Improvements in Apparatus for the Instantaneous Production of Vapor from Water or other Liquid.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890
DI BUITIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Instantaneous Production of
Vapor from Water or other Liquid.
I, DANIEL BETHMONT of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor
from water or other liquid.
According to this invention vapor is engendered under the action of fire between
two plates one of which is solid and plain and the other which is contiguous thereto,
is provided on one of its faces with very shallow grooves (of a depth of about from
one to five-tenths of a millimetre) so as to form a capillary space in which the
instantaneous vaporization of the liquid is produced.
The grooved plates can obviously be made of various forms and so can the
grooves which are on one of their faces. The plates can be rectangular, polygonal,
round, oval &c., or may be bent into a semi-circle or even into the form of a circlé
so as to form a complete tube. The grooves formed on their surfaces can follow any
direction or contour provided that they commence at the water or liquid inlet and
terminate at the steam or vapor outlet
According to one modification two plates of steel, cast iron, copper &c. and either
of the same metal or of different metals are connected together face to face by
soldering or by bolts and rivets. One plate is formed in a double rectangular spiral
with a wide capillary groove the width and depth of which can be varied as desired.
The water inlet communicates with one end of the spiral and the vapor outlet with
the other end. Instead of being spiral the groove may be straight or in the
form of a serpentine. The apparatus instead of being formed of two plates may
be composed of three plates, and the grooves are then formed on both sides of the
middle plate.
I can also adopt a circular form of plate with concentric groove or a groove in a
single or double volute or spiral.
In order to increase the resistance of the apparatus in the case of high pressures 1
can form strengthening ribs on the outer surfaces of the plates.
I can also place a number of these pairs of plates one above another and submit
them to the heat of the fire either in a horizontal position or in a vertical or oblique
position.
In one of the many modifications of my invention in which the plates are in
the form of tubes or cylinders the outer tube is made with a plain and smooth
bore and there is fitted therein another well proportioned tube on the inner surface
of which a very shallow helicoidal groove has been formed running from one end
to the other of the tube. This helicoidal groove while ensuring the concentricity
of the two tubes constitutes the vaporizing chamber which therefore has a large
heating surface as it surrounds in a continuous helix the whole length of the
internal tube.
I thus forin vaporizing tubes of all dimensions with great facility for construction
and mounting and with a great certainty of action.
It will be further understood that I can arrange in the same apparatus several
pairs of vaporizing tubes placed concentrically one around another, the vapor from
one pair passing to the next pair by which it is then superheated.
I preferably construct these generating tubes entirely of copper but I can form
them of cast iron or steel covered on the vaporzing wall either with a copper lining
or with a deposit of copper obtained by the electrolytic way or otherwise.
With the object of ensuring the vaporization of the water under the most favorable
conditions, instead of injecting the water in the form of a jet through the inlet tube,

page_text: I send it into this tube in the form of spray or fine division which greatly facilitates
the immediate vaporization.
The construction of the furnace or fireplace and of the body of the generator can
be varied as desired.
In another modification of my apparatus the outer tube is as before perfectly
smooth and receives at one of its ends an appendage for the inlet of the water. The
other end has a similar appendage for the outlet of the steam. The inner tube is
grooved externally so as to form with the outer tube a vaporizing chamber. It is
closed at its two ends by filling pieces in one of which is a passage for the escape
of dilated hot air. The above named appendages are fitted with washers soldered or
fixed in the two ends of the outer tube.
In a slight variation of the modification just described the ends of the tubes are
open so as to allow of internal as well as external heating. In this case the outer
tube is widened at its ends and the space between the two tubes is filled by a ring
which receives the appendages.
In another modification the grooves are formed on the inner surface of the outer
tube, the outer surface of the inner tube being perfectly smooth.
I can also construct the generator of two tubes formed with a closed rounded
bottom and with a joint at the open end, the outer tube having at the lower part an
appendage for the escape of the steam.
In the various applications of the grooved plates in the form of tubes I can for
high pressures make the outer tube with an external helicoidal or other formed rib
for strengthening it. The internal tube can also have an internal rib for the
same object.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1800
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Instantaneous Production of
Vapor from Water or other Liquid.
I DANIEL BETHMONT of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, Manufacturer, 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 reference to apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor
from water or other liquid.
According to this invention vapor is engendered under the action of fire between
two plates one of which is solid and plain, and the other, which is contiguous thereto,
is provided on one of its faces with very shallow grooves (of a depth of about from
one to five-tenths of a millimetre) so as to form a capillary space in which the
instantaneous vaporization of the liquid is produced.
The grooved plates can obviously be made of varions forms and so can the grooves
which are on one of their faces. The plates can be rectangular, polygonal, round,
oval &c. or may be bent into a semicircle or even into the form of a circle so as to form
a complete tube. The grooves formed on their surfaces can follow any direction or
contour provided that they commence at the water or liquid inlet and terminate at
the steam or vapor outlet.
My invention will be understood on reference to the annexed drawings which
illustrate several modifications thereof. Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively in
longitudinal and transverse section an arrangement in which two plates A and B of
steel, cast iron, copper &c. and either of the same metal or of different metals, are
connected together face to face by welding or by bolts and rivets. The plate A is
formed in a double rectangular spiral with a wide capillary groove a the width and
depth of which can be varied as desired. The water inlet is at the tube U which

page_text: communicates with one end of the spiral or it might communicate with a straight
groove as shown in Figure 3. This groove can also be in the form of a serpentine as
shown in Figure 4. In this same figure the generator is composed of three plates
connected together by rivets and the grooves are then formed on both sides of the
middle plate A. D, Figure 1, is the vapor outlet.
I can also adopt the circular form of plate with concentric groove shown in Figure 5
or the circular form of plate with a groove in a single or double volute or spiral as
seen in face view and transverse section respectively in Figures 6 and 7.
In order to increase the resistance of the apparatus in the case of high pressures
can form strengthening ribs on the outer surfaces of the plates.
I can also place a number of these pairs of plates one above another and submit
them to the heat of the fire either in a horizontal position or in a vertical or oblique
position. In one of the many modifications of my invention in which the plates are
in the form of tubes or cylinders the outer tube is made with a plain and smooth bore
and there is fitted therein another well proportioned tube on the inner surface of
which a very shallow helicoidal groove has been formed running from one end to
the other of the tube. The helicoidal groove thus formed while ensuring the
concentricity of the two tubes, constitutes the vaporizing chamber which therefore
has a large heating surface, as it surrounds in a continuous helix the whole length of
the internal tube.
1 thus form vaporizing tubes of all dimensions with great facility for construction
and mounting and with a great certainty of action.
It will be further understood that I can arrange in the same apparatus several
pairs of vaporizing tubes placed concentrically one around another, the vapor from
one pair passing to the next pair by which it is then superheated.
I preferably construct these generating tubes entirely of copper, but I can form
them of cast iron or steel covered on the vaporizing wall either with a copper lining
or with a deposit of copper obtained by the electrolytic way or otherwise.
With the object of ensuring the vaporization of the water under the most favorable
conditions, instead of injecting the water in the form of a jet through the inlet tube
I send it into this tube in the form of spray or fine division which greatly facilitates
the immediate vaporization.
Figure 8 represents a generator formed of two vaporizing tubes arranged con-
centrically. Each of these elements is composed of an outer tube a with a smooth
bore and of an inner tube & the outer surface of which is formed with a continuous
helicoidal groove e which runs from one end of the tube to the other and forms a
continuous helicoidal capillary vaporizing chamber with a large beating surface.
The water in the state of spray or finely divided enters by the inlet d and becomes
vaporized in the central tube from which it issues by the elbow piece and passes to
the circumferential vaporizing tube; it finally issues superheated by the outlet g.
The construction of the furnace or fireplace and of the body of the generator can
be varied as desired.
In another modification of my invention represented in Figure 9 the outer tube a
is as before perfectly smooth and receives at one of its ends an appendage for the
inlet of the water. The other end has a similar appendage c for the outlet of the
steam. The inner tube d is grooved externally so as to form with the outer tube a
vaporizing chamber. It is closed at its two ends by filling pieces ff in one of which
a passage g for the escape of dilated hot air. The appendages b and c are fitted
with washers h soldered or fixed in the two ends of the outer tube.
In Figure 10 which is a slight variation of Figure 9 the ends of the tubes are
open so as to allow of internal as well as external and internal heating. In this case
the outer tube is widened at its ends and the space between the two tubes is filled
by a ring which receives the appendages b and c. In another modification represente 1.
in Figures 11 and 12 the grooves are formed on the inner surface of the outer tube,
the outer surface of the inner tube being perfectly smooth. In this arrangement
the grooves may follow a vertical direction or be in the form of a serpentine as in
Figure 4.

page_text: I can also as shown in Figure 13 construct the tube of two pieces of steel (or other
metal) one of which a is flat and the other b has rolled in it very shallow grooves c, c, c
which by the bringing together of the two pieces are intended to form the capillary
space for the evaporation of water or other liquid.
These two pieces a bare placed one against the other and brought to the desired
temperature so as to become welded or united at the projecting parts d d when
passed through rollers or dies. I thus obtain a perfect union and ensure a very
regular capillary space.
In Figure 14 the two pieces a and bare flat and the projections are formed by
metal strips d d interposed between the pieces a and b. The whole are brought
together heated and welded or united as I have above described.
With the tubes shown in Figures 13 and 14 I can, instead of welding, rivet the
parts together, or I can weld the edges and rivet the inner parts. The intermediate
strips dd shown in Figure 14 can also be cut in one piece from a plate of sheet iron
or steel according to the desired shape.
Figures 15 and 16 show arrangements which can he adopted if desired to form
the ends of the tube, according to whether it is wished or not to divide the water at
its inlet to the generating tube.
Figure 17 represents the tube wound into a helix. In Figure 18 I show a way
of preserving the tube or other generating element from oxidation and from the action
of the fire; this result is obtained by the employment of a metal muffle in the form of
an inverted covering the generator a whilst permitting it to receive the heat
of the furnace; for this purpose a second muffle c of refractory earth localises the
beat by covering the first muffle.
I can also construct the generator of two tubes formed with a closed rounded
bottom and with a joint at the upper end, the outer tube having at the lower part
an appendage for the escape of the steam
In the various applications of the grooved plates in the form of tubes I can for
high pressures make the outer tube with an external helicoidal or other formed rib
for strengthening it. The internal tube can also have an internal rib for the
same object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not
claim broadly apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid by
means of capillary vaporizing spaces, but what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates connected together by welding, rivetting or otherwise and formed with one or
more capillary grooves arranged in rectangular spiral form so as to constitute a
vaporizing chamber commencing from an inlet for the water or liquid and terminating
at an outlet for the generated vapor as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2.
2. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates connected together by welding, rivetting or otherwise and formed with one or
more straight or serpentine capillary grooves so as to constitute a vaporizing chamber
commencing from an inlet for the water or liquid and terminating at an outlet for
the generated vapor as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
3. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates connected together by welding, rivetting or otherwise, and formed with one or
inore concentric or single or double volute or spiral capillary grooves so as to
constitute a vaporizing chamber commencing from an inlet for the water or liquid
and terminating at an outlet for the generated vapor as herein before described with
reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7.
4. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates rolled or bent into the form of tubes, and connected together by welding,
rivetting or otherwise, one tube being fitted within another and the inner tube being
formed with one or more external helicoidal capillary grooves so as to form with the

page_text: plain inner surface of the outer tube a vaporizing chamber commencing from an inlet
for the water or liquid and terminating at an outlet for the generated vapor whether
the apparatus comprise a single pair of tubes or two or more concentric pairs as
herein before described with reference to Figure 8.
5. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates rolled or bent into the form of tubes and connected together by welding
rivetting or otherwise, one tube being fitted within another and the inner tube having
one or more external helicoidal capillary grooves so as to form with the inner surface
of the outer tube a vaporizing chamber, the two tubes being closed at their ends
by filling pieces or washers, those of the outer tube receiving appendages for the
inlet of liquid and the outlet of vapor as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figure 9.
6. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates rolled or bent into the form of tubes and connected together by welding
rivetting or otherwise, one tube being fitted within another and thinner tube having
one or more external helicoidal capillary grooves so as to form with the inner surface
of the outer tube a vaporizing chamber, the inner tube being open at both ends to
permit of internal heating, and the outer tube being widened at the ends to receive
a filling ring in which the inlet and outlet appendages are fitted as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure 10.
7. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, metallic
plates rolled or bent into the form of tubes and connected together by welding
rivetting or otherwise, one tube being fitted within another and the outer tube having
one or more internal serpentine capillary grooves so as to form with the outer surface
of the inner tube a vaporizing chamber as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 11 and 12.
8. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid two
metallic pieces one of which is flat and the other rolled with very shallow grooves
which form capillary vaporizing grooves when the two pieces are fixed face to face
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 13.
9. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, two flat
metallic pieces in combination with metal strips interposed between the said pieces so
as to form capillary vaporizing grooves when the whole are secured together as
bereinbefore described with reference to Figure 14.
10. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid, the
combination with the capillary generating elements of a metallic muffle which is itself
covered by a muffle of refractory material as and for the purpose herein before described
with reference to Figure 18.
11. In apparatus for the instantaneous production of vapor from liquid metallic
plates rolled or bent into the form of tubes and connected together by welding,
rivetting or otherwise, one tube being fitted within another and the inner tube
having one or more helicoidal capillary grooves so as to form with the inner
surface of the outer tube a vaporizing chamber, the two tubes having closed
rounded bottoms and being welded or joined together at their upper end as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 10th day of Santambor 1900
J. C. MEW BURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.