GB2097268A - A device for the condensing of water vapour - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for the condensing of water vapour comprises an open topped box (1) which is hermetically sealed by a cover (9). The box (1) is provided with a lateral inlet (2) for receiving air containing water vapour, and is provided with an air outlet at the opposite end of the box. The base wall of the box provides a plurality of upward projections (3) of narrow prismatic shape, whereas the top wall of the cover (9) has a plurality of corresponding downward projections (12), which extend between the upward projections (3) to define a labyrinth path for the air flow between the inlet (2) and the outlet from the box (1). Water vapour thus becomes condensed by contact with the projections (3 and 12) and collects in the base of the box (1). The base of the box is inclined at an angle (14) towards the inlet (2) and small drainage channels bypassing the projections (3) enable the condensed water to flow back and escape through the inlet (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for the condensing of water vapour This present patent refers to a device designed to facilitate the condensation of water vapour which is in excess in a physical process in which such a fluid may be used with the object of preventing its exit to the exterior of a containing space in the said form of vapour, but so doing in the liquid state.

The device in question will result in its use advantageously, in domestic and industrial clothes washing machines, among other things in which, as is well known, the use of hot water at a temperature in the region of its vaporizing temperature gives rise to the production of steam from part of the said water.

As a consequence the required ellimination of the said steam is achieved, the avoidance of such steam being in some cases undesirable, and this to prevent the production of humidity and other nuisances due to the issue of water vapour from the machine in question.

The device, object of this patent is simple in structure, is free from moving parts and provides a high conversion factor from water vapour into the liquid state, recovering the water by means of the same pipe as that of the entry of that fluid.

The fitting of the condenser which is described herein can be in the rear part of the wsshing machine, leaving it completely invis ibie to the user of the machine and carrying out its operation without any outward manifestation.

To facilitate the explanation this specification is accompanied by drawings in which has been shown an embodiment, illustrative but not limititive of one example of a condensing device for water vapour as defined in the claims.

In the drawings; Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section with an enlarged detail of the lower body or casing of the condenser viewed in plan in Fig. 2, laterally in Fig. 3, and in profile view in Fig.

4, while Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are sections on the planes designated by V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII and VIll-VIll respectively.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the upper body which serves as a cover of the new condenser, this appearing in Fig. 10 as a profile view, in Figs. 11 and 12 as exterior and interior plan views.

Figs. 13 and 14 show the complete condenser as a combination of the two above mentioned components.

The elements designated by numbers in the drawings correspond to the components referred to below.

The condenser (Fig. 1) consists of a box -1of extended prismatic shape for preference, with its upper side open and to which is joined an upper body which serves as a cover.

The tubular mouthpiece -2- serves as the entry for the water vapour to the condenser and simultaneously as outlet for the resulting water. The box -1- interiorly has the form of a plurality of elevations with a narrow prismatic shape -3-, these defining elemental chambers along the length of the prismatic body. The aperture -4- at the opposite extremity with respect to the mouthpiece -2- provides for the expulsion of the small quantity of residual vapour following the condensation of the greater part thereof.

The zones -5- of the lower side of the body -1- are slightly inclined downwards towards the mouthpiece -2- and alternatively towards one or other of the lateral sides of the body itself with the purpose of guiding the condensed water towards the outlet. Fig. -5shows the said angular inclination and Fig. -7shows the path -6- between the lateral walls of the body -1- and the interior elevations -3for the condensed water in the direction of the outlet.

Cylindrical pieces -7- in the upper part of the body -1- provide for the attachment of the holding bolts of the upper body or cover when this method of fixing is to be employed.

The extensions -8- provide for the attachment of the body of the condenser to the body of the washing machine, for example, connecting the inlet -2- of the water vapour by means of a tube which has included in it a flexible zone in the form of a funnel, to the tub of the machine.

The upper body of the condenser (Fig. 9) includes a plate -9- of a shape and with dimensions corresponding to the upper side of the body -1- to which it is to be applied, the box thus being closed due to the external rim -10- and the internal rim -11-formed in the said plate. Formed in the plate are flattened prismatic shaped projecting elements -12slightly convergent towards their extremities, defining in conjunction with the similar elevations -3- of the first body, a complex path for the flow of water vapour as may be seen in Fig. -13-. The re-entrant shapes -13- of the external surface of the cover plate correspond to the above mentioned projecting elements.

The depth of the projecting elements is unequal, the lower parts -17- forming a slightly inclined plane of which the angle -14with respect to the horizontal may be seen in Fig. -9-. Thus the projecting element -15- is of less length than the others.

The orifices -16- provide for the insertion of holding bolts for the plate -9-, these being, alternatively replaceable by the use of an adhesive means or ultrasonic welding, a means simply employed by the use of a thermoplastic material injected into the formation of the body -1- and plate -9- with its internal derivations.

The external surface of the body -1- may be completed by the addition of fins which contribute to the disipation of the heat present in the lateral walls of the device, thus improving its efficiency in the condensation of the circulating water vapour.

Anything not affecting the essence of the described device or altering, modifying or changing the same is considered to be variable for the purpose of this patent.

Claims (6)

1. A device for the condensing of water vapour characterized essentially by comprising a body in the form of an elongated orthohedric box with an open top, having attached thereto a hermetically sealed cover, there being a multiplicity of re-entrant shapes of flattened orthohedric form developped from each of the top and bottom sides of the box, the same being arranged vertically and alternately, thus defining together a complex passage for the circulation of the entering water vapour, resulting in its contact with the internal walls of the box, the cover, the re-entrant shapes and its condensation.

2. A device for the condensing of water vapour as in the previous claim, in which each of the re-entrant shapes developped from the bottom side of the box body has a width less than that of the body itself defining a narrow lateral space for the flow of the condensed water, the space being situated alternately on one or the other flanks of the box corresponding to the various projections thereof, thus defining another complex passage for the flow of water, the flow being assisted by means of the general slope of the bottom of the box towards the area in which is located the mouth for the water vapour inlet as well as of the various sections defined between the internal projections.

3. A device for the condensing of water vapour as in the previous claims in which the re-entrant shapes developped from the cover plate have lengths which decrease in proportion to the depths of the bottom of the box defining zones of constant width in the water vapour passage.

4. A device for the condensing of water vapour as in the previous claims characterized by there being provided on the external walls of the box fins for the radiaton of heat.

5. A device for the condensing of water vapour, as in the previous claims characterized by there being provided on the periphery of the internal face of the cover plate an external rim and an inner rib for the purpose of ensuring the hermetic sealing of the box.

6. A device for the condensing of water vapour, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.