Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889

page_text: The rear tube sheets have projecting studs or bolts 61 which pass through holes in
the back plate of the shell and are secured by nuts 62.
The forward end of the shell has an inner flange from which project the fixed
studs or bolts a over which fit the projecting edges of the forward tube sheets b,
said tube sheets being secured by nuts 3. Upon the adjacent edges of the tube sheets
of each section are fixed the studs or bolts 3, and over these are fitted the horizontal
but-straps F, which overlap the edges of the sections and hold them in place, said
but-straps being secured by nuts f fitted to the bolts 3. To the outer flange of the
front of the shell is bolted the head plate at forming the other water space.
Now it
will be seen that upon removing the head plate, thus exposing the tube sections.
and by removing one or more of the but-straps, and taking off the nuts . any or all
of the tube sections may be separately pulled out from the shell, the nuts at the
rear end having, of course, been previously removed being reached by removing the
rear head of the condenser: In moving out, the lowermost section travels on the
bottom of the condenser shell, while the other sections travel on the top of the side
plates of the section below, and it is obvious that any of the said sections may be
drawn out without interfering with the others, for the upper sections do not depend
for their support upon the sections below, because their rear tube sheets are connected
with the rear plato of the shell, which serves to sustain the rear end of an upper
section while the lower one is pulled out, the forward end being supported by the
inner flange of the face of the shell. Thus the sections are wholly independent of
cach other, and may be pulled out independently. The rollers on which the sections
are mounted enable them to run easily so that they may be pulled out and replaced
without any trouble. When the sections are pushed back in place they are secured
quickly by the application of the but-straps.
The ordinary way of securing the tubes in the tube sheet is to hold them by micans
of a gland nut, which presses upon packing to form a tight joint. With this construc-
tion, in order to remove any single tube, it is necessary to take off the gland nut, and
where a number of tubes have to be separately removed, or all of them to re-tin or
clean them, the gland nut of each tube is first taken out. In order to avoid this
laborious operation, and to provide for a simple and convenient manner of securing the
tubes in the sheets and forming an equally tight joint, I apply to the face of the tube
sheets a supplemental plate G, having holes which receive the projecting ends of the
tubes, said holes being countersunk as shown at Fig. 4 to prevent the tubes from
working forward. Packing g is placed in the tube sheet around the tube, and is held
in placo by the supplemental plate. This plate is bolted to the face of the tube sheet,
and thereby serves to secure all the tubes in the tube sheet. By removing this plat
all the tubes can be taken out, and all are again secured by the single operation of
replacing the plate instead of having to replace each one separately. This plate forms
a tight joint with the face of the tube sheet, as the pressure is inwardly and the
packing is held well in place.
Although I have shown the ordinary round or cylindrical tube, I have invented an
improved tube, which I show in Fig. 2. The ordinary tube I would allow to remai
in those condensers which are already in use, for to this tube the improvements
heretofore described may be as readily applied, but in condensers to be hereafter
manufactured, in addition to the improvements heretofore described. I would maks
the tubes as shown in said figure. The tubes instead of being round or cylindrical
in cross section are made elongated and lio one above the other. The advantage of
this is that a clearer passage is provided for the steam flowing from the top to the
bottom of the condenser. In the ordinary construction of tubes arranged as they
usually are, out of line with each other. or staggered, it is obvious that obstruction is
opposed to the downward passage of the steam, which results in considerable back
pressure, and moreover, a great deal of cooling surface is wasted; but with the
elongated tube which I propose to use, a clear passage is formed from top to bottom
of the condenser, down which the steam may readily pass without obstruction, thereby
avoiding so much back pressure; and by the rapidity of its movement it comes
sooner in contact with fresh cooling surfaces, whereby a smaller amount of surface is

page_text: made to effect the same degree of condensation as the larger cooling surface of the
ordinary form.
The side plates by which the tube sections or groups are framed in, have openings
made in their sides, in order to lighten them up and to afford greater facility in
cleaning the tube and guiding them through the division plates.
The general advantages of these improvements are these. In having the tubes in
removable sections, in substantial framing, constructed as shown, so that they can be
easily and quickly removed and replaced without injury.
Each section can be easily and conveniently handled and can be set upon trestles at
a convenient height on the deck or wharf in the day light so that men can work to
advantage, either in placing or removing the tubes from the frame. A man can be
worked on each end of each section, making six men where there would and could
only be two with the old style, and they working by lamp light below.
The largest ships can have their condensers cleaned during their ordinary lay days,
thereby saving the expense and loss of laying the ships up.
The mode of packing the tubes and holding the packing in position by the
supplemental plate. saves a great deal of expense in construction and time in
placing and removing the tubes as it does away with the glands and the tapping of
the tube sheets.
The elongated tubes allow the exhaust steam to come so much sooner in contact
with the cooling surfaces that it requires less surface, is more easily cleaned, and only
requires about one-third the time to either place them in or remove them from the
frame, and will keep clean very much longer, both inside and out.
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 I
claim is:
1st In a surface condenser independent sections or groups of tubes, each framed.
in by side plates, and arranged adjacent to each other, in such a manner as to provide
a communication between the sections, and to permit each section to be indepen-
dently removed and replaced in the condenser shell without disturbing the other,
substantially as described:
2nd In a surface condenser independent sections or groups of tubes each framed
in by side plates, said sections or groups being arranged the one above the other
and communicating vertically and adapted each to be separately removed from and
replaced in the condenser shell, substantially as described.
Brd-In a surface condenser, the independent. sections or groups of tubes, each
section or group having a tube sheet at each end and side plates framing it in
whereby each section or group may be separately removed from and replaced in
the condenser shell without disturbing the others, substantially as described.
4th-In a surface condenser, the independent sections or groups of tubes, each
provided with a tube sheet at each end, side plates by which each is framed in, and
cross plates bolted to the side plates and supporting the tubes between the tube sheets,
substantially as described.
5th In a surface condenser independent sections or groups of tubes, each section
or group having a tube sheet at each end, side plates framing each in, and cross
plates for supporting the tubes between the tube sheets, and rollers mounted in their
lower portion upon which said sections rest and travel, whereby they may be
separately removed and replaced, substantially as described.
6th In a surface condenser, and in combination with the shell independent sections
or groups of tubes, arranged in vertical series in the shell, cach section or group
baving tube sheet at each end, side plates framing each in and cross supporting
plates for the tubes, and rollers in the lower portion of each section or group whereby
said sections may be moved within the shell and upon each other, and adapted
to be readily drawn out and pushed in, independently, substantially as described.
7th In a surface condenser, the shell A having a back plate with holes, and a
front flange with fixed studs or bolts, in combination with the independent separately

page_text: .
removable sections or groups of tubes, each having a tube sheet at the rear end with
studs or bolts fitting in the holes of the back plate, and a front tube sheet with holes
fitting over the studs or bolts of the front flange, whereby said sections or groups are
supported in the shell, substantially as described.
8th In a surface condenser the shell A having a back plate with holes and a front
flange with fixed studs or bolts, in combination with the independent separately
removable sections or groups of tubes each having a tube sheet at its rear end with
studs or bolts fitting in the holes of the back plate, and a front tube sheet with holes
fitting over the studs or bolts of the front flange, the side plates framing in each
section or group of tubes and the cross plate supporting the tubes between the tube
sheets, substantially as described.
9th In a surface condenser, the independent separately removable tubo sections
or groups in combination with the but-straps secured across their fronts, and over-
lapping their adjacent edges, substantially as described.
10th In a surface condenser, the shell having fixed studs or bolts on its front, in
combination with the independent separately removable tube sections or groups, having
tube sheets with holes fitting over the studs or bolts of the shell, whereby they are
secured, and the but-straps secured across the front of the sections, and overlapping
their adjacent edges, substantially as described.
11th In a surface condenser, and in combination with the shell thereof, the
independent separately removable tube sections or groups arranged in vertical series
and each having tube sheets bolted to the shell, and side plates and cross plates as
described, whereby each may be slipped in or out without interfering with one
another, and the but-straps bolted across the front of the sections or groups and over-
lapping their adjacent edges substantially as described.
12th In a surface condenser, the tubes and the tube sheet, in combination with
the supplementary securing plate applied to and covering the face of the tube sheet,
and receiving the projecting ends of the tubes whereby all the tubes may be fastened
or released simultaneously, substantially as described.
13th In a surface condenser, the tubes and the tube sheet, in combination with
the supplementary plate fitted to and covering the face of the tube sheet, and receiving
and holding in counter sunk holes the projecting ends of the tubes, and the packing
around the tubes within the tube sheet, confined by the supplementary plate, sub-
stantially as described.
14th In a surface condenser, the tubes having an elongated shape in cross section,
substantially as described.
15th--In a surface condenser, the vertical series of parallel tubes, each tube having
an elongated shape in cross section, substantially as described.
16th In a surface condenser, the independent separately removable sections or
groups of tubes, each tube having an elongated shape in cross section, said sectious
or groups being framed in by side plates and having cross plates supporting the
tubes between the ends, the sections resting upon one another in vertical series,
whereby they may be separately slipped in and out, substantially as described.
Dated the Twenty first day of May 1889.
EDWIN WARREN TUCKER.