IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, BOILERS, FURNACES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Hopkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th August
1855:
i
I, WILLIAM HOPKINSON,, of Huddersfield,, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES, BOILERS, FURNACES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to
be as follows:-
Firstly, in the use of one high-pressure cylinder between two condensing
cylinders, the high-pressure making two strokes for one of each of the
condensing, by which each condensing cylinder is fed alternately from each
exhaust of the, high pressure. By this arrangement of apparatus I am also
enabled to work a common force-pump by a rotary motion, instead of the air-
pump now in general use.
Secondly, in placing two or more-fire tubes in each boiler, extending part
way longitudinally, so that the heat or fire shall pass through each tube as
well as under the boilers, by which I obtain an additional heating surface;
or, I place a partition of brick or other material under the boiler, and near the
tubes, so as to force the whole of the heat through the tubes, and cause it to
return under one of the boilers towards the fire, then cross to the other boiler
near the partition, and thus escape under the other boiler to the chimney in
the ordinary way.
Thirdly, in an improved arrangement of the fire bars of furnaces, so that
the centre part shall be raised in an arch, or other convenient form, by which

page_text: I obtain in two parts of the furnace a thick strong body of fire, and in the
raised part a small or thin and hotter body of fire, so that the heat and smoke
from both parts will unite, and by means of air admitted under the raised part
the oxygen will assist to cause combustion of the smoke.
Fourthly, in an improved arrangement of the valve to feed the boiler.
And, fifthly, in an improved method of working an equilibrium valve by
means of a mercury syphon, to cause a more reduced uniform pressure from
high-pressure boilers, which improvements will be clearly understood by
reference to the accompanying outline Drawings, and the letters of reference
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a view of my arrangement of the steam engine. a, a, represent
the two condensing cylinders; b, the high-pressure cylinder; c, c, pipes to
feed the condensing cylinders alternately, as the piston d makes two strokes
for one of each of the pistons e, e; fis a pinion working into the wheel g,
the wheel having double the amount of teeth of the pinion; h is a bevil wheel,
fixed on the shaft of the pinion wheel, working into the bevil wheel i, which is
fixed on the shaft of an ordinary force-pump worked by a rotary motion.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of a boiler with my improvements attached;
and Fig. 3 an end view of the same, shewing my improved arrangement of
furnaces; in which k represents the position of the tubes; 1, the furnace or
fire-place; m, the slutch pipe; and n, the fire bars.
Fig. 4 is a view of my improved valve, in which o represents an ordinary
tap to let out the spare water that the boiler does not require.
Fig. 5 is a view of my improved method of working the equilibrium valve,
in which p represents a syphon of mercury, with a cistern or reservoir at the
top, to receive the mercury as the pressure èncreases. In the said cistern or
reservoir I place a float q, of metal or other material, for the purpose of
opening and closing the valve as the mercury rises and falls.