606 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



firstly, in enclosing' the surface condenser within a tank or vessel, which 

 shall be so constructed as to be capable of serving' as an ordinary jet con- 

 denser when any derangement of the tubes or other condensing surface of 

 the surface condenser proper shall require it, thereby affording an alterna- 

 tive which shall secure the continuity of the vacuum, though, of course, at 

 the expense of a loss of the whole, or a part of the fresh water aff"orded by 

 the surface condenser, when that is in perfect working order. 



A second and highly important feature results from the above named 

 construction, viz: the ability to maintain a vacuum more or less perfect, 

 but, nevertheless equal on both the outside and the inside of the surface con- 

 denser, at the same time, and thus to relieve said surface condenser from. 

 atmospheric pressure. The danger from fractures caused by this pressure, 

 as well as the impairing the vacuum, caused by small leaks, are thus obvi- 

 ated, while as it is only required to secure the tubes against movement at 

 one of their ends, the other ends thereof may be left free to move, and 

 hence, the disruption usually attendant upon the alternate expansions and 

 contractions, does not, in mine, occur at all. 



The following exhibits a method of construction, which, it will be seen, 

 bears out fully the above allegations. At the letter h is represented a box or 

 case, composed of metal, and of sufficient strength to resist tlie pressure of 

 the atmosphere, and it is also to be made air and water tight, as far as 

 possible. In the underside of this there is an opening, i. Fig. Ill, through 

 which a connection is made by a channel, k, with an air pump, l, of a 

 common construction,. At m is a perforated plate, on which the water for 

 effecting condensation is received, being for the purpose of dispersing 

 that water in a manner well known; and at o is a pipe and cock for in- 

 jecting said water. Into the box, thus constructed, which will be recog- 

 nized as an ordinary "jet condenser," I next introduce a " surface con- 

 denser " — that is to say, an apparatus by which steam is to be condensed 

 by contact with cold metallic or like surfaces, and which I make as fol- 

 lows: — At N, Fig. Ill, is shown a number of pipes, or tubes, arranged 

 horizontally, their ends being fixed into plates or flanges of metal, having 

 holes perforated to receive them. I cover the ends of said tubes, by at- 

 taching caps, p and R, to these plates, as shown in section Fig. III. The 

 tubes thus arranged are introduced within the box, h, as shown. In the 

 cap, jp, there is an opening made at s to receive the end of the pipe which 

 conveys the steam to be condensed, and which pipe is seen at Si. This 

 steam pipe is bolted tightly to the outside of the box, h, by a flange, and its 

 end extending into the box, enters the cap, p, at s, as shown. The cap, p, 

 is divided into compartments, by a partition, n, the object of which is to 

 cause the steam to traverse through two sections of tubes. More parti- 

 tions may be introduced, to insure full and equal distribution of the steam 

 to each tube. At t, is shown a pipe connected with the lower side of the 

 cap, p, and passing through the box, h, having a tight joint where it comes 

 out. This pipe terminates in a pump, u, the use of which is to pump away 

 the water resulting from the condensation of steam, and which collects in 

 the bottoms of the tubes and in the caps. At w is an opening in tlie lower di- 

 vision of the cap, p, which forms a passage from the tubes to the interior of 

 the box, the use of which will be described more fully. This opening, w, is 



