IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS OF COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Walls, of Farington Mills, near Preston,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENTS OF COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Walls at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents. with his Petition. on the 4th
January 1860.
I, JOSEPH WALLS. of Farington Mills, near Preston. in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS OF COMPOUND STEAM ENGINEB," to be as follows:-
Firstly. I work compound steam engines having separate loads. that is. 1
work one or more high-pressure engines. the exhaust steam of which passes
either through the ordinary pipes or through an intermediate vessel, in order
to supply one or more low-pressure engines. a portion of the steam in the
intermediate vessel being employed when desired for heating mills. sizing.
bleaching, or other necessary purposes; and in order to adjust the high or low
pressure valves for varying the expansion of the steam according to the load. 1
employ a self-acting regulating valve. which maintains an equal pressure
of steam to the low-pressure engine by the valve opening more or less
according to the pressure of the exhaust steam from the high-pressure engines
[Price 8d.]

page_text: or if the latter is altogether shut off, an exhaust valve being employed when
the low-pressure engine is not required to work.
Secondly, for an improved arrangement of compound engines in which the
high and low pressure cylinders are placed at or near right angles with each
other, both the pistons being connected to one shaft or one crank pin. The
steam from the high-pressure engine or engines passes into one or more inter-
mediate vessels for the purpose of allowing the high-pressure valve to be cut
off at any required amount of expansion, and also for cutting off the valves of
the low-pressure engine or engines. In cases where the high-pressure
cylinder is required to be of large proportion to the low-pressure cylinder, the
surplus steam is employed for similar purposes to those before mentioned.
The aforesaid arrangement produces uniform motion by preventing the undue
compression of the steam in the cylinders, and causing the expansion to be
even and regular.
Thirdly, for an improved arrangement for varying the traverse of the slide
valves of a steam engine so as to dispense with the throttle valve; the end of
the valve lever is slotted, and passes over the pin on the end of the eccentric
rod, which is raised up and down in the slot according to the traverse required,
by causing it to rest upon a curved plate raised up and down by means of
wedges acted upon by tappets on the fly wheel shaft.
Fourthly, for raising a portion of the condensed water into steam, which
passes into the cylinder of a low-pressure engine after the valve has been cut
off so as to obtain an increase of power and also regularity of motion. The
water is pumped into a series of tubes or separate small boilers placed in the
main flues of the ordinary boilers between their ends and the chimney.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Walls in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WALLS, of Farington Mills, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Najesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign. did. for herself Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Walls, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph

page_text: Walls. my executors, administrators, and assigns. or such others as I,
the said Joseph Walls, 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 "IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENTS OF COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES." upon the condition (amongat
others) that I the said Joseph Walls, my executors or administrators. by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals
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 Joseph Walls, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
Firstly, I work compound steam engines having separate loads, that is. T
work one or more high-pressure engines, the exhaust steam of which passes
either through the ordinary pipes or through an intermediate vessel in order
to supply one or more low-pressure engines, a portion of the steam in the
intermediate vessel or pipes being employed when desired for heating mills,
sizing, bleaching, or other necessary purposes: and in order to adjust the high
or low pressure valves for varying the expansion of the steam according to the
load. I employ a self-acting regulating or reducing valve, which maintains an
equal pressure of steam to the low-pressure engine by the valve opening more
or less according to the pressure of the exhaust steam from the high-pressure
engines, or if the latter is altogether shut off, an exhaust or escape valve being
employed when the low-pressure engine is not in operation.
Secondly, for an improved arrangement of compound engines, in which the
high and low pressure cylinders are placed at right angles to each other, so
that a beam and horizontal engine can be both connected to one crank shaft,
the crank being so placed that when the steam is acting with full power in
one cylinder the crank for the other cylinder is turning the centre or there-
abouts. The high and low pressure cylinders may also be placed in any other
desired position in relation to each other, that is to say, they may both be
perpendicular. both horizontal, or one at an angle with the other. it being
understood that the cranks are placed at such angles with each other that
when the steam is acting with full power in one cylinder the crank is turning

page_text: the centre of the other or thereabouts as in the former case. The steam from
the high-pressure cylinder passes into one or more intermediate vessels for the
purpose of allowing the valves of both the high and low pressure engines to
cut off the steam so as to give any amount of expansion required. In cases
where the high-pressure cylinder is required to be of large proportion to the
low-pressure cylinder, the surplus steam is employed for similar purposes to
those before mentioned. namely, for heating mills, sizing. bleaching, or other
necessary purposes. The aforesaid arrangement produces uniform motion by
preventing the undue compression of the steam in the cylinders, and causing
the expansion to he even and regular.
Thirdly, for raising a portion of the water from the hot well into steam for
supplying a low-pressure engine: the water is pumped into a separate boiler.
having one or more tubes or flues communicating with the main flue from the
high-pressure boiler or boilers to the chimney, and the exhaust steam from
the high-pressure engine or engines is also passed into the aforesaid separate
boiler to assist in, supplying the steam to the low-pressure cylinder, which
arrangement is used in certain cases as a substitute for the intermediate vessel
before described. The flues are kept clean by some circular wire brushes
fixed to an endless chain working round drums placed in the flues. If the
position of the hot well is not convenient, the water may be supplied to the
said separate boiler from any other source, either hot or cold.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the figures
and letters on the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, in which Fig. is
an elevation of my improved arrangement for working compound steam
engines having separate loads; Figs. 2 and 3 are indicator diagrams connected
with the same: Fig. 4 is a plan of my improvements in connection with com-
pound engines coupled together: Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are indicator diagrams
connected with the same; Figs. 8 and 9 are views of a separate boiler for
receiving the exhaust steam from a high-pressure engine. and Figs. 10 and 11
are views of a modification of the same.
In Fig. I representing the first part of my improvements, I only shew one
high-pressure cylinder and one low-pressure cylinder, but the number can be
multiplied to any desired extent. The steam from the boiler a passes through
the pipes b to the high-pressure cylinder e, the exhaust steam from which passes
through the pipes d to the low-pressure cylinder e, from which the steam is
exhausted in the condenser in the usual manner. When the high-pressure
cylinder is not used, or when there is not a full load upon it. then the proper
supply of steam for the low-pressure cylinder e is regulated by the valve in the
valve box, or the steam from the high-pressure cylinder c is exhausted through
C

page_text: the pipes into an intermediate vessel h, both shewn by the dotted lines.
which vessel is connected by a pipe with the low-pressure cylinder e. a regn-
lating valve being used or not as required. By the employment of the inter-
mediate vessel I am enabled to cui off the steam at any desired portion of
the stroke according to the work required, and obtain a fuller equivalent from
the expansion of the steam than by any other method. (for example) if a high-
pressure cylinder of eighteen inches diameter be employed, with steam of
about seventy pounds above the atmosphere. and cut off at about half the
stroke, then the effect of the expansion will be shewn by the indicator
Diagram Fig. 2. in which twenty-one pounds are allowed for the back pres-
sure, and nearly thirty pounds are obtained for the average effect of steam for
the entire stroke. The steam from the high-pressure cylinder passes to the
low-pressure cylinder, and may be cut off at about one-tenth of the stroke.
The steam enters at the back pressure of twenty-one pounds. minus the loss.
which, with the effect obtained by the condenser. gives a
pressure of
about 275 for one-tenth of the stroke, and an average pressure of nearly
seven pounds is obtained for the entire stroke as shown by the Diagram Fig. 3.
The second part of my improvements relate to the working of compound
steam engines coupled together. ihe cylinders being placed in any suitable
position in relation to each other. In Fig. 4 the high-pressure cylinder is shewn
at 1. and the low-pressure cylinder at 7, both placed in a vertical position, the
steam from the boiler m passing through the pipe n to the said high-pressure
cylinder . from whence it passes through the exhaust pipes o to the inter-
mediate vessel p. from which it is delivered by the pipes q to the low-pressure
cylinder 1. there being a safely or escape valve r to prevent steam of too high
pressure passing to the low-pressure cylinder, a regulating or reducing valve
being employed when desired. Similar arrangements of pipes and inter-
mediate vessel being adopted when, the cylinders are placed in other positions.
The intermediate vessel or pipes are well felted. and may be made of any
suitable size, and placed in any position, and may also be employed for giving
off a portion of steam for heating mills, sizing. bleaching, or other useful
purposes.
By the application of my intermediate vessel. I am enabled to employ the
useful effect of the expansive force of steam to the greatest advantage, the
steam being cut off in both cylinders at any desired portion of the stroke. An
ellicient and economical effect of the action of the two cylinders is shewn by
the Diagrams, Figs. 5 and 6. The high-pressure cylinder being eighteen
inches in diameter, and the low-pressure cylinder forty inches. Steam at

page_text: about fifty pounds above the atmosphere enters the high-pressure cylinder and
is cut off at half stroke as shewn in Fig. 5. giving an average pressure of 2172
for the entire length of the siroke. there being 18'75 pounds for the back
pressure, which passes forward to the low-pressure cylinder. in which the
steam is cut off at one-fifth, and gives an average of 133 pounds for the
entire stroke:
In order to improve the working effect of old engines and obtain a great
saving of fuel, may add an additional high-pressure cylinder in any desired
position, which plan may also he adopted with new engines. In this arrange-
ment employ a high-pressure cylinder and exhaust the steam into an inter-
mediate vessel. from whence it passes to another high-pressure cylinder, and
from thence to another intermediate vessel, from whence it passes to the low-
pressure cylinder having the ordinary condenser, it being understood that the
steam in each cylinder is cut off at any portion of the stroke, thus supposing
the first high-pressure cylinder to be thirteen inches diameter, and steam of one
hundred and twenty pounds above the atmosphere to enter the cylinder, and
afterwards to be cut off at about half stroke, the average pressure of steam for
the entire stroke is 4587. allowing 525, for the back pressure as shewn in the
Diagram. Fig. 7. which steam may pass onwards through the intermediate
vessel to the second high-pressure cylinder of eighteen inches diameter, the
effect of which has been described by the Diagram, Fig. 5. The steam then
passes to the low-pressure cylinder, the Diagram of which is shown at Fig. 6,
by which arrangements an enormous accession of power is obtained with a
great economy of fuel.
The third part of my improvements relating to the employment of a sepa-
rate boiler for receiving the exhaust steam from a high-pressure engine in
conjunction with the supply of water from a hot well or other source, is repre-
sented in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11. In Figs. 8 and 9, the separate boiler is
shewn at s, having an internal flue at . which communicates with the flue
of the high-pressure boiler E, and also with the flue e to the chimney. The
water is pumped in, and the exhaust steam supplied in any suitable position.
The semicircular wire brush is shewn at a fixed to the endless chains y passing
round the drunis z, so that when the drums are turned, the brush moves
through the flue and perfectly cleans it.
In Figs. 10 and
11, I represent a similar séparate boiler supplied with
water and exhaust steam, but provided with two flues both communicating
with the flue from the end of the main boiler, and also the flue to the chimney.
The two flues are shewn at a and b, through which are passed the endless

page_text: chains c', having fixed to them one or more semicircular wire brushes d', so
that when motion is given to the chains the top of one flue and the bottom of
the other shall be cleaned.
In the Figures the separate boilers are shewn placed horizontally, but they
may be vertical or in any other position. The aforesaid separate boiler may
in certain cases be used as a substitute for the intermediate vessel, and will
afford the facility of cutting off the steam in both cylinders, or in one only as
may be required, and also causes a great economy of fuel by absorbing the
surplus heat from the main flues, and using the water from the hot well.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I claim,
the application to compound steam engines of an intermediate vessel for
receiving the exhaust steam from the high-pressure cylinder, in order to avoid
undue compression in that cylinder, and obtain the greatest effect of expan-
sion by allowing the valves to be so regulated as to cut off the steam in both
cylinders to any extent required; and also the employment of a separate boiler
for receiving the exhaust steam as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Two Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Walls, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord Onc
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Joseph Walls, in the presence
uf
E. J. HUGHES. Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JOSEPH WALLS. (L.s.)