A NEW MODE OF GENERATING STEAM AND EXPANDING GASES COMBINED FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN DEVAPORISING STEAM, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN •
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hurd, of Grove House, Walton,
near Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, and Edward
Thornhill Simpson, of Thornhill House, Walton, aforesaid, Colliery
Proprietor, for the Invention of "A NEW MODE OF GENERATING STEAM
AND EXPANDING GASES COMBINED FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, ALSO
IN DEVAPORISING STEAM, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN •
"
Sealed the 14th October 1874, and dated the 31st July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hurd and
Edward. Thornhill Simpson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 81st July 1873.
We, FREDERICK HURD, of Grove House, Walton, near Wakefield,
in the County of York, Engineer, and EDWARD THORNHILL SIMPSON,
of Thornhill House, Walton, aforesaid, Colliery Proprietor, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW MODE OF GENERATING
STEAM AND EXPANDING GASES COMBINED FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN

page_text: DEVAPORISING STEAM, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR Apparatus emploYED THEREIN,”
to be as follows:-
.
Our Invention is particularly applicable for underground use, such as
tunnelling, locomotion in mines, the working of coal cutting, boring,
pumping water or air in mines, or locomotion for underground railways,
such as the Metropolitan line, for marine purposes, or such places
requiring steam power where fire and smoke must not be exposed to
the atmosphere, or where exhaust steam is necessary to be converted
into dry air in lieu of vapour, or for any other use where steam power is
requisite at a minimum cost. This new motive power generator consists
of a fire receptacle placed in the interior of the water space of a steam
boiler of any form, and this fire receptacle is provided with a self-acting
breech-loading contrivance at the feed entrance in such a manner that
the said fire receptacle may be recharged without any possibility of escape
of gases from the same; the said fire receptacle is also provided with
similar contrivances for the discharge of any portion of fuel that may
not be consumed. The said fire receptacle is so constructed that the
exhaust steam from engines worked by the said generator is conveyed
to the interior or around the said fire receptacle, in such a manner as
not to come into direct contact with the fire contained therein, but into
a chamber composed of blacklead and fire-clay, or any other material
most suitable to withstand intense heat, where on its entrance it is
instantaneously devaporised and exhausted without back pressure. The
said fire receptacle is also provided with a suitable self-acting valve
arrangement to let off the intensely expanded and heated gases when
they arrive at any such pressure above that of the steam and water
compartment, as may be desired, so that they will let off the said gases
through self-acting back pressure valves along with the steam that may
be required for motive power or other use, without the possibility of the
said steam or water finding its way into the said fire receptacle.
The said fire and steam compartments are also constructed in such a
manner that by any carelessness in letting the steam exceed the
working pressure it is conveyed to the converting chamber above
referred to, where it is also devaporised.
The fire compartment is also constructed in such a manner as to be
self-acting or regulated at will, so that the inlet of compressed air or
any other equivalent containing a good density of oxygen shall not
return against its own pressure.

page_text: locomotion, or stationary.
Tenthly. The efficiency for marine use.
Eleventhly. The use where insurance is high in consequence of
exposed fires in existing steam generators of ordinary use.
Twelfthly. The adaptability for street or road locomotives, to tram cars,
or other vehicles.
Thirteenthly. The adaptability and safety for farming uses, threshing
corn and the like, or any other use where exposed fires, smoke, and
steam vapour are detrimental in confined buildings or other places.
The self-acting breech-loading contrivance alluded to in page 2
consists of a series of compartments each containing a charge of fuel;
these compartments are brought in succession in line with the firing
door by an intermittent wheel or other equivalent, and the charge
of fuel is forced into the fire-box by a plunger or other suitable
apparatus.
=
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Hurd and Edward Thornhill Simpson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, FREDERICK 2
HURD, of Grove House, Walton, near Wakefield, in the County of
York, Engineer, and EDWARD THORNHILL SIMPSON, of Thornhill House,
Walton, aforesaid, Colliery Proprietor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Frederick Hurd and Edward Thornhill
Simpson, Her special licence that we, the said Frederick Hurd and
Edward Thornhill Simpson, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Frederick Hurd and Edward Thornhill
Simpson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: 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 "A NEW MODE OF GENERATING STEAM AND EXPANDING GASES COMBINED
FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, ALSO IN DEVAPORISING STEAM, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Frederick Hurd and Edward Thornhill Simpson,
our executors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of our or 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 we, the said Frederick Hurd and Edward
Thornhill Simpson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is
to say) :-
The nature of our Invention consists in an improved steam and power
generator in which the products of combustion from the fire receptacle
are returned to the same by means of an injector actuated by compressed
air or other equivalent agent for drawing off the products of combustion,
and forcing them again into the fire receptacle with or without an
admixture of compressed air or other inflammable fluid or liquid; also
in devaporising escape or exhaust steam, and the machinery or apparatus
for effecting the objects above referred to.
Our Invention is particularly applicable for underground use, such as
tunnelling, locomotion in mines, the working of coal cutting, boring,
pumping water or air in mines, or locomotion for underground railways,
such as the Metropolitan line, for marine purposes or any such places
requiring steam power where fire and smoke must not be exposed to the
atmosphere or where exhaust steam is necessary to be converted into
dry air in lieu of vapour, or for any other use where steam power is
requisite at a minimum cost.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily
nasried into oneration we will proceed to desmithe the thron

page_text: panying Sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the figures and
letters marked thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our new motive power
generator, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. . The fire receptacle a is
placed in the interior of and at the lower end of the vertical boiler b, 1
and it is surrounded on all sides by water; the boiler 6 is mounted on the
· stand c. The fuel is fed into the fire receptacle a through the opening a²
which is closed by the door valve d, which is opened and closed by the
hand wheel d³, worm d³, and segment & fixed to the axle of the lever d*
to which the door valve d is secured. The fuel is fed into the vertical
hopper & and falls into the horizontal compartment a³, in which is a
piston & made of soapstone or other equivalent, and moved to and fro
by steam or other power.
When the door valve d is open, as shewn by
dotted lines, it closes the lower end of the hopper to prevent the
escape of gases from the fire receptacle, and the piston d' is then caused
to advance to throw the fuel from the compartment & into the fire-
receptacle a. To the roof of the fire receptacle a are secured the lower-
ends of the tubes e, through which the products of combustion from the
fire receptacle are conveyed into the combustion chamber f. This
chamber is connected to the injector g (which is placed in the feed
water tank h, and is provided with check valves) by means of the pipe i,
and the requisite current of compressed air for drawing off and forcing
the products of combustion from the pipe i into the fire receptacle a is
supplied to the injector through the pipe g¹. The dense hydrogen and
other gases drawn through the pipe i by the oxygen contained in the..
compressed air from the pipe 9³ mingle at the junction of the injector.
The hand wheel g³ is connected to a valve for shutting off the compressed
air or for admitting water to the injector, and the hand wheel g' is for
regulating the quantity of compressed air and for shutting off the same.
The steam that is generated passes off through the perforated pipe j to
the discharge pipe, in which is the ordinary stop valvej".
The combustion chamber ƒ is provided with the self-acting back
pressure valve k to let off into the discharge pipe or back again into
the boiler when the valve is closed the highly expanded and heated
gases when they arrive at a pressure above that of the steam, thus
neutralising the injurious effects of carbonic acid or other gases, this
valve also prevents the steam or water finding its way into the fire
receptacle.

page_text: At the lower part of the fire receptacle is the opening a³ furnished
with the door valve 7, which is opened and closed by the hand wheel ♬
and screw which passes through a swivel nut in the lever ♬ fixed to-
the same axle as the lever to which the door valve is secured; by
this arrangement any portion of the fuel that may not be consumed can
be discharged into the stand c at intervals.
The fire receptacle a may be single-or in one shell as above described
or duplicate as shewn in Fig. 2, in this latter case each compartment of
the receptacle must be provided with a separate feed apparatus which
can be charged alternately, but the same injector will answer for both
compartments by using branch pipes.
Fig. 3 represents a modification of our improved steam generator for
marine use, shown without self-acting feeds for fuel, but when the self-
acting feed is applied, as shewn in Sheet 3, it is in direct communication
with the coal bunkers. In this instance the fire receptacle a is placed
near one end of the horizontal boiler b, which is fixed on the stand c.
The firing door valve d is opened and closed as before described, and the
tubes e convey the products of combustion from the fire receptacle a to
the combustion chamber f. In this arrangement the injector, which is
not shewn in the "Drawing, may be placed in the feed water tank h.
The back pressure valve k is placed on the roof of the fire receptacle. The
steam is taken to the discharge pipe through the perforated pipe j.
The opening a³ for the discharge of the unconsumed portions of fuel is
closed by the perforated cone m, which is made of cast iron, blacklead,
and fire-clay, soapstone, or other suitable material, and the steam that
blows off from the safety valve n, or the exhaust steam from the engine
that is driven by the steam from the generator is conveyed into the
hollow arm F, the axle of which passes through a stuffing box. From the
hollow arm the steam passes up the centre hole in the cone m, and
then down the small perforations around it, as shown by the arrows, and
in its passage the steam is devaporized before it enters the open compart-
ment of the stand o.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 8, shewing the feed water tank h at
the side of the boiler. The products of combustion from the chamber f
pass through the pipe to the injector g, by which they are drawn off and
forced into the fire receptacle, as before described. When owing to any
neglect in the feed the level of the water in the boiler becomes too low

page_text: the injector can be made to force water from the tank h into the boiler.
To accomplish this the slide valve placed at g³, which is actuated by a self-
acting governor float in the boiler, is moved to close the port into the fire
receptacle, and to open the port of the pipe 9. The injector then forces
the water that ascends through the pipe 9 in combination with the
products of combustion passing through the pipe i into the boiler. This
mode of feeding the boiler is only to be used on emergencies.
On Sheet 2 Figs. 5 and 6 are two elevations of an ordinary vertical
steam boiler to which our improvements are applied. In this instance
the fire receptacle a is placed near the bottom of the boiler b, which is
fixed on the stand c. The swing shovel d is fixed to an axle, on which
is fixed the handle d", which is moved suddenly by hand or by power, as
will be explained hereafter. The fuel is supplied to the hopper d¹º, and
falls by its own gravity into the upper compartment of the chambered
barrel o, to which an intermittent motion is given by hand or other
power. In Fig. 5 the barrel o is shewn as being turned partly round
by the lever o¹, on which is a catch taking into a ratchet wheel o², but
the mode of turning the barrel o can be varied. The lower end of the
hopper and the barrel o and the feeding shovel d are surrounded by a
water chamber d³.
The products of combustion from the fire receptacle a are carried off
by the chamber f, which is prolonged into the pipe i, and the lower end
of this pipe is in communication with the injector g in the feed water
tank h, and the injector draws off and forces part of the products of
combustion again into the fire receptacle through the pipes i³, which are
surrounded by a water casing. The pipe i is kept from burning by
steam, which passes from the boiler through the pipe f¹ into the casing
surrounding it, and is conveyed to the motive-power engine by the
branch pipe f. The hollow arm and the cone m are for devaporising
the waste steam, as described above in reference to Fig. 3, and the back &
pressure valve k is in communication with the pipe to convey the
expanded gases into the water in the boiler..
Fig. 7 is an elevation of an ordinary vertical engine and boiler
combined, to which our improvements are applied. Fig. 8 is a front
view, and Fig. 9 a detached view of part of the same. The steam
cylinder p is fixed to the boiler 6, and the crank shaft q revolves in
bearings also fixed to the boiler, as usual. To the crank shaft or to a
1

page_text: "
side shaft is fixed the crank g', which works the pump for compressing
the air for the injector, by which the products of combustion are drawn
off and forced into the fire receptacle, as before described. The air
pump is provided with a receiver, and with a safety valve, to prevent
"the overcharge of the air forced into the fire receptacle. On the side
shaft is a sliding clutch box and a double cam, one part of which
actuates the lever o¹, in which is a stud for the catch of the ratchet
wheel o³, which is fixed on the axle of the feed barrel o, shown in Fig. 6,
and the other part of the cam actuates the lever d³ on the axle of the
shovel d. When fuel is required the attendant moves the sliding clutch
box into gear with the clutches on the double cam, thereby bringing
first the lever o¹ into action to move the feed compartment barrel o
partly round, and then the lever de into action to throw the fuel into the
fire receptacle, or the clutch box may be moved into and out of action
by self-acting apparatus, consisting of the adjustable dial cam 8, see
Fig. 9. This cam is divided into hours or portions of an hour, and it is
turned round by a worm and wheel from the crank or side shaft. The
cam is connected to the sliding clutch box by a lever and link, as shown
in Fig. 8. By this means the feed can be regulated according to the
steam required, without the aid of an attendant.
Fig. 10 is an elevation of a portable engine to which our improvements
are applied. The steam cylinder p is fixed on the boiler 6, as usual, and
the variations in the cut-off are effected by the governor acting on a
vibrating link hinged to a fixed centre, the beam levert causing the
valve or eccentric rod to rise or fall to vary the cut-off, according to the
power exerted by the engine. The crank shaft o̟ works the air pump r, as
before described. The fire receptacle a is supplied with fuel by means
of the hopper du, rotary feed compartment barrel o, and shovel d,
the barrel and shovel being worked by hand levers, as shewn, or by
power, as will be described hereafter. The compressed air from the
air pump is conveyed by the pipe to the injector g,- which is in
communication with the under side of the fire receptacle by the pipe s².
The back pressure valve % is fixed on the combustion chamber f, and
when the pressure in the chamber fexceeds that of the steam the gases
escape into the boiler, thereby neutralising the carbonic acid or other
injurious gases given off by the fuel. The exhaust steam is conveyed
into the hollow arm 1, and from thence into.the cone m, by which it is
devaporised, as above described.
"

page_text: On Sheet 3 Fig. 11 represents a locomotive engine especially adapted
for underground mining purposes, but which may be applied to ordinary
railways constructed according to our Invention. pare the steam
cylinders; q, the main crank shaft, from which are coupled the leading
and trailing wheels. The crank of the trailing wheels is connected to 5
the beam r¹, the upper end of which is connected to the air
pump r.
The beam ¹ is also connected to the lever o¹ of the feed barrel o, shewn
in Figs. 6 and 10, and to the lever d' of the shovel d. The fire recep-
tacle a, the boiler b, the tubes e, the pipe i, from the combustion
chamber to the injector 9, are similar to those shewn in Fig. 10. The 1
back pressure valve k is in communication with the pipe ", which is
connected to the usual stationary valve u, constructed so as to convey
the steam combined with the highly heated and expanded gases escaping
through the valve k to the cylinders, or back again into the boiler when
the engines are not working. This locomotive is constructed so that the 1
driver may be at the front of the engine, and consequently in the best
position for seeing what is ahead.
Fig. 12 is an end view with the trunk of the boilers in section; and
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of a smokeless steam
car constructed according to our improvements. The steam generator 2
consists of the fire receptacle a, which is supplied with fuel in the
manner before described, and which is contained in the lower part of the
duplicate steam boiler 6, which is oblong in section, in order that it may
occupy less space sideways at the outside of the car. Above the com-
bustion chambers fare connected the upright portions of the boiler 6¹; 2
these portions of the boiler are connected to the horizontal air chambers 6º,
to which are connected the vertical water tanks 6, the lower ends of
which are in communication with the tank h, in which is the injector 9,
and which surrounds the feed apparatus. The feeding barrel o and the
shovel d are worked from the crank shaft q, or by hand, and the air 3
pump r, which is placed between the cylinders p, is also worked from
the centre crank of the three-throw crank shaft q.
When the car is going down hill the cylinders p and air pump * are
made to force air into the air chambers 6*, which may be in communica-
tion with the vertical water tanks 6³, or separate, the air so collected in 3
the chambers 6º, being kept in reserve for the furnace.
That portion of the sides and ends of the car usually glazed may be
left open in summer and closed in winter with portable glass frames.

page_text: The open sides of the car may be closed by Venetian blinds made of any
transparent material, as shewn at x, see Fig. 12. The car is supported
on four wheels, two of which are drivers and two steerers, actuated by
worm gear in the ordinary manner. The principal parts of the whole
car are made by preference of soft sheet steel.
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of an ordinary two-flued boiler to
which our improvements are applied; in this view the feed is shown
self-acting, and above the hopper d is placed a pair of crushing rollers v,
which reduce the coal to the proper size. These rollers are connected
by gearing, and a pulley on the axle of one of the rollers gives motion
to the double crank shaft v¹, one crank being connected to the lever o' of
the feed barrel o, and the other to the lever ď of the shovel d. The
injector g draws and forces the products of combustion from the fire
receptacle a through the pipe i, as before described, and when combined
with compressed air, liquids, or fluids, they are forced through perfora-
tions in the water chest a³ again into the fire receptacle a, or they may
be allowed to pass off through the valve g³ into the water tanks w, the
surface of the water being covered with sawdust, cork cuttings, or other
floating matter to absorb the deleterious gases.

page_text: Ninthly. The efficiency for underground use in mining operations,
locomotive or stationary.
Tenthly. The neutralising of carbonic acid and other injurious gases.
Eleventhly. The efficiency for marine use.
Twelfthly. The use where insurance is high, in consequence of the
exposed fires of ordinary steam generators.
Thirteenthly. The adaptability for street or road locomotives, to tram
cars, or other vehicles.
Fourteenthly. The adaptability and safety for farming uses, threshing
corn, and the like, or any other use where exposed fires, smoke, and 1
steam vapour are detrimental in buildings or other places.
And lastly. The simplicity of contrivance for drawing off the products
of combustion from ordinary furnaces, and discharging them into tanks
containing water to heat the same.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described several 1
convenient modes of applying the same, we declare that we claim,―
First. The improved steam and power generator herein-before
described, in which the products of combustion from the fire receptacle
are returned to the same by means of an injector actuated by compressed
air or other equivalent agent for drawing off the products of combustion, 2
and forcing them again into the fire receptacle with or without an
admixture of compressed air or other inflammable fluid or liquid.
Secondly. The apparatus worked either by hand or power for
supplying fuel to the fire receptacle, whereby the escape of gases is
prevented.
Thirdly. Surrounding the feeding apparatus with a water or steam
jacket to prevent the undue heating of the parts.
2
Fourthly. The application of the self-acting back pressure valve marked
k, or other equivalent, to allow the heated gases to escape into the steam
feed pipe or into the boiler when the pressure of the gases in the fire 3
receptacle exceeds that of the steam, and to neutralize the carbonic acid
or other injurious gases given off by the combustion of the fuel.
Fifthly. Discharging or drawing off and forcing by an injector or its
equivalent the products of combustion and injurious gases from ordinary

page_text: furnaces into tanks containing water, on the surface of which is a
stratum of sawdust, cork cuttings, or other floating materials, to absorb
the injurious gases that are not effectually neutralised by the water, also
in using the said heated water for feeding the boiler, or for other
purposes.
Sixthly. Devaporising exhaust or escape steam by causing it to pass
through the heated apparatus marked m, or any equivalent thereof.
And lastly. The general combinations and arrangements of the various
modifications of our Invention for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Hurd, for myself and on
behalf of the said Edward Thornhill Simpson, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.