CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE OPERATED UPON BY STEAM
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
HALLIDAY, of Ham, in the County of Surry, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Ninth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five, in the sixth year of His reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Francis Halliday, His especial
licence, that I, the said Francis Halliday, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Francis Halliday, my exors, adñiors, or 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE OPERATED
UPON BY STEAM;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Francis Halliday, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same
to be inrolled in His 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, relation being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Francis Halliday, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly ascer-
tained and described in manner following, that is to say:--
My Improvements in Machinery to be operated upon by Steam are appli-
cable to that kind of machinery commonly known by the name of rotative
steam engines or steam wheels, which are so impelled by the power of steam
as to be turned round thereby with continuous circular motion by the direct
action of steam against certain parts which revolve or move round with
circular motion; and my improvements consist in arranging and combining
machinery in the manner and form represented by the Drawing hereunto
annexed, so as to constitute a rotative steam engine or steam wheel to be
operated upon by steam, and turned round thereby with continuous circular
motion. Figure 1 of the said Drawing is a side view or elevation; Fig. 2
an end view; Fig. 3 a plan of certain parts looking down from above; and
the other Figures represent detached parts. A, A, is the revolving steam
wheel, which is fixed upon the axis C. This axis has two necks or gudgeons
which are supported in bearings D, D, so as to turn freely round in them.
The ends of the axis C extend beyond the two bearings D, D, and may be
connected by wheelwork or other suitable means with the machinery or mill-
work which is intended to be propelled by the steam, wheel whenever the
same is put in motion by the force of steam in the manner herein-after
described. E, E, E, E, is the fixed framing to support the moving parts of
the engine. This framing consists of a foundation plate with six columns or
upright legs erected thereupon to support a frame E, E, which receives the
steam wheel A, A, within it; and the bearings D, D, for the axis C, are fixed
upon this frame immediately over two of the columns E, E, so as to be very
firmly supported thereby. The steam wheel is formed with a central boss,
which is fixed upon the axis C, and four or more arms B, B, extending from
the boss to the large circular rim A, A, which is formed truly flat at the two
opposite surfaces, and truly circular upon the edges. In the circular rim
A: A, four or more openings F, F, F, F, are formed to receive as many square
or oblong vanes or pistons G, G, G, G, which are accurately fitted or inlaid
into the said openings so as to fill them up, and then they range exactly with
the flat surfaces of both sides of the rim, as if the same were an entire plate
or complete rim without any openings in it; but each of the said pistons G is
poised in the opening F, to which it belongs, by means of a spindle or axis of
motion g, which passes through the thickness of the rim, and also through
that of the piston G, in a direction pointing towards the centre of the axis C
and the said spindle g, for the piston G is so fitted into sockets formed in the
rim at H, H; at each side of the opening F into which the piston G is fitted,

page_text: as that the said piston may be turned about with the spindle g as an axis of
motion, in order to place the piston G, with its plane, perpendicular to or at
right angles to the plane of the rim A, A, in which position the piston will
project out from each side of the flat circular, rim, so as to present its' flat
surface to receive the action of the steam; or the said piston may be turned
about by its spindle or axis g, through one fourth of a circle, so as to return
it into its place in the aperture F, in the rim A, A, in order that it may fill
up the same, and correspond with the flat surface of the said rim, so as to
prevent no surface for steam to act against. The action of the steam is
performed within a steam chamber J, J, which is, a channel extending
round one third of the circle of the rim A, A, being curved to correspond
with that circle. The pistons G, G, are fitted very accurately into the steam
chamber J, J, so as to completely fill up the transverse section thereof when-
ever the said pistons are turned with their flat surfaces perpendicular.to the
plane of the wheel, that is to say, the exterior margin or outline of the piston
G is of exactly the same size and shape as the transverse section of the steam
chamber J, J, so as to fit into and form a moving partition in the said. cham-
ber, which is capable of receiving the expansive action or force of steam, which
is admitted into the said chamber in order to fill the same, and press the
piston forwards therein, so as to turn the wheel' round. The said steam
chamber J, J, is fixed to the framing E, E, by screw bolts, and steadied by
two braces M, one on each side, to retain it firmly and immoveably upon or
over the steam wheel in the position represented in Fig. 1. The upper end
or extremity of the steam chamber is closed by a cover N, which is fastened
on by screw bolts passing through a flange which projects around the open
end of the chamber, and in this cover N a narrow opening is formed to
admit the flat circular rim A, A, of the steam wheel, and the rim fits into and
fills that opening so completely that steam cannot pass by the same or escape
out of the chamber, although the wheel can turn freely round, and when the
several pistons G are turned edgeways, so as to retire within the openings F,
in the circular: rim of the wheel, they offer no obstruction to the motion or
passage of the wheel through the narrow opening in the end or cover N of the
steam chamber. The said opening is provided with two projecting leaves or
lips O, O, Fig. 3 and 5, which spread out from each other so as to form an
open mouth, which is certain to receive the piston G; even if should not be
stand exactly fair with the flat surface of the circular rim A, A, and the said
lips O, O. by narrowing in towards each other, will as certainly gather in the
piston or turn it edgeways into its opening, so that it may enter through the
opening in the end cover N into. the steam chamber. By this means the

page_text: said chamber, except in as
piston before it in the said
round with forcible motion
pistons are set edgeways when they pass through the cover N, and enter into
the steam chamber, and they are so closely fitted edgeways into that opening
as not to permit steam to escape out of the chamber by the side of them, or
by the side of the flat surface of the circular rim A; but as soon as ever any
one of the pistons has so passed edgeways through the said opening, and entered
into the steam chamber J, J, that piston is turned round one fourth of a circle
by its spindle or axis g, so as to become perpendicular to the plane of the
wheel, in which position it will fill the chamber, and its exterior edges forming
close contact all round with the interior surfaces of the steam chamber J, J,
will prevent the passage of any steam through the
much as the said steam may push and propel the
chamber, and so cause the steam wheel to turn
and power. L is the steam pipe through which the steam is continually intro-
duced into the steam chamber J, J. The pipe L projects outwards from the
end cover N, and terminates with a projecting rim or flange, whereby it is
united to the pipe which proceeds from the boiler wherein the steam is pro-
duced, and which may be constructed in any suitable manner or form, such as
is now used for other steam engines, and may be either that kind of boiler
which is adapted to raise high-pressure steam, or the boiler may be of that
kind which is used to produce steam of the ordinary elasticity, according as it
is desired to work my improvements by the expansive force of high-pressure
steam, or by steam of ordinary elasticity, by the aid of a condensing apparatus.
A throttle valve is fixed in the steam pipe to regulate the flow of steam from
the boiler into the steam chamber J, J, and thus regulate the speed of the
revolving motion of the steam wheel; and the said throttle valve may be
opened or regulated by hand, or by means of a governor or regulator, as the
case may be. Note.-The steam boiler, and steam pipe, and throttle valve,
and governor, being no part of my Invention, are not represented in the
Drawing, and the manner of their construction and operation being well
known and in use in other steam engines, do not require any further descrip-
tion. The pistons G, G, are turned flat way, in order to receive the action of
the steam as soon as ever they have passed through the mouth or opening
O, O, into the steam chamber J, J. This us done by means of a lever or
handle h, which is fixed fast upon the extremity of the axis or spindle g of
each piston G, and each of the said levers h is provided with a roller or small
wheel at its extremity, which applies against a fixed conducting bar P, P,
(when the wheel turns round), and the said conducting bar P, P, being
curved to conform with an arch of a circle described about the centre or axis
of motion C, so that the rollers of the lever h, h, when they are carried round

page_text: in their circular motion, will apply to the said fixed conducting bar P, P, and
the said bar is also curved or bent sideways near to its extremity, in such
manner as will cause the rollers to be moved thereby in order to turn the pistons
G about in the proper position to receive the action of the steam as soon as
each one has entered into the steam chamber J, J; that is to say, each of the
levers h is fixed upon the axis or spindle g, in a direction across or at right
angles to the plane of the piston itself; consequently, when the piston is turned
edgeways, so as to retire into the planc of the circular rim A, A, in order to
pass through the mouth O, O, into the steam chamber J, J, the direction of
the length of the lever h will then be projecting outwards from the plane
of the wheel A, A, so as to be at right angles to the plane thereof, and
parallel to its axis C, the lever h and its roller being in this state until the
piston has completely entered into the chamber J, J; the curved extremity of
the fixed conducting bar P, then intercepts the roller, and as the roller and
lever are carried forwards in their circular motion with the wheel A, A, and
the curvature of that extremity of the said conducting bar P forces the roller
and lever h sideways, so as to turn the piston round about its axis gone
fourth of a circle, in order to place the piston G perpendicularly across the
plane of the wheel. This action of the roller and lever h against the curved
extremity of the fixed conducting bar P, is shewn separately in Fig. 8, wherein
✗ represents the position of the roller and lever h, and the piston G, imme-
diately after the same has passed through the mouth O, O, and entered into
the steam chamber J, J, and Y shows the position into which the roller and
lever hand piston G are afterwards turned by the action of the said roller
against the curved extremity of the conducting bar P. After each piston has
passed through all the length of the steam chamber J, J, and received the
impulse of the steam during nearly all its progress therein, it passes out at
the lower end of that chamber at Z, Fig. 1, and then the high-pressure steam,
by which the piston has been so impelled, follows it, and escapes out into the
open air; and as soon as each piston has so passed out of or quitted the open
end Z of the steam chamber J, J, that piston is immediately turned round
about, with its axis g, one fourth of a circle, so as retreat again into its open-
ing in the plane of the circular rim A, A, and to correspond therewith. This
may be done by means of a spring fixed in a suitable position to act upon the
lever h, so as to return it from the position Y, into the position X, as soon as
ever the piston quits the open end of the steam chamber J, that extremity of
the fixed conducting bar P, against which the roller will then bear, being
curved away sideway in a proper manner to permit of such motion. Or in
lieu of a spring to be applied as aforesaid for the purpose of returning each

page_text: piston, another handle or lever k, Figure 8, and roller, may be fixed on the
axis g of each piston in a direction at right angles to the aforesaid lever h;
and then another conducting bar, similar to P, must be fixed on the opposite
side. of the wheel A, as shewn at T, Figure 1, in a suitable position to inter-
cept and act against the 'roller and lever k, so as to return the piston edgeways
into the plane of that ring by an action similar to that already described for
turning the piston at right angles thereto. The steam chamber J, J, is formed
of two halves or similar parts, one of which is shewn in elevation at Fig. 9,
and its transverse section at Fig. 6, and each half has a flange r projecting out
from it on the convex edge or margin, in order to fasten the two halves
together by screw bolts which 'pass through both flanges r, and also through a
curved piece K, (see also Fig. 4,) which is interposed between the two flanges
r, r, to keep them apart just as much as the breadth or thickness of the
circular rim A, A, the circumference of which is closely adapted to the con-
cave edge of the curved piece K. Note.-The breadth of the curved piece
K is less than that of the two flanges r, r, between which it is interposed, so
as to leave a sort of rebate or groove within side of the steam chamber J, J,
and of larger diameter than the interior of that chamber, in order to receive
the extreme circumference of the circular rim A, A, or that part thereof
which projects out beyond the openings F, F, in which the pistons G are
lodged. If the parts wear less by their continual friction, the thickness of
the curved piece K may be reduced so as to bring the flanges r, r, nearer
together again, and contract the spaces until the solids will fit them again.
The steam chamber J, J, extends round one third of the circle of the wheel A, A,
and in forming each half of the steam chamber J, J, three of them must be
united together by their flanges I, I; at the ends. so as form an entire circle
or annular channel. the inside of which is made true and smooth by turning
in a lathe, and the three segments being then separated, two of them may be
put together to form the said steam chamber J, J, and will be certainly true
within side. The wheel A has a circular rim a, a, projecting from each side
of the flat circular surface A, A, and these two rims are accurately fitted to
the concave margin of each half of the steam chamber J, J, so as to prevent
the escape of any steam out of the steam chamber at either side of the wheels
at the part where the circular rim thereof enters into the steam chamber J, J.
The edges of the pistons G, G, are very correctly fitted to the interior of the
steam chambers J, J, and also into the openings in the circular ring A, A, and
grooves may be formed round the edges, of the thickness of the piston, to
receive metallic, or hemp, or other suitable packings, in cases when the same
may be necessary to keep the fittings tight, and prevent the leakage or escape

page_text: of steam. The lower part of the circumference of the revolving wheel A, A,
is immersed in hot oil, which is contained in a vessel R, R, fixed beneath the
wheel upon two short legs or columns, and suitable provision may be made for
applying the heat of flame or fire at S, beneath the vessel R, so as to give
heat to the oil therein, and thus keep up the temperature of the rim of the
wheel and of its pistons, so that they shall not occasion any condensation or
cooling of the steam in the steam chamber J, J, when they enter into the
same; and all the rubbing parts of the wheel and its- pistons are thus con-
tinually supplied with oil, so as to diminish their friction. When the said
engine is intended to be worked by steam of the ordinary elasticity, the lower
end Z, Figure 1, of the steam chamber J, J, must be closed by a cover
screwed on to its flanges I, I, the said cover being made nearly the same as
the cover N, which is fixed on the upper end of the same chamber, having.
an opening or aperture for the circular rim A, A, to pass through, and suitable
inclined planes which act in the same manner as the lips O, O, of the aper-
ture, to gather the pistons into the opening, except that the said lips are
formed within side of the steam chamber instead of the outside. There is
also a pipe proceeding from the cover to join to another pipe, and communi-
cate with the condensor, by which the steam is exhausted or drawn off from
the steam chamber and condensed. The said condenser must be provided
with an air pump worked by means of a crank fixed on one end of the axis
C of the revolving wheel A, A; but the said condensing apparatus being con-
structed in the same manner as is commonly used for other steam engines,
need not be further described. Note.-When a rotative engine on this plan
is used with a condenser, the fixed conductor bar T, for the levers k of the
pistons G, must be so arranged as that the pistons shall be turned edgeways
into the plane of the revolving wheel whilst the pistons remain within the
steam chamber J, J, and before they quit the same, because they must be turned
edgeways, in order to pass through the mouth or opening through which they
go out of the steam chamber, in the same manner as they were previously
turned edgeways, in order to enter into the said chamber. Note. The rollers
and levers h, upon the axis g of the pistons G, act against the conductor bar
P, to turn them out of the plane of the revolving wheel, and place them at
right angles thereto, whilst the other levers k act against the other conductor
T, in order to return them into the plane of the wheel. And as to the dimen-
sions and proportions of the several parts of the steam wheel which is repre-
sented in the Drawings, they may be ascertained by measuring the Drawing
according to the scale which is annexed to the same; and the said proportions
and dimensions may be greatly varied at the discretion of the workman who

page_text: shall execute the same; and. also of the materials whereof the parts are con-
structed, they may be varied without departing from the essential properties
of my improvements as herein-before set forth. The said steam wheel may
be constructed with four or six or eight of the pistons G, G, according to its
magnitude, and the steam chamber J, J, must be of such length, or surround
such a portion of the circumference of the wheel as that one piston shall be
fairly entered into the said chamber, and turned across the same, before the
other piston shall quit or pass out of the other end of the said chamber, so as
to ensure that one piston at the least shall always be in a suitable position to
receive the action of the steam. The pistons G may be made of a circular
or oval or any other form, instead of square or oblong, provided that the
apertures F, in the circular rim of the wheel A, A, and also the transverse
section of the interior of the steam chamber J, J, is of a suitable form, so as
exactly fit the said pistons.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Halliday, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-six
Inrolled the Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and twenty-six.