IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Dominicus Kittoe, of the Firm of Kittoe
and Jackson, of Compton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES."
Scaled the 11th December 1866, and dated the 13th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Dominicus Kittoe
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th June 1866.
1, GEORGE DOMINICUS KITTOE, of the Firm of Kittoe and Jackson, of
Compton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam engines, and
consists in the use of a cylinder fitted with a piston directly connected by
means either of a connecting rod or of a bar or rod having a transverse slot
with a suitable crank working in a recess or chamber open to the steam
cylinder, such crank being formed with or keyed upon a shaft supported and
capable of revolving in a suitable bearing or suitable bearings placed at right
angles to the axis of the steam cylinder. The back of the crank or otherwise
..……

page_text: a suitable collar formed with or attached to the shaft is accurately turned or
faced (the shaft itself being left free to move slightly endwise), so that the
pressure of the steam acting at the front side of the crank or collar may press
or force its opposite or faced side into close contact with a corresponding but
fixed face or surface situated at the inner side of the bearing or bearings, and
causing the moveable surface attached to the shaft to follow up such wear as
may take place between the two surfaces, maintaining a steam-tight joint
between them, and preventing the escape of steam from the recess or cylinder
without its being necessary to employ a stuffing box or gland for that purpose.
Motion may be imparted to the slide necessary for regulating the entrance to
and exit of steam from the respective sides of the piston by means of toothed
wheels, one of which being keyed upon and revolving with the shaft com-
municates motion to a second wheel keyed upon a shaft, which by means of a
crank gives motion to the slide as required, the escape of steam from the valve
cusing being prevented by means of a faced collar attached to the shafts,
and working against a face with which it is kept in steam-tight contact by
the action of the steam pressure within the casing in a manner similar to
that described with reference to the first or main driving shaft. Otherwise,
instead of driving the slide or other valve by means of a shaft passing
through the valve casing as described, I communicate motion directly from
the crank shaft (without employing a second revolving shaft), and enclose
the entire arrangement in a steam casing so as to avoid the use of the
secondary shaft and steam tight joint described.
Where the engine is required for the purpose of driving or working a
pump, 1, by preference, form or connect the plunger of the pump with the
steam piston in such a manner as that it may work directly into the pump
cylinder without the intervention of a packing between the steam and pump
cylinders as usually employed.
Engines having their cranks working within an enclosed steam space,
the loss of steam from which is prevented substantially in the manner
described, may be variously modified and constructed to work either singly
or in pairs, one or more fly wheels being fixed upon the main shaft or shafts
for the purpose of equalizing the notion or otherwise; in some cases the
fly wheel or fly wheels may be dispensed with, and the engine or engines
worked without it or them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Dominicus Kittoe in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DOMINICUS KITTOE, of the Firm of Kittoe and Jackson, of Compton Street,
Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Dominicus Kittoe, Her special licence that I, the said George
Dominicus Kittoe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Dominicus Kittoc, 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," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Dominicus Kittoe, 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 mouths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Dominicus Kittoe, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam engines, and
consists in the use of a cylinder fitted with a piston directly connected by
means either of a connecting rod or of a bar or rod having a transverse slot
with a suitable crank working in a recess or chamber open to the steam
cylinder, such crank being formed with or keyed upon a shaft supported and
capable of revolving in a suitable bearing or suitable bearings placed at right
angles to the axis of the steam cylinder. The back of the crank or otherwise
a suitable collar formed with or attached to the shaft is accurately turned or
faced, the shaft itself being left free to move slightly endwise, so that the

page_text: pressure of the steam acting at the front side of the crank or collar may press
or force its opposite or faced side into close contact with a corresponding but
fixed face or surface situated at the inner side of the bearing or bearings, and
causing the moveable surface attached to the shaft to follow up such wear
as may take place between the surfaces, maintaining a steam-tight joint
between them, and preventing the escape of steam from the recess or cylinder
without its being necessary to employ a stuffing box or gland for that purpose.
Motion may be imparted to the slide necessary for regulating the entrance to
and exit of steam from the respective sides of the piston by means of toothed
wheels, one of which being keyed upon and revolving with the shaft com-
municates motion to a second wheel keyed upon a shaft, which by means of
a crank gives motion to the slide, as required, the escape of steam from the
valve casing being prevented by means of a faced collar attached to the shaft
and working against a face, with which it is kept in steam-tight contact by
the action of the steam pressure within the casing, in a manner similar to that
described with reference to the first or main driving shaft. Otherwise instead
of driving the slide or other valve by means of a shaft passing through the
valve casing, as described, I communicate motion directly from the crank
shaft, without employing a second revolving shaft, and enclose the entire
arrangement in a steam casing, so as to avoid the use of the secondary shaft
and steam-tight joint described. Where the engine is required for the purpose
of driving or working a pump, I, by preference, form or connect the plunger
of the pump with the steam piston, in such manner as that it may work
directly into the pump cylinder without the intervention of a packing
between the steam and pump cylinders, as usually employed.
Engines having their cranks working within an enclosed steam space,
the loss of steam from which is prevented substantially in the manner
described, may be variously modified and constructed to work either singly
or in pairs, one or more fly wheels being fixed upon the main shaft or
shafts for the purpose of equalizing the motion, or otherwise in some cases
the fly wheel or fly wheels may be dispensed with and the engine or
engines worked without it or them.
In order that my said Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into practical effect, may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe
the various modifications thereof shewn in the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, premising that similar letters of reference relate to parts answer-
ing like purposes in all the views.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) represents a vertical section (taken through the line A, B,
of Fig. 2,) of a steam engine constructed according to my said Invention;

page_text: Fig. 2, a sectional plan of the same on the line C, D, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a
front view of the engine, having the toothed wheels for actuating the steam
valve removed to avoid confusion; and Fig. 4 a plan looking down on the
cylinder cover of the engine, and having the toothed wheels removed as in
the preceding Figure.
a is the cylinder, fitted with the piston b, directly connected by means of a
connecting rod c with the crank & working in the recess or chamber e, open
to the steam cylinder, such crank being formed with the shaft f, supported
and capable of revolving in the bearing g at right angles to the axis of the
steam cylinder a. The back of the crank d is accurately turned or faced
(the shaft itself being left free to move slightly endwise) so that the pressure
of the steam acting at the front side d² of the crank may press or force its
opposite or faced side d' into close contact with the corresponding but fixed
face or surface situated at the inner side of the bearing g, causing the
moveable surface or back d' of the crank attached to the shaft f as described,
to follow up such wear as may take place between the two surfaces d' and 1,
maintaining a steam-tight joint between them, and preventing the escape of
steam from the recess or cylinder without its being necessary to employ a
stuffing box or gland for that purpose. The toothed wheelj, keyed upon and
revolving with the shaft f, communicates motion to a second wheel j¹ keyed
upon the shaft k, the end k¹ of which is four sided, and fits into a corresponding
square hole or recess in the circular slide l, which revolves with the shaft k,
thus regulating the entrance to and exit of steam from the respective sides of
the piston; the escape of steam from the valve casing m being prevented by
means of a faced collar k² attached to the shaft lc, and working against a face,
as shewn, with which it is kept in steam-tight contact by the action of the
steam pressure within the casing in a similar manner to that already
described with reference to the first or main driving shaft f. The plunger of
the feed pump n is actuated by means of the rod ', formed with or attached
to the under side of the steam piston 6 of the engine, as shewn.
revolving slide is constructed mainly on the same principle as an ordinary
reciprocating slide, with the exception that the surfaces regulating the
admission and emission of the steam have a rotary instead of a reciprocating
motion. It will be more clearly understood on reference to Figs. 5 and 6,
which are enlarged views, the former shewing the back of the slide, and the
latter Figure being a vertical section through the line G, H, of Fig. 5. As
here shewn, the slide is in its central position, both ports being fully open,
the one (1) for admitting steam to the upper side of the piston, and the other
(13) for the exit of steam from the lower side of the piston through the ports /³
The

page_text: and to the condenser or the atmosphere, as the case may be. The
passage of steam to and from the cylinder is indicated by the arrows.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the centre line of a condensing steam engine
constructed according to my said Invention. In this, as in the former case,
the cylinder a is fitted with a piston 6 connected by a connecting rod c with
the crank d working in the recess or chamber e open to the steam cylinder,
such crank being formed with the shaft revolving in the bearing g at right
angles to the axis of the cylinder a, the back of the crank d being accurately
turned or faced, and the shaft left to move slightly endwise as and for the
purpose described with reference to preceding Figures. The eccentricjkeyed
upon and revolving with the shaft f communicates motion by means of a con-
necting rod to an ordinary slide 1, the whole being comprised within a space
communicating with the valve casing or steam jacket m, the escape of steam
from which is prevented by means of an ordinary cup leather or metal cup of
similar shape v, kept up to its place by the pressure of steam against the back
of a sliding ferrule v¹ entering the cup leather or metal cup v, as shewn. A
supplementary shaft o, somewhat similar to the crank shaft f, carries a crank
plate o' keyed on its outer end, in which is a pin of communicating motion to
the feed pump n by means of the connecting rod n¹, the air pump p being
worked by a rod 71 formed with or attached to the steam piston of the engine,
and passing through a stuffing box at the bottom of the cylinder, which
stuffing box is provided with a cup leather or metal cup similar to that above
described as being employed for preventing the escape of steam from the valve
casing m. Above this cup leather or equivalent is inserted (in a space
prepared to receive it) a ring of wood or other suitable material 2 formed in
segments for keeping the cup in its place, and protecting it from the action
of the steam. The air pump, together with the hot and cold water cisterns,
are contained in the base q' of the engine.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 (Sheet 2) represent respectively, Fig. 8 a vertical section
on the line I, J, of Fig. 10; Fig. 9 a vertical section through the line K, L,
of the same Figure; and Fig. 10 a plan of a modification of my Invention
adapted for pumping fluids. In this case the crank pin d³ works in a slot or
horizontal groover at right angles to the direction of motion of the piston,
the admission to and emission of steam from the cylinder being regulated by
a piston slide worked by an eccentric pin; turned out of the diameter of the
crank shaftf, the upper part of the slide rodj¹ being formed with aslotted cross
head, within the slot of which the eccentric pinj works, such slot being similar
to that of the crank shaft. In this engine the space between the pedestal or
outer casing q, and the pump itself may, if desired, be used as an air vessel

page_text: by a different arrangement of the outlet valves. In the present instance
this space and the base g' of the engine form a reservoir for water to supply
the pump.
In this engine the pump plunger has a packing, specially
designed to secure it against the resisting action of the fluid under the action
of the pump, thus preventing the fluid that is being pumped from escaping
past the plunger into the steam cylinder of the engine. The arrangement
of this packing will be clearly understood by reference to the enlarged view,
shewn in Fig. 11, in which is a metal cup, cut or divided at one or more
intervals through its circumference; 2, an india-rubber or leather cup divided
or cut in a slanting direction when made of the latter material; 3, a cup
constructed of metal (by preference, wood or other material fitting the
interior of the india-rubber or leather cup 2, through the base of which a pro-
jecting part of the inner
cup 3 passes, as shewn, to its bearing against the
base of the metal cup 1. The whole of these cups being securely held to
the end of the plunger n¹ by means of a bolt or collar screw 4 passing
upward through such cups into the end of the plunger as shown. The inner
cup 3 is formed or provided with holes or perforations to admit the liquid
under pressure between itself and the cup 2, which has the effect of pressing
and keeping the cup 1 firmly against the pump cylinder.
Fig. 12 (Sheet 3) is a vertical section (through the line M, N, of Fig. 13)
with parts in elevation; Fig. 13, a sectional plan through the line O, P,
of Fig. 12). Fig. 14, a front view, and Fig. 15 a plan on cylinder cover
of an engine arranged according to my said Invention, specially designed
for pumping fluids and being very suitable for supplying the feed water
to steam boilers. It will be seen that the arrangement of the upper
part of this engine is similar in every respect to that shewn in and
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, with the exception that
in the present instance instead of forming the cylinder cover in two parts
bolted together, as in the arrangement shewn in the four last-mentioned
Figures, I attach the shaft f to the crank d by securing it as shewn
in dotted lines, the crank being held in its position and prevented from
revolving upon the shaft by means of a small pin d driven into a hole drilled
through the male and female threads or screws of the shaft and crank
respectively, as also shewn in dotted lines. The pedestal n of the engine in
this case forms the cylinder of the pump, its plunger n' being formed or
connected with the steam piston bin such manner as that it works directly
into the pump cylinder n, as shewn, without the intervention of a packing
between the steam and pump cylinders as usually employed, thus not only
securing the advantage of dispensing with the external rod connecting the

page_text: pump with the necessary gland for keeping the same steam tight, but it has
also this advantage that the cubic content of the pump plunger is deducted from
the cubical content of the cylinder in the up stroke, the steam to effect which
is not available in the effective duty of the engine,and it may also be observed
that this saving of steam compensates for the slight loss which occurs by
filling the chamber e, in which the crank & works above the piston b of the
engine. In this case I surround the pump plunger n' by a cup leather or
metal cup of the same, Figure n², fitting in a groove or recess formed in the
pump cylinder, as shewn, for the purpose of preventing any leakage of fluid
from the pump into the steam cylinder. The fluid to be pumped is drawn in
through an opening or valve by the upward stroke of the plunger ¹, and
forced out or ejected by its downward stroke through another valve or open-
ing as herein-after described, with reference to Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19.
Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 (Sheet 4) shew another modification of pumping
engine arranged according to my Invention. In this case the bearing g is
formed with a groove or recess g', surrounding the crank shaft f, for the pur-
pose of catching any leakage that may occur between such shaft and the
bearing in question, and lubricating the same. The revolving circular valve l
which is kept against its seat by a screw and nut passing through the valve
casing and has a small square ended shaft or spindle formed with or cen-
nected to its inner side or face, receives motion from a supplementary shaft o,
somewhat similar to the crank shaft f, and having a square hole or recess
formed in its outer end to receive the square end of the valve spindle, as
shewn. In this case the " cup leather" or metal cup 2, described with
reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15, is dispensed with. The fluid to be
pumped is drawn in through the opening or valve n³ by the upward stroke of
the plunger, and forced out or ejected by its downward stroke through
the valve or opening at, as respectively indicated by the arrows.
Fig. 20 (Sheet 5) represents a vertical section with parts in elevation of a
double-cylinder pumping engine constructed according to my Invention. The
two cylinders a are secured side by side with their valve casings m back to
back, as shewn, by means of bolts and nuts passing through flanges where the
two parts or cylinders meet. The two steam pistons band the rotary valves for
regulating the admission and emission of steam to and from the cylinders are
so arranged that when one piston is in the middle of its stroke the other will
be at the end of its stroke. The end of the crank shaft f is formed with a
hole or recess for receiving the end f¹ of the other crank shaft 2, thus per-
mitting of the requisite independent end wise movement of the respective
crank shafts, for the purpose of keeping the faced cranks against their re-

page_text: spective fixed surfaces for preventing the escape of steam from the cylinders
or their casings without the employment of glands or stuffing boxes as pre-
viously explained. The respective crank shafts are prevented from moving
independently otherwise than in an endwise direction by a suitable feather f
fitted into the reduced diameter of the solid shaft, and fitting accurately into
a corresponding groove in the hollowed or recessed end of the other shaft, or the
reduced end of the one shaft may be made square and fit into a correspond-
ing square hole or recess in the end of the other shaft, as will be readily under-
stood. Each of the rotating valves has formed upon or secured to its back
either a square or four-sided shaft or shank, or a round shaft or shank with a
feather fitting into a corresponding square or other hole in a toothed wheelj¹,
whereby the valves are actuated. The wheel gearing into and receiving its
motion from a second wheelj keyed or otherwise secured to the crankshaft f,
substantially as described with reference to previous Figures. The number of
teeth should be the same in both wheels in this engine, as also in the other cases
where motion is transmitted to the slides in a similar manner. The base q¹
of the engine in this case constitutes a reservoir for the water or other liquid
for supplying the pumps n, the plungers n¹ of which are continuations of the
steam pistons reduced to the requisite diameters, and having backings at their
ends similar to that shewn in and described with reference to Fig. 11,Sheet 2.
This arrangement is designed more especially as a convenient form of portable
fire engine, but is equally applicable to many other purposes. When intended
to drive machinery a fly wheel or fly wheels is or are keyed on the end or
ends of a supplementary shaft or supplementary shafts, similar to the shaft
In such cases, I,
shewn in and described with reference to Fig. 7, Sheet 1.
by preference, reduce the plungers and pumps to such sizes as may be suffi-
cient for guiding the steam pistons and feeding the boilers; but by modifying
the arrangement of the pumps and valves the engine may conveniently
be rendered applicable as a combined fire engine and engine for driving
machinery. If it is desired to make condensing engines according to this
arrangement the air pump is placed in the cistern oradjoining it, and wrought
by means of a connecting or other rod off a pin in a crank plate keyed on
the end of a shaft, as shewn working a feed pump in and described with
reference to Fig. 7, Sheet 1.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and various methods in which the same may be conveniently carried into
effect, I would have it understood that I do not limit or confine myself to
the precise forms or details represented and described, as the same admit

page_text: of being variously modified without departing from the distinctive features
of my Invention, with reference to which I claim,―
Firstly, the use or employment of cranks or collars working in recesses
or chambers open to the steam cylinder, the backs of such cranks or collars
being accurately turned or faced (the shaft carrying the crank or collar
being left free to move slightly endwise), so that the pressure of the steam
acting at the front side of the crank or collar may press or force its opposite
or faced side into close contact with a corresponding but fixed face or sur-
face for maintaining a steam-tight joint between them and preventing the
escape of steam from the recess or cylinder without the employment of
stuffing boxes or glands for that purpose, substantially as described.
Secondly, communicating motion to the rotary or other valves or slides of
steam engines by means of shafts or spindles passing into the valve casing,
such shafts or spindles being formed or provided with faced cranks or collars
kept against suitable fixed surfaces by the pressure of the steam, and thus
preventing the escape of steam from the valve casing, without the employ.
ment of stuffing boxes or glands for that purpose, substantially as described.
Thirdly, the rotating slides or valves formed or provided with ports or
passages for regulating the admission of steam or other actuating fluids to
and their emission from cylinders, substantially as described.
Fourthly, preventing the escape of fluids past the plungers of pumps by
means of packing composed of split or divided cups pressed or forced against
the interiors of the cylinders by the action of the fluid upon india-rubber or
other elastic or yielding substances interposed between such split or divided
cups and other cups or rings provided for holding the india-rubber or other
elastic or yielding material within or against the split or divided cups first
mentioned, substantially as described.
Fifthly, the general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting
steam engines, substantially as shown in and described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ou Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly, the general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting
condensing steam engines, substantially as shewn in and described with
reference to Fig. 7 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly, the general arrangements and combinations of of parts con-
stituting engines adapted for pumping or drawing and forcing fluids,
substantially as shewn in and described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10,
and 11 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighthly, the general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting

page_text: engines for pumping or drawing and forcing fluids, substantially as shewn
in and described with reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 on Sheet 3 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Ninthly, the general arrangements and combination of parts constituting
engines for pumping or drawing and forcing fluids, substantially as shewn
in and described with reference to Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 on Sheet 4 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Tenthly, the general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting
engines for pumping or drawing and forcing fluids substantially as shewn in
and described with reference to Fig. 20 on Sheet 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dominicus Kittoe, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
W. LLOYD WISE,
Office for Patents,
Chandos Chambers, W.C.
GEO. D. KITTOE. (L.S.)