US1717771A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

J. E. GRACE June 1 8, 1929.

counsusnn Filed larch 8, 1928 JOHN F. GRACE.

IN ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1929.

UNETED d'ifA'lES PATENT @FFECE.

JOHN E. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VIORTHINGTON PUB/I1 AND IJIACHINEBY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

CONDENSER.

Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,018.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and an object of the invention is to provide a condenser in which leakage oi 'cooling water, circulated through the tubes oi: the condenser, into the steam chamber and its mixing with the condensate will be prevented.

A further object of the present inventlon is to provide a condenser structure in which both ends of the condenser tubes may be expanded into the tube heads to provide fluid tight connections and to provide means for compensating for crqpansion and contraction oi" the tubes due to temperature variances and also to accommodate or compensate tor unequal expansion of the respective tubes due to difference in temperatures 10- cally within the condenser.

The present invention embodies a condenser having a floating water box to which one of the tube sheets or heads of the condenser is attached and an expansion joint between the tube sheet and condenser shell to permit movement of the tube sheet and water box relative to the shell to compensate for expansion and contraction of the condenser tubes under heat variances, and it also embodies flexible supporting or suspension means establishing movable connection between the water box and condenser snell to permit supported movement of the water box to compensate for localized variances of temperatures within the condenser.

llith these objects in view, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser ot the preferred form en'ibodying the invention, and the features forming: the inven tion will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of a condenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a condenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. is a detailed side elevation showing a sli ht modification in the flexible suspension means, and

Fig. 4: is a detailed cross section on the line 1 d of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the draw.

ings, the improved condenser comprises a shell 1 having an exhauststeam inlet 2 through which the exhaust steam to be condensed enters the condenser shell 1 and passes transversely therethrough about the cooling tubes 3. Cooling water for condensing the steam is circulated through the tubes 3 and the water boxes 4 and 5 while the condensate passes to the hot well 6 from which it is drawn in any suitable manner. To prevent leakage of the circulated cooling water into the condenser chamber and its resulting mixing with the condensate, the tubes 8 have their ends expanded into the tube heads or sheets, one of which is shown at 7 in the drawings. While the tubes 3 are shown as expanded into the tube heads, it is to be understood that they may be connected to the tube heads or sheets in any suitable manner so as to provide a fluid tight joint.

Owing to the fluctuation of temperatures within a condenser operated under varying loads, it is necessary to provide compensa tion for the expansion and contraction of the tubes 3 under the heat variances due to the varying load, so as to prevent rupturing of the connections between the tubes and the tube sheets. I

In the present embodiment, tube sheet? is attached to the water box 5 and they are both connected to the condenser shell 1 by an expansion joint 8 which is a gasket of flexible material, preferably rubber or a combination of rubber and cloth or any suitable material found adaptable for the purpose, which will not corrode or deteriorate upon contact with the water and steam in the condenser shell and which will embody sufficient elasticity to permit of the necessary relative movement between the tube sheet and the shell 1 to compensate for expansion and contraction of the tubes. The gasket 8, which forms the expansion joint engages between the tube sheet '7 and the water box 5, and is attached to the casing 1 by clamping ring 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

To provide supported movement of the water box 5 which moves with the expansion and contraction of the tubes, brackets 10 are attached to the shell 1 above the plane intersecting the horizontal axis of the water box while brackets 11 are attached to the water box below the horizontal plane bisecting the axis of the water box and flexible as shown, in Figs. 1 and 2. In all other respects the modified form shown in Fig. 3 is similar to the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

It Will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construe tion or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention defined by theclaims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1.. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, and suspension springs connecting the water box and shell to permit limited 11lovement of the water box relative to the shell.

2. In a surface condenser, a shell, awater box, and laminated suspension springs connecting the water box and shell to permit limited movement of the water box relative to the shell.

3. In a surface'condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connected to the water box, a flexible gasket connecting the water box and shell, and springs forming a movable supporting connection between the shell and water box.

at. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connected to the water box, a flexible gasket connecting the water box and shell, and springs forming a movable supporting connection between the shell and water box, the active part of said flexible gasket being exposed exteriorly of the condenser shell and water box.

In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connected to said water box, and suspension springs connected to said shell above the plane of the horizontal axis of the condenser and to the water box below the plane of the horizontal axis of the condenser. V

6. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet connected to said water box, and suspension springs connected to said shell above the plane of the horizontal shell, the active part of said flexible gasket being exposed exteriorly of the condenser shell and water box.

8. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, a fluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, and laminated springs forming a supporting connection. between the shell and water box.

9. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, a fluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, and laminated springs forming a supporting connection between the shell and water box, the active part of said expansion joint being exposed exteriorly of the shell and water box.

10. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, a fluid tightexpansion joint between said water box and shell, brackets on said shell, brackets on the water box, and flexible springs connected to said brackets to provide yieldably supporting connection between the shell and water box.

11. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube sheet carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said tube sheet, a fluid tight expansion joint between said water box and shell, brackets carried by said shell above the plane of the horizontal axis of the condenser, brackets carried by the water box below horizontal plane ofthe condenser, and spring strips connected to said brackets for providing yieldable supports for the water box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN F. GRACE.

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