CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF STEAM, AIR, AND OTHER VAPOURS AND GASEOUS AGENTS TO THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS BY WHICH THE SAME ARE EFFECTED
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
PILBROW, of Tettenham, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Seventh day of March. One thousand, eight hundred and forty-three, in the
sixth year of Her reign. did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Pilbrow, my exors, 'admors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Jaines
Pilbrow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, (or such others as 1, the said.
James Pilbrow, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agrec
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 and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF STEAM, AIR, AND OTHER VAPOURS
AND GASEOUS AGENTS TO THE PRODUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS BY WHICH THE SAME ARE EFFECTED," to have, hold, exercise, and
enjoy the said licence, powers, privileges, and advantages therein granted unto
me, the said James Pilbrow, my executors, administrators, and assigns,, for the
term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent. And whereas
in the said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said James
Pilbrow, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in .
writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in. Her
said Majesty's High Court of 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...

page_text: James Pilbrow, do hereby declare that my present Inventions, consists chiefly of
improvements in the application of my discovery of the proper force or effect
of the expansive velocity of steam, and in my injet reaction rotatory engine, for
which 1 obtained Letters Patent, dated the Twenty-third of May, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-two, the Specification whereof was duly inrolled on
the Twenty-third of November in the same year, and to which I refer for the
general principles of my discovery and Invention. Be it known, therefore, that
my present improvements consist principally in a better description of steam
wheel to obtain extreme velocity, whether my wheel be moved by steam, air,
vapour, or other gaseous agents; also in applying such extreme velocity to
greater advantage to move vessels and locomotive carriages on land by using
a propeller screw or vanes revolving in the air; also in applying my said
discovery more conveniently (when such great velocity is not required), by
using two or more wheels, or other methods of obtaining from the same jet of
steam two or more injets or reversals of the moving power into oblique cavities
or curves upon the same or different wheels, that I may make up in power, by
repeated .impulses upon my wheel or wheels, what I should otherwise lose
by reducing its speed; and, lastly, my improvements consist in an arrangement
of metal discs in substitution of the cylinders and pistons of reciprocating engines.
Figures VIII. and IX., Sheet B, represent a more convenient form of my
steam wheel than is shewn in my former Specification to obtain exireme
velocity. The cavities of the wheel may be formed of curves or angles, or as
represented at a, Fig. VII., part of the side of the rim being removed to shew
them. These cavities are intended to go all round the circumference, and
have mouths for the entrance of the steam inside the wheel, underneath the
periphery, inclined to the nozle, with an exit for the steam on the outside of
the periphery, the steam thus passing through the circumference of the wheel.
The steam nozle is brought through the side of the case under the rim of cavities,
in a convenient position to inject the steam into the cavities, as shewn at b in the
Drawing. Part of the case c has a few cavities or curves opposite to the point
where the steam is injected into the cavities to receive the used steam, which, on
its exit from the cavities, will rush into those on the case, and be by them turned
in the direction of the wheel. This wheel may be formed of a disc or spokes,
and the cavities made of copper or other metal, rivetted or brazed together.
Fig. IX. is an end view of the same, having two rows of such cavities in
contrary directions to reverse the wheel, the pipe d being placed for that pur-
pose as represented; the eduction passage will be as usual. My method of
applying the extreme velocity of my engine is as follows:- propose using
a propeller vanes or screw attached to the axle of my steam wheel, and pro-

page_text: pelling or screwing vessels and locomotive engines and carriages on land
through the air, by the enormous velocity which I can command in the most
direct manner by my discovery of the expansive force and velocity of steam,
which, since my said Specification was enrolled. I have ascertained to be
considerably greater than is therein stated.
Sheet B. Fig. X., represents an elevation of my propeller for the above
purpose, the area of which is divided into quadrants, each quadrant being made
of iron or other metal, and strengthened by two or more radii bolted to a solid
nave fixed on the axis of the steam wheel.
Fig. XI. is a side view of the same fixed on the axle of the steam wheel.
which will be supported by as many bearings as are found necessary to keen it.
steady, each end of the axle forming a point on which to revolve, one point.
turning inside the steam case as at e, the other as shewn at f. Fig. XI., and
these points and bearings will be lubricated in the usual way, each being made
of the hardest and best assorted metals for durability. I have a shoulder on
the axle at g, where it passes through the steam case, both of which are ground
true to match, to make an air-tight joint instead of a stuffing box; this also
must be kept lubricated. The steam wheel and propeller may be placed
either in front, or at the locomotive engine, or on the tender, or perhaps more
conveniently on a truck constructed merely to carry it, to run before the engine.
in which arrangement a steam pipe, with a universal joint leading from the
boiler to supply the wheel, will perhaps be required.
Figs. XIII, and XIV., Sheet B, represent my universal steam joint for this
purpose. It is constructed of elbow joints and three stuffing boxes, as there
shewn, which will permit the engine and truck to have full play without dislo-
cation of the steam pipe; but, in using my air propeller, I greatly prefer the
more simple and peculiar arrangement of it represented in section, Fig. XII.,
where the propeller itself forms the disc or spokes, which would otherwise be
required to support the rim of cavities (a, a,) when revolving in a case. The
propeller will thus turn to account all the resistance of the air or steam which the
disc or radii of the wheel inside the case would otherwise meet with, consuming
power not conductive to the useful effect. By this method of using the pro-
peller the axle will only be of sufficient length to be .conveniently supported,
to keep the wheel steady, between a strong frame, in which the points f, g, will
revolve and be lubricated. These are the only parts of friction in this arrange-
ment, and by the pressure on either of these points the locomotive engine or
other machine will be propelled or backed according to the direction of the
motion of the vanes. No steam case stuffing boxes or air-tight joints will be
required, as in my previous wheels, but simply a hollow ring sufficiently large
for the rim of cavities-to revolve freely-in, as shewn in section b, b, Fig. XII.;

page_text: Sheet B. The cross piece c, c, which is a section of a mat hoop, is attached to
the extreme edge of the said propeller or vanes, but under the rim of cavities,
and revolves with them as near as possible without touching the sides d, d, d, d,
of the before-mentioned hollow ring b, b. The object of this is to prevent air
getting into the hollow ring to cool the cavities which are therein revolving.
The blast of the furnace will here be formed by a common blower, or by a
portion of the air thrown by the propeller, and carried by a pipe to the furnace
or chimney, the steam being permitted to escape only through the interstices
between the hoop round the propeller and sides of the hollow ring, unless found
better to have an eduction pipe in the usual way. Only one row of cavities is
shewn in Fig. XII., but another row will be required in the opposite direction
for reversing the wheel as before described. The steam nozle is shewn at e,
passing through one of the sides of the hollow ring, injecting the steam at the
inner side of the cavities, which are seen formed on the plan and position of
those represented and described in either of the wheels, Fig. I., Sheet A. The
general principles for the application, proportion, and arrangement of my pro-
peller for this novel kind of propulsion are these: The best speed of the steam
wheel, to give the maximum effect from a given pressure of steam, must first
be determined by either of the methods herein-after set forth. The evaporative
powers of the boiler must then be equal to discharge an uninterrupted jet of
steam of such an area as will (with the best speed of the wheel) give into its
cavities a sufficient impulsive force to propel the vessel or train at the required
speed such a boiler, for instance, as is sufficient for the present system. When
these data are given, and the convenient diameter of the determined (to ascer-
tain the number of revolutions which the propeller must make), they will
regulate the diameter and pitch of a proper sized propeller for the purpose. The
pitch or angle of the vanes of the propeller to the axis and its area will therefore
be so proportioned to the impulsive force in the cavities of the steam wheel at its
best speed, and to the load and speed of the vessel or train to be propelled, that
the sectional resistance of the propeller to the atmosphere shall (when revolving
at the best speed of the wheel) just balance or hold that speed in equilibrium;
that is, just absorb or take out all its velocity by employing the whole of the
power simply to turn the propeller at the same best speed of the wheel. The
area and pitch of the propeller will consequently be such that its resistance to
the atmosphere will not permit it either to fall below or to exceed that best
speed of the wheel which shall be found to give the maximum effect of the
steam or other motive agent employed. To determine what this best speed
of the wheel should be, I have tried several experiments (since the enrolment
of my Specification referred to) to ascertain the expansive velocity of steam
at different pressures, but I cannot determine the velocities to my entire

page_text: diameter of the nozle which discharges it, the number of pounds of water evapora-
ted must be reduced to cubic inches, and then to the length of a column or cylinder
of the actual diameter of such orifice of discharge, and the product multiplied
by the volume of steam at atmospheric pressure (in relation to the volume of
water producing it); the result then divided by the time it took to evaporate
the water will give the expansive velocities of steam as found in the fourth
column. By such a méthod. of calculation, the law to ascertain the expansive
velocities of steam at different pressures will be as the roots of the densities.
If, therefore, we take for our data the results given at a pressure of twenty-
one pounds in the above table, the expansive velocity of steam at sixty pounds
pressure above the atmosphere will be two hundred and twenty-four thousand
seven hundred and ninety-six feet per minute, and the force of the injects will
probably be as the squares of the expansive velocity of the steam, which the
following table of experiments pretty nearly verifies:
..!
"The force of these injets was obtained through the same nozle pipe and under
other circumstances as were used to ascertain the expansive velocities of steam,
so that the actual force and actual quantity of steam which was expended in
producing that force being given, the quantity of work in a jet of steam, at any

page_text: pressure, may be ascertained. But although these injets are the actual effects
given at the best distance from the orifice of the nozle of discharge (about
3 of an inch), yet as the steam somewhat enlarges its area at that part, its
expansive velocity is necessarily diminished thereby, just in proportion to such
enlargement, and to the impulsive force or injet which it gives. greater than
double the force of the initial pressure in the boiler. If, therefore, the whole ex-
pansive velocity of the steam be calculated by the actual size or area of the orifice
through which the steam issues (and not by the enlarged area which the steam
forms where it gives the maximum injet). then the effect of injet must be taken
as only double that of the boiler pressure, and not more than double, as
in the table. By this method of calculation the best speed of the wheel to give
the maximum effect will be of the expansive velocity of the steam. But if
the expansive velocity of the steam be calculated (not by the actual orifice
of discharge, but) by the larger area into which the steam spreads at about
3 of an inch from the orifice of the nozle of discharge, the actual full effect or
force of the injets, as given in the table, must be taken for calculation, but the
expansive velocity of the steam must then be reduced in proportion, which will
be found by the following table of formula;-

page_text: The experimental results given in the two previous tables will supply the
necessary data for these formulæ. Thus, at 60 lbs. above the atmosphere,
the expansive velocity of the steam, when it attains atmospheric pressure, will
be, by this method of calculation, 152,100 feet a minute, and the best speed of
the periphery of the wheel 76,050 feet a minute, or one-half of 'the expansive
velocity of the steam at any given pressure. The gross units of work in a jet
of. steam at 60 lbs. pressure above the atmosphere, produced by the evaporation
of one cubic foot of water, will be found by the above formulæ equal to;
6,238,400 lbs. lifted one foot high. It will be seen by the foregoing two,
methods of calculation that the best speed of the wheel, to give the maximum
effect, is very nearly alike in both cases; the former giving 74,932 feet a
minute, and the latter giving 76,050 feet a minute, an approximation sulli-
ciently near for all practical purposes. This is undoubtedly a tremendous
velocity, but by my peculiar arrangement of the air propeller it may be at once,
and therefore economically, applied to all purposes of locomotion. It would
indeed be diflicult to conceive any practical application of steam power for,
propulsion more direct, cheap, and durable than this. In the first place, my,
engine permits the steam to expand to the atmosphere without valves, pistons,
or cylinders, and then nearly all the ordinary friction and resistance which
absorb power are here substituted for that friction and resistance which goes
towards communicating power; for the propelling resistance of the atmosphere,
encreasing as the squares of the velocity of the vanes, will continue to accumu-
late until its urging or impelling force will equipoise the opposing force of the
steam, and thus maintain an equilibrium smooth and equable. liable to but few
variations. Should one propeller be found insufficient (unless inconveniently
large) to take all the velocity out of the engine, another may be put upon the
saime shaft, care being taken to remove it at such a distance from the first
as that the current of air created thereby shall be spent before reaching
the second, or be diverted therefrom by a wedge projecting in front of the.
second, and some such plan may be found necessary to divert the blast of air
created by the propeller from the engine or carriages. My improved method.
of applying my discovery more conveniently. when extreme velocity is not
required, is by using two or more wheels as represented in Fig. 1, Sheet A,
which shews a case containing two wheels of the same diameter, the periphery
of each of which is formed of rims of cavities or curves, as shewn in section,
enlarged, in Fig. IV., and sufficiently overlap and revolve close together, side
by side, at their peripherys. The way in which my double wheel will act is as.
follows:-
Fig. IV., Sheet A, shews a portion of these cavities or curves in section,.at

page_text: the point of the circumference, where the rims of the cavities overlap each other
and receive the steam. The steam will be first projected into the curves or
cavities b. b. b, b, b, on the one wheel, by the nozle-a. and passing through
them upwards in the direction of the arrows, will give out part of its impulsive
force to the wheel c, in direction of the arrow c, and being reflected or
turned back, will be injected downwards into the curves or cavities d. d. d, d, d;
on the other wheel, and to which it will impart the rest of its impulsive force
in the direction of the arrow e, and then pass away nearly exhausted of its
force at f, ff. The object of these two wheels is to reduce to a certain
extent the velocity of the wheel; but where a much lower speed is required
than can be economically obtained by only two rims of curves or cavities, each
wheel may have as many such rims of curves or cavities as will reduce the
speed to what is required by an equivalent, and a greater number of impulses
of the motive power. These projecting rims will overlap each other, and
revolve side by side as close as convenient for the passage of the steam
through them, as shewn in Fig. XV., Sheet B, and Fig. VIII; Sheet A, which
are about the proportions which I propose using for re-injecting or reflecting the
steam, being laid down to 16 of an inch to the inch, the curves or cavities in
Figs. III. and 1V., Sheet A, being enlarged simply for explanation. As steam
may be considered a fluid, perfectly elastic, the whole expansive velocity cannot
be absorbed if the wheel does not revolve at its best speed to give the maximum
effect. It will continue, therefore, to rebound from cavity to cavity, until, by
frequent impulses, it has become exhausted of its energy or elastic force by the
speed of the wheel. To what extent this can be continued, and how many
injets can be obtained from the same current of steam, practice only can deter-
mine. In applying, however, the expansive velocity of steam by frequent
impulses and a slow motion of the wheel, the following general principles may
serve as a guide: The cavities or other recipients to reverse or reflect the
steam must be made as small as possible, sufficient only to receive all the steam;
the rims of cavities must revolve side by side as close as possible, avoiding
unnecessary friction, and the current of steam must be kept together as much
as possible, giving it free ingress and egress, but preventing any spreading or
scattering of its particles. With this view, it may perhaps be found-more advan
tageous for the second row of cavities to be much smaller than the first, and-the
third row of cavities smaller than the second, and so on, because by the passing
of the cavities, the first cavity will supply two or three of the second rim of
cavities, and these again will supply six or nine of the third rim, and so on,
whereas each cavity should be only large enough to receive its proper quantity
of steam, and to prevent its spreading. As it is shewn that these cavities must,
1

page_text: at the place where the-steam-goes through them, pass each other in opposite
directions, as shewn by the arrows j, k, Fig. I., this peculiar action of the steam
(impelling one wheel upwards, from which it is reflected downwards into the
cavities on the next wheel) will cause the two wheels to revolve in the same
direction, though apparently receding from each other. To reverse the wheel,
another series of cavities must be placed side by side in an opposite direction.
with a corresponding nozie, making two periphereys, as it were, to each rim.
The wheels will be connected together by small cranks and connecting rods.
shewn by the dofted lines g, h, i, in Fig. L.. two sets of which, arranged at right
angles, will obviate the inconvenience of dead points, and the axle of either
wheel may be the medium of transmitting the power to the machinery. Two
eduction passages for the steam are shewn at I. m. Fig. II. is an end view of
the two wheels. the case being in section. Fig. III. represents, on a larger
scale in section, a plan of the position of the rims of cavities taken through the
line n. o. Fig. I., and shews the rims of cavities to revolve side by side angularly
to the plane of the wheels instead of parallel; the object of which is, that any
contrefugal force caused by the revolution of the wheels may not tend to cast
the steam by the cavities, and prevent its entering them. The nozle is on the
inner side, or towards the centre, as shewn at p. p. Figs. I and III.. the steam
passing through in the direction of the arrows. Part of the spoke or discs are
represented by q. q. In my former Specification I described my arrangement
for communicating the speed of my wheel to the machinery to be moved
thereby, by pressure of the axle or roller on the wheel. Should this pressure
be found to cause too great a heat and friction, I propose surrounding my
axle with six antifriction wheels, in the manner represented in Sheet C, three
of which, a, b, c, are seen in the side elevation of Fig. 1., having three corre-
sponding wheels.behind them, and the end view of four of them, a, d, b, e, is
seen in the end elevation. Fig. II. having two corresponding wheels behind
the wheels b. e.
The two bearing wheel. a & d, are firmly fixed on the same
axle (g), which passes through a plummer box or bearing, shewn by the dotted
lines in Figs. I & II. and this bearing is fastened to the upper part of the
spring which suspends the engine. The spring itself is thus suspended upon
the axle of these two anti-friction bearing wheels. which. by the weight
of the engine thereon, keep the axle in close contact with the wheel. To
keep the roller K in its horizontal position, the four smaller antifriction
wheels are used as represented. two on each side. For steam navigation
and other machinery. I also propose using a similar arrangement of my
antifriction wheels.
Figs. V., VI., and VII: Sheet A, represent my arrangement of metal discs

page_text: in substitution of the cylinders and pistons of steam engines. Fig. V. repre-
sents a disc of well-tempered steel. having a hole in the centre, with holes
round the same, and also round the circumference thereof, for the convenience
of rivetting or otherwise securing a number of such discs together in 'the' follow-
ing order: Each disc will be joined to another disc at the circumference, and
thus form a pair. each pair being joined to the pair next in succession round
the hole in the middle, which is left free for the passage of the steam, as shewn
in Fig. VII. Fig. Vl. represents a series of discs joined together when at
resi, the lower disc being firmly attached to a thicker plate of metal, which
plate can oscillate by arms moving in bearings, as shewn at a, b, c. Figs. VI.
and VII.. and the upper disc will be joined to a similar thick plate at the top.
which will be attached by a strong short rod d to a crank. as at e, to turn the
machinery. Steam or other gas being admitted by a convenient valve at the
lower part at c, the discs will be separated by the expansive force of the steam,
and take the form and position shewn in Fig. VII., when they will have urged
the crank to the extreme of the reversed position, when the valve shifting and
communicating to the condenser, (or atmosphere, if in high-pressure engines,)
the series of discs will collapse to their former position with a force due to the
atmosphere and the previous tension of the discs (when used for condensing
engines), but with a force due simply to the tension of the steel, when high-
pressure steam is used. Two or more of these series of discs being arranged
on an axle with cranks, will give the usual regularity of rotative motion.
Whatever power is continued by the upward stroke of these discs, is given ont
again by the down stroke.
Having now, in pursuance of the proviso contained in the said Letters
Patent, given a particular description of the nature of my said invented improve-
ments, and in what manner the same are to be performed, I will state what I
claim as my own Inventions.
I claim. for high-pressure and condensing engines on my plan, the exclusive
use of a wheel or wheels, or other machines for transmitting power, when
they are turned round by the impulse of one or more jets of steam or other
motive agent into oblique pipes, curves, passages, or cavities on the circum-
ference thereof, the mouths or openings of which are so inclined towards the
nozles or currents of steam as to receive the impulse of the same, and permit
the free egress thereof to take out wholly or in part the effect or force of the
steam or other motive agent, and I claim such an angle for my nozle or jet
of steam, or other motive agent, as will effect this object. I do not claim as my
Invention a wheel moved by steam simply impingeing upon vanes placed radial.or
vertical to the axis, nor do I claim cavities which are so made (that is, vertical

page_text: to the axis.) by fixing rims to each side of such radial or vertical vanes: nor do I
claim such vanes or cavities where they slant or decline from the nozle or
current of steam in the direction of the motion of the wheel. where the steam
can only give out one impingement upon each vane: but if the vanes or
cavities are so made with a channel for the steam to pass through or down
them in the direction of their inclination, so that the steam can give out many
impulses by rebounding from projection to projection, I claim such a form of
wheel as part of my Invention and experiments.
I claim, in particular. the exclusive use of the peculiar arrangement. com-
bination, and position of the cavities. curves. and nozles or jets of steam before
described, and shewn in Sheets A and B. though I do not confine the appli-
cation of my discovery solely to the particular form or proportion of such
receivers of the moving power, or of the nozles conveying it.
I also claim the method of applying the force of the expansive velocity of
steam, by reducing its speed, and obtaining an equivalent power by two or more
wheels having two or more rims of cavities or curves so placed on the circum-
ference as to keep constantly reversing, turning, or reflecting the steam, one
wheel to the other, until by two or more impulses from the same jet of the
motive agent all the action or force is exhausted, as before described. and
shewn in Sheet A. Figs. I., II., III. IV.. and VIII., and Fig. XV. in
Sheet B.
I also claim the particular arrangement and application of anti-friction
wheels, shewn in Sheet. C. to produce pressure or adhesion of the axle or roller
of rotatory engines to the machinery to be moved thereby, so as to prevent
unnecessary heat or friction: but I do not claim as my Invention the anti-
friction wheels alone, apart from my combination of them to carry out the uses
of my engine.
I also claim the exclusive use of the application of vanes or screws to propel
or screw through the air vessels and locomotive carriages on land by such pro-
peller revolving in the air, and particularly I claim the more simple and
peculiar arrangement of this application of propulsion as shewn in Fig. XII.,
Sheet B, before described.
I also claim the exclusive use of curves or cavities in a stationary case
to reflect the steam back upon the wheel for a second or other number of
impulses; the injected and reflected currents of steam being prevented from
meeting, which would destroy the effect, as I found by experiment.
I also claim the exclusive use of the application of metal discs or plates, as
shewn in Sheet A, Figs. VI. and VII., in substitution of the cylinders, air-

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Seventh day of September.
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid James Pilbrow came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Seventh day of September, in the year above written.