IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSERS APPLI- CABLE TO SINGLE OR DOUBLE CYLINDER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Elton Bott, of the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSERS APPLI-
CABLE TO SINGLE OR DOUBLE CYLINDER STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 6th September 1878. and dated the 27th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Elton Bott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1878.
JOSEPH ELTON BOTT, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottinghaın.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSERS APPLICABLE TO SINGLE OR DOUBLE CYLINDER
STEAM ENGINES."
I employ two or more modifications of my improvements.
The first modification consists of a condenser having its outer case cast in one
piece, with an interior cone which has a spiral channel; in the case, a nozzle is
screwed, which has a suitable bore for the exhaust steam; a condenser so con-
structed is applicable to one-cylinder steam engines.
A second modification consists of an outer case cast in one piece, with an interior
cone, but having a pear-shaped double nozzle to receive the exhaust steam for
condensation.

page_text: Figure 11s a vertical sectional view of the nrst modification of my improveu
condenser.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 are respectively a plan and two cross sectional views of the
same.
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of Figure 1, enlarged.
Figure 6 is an elevational view, shewing the application of the second modifica-
tion of my improved condenser applied to a marine engine.
Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the condenser seen at Figure 6,
with the addition of several regulating parts hereafter referred to.
And, Figures 8, 9, and 10, are portions of the same shewn separately.
The corresponding parts in each Figure are lettered alike.
The arrangement and construction of the first modification of my improved
condensers, shewn at Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, consists of the following parts:-A
is an outer case forming the exhaust chamber of the condenser; B, branch for the
exhaust steam from the engine cylinder; the condenser is shewn having the exhaust
branch turned upwards, but may be constructed with the branch downwards or on
either side as required; C, injection nozzle; C¹, taper special injection grooves; D,
discharge to hot well or waste pipe; D', tapered spiral discharge grooves; E, body
of water injection valve; E', branch for water from a supply tank; F, injection
water regulating spindle; G, lower guide for spindle F; H, hand wheel for
operating the spindle F; I, bracket guide for spindle; K, air-tight gland; L,
screwed studs for adjusting the injection nozzle; M, diverging disc of spindle F.
Figure 2 is a plan on the line N, N, of Figure 1, with the body E of the injection
valve removed.
Figure 3,.a cross section of the condenser on the line O, O.
And, Figure 4, a. cross section on the line P, P, Figure 1.
At Figures 1 and 5, the arrows marked 1 shew the direction of the exhaust
steam; the arrows marked 2, the direction of the injection water; and the arrows
marked 3, the direction of discharge.
The body of the condenser is of cast iron or other suitable metal, having an
exhaust chamber A, from which projects an exhaust branch B leading to the
cylinder or cylinders of the engine to which the condenser may be attached, the
chamber A terminates at its lower end in a double conoidal chamber, the lower part
of which contains four or more tapered spiral discharge grooves D¹ (the number of
such grooves varying according to the size of the condenser); these grooves gradually
increase in radius to the bottom, thus giving a much larger cooling surface; the
upper portion of the exhaust chamber is recessed to receive the flange of an in-

page_text: jection nozzle C, carrying four or more screws, by which it is adjusted vertically,
the nozzle is tapered at its lower end, and has four or more tapered spiral injection
grooves C¹ gradually increasing in radius to the point of discharge; to the upper
Hange of the exhaust chamber is secured the body of a water injection valve E,
from which projects a branch E¹ for water from a supply tank; inside C the nozzle is
fixed a spindle F, the lower end of which forms a reversely coned diverging disc M,
which is held centrally of the nozzle C by a guide ring G near its lower end, and at
its upper end by a guide bracket I, below which the spindle passes through an air-
tight gland K, and below the gland the spindle is screw-threaded, being capable of
adjustment vertically in the upper screw-threaded portion of the injector valve E
by means of the hand wheel H.
In the Drawings, the diverging disc M is shown in plan, but in large condensers
I spirally corrugate the upper surface of the disc, each corrugation gradually in-
creasing in width to the circumference.
The action of the condenser is as follows:-Upon admitting water by any suitable
controlling valve or cock into the nozzle, upon it reaching the disc M by means of
it, and the spiral tapered grooves of the injector nozzle, it is guided into a spreading
annular surface of water which impinges upon the lower contracted surface of the
exhaust chamber, acquiring a gyratory motion, increasing in velocity, and upon the
exhaust steam meeting the water at the bottom of the nozzle, condensation is
rapidly effected, the thin annular film of water projected against the upper portion
of the conoidal chamber completely absorbing and condensing the exhaust or other
steam, and owing to the rapid gyratory motion of the annular injection of the
cylinder or cylinders of the engine, are effectually relieved of any back pressure,
and an almost perfect vacuum is created, owing to the atmosphere being excluded
by the annular film of water extending completely across the conoidal chamber, and
the diagonal surface of the jet affords a greater cooling surface for the condensation
of the steam, as the whole of the water used is economically employed in conden-
sation instead of as in other condensers, a portion being washed away to the central
particles of the water jet not being available for condensation.
The second modification of my improved condenser is shown at Figures 6 to 10
inclusive, Figure 6 being an elevation, showing the application of the condenser to a
marine engine; Figure 7, an enlarged vertical sectional view of portion of the
same.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively an enlarged vertical section and cross section of
a socket T, spindle F, and connecting pipe S³, referred to hereafter.
Figure 10, an enlarged side view of the steam valve S³, and lever S¹, shown at
Figure 7.
In this modification, the condenser employed is of similar form to the one
described in the first modification, and, with the addition of several regulating parts
hereafter referred to, is equally applicable to high-pressure, low-pressure, or com-
pound steam engines.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the following is a general description of the several
parts-A is the condenser body; B, the exhaust branch and pipe connecting the
condenser with the cylinder of an engine; B', a cast or wrought iron pedestal or
support for the exhaust branch; D, the discharge portion of the condenser attached
to Q, the hot well from whence it may be ejected overboard through the branch
pipe Q¹, either by means of a steam pump or water ejector; F is the injection water
regulator, the stem of which is bored out a portion of its length, and has slots or
orifices, as shewn at Figures 7 and 8; R, the injection valve adjusted by means of
the screwed rod operated by the handle R¹, by which means water is admitted to
the condenser through the branch R³; S is a pipe to convey steam from the high-
pressure steam chest to the hollow spindle F, for the purpose of exhausting the
steam from the low-pressure cylinder of a compound engine, thus aiding in quickly
starting heavy engines; S¹, a bell-crank lever for operating the steam valve; S², S³,
a connecting pipe screwed into a boss on one side of a guiding socket T, which is
chambered; this socket may be cither separate from, as shewn in the Drawings, or

page_text: may form a continuation of the neck of the body E, the pipe S³ may be connected
to the high-pressure steam pipe S. by a flange or other suitable connection.
The action of the condenser and the above enumerated parts is as follows:-When
applied to a marine engine or a winding, the starting wheel or lever of the engine
may have a clutch connection with the lever S, and will thus open the valve SS on
the starting of the engine, and allow steam to leave the high-pressure steam chest,
and pass into the body of the condenser by the pipes S, S³, through the chambered
socket T on the regulating spindle F, entering the same through the slots or orifices,
and issuing with great force as a jet through the point of the spindle near the
diverging disc: This jet of steam will exhaust all the air from the exhaust side of
the low-pressure piston, thus greatly assisting the starting of the engine, especially
those of the larger kinds. Immediately the low-pressure piston has arrived at the
end of the stroke, and high-pressure steam begins to exert its force, the steam valve
S must be closed either by disconnecting the lever S¹ by hand, or by any
mechanical apparatus for automatically doing the same. Immediately the low-
pressure piston receives steam from the high-pressure cylinder, the attendant will
turn on the injection water by means of the handle R₁ operating the equilibrium
valve R, thereby admitting water through the nozzle C, when condensation will be
effected as described in the first modification, and the combined products of conden-
Bation will be discharged into the hot well Q, and thence through the branch
pipe Q¹.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that I claim,-
First. For the improved tapered form of the orifice of the nozzle C, the improved
form of the plain or corrugated diverging disc M of the spindle F, by which means
the injection jet is guided into the form of an annular jet, thus utilizing every
particle of water for the purpose of condensation.
Second. For the tapered spiral grooves C¹ in the nozzle C, the tapered spiral
grooves D' in the conoidal chamber D for imparting a rapid gyratory motion to the
injection jet and products of condensation which are rapidly carried away by the
Baid gyratory motion.'
Thirdly. For the hollow spindle F, guide socket T, and connecting pipe S³ for
admitting high-pressure steam through the hollow spindle, for the purpose of ex-
hausting the air from the low-pressure cylinders of compound engines, substantially
as herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Elton Bott, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
JOSEPH ELTON BOTT. (LS)