CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
SIMPSON, of the City of Manchester, Civil Engineer, and JAMES ALFRED
SHIPTON, of the same place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Joseph Simpson and James Alfred Shipton, our exors, admiors, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we,
the said Joseph Simpson and James Alfred Shipton, our exors, adññiors, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Joseph Simpson and James Alfred
Shipton, our 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
Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that we, the said Joseph Simpson and James Alfred Shipton, should
cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
$1..

page_text: be seen, on reference to Figure 1, that there is an opening in the sides of the
cylinder A, as at L. Through this opening the shaft H is passed, and through
the excentric G likewise; the opening L is made oblong so as to allow the
shaft H to traverse backwards and forwards, which must be the case when
the piston G is driven from one end of the cylinder to the other, from
the fact of the piston G being an excentric. By means of the side rods I, I,
the shaft is always kept at perfectly the same distance from the crank
shaft J, and a revolving motion is communicated to the shaft J from the
shaft by means of the cranks M, M, the connecting rods N, N, and
the cranks O, O. If the piston or excentric be in any position whatever,
the side rods I, I, and the connecting rods N, N, are in a perfectly parallel
position to each other, which secures the direct action of the power upon the
crank shaft J, avoiding all angles such as are inade between an ordinary
connecting rod and a piston, or any of the various intermediate contrivances.
The piston G is kept steam-tight in the cylinder at the side by means of a
moveable plate P (which plate is made perfectly flat on the face or surface
on which the excentric or piston rubs, and is fitted stean-tight in the recess
prepared for it in the side of the cylinder, and is pressed against the cylindrical
side of the piston or excentric by means of springs which are placed behind
the plate in the same recess, and thus as the piston or excentric wears, this
plate P follows, and thereby it is kept steam-tight on both sides of the piston.
(Against the back of this moveable plate we intend introducing steam by means
of a small pipe from steam pipe.) It is also kept steam-tight at the ends by
means of concentric rings Q, Q, which are bevilled into the piston or excentric
G, and ground into it as a steam-tight seating. The rings are cut through
on one side, and a metallic wedge is inserted into the opening of each, and
a steel spring is introduced which presses the wedge into the opening, and so
causes the ring to be expanded, and in consequence of its conical or bevilled
seating, it causes the piston to be elongated and is pressed against the flat
ends of the cylinder, and thereby is kept steam-tight. The slide valve E is
worked by means of a common excentric R. A weigh shaft (for commu-
nicating the motion from the excentric to the side rods C and the valve E) is
shewn at S. The framing is represented in all the Figures at T. U repre-
sents the bed plate. V represents the fly-wheel shaft. W represents the
feed pump. X represents a common excentric for working the same.
Y re-
presents the steam pipe. Z represents the exhaust pipe. The slide valve
here used is on the equilibrium principle, working between two parallel
plates or flat surfaces, one of them having the port holes F, F, in it, the
other having the passage in it leading to the exhaust, and the exhausting

page_text: Figure 1 is a view, part elevation and part section, of a governor for steam
engines. Figure 2 is a section of a stop and throttle valve for steam engines.
Figure 3 is a view, part in elevation and part in section, of the same. Figure 4
is another form of throttle or stop valve. Figure 5 is a section of the same.
Figure 1 represents a cylinder contained within a vase, or other means of sup-
port and capacity for fluid. A represents the vase, B a spiral screw within a
cylinder C, which is contained within the vase A. D is a spindle or shaft.
passing through the bottom of the vase A, and through the middle of the
spiral screw B. The shaft D has a fast key or feather on it, on which the boss
of the spiral screw slides up and down freely. The fast key or feather is for
the purpose of propelling the screw with the revolutions of the spindle. E is
a tube fixed in the bottom of the vase quite tight, and open at both ends,
through which tube the spindle D passes. The tube E is for the purpose of
preventing the fluid contained in the vase from passing down by the sides of
the shaft D (thus avoiding the necessity of a stuffing box). F is a loose hoop
under the collar G; the hoop F has two projecting horns or studs to receive
the links J, J, which links communicate any upward or downward motion to
the lever K, and from thence to any purpose the governor is intended to act
upon. His a steel spiral spring fixed between the fast collar I and the
collar G. L is a guard or bracket fixed over and to the top of the vase A.
M is a screw, having an ornamental or common head to it; the screw forms
the working centre for the top end of the shaft D. O is a bracket for sup-
porting the vase; P is a driving wheel keyed on the shaft D; Q is a step on
which the shaft D rests and revolves. R is the main driving wheel; S is the
driving shaft in section; T is a bed plate on which the whole is fixed.
U represents one of a series of brackets placed at intervals in the vasc,.to
prevent as much as possible the fluid contained in the vase from revolving.
with the screw.
The means of deriving a governing motion from this arrangement is thus:-
The screw at B, B, is set in a revolving motion by means of the shaft D; the
screw instantly acts with a pressure from its own surface on the fluid contained
in the vase. The screw is by this means forced upwards, and acts against the
spiral spring H, until it finds a neutral point between itself and the spring,

page_text: which altogether depends on the velocity of the screw, and when the least
change of velocity in the screw takes place, either quicker or slower, an upward
or downward motion will be given to the loose hoop F, and consequently to
other parts connected with it. The chief advantages derivable from this
arrangement are suddeness and certainty of action, for the instant the screw is
propelled a degree faster the screw will glide through the surrounding fluid as
if it were a nut, and communicate that motion to its purpose; if, on the other
hand, the velocity is retarded, the screw will lose a portion of its force, and the
spring, being itself relieved of some degree of pressure, will force the screw
downward, and in like manner the downward motion will be conveyed to its
purpose.
C repre-
Figures 2 and 3 represent a stop valve; A represents a box or chest, in
which the valves are contained. B represents the slide stop valve.
sents the butterfly throttle valve. D represents a spindle on which the throttle
valve is fixed. E is a spindle and bridle attached to the slide valve, for the
purpose of working the same. F is a guard or bracket fixed to the top of the
valve chest, and carrying the hand wheel G. G is a hand wheel, having a screw
tapped or cut through the boss or centre, and rests on the bracket F, on which
it turns round. H is a nut on the bottom end of the boss or eye of the wheel G,
and is for the purpose of preventing the hand wheel from lifting. I is a small
stuffing box on the top of the spindle E, to prevent the escape of steam round
the spindle D. J is the passage through the valve into the steam pipe; K is
the pipe communicating to the boiler. The motion or action of this valve is
thus-If the valve is required to be open (that is, in the position shewn in the
Drawings) the hand wheel must be turned round in the proper direction, to
draw the screw on the spindle E upward. If it be required to close the valve
the wheel must be turned in the opposite direction, and the screw will force it
downward. The spindle D and butterfly valve C are intended to be acted
upon by a governor or similar power.
Figures 4 and 5 represent another form of throttle valve. A in both
Figures represents the main body of the valve connected with the pipe conveying
the steam away when the valve is open. B is the cap or valve covering of the
same; C is the spindle for opening the valve; D is a loose collar put on the
end of the spindle C; E is a cottar through the end of the spindle to keep it
to its place. F, F, represent two, four, six, eight, or more inlets into the
body A. G, G, represents corresponding seatings on the main body A, and
on the valve or cap; H, H, represent similar seatings; I, I, represents a
projecting lip from the cap or valve B; J represents the main outlet. It
will be understood the whole of this apparatus is intended to be fixed

page_text: within a vessel containing steam, as in the case of a boiler for a locomotive
engine.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, we would state that we
do not confine ourselves to the details as shown and described, so long as the
peculiar character of our Invention, or any part of it, be retained, as variations
may be made therein.
Firstly, we claim the mode of constructing engines working with excentric
pistons, whereby an excentric piston is caused to reciprocate within a steam
chamber, the width of which is equal to the diameter of the excentric piston,
the axis of the excentric piston being caused to move a distance equal to the
excentricity of the piston. And we also claim the means of packing slide valves,
by employing bevilled rings, as herein described.
Secondly, wo claim the constructing and using of a revolving spiral screw,
inclosed in a cylinder, holding water or other fluid, and applied to the purpose
of a governor of steam engines.
Thirdly, we claim the mode of constructing a sliding shut-off valve," con-
taining a butterfly throttle valve fixed in the back or middle of the said slide
valve, and worked by a second spindle passing through the main spindle,
having a stuffing box at the end, or passing through any other part of the
valve chest to the outer surface.
We also claim the arrangement of a stop shut-off valve or "regulator,"
being provided with a first part for shutting off and regulating the size of the
passage, and with a second part or parts for finally shutting off the steam or
other fluid.
We also claim the arrangement (in any kind of valve) of having the seating
or face joint protected from the ravages of the volume of steam that passes
through the valve, whether the said valve be partly open or fully so; that is, by
having one part of the valve for regulating the quantity, and a second part or
parts to finally close the valve, so that the latter part is shielded by the former
when the said valve is open.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Simpson and James Alfred
Shipton, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
forty-nine.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Ninth day of February, in the
year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Joseph Simpson and James Alfred Shipton
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that
purpose.
Enrolled the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.