AN IMPROVED PORTABLE DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH AËRATED WATER FROM SEA WATER, PART OF WHICH SAID APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING OF HYDROCARBON OILS FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Chaplin, of Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE
DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH AËRATED WATER FROM SEA
WATER, PART OF WHICH SAID APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING
OF HYDROCARBON OILS FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 15th April 1868, and dated the 31st October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Chaplin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st October 1867.
I, ALEXANDER CHAPLIN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE
DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH AËRATED WATER FROM SEA WATER,
PART OF WHICH SAID APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING OF HYDRO-
CARBON OILS FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists mainly of a steam boiler in combination with a
condenser, tank, feed chest, hand pump, and certain arrangements of pipes
and cocks herein-after described, which render the apparatus self-acting or
nearly so, requiring only occasional attention. A steam engine not being

page_text: necessary the apparatus may be worked at a very low pressure of steam, and
is suitable for producing fresh aërated water from sea water, either on shore
or on shipboard.
The boiler is heated by a peculiar arrangement of burner, also described
hereafter, adapted for consuming hydrocarbon oil as fuel. This latter part of
the Invention is also applicable to the burning of hydrocarbon oils in the
furnaces of steam engine boilers, and for other similar purposes.
Above a steam boiler (which I prefer to be of the hanging tube and fire-
box kind, as patented by me 23rd October 1865, No. 2738,) I place an open
tank to receive sea water, in the interior of which near the bottom is a con-
denser. A band pump is placed in any convenient situation within 30 feet
of the sea level, and fitted with a hose and pipe for raising the sea water to
fill the tank. A cooking galley may also be added, placed in such a position
as to receive the surplus heat from the boiler furnace, as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me A.D. 1861, and bearing date
27th October, No. 2499. The sea water tank communicates with the lower
part of the boiler by means of a vertical pipe having two stop-cocks, between
which is an enlarged' chamber or, feed chest, the upper part of which is also
connected with the upper part or steam space of the boiler by means of a
small pipe also furnished with a stop-cock, these three cocks being acted
upon simultaneously by means of a lever and connections. To the upper
part of the condenser is attached a vertical aërating pipe open to the atmo-
sphere at the top and to the condenser beneath, and into the upper part of
this pipe dips one end of the main steam pipe from the boiler, which steam
pipe is of smaller diameter than the aërating pipe, so as to leave a clear space
all round the former for the admission of air; the other end of the steam pipe is
connected to the boiler and furnished with a stop-cock. The lower part of
the condenser communicates with a filter beneath, through which the water
flows into the store tank. The furnace of the steam boiler may be made of
any ordinary form, and coal, wood, peat, or other solid substance may be used
as fuel, but I prefer to use mineral or hydrocarbon oils as fuel; and in order to
adapt the furnace for burning the same I make the bottom thereof in the
form of a hollow cone perforated all over with small holes for the passage of
air upwards; through the apex of this cone passes a pipe, which terminates in
a "rose" or distributor just above the the apex; the other end of the said pipe
communicating with a reservoir or tank placed in any convenient situation
above the level of the furnace, and containing the hydrocarbon oil or other
combustible fluid, to be used as fuel. This pipe is provided with a stop-cock,

page_text: upon opening which the hydrocarbon oil flows in a thin sheet or film over the
whole penetrated surface of the cone, while a blast of air is forced upwards at.
the same time through the perforations by means of a fan or otherwise.
Round the base of the cone is a trough or gutter and waste pipe to collect
and draw off any oil which may escape combustion, and which may be
returned to the oil tank or reservoir.
The method of using this apparatus is as follows:-First, fill the open
tank with sea water to be distilled, and fill the boiler up to the proper water
level, then (having previously heated the perforated cone so that the oil will
ignite upon it) turn on and light the oil, forcing the combustion and throwing
the flames against the sides of the fire-box by a current of air through the
numerous small perforations in the cone, the said current being produced as
above described by means of a fan or otherwise. If an ordinary furnace is
used the fire is lighted in the usual way. The steam being raised to a
pressure of (say) five pounds to a square inch, the main steam pipe may be
opened into the aërating pipe, and thus a mixture of steam and air will be
discharged into the condenser, which latter will be kept cool by the sea water
surrounding it in the tank, the water in the tank thus becoming in a measure
heated before it passes into the steam boiler, which effects an economy in
the fuel. This operation is continuous so long as any water remains in the
tank to be evaporated, and thus nearly the whole of the sea water pumped up
into the tank is gradually evaporated and converted into fresh aërated water
fit for use. This water passes from the condenser through the filter into the
store tank, from whence it may be drawn off as required by means of a tap.
The only attention which the apparatus requires is to admit a supply of sea
water into the boiler from time to time by means of the feed chest and stop-
cocks above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Chaplin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CHAPLIN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer; send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,

page_text: did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Chaplin, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Chaplin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Ch: plin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE DISTILLING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FRESH AERATED WATER FROM
SEA WATER, PART OF WHICH SAID APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE BURNING
OF HYDROCARBON OILS FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent,
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement in writing, that is to say :-
This Invention consists mainly of a steam boiler in combination with a
condenser, tank, feed chest, band pump, and certain arrangements of pipes
and cocks herein-after described, which render the apparatus self-acting or
nearly so, requiring only occasional attentions from the person in charge. A
steam engine not being necessary, the apparatus may be worked at a very
low pressure of steam, and is suitable for producing fresh aërated water from
sea water, or from other water containing impurities, either on shore or on
shipboard.
The boiler is heated by a peculiar arrangement of burner (also described
hereafter) adapted for consuming hydrocarbon oil as fuel. This latter part of
the Invention is also applicable to the burning of hydrocarbon oils in the
furnaces of steam engine boilers, and for other similar purposes.
Above a steam boiler (which I prefer to be of the hanging tube and fire-
box kind, as patented by me 23rd October 1865, No. 2738,) I place an open
tank of any convenient form to receive sea water, in the interior of which
near the bottom is a condenser formed by preference of a serpentine coil of
piping. A hand pump is placed in any convenient situation within 30 feet of

page_text: the sea level, and fitted with a hose and pipe for raising the sea water to fill
the tank. A cooking galley or stove may also be added, placed in such a
position as to receive the surplus beat from the boiler furnace, as described in
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me A.D. 1861, and bearing
date 27th October, No. 2499. The sea water tank communicates with the
lower part of the boiler by means of a vertical pipe having two stop-cocks,
between which is an enlarged chamber or feed chest, the upper part of which
is also connected with the upper part or steam space of the boiler by means
of a small pipe also furnished with a stop-cock, these three cocks being acted
upon simultaneously by means of a hand lever and suitable connections. To
the upper part of the condenser is attached a vertical pipe open to the
atmosphere at the top and to the condenser beneath, and into the upper part of
this pipe dips one end of the main steam pipe from the boiler, which steam
pipe is of smaller diameter than the aërating pipe, so as to leave a clear space
all round the former for the admission of air; the other end of the steam pipe
is connected to the boiler and furnished with a stop-cock. The lower part of
the condenser communicates by a pipe with a filter beneath, through which
the water flows from the condenser into the store tank, whence it may be
drawn out by a tap as required for use. The furnace of the steam boiler may
be made of any ordinary form, and coal, wood, peat, or other solid substance
may be used as fuel, but I prefer to use mineral or hydrocarbon oils as fuel,
and in order to adapt the furnace for burning the same I make the bottom
thereof in the form of a hollow cone perforated all over with small holes for
the passage of air upwards; through the apex of this cone passes a pipe,
which terminates in a "rose or distributor just above the apex, the other
end of the said pipe communicating with a reservoir or tank placed in any
convenient situation above the level of the furnace, and containing the hydro-
carbon oil or other combustible fluid to be used as fuel. This pipe is provided-
with a stop-cock, upon opening which the hydrocarbon oil flows in a thin sheet
or film over the whole perforated surface of the cone, while a blast of air is
forced upwards at the same time through the perforations by means of a fan
or otherwise. Round the base of the cone is a trough or gutter and waste
pipe to collect and draw off any oil which may escape combustion, and which
may be returned to the oil tank or reservoir.
"
The method of using this distilling apparatus is as follows:-First fill the
open tank with sea or other impure water to be distilled, and fill the boiler
up to the proper water level (that is, about half glass), then (having pre-
viously heated the perforated coue so that the oil will ignite upon it) turn on

page_text: and light the oil, forcing the combustion and throwing the flames against the
sides of the fire-box by a current of air through the numerous small per-
forations in the cone, the said current being produced as above described by
means of a fan or otherwise. If an ordinary furnace be used the fire is lighted
in the usual way.
The steam being raised to a pressure of (say) five pounds
to a square inch, the main steam pipe may be opened into the aërating pipe,
and thus a mixture of air and steam will be discharged into the condenser,
which latter will be kept cool by the sea water surrounding it in the tank, the
water in the tank thus becoming heated in a measure before it passes into the
steam boiler, which effects an economy in the amount of fuel consumed. This
operation is continuous so long as any water remains in the tank to be
evaporated, and thus nearly the whole of the sea or other impure water
pumped up into the tank is gradually evaporated and converted into fresh
aërated water fit for immediate use. This water passes from the condenser
through the filter into the store tank, from whence it may be drawn off as
required.
The only attention the apparatus requires is to admit a supply of sea or
other impure water from the tank into the boiler from time to time by means
of the feed chest and stop-cocks above described.
In order to keep the boiler clean and clear of deposit it should be blown off
a little at the surface every two or three hours, and completely at the bottom
after each day's work; the boiler, tank, and filter should be opened aud
cleaned out about once a month.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention for "An Improved Portable Distilling Apparatus for Producing
Fresh Aërated Water from Sea Water, Part of which said Apparatus is also
applicable. to the Burning of Hydrocarbon Oils for other Purposes," together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my
Invention,
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of a steam boiler, condenser,
tank, feed chest, pump, and pipes and cocks, substantially as herein-before set
forth and described, constituting a portable distilling apparatus, whether com-
bined with a cooking galley or stove, as herein-before described, or otherwise,
and whether the boiler is heated by hydrocarbon oil or other fuel.
And, secondly. I claim the combination of the perforated cone with the
rose or distributor above the apex thereof, constituting an improved apparatus
for burning bydrocarbon oils as fuel in furnaces in general, together with the

page_text: application thereto of a blast or current of air to force the combustion, sub-
stantially as berein-before particularly set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Chaplin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn.
ALEXR. CHAPLIN. (L.S.)