IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM AND AIR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake;
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM
AND AIR" communicated to him from abroad by Frederick Mc'Mellon, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO ENGINES
TO BE WORKED BY STEAM AND AIR" [A communication to him from abroad by
Frederick Mc'Mellon, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mechanic]
This invention relates to that class of steam engines in which air is used as an
auxiliary motor, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts,
as hereinafter set forth, by which a new and more effective device of this character
is produced than is now in ordinary use.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide on the shaft of the driving
wheel of the engine a gear wheel which intermeshes with another gear wheel
mounted on a horizontal shaft supported in vertical standards or bearings. At the
outer end of this shaft there is a face-plate, provided with a crank-pin
A pump provided with a vertical piston-rod is mounted on upright framework,
the piston being connected with the pin by means of a pitman-rod
The pump is provided with an induction pipe, an eduction pipe, and proper
valves to constitute it either an air or water pump
The eduction pipe leads directly from the pump to the boiler, entering the same
above the crown sheet, and is provided with a branch pipe and an automatic
pressure or relief valve
The induction pipe is provided with a T-pipe connecting with a water tank, an
Lair valve and a ston cock

page_text: From the foregoing description it will be understood that the pump is designed
to force either air or water into the boiler, as occasion may require.
When the pump is used for air the stop-cock, is closed to prevent the entrance
of water, the air entering the lower part of the pump, beneath the piston, through
the air valve, and the upper part of the pump, above the piston, through a valve,
being forced by the pump into the boiler through the eduction pipė.
When the pump is used for water the stop cock or valve is opened and the air
valve closed, the water being forced into the boiler through the eduction pipe
A check-valve prevents a reverse flow of either air or water through the
induction pipe, on the downward stroke of the pump piston, and the pressure or
escape valve is designed to be so regulated as to discharge water when the pressure
becomes too great in the boiler, or when it is full.
Air forced into the boiler as, described is immediately expanded, and passing
through the pipe acts as a powerful auxiliary to the steam in running the engine.
It also maintains its pressure much longer than the steam, thereby enabling the
engine to be started up after the steam is down
When there is a very high pressure in the boiler and the pump will not readily
force air into the same, I make use of an auxiliary air pump which is of greater
power than the other pump, and is connected to a pipe, a stop cock being closed,
although the latter may remain open if desired, and both pumps be used; but
when the pump, is used for water one stop-cock, is closed and another opened.

page_text: through the pipe E acts as a powerful auxiliary to the steam in running the
engine. It also maintains its pressure much longer than the steam, thereby
enabling the engine to be started after the steam is down.
When there is a very high pressure in the boiler and the pump M will not
readily force air into the same, I make use of an auxiliary air-pump which is of
greater power than the pump M and is connected to the pipe 14, the stop-cock 7
being closed, although the latter may remain open, if desired, and both pumps be
used; but when the pump M is used for water the stop-cock 25 is closed and the
cock 7 opened.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I Claim
First. The employment of air mixed with steam in running an engine, the air
being introduced into the steam-chamber of the boiler under pressure, expanded,
and passed into the cylinder of the engine, substantially as described.
Second. The pump M provided with the pipes Q, R, and adapted to pump either
air or water, in combination with the boiler A, and an engine for operating the
pump, substantially as set forth.
Third. The shaft H provided with the gear-wheel I, in combination with the
shaft K, the gear wheel J, and the pump M, substantially as described
Fourth. The automatic relief-valve m, in combination with the pipe R,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. In an engine, substantially such as described, the gear-wheel I, in
combination with the shaft H for operating a pump, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a device substantially such as described, a boiler for generating steam,
an engine connected to the said boiler by an induction pipe, a pump adapted to
force either air or water into the boiler, a pipe for connecting the pump and boiler,
and suitable mechanism for connecting the engine and pump, all constructed,
combined, and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The branch pipe 14 provided with the stop-cock 25, in combination
with the pipe R provided with the stop-cock 7 to enable an auxiliary air-pump to
be used, either with or without the pump M, substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Eleventh day of September in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.