IMPROVE- MENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING VESSELS FOR RAISING WATER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Parker, of 6, Lilford Road, Camberwell,
in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
FOR RAISING WATER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st December 1866, and dated the 22nd June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Parker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd June 1866.
1, JAMES PARKER, of 6, Lilford Road, Camberwell, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS FOR RAISING WATER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists, firstly, in the direct application, without the
use of a piston, of steam and air pressure upon the surface of water contained
in tanks or holders for the purpose of discharging, forcing, or ejecting the
water from such tanks or holders through a suitable outlet or outlets,
according to the object to be attained. For injecting the steam and air 1 use
steam jets and air nozzles or tubes, similar to those described in the Specifi-
cations of my Patents dated February 28th, 1862, No. 552, and October 23d
1863, No. 2620, but other suitable steam and air-injecting apparatus may be
employed.
The second part of my Invention consists in the apparatus employed and in
the application of the jets of water discharged from the said tanks to various

page_text: purposes, as herein-after described. When my apparatus is applied for pro-
pelling a vessel or boat I prefer to employ two tanks or sets of two or more
tanks, one tank or set of tanks being refilled whilst the other tank or set of
tanks is being discharged. Each tank has a tube fitted with a valve opening
inwards communicating with the water outside the vessel or with the water in
a well formed in the vessel, through which tube and valve the tank is filled.
The discharge pipe or tube reaching to within a short distance of the bottom
of the tank may either pass direct through the side or stern of the vessel, or
the discharge pipes of two or more tanks may unite in one common main
discharge pipe. According to the number of tanks used the steam and air is
supplied to the several tanks by one or by more than one main steam pipe,
and each separate tank or pair of tanks may be fitted with a slide valve or
other valves for alternately admitting the steam and air into the tank
and permitting the air to escape when the tank has been emptied of water
and is refilling. The steam and air admitted into the filled tanks forces the
water out through the discharge pipe whereby a propelling force is exerted
upon the vessel in a contrary direction to that of the water discharge, the
amount of the propelling force being equal to that of a column of water of
the same pressure and area less the friction.
I apply the same apparatus, with slight modifications, for pumping or
raising water. If the height to which the water is to be raised is not more.
than the height of a column of water equal to the pressure exerted by the
steam and air it is simply necessary to attach a discharge pipe reaching to
and opening at the required level. If, however, the water is to be raised
higher, a second tank is placed at the discharge end of the first pipe and the
steam and air tube is made to reach to the second tank. In the same manner
a third and fourth tank, and so on, may be used, each placed at a corresponding
height above the other. I intend to use the water thus raised to a certain
height by discharging it upon a water wheel, turbine, or other water-power
engine, but for turbines and water-power engines I prefer to use the water
under pressure direct from the tank or tanks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Parker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1866.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Parker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES 3
PARKER, of 6, Lilford Road, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Parker, Her special licence that I, the said James
Parker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Parker, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS, APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS FOR RAISING WATER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Parker, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 inmediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Parker, 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:-—
The first part of my said Invention consists in the direct application of steam
and compressed air injected into tanks or holders containing water, and acting
direct, without the employment of a piston, upon the surface of the water
for the purpose of discharging, forcing, or ejecting by the pressure of the
injected steam and air the water from such tanks through suitable outlets,
according to the object to be attained. For injecting the steam and air I
prefer to use steam jets and air nozzles, similar to those refered to in the
Specifications of my former Letters Patent, No. 552, dated February 28th
1862, and No. 2620, dated October 25th 1868, but other suitable steam and
air injecting apparatus may be employed.
The second part of my Invention consists in applying the steam and air
pressure in the manner above described to the propulsion of vessels. In
applying my Invention to the propulsion of vessels by means of water jets I
proceed as follows:-I fix or form two shallow water tanks of equal capacity,
one behind the other, in the stern part of the vessel, and extending across the

page_text: vessel. The top of the tanks I prefer to be about on a level with the water
line to ensure their refilling after each discharge through suitable valves
formed in the sides or in the bottom of each tank, and communicating with
the water outside the vessel or with a well formed in the vessel. The steam
and air pressure is admitted to the two tanks alternately through a suitable
slide or other valve in such a manner that the admission port of one tank
and the exhaust port of the other tank are open at the same time, except for a
very brief period, during which, in order to keep up a continuous and
uninterrupted discharge, jet, or stream, the discharge from the newly filled
tank is allowed to begin before the discharge from the other tank has fully
ceased. The discharge takes place through apertures in the bottom of the
tanks, from whence a channel from each tank may pass in a straight line,
one on each side of the steru post through the stern of the vessel, but I prefer
to have but one discharge channel for the two tanks passing through an
aperture formed for this purpose in an enlarged part of the stern post or at
either side of it. I consider the most economical mode of working to consist
in the use of water jets of as large an area as practicable or desirable for the
vessel to which it is applied, and at a low pressure, so as to use a large
amount of atmospheric air in proportion to the steam. I prefer the steam
pressure in the boiler to be not less than about 60 lbs. to the square inch, and
that the orifice or aperture through which the steam issues from the jet should
not be more than one-twelfth of an inch in diameter. The air nozzles used
with the steam jets are of a bore to suit the desired pressure of steam air
in the water tanks. To give an illustration of the power of a jet I may state
that the pressure in the boiler being 65 lbs..one steam jet issuing through a
-thin orifice of inch diameter into an air nozzle inch diameter and
about 8 inches long will throw a jet of water from a water tank through
an aperture of one square inch to a height of eight feet from the bottom of
the tank. Such a steam jet will consume about 1 gallons of water per
hour. If.a higher pressure is required in the tank than the above, which is
equal to about 4 lbs. to the square inch, the diameter and length of the air
nozzle are reduced, and consequently a smaller amount of air but at an
increased pressure is injected and a smaller quantity of water through a smaller
discharge aperture will be thrown to a greater height. If a lower pressure
and a larger delivery of water is required the diameter and length of the air
nozzle are increased, the steam jet and steam pressure are supposed to remain
unaltered. According to the quantity of water to be discharged at a given
pressure a larger or a smaller number of steam jets with corresponding air
nozzles will be required. When a high speed is required with a vessel of

page_text: very fine lines, and when it will therefore be necessary to diminish the weight
of water on board and consequently the size of the tanks as much as possible,
I use a larger proportion of steam with the injected air for discharging
water jets of considerably less area, but at much greater pressure, namely, up
to 20 lbs. per inch, and even more, and with this object I prefer to use tanks
of cylindrical shape, which, whilst being of greater strength also offer a
smaller surface for the condensation of the steam and air. The valves for the
admission of the water into the tanks may either be self-acting, opening from
the pressure of the water outside the tanks, or they may be actuated by
machinery in combination with the valves for the admission and exhaust of
the steam and air. I propose to work these valves by a small donkey engine,
regulated to the proper speed by a governor, and the same engine may be
employed for supplying the steam boilers with water. The number of times the
tanks will be discharged per minute naturally depends partly upon the capacity
of the tanks, the area of the discharge orifice, and the pressure employed, and
I consider 30 to 40 times per minute to be a convenient speed for discharging
and refilling the tanks. With the object of being able to propel the vessel
astern when desirable I place a pair of tanks in the bow of the vessel, with
the discharge orifices passing through the bow, the steam and air being
supplied through a pipe to these tanks from the same steam pipe and steam
jets and air nozzles which are used for the stern tanks, or by a separate
steam pipe and set of jets and nozzles. And for the purpose of facilitating
the steering and otherwise manoeuvring of the vessel I also form passages
governed by valves from the stern and bow tanks through the sides of the
vessel, by means of which the vessel can be completely turned round on its
own centre if required.
The third part of my Invention consists in the application of steam and air
pressure upon the surface of water in tanks as above described for pumping
and raising water. If the height to which the water is to be raised is not
more than the height of a column of water equal to the steam and air
pressure in the tank it is simply necessary to attach a discharge pipe reaching
to and opening at the required elevation. If the water is to be raised higher
a second tank is placed at the discharge end of the first pipe, and, a steam
and air tube is made to reach to this second tank. In the same manner a
third tank and so on may be used, each placed at a corresponding height
above the last preceeding one. I prefer, however, when water has to be
raised to a considerable height to do it at one lift by employing a corre-
sponding steam and air pressure. For this purpose I use apparatus in which
the steam and air does not come in contact with the water to be raised,

page_text: The apparatus
the water is to
principally with the object of preventing loss by condensation, which would
result if the steam and air were permitted to come in contact with a large
body of cold water at each discharge of the water supply tank. The first
part of the apparatus may consist in two upright closed cylindrical vessels of
equal diameter, which are connected together at the bottom by a pipe. One
vessel which I call the steam and air vessel is provided at its top with a pipe
for the admission of the steam and air, and also with an exhaust pipe and
valve. The second vessel which I will call the air vessel is of about double
the height and capacity of the other vessel, and for convenience of expla
nation I will call the steam and air vessel A and the air vessel B. The
vessel B is fitted at its top with an inlet valve for admission of atmospheric
air, and with a discharge valve which is weighted, and which leads to a third
vessel or water discharge tank C, which is provided with the necessary inlet
valve, and from the bottom of which a pipe with a foot valve leads to the
required height or place to which the water is to be raised. The tanks A &
B are filled with water up to the level of the top of tank A.
is now worked as follows:-Supposing the height to which
be raised to correspond to a pressure of 25 lbs. per square inch, the requisite
steam and air pressure is brought on to the surface of the water in tank A,
whereby the water will be raised in tank B, compressing the air above it.
As soon as the air pressure in B is equal to 25 lbs., at which the discharge
valve is weighted, the compressed air will pass to the tank C and at once
raise the water through the lift pipe of tank C and discharge it at the
required height. As soon as the water is raised to the top of B, and thereby
all the air expelled from it, the operation of raising water is suspended; the
weighted valve of B will close, and the exhaust valve of A is opened, and the
water from B will return to A to its normal level, the air inlet valve of B
opening at the same time. In tank C the compressed air is let out through
an equilibrium or other valve actuated by a float or otherwise, whereupon
the tank C will fill again with water and the first described operation of
discharging is repeated. To produce a continuous flow of water two sets of
tanks A, B, C, are employed working either into one common lift pipe or
into separate lift pipes. It is clear that from the contact of the water in A
with the steam and air it will gradually become heated, whereby loss by con-
densation of steam in tank A will in a great measure be prevented. I intend
to further utilize the heat given off by the steam in tank A by drawing the feed
water for the boiler from the same, and supplying the same quantity of cold water
to tank B. Apparatus similar to those now-described may be employed for
propelling vessels with fine lines and intended for bigh speed, the lift pipe

page_text: from tank C being replaced by a discharge pipe passing through the stern of
the vessel. I propose to utilize part of the compressed air in tank C when
discharging it from the same by passing it to a receiver or accumulator
weighted for a low pressure, and from such accumulator as blast to the boiler
furnace or other furnace. I also use the apparatus A & B without C simply
for compressing air as described, and I employ the air so compressed for
working rock boring, coal cutting, and other compressed air machines, or as
blast engines for blast furnaces, Bessemer converters, and for other purposes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which it may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details of arrangements herein
set forth; but what I claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly, the use and direct application of injected steam and compressed
air upon the surface of water in closed tanks or holders for the purpose
of discharging the water from the same, in the manner substantially as
described.
Secondly, the application of streams or jets of water discharged from closed
tanks or holders by the aforesaid steam and air pressure for the purpose of
propelling vessels, substantially as described.
Thirdly, the application of the aforesaid steam and air pressure as described
with reference to the apparatus called A, B, & C, for the purpose of pumping
and raising water, in the manner substantially as described.
And, lastly, the mode of compressing air by means of part of the apparatus
described with reference to pumping and raising water, and called A & B,
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Parker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.