Direct contact condenser

Claim 1

IN A DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSER HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED HOUSING WITH AN INLET TO RECEIVE VAPORIZED FLUID AND AN OUTLET FOR COOLANT FLUID AT ITS BOTTOM PORTION, AN OUTLET FOR UNCONDENSED VAPOR FLUID AT ITS TOP PORTION, AND AN INLET FOR PROVIDING COOLANT FLUID REMOTE FROM ITS TOP PORTION: (A) A SERIES OF PLATES FIXEDLY DISPOSED IN SPACED AXIAL ALINEMENT IN THE HOUSING AND AXIALLY SPACED FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM ENDS THEROF, EACH HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERY SPACED FROM THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE HOUSING; (B) A SERIES OF AXIALLY SPACED ANNULAR FLANGES CONNECTED TO THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE HOUSING EACH BEING DISPOSED BELOW AND SPACED FROM ONE OF THE PLATES; (C) THE UPPERMOST PLATE BEING ALINED WITH AND SPACED BELOW THE COOLANT FLUID INLET TO FORM A SPLASH PLATE, AND THE OTHER OF THE PLATES ECH FORMING A BAFFLE PLATE BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF FLANGES DISPOSED IN SERIES WITH ONE ANOTHER; (D) THE PLATES AND FLANGES COOPERATING TO CREATE AN ANNULAR WALL OF CASCADING COOLANT FLUID BETWEEN THE COOLANT FLUID INLET AND OUTLET FOR CONDENSING VAPORIZED FLUID WHEN CONTACTED THEREBY; (E) PASSAGE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSING FOR RELIEVING EXCESS PRESSURE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND VAPORIZED FLUIDS, AND EXTENDING FROM WITHIN THE HOUSING AND OUTSIDE OF THE CASCADING FLUID WALL BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF FLANGES TO WITHIN THE END OF THE HOUSING ABOVE THE FLUID WALL; AND (F) THE BAFFLE PLATES HAVING PASSAGE MENS THERETHROUGH FOR RELIEVING EXCESS PRESSURE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND VAPORIZED FLUIDS FROM WITHIN THE CASCADING FLUID WALL BELOW EACH OF THE BAFFLE PLATES TO THE AREA WITHIN THE CASCADING FLUID WALL ABOVE SUCH BAFFLE PLATES.