IMPROVEMENTS IN SURFACE CONDENSERS POR STEAM ENGINES, AND IN FEEDING, BOILERS THEREFROM
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Talbot Porter, of the City of New York, in
the United States of America, but now residing at Manchester, in the
6:0
.
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SURFACE CONDENSERS POR STEAM ENGINES, AND IN FEEDING, BOILERS
THEREFROM."
Sealed the 15th December 1865, and dated the 21st June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said 'Charles Talbot Porter
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1865.
i
"I, CHARLES TALBOT PORTER, of the City of New York, in the United
States of America, but now residing at Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer; do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN SURFACE CONDENSERS FOR STEAM ENGINES, AND IN FEEDING
BOILERS THEREFROM," 'to be as follows:
My Invention consists; firstly, in causing the circulating water before it
enters the condenser to envelope the air pump and also the pipe through
which the contents of the condenser are conducted to the air pump.
Secondly, in' employing the air pump as a force pump, also to supply the
boiler. For this purpose' I connect the air pump with the boiler by a feed
Price 8d1

page_text: pipe; and in order to get rid of the air which is mixed with the water I
interpose in this pipe a vessel in which the air rises, and is discharged into
the atmosphere by any ordinary suitable means, while the water issues from
the lower part of the vessel and passes to the boiler.
Thirdly, in the employment of a pipe leading from the source of water
supply to the condenser. When it is desired to supply additional water to the
boiler a cock in this pipe is opened, the water under atmospheric pressure
flows into the condenser, and the air pump forces it on with the condensed
steam to the boiler.
Fourthly, in the employment, in combination with the above arrangements,
of suitable means for aerating the water before it enters the boiler.
A method I propose for carrying out this part of my Invention consists in
causing the water to be delivered in a divided form through the air in the air
vessel above-mentioned; but similar arrangements may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Talbot Porter in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TALBOT PORTER, of the City of New York, in the United States of America,
but now residing at Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Talbot Porter, Her special license that I, the said Charles
Talbot Porter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Charles Talbot Porter, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN SURFACE CONDENSERS FOR STEAM ENGINES, AND IN FEEDING BOILERS
THEREFROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Talbot
Porter, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the sameto 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 Charles Talbot Porter, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the.
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say -
My Invention consists, firstly, in causing the circulating water before it
enters the condenser to envelope the air pump, and also the pipe through
which the contents of the condenser are conducted to the air pump. By this
arrangement I lower the temperature of any vapour that may be present,
thus separating it from air and condensing it so as to enable it to be driven
out by the pump, together with the bulk of the condeused steam; and I am
therefore enabled to employ an air pump of smaller dimensions than is
practicable when vapour is to be removed thereby.
Secondly, in employing the air pump as a force pump also to supply the
boiler.
Another part of my Invention according to my Provisional Specification
was as follows:-"Thirdly, in the employment of a pipe leading from the
"source of water supply. When additional water to the boiler is required a
"cock in this pipe is opened, the water under atmospheric pressure flows into
the condenser, aud the air pump forces it on with the condensed steam to the
"boiler."
"
Also another part of my Provisional Specification was as follows:-Fourthly,
in the employment in combination of the above arrangement of suitable
means for aerating the water before it enters the boiler.
A method I propose for carrying out this part of my Invention consists in
causing the water to be delivered in a divided form through the air in the
air vessel above-mentioned; but similar arrangements may be employed."
Since the filing of my said Provisional Specification I have ascertained that
these two parts thereof have not sufficient novelty, and I therefore laynoclaim
thereto..
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents my Invention in section ;
and Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the right-hand end of Fig. 1. The
pump for supplying the circulating water to the surface condenser is at a, to
be worked from the engine direct, or in any other ordinary convenient manner;
this pump is situate within a chamber 6, and draws the water from a pipe c,
and through a series of foot valves d. From the chamber b the water is
forced by the pump a through a series of delivery valves e which open into a

page_text: chamber f. By inspecting the end view, Fig. 2, it will be seen that these
delivery valves are situate in two rows, one on each side of an internal
chamber g, the use of which will presently be described; the chamber f
therefore partly surrounds the chamber g, and the water of circulation passes
therefrom through a pipe h, and from thence along a passage i to the ordinary
tulies. These tubes are situate within a chamber 7, and are attached to the
plate m in any usual inanner. Fig. 3 shews a portion of the plate m and
tubes in plan view. At the centre of the said plate is a pipen supported by
the plate m, which is strengthened by radial ribs o. The pipe which
extends above the plate m is provided with openings q extending down to
the level of the said plate, and it is then continued until it terminates at the
upper part of the chamber g, where it is provided with a valve r. It will
tlus le seen that the said pipe passes through the passages i and chamber f
which supply the water of circulation. The upper part of the chamber g is
provided with a seat for the reception of a valve s, and at the lower part of
the said chamber is the air pump t, to be worked by any ordinary convenient
incans...
This
pump as shewn is a tube closed at either end working in a
stuffing box. When the engine is at work the water is drawn through the
valves by the pumpa, and is forced through the valves c, chamber f, and
passage i, to the tubes k, while the steam as it is condensed passes through
the pipe n, into which any portion of condensed steam that may fall upon
the plate m passes through the apertures q; this condensed steam will
however, probably contain some vapour, but as it will have to traverse the
pipe n, which is surrounded by cold water, its temperature will be lowered to
the condensing point, and it will pass through the valver as a liquid; as the
air is drawn back the valve r will as usual open, and any air that may
pump
pass through will flow upward in the direction of the arrow,
above the water, which is also drawn forward by the air
space
and
pump;
upon the return motion of the air pump the said air will first be forced
through the valve s, and then the water to be delivered to any situation that
may be desired. I have in the Drawings shewn a number of foot and
delivery valves d, e, but they may if desired be fewer in number. They are
in this instance multiplied in consequence of its having been supposed that
the pump a is worked direct from an engine running at a high speed, and
the life of each valve is therefore limited:.
and оссиру а
According to the second part of my Invention, and using Fig. 1 as an
illustration, I cause the water forced through the valve s to be delivered
through the pipe w to the boiler; in its passage, however, I cause it to pass
through a vessel as at x, Fig. 4; the air accumulates in the upper part of

page_text: this vessel, and is at times let off by means of a cock y. At z is the pipe
that leads from the vessel w to the boiler, and through which the water
passes.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood
that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
and in reference to surface condensers,―
Firstly, causing the circulating water before it enters the condenser to
envelope or partially envelope the air pump; and the pipe or pipes through
which the contents of the condenser are conducted to the air pump.
Secondly, employing the air pump as a force pump also for supplying the
boiler.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Talbot Porter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
CHARLES 1. PORTER. (L.S.)
I.