A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ALONGSHORE FOR THE DISTILLATION OF PURE WATER PROM SALT WATER OR WATER IMPREGNATED WITH EARTHY OR OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luke Thomas, of No. 136, Leadenhall Street, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS TO BE USED ALONGSHORE FOR THE DISTILLATION OF PURE WATER
PROM SALT WATER OR WATER IMPREGNATED WITH EARTHY OR OTHER
MATTERS."
Sealed the 22nd December 1868, and dated the 26th June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Luke Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th June 1868.
I, LURE THOMAS, of No. 136, Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ALONGSHORE FOR THE DISTILLATION
OF PURE WATER FROM SALT WATER OR WATER IMPREGNATED WITH EARTHY
OR OTHER MATTERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the obtainment of pure water from
salt water or water impregnated with earthy or other matters in larger
quantities and with greater economy than has hitherto been attained. at
"places alongshore where fresh water or pure water is scarce.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention instead of leading or conducting the
sea or salt or other water into a casing or shell surrounding the arrange-
ment of tubes or spaces or chambers into or through which the steam
passes for condensation, I dispense with the casing or shell by placing
the arrangement of tubes, spaces, or chambers, which I herein-after call
the condenser, right out into and under the sea, or into or under the
water of the estuary, or river, or lake. I connect the said condenser on
the one hand with the boiler (which boiler is placed on any erection
ashore suitable for the purpose) by means of a steam pipe, and on the
other hand with a tank or reservoir by means of a pipe or tube, for the
purpose of passing the fresh or distilled water formed by the con-
densation of the steam to the said tank or reservoir. In use the
pressure of the steam will be found sufficient to force the distilled water
into the tank, but. I propose if necessary to use any suitable pumping
arrangement for the same purpose.
I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement of the tubes,
spaces, or chambers forming the condenser, but in all cases I place the
said condenser right into the sea, estuary, or river, thus dispensing,
as herein-before mentioned, with the casing or shell necessary in all
condensers as heretofore constructed, and thus enabling the scale or
incrustation to be taken off with greater facility than other condensers,
there being no exterior casing to be removed and afterwards replaced.
I support or maintain in position the steam and fresh water pipes and
condenser when necessary by a framework, which in some cases I so
construct as to form a pier suitable for all purposes for which such an
erection is used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Luke Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUKE 3
THOMAS, of No. 136, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-second 3

page_text: year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Luke Thomas, Her special licence that I, the
said Luke Thomas, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Luke Thomas, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE
USED ALONGSHORE FOR THE DISTILLATION OF PURE WATER FROM SALT WATER
OR WATER IMPREGNATED WITH EARTHY OR OTHER MATTERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Luke Thomas, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, 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 I, the said Luke Thomas, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object the obtainment of pure water from
salt water or water impregnated with earthy or other matters in larger
quantities and with greater economy than has hitherto been attained at
places alongshore where fresh water or pure water is scarce.
In carrying out my Invention instead of leading or conducting the
sea or salt or other water into a casing or shell surrounding the arrange-
ment of tubes or spaces, or chambers into or through which the steam
passes for condensation, I dispense with the casing or shell by placing
the arrangement of tubes, spaces, or chambers, which I herein-after call
the condenser, right out into and under the sea, or into or under the
water of the estuary, or river, or lake. I connect the said condenser on
the one hand with the boiler (which boiler is placed on any erection.
ashore suitable for the purpose) by means of a steam pipe, and on the
other hand with a tank or reservoir by means of a pipe or tube, for the
purpose of passing the fresh or distilled water formed by the con-..
densation of the steam to the said tank or reservoir.
In use the

page_text: pressure of the steam will be found sufficient to force the distilled
water into the tank, but I propose if necessary to use any suitable
pumping arrangement for the same purpose.
I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement of the tubes,
spaces, or chambers forming the condenser, but in all cases I place the
said condenser right into the sea, or estuary, or river, thus dispensing,
as herein-before mentioned, with the casing or shell necessary in all
condensers as heretofore constructed, and thus enabling the scale or
incrustation to be taken off with greater facility than in other con-
densers, there being no exterior casing or shell to be removed and
afterwards replaced. I support or maintain in position the steam and
fresh water pipes and condenser when necessary by a framework, which
in some cases I so construct as to form a pier suitable for all purposes
for which such an erection is used.
In order that the nature of my Invention and the means by which
I effect the same may be distinctly described and ascertained this
Specification is accompanied by two Sheets of Drawings, numbered
I, and II., having letters of reference marked thereupon, the like letter
being used to denote a similar or corresponding part of the apparatus
in each Drawing.
The Drawing Sheet I. is a side view, and the Drawing Sheet II. is
a plan of a condenser constructed according to my Invention.
In these Drawings the arrangements of pipes forming the condensers
are marked A. They are supplied with steam from the boilers B through
the steam pipe C, the steam is there condensed or converted into water
by the action of the cold water surrounding the pipes, and the water
thus obtained is forced by the pressure of the steam through the fresh
water pipes D upwards and into tanks or reservoirs placed ashore pro-
vided for its reception. The fresh water pipes D are led again to the
shore as far as convenient under water, and the steam supply pipe is by
preference arranged as to be above high-water mark. The pipes E are
for the purpose of filling the steam boilers with water by means of the
donkey pump F. The feed water pipe E is as shewn in plan entered into
and led through the steam pipe C; the object of this is to heat the feed
water so that it is delivered at a high temperature to the boiler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the means by which the same is effected, I wish it
to be understood that I do not claim any particular arrangement of

page_text: the tubes, spaces, or chambers forming the condenser, as I may employ
any such condensing arrangement wherein the steam tubes, spaces, or
chambers can be united and held together without an outer casing;
but what I claim as of my Invention is,-
Firstly. So constructing condensers that they can be placed (and the
so placing of them) right into or under the water of the sea, or river, or
lake where they may be used.
Secondly. The dispensing with the outer shell or casing of condensers.
And, thirdly. The use by my peculiar arrangement of the steam
pressure to force the distilled water into a tank or reservoir ashore.
In witness whereof, I, the said Luke Thomas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
LUKE THOMAS. (L.S.)