Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd Nov., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Feb., 1887.
I, AMBROSE MYALL of 21 Cockspur Street in the county of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :—
The improvements which form the nature of my invention consist essentially in
dividing the tubes of surface condensers into tiers, boxes or sets by means of plates
affixed within the condenser in such manner that the steam is caused to spread and
circulate among the tubes in a more perfect manner than is the case in an ordinary
tubular surface condenser.
The said plates are preferably arranged horizontally above one another within the
condenser so that they divide into an equal number of tiers or sets. Each plate fits
closely and tightly against the internal walls of the condenser on three sides, while
the fourth side is provided with snugs resting on that side of the condenser, openings
being provided between the said snugs so that practically an opening the whole width
of the plate is formed at that side for the passage of the steam.
The plates are so arranged that the openings are at opposite sides alternately in each
plate, thus compelling the steam to traverse the condenser in a zig-zag course and
bringing it in a most efficient manner in contact with the whole of the tubes and
compelling the whole of the air to be withdrawn and thus preventing the formation of
air pockets within the condenser.
The plates are placed far enough apart from each other and from the tubes to leave
sufficient space for the circulation of the steam.
The opening in the first and last plates of the series is provided with a flat slide
valve worked preferably by means of a screw attached to the back of the said valve
and projecting through a tapped hole or boss in the condenser wall, a winch or hand
wheel being affixed to the outer end of such screw.
By means of these valves the openings in the first and last plates may be entirely
closed or the area of the said openings may be regulated to suit the amount of steam
to be condensed and air to be withdrawn.
AMBROSE MYALL, .D.,
Inventors' Patent-right Association (Ld.),
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surface Condensers.
1, AMBROSE MYALL of 21 Cockspur Street in the county of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which invention has been
communicated to me from abroad by John McIntyre of 29 West Street, New York,
United States of America, Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The improvements in surface condensers, which form the subject of my invention,
consist mainly in means for causing the steam to spread and circulate among the tubes,
and the air to be withdrawn, in a more perfect manner than is the case in an ordinary
tubular surface condenser.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional clevation
through the line YY on Figure 2, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the
line X, in Figure 1, of a tubular surface condenser constructed according to my
invention.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in both figures.
A, A, is the shell, or case of the condenser, A¹ the steam inlet and A² the outlet to
the air pump. B, B, are the tube plates, and C, C, the tubes. The end covers are
omitted in the drawing, but they may be of the usual or other desired pattern.
The tubes Care divided into four equal tiers, boxes, or sets, by means of the five
plates D, arranged horizontally above one another within the condenser, but it will be
understood that I do not confine myself to the particular number of plates D, and
tiers of tubes shewn, for a greater or less number can be used as found desirable.
Each plate D fits closely and tightly against the inside of the condenser case or shell
on the three sides D1 D2 D3, being held in grooves in the said case as shewn in
Figure 1, though any other suitable means of support may be employed, or the plates
may be cast in one piece with the said case if desired. The side D is supported by
snugs or projections D³, resting on that side of the condenser, leaving openings 16
between the said snugs, so that an opening, practically the whole width of the plate,
is formed at that side for the passage of the steam. The plates D are so arranged,
that the openings Dare at opposite sides of the condenser alternately, thus compelling
the steam to traverse the condenser in a zig-zag course and bringing it in a most
efficient manner in contact with the whole of the tubes.
The above described alternate arrangement of the openings is clearly shewn in
Figure 1, as also the zig-zag course of the steam by means of arrows.
The plates in practice are placed far enough apart from each other and from the
tubes to leave sufficient space for the circulation of the steam.
The openings or ports in the first and last plates of the series are provided with flat
slide valves E and F respectively.
These valves are moved by means of screws E¹ F¹ pivotted to them and passing
through tapped holes, or bosses, in the condenser wall, handles E2 F2 being affixed to

page_text: the outer ends of the screws. Stuffing-boxes may also be provided although not
shewn in the drawings. Any other suitable device can however be employed for
working the said valves. By means of their use the openings in the first and last
plates may be regulated as required to suit the amount of steam to be condensed and
air or other fluids to be withdrawn.
I do not necessarily always employ a valve to regulate the opening in the last plate,
which is the plate between the last row of tubes and the outlet A2 to the air pump,
but the use of this said plate, or other suitable equivalent device, whether provided
with a valve or not, forms one of the most important features of my invention, as its
use, when the opening is properly proportioned to the amount of the fluids to be with-
drawn, causes a more equal distribution of the power of the air pump and prevents
the formation of air-pockets in the condenser.
I am aware that plates, with openings or perforations in them, but without any
means of regulating the size of such openings have heretofore been employed in
surface condensers between the steam inlet and the tubes, and I therefore lay no claimi
to the mere separate use of the top plate shewn in Figure 1 between the steam inlet A¹
and the first row of tubes, unless such plate be fitted with a valve, as shewn, or other
suitable device for regulating the size of the opening or port therein.
In conclusion, I wish it to be understood that in carrying out my invention in
practice, I do not necessarily confine myself to the precise details of form and con-
struction which I have set forth; but having now particularly described and ascertained
the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I
declare that what I claim, is :-
(1) In a tubular surface condenser, the arrangement of plates D for dividing the
tubes into tiers or sets and giving a zig-zag course to the steam, substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
(2) In a tubular surface condenser, provided with plates D, the combination with
the first plate of the series, of a valve E or other suitable device, for regulating the
size of the opening or port in such plate, substantially as herein set forth.
(3) In a tubular surface condenser, provided with plates D, the combination with
the first and last plates of the series, of valves E and F, or other suitable devices,
for regulating the sizes of the openings or ports in such plates, substantially as herein
set forth.
(4) In a tubular surface condenser the intervention of a plate or other suitable
equivalent device between the last row of tubes and the outlet to the air pump, (either
without or in combination with a valve for regulating the opening or port in the said
plate) for causing a more equal distribution of the power of the air pump and
preventing the formation of air-pockets, substantially as herein set forth.
AMBROSE MYALL, C.E.,
Inventors' Patent-right Association (Ld.),
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.