CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BOILERS OR GENERATORS OF STEAM OR VAPOUR, AND IN CONDENSING SUCH STEAM OR VAPOUR, AND IN..ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR VAPOUR FOR PROPELLING OR ACTUATING MACHINERY AND CARRIAGES LAND, AND BOATS OR VESSELS, OR ANY OTHER FLOATING BODIES ON WATER
Year: 1832

page_text: GORDON'S SPECIFICATION.
1.
. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
GORDON, of the Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting."
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth did, by
His Letters Patent Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing dated at Westminster,
the Twenty-first day of February, in the third year of His reign, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Gordon, my exors, admors, and assigns,
His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Alexander Gordon, my exors, admors, and assigns, during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, my " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BOILERS OR GENERATORS OF STEAM OR VAPOUR, AND IN
CONDENSING SUCH STEAM OR VAPOUR, AND IN..ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM
OR VAPOUR FOR PROPELLING OR ACTUATING MACHINERY AND CARRIAGES
LAND, AND BOATS OR VESSELS, OR ANY OTHER FLOATING BODIES ON WATER;" in
which Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that if I, the said Alexander
Gordon, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted,
shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Alexander Gordon, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in the following description thereof, that is to say :-
My said improvements consist, first, of improvements in the boiler or gene-
rator of steam or vapour; second, of improvements in condensing such steam
or vapour; third, of improvements in engines to be worked by steam or
vapour for propelling or actuating machinery and carriages on land, and boats
or vessels or other floating bodies on water; and that the nature of my first
improvement, which is in the boiler, is in manner following, reference being
had to the Drawings hereto annexed:-Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, are various
views of the boiler, or rather sets of boilers. Figure 1 is a sectional eleva-
tion; Figure 2 the horizontal plan. The Figures 1 and 3 are the sections
made by the vertical planes passing along the lines E, E, F, F, of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents the horizontal plan of the furnace placed under the boiler,
and joined to it. This boiler is composed of two rows of four smaller boilers,
A, A, B, B, C, C, D, D, a, a, b, b, c, c, d, d, (Figures 1 and 2,) making in all
eight small boilers. Figure 2 represents the horizontal cuts or sectional plan of
the four first, A, A, a, a, B, B, b, b, while the other half of the same Figure (2)
shows the upper ends of the other boilers C, C, c, c, D, D, d, d; all the eight
are made with a great number of vertical flue tubes, resembling that shown
on Figure 6. M, H, (Figure 6,) is screwed to the upper part, and is terminated
at the other end by a conical part, finishing by the jutting projection (H);
a copper ring, (L, L,) red hot, is fixed round the tube, which ring becoming
smaller as it cools, tightens the tube. These tubes, which have been passed
through the corresponding openings made in the two ends of each small boiler,
are hammered into the plate G, G, (Figures 1 and 3,) and pressed against
their covers by screws N, N, (Figures 6 and 7,) under which has been
placed a plate of soft metal. If the small boilers A, A, B, B, &c. are made
copper, and the flue tubes made of iron, the metals in expanding will render
the joints more and more tight. These flue tubes can be constructed of
copper; then each boiler can be made separately, and the tubes which pass
through may be braced to the two ends; the lower ends will have flanches,
which are bolted on a common plate G, G, (Figure 1 and 3); these flanches will
encircle each opening made on this plate, these openings having a diameter
equal to that of the small boiler. The upper parts of the four first small
boilers (see Figure 2), where the steam is contained, communicate with a
reservoir P (Figure 2), and the four others, C, C, c, c, D, D, d, d, communi-
cate with the reservoir Q (Figure 3.) P and Q also communicate to a third
of

page_text: reservoir R (Figure 3), by means of the tubes S, S. These three steam
reservoirs P, Q, R, are fixed on the common basis G, G. The steam pro-
duced in the boiler, and accumulated in P, Q, R, is conducted into the two
working cylinders by the pipes V, V, (Figures 1 and 3). The reservoir P
bears a fusible plate T (Figure 3), which is intended to give way, and act as
a safety valve, when the temperature (or the pressure) becomes too great; and
the reservoir Q is supplied with a safety valve U. To replace in the boiler
the liquid which has evaporated, each small boiler is made to communicate
with a pipe P', P', P', P', (Figures 1 and 2); this communication takes place
by means of the tubes P', Q, P, Q, (Figure 1,) and which enter the small
boilers at a little distance from the bottom. The feed pump injects the liquid
by the opening R (Figure 1) into the tube P', P', P', P', which communi-
cates with all the tubes P', Q, (Figure 1). These tubes P, Q, are so many
branches of a syphon, equally subdividing the alimentary liquid, and keeping
it at the same level in all the small boilers; each of them is supplied with a
cock, and so is each of the pipes which convey to the reservoir P and Q,
(Figures 2 and 3) the steam of the small boilers. If any derangement should
take place in one of the small boilers, the communication may be intercepted
by shutting the cocks, so as to continue to work with the steam produced in
the seven other boilers, care being taken to close up the flue tubes of that
small boiler which is out of use, so that the flame and heated air may not
pass along its set of flue tubes at the end of the journey; any defective flue
tube or tubes which let the water run from the small boilers may be changed
and replaced; a person can go under the boiler by opening one of the doors
of the stokehole, from which the bars can be removed (see Figures 3 and 4).
When it is necessary to empty the boiler, it is sufficient to connect at S,
(Figure 1,) a branch longer than the tubes P', Q, (making a syphon); the liquid
will flow by this branch when air is let into the boiler, so as to supply the pressure
of the steam (in case that the small boilers should be cold). For the purpose of
greater safety, and in order to prevent explosion, I make use of the following
arrangement; which arrangement, being the subject of a Patent granted to
Miles Berry, on the twenty-eighth day of September, in the second year of
the reign of His Majesty William the Fourth, I do not claim as any part
of the present Inventions, but which, for greater distinctness, I here shortly
describe:-The small, boilers A, A, a, a, B, B, b, b, C, C, c, c, D, D, d, d,
(Figures 1 and 2,) are inclosed in an open case rivetted on the common
base G, G, (Figures I and 3). This case or external part is filled with a
saturated solution of common potash in water, and the solution of potash
will be seen to surround each of the small boilers; the heat from the fire-

page_text: place and flues is transmitted both to the solution of potash and to the water.
The difference between the temperature of the water in the interior chambers
or small boilers, and the temperature of the surrounding and contiguous
solution of potash, can at no time be more than a few degrees, I shall say
five degrees (by the centegrade thermometer); the result is, that the steam or
vapour generated from the small (interior) boilers cannot rise above one hundred
and forty-five degrees centegrade), because the potash water boils at one
hundred and forty degrees centegrade, and if the fire should be urged in such
manner as to attempt an increase of the temperature in the interior boiler,
the surrounding solution of potash will absorb the surplus heat, and thus
prevent steam of too high a temperature or too great elasticity from being
generated. If then the strength of the interior chamber containing the water
be made sufficient to bear a pressure of steam at the temperature of two
hundred degrees (centegrade), it is evident that an explosion cannot take
place. The surplus heat of the water in the small boilers A, α, B, &c.
(Figures 1 and 2), is transmitted immediately to the solution of potash; thus
too great a heat cannot be allowed accidentally to occur in the boilers; and
more equible heat being obtained, a more equible power is obtained from the
engine or engines to which such boiler or boilers may be attached. If it is
intended to work the steam engine by a greater pressure on each square inch
than one hundred and forty-five degrees (centergrade) would give; it will
be necessary (in order to prevent explosion) to take concentrated solution of
American potash, which boils at about one hundred and sixty degrees cen-
tegrade, when it has been mixed with a sufficient quantity of tallow to
neutralize its too caustic nature. When it is wished to employ the vapour
of any other liquid boiling at a lower temperature than water boils at, say, for
instance, sulphuric ether, then four fifths of the interior boiler should be
filled with water, and the sulphuric ether floated upon the water; and as, in
the use of sulphuric ether, the vapour from the ether is formed at a tempe-
rature varying from sixty degrees to seventy degrees (centegrade), a solution
of potash will not in this case be necessary, but pure water will answer the
purpose. Nevertheless, as the dissolved potash in the water tends to preserve
the metals, it is more convenient to put into the preserving water the
required quantity, so that it may begin to boil at a hundred and some degrees.
Whatever may be the liquid employed, and in order continually to have a
constant hot surface, the same level must always be kept on the inside of the
boiler; for this purpose I employ a feed pump (U, Figures 9, 10,) to supply
the liquid evaporated or wasted. In order that the level of the liquid may
not be raised too high by the feed pump, I employ a long metallic hollow

page_text: vessel, answering the purpose of a float (X, Figures 1 and 5). This float
bears a rod, along which a spiral furrow Y, Z, is made, and which is termi-
nated at its upper end by a small valve. The rod can slide into the opening
(v, Figure 1,) which it fills, except when the groove Y, Z, is engaged in the
opening; this happens when the level (and consequently the floate) is too
much elevated; in this position, the steam making its way from the small
boiler along the hollow of the spiral furrow, runs through the pipe E (which
communicates to the feed pump) into the vacuum that is caused by the
rising of the feed pump piston. From that very time the aliementary
liquid, pressed by the atmospheric air, and then pushed back by the steam,
cannot introduce itself into the pump, which works without any liquid at all
being thrown into the boiler (already too full); as soon as the level is lowered
by the consumption of the impelling steam, the rod Y, Z, falls, and the valve
on the end shuts the ovening v, Figure 1); the steam that filled the feed pump
is chilled, and allows the entering of the alimentary liquor, and allows
it to be injected into the boiler. Two guage cocks 0, 0, (Figure 1, 2,
and 3,) placed at different levels, indicate the level of the liquid as in the usual
boilers. It is proper to keep the exterior liquid at a heat inferior to the
degree when it begins to boil; to obtain this result, I use a vase K
(Figures 2 and 3), containing a determined quantity of air, which is shut up
in it by the potash water in which the vase is floating. This last is held in
equilibrium with three plates m, m, m, (Figure 3,) by the means of a chain
represented by the dotted lines. If the temperature becomes too high, the
air in K is dilated, and the water lowers in the vase, which becomes lighter;
in the same moment the plates m, m, m, lowering, shut three openings
(through which the air is admitted into the fire-place by the means of a blowing
machine), and the combustion is stopped. The temperature of the water of
potash, and its degree of concentration, are measured by a thermometer
acting at the same time as an areometer. On Figures 8 and 9 a pump will
be seen (at a, v,) situated between the cylinders R and V; this pump being
put in motion by the engine to which the boiler or boilers is attached, draws
the liquid from the alimentary reservoirs which are on each side, to force it
into the boiler or boilers; but if the boiler or boilers happens to be too full,
the feed pump will get full of steam, and therefore cannot throw liquid into
the boiler or boilers until such time as the surface in the boiler or boilers shall
be so reduced by evaporation or waste as to accept of it.
And that the nature of my second improvement, which is in the condensing
steam or vapour, is in the manner following, reference being had to the Draw-
ings hereto annexed:-When the steam of water is employed as a motive

page_text: power, it may, after it has acted in the cylinders, be thrown into the chimney
to encrease the draft, as is practised in the existing locomotive engines, but
I prefer to condense partially, or, in some cases, completely. When I use the
steam of water as my power, I prefer to condense partially, but when I use
the vapour of sulphuric ether, I can, and prefer to condense completely. On
each side of the carriage (Fig 8) there is an alimentary or supply reservoir,
shewn by the dotted Figures a, b, c, d. For condensation of the vapour or
steam of ether, each of these alimentary reservoirs (a, b, c, d,) is divided into two
chambers, as is shewn in the "cross section," Fig. 15, at e, f, g, h, k. The
upper chamber contains as much water as will fill the troughs under which
the sulphuric ether is enclosed. The steam which has worked the pistons is
conducted by a pipe or pipes at S, (see Figs. 8 and 9, in which pipe there is
a valve,) into the under chamber m, m, m, m, (Figures 15 and 16,) where it
condenses. Should it be desirable to reduce the temperature of the vapour of
sulphuric ether from one hundred degrees (centegrade) in the boiler to forty
degrees (centegrade) in the condensing reservoirs, the surface of the con-
denser in contact with the two fluids of unequal temperatures must be twice
as great at the fire surface, supposing their relative thickness of metal to be
in the proportion of one to five. To maintain the temperature of the water
which condenses the vapour of ether at about forty degrees (centegrade), I
cause a centrifugal or other blast to blow a sufficient current of cold air
upon and through the water 0, 0, 0, (Figs. 14, 15, 16,) so as to cool the
water. The stream of air being now somewhat heated and damp, is carried
by the pipes p, p, (Figs. 8 and 9,) into the fire-place, to increase the com-
bustion of the fuel. When ether is used, and in case of this refrigerator or
condenser being left without water, the vapour would escape into the fire-
place through a small syphon safety tube (Fig. 15), sealed with mercury, and
from thence through the pipes p, p, (Figs. 8 and 9). The blowing apparatus
may be made in many ways, but I prefer the common centrifugal blast; the
positions of these blasts are exhibited by dotted lines n, n, n, (upon Figs. 8
and 9,) and one is more accurately shewn at n, n, on (Fig. 16), where
Q, Q, Q, Q, represents the fans; I prefer to use two of these centrifual
blasts, one being placed upon each of these alimentary reservoirs, which are
a part of my condensing apparatus, and I communicate motion thereto by the
spindles t, t, t, (Figs 8 and 9,) which, when used for a steam carriage, are
put in motion most conveniently by a connexion with the hind wheels, as
shewn by the dotted lines on the Drawings (Figs. 8 and 9). The fans or
wings of the blowers represented here have narrow projections at the extre-
mitics, which plunge into the water o, o, (Figs. 14, 15, and 16,) and splash

page_text: and shower it about as the blower is caused to revolve; and by this arrange-
ment the water is made to cool the steam or vapour, whether of water or of
ether, whilst the current of cool air again cools the water.
And that my third improvement is in the construction and arrangement of
engines to be worked by steam or vapour, for propelling or actuating machi-
nery, and carriages on land, and boats or vessels or other floating bodies
on water, which improvement is in the manner following, reference being had
to the Drawings hereto annexed-Upon the two cylinders R, V, (Figures 8
and 9,) and near that part of which they are united, either by being cast in
one piece, or by other mode of union, I prepare two valve seats M, M,
(Figure 8); cach value seat has two steam ways P, Q, for the induction and
eduction of the steam. Upon each of these circular valve seats M, M, I fix
a cylindrical chamber, which is seen on Figure 9, marked Z, the one end of
which is firmly attached to the corresponding valve seat, and the other end
of which is provided with a fixed cover through which there is a hole, and
upon which there is a stuffing box X. In this stuffing box a spindle Y is
worked by the engine, in such manner that the rotary valve slide (which is
attached thereto within the cylindrical valve box Z) shall revolve. This
rotary valve slide or double valve is exhibited on Fig. 10 by the letters
C, D, G, H, O, F. Figure 11 shows a different position of this valve slide.
Figures 12 and 13 shew sectional elevations of this valve slide N, N.
(Figures 10 and 11) are openings formed in this rotary valve slide, and as
they are made to pass over the openings or steam-ways P, Q. As this valve
slide is caused to revolve by the action of the engine in the direction of the
arrow (), it will alternately close up and open the steam-ways P, Q,
and not only so, but also place the steam-ways P, Q, at one time within, at
another time without, the bounds of the line C, D, G, H, O, F, (Figure 10);
by this means the passages P, Q, (Figures 10 and 11) are alternately opened
and shut at proper intervals. While the rotary valve makes a quarter of a
turn, the steam which flows constantly through J into the rotary valve C, II,
passes by P into the cylinder R, as long as the hole N (Figures 10 and 11)
is over the passage P, (that is to say) during the eighth part of a turn of
the rotary valve; the communication is then stopped, and the steam acts
expansively on the piston as long as the rotary slide closes over the passage P,
which takes place during the other eighth part of a turn of the rotary valve;
by this means the steam is admitted freely from the boiler into the cylinder
during the first half of the dip or single stroke, and it acts expansively during
the remainder of the dip or single stroke. The piston makes a double stroke
for every half turn of the rotary valve, and will have made a single stroke by

page_text: the above operation, or while the rotary valve has made a quarter of a turn,
while the piston returns in a contrary direction, the steam, which having
acted, has to be got rid of, passes into the condenser by a pipe (S), Figures
8, 9, 10, 11, and 12,) through an aperture made in the fixed-box Z, by which
means P is left open during one quarter of a return of the rotary valve;
during the next quarter of a turn of the rotary valve, the steam has a similar
action on the opposite side of the piston. The simultaneous actions of these
two rotary valves I obtain by an endless pitch chain L, L, (Figures 10
and 11,) or by other chain or connexion; thus I admit the steam freely from
the boiler to the piston during the first half of the single stroke, and cut it off
to let it act expansively during the latter half, taking care to put the con-
denser in communication during the whole of the stroke with that end of the
cylinder from which the steam has to be discharged. This description of the
valve, Fig. 10, applies equally to the valve Fig. 11, which acts for one side
of the piston, whilst the valve, Fig. 10, acts for the other; the two valves are
so placed, that while one admits the steam upon the piston, and afterwards
compels it to act expansively to complete the stroke, the other connects the
other side of the piston with the condensor, so as to get rid of the steam
which has served to drive the piston the contrary way. The result of this
arrangement is, that during the rectelinear motion of any one of the two
pistons in one direction, the steam is acting with full pressure on the first, and
expansively on the second stage of such motion; if the rotary valves are
made to turn in a contrary direction, the action of the engine would be
reversed, but with less rapidity, because the steam would no longer be acting
during the first half single stroke, as it would only be admitted into the
cylinders during the last half single stroke. It is evident from this arrange-
ment of the valves, that the effect of the two cylinders of an engine working
without a fly-wheel would be nearly uniform; a simultaneous rotary motion is
given to the valves by means of the vertical spindles Y, Y, (Fig. 9, 12, and 13).
I have on the Drawing represented (at Figs. 8 and 9), the plan and eleva-
tion of a steam carriage on four wheels, the hind wheels receiving the move-
ment from the two cranks B, B, placed at right angles with each other.
A, A, are the two first wheels. The frame D, D, D, D, which bears the
coach is supported by springs E, E, fixed on the same bearings on which
turns the crank B, B. In order that the wheels may turn with the crank
shaft, two coupling boxes G, G, are fixed thereon; by disengaging the coupling
boxes G, G, the crank shaft is enabled to turn without turning the wheels,
which is sometimes necessary. Two stray rods P, Q, P, Q, maintain the dis-
tance between the centre of the crank shaft and the face of the working valves

page_text: of the engine. R, V, represent the two cylinders (laterally united near their
base), which I prefer to cast together with four strong ears 9,9,9g, g; these
ears are strongly fixed to the frame D, D, D, D, which is of wood strengthened
by iron bands. H, K, H, K, are guide rods to receive the pullies which are
attached to the piston rods, so as to ensure a parallel action of the piston rods
and piston. The two branches of each guide H, K, are held fixed and parallel
by a strong metal bar, with which they are connected at one end K, while
the other end is fixed between two vertical ears cast with the cylinders; they
are also held by the cylinder covers, which they encompass, as may be seen in
Fig. 2. The connecting rods T, V, T, V, are attached to the piston rods at T, and
drive the crank shaft. The steam giving an alternating motion to each piston,
the connecting rods cause the crank shaft B, B, B, B, to turn, and conse-
quently the hind wheels, by their friction on the ground, impel the coach.
forward; the feed pump U is placed between the two cylinders below; the
pump piston or ram is worked by means of its connexion with the piston rod
at E. It is, adviseable to expend the smallest quantity of steam. I consider
the best way of doing this is to work the steam expansively, and at the same
time to condense the steam or vapour. In order that the coach may be driven
either backwards or forwards, I have had fixed upon the, axle (in the middle)
a bent lever c, d; the end d of this lever, acted upon by a spring, catches into
a notch made in the face of the pulley W, and thus forces it to turn with
the axles so as to drive the valves. When the conductor of the coach wishes
to drive the coach backwards, he turns the rotary valves one quarter round,
so as to change by so much their former position; to do which, he shuts off
the steam from the boilers, and the coach still advances on account of the
speed acquired, and as the motion soon becomes very slow, he can very easily.
press upon the end d of the lever, and thus disengage it from the notch on
the side of the pulley W; the valves will consequently stand still until the
catch falls into a second notch standing at right angles with the other one,
and which places the valves in the requisite position to work the engine
the contrary way.
I do hereby claim the exclusive use of two distinct improvements in the
boiler or generator. First, the use of several boilers or compartments, with
vertical flue tubes through the same for generating steam or vapour, disposed
and arranged in such manner that in case any one of such boilers should be
out of order the same may be shut off from the other boilers by means of two
cocks, whilst the remainder of the boilers shall still be in condition to generate
the steam: Second, in the manner of preserving and maintaining the level
of the liquid the same and equal in all the boilers at work.

page_text: I also hereby claim the exclusive use of the mode of condensation, which
consists in condensing the steam or other working vapour by the contact of
an extensive metalic surface, whilst such metalic surface is kept cool by
water contained in a reservoir, and whilst such water is cooled in its turn by
falling in a shower through a strong current of air produced by a blast, so as
again to cool the water; it being understood that my claim for the above
particular arrangement in the mode of condensing is only when such is used
and applied for the purposes of steam engines.
I also hereby claim the exclusive use of two rotary valves, made and
disposed in such manner that the steam shall act with full power during any
part of a dip of the piston, whilst the steam shall act expansively at and during
the other part of the dip of the piston; it being understood, that when the
steam acts with full power in the one cylinder it acts expansively in the other
cylinder, and so alternately in the reciprocating strokes of the engine.
I have thus described the nature of my said Invention and improvements,
in such a manner that any person acquainted with machinery may be able to
understand them.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Gordon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.