CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING, CONCENTRATING, AND EVAPORATING AERIFORM AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1840

page_text: **ADCOCK'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY.
ADCOCK, of Winstanley, near Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters- Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirtieth day of December, in the fourth year of Her reign,.
dia,.for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Adenck, Her, especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Henry Adcock, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Henry Adcock, my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
CONDENSING, CONCENTRATING, AND EVAPORATING AERIFORM AND OTHER FLUIDS;":
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Henry
Adcock, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after, the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and. by the same, reference, being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
"

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Adcock, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be performed and carried into effect, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
In the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and
Fig. 4, is represented an apparatus for carrying my aforesaid Invention into
effect, and in the several Figures marked Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4,
the same letters of reference denote the same parts. a, a, represents a spiral
wheel; b, or b, b, its axis; c, d, d, and e, e, three steps, pedestals, or places of
support on which the axis of the spiral wheel revolves. The step c is made in
the usual manner of such contrivances; it is fastened to a plate of iron or
other metal, and is secured in an air-tight manner into the side of the chamber
in which the spiral wheel is incased, and a small tubo conducts from the out-
side of such chamber to the step, and thence to the axle, any oil or other
lubricating substance that may be poured into it. The steps or pedestals d, d,
and e, e, are made somewhat different to the steps or pedestals commonly
employed, but these two steps or pedestals are made both alike, excepting that
the one marked e, e, is upheld by and secured to some masonry below it marked
2, and that the other marked d, d, is secured to a plate of metal fastened in
an air-tight manner on one side of the chamber in which the spiral wheel
revolves. The step or pedestal e, e, is shewn in its complete state in the manner
it will be seen when the apparatus is working, but the step or pedestal.; d, is
shewn in section as though one half of it is removed vertically. It is exhibited
thus that three grooves cut into the axle, as also in the step or pedestal at d, d,
may be seen.
There are three similar and correspondent grooves cut into the
axle, and in the step at e, e. These grooves are filled with tallow, or a mixture
of oil and tallow, as well to reduce the friction as to lessen or prevent the
escape of aeriform or other fluid, either from the chamber in which the spiral
wheel revolves, or from the pipes f and 9, g. The axis b, b, extends into the
step or pedestal e, e. It is not fastened or attached to the stationary pipe f
but is wholly independent of it. The axis therefore revolves freely when
motion is imparted to it, while the pipe f, united to the pipe g, g, is stationary.
My Invention as aforesaid for "Improvements in the Means or Apparatus
for Condensing, Concentrating, and Evaporating Aeriform or other Fluids,"
may be described under three divisions or distinct heads, namely, condensing,
concentrating, and evaporating. With respect to the first of these, or con-
densing. In condensing aeriform or other fluids, as the smoke evolved from

page_text: furnaces or muriatic acid vapour, or the sulphureous fumes, noxious vapours;
and gases evolved from the smelting furnaces of copper works and the smelting
furnaces of lead works, instead of allowing the aeriform or other fluid to pass
from the furnace or furnaces through a flue or 'flues into a chimney as hereto-
fore has been the custom, I conduct tho aeriform or other fluid from such
furnace or furnaces through a flue or flues into an air-tight chamber h, h, h, h,
Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, in which a spiral wheel revolves. The air-tight chamber
h, h, h, h, is supplied to any required height with water, or with water holding
other substances in solution, or with water and other substances in a fluid or
semi-fluid state, according to the chemical properties of the aeriform or other
fluid to be condensed. In Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, the wheel is delineated
as revolving to a certain depth in water. Motion is imparted to the toothed
wheel i, i, and consequently to the axis and the spiral wheel, by a steam engine,
water wheel, or other prime mover, and when it is necessary to maintain an
equality of draft in a furnace, or to condense and carry off the aeriform or other
fluid from the air-tight chamber in equal quantities, in equal times, or in a con-
tinuous flow, I apply two spiral wheels on the same axis, so arranged that,
supposing the water or other liquid or semi-liquid in the chamber h, h, h, h; to
be at a height or level equal to that of the centre of the axis 6 of the spiral
wheel, then as the mouth of the one spiral wheel is about to enter the water;
the mouth of the other will be coming out, and thus an equality of draft be
obtained:
The operation of the apparatus in condensing aeriform or other fluids
may be thus described. A steam engine, water wheel, or other prime mover
imparting motion to the toothed wheel i, i, and thence to the axis b, b, gives
a rotatory motion (in the direction of the arrows or darts shown in the
Drawing) to the spiral wheel or spiral wheels a, a, on the axis b, b. If we
suppose the water or other liquid or semi-liquid in the lower part of the
chamber h, h, h, h, to be at a height or level equal to that of the centre of the
axis b, as before stated, then as cach' spiral wheel revolves it will, during one
half of its revolution, take in the aeriform or other fluid to be condensed, and
during the other half of its revolution it will take in the water or other liquid
or semi-liquid that is to act as a condensing agent. The axis b, 6, on the right-
hand side of the spiral wheel, as seen in Fig. 2, is hollow, and of the same
bore or internal diameter as the pipe f, and such' hollow axis is open to and
in communication with the spiral wheel or spiral wheels as shown in Fig. 3.
Hence, as each spiral wheel revolves, it takes in alternately the fluid to be con-
densed and the condensing agent, and by the construction of the wheel it will
be perceived that whatever is taken in has a tendency, by the revolution of

page_text: such spiral wheel, to get into the centre, and thence into 'the 'hollow axis' b, b.
It will also be perceived that the capacities of the spirals decrease from the
periphery to the centre of the wheel, consequently from this cause and from
causes hereinafter described some portion of the water or other condensing
agent flows back from the several spirals as exhibited in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4
Hence the aeriform or other fluid taken into the spiral wheel is subjected
to continuous showers of the water or other condensing agent as it moves
onward towards the centre, and when it gets to the centre it passes through
or mixes with a solid body of the liquid or semi-liquid. If the aeriform or
other fluid is readily condensible. by mixture with water or other liquid or
semi-liquid, I allow the place of discharge from the spiral wheel into the
required receptacle to take place from the axis of the wheel; and in order that
such aeriform or other fluid may be exposed to showers, and eventually pass
through and commingle with a body of water or other liquid or semi-liquid;
as before stated, I so proportion the bore of the axis of the wheel that the
quantity of liquid, semi-liquid, and incondensible fluids to be discharged
from it in any given time require for that discharge a certain pressure or head;
which pressure or head, from the known principles of hydraulics, may be
obtained by duly proportioning the bore of the axis as herein-before described:
But such pressure or head must not be so great as that produced by a column
of water equal in. height to the radius-of the spiral wheel multiplied by the
number of spiral convolutions in that radius. But when the acriform or
other fluid to be condensed is more difficult to be accomplished, when it requires
to be mixed with a greater body of the condensing agent, or when the water
or other liquid or semi-liquid is required to be raised from a lower level'ito
a higher by the several columns of such liquid or semi-liquid in' the several
spirals of the wheel pressing upon and condensing the air or incondensible
fluids in the other parts of the same spiral, I then make the bore of the pipė
sufficiently large that a free discharge may take place through the axis b, b,
the pipe f, and the vertical pipe 9, g, into the vessel or chamber k, k. From
that vessel or chamber the liquid or semi-liquid may be allowed to flow into
any required receptacle, and the incondensible fluids will escape through the
chimney m, m. When the aeriform or other fluid above the surface of the
liquid or semi-liquid in the chamber h, h, h, h, is being worked under an
amount of pressure equal to that yielded by the difference of level between
the surface of the liquid or semi-liquid in the chamber h, h, h, h, and that in
the chamber k, k, that liquid or somi-liquid may be allowed to flow down a
pipe as 1, 1, 1, back into the chamber h, h, h,'h, to be re-worked with a further
quantity of condensible fluid until sufficiently-saturated, when it may be drawn

page_text: ..1-
off and replaced by another quantity. The height of the pipe g, g, must be
limited in accordance with what I have already stated respecting the radius
of the spiral wheel and the number of convolutions or parts of convolutions
in that radius. The chamber h, h, h, h, must be supplied with water or other
liquid or semi-liquid in proportion to the quantity or quantities discharged.
The internal capacity of the's
spiral wheel or spiral wheels in diameter and
breadth must be such that when moving with the greatest speed at which it
is intended to revolve, the quantity of aeriform or other fluid taken up and
condensed by it in a given time must be equal to maintain and preserve the
greatest draft required in the furnace or furnaces from which it is evolved.
Other and slower rates of motion; of condensation, and of draft may be
obtained by driving the prime mover at a less speed, or by the intervention of
speed wheels in the usual manner of such contrivances. In my Invention
as aforesaid for "Improvements in the Means or Apparatus for Condensing,
Concentrating, and Evaporating Aeriform or other Fluids," I re-work either
under pressure or without, as may be found the most efficient for the required
purpose, the water or other condensing agent with further quantities of the
aeriform or other fluid to be condensed, and by that means effect to a certain
extent concentration, and should that concentration. not be sufficient for the
required purpose, I concentrate to a greater extent by heat in the usual manner:
In evaporating aeriform or other fluids, as the water of brine in the manufac
ture of salt, the water from the white lead in the manufacture of that pigment;
and the water from the "slip" in the manufacture of china or porceläin, I
heat or cause to be heated' atmospheric air in the manner that it is now heated
for the blast furnaces of the iron works, or by any other of the well known
means of effecting.it to any required amount of temperature. I then cause it
to flow through a tube, flue, or pipe into the close chamber h, h, h, h, Fig. 1,
Fig. 2, and Fig.3; in the bottom part of, which is the fluid,, semi-fluid; or
solution to be-evaporated by the revolution of the spiral wheel or spiral, wheels.
in the 'manner before described; it will be perceived that the heat of the air,
by mixing 'with such fluid; semi-fluid, or solution, will become an evaporating
agent, and that the evaporation will: be further increased by the evolution, of
the air. The spiral wheel and apparatus adapted to the purpose will be readily,
compreliended and known from what, has been, herein-before, described and
exhibited in the Sheet of Drawings. In cases where the solution, fluid, or
semi-fluid to be evaporated is of a clammy or glutinous nature, or is too thick
or solid to flow through the spiral wheel and apparatus herein described; I
place it in long shallow troughs having air-tight covers made of wood or other
good non-conducting, substances; and leaving...b but small space between the

page_text: surface of the fluid, semi-fluid, or solution, and the under side of the covers;
I cause a stream of heated air to flow through such space, and consequently
over the surface of the fluid, semi-fluid, or solution to be evaporated, and by
that means effect the evaporation, and I sometimes increase the evaporation
by making a fire and flue beneath such shallow troughs. The covers may be
made air-tight by having projecting ledges descending from them throughout
their entire lengths into small narrow troughs on the outside of such main
troughs filled to the required height with water, to lute them in an air-tight
The spiral wheel may be made a plain spiral, as exhibited in the
Drawing, or it made either a cylindrical spiral or a conical spiral. The spiral
wheel and the chamber in which it revolves may be made of iron, copper,
or other fit material, and in some cases the chamber may be made of brick or
masonry. When condensing or concentrating muriatic or other acid, the
wheel must be made or lined with platinum, and the chamber of the same,
or the inside of the chamber may be charred by heat, and afterwards coated
with pitch.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed and carried into effect, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement and dispositions of
the combinations and contrivances herein described and delineated in the
Sheet of Drawings, but avail myself of such other combinations and contrivances
as in mechanics are equivalent thereto. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Adcock, do hereby set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-one.