IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF WATER AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED " THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McKendrick and Henry William Ball, Sole Partners
of the Firm of Alexander Chaplin and Company, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE DISTILLATION OF WATER AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
"
THEREFOR.”
Sealed the 20th March 1877, and dated the 25th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McKendrick and Henry
William Ball at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th
September 1876.
JOHN MCKENDRICK and HENRY WILLIAM BALL, Sole Partners of the Firm of
Alexander Chaplin and Company, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF WATER AND IN THE
MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Our said Invention has for its object a more perfect aërating and cooling or
condensing of the steam evaporated from sea water or other water than heretofore
by the air mixed with it before entering the worm or other condenser, for pro-
ducing a fresher and more palatable water than usually produced by such
distillation, the same being improvements upon an Invention for which Royal
Letters Patent were granted to Alexander Chaplin and George Russell, No. 2853,
dated 23rd October 1862, and of which the petitioners' firm have been the sole
manufacturers. And the nature of the Invention or improvements consists in a
"aërator
new or improved construction of the
or steam and air apparatus or
combining nozzle and vessel placed and connected close to the worm or other
condenser.
"
And the novelty consists in making the vessel rather larger and deeper, and in
adding one, two, or more air inlet and combining nozzles below the first ordinary
one under the steam inlet nozzle, and securing them each concentrical to and a
little below the other with a separate air inlet chamber at the top of each,
preferably formed by the outer cylindrical case or vessel with small holes round it,
covered by a loose outer ring with corresponding holes in it, so that by turning
each ring more or less in one direction or the other it opens or closes the apertures,
so as to regulate the admission of air to each of the new chambers and combining
71

page_text: nozzles, thus admitting and mixing less or more air with the steam, and aërating
and cooling or condensing it accordingly; the more cold air admitted before the
steam enters the worm or condenser proper (and which partially condenses it)
leaves less steam to be condensed; or otherwise the same size of condenser would
condense in a given time a greater quantity of steam or water, which will be more
aërated and fresher and more palatable than the ordinary distilled water.
The steam pipe leading to the steam jet at top is fitted with the usual regulating
cock, and the bottom of the vessel containing the nozzles is prefereably screwed as a
socket to secure it to the screwed stem of a coupling piece passed through the top
of the circulating water chamber, and to the inner end of which the upper end of
the worm or other condenser is tightly jointed to condense the steam and air so
mixed and conduct it to the filter through which it passes, and is drawn by
gravitation through suitable pipes to the tank on board of ship or to other
receptacle, or by a cock or valve direct for use, all as described in the Specification
of the former Patent No. 2853, 1862.
When the apparatus has to be placed on shipboard, below deck, or in a close
place where it is not desirable to draw the air direct in through the regulating
rings of the "aërator," a case and close chamber is formed round it with a pipe
leading therefrom to the upper deck or where the air is drawn from to the
apparatus. A small handle works out through a slit in this outer case with a stem.
projecting down to each ring, so as to set it from the outside of the case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John McKendrick and Henry William Ball in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th March 1877.
JOHN MCKENDRICK and HENRY WILLIAM BALL, Sole Partners of the Firm of
Alexander Chaplin and Company, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineers. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OF WATER AND IN THE
MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
"
"
Our said Invention has for its object a more perfect aërating and cooling or
condensing of the steam evaporated from sea water or other water than heretofore
by the air mixed with it before entering the worm or other condenser, for pro-
ducing a fresher and more palatable water than usually produced by such
distillation, the same being improvements upon an Invention for which Royal
Letters Patent were granted to Alexander Chaplin and George Russell, No. 2853,
dated 23rd October 1862, and of which our firm have been the sole manufacturers.
And the nature of the Invention or improvements consists in a new or improved
construction of the "aërator" or steam and air apparatus or combining nozzles and
vessel, placed and connected close to the worm or other condenser.
One modification of this "aërator" with one additional inlet air chamber and
nozzle is shown in full sized side and sectional elevations and plan in Figures 1, 2,
and 3 respectively of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto
appended for the purpose of showing the best mode and means we are at present
aware of for putting our Invention into effect or practice, the same reference letters
indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
The novelty or improvements consist in making the vessel or case A of this
"aerator" rather larger and deeper, and in adding one, two, or more air inlet
chambers B¹ below the first ordinary one B, and combining nozzles C¹ in addition
to the ordinary ones C, all under the steam inlet nozzle D, and securing them each
concentrical to and a little below the other with their separate air inlet chambers
as B, B¹, above each combining air nozzle C, C¹, preferably formed by and within
the outer cylindrical case or vessel A, and having an additional row of small holes a¹
round each, covered by a loose outer ring E¹ with corresponding holes e¹ in it, so

page_text: ""
that by turning each ring E¹ more or less in one direction or the other it opens or
closes the apertures a¹ and e¹, so as to regulate the admission of air to each of the
new chambers B¹ and combining nozzles C¹ below the original upper ones B and C,
thus admitting and mixing less or more air with the steam, and aërating and
cooling or condensing the steam accordingly before entering the inlet pipe or
coupling branch F to the worm or condenser to which the "aërator or case A is
attached by the coupling screw A¹ at the base. Thus the more cold air admitted
by this new construction of "acrator before the steam enters the worm
condenser proper (and which partially condenses it) leaves less steam to be
condensed; or otherwise the same size of condenser would condense in a given
time a greater quantity of steam into water, which will be more aërated and
fresher and more palatable than the ordinary distilled water.
"
or
The steam pipe S leading to the steam jet at top is fitted with the usual regulating
hand tap S¹ formed in one with the steam nozzle D, and screwed into the cover A2
which is also screwed into the case A, and made to retain the rings E, E¹, in
position below it, and the bottom of the vessel A containing the nozzles and air
spaces is preferably screwed as a socket at A¹ to secure it to the screwed stem of
the coupling piece F passed through the top of the circulating water chamber G,
and to the inner end of which the upper end of the worm or other condenser is
tightly jointed to condense the steam and air so mixed and conduct it through the
worm to the filter or charcoal chamber below, through which it passes, and is drawn
off by gravitation through suitable pipes to the tanks on board of ship or to other
receptacles, or drawn off by a cock or valve direct for use, all as described in the
Specification of the former Patent, No. 2853, 1862.
When the apparatus has to be placed on shipboard, below deck, or in a close
place where it is not desirable to draw the air direct in through the regulating
rings E, E¹, of the "aërator" A an outer case and close chamber is formed round these
with a pipe leading therefrom to the upper deck or to where the air is to be drawn
from to the apparatus. In this case a small handle would be fitted to work out
through a covered in slit in this outer case with index pointer and a stem
projecting down inside to each ring, so as to set it from the outside of the case.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect or practice, we would
observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the construction and combination of the parts of an "aërator with two
or more air inlet chambers and combining nozzles for stills for the distillation and
aëration of water, and either with or without the outer case and pipe for conveying
the air thereto, all substantially as hercin described in referonce to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry William Ball, on behalf of the said
John McKendrick and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal this
Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Agent,
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
HENRY WILLIAM BALL. (L.S.)