig-zag-wise, or in series and placed in any
convenient position above or on the engine.
The drawings represent the condenser pipes in cross section, the pipes being
preferably placed longitudinally on the top of the engine, so as to ensure a current of
air being readily caused to traverse through and alongside the exterior of the
condenser pipes when the engine is moving at any speed. Suitable arrangements are
provided for draining off the water of condensation from the steam spaces.
The auth
1007
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
2, East Parade, Leeds,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surface Condensers for Tramway and other
Engines.
I GEORGE WILLIAM BLACKBURN of Spencer Place Leeds in the County of York
Draughtsman 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 :-
The object of my Improvements is to increase the efficiency of such surface
condensers by facilitating the circulation of cold air round the spaces or chambers
containing the steam, and more especially also by providing readier means of escape
for air after it has been heated by contact with such spaces or chambers.
In order that my Improvements may be more clearly understood reference will at
once be lad to the drawings accompanying the provisional and also this present
complete specification, and to the letters and marks thereon.
The above object of my Invention I effect by new or improved construction and
designs, or shapes and arrangements of the chambers or spaces, (lettered sin the
following Figures), into which the exhaust steam is admitted to be condensed.
In Fig. 1 the steam space s is formed by placing a trough or channel of sheet
metal (of a C shaped cross section) concentrically within another trough or channel
of similar but suitably larger cross section; each edge of the one being joined to the
corresponding edge of the other, longitudinally along and also at the ends of the
troughs. In this manner a long space or chamber of a C shaped cross section is
formed, to which steam is admitted near one end, and traverses the full length to an
opening at the other end; the steam being more or less condensed during its passage.
The cold air circulates not only round the exterior of the space or chamber, but can
also readily pass along the interior of the inner trough, which forms one side of the
condensing chamber. The longitudinal opening c, which forms an essential feature
in this design, is arranged on the top; and permits the ready escape of heated air
from within the inner trough, thereby greatly increasing the circulation of cold air
through the inner trough or channel, and consequently increasing also the efficiency
of the condensing chamber.
In Fig. 2 the condensing chamber is formed by means of two semi-cylindrical or
similar shaped metal plates, placed concentrically, the smaller within the larger, and
which are connected or joined together along corresponding edges and at the ends,
thus forming or enclosing a long space or chamber, semi-annular or semi-ring shaped
in section, (cross). These condensing chambers may be placed together in pairs as
shewn in Fig. 2, so as to leave an opening d along the underside as well as at the top
atc; and the entrance of cold air to the space within each pair through such opening d,
to replace the warm air escaping through the top opening c, is thus greatly facilitated.
Or the semi-cylindrical condensing chambers may be disposed or arranged in vertical,
horizontal, or diagonal rows, with the concave and convex sides alternating or facing
each other, or in any combination of the above; two or three of which arrangements
are shewn in Fig. 6.

page_text: It will of course be readily understood that the cross section to which the metal
plates or sheets, (forming the sides or walls of the condensing chambers), are bent,
may be oval (Fig. 3), rectangular (Fig. 4), or of other suitable sections, without
departing from the nature of my said Invention; such sections being so arranged,
that the air traversing along the exterior of the sides of such condensing chambers,
may readily escape as it becomes heated through a longitudinal opening c on the upper
side, and in some cases a similar opening d being also provided on the underside for
the ready admission of cold air.
A further modification of this my Invention is shewn in Fig. 5, in which the
exhaust steam space s is formed between two corrugated plates with comparatively
wide corrugations, two sets of such plates being placed side by side, so as to enclose
air spaces a between them, along which cold air passes. As the two sets are not
placed in actual contact, openings c and d, corresponding to the openings similarly
fettered c and d in the other Figures, are thereby provided, and for a similar purpose
or purposes.
In order to increase the strength of such steam condensing chambers or spaces,
besides at the same time slightly increasing the area of the cooling surface, I propose
to make the sides of such chambers of corrugated or crimped sheet metal, so that for
equal strength the weight of such condenser is much less than if made of plain sheet
metal. It will of course be understood, that the line of the corrugations is arranged
to run parallel to the cross section as shewn in Fig. 7, in which direction only they
contribute to the strength of the chamber.
It will be readily understood that the above described condensing chambers may be
coupled together zig-zag wise, or in series, and placed in any convenient position on
the engine.
In Figs. 1-6 the condensing chambers are represented only in section (cross), the
chambers being preferably placed longitudinally on the top of the engine, so as to
ensure a current of air being readily caused to traverse along the exterior of such
condensing chambers in the direction of their length, when the engine is moving at
any speed. Suitable arrangements are provided for draining off the water of
condensation from the interior of the condensing chambers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In surface condensers for tramway and other Engines.
1° Condensing spaces or chambers formed between parallel or concentrically
arranged plates of plain or corrugated sheet metal, exposed on both sides to the
circulation of air, and arranged to leave openings or slits on the upper side for the
escape of the heated air from between the outer sides of the spaces or chambers,
substantially as herein set forth.
2° Condensing spaces or chambers as in claim 1º, arranged to leave also openings
in or at the under side for the entrance of cold air between the outer sides of the
spaces or chambers, substantially as herein set forth.
3° Condensing spaces or chambers arranged and formed substantially according to
any of the constructions and shapes herein described and illustrated in the drawings
accompanying the provisional and the present complete specification (Figs. 1-7).
Dated this 15th day of August 1888
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M.,
2, East Parade, Leeds,
Agent for Applicant.