IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRODUCING A VACUUM FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, SUCH AS CONDENSING STEAM, PUMPING WATER, EXHAUSTING AIR, OR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE A VACUUM IS REQUIRED
Year: 1852

page_text: Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF
PRODUCING A VACUUM FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, SUCH AS CONDENSING
STEAM, PUMPING WATER, EXHAUSTING AIR, OR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE
A VACUUM IS REQUIRED."-A communication.
Sealed the 5th March 1853, and dated the 5th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Oflice of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th October 1852.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRODUCING A VACUUM
VARIOUS PURPOSES, SUCH AS CONDENSING STEAM, PUMPING WATER,
EXHAUSTING AIR, OR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE A VACUUM IS REQUIRED," to
be as follows:-
The principle or character of this Invention consists in employing the
force of a current or currents of water through a pipe or pipes in the vessel,

page_text: entering the bow and passing out at the stern by reason of the vessel's
motion through the surrounding water, in combination with valves or
their equivalents for alternately opening or closing such pipe or pipes for
the purpose of inducing vacuums for the condensation of steam or for
other purposes, such as pumping out the bilge water of vessels.
The Invention is also applicable to stationary engines, and when so
applied an artificial current must be produced by means of a water
wheel, or a pump, a natural fall of water, or some other suitable
contrivance..
In all these cases the construction of the vacuum apparatus will be
the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 5th April. 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
license that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Edward Newton, 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 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 THE MEANS OF PRODUCING A VACUUM
FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES; SUCH AS CONDENSING STEAM, PUMPING WATER,
-EXHAUSTING AIR, OR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE A VACUUM IS REQUIRED," being

page_text: a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed; 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 Edward Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
The principle or character of the Invention for which I have obtained
Letters Patent as aforesaid consists in employing the force of a current
or currents. of water through a pipe or pipes in a vessel to be propelled
by the power of a steam engine or otherwise, the current of water
being made to enter the bow of the vessel and to pass out at the stern
by reason of the vessel's motion through the surrounding water. Valves
or other contrivances for alternately opening or closing such pipe or
pipes are employed, and by this means a vacuum for the condensation
of steam or for other purposes, such as pumping out the bilge water of
vessels, is produced.
The Invention is also applicable to stationary engines, and when so
applied an artificial current must be produced by means of a water
wheel, a pump, a natural fall of water, or other suitable contrivance.
In all these cases the construction of the vacuum apparatus will be the
same.
In the accompanying Drawings, which represent one mode of apply-
ing the principle of the Invention, Fig. 1, is a plan or top view of the
apparatus for condensing the steam from the engines of a steam ship,
but it may be applied to any other purpose where a vacuum is required;
and Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. In these
Figures B, is a pipe represented as broken off, but which is to extend

page_text: to and through the bow of the vessel; at H, the said pipe is provided
with a valve suitably packed and furnished with a handle or other
contrivance, by means of which it can be opened or closed when the
apparatus is either required to be used or stopped. The rear end of
this pipe B, is connected with the forward end of the condensing
chamber A, and the said condensing chamber at its rear end is in turn
connected with another pipe C, similar to the one B, and extending to
and through the stem of the vessel, and also provided with a valve H,
to shut out the surrounding water when the apparatus is not to be used.
The condensing chamber A, from the points of its connections with the
pipes B, and C, is enlarged laterally, and is provided with a central
partition D. The forward end of this partition is hollow, and provided
with three apertures, one at the top to communicate with the exhaust
valves of the engine, and one on each side to communicate with the water
passages on each side, the sides of the said partition constituting valve
seats around the side apertures. The forward end of the partition D,
is made concave in the segment of a circle to fit the curved end of a
valve stock E, that is hung to and vibrates with a vertical spindle F,
which derives motion by a connecting rod from a cam on the shaft L,
or from any other suitable source. The rear end of this valve stock is
provided with two wings which alternately fit against the faces of the
partition to close the apertures through which the steam is to enter; and
whilst one wing or valve closes the steam aperture on one side, the
other opens the steam aperture on the other side, and at the same
time closes against the outside to shut off the water which flows
in from the pipe B, by reason of the motion of the vessel. At the
back of the steam aperture and the valve just described there are two
self-acting valves G, G, which open towards the stern. The vessel
being in motion through the surrounding water, a current of water will
by reason of the vessel's motion flow into the pipe at the bow if the
valve H, be open, and thence through the pipe B, condenser A, and
pipe C, and out at the stern; by the action of the cam on the shaft L,
the valve E, is turned in the position represented in the Drawings, and
thereby-cuts-off-the-current_on_one_side of the partition D, leaving it

page_text: open at the other, whilst at the same time one of the steam apertures
is opened to admit steam on the side from which the water is cut
off. As the water is in motion through the said pipe B, at the time
the valve is operated it will continue to move. from the valve back
towards the stern, or rather the entire apparatus will continue to
move on the column of water, and thereby produce a vacuum into
which the steam will exhaust and be condensed; and the moment
the pressure of the column of water induced by atmospheric pres-
sure begins to move the column of water forward in the pipe at a
greater velocity than the motion of the vessel the valve G, will be
closed to prevent its entrance into the condenser. The valve E, is
then shifted, and the same thing takes place on the other side, whilst
the side just described is again opened throughout the length of the
vessel for a fresh column of water to pass through preparatory to another
operation, and at the same time cooling the condenser, the water produced
by the condensation and the atmospheric air being carried off at the
next operation. In this way by the simple lifting of the valve E, the
steam from the engine can be condensed effectually, and a vacuum kept
up by the simple motion of the vessel through the water.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that if, instead of connecting
this apparatus with the exhaust valves of the engine, it be suitably
connected with the bilge of the vessel, and the required motions given
to the valves by hand or otherwise, a vessel can in this way be kept
clear of water with very little labor. The proportions it will not be
It is obvious
necessary to give, as they will vary with circumstances.
that the above Invention is also applicable to stationary engines by
producing a current by a water wheel or pump, or by the natural fall
of water.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to
me as aforesaid,―
I claim, in conclusion, producing a vacuum in a vessel or vessels for
various purposes, such as condensing steam, pumping water, or other
purposes to which it may be applicable, by causing a stream of water to
pass through a chamber as above described.

page_text: I claim particularly the construction, arrangements, and operation of
the parts D, and E, or any mere modification thereof for effecting the
like:purpose.
.In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton; have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)