IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Joel Livsey, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES." -A com-
munication from abroad by Levi Leigh, of Saint Petersburg, Russia,
Cotton Spinner.
Sealed the 2nd November 1863, and dated the 8th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Joel Livsey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th May 1863.
I, PETER JOEL LIVSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES,"
communicated to me from abroad by Levi Leigh, of Saint Petersburg,
Russia, Cotton Spinner, to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to a mode of compounding beam steam engines, and
consists in connecting the piston of the high-pressure cylinder with the
beam so that it will have a longer stroke than the piston of the low-
pressure cylinder, or the Invention consists in combining the high and low
pressure cylinders with the beam so that the low-pressure cylinder will be
at one end and the high-pressure cylinder will be at the other end of the
beam, the connecting rod for the crank being placed between the high-
pressure cylinder and the fulcrum of the beam. In altering single cylinder

page_text: or low-pressure engines to high and low pressure or compound engines,
the Invention consists in securing side beams to the existing beam so
as to extend it beyond the junction of the connecting rod and beam, the
piston of the high-pressure cylinder being connected to the end of this
auxiliary beam, or a new beam of suitable form may be substituted for the 5
old beam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Joel Livsey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER JOEL
LIVSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Peter Joel Livsey, Her special license that I, the said Peter Joel Livsey,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Peter Joel Livsey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES," a communication from Levi
Leigh, of Saint Petersburgh, Russia, Cotton Spinner, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Peter Joel Livsey, 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 Peter Joel Livsey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
=
The Invention communicated to me by the said Levi Leigh relates to a

page_text: mode of compounding beam steam engines, and consists in connecting the
piston of the high-pressure cylinder with the beam so that it will have a
larger stroke than the piston of the low-pressure cylinder; or the Invention
consists in combining the high and low pressure cylinders with the beam of
the engine so that the low-pressure cylinder will be at one end and the
high-pressure cylinder at the other end of the beam, the connecting rod
for the crank pin being placed between the high-pressure cylinder and the
fulcrum of the beam. In altering single cylinder or low-pressure engines
to high and low pressure or compound engines, or in giving additional power
to beam engines, the Invention consists in securing side beams to the existing
beam so as to extend it beyond the junction of the crank connecting rod and
beam, the piston of the high-pressure cylinder being connected with this
auxiliary beam, or a new beam of suitable form may be substituted for the
old beam.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing illustrates the mode in which the
Inventor carries his improvements into effect.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan view
of an ordinary beam condensing engine, having the improvements applied
thereto.
a, low-pressure cylinder; b. beam; b', fulcrum; c, crank connecting rod; d,
crank; e, crank shaft; f, driving and fly wheel; g, condenser; these are ordinary
and well known parts of condensing beam engines. The improvements are
carried out by an auxiliary beam, or an addition to and extension of the existing
beam, which is formed by two plates (h) of wrought iron. These side beams are
connected with and secured firmly to the existing beam (b) by means of the
joint pin (3) of the crank connecting rod (c) and the joint pin (6) of the cold
water pump. The auxiliary beam (h) extends so far past the end of the
existing beam that the crank and connecting rod will have sufficient room to
work clear of the high-pressure cylinder (k), which is bolted down to a
suitable foundation. The end of the high-pressure piston rod (¹) is guided
in slides (), which take the angular thrust of its connecting rod (1³); these
slides () also serve as pillars to assist in supporting the upper or beam floor of
the engine. I is the steam pipe leading to valve box of the high-pressure engine;
, throttle valve; m, connecting rods between the governor and throttle
valve; n, rocking shaft worked by excentric; this shaft bas two arms (n³) upon
it, to which rods (2) are jointed at one end, and at the other end to a cross
head (3) secured to the spindle (2) working the valves; p is the steam pipe
conducting the steam which has passed through the high-pressure cylinder (k)
to the low-pressure cylinder (a). If required, the low-pressure end of the

page_text: beam may be weighted to counterbalance the weight added to the other end of
the beam, but with high-pressure steam all or the greater portion of the
additional weight will be balanced when working by the difference between the
area acted upon by steam at the bottom and top side of the high-pressure
piston. In the example shown by the Drawings a slide valve is used at each
end of the high-pressure cylinder, but in cases where the engine is worked with
suflicient compression one double-acting slide valve may be used and placed at
or about the centre of the cylinder. In place of a fixed high-pressure cylinder
an oscillating cylinder may be used, the end of the piston rod being jointed
directly to the auxiliary beam. The high-pressure cylinder is covered with
non-conducting material to retain the heat and prevent condensation.
I have now particularly described the nature of the Invention communicated
to me, and the mode in which it may be carred into effect, and claim the com-
pounding of beam steam engines in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Joel Livscy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
PETER J. LIVSEY. (L.B.)