IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING SURFACE CONDENSERS AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING FLUIDS
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Julius Jeffreys at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th April
1868.
I, JULIUS JEFFREYS, of Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING
SURFACE CONDENSERS AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND COOLING FLUIDS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing surface
condensers and apparatus for heating and cooling fluids.
In constructing surface condensers of steam engines I employ thin plates of
copper or other metal, which I press or stamp with numerous parallel flutes,
separated the one from the other by flat ridges; these plates are then placed
together in pairs, face to face, so that the ridges of one plate come truly over
those of the other, but they are separated by a soldering or brazing metal
placed between the two. The pairs of fluted plates thus arranged are piled
up one pile over the other, but with suitably fluted plates of iron between the
pairs, so as to make a solid pile, which is then placed under pressure to bring
the ridges of the two plates of each pair close up the one to the other; in this
state the pile is heated till the soldering or brazing metal melts, when the pile
still under pressure, or placed if necessary under increased pressure in a press,
is allowed to cool. I prefer to employ the soldering metal as a thin sheet,
rolled or otherwise produced; this I place between the fluted plates, and when
the plates are clamped together, as above described, they are placed in a stove

page_text: in an upright position, so that when the soldering metal melts the portions
between the ridges fall down on to the ridges beneath, so that on the upper
part of each of the solder joints to be made a small puddle of melted solder is
formed, which insures the joint being perfectly made. In this manner a
perfect union of the ridges is obtained, each pair of plates becoming a set of
tubes. These sets of tubes may be connected together by turning up the
edges of the plates of which they are formed, and enclosing them in a split
tube, into which cement or solder is then cast or soldered, or brazed joints
may be employed. The whole arrangement is enclosed in a case, and the
steam to be condensed is caused to pass into the tubular spaces, whilst the
cooling or condensing water is made to circulate in the spaces between the
pairs of plates.
By my system of constructing the surface condensers of steam engines I am
able conveniently to make the tubular steam passages much smaller in
diameter than the tubes of ordinary surface condensers, and this again enables
me to use much thinner metal than is ordinarily employed, so that by my
system of construction I increase the amount of condensing surface which can
be packed in a given space, and I render a given measure of condensing
surface more 'Tective.
Surface c ensers constructed as above described are applicable not only
to steam engines, but also in other cases for the condensation of steam or
vapour.
To provide against the clogging of the surfaces of the tubes by greasy
depositions from the condensing steam, whether the steam be condensed within
or outside the tubes, I employ as the lubricant for the moving parts of the
steam surfaces of the engine oil or grease sufficiently alkalized to give it
partial solubility in water, and to keep the fatty acids from hardening I next
pump round a portion of the condensed water from the containing chamber
below the series of condensing tubes to a travelling or revolving jet tube placed
above the tubes through holes or nipples, in which jet tube the water is
showered down the condensing surfaces of the tubes to scour down any
deposits after each condensation of steam. I place near the surface of the con-
densed water in the lower chamber a strainer occupying its whole superficies,
and consisting of several layers of very fine wire gauze. This strainer forms a
sliding tray, which can be drawn out when charged with deposits and replaced
by a clean one. 1 transmit the condensing water horizontally backwards and
forwards through or between the tubes, so as to travel from below upwards,
and to arrive at the vicinity of the hot steam as it is acquiring heat itself.
Apparatus constructed in a similar manner is applicable also for heating

page_text: and cooling fluids, whether liquid or aeriform, one fluid being caused to pass
through the tubular spaces, whilst another is caused to circulate in the spaces
exterior thereof. As an example of this application, I would mention the
ventilation of rooms or buildings which are required to be kept at a high
temperature; for this purpose the heated air from the room or building is
caused to pass through the apparatus in one direction, whilst the incoming air
to supply its place passes through the apparatus in the contrary direction, thus
the air from the room or building may be discharged at a temperature but
little exceeding that of the external air, whilst the incoming current is supplied
at a temperature nearly as high as that of the room or building. When I
employ the tubes for ventilating purposes I place between every set a thin board
or veneer of wood shorter than the tubes, so as to form passages for horizontal
currents of air exterior to the tubes, which currents then travel vertically over
the metallic surfaces, and again get a horizontal vent between the tubes, so as
to have a distinct entrance and exit from those of the currents within the
tubes, and to form with them a counter current in the direction lengthways
of the tubes. By these means nearly the whole warmth can be transmitted
from one current to the other.
Another application of the apparatus is for the heating of water or other
liquid to generate steam, or for any other purpose. For heating liquids a con-
venient arrangement is to cause the liquid to surround the tubular passages
between each pair of plates. It is not in all cases necessary to solder or braze
together the two plates forming a pair along the ridges separating the parallel
flutes; the two plates forming a pair may simply be placed the one on the
other with the ridges in contact, and this arrangement will for some purposes
be as efficacious as connecting the ridges the one to the other. I prefer when
the flame and products of combustion from the fire are to be passed through
the tubular passages, to press or stamp the flutes wider at the mouths than
elsewhere, and to protect the plates from being injured by the action of the
fire. I employ covering pieces of metal suitably pressed or stamped, which
cover the portions of the plates on which the fire first strikes, and also the
entrances of the tubular passages for a short distance in, these covering pieces
are connected together so as form one protecting plate. A similar protecting
plate may be employed in tubular boilers.