IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOURS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Mudge Marchant, of Kirby Street, Hatton
Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOURS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Mudge Marchant at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1880.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING
STEAM OR OTHER VAPOURS.”
My Invention relates to apparatus for condensing steam or other vapours by
means of cold water or air admitted to the condenser so as to act upon the steam
or vapour by surface condensation.
My improved apparatus is constructed of plates, preferably of copper, each of
which is perforated with two or four holes for the reception of pipe connections; these
holes are as near the top and bottom of the plates as convenient, so that if there be
one at the top there is one at the bottom. Each plate is also indented or cupped
for the purpose of maintaining any required distance or space between the plates,
according to the depth of such indent or cup.
The holes before described for the pipe connections are made with the edge round
each hole raised or standing up to an extent equal to the depth of the indent or
cup, and every alternate plate has a slightly larger hole with an external taper to
such raised edge for the purpose of receiving the untapered edge of the hole of the
adjoining plate.
I construct the indentations or cups to the plate so that when the plates are
fitted together (in the manner hereinafter explained) in pairs these indentations or
cups determine the distance between the two sides of the compartment formed by
each pair of the plates, and in such manner that the indentations or cups which
determine the distance between the compartments are clear of and at equal
distances from and alternate with the indentations and cups which separate the
plates of each compartment.
The depth of such indentations or cuppings determines the distance between the
sides of each compartment, and also the distance between the compartments when
fixed, as hereinafter explained.

page_text: To effect such arrangement one half the number of the plates are indented or
cupped to a template, giving one position to the indentations or cups, and the
other half are worked from another template, giving to these indentations or cups
an intermediate position; this can be easily effected with a press tool.
The plates thus prepared are then securely fastened together at the edges and in
pairs, so that each pair shall become a water or air tight compartment capable of
being connected at the holes already described with any number of similar water
or air tight compartments.
I prefer to fasten the edges of the plates by lapping these edges over, so that the
exterior edge of the compartment is formed of three thicknesses of plate, and the
corners by the necessary removals and the laps over are formed with six thicknesses
of plate.
For this purpose I set the edge of one plate of each compartment up to the depth
of those indentations or cups which determine the space between the plates of the
compartment itself, giving to such set an external flange rectangular to such
vertical set. On this I lay one of the plates, the indentations or cups of which
alternate (in the manner already described) with those interior to the compart-
ment, such indentations or cups being laid externally to the compartment; and
for the purpose of determining the distance or space between the compartment
under construction, and the one adjoining it, I dip the edges of the plates in a tin
bath so as to tin the copper edge of the plate, and I then lap over the edges and
solder all securely together with a sweating joint. After having been tested to
about 20 lbs. pressure per square inch the compartment is ready for connection with
any required number of other compartments.
The compartments thus prepared are threaded or placed together on a top and
bottom pipe or pipes, such pipes being slotted longitudinally so as to communicate
with the interior of the several compartments. Between each compartment and
that next adjoining is threaded on or placed a rubber ring, and external to such
rubber ring is threaded on or placed a spun ring constructed of thin copper plate
with a semi-circular section on its exterior, so that it is capable of compression
when the compartments are set up together, as hereinafter described, and in this
manner the rubber is confined between the edges of the holes already described, the
copper ring being external to the rubber, and when the whole is set up the rubber
by compression between the two is made to form a perfect joint between such two
copper protections.
I place a cast iron or other plate on each side, external to any number of com-
partments used to form the condenser, and these plates are perforated with holes
the same as the compartments, and through these holes the slotted pipes are passed
having screwed ends to each such slotted pipe. The joint is again made in the
usual way, and the whole set up by screwing the nuts on the end of the pipes to
the required pressure.
Any number of such compartments can be fixed in a case in which provision is
made to receive the projecting ends of the slotted pipes which pass through the
case, and are again jointed by the setting up of washers and nuts against the case,
and the end of the slotted pipes is made to communicate by any suitable connections
with the source of the steam or vapour to be condensed.
The steam or vapor passes through the compartments, all grease and impurities
being kept out by the application of a gauze wire purifier at the entrance. The
steam or vapour becomes condensed by the cold water or air which circulates
through or fills the condenser case.
'The steam or vapour is delivered through the slotted pipes at the top of the
condenser, and in its passage meets at opposite sides of the plates the water
or air which is supplied to the bottom of the condenser case. The water or
air leaves the case at the top and enters a tank, a chimney, or other suitable
provision.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Mudge Marchant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
July 1880.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING
STEAM OR OTHER VAPOURS."
My Invention relates to apparatus for condensing steam or other vapours by means
of cold water or air admitted to the condenser so as to act upon the steam or vapour
by surface condensation.
My improved apparatus is constructed of plates, preferably of copper, each of
which is perforated with two or four holes for the reception of pipe connections; these
boles are as near the top and bottom of the plates as convenient, and are arranged
so that where there is one at the top there is one at the bottom. Each plate is also
indented or cupped for the purpose of maintaining any required distance or space
between the plates, according to the depth of such indent or cup.
The holes before described for the pipe connections are made with the edge round
each hole raised or standing up to an extent equal to the depth of the indent or
cup, and every alternate plate has a slightly larger hole with an external taper to
such raised edge for the purpose of receiving the untapered edge of the hole of the
adjoining plate.
I construct the indentations or cups to the plate so that when the plates are
fitted together (in the manner hereinafter explained) in pairs these indentations or
cups determine the distance between the two sides of the compartment formed by
each pair of the plates, and in such manner that the indentations or cups which
determine the distance between the compartments are clear of and at equal distance
from and alternate with the indentations and cups which separate the plates of
each compartment.
The depth of such indentations or cuppings determines the distance between the
sides of each compartment, and also the distance between the compartments when
fixed, as hereinafter explained.
To effect such an arrangement one half the number of the plates are indented or
cupped to a template giving one position to the indentations or cups, and the other
half are worked from another template, giving to these indentations or cups an
intermediate position; this can be easily effected with a press tool.
The plates thus prepared are then securely fastened together at the edges and in
pairs, so that each pair shall become a water or air tight compartment capable of
being connected at the holes already described with any number of similar water
or air tight compartments.
I prefer to fasten the edges of the plates by lapping these edges over, so that the
exterior edge of the compartment is formed of four thicknesses of plate, and the
corners by the laps over are formed with eight thicknesses of plate.
For this purpose I take two of the plates already described as cupped to different
templates in such manner that these cups should alternate, and I set the edges of
each plate (of the pair of plates so selected to form one compartment) up to half
the depth of those indentations or cups which determine the space between the
pair of plates forming one compartment, and I give each set an external flange
rectangular to such vertical set, and parallel to the plate, and preferably of three
quarters of an inch in width.
The set to one plate is so given that the cups on it are internal to the compart-
ment, and the set to the other plate is so given that the cups on it are external to
the compartment, the cups internal to the compartment forming the interior
supports between the two plates forming the compartment, and the cups external
to the compartment forming the exterior supports in the space existing between

page_text: one compartment and the next, which space such cups external to the compartment
determine.
I dip the edges of the plates in a tin bath so as to tin the copper edge of the
plate, and I then lap over the edges and solder all securely together with a sweating
joint. After having been tested to about 20 lbs. pressure per square inch, the
compartment is ready for connection with any required number of other com-
partments.
The compartments thus prepared are threaded or placed together on a top and
bottom pipe or pipes, such pipes being slotted longitudinally so as to communicate
with the interior of the several compartments. Between each compartment and'
that next adjoining is threaded on or placed a rubber ring, and external to such
rubber ring is threaded on or placed a spun ring constructed of thin copper plate,
with a semi-circular section on its exterior, so that it is capable of compression
when the compartments are set up together, as hereinafter described, and in this
manner the rubber is confined between the edges of the holes already described, and
the copper ring external to the rubber, and when the whole is set up the rubber
by compression between the two is made to form a perfect joint between such two
copper protections.
I place a cast iron or other plate on each side external to any number of com-
partments used to form the condenser, and these plates are perforated with holes
the same as the compartments, and through these holes the slotted pipes are passed
having screwed ends to each such slotted pipe. The joint is again made in the
usual way, and the whole set up by screwing the nuts on the end of the pipes to
the required pressure.
Any number of such compartments can be fixed in a case in which provision is
made to receive the projecting ends of the slotted pipes which pass through the
case, and are again jointed by the setting up of washers and nuts against the case,
and the end of the slotted pipes is made to communicate by any suitable connections
with the source of the steam or vapor to be condensed.
In the condenser case shewn in the Drawings such communications with the ends
of the slotted pipes are made by means of rectangular boxes which are jointed and
bolted on to the front of the condenser case, and made to communicate, as the
conditions of the application may require, with any other communications or
conduits to the boiler.
The steam or vapour passes through the compartments, all grease and impurities
being kept out by the application of a gauze wire purifier at the entrance. The
steam or vapour becomes condensed by the cold water or air which circulates
through and fills the condenser case.
The steam or vapor is delivered through the slotted pipes at the top of the
condenser, and in its passage through the condenser meets at opposite sides of the
plates the water or air which is supplied to the bottom of the condenser case. The
water or air leaves the case at the top and enters a tank, a chimney, or other
suitable provision for a continuous circulation of the condensing medium.
The annexed Drawings represent a condenser constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the condenser case with the cover off, showing
the condensing compartments with the front cast iron plate to these in position
in the case; Figure 2 is a sectional plan with the front cover on the condenser
case, and showing the condensing compartiments and front and back cast iron plates
in position, and the front ends of the slotted pipes connected with the upper rect-
angular box connector, into which is received the exhaust steam or vapour through
the gauze protector.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the condenser case with the cover off, and with
the front cast iron plate protector removed so that the exterior cups of the front
condensing compartment are seen.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the condenser case with the cover on, and with
the rectangular box connectors in position, and provided with the attachments

page_text: necessary for a water condensing medium, and for the supply of both steam and
water for the circulation of these to the boiler, where steam pumps are used which
pump both steam and water.
Figure 5 is a plan of the condenser shewing the connections necessary for both
a water and an air condensing medium, those for the air being shewn in dotted
lines.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the condenser case shewing the connections for
water as a condensing medium.
Figure 7 shews in section the method of connecting the condensing compartments
with the slotted pipes.
Figure 8 shews the side elevation where air is used as the condensing
medium.
Figure 9 shews the top of the compartments in plan.
In the above Figures a is the condenser case; a, the rectangular box connectors;
a³, a valve through which the condensed steam is sucked, where steam pumps are
used to pump both steam and water; b, the condensing compartments; 6¹, the
slotted pipes; 6, the cups forming the distance pieces in support; c, the cast iron
plates exterior to the condensing compartments, and holding any required number
of these together; c¹ is a circular plate acting as a splash board to receive and
distribute the exhaust steam or other vapor, its object being to receive any
occasional particles of grease, and keep these from collecting in the centre of
the wire gauze; c is the wire gauze; c is a pipe for connecting with any pump
which may be used to suck out of the condenser the accumulation of air from
leakage, &c.; c are pipes conveying water to the condenser as its condensing
medium; d is a pipe conveying the heated water from the condenser; d' is a pipe
conveying any proportion of the exhaust steam to steam pumps, where these are
used to pump both steam and water; e is a cowl set towards the back of any
locomotive so as to suck the air used as a condensing medium through the con-
denser;
e¹ is a pipe conveying the air to any chimney or sucking fan when air is
used as a condensing medium to stationary engines; e is the passage for the air
entrance constructed for the whole width of the condenser case by removing the
cover below the level of the lower rectangular box connectors, such entrance being
required where air is used as a condensing medium; e³, es, represent the spun rings
outside the rubber packing.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Constructing apparatus for condensing steam or other vapours of a series
of plates arranged and united at the edges in pairs, as hereinbefore described, the
said plates being formed with indentations or cups, in the manner and for the
purpose explained, and with holes having raised edges, and being threaded on
slotted pipes, and made tight at the joints, all substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement or combination of parts, substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings, forming an improved
apparatus for condensing steam or other vapours.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Mudge Marchant, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty
R. M. MARCHANT. (L.S.)