CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jamieson,, of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer and Millright, for, the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 17th April 1855, and dated the.21st. October. 1854. ..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jamieson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st October 1854.
I, JOHN JAMIESON, of Oldham,, in. the County of Lancaster, Engineer and
Millright, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES";to be as follows:
My first improvement relates to the metallic pistons used in steam engines.
I construct the piston with segments of metal, or, hoops or rings of metal,
in the usual manner, which latter are cut through, so as to enable them to act
as springs. These segments of metal or boops bear against the internal
surface of the cylinder, and are usually. acted upon by: springs,. in order to
produce a more perfect contact betwixt themselves,, and; the surface of the
cylinder, in order to prevent more perfectly the escape of steam. The piston
is furnished with a lid or cover in the usual; manner, which is combined with
the body of the piston by means of, three or more screw bolts. Betwixt the
puts on these screw bolts and the piston.cover I insert springs, by the action
of which a more regular and constant, pressure; is maintained betwixt the

page_text: segments or rings and the body and cover of the piston. I construct these
springs in various ways. One mode is to make them in the form of hollow
washors, that is, concave one side and convex on the other. They are applied
in the same way as washors, the nut pressing upon them in the same manner.
Another mode is to make them in the form of worm or spiral springs, which
are also used in the same manner. In some cases a single nut on the piston
rod is used to screw down the piston cover; in this case I make use of a
single spring or combination of 'springs only. The pressure of the spring or
springs on the lid or cover is increased or diminished by means of the nut
or nuts, and is so regulated as to exclude the steam entirely from the interior
of the piston, and at the same time to permit the proper action of the seg-
ments or rings. By these means I am enabled to effect a considerable economy
in the consumption of steam in steam engines.
My second improvement relates to the arrangement and construction of the
valves of steam engines. The induction valves and induction valve boxes or
*casings are entirely separate from the eduction valves and eduction valve
boxes or casings. The induction valves are plain slides or flat pieces of metal
of the usual construction. The eduction valves are also plain slides, but of a
different construction. The valve rod by which they are actuated passes
inside of the eduction valve casing, and acts upon the slides by means of two
tongue-pieces, which are attached to it. In each slide is an apperture into
which these tongue-pieces enter. To make room for the operation of these
two tongue-pieces, the valve face against which the slide works has a slot or
apperture cut through it, forming an enlargement of the eduction apperture,
and giving it a form somewhat like the letter T. The slide has in like manner
a similar form given to it, in order to cover the apperture through which the
tongue-piece works. This construction and arrangement enables me to get
the eduction valves close to the steam cylinder, by which much space is saved,
and a considerable economy of steam is effected; and at the same time the
induction and eduction valves are made to operate entirely independent of
each other, by which means I am enabled to work the steam expansively to
any extent without interfering with the egress of it from the cylinder.
My third improvement relates to steam engines in which the cylinder or
cylinders are in an inclined or horizontal position, and refers to the mode
of giving motion to the piston of the air pump. This I effect by attaching to
the crank pin (or one of the crank pins) a short bar of metal, on which I fix
another crank pin, nearer to the centre than the one first mentioned. On this
second crank pin works the connecting rod which actuates the piston of the
..air
pump. This arrangement simplifies the construction, and enables me .to

page_text: vary and regulate the motion of the air-pump bucket, and to place the air
pump in a more convenient and secure position than is usual with the above
class of engines.
My fourth improvement relates to compound steam engines in which tho
steam is worked expansively, and consists in the arrangement and position of
the cylinders and cranks, combined with a new and improved construction
and arrangement of the valves, steam passages, and eccentrics of such steam
engines, by which they are rendered more simple and effective than by the
common methods of construction.
My fifth improvement consists in the construction, arrangement, and com-
bination of the cylinders, cranks, valves, steam passages, and eccentrics of
compound steam engines in which the steam is worked expansively. First, I
construct the high-pressure or non-condensing cylinder of a larger proportional
size than usual, that is to say, about one-third to one-half the size or content
of the low-pressure or condensing cylinder. Second, I construct and arrange
the induction valves and eccentrics at the high-pressure cylinder so as to cut
off the steam when the piston has performed a part only of the stroke (more
or less), according to the pressure of the steam and the resistance to be over-
come. Third, I dispose the cranks with respect to each other so that a certain
amount of lead, say, one-eighth to one-sixth of the whole revolution, or there-
abouts, shall be given to the crank of the condensing or low-pressure cylinder,
and at the same time arrange the valves and eccentrics so that the exhaust
from the high-pressure cylinder to the low-pressure cylinder takes place pre-
cisely, or nearly so, at the instant the low-pressure crank is passing the dead
centres. By combining and arranging the several parts in the manner
described, I am enabled to construct steam engines in which smoothness
and ease of action is combined, with superior economy of steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Jamieson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JAMIESON, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Millwright,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight-hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Jamieson, Her special license that I, the said John Jamieson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Jamieson, 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, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN. IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Jamieson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 John Jamieson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the same is. to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
.:
My. Invention relates to the pistons and valves used in steam engines; also
to a peculiar mode of giving motion. to the piston of the air pump; and
also to the arrangement and construction of steam engines in which two
cylinders are used for the purpose. of working the steam expansively.. In order
to make my Invention more clearly understood, I have hereunto annexed a
Sheet of Drawings, to which the following description relates, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon,.it being premised. that in all
cases where the same letters or figures of reference; or letters and figures
conjoined, are found, they indicate the same parts of the mechanism.
My first improvement relates to the metallic pistons used in steam engines.
I construct the piston with segments of metal, or hoops or rings of metal, in
the usual manner, which latter a
are cut through, so as to enable them to act as
springs. These segments of metal or hoops bear against the internal surface
of the cylinder, and are usually acted upon by springs, in order to produce a
more perfect contact betwixt themselves and the surface of the cylinder, in
order to prevent more perfectly the escape of steam. The piston is furnished
with a lid or cover in the usual "manner, which is combined with the body of
the piston by means of three or more screw bolts.
screw bolts and the piston cover I insert springs, by the action of which a
more regular and constant pressure is maintained betwixt the segments or
Betwixt the nuts on these

page_text: rings and the body, and cover of the piston. I construct these springs in
various ways. One mode is to make them in the form of hollow washers,
that is, concave on one side and convex on the other. They are applied in
the same way as washers, the nut pressing upon them in the same manner.
Another mode is to make them in the form of worm or spiral'springs, which
are used in the same manner. In some cases a single nut on the piston rod
is used to screw down the piston cover. In this case I make use of a single
spring or combination of springs only. The pressure of the spring or springs
on the lid or cover is increased or diminished by means of the nut or nuts,
and is so regulated as to exclude the steam entirely from the interior of the
piston, and at the same time to permit the proper action of the segments or
rings. Fig. 1 represents the piston with the lid or cover adjusted, ready for
work; Fig. 2 represents the piston with the lid removed, to shew the internal
construction; Fig. 3, a section of the piston through the centre of the piston
rod and two of the bolts. A, A, the piston rod; A', A', the body of the
piston; A2, A3, the lid or cover, at the middle of which is a stuffing box,
the packing of which is secured by the gland A³. By these means the steam
is prevented from entering the interior of the piston through the space betwixt
the piston rod and the lid. A, A, A, &c., screw bolts, by which the lid is
held and combined with the body of the piston A, A¹. On each of these.
bolts two nuts are shewn, the one, of which acts as a lock nut to the other.
Under these nuts are shewn the springs A³, A³, made in the form of hollow
washors, as before described. Under these springs I generally place a small
quantity of rope yarn or hemp, to assist in preventing the passage of steam.
A, A, the hoops or rings which bear against the internal surface of the
cylinder.
My second improvement relates to the arrangement and construction of the
valves of steam engines. The induction valves and induction valve boxes or
casings are entirely separate from the eduction valves and eduction valve boxes
or casings. The induction valves are plain slides or flat pieces of metal of the
usual construction; the eduction; valves are also plain slides, but of a different
construction. The valve rod by which they are actuated passes inside of the
eduction valve casing, and acts upon the slide by means of two tongue-pieces,
which are attached to it. In each slide is an apierture into which these tongue-
pieces enter. To make room for the operation of these two tongue-pieces, the
valve face, against which the slide works, has a slot or aperture cut through it,
forming an enlargement of the eduction aperture, and giving it a form some-
what like the letter. T. The slide has in like manner a similar form given
to it, in order to cover, the apperture through which the tongue-piece works.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a section through the middle of the eduction valve casing, at right
angles to the valve faces; Fig. 5, another section parallel to the valve faces;
Fig. 6 shows the slides in their relative positions when at work. B, B, the
valve rod, which actuates the slides; B, B, the tongue-pieces attached to it;
B, B, the slides; B3, B³, the appertures into which the tongue-pieces enter;
B', B, the valve faces, against which the slides work; B3, B5, the chambers
or spaces in which the slides work; B, B, the ports, which lead to the
interior of the cylinder; B7, the eduction passage, which leads to the con-
denser. The valve rod and consequently the slides are actuated by a cam or
eccentric in the usual manner. This construction and arrangement enables
me to get the eduction valves close to the steam cylinder, by which much space
is saved, and a considerable economy of steam is effected; and at the same time
the induction and eduction valves are made to operate entirely independent of
cach other, by which means I am enabled to work the steam expansively to
any extent without interfering with the egress of it from the cylinder.
My third improvement relates to steam engines in which the cylinder or
cylinders are in an inclined or horizontal position, and refers to the mode of
giving motion to the piston of the air pump. This I effect by attaching to the
crank pin (or one of the crank pins) a short bar of metal, on which I fix
another crank pin, nearer to the centre of motion than the one first mentioned.
On this second crank pin works the connecting rod, which actuates the piston
of the air pumps. The nature of this improvement is shewn more particularly
in Fig. 7, where C, a portion of the crank shaft; C, the main crank; C,
crank pin, on which is fixed the bar of metal (or counter crank) C³, which
carries the smaller crank pin C, on which works the connecting rod which
actuates the piston of the air pump. The application of this improvement is
further shewn in Figs. 10 and 11. This arrangement simplifies the construc-
tion, and enables me to vary and regulate the motion of the piston of the air
pump, and to place the air pump in a more convenient and secure position
than is usual with the above class of engines.
My fourth improvement relates to compound steam engines in which the
steam is worked expansively, and consists in the arrangement and relative
positions of the cylinders and cranks, combined with a new and improved con-
struction and arrangement of the valves, steam passages, and eccentrics of
such steam engines, by which they are rendered more simple and effective
than by the common methods of construction. Fig. 8 represents a portion of a
compound steam engine made according to my fourth improvement, the crank
shaft, fly-wheel, and eccentrics being omitted, as not important to the eluci-
dation; Fig. 9, a section through the line W, X, or Y, Z, in Fig. 8, to shew

page_text: more clearly the arrangement and position of the steam passages, valves, &c.;
D, D, &c. the framework which supports the cylinders and working parts of
the engine; E, E, high-pressure or non-condensing cylinder; E, E, piston
rod; E, E², guide bar, the ends of which move in slides attached to the frame-
work, by which the parallelism of the piston rod is preserved; E³, E³, connect-
ing rod; F, F, valve casing, into which the steam is admitted from the boiler;
F¹, one of the induction slides (the other being of the same construction);
F, valve red; F, rocking shaft; F, crank on rocking shaft; F, eccentric
rod, by which motion is communicated from the eccentric through the rocking
shaft, &c. to the slide F', &c.; G, G, low-pressure or condensing cylinder;
G', piston rod; G2, G3, guide bar, the ends of which move in slides attached
to the framework; G³, C³, connecting rod; II, H, steam passages or ports, by
which the steam passes from the high-pressure to the low-pressure cylinder;
I, I, intermediate slides or valves betwixt the two cylinders; I', I', valve rod;
I, lever on the rocking shaft I³, 1'; I, crank at the end of the rocking
shaft 13; 1, 1, eccentric rod, by which motion is communicated from the
eccentric through the rocking shaft, &c. to the slide I, I; K, eduction port;
K', eduction slide; K, valve rod. This valve, it will be seen, is of the same
construction as that shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The valve rod K² receives
motion from a rocking shaft, which has on it the crank K³, to which motion is
communicated from the eccentric by means of the eccentric rod K. L, educ-
passage to the condenser. The position of the main cranks, acted upon by
the connecting rods E³ and G³, is nearly the reverse the one of the other, a
certain amount of lead (say, about one-eighth of the whole revolution,) being
given to the low-pressure crank, acted upon by the connection rod G³, and the
positions of the eccentrics and slides regulated to correspond thereto. The
cylinders are represented as being placed horizontally, but may obviously be
placed vertically or inclined, if required.
tion
My fifth improvement consists in the construction, arrangement, and com-
bination of the cylinders, cranks, valves, steam passages, and eccentrics of
compound steam engines in which the steam is worked expansively. First, I
construct the high-pressure or non-condensing cylinder of a larger proportional
size than usual, that is to say, about one-third to one-half the size or content
of the low-pressure or condensing cylinder. Second, I construct and arrange
the induction valves and eccentrics at the high-pressure cylinder so as to cut
off the steam when the piston has performed a part only of the stroke (more
or less), according to the pressure of the steam and the resistance to be over-
come. Third, I dispose the cranks with respect to each other so that a
certain amount of lead, say, one-eighth to one-sixth of the whole revolution, or

page_text: thereabouts, shall be given to the crank of the condensing or low-pressure
cylinder, and at the same time arrange the valves and eccentrics so that the
exhaust from the high-pressure cylinder to the low-pressure cylinder takes
place precisely, or nearly so, at the instant the low-pressure crank is passing
the dead centres. The nature of this improvement will be understood from
Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 11 representing a side view (a portion of the framework
being removed to shew the interior); and Fig. 10, an oblique view, as scen
from above. M, M, &c., framework by which the cylinders and moving parts
are supported; N, N, high-pressure cylinder; N', N', piston rod; N, guide
bar, the ends of which move in slides on the framework M, M, &c.; N³, con-
necting rod; N, crank; 0, 0, valve casing, which receives steam from the
boiler, and which contains the induction valve, which is of the ordinary con-
struction; O', valve rod; 0, rocking shaft; 0³, crank on rocking shaft, by
which it receives motion from the eccentric 05, by means of the rod O. The
eccentric O³ is put in motion by the crank 0°, which is connected to the main
crank N. P, low-pressure cylinder; P, piston rod, the motion of which is
kept parallel by means of a guide bar and slides; P, connecting rod; P³,
main crank on the crank axis P, at the other of which is the high-pressure
crank N; P, fly wheel; Q, Q, induction valve casings. at low-pressure
cylinder, which receive the steam from the valve of the high-pressure cylinder
N, N, through the steam passages Q1, Q. These induction valves are of the
similar construction to the valves shewn at F' and I, Fig. 9, and are con-
nected to the valve rod Q, which receives motion from the rocking shaft Q³,
which again receives motion from the eccentric Q' by means of the eccentric
rod Q. R, R, eduction valve casing which contains the eduction valves,
which are of the same construction as that shewn at K', Fig. 9, and in Figs.
4, 5, and 6; R', valve rod; R, rocking shaft, which receives motion from
the eccentric R' by means of the eccentric rod R' and crank R;. S, eduction
passage to the condenser S; S2, hot well; S3, feed pump; S', injection pipe;
T, air pump; T', air pump rod; T, parallel motion to ditto; T, connecting
rod, which receives motion from a pin on the counter crank or bar T, which
is attached to the pin of the main crank P³, and is of the same construction as
the counter crank or bar C, Fig. 7; V, small crank on the short shaft V',
which has on it the eccentrics Q and Rs. It will be seen that the cranks N
and P are nearly in a reverse position one to the other. This arrangement
is necessary, in order to allow the steam to pass directly across through the
steam passages Q, Q. A certain amount of lead is, however, given to the
low-pressure crank P over the high-pressure crank N, (say, one-eighth to
one-sixth of the whole revolution,) and the relative positions of the eccentrics

page_text: and valves regulated to correspond thereto, as before mentioned. The cylin-
ders are represented as being in an inclined position, but may be placed in a
vertical or horizontal position, if required. By combining and arranging the
several parts in the manner described, I am enabled to construct steam engines
in which smoothness and ease of action is combined, with superior economy
of steam. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and Fig. 7, are on a scale of 1 inch to 1 foot;
Figs. 8 and 9, on a scale of inch to 1 foot; and Figs. 10 and 11, on a scale
of inch to 1 foot; but it is obvious that the size of the several parts must be
adapted to the power of the engine to be constructed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as
new, and of my Invention, is as follows:-
Under the head of my first improvement, I claim the application and
adaptation of springs under the nuts which hold down the lids or covers of
metallic pistons, as set forth and described. I also claim the arrangement
and construction of the metallic pistons, as set forth in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and
described.
Under the head of my second improvement, I claim the application and
construction of the eduction valve and eduction valve casing, as set forth in
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and described.
Under the head of my third improvement, I claim the mode of actuating
the piston of the air pump, as set forth in Fig. 7, and described.
Under the head of my fourth improvement, I claim the arrangement and
construction of steam engines, as set forth in Figs. 8 and 9, and described.
Under the head of my fifth improvement, I claim the arrangement and
construction of steam engines, as set forth in Figs. 10 and 11, and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jamieson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Signed by the within-named John Jamieson,
in the presence of
JOHN POTTER, C. E.,
9, Corporation Street,
Manchester.
JOHN JAMIESON. (L.S.)