IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING STEAM PUMPS AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN CONDENSERS AND GOVERNORS THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Holman, of 10, Lawrence Pountney
Lane, in the City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING STEAM PUMPS AND PUMPING ENGINES,
AND IN CONDENSERS AND GOVERNORS THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 12th May 1874, and dated the 13th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Holman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th November 1873.
I, STEPHEN HOLMAN, of 10, Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the City of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING STEAM PUMPS AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN
CONDENSERS AND GOVERNORS THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
According to one part of my Invention, which relates to improve-
ments upon the arrangement for operating the slide valves of direct-

page_text: acting, pumping, or other engines described in the Specification of my
Patent, Number 3428, A.D. 1872, and illustrated by Figure 6, Sheet 3,
of the Drawings thereunto annexed, I propose to dispense with the
valves I, I', in the cylinder covers, and to substitute therefor cushioning
ends to the main slide valve by causing the elongated ends of the slide
valve to work in closed chambers formed on the opposite ends of the
valve chest, and to combine therewith adjusting plugs or their equiva-
lent for the purpose of determining the amount of steam cushion
necesa

page_text: considerably the escape of air at the return stroke I obtain a greater
maximum duty from a given traverse of piston.
Another part of my Invention relates to the general arrangement of
valves in pumps for forcing or exhausting air and other gaseous fluids,
whereby a more ready access to the said valves is afforded, and consists
in the employment of cross bars for carrying the guide spindles of the
several valves, each cross bar being capable of carrying guide spindles
for either one, two, or more valves. The cross bars for the outlet valves
are fitted into the delivery chamber and are maintained in position by
the cover or covers of the said chamber. The guide spindles for the
inlet valves are fitted to cross bars contained in separate chambers, which
are open to the atmosphere when used as an air pump only, and closed
when used for exhausting purposes. These last-mentioned valves are
arranged in the manner described under the herein-before last-mentioned
head of my Invention.
Another part of my Invention relates to a novel construction and
arrangement of condenser especially applicable to direct-acting and
other steam-pumping engines, and consists in the employment of a dash
wheel provided with curved or radial blades fitted so as to work
accurately within a cylindrical chamber forming part of the suction or
the delivery pipe of the pump:
On one portion of the circumference of the said cylindrical chamber
there is formed an exhaust steam receiver provided with openings or
with a self-acting valve for the admission of the exhaust steam from the
engine. The dash wheel thus prevents any direct communication
between the steam receiver and the main body of water passing through
the pipe. This water by its flow causes the dash wheel to rotate and
throw off the cold water taken up thereby in the form of spray into the
steam receiver so as to effect a rapid condensation of the steam, which
when condensed is conducted by the dash wheel into the water flowing
through the pipe..
A supplementary jet or spray may be introduced into the receiver
from the suction pipe, if desired, and regulated by a stop-cock or

page_text: steam receiver or in the exhaust pipe between the receiver and the
engine, and I place another self-acting check valve in a branch pipe,
which valve opens outwards to the atmosphere, so that the exhaust
steam may be blown through into the atmosphere on first starting the
engine until the condenser commences to operate.
Three-way cocks may obviously be substituted for the self-acting
check valves.
A wheel operated like the dash wheel may be employed for imparting
a rotatory motion to any other form of rotatory steam condensing
apparatus.
Another part of my Invention relates to the application of a governor
or regulator to steam pumps, and consists in driving such governor from
the spindle of the dash wheel in the condenser herein-before described,
such spindle being in that case carried through the sides or ends of the
cylindrical chamber.
The governor, which may be of any ordinary construction, serves to
control the supply of steam to the cylinder of the engine in the usual
manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Stephen Holman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
HOLMAN, of 10, Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the City of London,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the 37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me; the said Stephen Holman, Her
special license, that I, the said Stephen Holman, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen
Holman, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times.

page_text: 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING STEAM PUMPS AND PUMPING
ENGINES, AND IN CONDENSERS AND GOVERNORS THEREFOR, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Holman, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly 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 Stephen Holman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements in direct acting pumping
engines and the application of such engines to the manipulation of
heavy ordnance; also to improvements in condensers and governors
applicable to other steam engines.
It consists, firstly, in cushioning the ends of the main slide valve in
lieu of the valves I, I', in the cylinder covers in the arrangement of
direct acting pumping engine described and illustrated in my former
Letters Patent, No. 3428, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Secondly. In simplifying the arrangement of direct acting steam
pumping engine, also described in the said Letters Patent, by substi-
tuting a single three-way cock for the two separate cocks therein
described and illustrated.
Thirdly. In the application of the india-rubber tubular buffers
described and illustrated by my former Letters Patent, No. 1046, in the
5 year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, to
suspended valves of air and gas pumps for rapidly closing the said
valves.

page_text: Fourthly. In the general arrangement of the valves for air and gas
pumps by carrying their guide spindles in cross bars, each of which is
capable of carrying one, two, or more guide spindles, whereby a more
ready access is obtained to the said valves.
Fifthly. In a rotatory dash wheel condenser applicable to direct
acting pumping and other engines, the said condenser being formed in
the suction or delivery pipe of the pump in combination with a steam
receiver and with self-acting check valves; also in a supplementary jet
or spray condenser in connection with the exhaust steam receiver and
with the suction pipe of the pump, the said condenser being used either
in combination with or separately from the said rotatory dash wheel
condenser.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures :-
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side sectional elevation of my improved
direct acting pumping engine; Figure 2, a transverse section of the
same on line 1, 2, in Figure 1; and Figure 3, a transverse section of the
same partly on line 3, 4, and partly on line 5, 6, in Figure 1.
A represents the main slide valve, the ends of which are elongated,
and work in closed chambers B, B, formed at opposite ends of the valvo
chest C, to which chambers steam is allowed to enter so as to form
cushioning ends to the main slide valve A in lieu of the valves I, I', in
the cylinder covers described in the Specification of my Letters Patent,
No. 3428, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two, and illustrated by Figure 6, Sheet 3, of the Drawings there-
unto annexed. b, b, are plugs or their equivalents adjustable in the
closed chambers B, B, by the screws D, D, for the purpose of determining
the amount of steam cushion necessary. From the steam cylinder E on
each side of the piston F are passages f, f, leading to the compressing
chambers H, H, in the cylinder covers for the purpose of admitting
steam or air (as the case may be) to the latter from the working side of
the piston F, the whole operating the main slide valve A in a similar
manner to that described in the said Specification, and constituting the
first part of my Invention.

page_text: G represents a single three-way cock or its equivalent, which is substi-
tuted secondly for the two separate cocks 10, 10¹, described in my
above-mentioned Letters Patent and illustrated by Figure 13, Sheet 3, of
the Drawings thereunto annexed, the said three-way cock being con-
nected by two pipes g, g, with two separate expansion chambers or
vessels I, I, which are equivalents for the expansion chambers 8, 8¹, of
the said Drawing. The three-way cock G may be regulated by a hand
wheel, as shewn, or by the aid of a governor worked either by hydraulic
power, as herein-after described, or by any other suitable contrivance.
At the left side of Figure 1, which represents the pump and its
appendages for forcing air or other gaseous fluids K, K', are the inlet or
suction, and L, L', the delivery valves. The inlet or suction valves K, K¹,
are inverted or suspended valves in communication with the atmosphere,
and according to the third part of my Invention are fitted with india-
rubber tubular buffers M, M³, similar in construction to those referred to
and illustrated in my Letters Patent, No. 1046, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. The lower ends of these
tubular buffers M, M', rest or press upon washers N, N¹, held in position
by nuts on the lower ends of the screwed guide spindles O, O¹, carried
by the cross bars P, P¹, and the jam nuts p, p¹. By turning the screwed
guide spindles O, O', in the latter the tubular buffers M, M', can be so
adjusted to the valves K, K¹, as to cause them to give sufficient pressure
on the latter to overcome their weight and to resist the atmospheric
pressure on any determined area of the same, thereby effecting an
instantaneous closing of the valves K, K³, on the completion of the
stroke, and by thus reducing considerably the escape of air at the
return stroke a greater maximum duty is obtained from a given traverse
of piston.
The cross bars P, P¹, of the inlet or suction valves K, K', and the
cross bars P², P³, of the delivery valves L, L', extend between and rest
in notches or recesses formed in the sides or walls of their respective
chambers. The cross bars of the delivery valves L, L', are kept in
position by the covers of the delivery chambers, while those of the inlet
or suction valves K, K', are retained by the screwed guide spindle 0, 0¹,
the inlet chambers being open to the atmosphere when used for au
air pump and provided with covers when used for exhausting purposes.
The employment of these cross bars affords a more ready access than

page_text: is usually obtained to the valves and constitutes the fourth head of my
Invention.
One of the various purposes to which my improved direct acting
pumping engine above described, whether worked by steam or com-
pressed air may be applied, is for operating the hydraulic pumps and
other apparatus employed in manipulating heavy ordnance.
In Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 2, A represents the improved engine
worked by compressed air (as herein-after more particularly described)
and operating the hydraulic pumps B by which the hydraulic ram C is
caused to raise and lower the gun D in its carriage E. In Figure 3, on
Sheet 2, F represents the improved engine driven by steam for working
the air pump G from which air is forced through the pipe H into a
receiver or air vessel I fixed in any convenient position. From this
receiver or air vessel I the air passes in a compressed state by means of
the stop-cock or valve K either into the pipe L through which it passes
for working the engine A, as and for the purpose previously mentioned,
or through the pipe M and stop-cock or valve N through the aperture a
formed in a lid or cover O placed over the mouth or muzzle of the gun
D into the space between the latter and a cylindrical air-tight wad or
plug P in the chamber of the gun D for the purpose of forcing the said
wad or plug, and with it the shot or charge to the hinder or firing end
of the said chamber in lieu of ramming the shot or charge home by
manual labor as usually done. This operation being effected the wad or
plug P is withdrawn from the gun by turning the stop-cock or valve N
so as to close the aperture a and admit the compressed air through the
flexible pipe y and through the wad or plug P to the space between the
latter and the shot or charge (the escape cock or valve Q being at the
same time opened), the effect of which is to force the wad or plug P
back to its original position in the gun D, as shewn, whence it is easily
removed on disconnecting the lid or cover O. In the meanwhile the
compressed air previously employed for charging the gun D passes
through the escape cock or valve Q into the atmosphere.
To ensure an air-tight joint between the lid or cover O and the mouth
or muzzle of the gun D the said lid or cover is formed with V shaped
projections or lugs 1, 1, which fit into corresponding grooves cut or
formed on the external edge of the mouth of the gun D, and with an
india-rubber or other packing ring 2 on its inner face, the whole being

page_text: tightened up against the mouth of the gun D by means of the eccentric
R turned by the handle S against the front side of one of the V shaped
grooves of the gun, as shewn more particularly in Figure 4, Sheet 2.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, represents a side sectional view of a novel combi-
nation and arrangement of condenser for using the fifth part of my
Invention, and especially applicable to direct acting and other steam
pumping or condensing engines; Figure 5 a transverse section of the
same on line 7, 8, in Figure 4; and Figure 6 a transverse section of the
same on line 9, 10, in Figure 4. In this arrangement A represents a
dash wheel provided with radial (or curved) blades a, a, the whole being
mounted on a spindle B carried in suitable bearings and fitted so as to
rotate accurately within a cylindrical chamber forming part of the
suction (or delivery) pipe C of the pump as shewn; communicating with
and forming a portion of this cylindrical chamber is an exhaust steam
receiver D provided with a self-acting check valve d or its equivalent for
admitting to the said receiver the exhaust steam coming through the
pipe or passage E from the engine of the pump, or from any other
engine or engines that it may be desired to condense from. F is a
second self-acting check valve inserted at some convenient part of the
exhaust pipe or passage E and opening outwards to the atmosphere,
through this check valve the exhaust steam is blown into the atmo-
sphere on first starting the engine or engines until the condenser begins
to operate.
The blades a, a, of the dash wheel A rotate sufficiently close to the
sides of the cylindrical chamber in the suction pipe O so as to prevent
any direct communication between the receiver D and the main body of
the water passing through the said pipe.
On starting the pump the water flowing through the suction pipe C in
the direction indicated by the arrows causes the dash wheel A to rotate
and throw off the cold water taken up thereby in the form of spray into
the receiver D, which effects a rapid condensation of the exhaust steam
entering the same through the check valve d. This water and the con-
densed steam are then carried round by and with the rotatory dash wheel
A and returned to the water flowing through the suction pipe C.
When the engine stops working the water thrown off by the dash
wheel A fills the receiver D and closes the check valve d, thereby

page_text: preventing the steam cylinder or cylinders of the engine or engines from
filling with water and becoming choked.
A wheel like the dash wheel A may be employed for imparting a
rotatory motion to any other form of rotatory steam condensing
apparatus.
At the right-hand side of Figure 4, Sheet 1, a supplementary jet or
spray condenser G may be used either in combination with or separate
from the dash wheel condenser before described. This supplementary
condenser consists of a box or chest in communication with the exhaust
steam receiver H, and (when in combination with the dash wheel
_condenser) forming a continuation of the suction pipe C of the pump, to
which it is bolted or connected, as shewn. The exhaust steam receiver
H may be connected with, and derive exhaust steam from, the steam
receiver D of the dash wheel condenser by means of a connecting pipe
or otherwise (not shewn on the Drawing). x is a cylindrical sheet or
tube of india-rubber hardened at the tapering end to allow of its being
tightly fixed in the box or chest of the supplementary condenser G, as
shewn. Its plain or parallel end, on the contrary, is flexible, and in its
normal position covers or laps over the annular opening y, which forms
the communication between the said box or chest and the exhaust steam
receiver H. I is a stop-cock or retaining valve between the inlet or
suction branch 2, and the interior of the box or chest of the supple-
mentary condenser G.
On starting the pump water enters the inlet or suction branch z and
passes through the stop-cock or retaining valve I, and through the box
or chest of the supplementary condenser G into that portion of the
suction pipe C containing the dash wheel A. In so doing the exhaust
steam from the receiver H passes through the annular opening y, and
pressing upon the plain or parallel end of the rubber tube x contracts,
or partially closes the same towards the column of water flowing through
the said tube, the exhaust steam meanwhile coming in contact with the
jet or spray of water thus formed, by which it is rapidly condensed, and
passes on with the water to the dash wheel condenser A, or when not in
combination therewith to the pump. A perforated ferule, as shewn in
red, may be inserted into the rubber tube x if desired to increase the
spread of the jet or spray therefrom, and at the same time more
effectually secure the said tube in its place.

page_text: In Figure 7, Sheet 1, G' represents another form or modification of
the supplementary jet or spray condenser described in Figure 4. In this
arrangement that portion of the box or chest in the direction of the dash
wheel condenser is extended and a thin metal lining L inserted therein
between the internal surface and the exhaust steam receiver H'; as
shewn, the latter by this means is considerably lengthened and forms a
surface condenser in consequence of the exhaust steam therein coming in
contact with the metal lining L, which partially condenses the said steam
before passing through the annular opening into the condenser G³.
In Figure 8, Sheet 1, the rubber tube x (Figure 4) is dispensed with,
and the retaining valve I' is made to close down upon or cover the
annular opening y¹, through which the exhaust steam from the receiver
H2 passes into and with the water flowing from the branch ¹ into the
box or chest of the condenser G³, and is thereby condensed in a similar
manner to that described in Figure 6.
As one application of this part of my Invention I propose to connect
the suction pipe of the pump or condensers to the lower part or water
space of a steam boiler where the water is sometimes in a semi-cold
condition, and after passing the water, therefrom through my improved
condensers return it by the pump more or less heated to the said boiler.
The sixth and last part of my Invention consists in the application of
a governor or regulator to steam pumps, such governor or regulator
being driven by a pulley M (as seen in Figure 8, Sheet 1), secured to the
spindle B of the rotating dash wheel A, which projects for the purpose
from one of the sides of the cylindrical chamber of the condenser in
which it is mounted, as shewn. The said governor or regulator, which
may be of any ordinary construction, serves to control the supply of
steam to the cylinder of the pumping engine in the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use of cushioning ends combined with
adjustable plugs or their equivalents, and with passages leading from the

page_text: steam cylinder to the compressing chambers in the cylinder covers to the
main slide valves of direct acting pumping engines, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings
or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The application and use of a three-way cock or its equivalent
connecting two separate expansion chambers in combination with the
steam or valve chest of direct acting, pumping, or other engines, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated
by my Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The application of the india-rubber tubular buffers referred to
in my herein-before mentioned former Letters Patent to suspended
valves of pumps for forcing or exhausting air and other gaseous fluids,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated
by my Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The application and use of cross bars for carrying the guide
spindles of valves, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings or any mere modification
thereof.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of condenser especially
applicable to direct acting and other steam pumping engines consisting
of a dash wheel rotating accurately within a cylindrical chamber
forming part of the suction or delivery pipe of the pump in com-
bination with an exhaust steam receiver and self-acting check valves,
and in combination or not with a supplementary jet or spray condenser
in connection with the exhaust steam receiver, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Sixth. The application and use of the supplementary jet or spray
condenser in combination or not with the dash wheel condenser before
mentioned, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described
and illustrated by my Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Seventh. The application and use of a governor or regulator to steam
pumps, such governor or regulator being actuated from the spindle of
the dash wheel in the condenser, substantially as and for the purpose

page_text: herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Holman, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
STEPHEN HOLMAN. (L.S.)