Heater for Steam Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Heater for Steam Engines.
I JOHN WHITTLE of the Union Railway Wagon Works Chorley in the County
of Lancaster Wagon Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of. this invention is to construct a combined condenser and feed water
heater for steam engines which will at the same time economize both fuel and water.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the
annexed drawing and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. on the drawings represents a vertical section of the improved apparatus which
constitutes my invention.
a is a vertical tube or cylinder made of cast or wrought iron.
b is the exhaust pipe leading from the cylinder or cylinders of the steam engine or
engines.
This pipe passes into the lower closed end of the tube a and is continued upwards in
the centre thereof to about the centre of its height where its open end is surmounted
by a wrought or cast iron dished bonnet c supported upon brackets.
Above this bonnet and about midway between it and the top of the tube a is a
perforated metal plate d-e is the cold water supply pipe which is either perforated or
preferably fitted with a water spreader or distributor fand a regulating valve g.
h is the cold water cistern or tank which may either be fitted at the top of the
condenser as shown on the drawing or in any other convenient place at a suitable
distance from the same.
At the top of the condenser is fitted a pipe i for the
not be condensed.
escape of steam which may
any
k is an automatic water regulator which is fitted with an overflow pipe at so as not
to allow the level of the condensed water to rise up to the top of the steam exhaust
pipe b.

page_text: In this regulator floats a hollow copper ball m which is connected by a rod n to the
lever o fixed on the spindle of the regulating valve g (see also detached side elevation
Fig. 2).
The ball m can be balanced to the required buoyancy by altering the position of the
weight p in the slot of the lever o.
q is the boiler feed pipe leading to the pump or injector, are lids or plugs which
can be removed to allow of the removal of dirt or mud and s is a manhole to allow of
access to the interior of the condenser. The steam exhaust pipe b is fitted with an
escape pipe t, which can be regulated by a tap so as to allow of the escape of exhaust
water containing greasy or other matter which is considered injurious to boilers.
As the exhaust steam from the engine or engines issues from the top of the pipe b
under the bonnet c it meets with the descending shower of cold water. from the
spreader which falls through it like rain causing it to become condensed and this
condensation is further insured by the check given to both the steam and the water
by the plate d which is perforated with fine holes, and at the same time that the
steam is condensed the temperature of the water is thereby raised to boiling point or
nearly so.
This heated water falls down to the lower part of the condenser a and is fed into
the boiler by the pump or injector in the usual manner.
As the level of the water rises the float m rises with it and diminishes the cold water
supply, and as the level falls the float falls with it and admits more cold water and thus
the action of the apparatus is entirely automatic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I. declare that what. I
claim is :-
".
The construction and use of the combined automatic, condenser, economizer and
feed water heater for steam engines substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 24th day of November 1888.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.