IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND COOLING, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HOCKING of 16 Spellow Lane, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer do, hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND COOLING, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER to be as
follows:
My Invention relates to that class of apparatus for condensing and cooling which
is used in the production of fresh water by distillation and especially for obtaining
fresh water by the condensation of steam generated from salt water and has for its
object the construction of an apparatus for condensing in which the water (obtained
by condensation of the steam) is cooled in passing through the apparatus; also the
obtainment of a large cooling surface and a simple arrangement and construction
of parts, allowing the apparatus to be readily taken to pieces and the construction
providing for expansion and contraction of parts.
An apparatus constructed according to my Invention for condensing and cooling,
and as suitable for use on board ship for obtaining fresh water from salt water by
distillation, consists of a system, being a nest or cluster of annular tubes, constructed
and arranged as hereinafter more particularly described, such nest, or cluster of
annular tubes being contained between two sheet metal diaphragms which are
corrugated to allow for expansion or contraction of the tubes and their attendant
parts. The tubes are contained within a cast iron or other circulating water vessel,
the diaphragms forming the top and bottom of the circulating water vessel. The
vessel is surmounted by a steam inlet chest and is placed over a filter, or fresh water
box, which forms a pedestal. The circulating water vessel is provided with a
branch at the bottom for the inlet of condensing water and a branch at the top for
the outlet of such water. The steam chest is provided with a branch for the inlet
of the steam to be condensed and the filter, or fresh water box is provided with a
branch for the outlet of the fresh, or distilled water. The apparatus is also provided
with the usual fittings, namely safety valve and aërating pipe.
The annular tubes, a number of which form the nest, or cluster before spoken of,
are according to my Invention constructed as follows. Each annular tube consists

page_text: of two metal tubes of different diameters, placed one within the other. The tubes
by preference are of tinned sheet copper. The annular space between the tubes is
provided with rings which are perforated with holes which impede the too rapid
progress of the steam and condensed water in its passage through the tubes as
hereafter spoken of. The edges of the tubes at the top and bottom are brought
together and closed, which may be done by swaging the end of the outer tube
inwards, or the end of the inner tube outwards, and then bending the edges round
a metal ring, then sweating, or brazing the edges. The top and bottom of the
tubes are provided with inlet and outlet pipes preferably of T shape. The inlet
pipes are joined to the tubes at their cross, or T ends by inserting the cross end
into the inner tube and turning the metal of the tube into the branch, or branches
of the pipe.
The stem of the inlet pipe projects up through the diaphragm into
and opens out into the steam chest at the top of the vessel and is secured to the
diaphragm by screwed nuts, or by stuffing boxes. The bottom, or outlet pipes are
of the same construction and similarity fitted as the inlet pipes and they pass
through the lower diaphragm into the filter or fresh water box.
Instead of closing the top and bottom of the annular tubes as above described
the edges can be brought together and rivetted or the outer, or inner edges of the
tubes can be lapped over and soldered, or brazed.
The circulating water vessel is fitted with the annular tubes, the inlet and outlet
pipes of which open out through the respective diaphragms into the steam chest
and filter, or fresh water box respectively, the annular space of the tubes being
the steam space.
The steam is condensed by surface contact with the inner and
outer surfaces of the tubes, which contain and are surrounded by the condensing
water in the water vessel the steam in the annular tubes is condensed and the
condensed steam is impeded by the perforated rings so that it is cooled in its
passage through the tubes and arrives in the filter, or fresh water box in a
comparatively cool state.
A condenser constructed as herein before described, affords, amongst other, the
following advantages: Simplicity of construction, great strength, and accessability
of parts, and also interchangeability of parts.

page_text: I HENRY HOCKING of 16 Spellow Lane, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND COOLING, PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH WATER FROM SALT WATER 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 that class of apparatus for condensing and cooling which
is used in the production of fresh water by distillation and especially for obtaining
fresh water by the condensation of steam generated from salt water, and has for
its object the construction of an apparatus for condensing in which the water
obtained by condensation of the steam is cooled in passing through the apparatus;
also the obtainment of a large cooling surface and a simple arrangement and con-
struction of parts, allowing the apparatus to be readily taken to pieces and the
construction providing for expansion and contraction of parts.
An apparatus constructed according to my Invention for condensing and cooling
and as suitable for use on board ship for obtaining fresh water from salt water by
distillation, consists of a system, being a nest, or cluster of annular tubes, con-
structed and arranged as hereinafter more particularly described, such nest, or
cluster of annular tubes being contained between two sheet metal diaphragms,
which are corrugated to allow for expansion, or contraction of the tubes and their
attendant parts. The tubes are contained within a cast iron, or other circulating
water vessel the diaphragms forming the top and bottom of the circulating water
vessel. The vessel is surmounted by a steam inlet chest and is placed over a filter,
or fresh water box which forms a pedestal. The circulating water vessel is provided
with a branch at the bottom for the inlet of condensing water and a branch at the
top for the outlet of such water. The steam chest is provided with a branch for
the inlet of the steam to be condensed and the filter, or fresh water box is provided
with a branch for the outlet of the fresh, or distilled water. The apparatus is also
provided with an aerating pipe.
The annular tubes, two or more of which form the nest, or cluster before spoken
of, are according to my Invention constructed as follows. Each annular tube
consists of two metal tubes of different diameters, placed one within the other.
The tubes by preference are of tinned sheet copper. The aunular space between
the tubes is provided with rings which are perforated with holes and which
impede the two rapid progress of the steam and condensed water in its passage
through the tubes as hereafter, spoken of. The ends of the tubes at the top and
bottom are brought together and closed, which may be done by swaging the end of
the outer tube inwards, or the end of the inner tube outwards. The top and
bottom of the tubes are provided with inlet and outlet pipes preferably of T shape.
The inlet pipes are joined to the tubes at the cross or T ends by inserting the cross

page_text: J
"6"
forms of baffle rings according to my Invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show sections of connecting pipe and annular tube end joints
according to my Invention.
Figures 9 and 10 show a modified form of connecting pipe and method of
attachment to the annular tubes.
'
In the Drawings is illustrated a condenser constructed with my improvements
applied thereto. and as pble for use on board ship for obtaining fresh water from
salt water by distillations he apparatus consists of a system, being a nest, or
cluster of annular tubes A constructed and arranged as hereinafter more parti-
cularly described, such nest, or cluster of annular tubes being contained between
two sheet metal diaphragms b which are corrugated at c to allow for expansion or
contraction of the tubes and their attendant parts. The tubes are contained
within a cast iron, or other circulating water vessel B the diaphragms b forming
the top and bottom of the circulating water vessel. The vessel is surmounted by
a steam inlet chest C and is placed over a filter, or fresh water box D, which forms
a pedestal. The circulating water vessel is provided with a branch E at the
bottom for the inlet of condensing water and a branch F at the top for the outlet
of such water. The steam chest is provided with a branch passage G for the inlet
of the steam to be condensed and the filter, or fresh water box is provided with a
branch H for the outlet of the fresh, or distilled water. The apparatus is also
provided with an aërating pipe I.
The annular tubes A two, or more of which form the nest, or cluster before
spoken of, are according to my Invention constructed as follows. Each annular
tube A consists of two metal tubes a and a¹ of different diameters, placed one
within the other. The tubes by preference are of tinned sheet copper. The
annular space between the tubes is provided with rings d which are perforated
with holes, or openings e and which impede the too rapid progress of the steam
and condensed water in its passage through the tubes as hereafter spoken of. The
ends h of the tubes A at the top and bottom are brought together and closed,
which is done by swaging the end of the outer tube a inwards, or the end of the
inner tube a¹ outwards and folding one over the other as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
The top and bottom of the tubes are provided with inlet and outlet pipes f pre-
ferably of T shape. The inlet pipes are joined to the tubes at their cross, or
Tends by inserting the cross end into the inner tube and turning the metal of the
tube into the branch, or branches of the pipe f. The stem of the inlet pipe projects
up through the diaphragm b into and opens out into the steam chest C at the top
of the vessel and is secured to the diaphragm by screwed nuts. The bottom, or

page_text: outlet pipes fare of the same construction and similarly fitted as the inlet pipes
and they pass through the lower diaphragm b into the filter, or fresh, water box D.:
In Figure 4 is shown a baffle ring d provided with a number of small circular
holes e through which the steam, or water formed by the condensed steam passes.
In Figure 5 the ring d is provided with slotted openings e and in Figure 6 each
baffle ring d is provided with an opening e which opening is positioned in each
succeeding ring on the opposite side of the tube as shown. By this means the
steam, or water formed by the condensed steam is made to travel in a more
circuitous course and hence it is longer under the influence of the cooling surfaces
of the tubes A.
In Figure 9 is shown a tube A provided with a pipe ƒ of an L form in lieu of,
but equivalent to the T form, the attachment to the inner tube a¹ being substantially
the same as before described. In Figure 10 is shown the L form of pipe fattached
to the outer tube a. Figures 7 and 8 show in detail the method above described of
closing the ends of the tubes A, namely in Figure 7 the end of the outer tube a is
lapped over the end of the inner tube a¹ which is splayed out so as to fit the interior
of the tube a. In Figure 8 the end of the inner tube a' is lapped over the end
of the outer tube a which is choked, or contracted so as to fit into and against the
inner tube a¹. This method of overlapping the edge of either the inside, or outside
tubes a and a¹ over the other provides a means of forming a perfect joint, which
when under pressure is entirely free from the least leakage, or "weeping." This is
found to be a material advantage over the ordinary method of fastening annular
condenser tubes together and closing their ends in the ordinary way by a separate
soldered ring as such fastenings are often found to leak or
difficult to make "good" than those herein set forth.
'weep" and f
'ore
In operation, reference being had to Figure 1. Water is caused to circulate
through the interior of the casing B by any suitable known means. The water
enters the casing B by the branch E and rises up round and through the annular
tubes A, thus the inside and outside surfaces of the tubes A are cooled and main-
tained in a cool state. While the water is thus moving, or circulating upwards the
steam passes downwards being led into the steam chest C through the branch
opening G; it passes from thence through the pipes f into the interior of the
tubes A, namely the annular space between the tubes a and a¹; the cold surfaces
of the tubes a and a¹ condense the steam and the steam now formed into water
passes down the tubes A and so through the openings e in the baffle rings d which
tend to keep the water longer in contact with the cool surfaces of the tubes a
and a The water then leaves the tubes A by the lower pipes f in a couled
condition and enters the filter box D which is filled with a suitable filtering
medium, such as animal charcoal. The chamber D is provided with a strainer i
through which the water passes when it comes in contact with atmospheric air
supplied through the pipe I and finally leaves by the outlet branch H.
By forming a condenser with tubes arranged in a group cluster or nest and the
tubes being of the type herein described, namely the tubes being formed of two
tubes one within the other such as a and a' and whether such tubes are plain,
corrugated either spirally, or circumferentially, or otherwise provided with interior,
or exterior spiral, or circumferential devices, such construction and arrangement
affords, among others the following advantages. The tubes being comparatively
small, say preferably from two to four inches, can be made of thin metal and are
able to bear a great pressure, at the same time they have uniform strength and they
afford a double namely an outside and inside cooling surface to the steam to be
condensed and being substantially of equal size they are interchangeable.
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
First The combination of annular tubes, either of plain, or corrugated form, or
provided with spiral, or other devices, arranged in a group, or nest; and a casing
through which water is circulated substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

page_text: Second In a condenser, such as herein described, arranging tubes of an annular
form in a nest, or group, and having pipes (such as f) which are connected to top
and bottom diaphragms (such as b b) which form a communication between the
steam chest and filter box and the interior of such annular tubes, substantially as
set forth.
Third In condensers of the type herein described, the combination with condenser
tubes of annular form, of either plain, corrugated, or other construction, of connecting*
pipes (such as f) which are attached to the sides which form such tubes within the
closed ends and either on the inside, or outside thereof, substantially as and for the
purposes
set forth.
Fourth The combination with an annular condenser tube, of rings (such as d) and
provided with holes, or openings (such as e) substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Fifth The use in connection with condensers (such as those of the type herein
described) of a corrugated diaphragm or diaphragms substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Sixth The construction of the pipe f attached to the inner, or outer tube (a or a¹)
of an annular tube (such as A) substantially as set forth for the purposes described
with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawings hereto annexed..
Seventh The construction of the pipe f; attached to the inner tube (a¹) of an 2
annular tube (such as A) substantially as set forth for the purposes described, with
reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Eighth An annular tube formed of one tube within the other (either, or both of
which may be plain, corrugated, circumferentially, or spirally or provided with
spiral, or other devices) the two ends being provided with connecting pipes f such 2
pipes being attached to the side of such tube within the ends thereof, which ends
are closed by lapping one tube over the other, substantially as set forth particularly
with reference to Figures 1. 7 and 8 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this ninth day of April 1885.