IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER MORE ECONOMICALLY
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Ramsbottom at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st March
1855.
I, JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES, AND OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER MORE ECONOMICALLY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain combined arrangements whereby a greater
amount of mechanical effect may be obtained from steam or other vapours or
fluids. The nature and particulars of this Invention and its mode of practical
operation are by the annexed Drawings and description set forth and
explained, in which the same letters of reference are used to explain similar
parts where different views or diagrams are shewn. Figs. 1 and 2 show
the combined arrangement of cylinders intended to comprise the principal
features of the apparatus, each Figure containing two cylinders, an upper onc
A, and a lower one B; the pistons of cach of which are connected by a
common piston rod C, but the pistons of Fig. 1 are raised at the same time
as the pistons of Fig. 2 are depressed. These rods may either be connected
to each end of a beam with crank rods, descending from spaces nearer the
centre of said beam, as may be convenient, or they may be directly con-

page_text: nected with cranks themselves in any suitable manner for communicating
motive power.
V and V shew the valvular arrangement; V₁ opening and
closing the connection with the boiler simultaneously with the closing or
opening the connection with the cylinders and condensor by V. S, S¹, S³, and
S are steam ways. A' is an opening to the atmosphere. Steam direct from
the boiler or new steam is supplied to the top of the upper cylinders only,
and the mode of operation is as follows:-On the position of the valves and
pistons being as described in Fig. 1, the steam enters through S into
cylinder A, supplying it throughout the stroke or a portion only, and depress-
ing the pistons in cylinders A and B, Fig. 1, the said pistons being, as before
explained, connected by a common rod on arriving at the bottom of the stroke;
the steam ways would by a change in the position of the valves be caused to
assume the position of Fig. 2, thus opening a connection beneath the pistons
of cylinder A with a view to counteract pressure, and also beneath the piston
of cylinder B, thereby obtaining an effective force on this piston from, and
corresponding to, the expansive pressure of the steam supplied to the upper
cylinder A, the steam in cylinder A during this expansion simply changing
its position from above to beneath the piston, whilst the upper portion of the
piston in cylinder B is exposed to the atmosphere. Let it now be understood
that the steam occupies the spaces beneath the pistons of cylinders A and B,
and that the valves have returned to their former position, as in Fig. 1, and
that new steam is again being supplied through S; but the opening now
leading to the condensor enables both the pistons to work under a vacuum
through the condensation effected in their respective cylinders, and whilst new
steam is supplied to the upper cylinder the pressure of the atmosphere is made
available on the lower one by entering through A', thus effecting considerable
economy. The object in having two sets of cylinders is to compensate the
unequal effect of the down and up stroke. The diameter of the atmospheric
cylinders may be proportionately greater than the high-pressure cylinder in
most of those cases where it may be desirable to work with steam of extreme
pressure. Each arrangement of cylinders may also be either connected with
a separate or both with a common condensor suitably prepared for the purpose.
The changes of stroke of each may be effected either by a long slide valve or
two smaller ones. The Inventor desires it to be distinctly understood that he
does not strictly confine himself to the exact form of apparatus as herein
drawn or described, as the same may be modified and still retain its principle;
for instance, three cylinders might be substituted for two, with the high
pressure one at top or in the middle, with suitable valvular arrangements;
neither does he desire to confine it to steam only, as it would be applicable for

page_text: obtaining motive power from other vapours or fluids; but especially claims, as
the leading principles of his Invention,―
Firstly, the application of steam or other vapour or fluid at the termination
of what is known as the stroke to both sides of a piston to equalize pressure or
resistance, in order that the expansive force may be rendered further effective
for obtaining motive power.
Secondly, the abstraction of steam from a cylinder expansively (in which its
reactive pressure is counteracted, as before described), and the application of
the said steam to another cylinder or cylinders for the purpose of making its
expansive force further available for obtaining motive power.
Thirdly, the use of a cylinder or cylinders open at one end to the atmo-
sphere for the purpose just described, and so arranged that it may, together
with the high-pressure cylinder, be brought into connection with a condensor,
and thus be made a means of further encreasing the mechanical effect
economically.
Fourthly, the use of the non-counteracting expansive principle, explained in
claim 1st, to encrease the power and economic working of high-pressure
engines, by conveying steam into an atmospheric cylinder or cylinders and
effecting a stroke thereby previous to its liberation to the atmosphere.
Fifthly, the use of the arrangements drawn and described, with their mode
of practical operation, together with the general and specific objects hereby
intended, for the purpose of obtaining motive power more economically from
steain or other vapours or fluids.