IMPROVEMENTO IN STEAM DOILERS AND ENGINES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beckett Johnson, Manager for Messrs. R.
Ormerod and Son, Engineers, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention
10
IMPROVEMENTO IN STEAM DOILERS AND ENGINES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beckett Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st January 1856.
I, WILLIAM BECKETT JOHNSON, Manager for Messrs. Ormerod & Son,
Engineers, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES,
to be as follows:-
My improvements in steam boilers refer to those which are horizontally
placed, and consist, firstly, in adapting a circular flue concentric or nearly so
with the outward shell; within this fluo I place by one arrangement a furnace
at one end; or by another, a furnace at each end thereof. Secondly, in using
the above arrangements in combination with an upper vessel connected to the
boiler by pipes, and constituting a steam chamber.
My improvements in steam engines relate to those portions thereof which are
used as apparatus for working expansion valves, and consist, firstly, in a peculiar
form of cam to be so employed; according to my Invention, I so form the

page_text: said cam that there are two concentric rims corresponding to the extremes of
working, between which there are elevations acting in different degrees.
Secondly, I cause the roller against which the expansion cam acts to be
traversed thereon by suitable means, so as to be acted upon according to the
required degree. Thirdly, I traverse the roller upon the cam by means of
levers or rods, a centre of motion of which is mounted upon an axis, on which
the lover of the said roller vibrates. In order to illustrate this I will point
out one arrangement I employ: the cam roller is mounted upon a hollow shaft
carried by a lever which turns upon an, axis below; at one end of the hollow
shaft is a ball and socket joint to which a rod is adapted, the other end thereof
being connected to a bell-crank lever turning upon the axis of the roller lever;
the other extremity of the bell-crank has an universal joint to which a rod
leading from the governor is adapted. Fourthly, my Invention consists in the
use of valves containing suitable apertures, and capable of moving around a
centre so as to act as expansion valves by cutting off the steam. Fifthly, 1
keep the roller of the expansion cam in contact therewith by the force of
steam; according to one method' of effecting this, I use a valve, which is also
employed for cutting off the steam; if the pressure be too great, I use a double-
beat valve for reducing it. And sixthly, to the rod by which motion is com-
municated to the expansion valve, I adapt. vulcanized india-rubber or other
such material, in order to gain an elasticity therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said. William Beckett Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th June 1856.
"
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BECKETT JOHNSON, Manager for. Messieurs Richard Ormerod and Son,
Engineers, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting."
WHEREAS Hér most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by: Her Letters
Patent, bearing, date the First day of January, in; the year; of our Lord One
thousand: eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her. heirs and. successors, give. and grant unto me,..,the,,said,
William Beckett Johnson, Her especial license that I;.the said William Beckett
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Beckett Johnson, 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 lawfully. might make, use,

page_text: hand
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Beckett Johnson, by, an instrument in writing under my
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, 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 ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
'
My improvements in steam boilers refer to those which are horizontally
placed, and consist, firstly, in adapting a circular flue concentric or nearly so
with the outward shell, within this flue I' place by one arrangement a furnace
at one end; or by another, a furnace at each end thereof. Secondly, in using
the above arrangements in combination with an upper vessel' connected to the
boiler by pipes, and constituting a steam chamber.
My improvements in steam engines relate to those portions thereof which
are used as apparatus for working expansion valves, and consist, firstly, in a
peculiar form of cam to be so employed according to my Invention; I so
form the said cam that there are two'concentric runs corresponding to the
extremes of working, between which there are elevations acting in different
degrees. Secondly, I cause the roller against which the expansion cam
acts to be traversed thereon by suitable means so as to be acted upon
according to the required degree. Thirdly, I traverse the roller upon the
cam by means of levers or rods, a centre of motion of which is mounted' upon
an axis on which the lever of the said roller vibrates. In order to illustrate
this I will point out one, arrangement I 'employ: the cam roller is mounted
upon a hollow shaft carried by a lever which turns upon an axis below; at one
end of the hollow shaft is a ball and socket joint to which a rod is adapted, the
other end thereof being connected to a bell-crank lever turning upon the axis
of the roller lever; the other extremity of the bell-crank has an universal joint to
which a rod leading from the governor is adapted. Fourthly, my Invention
consists in the use of valves containing suitable apertures and capable of moving
around a centre so as to act as expansion valves by cutting off the 'steam.
Fifthly, I keep the roller of the expansion cam in contact therewith by the force
of steam; according to one method of effecting this, I use a valve, which is also
employed for cutting off the steam; if the pressure be too great, I use a double-

page_text: beat valve for reducing it. And sixthly, to the rod which motion is com-
municated to the expansion valve, I adapt vulcanized india-rubber or other
such material, in order to gain an elasticity therein..
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe the same, in reference to the illustrative Drawing accompanying this
my Specification, in which Fig. 1 represents in transverse section my improve-
ments in connection with steam boilers; Fig. 2 being a longitudinal section
of the same.
The outer shell of the boiler is at a; in the interior of which, and nearly
concentric therewith, the furnace tube or flue 6 is placed, extending between
the two ends of the outer shell a; the furnace bars are in this, instance placed
in one end of the tube; b, and shewn at-c, one end of the same resting upon
and supported by the cast part d, which also carries the bridge e. It will
be seen on reference to the Drawing, that the flame-or, products of com-
bustion passes along the flues (as shewn by the arrows), and circulating from
thence under and around part of the outer shell of the boiler in the flue or
passage formed by the brickwork, as, at f,, from whence it enters into the
descending flue g leading to the chimney.
:
Another modification of this part of my improvements is shewn at Fig. 3,
which represents a longitudinal section of a boiler having a furnace at each
end of the tube, shewn at 6", which is also in this example placed concentric
or nearly. so with the outer shell of the boiler a*; the fire bars are at c*,
resting apon the parts d*,, forming (as before) the bridge e*; the flame and
products of combustion pass from each furnace along the tube 6, and meeting
in the centre or nearly so descend by means of the passage h formed between
the tube 6* and outer shell a*, and passing along one part of the outer surface
of the boiler by the flue i returning into the flue i*, from thence it passes
along the return flue j, and descends into that leading to the chimney, as at g.
If it be desirable, the tube h may be situated in any convenient part of the
boiler, instead of being placed in the centre as shewn in the Drawing; and the
flue g leading to the chimney may also be placed at the opposite end to that
shewn, or in any convenient position between the two ends of the boiler.
The second part of my improvements in connection with steam boilers is
shewn, in combination with the two examples described above. The vessel
constituting the steam chamber being formed with semi-spherical ends, is at m
having connections with the interior of the boilers a and a*, by means of the
two pipes or passages n, situated nearly at each end of the vessel m, and
thereby also forming a support for the same. It will be evident that the
steam as it is generated will flow through the pipes or passages n into the

page_text: chamber m, and may be conveyed from thence to the engine, or other purpose
for which it is required, by pipes or other suitable passages.
The first part of my improvements in steam engines is shewn at Fig. 4,
which represents a face view of the cam on the engine shaft; Fig. 5 being an
edge view of the same. The engine or other shaft is at o, having the cam p
keyed or fast upon it, and formed with two concentric grades or runs q and q*,
corresponding to the extremes of the working of the valve, actuated by the
cam; between these two grades or runs there are others, shewn at r, which
will act and produce the required gradation between the two grades or runs
q and q. It will be evident that the bowl or roller acting against the grades
of the cam, may, if desirable, be caused to traverse, by any ordinary arrange-
ment of apparatus applicable for such purpose; but according to the second
part of my improvements in steam engines, I traverse the roller acting against
the grades of the cam by means of an arrangement of rods and levers in
connection with the governor.
One particular arrangement I adopt, and which constitutes the third part
of my improvements in the steam engines, is shewn at Fig. 6, representing
a partial section; and Fig. 7 an end or edge view of the same. The roller
or bowl for acting against the cam is at s, and is formed with and upon a
hollow spindle or shaft t, mounted in the jaws of the lever v, which is fast
upon the axis or shaft w, turning in bearings x, attached to any convenient
part of the engine. The rod leading from the governor is shewn at y, attached
by means of an universal joint to the bell-crank lever z, mounted on the shaft
or axis w, by means of the joint and pin w', and which carries at one end the
rod 1, passing in the interior of the hollow shaft t, and attached to the same
by means of the ball and socket joint 2; the action of the roller or bowl s
upon the cam, part of which is shewn at 4, is communicated to the expansion
valve by means of the rod 3, connected to any part of the jaw'd'lever v, above
mentioned. It will be seen on reference to the Drawing, that as the bell-
crank lever z is carried by the shaft w, w', the whole will move or vibrate
together, so that the action of the governor may be communicated direct to
the roller or bowl s, traversing the same on to the grade or cam suitable to the
extent of expansion required.
Another modification of this part of my Invention is shewn at Fig. 8, which
represents a view corresponding to Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 7; the
bowl or cam roller is at 8, capable of moving (in the direction shewn by the
arrows) on the spindle t*, which is attached to one jaw of the lever *, which
in this case is mounted, and turns upon the shaft or axis w*; to the end of
the spindle a rod y", leading from the governor, is secured by means of an

page_text: ordinary joint; the motion for the expansión valve is 'taken off by means of
the rod 3*. The action of this example 'is as follows:-Suppose, for instance,
the governor actuates the rod y* (in the direction shewn by the arrows), the
roller. or bowl s* will then be caused to move on the spindle, towards its centre
of motion; and on to the suitable grade of the cam, and vice versa.
My fourth improvement is shewn at Fig. 10, which represents a sectional
view of the expansión valve and box; and "Fig. 11 a face view of the valve
only, shewing the. form of the apertures. The valve box or casing is at A,
and the valve at B, turned upon the centre pin C, by means of the cross head
and rod D, working through the stuffing box formed in the cover E of the
valve box A, the valve being adjustable to its seat by means of the set screw
and handle F; and the motion is communicated to the valve by the lever G,
fast upon the spindle or rod D; the passages in the valve for the steam is'
shewn at H in Fig. 11, and the inlet and outlet passages for the steam at
I and J.
My fifth improvements are shewn at Fig. 12, representing the steam
cylinder and shaft of an horizontal engine, with my improvements attached;
the cylinder of which is at K, and the main driving shaft L, having keyed or
fast upon it the cam M, which actuates the roller and rod N, moving in guides
O, and attached to the valve P by means of a. nut, the valve P beating
against the seat Q, formed in the steam box or chest R; the inlet to which
being at S, it will be readily seen that the action of the steam against the
valve P will have a tendency to keep the roller N in contact with the cam M;.
and in order that the valve may come to its seat with, an elastic beat, a ring
of india-rubber V is introduced (constituting my sixth and last improve-
ments) between the flanges or discs N formed on the rod N, the exact
length of which, to obtain an efficient action of the valve P, is obtained by
means of the lock nuts W. Instead of the valve P, a double-beat valve
may be introduced when the pressure would be too great for the purpose
above set forth.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my improvements, and
the manner in which the same are to be carried into practical effect, I desire.
it to be understood that I do not intend to confine myself to the precise
arrangement shewn and described above, as the same may be varied without
departing from the principal of my Invention; but I claim as secured to me
under the above in part recited Letters Patent,―
Firstly, with reference to boilers; adapting a circular flue concentric or
nearly so with the outer shell of the boiler, the same having a furnace at one
Lande

page_text: Secondly, the combination of the vessel constituting a steam chamber, with
a boiler having a circular flue or furnace tube concentric or nearly so with
the outer shell.
With reference to steam engines I claim, firstly, the use of a cam having
two concentric grades or runs corresponding to the extremes of working,
between which there are grades acting in different degrees.
Secondly, traversing the roller on the cam, so as to be acted upon accord-
ing to the required degree, by means of apparatus in connection with the
governor.
Thirdly, the arrangements for this purpose, shewn and described in reference
to Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Fourthly, the use of valves having suitable apertures, and capable of moving
around a centre, so as to act as expansion valves.
Fifthly, keeping the roller of the expansion cam in contact therewith by
the force of steam.
And, lastly, I claim the use of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable
material, for the purpose set forth above.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beckett Johnson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
W. B. JOHNSON. (L.S.)
W. B. JOHNSON. (L.S.)