CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Stead Crosland, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 7th December 1858, and dated the 10th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Stead Crosland
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th June 1858.
I, JAMES STEAD CROSLAND, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist, firstly, in the arrangement and combination of a
vibrating engine as auxiliary or pusher to any other steam engine. I link or
couple the piston rod cap to the connecting rod or crank pin of the engine to
be aided or compounded.
Secondly, in the arrangement and combination of a horizontal engine as
auxiliary or pusher to any other engine; in this case I couple together the
ends of the connecting rods of both engines, or the connecting rods may lay
hold of a crank pin common to both.
Thirdly, in passing the supply and exhaust steam with concentric pipes
through a single trunnion of a vibrating cylinder, instead of through separate
trunnions as heretofore.

page_text: Fourthly, in producing a forced injection by means of a pump or pumps, or
by the application of an increased or superior head of water to the usual height
of the cold-water cistern, reservoir, or other source from whence the injection
water is obtained.
Fifthly, in the substitution and adaptation of a syphon pipe fitted to the
condenser, which answers the purpose of an air pump, or a foot valve opening.
outwards, through which the condensed water runs off, may be used. In some
cases I use a float within the condenser, or in a separate vessel, opening a
valve outwards as a safeguard from accumulation of water in condensers.
Sixthly, in the adaptation of multitubular feed water heating apparatus, as
shown and described in the two former Specifications of Letters Patent granted
to me on the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six, and on the Twenty-seventh day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven respectively, that is to say, my im-
provements consists in passing the exhaust steam on its way to the condenser or
to the open air through the tubes of the apparatus, as shewn and described in
the Specifications of the said Letters Patent, and into which the feed water is
pumped, for the purpose of being heated on its way to the boiler; or the
water may pass through the tubes, and the exhaust steam will then act on the
exterior of the tubes instead of the interior; and also in some cases I arrange
plated water spaces instead of pipes or tubes. The whole of the above
improvements are applicable to marine and stationary engines, either high-
pressure or condensing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Stead Crosland in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
STEAD CROSLAND, of Ashton-under-Lyne,. in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Stead Crosland, Her special licence that I, the said James
Stead Crosland, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: as I, the said James Stead Crossland, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Stead Crosland, 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 James Stead Crosland, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say):-
The nature of my said Invention of improvements in steam engines
consists, firstly, in the peculiar and improved arrangement and combination
of a high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine as auxiliary or pusher,
or to compound any other condensing steam engine, whether marine or
stationary.
Secondly, in the application of a high-pressure double-cylinder engine,
commonly known as a horizontal engine, as auxiliary or pusher, or to
compound any other condensing engine, whether marine or stationary.
Thirdly, in the peculiar and improved arrangement and combination of a
high-pressure single-cylinder engine, also known as a horizontal engine, as
auxiliary or pusher, or to compound any other condensing engine, whether
marine or stationary.
And, fourthly, in passing the supply and exhaust steam, with concentric
pipes, through a single trunnion of a vibrating or oscillating cylinder, instead
of through separate trunnions, as heretofore.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me, reference
being had to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 on Sheet No. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of one of my improved
combinations of compound engines, and Figure 2 is an end view of the same,

page_text: shewing the application of the vibrating or oscillating engine to stationary
engines already compounded with M'Naught's patent cylinders.
A, in Figures 1 and 2, is the vibrating or oscillating cylinder; B, the piston
rod cap, which is attached to the crank pin C in the crank D of the, engine
already compounded; E is a blank trunnion; and F, the steam and exhaust
trunnion; G is the steam pipe from the boiler, which supplies the oscillating
cylinder A; H and Ha, are the exhaust pipes, which feed the M'Naught's
cylinder I, and the condensing cylinder J simultaneously.
In case it should be preferred to work the steam consecutively, then it
passes direct from the oscillating cylinder A into the M'Naught's cylinder I,
and from the cylinder I to the cylinder J, through the pipe Hb; the branch
exhaust pipe H is then not required. In the former case both cylinders are
connected by pipes to the condenser, but in the latter case only the cylinder J
is connected to the condenser. The oscillating cylinder A in this instance is
placed vertically, and immediately under the main crank D of the condensing
engine to be aided, compounded, or double compounded. And in order to
render it feasible to place the oscillating cylinder in the vertical position shewn,
I combine the steam and exhaust in one concentric trunnion F, as shewn in
Figures 27 and 28. I also arrange and combine the main frames K, K, and
tie bolts L, L, which secure the oscillating engine to the main crank shaft M
of the condensing engine.
Figure 3 shews another mode of applying the oscillating engine, and the
mode of applying a single-cylinder engine; Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
Another modification of the single-cylinder engine is shewn in Figure 3ª,
of which Figure 4* is a plan.
In Figure 3, the oscillating cylinder A, shewn in dotted lines, is placed
horizontally, and connected by the piston rod cap or strap B to the crank
pin C, fixed in a wheel or crank Da, at the outer end of the main crank shaft
M of the condensing engine. Lis the tie bolt for securing the main frame K
of the oscillating engine to the bearing of the condensing engine shaft M.
His the exhaust pipe of the oscillating cylinder, which feeds the condensing
engine cylinder J, and in the case of the engine shewn in the position P being
used as a condensing or double compound engine, working its steam con-
secutively or simultaneously with the condensing cylinder J, the exhaust
pipe Ha will feed the said engine P, or any other engine placed contiguously.
A is a single-cylinder engine, fixed at an angle, which secures the important
advantage of lead of exhaust and supply steam to the condensing engine.
N, N, is a forked connecting rod with double cross-heads R, R", connected

page_text: to the crank pin C in the condensing engine crank D. In Figures 3 a and 4 a,
R 1 and R 2 are two connecting rods, coupled to the cross-head R", and worked.
by the piston rod S. The connecting rod R2 is attached to the crank pin C of
the crank D on the fly-wheel shaft M of a condensing engine; and the con-
necting rod R 1 is attached to a crank pin C 1 on the double crank shaft m, m.
This double crank shaft is coupled to the main fly-wheel shaft M by the crank
pin C, which passes through the cranks D and D; the connecting rod R² and
the connecting rod of the condensing engine both work on the same crank
pin C; the two engines are thus effectively coupled together.
Figure 5 shews another arrangement of the vibrating or oscillating engine;
Figure 6 is a plan, and Figure 7 an end view of the same.
The oscillating cylinder A is placed at an angle, which secures the important
advantage of lead of exhaust and supply steam to the condensing cylinder J,
and is attached to the crank pin C of the condensing engine, in a similar
manner to that shewn and described in Figures 1, 2, 3, 3 a, 4, and 4 a.
K, K, are the main frames, which secure the oscillating engine to the crank
shaft M of the condensing engine.
Figure 8 is an elevation, and Figure 9 an end view, shewing another
arrangement of the vibrating or oscillating engine. In this arrangement I
place the oscillating cylinder A immediately beneath the main working beam,
and between the cylinder and crank shaft of the condensing engine; and in
order to render it feasible to place the oscillating cylinder A in this said
position, the main frames K, K, form the bases of the main columns O, O, of
the condensing engine. In this arrangement the oscillating engine is placed at
the same angle, but at the opposite side of the crank shaft to that shewn in
Figure 5, and it is designed for condensing engines revolving in the direction
indicated by the arrow.
Figure 14, on Sheet No. 2, is an elevation, and Figure 15 is a plan of the
same, shewing the application of the oscillating engine to condensing engines
furnished with McNaught's patent cylinders, as also shewn in Figures 1 and 2
of Sheet No. 1.
A, in Figure 14, is the oscillating cylinder; B, the piston rod cap, which is
attached to the crank pin c of the crank d, upon an intermediate shaft 'm,
upon which another crank da is also fixed, which is coupled to the crank
pin C of the condensing engine crank D; G is the steam pipe from the boiler
supplying the oscillating cylinder A; H and Ha are the exhaust pipes which
feed the McNaught's cylinder I and the condensing cylinder J, and worked as
described in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1. The oscillating cylinder A in this

page_text: arrangement is placed at an angle, or it may be placed horizontally, and the-
cranks adjusted to the proper angle for the exhaust lead and steam supply;
K, K, are the main frames which tie together the oscillating cylinder A and
the intermediate shaft m.
Figure 16 is an elevation, and Figure 17 a plan, shewing another of my
improved combinations of compound engines. A¹ and A2 in Figures 16 and
17, are the cylinders of my double-cylinder auxiliary or compounding engine;
S, S, are the piston rods, one to each cylinder; T, the cross-head; R, the
connecting rod which works between the two cylinders A and A². The con-
necting rod is coupled to the crank pin c in the crank d, upon the intermediate
shaft m, upon which also is fixed the crank da which is coupled to the
crank D of the condensing engine shaft M, as described in Figures 14 and 15;
H is the exhaust pipe of the double cylinders which feeds the condensing
cylinder J, and any other engine placed contiguously, as before described.
Figure 18 is an elevation, and Figure 19 a plan, shewing another mode of
applying my double cylinder engine. The cylinders A² and A² are placed at
the angle shewn at P¹, when the engine revolves as indicated by the arrow,.
and should be placed at the opposite angle, as shewn in dotted lines at P²,
when revolving in the opposite direction to the arrow. In these arrangements:
the connecting rod R is attached to the crank pin C on the crank D, upon the
main crank shaft M; K, K, are the main frames of the compound double-
cylinder engine.
.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 21 ista front elevation,
showing the application of the high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine to
vibrating or oscillating condensing marine engines. A, in Figures 20 and 21,
is the high-pressure compounding oscillating cylinder; B, the piston rod cap
which is attached to the crank pin C of the cranks D, D, of the oscillating
condensing marine engine; G is the steam pipe from the boiler which supplies
the high-pressure oscillating cylinder A; H is the exhaust pipe which feeds
the condensing oscillating cylinder Ja; L, L, are the pillars, or main tie
bolts, and l, l, the diagonal braces which support and secure the main
trunnion frames k, k, k, k, of the high-pressure oscillating compounding
cylinder A.
Figure 23 is a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 22 is a front elevation,
shewing the application of the double-cylinder high-pressure compounding
engine to an oscillating or vibrating condensing marine engine.
A and A², in Figures 22 and 23, are the high-pressure double cylinders;
S, S, are the piston rods, one to each cylinder; T, the cross-head; R, the

page_text: connecting rod working between the two cylinders A² and A². The connecting
rod is coupled to the crank pin C in the cranks D, D, of the vibrating or
oscillating engine. The same arrangement is applicable to any other class of
marine engines. G is the steam pipe from the boiler which supplies the
double cylinders A' and A2; H is the exhaust pipe which feeds the oscillating
condensing cylinder Ja; L, L, are the pillars or main tie bolts for sécuring.
the double cylinders, which have brackets k, k, cast upon them for that purpose.
Figure 24 is a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 25 is an end view, shewing
the application of the high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine to an
ordinary side lever marine engine.
A, in Figures 24 and 25, is the high-pressure compounding oscillating
cylinder; B, the piston rod cap which is attached to the crank pin C in the:
cranks D, D, of the marine engine; G is the steam pipe from the boiler, and
H the exhaust pipe which feeds the condensing cylinder J' of the side lever:
engine; K, K, are the trunnion frames.
Figure 26 is an elevation shewing the mode of applying my improvements
to a pair of marine screw propeller engines on the trunk principle, with the
cylinders placed at right angles, and the same arrangement is applicable to:
oscillating or fixed cylinders. The angular arrangement here shewn, when
inverted, may be used as paddle-wheel engines, that is, by placing the cylinders
below, and the shaft above.
.
In Figure 26, W, W, are the condensing cylinders; A is the high-pressure
compounding oscillating cylinder, or the double cylinders A¹ and A³, before
described, may be applied with equal advantage. The steam from the boiler
supplies the centre cylinder A, and the exhaust from the cylinder A passes
through the pipes H and Ha, simultaneously into both the condensing.
cylinders W, W; X, X, are the main frames; and Y, the propeller or paddle
wheel shaft.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, on Sheet No. 1, are elevations, shewing my improved
methods of securing the oscillating engine to the crank shaft of condensing
engines; in which M, M, represents the crank shaft pedestals, and E, E, the
trunnion pedestals; K, K, are the improved tie and bracing frames or plates,
which effectively combine the engines together. In Figure 13, on Sheet 2, L
is a single tie bolt for securing the trunnion pedestal K, and the crank shaft
pedestal m, m, of the shaft M.
Figure 27, on Sheet No. 2, is a longitudinal section, and Figure 28 is a
sectional plan, shewing the arrangement for passing the supply and exhaust
steam through a single trunnion. F is the trunnion through which the steam
j

page_text: and exhaust passes; F, G, is the-steam tube; and g, g, the steam tube-
stuffing box; H g-is the exhaust tube, concentric with the steam tube F, G;
and ff, the. exhaust tube stuffing box.
Figures 29.and 30 shew the mode of coupling the piston rod cap of high-
pressure oscillating engines to the connecting rod of condensing engines.
In
these views, S is the piston rod; B, the piston rod cap; Ba is a knuckle or
fork joint and pin, which is formed at the bottom of the connecting rod b, b,
or formed in the moveable strap 6 of the connecting rod."
"
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the details herein set forth, as the same may be varied without departing
from the péculiar character of the Invention; but what I do claim is;-
Firstly, the application of a high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine to
all classes of steam engines already compounded; for the purpose of working
the steam, as shewn and described.
Secondly, the application of a high-pressure double-cylinder engine to all
classes of marine and stationary engines, for the purpose of compounding the
same, and to all classes of steam engines already compounded, for the purpose
of working the steam, as shewn and described.
Thirdly, the application of a high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine to
the crank pin of all classes of marine engines, for the purpose of compounding
the same.
Fourthly, the placing a high-pressure vibrating, oscillating, or double-
cylinder engine, and linking or coupling it to a crank pin fixed in a wheel or
crank on the outer end of the crank shaft of a condensing engine, as shewn
and described in reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Fifthly, the placing a high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine directly
under the working beam, and between the cylinder and crank shaft of a con-
densing engine, as shewn and described in reference to Figures 8 and 9.
Sixthly, the method of connecting a high-pressure vibrating, or oscillating,
or single or double fixed cylinder engine to the crank pin of a condensing
engine, and placing it at an angle, for the purpose of feeding the condensing
cylinder with steam at proper intervals, as shewn and described in reference to
Figure 3, 3a, 5, 8, and 18.
Seventhly, the method of tying together by bolts, plates, or frames the
trunnions of a high-pressure vibrating or oscillating engine, and the crank
shaft of a condensing engine, or of an intermediate shaft in connection with the
condensing engine.

page_text: Eighthly, the method of coupling the piston rod cap of a high-pressure
oscillating engine to the connecting rod or connecting rod strap of a con-
densing steam engine, as shewn and described.
Ninthly, the so constructing the trunnions of vibrating or oscillating steam
engines that the passages for the induction and eduction of steam may be
conveyed through a single trunnion, as shewn and described in reference to
Figures 27 and 28.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Stead Crosland, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
J. S. CROSLAND. (L.S.)