Improvements in Steam Condensers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect, 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 21st Apr., 1891
'United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 6th Oct., 1881
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Condensers.
I, WILLIAM HORACE Ross, of 768, Walnut Street, City and County of
Camden, State of New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to the class of condensers employed in connection with
steam boilers and the like for condensing the exhaust-steam therefrom, and has
for its object the rapid, noiseless, effective and complete condensation of such
exhaust-steam in an open space, cheapness in construction, simplicity in operation,
and connected means for saving the oil that passes through the condenser apparatus
and heretofore lost.
Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention :-
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal view of a condenser embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line a, a, Figure 1,
looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing the sprinkling
shelf, spray pipes, hot feed and exhaust steam supply pipes; and
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line y y, Figure 1, looking in
the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the steam check plate and oil
trap.
In the drawings, the several parts are indicated by numerals, and 1 represents
the condenser casing, which is preferably cylindrical in form and having end
heads 1*, 1**. One or more spray pipes 2, having a connected source of water-
supply, enter the casing 1 at the top. Within the casing, adjacent to the spray
pipes, is located what I term a "sprinkling shelf" 3. This shelf is rigidly fixed
within the casing in a suitable manner, and consists of a plate having a central
depression or trough 4, as to its longitudinal axis, and a series of perforations 5
each side of the trough for purposes presently explained. A dash or steam-check
plate 6 forms part of, or is mounted on or attached to, the sprinkling shelf 3 at
one end, for a purpose that will presently appear. This plate in outline is prefer-
ably a three-quarter disc, and of such size that its periphery meets the casing at
top and sides, while its lower end extends below the water line of the condenser.
Exhaust steam supply pipe or pipes 7 and hot-feed pipe 8 lead into the condenser
chamber through the head 1*, and the chamber at its opposite end or head 1×× is
provided with an outlet-pipe 9.
Having now described the particular parts of my device, its operation is as
follows:-
The valve of the spray pipes 2 being opened, a supply of water is fed into the
condenser-chamber, falling first on to the trough 4 of the sprinkling-shelf 3, and,
overflowing, it escapes to the bottom of the chamber through the series of
perforations 5 on each side of the trough 4, and continues until the water, finds
031

page_text: its common level or water line, at which time the lower end of the dash or steam-
check plate 6 is below the flush level of the water and the exhaust-steam supply
pipes 7 are at or slightly above said water line, a clear space existing between the
water surface and the bottom of the sprinkling shelf, and, as will be understood
by those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, exhaust-steam is
caused to enter the condenser immediately above the surface of the water and is
sprayed or sprinkled and condensed by the cold water escaping in its downward
passage through the perforated portion of the sprinkling-shelf. The steam, in its
travel over the surface of the water in the condenser, encounters the dash-plate 6,
which acts as a diaphragm or check, prevents its escape and confines it within the
open space of the condenser existing between the surface of the water and the
sprinkling shelf until it is completely condensed in the manner described, and, as
will be further understood, sufficient vacuum is formed to prevent back-pressure.
The hot feed pipe 8 connects with the condenser a proper distance above the mud-
line, and the outlet pipe 9, at the opposite end of the condenser, preferably
extends nearly to the bottom thereof and below the mud-line. The condenser may
be easily cleaned in the well known manner of turning the hot-feed into the
chamber and forcing the sediment through the outlet pipe.
▲ condenser constructed in accordance with my invention is noiseless in its
operation, effects complete condensation of steam in an open space, and has no
back pressure.
:
I desire it understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact construction
of parts as shown in my drawings, but may vary the same in any manner to better
carry out the principle of my invention without departing from the true scope
thereof.
As is also well known in connection with condensers, considerable oil passes
through its outlet-pipe and is lost. To prevent this waste, I have devised an oil-
trap, which consists of a basin or tray 10, having a perforated bottom, and
preferably a handle 11 for lifting and carrying the same. This trap I conveniently
focate within the condenser near its outlet-pipe, and so support it, preferably
removable, relatively to the contained body of water, as to be partially submerged,
so that, when the oil reaches the trap, it will pass through its perforations and be
retained against further escape by its side walls 10*, all in a manner conveniently
accomplished, as will be fully understood by a reference made to the accom-
panying drawings, suitable means being provided-for instance, an opening in the
cylinder-whereby the trap and its contents may be removed and the oil deposited
in a ready receptacle for future use.
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 what I
claim is :-
1. A steam-condenser consisting of a suitable casing or vessel provided with
exhaust-steam-supply pipe, hot-feed pipe, outlet-pipe, and spray pipes, as described,
in combination with a perforated sprinkling shelf mounted within the same above
the water-line and below the spray pipes, and a steam check plate at one end of
said sprinkling-shelf extending below the water-line and its periphery above the
water-line in contact with the casing, whereby steam is admitted into the space
in the condenser above the water-line formed by the sprinkling shelf and the
lower part of the steam check plate and condensed by being sprayed or sprinkled
with cold water escaping downwardly through said perforated sprinkling shelf,
substantially as described.
2. In a steam-condenser, a sprinkling shelf mounted within the condenser above
its water-line to form a steam-space below it and consisting of a plate provided
with a trough or depression as to its longitudinal axis, and a series of perforations
each side of said trough in combination with a source of water-supply entering
the condenser above said sprinkling shelf, as described, and for the purposes set
forth,

page_text: 5
3. In a steam-condenser, an oil-trap consisting of a basin or tray having a
perforated bottom and means for supporting said trap in a partially submerged
position within the condenser, whereby oil reaching said trap will pass through the
perforations in its bottom and be retained therein by the side walls thereof, as set
forth.
4. In a steam-condenser, an oil-trap consisting of a basin or tray having a
perforated bottom, means for removably supporting said trap in a partially sub-
merged position within the condenser, whereby oil reaching said trap will pass
through the perforations in its bottom and be retained therein by the side walls
thereof, and a handle or the like to said trap for lifting the same, as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.