IN OBTAINING FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATERLAI AND MEMORANDUM OF AL
Year: 1856

page_text: or Middlesex, An
IN OBTAINING FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER," and duly assigned
to "Normandy's Patent Marine Acrated Fresh Water Company,.
Limited."
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION entered pursuant
to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late
Majesty King William the Fourth, intituled "An Act to amend the Law
touching Letters Patent for Inventions, and "The Patent Law Amend-
ment Act, 1852."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, NORMANDY'S.
PATENT MARINE AERATED FRESH WATER COMPANY, LIMITED, sends greeting.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent, under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing
date at Westminster the Twenty-sixth day of May, One thousand eight-
hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did grant unto-
the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy, his executors, administrators,
and assigns, the sole privilege of making, using, exercising, and vending his.
Invention of "Improvements in Obtaining Fresh Water from Salt Water,"
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and the Isle of Man, during the term of fourteen years thence next
ensuing And whereas in pursuance of a condition in the said Letters Patent

page_text: contained, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy did within six
calendar months next after the date of tho said Letters Patent cause a
Specification, being an instrument in writing under his band and seal, parti-
cularly describing and ascertaining the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, to be duly filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office: And whereas the said Letters Patent were duly assigned
to and are now vested in "Normandy's Patent Marine Aerated Fresh Water
Company, Limited," berein-after called the "Company": And whereas since
the filing of the said Specification the said Company has been advised that
the said Specification has been supposed to claim the sweetening by the
use of animal charcoal of distilled water other than aerated distilled water:
And whereas the said Company is desirous of removing any ambiguity in
respect of the Invention intended to be claimed, and for that reason to enter a
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration:
NOW KNOW YE, that by and with the leave of Her Majesty's Solicitor
General, and for the reasons aforesaid, the said Company hereby disclaims so
much of the said Specification and the claims therein contained as consists of
the words following, that is to say:-
In page 10 line 16 of the printed copy of the said Specification, after the
word "air," the said Company disclaims the words following," It is evident,
however, that both waters may be collected separately, and one of them
only passed through the filter if required."
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And the said Company alters the said Specification by striking out therefrom
the following words, "but the principal novelties in my system of distillation
are "in line 2, page 11, down to and inclusive of the words "distilled water,"
line 14, page 11, of the printed copy of the said Specification.
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And in order that it may not be supposed that any claim is made to the
separate mechanical parts described in the said Specification, the said Company
further alters the same by introducing at the end thereof the following words,
viz., "I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of the
"mechanical parts separately, the novelty of my Invention consisting in com-
bining apparatus as herein described, in such manner as to obtain aerated
distilled water filtered through animal charcoal, and in order that the effect
of the Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration may be better understood,
the said Company annex a copy of the Specification as it will appear when 3
such Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration have been made as afore-
said.
"
"My apparatus consists essentially of four parts, 1st, the evaporator ;
2ndly, the condenser; 3rdly, the priming box: 4thly. a refrigerator, which

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four principal parts are securely bolted and fastened together, as will be
seen by inspecting the Drawings herewith; they are connected with four
other accessory parts, namely, 5thly, differential or equilibrium valve for
regulating the pressure of steam, a description of which will be found in a
former Patent, and which therefore need not be repeated here; 6th, a
water regulator; 7th, a steam trap, and Sthly, a filter."
6
In the Drawings which accompany the present Specification the same
pieces are always represented by the same letters, and the Figures are one-
sixth of their real size except Figure V.
"Figure 1. is a section of an elevation of the apparatus according to the
"line e, ; Figuro II. is a plan of the apparatus; Figure 1II. is a plan
"of a section of the apparatus according to the line A, A; Figure IV. is a
plan of a section of the refrigerator according to the line, ; Figure V.
is a section of the water regulator (clevation half the real size; Figure VI.
"is a vertical section of an elevation of the filter; Figure VII. is a vertical
section of the steam trap; Figure VIII., plan of a section of the steam
trap; Figure IX. is a section of another form and system of water
regulator. The evaporator,. Figure I., is a cylinder covered up with
"felt or other non-conducting substance, into which vertical tubes A, A,
A, A, A, (which may be replaced by a worm) are placed, and which are
"plunged into a certain quantity of sea water to be evaporated. Steam
proceeding from a boiler, and at a pressure more or less elevated, is admitted
into those tubes through the steam pipe B, B, B, passing through the
equilibrium valve C, which valve, however, may be used or not as occasion
may require, as the apparatus works well without it, though not in so
regular a manner when the rate of pressure of the steam is fluctuating.
"The steam admitted into the tubes A causes the water which surrounds
"them to boil, and being thus evaporated partly escapes in the state of
"steam through the tube D, and thence into the priming box E, E, E, E, E,
"which is a cylinder of smaller dimensions, provided at the bottom with
a bent tube E, provided with a cock E". This priming box serves to
arrest any salt water which might be projected or mechanically carried
along with the steam, and thus prevent it (the salt water) from passing
"into the tubes G of the condenser. In effect the tube D being directed
"downwards, any water which may have primed naturally falls to the bottom
"of the priming box, whence it may be removed by opening the cock E",
or whence it may flow out through the bent tube E', when it has reached
"that level, the bent part of the tube being a few inches higher than the
bottom of the priming box, and the pure steam continuing its course passes
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page_text: through the exit tube F, which is placed at the top of the priming box,
and thence into the condensers G in the state of fresh water.
When there
is reason to fear that the boiler will prime, I also put a priming box
"between the said boiler and the evaporator, but instead of a bent tube E',
I connect the bottom of the priming box with a steam trap, like that
which is marked S in the Drawing, Figure VII."
The condenser consists also of a series of tubes G, G, G, G, (which may
likewise be replaced by a worm), which are immersed in the sea water
"contained in another cylinder.
"The steam from the evaporator of course heats the water which surrounds
"these tubes, but as the cold sea water comes into the apparatus through the
366
bottom, whilst on, the contrary the steam from the evaporator. comes in at
the top of the condenser, the consequence is that the sea water which
"surrounds the condensing tubes G is hotter at the top than at the bottom
"of the cylinder, that is to say, the sea water which is cold at the bottom
"of the cylinder become gradually hotter towards the top, and at the top]
its temperature is generally as high as about 200° Fahrenheit, and as
"the air naturally contained in water begins to separate therefrom at a
temperature of about 130° or 140° Fahr, the consequence is that the
greatest portion of the air-contained in the sea water which circulates
through the apparatus is separated, and is as it were poured into the steam
"room II of the evaporator through the tube I, I, I, which unites the
evaporating and the condensing cylinders. This tube should be bigher
than the level of the sea or of the sea water contained in the tanks which
are to feed the apparatus. The steam of the evaporator, and the air
separated from the sea water used for condensing it, are therefore mixed
"together in the space or steam chamber H, so that the steam which passes
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:
from the evaporator H through tho tube D into the priming box E, and
"thence through the tube F into the tubes G, G, G, G, of the condenser is
(not pure steam, but a mixture of steam and air, and hence the condensation
"of that steam is not ordinary non-aerated distilled fresh water, but is
"distilled water containing a large quantity of air in solution."
"When sea water is subjected to distillation the steam resulting therefrom
is free from salt, the latter remaining behind with the as yet unevaporated
portion of the salt water, the saltness of which is augmented pro tanto.
"If the distilling were continued a time must eventually come when the
"proportion of salt thus accumulated would become larger than the water
can dissolve, and form a deposit or incrustation which would soon obstruct
everything and destroy the apparatus; this accident might be guarded

page_text: 66
against by providing the apparatus with a brine cock, and opening it from
"time to time for the purpose of discharging the brine, and replacing it by
"a fresh quantity of ordinary sea water just as is done on board seafaring
"steamers; with marine boilers I prefer, however, putting a tube J at the
"bottom of the evaporator, which tube is provided with a cock K, which I
"leave constantly open, in such a way that a quantity of brine, equal to
"about one-third of the aerated fresh water produced is constantly flowing
"out. In order to keep the sea water in the evaporator at a uniform level,
"and in order also to feed the apparatus with fresh sea water to replace
"that which is let out through the brine cock K, and that which is
evaporated, the apparatus is provided with a little cistern M, carrying a
float O, connected by a lever with a water regulator N of a peculiar
"construction, and which will be described presently; this cistern is in
"communication with the evaporating cylinder by means of the pipe L, L'.
"When by reason of the evaporation and of the discharge of the brine the
level of the sea water in the evaporating cylinder sinks below its due
point, the float O, by sinking and in due time rising up again, opens or
"shuts the valve of the water regulator N, and admits or shuts off the influx
"of fresh quantities of sea water by means of the tube P, which opens into
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the cistern M, in communication with the bottom of the evaporating
cylinder by means of the tube L, L', as we just said.. The cock P', with
"which this tube P is provided, is for the purpose of regulating the supply
of the sea water by hand in case any accident should interfere with the
proper working of the valve of the water regulator N. In this way or
by any other contrivance of an analogous nature the level of the salt
"water remains, practically speaking, at a uniform and constant level in
"the cylinder, so that the space or steam room II remains about the same.
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This little cistern M may be provided with an open tube a few inches
"above the floating point of the ball O, in order to guard against any
"chance of filling the evaporating cylinder more than it should, for it is
"evident that if from any obstruction the closing of the valve of the water
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regulator were to be prevented, the person in charge of the apparatus
"would immediately receive notice of the fact by the water which would
pour from that tube; O' is a perforated wooden dise, the object of which
is to moderate the ebullition and frothing of the water in the space II.
"In order that no uncondensed steam should escape from the condensed
"water pipe R, I put the latter in communication with a steam trap S, S,
S, S, Figure VII., containing a float T, provided with a plug U, pressing
and closing a tube of vulcanized iudia-rubber contained in a cylinder U',
"

page_text: "so that as soon as the condensed water has accumulated into the steam
"
"
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trap in sufficient quantity to float up the float T, the tube of vulcanized
"indian-rubber being released and open, the condensed water runs out
through the tube V, which is coiled in the refrigerator X, X, X, X, whence
"it issues in a cold or cool state in y, and thence into the filter ; y' and
y are two cocks for the purpose of allowing the escape of the rusty water,
"which at first flows out of the apparatus when it has been left without
working, and preventing it from soiling the filter. For this purpose the
"cock y' is shut and y" open, and it is through the latter that the rusty
"water flows out when it comes clear; y" is to be closed and y¹ open,
whereupon the clear water is admitted into the filter. V, V, are also
cocks, the object of which is for the purpose of obtaining the condensed
"water in a hot state when required, for which purpose V₁ should be shut
"to prevent it from going into the refrigerator, and on opening V', the hot
" condensed water may of course be collected. On the other hand, tho
"acrated water condensed in the tubes G, G, G, G, of the condenser finds
an exit through the tubo Z, which is also coiled several times in the
refrigerator X, X, X, X, in which it is cooled, and may be finally mixed
"with the non-aerated condensed water by means of a common tube in
"order to produce an average acration of the water. The cocks and "
"answer the same purpose as y', y"; X, X, X, X, is a refrigerator or box
containing the tubes V and Z, separated by a diaphragm a, and in which
refrigerator the sea water enters through the large tubes b, b, provided
"with cocks which do not appear in the Figure, which cocks communicate
"with the sea or with the sea or salt water tanks, the level of which should
be higher than the whole apparatus, but less so than the air tube I. c, c,
"represent the end of a large vulcanized caoutchouc tube slipped over the
large tubes on one side, and the large cocks not represented in the
Figures, and thus making a tight connection between them. These muffs
" or large tubes of caoutchouc are covered over with a coil of copper wire
"in order to protect them against injury; d is a tube which may be called
the breathing tube, and which opens on one end into the lower hood of
"the tubes G, G, G, G, of the condenser, which tube serves for the exit
" of the excess of the air poured in the space II, and it removes at the same
"time an undue pressure from the apparatus, which is thus put in free
"communication with the atmosphere; c is a water guage; f. f', are stuffing
"boxes; is a spring balance for the purpose of regulating the pressure
" of the steam in the evaporator."
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"Figure V. is a vertical section of the water regulator; i is a valve; j is

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a diaphragm of vulcanized indian-rubber, to which the shank of the valve
is attached; is a lever attached to the float O in the little cistern M, and
which by opening or shutting the valve i, of course regulates the flow of
water into the apparatus. The pipe 7 of the water regulator is made so as
to plunge a few inches into the water of the condenser.
Figure VI. is a section of the filter divided by a partition m into two
parts, it is filled with animal charcoal as represented. The working of the
apparatus is as follows:-First, open the large cocks of the large tubes b,
, and when the float O by rising to its proper height shows that the
apparatus is charged, shut the cocks " and y", and open the cocks y', ',
"open also the cock of the steam pipe B in order to admit steam into the
apparatus. The steam thus admitted into the tubes of the evaporator
A, A, A, A, becomes condensed and the condensed water passes through
"the tube R into the steam trap S, and thence through the tubo V into
"the refrigerator X, and through the tube y it flows out from the cock
"At first it has a rusty colour, but after a few minutes it flows out quite
"clear; when this is observed, the cock y' should be shut and y" open, when
it will run into the filter h. On the other hand the sea water which
"surrounds the pipes A of the evaporator eventually is partly converted
into steam, which passes through the tube D into the priming box E, and
thence through the tube F into the tubes G of the condenser, and thence
" into the pipes Z. coiled in the refrigerator X, whence it flows out through
"the cock ¹. At first the water which runs out is rusty, but it also after
a few moments becomes clear, when the cock should be shut, and on
"
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opening the cock" it will run into the filter ' in the state of cold acrated
fresh water, and in which it mixes with the non-aerated water of pipe y",
"so that the fresh water which runs out of the filter is a water generally
containing at least a mean quantity of air. As soon as the pipe or tube Z
begins to produce water the brine cock K of tube J should be opened in
"such a manner or to such a degree that a quantity of sea water may run
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out proportionate to the quantity of aerated fresh water produced; that is
"to say, if for example one gallon of fresh water be flowing from the tube Z
in a given time one-third of a gallon of brine should be allowed to run out
through the cock K during that same given time. Things being thus
arranged and adjusted, the working of the apparatus proceeds of itself
"with only occasional attendance. Instead of the water regulator repre-
sented in Figure V., the supply of water to the evaporating cylinder inay
"also be regulated by means of the apparatus represented in Figure IX., in
which p, p, is a cistern in communication with the evaporating cylinder

page_text: "by means of the pipes 9 and r. This cistern contains a float s provided
"with a plug t, pressing and closing a tube of vulcanized caoutchouc
"contained in the tube u, so that as soon as by reason of the evaporation
"and of the flowing of the brine the floats sinks below a certain level,
"the tube of vulcanized indian-rubber, not being any longer closed by the
pressure of the plug t, allows a certain quantity of water to flow through
"the pipes and into the cistern, but as soon as enough water has thus
"been admitted the float s rising again shuts off the supply, because the
plug presses then against the tube of vulcanized caoutchouc within the
t
"tube 2.
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"Of course the plan which I have now described and represented in the
Drawings for obtaining fresh water from salt water may be modified in
"various ways, and I would have it understood that I make no claim to
any of the mechanical parts separately, the novelty of my Invention
consisting in combining apparatus as herein described in such manner as
"to obtain aerated distilled water filtered through animal charcoal."
"
"
In witness whereof, the said Company have caused their Common Seal to
be affixed bereto, the Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the before-mentioned Normandy's
Patent Marine Aerated Fresh Water Company, Limited, assignees of the
said Letters Patent, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specifi-
cation to which the same relates, the before-written Amended Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy, of 67, Judd
Street, Brunswick Square, in the County of Middlesex, Analytical and
Consulting Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
Sealed the 5th August 1856, and dated the 26th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse René le Miro
de Normandy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th May 1856.
I, ALPHONSE RENÉ LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, of 67, Judd Street, Brunswick
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Analytical and Consulting Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER, to be as follows:-
My apparatus for obtaining fresh water from salt water consists essentially
of four parts, an evaporator, a priming box, a condenser, and a refrigerator,
all of which parts I think it is best to join, bolt, and fasten together, so as to
form one compact apparatus; but of course each of these parts may be kept
separate if need be, and only connected in suitable places.
The evaporator consists of a space which is pervaded by steam pipes, which
pipes, however, may be replaced by a worm, and which are immersed in a

page_text: certain quantity of the sea water to be evaporated. Steam at a pressure is
then admitted as it issues from a boiler or steam generator into those pipes,
which are consequently surrounded by the salt water or sea water to be
operated upon, and which thus becomes heated by them. Pressure steam
being of course hotter than ordinary boiling water, serves to convert a portion
of the sea water contained in the evaporator into ordinary or no-pressure
steam, which as it reaches the condenser is resolved into fresh water. The
condenser communicating with the air outside by an open pipe, the steam in it
is not therefore under pressure.
The condenser, like the evaporator, consists of a space also pervaded by
steam pipes, which pipes may also be replaced by a worm, and are altogether
immersed in sea or salt water. Now, the steam issueing from the evaporator,
and which is condensed in the pipes or worm placed into it, imparts of course
its heat to the sea water by which those pipes are surrounded, and as the sea
water is admitted cold at the bottom of the condenser, whilst the steam of the
evaporator is admitted at the top of the conlenser, the water therein becomes
gradually botter as it ascends, and when it finally reaches the top its tempe-
rature is about 200° Fahrenheit. As water begins to part with the air which
it holds in solution at about 130° Fahr., the greater portion of the air con-
tained in the water which flows continually through the condenser is thus
separated, and led through a special pipe into the empty space left for steam
room within the evaporator, where it mixes with the steam; so that the steam
which passes from the evaporator to the condenser, forasmuch as it is not
pure steam, but is a mixture of steam and air, becomes condensed, not into
ordinary distilled unaërated water, but, on the contrary, into fresh water con-
taining a large quantity of air. The introduction of a special pipe for the air
I consider to be a great improvement, because I found, by experiment, that
until I had done so, the air disengaged from the mass of water in the
condenser was so great that it prevented the feed pipe from delivering the
necessary amount of sea water, and, pressing the sea water in the condenser
downwards, emptied that vessel to a greater or less extent, and interfered with
the accurate working of the machine.
When sea water is evaporated, all the steam produced therefrom is of
course fresh water, and all the salt previously contained in the evaporated
portion is left in that portion which has not yet evaporated, and which is
therefore more impregnated with salt than before. The salt, if this left to
accumulate, would eventually become so abundant as to form a deposit, which
would destroy the apparatus. This inconvenience may be got rid of by

page_text: opening the brine cock from time to time, or by leaving it constantly open
and allowing a suitable quantity of new sea water to come into the apparatus
to make up for this discharge of the brine. One of my recent improve-
ments, however, consists in connecting the bottom of the condenser with a
small cistern, provided with a floating ball, placed at the level at which it is
necessary that the sea water should be constantly kept in the evaporator,
which floating ball is connected by means of a lever with a cock or valve, by
which the sea water is aduitted or shut off, according as the level of the sea
water in the evaporator diminishes by the joint action of the evaporation and
of the discharge of the brine, or is restored to its proper level by the admission
of a quantity of sea water which flowed into the evaporator while the floating
ball was depressed. I further place a little below, or just at the floating point
of the ball, an open pipe, through which the brine or a portion thereof may bo
discharged, which pipe being larger than the feed pipe prevents the undue filling
of the apparatus, should the action of the feed valve or cock become impeded
from some obstruction lodging between, whereby it might be kept open, an
accident, which unless thus guarded against, might cause the whole space of
the evaporator and the pipes of the condenser to become filled with sea water,
or at least induce "priming," by reducing the space necessary for steam room,
and which in either case would evidently spoil the result of the work already
done. It is, in my opinion, of absolute importance in all circumstances, and
from whatever cause, to guard against "priming," and I have accordingly
made a further improvement, which consists, in the addition to my apparatus,
of what I call a "priming box." It simply consists of an empty box, or long
vertical cylinder, into which the pipe which is intended to convey the steam
from the evaporator into the condenser is first led; the orifice of this pipe
points downwards, and protrudes a short distance into the cylinder, so that any
salt water which may have been carried along with the steam or through the
steam pipe falls of course to the bottom of the priming box, wherefrom it
escapes through a steam trap, whereas the pure steam finds an exit through a
pipe placed at the top of the priming box, and thence into the condenser.
intend to place a second priming box between the boiler and the evaporator
whenever there will be any reason to apprehend priming from the boiler or
steam generator. I found also that it is desirable to regulate the flow of
steam, or the pressure of steam which is admitted from the boiler, into my
apparatus, and to maintain it as much as practicable at the same rate, and I
find that my differential valve, described in my Patent, bearing date the 26th
of May 1853, answers this purpose well.
Г

page_text: In order to prevent the steam which is condensed within the tubes of the
evaporator from escaping and being wasted, as would otherwise be the case,
to a greater or less extent, I place a steam trap between the exit pipe of
the evaporator and the refrigerator. The refrigerator is a tight box per-
vaded with pipes, for the purpose of cooling both the condensed steam of
the boiler as it leaves the tubes of the evaporator, and the condensed steam
of the evaporator as it leaves the pipes of the condenser, which last water
is aërated; both waters, namely, the non-aërated condensed steam and the
acrated water from the condenser, as they issue from the pipes in the
refrigerator are quite cold, and by mixing them together I find that I
obtain a quality of fresh water containing an average amount of air about
cqual to that of the natural waters which commonly flow at the surface of the
earth. It is known that about six gallons or more of cold water must be used
for every gallon of condensed steam; this amount of condensing water which
must be discharged presents no inconvenience for land purposes, because this
excess may simply be allowed to flow off; but on board ship, especially when
the apparatus has to be placed below the water line, a considerable amount of
labour is required for pumping it off or otherwise getting rid of it. I propose,
on the contrary, to dispose of it by establishing a communication between my
apparatus and the sea itself, by making two holes of sufficient size into the
sides of the ship, and at different levels; one of these holes should communi-
cate with the bottom of the refrigerator, and the other with the condenser,
about two-thirds of the way up. The difference of temperature between tho
sea water outside and the sea water in the condenser will then produce a
continuous circulation of the sea water, whereby the steam in the condenser is
effectually condensed.
And, lastly, I connect the exit pipes of the refrigerator with a filter charged
with animal charcoal, which description of charcoal I have discovered has the
property of completely removing the unpleasant odour and taste of distilled
water, provided that water contains air, or is mixed with air; and I find that
animal charcoal is much to be preferred to vegetable charcoal for the purpose,
the latter, contrary to what would have been expected, having scarcely any
effect upon the disagreable taste and odour of distilled water; and I find
that such animal charcoal will remain good for a considerable time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALPHONSE
RENÉ LE MIRE DE NORMANDY, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy. Her special license that I, the said
Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alphonse Rene le Mire de Normandy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING FRESH
WATER FROM SALT WATER, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy,
do hereby declare the nature of said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My apparatus consists essentially of four parts: 1st, the evaporator; 2ndly,
the condenser; 3rdly, the priming box; 4thly, a refrigerator; which four
principal parts are securely bolted and fastened together, as will be seen by
inspecting the Drawings herewith; they are connected with four other accessory
parts namely, 5thly, differential or equilibrium valve for regulating the pres-
sure of steam; a description of which will be found in a former Patent, and
which, therefore, need not be repeated here; 6th, a water regulator; 7th, a
steam trap; and 8thly, a filter.
In the Drawings which accompany the present Specification the same picces

page_text: are always represented by the same letters, and the Figures are one-sixth of
their real size, except Figure V.
Figure I. is a section of an elevation of the apparatus according to the
line, Figure II. is a plan of the apparatus; Figure III. is a plau
of a section of the apparatus according to the line A, A; Figure 1V. is a
plan of a section of the refrigerator according to the line , ; Figure V.
is a section of the water regulator (elevation half the real size); Figure VI.
is a vertical section of an elevation of the filter; Figure VII. is a vertical
section of the steam trap; Figure VIII., plan of a section of the steam
trap; Figure IX. is a section of another form and system of water regu-
lator. The evaporator, Figure I., is a cylinder, covered up with felt or
other non-conducting substance, into which vertical tubes A, A, A, A, A, (which
may be replaced by a worm) are placed, and which are plunged into a certain
quantity of the sea water to be evaporated. Steam proceeding from a boiler,
and at a pressure more or less elevated, is admitted into those tubes through
the steam pipe B, B, B, passing through the equilibriuni valve C, which valve,
however, inay be used or not, as occasion may require, as the apparatus works
well without it, though not in so regular a manner when the rate of pressure
of the steam is fluctuating. The steam admitted into the tubes A causes the
water which surrounds them to boil, and being thus evaporated, partly escapes
in the state of steam through the tube D, and thence into the priming box
E, E, E, E, E, which is a cylinder of smaller dimensions, provided at the bottom
with a bent tube E', provided with a cock E". This priming box serves to
arrest any salt water which might be projected or mechanically carried along
with the steam and thus prevent it (the salt water) from passing into the
tubes G of the condenser. In effect, the tube D being directed downwards,
any water which may have primed naturally falls to the bottom of the priming
box, whence it may be removed by opening the cock E", or whence it may flow
out through the bent tube E' when it has reached that level; the bent part of
the tube being a few inches higher than the bottom of the priming box, and
the pure steam continuing its course, passes through the exit tube F, which is
placed at the top of the priming box, and thence into the condensers G in the
state of fresh water. When there is reason to fear that the boiler will prime
I also put a priming box between the said boiler and the evaporator, but
instead of a bent tube E', I connect the bottom of the priming box with a
steam trap, like that which is marked S in the Drawing, Figure VII.
The condenser consists also of a series of tubes G, G, G, G, (which may
likewise be replaced by a worm,) which are immersed in the sea water con-

page_text: tained in another cylinder. The steam from the evaporator of course heats
the water which surrounds these tubes; but as the cold sea water comes into
the apparatus through the bottom, whilst, on the contrary, the steam from the
evaporator comes in at the top of the condenser, the consequence is, that the
sea water which surrounds the condensing tubes G is hotter at the top than
at the bottom of the cylinder, that is to say, the sea water which is cold at the
bottom of the cylinder becomes gradually hotter towards the top, and at the top
its temperature is generally as high as about 200° Fahrenheit; and as the air
naturally contained in water begins to separate therefrom at a temperature of
about 130° or 140° Fahr., the consequence is that the greatest portion of the
air contained in the sea water which circulates through the apparatus is
separated, and is as it were poured into the steam room UI of the evaporator
through the tube I, I, I, which unites the evaporating and the condensing
cylinders. This tube should be higher than the level of the sea, or of the
sea water contained in the tanks which are to feed the apparatus. The steam
of the evaporator, and the air separated from the sea water used for condensing
it, are therefore mixed together in the space or steam chamber II, so that the
steam which passes from the evaporator II through the tube D into the
priming box E, and thence through the tube F into the tubes G, G, G, G, of
the condenser, is not pure steam, but a mixture of steam and air, and hence
the condensation of that steam is not ordinary non-aërated distilled fresh
water, but is distilled water containing a large quantity of air in solution.
lf
When sea water is subjected to distillation, the steam resulting therefrom
is free from salt, the latter remaining behind with the as yet unevaporated
portion of the salt water, the saltness of which is augmented pro tanto.
the distilling were continued, a time must eventually come when the proportion
of salt thus accumulated would become larger than the water can dissolve,
and form a deposit or incrustation, which would soon obstruct every thing and
destroy the apparatus; this accident might be guarded against by providing
the apparatus with a brine cock, and opening it from time to time for the
purpose of discharging the brine and replacing it by a fresh quantity of.
ordinary sea water, just as is done on board seafaring steamers with marine
boilers; I prefer, however, putting a tube J at the bottom of the evaporator,
which tube is provided with a cock K, which I leave constantly open in such
a way, that a quantity of brine, equal to about one-third of the aërated fresh
water produced, is constantly flowing out. In order to keep the sea water in
the evaporator at a uniform level, and in order also to feed the apparatus with
fresh sea water to replace that which is let out through the brine cock K and

page_text: that which is evaporated, the apparatus is provided with a little cistern M
carrying a float O, connected by a lever with a water regulator N, of a peculiar
construction, and which will be described presently; this cistern is in com-
munication with the evaporating cylinder by means of the pipe L, L'. When
by reason of the evaporation and of the discharge of the brine the level of
the sea water in the evaporating cylinder sinks below its due point, the float O,
by sinking, and in due time rising up again, opens or shuts the valve of the
water regulator N, and admits or shuts off the influx of fresh quantities of sea
water by means of the tube P, which opens into the cistern M, in commu-
nication with the bottom of the evaporating cylinder, by means of the tube
L, L', as we just said. The cock P', with which this tube P is provided, is for
the purpose of regulating the supply of the sea water by hand, in case any
accident should interfere with the proper working of the valve of the water
regulator N. In this way, or by any other contrivance of an analogous nature,
the level of the salt water remains, practically speaking, at a uniform and
constant level in the cylinder, so that the space or steam room H remains
about the same. This little cistern M may be provided with an open tube a few
inches above the floating point of the ball O, in order to guard against any
chance of filling the evaporating cylinder more than it should; for it is evident,
that if from any obstruction the closing of the valve of the water regulator
were to be prevented, the person in charge of the apparatus would immediately
receive notice of the fact by the water which would pour from that tube.
O' is a perforated wooden disc, the object of which is to moderate the ebullition
and frothing of the water in the space II.
In order that no uncondensed steam should escape from the condensed
water pipe R, I put the latter in communication with a steam trap S, S, S, S,
Figure VII., containing a float T, provided with a plug U, pressing and closing
a tube of vulcanized indian-rubber contained in a cylinder U', so that as soon
as the condensed water has accumulated into the steam trap in suflicient
quantity to float up the float T, the tube of vulcanized indian-rubber being
released and open, the condensed water runs out through the tube V, which
is coiled in the refrigerator X, X, X, X, whence it issues in a cold or cool
state in y, and thence into the filter h. y' and y" are two cocks, for the
purpose of allowing the escape of the rusty water, which at first flows out of
the apparatus when it has been left without working, and preventing it from
soiling the filter. For this purpose the cock y' is shut and y" open, and it
is through the latter that the rusty water flows out; when it comes clear, y" is
to be closed and y' open, whereupon the clear water is admitted into the filter.

page_text: V, V", are also cocks, the object of which is for the purpose of obtaining the
condensed water in a hot state when required; for which purpose V" should
be shut to prevent it from going into the refrigerator, and on opening V'. the
hot condensed water may of course be collected. On the other hand, the
acrated water condensed in the tubes G, G, G, G, of the condenser finds an
exit through the tube Z, which is also coiled several times in the refrigerator
X, X, X, X, in which it is cooled, and may be finally mixed with the non-
aërated condensed water by means of a common tube, in order to produce an
average aëration of the water. The cocks and "answer the same purpose as
y', y". X. X. X. X, is a refrigerator on box containing the tubes V and Z, sepa-
rated by a diaphram a, and in which refrigerator the sea water enters through
the large tubes 6, 6, provided with cocks, which do not appear in the Figure,
which cocks communicate with the sea, or with the sea or salt water tanks,
the level of which should be higher than the whole apparatus, but less-so than
the air tube I. c, c, represent the end of a large vulcanised caoutchouc
tube, slipped over the large tubes 6 on one side, and the large cocks, not repre-
sented in the Figures, and thus making a tight connection between them:
These muffs or large tubes of caoutchouc are covered over with a coil of
copper wire in order to protect them against injury. d is a tube, which may
be called the breathing tube, and which opens on one end into the lower hood
of the tubes G, G, G, G, of the condenser, which tube serves for the exit of
the excess of the air poured in the space II, and it removes at the same time
an undue pressure from the apparatus, which is thus put in free communi-
cation with the atmosphere. e is a water guage; ff', are stuffing boxes;
g is a spring balance, for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the steam
in the evaporator.
:
Figure V. is a vertical section of the water regulator. i is a valve; j is a
diaphragm of vulcanized indian-rubber, to which the shank of the valve is
attached; kis a lever, attached to the float O in the little cistern M, and
which, by opening or shutting the valve i, of course regulates the flow of
water into the apparatus. The pipe of the water regulator is made so as to
plunge a few inches into the water of the condenser.
Figure VI. is a section of the filter, divided by a partition m into two parts:
it is filled with animal charcoal, as represented. The working of the appa-
ratus is as follows:-First, open the large cocks of the large tubes 6, 6', and
when the float O by rising to its proper height shows that the apparatus is
charged, shut the cocks " and " and open the cocks y' '; open also
the cock of the steam pipe B, in order to admit steam into the apparatus.

page_text: The steam thus admitted into the tubes of the evaporator A, A, A, A, becomes
condensed, and the condensed water passes through the tube R into the steam
trap S, and thence through the tube Vinto the refrigerator X, and through the
tube y it flows out from the cock y'. At first it has a rusty colour, but after
.a few minutes it flows out quite clear; when this is observed the cock y
should be shut and y" open, when it will run into the filter h. On the other
hand, the sea water which surrounds the pipes A of the evaporator eventually
is partly converted into steam, which passes through the tube D into the
priming box E, and thence through the tube F into the tubes G of the con-
denser, and thence into the pipes Z, coiled in the refrigerator X, whence it
flows out through the cock '. At first the water which runs out is rusty, but
it also after a few moments becomes clear, when the cock should be shut,
and on opening the cock " it will run into the filter h' in the state of cold
aërated fresh water, and in which it mixes with the non-aerated water of
pipe y", so that the fresh water which runs out of the filter is a water generally
containing at least a mean quantity of air. It is evident, however, that both
waters may be collected separately, and one of them only passed through the
filter, if required. As soon as the pipe or tube Z begins to produce water,
the brine cock K of tube J should be opened, in such a manner or to such a
degree, that a quantity of sea water may run out proportionate to the quantity
of acrated fresh water produced; that is to say, if, for example, one gallon of
fresh water be flowing from the tube Z in a given time, one-third of a gallon
of brine should be allowed to run out through the cock K during that same
given time. Things being thus arranged and adjusted, the working of the
apparatus proceeds of itself with only occasional attendance.
:
Instead of the water regulator represented in Figure V., the supply of water
to the evaporating cylinder may also bo regulated by means of the apparatus
represented in Figure 1X., in which p, p, is a cistern in communication with
the evaporating cylinder by means of the pipes q and r. This. cistern con-
tains a floats, provided with a plug t, pressing and closing a tube of vulcanised
caoutchouc contained in the tube u, so that as soon as by reason of the
evaporation and of the flowing of the brine the float s sinks below a certain
level, the tube of vulcanized indian-rubber not being any longer closed by the
pressure of the plug t, allows. a certain quantity of water to flow through the
pipes and u into the cistern;. but as soon as enough water has thus been
admitted, the float s rising again, shuts off the supply, because the plug t
presses then against the tube of vulcanized caoutchouc within the tube .:.
Of course the plan which I have now described, and represented in the

page_text: Drawings, for obtaining fresh water from salt water, may be modified in various
ways; but the principal novelties in my system of distillation are,-
First, the process of double distillation, whereby aërated and non-aëratel
fresh water are produced as herein described, and in which they may be mixed
together for the purpose of deodorizing and sweetening the whole product.
Secondly, the two kinds of water regulators herein-before described, or any
water regulator acting in a similar manner, for the purpose of keeping the
water in the evaporating cylinder at a given level.
Thirdly, the steam trap.
Fourthly, the priming box.
Fifthly, and lastly, the animal charcoal filter, no matter how constructed,
filters exclusively made of animal charcoal never having been used before, to
the best of my knowledge, for the purpose of sweetening distilled or aërated
distilled water.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse René le Mire de Normandy,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of Noveniber
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
Louis A. NORMANDY.
A. NORMANDY. (L.S.)