US247501A

US247501A - Condenser

Info

Publication number: US247501A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1881-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1898-09-27

Description

(No Model.)

L. J. KNOWLES.

CONDENSER. v No. 247,501. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT Price.

LUOIUS L b KNOWLES, OF WORCESTER, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE F. BLAKE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,501, dated September 2'7, 1881.

Application filed July 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Looms J. KNOWLES, of Worcester, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Air-Pump and Condenser, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification.

My invention relates to the condenser of a condensing steam-engine, the object being to prevent the inj ection-water from filling the condenser and overflowing into the engine-cylinder. The cold injection-water is drawn into the condenser through a pipe leading to a suitable reservoir or vessel containing the said water, and preferably on a somewhat lower level than the'said condenser, the water being paused to enter by atmospheric pressure. It the engine be stopped the air-pump ceases to work, and as there will be a more or less nearly perfect vacuum in the condenser the water will continue to flow in, and with condensers of the usual construction will sometimes over flow the condenser, fill the exhaust-pipe, and pass into the engine-cylinder. In order to prevent this I provide the condenser with a valve controlling a passage to the external atmosphere and automatically opened, as by a float,when the water rises to a certain height in the condenser, thus allowing air to enter the condenser, destroy the vacuum therein, and prevent the further rise of the water.

The drawing illustrates in vertical longitudinal section a condenser embodying my invention.

The condenser a, ofany suitable or usual construction', is provided at its top with the injeetion-water passage 12, connected with a suitable reservoir or source of cold water, which, enterin gthecondenser, falls upon the perforated spray-plate d, and is converted thereby into spray that mingles with the steam entering from the exhaust-steam pipe 0, partially condensing the said steam, and, passing therewith through the second spray-plate f, further condenses it and falls therewith into the suction'passage 9, leading to the usual air-pump, by which the said material is removed from the condenser and avacuum produced therein. The contents of the condenser are thus continuouslypumped out, fresh water being forced by atmospheric pressure into the said condenser through the passage 12, to cool and con= dense the steam entering through the pipe 6.

If the engine by which the air-pump is operated should stop, the water would continue to enter through the passage 1), owing to the vacuum or low pressure in the condenser, and might overflow the said condenser and fill the steam-pipe e and engine-cylinder, unless steps were taken to prevent it. This is automatically accomplished by providing the condenser with a passage, 'lll, leading to the external atmosphere, and controlled by a valve, 02, connected by a rod, '2", with a float, s, of sufficient buoyancy to overcome the pressure of the atmosphere on the valve or, the said float being placed at a point above which it is desired that the water should not rise. When the water in rising reaches the float it raises it and the connected valve n, as shown in dotted lines, opening the passage on and allowing the air to enter, destroy the vacuum, and prevent more water from entering the condenser. When the air-pump is again started it pumps out the water, and at the first stroke lowers the float s enough to cause the valve 92 to close, after which the condenser operates as usual.

I claim- 1. The condenser and passage connecting its interior with the external atmosphere, combined with the valve controlling the said passage, and means to automatically operateit by the rising of the liquid in the eondenser,whereby the said valve is opened and the vacuum in the condenser destroyed when the liquid rises to a certain level therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The condenser, and injection-water and exhaust-steam inlets thereto,combined with a passage connecting the interior of the said condenser with the external atmosphere, a valve to control the said passage, and a float to operate the said valve,whereby air is admitted to the said condenser as soon as the water therein reaches a predetermined level, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUGIUS J. KNOWLES.

Witnesses E.G. TURNER,

GEO. F. BLAKE.