IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR SUPPLYING STEAM FOR STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown,
both of Wednesbury, in the County of Stafford, for the Invention of
*** IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR SUPPLYING STEAM FOR STEAM
BOILERS OR GENERATORS."
Sealed the 18th January 1861, and dated the 13th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Russell and
Burdett Lambton Brown at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 13th October 1860.
We, JOHN JAMES RUSSELL and BURDETT LAMBTON BROWN, both of Wednes-
bury, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for i
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED FOR SUPPLYING STEAM FROM STEAM
BOILERS OR GENERATORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus used for sup-
plying steam from steam boilers or generators, and consists of a peculiar
combination of apparatus, by means of which the steam generated at any
desired pressure above that at which it is intended to be used may be so regu-
lated in its passage from the boiler or generator as to be supplied to a.steam
engine or other vessel at a constant or nearly constant pressure below that at
which it is generated, and by applying two or more steam pipes and apparatus,

page_text: arranged according to the Invention, to the same steam boiler or generator
two steam engines may be supplied with and worked by steam of different
pressures, and such is the case when supplying steam to two or more vessels or
apparatus from the same steam boiler or generator where different pressures of
steam are required for carrying on processes in such vessels. To each steam
pipe, by which steam is conveyed from a steam boiler or generator to a steam
engine or other vessel, a regulating apparatus is applied consisting of a piston
working in a cylinder, in such manner that the steam in its passage from the
boiler or generator acts on the piston with a tendency to force it outwards.
The piston, by a spring or weight, has a tendency at all times, when not over-
come by the pressure of steam, to be towards one end of its cylinder. The
piston by a suitable piston rod. is connected with a valve suitably arranged for
closing the passage leading from the steam boiler or generator to the steam
pipe, and the valve will remain more or less open according as the steam pass-
ing from the steam boiler or generator presses less or more on the piston. The
form of valve used may be varied, and may consist, of; a perforated revolving
disc acting on a fixed perforated disc, or it may consist of a perforated, conical
plug. revolving in and against a hollow conical seat, or balance valves on the
same spindle may be used, the difference of areas of the two valves being only
slightly in favor of one; or other forms of valves may be used;, but whatever
be the form of valve employed it is to be put in connection with the piston,
and such piston is to be resisted in its movement in its cylinder by springs or
weights to such an extent as to cause the valve to close more and more, as the
pressure of the steam in the boiler is greater than the pressure at which, it is
desired to supply the steam..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
JAMES RUSSELL and BURDETT LAMBTON BROWN, both of Wednesbury, in the
County of Stafford, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign;
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said

page_text: John James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown, Her special licence,
'that we, the said Jolin James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown, our 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 APPARATUS USED FOR SUPPLYING
STEAM FROM STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John James Russell and Burdett Lambton Brown,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John James Russell, on behalf of myself
and the said Burdett Lambton Brown, 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
thereof, that is to say':-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus used for sup-
plying steam from steam boilers or generators, and consists of a peculiar
combination of apparatus, by means of which the steam generated at any
desired pressure above that at which it is intended to be used may be so regu-
lated in its passage from the boiler or generator as to be supplied to a steami
engine or other vessel at a constant or nearly constant pressure below that at
which it is generated, and by applying two or more steam pipes and apparatus;:
arranged according to the Invention, to the same steam boiler or generator,
two steam engines may be supplied with and worked by steam of different
pressures, and such is the case when supplying steam to two or more vessels or
apparatus from the same steam boiler or generator where different pressures of
steam are required for carrying on processes in such vessels. To each steam
pipe, by which steam is conveyed from a steam boiler or generator to a steami
engine or other vessel, a regulating apparatus is applied, consisting of a piston
working in a cylinder, in such manner that the steam in its passage from the
boiler or generator acts on the piston with a tendency to force it outwards.

page_text: The piston, by a spring or weight, has a tendency at all times, when not over.
come, by the pressure of steam, to be towards one end' of. its cylinder. The
piston by a suitable piston rod is connected with a valve, suitably arranged for.
closing the passage leading from the steam boiler or generator to the steam.
pipe, and the valve will remain more or less open; according as the steam
passing from the steam boiler or generator presses less or more on the piston.
The form of valve used may be varied; and may consist of a perforated re-.
volving disc acting on a fixed perforated disc, or. it may consist of a perforated
conical plug revolving in and against a hollow conical seat, or balance: valves
on-the same spindle may be used, the difference of areas of the two valves
being only slightly in favor of one, or other forms of valves may be used; but
whatever be the form of valve employed; it is, to be put in connection with the
piston; and such piston is to be resisted in its movement in its cylinder by
springs or weights, to such an extent as to cause the valve to close more and
more, as the pressure of the steam in the boiler is greater than the pressure at
which it is desired to supply the steam.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, we will proceed. inore,
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE..DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a plan; Figure 2, a vertical section; and Figure 3, 'a hori-
zontal section of the arrangement or combination of parts which we prefer to
employ in carrying out our Invention; but the form or construction and
arrangement of the parts may be greatly varied so long as the peculiar action
of the combination as herein described be retained, whereby a piston acted on
by the pressure of the steam as it comes from the boiler is caused to react on
a balance or other suitable form of valve, so as to close it, which it will do
when the pressure of the expanded steam increases beyond the desired working
pressure.
The end A of this regulating apparatus is fixed to the steam pipe or steam
chest of a steam boiler or generator, and the end B is fixed to the steam supply
pipe leading to a steam engine, or it may be to any vessel or'chamber to which
it is desired to supply steam at a regulated pressure below that which is in the.
steam boiler or source of supply: C, C, is a balance or equilibrium valve made
to fit on and close the two passages C and C. The stem of the valves C, C,
is connected to a piston D, which works steam-tight (and as free from friction
as may be) in the cylinder M. The cylinder M. is closed by a cup G, which
can move freely within the end of the cylinder M, and such cupped cover is

page_text: pressed constantly by the lever H, which is weighted by the weight K.
Between the cupped cover and the piston there is a spring F, constantly tend-
ing to force the piston upwards, and consequently to raise the balance or equi-
librium valves C; C, off their seats. The pressure of the steam coming from
the boiler has also a tendency to open the valves C, C, the upper one being of
somewhat larger area than the other: Steam at a higher pressure than that
at which it is to be used enters at A, and so long as the valves C, C, are off
their seats the steam will pass through the passages C1, C2, and thence, through
the passage B.to the engine, or otherwise, at, the pressure desired. The quan-
tity of the higher pressure steam allowed to pass the valves depends on the
height or distance the equilibrium valves C, C, are allowed to be moved off
their seats. In place of using a spring F, the piston might be regulated by a
weight or weighted lever; a spring is, however, preferred for the purpose. The
spring F and the entering steam are prevented raising the valves C, C, off their
seats by the pressure of the steam acting on the piston D; hence, should the
steam acting on the piston D rise beyond the pressure determined on as the
working pressure it will cause the valves C, C, to be moved towards their seats,
and thus decrease or completely prevent the passage of steam from the steam
boiler through the passages C¹, C³, till the pressure of the steam on the piston
D allows the spring to open the valves C, C. It is preferred that a safety
valve M¹ should be applied to the apparatus, in order to prevent any injurious
effects which might otherwise result should the valves C, or parts connected
therewith, get out of order and admit the higher pressure steam passing away
through the outlet B. On the piston D there is a rod or stem L fixed, which
stem or piston rod slides through the cupped cover G, and passes freely through
the lever H. In place of balance or equilibrium valves being used, such, as
are above shewn and described, conical or flat valves with passages through
them and rotating on axes, or other forms of valves, may be employed, so long
as the valves used are arranged in combination with pistons and springs or
weights, in such manner that the pistons being pressed on by the steam tend
to close the valves against the pressure of the springs or weights, which are
constantly tending to open the valves to admit a continued supply of steam of
the higher pressure.
We would remark that we are aware that it has before been proposed to
employ a valve to open against the flow of the higher steam connected with a
flexible diaphragm of larger area than the valve pressed on by a weighted lever,
tending to keep the valve open for the passage of the higher steam. We men-
tion this previous apparatus with a view to remark that we make no claim

page_text: thereto, and further to state that the peculiarity of 'our-Invention consists in
combining the use of pistons moving in suitable cylinders or chambers, in such
manner as constantly to tend to close the valves used to admit the higher
pressure steam, whilst such valves are acted. on by springs 'or weights tending
to open the valves.
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Russell, have hereunto' set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
J. J. RUSSELL. (L.S.)