IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Prowett, of Fosters Booth, near Towcester, in the
County of Northampton, Farmer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Prowett at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1880.
WILLIAM PROWETT, of Fosters Booth, near Towcester, in the County of
Northampton, Farmer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
This Invention is an arrangement by which the piston of a steam engine is
dispensed with, and consists in forming a steam chest, within which is placed a fan
wheel carried upon an axle which is extended through the sides of the steam chest,
so as to carry the requisite fly wheels or other machinery. A tube connecting the
boiler with the upper portion of the chest brings the steam in contact with the fan
wheel, and causes it to revolve. Another tube connecting the boiler with the lower
portion of the steam chest will cause the fan to revolve in the opposite direction, so
that by stopping off the flow of steam in the tubes by a cock or other suitable
arrangement attached to each of them, the fan wheel may be set in motion and
reversed at will. An aperture is formed in the steam chest to allow of the escape
of waste steam. A safety valve is also attached to the apparatus,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Prowett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
September 1880.
WILLIAM PROWETT, of Fosters Booth, near Towcester, in the County of
Northampton, Farmer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
This Invention is an arrangement by which the piston of a steam engine is
dispensed with, and consists in forming a steam chest, within which is placed a fan
[Price 4d1

page_text: wheel carried upon an axle which is extended through the sides of the steam chest,
so as to carry the requisite fly wheels or other machinery.
A tube connecting the boiler with the upper portion of the chest brings the
steam in contact with the fan wheel, and causes it to revolve. Another tube
connecting the boiler with the lower portion of the steam chest will cause the fan
to revolve in the opposite direction, so that by stopping off the flow of steam in the
tubes by a cock or other suitable arrangement attached to each of them, the fan
wheel may be set in motion, and reversed at will. An aperture is formed in the
steam chest to allow of the escape of waste steam, a safety valve being attached to
the apparatus.
I will now proceed to describe the Invention by the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a sido view of the steam chest with the pipes to conduct the
-steam from the boiler.
Figure 2, a vertical section of the same with the cover removed.
Figure 3, nn end elevation of Figure 2.
Figure 4, a sectional perspective with the side covers on.
Figure 5, a sectional perspective with the side covers removed.
(a), Figure 1, is the steam chest of an annular form divided by radial partitions
(b), Figure 2, into any desired number of chambers (c), or these partitions (b) may,
if preferred, be tangential to or non-radial with the axis. (d) is the driving shaft
upon which the apparatus is securely keyed; (e) and (f) are the upper and lower
steam pipes by which the steam is conducted from the boiler into the chambers (c);
(g, h,) are covering plates closely confining those chambers into which the steam is
admitted, and thus causing the steam, by its impact on the divisions (b), to drive
the apparatus round with its shaft (d), and thus to form a motor for any fly wheel,
driving wheels, or other mechanism. In Figure 3, which is an end elevation of
Figure 2, the covering plates (g) and (h), and the two casings (j), (k), of the fan are
shewn, the casing (1) revolving with the fan, and that marked (4) being free upon
the shaft (d), so as to allow the fan with the shaft (d) freely to revolve within and
protected by the casing (). The steam having exerted its force upon the chambers,
in which it is confined by the plates (9) and (h), escapes by the revolution of the
fan, and may be received into a condenser of any suitable form. When the
partitions (b) are fixed tangentially or non-radially with the axis, two fans, side by
'side, may be used, the one for direct action, the other for reversing.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed,
I claim, the improvements in steam engines by constructing the steam chest
fitted with an annular revolving fan or fans within it mounted upon an axle or
driving shaft, in manner herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Prowett, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ITT TAY DDAWETTY