IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION AND CONDENSATION OF STEAM FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES; ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GASES
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEERAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of May, in the fourteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said William Edward Newton, my exors, admors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my 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 mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION
AND CONDENSATION OF STEAM FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES; ALSO IMPROVEMENTS
IN CERTAIN PARTS OF ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GASES," being
a communication from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of

page_text: Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the 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
William Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, refe-
rence being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The Invention which has been communicated to me by my Foreign
Correspondent consists,―
Firstly, in improvements in the method of discharging that portion of the
water from the boilers of steam engines known as the "blow-off" water.
This is an operation which is required to be done only in cases where the
water used for the generation of steam contains in solution a considerable
amount of foreign matter, such as marine salts, calcareous or earthy matters,
and such like substances. As in all cases the steam produced from such
water leaves the boiler freed from the impurities it contained, the consequence
is a gradual accumulation of this foreign matter or saturation of the water in
the boiler, which would be thereby greatly injured were no means used to
remove it. This is accordingly accomplished by an operation technically
called "blowing off;" that is, causing a certain amount of the saturated or
nearly saturated water to be discharged from the boilers at certain regular
intervals. The water at these periods of discharge, being loaded with these
foreign substances, carries a considerable portion of it from the boiler, thereby
clearing it sufficiently to prevent any injurious deposit or accumulation, a
fresh amount of the less dense feed water being constantly pumped in to supply
both the quantity required for steam and that which has been "blown off."
Much waste of fuel, destruction of the boilers, and risk of explosion can
ensue from not regulating this "blow-off" according to the nature of the case
requiring it. The most common mode of doing this is to open a cock by hand
at certain intervals. From the carelessness and neglect of the attendants this
necessary operation may be forgotten, and serious consequences will thereby
ensue. Danger may also arise from want of skill or judgment in the opera-
tion. Accordingly some attempts have been made to effect this operation by
the action of the engine, so that it shall regulate and cause the discharges or
"blow-off" operations to take place periodically; but all such contrivances have
been defective in this respect, (viz') that there was no regard paid to the varying
quantity of the feed water, or, in case of stopping the feed altogether, de-

page_text: signedly or by accident, the "blow-off" still continued, unless the parts.
which caused it were disconnected by the engine. The first part of the pre-
sent Invention, although of the self-operating kind, differs essentially in this
respect, (viz) that the feed and "blow-off" must always operate in unison,
because, by the present improvement, the "blow-off" is wholly effected by the
action of the feed water itself, so that when the feed water ceases to enter the
boilers, the "blow-off" also ceases, the operation being such that at every.
stroke of the feed pumps a certain amount of water is discharged from the
boiler to effect the "blow-off." This is accomplished by causing a connection
to be formed with the stem of the ordinary "check valve," which is put on all
boilers, so that at every rise of the said valve by the injection of water into
the boiler, it is made to act on the stem of an outlet or "blow-off" valve
communicating with the same boiler, so that the said valve is opened sufficiently
to allow of the escape of the "blow-off" water.
In Fig. 1 a side view is given of part of a boiler thus arranged. The letter a
represents the ordinary "check valve;" 6 is the stem of the same, rising up
through the stuffing box in the cover. Immediately over this is fixed a
delivery valve in such a manner that its stem shall terminate near the stem
of b, as represented. A regulating screw cap c is attached to this stem, in
order to regulate the opening of the "blow-off" valve. d is a pipe leading
from the "blow-off" valve to that part of the interior of the boiler from which
it may be considered most advisable to draw off the "blow-off" water; e is the
discharge pipe. The operation is effected by the rising of the stem b, which
is forced up by the action of the feed pump in injecting the feed water through
the valve into the boiler. The cap c must be screwed down, so as to be
struck by 6 in its ascent, thus causing it to open the delivery valve, and effect
the "blow-off." By means of the regulating cap c the quantity of water
blown off may be increased or diminished, as the case may require.
Fig. 2 represents a modification of the above-described apparatus. The
difference consists simply in changing the positions of the delivery valve with
respect to the check valve, so that, instead of being acted on directly by the
stem of the check valve, it operates through the medium of a lever. The
difference in the arrangement will be apparent from an inspection of the
Drawings; and, as similar letters of reference are marked on corresponding
parts in both Figures, no more detailed description will be necessary.
What I claim in this part of the Invention, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent, is, regulating the operation of "blowing off" by the action of the same
mechanism which controls or regulates the admission of the "feed" water, so
that the "blow-off" water will always bear a certain proportion to the quantity

page_text: of water fed into the boiler, and which ratio must vary according to circum-
stances, so as to cease entirely when the "feed" ceases to enter the boiler.
I claim particularly connecting the "blow-off" valve with the check valve
in such manner that the "blow-off" valve will be operated by the stem of the
check valve.
The second part of this Invention relates to a method of packing piston
rods of steam engines, but which may be applied to the packing of other rods.
The stuffing box of a cylinder made in the ordinary way is bored out truly,
and the annular portion of its bottom, between the sides of the box and the
orifice through which the piston works, is turned or ground down smoothly
and truly at right angles to the axis of the piston rod. Upon this annular
bottom is placed a brass or composition ring, in the Diagram marked a, a, of
(say) a quarter of an inch thick, fitting snugly within the box, but having a
play of (say) one eighth of an inch around the piston rod. This ring is ground
or fitted truly to the annular bottom of the box, and has its upper surface
made truly parallel with the lower one. On this ring is next placed a brass
or composition cup, which I call the vibrating cup. It is externally a
cylinder one eighth of an inch less in diameter than the stuffing-box bore, and
(say) two and a half inches long. Internally it is shaped conically, so as to
receive, in addition to the piston rod, as its matrix or bed, the metallic packing
hereafter described, conforming and fitting to it truly, as shewn at b, b. Its
lower surface is also truly fitted to the ring a, a. The packing, which may
be made of brass or composition metal or Babbitt's metal, which last I use
and prefer, consists of several rings (I have used five) of half an inch thick,
each ground truly to each other, and fitting accurately with their internal
edges around the piston rod, and having, when laid one on the other in their
place in the cup just described, externally the shape of a frustrum of an
inverted cone, whose upper or greater diameter is one eighth of an inch less
than that of the bore of the stuffing box, and its lower and lesser diameter
equal to the thickness of the piston rod c, c. These rings are cut or
divided in one or more places as experience and convenience may direct,
taking out sufficient metal at the cuttings to allow a contraction of the circle
of the rings, as the wear of their internal surface against the piston rod causes
their parts to approach the centres of their circles. On the top of these
conical rings I place another brass or composition metal ring, marked d, d,
similar to the lower one a, a, in all respects, and accurately ground or fitted
to the topmost packing ring. Upon the top of this ring, or else attached to
the bottom of the cap or cover of the stuffing box, are to be placed one or more
springs, of a spiral, elliptical, or any other form convenient for the purpose of

page_text: keeping a suitable pressure upon the said ring d, the effect of which will be
to depress the packing into the conical-shaped chamber of the vibrating cup,
and thereby thrust the packing inwards, so as to embrace snugly the piston
rod, and effectually prevent the escape of steam or ingress of air along the
rod, whilst the accuracy of the fitting of the outside of the packing to the cup,
and of the rings to each other and to the bottom of the stuffing box, will pre-
vent the escape of steam or entrance of air in any other direction. The cap
of the stuffing box is formed in the usual way, leaving a sufficient: space
between its lower surface and the upper ring for the introduction. of the
springs. For the purpose of conveniently regulating the pressure of the
springs upon the packing, I use, in addition to the nuts employed to screw
down the said cap, a set of nuts underneath the cap, so as to hold it exactly
in any desired situation, and give a certain pressure upon the packing. The
object and intention of the vibrating cup is to afford that lateral motion to
the piston rod in the stuffing box which necessarily arises in the best made
machines from wear of parts, loosening of joints, and other derangements,
especially in machines which, like locomotives, are driven with great velocity
over irregular surfaces, and made to undergo great straining of parts, and
which lateral motion, if imparted to the conical packing lying in an unyielding
matrix or bed, would force it up obliquely to the line of the axis of the piston,
and soon wear into irregularities the surfaces of impact of the rings on each
other, and also on the piston. I do not intend to limit the proportions of the
parts to those stated above, but vary them so as to suit the case of different
engines and different service. Nor do I intend to confine myself to the angle
made by the outer surface of the packing rings and the axis of the piston at
the degree of inclination described in this Specification by way of. illustration,
as I shall vary it as may be found in practice best suited to effect the proper
degree of pressure against the piston rod. by the packing. I do not think it
necessary to describe the various methods that may be used. to keep the
packing and rings from revolving when the stuffing box is used with rotating.
shafts, as any intelligent mechanic can adopt a variety of simple means to
effect that end.
What I claim in this part of the Invention is; not the employment of
metallic packing in a stuffing box generally, but the employment of metallic
packing arranged, shaped, and combined in a peculiar way, (viz.) in a metallic
matrix or cup-shaped, and arranged as is herein shewn and described, so as to
allow the piston rod or shaft, when passing through or working in the stuffing
box, liberty to vibrate laterally to a sufficient extent to yield to the unavoidable
irregularities of the engine to which it may be applied. I also claim the

page_text: combination of this conical-shaped matrix or stuffing box with the metallic
rings contained therein, and through which the piston rod or shaft moves or
works, so that as the inner surface of the packing rings wear away, the rings
may, by the proper application of springs or screws made to press them in the
direction of the axis of the piston rod or shaft, be advanced along the conical
surface of the matrix, so as to maintain a perfect contact of surface both
with the piston rod or shaft and with the internal conical surface of the
matrix. I further claim the use of the said vibrating cup without the
'metallic packing, as I can, if thought desirable, make use of hempen or
other packing in connection with the vibrating cup.
The third part of the Invention relates to a method of producing fresh
water on board of steam ships by the condensation of steam from the main
boilers or from an auxiliary boiler. And this part of the Invention consists in
combining a tubular condenser with the main boilers of a steam ship or other
vessel, and with an auxiliary boiler specially adapted to the purpose, and with
an auxiliary steam engine and water pump, which said auxiliary engine has
also a double connexion so as to take steam either from the main boilers of
the ship or from the auxiliary boiler, by means of which combination fresh
water is produced from the main boilers when these are in use for the purposes
of propelling the ship, and then, without the necessity of using the auxiliary
boiler, and when by accident or other cause the main boilers are not in use,
the requisite supply of water can be obtained by the use of the auxiliary
boilers. And this part of the Invention also consists in combining with the
lower ends of the tubes of the condenser a filter, through which the water shall
pass as it is discharged, so that it may be cleansed of such impurities as may
have been imparted to it in the apparatus.
In the accompanying Drawings a represents an external view of a small
auxiliary engine, with the valve gear and other appendages of a direct action
steam engine. The steam chest k is connected by a steam pipe n with the main
boiler or boilers of a steam ship (which boilers it is not necessary to represent),
and this steam pipe n has a branch pipe e leading to the upper end of the
condenser C, and at the junction of the two the pipe is provided with a four-
way or other valve o, by which the condenser and the engine can be made to
communicate with or cut off from the said main boiler or boilers. And the
said steam chest is also provided with another steam pipe and m, which
communicates with an auxiliary steam boiler A of any desirable construction.
At the point where the steam pipe is connected to the steam chest, it is
provided with a stopcock or valve r for shutting the connection, and at the
point where the pipes and m are connected there is a three-way cock q

page_text: communicating with a continuation of the part 1 of the pipe that leads to and
connects with the main boiler, so that if desired steam can be taken from the
main boiler when the condenser is not to be used, as when the auxiliary engine
is to be employed for pumping the hold of the ship, or as a fire engine. The
upper end of the condenser is also connected with the auxiliary boiler by
means of a pipe d provided with a stopcock at s, by means of which the
connection can be closed when steam is taken from the main boiler, and this
pipe d is also provided with a branch j leading to the main boiler, so that
steam may be taken from the main boiler when the engine is required to
be worked by steam from the main boiler. By means of the arrangements
above described steam for the engine or the condenser may be taken at
pleasure either from the main or the auxiliary boiler. To the outer end of the
rod B of the engine is attached the piston of a double-acting pump 6 of any.
desired construction, and from this pump extends a suction pipe t leading to the
outside of the ship, but which may be branched for the purpose of pumping
water from the hold of the ship when required, and the pump is also provided
with a discharge pipe h, to which hose may be connected when the pump
used as an engine for throwing or forcing water. But the said pipe h is con-
nected with the upper end of the outer case of the condenser by a pipe f.
This condenser is composed of an outer case with tubes inside in the manner
of what is generally known as Hall's condenser. The tubes are arranged in
two series, and the steam descends through one series and ascends through
the other series. In the upper, and above the upper end of the second series,
there is a discharge pipe w, governed by a cock p, that may be opened or
closed at pleasure. The casing surrounds the two series of tubes, and between
the two series there is a partition v which extends from top to within a short
distance of the bottom, so that the cold water forced in by the pump circu-
lates around the tubes in the reverse direction of the circulation of the steam
through the tubes, the water being discharged near the top through a pipe g.
At the lower end the condenser is provided with a filter D of any desirable
construction, having a discharge pipe w through which the water produced by
the condensation of steam is discharged after having been filtered.
is
What I claim as new in this the third part of this Invention is, the double
connection of the condenser with an auxiliary boiler and the main boiler or
boilers of the ship, as described, in combination with the double connection
of the auxiliary engine with the auxiliary boiler and the main boiler or boilers,
as described and for the purpose specified.
And I also claim the employment in the apparatus above described of a