A NEW OR IMPROVED CONDENSER AND FEED WATER HEATER FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robertson, junior, and Alexander Henderson, both
of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for the Inven-
tion of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONDENSER AND FEED WATER HEATER FOR
STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Robertson and
Alexander Henderson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on tho
9th April 1877.
THOMAS ROBERTSON, junior, and ALEXANDER HENDERSON, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED CON-
DENSER AND FEED WATER HEATER FOR STEAM ENGINES."
This Invention has for its object the condensing of the exhaust steam from steam
engines, or steam after it has done a useful work, and at the same time heating the
water to near the boiling temperature for feeding steam or other boilers, or for other
purposes, which will be applicable to nearly all kinds of steam engines in making
them condensing engines, and in utilizing the heat of their exhaust steain. And the
nature and novelty of the Invention or apparatus consist in the employment of one
or more tanks containing water, and proportioned in size to the amount of exhaust
steam to be condensed. The pipe or pipes conveying the exhaust steam from the
engine are, if desired, first led into a reservoir or close vessel, so that the current
therefrom to the condenser may be more steady. The exhaust steam pipe (or pipes)
is then continued into a close tank containing water, and the point of each is
inserted into another pipe, or branch, or nozzle of a trumpet-mouth shape, the wido
mouth being towards the exit end of the exhaust pipe. At a little distance in front
of the trumpet-mouth pipe there may be fixed a cone with its apex pointing towards
the centre of this pipe. When the exhaust steam comes through the exhaust pipe
it flows through the trumpet mouth (or return current nozzle), and the water level
in the box, being above the trumpet mouth water, is sucked in by the steam current,
and the two unite and flow together upon the apex of the cone, which then
distributes the current through the box. Thus the exhaust steam is condensed, and
the temperature of the water in the tank raised to the boiling point, or nearly so.

page_text: In some cases an air inlet valve and a pressure outlet valve may be fitted upon
the tank, or upon its pipes. In other cases a pipe may be led from above the water
level to carry off any vapour that may rise or collect.
The pipe for conveying the feed water to the pump, or other apparatus for
feeding the boiler, is introduced into the tank, or into a separate tank connected
with it, and is placed so as to maintain the water level in its feed water box
constant. A water supply pipe is also introduced into the tank, and an arrange-
ment may be fitted to prevent more water entering than is necessary to keep the
water level in the tank at a certain height.
The special features of this Invention consist in the introduction of the exhaust
steam in a current through pipes and bell-mouthed nozzles, situated in a box or
tank of water, so as to mix with the water contained in this tank, for the purpose
of heating the water to as near the temperature of the steam as possible, and at the
same time liquifying or condensing the exhaust steam; and also in the applica-
tion of this condenser and water heater to all classes of steam ongines, whether for
service on land or sea.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Robertson and Alexander Henderson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th October 1877.
THOMAS ROBERTSON, junior, and ALEXANDER HENDERSON, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED CON-
DENSER AND FEED WATER HEATER FOR STEAM ENGINES."
'
Our said Invention has for its object the conpensing of the exhaust steam from
steam engines, or steam after it has done a useful work, and at the same time
heating the water to or above the boiling temperature for feeding steam or other
boilers, or for other purposes, which will be applicable to nearly all kinds of steam
engines in making them condensing engines, and so utilizing the heat of their
exhaust steam.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one modification or construction and arrangement
of the parts of our new or improved condenser and feed water heater for steam
engines; and Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the arrangement of feed
pump, with the improved arrangement of inlet and feed valves which we prefer
to apply thereto, for feeding with very hot water and vapour.
Referring to Figure 1, our Invention consists in the employment of one or more
water tanks A, proportional in size to the amount of exhaust or other steam to be
condensed, so as to heat the water in them to or above the boiling temperature.
The pipe or pipes conveying the exhaust steam from the engines are (when desired)
first led into a reservoir or close vessel, not shown in the Drawings, so that the
current of steam therefrom led through the pipe 15 to the condenser may be more
steady. The exhaust steam pipe B is jointed to and continued into the close tank A.
(containing the water Z), with its projecting point or nozzle B' inserted into another
brauch or nozzle C of a trumpet-mouth shape, secured by arms c to the former B²,
the winding mouth being towards the exit end of the exhaust nozzle B, B', all
below the water level z, z. At a little distance in front of the trumpet-inouth
pipe C there is or may be fixed by arms & the cone or curved disc D, with its apex
or point projecting towards the centre of the nozzles B, C. When the exhaust
steam comes through the exhaust pipe B it flows through the trumpet mouth (or
return current nozzle C), and the water level z, s, in the box A being above the
trumpet mouth, the water is sucked in by the steain current, and the two unite and
flow together upon the apex of the cone D, which then distributes the current
through the box, all as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. Thus the exhaust
steam is condensed, and the temperature of the water Z in the tank A raised to the
boiling point, or above it, ready for being fed into the steam boiler in the usual

page_text: manner by feed pumps or injectors. The water Z is supplied to the cistern A by a
pipe a above the water level, and a scum overflow branch a¹ is fitted below the
water level 2, 3, to draw off all oil and floating impurities, an outlet overflow or
water gauge pipe b being fitted to maintain the water at the level z- - z in the
cistern A, these branch pipes a, a, and b being all fitted with regulating taps out-
side, an open outlet pipe b¹ being fitted at the top for the escape of all the non-
condensed steam or vapour from the cistern.
In some cases an air inlet valve and a pressure outlet valve may be fitted upon
the tank A, or upon its supply pipe, when all is closed in.
The pipe E for conveying the feed water to the pump or other apparatus for
feeding the boiler is introduced, proferably from below, into the tank A or into a
separate vessel connected with it, and placed so as to maintain the same water
level ---
z in the cistern A, as in this feed water case. The inlet or upper end of
this feed pipe E is or may be surrounded by a case F, open below and above at f
and f, and preferably hung and jointed by a flange F" to the top of the cistern A,
all so that pure water free from floating impuritios flows from the lower part of the
cistern A. up within the case F, and down within the feed pipe E to the pump, to
be fed into the boiler, all as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. The supply
water pipe a may be fitted with a valve and float, or other arrangement, to prevent
more water entering than is necessary to keep the water up to the level z - - - z in
the tank A, and the cistern A would be fitted with a man-hole, door, or with end
cover, for cleaning it out when desired.
Referring to Figure 2, P is the barrel of the feed pump, and p the plunger, made
a very little smaller than the barrel P below the usual tight-fitting bored stuffing
box end P¹, with the inlet valve made of the hinged flap form, fitted in a chamber gl
close to the inner end of the barrel P, so as to open and close the end of the pipe E¹
leading from the feed pipe E of the cistern A, Figure 1, to the pump P, p, Figure 2.
The discharge valve r is shown of the feather disc lifting class, fitted in its discharge
valve chest, also close to the inner end of the pump, to leave little room for
vapour, so that a sure and rapid feeding of the hot water or fluid is effected at cach
in-stroke of the plunger p.
The special novel features of this Invention consist in the introduction of the
exhaust steam in a current through pipes B, B', and a bell-mouthed nozzle C,
situated in a box or tank A of water, so as to mix with the water in this tank, for
the purpose of heating the water to as near the temperature of the steam as possible,
and at the same time liquifying or condensing the exhaust steam; and in the
feeding from the water level so as to suck both water and vapour; and also in the
application of this condenser and water heater to all classes of steam engines,
whether for service on land or sea.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of per-
formning the same, we have to state that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what we consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the construction and use of a silent condensing and water
heating and circulating trumpet-shaped nozzle, and with the arrangement for
sucking from the water level in feed water cisterns for boilers, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Henderson, on behalf of the said
Thomas Robertson, junior, and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
ALEXR. HENDERSON. (L.S.)