IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND CONDENSERS FOR MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND other PurPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Mudge Marchant, of Kirby Street, Hatton
Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND CONDENSERS FOR MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND
other PurPOSES."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 21st November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Mudge Marchant at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1876.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND CONDENSERS FOR
MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in an improved method of applying that expression of
heat which is due to the compression of steam or other vapor or gas to the manu-
facture of further steam, vapor, or gas from the saturating water or liquid supplied
to such steam, vapor, or gas, when under compression. Such improved method
of application is based on my discovery of the law that any vapor or gas can be
compressed without any thermometrical expression of the increased temperature
due to its compression if during such compression it be so saturated with a liquid
that all the heat evolved by its compression shall be taken up by the liquid and
expressed in vapor out of such saturating liquid, and that such process can be
effected without destroying the elasticity of the steam or vapor.
According to my method of effecting such result the whole operation is confined.
within pumps, which are constructed for the purpose, and which compress steam
(or other vapor or gas) under water or liquid saturation, and supply for example
the boiler of an engine with saturated steam.
I construct the pump, or the first pump of any series of pumps, of such capacity
of pumping power as shall deliver the proportion of the exhaust steam which is
to be compressed as steam with every revolution of the engine, and I make the
pump rod or rods of this pump of tubes working through glands in the ordinary
manner. I slot these tubes in such manner as to connect them with thin copper
or other compartments, which are perforated or bored to receive the pipes, and in
such manner as to put the interior of the compartment in communication with the

page_text: interior of the tube. I then thread these compartments on the tubes, making the
joints between them and at the ends by means of rubber washers, which close up
the slot to the tube where it is not in connection with the compartment. When
all the compartments are threaded on with alternate washers the whole is screwed
up tight by means of a back nut or other suitable contrivance at each end for the
purpose.
I keep the ends of the tubes forming the pump rods open to the atmosphere, and
by means of these tubes I convey into the copper compartments external air
saturated in its passage by water from the open end of one of these tube. By such
means I can regulate the condensation by giving a greater or less supply of water
to the air, so as to make it either a good or inferior condensing medium; and I
obtain an enormous condensing surface in a small space. I then deliver the steam
charge for compression on the top of the water in the pumps, and the steam that I
require to be condensed into water (for the purpose of saturating such steam charge
when under compression) below the top of the water in the pump; and in this
water the copper compartments full of saturated air, and open by means of the
tubes to the external atmosphere, are given a corresponding motion with the stroke
of the pump; and the water for saturation is manufactured of the required pro-
portion of the exhaust steam in the pump itself, and without necessity for any
external condenser or other pumping arrangements. By such arrangement therefore
the whole of the exhaust steam is delivered into the pump, the proportion to be
compressed as steam is delivered forwards with the stroke of the pump, and the
proportion that has to be condensed for the purpose of saturating the former charge
is condensed in the pump itself, and the law herein-before named by which such
process is effected is applied in a complete and economical manner.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to employ pumps of the character described
in the Specification of my Patent of the 9th February 1874, No. 509. To these
pumps I add chambers for the reception of a saturated air condenser. I provide,
by a valve arrangement similar to that described in the Specification of the above-
named Patent for the compression of the charge of air, steam, or other gas to be
delivered over the water or other required liquid in the pumps for the purpose of
effecting such compression of the charge. And I provide for the maintenance of
such water or other liquid in the pumps by delivering the remainder of the steam
or gas charge below such liquid, so that it shall pass upwards by its gravity
through the liquid in which the condenser works with the fullest attainable con-
venience for coming in contact with the condenser itself, by which process such
proportion of the steam or other gas supply will be condensed, and will by such
process of condensation maintain the quantity of saturating water or other liquid
intact, the whole operation so becoming one of continuous circuit, and the only
addition required being that for the purpose of supplying gland cock or other
leakage.
Although I have described my pumps and condensers as applied to steam or
motive-power engines, they are applicable to other purposes when it is required to
compress and condense steam or other vapour or gas in ether or other gas machines
nsed in the manufacture of ice for example.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Mudge Marchant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th May 1877.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND CONDENSERS FOR 5
MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in an improved method of applying that production or
expression of heat which is due to the compression of steam or other vapor or gas,

page_text: to the manufacture of further steam, vapor, or gas from the saturating water or
liquid supplied to such steam, vapor, or gas when under compression. Such
improved method of application is based on my discovery of the law, that any vapor
or gas can be compressed without any thermometrical production or expression. of
the increased temperature due to its compression, if during such compression it be
so saturated with a liquid that all the heat evolved by its compression shall be
taken up by the liquid and expressed in vapor out of such saturating liquid, and
that such process can be effected without destroying the elasticity of the steam.or
vapor.
According to my method of effecting such result the whole operation is confined
within pumps which are constructed for the purpose, and which compress steam (or
other vapor or gas) under water or liquid saturation, and supply for example the
boiler of an engine with saturated steam.
I construct the pump or the first pump of any series of pumps of such capacity of
pumping power as shall deliver the proportion of the exhaust steam which is to be
compressed as steam with every revolution of the engine and I make the pump rod or
rods of this pump of tubes working through glands in the ordinary manner.
I slot
these tubes in such manner as to connect them with thin copper or other com-
partments which are perforated or bored to receive the pipes, and in such manner
as to put the interior of the compartment in communication with the interior of
the tube. I then thread these compartments on the tubes, making the joints
between them and at the ends by means of rubber washers which close up the slot
to the tube where it is not in connection with the compartment. When all the
compartments are threaded on with alternate washers the whole is screwed up tight
by means of a back nut or other suitable contrivance at each end for the purpose.
Or the compartments may be built up in one structure by means of braising a
centre ring of metal on to a compartment (in the place described as occupied by the
rubber), the second compartment being braised again on to this ring, then a centre
ring braised on to the other side of this second compartment, and so on for the
whole. There would in such case only remain the end joints to be made, and the
compartments could be tested for tightness in one operation.
I keep the ends of the tubes forming the pump rods open to the atmosphere, and
by means of these tubes I convey into the copper compartments external air
saturated in its passage by water from the open end of one of these tubes. By such
means I can regulate the condensation by giving a greater or less supply of water to
the air, so as to make it either a good or inferior condensing medium, and I obtain
an enormous condensing surface in a small space. I then deliver the steam charge
for compression on the top of the water in the pump, and the steam that I require
to be condensed into wator (for the purpose of saturating such steam charge when
under compression) below the top of the water in the pump; and in this water the
copper compartments full of saturated air, and open by means of the tubes to the
external atinosphere, are given a corresponding motion with the stroke of the pump,
and the water for saturation is manufactured of the required proportion of the
exhaust steam in the pump itself and without necessity for any external condenser
or other pumping arrangements. By such arrangement therefore the whole of the
exhaust steam is delivered into the pump, the proportion to be compressed as steam
is delivered forwards with the stroke of the pump, and the proportion that has to
be condensed for the purpose of saturating the former charge is condensed in the
pump itself, and the law herein-before named by which such process is effected
is applied in a complete and economical manner.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to employ pumps of the character described
in the Specification of my Patent of the 9th February 1874, No. 509. To these
pumps I add chambers for the reception of a saturated air condenser. I provide by
a valve arrangement similar to that described in the Specification of the above-
bamed Patent, for the compression of the charge of air, steam, or other gas to be
delivered over the water or other required liquid in the pumps for the purpose of
effecting such compression of the charge, and I provide for the maintenance of such

page_text: water or other liquid in the pumps by delivering the remainder of the steam or gas
charge below such liquid, so that it shall pass upwards by its gravity through the
liquid in which the condenser works with the fullest attainable convenience for
coming in contact with the condenser itself, by which process such proportion of
the steam or other gas supply will be condensed, and will by such process of con-
densation maintain the quantity of saturating water or other liquid intact, the
whole operation so becoming one of continuous circuit, aud the only addition
required being that for the purpose of supplying gland cock or other leakage.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, Figure 2 a front elevation, and Figure 3 a plan
of a pump and condenser constructed and arranged in accordance with my Inven-
tion. E, E, are two chambers, one on each side of a pump piston F, which has a
very short stroke in the barrel G, the requisite capacity being obtained by a great
diameter of the pump chainbers; A, B, are two pipes which act as pump rods, and
on these pipes are a number of condenser compartments H, H, the pipes being
slotted to allow of communication with the interior of such compartments; between
the compartments are rubber washers which close the slots in the parts of the pipes
A, B, which are between the compartments. The lower pipe A is open at both
ends, so that the external air entering at both ends may circulate through the com-
partments, H, H, and pass into the upper pipe B. This pipe is formed at one end
with a bell mouth or funnel I, over which is a cock from which cold water can be
porcolated for the saturation of the air in its passage through the compartments,
and I prefer to slot the portion of the pipe B for the first set of compartments only
at its top, while the portion for the second set as well as both portions of the lower
pipe A are slotted both at top and bottom. The other end of the pipe B works in a
gland (not shown) or other contrivance attached to a fixed pipe, the other end of
which is over the furnace, so that the air may be sucked through and delivered in
its heated state over the fire. If special velocity of circulation be required it can
be increased by percolating a little coal oil into the fixed pipe through which such
heated air. is lead from the condenser. It is evident that such circulation of the air
is determined by the character of the vacuum into which the hot air rushes, so that
when by the application of a minimum of oil there is flame at the outlet of the
pipe in the furnace such vacuum is nearly perfect, and the rush will be under the
pressure of the external air into the vacuum at the end of the pipe whatever such
vacuum may be. Such application of hot air to the furnace is also one by which
smoke will be consumed in the furnace itself without that check to its evaporating
power which arises from the admission of cold air for such purpose.
C is a storage
chamber, which when the pumps are in action is filled with vapor. The steam
introduced by the pipe K is delivered at its already attained compression to the
pump chambers E, E, alternately above the water therein through the valves D, D,
and passages L, L, and the compressed charge saturated with water is delivered
from the said chambers through the passages L and through similar valves into the
storage chamber C. Further, steam which is required to be condensed is admitted
to the chambers E, E, below the water (by preference at the bottom of these
chambers) through suitable valves not shown; the steam thus condensed supplies
the place of the water taken up by the compressed steam.
Figure 4 shews one of the condenser compartments H, H, and one manner of
attaching these to the slotted pipes A, B.
These compartments can be constructed in various ways, the one shewn is by
rivetting and distance pieces, another way would be by indentations which should
meet each other and fulfil the duties of the distance pieces, and when these com- 5
partments become an article of commerce this latter system will be preferable, and
the plates will be stamped so as to be indented where rivets are shewn, and round
the edges, so that they can be braised together in pairs; the indentations answering
the purpose of the distance pieces..
It will be observed that all pressure is external to the condenser compartment, 5
and that the object of the distance pieces or indentations is to maintain any deter-
mined separation of the two sides of any condenser compartment.

page_text: Although I have described my pumps and condensers as applied to steam or
motive-power engines, they are applicable to other gases for the same purpose or to
other purposes where it is required to compress and condense steam or other vapor
or gas in ether or other gas machines used in the manufacture of ice for example, or
the condensers constructed as described can be used to condense steam or other vapor
or gas admitted to a chamber containing the condenser and without compression,
and instead of the condensers being constructed in the manner described the pumps
may contain condensers of any other form which will afford sufficient surface to
carry out the condensation of the steam-or vapor for the purpose explained.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. Constructing pumps with condensers within them, substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described, the said pumps receiving and transmitting the
steam, vapor, or gas in the manner explained, and the said condensers receiving cold
air with or without water saturation and circulating it, as explained.
Second. Constructing condensers, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Mudge Marchant, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven
R. M. MARCHANT. (L.S.)