IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSERS FOR MARINE STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSERS FOR MARINE STEAM
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by John Houpt, of
Springtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Scaled the 10th June 1870, and dated the 20th April 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 20th April 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CONDENSERS FOR MARINE STEAM ENGINES," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Decla-
ration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by John Houpt,
of Springtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification.
My improvements, relate to the general construction and relative
arrangement of a plurality of condensers in connection with the exhausts
of the respective ends of the steam cylinder of a marine engine, in such
a manner that the exhaust steam coming alternately from the two ends
of the said cylinder will be respectively divided by an appropriate
primary receiving chamber into two portions, the first portion passing
through the said primary chamber and also through a secondary into a
tertiary receiving chamber, in which latter it is condensed and as fresh
water discharged into a reservoir from which the steam generators of
the said engine may be supplied with fresh water, the second portion of
such steam being condensed in the said primary chamber by a jet spray
of cold water so as to produce the vacuum required in front of the
piston of the steam cylinder, and immediately afterward being warmed
by hot air and discharged with whatever water and air may have been
added into the secondary chamber, wherein the vapor and saline water
are separated. The said vapor with the next succeeding puff of steam
will be driven toward the tertiary receiving chamber, the air liberated
and the vapor finally condensed therein and discharged into the
reservoir for fresh water, whilst the surplus of saline water deposited in
the secondary chamber will be forced overboard by a suitable pump
connected with the latter.
The first part of this Invention relates to the construction and the
mode of combining together two distinct and independent primary jet
condensing chambers, with the two exhausts respectively of the steam
cylinder of a marine engine, and with a single or one and the same
secondary chamber. These parts are connected, arranged, and operated,
so that all the steam, vapor, condensing water, and air in the said
primary condensers will be from time to time discharged into the said

page_text: secondary chamber, the object of this part of the said Invention being to
divide the steam of each exhaust into two parts for the purpose of
producing a more perfect vacuum in front of the piston of the steam
cylinder.
The second part of the said Invention relates to the peculiar con-
struction and mode of combination with the two said primary jet
condensing chambers and a tertiary condenser of a secondary chamber
and force pump, in such a manner that the saline water coming from the
primary condensers, will be separated from the fresh water, vapor, and
air therein, and eventually discharged overboard by the pump, and the
said vapor and air driven forward by the next puff of steam toward the
said tertiary condenser. The object of this part of my Invention is to
provide for the recovery of a sufficient quantity of fresh water to supply.
the steam generators of the engine, without resorting to any special
distillatory apparatus for the purpose.
The third part of the said Invention, relates to the peculiar construction
and arrangement of a tertiary surface condenser, and to its combination
with the secondary chamber and a fresh water reservoir in such a
manner that while the air will be liberated the steam or vapor from the
secondary chamber. will be perfectly and rapidly condensed, and finally
discharged as fresh water into the reservoir for supplying the steam.
generators of the engine.

page_text: force pump; D, the tertiary surface condenser; and E, the fresh water
reservoir. The two primary condensers of which A represents one, are
respectively supported in vertical positions upon two raised portions b¹, b²,
of the secondary chamber B, with their respective lower ends a¹ opening
into the latter and their respective upper ends a" attached to two steam
pipes 3, which communicate with the respective exhausts in the ends
of the steam cylinder of the engine not shown. Each primary condenser A
is contracted at a point which is a little above its lower end a¹ so as to
produce a seat for a conical valve 4, which is attached to a sliding stem
whereby it is raised and lowered alternately so as to close and open
communication between the condensers A, and chamber B, (as will
herein-after be described) by means of a rock shaft and arms operated
positively by a rod 6 connecting them with any suitable moving part
of the engine. A cold water jet spray apparatus is provided in con-
nection with one side of each of the primary condensers, consisting of
a foraminous inner disk 7, and an outer disk 8, having an opening for a
conical valve 9, which is enclosed within a water chamber 10, which
communicates by a pipe 11 with an air cushion chamber 12, and any
suitable reservoir (not shown) of cold water. The valve 9 is operated
positively (as will herein-after be described) by means of a swinging
bar 13, and connecting rod 14 attached to any suitable moving part of
the engine. In the opposite side of the condenser at a short distance
below the foraminous disk 7 there is an opening fitted with a conical
valve 15, surrounded by an air chamber 16, which by means of a pipe 17
is supplied with hot air under pressure produced in any suitable manner,
so that as the valve opens and closes hot air will be forced into the
condenser in jets (as will herein-after be described). The valve 15 is
operated in a positive manner by means of a swinging bar 18 and rod 19
connected by any suitable moving part of the engine. All the valves
above described operate independently of each other.
The secondary chamber B consists of a large chamber provided with
recessed bottom 6°, which supports a capacious vessel 6", the concave or
tunnel-like bottom of which projects downward through the said recessed
bottom 6°, and communicates with a horizontal pipe 6, both ends of
which latter open into the two deeper portions 6 and 5 of B. The
bottom of 6' is fitted with a vertically sliding. overflow pipe 0, the upper
end of which is attached to a rod b', whereby the mouth of the said pipe

page_text: can be readily adjusted to any required height in the chamber B. This
chamber B is a sort of vaporizer or separator of fresh water vapor
from the hot saline water always retained at a certain height or depth in
B, the tube being intended to regulate the height of the surface of the
said water. To the lower end of a bent pipe 20 is attached which
communicates with a valve chamber pipe 21, the valve of which opens
upward into a pump chamber C, which has a solid plunger c³ and an
outlet valve c" opening upward into a pipe c" which extends overboard.
The plunger c¹ is worked by a positive motion derived through a rock
shaft or otherwise from any suitable moving part of the engine. Opening
into the vessel 6" there is supported a large inverted vessel 6³, the con-
tracted mouth of which extends downward concentrically to a short
distance below the upper edge of the vessel 6". The upper end of this
inverted vessel & communicates with a large vertical pipe F provided
with a safety valve f³, and this pipe F communicates with a nearly
horizontal pipe G, which with a slightly downward inclination opens into
the drum № of the tertiary condenser D.
.
The tertiary condenser D consists of two condensing cases a", d¹, each
communicating with the drum d¹ and a reservoir E for receiving the
fresh water condensed. The cases d", d", are each supported on two
trunnions d™ with their upper ends inclined toward each other, and are
also detachably secured to the pipes which connect them to the drum ď
and reservoir E, so that they can be detached and turned to any suitable
position for cleansing or repairing. The right hand case d" is shown in
longitudinal section, the left hand one inside elevation, and both of
them connected to the drum d and reservoir E. A particular description
of one will answer as a description of both. Referring to the section
22, 22, are a series of numerous slightly tapering open tubes within the
case ", each of which is secured therein at its larger or upper end by
means of a screw thread around it and screw nuts 23, 24, fitted thereto
(see Figure 3), and a plate 25 fitted over the end of the case d" through
appropriate holes in which the ends of the tube 22 project sufficiently to
receive the nut 24, so that the plate 25 may be held water-tight and
firmly between the said nut 24 above and the jam nut 23 below. The
smaller or lower ends of the tubes 22, 22, are each secured at the lower
end of the case d", so as to be water-tight, and at the same time so as to
be allowed to slip longitudinally sufficiently to provide for the expansion

page_text: and contraction of either the tube or the casing. To accomplish these
two important purposes I provide a covering plate 26, having holes for
the tubes 22 to correspond with the holes in the upper plate 25, and
also to fit against the lower side of said plate 26 an elastic waterproof
packing plate 27 with corresponding holes, in which the lower ends of
the tubes 22 will fit water-tight; and against the lower side of this
packing plate 27 a second plate 28 is fitted, which has holes to correspond
with those in the first named plate 27, the said lower plate 28 being of a
diameter corresponding with the interior diameter of the case d". These
three plates 26, 27, 28, are clamped together by means of four or more
screw bolts 29, so that while the tubes 22 can readily be packed water-
tight in the bottom of the case d", the said tubes will at the same time
be allowed to slip longitudinally to correspond with any changes in the
temperature of either the tubes or the outside casing. Fitted over the
bottom of the case is a 'cover which forms a shallow chamber 30, one
side of which communicates with a descending bent pipe 31 which opens
through a valve 32 into the reservoir E, which latter is placed so as to
be entirely below the condenser D. The opposite side of the shallow
chamber 30 communicates by an upward bent pipe 33, with adjustable
spring valves 34 and 35 for the entrance and escape of air, as will
herein after be described. Fitted over the upper end of each of the
cases d" is a cap 35 which forms a chamber above the open ends of the
tubes 22, and communicates by a pipe 36 with another pipe 37 which
opens into the lower part 38 of the drum dr. On the upper side of the
cap 354 is an adjustable spring valve 39 which permits the entrance of
air when required, as will herein-after be described. In the lower
part 38 of the drum d' there is a valve 40 operated positively by a
rod 41 which connects with any suitable moving part of the engine, so
that it can be adjusted either to wholly or only partially open and close
alternately the communication between the condensing cases a", d", and
the drum D, and also an air inlet adjustable valve d' on the top of d',
operating as will herein-after be described.
The drum D is a capacious hollow receiver of the steam and vapor
coming from the secondary chamber B through the pipes F and G.
Near the bottom on one side of each of the cases d" of the tertiary con-
denser D there is a flanged opening 42 for the attachment of a cold
water supply pipe (not shewn) to communicate with any suitable head

page_text: of supply; and near the top of the case on the opposite side is a like
flanged opening 43 for the attachment of a water exit pipe (not shown)
and in the interior of the case d" horizontal partitions 44, 41, reach
nearly across from side to side alternately, so that the cold sea water
entering at 42 will constantly pass upward from side to side in a zig-zag
manner to the exit pipe 43, and thus keep the tubes 22 cold.
During the entrance of the puff of high steam discharged from the
exhaust at either end of the steam cylinder into its respective primary
condenser A, the valve 4 in the bottom of the same being open and the
valves 9 and 15 closed, the said puff of steam and the air in the said
primary condenser will be driven down into the secondary chamber B,
and immediately afterwards the valve 4 closes, so that a moiety or the
remaining portion of the exhaust steam coming from the said steam
cylinder will be retained in the condenser A. The valve 9 now opens
and a spray of cold sea water is ejected, which immediately condenses the
confined steam, and thus produces the vacuum required in front of the
retaining piston. The piston having by this time returned nearly to
the end of its stroke the valve 9 closes and the valve 15 opens and lets
hot air into the said condenser A to overcome the vacuum therein, or
to equalize the pressure in A and B, and immediately afterward the
valve 15 closes and the valve 4 opens and lets the saline water in A fall
by gravitation into the secondary chamber B. The first puff of high
steam now coming through the valve 4 of the other primary condenser
(not shown) drives the vapor and warm air therein into B, which
vapor and air together with whatever vapor may have arisen from the
hot saline water in B will be driven in the direction of the arrows 8, 8,
into 6" and b, and thence upward through the vertical pipe F and along
down the inclined pipe G into the drum d', and thence through the
valve 40 into the surface condensing cases d", ", when the required
condensation will be effected and the fresh water discharged into the
reservoir E. Any water of condensation in G will flow into and
thence into ", d". The saline water in B will be kept hot by the
passing steam and vapor, and will therefore always be adding by
evaporation to the supply of vapor, whilst the salines in solution in
the deposited water will be forced overboard by the pump C as the
surplus of said water flows into pipe 20 through the adjustable overflow
uine

page_text: "
Before the first starting of the engine, or, should the possibility occur
of an insufficiency of vaper being produced at any time by the regular
operation of the engine, a small heating furnace is intended to be
attached and put in operation below the chamber B, as indicated by the
dotted lines t, t; thus the water in the chamber B will be sufficiently
heated to produce the vapor required under such circumstances.
It will now be understood without further description that by means
of the two distinct and independent primary condensers each in com-
munication with its respective exhausts in the ends of the steam cylinder
of the engine, and both in direct communication with the one secondary
receiving chamber B, as described, the first puff of high steam will
pass in the direction of the arrows (see Figure 1) into the tertiary con-
denser D; that if an undue vacuum should occur in the upper part
of D whereby the water in the condensing cases d", d", would rise
toward the drum ď, the inlet valve d' in the top of the latter having
been properly adjusted for the purpose will admit air and thus prevent
the rising of the water, and that if the valve 10 be at the time closed,
the inlet valve 39 on the top of each of the cases d", d", having been
properly adjusted for the purpose will admit air, and thus in like manner
prevent the rising of the water in the condensing cases.
It will also be understood that as a constant and plentiful quantity of
cold sea water will always surround the tubes 22, a rapid and perfect
condensation of the vapor as it enters them will take place, and the
condensed water will descend by gravitation into the reservoir E and be
prevented by the valve 32 from returning in consequence of any vacuum
that might possibly occur in the tubes 22, that the inlet valve 34 will
also contribute to the same purpose by the admission of air into the
shallow bottom chamber of each of the said condensing cases d", d", and
that the outlet valve 35 in each will permit the escape of any air in the
said bottom which might by its presence prevent the descent of the
water from the tubes 22.
It will also be seen that as the lower ends of the tubes 22 slip frecly
in the lower plate of the respective cases d" no injury can arise from any
variations of temperature in either the tubes or the walls of the said
cases; and that as the said cases d", ", are each supported on trunnions
(d) and are also detachable from the connecting pipes at both ends

page_text: the said cases can be readily tilted to any convenient positions for repairs
or cleansing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
i
First. The combination with each of the two exhausts in the ends of
the steam cylinders of a marine engine of a special primary condenser A,
constructed substantially as herein-before set forth, the said condensers
operating in connection with one and the same capacious chamber
adapted for receiving the contents of both the said primary condensers,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The secondary chamber B, constructed substantially as
herein-before described, in combination with two distinct primary con-
densers connected with the respective exhausts in the ends of the steam
cylinder of a marine engine and operating together substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Third. The combination with the secondary chamber B provided with
an adjustable overflow pipe 6° as described, of a force. pump C and
discharge pipe c" operating substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the secondary chamber B and the
pipes F and G constructed and arranged together, substantially as shewn
and described, of a tertiary surface condenser D constructed and operating
so as to condense the steam and vapor conducted into the same by the
pipes F and G, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set
forth.
Fifth. The tertiary condenser, consisting of the drum & and the
condensing cases d", d", constructed, arranged, and combined to
operate together, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
set forth.
Sixth. Securing the upper ends of the tubes 22 firmly in the top plate 25
of each of the condensing cases d" by means of the screw nuts 23 and 24
and the lower ends of said tubes to the bottom plate 20 of cach of tho
said condensing cases by means of the elastic waterproof packing
plate 27, the clamping plate 28, and screw bolts 29, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before set forth.

page_text: Seventh. Supporting the condensing cases d", ", on trunnions d",
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the tertiary condenser D of a fresh
water reservoir E entirely below the bottom of the said condenser,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
Witness,
J. TEARE,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.s.)
1
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
J