IMPROVE- MENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of Bridge Road, Lambeth, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 30th November 1858, and dated the 29th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at. the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th June 1853.
I, JOHN IMRAY, of Bridge Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in introducing fuel, air, and water into a
strong vessel, so arranged that from the combustion of the fuel and the
vaporization of the water there is generated an elastic fluid, consisting
of steam inixed with hot expanded gases, capable of being applied in
obtaining motive power.
The generating vessel is divided into compartments, communicating
by suitable channels,-the furnace, the air and water chamber, and the
vaporizing chamber.

page_text: The fuel is introduced from a hopper placed upon the generating
vessel, having a lower compartment fitted with moveable top and
bottom, closed and opened alternately, so as to admit portions of
fuel into the furnace without allowing much of the elastic fluid to
escape.
For introducing the air and water, a portion of the fluid generated is
employed to work suitable feeding apparatus, which consists of two
fixed cylinders, having a common shaft passing through their axes, and
carrying three blades in each cylinder, fitting at circumference and
ends, and hinge-jointed on the shaft; one being in each case fixed
thereto, and the other two capable of partly turning thereon. In the
ends of each cylinder are eccentric circular recesses, fitted with rings,
free to turn therein; and the two rings in each are firmly connected
together by equidistant pins, extending the whole length of the cylin-
der. The three blades have parallel slots in the middle of their
thickness extending nearly from their central joint to the circumference;
and in these slots the pins of the eccentric rings are free to slide to or
from the centre. Each cylinder has two apertures in different parts of
its circumference, so situated that in the one case the fluid exerting
pressure from the generating vessel being admitted by the one aperture,
and escaping at the other, pressing successively on the blades, the
relative rotatory movements of which are controlled by the eccentric
rings and pins, causes them to revolve continuously in one direction,
and give rotatory motion to the central shaft; and conversely in the
other case the rotatory motion of the central shaft causing the blades
to revolve within the cylinder at varying relative velocities, determined
by the action of the eccentric rings and pins, forces air and water ad-
mitted at the one aperture through the other, and thence,. by suitable
channels, into the air and water chamber of the generating vessel, where
the water separates itself by falling to the bottom, and flows into the
vaporising chambers, while the air being conducted to the furnace com-
bines with the fuel in combustion. The hot gaseous products from the
furnace are led into the vaporising chamber, where they mix with the
water, and raise a portion of it in the form of steam.
The generating vessel is furnished with suitable fittings for regula-

page_text: tion, safety, and access for cleansing, and the channels by which the
hot products of combustion pass through and into the water are ex-
tended and subdivided so as to afford large heating surface.
Part of the fluid generated being employed to work the feeding
apparatus, the remainder is available for working any suitable engine,
which may be of construction similar to that used for feeding; and
thereafter the fluid is made to pass by extended and subdivided
channels through the air and water before they are forced into the
generating vessel, so as to give up to them a large portion of its heat.
For commencing the combustion in the first instance, kindled fuel-
is supplied, and the feeding apparatus is worked by hand or other
suitable power, until the expansion and vaporisation within the vessel
afford adequate force.
The generating vessel may be fitted with any suitable feeding appa-
ratus, such as an ordinary steam engine with air and water pumps;
but that described is preferred on account of facility in starting, as well
as simplicity and economy of space and weight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 22nd December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN IMRAY, of Bridge Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-threc, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Imray, Her special licence
that I, the said John Imray, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Imray, 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 night make, use, exercise, and vend, within the

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE
POWER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Imray, 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 performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Imray, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists of apparatus by means of which fluids exert-
ing pressure may be applied to produce rotary motion of a shaft, or
rotary motion of a shaft may be made to cause the flow of fluids, and
also of apparatus whereby certain fluids are made to exert pressure for
the purpose of obtaining motive power. I will first describe several
different forms of apparatus whereby fluids exerting pressure may
produce rotary motion, or rotary motion cause the flow of fluids.
Figure 1, is a transverse section; and Figure 2, is a longitudinal
section of one form of the apparatus. «, is a cylinder, closed at the
ends by covers b, b, and provided with ports c', and c, and flanges d, d,
for fixing it to a firm bed. e, is a central shaft passing through the
covers b, b. f f f are three segments separately shown in eleva-
tion to a smaller scale in Figure 3, fitted on the shaft e, like the
jointing of a hinge; the segment f³, being fixed or keyed to the
shaft e, and the segment f', and f, being capable of turning partly
round upon it. 1, 7, are rings fitted into eccentric annular recesses in
the covers b. b, in which they can freely revolve; in these rings are fixed
three equidistant pins or bars 1, 1, 1, passing through slots in the
segments f, f, and f³, in which they can turn and slide. Figure 4, and
Figure 5, are diagrammatic sections shewing different positions of the
pins and segments. When a fluid exerting pressure is admitted by the
port c', and thence by several holes into the cavity between two
segments f, and f, it presses equally upon the opposed surfaces of the

page_text: segment tending to separate them, and thereby presses the pins k¹,
and &, in opposite directions; but the pressure thus exerted on the
pin ', exceeds that on, because ¹, being nearer to the centre of the
shaft e, than , the blade f¹, in tending to turn round that centre as
a fulcrum, acts with greater leverage on the pin k, than the blade ƒ³,
on the pin , and the effect of the equal pressures exerted by the fluid
on the opposed surfaces of f¹, and f, is therefore to produce motion of
the pin e, in the direction of the arrow, and thus to cause the eccentric
rings h, h, and the other pins, and 1, and segments f³, and f³, to rotate
in the same direction; and as in all positions of the segments throughout
a revolution there is an excess of pressure on one of the pins, while the
fluid is permitted to enter the cylinder by the one port, and to issue by
the other, a continuous rotary motion (in the direction of the arrow)
of the rings, pins, segments, and consequently of the shaft e, to which
one of the segments is fixed, is produced. If by means of a four way
cock or slide valve, or other suitable apparatus, the movement of the
fluid were reversed, so as to enter by the port c, and issue by the
port c', the movement of the shaft would also be reversed in direction.
If rotary motion were given to the shaft e, the segments f¹, f*, f",
would be caused to rotate with different angular velocities at different
parts of cach revolution, and the volumn of each of the cavities contained
between the circumference of the cylinder; any two of the segments
would thus be alternately increased and diminished in such a manner
that a fluid admitted at one of the ports would fill the increasing
cavities, and be expelled at the other port as the cavities again
diminished; and thus the apparatus might be applied in causing the
flow of fluids.
I will now describe another form of the apparatus of which Figure 6,
is a transverse section, and Figure 7, a longitudinal section. a, is
a cylinder; b, ³, its covers; c, c², its ports; and d, d, flanges for
fixing it to a bed; f¹, f, f³, are three segnients, elevations of which
are represented separately on a smaller scale in Figure 8; f¹, is
fixed to a tubular shaft which passes through one end of the cylinder,
is also fixed to a tubular shaft
and has a crank 1', fixed on it; f
which passes through the shaft of f¹, and has a crank 1, fixed on it;

page_text: and f³, is fixed to a shaft which passes through the shaft off, and has
a crank 1, fixed to it; and the pins of the three cranks project to an
equal distance beyond the end of the cylinder; m, is a shaft mounted in
bearings, one of which is represented at e, so that its axis is parallel to
but not in the same line with the axis of the cylinder; and on this
shaft is fixed a chuck or face plate having three slots p', p², p³, radiating
at equal angles from its centre, in which slots the pins of the three
cranks 11, 12, 1, can slide and turn freely. Figure 9, is an elevation of
the chuck with the crank pins in the slots in the position corresponding
to that of the segments in the transverse section. Figure 6, and
Figure 10, and Figure 11, are diagrammatic sections representing
other positious of the segments and crank pins. A fluid exerting
pressure being admitted by the port c, into the cavity between the two
seguents f, and f³, as represented in Figure 6, presses equally on
their surfaces; but these segments are connected by means of their
shafts and cranks with the pins 12, and 13, as shewn in Figure 9; and
the pin 7, acts on the side of the slot p³, so as to turn the chuck in the
direction of the arrow at a greater distance from the centre of the
chuck, and therefore with greater leverage than the pin 12, acts to turn
the chuck in the opposite direction. In every position of the chuck,
cranks, and segments during a revolution one or other of the segments
always acts thus with excess of leverage, and the continuous supply of
a fluid exerting pressure by the port c', and its emission by the port c³,
causes continuous rotary motion of the chuck and its shaft in the
direction of the arrow. By reversing the ports of ingress and egress
the direction of rotation will be reversed. On giving rotary motion to
the shaft m, the cranks 11, 12, 13, and segments f¹, ff, would be caused
to revolve with angular velocities varying throughout each revolution,
and the cavities contained between the circumference of the cylinder
and the segments would thus be alternately increased and diminished,
so as to cause the flow of a fluid into the cylinder by one of the ports,
and out of it by the other.
1 will also describe another form of the apparatus of which Figure
12, is a transverse section, and Figure 13, is a longitudinal section.
, is a cylinder; b, b, its covers; c, c, its poits; d, d, flanges

page_text: for fixing it; f, and f, two segments represented on a smaller
scale in the elevations Figure 14, f, having a tubular shaft with
a crank , and f, having a shaft which passes through the shaft
of f', and has also a crank 1; m, is a shaft mounted in bearings,
one of which is represented at e, so that its axis is parallel to but not in
the same line with that of the cylinder, and on the shaft m, is fixed
a double ended crank with the two pins p, p, which are connected by
rods with the pins of the cranks 11, and 3, respectively, as shewn on
the elevation Figure 15. Figure 16, is a diagrammatic view of four
different positions of the cranks and rods during a revolution; and
Figures 17, 18, and 19, are diagrammatic sections representing the
relative positions of the segments corresponding to three of these
respectively, the transverse section, Figure 12, corresponding to the
fourth. A fluid exerting pressure when admitted by the port c¹, into
the cavity between the segments as in Figure 12, presses equally on
the surfaces of f¹, and f. But the segments are connected by means
of the shafts, cranks, pins, and rods with the pins p¹, p, on the
double ended crank, in such a manner that if this crank revolved
at all, f, would be caused to revolve with greater velocity than f¹,
or that the virtual velocity off, exceeds that of f', at that particular
point, and the pressure on f, acts therefore with greater effect to turn
it in the direction of the arrow than the same amount of pressure on f¹,
to turn it in the opposite direction. In almost all the other relative posi-
tions of the segments during a revolution the virtual velocity of the one
exceeds that of the other, and the continuous supply of a fluid entering
by the port c, and issuing by the port c³, will produce continuous rotary
motion of the segments and crank and shaft in the direction of the
arrow, except at those particular points during each revolution where
the virtual velocities of the two segments are equal, and the ports closed
by their surfaces covering the apertures, and which may be considered
to correspond with the dead centres in the ordinary crank motion of a
steam engine. The shaft m, being provided with a fly wheel affording
the necessary momentum for carrying the machinery over these dead
centres, continuous rotary motion will be produced by the supply of a
fluid exerting pressure. Rotary motion being given to the shaft m,

page_text: the cranks and segments will be caused to revolve with angular
velocities varying throughout each revolution, and the cavities into
which the cylinder is divided by the segments will thus be varied in
volume in such a manner that a fluid will be caused to flow into the
cylinder by the one port, and out of it by the other.
I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction which I
have described and represented on the Drawings; but I claim as my
Invention apparatus consisting of two or three segments fitted so as to
revolve within a cylinder, and having their relative movements controlled
either by means of pins fixed in eccentric rings, and working in slots in
the segments, or by cranks fixed on the shafts of the segments, and
having their pins working in slots on a chuck revolving eccentrically,
or by cranks fixed on the shafts of the segments having their pins con-
nected by rods with eccentric cranks in such a manner as to cause
successively recurring variations in the leverage or virtual velocity of the
segments, so that a fluid exerting pressure entering and leaving the
cylinder by suitable ports shall give rotary motion to a shaft which may
be applied to give notion to machinery, or to measure by the number
of its revolutions the volume of fluid passing through the cylinder, or
that rotary motion being given to the shaft and parts connected with it,
a fluid shall be caused to flow through the cylinder.
I will now describe apparatus for causing certain fluids to exert pres-
sure for the purpose of obtaining motive power. Figure 20, is a section,
and Figure 21, a plan, the section being taken on the line marked A, A,
on the plan, and the plan taken on the line marked B, B, on the
section. a, is a strong vessel formed like a steam boiler; b, is a
furnace or compartment lined with fire brick, supplied with fuel, such
as coke, charcoal, or anthracite, the principal constituent of which is
carbon, by means of a hopper c, the lower part of which has a cylin-
drical cavity open above and below, wherein a hollow cylinder d, having
an opening at one part of its circumference, can rotate, so that when its
open part is presented upwards fuel may fall into it from the hopper,
and when it is turned downwards the fuel contained in it may drop into
the furnace. A similar apparatus is applied below the furnace at e, for
removing ash or other refuse from the fuel after combustion. f, is a s

page_text: pipe by which air is forced through openings in the brickwork into the
furnace; g, is a channel by which the gaseous products of combustion
flow from the furnace in the direction of the arrows, the ash or solid
refuse conveyed with these products being arrested by the brick
wall h, and precipitated to the bottom, whence they may be removed
by the cylinder e; i, i, arc valves opening upwards into pipes k, l,
perforated with numerous small holes on their lower sides, the valves
are made so as to permit a flow in the direction of the arrows only;
7, is a feed pipe expanding into a water way, by which water is
supplied so as to be kept nearly at the same level in the space m; n, is
a safety valve, and o, a pipe, and the floats, gauges, manhole, and
cleaning doors used in ordinary steam boilers should be applied in
suitable parts of the apparatus. If the furnace b, be supplied with
kindled fuel, and air be forced into it by the pipe f, while water is
supplied by the feed pipe 7, the gaseous products of combustion passing
by the channel g, will licat the water in the water way j, and after-
wards passing the valves i, i, and through the pipes h, k, will pass up
through the water in m, in numerous small streams, and thus convert a
portion of the water into vapour, which mixing with the gases will
escape by the pipe o, at the same pressure as that of the air forced in
atf. But as the gascous products of combustion, when heated, expand
to a volume considerably greater than that of the air and fuel supplied
to the furnace, and as the volume of vapour generated by their passage
through the water greatly exceeds that of the water converted into
vapour, the total volume of the gases mixed with steam which issue
at o, will considerably exceed that of the air, fuel, and water forced into
the boiler, while the pressure romains the same. A portion of the
products issuing at o, being conducted to one of the rotary apparatus
described above, will give motion to its shaft, which may be made to.
drive another of these rotary apparatus for causing the influx of air
by the pipe f, and also to work a suitable feed pump for supplying
water by the pipe 7, and to give a slow rotary motion to the two
cylinders d, and e, for supplying fuel and removing refuse. The
remainder of the products may be used as steam for driving an engine
and giving motive power to machinery. In commencing the action

page_text: of the apparatus it is necessary to supply the furnace with ignited fuel,
and to work the air-forcing apparatus by hand or some other suitable
power until there be a sufficient production of heated gases and steam
to furnish the necessary force.
I do not confine myself to the particular form or details of the
apparatus represented in the Drawings, nor to the application solely of
rotary apparatus for forcing the air, water, and fuel into the vessel, as
in many situations an ordinary non-condensing steam engine and air-
compressing pump might be applied conveniently for this purpose. But
I claim as my Invention apparatus consisting of a vessel divided into
suitable compartments, into which are introduced fuel, air for its coni-
bustion, and water, so arranged that the heated gases arising from the
combustion of the fuel shall not only pass over surfaces of the parts
containing water for the purpose of heating it as in ordinary boilers,
but shall also be forced through the water in numerous subdivided
streams so as to generate vapour by actual contact with the water, and
being thus cooled down to a convenient temperature, and depositing
solid impurities, shall become available along with the steam as elastic
fluids exerting pressure partly for working apparatus to sustain the
supply of the air, water, and fuel, and partly for obtaining motive
power by means of suitable engines.
In witness whercof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
JOHN IMRAY. (L.S.)