IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Spencer, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES AND THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 26th December 1861, and dated the 3rd July 1861.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 3rd July 1861, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I JOHN
FREDERICK SPENCER, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Consulting Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES AND THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn decla-
ration that I am the first and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Frederick Spencer, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement and
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
This Invention relates to certain improvements connected with steam
TD

page_text: engines combined with surface condensers and working with surface conden-
sation, instead of by the ordinary system ofinjection condensation, and whether
such engines, machinery, and apparatus be employed on board of ships or
on land.
The first part.of my Invention consists of a mode of supplying surface con-
densers with condensing water when it is convenient or preferred to work theair
pumps only (with or without the feed and bilge pumps) by the main engines
In such cases I work the pump or pumps for supplying the condensing water
required for condensing the steam in surface condensers by a steam engine or
engines worked distinct from the main engines; the steam to work such
auxiliary engines may come direct from the main boiler, or from the auxiliary
boiler or boilers, as preferred.
I do not claim the occasional use of a distinct steam pump or pumps as
described for obtaining a vacuum, and starting the main engines, or other tem-
porary purpose, but the use and adoption of such pump or pumps asa regular
system, and always working at the same time as the main engines; my object
being to have an inexpensive plan for fitting surface condensers to engines
fitted with the ordinary injection condeuser and air pumps. If desired, the
feed and bilge pumps can also be worked by the condensing pump steam
engines.
The second part of my present Invention consists in a novel arrangement of
apparatus and mode of working the combined air and cold water pump, pre-
viously patented by me (on the 16th day of November 1857), or the cold
water pumps only in connection with my arrangement of surface condensing
engines (as patented by me on 'the 29th day of March 1858, and numbered
661, and on the 17th day of January 1860, and numbered 120).
It is usual in direct-acting inverted screw (or stationary) engines to work
the air pumps by levers placed across the line of the keel, and attached at one
end by means of links to the piston rod or its cross head, and at the other end
by links to the air-pump cross head; the fulcrum or centre of vibration of the
lever being placed at some convenient distance from either end, and a short
shaft or axis carrying the lever is supported in bearings in some portion of the
engine framing or in standards provided for the purpose.
By this arrangement the work of the pump, and the load on its bucket, help
to balance the descending weight of the steam piston, and its connections, or
the moving parts of the engine. Now, in the pumps which I commonly use
for such descriptions of engines fitted with surface condensers, the work or
load of the pump is in or during its downward stroke, or the reverse of the
ordinary condition of working engines as before described.

page_text: For the purpose of meeting this alteration in the conditions or requirements
of such pumps and engines, I work the plunger of the combined pump con-
structed according to my previous Patent, or other force pumps, by means of
alever or levers, one end of which being attached to the piston-rod cross head,
the other end is made the fulcrum or centre of vibration, and is attached to
brackets connected with or attached to the framing of the pump or the engine;
motion being communicated to the plunger at any convenient point between
the two extreme ends. By this arrangement the load of the pump on its down-
ward stroke helps to counterbalance the weight of the steam piston and te
moving parts connected therewith. By this arrangement of pump levers in
inverted direct-acting steam engines having surface condensers attached
thereto, the combined air and cold water pump patented by me as herein-
before mentioned, or any other construction of pump in which the downward
stroke forces or projects the condensing water through a surface condenser is
worked, or has motion communicated thereto by means of a lever or levers
having the fulcrum at one end as described, and at the same time space is
economized in the engine room, or the space occupied by the engine.
The third part of my Invention has reference to steam engines worked with
surface condensers, either of the kind previously patented by meorofanyother
description; the two previous parts of this Invention having reference to
certain arrangements for working the pumps of enginesfitted with surfacecon-
densers. I now adopt as my improvement an improved method for making up
the waste of fresh water in such engines, and at the same time further econo-
mising fuel, by raising the temperature of the feed water.
Now, for the purpose of pumping and feeding steam engine boilers to be
fed or supplied with fresh water, and with a view also to enable them to be
supplied with water of a higher temperature than when it has left the surface
condenser in which it has been collected, I apply a heater in connection with a
vaporizer as hereafter described, and this forms the third portion of my present
Invention.
In cases where it is not convenient or desirable to employ the auxiliary
boilerdescribed in one of myaforesaid Patents for making up the loss orwaste
of fresh water, I substitute the following arrangement -I connect with the
main boiler or boilers a vaporizer or vessel, into which salt or foul water is
admitted on one side of the metallic divisions or surfaces, whilst the hot con-
tents (water and steam, or both), of the main boiler or boilers are brought by
pipes, &c., in contact with the other surfaces, and made to circulate between.
them, and impart the heat thereto, and so ensure its transmission to the salt
or foul water on the opposite side of such metallic surfaces, and by which

page_text: vapor or steam is driven off, which vapor or steam in its passage therefrom
through asurface heater, is made to part with its heat to the feed water, which
in its course from the pump or pumps to the boiler or boilers,islikewisecaused
to pass through the said surface heater, and thus a large proportion of the heat
drawn from the main boiler for the purpose of vapo rizing the salt water, is
returned to it through the increased temperature of the feed water supplied
thereto. When the amount of feed water is insufficient to abstract all the
useful heat from the steam or vaper driven off from the salt water contained
in the vaporizer, the portion condensed, together with that which is uncon-
densed, may be passed into the main surface condenser, and thus be utilized.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, I have illustrated my present
Invention by a general plan and end elevation of an engine fitted with a
central surface condenser, and the novel arrangement and disposition of the
air pump levers and connections, the pumps shown in these views, being the
combined air and condensing water pump herein-before described as the
second part of my present Invention. And the general arrangement of
engine surface condenser and pumps is such as I prefer to adopt for the pur-
pose of giving motion to the screw propeller in commercial steam ships.
In the same Sheet of Drawings I have illustrated the arrangement I prefer
to employ in carrying out that part of my present Invention which I have
herein-before described as the third part thereof, and having for its object the
making up of the waste of fresh water which may occur in engines fitted with
surface condensers, and for the further economizing fuel by utilizing heat,
(which otherwise would be lost), for the purpose of raising the temperature of
the fresh feed water produced from the exhaust steam by surface condensation,
and the illustration which I have given of this part of my Invention is shown
in Figures 3 and 4.
In each of the Figures in the accompanying Drawing, I have as far as
possible described the several parts and their uses, by writing thereon; and
also by the aid of letters of reference, designated such other parts of my said
Invention as would not admit of such extended reference being made thereon.
I have not thought it necessary to illustrate in the accompanying Drawing
that which I have described as the first part of my present Invention, such illus-
trativeviewsbeing unnecessaryfromthenature and character of that part of my
presentInvention, and from its being self-evident that there are so manymodi-
fications or variations, which for the sake of couvenience may be made in the
disposition of thedistinct steam pump or pumpsforworking surfacecondensers
where they are superadded or made independent additions to main engines
designed for working by injection, condensation, or, in engines designed for

page_text: working by surface condensation, and having the air pumps only (with or
without the feed and bilge pumps) worked by the main engines.
Figurelis a plan viewof a pair of overheadcylinderengines suited for driving
the screw propeller in mercantile steam ships. The central surface condenser
forming part of the framing and the means of supporting the two inner sides
of the steam cylinders. The combined air and condensing water pump of
each engine is shown in the position, and worked by means of levers having
their fulcrums respectively carried by brackets projecting from the hot well
and chamber casting connected with each combined pump, in accordance with
the second part of my present Invention, and as berein-before described.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the engines, condenser, and pumps shown
in Figure 1. The several parts of these Figures will, by reference to the
Drawing, be so readily understood as to render unnecessary any more minute
description thereof.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the surface evaporator and the surface feed
water heater constructed according to the third part of my presentInvention,
but the surface feed water heater instead of being separate as shown in the
plan, may form a portion of the condenser.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 3, taken on the line C, D,
of Figure 3,and showing the mode of connecting the surface evaporator with
the surface feed water heater, and of connecting them both with the other
parts of the apparatus.
In these Figures (3 and 4) I have employed, in addition to the written
description upon some of the parts thereof, compound letters of reference for
the more readily distinguishing their functions. Thus, those parts marked
F, W, T, refer to the feed-water tubes; S, S, W, T, the course of the steam
from the salt water tubes, which may be traced through the course of the
arrows; I, F, feed water inlet or the inlet from hot well or feed pump;
F, W, feed water chamber spaces, at top and bottom of heater; S, S, W,
steam contained in salt water chamber; M, S, I, the main steam inlet near
the top of the evaporator; O, S, S, outlet for steam from salt water evapo-
rator; 0, F, outlet for feed water after it has been heated; M, S, D, main
steam discharge or opening from which the steam from the boiler, or the
condensed water resulting therefrom, is permitted to escape; 1, S, W, inlet
for the salt water taken from the discharge of the condensing water from the
main surface condenser ; P, S, S, W, passage or pipe for the steam generated
from the salt or other water admitted from the main condenser.
Although I have shown a tubular surface evaporator and heater, sheet

page_text: spaces, or any other arrangement of surfaces may be substituted therefor.
The admission of steam from the main boiler to the evaporator can be regu-
lated by a cock or valve, and when the steam is condensed, it can be returned
to the boiler, either by a separate pump,or by any convenient connection with
the ordinary feed pumps or pipes.
It is desirable to keep the level of the outlet O, S, S, above the bottom of
the main condenser, so as to maintain a free communication between them.
The feed water delivered at O, F, may, if desired, be still further heated in
any convenient part of the boiler furnace, uptake or elsewhere, before it
finally enters the boiler.
By increasing the dimensions of the surface evaporator beyond the require-
ments for making up the waste in the main boilers, sufficient distilled water
may be produced for the ship's use. The evaporator should be fitted with a
glass water gauge as well as a pressure gauge.
In the accompanyingSheet of Drawings I have shewn engines suitable for,
say, up to 200 horse power, but in engines of large size, it may be preferred
to separate the air and condensing water pumps, instead of employing the
combined pump, in which case the latter may be worked by means of the
levers disposed and arranged in the manner shewn, whilst the air pump may
be placed and worked in any manner most convenient. My claim in respect
of the first part of the present Invention being for the arrangement of levers
for working pumps in such kinds or descriptions of engines, and in all cases
when the water for condesation is forced through a surface condenser.
Having now described my said Invention, I wish it to be understood, that
what I claim is,-
First, the use or employment of a separate steam pump worked inde-
pendcutly of the main engines, for supplying the coudensing water to surface
condensers where the air pumps only (with or without the feed and bilge
pumps) attached to such condensers are worked by the main engines.
Second, the arrangement of levers herein described for working the com-
bined air and cold water pump, or any other description of pump, in which
the downward stroke forces or throws the condensing water through a surface
condenser in inverted direct-acting steam engines, whether such engines are
employed for propelling ships, or as stationary engines.
Third, making use of the heat obtained from the main boiler to vaporize or
drive off steam from salt water, by the heat of which, in turn, the feed water,
in its passage from the pump to the main boiler, becomes heated, and thereby
effecting fuel economy in manner herein described; and whether the surface

page_text: evaporator and feed water heater be constructed in the particular form and
manner herein described (and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing,) or
by any other equivalent means.
Fourth, the combination of a surface evaporator with a surface heater for
heating the feed water, in manner and for the purpose herein described, so
that the heat necessarily expended in making up the waste of fresh water in
surface condensation, shall be wholly or in part utilized by raising the tem-
perature of the feed water.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Spencer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
FREDERIC ROBERTS,
19, Salisbury St.,
Adelphi, W.C.
JOHN FREDERICK SPENCER. (L.S)