Multiple-effect vertical-tube evaporator

Claim 1

IN A MULTIPLE-EFFECT VERTICAL-TUBE EVAPORATOR, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF EFFECTS EACH OF WHICH INCLUDES A LOWER HEATING CHAMBER AND AN UPPER VAPOR CHAMBER, SAID LOWER HEATING CHAMBER OF EACH EFFECT INCLUDING AN OUTER WALL, UPPER AND LOWER TUBE SHEETS EXTENDING ACROSS THE INTERIOR OF THE SPACE ENCLOSED BY SAID OUTER WALL AND FIXED TO THE LATTER, AND VERTICAL TUBES HAVING OPPOSED OPEN ENDS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN AND FIXED TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER TUBE SHEETS SO THAT THE LIQUOR WHICH IS TO BE EVAPORATED CAN FLOW UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID TUBES TO BE DEPOSITED ON SAID UPPER TUBE SHEET WHILE BEING HEATED BY A HEATED MEDIUM IN SAID HEATING CHAMBER ENGAGING THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID TUBES, SAID VAPOR CHAMBER UPWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER TUBE SHEET TO RECEIVE THE VAPORS LIBERATED FROM THE LIQUOR BY THE HEATING THEREOF AND SAID VAPOR CHAMBER HAVING AN OUTER WALL WHICH AT LEAST IN THE REGION OF SAID UPPER TUBE SHEET IS OF A LARGER DIAMETER THAN THE OUTER WALL OF SAID HEATING CHAMBER AND WHICH HAS A LOWER PORTION FIXED TO SAID OUTER WALL OF SAID HEATING CHAMBER AT AN ELEVATION LOWER THAN SAID UPPER TUBE SHEET THEREOF TO DEFINE WITH SAID OUTER WALL OF SAID HEATING CHAMBERR A CHANNEL INTO WHICH THE LIQUOR WILL FLOW FROM SAID UPPER TUBE SHEET; RECIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHANNEL OF EACH EFFECT FOR RECIRCULATING LIQUOR THERETHROUGH; TRANSFERRING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHANNEL OF EACH EFFECT FOR RECEIVING LIQUOR THEREFROM AND TRANSFERRING IT TO THE NEXT-FOLLOWING EFFECT OF THE EVAPORATOR; AND A PAIR OF PARTITIONS LOCATED IN EACH CHANNEL, AND DEFINING BETWEEN THEMSELVES A CHANNEL PORTION WITH WHICH SAID TRANSFERRING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATES, SAID CHANNEL PORTION BETWEEN SAID PARTITIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE REMAINDER OF THE CHANNEL WITH WHICH SAID RECIRCULATING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATES SO THAT AT EACH EFFECT THERE IS RECIRCULATED A LARGER AMOUNT OF LIQUOR THAN IS TRANSFERRED TO THE NEXT EFFECT.