IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TUTIN HAYCRAFT, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Doctor of Medicine,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of
April, in the ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Tutin Haycraft, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said William Tutin Haycraft, my exors, admors, and
.assigns, or such others as I, the said William Tutin Haycraft, my exors,
admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said William Tutin Haycraft, shall cause a particular description of the nature
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
of
my
appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Tutin Haycraft, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, referenco being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
The first series of my improvements is for the purpose of using anhydrous
or dry steam in steam engines. Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a
separator or priming chest. a, a, a, a, is a chamber of a cubical or other
convenient form, having b, an inlet, and c, an outlet, for the steam to be
connected with the steam pipe of a steam engine; d, d, d, d, &c. are divisions
or reverberating plates, which form the lower part into cells; e, e, e, &c. are
reverberating plates, which divide the upper part in a similar manner; f is a
draining pipe which receives the priming through apertures at the bottom of
the cells, to which is connected 9. a pipe, which should descend into the water
in the boiler below the water line; the continuation of passes out of the
.boiler, of which is a portion, to be provided with a cock for the purpose of
blowing off the priming and the filth which will collect in the separator,
whenever required, but this continuation may be omitted. The apparatus may
be placed in the upper part of the boiler or steam chest, or it may be fixed in
any convenient place outside, in which case it must communicate with the
boiler by a pipe at b, and with the engine by a pipe at c.
In this apparatus
I claim the chamber with one or more reverberating plates, together with the
draining pipe or other means of draining. Figure 2 is a similar chamber,
but the divisions d, d, d, d, &c. are placed horizontally, so as to form shelves
in which should be projections as represented to retain the priming which is
to be collected by the draining pipes f, f, as before described in Figure 1.
In this apparatus I claim the chamber with one or more reverberating shelves,
together with the draining pipes or other means of draining. Figure 3 is also
a vertical section of a priming chest or separator; a, a, a, a, is the chamber;
b, the inlet, and c, the outlet, for the steam; d, d, are divisions containing
openings at f; e, e, o, aro disks or plates of any convenient form, and these act
as reverberators; they are placed over the apertures in the divisions; they can
be supported in any convenient way; f is the draining pipe, as before described.
This separator may be placed within or without the boiler, as is most con-
venient; also, the dish may be dispensed with, in which case the apertures in
the shelves should not be made opposite to each other, so that tho shelves 'may
be in the place of the reverborators. and there may be several apertures, in
each shelf. In this apparatus I claim the chamber with one or more .shelves,

page_text: and with one or more reverberators, also without the reverberators, and with
the apertures as described, with the draining pipe or other means, of of draining.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a. priming chest or, separator. to be placed
outside the boiler. a, a, a, a, isa.close chamber, of a cylindrical or other
convenient form, having an inlet or inlets for the steam, at b, b, through the
pipe i, which is attached to the upper part of the boiler, and also an outlet
at c, to supply the engine. This chamber contains several concentric cylinders
d, d, d, &c. dividing the lower part of the chamber into. cells, also several
others e, e, e, &c. attached to the upper part of the chamber, and so placed as
to fall within. the cells; these cylinders.I call reverberators; there are also
draining pipes fand g, with apertures to.each cell, similar to. Figure 1.
Should the chamber bo of a cubical.or other form, a similar form should be
given to the reverberators. In this apparatus I claim the chamber containing
one or more reverberators, with the draining pipes or other means of draining.
Figure 5 is similar to Figuro 4, but the inlet for the steam is by the centre
cylinder, and the outlet from the outside one, and the apparatus may be
contained within the boiler. a, a, a, a, is a close cylindrical or other formed
vessel; 6 is the inlet, and c, c, the outlets, for the steam to supply the engines;
d, d, d, d, &c. are the lower concentric cylinders; and e, e, e, e, &c. the upper;
fand g are the draining pipes, as before described. This separator must con-
sist of at least four concentric cylinders; it is to be placed within the dome or
steam portion of the boiler, and is especially adapted for locomotive and marine
engines. In this apparatus I claim the chamber containing concentric cylinders
or reverberators of a cubical or other convenient form adapted to the shape of
the chamber, together with the draining pipes or other means of draining, as
before mentioned. In general I claim this form of separator composed of four
or more concentric cylinders, arranged as described, the external one forming
a close vessel, and the inner cylinders forming separate cells, which have a
draining pipe or other means of draining, the apparatus having passages for
the inlet or outlet of steam to supply the engine, and to be placed either
within or outside the boiler. Also, the separator, Figure 4, may be contained
within the boiler, in which case the pipe i; and the chamber j, j, may be
dispensed with, and the outlet for steam may be from the centre cylinder,
through the bottom. With regard to the number of reverberating cylinders
in the construction of the Figures 4 and 5, it would be proper to increase the
number in proportion to the size of the engines employed, and the same may
be said of the reverberating divisions and disks in the Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Iri Figure 6, a, a, a, a, is a cylindrical or other shaped vessel, with an inlet
at b, and an outlet at c, to supply the engine with steam by a suitable con-

page_text: nection or pipe, and d is the reverberating cylinder, and the draining pipe,
as before described. This is intended to be contained within the boiler, and
in large boilers a series of the same connected together may be employed, but
I prefer the various apparatus before described. The outlet c is to be connected
with the steam pipe as in the others.
The following Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are various separating
pipes or chambers intended to be placed outside the boiler, forming a
part of the course of the steam pipe lending to the steam engine. I
recommend one of these to be applied as near to the engine as possible;
nt the same time either of the forms described may be applied within
the boiler. When used outside the boiler, they should be provided with
stop-cocks at the draining pipes f, for the purpose of blowing off. Figure 19
is represented as partially within the boiler, of which h, h, is a part.
Figure 14 is a waste pipe with a reverberating dome d, d, as in Figure 7.
In Figure 8 a disk or plate d is used, which may be plane, convex, or
of any other figure, or the disk may be omitted. All these Figures
may be understood by inspection, and the same letters will indicate the
came parts in each as in Figure 6. I claim all these forms of separators
respectively, which may be placed in any convenient position, either within
or outside the boiler, or as waste pipes, having according to their position
draining pipes to the lowest part or other means of draining. The separators
10, 11, and 12 may conveniently be placed within the boiler. Their inlet
pipes b, and their outlet pipes C, are formed as represented, so as to cause a
reverberation of steam; and, as these pipes may be disposed and formed in a
variety of ways, I claim any chamber to be contained within the boiler,
with inlet and outlet pipes so formed and placed as to cause a reverberation
of steam, either against the sides, top, or bottom, so as to separate it from the
priming water, together with a draining pipe or other means of draining, as
before described. Also a very large chamber may be inserted into the steam
part of the boiler, which with an inlet and an outlet connected with the steam
pipe of the engine, together with a draining pipe or other means of draining,
will form a tolerable good separator. and which I claim; also the done of
the boiler may be similarly formed, which I claim. It is evident also that
in cach of the separators I have described, the current of the steam may
be reversed, so that C in cach may be the inlet, and 6 the outlet, producing
the same effect in separating the steam from the priming water, which
alteration of arrangement I claim also. Figures 1 and 2 may represent
tubes or cylinders, to which the divisions or shelves may be applied with
the draining pipes; in which case the inlets and outlets should be larger,

page_text: which I claim also. The divisions and shelves in Figures 1 and 2, and also the
concentric cylinders or reverberators in Figures 4 and 5, may be considerably
shorter, so as not to fall within each other, and that without defeating my
intentions in claiming them. Also, I claim the apparatus, Figure 4 and
Figuro 5, composed of any greater number than four concentric cylinders.
Also each of the separators described may be open at the lower part,
which should then be below the water level in the boiler. In order to
produce a greater economy of steam by means of anhydrous steam, I use
a siccator. Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal section; it consists of
an outward case a, a, a, a, containing a number of thin metallic tubes or
chambers, but tubes are preferable. These tubes are secured into flat
plates, forming the ends of the case. d, d, are two chambers, into which
the ends of the tube open; is the inlet pipe, for the steam from the boiler;
and c, the outlet, which is connected with the engine. c is an opening,
.
to communicate also with the boiler by a pipe; and f is an aperture for
draining the case, or to be connected by means of a pipe to the jacket or
the case surrounding the cylinder of the engine, to be afterwards described.
9 is a throttling or other valve, by which the pressure of the steam within the
chamber d, d, and within the tubes may be regulated. It is evident that by
closing the valve g to any required degree, or by putting on an additional
weight, if it be a loaded valve, the tensity of the steam may be regulated
within the tubes; and at the same time, the case being filled with steam from
the boiler at its full pressure through the openings c, the temperature of the
steam within the tubes will be raised higher than that which belongs to it
as steam of a lower tensity; it will consequently become perfectly dry or
anhydrous; and also the valve may be dispensed with by having another smaller
boiler, which is to contain steam of a higher pressure than that of the working
steam, which boiler shall be connected with the siccator by means of a pipe
at e. In this arrangement, the same effect will be produced as before stated.
Also, the siccator may be enclosed within the boiler, and then the case
a, a, a, a, may be dispensed with; also, the siccator may be enclosed within the
high-pressure boiler, and then the valve may also be dispensed with. Also, I fill
the case a, a, a, a, with oil or some fusible metal, or with a strong solution of
any soluble salt, and apply a fire, which will produce a higher temperature of
the tubes; but I prefer either of the methods before described.
In this Invention I claim the siccator, as described, with the valve as a new
combination, when the tubes are heated by the supply boiler or with a
secondary boiler without the valve, as a new combination, as described; and
also, in the latter case, with the siccator or its tubes being placed within the

page_text: secondary boiler, and in the former combination within the supply boiler. The
number and size of the tubes in or composing the siccator will vary in different
circumstances; but I have ascertained, that if their superfices contain about
ten square feet for each horse power required, an excellent effect will be pro-
duced. Also, the pipe at y may be narrowed, so as to perform in part the
oflico of a valve at g, which narrowing I consider as a valve. Also, I claim
the same siccator, omitting the valve and the secondary boiler, which will
produce a good, though an inferior, effect. In order to produce a still greater
saving in steam in steam engines, I use the following combination:-I sur-
round the cylinder with a casing or jacket, and the effect is increased by so
constructing the casing that the top and bottom of the cylinder, as much as
possible, shall be exposed to the steam surrounding it. The second particular
of the combination consists in the siccator already described. The cylinder is
most conveniently heated by making a communication by means of a pipo
between the casing of the working cylinder and the siccator at f; by this
means, the cylinder will be surrounded by steam of the same temperature as
that which fills the siccator; or, the heating steam may be supplied by a pipe
directly from the same boiler that heats the siccator; and, as the saving of
steam is greater when the siccator and jacket or casing described is used iu
conjunction, than the sum of each when used separately, I claim the use of
them both in conjunction as a new combination. Also, any other form of
siccator, that is, in which the supply steam shall pass through any heating
medium, through pipes or chambers in conjunction with a heating jacket, sur-
rounding the cylinder, I claim as a new combination. And also, as I have
discovered that the greatest saving is produced by the use of a separator, as
described, together with a siccator, as describer, conjoined with heating the
cylinder by means of a jacket, as described, I claim the use of these three as
a new combination. I claim also the use of any separator and any siccator,
together with heating the cylinder as described, or by any other means, as a
new combination of these three particulars. Also, I claim the use of any
of the separators described, or of any other separators, in conjunction with
heating the cylindor, as described, as a new combination of these two
particulars. The siccator may also be composed of one or more tubes of a
considerable length, which may be introduced into the case or into the boiler,
bent or coiled into any convenient form, and having the same connections,
as before described, which. form I claim. In all the examples in which the
working cylinder is heated by a case filled with steam, it should have a draining
pipe leading into the boiler or elsewhere.
Figures 16 and 17 represent in vertical section an expansion valve. Figure

page_text: -
16 is an end section, and Figure 17 a longitudinal section, and the same
letters mark the same parts in each. a, a, is a cylinder, which revolves in the
direction of the beut arrows, and is made steam tight at the outside surface of
m, m, into which the cylinder part is made to fit accurately. b, b, are two por-
tions of a cylinder (or moveable stops), the head of which, m, m, forms a ring,
and is fitted steam-tight to c, c, c, c. To the head of b, b, is fixed the handle d,
by which it is made to revolve at pleasure. It is accurately fitted into and
made steam tight on the outward surface of c, c, c, c, c, c, c, c, is cylindrical
within, and is cast with two passages f,f, united at g for the inlet of steam.
ii, are two stops fixed to the piece c, c, c, c, to which stops the revolving
cylinder or valve is well fitted. The latter has an aperture represented only in
Figure 16, through which steam is admitted from the two passages f, f, into
its interior. h is the passage, by which the steam passes to the steam engine;
k, k, is the gearing with toothed wheels, supported on a mandril 7, for the pur-
pose of giving motion to the expansion valve. From the position in which the
valve is represented in Figure 16, it is evident that steam would enter to
supply the engine; but in revolving, it would be cut off by the moveable stop
b, but the steam would be re-supplied as soon as the opening in. a, a, arrived
at the opposite passage f. Should the handle & be raised, the moveable stops
b,b, will move in the direction of the bent arrows, and then the steam will be
admitted for a longer time, which may be regulated at pleasure. Motion may
be given to the gearing k, k, by means of two teeth wheels, instead of the one
represented; each wheel provided with a ratchet wheel, and each to be
actuated by a rack attached to the rod of an eccentric wheel on the main shaft
or by any other convenient means.. The steam also may be admitted through
this expansion valve, by the passage h passing out at g to the steam engine.
In this Invention I claim the revolving, valve with the moveable stops, which
may be made to revolve in either direction, and by any means enclosed in a
cylindrical piece with passages, as described.
Figure 18 is a vertical section of an improved condenser. a, a, a, a, is a
close chamber; 6 is the passage, which is to be connected with the exhausting
pipe of a steam engine; c, c, c, &c., are thin metalic tubes, which are secured
into the top and bottom of the chamber; the upper orifices of which open into
the hot well d, and the lower into the chamber c, or else into the cold water
cistern. f is a pipe, for the supply of the cold water which is to pass through
the tubes; this water may be supplied by a water pump, not represented. The
air pump 9, 9, may be inserted in the condenser, as represented, or may be
-placed elsewhere, having suitable communications with the chamber a, a, a, a,
which may be provided with an injection cock in the usual way. I have found

page_text: that if the condensing tubes described have a surface equal to three hundred
and sixty square inches for each horse power of the engine, an excellent effect
will be produced, but more or less surface may be used. The tubes may be
small, and in general they need not exceed a quarter or half an inch in
diameter; this plan ensures a more perfect and equal distribution of the con-
densing water, and therefore a much smaller quantity of tubes will be required
than in other tubular condensers, and a much smaller apparatus; and, in con-
sequence of the exhausting pipe opening into the chamber of the condenser in
the usual way, the vacuum in the cylinder will be formed as rapidly as in
ordinary condensers. In this Invention I claim the tubes, as described, through
which the condensing water passes, in combination with a water pump for
forcing the water through them, or else that the apparatus shall be placed in
a cistern of cold water, whose surface is so high that water shall pass through
the tubes, and also in combination with an air pump; these three particulars
constituting the Invention.
Figuro 19 is a longitudinal section of a multiplex bearing or journal of a
shaft of a steam engine. The shaft a is turned into grooves by which rings
are formed, as represented by the dentations. The metallic bearing b, b, is
composed of two pieces coupled together in the usual mauner. These pieces
are turned within into similar grooves, into which the rings of the shaft fit
accurately; the whole is secured in a chair in the usual way. The number
of the rings may be from one to twenty, or more. The intention is to lessen
the friction, when the shaft is moving with great velocity, while there is a great
pressure in the line of the axis, as is the case of propellers of steam ships.
In this Invention I claim the shaft turned with a ring or rings, as described,
and the bearings formed into grooves to correspond. 1 claim this when used
in the primary or secondary shaft of a steam engine, and where a propeller is
intended to be used, or any other matter tending to produce a great pressure
in the line of the axis of the shaft.
Figure 20 represents the fire bars of the furnace of a steam engine.
a, a, a, a, is the frame, to which the fire bars are attached; b, b, b, b, are
fire bars, made in the form of a course screw. These screws are made to
which are toothed wheels.
revolve, and they may be connected at c, c, c, c,
These screws are so formed that each alternate one is left-handed, so that
the united effect of the whole, when revolving, will be to carry the burning
fuel to the back of the furnace. Another intention is to keep the fire bars
clean. The coals may be supplied by a hopper in front. By these means
the smoke will be consumed. For greater lightness and strength these fire
bars may be cast hollow. The whole may be turned by hand occasionally,

page_text: or be made slowly to revolve by suitable machinery attached to the steam
engine. Their number may be varied, or only one may be used; also the
screws may be all right-handed, and other means used to make them all
revolve in the same direction. The velocity of their revolution may vary, but
in general it should be calculated so that the fuel shall be carried to the end
of the furnace in about seven hours. Also, instead of screws the fire bars may
be cast or formed into rings, resembling those in Figure 19, which by their
revolution will be kept clean. In this Invention I claim the revolving fire
bars, formed into screws or into rings or else cylindrically, to be moved in any
convenient way.
In cases where water cannot be easily procured, I use the condenser repre-
sented in Figure 18, to be supplied with atmospheric air through the pipe f,
and through the tubes by any convenient machinery, but the number and the
size of the tubes should be much increased, which Invention I claim.
For locomotive engines I propose to enclose a number of thin metallic tubes
in a chamber, similar in form to the siccator, Figure 15, but with the ends of
the tubes exposed to the air. This condenser should be placed horizontally
and in a line parallel to the line of the motion of the carriage, so that the air
passing through the tubes by the rapid motion of the carriage will condense
the steam. It should be connected with an air pump, and also connected with
the exhausting pipe of the engine in the usual manner. I have estimated
that for each horse power it will require two tubes of about ten feet long and
three inches in diameter, but the size of the tubes may vary from these pro-
portions, which condenser I claim.
Figure 21 represents, in section, a filtering apparatus, for the purpose of
purifying the water previous to its being pumped in the boiler of a steam
engine. a, a, a, a, represents the outward case; b is the inlet, which is con-
nected with the delivery pipe of a feed pump, not represented, which pump
should be provided with a safety valve; d, d, is a cell or tube, closed at one
end, and secured water-tight into the delivery pipe; it is made of filtering
stone; c is the delivery pipe, which is continued on to the boiler; e is the cock
for blowing away the filth which will collect in the chamber. The cell d, d,
may also be made of porous earthenware, or of any artificial filtering stone, or
of sand, placed between a double case of metal perforated with apertures, as
would be represented by the horizontal lines in the cell d, d, or it may be
made of any porous substance whatever. And also there may be several
filtering cells enclosed in the chamber a, a, a, a, which must be properly con-
nected with the delivery pipe. The same apparatus may also be applied to
the suction pipe of the pump. I claim this filterer, as described, in combination

page_text: with a pump, or else a head of water, being two particulars constituting the
Invention.
Lastly, all the aforesaid improvements I claim, to be applied to all: descrip-
tions of steam engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tutin Haycraft, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
W. T. (L.B.) HAYCRAFT, M.D.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid William Tutin Haycraft, Esquire, M.D.,
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid; and all and everything therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six.