ROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES. CONDENSERS, AND STEAM BOILERS, AND IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION IN THE FURNACES OF THE SAME
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick William Turner, of Foxhole Colliery,
Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Mechanical Engineer, for the.
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES. CONDENSERS, AND STEAM
BOILERS, AND IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION IN THE FURNACES OF THE SAME."
Sealed the 24th June 1859, and dated the 27th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick William Turner,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th December 1858.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM TURNER, of Foxhole Colliery, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, CONDENSERS,
& STEAM BOILERS, AND IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION IN THE FURNACES OF THE SAME,
to be as follows:-
Firstly, in constructing and arranging in the manner herein-after
described metallic surfaces to be fitted in the interior of the ordinary
jet condensers, such as are now in use, or in the interior of a vessel
constructed in the form or on the principle of such ordinary jet con-
densers, for the purpose of increasing the power of such ordinary con-
densers, and to keep a portion of the water which is condensed (from
the steam) separate and distinct from the water which condenses.
to effect this I propose to insert a cluster of brass or copper tubes fixed
And

page_text: vertically into a plate at their lower ends, and at their upper ends
into the bottom of a shallow vessel, which vessel is supported by the
tubes, and is free to move vertically to the extent the tubes will expand
on the application of heat; and to fix the tubes steam-tight into the
plates, they are passed through the plates, and their upper ends slightly
opened or enlarged; when the tubes are in their places, I run molten
lead, tin, or metal around each tubes into a dovetail or bevil side groove
cut in the plate around each tube, which lead, tin, or metal is caulked
when cold, thus making a steam-tight joint, but allowing at the same
time any of the tubes to slide through a short distance if exposed to
any extra strain on account of unequal expansion. Also in the con-
struction & arranging of apparatus connected therewith for the purpose
of keeping the condensing water in an agitated state while in contact
with the metallic surfaces, or to put in motion one volume of water
over the same portion of the metallic surfaces for any desired length
of time, for the purpose of economising the condensing water; for this
purpose I fix on the outside of the condenser one or more cylinders,
the ends of which are in open communication with the interior of the
condenser. A rod is passed through stuffing boxes in either end of the
cylinder, on which a rod is a circular disc of brass, which disc fits the
cylinders, and by attaching the rod to the beam, excentric, or crank, a
reciprocating motion is given to it, which keeps the condensing water in
an agitated state without the intervention of valves.
Secondly, in the employment and the mode of employing compressed
air for the purpose of condensing steam in steam engines. Also the
mode of compressing and superheating air to be employed in a minutely
devided state in the fire-boxes of steam boilers above and below the
fuel, or in combustion chamber or chambers in communication with
fire-boxes or fuel tubes; & in the construction and arrangement of
machines and apparatus connected therewith, which is as follows:-
To compress the air I employ a small direct-action blowing engine, but
when an assistant feed pump engine (commonly called a donkey engine)
is necessary, as in steam ships, I propose to construct a steam cylinder,
a blowing cylinder, and a feed pump horizontally and in a line with
each other on the same bed plate, and on the piston rod I fix a plunger
for the feed pump on one end, the piston for steam cylinder in the
middle, and the air piston, which is solid, without packing, on the
other end of the same rod; with this engine air is compressed into a
square or rectangular vessel placed horizontally, into which is fitted
two tube plates a short distance from each end, into which I fix a
number of metal tubes in the manner before described, arranging them
in rows vertically or horizontally; between each two rows is fixed a

page_text: third partition of metal extending from tube plate to tube plate, con-
nected to and leaving a space between the top and bottom on either
side of the vessel alternately; one end of this vessel is connected by a
pipe with the blowing cylinder, and also in the same manner to a fire-
box or combustion chamber of the boiler by means of a division plate
in the end of the vessel; the air traverses one-half of the number of
tubes in one direction, and the other half in the reverse direction. One
side of the vessel is connected by a pipe with the exhaust parts of the
engines, and the opposite side is connected by a pipe to the bottom
chamber of the metallic condenser before described, or to an air-pump,
or is left open to the atmosphere; the bottom of the vessel is in com-
munication with the feed pump, the exhaust steam is admitted at one
side of the vessel, and by traversing under and over the partitions
before mentioned, is thus brought into contact with the whole of the
external surface of the metal tubes, and is thus condensed by the air
which is compressed in the interior of the metal tubes, being thus forced
in contact with the whole of the interior surface, the air becomes super-
heated, and is then discharged into the compartment or fire-box.
Thirdly, my improvements relating to the arrangement of mechanism
or working parts of steam engines are in engines of the side lever class.
I propose to place or exert the whole cylinder power on the same side
side of the fulcrum as the crank shaft is situated, and between the
crank shaft & fulcrum, for the purpose of using a long stroke crank
when the shaft is low, without increasing the floor space of the engine,
and to allow a greater number of revolutions being made for the same
velocity of piston, also to decrease the strain upon the connecting rod
and crank bearings.
In direct-acting engines I propose to construct the piston rod guides
cylindrical, to be cast in one piece with the cylinder cover, or attached
to the same with bolts, and to form the cap of piston rod circular to
fit the same, which is fitted with adjustable wearing pieces. Also in
the peculiar construction of combined steam cylinders to facilitate the
use or working of high-pressure steam expansively to any required
extent to prevent the condensation or diminution of temperature of such
steam while working or expanding in the cylinders, by enveloping the
cylinders with superheated steam, which steam on its passage to the
cylinder cases passes through certain heating apparatus (herein-after
described), and thus it conveys a greater quantity of heat than is due
to its pressure to the cylinders, to effect which I construct one small
high-pressure cylinder surrounded by a steam-tight casing, and fix the
same in the interior of a large low-pressure cylinder, also surrounded

page_text: by a steam-tight casing, such casings to be supplied with superheated
steam or steam having greater heat than is due to its pressure.
Fourthly, in the construction or application of steam-tight casings
on certain portions of the external surface of steam boilers. For the
purpose of distilling pure from impure water (I prefer) when boilers
of the locomotive class are used, to construct such casings one on each
side of the fire-box shell, and having no other communication with the
boiler but by a pipe fitted to the top of such casing, and leading to
the steam chest of boiler; the pipe is fitted with a valve opening towards
the steam chest of the boiler whenever steam in the casings should
attain a pressure slightly greater than that of the steam in the boiler.
I also propose to construct a bridge of fire-clay, cast iron, or water
space connected with the side water space of the boiler, as before con-
structed; but instead of applying fire grates on each side of such bridge,
as is generally done, I apply but one fire grate on the front side of
such bridge, forming the space left between the back of the bridge
and tube plate into a combustion chamber, by forcing into the same,
in a divided state, (air superheated), by passing the same through a
condensing apparatus before described; and through each side of such
combustion chamber I form an aperture, into which I fit apparatus
for superheating steam, which I prefer to construct of a rectangular
bar of wrought iron, through which is bored longitudinally a number
of small holes; each end of this bar is fitted with a cover or cap, one
of which is connected by a pipe with the steam chest of the boiler, and
the other by a pipe with the steam casings of the high and low pressure
cylinders.
My improvements in the metallic packing for pistons of steam
engines consists in cutting the angular spaces on the outside of the
packing ring or rings (and not on the inside as usual), into which angular
outside spaces I fit brass or metal wedges, or V-pieces, through the
centre of which I pass a small bolt, which bolt also passes through an
eliptical steel spring, which spring presses against the interior of the
metallic packing ring, the end of the bolt being provided with two
nuts for the purpose of drawing the wedges inwards, by means of
which any required strain or pressure can be put on the packing rings,
insuring uniform wear, as the pressure & elasticity is uniform, which
is, not the case when the wedges or V-pieces are on the inside of the
ring and pressed outwards by springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick William Turner in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
WILLIAM TURNER, of Foxhole Colliery, Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick William Turner, Her special
licence that I, the said Frederick William Turner, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick
William Turner, 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, lise, 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, CONDENSERS, AND STEAM BOILERS, AND IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION IN
THE FURNACES OF THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Frederick William Turner, 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 Frederick William Turner, my
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
do
My Invention consists, first, in the constructing and arranging in the
manner herein-after described metallic surfaces to be fitted in the
interior of the ordinary jet condensers, such as are now in use, or in the
interior of a vessel constructed and on the principle of such ordinary
jet condensers. For the purpose of increasing the condensing power
of such condensers, and to keep a portion of the water which is con-
densed (from the steam) separate and distinct from the water which

page_text: condenses; to effect this I propose to insert a cluster of brass or other
metal tubes, fixed vertically into a plate at their lower ends, and at
their upper ends into the bottom of a shallow vessel, which vessel is
supported by the tubes, and is free to move vertically to the extent the
tubes will expand on the application of heat. To fix the tubes steam-
tight into the plates they are passed through the plates, and when the
tubes are in their places I run molten tin, lead, or metal around each
tube into a dovetail or bevil sided groove cut in the plate around each
tube, which tin, lead, or metal is caulked when cold, thus making a
steam-tight joint, but allowing at the same time any one or other
number of the tubes to slide through a short distance if exposed to
any extra strain on account of unequal expansion. Also in the construc-
tion and arranging of apparatus connected therewith, for the purpose
of keeping the condensing water in an agitated state while in contact
with the metallic surfaces, or to put in motion one volume of water over
the same portion of the metallic surfaces for any desired length of time,
for the purpose of economising the condensing water.
For this purpose
I fix on the outside of the condenser one or more cylinders, the ends
of which are in open communication with the interior of the condenser.
A rod is passed through stuffing boxes in either end of the cylinder, on
which rod is fixed a circular disc of brass, which disc fits the cylinders,
and by attaching the rod to the beam, excentric, or crank, a reciprocating
motion is given to it, which keeps the condensing water in an agitated
state without the intervention of valves.
Secondly, in the employment and the mode of employing compressed
air for the purpose of condensing steam in steam engines; also the mode
of compressing and superheating air to be employed in a minutely
divided state in the fire-boxes of steam boilers above and below the
fuel, or in combustion chambers or chambers in communication with
fire-boxes or flue tubes. And in the construction and arrangement of
mechanism and apparatus connected therewith, which is as follows:-
To compress the air I employ a small direct-acting cylinder blowing
engine, but when an assistant feed pump engine (commonly called a
donkey engine) is necessary, as in steam ships, I propose to construct
a steam cylinder, a blowing air cylinder, and a feed pump horizontally
and in a line with each other on the same bed plate. And on the
piston rod I fix a plunger for the feed pump on one end, the piston
of steam cylinder in the middle, and a piston, which is solid, without
packing on the other end of the same rod; with this engine air is com-
pressed into a square or rectangular vessel placed horizontally, into
which is fitted two tube plates a short distance from each end, into
which I fix a number of metal tubes in the manner before described,

page_text: arranging them in rows vertically or horizontally; between each two
rows is fixed a thin metal partition extending from tube plate to tube
plate, connected to and having a space between the top and bottom on
either side of the vessel alternately. One end of this vessel is connected
by a pipe with a blowing cylinder, and also in the same manner to the
fire-box or combustion chamber of the boiler; by means of a division
plate in the end of the vessel the air traverses one half of the number
of tubes in one direction, and the other half in the reverse direction.
One side of the vessel is connected by a pipe with the exhaust ports
of the engines, and the opposite side is connected by a pipe to the
bottom chamber of the metallic condenser before described, or to an
air pump, or is left open to the atmosphere; the bottom of the vessel is
in communication with the feed pump; the exhaust steam is admitted
at one side of the vessel, and by traversing under and over the partitions
before mentioned, is thus brought into contact with the whole of the
external surface of the metal tubes, and is thus condensed by the air
which is compressed in the interior of the metal tubes, which being
thus forced in contact with the whole of the interior surface, it (the air)
becomes superheated, and is then discharged into the compartment or
fire box.
Thirdly, my improvements in the arrangement of mechanism or
working parts of steam engines consists in the peculiar construction of
combined steam cylinders to facilitate the use or working of high-
pressure steam expansively to any required extent, and to prevent the
condensation or diminution of temperature of such steam while working
or expanding in the cylinders by enveloping the cylinders with super-
heated steam, which steam on its passage to the cylinder cases passes
through certain heating apparatus (herein-after described), and thus
it conveys a greater quantity of heat than is due to its pressure to the
cylinders, and to effect which I construct one small high-pressure
cylinder surrounded by a steam-tight casing, and fix the same in the
interior of a low-pressure cylinder, also surrounded by a steam-tight
casing, such casings to be supplied with superheated steam or steam
containing greater heat than is due to its pressure.
In direct-acting engines I propose to construct the piston rod guides
cylindrical, to be cast in one piece with the cylinder cover, or attached
to the same with bolts, and to form the cap of piston rod circular to
fit the same, which is fitted with adjustable wearing pieces.
Fourthly, in the construction or application of steam-tight casings
on certain portions of the external surface of steam boilers. For the
purpose of distilling pure from impure water, I prefer, when boilers of
the locomotive class are used, to construct such casings one on each

page_text: side of the fire-box shell, and having no other communication with the
interior of the boiler but by a pipe fitted to the top of such casing,
and leading to the steam chest of the boiler; the pipe is fitted with a
valve opening towards the steam chest of the boiler; whenever steam
in the casing should attain a pressure slightly greater than that of the
steam in the boiler it will escape into the boiler. I also propose to
construct a bridge of fire-clay, iron, or water space connected with the
side water space of the boiler (as before constructed, but instead of
applying fire-grates on each side of such bridge, as is generally done,
I apply but one fire-grate on the front side of such bridge, forming the
space left between the back of the bridge and the tube plate into a
combustion chamber by forcing into the same, in a divided state, air
superheated by passing the same through a condensing apparatus before
described; and through each side of such combustion chamber I form
an aperture, into which I fit apparatus for superheating steam, which
I prefer to construct of a rectangular bar of wrought iron, through
which is bored longitudinally a number of small holes. Each end of
this bar is fitted with a cover or cap, one of which is connected by a
pipe with the steam chest of the boiler, and the other by a pipe with
the steam casings of the high and low pressure cylinders.
.
Fifthly, my improvements in the metallic packing for pistons of
steam engines consists in cutting the angular spaces on the outside of the
packing ring or rings (and not on the inside as usual), into which angular
outside spaces I fit brass or metal wedges or V-pieces, through the centre
of which I pass a small bolt, which bolt also passes through an eliptical
steel spring, which spring presses against the interior of the metallic
packing ring, the end of the bolt being provided with two nuts for the
purpose of drawing the wedges inwards, by means of which any required
strain or pressure can be put on the packing rings, insuring uniform
wearing as the pressure and elasticity is uniform, which is not the
case when the wedges or V-pieces are on the inside of the ring and
pressed outwards by springs..
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a condenser according to the first
part of my Invention, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section on line 1, 2. A is
the outer wrought-iron casing or shell; B, the inner vessel or surface
condenser, which is kept full of water by the pipe c; C, C, are metal
tubes fixed at their lower ends into the plate g, and at their upper ends
into the bottom of the shallow vessel a. The two rows of tubes b, b,
are open at the top to the jet for the escape of any steam which might
pass uncondensed through the other tubes; D is a vessel divided by

page_text: plate for the deposit of condensed water; e, small hole in division
plate; is the suction pipe of feed pump; E is the agitator connected
by apertures d to the surface condensor; F, outlet for condensing water.
Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view of tube and tube plate, showing
the method of making the joints steam-tight around the tubes; x is
the tube; y, the tube plate; and, the lead or metal collar.
Figs. 4 & 5 are sectional elevations of oscillating steam engine
cylinders, fitted and arranged according to the third part of my Inven-
tion, in which A is the high-pressure cylinder; B, the low-pressure
cylinder, the sections being taken the one at right angles to the other;
D, D, the steam or slide valve chests; E, E, are the trunnions on which
the cylinders oscillate; a, a, a, a, are the steam casings, which are to
be kept filled with superheated steam; b, b, the piston rods; c, c, annular
piston of low-pressure cylinder; d, piston of high-pressure cylinder; e,
crosshead, which connects the three piston rods; f, f, pillow blocks of
trunnions E, E; g, high-pressure steam pipe; h, exhaust pipe leading
to condenser; i, i, steam passage leading to valve chests D, D; k, m,
wood caging.
Fig. 6 is a plan of cylinders with crosshead removed; n, n, levers for
working the slide valves; o, o, slide valve spindles; 2, valve gearing;
7, 7, engine bed-plate and framing; the other letters of reference are the
same as in Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 7 is a half section of cylinders through valve chest and steam_
ports.
Fig. 8 is a view of valve and valve chest in elevation showing back.
of valve, to both of which Figs. 7 and 8 the letters of reference are the
same. a is the low-pressure cylinder; b, the high-pressure cylinder;
c, c, high-pressure ports; d, d, low-pressure ports; e, exhaust port; f is
the double or compound slide valve which works both cylinders; g, g,
packing rings of slide valves; h, h, slide valve spindles; i, low-pressure
piston;, high-pressure piston; 1, entrance of steam from boiler;
this arrangement is applicable to vertical, stationary, or oscillating
cylinders.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 10 a sectional elevation at
right angles to Fig. 9, of an arrangement of slide valve and steam ports,
whereby the two cylinders are worked by one valve, applicable to my
arrangements of double cylinders worked horizontally; a is the low-
pressure cylinder; b, the high-pressure cylinder; c, c, high-pressure
ports; d, d, low-pressure ports; e, exhaust port; f is the double or
compound slide valve which works both cylinders; g, g. packing rings
of slide valves; h, h, slide valve spindes; i, low-pressure piston; %, high-
pressure piston; 1, entrance of steam from boiler.

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
claim the application of surface condensers simply in communication
by pipes with jet condensers, nor the use of dividing plates to change
the course of the water in the condensers; neither do I claim exclusively
the construction of one working cylinder within another, except when
made with annular steam space around each working cylinder supplied
with steam; nor do I claim the construction or application of steam-
tight casings around a single cylinder, or the use of saturated steam
in steam-tight casings, or if supplied with steam direct from a boiler,
having the same density as the steam in the boiler; neither do I claim
condensing steam with air of the ordinary atmospheric pressure or
density nor the employment of compressed air of the ordinary atmo-
spheric or other temperature in the fire-boxes of steam boilers, or unless
heated and utilized in the manner herein-before described; but that
what I do claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the construction and arrangement of metallic surfaces fitted
in the interior of a chamber or vessel as described, and which can be
applied to ordinary jet condensers having sufficient capacity for the
purpose; also the mode of fixing the metallic tubes steam-tight in the
tube plates described, and the construction and arrangement of agitating
apparatus connected with surface condensers as described.
Secondly, the construction of metallic condensing surfaces as described
in connection with steam cylinders for the purpose of partially con-
densing the exhaust steam in its passage to the ordinary condenser by
means of compressed air, and for the purpose of superheating such com-
pressed air, to be afterwards used in the fire-box of the boiler.
Thirdly, the construction and arrangement of combined high and low
pressure cylinders with annular steam casings around each cylinder for
the purpose of superheating and the arrangement of valve ports and
mechanism connected therewith, as described and illustrated in the
Drawings hereunto annexed, either as applied to oscillating or fixed
cylinders.
Fourthly, the application or use of superheated steam in all annular
casings constructed around cylinders, and also the mode of superheating
steam and the arrangement of apparatus herein-before described for
that purpose.
Fifthly, the construction and application of steam-tight cases on the
external surface of steam boilers for distilling water, as herein-before
described

page_text: Sixthly, the construction of piston packing and guides, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick William Turner, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
nina
F. W. TURNER. (L.S.)