IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES. " A
communication from abroad by Joseph Edwin Culver, of Hudson, in
State of New Torso Inited States of America.
Sealed the 31st August 1869, and dated the 20th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th March 1869.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES,'
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the employment of a steam engine and an
atmospheric engine in combination, and relates to a new manner of
utilising the heat force created in a steam boiler.
boiler
of
any suitable size

page_text: and shape is used, and has a furnace built into it. A partition is
arranged transversely across the boiler about two-thirds of its length,
so as to divide the interior into a large or front chamber and a smaller
or rear chamber. The smoke passes from the furnace through a series
of pipes in the front chamber, through the lower part of the partition
and finally into a box set up near the bottom of the small chamber.
The top plate of this box is perforated, and the products of combustion
after passing through the pipes and heating the water in the front
chamber are passed into the box, whence they escape through the
apertures into the water in the rear chamber, heating the same as they
pass up in bubbles to the upper part of the chamber. Inside the front
chamber are arranged two vertical cylinders, open at their lower ends
and having pistons connected by rods to a working beam or its equi-
valent. Outside the boiler are two other larger cylinders forming part
of the atmospheric engine, and having pistons also connected to the
beam. Steam is supplied to the first-named cylinders by inlet pipes
from the upper part of the front chamber of the boiler, and the flow of
steam is regulated by a valve or valves worked in any suitable manner.
A second pipe or pipes connect the cylinders inside to those outside the
boiler and upon the up stroke of the lower piston a valve is opened to
allow the steam to enter the cylinder above, where after performing its
work it will be condensed and drawn off. The up stroke of the piston is
assisted by the pressure of the water in the boiler. In the rear compart-
are placed two other cylinders of similar construction and
arrangement of parts to those in the front chamber. These cylinders are
not connected to any second cylinder or cylinders outside the boiler but
their operation is similar to that described only that the steam and smoke
used are not utilized further but are carried off to feed a heating apparatus
or to be otherwise usefully employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Edward Newton, my executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there.
after 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 Inveu-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES," being a communica-
tion to me from abroad by Joseph Edwin Culver, of Hudson, in the
the
State of New Jersey, in the United States of America, upon
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Edward Newton,
my executors or adminsitrators, 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Edward Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
This Invention consists in the employme.it of a steam engine and an
atmospheric engine combined, and relates to a new manner of utilizing
the heat force created in a steam boiler. The steam engine consists of
a cylinder, piston, piston rod, steam inlet pipe, with valve and steam
exhaust pipe with valve constructed, disposed, arranged, and combined
as follows: The cylinder must be opened at one end beyond the ter-
minus of its piston stroke, the opening communicating at all times
with the boiler. Through this opening the contents of the boiler have
ingress to the cylinder and egress therefrom, and press intermittently
against one side of the piston throughout its to-and-fro motion. The

page_text: size of the opening may be made adjustable so as to regulate the velocity
of the piston stroke thereby. The opposite end of the cylinder just
beyond the reach of its piston stroke must be closed with a steam-tight
head of requisite strength. Through the cylinder head are two openings,
the one communicating with the steam space in the boiler through a
suitable inlet pipe, the other through a suitable exhaust pipe with the
open air, or with a vacuum, or otherwise, as economy or other considera-
tions may dictate These two openings are furnished with a valve
arrangement so operated that when the inlet is closed the exhaust is
open, and when the inlet is open the exhaust is closed. By this means
the cylinder is alternately filled with steam or steam and gases mixed
and emptied of its contents. When the inlet is open and the exhaust
is closed, the pressure per square inch is the same on both sides of the
piston. When the inlet is closed and the exhaust is open, the pressure
on one side of the piston is the same per square inch as that within
the boiler, while against the other side of the piston only the pressure
of the atmosphere is exerted; therefore the piston is driven with
force toward the cylinder head. Machinery moved by this force can
by its accumulated momentum, especially when provided with a fly
wheel, carry the piston back from the cylinder head to the other end
of the cylinder, provided the inlet be open and the exhaust closed.
The piston rod may extend from either side of the piston. If the piston
rod passes through the boiler or through the closed head of the cylinder,
it must work through a stuffing box. The cylinder so provided may be
built without, into, or within the boiler; but for the more economical
employment of the heat force generated in the boiler as well as to avoid
the friction and overheating of the cylinder, piston, and valve mechanism,
especially when the products of combustion are mingled with the steam,
it is preferred to dispose it wholly within the boiler and beneath the
water therein. The cylinder may be used in connection with any suit-
able steam generator, or in connection with any suitable boiler wherein
the steam and the products of combustion are mingled together. It
may be applied to the working beam, oscillating engine, rotating crank,
or to any other suitable mechanism. It may be built horizontal, vertical,
or inclined at any angle.
The atmospheric engine consists of a cylinder, piston, piston rod, steam
pipe with valve, exhaust pipe with valve, and any suitable condensing
apparatus, constructed, disposed, arranged, and combined as follows,
viz. The cylinder should be open at one end so as to allow the atmo-

page_text: sphere to press unremittingly against the outer side of the piston
throughout its to-and-fro motions. The size of this opening may be
made adjustable to regulate the velocity of the piston stroke. The
opposite end of the cylinder must be closed with a steam-tight head of
requisite strength. Through the cylinder head are two openings, the
one communicating with the steam exhaust pipe of the high-pressure
engine, or else directly with the steam space of the boiler if desirable,
the other communicating with a condenser (or with the open air, provided
cold water injections were employed to condense the steam in the cylinder
aforesaid). When steam (or steam and gases) are supplied to the cylinder
of the atmospheric engine from that of the steam engine, the steam
exhaust pipe of the latter becomes also the steam inlet pipe of the former.
The capacity of the cylinder of the atmospheric engine which will work
the steam most economically is found by multiplying the cubic measure
of the steam under pressure which it is intended to receive by the number
of atmospheres of that pressure, for example, if it is to receive five gallons
of steam under a pressure equal to that of four atmospheres, then its
capacity must be four times five gallons. When the exhaust is closed
aud the inlet is open the piston begins its stroke from the cylinder head,
and the steam enters a vacuum where its expansion is such as to reduce
its pressure on the inside of the piston to about the same as that which
the atmosphere exerts on the outside of it more or less. When the stroke
is completed and the cylinder is filled with steam so expanded the steam
inlet is closed and the exhaust leading to the condenser is opened (other-
wise cold water is injected into the cylinder) the steam is condensed, a
vacuum is created in the cylinder, and the piston is forced by atmospheric
pressure back toward the cylinder head. Machinery attached to a fly
wheel driven by this force can by its accumulated momentum carry the
piston through its stroke away from the cylinder head provided the steam
pipe be open. The piston rod may extend from either side of the piston.
If it passes through the closed head of the cylinder it must work through
a stuffing box.
The cylinder should be built outside of the boiler.
When used in connection with the steam engine the two cylinders may
with the greatest economy be placed close together, their axes in the
same right line, and their lengths the same, so that a single piston rod
may extend through both. If the atmospheric engine be used in con-
nection with the high-pressure engine now in use, it must be attached to
the opposite side of the working beam for the motions of the two pistons
must be synchronous in opposite directions. The cylinder may be used

page_text: in connection with any steam boiler. It may also be used in connection
with any suitable steam generator in which the products of combustion
are mingled with the steam. The products of combustion contain nitrogen
which maintains its gaseous state in the condenser and must be removed
with the hot water therefrom by means of the air pump. They also contain
carbonic acid which may be condensed to render the vacuum more perfect
by adding to the cold water supplied to the condenser a requisite proportion
of an alkaline base such as soda, potash, or lime, with which it will
combine to form carbonates. The hot water containing these carbonates
may advantageously be fed to the boiler, more especially if the fuel
consumed contains sulphur. The atmospheric engine may be applied to
the working beam, oscillating engine, rotating crank, or to any other
suitable mechanism. It may be built vertical, horizontal, or inclined at
any angle.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section
of a steam boiler combined with the improved engage; Fig. 2 is a detail
view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the line
x, w, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken in the line y, y, of Fig 1.
A is a steam boiler of suitable size and shape; B is the furnace
which is built into it; C is a partition arranged transversely across the
boiler about one-third of its length from the rear wall of the same, so as
to divide the interior of the boiler into a large or front chamber D and a
smaller or rear chamber E. The smoke passes from the furnace through
a series of pipes F, F, in the front chamber D, and which pass finally
through the lower part of the partition C into a box G set up near the
bottom of the chamber E, as shewn in Fig. 1. The top plate of the
box G is perforated, and the products of combustion after passing through
the pipes F and heating the water in the front chamber D are passed
into the box G, whence they escape through the apertures into the water
in the rear chamber thereby heating the same as they pass up in bubbles
Circulation of the water in the
to the upper part of the chamber E.
front and rear chambers of the boiler is provided by means of aper-
tures a in the lower part and b in the upper part of the partition C. To
prevent the ascending products of combustion from entering the front
chamber through the upper apertures there are funnel-shaped protecting
plates c attached to the back of the partition as shewn in Fig. 1.
These plates guide the ascending bubbles away from the apertures b.
The upper part of the rear chamber E is thus filled with steam and

page_text: smoke while the upper part of D contains steam only. Draught is produced
by means of a blow pipe H, which has two branches entering the furnace
one above and one below the grate. The furnace is to be closed air-tight,
and the air necessary for combustion is supplied through the pipe H. If
the products of combustion are not to be carried into the boiler they may
be conducted away through a pipe I. A valve or damper d is provided
and operates so that when I is open F is closed, and vice versa. The hot
water and steam in the front chamber D are represented to be used to
drive a water motor engine with atmospheric motor attached while the
hot water, steam, and smoke in the rear chamber drive another
separate water motor engine, but the whole boiler may as well be
arranged otherwise whether in connection with this or any other
arrangement of these engines. In the rear part of the chamber D, and
near the two sides of the boiler, are arranged two vertical cylinders J
and J, open at their lower ends, and reaching nearly to the bottom of
the boiler, as shewn in Fig. 3. They form part of the improved water
motor engine. In these cylinders are respectively arranged pistons K, K',
which are with their rods e connected to a working beam L or its equi-
valent. Between the two cylinders J, J', or entirely separate therefrom,
are or may be arranged upon the boiler two other larger cylinders M, M',
having pistons N, N³, the rods f of which are also connected to the
beam L or other equivalent apparatus. These cylinders M, M¹, are part
of the atmospheric engine. It is preferred to have the cylinders J, M,
and J, M, connected with each other so that the power of the water
motor and atmospheric engines may be jointly applied to any suitable
mechanism. They may however be as well arranged separately. When
united they are connected by pipes g, g', in which valves are arranged,
the valves being connected with the mechanism of the engines by which
they are opened and closed at the proper time as herein-after more fully
described. Inlet pipes i, ¹, project from the cylinders J, J', respectively
into the upper part of the front chamber D, that is to say, into the steam so
that they may conduct steam into the cylinders J, J', whenever the valves j
in the pipes i, i, are open. The water under the pistons K, K', tends to
elevate them, and whenever one piston is free to be elevated the other is held
down by steam pressure. Thus, if the water tends to elevate the piston K
the valvej in the pipe is open, so that steam will enter the cylinder J¹
above the piston K¹. The steam pressure in J' will then balance the
action of the water against K¹, and will allow the piston K to be raised
by the water, the valvej of the pipe i being closed. When the upward

page_text: stroke of K is finished the valve ; of i is opened and that of closed
and then steam will enter J above the piston K, and will allow the
piston K to be raised. At the same time the valve h in the exhaust
pipe g is opened, so that the steam contained from the previous stroke
in the cylinder J¹ may by the ascending piston K¹ be allowed to flow and
expand into the cylinder M', the piston N¹ of which is elevated to allow
the steam to enter M'. As soon as the upward stroke of K¹ and N¹
ceases the valve his closed. The cylinders J, J', may be arranged out-
side of the boiler and connected with the same by suitable means, so
that steam, or steam and gases mixed, or water, can freely enter their open
ends, and also steam or steam and gases mixed through the inlet pipe.
The same operation takes place in the cylinders J and M when the
pistons K and N are being elevated the valve h in g is open to let the
steam from Jenter N, and at the end of the upward stroke the valve is
again closed, and cold water is introduced in M to cause condensa-
tion to take place. The water is discharged from the cylinders M, M',
through suitable openings, the valves of which are opened by the
descending pistons N, N¹, or otherwise. The pipe is also provided with
valves m in each of its branches, so that the cold water will only be
injected into the cylinders M, M', when their pistons are raised, and not
otherwise. The mechanism for operating the various valves can be
as indicated in Figures 1 and 3 connected with the beam L, or other-
wise.
I do not confine myself to the use of any peculiar mechanism for con-
densing the steam, for connecting the pistons, and for operating the valves,
nor do I claim that shewn.
The cylinders M, M', should be open on top to allow a constant air
pressure on their pistons.
The rods of the pistons N, N³, should pass
through such open ends, but may be passed through stuffing boxes on the
closed ends if desired.
On the back part of Fig. 1, and in Fig. 4, is represented a water
motor engine separated entirely from the atmospheric engine. In this
the two cylinders O, O¹, similar in construction and arrangement to the
cylinders J, J', are arranged in suitable position on the boiler, they being
represented as inserted in the rear chamber E of the same, and are
provided with pistons P, P¹, respectively, whose rods n connect with a
beam R, or otherwise. Inlet pipes o, o¹, extend from these cylinders O, O',
respectively into the upper steam and smoke compartment of the rear

page_text: Exhaust pipes 7, I
chamber; these pipes are provided with valves p.
extend from the upper parts of the cylinders O, O¹, to the outside of the
boiler, and have valves s. The operation in these cylinders is similar to
that in the cylinders J, J', only that the steam and smoke used for causing
the downward motion of the pistons is not utilized further on the atmo-
spheric engine, but is carried off in the pipes 7, 71, to feed a heating
apparatus,or to be otherwise usefully employed. When the piston P is raised
by the water the valve p of the pipe o, o¹, is open to let steam press upon
the piston P¹, while the valve s of the pipe r is also open to allow the steam
previously forced into the cylinder O to be discharged. When the piston P
has arrived at the end of its upward stroke the valve s in r is closed, and
also the valve p in o', while the valves p in o and s in r² are open to allow
the steam to enter above the piston P, and to be discharged from
above P¹.
In the accompanying Drawing the cylinders are represented as working
in duplicate. Such arrangement is by no means indispensable. Each
cylinder with its appurtenances constitutes an elementary engine.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me as aforesaid, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent,―
First. The steam engine herein described, consisting of one or more
cylinders J or O, each connected at one end constantly, and at the
other end by an inlet pipe with the steam boiler, and of one or more
pistons K or P, and of the exhaust pipes, as herein shewn and
described.
Second. The atmospheric engine herein described, consisting of the
cylinder M or M', connected with a steam pipe, and with suitable con-
densing apparatus, so that their pistons N, N, will partly be operated by
the action of the steam worked expansively and partly by that of a vacuum,
as set forth.
Third. The combination of the herein described steam engine and
atmospheric engine arranged, as set forth.
Fourth. The joint application of water and steam, or their equivalents,
acting on opposite sides of a piston, as and for the purpose herein shewn
and described.
Fifth. The alternate application of steam, or its equivalent, worked
expansively, and a vacuum to the same side of a piston to move the same
as specified.

page_text: Sixth. The herein described steam boiler with or without the transverse
partition in combination with the steam and atmospheric engines herein
described, or their equivalents.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal. the Twentieth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)