CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND AN IMPROVED FLUID METER
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BRYAN
DONKIN the younger, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer,
and BARNARD WILLIAM FAREY, of Old Kent Road, in the said County, Civil
Engincer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the thirteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Bryan
Donkin and Barnard William Farey, our exors, adññiors, and assigns, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said
Bryan Donkin and Barnard William Farey, our exors, adññiors, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Bryan Donkin and Barnard William Farey,
our exors, admiors, 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 expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey,
Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES, AND AN IMPROVED FLUID METER;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso, that we, the said Bryan Donkin and Barnard William Farey,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and
[Price 8d.1

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, to be
inrolled in Her said 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 hereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
Byran Donkin and Barnard William Farey, hereby declare that the nature of
our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, our Invention has reference to that description of steam engines
commonly called the "disc engine," which engine formed the subject matter
of the four several Patents for England following, namely, a Patent granted
to Henry Davies, of Stoke Prior, on or about the Fifteenth day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven; another Patent granted to the
same Henry Davies, on or about the Fourteenth day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-eight; another Patent granted to the same Henry
Davies, on or about the Fifteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-four; anda Patent granted to George Daniell Bishopp, of Edgbaston,
on or about the Second day of October, One thousand eight hundred and forty-
five, of which four Patents respectively Specifications were duly inrolled,
containing (one or other of them) a full description of the original construction
of the said disc engine, and of the different improvements which have been
subsequently and heretofore made therein.
Our Invention, in so far as it regards the said disc engine, consists, in the
first place, of certain improved methods or means of making the working parts
thereof steam-tight, and an improved method of forming the bearing for the
coned end of the diagonal shaft.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through or near the centre of a disc
engine as thus improved; Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken
also through or near the centre; and Figure 3 an under plan. A is the steam
chamber or cylinder in which the disc B oscillates. a, a, the steam induction
ports, of which 6, 6, are the valves; C is the ball, which is attached to the disc
(B), and works in a seat formed for it in the cones E, E, and in the outer
glands F, F; D is the diagonal shaft to which the ball C and disc (B) are
attached ; c, c, are the metallic packings, of the kind described in the Specifi-
cation of George Daniell Bishopp; G,G,are two inner glands (not used before)
which we introduce for the purpose of better preventing the escape of steam

page_text: from the cylinder between the ball and the cones. These glands (a front
view of one of which is given separately in Figure 4) fit into recesses e, e, made
for them in the cones E, E, and are provided with rings or washers underneath,
composed of compressed hemp or other suitable yielding material. The outer
glands F, F, fit into the glands G, G; and 7,g, are set screws, which are passed
loosely through the glands F, F, and tap into the cones E, E, so that by
turning down these set screws, the inner glands G; G, may be as tightly com-
pressed as need be against the packing of the ball (C) all round. Or, instead
of the preceding arrangement, the set screws g, g, may be made to screw into
and through the outer glands F, F, and their points to press upon the inner
glands G, G. The better also to secure the ends of the metallic packing slips
(c, c,) we fit to the cones a ring of metal H, a plan and section of which is
given separately in Figure 5. On the outside of this ring there is a series of
notches or recesses, h, and on the top edge thereof another like series of notches
or recesses i, i, which last form (when the ring is in its place) a combination
of the grooves in the cones in which the packing slips c, c, are inserted.
Figure 6 is partly a side view and partly a section of the ring detached from
the engine, showing the notches i, i, on the top edge, and also the notches
upon the outside. The tail pieces (k,k,) of the slips take into the notches h,h,
while the top parts 1, 1, fit sideways into the notches i, i, whereby the slips are
kept securely in their places under all circumstances. Moreover, to provide
against the wearing away of the coned end of the diagonal shaft (D), or the
bearing in which it is stopped, we construct that bearing in the manner
represented in Figures 7 and 8, which is a section and end view of the same
on an enlarged scale, with the shaft in its place. m is a metal tube, threaded
on the outside at both ends, which is fitted loosely into the ball I of the driving
crank J (Figure 1); n, n', are two nuts, which are screwed on to the two
ends of the tube m, one of them (n') serving at the same time as a reservoir
for oil or other lubricating material; o is a lining to the tube m, which is
composed of tin, or some other soft metal, run in while in a fluid state upon a
mould of the same shape as the coned end of the diagonal shaft D; and p, p,
are recesses made on the inside of the tube m, into which part of the soft metal
flows, forming projecting tie pieces, by which the lining (after the mould is
withdrawn) is kept in its place. Should the conical end of the diagonal shaft
become slack in its bearing, it can be screwed close up by the nuts n, n¹; and
when the lining itself wears away in any part, it can be removed with the
greatest ease and dispatch.
Secondly, our Invention consists of a new method of applying metallic pack-
ings to the disc and cones of disc engines, which may be substituted for those

page_text: last herein-before referred to, as invented by George Daniel Bishop, (and
either in combination with or apart from our improved bearing for the conical
end of the diagonal shaft).
Figure 9 is an edge view, and Figure 10 a front view or plan, of so much of
a disc engine as is necessary to show this part of our Invention. Bis the disc;
C, the ball; and D, the diagonal shaft, as before; K, K, are a series of
springs (of brass, steel, or other suitable metal), which are attached to each
side of the disc, and radiate at equal distances from the circumference of the
ball to the edge of the disc. Each spring is rivetted to the disc by one side
only (as shewn in the Figures), so as to have a slight inclination outwards on
the other side. As the disc rolls over the cones, the springs press against the
cones with just sufficient force to keep the joining steam-tight. The springs
may be attached to the cones instead of the disc; but we prefer the arrange-
ment which we have figured and described.
Thirdly, our Invention has reference also to the disc engine, but is appli-
cable to that engine only when used without metallic packings, and is intended
to obviate altogether the necessity of packings of any sort.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section through the centre of a disc engine con-
structed according to this part of our Invention. A is the steam chamber or
cylinder; B, the disc; C, the ball; D, the diagonal shaft; E, E, the cones;
F, F, the glands; and J, the driving crank, all as before. Figure 12 is a
front elevation of the crank J, detached from the rest of the engine. The
cones E, E, and disc B are here supposed to be perfectly plain surfaces, or
only covered with leather, felt, or some other yielding substance. In order,
therefore, that they may be pressed closely together, and any escape of steam
between them be thus prevented, we adopt the following arrangement:-
The end of the diagonal shaft D rests in a block or bearing v, which slides
in a slot q made in the crank J, being kept in sideways by pins 8, 8, which
take into grooves in g. From the block a pint projects which passes
through the top of the crank and a screw threaded at its upper end for the
reception of a nut u, which sets on to the washer and guide wo, between which
and the top of the crank there is interposed a spiral spring æ. The action of
the spring a has a constant tendency to draw the bearing block », and with it
the end of the diagonalshaft D, towards the top of the crank; and the diagonal
shaft D and disc B being fixed at right angles in relation to each other, it
follows, that the more the end of the shaft is drawn towards the top of the
crank, the closer the disc must be biought to the cones. Should there be any
uneveness on the faces of the cones, or should they not be in perfect agreement
with one another, the spring will by its o vn action produce the degree of

page_text: adjustment or correction required. The springs can be adapted in point
of strength to any degree of pressure by screwing or unscrewing the nut u on
the pin t.
Fourthly, our Invention consists of an improved method of working expan-
sion valves, which is applicable both to the disc engine and generally to all
rotary or semi-rotary engines.
Figure 13 is a cross section through the centre of a disc engine with our
improved expansion apparatus applied thereto; Figure 14 is a plan of the
engine, with the cover and cones removed, so as to exhibit the bottom of the
cylinder only. A is the cylinder; L, the main shaft; J, the driving crank;
W, W, are eccentric toothed wheels of an elliptical form, which are fixed on
the main shaft L (by means of the set screw 2), and work into and drive
another set of similar wheels X, X, which last work the slide valves b, b. a, a,
are the ports by which steam is admitted to the two sides of the disc; y¹, the
pipe which conveys the steam from the boiler to the slide valve box Y; z is
the exhaust passage, and z¹ the exhaust pipe. To adjust the apparatus, the
engine is first set at one half of that part of the revolution at which it is desired
to cut off the steam; the wheels W, W, are then adjusted (by means of the
set screw x) so that the point thereof farthest from the centre of the main
shaft shall be in gear with the wheels X, X, at the point nearest to the centre
of the shaft on which they work. The engine is next turned to that part of the
revolution at which the steam is required to enter the cylinder, and the slide
valves a, a, adjusted (by means of the set screwsc¹, cl, and nuts d', d¹,) so as to
be just on the point of uncovering the steam ports a, a. Matters having been
thus arranged and the engine set to work, we are enabled by the elliptical
shape given to the eccentric wheels W, W, and the relative positions in which
they are placed, to cut off the steam at any point whatever of the revolution
that may be most advantageous; and this, because for every small portion of a
revolution performed by the wheels W, W, the wheels X, X, which move the
slide valves b,b, necessarily perform a large portion of a revolution; that is to
say, in consequence of the gearing point of the two sets of wheels being at the
point farthest from the centre of the main shaft, a small portion of a revolution
of the wheels W, W, suffices to make the slide valves, which are moved by
the wheels X, X, travel a sufficient distance to open and shut the steam
ports a, a.
The face on which the slide valves work is made with grooves or recesses, as
shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 13, in order that by the admission of steam into
these grooves or recesses the pressure of the steam upon the back of the valve
may be more or less counteracted.

page_text: Fifthly, our Invention consists of an expansion apparatus, on the same prin-
ciple as the preceding, but adapted to steam engines of all sorts. Figure 15
is a longitudinal section through the centre of so much of a steam engine of
the ordinary reciprocating sort as is necessary to explain this application.
Figure 16 is a front view of the same, with the back of the slide boxes
removed, in order the better to show the slide valves. W, W, and X, X, are
two pairs of elliptical eccentric wheels, as before, the former of which are fixed
on the main shaft L, and gear into the latter, which work the slide valves b, b,
at the back of the slide box e¹ of the ordinary slide valve f; g¹ is the steam
pipe. The different parts act precisely in the same way as the corresponding
parts in the arrangement last herein-before described, andare also adjusted in
the same manner.
Sixthly, our Invention consists of a new sort of metallic packing, which may
be substituted for the hempen and other soft packings now in common use,
and applied to all description of steam engines. We make this packing of
shavings, cuttings, or filings of tin, zinc, or other soft metal, or soft metallic
compound, and compress these together round the piston or other part required
to be packed, in the same way as hemp is now ordinarily done. We are aware
that it has been before proposed to line the bearings of journals and axles with
soft metal; but the use of soft metal for the purpose of making the pistons
and stuffing boxes of steam engines steam-tight, as here proposed, we believe
to be new.
Seventhly, our Invention consists of an improved fluid meter, constructed on
the same principle as the disc steam engine. Figure 17 is a sectional front
elevation of this meter; and Figure 18, a sectioual end elevation of the sume.
A is a cylinder or chamber; B,a vibrating disc, which may be either plain, as
shewn in the Drawings, or fitted with springs, as described under the second
head of this Specification; C is the ball; D is the diagonal shaft, which is
stepped at the conical end in the driving crank, in the same manner as
herein-before described; E, E, are the cones, which are shewn plain, but
may be made with metallic packing slips, of the kind described in the Specifi-
cation of the Patent of George Daniell Bishopp, and before referred to, and
either with or without an improved method of securing the ends of such slips.
61, 62, are the induction and eduction passages by which the fluid is admitted
into and discharged from the meter; these passages are cast or made in one
piece with the partition M. Ļ is the main shaft, on which is fixed an indicator
to register the number of its revolutions. Each revolution of the shaft indi-
cates of course the discharge of one cylinder full of the fluid; and the cubical
contents of the cylinder being known, they have only to be multiplied by the

page_text: number of revolutions in any given time to ascertain the quantity of fluid
which has passed through in that time.
For a further explanation of the mauner in which this engine acts as a fluid
meter, we refer to the Specification of Letters Patent for Scotland granted to
the before-mentioned Henry Davies, of Droitwich, on or about the Fifth of
November, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, in which Specifi-
cation there is contained a description of a fluid meter, differing in no respect
from the present except in its not including the application thereto of the
several improvements in the disc engine invented by us, and herein-bofore
specified.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention in the several
parts of which the same consists, and the manner in which the same is
described, we declare that the improvements which we claim as included in
our said Iuvention are as follows:-
First, we claim the employment of the inner or additional glands G, G, for
the purpose of packing the ball of disc engines, the ring of metal H for
securing the ends of the packing slips c, c, and the peculiar sort of bearing in
which the coned end of the diagonal shaft 1) is stepped, each as before
described.
Second, we claim the employment in disc engines of the improved descrip-
tion of metallic packings represented in Figures 9 and 10, and before
described.
Third, we claim the construction of disc engino represented in Figures 11
and 12, and before described, that is to say, in so far as regards the mode or
means by which the diagonal shaft I) is connected at the outer end to the
driving crank, and caused to keep the disc up to the cones, whereby the usual
inetallic packings are or may be wholly dispensed with.
Fourth, we claim the employment in the disc engine, and in rotary and
semi-rotary engines generally, of the arrangement of expansion gear repre-
sented in Figures 13 and 14, and before described, that is to say, in so far as
regards the elliptical shape of the eccentric wheels W, W, and X, X,
Fifth, we claim the construction of the face on which the slide valves work
with grooves or recesses to contain steam for the purpose of counteracting the
pressure on the back of the valve, as represented in Figures 2, 3, and 13, and
before described.
Sixth, we claim the adaptation of the peculiar expansion arrangement before
described to the ordinary and other steam engines, as exemplified in Figurės
15 and 16.
Seventh, we claim the making of the packings of the pistons and stuffing