IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Bell Muschamp and Josephi
William Card at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 8th March 1866.
We, JOHN BELL MUSCHAMP, of Stanhope Villa, Pembroke Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, and JOSEPH WILLIAM CARD, of Somerset
Street, in the City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar method of supplying steam to
the cylinders of steam engines, whereby the necessity of a separate boiler
or steam generator is entirely obviated, and a great saving, both in the
first cost of the machinery and in the after consumption of fuel, is effected.
The said improvements consist chiefly in forcing water directly into the cylinder
or to some vessel in immediate connection therewith, so much of which water is
evaporated at each stroke of the piston as will supply the quantity of steam
required to keep the engine in motion at the required velocity. The cylinder
is by preference secured near the tube plate of a fine box of any ordinary
construction, and is partially surrounded by tubes, which may be cast on the
said cylinder or attached thereto in any convenient manner. These tubes,
which communicate with the fire-box in a similar manner to those in a
ordinary locomotive or marine boiler, impart the required heat to the cylinder

page_text: or other vessel in which the steam is generated, a damper or other suitable
device being provided to regulate the quantity of heat passing through the
said tubes. Water is supplied to the cylinder from a tank or other reservoir
by a double-acting pump through suitable passages, which are furnished with
stop valves to prevent the steam pressing upon the valves of the
pump. The
quantity of water fed in at each stroke of the said pump may be regulated by a
throttle valve, which is opened and closed as required by a governor fixed on
any convenient portion of the engine. This prevents any injury to the cylinder
from an over supply of water, and also affords a means of controlling the
speed of the engine, which in some measure depends upon the quantity of
water thrown into the cylinder. "The exhaust steam escapes from the said
cylinder through two appertures or ports formed in the ordinary manner, but
in this case no third or middle port is required, as in ordinary steam engines.
Neither is the slide valve of the form ordinarily employed, its sole duty being
to keep the steam from exhausting at both ends of the cylinder at once;
consequently a flat plate fitted to slide upon the port face is all that is required.
When the cylinder is sufficiently heated a few strokes are given to the pump
by hand to throw in sufficient water to start the engine, or a tap or cock may
be provided, by turning which the required quantity of water will flow into
the cylinder. The water thus pumped into the cylinder or heating vessel in
connection therewith is instantly converted into steam, and the piston is thoreby
moved in the cylinder. Immediately the said piston arrives at the end of its
stroke the slide valve opens the port and allows the steam to escape. Water
then enters the other end of the cylinder or other vessel, and being instantly
evaporated impels the piston back again till the other port is opened. Thus
a reciprocating motion to the said piston is obtained at any required velocity.
The water is by preference warmed before entering the cylinder or other vessel
either by the heat of the furnace or by the exhaust steam.