IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND IN, APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS, AND IN FURNACES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Aiken, Salmon,, of, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES,
AND IN, APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS, AND IN FURNACES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION "left by the said John Aiken Salmon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st. June 1857.
I, JOHN AIKEN SALMON, of Glasgow; in the County of Lanark,, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention; for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR, FEEDING BOILERS, AND IN FURNACES," to be
as follows:-
My Invention, with, reference to steam engines, consists, in the first place,
in connecting with the exhaust pipe of condensing engines a pipe or steam
passage leading to the air pump, which latter is double-acting, that is to say,
is provided with two valves both at top and bottomin; the one for discharging
the water and the other for forming the yacuum in the cylinder, the piston
of the air pump being solid and without, valves. There is also inserted in
the exhaust pipe beyond (or nearer, to the condenser than) the point of
connection of the above pipe a perforated plate, whereby the exhaust steam
is retarded in its passage from the cylinder; to the condenser..
There are also valves in the said pipe or steam passage, and a small, pipe
Price Rd1

page_text: (with a tap) connected or communicating with the hot well. The piston of
the air pump is of solid metal, with a groove, in which is inserted metallic
packing formed of four rings, one over the other, each ring forming a kind of
excentric, and arranged so as to break joint at the divided part of the ring,
and also to cause the most greatly projecting parts of the several rings to
press against the interior of the cylinder at four opposite points.
Another of my improvements in steam engines consists in substituting,
for the upper brass usually inserted in the plummer blocks or bearings for
the crank shaft and other shafts, of a pair or pairs of friction rollers turning
loosely on a fixed axle, also in forming the ends of journals of locomotive
engines hollow and inserting a ball in the axle box for the end of the journal
to work against.
My Invention, with reference to apparatus for feeding boilers, consists in the
adaptation and application of a longitudinal chest or receiver fitted so as to lie
across the boiler or boilers, such chest or receiver having a feed pipe extending
from it to each boiler, each of such pipes being supplied with a valve and tap.
There is a pipe communicating with the said chest or receiver from the air
pump of the engine, and another pipe leading from the hot well,each of these
pipes being supplied with a suitable valve. There is also at the upper part of
the chest or receiver a valve opening inwards, which is kept closed by a weight
until a certain degree of vacuum is attained, when the valve is opened by the
external pressure of the air, and air is admitted to the chest or receiver.
There is also a pipe for heating the air thus admitted by means of steam from
the engine, and thereby expanding it, and causing it to press upon the hot
water previously admitted to the chest or receiver, and force the hot water
through the valves and feed pipes into the boiler or boilers.
In the case of engines in which there are two cylinders, one working at
a high pressure and the other using the steam working expansively at a
lower pressure, I connect a pipe with valves to the exhaust pipe of the
high-pressure cylinder, so as to communicate with the said hot-water chest
or receiver, and also a valve between the high and low pressure cylinders.
These valves are capable of opening at each stroke of the engine, so as
to allow a portion of the exhaust steam in the high-pressure cylinder to
escape into the said chest or receiver.
And my Invention, with reference to furnaces,consists in the adaptation and
application to the front of the furnace of an air chamber, containing a series of
plates, through which series the air admitted at the bottom of the chamber
may pass to the top of the fire door. Within the fire door is another chamber,
the inner side of which is formed by a perforated plate for the admission of

page_text: the air from the said chamber to the furnace. I also place a hot-air cham-
ber in front of the bridge, with an aperture for the admission of air at the
lower part from the ash pit. This chamber is also partially divided by a plate,
and there are apertures in the bridge for the passage of air from the chamber.
Both this and the chamber in front of the fire door have regulating plates or
shutters for the apertures at the bottom. The chest or receiver, before
described, may, if preferred, be placed on the top of the boiler flues and
heated by the furnace or furnaces instead of by steam, as described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Aiken Salmon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
AIKEN SALMON, of Glasgow,in the County of Lanark, Engineer,send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Aiken Salmon, Her special license that I, the said
John Aiken Salmon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Aiken Salmon, 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 STEAM ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BOILERS,
AND IN FURNACES, "upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Aiken Salmon, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 mouths
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Aiken Salmon, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-

page_text: My Invenfion of "Improvements in Steam Engines, and in Apparatus
for Feeding Boilers, and in Furnaces," consists, in the first place, with reference
to steam engines, in connecting with the exhaust pipe of condensing engines
a pipe or steam passage leading to the air pump, which latter is double-acting,
that is to say, is provided with two valves both at top and bottom, the one
for discharging the water and the other for forming the vacuum in the
cylinder, the piston of the air pump being solid and without valves. There
is also inserted in the exhaust pipe beyond (or nearer to the condenser than)
the point of connection of the above pipe a perforated plate, whereby the
exhaust steam is retarded in its passage from the cylinder to the condenser.
There are also valves in the said pipe or steam passage, and a small pipe
with a tap connected or communicating with the hot well. The piston of
the air pump is of solid metal, with a groove, in which is inserted metallic
packing formed of four rings, one over the other, each ring forming a kind
of excentric, and arranged so as to break joint at the divided part of the
ring, and also to cause the most greatly projecting parts of the several
rings to press against the interior of the cylinder at four opposite points.
Another of my improvements in steam engines consists in substituting,
for the upper brass usually inserted in the plummer blocks or bearings for
the crank shaft and other shafts, of a pair or pairs of friction rollers turn-
ing loosely on a fixed axle, also in forming the ends of journals of loco-
motive engines hollow and inserting a ball in the axle box for the end of
the journal to work against.
My Invention, with reference to apparatus for feeding boilers, consists in
the adaptation and applicatian of a longitudinal chest or receiver fitted sous to
lie across the boiler or boilers, such chest or receiver having a feed pipe ex-
tending from it to each boiler, each of such pipes being supplied witha valve
and tap. There is a pipe communicating with the said chest or receiver from
the air pump. o of the engine, and another pipe leading from the hot well, each
of these pipes being supplied with a suitable valve. There is also at the
upper part of the chest or receiver a valve opening inwards, which is kept
closed by a weight until a certain degree of vacuum is attained, when the valve
is.opened, by the external pressure of the air, and air is admitted to the chest
or receiver. There is also a pipe for heating the air thus admitted by means of
steam from the boiler, and thereby expanding it, and causing it to press upon
the hot water previously admitted to the chest or receiver, and force the hot
water through the valves and feed pipes into the boiler or boilers.
. In the case of engines in which there are two cylinders, one working at a
high pressure and the other using the steam working expansively at a lower

page_text: pressure, I connect a pipe with valves to the exhaust pipe of the high-
pressure cylinder, so as to communicate with the said hot-water chest or
receiver, and also a valve between the high and low pressure cylinders.
These valves are capable of opening at each stroke of the engine, so as to
allow a portion of the exhaust steam in the high-pressure cylinder to
escape into the said chest or receiver.
And my Invention, with reference to furnaces, consists in the adaptation and
application to the front of the furnace of an air chamber, containing a series
of plates, through which series the air admitted at the bottom of the chamber
may pass to the top of the fire door. Within the fire door is another chamber,
the inner side of which is formed by a perforated plate for the admission of
the air from the said chamber to the furnace. I also place a hot-air chamber
in front of the bridge or bridge wall, with an aperture for the admission of air
at the lower part from the ash pit. This chamber is also partially divided by a
plate, and there are apertures in the bridge for the passage of air from the
chamber. Both this and the chamber in front of the fire door have regulating
plates or shutters for the apertures at the bottom. The chest or receiver,
before described, may, if preferred, be placed on the top of the boiler flues and
heated by the furnace or furnaces instead of by steam, as described.
In order, however, that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed
to describe it more particularly by the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
in which are represented, the parts or some of the parts above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cylinder of a condensing engine and its
appurtenances, with my improvements, shewn in section, applied thereto. A is
the cylinder; B, the slide valve box; C, the exhaust pipe; D, the condenser;
E, the air pump; F is the pipe or steam passage, communicating between the
exhaust pipe and the upper part of the air pump, so as to carry off a portion
of the exhaust stean on the back stroke of the piston, which would otherwise
pass to the condenser in the ordinary manner; G is a valve through which
such portion of the exhaust steam passes; H, H', are valves for discharging
the water and forming the vacuum at the back of the piston; I is a small pipe,
provided with a tap J, communicating with the hot well through the pipe
passage K; Lis the piston of the air pump, which is a solid plunger, and is
providedwithmetallicpacking, consisting of four rings, shewn detachedatFig.2,
and indicated respectively by the numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4. It will be seen
that the rings 1 and 2 have their thickest or most projecting parts on opposite
ides of the centre of the piston in the line of one diameter thereof, and the rings
or

page_text: 3 and 4 have their corresponding parts on opposite sides of the same centre, in
the line of a diameter taken at right angles to the former. By this means the
parts of the several rings, indicated respectively by the numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4,
will be made to press against the interior of the cylinder or barrel of the air
pump at the four points shewn, and so form the packing. M is a perforated
plate, inserted in the exhaust pipe in certain cases in order to retard the
passage of the exhaust steam to the cylinder, and cause a greater portion to
pass through the valve Ginto the pipe or passage F. The working of the air
pump is as follows:-On the up stroke of the piston the valve H at top is
opened, and the water and air on the upper side thereof are discharged
through the said valve into the pipe K, leading to the ordinary feed pump
or to the boiler; at the same time the valve H at the bottom is opened and
water admitted from the condenser. On the down stroke of the piston the
valve El at bottom is opened, and the water and air on the lower side thereof
are discharged through this valve into the pipe K*, whence it
passes off;
at the same time the valve H'at the bottom is closed. The object of these im-
provements is to increase the heat of the water intended to be pumped from the
hot well into the boiler, at the same time that the vacuum in the cylinder at the
back of the piston is increased by carrying off a portion of the exhaust steam.
Fig. 3 represents, detached, in end elevation, the valves H and H',
which communicate with the upper end of the air pump.
.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent, in end and side elevation, and in plan, a
plummer block or bearing with an antifriction bush for a shaft or a railway
journal, and with a pair of rollers substituted for the upper brass; N is the
shaft; O, O, are the rollers, which turn loosely on pins fixed in the sides
or pillars of the plummer block or bearing. In this case, where the bearing
of the shaft is short, I have shewn a single pair of rollers, one on each pin.
In some cases the rollers may be substituted for the lower brass.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent, in side and end elevation, an adaptation of the
same kind of bearing for the journal of a locomotive or tender carriage. In
this case the bearing being longer, there are two loose rollers on each fixed
pin, but in the case of a shorter bearing there would be only one. Fig. 7
also represents the end of the journal formed hollow, so as to have a hori
zontal bearing against a ball P inserted in the axle box.
air.
Fig. 9 represents my improved apparatus for feeding boilers with water and
a is a chest or receiver, fitted so as to extend horizontally across the
boilers b, b, b, which are set in brickwork in the usual manner. Each boiler
is supplied with a feed pipe c, extending therefrom into the chest or receiver a
aud in each feed pipe c there is a valve d opening downwards, but which is

page_text: ordinarily kept closed by the pressure of the steam in the boiler acting on its
under side; also at the upper part of each pipe c is fixed a tap e, worked by a
rod and screw f as required. g is a pipe, leading from the air pump to the
chest or receiver, being supplied with a tap and valve, the latter opening to
the air pump; h is a pipe, leading from the hot well to the chest or receiver,
being also supplied with a tap and valve, the latter opening to the receiver a
from the feed pump; is a weighted valve, fixed at the upper part of the
chest or receiver a, opening inwards; k is a pipe with a tap, through which
steam may be admitted from the boiler to the chest or receiver, for the
purpose of heating the air in the upper part thereof when required.
The working of this apparatus is as follows:-Water is admitted to the
chest or receiver a from the hot well through the pipe h, and on a sufficient
degree of vacuum being attained in the upper part of the said chest or receiver
by the working of the air pump through the pipe g, the valve i will be opened
by the external pressure of the air which will be admitted through the valve
into the chest or receiver. On steam being admitted from the boiler through
the pipe k, the air will be expanded and made to press on the water within the
chest or receiver, and cause it to open the valves d in the feed pipes and pass
into the boilers. When the boilers require no further supply of water, air is
made to pass by the same means through the valves d, d, into the boilers.
I would here remark, that for the purpose of adapting my Invention to
engines in which there are two cylinders instead of the single cylinder A, one
for high-pressure steam and the other for using the steam expansively, I connect
a pipe similar to that at F, Fig. 1, with valves to the exhaust pipe of the high-
pressure cylinder, so as to communicate with the air pump, and also a valve
between the two cylinders. By this means a portion of the exhaust steam
may be allowed to pass at each stroke of the engine from the high-pressure
cylinder, and becoming condensed pass into the top side of the air pump.
Fig. 10 is a section of a furnace, shewing my Invention applied thereto.
7 is an air chamber, adapted and applied to the front of the furnace, such
chamber containing a series of plates m, m, through which series the external
air being admitted by the valve n may be made to pass in the direction
indicated by the arrows to the top of the fire door o, and thence into the
inner chamber p, whence it will pass through the openings in the plate q
and enter the furnace.
°
Fig. 11 represents,detached,a front view of the plate 2, with its openings or
air passages at the lower part thereof. is a hot-air chamber in front of the
bridge or bridge walls; this chamber is divided or partially divided by the
plate t, and contains a series of plates u, for the purpose of causing the air

page_text: admitted into the chamber through the valve v from the ash pit to circulate,
in the manner shewn by the arrows, and, eventually to pass through the
openings or passages in the upper part of the plate w and enter the flue or
flues of the furnace.
Fig. 12 represents, detached, an elevation of the plate w, with its openings or
air passages in the upper part thereof. x is a lever, turning on a fulcrum at y;
the upper
end or tail of which is acted upon by the farnace door when it is
fully opened for the purpose of supplying a fresh charge of fuel; the effect of
this will be to open the valve n at the front of the fire-place, and the valve v
at the back of the same, or at the bridge, and thereby to admit external air
into the chamber and also air from the ash pit into the chamber r simul-
taneously with the charging of the fire. The due regulation of the hot air
by this means will promote the more entire combustion of the fuel.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that my
Invention is not confined to the precise forms of the parts represented and
described, also that I do not claim as of my Invention several of the parts
above described and referred to, otherwise than as connected with the parts
herein-after claimed; but I do claim as of my Invention with reference to
steam engines,
First, the adaptation and application to the exhaust pipe of a pipe or steam
passage leading to the air pump for the purpose of taking off a portion of the
exhaust steam, thereby increasing the vacuum in the cylinder and supplying
heat to the water prior to its being pumped into the boiler, as described.
Secondly, the use of an air pump with a solid piston or plunger constructed
as described, combined with the arrangement of valves described.
Thirdly, an anti-friction bush, or the substitution of rollers for the ordinary
upper brass bearing for shafts or for axles used on railways.
And, lastly, the formation of the end of the journals of locomotives and
tender carriages, and the insertion of a ball in the axle box for an end
bearing, as described.
.
I claim, with reference to apparatus for feeding boilers, the use of a chest
or receiver for hot water in combination with the pipes for supplying the
water from the hot well and for producing a vacuum in the said chest or
receiver, together with the air valve therein, and the steam heating pipe from
the boiler and the feed pipes with their valves for the admission of water
and air to the boilers, as described.
And, lastly, I clain, with reference to furnaces, the adaptation and applica-
tion of the hot air chamber at the front of the furnace; and also the hot-air

page_text: chamber at the bridge, constructed as described, for the admission of air to
both chambers at the bottom, being regulated by the means described, or
by other suitable means.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Aiken Salmon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOHN AIKEN SALMON.
(L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
50, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent.