IMPROVEMENTS IN. STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wood Gray, of Warkworth Terrace,
Commercial Road, Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 19th March 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wood Gray
at the office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his petition, on
the 1st October 1852.
I, THOMAS. WOOD. GRAY, of Warkworth Terrace, Commercial Road,
Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN STEAM ENGINES" to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of making the steam chamber within which
the piston works of a spherical form, in place of the cylindrical or other
shapes heretofore used, by which considerable advantage is obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas Wood Gray, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 30th March 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS WOOD GRAY, of Warkworth Terrace, Commercial Road,
Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing-date-the. First day of October in the year of our,
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year
of
Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Wood Gray, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Wood Gray, my executors administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Wood Gray, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Wood Gray, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Wood Gray, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
-is to be performed, to be 'particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of making the steam chamber within which
the piston works of a spherical form, in place of the cylindrical or other
shapes heretofore used, by which considerable advantage is obtained.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued
by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, shows an elevation of the engine, and Figure 2, shows a
transverse section thereof; a, a, are two pistons, which are fixed to the

page_text: axis b, which move in bearings at c, c; the pistons are each semi-
circular, and can therefore be readily packed with metallic packing.
The compartments of the engine within which the pistons work are of
a spherical form, and the pistons vibrate with their axis within the two
compartments A, B, as shown; d, d, are the steam ports and passages, and
e, e, are slide-valves, which are of an ordinary construction, and they re-
spectively receive motion from the main axis or shaft f, of the engine
by means of eccentrics g, g, fixed on that axis, which give motion to the
rods h, h. The axis or shaft f, receives motion from the axis of the
piston by the connecting-rod i, which is attached at one end to the
crank of the axis of the pistons, and at the other to the crank on the shaft
or axis f, as is shown, by which the oscillating motion communicated to
the crank j, on the axis of the pistons will be communicated to the
crank, on the shaft or axis f, and the same will be converted into a
rotatory motion by the use of a fly-wheel, l, on the shaft or axis f; and in
order to transmit the power of the engine a drum m, is affixed on the
main shaft or axis f, or a cog-wheel may be used, or the shaft of
the engine may drive directly, as is well understood in other engines, and
according to the nature of the work the engine is intended to perform
n, is a governor, which is of an ordinary construction, and is to be
employed in the ordinary manner.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is, the spherical form of the steam chamber within which the piston
works in combination with parts herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood Gray, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS WOOD GRAY. (L.S.)
Witness, S. CARPMAEL.