Improvements in Water Distilling Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.Improvements in Water Distilling Apparatus.
I, THEADORE GREEN SPRINGER of 425 La Salle Ave., Chicago, in the County
of Cook and State of Illinois one of the United States of America, Inventor, 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 my invention is to provide an apparatus to effect the distillation
of water for domestic and other purposes. It consists in certain novel constructions
and combination of parts which effect a more rapid and efficient distillation, and
forms an apparatus that is not liable to get out of repair, and can therefore be left
to the care of servants or other unskilled persons.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and disclosed in
the following description and claims.
In the drawing my apparatus is illustrated in vertical section.
A is a bracket which may be secured to a wall or other support, and this bracket
supports the entire structure. A¹ is a pipe through which water is supplied to the
boiler or still and which at the same time forms the cooling tank for the condenser.
This pipe is connected to the bracket so as to be firmly supported thereby. B is
the boiler which is rigidly connected to the pipe A' and is supported therefrom.
The bottom of the boiler is preferably made hollow or of a reentrant form so as
to give a larger heated surface in contact with the water within the same.
The bracket A in this instance extends outwardly beyond the pipe A¹, and at the
outer end about centrally below the boiler, a gas burner B¹ of the Bunsen or other
heating type is located, upon and supported by said bracket. The burner may
however be supported by connection with the boiler or the pipe A¹ if preferred
and instead of a gas burner a lamp or other form of oil burner may be employed.
The boiler B is provided with a cover b, giving access to the interior of the same
to enable the boiler to be kept clean.
The connection between the pipe A' and the boiler, of the form of a slot, is
along the line of the junction of the two and extends for some distance in a vertical
direction, Water is supplied to the condenser pipe A¹ by the inlet pipe a,
connected therewith near the lower end of pipe A¹. The inlet pipe a connects
with some source of water supply, preferably with a water distributing system such
as is common in most cities and large towns. This inlet is provided with the
cock a¹ by which the amount of water to the pipe A¹ in the boiler is regulated.
There is also provided the outlet a² having a cock by which the water can be drawn
from the boiler when it is desired to clean the same.
In order that the water in the boiler may be maintained at a uniform level,
I provide the over-flow device C₁, which consists preferably of the pipe C,
connected with the pipe A' and extending upward to the cup c¹, with which an
outlet or overflow pipe c² is connected, which may be extended any desired length
and conduct the overflow water to any point preferred.
The condenser of the apparatus consists of the pipe D, located within the
pipe A. This pipe extends above the water line of the boiler and at its lower end
it is preferably contracted, and passes through a stuffing box in the bottom of the
pipe A. This extension of the pipe D is the outlet of the condenser and is
carried downward into a receiver F, where its lower end is sealed, preferably by
the liquid in the receiver. In order to prevent the withdrawal of the liquid in the

page_text: receiver to such an extent as to remove the seal, the receiver E is provided with a
faucet located above the level of the lower end of the pipe d.
By distilling in an apparatus closed from the outer air I am enabled to form a
partial vacuum in the boiler, which greatly facilitates the evaporation of the liquid
acted upon. The reduction of the pressure within the apparatus should not be
carried beyond a certain point, otherwise the distilled liquid will be drawn up or
held in suspension in the pipe D until the effectiveness of the condenser will
become impaired. In order to prevent this, I provide the air pipe E which extends
from a point in the lower part of the pipe D upward through the top of the
pipe A. It then turns to one side and then downward, and to this downwardly
extending portion is attached a valve casing in which is located a ball or other
pressure governed air inlet valve e. This valve is so adjusted that when the
distilled liquid shall rise in the pipe d to nearly the pipe D the valve e will yield
and admit a supply of air to the pipe D to restore the proper relation of pressures
within and without the apparatus. The valve is placed in the position shown and
described to prevent dirt or dust accumulating upon it in a position to be drawn
into the apparatus.
'
A safety valve G is secured to the pipe E, so as to permit the egress of air in
filling the apparatus and to prevent undue internal pressure, in the case of accidents,
preventing the proper operation of the device.
I prefer to make the pipe D and the air inlet pipe E of glass or porcelain in
order that the condensed water may be kept as pure as possible and free from
objectionable flavors.
After the apparatus is filled the cock a² is turned so as to supply water to pipe A¹
faster than it can be evaporated and produce a constant small stream from the
overflow pipe c². This is done in order that the water in the lower part of the
pipe A¹ may be kept at so low a temperature as to produce rapid condensation in
pipe D. This does not interfere with the evaporation in the boiler as the
circulation is only between the inlet pipe a and outlet into pipe c.
I prefer to have the water in the boiler very shallow covering the bottom not
more than two or two and a half inches in order to secure rapid heating. In a
short time after the lighting of the burner, evaporation commences driving the air
downward in the pipe D from whence escapes through the safety valve G or the
water seal. As the boiler and condenser are closed from the outer air the
condensation of the steam will shortly result in a partial vacuum, and the distilled
water will rise in the pipe d to balance the pressure.
Whatever air there is in the
apparatus will find its way to the lower part of the pipe D and the condensation
always takes place in the presence of air. Should the disparity of pressures be
increased above that provided for by the air inlet valve that valve will open and
admit air to the lower part of the condenser tube D, thereby keeping a supply of
air in the condenser, whereby the condensed water is more or less aerated adding
to its drinkable quality.
i
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in the art of distilling water which consists
in continuously supplying the liquid so supplied and vaporizing and condensing the
same, under less than atmospheric pressure and maintaining the desired pressure by
the regulated admission of air to the condenser at the point of condensation,
substantially as described.
2. In a water distilling apparatus, the combination with the boiler, of the
condenser, an air pipe discharging in the lower part of the condenser provided with
a pressure regulated inlet valve, the condenser outlet and a receiver provided with
a draw off cock located to maintain a water seal for said outlet, substantially as
described.
3. The combination with the supply pipe, the boiler and the condenser, of the

page_text: overflow pipe for maintaining the liquid in the apparatus at a certain level, of an
air inlet pipe extending within the condenser below the connection of the overflow
pipe with the supply pipe, the condenser and the pressure regulated inlet valve for
said air pipe, substantially as described.
4. In a water distilling apparatus, the combination with the condenser sealed
from the outer air, of the air inlet pipe extending to near the bottom of the
condenser and the pressure regulated air inlet valve connected with said pipe,
substantially as described.
5. In a water distilling apparatus, the combination with the boiler, the supply
pipe, the condenser located therein and sealed from the outer air, of the air inlet
pipe extending within the zone of condensation in the condenser and provided with
a pressure regulating inlet valve and the independent safety valve, substantially as
described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of November 1895.
THEADORE GREEN SPRINGER.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.