APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AERATED FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Clegg, of Islington, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, and Richard Fell, of Saint Ann's Place, Limehouse, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AERATED
FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER."
Sealed the 10th February 1860, and dated the 13th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Clegg and Richard
Fell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 13th August 1859.
We, ROBERT CLEGG, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, and RICHARD
FELL, of Saint Ann's Place, Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING
AERATED FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in obtaining aerated fresh water from salt water in
apparatus of the following construction, said apparatus being composed of five
principal parts, namely, a generator, a condenser, a vacuum chamber, an air
pump, and a closed tank, all of which are connected together, and are con-
structed and operated with in the following manner :-The generator consists
of an air-tight vessel, in which are arranged longitudinally a series of water-
tight chambers for the passage of hot air from an ordinary cabouse, such as is
commonly used on shipboard for cooking. The aforesaid air chambers are

page_text: connected together, and terminate in a pipe passed through the top of the
above named iron vessel, said pipe being open to the atmosphere. The con-
denser consists of a closed air-tight vessel, in which are arranged longitudinally
a series of water-tight troughs, each divided into compartments, a communi-
cation being established between each compartment by means of an elbow
pipe open at both ends, these several troughs are connected together near their
ends by vertical pipes, and the lowermost of such said pipes passes into the
before-mentioned vacuum chamber at the bottom thereof. This vacuum
chamber consists of an air-tight vessel from which proceeds a bent pipe, one
end of which is fixed near the bottom thereof, and the other end of such said
pipe is connected to the bottom of an air-pump, from whence proceeds another
bent pipe, which enters a tank or reservoir to contain the acrated fresh water
obtained in the above apparatus in the following manner and order, and by
the following process, that is to say:-The apparatus is first exhausted of air
by means of the air-pump, the generator is then charged with salt water leaving
space at top for steam, which as the water is heated from the hot air chambers
passes through a pipe into the condenser filled with cold salt water. The
troughs in the condenser at the commencement of the process should be filled
with fresh water, after which the process goes on as follows:-As the water
in the generator is converted into steam or vapour, the air in the water, as it
becomes rarefied, ascends, and mixing with the vapour or steam passes into the
first compartment in the upper trough of the condenser, where the mixed
vapour and air are condensed, the air being thus held in suspension in the
water, as this compartment becomes charged or filled with aerated fresh water,
it passes from thence to the next and adjoining compartment, and so on
throughout the whole series, and finally passes into and fills the pipe leading
into the air-pump, and enters the barrel thereof. This pipe is fitted with a
valve so that the down-stroke of the pump closes such valve, and forces the
fresh water into the tank or reservoir, from whence it is to be drawn for use,
another valve preventing the return of the water into the barrel of the pump.
A mechanical arrangement of the following construction may be advan-
tageously employed for removing the saturated water from the bottom of the
generator, periodically and simultaneously admitted the water from the con-
denser into the generator. For this purpose it is proposed to employ two
flexible bags, one at top and the other at the bottom, and outside of the
generator; connected to the outer ends of these bags are vibrating levers, the
other ends whereof are connected together by a long rol. The uppermost of
the aforesaid levers is connected with a cock by which water is admitted from
the condenser into the generator as follows:-As the water in the generator

page_text: evaporates, a partial vacuum is formed, the effect of which is to cause the
flexible bag situate at the top of the generator to collapse, thereby opening the
before-mentioned cock, and letting water flow from the condenser into the
generator. The lever at the bottom of the generator will be acted upon by
the aforesaid top lever, and let out some of the saturated water, and as the
generator fills with water the cocks will be closed by a reverse movement of
the levers. Instead of connecting the apparatus to the cabouse, as above
stated, it may be connected with a steam boiler, and atmospheric air be
forced into the condenser so as to first mix with the vapour or steam, and
then be condensed in troughs as before stated, and the condenser may be
supplied from the bilge water of the ship or vessel. In connection with the
above apparatus it is proposed to place in each of the compartments of the
condenser small pieces of fire-clay and bone ash mixed together, or other
vegetable or animal carbon, to neutralize any vegetable matter contained in
the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
CLEGG, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, and RICHARD FELL, of Saint
Ann's Place, Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, Her special licence that we,
the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terni
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AERATED FRESH
WATER FROM SALT WATER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, our executors or administrators, or
one of us, by an instrument in writing under our, or one of our, or their, or

page_text: one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
'within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, do
bereby declare the nature of the said 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 consists in obtaining aerated fresh water from salt water in
apparatus of the following construction, the apparatus being composed of
five principal parts, namely, a generator, a condenser, a vacuum chamber,
an air-pump, and a closed tank, all of which are connected together and
operated with in the following manner:-The generator consists of an air-
tight vessel, in which are arranged longitudinally a series of water-tight
chambers or flues for the passage of hot air from an ordinary cabouse, such
as is commonly used on shipboard for cooking. The aforesaid air-chambers
are connected together and terminated in a pipe passed through the top of
the above-named vessel, the said pipe being open to the atmosphere. The
condenser consists of a closed air-tight vessel, in which are arranged longi-
tudinally a series of water-tight chambers or amalgamating pots, a communi-
cation being established between each chamber or amalgamating pot by means
of an elbow pipe open at both ends. These several chambers or amalgamating
pots are connected together near their ends by vertical pipes, and the upper-
most of such said pipes passes into the before-mentioned vacuum chamber.
This arrangement may be varied by making the vacuum chamber in another
part of the apparatus. This vacuum chamber consists of an air-tight vessel,
from which proceeds a bent pipe, one end of which is fixed near the bottom
thereof, and the other end of such said pipe is connected to the bottom of
an air-pump, from whence proceeds another bent pipe, which enters a tank
or 'reservoir to contain the aerated fresh water obtained in the above apparatus
in the following manner and order, and by the following process, that is to
say: The apparatus is first exhausted or partially exhausted of air by means
of the air-pump. The generator is then charged with salt water, leaving
space at top for steam, which, as the water is heated from the hot air
chambers, passes through a pipe into the condenser filled with cold salt
water. The amalgamating chamber or pots in the condenser at the com-
mencement of the process should be filled with fresh water, after which the
process goes on as follows:-As the water in the generator is converted into

page_text: steam or vapour, the air in the water as it becomes rarified ascends, and
mixing with the vapour or steam, passes into the first chamber or amalga-
mating pot in the upper row of amalgamating pots in the condenser, when
the mixed vapour and air are condensed, the air being thus held in suspension
in the water. As this chamber or amalgamating pot becomes charged or
filled with aerated fresh water it passes from thence to the next and adjoining
chamber or amalgamating pot, and so on throughout the whole series, and
finally passes into and fills the pipe leading into the air-pump, and enters the
barrel thereof. This pipe is fitted with a valve, so that the down stroke of
the pump closes such valve, and forces the fresh water into the tank or
reservoir, from whence it is to be drawn for use, another valve preventing
the return of the water into the barrel of the pump.
A mechanical arrangement of the following construction may be advan-
tageously employed for removing the saturated watter from the bottom of the
generator, periodically and simultaneously admitting the water from the con-
denser into the generator. For this purpose it is proposed to employ two
flexible bags, one at the top and the other at the bottom, and outside of. the
generator. Connected to the outer ends of these bags are vibrating levers,
the other ends whereof are connected together by a long rod. The uppermost
of the aforesaid levers is connected with a cock, by which the wafer is
admitted from the condenser into the generator as follows:-As the wafer
in the generator evaporates, a partial vacuum is formed, the effect of which
is to cause the flexible bag situate at the top of the generator to collapse,
thereby opening the before-mentioned cock, and letter the water flow from
the condenser into the generator. The lever at the bottom of the generator
will be acted upon by the aforesaid top lever, and let out some of the saturated
water, and, as the generator fills with water, the cocks will be closed by a
reverse movement of the levers. Instead of connecting the apparatus to the
cabouse or ship's cooking apparatus, as above stated, it may be connected with
a steam boiler, and atmospheric air be forced into the condenser so as to first
mix with the vapour or steam, and then be condensed in chamber or amal-
gamating pots, as before stated, and the condenser may be supplied from the
bilge water of the ship or vessel. In connection with the above apparatus it
is proposed to place in each of the chamber or amalgamating pots of the con-
denser small pieces of fine clay and bone ash mixed together, to neutralize
any vegetable matter contained in the water.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed, and more fully described hereafter,
various modifications are shewn in the construction of the apparatus, which
will be more readily understood by reference thereto.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a ship's hearth cooking apparatus, showing
the generator behind. A is the cooking hearth; a, the furnace door;
a 2, roasting plate; a 3, oven; a 4, the damper; a 5, another damper;
B, the generator; B 1, the head or upper chamber of the generator; B2, the
hand hole; 63, the chimney; 64, a cap; 61, soot door; C, a pipe for con-
veying steam to condenser ; D 1, head of condenser ; C1, a pipe for conveying
hot water and air to generator. Figure 2, the top plan of the ship's hearth
cooking apparatus, generator, and condenser. A, A, A, the hot plate; a 5,
damper; B, the generator; B1, the head or upper chamber of the generator;
64, the cap; a, chimney; al soot hole; C the pipe for conveying steam to
.condenser; D, condenser; D1, head of condenser; C1 the pipe for con-
veying hot water and air to generator; C2, pipe and cock for discharging
surplus hot water, which is produced by the continual supply of cold water
in keeping the condenser cool. Figure 3, the end section of the ship's hearth
cooking apparatus, generator, and condenser. A, A, the hot plate; a, the
furnace door; a 2, the roasting plate; A 1, the fire-place; 62, the junction
from the fire-place A 1, into the flues of generator; b, b, b, b, the flues of
generator B, B; B 1, the head or upper chamber of the generator; B 3, the
concentrating box; c, a float for regulating the cock c 2; c 3, a pipe for con-
veying the water to top of metre wheel d, d; d, d, is a metre wheel for the
purpose of working the pump d 2, to discharge the saturated water from the
concentrating box B 3; d 1, the crank and connecting rod; d2, the pump;
d8, the suction pipe; d 4, the discharge valve of the pump d 2; C, the
steam pipe; D 1, the head of the condenser; D, D, D, D, the condenser;
e, e, e, e, e, e, are the amalgamating chamber; e 3, e 3, e 3, are bent tubes com-
municating from one of the amalgamating chambers to another; e 4, e 4, e 4, e 4,
are descending pipes; C 2, the pipe for discharging surplus hot water; e 5,
the discharge pipe. Figure 4, longitudinal section of generator; b, b, b, b, are
the flues; 61, 61, 61, are doors opening into flues; 62, 63, within the
dotted lines are the openings where the caloric enters; 64, a chamber con-
taining animal or vegetable carbon, or mixed with iron or potash; C, the
float; c 3, the supply pipe; d, the metre wheel; d 2, the suction pipe; Bs,
the concentrating box; B2, the hand hole; B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, are
the spaces between the flues for water; B1, the head or upper chamber of the
generator; C, the steam-pipe to condenser; d 4, the discharge pipe; 63, the
chimney; 61, soot hole. Figure 5, longitudinal section of condenser; el, a
chamber containing charcoal, under which is placed a perforated tube e 2,

page_text: which communicates to the amalgamating chambers e, e, e, e, e, e; e 3, e 8, end
view of bent tubes communicating from one of the amalgamating chambers
to another; e 4, e 4, e 4, descending pipes; C1, the hot water and air pipe;
C2, discharge pipe; 5, the discharge pipe to the fresh water tanks E and
E 1, in Figure 6; C, the pipe for conveying steam into condenser; D 1, the
head of condenser; x, supply pipe of cold water to condenser. Figure 6, a
section of two water tanks for the reception of the fresh water obtained from
the amalgamating chambers; E, E 1, the two tanks; F, F 1, valves opening
into tanks; F2, F3, valves opening into suction pipe g 1, 91 commu-
nicating with the pump G; h, h 1, cocks; H, four right away cocks; g 2,9 3,
suction pipes to tanks; 9 4, suction pipe to pump; I, a float; I 1, upright
rod, as shewn per dotted lines, which work the lever H 1, on the outside of
tank. H2, a governor to regulate cock H. Figure 7, a section of Figure 4,
shewing a collapsing cylinder, which can be employed instead of the metre
wheel; B, the generator; c, the float; c 2, a cock; M, a three-way cock;
M2, a governor; N, a collapsing pump to supply generator with water; O,
pump for discharging saturated water from the concentrating box B3, P, a
balance weight. Figure 8, a side view of a high-pressure condenser; D, D,
the condenser; R, carbonic chamber; b, supply valve to let in air; 61,
suction valve and pipe to pump S; C 3, delivery pipe into head of condenser ;
C, the steam pipe; C 2, cock and pipe for delivering condensing water on the
wheel T; T, T, a water wheel for working pump S; U, a trough. Figure 9,
shews a condenser, with a small steam engine V, which works the pumps S and
S1; C 3, delivering pipe into the head of condenser D1; W, exhausting
steam pipe from cylinder; a, supply pipe; a 1, delivery pipe and valve into
condenser; C2, cock and pipe for delivering condensing water on the wheel T;
T, T, b, 61, D1, are described in Figure 8.
Having fully described the nature of the Invention, and the means of
carrying the same into practical effect, we would have it understood that what
we claim is the method herein described :-
First, of producing aerated fresh water from salt or other waters by
generating the steam in vacuum or partial vacuum, and amalgamating such
steam in vacuum or partial vacuum with air, and there condensing the same
through a series of water chambers or amalgamating pots into the receiving
tanks.
Secondly, of amalgamating high-pressure steam of 212°, or over, with air,
by the method or system adopted in the construction of the receiving chamber
of the condenser, and by the application of charcoal.
Thirdly, of the method for adjusting the supply of water to be admitted

page_text: into the generator, and the discharge at the same time of the saturated or
concentrated water therefrom in due proportions of ten parts to one, for
prevention of incrustation.
Fourthly, of the means employed by, a float in one of the fresh-water tanks,
in connection with a governor, to reverse the action of vacuum in exhausting
either of the tanks of air or water.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Clegg and Richard Fell, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
ROBT. DAWSON CLEGG. (L.B.)
RICHARD FELL.
(L.S.)