IMPROVEMENTS IN STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beckett Johnson, of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Manager for Messrs. Ormerod and Son,
Engineers and Ironfounders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beckett
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th October 1852.
I, WILLIAM BECKETT JOHNSON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES" to be
as follows:
.
My improvements refer, Firstly, to that description of stationary
engines commonly called horizontal engines, the features of novelty
consisting in so arranging the framework that a portion thereof shall
occupy a position above a horizontal line drawn through the
centre of the piston rod, such portion of the framework being
directly over the piston rod, or on one or both sides thereof; also
in forming vertical flanges for securing the cylinders of horizontal
engines, so as to cause the force of the engines to be exerted against the

page_text: faces of such flanges; whereas, according to the present method of
construction, the cylinders are bolted to horizontal flanges, so that
the force of the engine tends to loosen the attachments. Secondly,
my improvements refer to a peculiar arrangement of throttle valve
for steam engines. A barrel is surrounded by a passage commu-
nicating with the steain pipe which leads to the cylinder, the said barrel
being provided with apertures capable of being opened or closed by a
piston acted upon by a governor or other regulator, so that the admission
of steam may be modified to any required extent.
.SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 1
filed by the said William Beckett Johnson in the Great Scal
Patent Office, on the 15th April 1853.
"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM BECKETT JOHNSON, of 'Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager for Messieurs Ormerod and Son, Engineers and 1
Ironfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of October, One
.thousand cight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of
Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Beckett Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said William Beckett Johnson, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Williamı
Beckett Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any tinic agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-
fully 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 STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Beckett
Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: 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 William Beckett Johnson, do
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, and accompanying Drawings
(that is to say):
My improvements refer,-Firstly, to that description of stationary
engines called horizontal engines; the features of novelty consisting,
firstly, in so arranging the framework that a portion thereof shall occupy
a position above a horizontal line drawn through the centre of the piston
rod, such portion of the framework being directly over the piston rod, or
on one or both sides thereof: secondly, in forming vertical flanges for
securing the cylinders of horizontal engines to the framework, so as to
cause the force of such engines to be exerted against the faces of the
flanches; whereas, according to the present method of construction, the
cylinders are bolted to horizontal flanches. Another part of my Inven-
tion refers to an arrangement of throttle valve for steam engines, con-
sisting of a hollow piston working within a cylinder by the agency of
the governor, the steam being regulated by passing through apertures
formed therein.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I will
refer to the several Figures of a Sheet of Drawings accompanying this
my Specification. Fig. 1, represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, a
plan; and Fig 3, and 4, transverse sections of the improved framing,,
constructed according to the first part of my Invention, and also
shewing the second portion thereof. a, is the steam cylinder, which
with its valves and piston may be of the usual construction. The flanch
Ib, of the cylinder, and the flanch c, of the framing, are made of sufficient
strength to unite the two firmly together by suitable bolts and nuts. In
the flanch c, of the framing is an opening for the piston rod gland box.
to project through; d, d', is the lower base part, and e, e', is the
part of the framing. The framing may be made of sufficient length to
contain the bearing of the crank end of the main shaft, or this bearing
upper

page_text: may be made as a separate piece fixed to the framing by any suitable
means. The lower and upper parts d, d', and e, e', of the framing are
strengthened by flanchies or ribs fif', and, g, y', as shewn in. the trans-
verse sections of the framing. Fig. 3, being such a view. taken in the
line 1, 2, and Fig. 4, in the line 3, 4. The flanches f, y, and also the
ribs, strengthen the flanch c, to which the steam cylinder is fixed'
In the opening between the upper and lower parts d, and e, of the
framing, the piston rod guide blocks i, i. move, and keep the piston
rod in its proper line of motion. The lower and upper parts d, and
e, of the framing are directly under and above the centre line of
the piston rod, a distance equal to the required length of the piston rod
guide; after which the lower and upper parts d, and e, of the framing
are placed on one side to allow space for the connecting rod and crank
to work. The lower and upper parts of the framing are strengthened
by one or more connecting pieces j. A modification of the improve-
ments above described is shown in side elevation and plan at Fig 5, and
6; it consists of two straight frames a, a, one placed on each side of the
piston rod; the depth of the frames a, a, extend vertically above the
centre line of the piston, and are strengthened by flanches f, f, placed
on the upper and lower sides of the frames. The steam cylinder d, is
fixed by the flanch c, to the flanches b, b, of the frames. The piston rod.
guide may be formed in the opening e, e, of the frames, and a crank
shaft bearing may be formed in either or both of the frames. My im-
provement in steam engine throttle valves is shewn at Fig 7, and 8, in.
horizontal and transverse sections. is a steam branch to connect the
valve with the steam supply pipes; b, is a cylinder, having formed in it
openings c, c, communicating with an external casing d, into which the.
steain is introduced by the branch.a; e, is a hollow piston truly fitted
into the cylinder b, yet sufficiently slack to be easily moved by the engine,
governor. In the hollow piston e, openings are made corresponding in
number, size, and form with those made in the cylinder b; f, is the axis
of the hollow piston e, passing through the stuffing box g. The end i,
of the axis f, is connected by any ordinary means with the engine
governor. The axis f, and the hollow piston e, being caused partly to
revolve by being connected with the engine governor, the openings c, c,.
u,

page_text: will thereby be opened or closed, and the admission of steam through
the branch h. leading to the engine steam cylinder regulated. The
hollow piston may have a reciprocating movement, in which case the
openings in it and the cylinder should be made round their circum-
ference, instead of being in a line with the axis of the piston, as shown
in the Drawings, and in which arrangement I prefer making two or
more series of openings round the cylinder and piston in order to
reduce the reciprocating movement of the piston.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, 1 desire it
to be understood that I claim as secured to me,-Firstly, so arranging
the framework of horizontal engines that a portion thereof shall occupy
a position above a line hawn through the centre of the piston rod.
Secondly, securing the steam cylinder to the framing by a flanch or
flanches placed in a vertical position. Thirdly, in steam engine throttle
or regulating valves I claim the use of a hollow piston working inside
a cylinder, the flow of steam being regulated by passing through.
openings made in such cylinder and piston.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beckett Jolinson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
W. B. JOHNSON. (L.S.)