Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Distillation plant comprising an axially elongated tubular shaped shell, a plurality of generally vertically positioned horizontally spaced partitions extending transversely of the axis of said shell and dividing the interior of said shell into a plurality of serially arranged vaporizing chambers, a bundle of condenstion tubes extending through said vaporizing chambers and passing through said partitions between adjacent said vaporizing chambers, at least one of said partitions having an opening therethrough with said tube bundle passing through said opening, a bowl positioned in the opening in said partition and extending outwardly therefrom into each of the adjacent said chambers with the upper edge of said bowl located at least above the uppermost point of the opening through said partition, said tube bundle extending through and dipping into said bowl on both sides of said partition, and said bowl arranged to receive distillate to a level above the uppermost point of the opening in said partition so that a water lock is formed within said bowl for sealing the adjacent said chambers from one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Distillation plant comprising an axially elongated tubular shaped shell, a plurality of generally vertically positioned horizontally spaced partitions extending transversely of the axis of said shell and dividing the interior of said shell into a plurality of serially arranged vaporizing chambers, a bundle of condenstion tubes extending through said vaporizing chambers and passing through said partitions between adjacent said vaporizing chambers, at least one of said partitions having an opening therethrough with said tube bundle passing through said opening, a bowl positioned in the opening in said partition and extending outwardly therefrom into each of the adjacent said chambers with the upper edge of said bowl located at least above the uppermost point of the opening through said partition, said tube bundle extending through and dipping into said bowl on both sides of said partition, and said bowl arranged to receive distillate to a level above the uppermost point of the opening in said partition so that a water lock is formed within said bowl for sealing the adjacent said chambers from one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Distillation plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a condensate trough is positioned within at least one of said chambers and is arranged to collect distillate, said trough having an overflow located above the upper edge of said bowl and arranged to flow distillate from said trough into said bowl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
Distillation plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chamber on one side of the opening through said partition is arranged to operate at a higher pressure than said chamber on the other side of the opening through said partition, a trough in said chamber operating at the lower pressure with said trough arranged to receive water flowing over the upper edge of said bowl under the action of the differential pressure between the two adjacent said chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Distillation plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tubes of said bundle are formed of a plastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Distillation plant, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tubes of said bundle passing through said bowl are disposed in spaced relation to the edge of the opening through said partition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Distillation plant, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said partitions are formed of a plastics material.