IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES WORKED BY STEAM OR OTHER FLUID, AND IN PUMPS."
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Alexander Rippingille, of Staple Hill, near
Bristol, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES WORKED BY STEAM
OR OTHER FLUID, AND IN PUMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Alexander
Rippingille at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th January 1862.
I, EDWARD ALEXANDER RIPPINGILLE, of Staple Hill, near Bristol, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES WORKED
BY STEAM OR OTHER FLUID, AND IN PUMPS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in employing an elastic piston or pistons for
injection and other engines to prevent concussion at the termination of the
stroke, and also during the covering of the ports by the valves, and farther-
more to render the use of the ordinary slide valve available for such engines.
The elastic piston consists in fitting an internal piston or pistons within the
ordinary piston, having springs at each end or side with stops at the termination
of its passage within the ordinary piston. In a condensing steam engine a
vessel or chamber is placed between the injection engine and the condenser to
convert the irregular flow from the injection cylinder into continuous streams
flowing into the top of the condenser, for which purpose a chamber or vessel
of any desired shape is used, having a capacity large enough to retain a
portion of the water during the termination of the stroke with a contracted
opening into the condenser.
In constructing surface condensers corrugated curved sheets of copper or
other metal are employed to form circular, cylindrical, and annular vessels one

page_text: within the other, having cold water circulating around and within the same.
The vessel in which such condenser is fixed may be made of plain sheet iron
or other metal, the water around and within the annular space of the con-
denser having a rotatory motion, caused by the circulating pump delivering
the water in a line with the circumference of the condensing cylinder.
When refrigerating, condensed water is to be used; for injection, cylindrical
vessels are used, around which cold water circulates; also an annular cylin-
drical vessel within the same, having cold water circulating through it. The
injection water from the condenser is delivered within the annular cylinder,
passing to the bottom of the main cylinder in contact with it and under the
annular cylinder, and again traversing the outer side of the annular cylinder
to the top of the main cylinder, and finally traversing the inner surface of the
main cylinder, for which purpose a plate of iron is fixed around the main
cylinder within about one inch of the same to keep the injection water in
close contact with the cooled surface of the main cylinder before again
entering the condenser. Within the annular cylinder a pipe is carried up
partly into a dome situate over part of the main cylinder, so that the water
arising from the condensed steam may overflow the same, falling into a tank
or receiver, from which it is pumped into the boiler, by this means a regular
quantity is maintained in the refrigerator. An air pump is used for clearing
the condenser of air, and a separate pump is used for drawing out the injection
and condensed water. By thus separating the duty of the air pump and water
pump when used in conjunction with an injection engine, one side of the air
pump is used as an injection cylinder, the other side of the piston being used
for abstracting the air from the condenser, whilst the pump pumps water only
out of the condenser. The water pump in this arrangement may be much less
than the air pump, and of a size only sufficient to remove the injection and
condensed water from the condenser. This water pump is worked simul-
taneously or coupled to the before mentioned air pump.
The action of the combined injection cylinder and air pump will be as
follows:-Water from the injection pipe is admitted by a slide valve or other-
wise to the one side of the piston during the stroke of the pump, at the turn
of the stroke a communication is opened to admit this water to the regulating
chamber of the condenser from which it flows into the condenser; and in the
continuation of the stroke the air is drawn from the condenser through the
regulator into the other end of the cylinder. Upon the termination of the
stroke a valve prevents the return of the air to the condenser, and a valve also
permits the air to pass from the air pump.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Alexander Rippingille in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ALEXANDER RIPPINGILLE, of Staple Hill, near Bristol, send greeting...
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Alexander Rippingille, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Alexander Rippingille, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Alexander Rippingille, 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
lawfully 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 ENGINES WORKED BY STEAM OR OTHER FLUID,
AND IN PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Alexander Rippingille, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Edward Alexander Rippingille, 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 is applicable to those constructions of steam engines wherein
the injection water in its way to the condenser is caused to enter a cylinder,
and to act on a piston working therein, so that the power obtained thereby
may be rendered available in the working of the steam engine. And the In-
vention consists, first, in applying an elastic piston in the injection cylinder or
engine to prevent concussion at the termination of the stroke, and also during
the covering of the port by the valve.
Secondly, in applying a chamber or vessel to the condenser in such manner
that the injection water from the injection cylinder or engine shall be first
received into such chamber or vessel, and then be by it delivered continuously

page_text: in numerous streams or Jets into the condenser, the chamber or vessel being or
such capacity, and so arranged as to retain sufficient water to keep up a supply
of water to the condenser during one half stroke of the piston in the injecting
cylinder.
Thirdly, in applying apparatus for refrigerating the condensed water.from
a steam engine in combination with an injecting cylinder. .or engine.
Fourthly, in a combined arrangement of air pump and injection cylinder,
or engine (by which the air is withdrawn from, and injection water. is. supplied
to the condenser) with a water pump for withdrawing the condensing. water,
and condensed steam from the condenser.
Fifthly, in a mode of constructing steam engine condensers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 shew an under and upper, view; and Figure 3: a section
of a piston such as I employ in an injection cylinder or. engine for, supplying
injection water to a condenser of a steam engine. The interior of the piston C
is formed cylindrical, and suitable to receive an inner piston A, which when
at rest. is retained in position by springs B.above and below it. The piston C
and the inner piston. A are suitably. packed to, render. them, air and water-
tight in their respective cylinders. The forms of the springs and of the other
parts, and their positions may be varied, so long as the piston employed in an
injection cylinder is. rendered elastic, in such manner that it may yield in
place of causing a shock at the termination of the stroke, and when the port
or outlet is closed, Figure 4 shows a vertical section of a condenser having
a regulating vessel D applied, thereto, by which a continued supply of injec
tion water is kept up to the condenser, E, there, being a perforated.tube
descending therefrom into the interior of the condenser.. The, injection water
is supplied into the. regulating vessel D, which is capable of containing. a
quantity of water sufficient to continue the injection during the time.that no
water, is. being passed from the injection cylinder. D¹, D, are plates at the
bottom of the vessel D in order that 'the water in that vessel may be prevented
rotating therein, which it would otherwise, be liable to do, by reason of the
rush of water from, the injection cylinder or engine through the supply pipe F:
It is preferred to employ, the condensed water, obtained from the steam
engine as injection water after, it has been cooled or refrigerated, which. how
ever is not new, but according to the present Invention apparatus for refrige
rating the condensed water is applied between the cistern or vessel into which
the water from the condenser is received, and the injection cylinder or engine
by which it is supplied. to the vessel D, and consequently, to the condenser.as

page_text: injection water. The arrangement of apparatus. employed by me for this
purpose is as follows:-The outlet of the pump: which removes the water
from the condenser. is connected with a refrigerating apparatus, and the inlet
pipe of the injection cylinder.or engine. is connected with the refrigerating
apparatus, so that the water from the condenser is first refrigerated, and it is
then received into the injection cylinder, and from, it the water passes into the
vessel D to the condenser. The refrigerating apparatus which. I prefer con-
sists of a cylindrical vessel, around. which cold water circulates, also an
annular. cylindrical vessel within the same, having cold water circulating
through it. The injection. water from. the condenser is delivered within the
annular cylinder, and passes to the bottom, and then under the annular cylinder,
it then traverses the outer side of the annular cylinder to the top of the main
cylinder, and finally, traverses the inner surface of the main cylinder; for which
purpose a plate of iron is fixed around the main cylinder, within about one
inch of the same, to keep the injection water in close.contact.with the cooled
surface of the main cylinder.
:
Figure 4 shows in addition to the apparatus already described, an arrange-
ment or combination of air, an injection pump or cylinder, and also a.water
pump for removing water from the condenser. The duty heretofore performed
by the air pump is thus separated, by which the water pump. used for.. re-
moving the injection water, and the. water of condensation from the condenser
may be less than an air pump usually employed for, a. like sized steam engine
wherein the air pump performs. the. two duties of an air pump and a.water
pump. for removing the air and the water from the condenser; G. is the
injection cylinder or engine; the water for injection is admitted on one. side
of the piston, and the air from the condenser is admitted on the other side of
the cylinder, and as the injection water which enters the cylinder G through
the supply. pipe H. is subject to the pressure of the atmosphere, it will by
pressing on the piston I in the cylinder G aid the working of the steam engine
with which it is used; J is the piston rod of the cylinder or..engine; G. and K
is the piston or pump rod of the water pump.L. Motion, is given to the two
piston, rods J, K, by the steam engine with which the cylinders G.and K are
in combination. In Figure 4 the parts are shewn in the positions they assume
when the pistons I and M.are descending, and the valve N of the cylinder G
has closed the passage for the water into the cylinder G, and opened the
passage for the injection water to pass from the cylinder G into the
chamber or vessel D, whilst the air from the condenser passes from the
condenser through the pipe O into the upper end of the cylinder. G. The

page_text: piston I in the cylinder G is constructed in the manner shown and described
in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings..
:
I would state that the arrangement and positions of the cylinders G and
K, and the parts connected therewith, may be varied so long as the duty of
withdrawing the water from the condenser is performed by a water pump, and
the pump used for, removing the air is caused to act as an injection cylinder
and an air pump as herein explained.
Figure 5 shows a vertical section, and Figure 6 a plan of a condenser, in
which corrugated sheet copper or other metal is used bent or formed into
annular vessels, one within the other. The steam is admitted at the inlet
pipe P, and the water of. condensation and the air are removed at Q, cold
water enters at R, and passes off at S, after being circulated through the
annular vessels as indicated by the arrows."
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to the
mechanical parts separately; but what I claim is,—
First, the application of an elastic piston in the injection cylinder of a steam
engine as herein described. .
.
. Secondly, I claim the application of a chamber or vessel to the condenser
of a.steam engine for receiving the condensing water, and for supplying the
same to the condenser as herein described.
"
Thirdly, I claim the application of refrigerating apparatus in combination
with an injecting cylinder or engine, so that the water of condensation may be
refrigerated and delivered by the injection engine to the condenser as herein
described.
Fourthly, I claim the combined arrangement herein described, whereby the
water is removed from a steam engine condenser by a water pump, and the
air is withdrawn from the condenser by a cylinder or engine acting also to
supply the condensing water to the condenser as herein described.
Fifthly, I claim the mode herein described of constructing condensers of
corrugated sheet copper, or other metal..
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Alexander Rippingille, have
hereunto set my hand and. seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ED. ALEX. RIPPINGILLE. (L.S.)