IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARatus of MEANS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST STEAM PROM TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING OF STEAM TRAMWAY CARS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Powley Alexander, of 14, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARatus of
MEANS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST STEAM PROM TRACTION AND OTHER
ENGINES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING OF STEAM TRAMWAY CARS."
-A communication from abroad by William Robert Rowan, of the
Randers Railway Works, Randers, in the Kingdom of Denmark,
Engineer and Contractor.
Sealed the 13th August 1875, and dated the 12th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Powloy Alexander
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th June 1875.
I, EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
OR MEANS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST STEAM FROM TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES,
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING OF STEAM TRAMWAY CARS," a communi-

page_text: cation to me from abroad by William Robert Rowan, of the Randers
Railway Works, Randers, in the Kingdom of Denmark, Engineer and
Contractor, to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to the condensing of the exhaust steam from
traction or other engines, and comprises a peculiar arrangement of
surface condenser and accessories.
The condensing chamber may be made of any form and material best
suited to the shape and size of the engine to which it is to be adapted,
and through this chamber there is run as large as possible a number of
tubes just as in an ordinary locomotive boiler. The diameter and number
of the tubes will vary according to the requirements of the case. By means
of a fan or blower a rapid current of air through tho tubes is maintained,
which has the effect of keeping them cool and condensing the steam.
When space is an object and it is necessary to effect the greatest
possible amount of condensation with the smallest possible surface, tho
blast is moistened before entering the tubes so that it may be further
cooled by the evaporation of the moisture in its passage through the
same. This is effected either by sucking up water (or even a more
rapidly evaporating fluid) by means of the blast through small tubes
from a cistern below the condenser, or simply by allowing fine jets of
steam from the condenser itself to meet the blast and be driven back
condensed in the form of spray.
In traction engines or tramway cars with a rapid forward motion the
artificial blast will not be necessary, a sufficient current of air being
produced by the forward motion of the vehicle. The condensed steam
can either be led to the water tank or the condenser itself be used as a
water tank.
In applying the condenser to a steam car, for example, a free space is
left between the floor of the car and the top of the condenser, so as to
allow a current of air to pass between them. In winter this space can;
be closed so that the heat of the condenser will keep the interior of the
car warm, or tubes may be carried from the condenser up under the
seats, forming a steam warming apparatus, while a small safety valve
with whistle might casily be fitted to the condenser to apprize the
engineman if the pressure rose too high.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edwin Powley Alexander in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, Her special license
that I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR CONDENSING EXHAUST: STEAM FROM
TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE WARMING OF STEAM
TRAMWAY CARS," a communication to me from abroad by William Robert
Rowan, of the Randers Railway Works, Randers, in the Kingdom of
Denmark, Engineer and Contractor, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, my executors or admini-
strators, 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.
L
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, do hereby -

page_text: surface condenser and accessories for that purpose, and the application
of the same to steam carriages so as to ensure the warming of such
carriages, when required...
The condensing chamber may be of any form and 'material best suited
to the requirements of the case, and through this chamber there is run
as large a number as is practicable of tubes just as in an ordinary
locomotive boiler, the diameter and number of the tubes varying
according to circumstances.. Chambers or passages of any convenient
form may obviously be subtituted for tubes. In combination with this
surface condenser there is a fan or blower which maintains a rapid
current of air through the tubes, the said current of air 'having the
effect of keeping the tubes cool and condensing the steam.
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When space is an object and it is necessary to effect the greatest
possible amount of condensation with the smallest possible surface the
blast is moistened before entering the tubes, so that they may be further.
cooled by the evaporation of the moisture from the air during its passage
through them. This may be effected either by inducing water (or any
more readily evaporating fluid) to rise by the action of the vacuum
produced by means of the blast through small tubes from a cistern
situate at a lower level than the condenser, or simply by allowing
fine jets of steam from the condenser itself to meet the blast and be
driven back condensed in the form of spray through the tubes of the
condenser.
In traction engines or tramway cars having a rapid forward motion,
the artificial blast will not be necessary, a sufficient current of air being
produced by the forward motion of the vehicle. itself, assisted or not by
the draught through the chimney. The water of condensation can
either be led by a pipe to the cistern below or to the condenser itself, if
the latter be used as a water tank.
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In applying the said condenser and accessories to a steam car, a freo
space is left between the condensing chamber and the adjacent surfaces
of the car so as to allow'à current of air to pass between them, and thus
avoid the overheating of the car in warm weather. In winter and cold
climates this space can be closed by dampers so as to form a hot-ain
chamber which will keep the interior of the car warm, or tubes may be
carried from the body of the condensing chamber or from the air
passages thereof; thus forming a steam, or hot-air warming apparatus.

page_text: A small safety valve with whistle might also be fitted to the condenser
to apprise the engine man should the pressure rise too high.
I may.
here observe that although I have described the surface
condenser and air blast as applied to a steam tramway car, the samé
means of condensing exhaust steam may be applied to traction and other
engines, and in the case of stationary engines the caloric abstracted
during the process of condensation may be utilized for heating air to be
employed in the warming of buildings.
The ends of the condenser tubes should be secured into the end side or
top and bottom plates of the condensing chamber, which may be so
shaped as to fit under the floor and seats of the car when applied thereto.
..
It is preferred that the said tubes be secured into the end plates of
the condensing chamber, so that they may be parallel or nearly so to the
longitudinal centre line of the traction engine or other vehicle to which
the said condenser may be applied, thereby facilitating the passage of air
currents through them induced by the rapid travelling motion of the
said engine or vehicle.
The fan blower for maintaining (when requiste) an artificial current
of air through the condenser tubes is driven in any convenient or well.
known manner from the engine.
When using steam for moistening the blast any convenient number of
fine jet nozzles are fitted on to the condenser itself, the steam jets issuing
therefrom being so directed as to meet the blast or current of air, and be
carried by it in a condensed form or as spray through the condenser tubes.
5 After the air has been driven through the condenser and comes out
heated I bring it back under the boiler fire, using it both as a hot air
supply and as a hot blast. By means of a cock or other regulating
apparatus placed conveniently to the hand of the engineman he can
by regulating the supply of air or the strength of the blast regulate
O the fire, and in a measure produce more or less steam as may be
required, which is a great desideratum in traction and such like engines.
The hot blast moreover not only effects a saving of fuel but also increases
the steam producing power of the boiler.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
5 said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would here observe that I make no claim separately
to the use of a condensing chamber, having condensing tubes, chambers,

page_text: or passages, running therethrough for the condensation of exhaust
steam from a steam engine, as I am aware that such an arrangement
has already been employed; but what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The application and use of the hercin-before described con-
densing apparatus in conjunction with currents of air in the manner and
for the purposes specified.
Secondly. The utilization of the heat abstracted from the exhaust
steam during the process of condensation for the warming of tramway
cars or other similar vehicles substantially as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The application and use to and in the condensation of the
exhaust steam from traction and other engines, of one or more blasts or
currents of air moistened or otherwise, and caused to pass through the
condensing tubes, chambers, or passages of a surface condenser, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Fourthly. The moistening of the said blast or blasts of air before
entering the condenser tubes, either by means of steam jets or by the
admixture with the said blast of the spray of water or other more readily
evaporating liquid substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.