IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cass, of Blue Pits, near Rochdale, .
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Millwright, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 9th March 1855, and dated the 26th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cass at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th October 1852.
1, JOHN CASS, of Blue Pits, near Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer and Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES" to be as
follows:-
I adopt an improved arrangement of the several parts of the steam
engine, so as to combine the use of high and low pressure steam by.
using more than one cylinder to one receiver, or several cylinders to
each receiver, with direct action for all of them. Also an improved
construction or arrangement of the air pump, by which I return the
water from the bottom of it, instead of the usual method, and which I
work from the bottom of the high pressure cylinder. By my improved
arrangement of the cylinders, and the manner or method by which

page_text: I connect the piston rods with levers or connecting rods (dispensing
entirely with the use of beams), I obtain a more uniform motion
than has hitherto been accomplished, as well as the action being direct,
because I do not allow the cranks to bear on all their centres at the
same time, thus economising power, steam, and fuel, space or room in
the engine house, expense of building the engine house, and foundation
bed for engine, as well as the aforesaid advantages.
The accompanying sketch will more fully explain my Invention, but
which which I desire it to be distinctly understood is merely an outline
sketch, which I will more fully explain in my Complete Specification.
Fig. 1, represents an elevation of my plan of connecting the two
cylinders a.
Fig. 2, a plan showing the connection of four cylinders with the
necessary wheel gearing, &c.; and,
Thows on alovation of the ai
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Cass in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN CASS, of Blue Pits, near Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer and Millwright, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
and in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Cass, Her
especial license that I, the said John Cass, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Cass, 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,
excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Cass, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and scal, 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 John Cass, 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, that is to say:
My Invention relates to improvements in the steam engine, by which
I combine the advantages of high and low pressure steam by using
four or more cylinders to each receiver, and connecting all the piston
rods together by wheels, rods, or other convenient contrivance, so as to
gain a direct action with a steady and uniform motion to all of them
without the use of beams. These my improvements are applicable to
either vertical, diagonal, or horizontal engines, and may be worked by
high pressure, compound, or condensing steam. This my improved
method of connection is peculiarly applicable to four engines where
great power is required, say one hundred horse power, by which con-
nection I use four twenty-five horse engines, so that it is evident there.
will continually be fifty horse power in operation at every position of
the crank, which must be a saving of power as well as securing a more
steady and uniform motion even without any fly wheel. It will also
be evident to the practical engineer that this method of connection is
equally applicable to two or three engines as well as four or more, but
I have stated four particularly, as considering the advantages greater
where a great power is used than where small engines only are re-
quired. By this arrangement the construction of the engines as well
as the engine house and bed will cost much less money than on the old
plans, there will also be a great saving of fuel, and they will be less
liable to accidents by break downs. I make the air pump or air
pumps with double action, and give them the same length of stroke as

page_text: the cylinder working the piston rod through the bottom of the cylinder,
or by the cross head at the top to guide the piston rod; I also force
-the principal part of the water out at the bottom of the air pump or
pumps, and the air and vapour out at the top of it, instead of the usual
manner. I make the bucket solid, same as the piston, and connect
the top part of the air pump with the top part of the condenser and
exhaust pipe, and the bottom part of the air pump with the bottom part
of the condenser, with proper valves at the top and bottom thereof; by
this arrangement of the air pump I obtain a better vacuum between
the piston and the water in the condenser, and by forcing the water
out at the bottom I save the labour and expense of lifting it up to
the top. I make the throttle valve in the form of a double dish, both
Jon one spindle, and work the governor or regulator by hydrostatic
power, either from the pump rods or turned by a strap; it may be fixed
'at any convenient place or position, and will move the lever or throttle
spindle one half of a circle, which is a desideratum much wanted, and
'may be applied to any kind of engines at a very little expense. I also
work the valves by the cross head or piston rod, either at the top or
underneath the side pipes. I may here remark, that my improved air
pump and condenser are applicable to any kind of engines, and if the
high pressure cylinders are worked with compound steam they may
discharge either into the low pressure cylinders or into a general
receiver.
These my improvements will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which the samo letters
of reference are used to represent similar parts where different
views or diagrams are shewn. Fig. 1, is a front elevation, shewing
four engines connected together on my improved plan; and Fig. 2, a
side elevation thereof. a, represents the high pressure cylinder; b, the
low pressure cylinder; c, the main shaft; c', the second motion shaft,
which may be fixed either at the top, side, or under the driving
wheels d; e, the cross head for the parallel motion; f, the slide slotted
for the steam valves; g, the levers, connected to the apparatus for
moving the steam valve; h, the pump rods, connected to the cross head;
i, the pump to supply the boiler; k, the air pumps; 7, the valves at the

page_text: top and bottom of the air pump for the discharge of the water and
vapour; m, the wells for hot water; n, the condenser; and o, the valve
for drawing the vapour from the condenser; p, the steam pipe from the
boiler; g, the steam pipe from high pressure to low pressure cylinders;
and r, the exhaust pipe from the low pressure cylinders to the condenser.
If any fly wheel should be required it may be put on the second motion
shaft, and serve to communicate power to two or more rooms.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of my said im-
provements in steam engines, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein described, as
such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim as of my Invention, and which to the best of my
knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within this realm,-
Firstly, the combination and arrangement of mechanism herein de-
scribed for combining the use of high and low pressure steam, and of
connecting four or more engines together, so as not to allow the cranks
to bear on all the centres at the same time, whether the cranks be
placed above or below the cylinders. Secondly, the improved action of
the air pump and direct action of the steam valve, as herein described;
and, Thirdly, the method of working the governor or regulator by
hydrostatic power, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cass, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the said John Cass in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JOHN CASS. (L.S.)