Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing or Removing the Deposit of Moisture on Shop Windows and other Cold Surfaces
Year: 1899

page_text: 66
Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing or Removing the
Deposit of Moisture on Shop Windows and other Cold Surfaces."
We, Joux GRICE STATTER, Civil Engineer, and THE VAPOUR PREVENTER
LIMITED, both of 68 Victoria Street in the City of Westminster; do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus of simple con-
struction for preventing the deposit of vapour or moisture on window panes or
other cold surfaces in shops or the like or for removing the vapour therefrom when
deposited on the said surfaces.
According to this invention the steam is caused to pass through heaters formed
after the manner of condensers projecting from a main steam pipe whereby the
temperature of the air surrounding the heaters which are preferably enclosed in
a casing or casings is raised. Means are provided in the heaters and at the main
for the removal of the condensed steam and for shutting off the apparatus from
the shop or the like so that the air entering the heaters may be drawn from
outside the building.
The following is a form of construction preferred but the invention is not
limited to this particular arrangement.
We provide a main steam pipe enclosed in an outer pipe or casing. Each
heater comprises an inner steam pipe entering the main at its lower end and
open at its upper end. This inner steam pipe is enclosed in an intermediate
pipe or casing closed at its upper end and opening at its lower end into the outer
pipe or casing surrounding the steam main; the said intermediate pipe or casing
constituting a condenser down the inner sides of which the condensed steam flows
into the outer pipe or casing whence it may be withdrawn by branch pipes or
cocks or steam traps placed at suitable intervals apart. The aforesaid heaters are
preferably enclosed in an outer casing or each in a separate outer casing perforated
towards the lower end for the admission of air and open at the top end for the
egress of the heated air. The said outer casing or casings may be of wood or
metal and preferably coated with asbestos paper or other like non-conducting
material. The pipe or casing enclosing the steam main is formed with flanges. at
intervals against which a boarding or the like may be secured so as to enclose
and separate the apparatus from the shop or room in which it has been placed.
The apparatus is situated below the shop window or the like so that the hot air
rising from the heaters comes up against the inner surface of the glass and so
effectually prevents the deposit of vapour or moisture on the glass or on articles
placed in proximity thereto. The steam main and surrounding casing are pre-
ferably formed in sections of a convenient length, the adjacent ends of the steam

page_text: main pipes of each section being cut with right and left hand screw threads taking
into a socket similarly threaded, or a union may be used to connect the lengths.
Dated this 24th day of November 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincolns Inn Fields London W.C. Agents.
"Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing or Removing the
Deposit of Moisture on Shop Windows and other Cold Surfaces"
We, JOHN GRICE STATTER, Civil Engineer, and THE VAPOUR PREVENTER
LIMITED both of 68 Victoria Street in the City of Westminster, 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:-
This invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus of simple con-
struction for preventing the deposit of vapour or moisture on windows or other
cold surfaces in shops or the like or for removing the vapour therefrom when
deposited on the said surfaces.
According to this invention steam is caused to pass through heaters formed
after the manner of condensers whereby the temperature of the air surrounding
the heaters, which if projecting from a main steam pipe are preferably enclosed
in a casing or casings, is raised. Means are provided in the heaters and at the
main for the removal of the condensed steam and for shutting off the apparatus
from the shop or the like so that the air entering the heaters may be drawn
from outside the buildings.
The following is a form of construction preferred but the invention is not
limited to this particular arrangement.
We provide a main steam pipe enclosed in an outer pipe or casing. Each
heater comprises an inner steam pipe entering the main at its lower end and open
at its upper end. This inner steam pipe is enclosed in an intermediate pipe or
casing closed at its upper end and opening at its lower end into the outer pipe
or casing surrounding the steam main; the said intermediate pipe or casing
constituting a condenser down the inner sides of which the condensed steam flows
into the outer pipe or casing whence it may be withdrawn by branch pipes or
cocks or steam traps placed at suitable distances apart. The aforesaid heaters are
preferably enclosed in an outer casing or each in a separate outer casing perforated
near the lower end for the admission of air and open at the top end for the
egress of the heated air. The said outer casing or casings may be of wood or metal
and preferably coated with asbestos paper or other like non-conducting material.
The apparatus is arranged in a chamber or casing situated below the shop
window or the like to the interior of which chamber air from the exterior can
have access openings or gratings being provided in the upper part of the casing
through which hot air rising from the heaters can pass and impinge against the
inner surface of the glass and so effectually prevents the deposit of vapour or
moisture on the glass or on articles placed in proximity thereto.
The steam
main and surrounding casing are preferably formed in sections of a convenient
length, the adjacent ends of the steam main pipes of each section being provided
with right and left hand screw threads taking into sockets similarly threaded,
or unions may be used to connect the lengths together.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood we will further describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 repre-

page_text: sents in transverse vertical section the lower portion of a shop window provided
with an apparatus constructed and arranged according to our invention. Figure 2
is a view similar to Figure 1 shewing, in position, another form of our apparatus.
Figure 3 represents in side elevation partly in section (drawn to a larger scale)
a cylindrical apparatus such as is shewn in Figure 1, and Figures 4 and 5 repre-
sent the same in plan and end elevation respectively. Figure 6 is a side elevation
and Figure 7 a plan of another form of apparatus and Figure 8 is a transverse
section thereof. Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a connection for steam pipes
when two or more are arranged one above another or side by side, and Figures 10
and 11 represent in side elevation and transverse section respectively a portion of
a steam pipe of elliptical or flattened oval form in transverse section.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A represents the glass window of a shop front,
B the wall or sill of the shop front on which the glass window is supported,
and C the floor or base of the shop front. Beneath the floor C directly behind the
wall B is arranged our improved apparatus. The apparatus shewn in Figure 1
consisting of one or more lengths of tube D arranged horizontally and constituting
a chamber into which steam is conducted as hereinafter described. One of these
lengths of tube D is shewn drawn to a larger scale in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The
ends of the tube D) are closed by covers E having central openings therein
through which pass the ends of a steam pipe extending longitudinally through
the tube or chamber D the protruding ends of the said steam pipe F being screw
threaded to receive nuts G by means of which the covers E can be forced into
close contact with the ends of the tube or chamber D. The tube D is provided
with feet at a, and at suitable distances apart. on the top of the said tube or
chamber are holes b. through which holes tubes F2 are passed and screwed into
the steam pipe F. The tubes F2 are enclosed in domes or hoods G which screw
into the holes b, space being left between the interior of each hood and the
tube 2 enclosed therein: through which space steam admitted to the pipe F passes
into the tube or chamber D whereby the domes or hoods G and also the tube or
chamber Dare heated so that air entering openings e in the sill or front wall B
of the window into the chamber H containing the tube D will be heated by con-
tact with the said tube and pass through openings d in the floor of the shop front
in close proximity to the glass A. Surrounding each dome or hood G is a tube L
provided at its lower end with perforations c through which the partly heated air
enters the space between the interior of the said tube and the exterior surface of
the dome or hood G which air becomes more highly heated and is caused by the
said outer tubes to ascend in close proximity to the glass A and so effectually
prevent the collection of moisture on the glass or disperse any moisture that may
be thereon.
Steam is admitted to the main F at one end thereof the other end being con-
Fracted and connected to a pipe through which water of condensation is conducted
away the said pipe being provided with a syphon bend which forms a seal and
prevents the free passage of steam through the said pipe.
In the tube D an opening is provided at K for the escape of water of condensa-
tion that may collect in the said tube and in case of two or more tubes D being
connected together end to end the discharge openings K of the several tubes are
made to communicate with the pipe hereinbefore described provided, with the
syphon bend, and if desired with a steam trap.
To facilitate the connecting together of two or more lengths of tubes D and
steam pipes E the projecting opposite ends of each length of steam pipe are
provided respectively with right and left handed screw threads so that by means
of a union or coupling provided with corresponding internal right and left
handed screw threads, screwed onto the adjacent ends of two lengths of steam
pipe the said two lengths together with the chambers or tubes D can be readily
connected and disconnected when required according to the extent of surface to
which the apparatus is to be applied.

page_text: Instead of the tube D being cylindrical as shewn in Figures 3. 4 and 5 it may
be of approximately elliptical form in transverse section as shewn in Figures 6, 7
and 8 and arranged horizontally with its major axis in a vertical direction. At
intervals along the upper and lower sides of the said chamber or tube D holes
are provided for the reception of lengths of pipe I open throughout and pro-
jecting outside the said chamber or tube D, through which pipes air can freely
pass and in its passage become heated by steam admitted to the chamber or
tube D. The chamber or tube 1 may be strengthened by stays or tie bolts f
passing transversely therethrough at suitable intervals. The said chamber or
tube may be provided at its ends with flanges or other suitable means for con-
necting two or more lengths together so as to form, an extended chamber the
outer ends of the chamber being closed by suitable plates or covers to retain the
steam in the said chamber, one of the said end plates or covers being provided
with a suitable pipe for the admission of steam and discharge passages being
provided in the said chamber through which water of condensation can escape as
in the arrangement illustrated by Figures 3, 4 and 5. The heated air passing
through the short pipes I is directed into close proximity to the surface of glass
or the like from which moisture is to be dispersed. Figure 9 illustrates an
arrangement for connecting together two steam pipes side by side or one above
the other so as to constitute a coil, through which the steam is caused to circulate
in a circuitous course. Each pipe F is screwed into a box or hollow chamber L
one of the said boxes having a projection g on one side fitting a corresponding
recess in the box to which it is to be connected. In one of the sides of one of
these boxes is a tapped opening into which is screwed a hollow plug or bolt M
passed through opening provided in the other box in line with the tapped open-
ing before mentioned the said bolt being screwed into the said tapped opening
thereby securely connecting the two boxes together, a steam tight joint being
ensured by washers interposed between the head i of the bolt and the surface of
the box through which the bolt passes. The bolt M has lateral passages m
through which steam can pass from one to the other of the pipe F. Or instead
of a hollow plug or bolt with lateral passages as described the said bolt may be
solid and have longitudinal grooves in the exterior by which steam can pass from
one pipe F to the other.
An arrangement of the kind described is shewn in position in Fig. 2, of the
drawings the said steam pipes being arranged in a chamber H beneath the floor
of the shop front. Air enters the said chamber H through passages c and becomes
heated by contact with the steam pipes F and passes from the chamber in a
heated condition through passages in the floor C, the said heated air impinges
on the glass A prevents the accumulation of moisture thereon or disperses any
moisture there may be on the glass.
In some cases it may be convenient to employ steam pipes of an elliptical or
flattened form in transverse section as shewn for example in Figures 10 and 11 in
which case the said pipes may be strengthened by transverse stays on tie bolts f
at suitable distances apart and the said pipes may be provided with elliptical
flanges by which to connect two or more lengths of pipes together or a portion
of each end of the pipe may be cylindrical and be provided with circular flanges
as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be
understood that we are aware of instances in which it has been proposed to con-
struct air heaters or radiators with heating tubes in which are inserted supple-
mental tubes with one of their ends free. and we lay no claim thereto per se, but
we declare that what we claim is:-
1. For preventing or removing the deposit of moisture on shop windows and
other cold surfaces arranging in proximity to the surface, to be acted on. a

page_text: device for heating air by means of steam, and for directing the heated air into
contact with the surface substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. For preventing or removing the deposit of moisture on shop windows and
the like the combination with a chamber arranged in close proximity to the
lower part of a shop window, or the like, a pipe or pipes in the said chamber
through which steam is caused to pass, openings for the admission of air into the
chamber, and openings or passages through which air heated by the steam pipe
in the said chamber, can pass from the chamber into contact with the shop
window or the like substantially as herein before described.
3. For preventing or removing the deposit of moisture on shop windows or
the like the combination with a chamber provided with opening for the admis-
sion of air thereto, and other openings for the escape of heated air therefrom, of
air heating apparatus comprising a main steam pipe, an outer pipe or casing
enclosing the main steam pipe, a branch pipe or branch pipes projecting from the
main steam pipe, a hood or casing enclosing each branch steam pipe, and com-
municating at its lower end with the interior of said outer pipe or casing, a pipe
or casing surrounding each hood, the said pipe or casing being open at top, and
provided near the lower part with perforations for the admission of air to the
space between the said pipe and the hood; and an opening or openings in the
pipe or casing enclosing the main steam pipe, through which opening or openings
water of condensation can be discharged substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting apparatus or
means for preventing or removing the deposit of moisture on shop windows or the
like substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 24th day of August 1900
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47 Lincolns Inn Fields London. W.C. Agents.