IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS CONDENSERS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Morris, of Brentford, and Samuel Cutler, of Millwall,
both in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
CONDENSERS.
"
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 27th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Morris and Samuel
Cutler at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April
1877.
FRANK MORRIS, of Brentford, and SAMUEL CUTLER, of Millwall, both in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS CONDENSERS."
"
.
"
used
This Invention has reference to apparatus commonly called "condensers
for cooling gases or vapours, is especially applicable to gas used for illuminating
purposes, and has for its object the provision of means whereby the cooling can be
regulated to any desired temperature.
The apparatus consists of a series of pipes arranged in tiers of such numbers,
calibre, and length as the quantity of gas or other vapours to be cooled render neces-
sary. Each tier of pipes is connected at the ends to those above and below it
respectively by U shaped bends, breeches pipes, or other suitable connections, thus
forming a worm or coil of piping continuous from bottom to top, each tier being
laid with an inclination so that the liquids resulting may flow towards the bottom.
The pipes may be supported by placing blocks, saddles, or crutches between them
by columns on each side of them, or by columns on one side and a wall on the
other, with girders extending from column to column or from column to wall, as the
case may be, the pipes resting thereon.
The arrangement of the pipes is not necessarily as described above, since they may
be placed vertically or in a continuous cylindrical, square, or other shaped coil or
worm.
Within the pipes above mentioned, one or more smaller pipes are made to
traverse, the calibre depending on the quantity of gas the condenser is designed for.
If there is only one interior pipe it is placed preferably as nearly as possible in the
centre; if more than one pipe, at such distances from the centre that the sectional
Panics Cl

page_text: area surrounding each pipe shall be as nearly as possible equal. The inner pipes,
the same at the outer ones, are continuous from end to end of the coil, and are kept
in position by stays or hooks projecting from the inner sides of the outer pipes at
intervals.
The lower end of the inner pipe or pipes is connected to some source of water
supply, that is to say, water from a pump, overhead tank, water company's mains,
or any source that will afford sufficient pressure to force the water through the
inner pipe to the top thereof. Where the supply of water is attendant with but
little trouble or expense the water contained in the inner pipe or pipes after passing
through and out of the top is brought down again, and allowed to run to waste;
but whero water is valuable a tank is provided and fixed above the top of the
upper pipes, and supported either therefrom or from the columns; or a tank may
be fixed at any other convenient part of the premises, the inner pipe or pipes being
led into it so that their contents may be discharged therein, thus providing a supply
of water at such pressure as would be due to the elevation of the tank, and
available for the general purposes of a gasworks. The water so discharged into
the tank would be raised in teinperature consequent upon the heat absorbed from
the gas or other vapours passing through the outer pipes.
Where it is desirable that the water should be cooled again, the tank is so arranged
that by a number of vertical division plates, each being perforated at or descending
to within a short distance from the bottom, the water may be taken from the
opposite end to which it was admitted, and consequently much cooler than when it
entered.
A cock or valve is attached to the lower end of the inner pipe or pipes for
regulating the quantity of water that shall flow through them, thus controlling the
speed and extent to which the gas is cooled.
Where a very low temperature is required the water may be first refrigerated, or
some other liquid producing a low temperature may be employed.
A multiple way-cock is also provided at the inlet end of the inner pipe or pipes,
or the cock already referred to may be so constructed that by partially turning it
in one direction the water may be shut off entirely, and the pipe or pipes opened to
the atmosphere, the discharge pipe being carried above the orifice which serves for
an inlet to the tank. The cock and connections can also be so arranged that if
the supply of water temporarily fails the water in the tank will run through the
inner pipe or pipes.
The open ends of the U bends or breeches pipes are covered by removable plates
or lids, and in order to remove the same conveniently, sliding bars, cantilevers, or
cranes are attached to the upper part of the apparatus, so that the lids may be
raised or suspended therefrom with facility, the said bars, cranes, or cantilevers
being so arranged as to slide or swing back into recesses for their concealment.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water or other cooling liquid is
pumped or passed through the inner pipe or pipes contained in the outer ones, and
ultimately falls into the tank or run to waste, as the case may be. The hot uncon-
densed gas enters at or near the top of the large pipe, and through the whole
winding course of its passage to the bottom or outlet it is subjected to the cooling
influence of the water contained in the small pipes. As the water flows through the
small pipe it will become warmer as it rises to the upper part where the gas is the
hottest, and the hot gas will become cooler as it descends to the outlet at the
bottom, where the water is the coldest. If found more convenient the gas and
water may be caused to flow in the opposite directions to those before indicated, a
that is to say, the gas may enter at or near the bottom of the outer pipes and the
water at or near the top of the small or inner pipe or pipes.
It will be observed, however, that in either case the gas and water are always
flowing in opposite directions. One of the advantages afforded by the use of this
apparatus is that the gas is not cooled too suddenly, but may be reduced very 5
gradually, and regulated with precision.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Morris and Samuel Cutler in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th October 1877.
FRANK MORRIS, of Brentford, and SAMUEL CUTLER, of Millwall, both in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS CONDENSERS."
This Invention has reference to apparatus commonly called "condensers" uséd
for cooling gases or vapours, is especially applicable to gas used for illuminating
purposes, and has for its object the provisions of means whereby the cooling can be
regulated to any desired temperature.
The apparatus consists of a series of pipes arranged in tiers of such numbers,
calibre, and length as tho quantity of gas or other vapours to be cooled render
necessary. Each tier of pipes is connected at the ends to those above and below it'
respectively by U shaped bends, breeches pipes, or other suitable connections, thus
forming a worm or coil of piping continuous from bottom to top, each tier being
laid with an inclination so that the liquids resulting may flow towards the bottom.
The pipes may be supported by placing blocks, saddles, or crutches between them
by columns on each side of them, or by columns on one side and a wall on the
other, with girders extending from column to column or from column to wall, as the
case may be, the pipes resting thereon.
The arrangement of the pipes is not necessarily as described above, since they
may be placed vertically or in a continuous, cylindrical, square, or other shaped coil
or worm.
Within the pipes above mentioned, one or more smaller pipes are made to
traverse, the calibre depending on the quantity of gas the condenser is designed for.
If there is only one interior pipe it is placed preferably as nearly as possible in the
centre, if more than one pipe, at such distances from the centre that the sectional
area surrounding each pipe shall be as nearly as possible equal. The inner pipes,
the same as the outer ones, are continuous from end to end of the coil, and are kept
in position by stays or hooks projecting from the inner sides of the outer pipes at
intervals.
The lower end of the inner or outer pipe or pipes is connected to some source of
water supply, that is to say, water from a pump, overhead tank, water company's
mains, or any source that will afford sufficient pressure to force the water through
the inner or outer pipe to the top thereof. Where the supply of water is
attended with but little trouble or expense. the water contained in the inner or
outer pipe or pipes after passing through and out of the top is brought down again
and allowed to run to waste; but where water is valuable a tank is provided
and fixed above the top of the upper pipes, and supported either therefrom or from
the columns; or a tank may be fixed at any other convenient part of the premises,
the inner or outer pipe or pipes being led into it so that their contents may be dis-
charged therein, thus providing a supply of water at such a pressure as would be
due to the elevation of the tank, and available for the general purposes of a gas-
works. The water so discharged into the tank would be raised in temperature con-
sequent upon the heat absorbed from the gas or other vapours passing through the
outer pipes.
Where it is desirable that the water should be cooled again the tank is so
arranged that by a number of vertical division plates, each being perforated at or
descending to within a short distance from the bottom, the water may be taken
from the opposite end to which it was admitted, and consequently much cooler than
when it entered.
A cock or valve is attached to the lower end of the inner pipe or pipes for
regulating the quantity of water that shall flow through them, thus controlling the
speed and extent to which the gas is cooled.
Where a very low teperature is required the water may be first refrigerated, or
some other liquid producing a low temperature may be employed.

page_text: A multiple way-cock is also provided at the inlet end of the inner pipe or pipes,
or the cock already referred to may be so constructed that by partially turning it
in one direction the water may be shut off entirely, and the pipe or pipes opened to
the atmosphere, the discharge pipe being carried above the orifice which serves for
an inlet to the tank. The cock and connections can also be so arranged that if the
supply of water temporarily fails the water in the tank will run through the inner
pipe or pipes.
The open ends of the U bends or breeches pipes are covered by removable plates
or lids, and in order to remove the same conveniently, sliding bars, cantilevers, or
cranes are attached to the upper part of the apparatus, so that the lids may be
raised or suspended therefrom with facility, the said bars, cranes, or cantilevers
being so arranged as to slide or swing back into recesses for their concealment.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the condenser; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the 1
same.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged cross sectional views of the pipes showing
the arrangement of the inner pipe or pipes Q, Q, and a means whereby the same
may be supported and retained in position.
Fig. 9 shows an arrangement wherein, in addition to the small pipes through
which the water circulates, there is a provision made for the circulation of water
exterior to the mass of gas to be cooled.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 exhibit a modification of the latter arrangement without
the interior pipes, and Fig. 13 is merely a modification of the form of the exterior
pipe.
In Fig. 1, A, A, are the exterior pipes supported upon saddles or crutches B, B,
the whole being surmounted by a water tank C having division plates D, D shown
in dotted lines; E is the gas inlet and F the gas outlet, while G is the water inlet
and H the ordinary water outlet; I is a pipe furnished with a valve at J for con-
veying the water that has been used into the tank. This pipe has also attached to
it another short pipe S, which serves as an air outlet, and is provided at the top
with a conical cup for defending the opening; K is a multiple way-valve, and L is
a cock for the regulation of the supply of water; M, M, are man-hole lids, and N
is a bar sliding upon wheels fixed under the tank, so that when it is desired to
remove the man-hole lids the bar may be drawn out, and the lids suspended from
it by blocks and falls attached to them, and an eye O at the end of the bar, the bar
when out of use being thrust back under the tank.
In Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, P, P, represent the straps and supports by which the
water pipes are maintained in position. The method of supporting them, however,
being a matter of detail is not confined to the arrangement shown, as that may be
varied in many well-known ways.
In all the Figures similar letters refer to the same parts.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water or other cooling liquid is
pumped or passed through the valves K and L into the water tubes Q, Q, contained
in the outer ones A, A, and ultimately falls into the tank C, or is allowed to run to
waste from the outlet H. The hot uncondensed gas enters at E, and flows through
the whole winding course of the pipes A, A, to the bottom or outlet F, in the course
of which it is subjected to the cooling influence of the liquid contained in the
tubes Q. As the liquid flows through the tubes Q it will become warmer as it
rises to the upper part where the gas is the hottest, and the hot gas will become.
cooler as it descends to the outlet F at the bottom where the liquid is the coldest.
If found more convenient the gas and water may be caused to flow in the opposite
directions before indicated, that is to say, the gas may enter at or near the
bottom of the outer pipes A, and the water at or near the top of the small inner
pipe or pipes.
If from any cause the water supply should be stopped air may be allowed to
supply its place, being admitted by the air inlet R attached to the multiple way-

page_text: valve K, the said air being permitted to escape by the pipe S.
valve J must of course be opened the same as if the water was
into the tank; and in the case of air being used the valves L
shut.
In this case the
caused to escape
and T must be
It will be observed, however, that in any case the gas and water or air are
always flowing in opposite directions. One of the advantages afforded by the use
of this apparatus is that the gas is not cooled too suddenly, but may be reduced
gradually and regulated with precision.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the
precise details or arrangements which we have described or referred to, as variations
may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of
this Invention; but what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the construction of condensors wherein a stream or streams of water or
air is caused to flow through pipes arranged as herein described, and shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frank Morris and Samuel Cutler, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.