AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING THE EXHAUST STEAM
OF STEAM ENGINES." A communication from abroad by James Franklin
Fifield, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
led the 14th October 1876, and dated the 2nd May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Willian Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARAtus for
CONDENSING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES." A communication.
This Invention relates to the condensation of the exhaust steam of a steam
engine by bringing it in contact with a column or current of water while the water
is on its way to the partial vacuum in a lift or " suction " pump employed in pumping
water.
According to the said Invention I lead the exhaust steam of a steam engine
directly through the exterior wall of the water induction pipe of a lift or "suction"
pump, so that the steam passes quickly from the exterior of said current of
water into the same, and towards the partial vacuum in the pump, whereby the
steam is almost instantly condensed, and a degree of vacuum produced in the engine
nearly equal to that in the pump.
I may employ a rotary vacuum pump, the water induction pipe leading to
said pump. The exhaust pipe of the engine leads into an upright pipe, which is
provided with a valve so constructed and arranged that by setting it in one
position the exhaust steam will be discharged upward through the said upright
pipo into the open air, and by setting it in another position the steam will be
discharged through another pipe into the heater, and thence into the induction pipe
of the pump.
When the work of the engine is other than that of pumping water a pump must
be provided and driven either from the same or a separate engine, and water
sufficient in quantity to condense the steam must flow through the pump, and it
must be drawn from such a depth as to create a vacuum in the pump somewhat
greater than that desired in the engine. The quantity of water that will be
Price Gd1

page_text: required in this method of condensing is not greater than that required to condense
an equal quantity of steam in the best jet or surface condensers. The steam should
be introduced into the induction pipe directly through its wall through a branch
pipe so as to throw it upon the exterior surface of the current of water in the
said pipe.
I may adopt several modifications of pipes for the introduction of the steain into
said induction pipe. For instance, the exhaust pipe may be divided into three
branches or mouths to spread the steam over a large surface of the current of water.
The pipe through which the water flows may have a large number of perforations,
the perforated portion being enclosed by a large pipe forming a chamber into which
the steam is conducted, and from which it passes into the water through the
perforation. A portion of the said pipe may be composed of a series of inclined
rings lapping one over another, between which the steam reaches the water which
will flow through the centre of the rings. A steam chamber similar to that above
described encloses the space around the rings, the exhaust steam being introduced
into this chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
November 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
CONDENSING THE EXHAUST STEAM OF STEAM ENGINES." A communication from
abroad by James Franklin Fifield, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the condensation of the exhaust steam of a steam engine
by bringing it in contact with a column or current of water, while the water is on
its way to the partial vacuum in a lift or "suction" pump employed in pumping
water.
According to the said Invention, I lead the exhaust steam of a steam engine
directly through the exterior wall of the water induction pipe of a lift or "suction"
pump, so that the steam passes quickly from the exterior of said current of
water into the same, and towards the partial vacuum in the pump, whereby the
steam is almost instantly condensed, and a degree of vacuum produced in the engine
nearly equal to that in the pump.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine and a forcing or lift pump with pipe
connections embodying this Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figures 3,
4, and 5 are modifications of the apparatus by which the exhaust steam may be
brought in contact with the exterior surface of a column or current of water before
its entrance into the partial vacuum of the pump.
A and B are the boiler and cylinder of an ordinary reciprocating steam engine,
C is a rotary vacuum pump, and D the water induction pipe leading to said pump,
Dis the exhaust pipe of the engine. It leads into the upright pipe E which is
provided with a valve a, so constructed and arranged that by setting it in one
position the exhaust steam will be discharged upward through the pipe E into the
open air, and by setting it in another position the steam will be discharged through
the pipe F into the heater G, and from thence through the pipe H into the induction
pipe of the pump C.
When the work of the engine is other than that of pumping water a pump must
be provided and driven either from the same or a separate engine, and water sufficient
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine and a forcing or lift pump with pipe
connections embodying this Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figures 3,
4, and 5 are modifications of the apparatus by which the exhaust steam may be
brought in contact with the exterior surface of a column or current of water before
its entrance into the partial vacuum of the pump.
A and B are the boiler and cylinder of an ordinary reciprocating steam engine,
C is a rotary vacuum pump, and D the water induction pipe leading to said pump,
Dis the exhaust pipe of the engine. It leads into the upright pipe E which is
provided with a valve a, so constructed and arranged that by setting it in one
position the exhaust steam will be discharged upward through the pipe E into the
open air, and by setting it in another position the steam will be discharged through
the pipe F into the heater G, and from thence through the pipe H into the induction
pipe of the pump C.
When the work of the engine is other than that of pumping water a pump must
be provided and driven either from the same or a separate engine, and water sufficient

page_text: in quantity to condense the steam must. flow through the pump, and it must be
drawn from such a depth as to create a vacuum in the pump somewhat greater
than that desired in the engine. The quantity of water that will be required in
this method of condensing is not greater than that required to condenso an equal
quantity of steam in the best jet or surface condensers. The steam should be
introduced into the induction pipe D directly through its wall by a branch pipe,
as shown in the Drawings, so as to throw it upon the exterior surface of the current
of water in the said pipe.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5, I have shown several modifications of pipes for the intro-
duction of the steam into said induction pipe. Figure 3 shows the exhaust pipe
divided into three branches or mouths c, c, c, designed to spread the steam over
a larger surface of the current of water than with a single pipe. In Figure 5 the
pipe through which the water flows has a large number of perforations, and the
perforated portion is enclosed by a larger pipe forming a chamber J into which the
steain is conducted, and from which it passes into the water through the perforations.
In Figure 4 a portion of the said pipe is represented as composed of a series of
inclined rings lapping. one over another, and between then the steam reaches the
water, which will flow through the centre of the rings. A steam chamber similar
to that in Figure 5 encloses the space around the rings, the exhaust steam being
introduced into this chamber as in Figure 4.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim-
First. The condensation of the exhaust steam of a steam engine by bringing it in
contact with the surface of a current of water flowing through the induction pipo
of a lift or vacuum pump towards and into the vacuum in the pump.
Second. The combination with a steam engine, and a vacuum pump of a steam
chamber enclosing a portion of the induction pump, wherein are openings or
perforations through which the exhaust steam of an engine may be thrown upon
the surface of a column of water passing towards and into the vacuum in the
pump.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand night hold
W. ROBT. LAKE. (LS)