Heating, Cooling, or Condensing Fluids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Heating, Cooling, or Condensing Fluids.
I, ANDREW RATHBONE, of 43, Arpley Street, Warrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object to effect a better transmission of the heat of gases,
vapours, or liquids employed for heating, or cooling other fluids to the fluids which
are to be used, or are being operated upon, the two fluids being disposed on, or in
contact with the opposite surfaces of tubes. That is the heat is transmitted from one
fluid to the other by what is termed surface contact.
It is intended that the Invention shall be applicable to all kinds of heating and
cooling apparatus, or machines in which tubes are employed, or in other words of a
tubular, or tubulous nature such as steam generators, heaters, coolers, refrigerators,
condensers, distillers and, the like.
According to my Invention I employ in the tubes of apparatus, or machines of the
types above specified a spiral plate, bar, or flattened tube, so arranged that the fluid in
passing through the tube is caused to take a spiral course, that is it travels round and
round spirally over the inner surface of the tube. In the case of a heating apparatus,
or machine, the operating fluid, that is the fluid which has to give up its heat to the
fluid surrounding the tubes, is passed through the inside of the tube, the fluid to be
heated being on the opposite side of the tube; whilst in the case of a cooling, or con-
densing apparatus the fluid to be cooled, or condensed would pass through the inside
of the tube.
4
By this means the time any fluid occupies in passing through a given length of
tube would be greater than that taken to pass through a tube not so provided.
The essential feature of my Invention will be clearly seen by the following
examples of its application:-Under ordinary conditions the tubes of a steam generator
are plain open tubes, now I provide the interior of these tubes with a spiral bar, or
plate, or flattened tube, for either the full length, or a part of it. The effect of this is

page_text: to cause the hot gases in passing through the tubes to travel round in a spiral
manner and to come into absolute contact with the surface of the tubes and take a
greater time in their travel through the tubes. The spiral bars, plates, or tubes, may
if it is deemed inexpedient to allow the extremely hot gases to come in contact with
them, be employed in a portion only of the full length of the tubes and that portion
being the one furthest removed from the hottest gases.
When flattened tubes are employed inside the tubes of a steam generator, heater,
cooler, condenser, or like apparatus, I may lead some of the fluid to be heated, or the
heating, or cooling fluid, as the case may be, through such flattened tube.
When my Invention is applied for heating water, such as feed water for a steam
generator, or for cooling, or condensing fluids, the apparatus is constructed of the
tubular type. The tubes in this case are either plain, or corrugated and the spiral
bar, plate, or tube is inserted up their interiors.
The spirally formed bar may be plain, or fluted longitudinally before being spirally
twisted. The spiral may also be formed by twisting two tubes about one another
in the form of a strand.
The spiral division bars, or tubes may, if so desired be secured to the surface of
the tubes in which they are placed and used and so arranged that the acting fluid
flows through one side, or half whilst the fluid to be acted upon flows through the
other side, or half of the tube.
I have above described the means by which I cause fluids in passing through tubes
of heating, or cooling apparatus, or machines to take in so doing a longer time than
-would be otherwise occupied, and I wish to have it understood that my Invention
is not confined to any particular construction of apparatus, as it is applicable to all
types of apparatus of the nature, or kinds in which plain, or corrugated tubes are
employed, and in which the fluid passed through the interior of the tubes acts upon a
fluid surrounding such tube, or is acted upon by such fluid in the manner herein above
set forth.
Dated this 26th day of March 188x

page_text: Heating, Cooling, or Condensing Fluids.
I, ANDREW RATHBONE, of 43 Arpley Street, Warrington in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
saino is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention has for its object to effect a better transmission of the heat of gases,
vapours, or liquids employed for heating, or cooling other fluids, to the fluids which
are to be used, or are being operated upon, the two fluids being disposed on, or in
contact with the opposite surfaces of tubes. That is the heat is transmitted from one
fluid to the other by what is termed surface contact.
It is intended that the Invention shall be applicable to all kinds of heating and
cooling apparatus, or machines in which tubes are employed, or in other words of a
tubular, or tubulous nature such as steam generators, heaters, coolers, refrigerators,
condensers, distillers and the like.
According to my Invention I employ in the tubes of apparatus, or machines of the
types above specified a spiral plate, bar, or flattened tube, so arranged that the fluid
in passing through the tube is caused to take a spiral course, that is, it travels
round and round spirally over the inner surface of the tube. In the case of a
heating apparatus, or machine, the operating fluid, that is, the fluid which has to give
up its heat to the fluid surrounding the tubes, is passed through the inside of the tube,
the fluid to be heated being on the opposite side of the tube; whilst in the case
of a cooling, or condensing apparatus, the fluid to be cooled or condensed would
pass through the inside of the tube.
By this means the time any fluid occupies in passing through a given length of
tube would be greater than that taken to pass through a tube not. so provided.
The essential feature of my Invention will be clearly seen by the following
examples of its application: under ordinary conditions the tubes of a steam generator
are plain open tubes, now I provide the interior of these tubes with a spiral bar, or
plate, or flattened tube spirally twisted, for either the full length, or a part of it. The
effect of this is to cause the hot gases in passing through the tubes to travel round in
a spiral manner and to come into absolute contact with the surface of the tubes and
take a greater time in their travel through the tubes. The spiral bars, plates, or tubes,
may if it is deemed inexpedient to allow the extremely hot gas to come in contact
with them, be employed in a portion only of the full length of the tubes and that
portion being the one furthest removed from the hottest gases.
When flattened tubes are employed inside the tubes of a steam generator, heater,
cooler, condenser, or like apparatus, I may lead some of the fluid to be heated, or the
heating, or cooling fluid, as the case may be, through such flattened tube.
When my Invention is applied for heating water, such as feed water for a steam

page_text: generator, or for cooling or condensing fluids, the apparatus is constructed of the
tubular type. The tubes in this case are either plain, or corrugated and the spiral
bar, plate, or tube is inserted up their interiors.
The spirally formed bar may be plain or fluted longitudinally before being spirally
twisted. The spiral may also be formed by twisting two tubes about one another in
the form of a strand.
The spiral division bars, or tubes may, if so desired, be secured to the surface of
the tubes in which they are placed and used, and so arranged that the acting fluid
flows through one side, or half, whilst the fluid to be acted upon flows through the
other side, or half of the tube.
I have above described the means by which I cause fluids in passing through tubes
of heating, or cooling apparatus, or machines, to take in so doing a longer time than
would be otherwise occupied, and I wish to have it understood that my Invention is
not confined to any particular construction of apparatus, as it is applicable to all types
of apparatus of the nature, or kinds in which plain, or corrugated tubes are employed,
and in which the fluid passed through the interior of the tubes acts upon a fluid
surrounding such tube, or is acted upon by such fluid in the manner herein above
set forth.
The annexed drawings which form a part of this specification serve to illustrate the
present Invention. The various Figures of the drawings show the Invention in
several forms, which are hereafter particularly described, and like or equivalent parts
are marked with the same reference letters and figures throughout.
As before stated, according to my Invention 1 employ in the tubes of apparatus
or machines of the types specified a device so arranged as to form a spiral course
through such tubes. This device may take the form as shown in end section in
Figure 1 and in longitudinal sectional elevation in Figure 2. In this case the device a
is a simple strip of ordinary iron, twisted to the required pitch and placed in the tube b
as shown. Where a fine pitch is required I prefer to form the strip a of metal having
a section such as shown in Figure 3, or in Figure 4. This will prevent the strip
buckling.
The strip a may also be corrugated longitudinally as shown in Figure 5. Where
more than two courses are desired the strip a may be made as shown in Figures 6 or 7.
The strip may be made all in one length or made up of short lengths threaded on a
bar a as shown in Figure 8, or fixed between two bars a¹ as shown in Figure 9.
Figures 10 and 11 show the spirally twisted device in the form of a plain flattened
tube a, and Figure 12 shows it in the form of a corrugated tube. In these cases the
ends of the tube a must be connected to the tube by branches a' as shown in
Figure 13 to allow the liquid under treatinent to pass or circulate through the
device a.
Figure 14 shows the device formed of two tubes a each having a diameter equal to
one half of the tube b, and twisted together in the form of a strand.
Figure 15 shows the device made up of two tubes a and a centre piece a³ which
may be solid or hollow and formed with a double threaded twist or pitch round which
the tubes are wound. In either of the examples shown at Figures 14 and 15 the
tubes a can be made in one piece, bent round and the two ends then twisted together,
thus providing for the flow and return of the liquid through the tube a.
39
Figure 16 shows a tube of the "Field or "Morris" type, set in a flue c of a steam
generator. In this case I arrange the spiral strip a round the outer circumference of
the inner tube, and if desired the upper end of the internal tube can be bent round
and extended down to the lower part of the water space of the steam generator (as
shown in the drawing) in the form of a syphon, so as to improve the circulation of
the water in the steam generator.
When the improvements according to my Invention are applied to apparatus or
machines in which the tubes are placed horizontally, the strip or device a is fixed at
the entrance to such tube in such a manner that the edge of such strip or device lies
vertically in the tube so as to equalize the passage of the liquid or fluid through the
tube.

page_text: I would state that although I do not intend to limit my Patent to the exact forms
or constructions herein set forth, the spiral device being capable of various modifica-
tions, yet I would define such device to be of that nature which is formed by twisting
a bar or bars, tube or tubes, as described and so constructed that it forms a spiral
longitudinal web or webs through the tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is
First. The use inside the tubes, of the kind specified, of apparatus or machines for
heating, cooling, or condensing fluids, of a spirally. twisted bar or bars, or tube or
tubes, as described, for the purpose specified.
Second. In apparatus or machines for heating, cooling, or condensing fluids in
which horizontal tubes are employed and provided with spiral devices as described,
arranging the device with its leading edge vertically in the tube, for the purposes set
forth.
Third. In apparatus or machines for heating, cooling or condensing fluids in which
tubes of the "Field" or "Morris" types are employed, the use in such tubes of a
spirally formed bar or tube inserted between the outer and inner tubes as described.
Fourth. The tube b and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figures 1. 2. 3. and 4 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Fifth. The tube and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Sixth. The tube b and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Seventh. The tube b and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figure 7 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Eighth. The tube b and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figure 8 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Ninth. The tube 6 and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figure 9 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Tenth. The tube b and spirally twisted device a, arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figures 10. 11. 12 and 13 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Eleventh. The tube b and spirally twisted device arranged and constructed as set
forth with reference to Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 26th day of January 1989.
ANDREW RATHBONE.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.