Year: 1898

page_text: I, FRANCIS STOCKS, Mule Overlooker, 62, Stanley Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to condense the steam, and to reduce to a minimum
the back-pressure of the atmosphere on the exhaust of a steam engine, without the
aid of an air-pump.
The construction and action of this condensing apparatus will be fully explained
in relation to the accompanying drawing, which is a side elevation, shewing the
apparatus attached to the cylinder of a steam engine. The steam engine cylinder A
is provided with the requisite waste water taps, a a', and exhaust pipes B B¹. The
tank C is a reserve water tank, to contain cold water for condensing the steam,
and E is a tank to receive the waste water, the tank C being provided on its under-
side with a tap H and a pipe coupled to pipe B. D and D are water pipes pro-
vided with taps or valves FF", these pipes forming a syphon from tank C to tank E.
A steam valve G is fitted to top of pipe D₁, and coupled to exhaust pipe B.
condensed water tap I is fitted to underside of exhaust pipe B, and is provided
with pipe J, and back-pressure valve K, the back-pressure valve K being immersed
in water in tank E.
A
When an engine having this condensing apparatus attached, is being started the
cylinder waste water taps a & a¹, the tap I, the valve G, and the taps F & F¹ are
opened, and the exhaust steam passes through exhaust pipes B & B¹ and syphon
pipes D&D', thus forcing all the air out of same. Immediately the steam in the
pipes has reached the water in tanks C and E, the cylinder taps a & a¹ are closed.
The steam valve G is then closed. When this valve is closed, the steam in the
syphon pipes D & D¹, will quickly condense, and the atmospheric pressure will
force the water up the syphon pipes D & D¹, and will cause it to flow from the
reserve tank C to tank E. The steam valve G is then opened, admitting exhaust
steam to the pipe D', where it is condensed by the flow of cold water through
pipes D & D. During the operation of filling the syphon pipes D & D¹ with
water, and when the steam valve G is closed, the exhaust steam can pass down the
exhaust pipe B¹ towards the tank E, where it is condensed by means of the water
allowed to flow into the exhaust pipe B₁ out of tank C through tap H. This
tap, however, can be closed when the syphon D & D is working.
The pipe J is to allow for the escape of the water which forms in the exhaust
pipe B when the engine is starting. The back-pressure valve K is to prevent the
water from going back when the condenser is at work. The tap I must be used if
the back-pressure valve is defective. When the engine is stopped the steam valve G
is closed, and then the water taps or valves F & F¹ on the pipes D & D are closed,
thus retaining the water already in the syphon pipes so that same will not require
filling when engine is re-started.
When the engine is re-started the condensed water taps a & a¹ may be opened

page_text: as before, and the steam will pass through the exhaust pipes B & B¹, and will expel
the air. The cylinder taps a & a must then be closed. The syphon can now be
re-started by opening the taps F & F¹. The steam valve G can then be opened,
and the condenser will be at work again.
D
1
I, FRANCIS STOCKS, 62, Stanley Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, occupation
Mule Overlooker, 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 this invention is to condense the steam, and to reduce to a minimum
the back-pressure of the atmosphere on the exhaust of a steam engine without the
aid of an air-pump.
The construction and action of this condensing apparatus will be fully explained
in relation to the accompanying drawing, which is a side elevation, shewing the
apparatus attached to the cylinder of a steam engine.
The steam engine cylinder A is provided with the requisite waste water taps a a³,
and exhaust pipes B B C is a reserve water tank to contain cold water for con-
densing the steam, and E is a tank to receive the waste water, the tank C being
provided with a pipe and tap H coupled to pipe B¹. D and D¹ are water pipes
provided with taps or valves F F¹, these pipes forming a syphon from tank C to
tank E. A steain valve G is fitted near top of pipe D, and coupled to exhaust
pipe B.
When an engine, having this condensing apparatus attached, is being started,
the cylinder waste water taps a a¹, the valve G, and the tap F are opened, and
taps F and H closed. The exhaust steam passes through exhaust pipe B, and
syphon pipe D, and expels all the air out of same by forcing it through the water
in tank C. The steam will not pass down pipe B¹, as it is deeper in water, and the
passage down the pipe D being easier.
not convenient to place it deep enough in water.
A valve may be used in pipe B¹ if it is
When the steam has reached the water in tank C, the tap F¹ must be opened
and the steam will expel the air out of pipe D¹. The valve G should now be closed,
and the steam will pass down the exhaust pipe B, expelling the air out of this
pipe in like manner to the others. The tap H is to admit water to pipe B', and con-
dense the steam when valve G is closed for a considerable length of time. While
the exhaust steam is forcing the air out of pipe B₁, the steam which is in the syphon
pipes will be condensing, and the external atmospheric pressure will force the water
up the syphon pipes, and will cause it to flow from tank C to tank E.
The syphon having started, all the air being expelled from pipe B₁, and taps a a¹
having been closed again, the valve G can be opened, admitting exhaust steam to
the syphon at point d, where it will be condensed by the flow of cold water through
the pipes D D¹, the tap F being used to regulate the quantity of water.
I have found by experiment that the best place to admit the exhaust steam
into the syphon is at point d, a few inches below the top of the short leg D. Any
air which is admitted along with the exhaust steam immediately rises to the top,
and is taken down the pipe D¹ by the waste water, thus keeping the condensing
point d free from air. The condensing point d may be enlarged a little, if desired.

page_text: The higher the syphon is constructed, providing that water will flow through
it sufficient to condense the steam, the better will be the vacuum obtained. It is
advisable that exhaust pipe B should be carried high enough above tank C to pre-
vent any possibility of the water from this tank going over the top and down the
exhaust pipe B.
When the engine is about to be stopped, the steam valve G should be closed.
If it is desired to save the water, the syphon can be stopped by closing taps F F¹,
and can be restarted when required, by opening these taps.
When the engine is re-started, the air must be expelled from pipes B B¹, before
valve G is opened.
Valve G should be connected as closely as possible between the exhaust pipe B,
and syphon pipe D, so that no space will be left for lodging of air.
The air can be expelled from the pipes by blowing steam through them, previous
to starting the engine. If this method is preferred, a much smaller pipe would
serve for exhaust pipe B¹.
A condensed water tap may be fitted to underside of exhaust pipe B at its lowest
point, where required.
The apparatus may be variously modified to suit convenience.
Scale of drawing: about inch to 1 foot.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
First; The arrangement of the pipes, valves, and taps, for purposes described in
the specification.
Second; The admittance of the exhaust steam a little below the top of the short
leg of a syphon, thus keeping the condensing point free from air, as before
described.
Third; Having an exhaust pipe B₁ to allow for escape of the steam when the
valve, connecting the exhaust pipe of a steam engine to a syphon, is closed, as
before described.
Dated this 21st day of November 1898.