IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN RAISING OR FORCING WATER AND PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
LOOSEY, of Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixteenth day of December, in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles
Loosey, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Charles Loosey, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Loosey, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM ENGINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN RAISING OR
FORCING WATER AND PROPELLING VESSELS," cominunicated to me by a certain
foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said Charles Loosey, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Loosey, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Improvements,
and the manner in which the same are to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
These improvements relate,-First, to an improvement and improvements
on the rotary engine:
Secondly, to the application of the principle to pumps, or water or fluid
raising machinery:
Thirdly, to the application of the principle to paddle wheels or propelling
machinery:
Fourthly, to an improvement on the generally adapted cylinder engine:
Fifthly, to a method of working rotary and cylinder engines in unison.
And in order to give the best information in my power, that these Improve-
ments may be most fully understood and readily carried into effect, I will
proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
First: Rotary engine, reference being had to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
A, A (shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 6,) is a bored cylinder, with the lids B, B, at
each end (shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4), which lids are bolted fast to the
cylinder. C, C, (shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,) is a fan-drum, with its shaft D, D,
(shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,) which drum turns in the cylinder, but out of
the cylinder's centre, and propels the shaft D, D, by means of the flyers
(shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,) E, E, E, and consequently is the prime mover.
F, F, (shown in Figures 1, 2, 5,) is the steam pipe, where the steam comes
through from the boiler to propel this machine. G, G, (shown in Figures 1,
2, 4, 5,) is a casing box or nozel to reverse the steam. H, H, (shown in
Figures 1, 2, 4, 5,) is a slide-cock, to reverse the engine, by reversing the
steam and eduction, by letting the steam first either into the half round belt
steam pipe I, I, I, (shown in Figure 5,) at K, and into the cylinder through the
three holes L, L, L, (shown in Figure 5,) and out of the three holes M, M, M,
through the belt N, N, N, on the other side, into the eduction pipe P (shown
in Figure 5); or, on the contrary, by admitting the steam at 0. (shown in

page_text: Figure 5) into the half round helt N, N, N, and through the three holes
M, M, M, into the cylinder, and out again through the three holes L, L, L
into the half round belt I, I, I, and the eduction pipe P.
The action of the steam on the flyers E, E, E, (shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,)
which propell the drum C, C, (shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,) and consequently
the rotative shaft D, D, or the suction of the condenser on the opposite side,
can be readily seen by the Drawing; for, as the rotative shaft is out of the
middle, the flyers E, E, E, (shown in Figure 5,) are carried out by the slides
R, R, R, (shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,) which slides work in the drum grooves
S, S, S, and are kept always on the outside of the cylinder by the rings T, T,
which rings are concentric with the cylinder, but excentric with the drum.
The three pieces of brass U, U, U, (shown in Figures 4, 6,) where the slides
rest on at each end, are for the purpose of forming a better bearing for them
than if they rested merely on the rings T, T. The pieces of brass U, U, U,
the slides R, R, R, and the flyers E, E, E, (shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,) have
small bits of brass with springs in their ends to make them steam-tight, which
can be done either in this way or by packing; and it will be seen by the
Drawing the rings T, T, do not act alone for the purpose of carrying out the
flyers E, E, E; but as they are packed behind in the groove V, V, (shown in
Figures 3 and 4,) become steam-tight on the outside, and by this packing they
press against the ends of the drum, and make them steam-tight on the outside.
The flyers E, E, E. become steam-tight on the cylinder by the pressure of
steam. The internal part of the box X, X, X, (shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,)
which is cast on the cylinder lids, acts as a grease cup, besides having the
grooves V, V, for packing, and the hole or bearing for the rotative shaft,
(shewn in Figures 3, 4); and for this reason it is packed a little behind at
Z, Z, (shewn in Figures 1, 2, 4,) to keep the grease from coming out. In
this Drawing I have made the flyers being carried out by slides working in
grooves; but it could be done by having the flyers double-jointed. By these
means I find there would be less friction created, and they could be carried out
in the same principle as the others; that is to say, with rings or grooves on
the cylinder lids concentric with the cylinder, but excentric with the drum or
rotative shaft.
In order to reduce the friction in the above machine, and thereby cause a
saving in the wear and tear, as well as in the loss of power, I construct
the flyers on a rather different plan, reference being had to Figures 7, 8, 9. .
Figures 7, 8, 9, are three end views. Although the principle of keeping
the flyers E, E, E, in their proper position is the same, as they are always
describing the same circle, the axis of which lies in the axis of the cylinder,

page_text: yet it must be seen that when they are running at great velocity the friction
of the flyers must be very considerable against the sides of the cylinder. To
avoid this, I construct the flyers on the following plan; they having grooves in
their ends, and the ring or hoop B, B, B, (shewn in Figures 7, 8,) turned
into these grooves, so as to connect the three flyers together. This hoop takes
the friction from the outside of the cylinder, which is caused by the centrifugal
powers of the flyers trying to fly away from the centre; and therefore, with
the same power or velocity that one flyer inclines to fly away from the contre,
with the same power it inclines to draw the opposite flyer with it, and thereby
causes them, instead of pressing against the cylinders, to press against the ring
or hoop, and as the ring or hoop runs round with the flyers the friction is con-
siderably reduced. Figure 7 shews the ring B, B, B, and the plates F, F, F,
which are rivetted or screwed to the end of the flyer, to keep the ring or hoop in
its place. Figure 8 shews the ring B, B, B, without the plates F, F; L, L, being
the ends of the flyers to receive the ring or hoop B, B. Figure 9 shows the
flyers E, E, E, in horizontal section.
a, a, a, Figures 7, 9, are pieces of brass or
steel with springs to make the flyers steam-tight against the cylinder's sides and
end. It will be seen, by comparing Figures 5 and 9, that in this way I dis-
pense with the slides R, R, R, shewn in Figure 5. Figures 10, 11, and 12 show
a different construction of the flyers, also for the purpose of reducing the friction.
Instead of making the joint x, Figure 5, to form part of the flyer E, and to
make it move in and with the slide R, R, R, (Figure 5,) I cause this joint x
to be separate from the flyer, and to remain at the same distance from the
centre, of drum, and let the flyer E, E, E, work through the middle of that
joint instead of making that joint move with the flyers, as before. In this
way I not only dispense with the slide R (Figure 5), but also with the three
pieces of brass U, U, U, (Figure 5.) According to this method the drum is
less difficult to make, the solidity is increased, and the friction decreased; the
steam only acts upon the effective part, and not upon the dead part of it
also, whereby the counter-actions of the steam on the flyers E, E, E, (Figure 5,)
and the dead part of them also, is mostly done away with, and the flyers move
freely through that joint. The above-described machine can be worked with
either high or low pressure steam, or expansively by shutting the steam passages
more than those for the eduction; but I think it would be most advantageous
to work it first as a simple high-pressure engine, then let the steam be trans-
mitted through the waste steam pipe to another or more machines of the same
or different construction. In this way I think it could be used with great
advantage for steam boats, as the rotatory engine can be nearly as long as the
boat is broad, and the velocity can be increased to five times the speed of the

page_text: cylinder and valve engine. Such an engine, twenty feet long, presenting a
surface of only six inches in depth, or one thousand four hundred and forty
square inches to a vacuum, and working with only low-pressure steam, would
have a power of three hundred and thirteen horses.
Second-Application of the principle to raise water or other fluids, reference
being had to Figure 17. The interior construction of the rotary pump is
exactly the same as the rotary engine; only, instead of the three holes L, L, L,
and M, M, M, to admit and emit the steam, there is a suction pipe S and a
raising main R. It is clear by the Drawing, that the motion of this water or
air pump, or water-raising machinery, is a continual one; and as the quantity
of water to be raised or air to be pumped out of or into any vessel depends
only upon the size of the machine, it is applicable to the common street pump
as well as to waterworks of the greatest extent. This rotary pump can be
applied as a raising or forcing pump, or as both combined.
Third: Application of the principle to paddle wheels or propelling machinery,
reference being had to Figures 13, 14, 15, 16. This propelling machinery
can be applied as half or wholly immersed in water. Figure 13 shews it as
half, Figure 16 as wholly, immersed in water. C, C, Figures 14, 15, 16, is
the drum fixed to the rotative shaft D, D (shewn in Figures 14, 15, 16).
E, E, E, E, (shewn in Figures 18, 14, 15, 16,) are four flyers, cach of them
fixed separately on its end to one of four moveable rings, F, F, F, F, (shewn
in Figures 14, 15, 16,) lying and moving independently of each other round
the fixed ring L, L, L, (shewn in Figures 14, 15, 16,) concentric with this ring,
but excentric with the drum C, C. These moveable rings are always accom-
panying their respective flyer, in consequence of the sockets H, H, H, H,
(shewn in Figures 14, 15, 16,) which attaches them to one another.
move in grooves cut into the drum at right angles to each other. It will be
seen by the Drawing, that each moveable ring is attached to only one of the
flyers, so that each flyer has a ring at each end accompanying the said flyer in
its revolutions with the drum. P, P, (Figures 15, 16,) is the paddle box;
Figure 15 for paddles half immersed in water; Figure 16 for paddles wholly
immersed in water. They moving very rapidly may be constructed of very
small dimensions. Paddles wholly immersed in water are particularly adapted
for heavy seas, and very advantageous for Government vessels, as they may be
totally protected from injury from cannon balls.
The flyers
Fourth-Improvement on the generally adapted cylinder engine, reference
being had to Figure 18. The object of this Invention is to get the cylinder of
boat engines under the paddle wheel or rotative shaft of river boats, or vessels
drawing little water; and although this is the desired effect, yet I think it

page_text: suitable for land and other engines, and can be used with advantage to the
same. The Invention consists in making the engine to have, instead of one
piston rod, two or more. The Drawing shews a cylinder with two rods. These
rods give a much greater solidity to the piston in large engines; and by the
joint a take the strain off from the piston rod that may occur through the
parallel motion or side guides not being true. The connecting rod works down
into the cylinder lid, as shewn in the Drawing, which cylinder lid can be
hollowed out as well as the piston, and by which means I have found, by real
measurement, it will come out for the most shallow waters.
Fifth-Application of cylinder and rotary engine to work in unison. The
rotatory engine is supplied with high-pressure steam, which, after propelling
this machine, passes through the waste steam pipe into the slide valve box of
low-pressure engine, and acts by being expanded to a much greater volume,
and consequently less pressure. The size and number of revolutions of rotary
engine, and consequent quantity of steam proceeding through waste steam.I
pipe, is in exact proportion to the pressure and quantity of steam required for
low-pressure engine.
Having thus described the nature of these Improvements, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details as explained, provided the general character of 2
either part of these improvements be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the composition of rotary engine.
Secondly, I claim the method of expanding the steam of the same.
Thirdly, I claim the concentric and excentric motion in conjunction with the
jointed flyers, which causes the said flyers always to point to the centre of 2
cylinder, and keep the same radius as the cylinder, which I consider the most
important part of these improvements, for the excentric motion alone would
not carry out the flyers to form a true circle, if not in conjunction with the
principle of jointed flyers.
Fourthly, I claim the method of taking the friction from the outside of 8
the flyers against the cylinder's sides, that is caused through the centrifugal
power.
Fifthly, I claim the application of the principle to raise water, or to pumps
in general.
Sixthly, I claim the application of the principle to propel vessels.
Seventhly, I claim the method of working cylinder engines with two or more
piston rods in combination with the means of transmitting the power to a crank
shaft, as shewn and described.
8

page_text: Eighthly, I claim the method of working rotary and cylinder engines in
unison.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Loosey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.