IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOUR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR
OTHER VAPOUR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."—A communication from abroad by Augustin
Normand, of Havre, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th October 1875.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
5 County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CON-
DENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOUR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," a communication to me from

page_text: abroad by Augustin Normand, of Havre, in the Republic of France, to
be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object improving the conditions of surface
condensation by diminishing the resistance to be overcome by the
circulating water by effecting the circulation in a simple manner during
the intervals of rest of the engine, or the vessel or ship, and also
ensuring the perfect tightness of the joints of the condenser by a special
arrangement herein-after described.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to diminish the
resistance to be overcome by the circulating water.
In the apparatus at present employed the section of the passage for
the water varies suddenly at the entrance and exit of the pipes or tubes,
whence arises a loss of vis viva, which increases in a very great measure
the power expended in effecting the circulation when the circulation is
accomplished by means of a special apparatus, or which greatly
diminishes the velocity when it is, as in certain ships, the result of the
relative velocity of the external water. This reduction is particularly
evident when the pipes are divided into several bundles or clusters.
According to this Invention in order to diminish the resistance to be
overcome by the circulating water a diverging adjutage or nozzle is
disposed at the extremities of the tubes of the condenser. When the
tightness of the tube joints is obtained by means of a single plate of
india-rubber or other clastic substance it is desirable to form these
nozzles in the moveable packing plate, which may then consist of a plate
perforated with a number of holes corresponding to the tubes of the
condenser, each of the nozzles in the plate being circular and of nearly
equal diameter to the tube on that side of the plate next to the tubes,
whilst they change from a round to a square form, and are enlarged as
much as possible on the outer side of the plate. In lieu however of
constructing the nozzles in the shape last mentioned they may be made
in the form of a truncated cone, with a circular base concentric to the
tubes. In this shape the plate is formed with greater facility, and it can
be made entirely with the drilling machine.
An analogous arrangement may be adopted when each extremity of
the tube is provided with a separate or special packing. For this purpose
each nut or gland for pressing the packing may be terminated in the

page_text: shape of a funnel or nozzle screwed into the tube plate at one end in
order to press the packing arranged round the tube, and widening
gradually towards the other end. In lieu however of the preceding
method there may be arranged in front and as near as possible to the
tube plate, provided with its glands, plates, or other appliances for
securing the packing, a plate in one or several pieces, forming a nozzle
opposite each tube, such plate being secured at intervals either to the
tube plate or any other part of the condenser.
shape of a funnel or nozzle screwed into the tube plate at one end in
order to press the packing arranged round the tube, and widening
gradually towards the other end. In lieu however of the preceding
method there may be arranged in front and as near as possible to the
tube plate, provided with its glands, plates, or other appliances for
securing the packing, a plate in one or several pieces, forming a nozzle
opposite each tube, such plate being secured at intervals either to the
tube plate or any other part of the condenser.
The nozzle may terminate in a square, circular, or other suitable form,
provided that a gradual modification of the section of the water passage
is thereby produced.
The object of the second part of this Invention is to produce the
circulation momentarily in order to maintain the vacuum in the con-
denser during the intervals of repose of the engine or of the ship. This
result is obtained by means of a jet of steam applied to the circulating
water between the condenser and the exit orifice. This jet of steam can
be made directly in the discharge pipe of the circulating water, or in
a special apparatus, such, for example, as the injectors or syphons
employed for drawing the water and producing the exhaust on the
discharge pipe of the circulating water; in either case it is preferable
that the current of the water be conducted in the ordinary direction.
This steam jet being noiseless in its action may also replace with
advantage the escape into the atmosphere, which is generally necessary
during the intervals when the engine is stopped. With suitable arrange-
ments a sufficient circulation may thus be produced with a weight of
steam which may only be a very small portion of the weight of the water
propelled.
The third part of this Invention consists of an india-rubber packing
for the tubes of the condenser, and which may be employed for other
similar purposes, the arrangement ensuring the tightness or imper-
meability of the apparatus. This packing has the form when detached
and before being placed in position of a plate with perforations
corresponding to the tubes of the condenser, each perforation being
provided with a short tube of smaller diameter, and by preference of a
taper form. When the plate is in position the joint is maintained tight
by the pressure of the india-rubber tube upon the copper tube, which
it embraces after the manner of the india-rubber tubes for gas pipes;

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that
I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, or 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
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM OR OTHER VAPOUR, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Augustin Normand, of Havre, in the
Republic of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand

page_text: and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
-
The said Invention has for its object improving the conditions of
surface condensation by diminishing the resistance to be overcome by
the circulating water by effecting the circulation in a simple manner
during the intervals of rest of the engine, or the vessel or ship, and also
ensuring the perfect tightness of the joints of the condenser by a special
arrangement herein-after described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a
horizontal section of a portion of a condenser with some of the
improvements which form the subject of this Invention applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same with the main water pipe and
the outer casing of the condenser removed.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail view of an elastic sheet for maintaining
a tight joint at the ends of the tubes in accordance with one part of this
Invention, and Figure 4 is a corresponding plan of the same.
Figure 5 and 7 (Sheet 2) represent respectively sectional plans of
portions of condensers, with the tubes arranged according to two modifi-
cations of this Invention, and Figures 6 and 8 are end views of the same
corresponding to Figures 5 and 7 respectively.

page_text: Figure 9 (Sheet. 3) represents a transverse section of a ship or vessel
with the condensing apparatus fitted therein, and arranged for carrying
out another part of this Invention; Figure 10 is a corresponding
sectional plan of the same, and Figure 11 is an end view of a portion|
of the apparatus.
out another part of this Invention; Figure 10 is a corresponding
sectional plan of the same, and Figure 11 is an end view of a portion
of the apparatus.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to diminish the
resistance to be overcome by the circulating water.
In the apparatus at present employed the section of the passage for
the water varies suddenly at the entrance and exit of the pipes or tubes,
whence arises a loss of vis viva, which increases in a very great measure
the power expended in effecting the circulation when the circulation
is accomplished by means of a special apparatus, or which greatly
diminishes the velocity when it is (as in certain ships) the result of the
relative velocity of the external water. This loss or diminution is very
perceptible when the tubes are divided into several bundles or clusters.
According to this Invention, in order to diminish the resistance to be
overcome by the circulating water, a diverging ajutage or nozzle is
disposed at the extremity of each of the tubes of the condenser. These
nozzles may be arranged in various ways. When the tightness of the
tube joints is obtained by means of a single sheet of inida-rubber or
other clastic substance the arrangement shewn in Sheet 1 is adopted.
A is the tube plate; B are the tubes; C is the packing sheet; D is the
removeable pressing plate; and E are the nozzles. According to this
modification the nozzles E are formed on the removeable pressing
plate D employed on the top of the packing C, and which then consists
of a plate perforated with a number of holes corresponding to the
tubes B of the condenser, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. The nozzles in
the plate are circular and of nearly equal diameter to the tube on the
side a of the plate next to the tubes, whilst they change from a round
to a square form and are enlarged as much as possible on the outer
side 6 of the plate. In lieu however of constructing the nozzles E in
the shape herein-before described they may be made in the form of a
truncated cone, with a circular base concentric to the tubes for the
facility of manufacture, as the plate with its nozzles can then be
formed into the required shape solely with the aid of the drilling
machine.

page_text: An analogous arrangement may be adopted when each extremity of
the tube is provided with a separate or special packing, as shewn in
Figures 5 and 6 (Sheet 2). For this purpose each gland D for pressing
the packing C may terminate in the shape of a funnel or nozzle E, and
be screwed into the tube plate A at the end a in order to press the
packing C arranged round the tube B, whilst it is widened or gradually
increased in diameter towards the other end b; or in lieu of the
preceding method the modification shewn in Figures 7 and 8 (Sheet 2)
may be employed, and which consists in arranging in front and as near
as possible to the tube plate A, provided with its glands, plates, or other
appliances D for securing the packing C, a plate E constructed either
in one or more pieces, and forming a nozzle opposite each tube B, such
plate being secured at intervals either to the tube plate A, or to any
other convenient part of the condenser.
The nozzle may terminate in a square, circular, or other suitable form,
provided that a gradual modification of the section of the water passage
is thereby produced.
The object of the second part of this Invention, which is illustrated
by Figures 9, 10, and 11 (Sheet 3) of the Drawings, is to produce the
circulation momentarily in order to maintain the vacuum in the con-
denser during the intervals of repose of the engine or of the ship. This
result is obtained by means of a jet of steam supplied between the
condenser A and the exit orifice C. This jet of steam may be introduced
directly into the discharge pipe D of the circulating water by means of
a pipe H, as shewn in the Drawing; or into a special apparatus, such,
for example, as the injectors or syphons employed for drawing the water
and producing the exhaust on the discharge pipe of the circulating
water; in either case it is preferable that the current of the water be
conducted in the ordinary direction. The steam which it is generally
found necessary to blow off into the atmosphere during the intervals
when the engine is at rest may be utilized for obtaining the steam jet,
whereby the noise occasioned by the escape of the steam will be entirely
obviated. By means of suitable arrangements a sufficient circulation
may thus be produced with a weight of steam which may bear only a
small proportion to the weight of the water propelled.
The third part of this Invention, which is illustrated in Figures 1, 3,

page_text: the tubes of the condenser, and which may be employed for other similar
purposes, the arrangement ensuring the tightness or impermeability of
the apparatus. This packing has the form when detached and before
being placed in position of a sheet C with perforations corresponding to
the tubes of the condenser, each perforation being provided with a short
tube d of smaller diameter, and by preference of a taper form. When
the sheet is in position the joint is maintained tight by the pressure of
the india-rubber tubes d upon the copper tubes B, which they embrace
after the manner of the india-rubber tubes for gas pipes. This arrange-
ment has moreover the advantage of greatly increasing the strength of
the india-rubber sheet.
The plate D employed at the exterior of the packing C should by
pressure make a tight joint at the edges of the sheet. The tubes may
thus be placed as close together as convenient without the liability of
the bundle or cluster becoming rapidly fouled, the principle object being 1
to diminish as much as possible the difference between the section of the
water passages inside and outside the tubes.
The plate for pressing the packing may also be so arranged as to press
the india-rubber against the tube plate and round cach of the tubes of
the condenser.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
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 consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The application and use to and with the tubes of condensers of
nozzles arranged in such a manner that the sectional area of the water
passage into the tubes shall be gradually diminished, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Second. The employment of a steam jet for effecting the circulation 3
of the condensing water, substantially, as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Thirdly. The application and use to and in the joining or connecting
a cluster or series of tubes to a tube plate or holder of a perforated sheet
of india-rubber or like clastic material having tubes or rings for fitting 3
round the tubes to be joined or connected to such tube plate or holder,

page_text: substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and as
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
· six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)