IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Edward McConnell, of Wolverton, in the
County of Buckingham, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
Scaled the 15th August 1856, and dated the 2nd June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Edward McConnell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd June 1856.
I, JAMES EDWARD MCCONNELL, of Wolverton, in the County of Bucking-
ham, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to certain improvements in the boilers and
fire boxes of locomotive engines, whereby an increased feed-water heating
surface is obtained, and also the admission of heated air over or through
the fuel, thereby effecting a more perfect combustion of the smoke and gases
than is at present the case in the ordinary locomotive fire boxes.
The second part of the Invention relates to an improved and simplified
form of wrought-iron or steel piston and packing.

page_text: The improvements under the first head of the Invention consist in the
employment of a moveable or fixed water partition, placed at or near the front
of the fire box, and containing water, which is heated and allowed to circulate
by pipes to and from the tender. This partition is so arranged as to allow of
a current of air to pass behind it from the ash-pan, and become heated
during its passage, and in this heated state the air is allowed to pass over
or through the burning fuel for the purpose of obtaining a more perfect
combustion. By making the water partition moveable, the air orifice may
be increased or diminished at pleasure. This water partition may be placed,
if found desirable, at or near the centre of the grate, behind a transverse
water space or midfeather, connected with the boiler, and standing up from
the grate bars; or two moveable or fixed water partitions may be used
longitudinally, one on each side of an ordinary midfeather, the air in all
cases being heated and directed over or through the fuel.
According to another arrangement, it is proposed to use an air and water
chamber or bridge placed underneath and parallel to the midfeather, a
sufficient space or opening being left between the top of the bridge and the
bottom of the midfeather to allow of the flames passing freely from one sido
of the furnace to the other. This bridge consists either of a double chamber
to contain the water which is allowed to circulate to and from the tender,
with tubular stays therein to admit heated air from the ash-pan to the
fuel, or it may be made with one central air passage having a continuous
water space all round it.
When an air and water bridge is employed in a fire box which is extended
into the barrel of the boiler, it is proposed, if found desirable, to have two
valves or dampers in the extended portion of the fire box, one on each side
of the midfeather, so that by closing one damper the flame and gases will be
compelled to pass from one side of the furnace over the bridge to the other
side of the furnace, and vice versa, thereby effectually consuming the smoke
and unburnt gases during their passage over the incandescent fuel in that
side of the furnaces wherein the damper has been left open.
It is proposed also to make use of a convenient arrangement of apparatus
for increasing or diminishing at pleasure the air spaces between the furnace
bars. This may be effected by a Venetian blind arrangement, the bars being
made to turn partially or swivel on their lower edges, so as to be capable
of being brought to a vertical position or edgewise, when the air space will
be greatest, or of being laid flat, or nearly so, when the admission of air will
be stopped entirely or partially, according to the amount of inclination given
to the fire bars.

page_text: It is proposed to used a series of air tubes, extending from the fire box
through the tube plate and smoke box, and opening into the atmosphere
in the front of the smoke box, for the purpose of allowing a current or
currents of fresh air to enter therein, and become heated by its passage.
along the tubes. In this heated state the air is directed on to, or over the
fucl in the fire box, and greatly assists combustion.
By another arrangement, air pipes or vessels are contained in the smoke
box, and receive fresh air from outside the engine, which air is heated in
such pipes or vessels, and is allowed to pass in a heated state to the fuel in
the fire box by a pipe or pipes placed either outside or inside the boiler.
I have herein-before described the water in the tender as being allowed to
circulate through, and heated by water partitions or bridges inside the fire
box. I also propose to heat such water by allowing it to circulate by suit-
able pipes through a heating chamber or water space placed inside the arch
of the smoke box, and surrounding the mouth or entrance to the chimney;
or in place of simply allowing the water in the tender to circulate through
the heating chamber, the feed water may be pumped from the tender in
the ordinary manner, and forced into the heating chamber in the smoke
box through the ordinary clack valves, in which chamber it is heated.
before entering the boiler itself.
The second portion of my Invention consists in constructing wrought-iron
or steel pistons in the form of a simple disc, having a single annular groove
of greater or less width round its periphery. In this grove is inserted one
or more steel split rings, the inherent elasticity of which will tend to keep
the packing tight without any other elastic media. Where a single ring only
is used the joiut therein is kept steam-tight by the interposition of a tongue
picce, but this tongue piece may be dispensed with when more than one
packing ring is used, as in that case the joints may be broken or so arranged
as to intercept each other. If found desirable, steam may be admitted behind
the packing for the purpose of assisting in keeping it tight, such admission of
steam being effected by slots, channels, or recesses formed in the inner sides
or flanges of the packing groove, and communicating with the annular
chamber or space behind the packing ring or rings; or in place of slots,
such slots,
chanuels, or recesses being made in the flanges of the grooves,
channels, or recesses inay be formed across the packing rings themselves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Edward McConnell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
EDWARD MCCONNELL, of Wolverton, in the County of Buckingham, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
l'atent, bearing date the Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the ninetecuth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Edward McConnell, Her special license that I, the said James Edward
McConnell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Edward McConnell, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafterduring the term therein expressed, should and lawfully 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 "IM
PROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
the said James Edward McConnell, by an instrument in writing under my
baud 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
nonths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said James Edward McConnell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what mauner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates, first, to certain improvements in the fire boxes
or furnaces of locomotive and high-pressure boilers, whereby an increased feed-
water heating surface is obtained with the admission of heated air over or
through the fuel, thereby effecting a more perfect combustion of the smoke
and gases than is at present the case in the ordinary locomotive fire boxes.
Secondly, to an improved and simplified form of wrought-iron or steel piston
and packing.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section of a
portion of a locomotive boiler and fire box; Figures 2 is a transversc
section of the same, taken along the line 1, 2; and 3 is a sectional plan,
taken along the line 3, 4. The same letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout all these Figures.
A is a fixed water space or partition, placed at or near the frout of the fire
box B, and containing the feed water, which is pumped into it in the ordinary
manner through the pipes C leading from the tender. The feed water, after
being heated in this partition, is allowed to circulate through the boiler, as
shewn by the arrows. This water space or partition is so arranged as to
allow of a current of air to pass behind it from the ash-pan, and become
heated during its passage, and in this heated state the air is directed over or
through the burning fuel, for the purpose of obtaining a more perfect. com-
bustion. A number of tubular stays D, D, may be fitted into this water
space for the heated air to pass through, as shewn. A water space or
bridge E may be placed transversely, if found desirable, at or near the centre
of the grate, and situated, or not, behind a transverse midfeather (not shown
in the Drawing, connected with the boiler. A number of tubular stays D, D,
are also fitted into this bridge, for the purpose of directing streams or jets of
heated air into or over the fuel, as shewn. If found desirable, two fixed
water partitions may be used, placed longitudinally one on each side of au
ordinary midfeather, the air in all cases being heated, and directed over or
through the fuel.
According to another modification, I propose to use an air and water
chamber or bridge, similar to that at E, placed underneath and parallel to
the ordinary longitudinal midfeather, a sufficient space or opening being
left between the top of the bridge and the bottoin of the midfeather to
allow of the flames passing freely from one side of the furnace to the other.
This bridge E consists either of a double chamber to contain the water
which is pumped into it. in the ordinary manner from the tender, and is
fitted with tubular stays to admit heated air from the ash-pan to the fuel
as shewn, or it may be made with one central air passage having a con-
tinuous water space all round it.
When an air and water bridge is employed in a locomotive fire box which
is extended into the barrel of the boiler, I propose in some cases to have two
valves or dampers in the extended portion of the tire box, one on each side of
the midfeather, so that by closing one damper, the flame and gases will be
compelled to pass from one side of the furnace over the bridge to the other
side of the furnace, and vice versa, thereby effectually consuming the smoke

page_text: and unburnt gases during their passage over the incandescent fuel in that
side of the furnace wherein the damper has been left open.
I have herein-before described the water in the tender as being pumped
in the ordinary manner through, and heated by water partitions or bridges
inside the fire box; but I also propose to heat such water by allowing it to
circulate by suitable pipes through a heating chamber or water space placed
inside the arch of the smoke box and surrounding the mouth or entrance to
the chimney; or in place of simply allowing the water in the tender to
circulate through this heating chamber, the feed water may be pumped from
the tender or tank in the ordinary manner, and forced into the heating
chamber in the smoke box through the ordinary clack valves, in which
chamber it is heated before entering the boiler itself.
Another portion of my Invention consists in making use of any convenient
arrangement of apparatus for increasing or diminishing at pleasure the air
spaces between the furnace bars.
According to another modification, this may be effected by a Venetian blind
arrangement, the bars being made to turn partially or swivel on their lower
edges, so as to be capable of being brought to a vertical position or edgewise
when the air space will be greatest, or of being laid flat, or nearly so, when the
admission of air will be stopped entirely or partially, according to the amount
of inclination given to the fire bars. For the better supplying of heated air
to the fuel, I propose to use a series of air tubes, extending from the fire box
through the tube plate and smoke box, and opening into the atmosphere in
the front of the smoke box, for the purpose of allowing a current or currents
of fresh air to enter therein and become heated by its passage along the
tubes. In this heated state the air is directed on to or over the fuel in the
fire box and greatly assists combustion.
According to another modification, air pipes or vessels are contained in the
smoke box and receive fresh air from outside the engine, which air is heated
in such pipes or vessels, and is allowed to pass in a heated state to the fuel
in the fire box by a pipe or pipes placed either outside or inside the boiler,
and may be forced into the fire box either by a fan blower or pump.
The second portion of my Invention consists in constructing wrought-iron
or steel pistons in the form of a simple disc, forged in one piece with the piston
rod, and having one or more aunular grooves of greater or less width made
round its periphery, as shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of my Drawings. In the
annular grooves of the disc or body of the piston A are inserted one or more
steel or other metallic split rings B, the inherent elasticity of which, in conjunc-
tion with steam pressure behind them as hercin-after described, will tend to keep

page_text: the packing tight without any other elactic media. Where a single ring only
is used the joint therein may be kept steam-tight by the interposition of a
tongue piece, as shewn at in Figure 6; but this tongue piece may be dis-
pensed with when more than one packing ring is used, as in that case the
joints may be so arranged as to intercept each other. If found desirable, spiral
springs to act on the packing may be used with or without steam, and the
steam, it used, may be admitted behind the packing by slots, channels, or
recesses b, b, formed in the inner sides or flanges of the packing groove,
and communicating with the annular chamber or space behind the packing
ring or rings, as clearly shewn in the Drawings; or, in place of slots,
channels, or recesses being made in the flanges of the grooves, such slots,
channels, or recesses may be formed across the packing rings themselves.
Figure 7 represents a portion of a piston with a single ring B, this ring
being pressed out by a set of helical or other springs b.
Figure 8 represents a portion of a piston fitted with three packing rings,
the steam being allowed to enter behind the whole of the rings through
the channels and passages c.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters l'atent, is,-
First, the application and use to, and in the fire boxes or furnaces of, loco-
motive or other high-pressure boilers of water spaces or partitions placed
transversely or longitudinally in such fire boxes or furnaces, and fitted with
hollow stays for the passage of heated air to the fire.
Second, the introduction of heated air from the smoke box to the fire in
the fire box, in the manner herein-before described.
Third, the heating of the feed water in an annular vessel on the top of
the smoke box, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use of adjustable fire bars for the purpose of
regulating the admission of air to the fire.
Fifth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of solid wrought-iron
or steel pistons, as herein-before described, in combination with the peculiar
mode of admitting steam behind the packing ring or rings, as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.

page_text: Sixth, the application and use of wrought-iron or steel pistons, consist-
ing of a simple disc in one piece or solid with their pistou rods, and
circumferentially grooved to. admit packing rings, such rings being kept
tight by their own inherent elasticity, and also acted upon by springs or
steam pressure, used either separately or in combination, as herein-before
described, and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Edward McConnell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. E. MCCONNELL. (L.S.)