IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM AND OTHER VAPORS AND FOR REFRIGERATING FLUIDS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Norman Willis Wheeler, of Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings, State of New York, and United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING
STEAM AND OTHER VAPORS AND FOR REFRIGERATING FLUIDS."
Sealed the 1st June 1866, and dated the 13th January 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Norman Willis Wheeler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 13th January 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NORMAN
WILLIS WHEELER, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, State of New York,
and United States of America, send greeting.
AND FOR
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM AND OTHER VAPORS
REFRIGERATING FLUIDS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and
first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Norman Willis Wheeler, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal
Price 8d1

page_text: fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to performed, in and by the following statement:―
My Invention relates to what is commonly denominated "surface con-
densation and refrigeration," or, to describe the process with more precision,
the transference of heat contained in any fluid, gas, vapor, or liquid through
intervening solid matter to other fluid, gas, vapor, or liquid without
admixture of the fluids; and I render such transference of heat very rapid
through a given surface of intervening solid by means of a very active and
peculiar circulation of the fluids under treatment, and because of the said
very rapid transference of heat I am enabled to construct a condensing or
refrigerating apparatus which will accomplish a given amount of work with
much less surface than has heretofore been necessary, and in such form as to
dispense with the multiplicity of joints and pieces incident.to such apparatus
before known.
The first part of my Invention consists in the directing of the refriger-
ating fluids into refrigerating vessels through passages so constructed and so
related to the other parts as to develope and maintain centrifugal force,
tending to throw the densest, particles continually against the heated. sur-
faces and to spread out the cooling fluid in a thin sheet actively circulating
thereon, leaving the central space comparatively empty.
The second part of my Invention consists in the so directing of the vapor
or other fluid to be cooled into condensing or refrigerating vessels through
passages so constructed and so related to the other parts that the heated
fluid will not impinge primarily against the principal refrigerating surface,
but will impinge upon other enclosing surfaces in such a way as to develope
and maintain centrifugal force, tending to throw the densest particles, water,
oil, etc., away from the cooling surfaces, and cause the lightest, hottest, or
most volatile particles to be all the time presented to the cool surface:
The third part of my Invention consists in preventing the filling of the
interior of such refrigerating vessels with liquid by the forcing in of air or
other permanent gas.
I will now proceed to describe what I esteem the best mode of carrying
out my Invention, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings with
letters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure I. represents a cross
section on the line x, y, Figure II. a sectional plan, and Figure III. an
elevation; like letters indicating the same parts in the several Figures.
I have represented and will describe my apparatus as used for the condensa..
tion of steam, for the purpose of obtaining a vacuum in the cylinder and
procuring fresh feed water for supplying to the boilers. Those skilled in the

page_text: arts will readily make the slight changes in proportion which will be desirable
to adapt it for cooling beer and the other uses to which it may be put.
a, a³, a³, a, as, indicate a channel plate, upon which are secured the con-
densing cylinders D, D, made preferably of thin sheet metal, each with one
open and one closed end, the open ends being bolted to the channel plate at
D', D, the enclosing cylinders E, E, E, E, together with proper circulating
pump or pumps K, K, and air pump or pumps j, and within each condensing
cylinder a circulating water pipe B, surmounted with a circulating head c,c²,c³.
The circulating and air pumps being connected to and actuated by an engine
or other motive power, and the receiving nozzle a' being connected by a pipe
to a proper body of water, the motion of the circulating pumps will draw
circulating water into the chamber a², and force it in the direction of the
arrows through the chamber a³, and pipes B, B, and circulating heads c, c², c³
and out through the sufficiently contracted nozzles c² and c³, from whence the
circulating water will issue with considerable force and impinge against the
inner sides of the condensing cylinders i), D, at such an angle as to cause the
circulating water to continue its motion around and against the inner sides
thereof, thus developing thin sheets of water, clinging to the cylinders by
centrifugal force, and having a combined rotary and descending movement;
and by reason of the centrifugal force developed by the rotative motion of
these sheets of circulating water, the cooler particles by reason of their greater
gravity will seek and reach in rapid succession the inner surfaces of the
condensing cylinders, rapidly abstracting heat therefrom if the temperature of
the cylinders be greater than that of the circulating water. If the circulating
water be allowed to collect in a body within the condensing cylinders, so as to
fill them or to occupy any considerable space within them, the action of the
circulating water will become sluggish and inefficient, a homely illustration of
which may be found in the ordinary watercloset bowls, wherein the cleansing
water is introduced with a spiral motion, when the outlet is free the action
of the cleansing water is rapid and efficient, but when the outlet becomes
clogged the action is sluggish and inefficient. When the outlets for the
escape of circulating water are at the bottom of the condensing cylinders and
the water is free to escape by reason of its own gravity, as through the
passages m, m, channel a', and nozzle h, there will obviously be very little
accumulation of water in the lower parts of the condensing cylinders D, D;
but if a pipe were connected to the nozzle h, with its outlet higher than the
condensing cylinders, then the condensing cylinders would be filled and the
apparatus rendered no more efficient than others heretofore known, wherein a
body of refrigerating water was kept in rotation by mechanical means; but it

page_text: the temperature of the body of aerated or natural water contained in a
condensing cylinder have its temperature considerably increased, there will be
set free from it by continued working a sufficient volume of gases to fill the
condensing cylinder, and a pressure will exist in said cylinder sufficient to
expel the body of water in ordinary cases, as, for instance, on board a steam
ship, the heavier fluid seeking the lower part of the cylinder and passing out,
leaving the gases permanently occupying the greater part of the space con-
tained in the condensing cylinder, thus restoring the normal action and
efficiency of the apparatus. But in most cases it will be advisable to introduce
a sufficient quantity of air into the condensing cylinders by mechanical means,
which may be conveniently done by means of a small pump, as p, actuated by
the same power which actuates the other pumps, which pump p is so arranged
as to discharge a sufficient quantity of air into the ingoing current of cir-
culating water at each stroke. The object may also be accomplished in many
instances by simply making a small aperture in the suction pipe or passage of
the circulating pump, so that the requisite air will be drawn in by the
circulating pump itself. When a number of condensing cylinders are working
together it will be well to provide a separate means of supplying air to each
of them, or to unite the upper parts of the condensing cylinders by small
pipes, in order that all the air may not pass into one and leave the other
condensing cylinders clogged. It is obvious that the circulating pumps might
be attached by their suction inlets to the nozzle h, and draw the circulating
water through the apparatus, instead of forcing it through as before described,
but in that case it would be necessary to provide means of preventing the
filling of the condensing cylinders other than those described. This may be
accomplished by means of floats arranged in the lower parts of the condensing
cylinders D, D, and so connected to valves in the pipes B, B, or their
continuations, that when the water accumulates in the cylinders the inflow
will be arrested in whole or in part, and capable of the reverse action. The
steam to be condensed flows through the pipes g,g, and through elongated or
otherwise formed openings in the direction of the arrows into the spaces
between the enclosing cylinders E, E, E, E, and the condensing cylinders
D, D, preferably in such a way as to impinge against the inner sides of the
enclosing cylinders, as at r, and continue its motion in a rotary manner,
developing centrifugal force against the sides of the enclosing cylinders, thus
throwing the particles of grease and condensed water against the enclosing
cylinders and away from the condensing surface, in whole or in part obviating
a great defect occurring in tubular and other condensers, viz., the greasing
of the condensing surface, which prevents the intimate contact of the steam.

page_text: In the example before us the four enclosing cylinders E, E, E, E, are
represented as cast in one, with their inner circumferences tangenting each
other, thus leaving a free communication throughout the series, and with the
inlet openings so placed that each incoming current of steam is split into two
parts, as seen by the arrows at r, care being taken that the steam current
does not impinge directly upon the condensing cylinders D, D, for reasons
herein-before stated. This arrangement is not necessary, but very convenient,
but care should always be taken that steam shall not impinge upon the
condensing cylinders before it has impinged upon the inner surfaces of the
inclosing cylinders E, E, E, E, to prevent as far as possible the fouling of
the condensing surface. The condensed water or refrigerated fluid falls
through the openings n, m, n, n, into the chamber a³, and is removed by the
air pump through the nozzle in the usual way, and the vacuum, if any,
exists in the annular spaces between the cylinders D, D, and E, E, E, E, and
such enclosed spaces as are connected therewith, thus making the pressure
upon the condensing cylinders internal, that is to say, from within outward,
rendering them stronger than if exposed to a collapsing stress. It may be
well in this connection to recapitulate what is obvious from that which is
herein-before stated, viz., that by reason of the extreme and peculiar activity
of the circulating water and of the steam or other fluid to be cooled a given
amount of condensing surface is by this Invention made equal in efficiency
to a much greater amount of surface disposed as and used under the con-
ditions in vogue heretofore, and that a few condensing cylinders of moderate
size and easy fabrication may take the place of a multitude of tubes and the
corresponding number of joints and packing devices, each cylinder with its
one easily made joint being equal to many tubes with their necessary joints,
all of which are liable and addicted to leakage; and it is expected that
inasmuch as the quantity of electrical action bears a relation to the magni-
tude of the metallic surfaces exposed to chemical action, the destructive
effects of such electrical action upon boilers and engines necessarily endured
heretofore will be materially diminished wherever this Invention with the
comparatively small amount of condensing surface is practiced.
It has become the favorite practice with many engineers to condense the
steam from an engine by means of the ordinary jet condenser, but to draw the
condensing water from a fund of fresh water, which water is cooled by passing
over refrigerating surfaces while circulating water traverses the opposite
side, which cooled or "decalorated" water is returned to the fund, and so
on continually. This operation can be readily performed by my method,
even without changing in any important particular the apparatus, by simply

page_text: directing the flow through the pipes g, g, so that it will follow the course
and be subjected to the same influences as herein-before described for
steam, and this is true for all other fluids susceptible of the like treatment.
The escape of the refrigerating fluid from the refrigerating vessels may be
facilitated by making the apertures m, m, as large as circumstances will
allow, and covering them with hoods with their open ends towards the
rotating current of fluid, so as to direct the fluid easily into the exit
passages, thus utilizing the momentum remaining in the fluid.
Having described my Invention, what I claim as new and useful in
condensers and refrigerators which I desire to secure by Letters Patent is
as follows:
First, the directing of refrigerating fluids into refrigerating vessels
through passages constructed substantially as herein specified, so as to
develope centrifugal force against the inner sides of the said vessels, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth, when such vessels are prevented
from filling with liquid.
Second, the directing of the heated fluids into enclosed spaces for the
purpose of being refrigerated, so that they will not impinge primarily
against the principal refrigerating surfaces, but will impinge upon other
enclosing surfaces in such a way as to develope centifugal force thereagainst,
substantially as described and for the purposes described.
Third, I claim in connection with the above preventing the filling of the
refrigerating vessels with liquids by the forcible introduction of air or other
permanent gas thereinto, substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Norman Willis Wheeler, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November,
A.D. 1865.
NORMAN WILLIS WHEELER. L.S.)
NORMAN WILLIS WHEELER. (L.S.)