CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY GAS, VAPOUR, OR STEAM, EITHER SEPARATELY OR IN COMBINATION
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Sixteenth day of March, in the tenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Newton, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said William Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said William Newton, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY
GAS, VAPOUR, OR STEAM, EITHER SEPARATELY OR IN COMBINATION," being a com-
munication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso obliging me, the said William Newton, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :—
The Invention for which I have obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent as
aforesaid, consists in various improvements upon an Invention for which I have
previously obtained other Letters Patent, and by means of which subsequent
improvements the Invention is rendered much more perfect and economical in
operation. In the improved engine which forms the subject of the present
Patent the inventor proposes to employ two distinct boilers or generators
and two separate cylinders, with their appendages, and the piston in one
cylinder is acted upon by steam or the vapor of, water, which is generated
in one boiler, and the piston in the other cylinder is worked by the elastic
force of the vapor of ether, or some other highly volatile liquid, which is
vaporized in the other boiler or generator. In the following description of
the machine I shall always mention sulphuric ether as the volatile liquid
to be used, but it will be evident than any other moderately cheap and easily
vaporized liquid may be used in place thereof, if desired. As the engine is
actuated by the combined force of the vapours of ether and water the Inventor
denominates it an "Ether-hydric Engine." The principal parts of the engine
are constructed much in the same way as those of the ordinary double-action
and marine and locomotive steam engines (according to the purpose for which
the engine is intended to be used), that is, it consists of cylinders, boilers, feed
pumps, condensers, air pumps, and the other necessary appendages. The neces-
sity for making it a double-action engine will be easily understood, as it has
already been stated that the engine is worked by means of two different
vapors. In one of the boilers steam is generated, which works the piston in
the first cylinder, and in the second the vapor of ether is generated, which
operates upon the piston in the second cylinder. The first boiler therefore
contains water, and is precisely similar to an ordinary steam boiler, and is
heated by fuel in the same manner. The second boiler contains ether, and is
of a peculiar construction, which will be presently explained. It requires no
fuel to vaporize the ether, that operation being performed by the heat of the
steam which escapes from the steam cylinder, after operating upon the piston
therein, as this steam, instead of being condensed by an ordinary condenser, is
conducted to the outside of the ether boiler, where it parts with its caloric to
vaporize the ether, and thereby becomes condensed. This phenomenon is

page_text: caused by a well-known principle in physics, which is, that all bodies, on passing
from a liquid to a gaseous state, instantaneously absorb a large quantity of
caloric at the expense of contiguous bodies. At the moment, therefore, that the
heated steam from the eduction passage of the steam cylinder enters the case
of the outer cylinder that surrounds the ether boiler, the ether, which boils and
vaporizes at a much lower temperature than water, becomes rapidly converted
into vapor, and, by absorbing the caloric of the steam which surrounds it, the
steam becomes instantly condensed. This condensation of the steam by the
simultaneous vaporization of the ether takes place with remarkable rapidity
and regularity. The ether vapor is therefore generated without expense by
the steam which has already done its work, and which has always hitherto
been condensed by means of cold water, and was considered of no further
utility after acting on the piston in the steam cylinder. The ether vapour
thus produced enters the second cylinder, which is of the same capacity as the
first, and there acts with considerable power on the piston contained therein,
and on making its escape from the cylinder it passes into a condenser of a
peculiar construction, in which it becomes condensed by coming into contact
with the metal composing it, the said condenser being kept cool by means of a
stream of cold water, or a sprinkling of cold water aided by a current of air.
The ether thus condensed is then pumped into the ether boiler, in order to
serve again for a like purpose. The water in the cylinder surrounding the
ether boiler resulting from the condensation of the steam is also carried back
in a warm state to the steam boiler for the production of fresh steam. It will
thus be seen that the same water and ether are used over and over again
without sustaining any appreciable loss. The ether-hydric engine differs in the
construction of its parts from the ordinary double cylinder steam engines in
some few particulars, which are as follows, and relate principally to those parts
of the engine which come in contact with the ether or etherial vapours :-
First, the boiler, which I call the vaporizer or generator, and also the con-
denser, must be constructed in a peculiar manner, and the mode of forming
several of the joints, as well as the packings and stuffing boxes, is also different,
as is also the mode of producing the vacuum in the condenser; and lastly, the
mode of constructing the induction cock for the vapor.
I will now proceed to describe these parts in succussion, leaving out all those
which do not possess any features of novelty.
First, the vaporizer or generator. This vessel is composed principally of a
arge number of copper tubes, made by drawing them in a drawbench with-
ont soldering, as is well known. The tubes are fixed at each end to a brass
late, which is cast on to them, as seen in Figure 6, Sheet 1., and are about

page_text: three feet and three quarters in length, and may be of an ovular, oblong, len-
ticular, or other suitable form, as shewn at Figures 3, the object being to obtain
as great an extent of heating surface as possible. The tubes thus constructed
will bear a pressure of twenty-five atmospheres without being distorted. They
ought to be tried at this pressure with an hydraulic press before being used.
In practice it is found that from thirty to forty tubes are required to generate
sufficient vapor for a power equal to one horse. The end plates which hold
these tubes together are cast on the ends of the tubes in the following manner:-
The tubes, after being all cut to an equal length, are then tinned over at both
ends to the extent of about an inch. The ends of these tubes are then filled
or stopped up with dry sand, and placed vertically at equal distances in a mould
frame, such as is used in foundries, the ends of the tubes being held in plates
C, as scen at Figure 7; the tubes are then covered with sand, which is well
rammed in between them and the plates C, so as to form a solid mass to sup-
port the tubes when the mould plate C is removed. The mould plate C is
made from a sheet of copper, with holes made therein to receive the ends of
the tubes, and cut in the required form, and of such a thickness as to regulate
the thickness of the plate to be cast on to the ends of the tubes, so that when
the plate C is removed the tinned ends of the tubes may project the required
distance from the sand. A second mould plate D is employed, as seen in
Figure 7, for the purpose of forming a space to receive the molten metal,
which is to hold the tubes together, and which will, when poured in, cover the
ends of the tubes, but this superfluous metal may be removed by means of a
planing machine, and the ends of the tubes will then be left open.
Figure 8 represents a sectional view of one of the end plates, cast on to the
ends of the tubes, and just as it comes from the mould, the ends of the tubes
being closed by the superfluous metal which, when removed by planing, will
leave the ends of the tubes open, as seen in Figure 9, and when the dry sand
is removed from the interior of the tubes they will have a perfectly free
passage through them from end to end. It should be understood that each
end of the tubes is secured to one of these plates, which is cast thereon, and
when both of the end plates are finished spherical ends or caps / must be
bolted thereon, as shewn in Figure 6, and the apparatus will be complete.
I would here observe, that, in casting the metal plates A on to the ends of the
pipes, some care is required to prevent the molten metal in its passage from
melting the ends of the pipes. This inconvenience is obviated in the follow-
ing very simple manner:-The mould frame, with the tubes B, B, secured
therein, and having the space for the end plates A prepared, by means of the
mould plates C and D, ready or receiving the molten metal, is mounted on a

page_text: pivot, so that when one of the end plates A has been cast on one end of the
tubes the frame may be readily turned over to receive the molten metal for the
other plate. Instead of bringing the mould into a perfectly vertical position
it is inclined a little on one side, as seen in the sectional view, Figure 10, in
which B, B, represents the tubes with their ends projecting beyond the sand F
of the mould, leaving a space C to be filled with the melted metal which is
run into the mould through the gate E, and after running along the channels
A, A, made in the bottom of the mould, as seen in the plan view, Figure 11,
first fills up the well D, and then gradually fills the mould C, as shewn by the
horizontal lines in Figure 12, the air in the mould being allowed to escape
through the air holes G. In this manner it will be seen that no more molten
metal comes in contact with the tubes B, B, than is necessary, and they may
therefore be all secured without the liability of being melted during the passage
of the metal while running into the moulds. The condenser is manufactured
in the same manner as the vaporizer or generator, and therefore requires no
further or more detailed description. The vaporizer or generator above
described is enclosed in a jacket made of cast or wrought iron, and shewn
detached in Figure 6*; the exit steam is conducted into this jacket after it has
exerted its elastic force in the steam cylinder. The generator or vaporizer is
furnished with a cock at the upper part, and there is also a gauge or level and
a feed pipo at the side (but not shewn in the Drawings) from whence the
ether is discharged into the upper part, and passes through the lower case.
This arrangement greatly facilitates the production of the vapor and the cir-
culation of the ether in the tubes. There is a pipe H for conducting the
steam from the steam cylinder to the outer casing of the ether receptacle,
which is furnished with a safety valve communicating with the atmosphere, and
opens at a moderate pressure, in order that, in case of accident, such as the
rupture of a pipe in the vaporizer or generator, the ether vapor may easily
escape without danger. The ether condenser is surrounded by, but not
inclosed in, a case, which is supplied with fresh water, for the purpose of
condensing the etherial vapor after it has passed through the engine. The
spherical ends of the condenser are provided with suitable openings to
receive the tubes which conduct the ether to the apparatus in a state of
vapor or from it in a liquid state; it is also provided with a pipe to allow
the water of condensation to run into the exhaust pump, which draws off
the air and condensed water from the condenser.
Luting for the Stationary Parts.-It has been found that minium or ordinary
luting or fatty matters cannot be employed for luting or securing the various
parts containing ether or ether vapor, but instead thereof the inventor uses a

page_text: sheet of paper steeped in a thick solution of gum arabic, as this substance is not
acted upon by the ether. In order to prevent the ether from escaping from the
glass level or gauge, leather washers steeped in solutions of gum arabic are
employed; they must be left exposed to the air until nearly dry, and are then
nearly ready for use. Flax steeped in gum arabic may be employed with
equal success; it must be saturated and almost dry; and if joints secured in
this manner are left to dry before being exposed to the ether, they will bo
found to be perfect. Packing for the piston and other moving rods is shewn
in Figure 1, Sheet II. Sulphuric ether dissolves and decomposes all kinds of
fatty matters and oils, and, consequently, the ordinary packing made with flax
and grease would not prevent its escape. In order to overcome this difficulty,
the following contrivanco has been adopted :-On the cover of the cylinder
(see Figure 1) is cast a box very much like the ordinary stuffing boxes, with
this différence, that it is furnished with a flange to which a lid or cover C is
secured by bolts. D, D. To this cover, and also to the bottom part of the
box where the piston rod works, hollow brass cones F, F, are firmly affixed by
screwing or otherwise. These cones are respectively in length one third the
whole length of the box; for instance, if the box be six inches in length from
the bottom to the top each cone must be two inches in length, and when the
box is shut they are about two inches apart. Before putting on the cover C,
a strip or band of strong lever G (about seven inches wide, if the box be six
inches in height, and gradually tapering to a point, and sufficiently long to
wide three times round the piston rod) is taken, and the end and edges of
this band are pared thin, after which it is rolled round the rod A, and secured
there by means of a cord or string H; then cover C is then bolted on to the
box, and by pressing the cover downwards the points of the cones F, F, will
be forced between the leather and the piston rod, and made to fit; the bolts
by which the cover C is secured to the box facilitate this operation materially;
the box is then hermetically closed by inserting a sheet of gummed paper or
minium in the joint, and tightening the bolts D. An opening is made at the
side, and carries a projection I, to which a tube J is adapted, which leads
from a small pump or hydraulic press with a reservoir for water and com-
pressed air. This small pump is shewn at Figures 3 and 4, and is pro-
vided with a safety valve, which may be weighted so as to allow of any
desired pressure. Several tubes K, K, leading from the water reservoir com-
municate with the several stuffing boxes of the working rods of the engine.
The pump may be worked by hand, or by the engine, as desired. When
the engine is set to work, water is pumped into all the stuffing boxes
(Figure 1), and by pressing on the leather band G causes it to fit tight

page_text: against the cones and the piston rod A, along which it is desired to prevent
escape. As the cones are stationary, and the rod only is moveable, the leather
bears against the rod A for a very limited distance only; it will therefore be
conceived that the friction of the rod would not be liable to displace the
leather band, even if the two ends of the box did not prevent it from moving.
By means of the hydraulic pump any desired pressure may be brought to bear
upon the rod A, and the escape of the ether can be thereby effectually
prevented. Thus, if the manometer of the ether generator should indicate a
pressure of four atmospheres, it will only be necessary to weight the safety
valve of the hydraulic press so that it shall not yield to a pressure of less than
four atmospheres and a half; and although the vapour will exert a power of
four atmospheres, it will be met by a resistance of four and a half atmospheres,
and will therefore be prevented from escaping. I would here observe that
the friction of metal on damp leather is very small, and that the rods thus
worked, far from being rusted or worn away, are well polished; also that the
leather, being surrounded by water, does not become sufficiently heated to be at
all injuriously affected. Outside the cover is a cup B, filled with oil, through
which the rod A runs. This kind of packing is more easily made and put in
use than those made of flax. In an experimental machine the packing for
the steam cylinder, which was made by an experienced engine maker with flax
grease, was worn away and replaced four times, while that of the ether
vapour cylinder was not touched, and was in a good state of preservation, the
two cylinders having worked in conjunction all the time. In order to produce
& vacuum in the ether condenser an exhaust pump, similar to those used in
condensing engines, is used; the stuffing box, however, must be similar to the
one just described. The piston must be metallic, and, instead of allowing the
product of condensation to escape into the atmosphere, as is the case in steam.
engines, the condensed ether and air is conducted into an hermetically closed
reservoir of capacity equal to one .quarter of that of the condenser. This
reservoir, which is shewn detached at Figure 18, is of a cylindrical form, its
height being about six times its diameter, and has a tubular projection D at
the side, communicating with the air pump, and a similar opening E at its.
lower extremity communicating with the ether boiler or vaporizer. It has
also a stopcock A, at top, which leads to the atmosphere. The reservoir is
also provided with a level or gauge B, which shews the height of the ether
in the apparatus. On the engine being set to work, the air pump forces
into this reservoir (which communicates with the vaporizer) the air and ether
which it draws from the condenser. The weight of the air and liquid
ether being very different, the air, being the lightest, necessarily rises to
and

page_text: the top of the reservoir, and accumulates there under a pressure equal to
that existing in the ether boiler, and the ether only passes into this latter,
the opening, through which it escapes being at the lower end of the reservoir.
As the air drawn from the condenser accumulates at the upper part of the
reservoir the level of the ether in this vessel descends, and may be easily seen
by looking at the glass tube B, with which it is provided; it will, therefore,
only be necessary to open the cock A above, and let the air escape, which can
be done without inconvenience and without stopping the engine. There is no
occasion to fear the loss of the ether, as it is cold, and vapour could not be
formed under such a pressure; it is only necessary to take care to shut the
cock when sufficient air has escaped to allow the level of the ether to rise to
the required height. No inconvenience can arise by letting the air accumulate
in the reservoir, provided the vessel does not become entirely filled with air, as
in that case it would ultimately pass into the vaporizer.
I will now proceed to describe an improved construction of cock, which is
is employed for regulating the passage of the ether from one part of the appa-
ratus to another, and is shewn at Figure 14. As ether possesses the property
of decomposing fatty bodies, the employment of cocks of the ordinary con-
struction for retaining that liquid is attended with difficulty, as the cocks
must not be lubricated with oil; the metal will therefore rapidly wear away,
and cause considerable loss and expense. To remedy this evil the following
contrivance has been devised, and has been found fully to answer the purpose.
It has also been found applicable to ordinary steam engines:-A is a way or
opening, with two seats C, C, between which the valve B works. This valve,
which is made of iron, is covered with lead on both sides, as seen at b, b, and
slides by means of a nib or stud in a groove L, so as to prevent it from turning
round, and may be made to rest on or bear against either the lower or upper
seat. The valve is moved up and down by means of the valve rod B*, which
is screwed, and works in a female screw in the lower part of the stationary
piece D, which is turned by means of the handle M. When the valve rests
upon the lower seat, and closes the communication with the boiler, the piece D
presses with equal force against the sides of the aperture in which it "turns,
and thereby prevents the entrance of air; when, on the contrary, it is desired
to open the passage for the steam, the valve is raised so as to press against
the upper seat, and thereby closes the exit passage. As this valve B is covered
with lead at b, b, it takes the impression of and fits exactly on to the two seats,
and makes an excellent and perfectly tight joint.
Figure 15 is a sectional representation of another construction of cock,
which is, however, precisely similar in principle to that already explained,

page_text: although somewhat different in form and the arrangement of the parts.
A, A, is a tubular opening, having two seats C, C, as before, the valve B being
mounted between them, and furnished with ead facings 6, 6, in order to fit
closely against the seats C, C, and form a perfectly hermetic joint. The valve
is mounted on the lower end of a rod or spindle D, which passes up through
an ordinary stuffing box, and is screwed at its upper end. The screwed end of
the spindle D works in a female screw made in the top part of the arched
frame G, which is bolted on to the top of the vessel H, to which the cock is
adapted. M is a wheel or handle affixed to the upper end of the spindle D,
for the purpose of working the valve.
All that has been hitherto said refers more particularly to marine or station-
ary engines, and although the arrangements above shewn and described have
been found to succeed with those kinds of engines, yet it will be at once seen
by a practical engineer that many of the above contrivances could not advan-
tageously be employed for locomotive purposes. In order to condense;
ether vapor in stationary and marine engines the metallic surfaces of the
condenser are cooled by means of a current of cold water, but in locomotive
engines this means cannot be conveniently employed. The following con-
trivance has therefore been devised for locomotive engines:-The condenser,
similar in construction to that above described, is set vertically, but without.
any outer casing, on that part of the locomotive which is most exposed
to the air; each row of pipes has a cloth stretched tightly over it, and
on the upper end is a reservoir, which is filled with cold water from the
tender. This reservoir supplies water to channels placed between each row of
tubes for the purpose of wetting the cloths which cover the tubes or metallic
condensing surfaces. The superfluous water flows into a receptacle below,
from whence it may be pumped into the tender to serve again. These surfaces
are therefore constantly kept well wetted, and a very strong current of air is
produced by the rapid motion of the engine through the atmosphere, and will
be continually carrying off the steam which may have been formed by the heat
of the ether vapor inside. As each particle of water, on being converted into
steam, absorbs a large quantity of heat from the ether in the condenser, the
ether will be very readily condensed.
As the eduction steam from the steam cylinder is used for vaporizing
the ether for the second cylinder, some other means than those usually
employed must be adopted to excite the draft in the chimney. The method
of effecting this object will be best understood by a reference to, and
an examination of, the Drawings in Sheet III. and IV., in which Figure 16
represents a longitudinal vertical section of a locomotive, with the im-

page_text: provements adapted thereto, and Figure 17 is a horizontal section of the
same. A is the generator for the ether vapor. B, B, the condenser for
the ether vapour. C, C, is a semi-circular casing, a jacket, open in front like the
mouth of a trumpet, and terminating in the chimney by a pipe C¹, C¹, gra-
dually decreasing in area, as seen best in Figure 16. By this means the air
that enters between the tubes of the condenser is conducted upwards into the
chimney, and creates a strong draft. D, D, is the smoke box; E, E, the ordi-
nary locomotive steam boiler; and F the fire box. G, G, is the framing of the
locomotive, and H, H, the pumps, seen best in the plan view in Figure 18.
h, h, pipes for conducting the ether to the vacuum apparatus M, and from
thence to the generator A. I is the steam cylinder, and J the ether cylinder.
K is a pump for drawing off air and water from the casing or jacket Q of the
ether generator A, and L, L, are the wheels of the locomotive. M, the apparatus
for making the vacuum in the condenser, and already described in reference to
the other engine. N is a pump for communicating pressure to the packings
which are in contact with ether or its vapor; P, a cock for shutting off the
ether vapor; Q, the outer casing or jacket of the ether generator, and con-
stituting a condenser of the steam; and R are the rails of the railway.
In the several Figures in Sheets V., VI., and VII., I have shewn a different
method of constructing the apparatus for generating the etherial vapor and for
condensing the same. Although the plans above shewn and described have been
found to answer their intended purposes remarkably well, yet, as they are
somewhat costly to manufacture and are liable to derangement, the inventor
has devised a less costly, stronger, and easier method of constructing the above
parts. In place of the copper tubes, which are expensive and tedious to
manufacture, the inventor employs concentric cylinders, made of sheet copper,
and connected to a plate by the same process of casting as that above described
for connecting the tubes together. The sheet copper employed for the above pur-
pose is about the eighth of an inch in thickness, and from ten to twelve inches in
width; the length of the sheet will, of course, depend upon the diameter of the
cylinder to be produced, but these dimensions may, of course, be varied, and
should be left to the discretion of the engineer. The sheet of copper is then doubled
or folded lengthways, so that when so doubled it is only from five to six inches
wide, and previous to doubling the sheet of copper a sheet of zinc, of the same
length as the copper, but only half the width, is placed on the copper, so that
when the latter is doubled over the sheet of zinc will be enclosed between the
copper. The sheet of copper, with the zinc in the middle, is then passed
through a machine to be formed into a cylinder, after which it is heated until
the sheet of zinc is melted out from between the doubled copper sheet, leaving

page_text: the latter with an annular space between the sides of the copper. A number
of cylinders thus made are placed concentrically one within the other, in such
a manner that they may be about the third of an inch distant from each
other. The open edges of these concentric tubes are then carefully coated
with tin, and the interstices between them filled with moulders' sand, a wooden
pattern having been previously inserted in such a manner as to leave a space
(when it is removed) to receive the molten metal which is poured in for the pur-
pose of connecting all the concentric cylinders together, in the same manner
as has been already explained in reference to the tubular generator. The
casting having been completed, the superfluous metal must be removed by
means of a planing machine, and the upper annular spaces of the cylinders
left open, as in the former instance. Upon removing the sand which fills the
annular spaces of the cylinders, and also the interstices between them, an
apparatus equally applicable either for generating or condensing the vapor is
obtained. The apparatus for generating the vapor must be furnished
with a chamber or reservoir for containing the vapor, as seen best at
Figure 21, in Sheet VI. It is enclosed in a casing or jacket in the
same way as the tubular apparatus already described. One great advantage
of this mode of constructing the apparatus is, that it has only one joint, and is
much more manageable and much stronger and firmer than the other. From
the peculiar internal arrangement of the generator the liquid ether cannot by
any possibility be expelled, and in the condensing apparatus an agitator may
be employed, which, by moving about the water that is in contact with the
sides or surfaces of the condenser, causes the apparatus to act more effectually.
In Sheet V., Figure 19 represents a side elevation of the generator; Figure 21,
Sheet VI., is a vertical section of the same, taken in the line e, f, of
Figure 19. Figure 20, Sheet V., is an internal elevation, one of the side plates
of the external casing having been removed to shew the concentric cylinders.
Figure 22 represents a transverse vertical section taken through the con-
centric cylinders of the generators in the line c, d, of Figure 21, and
Figure 23 is a partial section of the vapor chamber or reservoir, taken in the
line a, b, of Figure 21. The generator is composed of two parts precisely
similar in construction, and bolted together by their flanges, as seen at Figure 21,
leaving a space A, A, between them; B, B, is the chamber or reservoir for
containing the etherial vapor, which rises into it as it is generated by the
heat of the steam; C, C, is the metal plate which is cast on to the concentric
cylinders D, D, in the manner above explained; E is the tube which conveys
the vapor of the ether from the reservoir B to the working cylinder of the
engine, and is furnished with guards or shields J, J, for the purpose of

page_text: preventing the liquid ether from being blown out of the generator; F is an
inverted syphon tube for introducing the liquid ether to the generator, and is
seen best in Figure 20; G is a cast iron jacket or casing enclosing the
generator, and into which casing the heated eduction steam from the steam-
working cylinder is allowed to enter at different places through the pipes I, I.
The water resulting from the condensation of the steam from the abstraction
of its caloric by the ether in the generator is drawn off through the pipe H.
The condenser, which is constructed very much in the same manner as the
generator above described, is shewn in Sheet VII.
Figure 24 is a longitudinal vertical section of the condenser, taken in the
line a, b, of Figure 25, which is a transverse vertical section of the condenser
taken in the line c, d, of Figure 24. C, C, are the plates which are cast on to
the concentric cylinders D, D, D, D, and whereby these latter are held
together; G, G, is the tube which conducts the ether vapor to the condenser,
and in so doing passes through the centre of the metal plate, as will be clearly
seen in the Drawings. An agitator F, composed of a number of small rods,
g, g, fixed to an arm, is mounted on the centro E, and a similar one on the
hollow boss E*; these agitators receive an oscillating motion from the engine,
and as each of the small rods g acts in one of the spaces between the con-
centric cylinders D, D, a continual agitation of the water takes place, and the
water that has become warmer by contact with the heated surfaces of the con-
denser is removed. The whole apparatus is enclosed by a casing or jacket made
of cast or sheet iron, and contains the fresh water for condensing the ether.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to
me as aforesaid, and the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that although I have, for
the sake of perspicuity, thought it desirable to describe in the present Specifi-
cation certain parts of the ether-hydric engine which have been described and
claimed in the Specification of the former Patent which I have obtained as
aforesaid, yet I do not intend to claim any such parts as constituting part of
the present improvements, nor do I mean or intend to confine myself rigidly
to the precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn, as it will
be evident to any person conversant with the manufacture of machinery of
this description that considerable alterations or modifications, according to the
purposes for which the engine is intended to be used, as well as other circum-
stances, may be made therein, without departing from the nature and object of
the herein-before described improvements. But that which I consider to be
new, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention or improvements secured to
me under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-

page_text: First, the employment or application of the waste heat of steam, after it has
exerted its elastic force in one or more cylinders, to heat or vaporize ether or
any other highly volatile liquid, for the purpose of producing or generating a
vapor therefrom, which may be employed for working the piston or pistons of
an additional cylinder or cylinders.
Second, I claim the right to condense the vapor of water (or the vapor of
other liquids which are vaporized at a somewhat similar temperature) by
bringing such vapor into contact with the surfaces of another generator which
contains a more easily vaporized liquid; or, in other words, I claim the con-
densation of one vapor by the generation of another, or vice versa.
Third, I claim the means above shewn and described, or any modification
thereof, for constructing the ether generator, or vaporizer and condenser, and
also the manner of packing or securing the joints for the prevention of the
escape of the ether or its vapor.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty coron
WILLIAM (L.B.) NEWTON:
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fifteenth day of Sep-
tember, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Newton came
before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifica-
tion aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.