IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATERAL ACTION OR INDUCTION OF FLUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR, KNOWN AS 'MORTON'S EJECTOR CONDENSER.
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Morton, of the City of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATERAL ACTION OR INDUCTION OF FLUIDS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS OR MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR, KNOWN AS 'MORTON'S
EJECTOR CONDENSER.'
Sealed the 13th April 1869, and dated the 15th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Morton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th February 1869.
I, ALEXANDER MORTON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATERAL ACTION OR INDUCTION OF
FLUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MECHANISM EMPLOYED THERRFOR, KNOWN
AS MORTON'S EJECTOR CONDENSER," " to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has reference to certain improvements upon or
connected with my former Invention of "Improvements in the Lateral
Action or Induction of Fluids, and in the Apparatus or Mechanis

page_text: employed therefor," and for which Letters Patent were granted to me,
No. 2106, and dated Eighteenth July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and chiefly to that part or
application of my said former Invention for the purpose of producing
eduction currents and vacuum in the exhaust pipes and cylinders of
low pressure or condensing steam engines, and shown and described
particularly in reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the Sheet of Drawings
appended to the Final Specification of my said former Invention, and
which lateral action apparatus I have for simplicity of reference called
"Morton's ejector condenser;" and the objects and advantages of these
improvements under or forming this my said Invention are the making
of the said apparatus or condenser of my said former Invention more
efficiently applicable to steam engines for working at any speed at
which they are allowed to run, and. particularly for condensing the
exhaust steam of single, or it may be double, slow going or long stroke
steam engines in which a considerable interval takes place between
each exhaust of steam into the apparatus, either into a single branch
and steam nozzle or separate branches and nozzles of each cylinder
of the engines to which the apparatus is attached, and which engine
or engines fitted with these condensers are made more simple in their
construction and action than they have been heretofore,
The first and main improvement of this my said Invention consists
in causing a portion or the whole current of the injection water after
passing the steam nozzle, or last when there is more than one, to
circulate or return before passing into or through the throat of the
lateral action inducing and discharge expanding tube back though
a passage or passages or other equivalent arrangement into a water
nozzle behind the steam jet or jets, as the case may be (where the
injection water enters), during the interval between each discharge
of steam from the respective ends of the steam cylinder, cylinders,
or engines, which returned water may either enter the injection
water in a solid central jet or in an annular jet through correspond-
ingly shaped conoidal pozzles so as to stop or partially stop the
entrance of the injection jet for the time being while the return
current is in action, or combine and mingle with it in its onward
motion through the condenser or apparatus instead of the water only
passing right out through it, as described and practiced under my
said former Invention. An extra water nozzle or nozzles may be

page_text: employed in and for producing this return current in connection
with the return passage or passages. The discharge end of the
inducing lateral action tube may be fitted with a discharge valve,
and a chamber, and air vessel, as preferred, and a similar valve may
be fitted on the injection water pipe or in a chamber placed near
the apparatus, which valve would allow the water to pass into the
apparatus, but would not allow it to return. These improvements
as described may be used individually or combined in addition to
and in connection with the central and initial constant or inter-
mittent steam jet for assisting or maintaining the constant flow or
jet of condensing water through the condensing apparatus when the
exhaust steam is deficient, the jets of steam and water being controlled
either by the self-acting vacuum valve which I have heretofore used
or by other valves, cocks, or spindles, either self-acting or set by
hand; or by another improvement under this my said Invention the
said regulating or other equivalent valve may be actuated by the
governor of the engine so that when the engine has been reduced
in speed the fall and action of the governor will open the valve
and admit a small jet of initial steam to keep up the current of
injection water in concert with the opening of the main steam or
throttle valve of the engine.
Another improvement under this my said Invention consists in
making the governor to move the water or steam nozzle of the con-
densing apparatus by any ordinary mechanical motion, such as used
to move throttle or other valves connected to the lateral or longitudinal
motive spindles of the nozzles or other equivalent mechanism, so as to
adjust the distance between them in accordance with the velocity of
the engines and consequent quantity or pressure of the exhaust steam
admitted into the apparatus to be condensed, thus insuring the maximum
efficiency of the condenser and engines; or otherwise these nozzles
may be set by hand to suit the quantity of exhaust steam admitted to
this improved apparatus to be used for the said new purposes of con-
densing such steam, or they may be adjusted or made self-acting by
any of the means heretofore employed for the purpose of moving and
regulating the nozzles of self-adjusting ordinary injectors for feeding
steam boilers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Morton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st May 1869.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MORTON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in. the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Morton, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Morton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Morton, 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, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATERAL ACTION OR INDUCTION OF FLUIDS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS OR MECHANISH EMPLOYED THEREFOR, KNOWN AS 'MORTON'S EJECTOR
CONDENSER,' upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Morton, 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 Morton, 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, reference being had to the accompany.
ing Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and numerals marked thereon,
that is to say -
My said Invention has reference to certain improvements upon or
connected with my former Invention of improvements in the lateral
action or induction of fluids, and in the apparatus or mechanism

page_text: employed therefor, and for which Letters Patent wore granted to me,
No. 2106, and dated Eighteenth July, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and chiefly to that part or application
of my said former Invention for the purpose of producing eduction
currents and vacuum in the exhaust pipes and cylinders of low-pressure
or condensing steam engines, and shown and described particularly in
reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the Sheet of Drawings appended to the
Final Specification of my said former Invention, and which lateral
action apparatus I have for simplicity of reference called "Morton's
ejector condenser;" and the objects and advantages of these improve.
ments under or forming this my said Invention are the making of the
said apparatus or condenser of my said former Invention more efficiently
applicable to steam engines for working at any speed at which they are
allowed to run, and particularly for condensing the exhaust steam of
single, or it may be double, slow going or long stroke steam engines, in
which a considerable interval takes place between each exhaust of steam
into the apparatus, either into a single branch and steam nozzle or
separate branches and nozzles of each cylinder of the engines to which
the apparatus is attached, and which engine or engines fitted with these
condensers are made more simple in their construction and action than
they have been heretofore.
The first and main improvement in this my said Invention consists in
causing a portion or the whole current of the injection water after
passing the steam nozzle, or the last one when there is more than one,
to circulate or return before passing into or through the throat of the
lateral action inducing and discharge expanding tube back through a
passage or passages or other equivalent arrangement into a water nozzle
behind the steam jet or jets, as the case may be (where the injection
water enters), during the interval between each discharge of steam from
the respective ends of the steam cylinder, cylinders, or engines, which
returned water may either enter the injection water in a solid central jet
or in an annular jet through correspondingly shaped conoidal nozzles, so
as to stop or partially stop the entrance of the injection jet for the time
being while the return current is in action, or combine and mingle with
it in its outward motion through the condenser or apparatus instead of
the water only passing right out through it, as described and practised
under my said former Invention. An extra water nozzle or nozzles may
be employed in and for producing this return currunt in connection with

page_text: the return passage or passages. The discharge end of the inducing
lateral action tube may be fitted with a discharge valve and a chamber
and air vessel, as preferred, and a similar valve may be fitted on the
injection water pipe or in a chamber placed near the apparatus, which
valve or valves would allow the water to pass into the apparatus, but
would not allow it to return. These improvements as described may be
used individually or combined in addition to and in connection with the
central initial constant or intermittent steam jet for assisting or
maintaining the constant flow or jet of condensing water through the
condensing apparatus when the exhaust steam is deficient, the jets of
steam and water being controlled either by the self-acting vacuum valve
which I have heretofore used, or by other valves, cocks, or spindles
either self-acting or set by hand; or by another improvement under
this my said Invention the said regulating or other equivalent valve
may be actuated by the governor of the engine, so that when the engine
has been reduced in speed the fall and action of the governor will open
the valve and admit a small jet of initial steam to keep up the current
of injection water in concert with the opening of the main steam or
throttle valve of the engine.
Another improvement under this my said Invention consists in
making the governor to move the water or steam nozzle of the con-
densing apparatus by any ordinary mechanical motion, such as used to
move throttle or other valves connected to the lateral or longitudinal
motive spindles of the nozzles or other equivalent mechanism, so as to
adjust the distance between them in accordance with the velocity of the
engines and consequent quantity or pressure of the exhaust steam
admitted into the apparatus to be condensed, thus insuring the
maximum efficiency of the condenser and engines; or otherwise these
nozzles may be set by hand to suit the quantity of exhaust steam
admitted to this improved apparatus to be used for the said now purposes
of condensing such steam, or they may be adjusted or made self-acting
by any of the means heretofore employed for the purpose of moving
and regulating the nozzles of self-adjusting ordinary injectors for feeding
steam boilers.
Having thus so far stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now
proceed to describe the manner of performing the same, by describing
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing what I at prosent believe

page_text: to be the best modifications and arrangements for practicany performing:
or carrying the several improvements contained in my said Invention.
into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same or
like parts in all the Figures.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section,
and Figure 2 is a horizontal section respectively taken on lines a, a, and
b, b, of a lateral action apparatus or "ejector condenser" constructed in
accordance with and illustrative of one modification of my said improve-
ments under this my said Invention, upon the like apparatus shown in
Figures 5 and 6 of the Final Specification of the Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent, dated 18 July 1867, and numbered 2106, herein-
before referred to. The exhaust steam from one or more cylinders enters
the condensing apparatus by the branch A, and is directed as shown by
the arrow towards the throat O³ of the inducing tube C. The injection or
inlet water enters by the branch D, and is also directed by the form of
the inlet nozzle E in a central or annular jet or jets towards the inducing
tube O; and at each discharge of the exhaust steam from the cylinder
or cylinders the jet of water receives an impulse from the exhaust steam,
which is more than sufficient to propel it through the inducing tube O
against the pressure of the atmosphere. Between each alternate dis-
charge of exhaust steam from the cylinders of slow going engines
especially, the jet of water may not have sufficient force imparted to it
to enable it to pass through the inducing tube C; then in that case it
returns by the passage d and conical annular space f again through the
return water jet nozzle e, which is formed of nearly the same diameter as
the inlet water nozzle E, and at such a distance in front of it that the
area of the annulus f between the two nozzles nearly equals the area of
the smallest diameter e¹ of the return water nozzle e. The return water
whilst passing through the nozzle e, e³, therefore for the time being stops
the inlet flow of water through the nozzle E until the next discharge of
exhaust steam from the cylinder gives the water a sufficient force.to pass
through the inducing tube O, and this manner of returning the water
and alternately stopping its inlet flow during the interval between the
discharges of steam from the cylinders form the chief improvements in
this modification or arrangement of the parts. To prevent the possibility
of the injection or inlet water flowing or returning back through the
injection pipe D a valve D¹ is fitted on the suction side of the apparatus,
and for a similar reason a valve I is fitted on the discharge side of the

page_text: apparatus, so that the discharge water can never return back through
the apparatus.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of
another modification of a similar apparatus; the reference letters being
the same in each modification, I will merely direct attention to the
different or distinguishing improvements, which consist in making the
outer or last steam and water combining nozzle a adjustable by
means of the rack c and pinion c³, or other convenient or equivalent
means of adjustment, connected with the governor of the engine through
the lever and rod c³, c", so that when the engine increases in speed the
combining nozzle a becomes adjusted at a greater distance from the
water nozzle c in accordance therewith.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on a plane through the centre of the
main ducts of another modification as adapted to a pair of cylinders
with separate exhaust pipes, the exhaust steam from one cylinder
entering the apparatus by the branch A, and that from the other by the
branch B. The chief, new, or improved feature or peculiarity in this
modification differing from the previous modifications described in
reference to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, and in reference to Figures 5 and 6
of the Final Specification of the previous Patent herein-before referred to,
No. 2106 7, consists in making the combining nozzle a self-acting' or
automatic; thus when the jet of water passing through the nozzles E
and A' is insufficient in force to pass through the inducing tube C it
gathers in the space 6 between the combining nozzle a and the throat C¹
of the apparatus or inducing tube C, and produces a force capable of
moving the combining nozzle a nearer to the water nozzle E and
A', and by so doing it increases the impulsive force of the exhaust
steam, so that the water jet is propelled through the inducing tube C
with sufficient force, not only to dischargo itself, but by its inducing
or lateral action to drag with it that which had gathered in the space b,
thereby producing a diminished pressure on the combining nozzle a,
when it again recedes from the water nozzles E and A' to its maximum
working position.
Figure 6 is a similar section of a similar apparatus to that shown and
described in reference to Figure 5, but instead of the combining nozzle a
Being self-acting, as in Figure 5, it is worked by a rack pinion and lever
c, c', and in connection with a "spanner" c keyed upon the shaft c

page_text: for reversing the link motion of the engines. When the reversing link iş
in mid gear the combining nozzle a is at its minimum distance from the
water nozzles E and A', and when the reversing link is in full gear in
either direction for running the engines forward or back, then the com-
bining nozzle a is at its maximum distance from the water nozzles, thus
causing the combining nozzle a to bear a constant relation to the position
of the reversing link and quantity of steam admitted to the engines
and apparatus.
Figure 7 is a similar section of another modification of this apparatus
also for a pair of engines; it is only necessary to refer to the parts that
differ from Figures 5 and 6. In this modification the first combining
nozzle A' is made adjustable instead of the second a in the two former
modifications, which in this case is stationary, otherwise the apparatus
and the working of the movable nozzle, or nozzles when more than one
is used, are similar to those just described in reference to Figure 6.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical and a longitudinal section of
a modification of the new or improved apparatus in accordance with my
said Invention, so arranged that the exhaust steam from a pair of
cylinders enters the apparatus respectively from each by the rectangular
branches A and B at opposite sides and acts in one combining nozzle á
common to both branches and cylinders. This modification has the
combining nozzle a made adjustable, either regulated by the governor or
link motion actuating mechanism, and is formed and fitted with the
return passage d and return nozzle e, all in a similar manner and for
the same purpose as those herein-before described in reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 6 for these different improvements.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of
a modification of the apparatus wherein two combining nozzles A¹, a,
are used, as in Figures 5, 6, and 7, but the branches A and B for
admitting the exhaust steam are rectangular, and on opposite sides of
the apparatus, instead of being on the same side and circular as in the
other modifications, which considerably shortens the apparatus as a
whole, otherwise it does not substantially differ from the foregoing
Figures just referred to, the last combining nozzle being made adjustable,
and controlled as described in reference to Figures 3 or 6.
In the several modifications shown in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive of the
improved condensing apparatus constructed generally in accordance with
my said Invention, the combining nozzle a or A' of each modification

page_text: may be regulated by the action of the steam engine governor or the
reversing gear as desired. The small regulating steam cylinder g in
each modification may be worked by a rod from the governor from the
reversing link motion, or by hand, the rod being connected to the bell-
crank lever h. This lever is so arranged that it can open the regulating
valve g' of the cylinder g, so that no movement of either the link motion
or governor or the attendant can shut it by the crank h, as the vacuum
in the condenser is itself the regulator of the valve g¹ through the small
pipe. Should the vacuum in the condenser at any time suddenly
become impaired the effect of the reduced pressure is communicated to
the lower piston g" of the regulating valve g³, which immediately moves
by the force of the counter spring ; and opens the central steam jet
through the ducts and nozzles F, F¹, until the vacuum is again estab-
lished in the condenser. The injection water for actuating any of the
modifications of condensers herein described may be raised by a centri-
fugal or other pump (as described in reference to the condensing appa-
ratus shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the Final Specification of the Inven-
tion for which Letters Patent were granted to me, No. 2106, dated
18 July 1867), instead of by the central steam jet, and it will be
understood that a suction pump of any description may be applied at
the discharge side of the apparatus with a somewhat similar effect. The
hot water after condensing the steam in these several modifications,
Figures 1 to 11, finally passes out by the discharge valve I and branch J'
of the outer case J, which may form an air vessel for assisting the
discharge, or a hot well from which the water may be conveyed by the
branch J for feeding the boiler; and these improved modifications of
the apparatus or condensers (Figures 1 to 11) are shown as fitted with
an arrangement of the encased tube F' and conically pointed valve
spindle G formed in one piece, so as both to convey the jet of steam to
start or restore the current of injection water, and regulate its passage
through the nozzle F by the action of the screw and hand wheel G'.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I con-
sider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: with a passage or passages for the purpose of returning the injection
water, as herein described,
Second, The application and use of an adjustable combining nozzle
or nozzles in "ejector condensers," as herein described.
Third. The system or mode of connecting the adjustable parts of
"ejector condensers" with their engine governor or reversing gear, as
herein described.
Fourth, The application and use of an air vessel or vessels on the
discharge side of "ejector condensers," as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Morton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
B
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
ALEX. MORTON. (L.S.)