IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND CONDENSERS FOR STEAM TRAMWAY CARS, AND WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Hermann Seligmann, of Glasgow, in the County.
of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM GENERATORS AND CONDENSERS FOR STEAM TRAMWAY CARS, AND
WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th May 1878, and dated the 26th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the' said Alfred Hermann Seligmann
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1877.
ALFRED HERMANN SELIGMANN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND CONDENSERS
FOR STEAM TRAMWAY CARS, AND WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in steam generators and condensers
for steam tramway cars, and which may also be used for other purposes, has for its
object in the first place to enable liquid fuel to be substituted for solid fuel in the
boilers used for raising steam in such cars. This part of the Invention consists in
breaking up the liquid fuel into the form of spray by the inducing action of one or
more jets of steam or air.
In the case of using steam for breaking up the liquid fuel into spray, the beat of
the steam also has the effect of converting a portion of the fuel into the gaseous
condition. A special feature of this part of the Invention consists in placing opposite
the jet or jets of steam or air a concave plate or plates against which the jets of
liquid fuel carried or projected thereby strike, and this has the effect of still further
breaking up the particles of liquid fuel.
The fuel is supplied to the fire-box of the boiler from a tank placed in any con-
venient position, and, if placed sufficiently high up in the tramway car, the pressure
due to the height of its own column is sufficient to break the liquid up into spray,
in which case the use of a jet or jets of air or steam may be dispensed with.
Cocks are provided for regulating the quantity of liquid fuel from time to time,
according to the amount of steam required to be produced, and it is preferred to
[Price 6d1

page_text: provide the boiler with a wick or its equivalent, through or by which (it being
saturated with petroleum or other oil) a small flame is always kept burning in the
fire-box, and the special purpose of which is to ignite the spray or gaseous fuel
whenever it is or may be turned on.
The second part of the Invention consists in the employment of cold air to aid the
condensing action of water in the condensers of engines used to drive steam tramway
cars, and this part of the Invention may be used for other engines where the noise
due to and presence of the exhaust steam is objectionable. The apparatus consti-
tuting this part of the Invention consists of in forcing cold air into the condensing
water, either with or independently of the exhaust steam, or partly combined or
mixed with the exhaust steam, and partly independently thereof.
The air may be forced in by means of a blower, fan, pump, or the equivalent
thereof, actuated from any convenient part of the engine, or by the action of the
exhaust steam itself. The apparatus constituting this part of the Invention consists,
under one modification, of a tank provided with a float fitted with one or more
conical nozzles, into which the exhaust steam alone, or the exhaust steam mixed
with air, or air alone, is passed.
The current of exhaust steam, or exhaust steam and air, or air alone, in "escaping
through the nozzle or nozzles causes the water in the tank to be lifted up through
the nozzle or nozzles, by which means the steam is condensed, whilst the effect of
the air is to cool the condensing-water. The energy in the exhaust steam is by this
means destroyed, and thus the natural noise of the exhaust steam is silenced, or
practically so or the nozzle or nozzles may be immersed and the exhaust pipe
provided with an inducing nozzle for carrying in air with the exbaust steam, or the
nozzles may be dispensed with, in which case the exhaust steam, or steam having
air mixed with it, or the air when used separately from the steam, are passed into
the water in the condenser through a rose or perforated plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Hermann Seligmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1878.
ALFRED HERMANN SELIGMANN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM GENERATORS AND CONDENSERS
FOR STEAM TRAMWAY CARS, AND WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
My said Invention consists, firstly, of improvements in steam generators which
are especially suitable for use with steam tramway cars, and relates to those gene-
rators in which liquid fuel is used, and this part of my Invention has for its object
the more perfect breaking up the liquid fuel into spray, as herein-after described.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is represented a vertical section of
part of a generator constructed according to this part of my Invention; Figure 2 is
a transverse section of the same on the line 1, 2, Figure 1.
The liquid fuel is supplied to the fire-box or furnace A. from the reservoir B,
through a pipe b terminating in nozzles b', 6', preferably so inclined as to direct the
fuel across the centre of the furnace to the opposite side. A pipe c is led into the
pipe b, which pipe c is in communication with the exhaust steam pipe at any suitable
point before it enters the condenser.
The force of the current of steam entering the pipe b will draw the liquid fuel
from the tank B, and the said liquid fuel, together with the steam, will pass along
the branches of the said pipe, the steain partially volatilizing or converting into a
gaseous condition and breaking up the fuel, and the said steam and fuel will issue from
the nozzles b', b', and will be discharged with considerable force against the opposite
sides of the fire-box, as indicated in the Drawings. The nozzles 61 are preferably
not in the same horizontal plane, so that the jets from the said nozzles do not inter-
fere with each other in their passage across the furnace. The fuel is by thus
impinging with force upon the sides of the fire-box thoroughly broken up, and is
returned across the furnace in a fine spray by the force of its contact with the said
sides. Where the sides of the furnace are not of such shape or at such distance from
the nozzles b¹ as to be available for thus breaking up the liquid fuel, concave plates
may be employed for this purpose, as illustrated at a.
The steam pipe c and the fuel pipe b are provided with cocks, by which the amount
of their respective discharge may be regulated. A small flame is maintained in the
fire-box, which flame is for the purpose of igniting the spray or gaseous fuel as it is
returned from the sides of the furnace. This flame may be that of a small hydro-
carbon or other suitable lamp & beneath the fire-bars, its wick projecting between
and above the said bars. The fire-bars, by preference, carry a layer of charcoal or
asbestos, or some such heat-retaining substance, which will assist in volatilizing or
igniting the spray of liquid fuel in the fire-box.
Although I have illustrated but two nozzles b¹, more than two may be employed
if desired, each discharging in separate horizontal planes.
Another part of my Invention consists of arrangements of apparatus to enable
cold air to be employed in the condensing vessels of steam engines to aid the con-
densing action of water in the said vessels, as berein-after explained.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3, 4, Figure 4; and Figure 4, a horizontal
section on the line 5, 6, Figure 3, of one modification of the said apparatus. C repre-
sents the condensing water tank or vessel provided with a float e, which preferably
covers the whole or nearly the whole surface of the water in the tank. This float
carries three conical nozzles D³, D², D³.
The pipes E' and E2 are both continuations of the steam exhaust pipe, and are
provided with cocks, by closing either of which and opening the other the exhaust
steam may be caused to flow into the one or the other of the said pipes E1, E2. The
pipe E' is led up and opens into the nozzle D' at a short distance above the level

page_text: of the water in the tank C. The pipe E2 enters a trumpet-mouthed tube F, the
said trumpet-mouth being open to the atmosphere, the other end of the said tube
opening into the nozzle D³, at a short distance above the water level, as described
with regard to the pipe E¹.
The pipe E3 is in communication with a fan or other suitable air-blowing
apparatus (driven by the engine), which will induce a current of atmospheric air
through the said pipe E3, which pipe enters the nozzle D³ above the water level, as
described with regard to the pipes E' and F. The pipe E³ is provided with a
cock, and the blowing apparatus is so arranged that it may be put out of action
when desired.
One mode of using this apparatus is to close the cock on the pipe E¹, the fan
of the pipe E³ being out of action and the cock on the said pipe closed. The
exhaust steam is admitted by the pipe E2, and blowing into the pipe F induces a
current of air to enter the trumpet-mouth of the said pipe F, the said air partially
condensing the steam in their passage together through the pipe F, the steam and
air emerging from the pipe F, into the nozzle D2, and creating a partial vacuum in
the said nozzle into which water from the tank rushes, and meeting the steam and
air issuing from the pipe F, effects the complete condensation of the steam. Where
it is desired that the air entering with the steam be a forced, as distinguished from
an induced current, the exhaust steam pipe may be led into the pipe E³, as indicated
by dotted lines, when the condensing action at the nozzle D³ will be the same as
explained with regard to that at the nozzle D2, but in this case the supply of air
will be under control.
According to another method of using this apparatus, the cock on the pipe E²
being closed, the exhaust steam is conducted up into the nozzle D¹ through the
pipe E, and air is forced through the pipe Es up into the nozzle D³. In this case
the exhaust steam and the forced air current will respectively induce a flow of
water up into and from the nozzles D1 and D2, the water from the nozzle D'
condensing the steam, and the cool air issuing from the pipe E³ cooling the con-
densing water.
Although I have described these arrangements as being combined with one water
tank, it will be readily understood that they may be used separately and inde-
pendently if desired, that is, the pipes E2 and F with their nozzle may constitute
one separate apparatus, and the pipes E' and E3 with their nozzles may also con-
stitute one separate apparatus. Also the pipe E3 when the exhaust steam is led
into it, as indicated in dotted lines, would constitute another separate apparatus; or
these separate arrangements may be used together in any desired combination.
In Figure is represented a modification of the apparatus. The condensing
water tank is marked C and the float is marked c. The exhaust steam pipe G
opens into the nozzle D carried by the said float, the said pipe rising to a short
distance above the water level. The nozzle D is bent round into a horizontal
direction, entering a horizontal pipe H, which is furnished at one end with a
trumpet mouth external to the tank C and open to the atmosphere, its other end
opening into the said tank. The exhaust steam entering the pipe G issues there-
from into the nozzle D, inducing a current of water which partially condenses the
said steam, which passing from the said nozzle into the pipe H induces a current
of air from the external atmosphere through the said pipe H, and by this cool air
the condensation of the steam is completed.
According to a modification of this part of my Invention the nozzle or nozzles
may be immersed in the condensing water, and the exhaust steam pipe provided
with an inducing nozzle for carrying in air with the exhaust steam.
An arrangement for carrying out my Invention according to this modification is
illustrated in Figure 6. The exhaust steam pipe G enters the trumpet mouth of
the pipe G¹, which trumpet mouth is open to the atmosphere above the water level,
as shewn, to prevent escape of water when the engine is out of action. The cool
air in passing through the pipe G₁, with the exhaust steam partially condenses the
said steam, its complete condensation being effected by the condensing water in the

page_text: tank C. The pipe G' at the end opening into the tank C is surrounded by a
nozzle I, to direct or cause a current of water to be induced by the entering steam
and air so as to prevent noise. The current of air may be forced by continuing the
pipe G¹ to a fan or other blower, as indicated by the dotted lines. The water in the
tanks C is kept at about the same level by a regulating valve, or any suitable con-
struction. As these valves and their action are well known I have not considered it
necessary to illustrate them.
The nozzles upon the floats e may be attached to their respective pipes, in which
case these pipes are provided with a joint which will allow of their movement to
accommodate themselves to any variation which may occur in the level of the water
in the tanks C, and consequently in the position of the floats e. By so jointing
the said pipes their openings are maintained at the same distance from the mouths
of their respective nozzles, and from the surface of the water in the tanks C. This
will be understood by reference to Figure 3, where such a joint marked f, is shewn
applied to the pipe F. The tanks may be provided with rests, as shewn at g,
Figure 5, which will support the float should the water sink low in the said
tank.
An outlet pipe K is shewn in Figures 3, 5, and 6, by which the air is conducted
from the condenser. The said air may be utilized in any desired way, and may be
employed for furthering the objects of my Invention; for instance, the pipe K may
be led into the ash-pit of the generator, and terminate in a rose k (see Figures 1 and
2) whereby the said air is noiselessly disposed of, and the force of its current is
utilized in assisting to break up the liquid fuel into a spray. Or the pipe K
may be placed in communication with the pipe c (Figures 1 and 2) to carry forward
the liquid fuel from the tank B.
By liquid fuel" I wish it to be understood that I refer to petroleum or any
such liquid fuel which is or may be applicable for the purposes of my Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First. The general construction and arrangement of steam generators for burning
liquid fuel illustrated in and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The various forms, constructions, or arrangements of apparatus for con-
densing the exhaust steam of steam engines, in which apparatus cold or compara-
tively cold air is caused to pass (or is forced) with the exhaust steam to above the
level of the water in the condensing vessel, and into a nozzle or nozzles carried by
a float, essentially as described with reference to Figure 5, and to the central nozzle
in Figures 3 and 4, or in which the air and steam pass independently of each other
into such nozzles as described with reference to the nozzles D¹ and D³ in
Figure 4.
Third. The arrangement of apparatus described with reference to Figure 6 of the
accompanying Drawings for condensing the exhaust steam of steam engines, in
which said apparatus a current of cold, or comparatively cold air passes (or is forced)
with the said steam into a nozzle immersed in the condensing water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Hermann Seligmann, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALFRED H. SELIGMANN. (LS.)