CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE STEAM ENGINE, WITH APPENDAGES THERETO, AND ALSO A MODE OF APPLYING THE SAME TO THE DRIVING OF ALL SORTS OF CARRIAGES AND MACHINERY, AND TO A VARIETY OF OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1814

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, THOMAS TINDALL,
of Queen Street, in the Parish of Scarborough, in the County of York, Gentle-
man, sendeth grecting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, by His Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of June last past, did give
and grant unto the said Thomas Tindall, (by the name and addition of Thomas
Tindall, of Green Street, in the Parish of Scarborough, in the County of York,
Gentleman,) his executors, administrators, and assigns, special licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, to make, use, exercise, and vend his Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE STEAM ENGINE, WITH APPENDAGES THERETO, AND
ALSO A MODE OF APPLYING THE SAME TO THE DRIVING OF ALL SORTS OF CARRIAGES AND
MACHINERY, AND TO A VARIETY OF OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His Majesty's
Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Ma-
jesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, for the term of fourteen years from the
date of the said Letters Patent, and to have and enjoy the full benefit and sole use
and exercise of the said Invention during the term aforesaid, subject, never-
theless, to a proviso or condition in the said Letters Patent contained, that if
the said Thomas Tindall should not particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of his said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the same to be
enrolled in the High Court of Chancery, within two calendar months next
ensuing the date of the said Letters Patent, then the said Letters Patent, and
all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease,

page_text: determine, and be void, as by reference to the said Letters Patent may more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that the said Thomas Tindall, in compliance and per-
formance of the condition of the said Letters Patent, doth by this instrument
in writing under his hand and seal particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of his said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, as well by a description in writing as also by delineation of apparatus
that will help to illustrate or exemply the manner in which the same is to be
performed (that is to say):
A steam engine of a peculiar construction, with appendages, which, with the
assistance of other mechanical apparatus, is applicable to a variety of useful
purposes, to be worked by the expansive power of steam, with or without
condensation, or by the powers, separately or conjointly, of any other elastic
fluids proper for that purpose; and a general description of the purposes to
which it is applicable is as follows:-First, the said engine is applicable to
the driving or giving motion to carriages of every description, with or without
assistance of other powers; secondly, for ships' pumps, or pumps for various other
purposes, such as air pumps, for raising water to great heights, and extinguishing
fire, or for throwing a jet of water to greater heights; thirdly, for ploughing
land and mowing grass and corn, and to work thrashing machines; fourthly,
this engine is useful on board of ships and other vessels for various purposes,
for propelling or drawing under various circunstances, taking up anchors,
pumping, and taking in and out cargoes; fifthly, to give motion to all sorts of
machinery and mills, and various other purposes where power is wanted. The
following is a description of the mechanism of its various parts, and of their
application as to engines for the purposes before recited.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGINE, with its appendages, and other mechanical
apparatus, as applied to driving carriages or other purposes.
Fig. 1 is an end view of the boiler, which is square, with a round vessel in
the middle of it, with flues round the same, for the purpose of heating such
vessel and boiler, and also to convey the fuel to the fireplace under such vessel,
where there is fixed a grate for the fire to lay on, and the two sides of the
boiler are arched over the fire, so that the boiler receives the heat which passes
up the flues round the vessel in the middle, which vessel receives the steam from
the boiler by a cross pipe in the middle of the top from one side to the other
over the middle vessel, and is connected by flanges or a short branch from the
cross pipe into the middle vessel, and at one end of this middle vessel there is
another flange F, to fix a pipe to convey the steam and heated air and com-

page_text: bustion, which is pumped through the fire, and forced into this middle vessel,
and mixed with steam before it enters the valve through a pipe p, as Fig. 14,
which it must pass through before it enters the cylinder at cock B, which
admits or shuts out the steam. a is an end view of the feeder on the top of
the boiler, which contains fuel for supplying the fire, and is open at its bottom
over the flue, at the top of which and over the middle vessel there is a regulator
L, L, Fig. 10, fixed, to regulate the quantity of fuel needful to keep the fire
at a proper heat, and this is opened or closed, as required, by a screw fixed
thereto, S, Fig. 10, and over this regulator is fixed what the said Thomas
Tindall calls a pusher, p, p, to agitate the fuel, so that it may pass to the fire,
which pusher is continued in motion by a lever from a crank or otherwise from
the engine, to move it backwards and forwards as required. At one end of the
fireplace is fixed a sliding door, to regulate the air to pass into the fire, and to
put the fuel into the fireplace when the fire is made; and if this don't admit
sufficient air, a fan F, as Figs. 11 and 12, is placed, with four wings or flaps,
surrounded by sheet iron, which puts this in motion, by small pullies from the
axis of the engine and to the axis of the fan or before the engine is set to
work it is turned by a crank C, as Figs. 11 and 12, to blow the fire up. At
the other end of the boiler is placed another vessel V, at the end of the fire-
place, for the heated air and combustion to pass up. Over this is placed a pump
P, to cause a draught, and this air, as before recited, is forced into the steam
vessel. In this vessel for heated air to pass up is fixed a retort, as Fig. 23,
which is round, of any size, into which coals are put, and heated by the sur-
rounding flue from the fire, which extracts the gas from the coals, and conveys
the same to a vessel for the reception thereof, either round the vessel where the
retort is, or by its side, as most convenient. This vessel V, as Figs. 11 and 12,
is round the retort, which is flued round to hold water or air, and which
gas is conveyed by a pipe through the water in the said vessel, or into the said
vessel with hot air, and from thence through a pipe or pipes, to give lights to
where wanted, by fixing a cock at the end of each pipe; but if more gas than
needful to supply lights required, part or the whole of this gas may be con-
veyed to the vessel where the heated air and steam are mixed, or into the vessel
where the retort is fixed, and there mixed with hot air, which of course will
increase its power, or this gas may be admitted into the valve without going to
the steam vessel, if found more useful, as circumstances require or arise, as it
may be mixed in a vessel with hot air, and used with it, for the engine is not
dependant on the gas and heated air, but they may occasionally be applied to
increase power, under various circumstances, and applied by various apparatus.
At the upper end of this vessel where the retort is, another suitable vessel or

page_text: case C, is fixed, which surrounds the cylinders and valve with its wheel, so
that the cylinder and valve is kept hot by the hot air and combustion and
exhausted steam from the cylinder, which in its passage up this vessel or case is
brought into a suitable tube or pipe, and applied to the flies or arms of an
horizontal wheel, which is fixed round the outer side of this vessel or case, and
in the centre is fixed a post or pin, which is supported by a saucer or socket at
bottom and top, and suitable braces from the top to support the whole. This
wheel is a peculiar construction. It has eight wings, or flies, or arms, which are
fixed into the centre post or pin. When framed from the centre post, the frames
are at right angles, any suitable distance which will form a round vessel or case
as before stated; then, on the outer side of this vessel or case, the frames are
circled from their outer ends to the side of the vessel or case, and which circle
is filled in with suitable boards, as also the round vessel or case is closed in
with boards from top to bottom, of any dimensions, according to what) power
is wanted, or those may be filled in with sheet iron when so erected, with flaps
or doors, in eight cants, to leave room for the wings or flies or arms to pass,
which flaps or doors are hung at one end by centre pins, or by bands, to open
and shut according to the quantity of wind wanted, which may be suitably
regulated by opening or shutting these flaps or doors, and also closing or shut-
ting these where the wind blows in will stop the wheel, or it may have a lever on
These flaps or doors have four,
One of the flaps or doors is
a barrel in the inside, as other mills, to stop it.
six, or eight openings, similar to a venetian blind.
always facing the wind, and by regulating these properly the wind will be thrown
against the wing or fly or arm, as it passes by it, and in like manner the
one on each side of it, which will be seen by referring to the Drawing,
Fig. 13, so that there are three or four of these wings or flies or arms always
taking the wind, the other following being screened from the wind, which of
course will have a great power, according to the strength of the wind so acting.
This will be found an excellent machine for all sorts of windmills, as it is
capable from its principle to perform more work than any other mill, for
in little wind it is always sure to act much quicker than the common mill;
for let the wind blow which way it may, it is always sure to act with the same
power, as there are no alterations to make on the wind shifting; for let the
wind shift in or blow in at the eight different cants, it is always sure to catch the
same flies, and act with the same power. The flaps or doors are regulated from
the inside by suitable mechanical apparatus, such as levers, cranks, wheels, and
pinions, or chains or ropes. The Drawing Fig. 13 is laid down with chains, to
open and shut them. Each chain in the inside goes through a shieve or pulley,
and ene chain linked to the other by a hook, which leads to a roller, having all

page_text: the rest fast to it that opens the flaps or doors, and these that shut them is
through a shieve or pulley, and fast one to another, as before, and one leading
to another roller, which is turned by a crank, or they may be both ends fast to
one roller, one the contrary way to the other. When the roller turns round, the
flaps or doors are opened and shut. There is a piece of wood W, projects from
the fast part where the flaps or doors hang on, with a shieve or pulley in it,
through which the chain passes to open the flaps or doors. This wheel more
properly may be called a wind wheel or mill wheel, and may be connected with
the engine by bevel geer, which will add to its power, or it may be applied sepa-
parately from the engine, or not at all, as circumstances may require. As this
engine and wind wheel or mill wheel are so well calculated to go together, they
may be so constructed that the engine may work with little winds, and the
wind wheel or mill wheel when sufficient wind. And under the said vessel or
case, which is part of the wind wheel or mill wheel, and on the top or side of
the boiler, is placed one or more vessel W, Fig. 14, to hold water to supply
the boiler as wanted, which may be supplied by a cock, or forced in by a pipe p
from the pump, which pump is connected with the flue, as before-mentioned, to
force the heated air into the steam vessel, as cock C, or air vessel, which is by
a pipe connected with the valve pipe p, and other pipes fixed to it from the
water vessel and from the steam vessel; this pipe is not seen but by cock C,
so that it can be converted to different purposes at pleasure, by turning the
cocks so fixed to the different pipes, which makes this cylinder an air pump by
cock C, and a water pump and a steam cylinder, to add power to the main cylin-
der, by which this small cylinder is connected with the large one, and worked
when a pump by the large cylinder. Both these cylinders are placed alongside
of each other on the top of the valves, which is so constructed as to admit of the
two cylinders being screwed thereon over the holes which come from the valves;
the valve is made conical, and the pin through it is made conical also, and
ground air tight. This pin makes the axis for the wheel on it, and is fixed
on a chuck of wood W, and bushes to run in, and in the valve there are four
holes at right angles to connect with each cylinder; the two lower holes are so
contrived that the flue, where the steam and other fluids pass, goes round
cach end of the valve and pin, and comes up through a hole in the top
over which the cylinder is placed, and the steam passes up a pipe cast to the
cylinder which makes the down stroke, and the other holes come under each
cylinder which is over and above the pipes 1. as Fig 7, and holes where the
steam and other fluids enter the valves, and it escapes out of the same holes
from the cylinder, and out of the opposite side pipe p, on the same valves, which
valves are opened and shut by the pin turning round, as two side of this pin

page_text: are cut away the size of the steam-pipe, to admit and quit the steam or any
other fluids so acting alternately with its wheel, of any size, having teeth to
communicate with any other wheel or wheels, or it may be connected by
cranks from the end of the pin to various purposes. This pin, Fig. 5, which
forms part of the valves Fig. 6 and 7, has two pieces on each side cut out, and
is separated by a solid part between them, which separates the steam or other
fluids that are admitted to each cylinder, the wheel being fixed on the end of
the pin, close to the valve on which the cylinder is placed. On the piston rod
is placed a cross bar, a little circling, to plum the edge of the wheel. This cross
bar, B, as Fig. 2, the end of which is turned down a little to admit a cross stay
S, near the piston-rod for its support.
At the ends of this cross bar on the
piston rod is a joint, to which a rack R, with teeth or a lever L, as Fig. 3, is
fixed, which works on the outer edge of the wheel, by which the wheel is put
in motion, pulling upwards with the upstroke of the piston rod, and pushed
down on the returning stroke; so goes on alternatively. This rack is shifted
by a frixion wheel passing up and down in groves G, Fig. 2, made for that
purpose, which is separated by a piece in its middle, so that the frixion wheel
W passes over the upper end and under the low end, and is pushed by the
ends by a spring S, fixed at each end of the grove for that purpose; or it may
be shifted by a lever, by which the racks are shifted in and out of geer, the
groves being made a proper length for the stroke, by which means these racks
are constantly working on the outer edge of the wheel, which gives an addi-
tional power, having no centre to pass, as other engines have. If worked by
levers it will answer full as well. The racks are taken off the cross bars, and
rods fixed to the joints where the racks were, and connected by a joint to the
side of the valve V, as Fig. 4, by the pin where the wheel is fixed. This lever
acts against four stops, in their turns, fixed in holes in the rim of the wheel, and
is forced in and out by a spring fixed to them. As the lever slides over one way
and catches on the other side and shoves the wheel down, the other lever
catches against the stop, and pulls upwards; so it goes on alternatively. The
springs may be fixed on the sides of the levers, which will admit of them
sliding over the stops, fast to the wheel rim, as they are slanted away on one
side, the other being square to catch the lever as it shoves down and pulls
upwards, by which the wheel is kept in constant motion. The spring on the
side of the levers works on a half-circle to press it on the stops, and it passes
them on the wheel. The wheels that may be connected with this, to increase
speed and power, are fixed upon axises at right angles with the main wheel,
and are put in and out of geer by a lever L, as Fig. 14, for that purpose; or
instead of the wheels, to increase speed and power, cranks or levers may be

page_text: applied; for this Invention cannot be confined to any particular mode of driving
carriages, or any other purpose to which these engines are applicable, as the
applying power varies in most cases. There are two rods or leaders L, for the
cross bar of the piston rod, through which cross bar is a hole, so that it slides
up and down these rods, which steadies the piston rod and racks and levers.
There is also a cross bar fixed to each of the racks at the lower end, to keep
them at an equal distance and steady, in and out of geer; the frixion wheel is
fast to this cross bar B, Fig. 2, which shifts the racks, and a cross bar at the
top of the two leading rods, to support them with suitable stays S, as:
Fig. 11. The piston of this engine is made elastic, or in the common way of
packing; but in most cases the piston made with brass rings, or two hoops, one
within the other, ground together air tight; then these two hoops, cut into two
each; and after that, each piece cut crossways into four pieces, and so put
together by crossing their ends; and a spring round the piston, to force them
out against the cylinder. This spring is made like a worm, four or five or six
rounds, and both ends at liberty, to expand or contract according to the
pressure, to make it tight in the cylinder, into which the whole is ground air
tight, which is far preferable when working with hot steam; but instead of the
steam cylinder, and the wheel and racks and levers before described, two
pipes may be placed, one on each hole on the valve, Fig. 7, where the steam
cylinder stood; another sort of wheel may be prepared, and which may be called
a steam-wheel, Fig. 20, made of any size, according to power wanted. The
outer rim of this wheel is fixed or hollowed all round its rim into half a circle
or otherwise; then this flue or hollow is divided into two or four equal parts,
and those parts separated by pieces fixed in the flue or hollow, so that they
have no connection with each other, being made steam tight; but when they
are fastened together with screws from the outside, the wheel has a round or
square hole in the centre, to fix the valve-pin, Fig. 5, and has arms from the
centre part to the outer rim or side of the flue on the wheel edge. The rim
which incloses the flue is of sufficient breadth to leave substance on each side of
the flue, which is conical, and another solid rim is made conical, which has no
flues in it, but ground air tight into the outer rim, where the flue is; or this rim
may have two groves turned out, one on each side of the flue, for packing. If
found needful, to make it tight, this rim, with its arms for support, may be
screwed to the valve, with the pipes which are to convey the steam from the
valve to the flue in the outer rim of this wheel. These two pipes p are fixed to
other way; but these pipes p
the inner rim by flanges, and screwed on, or any
are double, having two branches from the valve, and each pipe having a cock
C; so by opening the one and shutting the other the steam enters on either

page_text: side of two clappers fixed between the top of each of the two pipes, so that
whilst one of those clappers is shut the other is open; and there is a recess or
a hollow part, p, in the fast frame or riu above the pipes, which is made for the
clappers to fall into whilst the fast piece in the flue is passing over it. The upper
end of this clapper C is made round, so as to fit the flue or hollow it is fixed
in, and in a round socket, so that it may move backwards and forwards as the
steam enters and quits the pipes, and has a centre pin on each end to keep it
in its socket; and one or both of those centre pins has a lever or crank fixed to
i, the pins being fast in the centre, so that as the wheel goes round it opens
and shuts this clapper to its place, where it meets or stops until the lever L
or crank returns to fetch it down, and so it goes on to open and shut as the
valve opens and shuts. But, again, this wheel, Fig. 21, may be worked another
way, by reversing the rims; that is, the outer one solid and no flue as the other
one had. This flue is made in the inner rim, as before, or half-circle, or otherwise,
and two or four fixed pieces on the inner rim, to fit into the flue or hollow part
thereof. These fixed pieces are made so that they may receive a packing, as in
both cases. In this outer rim is two parts, p, p, made sufficiently large to have
room for a conical hole, and a pin ground air tight into it or the upper edge of
the fast rim. This pin has one side cut away or out, p, for the fixed piece on
the inner rim to pass under as it goes round. This pin is made to fit the flue, so
when it is turned by the crank and lever L from the wheel, it shuts and opens,
to stop the steam and admit the fast piece passing the pipe p, as in the
manner before mentioned, and so carried to the flue, and opened and shut by
cocks C, which turns the wheel either way by so doing. But, again, this wheel,
Fig. 22, may be worked another way, by the wheel being divided into four
equal parts, and the flue being made wide at one end and narrow at the
other, so that the leading end being so much larger, and a flat end e, the steam
presses unequally, which forces the wheel round so that it will go on as the
valve opens and shuts, which admits and quits the steam alternatively. But in
this last-mentioned wheel must be placed a sliding top S, on one side of the
pipes, on the fast rim, which is opened and shut by a heart H, motion, from
the axis of the wheel, which these sliding stops keep up against the top of the
outer rim and flue as it goes round, being made tapering on the upper end to
fit the flue. This step is going down as the wheel is passing over it, as the steam
acts through the pipes p, and stopped by cocks C. By this statement it is
evident there are four ways of obtaining a circular motion or movement from
the outer edge of any wheel. Each of these motions or movements is worked
by one and the same valve, as before described, and not confined to the one or
the other of these methods, but may any one of them be worked separately or

page_text: Fig. 8 is a view of the
Fig. 3 is a
conjointly as occasion may require, &c.; and any one of these wheels may be
applied to carriage wheels, as they may be fixed to the spokes or otherwise to
give motion to the wheels, or to be so fixed that they may be slipped in and
out from the wheels, and act with the pushers, separately or conjointly. Fig. 2
is a side view of the cylinder and racks and wheel, with pin and valve, and
friction wheel and groves and cross bars on the piston rod.
view of the same, with the lever instead of the racks. Fig. 4 is an end view
of two cylinders on the valve, and pin and wheels, with the cross bars on the
piston rod. Fig. 5 is a view of the pin with the side cut out. Fig. 6 is an end
view of the valve, with a pipe on each side, with two passages into each pipe,
the one to admit steam and the other air, a, as Fig. 7, or water or steam, if
required, as before stated, by cocks; the other pipe for the exhausted stean,
and the other to convey air, a, as Fig. 7, or water to the boiler, as before
stated. Fig. 7 is a flat view of the valve, with the holes on the top and pipes
on each side, as before described.
boiler in two parts,
which is made of sheet iron, and rivetted, or may be screwed together,
as choice may lead, and in these two parts of the boiler there is two screws
or cocks in the bottom to let the water out, and two partitions in each of them,
which are rivetted to the bottom and sides, and screwed at the top, in order to
strengthen it, and to prevent the water being agitated by moving and getting
all to one end; and also in these three separate parts in each side of
the boiler there is fixed in each a square board to float on the water, which
just has room to rise or fall according to its fullness of water, which boards are
to prevent the water from rising and rushing about in the boiler; and over the
middle space or partition the flanges F is fixed, to fix the cross pipes to,
which admit the steam to pass from them into the middle vessel, where the
steam and heated air are mixed, and of course will be heated more, as it is
over the fire and flued round. For that purpose the boiler, when together,
a part goes under the fireplace, and is circled down to admit of the
grate laying on it, and leaves a space below the fire for a draught and
ashes; and at one end of the boiler there is a pipe p, Fig. 11 and 12, con-
nected with both sides of the boiler, to know when it is full enough of water;
or it may be supplied with water in that place, as there is a cock, the top of
which screws in and out for that purpose; and this boiler may be made different
if required, according to situation. Fig. 9 is a view of the middle vessel for
the steam and heated air as it is pumped through the fire and flues, on which
are two flanges F, to fix the pipes to, as before stated. This vessel is fixed in
between the two parts of the boiler, Fig. 8, and fastened by four screws on
each end by its flanges, and pieces rivetted to the boiler in the inside, to screw

page_text: the vessel up in its place and over the fire, which leaves sufficient room for
the coals or cinders to pass down from the feeder to the fire. Fig. 10 is a
flat view of the boiler, on which are seen the flanges F, where the cross pipes
are fixed, and the regulating valve V at one end, which is fixed to a joint with
a beam like steel yards, and is divided into pounds to ascertain the number of
pounds on a square inch, and which is capable of one hundred pounds pressure
on an inch, but only intend it at from thirty to forty pounds on an inch, but this
wholly depends on the strength of the boiler according to power wanted. Fig. 11
is a side view of a five-wheeled carriage, with the boiler and all its apparatus and
feeder F. In this carriage is seen the pipe p, which pumps the air from the fire
from vessel V, and passes through the valve, and returns by a pipe a, into the
steam vessel over the feeder; and pipe C is where the steam passes from the
steam vessel to the valve, and works the cylinders, which returns by a pipe p, and
passes through the flue under the fire, and up the vessel V, where the retort is,
and the pump of course is fetching part of this steam back into the steam
vessel over the fire; the rest passes up the vessel or case round the cylinder,
whilst the rest of the heat keeps the cylinders and valves quite hot as before
stated. This carriage, which is pushed on with four pushers, p, p, p, p, fixed
with joints to a double crank, and is lifted from the ground by four strings, or
it may be pushed on by pushers fixed to levers with joints. These pushers are
made of wood or iron; if wood, shod with iron; and under some circumstances
two levers L, are fixed to the wheel described before to each of the carriage
wheels below the engine; when the stops and levers, being fixed to their places,
that is, stops to the rim of the wheel and levers to the axis may be easily put
on and taken off the racks or levers which may be at work on the cylinder;
and this will be a great help up hills, as the engine is acting on the rim of the
carriage wheels, and pushes against the ground at the same time. The vessel
V, fixed on the hind part of the boiler, is where the heated air passes up, as
before described, and the retort is in it, which is fixed so that it can be easily
come at, the lid being on the top of the retort, Fig. 23, and screwed down by
a cross bar B, and screwed into a grove round the retort air tight, so that tho
coals are put in and cinders taken out as often as needful, to supply the feeder
with cinders instead of coals, which will prevent the unpleasantness of smoke.
The pipe P is where the gas comes out, and conveyed to the vessel described.
And this method is applicable to all sorts of steam engines, and all brewers, and
to every family in their houses, and will add so much more to the comforts of
life, as all this gass and combustion is suffered to pass up the chimney, and of
course much of the heat. All owners of steam engines in particular would
be much benefitted by adopting this plan and engine, or by adopting this

page_text: method to their present engines, as before described.
It would supply every
factory with sufficient lights, and make it much cleaner for large towns, where
so many engines are at work. In every dwelling-house a retort might be
fixed at the back of the kitchen fire, and part of this retort should form the
back of the fire place, and flue it all round, so that the end may be got to cither
in the kitchen or on the other side of the wall; if a convenient place, then fix
a gas barometer, and convey it to as many rooms as want to be lighted. Then
the cinders which come from this retort will supply the whole house and
kitchen, and the house and cooking will be much cleaner thereby, which will
add comfort to the family, and a saving of candles. This retort must be made
air tight at the end, to be taken off and fastened with a screw, as Fig. 23,
which may soon be supplied with coals and cinders took out and reserved for
the fire, as there will be no extra fire wanted to the retort, as the kitchen fire
is always on, so that the gas is making all the day ready for night; and the
same flue from this retort may be carried to the oven, so the one and the same
fire will do for these two purposes, which must be a saving. The before-
mentioned carriage, Fig. 11, with five wheels, and on the two fore ones the
boiler B is placed, and a cranked axis fixed, and a round rim O, on the top of
it, and feeder F, for coals, on the boiler, and may or may not be supported by
two springs under the rim, and the two shafts from the leading wheel which
steers or governs the carriage, and which boiler is fixed under the rim R that
supports the engine and boiler. The whole is supported by the axis by cross
bars or springs, which forms a frame for the valves and cylinder to be fixed on
within the rim, and another rim R is fixed at any height above this fast one,
and is connected with plates of iron, with catches at the low end of these
plates to slide round the fast rim, and the shafts for the hind wheels are circular,
to pass over the fore wheels when fast to the upper round rim by plates suitable,
and the fore wheel also is fixed in a round rim O, of wood or iron, to which
each end of the fore shafts is fixed, and the axis of this wheel has a bracc
coming to each side of the rim from the ends of the axis, and is fixed to two
sliding pieces, which are fitted to the inside of this round rim, for the wheel to
pass round, when supported in the middle of this rim by braces from these sliding
pieces, and may be moved by the end of the lever, which is placed over the
top of this wheel, from the fore part, by a sliding piece p, fixed for that purpose,
and a frame F, at the hind part of the wheel, for the lever to press against,
which lever L is made with the same circle as the wheel; so by pressing on
this lever it will stop the carriage or make it go slower when wanted, and down
any hills, or may have another like this to the hind wheels, or the leading wheel
may be turned round by an half circular wheel with teeth, and a pinion to

page_text: 'work therein, which may be turned by a crank or otherwise. Fig. 12 is a
side view of a three-wheeled carriage, with the boiler B and all the apparatus
as the before-mentioned carriage feeder F, with the wind wheel W placed over
the valve and cylinders and wheel, which incloses the whole of the apparatus,
and retains the heat from the flue that passes through the vessel where the
retort is, and the expanded air and combustion which may escape the pump
passes up the vessel or case, and makes its exit at the top by a funnel F, for
that purpose. The steam, after it passes through the cylinder or wheels, is
conveyed from the valve, through which it returns; after this it is conveyed by
a pipe through the angle of one of the eight cants of the wind wheel frame-
mark W, Fig. 13, and in its escape acts alternatively on one of the wings or flues
or arms of the wind wheel, which with its equal power is pressing this wheel
round. As it is brought to act on the outer part of the wheel it will of course
be adding its equal power to the engine. This wind wheel propelling with the
same pushers p against the ground from any carriage fitted for that purpose,
would be put in motion if sufficient wind as well as the engine. Fig. 13 is
a flat or end view of the wind wheel, as it shews the wings or flies or arms of
the wheel round the centre and vessel or case before described, and the flaps
or doors D are seen as they are open, and the wings or flaps or arms a, circled
as before stated from the inner vessel or case S. Fig. 14 is a flat view of a three-
wheeled carriage, with all its apparatus, and on the fore or leading wheel is
shewn how the four scythes C are fixed to mow with, on a round rim R, at
the low end of two bars or frames of wood or iron, one of which is fixed to
the low rim and the other on the top of the leading wheel, and on the socket
or frame of this wheel is fixed a cross bar B, with a round hole, which is of
sufficient length to go to the outer side of the rim at top, and there fastened with
a screw bolt on each side. The frame of iron or wood, where the scythes C
are fixed on at the bottom and top rims, and forms a circle. At the fore part of
these rims is another frame F, to support the rims and scythes. When the
whole is so fixed on the centre at top above the wheel W, there is a screw
fixed, which rises or lowers the whole frame F, with the scythes, by which it is
regulated properly for cutting the grass or corn, and is worked by a lever L,
from the engine, and fixed with a joint on the cross bar B. These four scythes
are so fixed that they cut both ways, and are so fixed that they may be taken
out and sharped, or fresh ones put in; and on the other carriage, Fig. 12, the
scythes are seen with regulating screws S, and a plough P, or more ploughs
may be fixed if thought proper, which is fixed to the axis of the carriage, and
the fore part, through a socket S, Fig. 12, from the fore part of the seat.
This socket is for the bar of iron to pass through from the plough, and has a

page_text: worm on it, and by turning the crank C on the top will regulate the plough,,
and give it proper hold of the ground. C is a chain fast to the plough, to lead
it on with the carriage. The person who has the management of the carriage,
engine and plough at the same time steers or governs the carriage by the lever
L, from the leading wheel. This leading wheel is differently fixed from the
other, as this has no other circular wheel, and two shafts coming circular to
the top of the wheel with a round socket to move in, and a bar B from each
side of the axis of the wheel and lever L, with a piece of iron I, to press on
the wheel to stop it. This carriage shews how differently it may be employed,
either mowing or ploughing; also harrows may be added to the hind part,
either with the plough or without it, if thought proper; also any one of them
may be used separately, as they are made to ship and unship as required, and
the wind wheel may be used with the engine or separately or taken off. And
by this same carriage may be used any of the machines for drilling all sorts of
grain into the ground. This carriage is a side view, with the scythes C, which
shews that this carriage and its machines may be used for every purpose where
power is wanted, and is seen by the five-wheeled carriage how soon two more
wheels may be added, by having circular shafts, with a flange F, on each end, to
fix to the round rim of this three-wheeled carriage. On these two hind
wheels are fixed two long springs on the axis on each side' within the wheels,
on which may be placed the body of any kind of carriage, and may have the
door at the hind part, which will be much more safe and pleasant than the side.
Fig. 15 is a side or flat view of a pump, which is applicable for all purposes
where a pump is wanted. is the pipe which leads to the water; if on
board ship, into the pump well or any other part; if on land, into a cistern.
C is the valve on which the cylinder stands, which valve and cylinder is the
same as the air pump and engine described before, as the pump is worked
by hand, by placing the racks to the out rim of a small wheel, and on
this small wheel is fixed a pinion or a smaller wheel, and is turned by a
crank handle C, to gain power. If you want it to go faster, place a crank on
the rim of the large wheel, which is shewn on the Drawing. This cylinder, with
the valve and pin, is the axis of the wheels and racks and sliding rods. All are
placed on two chucks of wood W, with stays for support. The friction wheel
which goes up and down in two groves G, as before described, shifts the racks
in and out, so the length of the stroke is according to the length of this grove
as it passes over the upper end and under the lower end. This cylinder is two
feet, with an eighteen inch stroke, and having a pipe cast to the side. The
cylinder is placed in the valve with two holes in it, through one of which the
water rises under the cylinder, and the other under the pipe, so that this makes

page_text: a constant stream which comes out at pipe d, and may be conducted or applied
to any purpose wanted, if on board ship to wet decks or sails or extinguish fire.
This
pump may also be used on land as a fire engine, with the piston in the
cylinder, is a solid one, as before described. Fig. 16 is a flat view of a ship's
deck, where the wind wheel is placed instead of the capston, and will answer
for it, having a barrel on it, and engine under the windmill W, as shewn on
the carriage Fig. 12. This engine is the same in every respect except the
boiler as Fig. 18, as there are two lids or valves V, on the top of the boiler,
and may be taken off the two separated parts on the boiler for the purpose of
cooking victuals in. These lids or valves ground in air-tight, conical or by
packing, and over them is a frame F, with a screw to fasten them down, so
that are easily taken out or put in. These two parts have a pipe p, in them, from
the rest of the boiler, with a cock C, in it, so when the cook wants the two parts
the cock is shut, which separates the rest of the steam, and when the cook has
done with these parts he opens the cock and put the lids or valves in, then the
steam from these parts mixes with the rest, and beef or any other victuals may
then be cooked by such steam if thought proper. By this process there is a
great saving of fuel and labour, as the same fire which is consumed in the common
way will keep the engine at work, and may be applied to any work going for-
ward on board where wanted, such as taking in and putting out the cargo,
taking up the anchor, or reefing the top sails; or any other ropes may be brought
to this engine by leading blocks, as there is a barrel at one end of the axis for
this purpose; and if an oven is wanted, one may be had under the grate, where
the fire lays, which may be flued round, and at one end of the grate there may
be a projection p, for tea kettle and pots, which slides in and out under the grate;
and on the after part of this ship is seen four pushers p, p, p, p, fixed on an
axis across the stern, with joints on the cranks, and the pushers are put on these
cranks, so by taking out a pin will unship the four cranks which are on the
four sides and form a circle, and on these pushers are placed four boards, with
joints to open and shut as they meet the resistance of the water. On the axis
is placed a wheel W, with a grove for a chain C, to be connected with another
wheel from the axis of the engine when set to work, and the pushers and
boards and joints being of sufficient length and strength, they will propel the
ship on. As it frequently happens in calms one ship gets foul of another, which
this would prevent, and in rivers would be much better than a boat, as the ship
Inight be kept with sufficient way to be steered, and thereby be the means of
greater dispatch. Also this engine, with the pushers, as before described, will
be found very useful to all sorts of small vessels in rivers, and particularly
where horses are wanted to track, and to all ferries where this would answer.

page_text: And on the fore part of ship is seen the windlass W, which on the after part of
this another windless W, of somewhat less size is placed, and this windlass in
the after part is to ship and unship if required. It is slipt in the bits in a bush
for it, and a clasp of iron over it and a togal, so it can soon be unshipt, and is
connected with the main windlass bits B, so that one supports the other, as the
after bits have hold of at least two more of the deck beams, which is much stronger
for the ship, as in many cases in riding in heavy gales of wind the ship is strained
by hanging by so few beams and so far forward, and sometimes the pawls is
upset, and bits carried away. The main windlass might be placed before the
foremast, and by adopting this method all these accidents would be prevented,
and in some cases the ship and mariners saved. On this windlass is placed a
round frame or hoop H, of wood or iron, with eight cants on the inside to fit
them, to slide up to near the pawls of the windlass, and fasten with a pin, and
which frame or hoop is made into a half circle O on the outside, to leave room
for two parts of the cable, the cable having only one turn round each windlass,
which can never ride over each other nor want flitting over, as this keeps the
cable in the same place as the windlass goes round, which is by a large wheel
W, on the main windlass, and one of less size on the other in proportion to the
size of the windlass; then on this after wheel is placed a pinion or small wheel
on an axis on a frame fixed for this purpose on the after side of the after wind-
lass; one end of this axis is fixed to the outer bit B, with a square end which
may be turned by a crank e, with hands, but if with the engine, a wheel F, with
a grove for a chain C, from a wheel on the axis of the engine, by which the cable
C is hove in and anchor up, which would be got up when it would not be pos-
sible to have got it in the common way, and in much less time. And in case
of any other work going forward on board when the anchor is not wanted, the
after windlass is slipped out of geer from the fore one, and is made a common
winch of for any purpose; and in bringing up the ship by the cable a chuck of
wood G is placed on the deck, fastened by bolts through the deck beam, with
nuts on the under side, for the convenience of being taken away; but these bolts
may remain in the part that goes through; the chuck may have a square eye to
put a wood togil in. This chuck is made with a half circle in it sufficient for the
cable, and one side of the half circle is fixed a stanchel, to stand above the
windlass, to prevent the cable flying out, and on the other side of the balf circle
a lever h is fixed to a joint, which lever is of sufficient length, with an half
circle at the low end next the joint to go over the cable, so one man having
this lever in his hand when the ship is taking the cable round the windlass, by
which he keeps the cable C in the half circle between the lever and stanchel,
and is ready when the ship is to be brought up to press on this lever over the

page_text: cable C, which gives him such a command over the cable that he may stop it
when he pleases, or bring it up gradually, as in many instances it is difficult to
bring the ship up, by which many cables are broken by getting foul, and the
men are in danger of being lamed thereby. By this method, as above de-
scribed, there is no danger or fear of the ship running away with the cable, as
it may be stopped with safety at pleasure; and in bringing up in little wind the
pawls on the after windlass W may be lifted up by a lever i, so fixed that the
whole of the pawls of the windlass shall rise. Then the windlass will be at liberty
to turn round with the cable, and the lever h will have power to bring up, or the
pawls may fall and stop the windlass; and this would be particularly useful
where iron cables are used, as the windlass going round and lever h to stop with
would do away all the danger of bearing away the iron cable or any other.
Fig. 17 is a side view of a ship or a brig under sail, which shews how the
topsails are reefed from the deck without going up aloft. Half way between the
topsail yard and the lowest reef is fixed a strong recf band to the sail, to form
a slot for a boom or spar sufficient size to go into it. This boom has three or
four universal joints, to admit it to stand round with the sail. In this reef band
there are as many eylet holes as thought proper for studs to go through, and
into the boom, to prevent it turning round in the sail or slot; and when this
boom is so fixed a wheel j is fixed on each end of the boom, with two groves
in the wheels to hold a chain C or rope r, with as many turns as will admit the
boom to come down to the close reef. This chain or rope is fast at each end to the
wheel, and both one way on, and one end taken up to the topsail yard from the
fore and low side of the wheel to the topmast head to a block, and then to the
topsail yard, and there fastened; the other end is taken down over the top and
after side of the wheel to the low yard to a block there, and then up to the topmast
head to a block, and so fastened to the topsail yard; so that when the topsail
haulyards are lowered, the chains being fast to the yard, will roll round the
boom, and take the sail up. This wheel on the boom is put on with a joint at
the end of the screw bolt from the boom, and kept up by a pin at one side; so
when the sail is stowed this pin is taken out, and the wheel is turned on its
flat under the yard; and on the sides of these wheels there is a frame across
the groves, to prevent the chain or rope getting off the wheel, in which is a
round hole in the centre to traverse round the boom when it turns, which lays
against the chain or rope on the outer edge of the wheel. If the sails remain
with the boltrope there is a grove made leading out in the boom or spar for
the boltrope to lead in as it goes round to keep the sail out in its proper place;
but as it frequently happens that sails get split by the bolt rope breaking, to
prevent this and other consequences in such cases there is put a chain instead

page_text: of the bolt rope, which will be seen by the main topsail, one side with a
chain, the other by a rope, to the wheel. This will last many sails, and
much cheaper in the end, besides being much safer. This chain is
made with joints, which is two pieces of square iron, or nearly so,
and a pin through each end, which forms one link, then one single
piece, which the same pin goes through; this single piece is between the
two ends of the other link; and this last-mentioned piece forms the other
link; so it goes on, the one single and the other double; and these joints
being about half an inch within the outside of the side pieces, and the single
one is made flush with the outer one of the double link, so that a ledge is
formed all the way down the chain on the fore and after side and outer part
of the chain; then a sliding piece is made to go round the outer parts of these
edges, which is tightened or slackened by a screw, to make it pass down or up
easy, and keeping it from getting out from behind these ledges; this is fixed
to a short rod from a collet from the boom that goes through the slot, to
roll the sail up instead of the common way of reefing. The boom has an
iron neck or end, in which the collet is fixed with a worm screw, so that when
the boom is turned round by the chains the collet leads out and in. The rod
fixed to it is fixed to the sliding piece round the outer ledges of the chain which
keeps the sail always out in its proper place. Without this, the sail and chain
would go at random, and be blown to leeward, which this will prevent, and
keep the sail tight on the boom. But this chain may be made different ways.
This ship or brig shews the old way of reefing by the fore-topsail, and this
new method by the main-topsail, which last-mentioned method, if adopted,
will be a great saving of the sails and ship, as this chain instead of bolt rope
and the boom across the middle of the sail, will prevent it from splitting,
which is often the case in the act of reefing, by the sail shaking so much, and
the ship in some instances indangered on a lee shore or in a narrow part
where there is not room for reefing. But by this method these dangers are
avoided, and the mariner saved from being shook off the yard, as this sail is
reefed without being shaken, or even the ship loosing her way, as the sail is
kept tight and full; as the haulyard lowers the yard, the chain or rope
round the wheel is turning the boom round and rolling the sail up by the end
of the chain being fast to the yard. If the yard want hauling down, this
chain, which is fast to the topsail yard, may come on deck and lead to the
engine or wind wheel, or by tackles or hand, or the cluelines may be
manned to bring down the yard. If this wheel be properly regulated for size,
it will always keep the sail tight; and the chain may be so fixed to the yard
that it can be slackened or taken in as required. By this process the sail may

page_text: be taken in or let out as much as is thought proper in very little time, and
with safety, and without the danger of the sail being torn by the points getting
foul, which frequently happens in the old way of letting out reefs. From this
statement every mariner will see the propriety of this and the other methods
described before, and will no doubt be ready to adopt these improvements on
board of their ships, which are so essential to their safety. Over this ship or
brig's stern are seen four pushers p, p, p, p, which are connected with the
engine by a wheel and chain, as before described. The engine and wind
wheel in this vessel are before the main mast, as marked M, and may stand
there or on any other part of the deck where there is most room, as this
wind wheel will answer when the fire and engine are not on, as there is a
bevel wheel A, as Fig. 19, connected with another b, on an axis, and a roller L
to which any rope may be taken or connected with the pump by cranks and
levers. This wind wheel is made to ship and unship, as occasion may require,
and take in pieces, to put away. Fig. 19 is a close view of the wind wheel, on
which are seen rails round the top of it, being flat, for the convenience of
passengers or luggage when used on the carriage, as the wheel may form the
body of a carriage, by the inside being made round, with seats, and the wings
or arms round the outside of this inner part, with a bevel wheel on the pin on
which the wings or arms act, and connected with another wheel, as seen by
those wheels a, b, and a roller L, for any of the before-mentioned purposes.
This wheel, when applied to a carriage by itself, may, in case of little wind, be
kept in motion by a small wheel and crank handle to turn the bevel wheel, or
by any other mechanical apparatus with pushers fixed to a double crank, or levers,
as before described. Fig. 24 is a side view of a windmill made different from
the other; the wings being placed at the side of the mill, as in the common
way. Instead of four wings, eight wings are placed, and the sail part reversed,
by placing it on the other square of the arm, which brings the wind to act on
the flat side of the sails, as in the common way the wind blows on the centre
of the wings, but by this method the wind blows on the side of the axis the
wings are placed on, and the regulating wheel is reverse, and made to go the
same way the sails of the mill go, so that this regulating wheel keeps the mill
sails always with their flat sides to the wind, and a frame of wood W, round
the axis of the wings, a little longer than the wings, so that the axis passes in
or through this frame, which is made a little wider than the sails, as the sails
are placed one on the right-hand and the other on the left-hand side of the
wings or arms, so that they are one clear of the other, as seen by the Fig. 24,
such frame on the outer and inner sides of the wings or arms, to leave room
for the wings or arms to pass, is closed in with boards on the low half circle;

page_text: and as these wings and sails pass down into the case so fixed to keep the wind
off the wings, until they rise on the other or opposite side of this case, then
the wind takes them as they rise, and so it will continue going on with much
greater power than the present windmills, as there are always three or four of
these wings taking the wind; or this may be made with the whole circle, and
framed into eight cants and flaps or doors, as described in the horizontal wheel
before, which will close the whole of the wings up when the flaps or doors are
shut to stop the sails.
This discovery in its principal features is a portable steam engine, with
its appendages, which have already been herein-before set forth by such
Drawings and explanations as will point out some of the many purposes
to which it is applicable, and it may be substituted as a moving power to
every machine hitherto moved by horses. This Invention will also facilitate
the means of commercial intercourse, and make them less laborious and
less expensive, as to many agricultural operations, particularly these before
stated; and in rendering ferries more extensive in their accommodations,
and more independent of local impediment than they are at present, and in all
cases less subject to casualty; and doubtless by its application to these purposes
many other important advantages will present themselves; and it will in a very
considerable degree prevent much of that uncertainty and embarrassment which
more or less attends all operations which depend on the personal labour of men
or the agency of animals.
In witness whercof, the said Thomas Tindall hath hereunto set his hand
and seal, the Thirteenth day of August, in the fifty-fourth year of the
reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender
of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fourteen.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Thomas Tindall, (being
first duly stamped, and the several in-
terlincations therein made,) in the
THOMAS TINDALL. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirteenth day of August, in
the fifty-fourth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, the
said Thomas Tindall, came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified; in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped, according to the tenor of the Statute made in the
forty-eighth year of His said Majesty's reign.