CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND INDICATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM, AND FOR FILTERING WATER TO BE SUPPLIED TO BOILERS, ALEO IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAM VESSELS SHIPS
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
TATIAM and DAVID CHEETHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Second day of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in
the fourteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Tatham and David Cheetham, Her especial
license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said John Tatham
and David Cheetham, our exors, adiñiors, and assigns, and such others as we, the
said John Tatham and David Cheetham, our exors, adñiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within England, and Wales, and the Town of Berwick
upon Tweed, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND INDICATING THE PRESSURE OF STEAM, AND FOR
FILTERING WATER TO BE SUPPLIED TO BOILERS, ALEO IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO
STEAM VESSELS OR SHIPS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that we, the said John Tatham and David Cheetham, or one of us, shall causo
a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the

page_text: date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Tatham, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof, that is to say :-
Our improvements refer, Firstly, to locomotive steam engines; this part of
our Invention consisting in the employment of an additional steam cylinder or
cylinders, into which the steam is allowed to pass, and act expansively upon
the piston or pistons thereof, after it has exerted its elastic force within the
cylinder or cylinders ordinarily employed; and also in a peculiar mode of ar-
ranging the driving parts of locomotive engines. Secondly, our improvements
consist in a novel arrangement of apparatus for generating steam; the main
feature of this part of our improvements being the employment of a series of
tubes placed so as to cause the products of combustion to pass transversely
from one flue to another, arranged parallel to the side of the boiler. Thirdly,
the application of a chamber applied to the under part of a steam boiler ex-
tending, below the bottom, but in communication with the interior thereof, for
the purpose of receiving impurities. Fourthly, an apparatus for heating water
previous to its being introduced into a steam generator. This we accomplish
by causing the water to pass into a chamber placed between the chimney and
the boiler, which chamber is provided with a number of tubes, through which
the products of combustion and heated air are caused to pass on their way to
the chimney by the action of a revolving fan. Fifthly, in placing the fire bars
of steam generators transversely, instead of longitudinally. Sixthly, in an
arrangement of apparatus which, through the agency of a column of mercury,
lifts the safety valve of steam generators when the pressure shall have arrived
at a certain point, thus indicating the expansive force present, and at the same
time providing an escape for the undue pressure. Seventhly, the application
of a filtering apparatus for purifying the water, previously to its being injected
into the condenser of steam engines. Eighthly, the application of a system of
pipes to steam ships, from which steam may be allowed to flow at pleasure for
the purpose of extinguishing fire.
And in order that these several points may be fully understood, we will
proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Our first improvement in locomotive steam engines is shewn under two
arrangements in Sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings. In the
former of these, a and b are two steam cylinders, passing through the glands c, c,

page_text: of each of which there is a piston rod d, provided with a piston for each cylinder
of any ordinary construction, the two therefore moving simultaneously back-
ward and forward in their respective cylinders. The rod d passes out at one.
end, and is attached to a slide c, which moves in parallel guides f. f. The
slide e is provided with a connecting rod 9, 9, coupled in the usual manner to
a crank of the driving wheel h, h. The slide valve box, through which the
steam passes from the boiler is shewn at i, the passages being opened and
closed by any of the usual methods. To the eduction ports of the cylinder a.
is connected a pipe j, j, which at its other end is attached to a slide valve box
k, mounted upon the cylinder b, and through which steam may be admitted
alternately to either side of the piston by a suitable motion imparted to the
valve rod, through any ordinary agency. Steam being admitted from the
boiler into the cylinder a, the piston will be driven forward, and the exit steam
pass through the eduction passages, but instead of escaping at once to the
atmosphere will pass along the pipe j, j, and from thence through the valve
box into the second and larger cylinder 6; here it will exert its expansive
force upon the piston, driving it in the same direction as that in the first
cylinder a, a shifting of the valves in the boxes i and k producing, as in
ordinary engines of one cylinder, a motion in the opposite direction; the two
pistons therefore act together for effecting the revolution of the driving wheel
b, b. We have shewn the force pump at m, worked by a projection from the
under part of the slide e. In Fig. 1, of Sheet 2, we have represented a modi-
fication of the foregoing principle.
In this instance the cylinders a and b are placed, between two driving wheels
c, c, and are provided with guides d, d, in which a slide e moves. To this slide
is attached a cross head f, f, carrying the piston rods 9, 9, and to it also are
connected two rods h, h, which at their other ends are coupled to cranks upon
the axles of the driving wheels c, c. The valve boxes through which the steam
is admitted are not shewn in the Drawing, they being on the inward side of
the cylinders, but they are of the ordinary arrangement, and the motions of
their valves are regulated,, and suitable passages are provided for allowing the
steam, after it has operated in the cylinder a, to flow into the cylinder b, and
thereby exerting its expansive force upon the piston act in concert with the
steam now in the first cylinder a, so as to effect the revolution of the driving
wheels c, c. The force pump is shewn at i, deriving motion from the cross
head f. The rods of the valves i and k may be connected together, and worked
by the excentric, or thay may be connected to separate motions, in which case
the necessary apparatus must be applied to that through which the steam first
.passes.
Wo have shewn certain methods of carrying out this part of our

page_text: Invention; we do not intend, however, to confine ourselves thereto, as many
alterations may be made without departing from the principle involved. For
example, in the accompanying Drawings we suppose a pair of cylinders similar
to those described placed at each side of the engine, but, if desired, one only
at each side, as in the ordinary arrangement, be adopted, the exit steam from
both of which may pass into one additional cylinder placed in any convenient
part of the engine, and there by its expansive force co-operate with that in the
two other cylinders. Instead also of the steam passing from the cylinders,
where it is used expansively, it may, previously to its being finally discharged,
act in a third cylinder of still larger dimensions.
Our second improvement in locomotive steam engines is shewn in the
diagrams, Figs. 2 and 3, Sheet 2. a, a, is the steam cylinder of the engine,
which is of an annular form, provided with a similarly shaped piston b, and
furnished with the usual steam ways and valves. The centre of this cylinder
is provided with an opening c, which constitutes guides for the slide d, of a
cross head e, for connecting the piston rods, and to the slide are jointed tho
connecting rods ff, denoted by the dotted lines, which are coupled to the
cranks of the driving wheels; by this arrangement we are enabled to bring
the driving power considerably nearer to the wheels to which it is connected.
In place of driving two pair of wheels, one pair only may be actuated, merely
by removing the connecting rods of the others. A modification of this part of
our Invention may be illustrated by reference to Figure 1, Sheet 2, before
referred to. In this instance we will suppose the cylinders a and b to be of
equal dimensions, and provided with separate steam pipes from the boiler, and
with valves, &c., according to the usual method. The cross head f will then
communicate motion to the driving wheels, as before described, but actuated
by two pistons, each of which is worked by the action of the steam, as in
ordinary locomotive engines. Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 3, represent our first
improvement in steam generators, the former being a longitudinal section of
the boiler, and the latter a transverse section thereof taken about the line 1, 2.
The shell of the boiler is shewn at a, a, a.. This may be of any desired form,
and set in brickwork, according to any of the usual methods; we have in the
Drawings shewn it provided with two distinct furnaces b, c.
These are sepa-
rated at the front end by a chamber d, d (which constitutes the third part of
our Invention), beyond which, and in a line therewith, the brickwork is carried
on, as at e, e, e, to the other end of the boiler, thus forming two outside flucs
A, B, which are built up so as to be closed at their ends, and thus prevent the
passage of the products of combustion at those situations. The bridges of the
two furnaces are shewn at f. f. extending through the length of the boiler,

page_text: there is a central tube g, g, g, g, to either side of which is conuccted a series
of smaller tubes h, h, h, h, their other ends being attached to the shell of the
boiler, and thus forming communications between the central tubes 9, 9, 9, 9,
and the outside flues A, B. The flame and other heated matter will thus be
caused to pass through the two series of tubes h, h, h, h, into the central flue
9, 9, 9, 9, the back of which is open to the chimney flue, as at C. Figure 3
represents a modification in the arrangement of setting our improved steam
generator, it being a sectional view taken in the line 3, 4, of Figure 1. In
this instance the central brickwork e, e, e, is dispensed with, and the flame is
allowed to play around the under part of the boiler, and enter either of the
series of tubes h, h, h, h, and from thence pass into the central flue g, g.
Another modification of this part of our improvements is shewn at Figures
1 and 2, Sheet 4, the former being a transverse section of a boiler taken about
the line 1, 2, of Figure 2, and the latter a longitudinal section of the same,
taken about the line 8, 4, of Figure 1, and looking towards the left hand side
thereof. The shell of the boiler is shewn at a, a, a, a, within which are placed
two tubes b, b, b, b; these tubes are closed at the back ends at c, c, and at the
front are enlarged and provided with fire bars and other appliances, so as to
constitute furnaces A, A, at the back of which are the bridges d, d. To each
of the tubes b, b, is connected a series of smaller tubes e, e, c, e, their other
ends being attached to a circular fluc f,f,f, f, which extends the length of
the boiler, and is open at the back end to the chimney fluc g, g. The heated
matters passing from the furnaces A, A, and not being able to escape through
the ends c, c, pass through two series of tubes e, e, e, into the longitudinal flue
ff, and after traversing this escape through the fluc A to the chimney.
Our third improvement is, as before stated, shewn in conjunction with our
second, but may of course, if desired, be employed as attached to any ordinary
construction of boiler. The shell of the boiler is formed as usual, after which
there is a chamber d, d, (Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 3) attached thereto, and holes
are punched so as to open a communication between the two. This chamber
occupying a lower position than the bottom of the boiler will necessarily receive
the impuritics which subside from the water, and a pipe and cock may be
attached thereto, so as to occasionally draw off the collected sediment.
Our next improvement is shewn in the three sectional views, Figs. 4, 5,
and 6, Sheet 3, at any convenient situation of the flue of a steam generator,
and at the upper part thereof we place a vessel a, a, a, a, provided with a
number of tubes b, b,b,b; at one end of the vessel a, a, a, a, is a casing c, c,
within which is placed a revolving fan c, e. The casing c has apertures f,f,
formed therein (see the plan view, Fig. 6), which apertures are open to pas-

page_text: sages 9, 9, extending downwards into the flue A, A. The water to be heated
previously to its being fed into the boiler is conveyed into the vessel a, a, a,
through a pipe suitably arranged; the fan f being then put in motion will
cause the heated matters to ascend through the passages 9, 9, and from thence
through the openings f, f, into the casing c, from whence they will be driven
and caused to pass through the tubes b, b, b. The water will thus become heated,
and the products of combustion pass down the channel B again into the
flue A, and from thence as usual to the chimney; the water so heated be
may
conducted by any ordinary method to the boiler, and in order occasionally to
clear out the vessel a, a lid as at, or other situation, may be provided.
Our next improvement is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 4, before referred
to, by inspecting which it will be observed that the fire bars are placed in a
cross direction instead of longitudinally, as ordinarily practised, by which
method we obtain a more equal distribution of air, and as the bars usually
become burnt at the back ends first, we can, by substituting a few new ones,
avoid the necessity of replacing the whole sct. We have shewn this part our
improvements as applied to a novel arrangement of steam generator; it will be
evident, however, that it is equally applicable to those of other constructions.
The next part of our improvements is shewn in two modifications at Figs. 3
and 4, Sheet 4. In Fig. 3, a, a, is a close vessel, to which is connected one
To the
end of a pipe b, the other being in communication with the boiler c, c.
chamber a and dipping into it is fixed steam-tight a glass tube d, and within
the chamber is also placed a quantity of mercury, which, by the pressure of the
steam passing through the pipe b, is forced upwards in the tube d; thus by
the length of its column denoting, by means of the index e, the pressure of
steam upon the surface of the mercury in the chamber a, and consequently
the pressure within the boiler c, c. The tube d is bent round at top, and pro-
jects downwards so as to be situated over a cup c attached to a continuation of
the safety valve lever f, which valve is of the ordinary construction, its fulcrum
being at g; to the under side of the cup is connected one end of an india-
rubber or other flexible pipe h, the other end being attached to the chamber a,
and its interior being open thereto. The flexible pipe is provided with a cock
at j, in order to close or open a communication between the cup e and cham-
ber a. By this arrangement of apparatus the pressure of steam may at any
time be known by consulting the height of the column of mercury, and should it
arrive at an excessive point, then the mercury will be driven over so as to flow
along the bent part of the tube d, and fall therefrom into the cup c. The
weight of mercury will thus act in concert with the pressure of steam to raise
the safety valve, should it be sticking or not, affording a sufficient opening, and

page_text: indicate by a self-acting process the excessive pressure of steam. When the
steam shall have been lowered to its proper temperature, the cock k is to be
turned, so as to shut off the pressure from the chamber a, between which and
the cup e a communication is then to be opened by means of the cock j, and
the mercury will flow back through the pipe h, the valve returning to its seat
by the action of the ordinary weight; steam being now again admitted to the
chamber a, the apparatus will be prepared for again indicating the pressure.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of this part of our improvements. A vessel a,
partly filled with mercury is, as before, applied, and steam admitted thereto by
the pipe b. Into the vessel a a short tube d is placed, within the upper part
of which is secured one end of an india-rubber or other flexible pipe h, the
other end thereof being connected to a glass tube n, which is attached to a
cup e, fixed to a lever f, turning upon a centre at g, and carrying on the other
side thereof a rod l, attached to the upper side of the safety valve m, which in
this instance is loaded by the direct action of a weight placed within the boiler,
as is now ordinarily practised. The cup e extends on cach side of the orifice
of the glass tube n, as shewn in the detached top view, Fig. 5. Upon the mer-
cury therefore being caused, by undue pressure, to rise through the tube n into
the cup e, it will flow over the bottom surface p, p, thereof, and by its weight
cause the lever to turn upon its centre and lift the safety valve m. Whon the
steam has become lowered to its due pressure, it will be allowed to fall again
through the tube n into the vessel a, and by thus removing its gravitating
power from the surface p, p, of the cup, allow the weight y to restore the valve
to its seat.
Our improvement in filtering water for steam boilers is shewn in vertical
section at Fig. 6, Sheet 4. Within a chamber a, a, of suitable dimensions we
place a cylindrical vessel b, b, formed of any suitable thin metal, and provided
with a number of perforations around its periphery, or it may be of strong
woven wire. This cylindrical vessel is enclosed at its ends by plates c, c, which
are furnished with axes capable of being turned in a stationary framwork d, d.
Around this cylinder we place folds of felt, waste cotton, or other fibrous mate-
rial, and if such substances be used in a loose state, we pass around the outside
a wrapping of canvas or other such material, and furnish the cylinder with
flanges e, e, in order to keep the filtering substance in place. Through one end
of the axle of the filter thus formed, there extends a pipe f, which passes
through a stuffing box, in order to keep a water-tight joint; this pipe is con-
nocted to the condenser of the steam engine, or to the pump which supplies
the injection water. Through the other end of the axis of the cylinder there
is another pipe g, passing in like manner through a stuffing box. The water

page_text: to be nitered is admitted by any convenient method to the chamber a, and
pressing against the fibrous coating of the cylinder b, will percolate through it,
and the perforations beneath, into the interior of the cylinder, and thus become
filtered. The cylinder 6 being full, and the pipe f exhausted by its communi-
cation with the condensor or pump thereof, the filtered water will be caused to
rise therein, in order to provide for the injection supply, and thus a tendency
towards a vacuum in the upper part of the cylinder b will take place, so as to
assist the water in percolating through the filtering medium; an actual vacuum
will, however, be prevented by a constant accession of filtered water; if, how-
ever, from any obstruction, this should not occur, the water would be prevented
from rising through the pipe f, and the injection supply cease; in order to
obviate this, the pipe g is applied, so as to admit air upon the surface of the
water contained within the cylinder b, the pressure of which will effect the
required injection supply, but not prevent the filtering operation from proceed-
ing, so that the cylinder may be again filled. We have described the cylin-
der as mounted, so as to be capable of being turned at pleasure; this is for
providing the means of readily unlapping the filtering medium, for the purpose of
purifying it, or of substituting a fresh supply. Instead of the form of apparatus
we have described, others may be adopted, which will readily occur to com-
petent persons; for instance, we may employ a vertical cylinder, open at top
and provided with a concentric casing, both peripheries being perforated, and
the space between them filled with fibrous or other filtering medium; this
apparatus may be placed within a vessel into which the water to be filtered is
admitted, and the pipe for supplying the injection situated in the interior
thereof; in which case, however, the vacuum formed in the condenser or by
the pump, will not assist in drawing the water through the filtering medium.
In order to effect our improvements in extinguishing fires on board steam
.vessels or ships, we place pipes of any suitable material in the hold and other
parts of the vessel below the decks, which pipes are in communication with
the boiler, so that when desired steam may be allowed to flow through them,
and from thence through a number of openings into the hold or other part of
the ship. In order to effect this, cocks may be placed at any desired positions
near the boiler, so that but little surface will be afforded to produce conden-
sation, or the pipes may be constantly filled with steam throughout their
lengths, and provided with several cocks, to be turned on according to the
position in which the fire has taken place; and as these, by reason of smoke
or other causes, may not be approachable when required to be turned, they
may be provided with interior or exterior levers, to which wires or chains are
attached, so that the steam may be turned on at a distance. In place of the

page_text: stationary pipes, flexible tubes of indian-rubber, distended by coiled wire or other
known means, may be attached to the boiler, which flexible tubes may be pro-
vided with cocks, so as to allow the passage of steam, and may be carried to
any convenient part, so as to play upon the fire with steam as if water were the
substance used. By this method, any portion of the ship or vessel on fire may
be quickly filled with steam, and the progress thereof suddenly arrested. The
arrangement of pipes will of course depend upon the description of vessel and
its fittings up; it will be evident, however, that they may be made to branch
in any direction and provided with cocks, to be turned singly or in a number
together.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent wo claim,-
Firstly, the application to "locomotive steam engines" of one or more
extra working cylinders, into which the steam is admitted and allowed to act
by its expansive force, after having operated in the usual manner within the
ordinary cylinder or cylinders. Also, we claim transferring the point of attach-
ment from which the driving motion is taken, so that it shall occupy a position
behind that end of the cylinder from which the piston rod or rods issue.
Secondly, the application of one or more series of tubes, forming transverse
communications between flues, which extend in the direction of the length of
steam boilers.
Thirdly, the application of a chamber extending below the under side of
steam boilers for the purpose above set forth.
Fourthly, the application of a revolving fan for forcing or drawing the
products of combustion of a steam boiler through tubes or other apparatus, for
the purpose of assisting the generation of steam, by heating the supply water.
Fifthly, placing the fire bars of steam boiler furnaces transversely to the firo
door.
Sixthly, as applied to apparatus for indicating the pressure of steam, causing
a column of mercury to overflow by excessive pressure, and by its gravity effect
the lifting of the safety valve.
Seventhly, the application of a filtering apparatus for purifying water pro-
viously to its being used as injection water for the condenser.
Eighthly, the application of steam for extinguishing fire on board ships, &c.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Tatham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
JOHN (S.) TATHAM.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid John Tatham came before our said Lady the
Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-one.