Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling Liquids and for Concentrating Solutions and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling Liquids and for Concentrating
Solutions and the like.
We, JULIUS OVERHOFF, of 7, Schlüsselgasse, Vienna IV, in the Empire of
Austria, Engineer, and ALEXANDER COLAUTTI, of 35, Belvederegasse, Vienna IV,
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
-
For the satisfactory action of cooling and concentrating apparatus in which
the liquid to be treated is passed in the form of thin sheets or streams, over
impervious surfaces it is necessary to employ a distributing apparatus by which
proper separation and complete distribution of the liquid over all the said sur-
faces is ensured.
In such apparatus as hitherto known the liquid is frequently distributed only
in the form of separated small streams or the surfaces under the fluctuations of
temperature alter their form and thus interfere with the proper action.
Apparatus with shallow receptacles, or apparatus in which the cooling is effected
by a material absorbing the liquid overcome this objection, but these have other
defects.
The improved cooling apparatus constructed in accordance with this inven-
tion overcomes these objections and defects and employs an absorbing medium
arranged so as to supply liquid to the cooling or concentrating surfaces in a
thoroughly uniform manner.
An apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is represented
in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two modifi-
cations in vertical section whilst Figures 3 and 4 are detail views; at right
angles to each other drawn to a larger scale. The apparatus may be employed
for cooling the condensing water from steam engines or for cooling or evaporat-
ing other liquids or solutions or the like. The cooling or concentrating surface
proper is formed by a number of frames of louvres arranged parallel and one
above the other, the louvres of the respective frames being arranged so that
the lower edge of the louvres above are vertically over the upper surfaces of
the louvres below.
The louvres of the upper frame are covered with felt for like absorbent
material. To these coverings the liquid to be treated is supplied through the
perforated bottoms of troughs r which receive their supply from the overflow
side openings in the reservoir, or channel, h¹. Although the widths of the
troughs do not cover the whole length of the upper louvres and the liquid
only descends thereon at certain places as shewn in Figure 2 the liquid never-
theless so distributes itself as to run down all along the bottom edges of the
said upper louvres; the liquid falling therefrom onto the louvres below and so
on from frame to frame the liquid falling from the louvres above onto the upper
surface of the louvres below as shewn in Figure 4.
Air passes between the louvres in the direction of the arrows, and withdraws
the heat from the liquid passing over, and falling from, the louvres and escapes

page_text: between the troughs 1 in an upward direction. A chimney-like structure s¹
is preferably provided (see Figures 1 and 2) which serves to carry away the
moist tepid air and to increase the air draught.
The treated liquid collects in the well and may be withdrawn by a pump
or otherwise. In the arrangement shewn in Figure 1 two of the arrangements
described are fitted up under one chimney s¹ and the distributing trough rl of
both the arrangements are supplied from one feed channel h¹ whereas according
to Figure 2 only one such arrangement is used. The arrangements of louvres
are enclosed so that the air is compelled to enter at the bottom, at a¹, all and to
traverse the whole arrangements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An apparatus for cooling, or concentrating, liquids, or solutions, or the like,
consisting of, or comprising, superposed frames of louvres arranged so that the
lower edges of the louvres above are vertically over the upper surfaces of the
louvres beneath, the louvres of the upper frame being covered with felt, or the
equivalent, which supplies the liquid evenly to the louvres beneath; substan-
tially as herein before described.
2. Apparatus for the purposes described constructed as herein before described
and illustrated in the examples shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of August 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.