A METHOD OF APPLYING THE CONDENSING OR COMPOUND SYSTEM TO LOCOMOTIVES, MILL, AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Augustus Thompson, of No. 12, London Street, in
the City of London, Engineer, for an Invention of "A METHOD OF APPLYING
THE CONDENSING OR COMPOUND SYSTEM TO LOCOMOTIVES, MILL, AND OTHER
STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Augustus Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1880.
JOHN AUGUSTUS THOMPSON, of No. 12, London Street, in the City of London,
Engineer. "A METHOD OF APPLYING THE CONDENSING OR COMPOUND SYSTEM
TO LOCOMOTIVES, MILL, AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
The object of this Invention is to apply the condensing or compound system to
locomotives, mill, and other steam engines.
It is well known to engineers how the steam after having performed its duties
in the cylinder is exhausted into a condenser, where it meets a spray of cold water
which condensos the steam.
This water in robbing the steam of its heat is itself raised in temperature, and
were this water used many times over (as it of necessity must be when the supply
is limited, as would be the case in locomotives if so fitted, and as the case is in
many mills and factories), it eventually would become little or no use owing to its
high temperature. To rectify this difficulty I fit a small tank for holding a certain
amount of condensing liquid, in which or in connection with which is a refrigerator,
the cold for this refrigerator being brought about by an air compressor and
expander, driven as may be arranged from the steam engine or any part of the
structure thereof. The water or medium used being brought into contact after use
in the condenser with the refrigerator is reduced to the requisite temperature, and
ready again to be used for condensation purposes; this operation being continually
going on whilst the engine is running.
The cooling is effected by the well known law of cold produced by expansion or
rarification of the common atmosphere after compression, which compressed air has
been made cool before expansion, and the machinery required to produce it can be
...

page_text: so made that little or no power is required to drive it, and therefore will not
detract from the useful efficiency of the main engine.
The details for working this machinery will vary with the facilities and room
offered by the arrangements of existing engines.
If two locomotives having the same sizes of cylinders, being in same working
order, and indicating the same horse power, be taken, the one exhausting as usual
into the atmosphere, and the other being fitted per my method and condensing its
steam, the latter will produce the same mechanical effect or indicate the same horse
power with 20 per cent. less steam, and consequently a great saving of fuel will be
effected.
With engines already in existence, this new method for condensing can be
applied to them. If applied to engines on the compound system, a further saving
of fuel will be attained.
ADVANTAGES CLAIMED BY THIS INVENTION.
1. Immense saving of fuel by employing my compound or condensing system to
locomotives and other steam engines.
2. Feed water always hot, therefore further saving of fuel. Weight of feed water
to be carried being much lessened, as sufficient only is required to make up loss by
leakage.
3. Smaller heating and grate surfaces for equal power developed, therefore smaller
and lighter boilers would suffice for same indicated horse power.
If found desirable the condensing in surface condensers may be effected by cold
air from compresser and expander being sent through the tubes of condenser in
place of cold water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Augustus Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th April 1881.
JOHN AUGUSTUS THOMPSON, of No. 12, London Street, in the City of London,
Engineer. "A METHOD OF APPLYING THE CONDENSING OR COMPOUND SYSTEM
TO LOCOMOTIVES, MILL, AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
The object of this Invention is to apply to locomotives, mill, and other steam
engines, the compound or condensing system, and to attain this end I fit to such
engines,―
(1.) The necessary steam condenser or condensers in number and position as
required or allowed by arrangements of the steam engine to which it is to be
fitted. These condensers are of the jet or surface type. The usual pumps, etc.,
as customarily fitted to all condensing or compound engines to be fitted.
(2.) Small tank or tanks for containing condensing medium, preferably water.
(3.) A cold air machine with necessary pipes and surfaces, over or about which
on one side flows the hot condenser-discharge, and over or about the other side
of which passes the cold air froin the cold air machine, which machine is driven
by main engine or any part of the structure thereof according to facilities offered
by arrangements.
After the steam is used in the engine cylinders it is exhausted into the jet or
surface condenser, where it is brought into contact with a jet of cold water or
metallic surfaces cooled by water known as injection or circulating water. This
water is raised in temperature by the influence of the steam, and pumped away out
of the condenser; it is then passed over surfaces in connection with the cold air
machine, and so cooled down to the required temperature, thence into a small tank
or tanks for its reception, from which it is led away again for condensing purposes.
If desired the cold air might go direct from the cold air machine through the
condenser tubes in place of the circulating water.
ADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY THIS INVENTION.
(1.) Immense saving of fuel by employing my compound or condensing system
to locomotives or other steam engines.
JOHN AUGUSTUS THOMPSON. (L.S.)