IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND STEAM GENERATORS." —
A communication from Louis Arnier, of Marseilles, in the Empire of
France.
Sealed the 24th June 1859, and dated the 8th January 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th January 1859.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
5 Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, dó hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND STEAM
GENERATORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to various improvements in marine and stationary
engines, and also to improvements in boilers, by which greater power is
obtained from the elastic force of the steam than in engines of the ordinary
.construction, and considerable economy of fuel is, effected.
The main shaft of the engine, which turns in bearings in the framing, is
cranked in several places throughout its length corresponding to the connect-
ing rods of the pistons of the respective cylinders. The cranks are arranged
in such manner with relation to each other that the first is at the top of its

page_text: course whilst the two others occupy (the second on one side, and the third on
the opposite side) intermediate positions, dividing the revolution of the shaft
into three equal parts. The steam from the induction pipe is introduced into
the steam chest, and on opening the valve steam is admitted into the steam
cylinder under the piston; the space above the piston is open to the atmo-
sphere, the, pressure of which is added to the effect of the cranks on the main
shaft to facilitate the descent of the piston. When the piston has arrived at
the top of its course, the steam will escape through the slide valve into the
condensor. The escape of the steam and descent of the piston are facilitated
by a vacuum being formed at the same time in the condensor by means of the
air-pump, which is worked by the main shaft through suitable levers and con-
necting rods. On entering the condensor the steam is cooled by a jet of cold
water, and escapes into the atmosphere.
The induction and eduction valves are worked by means of connecting rods
and excentrics; the rod of the induction valve passes through a stuffing box,
.and carries a helical spring, which bears against a fixed point at one end, and
at the other against a shoulder on the valve rod. By this means, when the
excentric has produced its effect, and compressed the spring, at the same time
raising the valve, this latter will be freed, and by pushing back the said rod
again close the valve. The backward and forward movement of the slide valve
is produced in a similar manner by means of a cam and spring. Motion is
communicated from the main shaft to another shaft, and is regulated by a fly
wheel, against this fly wheel is a pinion taking into another pinion on a crank
shaft, and at the other extremity of which is another pinion gearing into a
segmental rack formed in the wheel of the secondary shaft. The object of this
arrangement is to allow of the engine being set to work in a very simple way.
For this purpose the fly wheel and its pinion, which are formed in one piece,
are keyed upon the second shaft, upon which they may be made to turn loosely
by withdrawing the key. In this case, upon turning the fly wheel by hand
until its pinion traverses the segmental rack (the wheel remaining stationary
by being in contact with the wheel on the main shaft in a state of rest), and
arrives at its other end, two excentrics connected with the rod of the steam
supply valve will be acted upon, thereby allowing of the spring on the valve
rod being compressed by means of a hand lever, and consequently raising the
valve and supplying steam underneath the piston, and thereby setting the
engine in motion.
Rotary motion is transmitted from the engine to the propeller shaft by
means of toothed wheels-mounted respectively on this latter and on the main
shaft of the engine. The propeller shaft is provided, where it traverses it's

page_text: support, with a series of collars let into recesses made for that purpose in the:
bearings. This is for the purpose of offering to the propeller all the resistance
necessary against shocks produced by the impulse given to the vessel. This
transmission motion may be communicated either in front or behind, according
to the direction of the motion imparted to the driving shaft.
. Another improvement consists in setting a number of small tubes inside the:
steam escape pipe for the purpose of utilizing the waste heat of the spent.
steam and raising the temperature of the feed water before being supplied to
the boiler. For this purpose these small pipes extend throughout the whole'
length of a long pipe of large diameter, and terminate at each of its ends in a
single pipe, whence the water is supplied by the feed pump to the boiler, where.
it passes by means of vertical side pipes to a series of small tubes set inside
the lower part of the boiler, and which are exposed to the full action of;
furnaces set underneath the boiler. By this means an increased amount of:
heating surface is obtained, and more rapid evaporation of the water will be:
the result. The flame and heated gases after having heated the lower set
of tubes, pass to another set of tubes above, and thence through the smoke.
box and chimney escape into the atmosphere. A man-holé situate at the
part of the boiler allows of its being inspected and cleaned out with facility:
By thus obtaining extended heating surface, and so completely utilizing.
the caloric, the feed water will be rapidly and constantly heated to a high
degree of temperature, and thus it will be understood that great economy of
fuel will result from the employment of this arrangement.
upper;
B
The improved engine allows also of great economy being effected in the
expenditure of steam, as its expansive force need in most cases only act to the,
extent of one-tenth of the stroke of the piston.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th July 1859.
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.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date-the Eighth day of January, in the. year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign; 'did; for Herself, Her. heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that 1; the said;
William Edward. Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND STEAM GENERATORS,"
being a communication from Louis Arnier, of Marseilles, in the Empire of
France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward:
Newton, 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 William Edward Newton, 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 the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,-
and to the letters and figures marked thereon. (that is to say) :-
This Invention of improvements in steam engines and steam generators,
relates to various improvements in marine and stationary engines, and also to,
improvements in boilers, by which greater power is obtained from the elastic;
force of the steam than in engines of the ordinary construction, and con-
siderable economy of fuel is effected.
The main shaft of the engine, which turns in bearings in the framing, is
cranked in several places throughout its length corresponding to the connecting
rods of the pistons of the respective cylinders. The cranks are arranged in
such manner with relation to each other that the first is at the top of its
course whilst the two others occupy (the second on one side, and the third on the
opposite side) intermediate positions, dividing the revolution of the shaft into
three equal parts. The steam from the induction pipe is introduced into the
steam chest, and on opening the valve steam is admitted into the steam
cylinders under the pistons. The space above the piston is open to the atmos-
phere, the pressure of which is added to the effect of the cranks on the main,
shaft to facilitate the descent of the piston. When the piston has arrived at
the top of its course, the steam will escape through the slide valve into the
condenser. The escape of the steam and descent of the piston are facilitated
by a vacuum being formed at the same time in the condenser by means of

page_text: the air-pump, which is worked by the main shaft through suitable levers and
connecting rods.. On entering the condenser the steam is cooled by a jet of
cold water, and escapes into the atmosphere.
The induction and eduction valves are worked by means of connecting rods
and excentrics; the rod of the induction valve passes through a stuffing box,
and carries a helical spring, which bears against a fixed point at one end, and
at the other against a shoulder on the valve rod. By this means, when the
excentric has produced its effect, and compressed the spring (at the same time
raising the valve), the spring will be freed, and by pushing back the said rod
again close the valve. The backward and forward movement of the slide
valve is produced in a similar manner by means of a cam and spring.
Motion is communicated from the main shaft to another shaft, and is regulated
by a fly wheel. Against this fly wheel is a pinion taking into another pinion
on a crank shaft, and at the other extremity of which is another pinion gearing
into a segmental rack formed in the wheel of the secondary shaft. The object
of this arrangement is to allow of the engine being set to work in a very simple
way. For this purpose the fly wheel and its pinion, which are formed in one
piece, are keyed upon the second shaft, upon which they may be made to turn
loosely by withdrawing the key. In this case, upon turning the fly wheel by
hand until its pinion traverses the segmental rack (the wheel remaining
stationary by being in contact with the wheel on the main shaft in a state of
rest), and arrives at its other end, two excentrics connected with the rod of
the steam supply valve will be acted upon, thereby allowing of the spring on
the valve rod being compressed by means of a hand lever, and consequently
raising the valve and supplying steam underneath the piston, and thereby
setting the engine in motion.
Rotary motion is transmitted from the engine to the propeller shaft by
means of toothed wheels mounted respectively on this latter and on the
main shaft of the engine.. The propeller shaft is provided where it traverses
its support with a series of collars let into recesses made for that purpose in
the bearings. This is for the purpose, of offering to the propeller all the
resistance necessary against shocks produced by the impulse given to the
vessel. This transmission movement may be communicated either in front or
behind, according to the direction of the motion imparted to the driving.
shaft.
Another improvement consists in setting a number of small tubes inside the
steam escape pipe for the purpose of utilizing the waste heat of the spent
steam and raising the temperature of the feed water before being supplied to
the boiler. For this purpose these small pipes extend throughout the whole

page_text: length of a long pipe of large diameter, and terminate at each of its ends in a
single pipe, whence the water is supplied by the feed. pump to the boiler,
.where it passes by means of vertical side pipes to a series of small tubes set
inside the lower part of the boiler, and which are exposed to the full action
of furnaces set underneath the boiler. By this means an increased amount
of heating surface is obtained, and more rapid. evaporation of the water will
be the result. The flame and heated gases, after having heated the lower set
of tubes, pass to another set of tubes above, and thence escape through the
smoke box and chimney into the atmosphere. A manhole situate at the
upper part of the boiler. allows of its being inspected and. cleaned out with
facility. By thus. obtaining extended heating surface, and so completely
utilizing the caloric, the feed water will be rapidly and constantly heated to a
high degree of temperature, and thus it will be understood that great economý
of fuel will result from the employment of this arrangement. The improved
engine allows also of great economy being effected in the expenditure of steam,
⚫ as its expansive force need in most cases only act to the extent of one-tenth
of the stroke of the piston.
These improvements will be understood by reference to the various Figures
in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 (Sheet I.) is a front elevation
of the improved engine. Fig. 2 (Sheet II.) is an end view of the same
taken at the side where the driving wheel of the propeller shaft is situate.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section. of the same taken through the first. of the steam
cylinders, that is to say, at the side opposite to that of the preceding Figure;
Fig. 4 (Sheet III.) represents in longitudinal section, taken through the
middle of the flue or chimney, the improved boiler intended to be adapted to
the engine represented in the preceding Figures; Fig. 5 is another longi-
tudinal section of the same taken through the middle of a furnace or fire-place;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the same, partly in section, in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 7;
which is a horizontal plan corresponding to Fig. 6,.and partly in section in
the line 3, 4, of that Figure.
The main shaft A of the engine, which is mounted in bearings in the
standards B of the framework, is cranked in several places corresponding with
the connecting rods C of each of the cylinders D;. these cranks are disposed in
such manner, with relation to each other, that the first is at the top of its
course whilst the two others occupy (the second on one side and the third on the
opposite side) intermediate positions dividing the revolution of the shaft A into
three equal parts. It will be observed that the cylinders D are single acting.
The steam on arriving from the induction pipe a, is introduced into each of the
cylinders through the steam box G; and on the steam valve b being opened, it

page_text: is introduced under the piston E of the cylinder; this latter is in communi-
cation at its upper part with the atmosphere, the pressure of which in
conjunction with the action of the cranks of the driving shaft facilitates the
descent of the piston. When the piston E has arrived at the top of its stroke;
the escape slide valve c allows the steam to escape, which then passes from
the cylinder D'into the tubular passage d, from whence it passes to the con-
denser through a second channel d¹. The escape of the steam and the descent
of the piston are also facilitated by the vacuum formed at the same time in
the condenser F by means of the air-pump H', which receives its motion from
the crank shaft A by means of a lever e jointed to the connecting rods f and f¹,
and oscillating round a shaft g mounted in a bracket h,: cast in one piece with
the standard B of the condenser F; where the steam receives. a jet of cold
. water, and escapes into the atmosphere through the pipe i. The steam valve b
and escape, valve.c are worked by another shaft K (which is mounted in
5 brackets h¹ similar to those h) .by. means of connecting rods and excentrics;
and the slide.valve c is worked by means of jointed levers j. The rod of the
valve b passing through the stuffing box k is furnished with a helical spring.l;
which bears against a fixed point m at one end, and at the other against a
shoulder or collar on the said rod. By this means, when the cam n has acted
. upon and compressed the spring in raising the valve b, the spring becomes
free and pushes back the rod, which again closes the valve. The backward
, and forward motion of the slide valve ċ is obtained in a similar manner by the
. action of the cam.n² and spring ¹.
l
+
Motion is transmitted to the shaft K through gearing by means of the
5 wheels L and L', and is regulated by the fly wheel o. Mounted, near this fly
wheel is a pinion p, which takes into another pinion mounted on a crank shaft,
at the other extremity of which is another pinion g (Fig. 3), gearing: into
a segmental rack q¹ formed in a slot made in the wheel L for that purpose.
1
The object of this arrangement is to allow the engine to be started in a very
simple manner by hand. For this purpose the fly. wheel o and pinion p, which
are in one, piece, are keyed, and may be made to turn loosely upon the shaft K
:
by means of a key, which may be driven home or removed at pleasure. In
this case, if the fly wheel be moved by hand until the pinion g running in the
rack q¹ (the wheel L remaining stationary by reason of its connection with
the wheel L', which is in a state of rest) arrives at the opposite extremity of
this latter, this will displace the excentrics n and n¹, and allow of the rod of
the spring / being raised by hand by means of the lever r, and consequently
the valve b being raised, which will introduce steam under the piston, and
communicate motion to all the working parts of the engine.

page_text: On referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the driving shaft A communicates
motion to the propeller shaft M by means of the large, wheels N taking into
the wheels N mounted on these respective shafts. The shaft M at that
part where it passes through the bracket 0 (see Fig. 1) carries a series of
collars o (shewn by dots) turning in slots in the bearings.
-
The object of this arrangement is to offer to the propeller all the resistance
necessary against the shock caused by the propulsion of the vessel. This
motion. may be transmitted either in a backward or forward direction, accord-
ing to the direction of the motion imparted to the driving shaft.
Fig. 3 (Sheet II.) shews in section a number of tubes t, set at regular
distances apart inside the eduction or escape pipe d. The advantage of this
arrangenient: will be understood, as it allows of the heat of the escaping steam
being employed to heat the feed water to a certain temperature before entering
the boiler. For this purpose the tubes t, passing through the entire length of
the pipe d, terminate at each extremity of this latter in a conical tube, which
supplies the water from the feed pump to the generator. The feed water on
arriving at the boiler P (Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet III.,) occupies not only the
upper part, but also enters through the openings u¹ into the pipes u, through
which it passes. These pipes are exposed to the direct action of the furnaces Q
below. By this means a much larger heating surface exposed to the direct
action of the fire is obtained, and consequently the water is enabled, in a given
time, to absorb a greater quantity of caloric than in the ordinary construction
of steam generators. The fuel is fed in at the door. v, Fig. 5, and is received
in each of the two fireplaces by the fire-bars . The flame and heated gases,
after having heated the tubes u; pass into tubes y, in order to pass through
and heat the upper portions of the water, whence they pass through the smoke
box z, Figs. 4 and 5, into the flue R, and thence into the atmosphere. The
steam is conducted from the steam chamber S to the cylinders by a suitable
steam pipe, as above mentioned. A manhole T in the upper part of the boiler
allows of its being inspected and cleaned with facility.
So large an amount of heating surface being obtained, and such complete
utilization of caloric, will heat the feed water rapidly and constantly to a high
degree of temperature, and thus a considerable economy of fuel will result from
the above-described arrangement.
Having now described this Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself rigidly
to the construction and arrangement of parts above shewn and described, as
they may be modified without departing from the nature and object of the
present Invention; but that which I desire to claim as the Invention secured!

page_text: to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent is, the arrangement of
steam engine and boiler above shewn and described, or any mere modification
thereof; and particularly I claim,-
Firstly, the arrangement above shewn and described for working the three
single action cylinders.
Secondly, the means and apparatus for utilizing, before entering the con-
denser, the waste heat of the steam after it has produced its effect upon the
piston.
Thirdly, the improvements herein described and set forth in boilers or steam
generators.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
5 Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)