IM- PROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smethurst, of Royton, in the County of
Lancaster, Coal Proprietor and Millowner, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 25th September 1863, and dated the 31st March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smethurst at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
March 1863.
I, JOHN SMETHURST, of Royton, in the County of Lancaster, Coal Pro
prietor and Millowner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
IS APPLICABLE TO HEATING PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
I employ a compound horizontal boiler consisting of an inner and outer
shell, at the end of which I attach a vertical boiler with a vertical flue and
furnace, if necessary, connecting the horizontal internal flue of the hori-
zontal boiler; the upper part of tho vertical flue is wider than the lower part,
and the space between the two parts is open to the water in the boiler, either
directly or through a number of holes in a plate, by which means the heated
gases will enter the water and increase the generation of steam. In the front of
the compound boiler I employ a fan or blowing cylinder to force air through
the furnaces and flues, and cause its circulation upwards or downwards
through the vertical flue into the water of the vertical boiler, from which it

page_text: escapes into the dome or chamber of the vertical boiler, and can be employed
for working the fan or blowing cylinder before mentioned, or for heating mills,
warehouses, drying bricks, or for any other purpose.
The steam from the inner shell of the compound boiler is intended to supply
steam to a high-pressure engine, from which the exhaust steam is to be dis-
charged into pipes connected with another high-pressure cylinder, or directly
into the outer shell of the compound boiler or condenser, and will pass with
the steam generated in the said outer shell (unless discharged into the con-
denser) to another high-pressure engine, from which the exhaust steam will
be discharged into pipes connected with a condensing cylinder, or directly into
the vertical boiler or condenser for supplying the condensing steam engine.
Or I discharge the steam into a series of pipes for surface condensation, and
utilize the heat so obtained for heating mills or other purposes. Thus it
will be seen my object is to utilize the heat in the most available manner,
and effect a great increase of power with a great economy of fuel; and for
locomotive engines I attach to each engine four cylinders, and cause tho
piston rods to act severally upon cranks arranged at quarter-centres on one or
two crank shafts. The usual means are adopted for connecting the cranks
and piston rods, as also the arrangement of slides and method of working
the valves.
In place of the ordinary locomotive steam boiler, I use a compound boiler,
whose outer shell is of the same shape and construction with similarly arranged
fire-box as those now in use. In some cases I enclose all the tubes within an
inner shell so arranged that the tubes will be subjected to the heat and flame,
as in the present construction of locomotive steam boilers; the ends of the
inner shell will be strongly secured by angle iron to the plates forming the
ends of the outer shell, or by such other means as may be found requisite. In
other cases I also place tubes in the outer shell through which the heat passes
after its passage through the tubes of the inner shell; each shell will be
separately filled with water by injectors, pumps, taps, or valves. Thus upon
each superficial square inch of the inner shell I propose having an internal
pressure equal at least to double that in the external shell, so that supposing
the inner shell has an internal pressure of two hundred pounds above atmo-
spheric pressure, and in the outer shell surrounding the same there is only one
hundred pounds, it will be clearly observed that there is double the pressure
in the inner shell, yet the cylindrical part of the same being surrounded by the
pressure in the outer shell the internal expansive power is the same in one
case as in the other, so far as it relates to the cylindrical part of the inner
shell. Two of the cylinders will be worked by steam supplied from the inner

page_text: shell, and the method of conveying the exhaust steam will be by discharging
it into the outer shell, or to the cylinder, or into the atmosphere, and the
cylinders will be supplied with steam power from the outer shell, or jointly by
the exhaust steam from the other cylinders if not discharged into the atmo-
sphere, and the exhaust steam from the cylinders can either be used for
heating water, railway carriages, or similar other purposes where steam is pro-
duced, and which is obtained by the exhaust from any of the cylinders previous
to the exhaust, steam from condensing engines is reduced into water or dis-
charged directly into the atmosphere.
For heating railway carriages I pass the exhaust steam through round, flat,
oval, or other shaped pipes placed on the tops of the carriages; these pipes
communicate by vertical pipes and taps with foot warmers or pipes leading
to a main pipe running the length of every carriage and coupled by elastic
tubing. This main pipe is the collector of the condensed water, which is
pumped into the water tank of the engine. The pipes on the tops of the
carriages are connected by sliding their ends one into the other. Each
separate carriage will receive the amount of condensed water by the steam in
its passage to the end of the train, and each compartment can have its share of
water regulated by means of the taps in the vertical pipes. In the interior
of the fire-box I propose to employ fire bricks or tiles or a series of tubes, in
order to prevent the beat from being absorbed into the outer shell before it
has been taken up by the water of the inner shell.
This Invention is applicable to marine as well as locomotive and stationary
steam engines and boilers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Smethurst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
80th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, Jonn
SMETHURST, of Royton, in the County of Lancaster, Coal Proprietor and Mill-
owner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, 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 John Smethurst, Her special license, that I, the said John Smethurst,
my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John

page_text: Smethurst, 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 BOLLERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO HEATING PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Smethurst, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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 John Smethurst, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
I employ a compound boiler consisting of an inner and outer shell, and as
I purpose having a much greater pressure in the inner shell than will be in
the outer, the steam from the former is intended to supply a high-pressure
engine, the exhaust steam from which will pass through pipes to another high-
pressure cylinder of larger size or to a condenser, or directly into the outer
shell of the compound boiler, and will thus pass with the steam generated in
the said outer shell (unless discharged into a larger cylinder or into a con-
denser) to another high-pressure cylinder, from which the exhaust steam will
pass through pipes to a low-pressure condensing steam engine, or into a con-
denser, or through a series of pipes so arranged in the various rooms of a
building as to be serviceable for heating and other purposes, as also for surface
condensation.
The stationary compound steam boiler can be so arranged as to have one
or more distinct furnace flues or fire-boxes, which behind the bridges can be
united so as to form a combustion chamber, between which and the back of
the boiler a series of flues or tubes can be placed, through which the heated
gases and other products of combustion would pass, or each furnace flue might
be continued to the back of the boiler, and in this case they could be filled
with small flues or tubes so arranged that all gases from the furnaces would
pass through the same to the back of the boiler. The heated gases would
then pass to the front end of the boiler through one or more flues or tubes
arranged in the lower part of the external shell, where they would either be

page_text: diverted and pass through a flue or flues underneath the boiler, or along the
sides, or through other internal flues of the compound boiler, and thence to
the main or chimney flue.
In place of the ordinary locomotive steam boiler, I use a compound boiler,
whose outer shell is of the same shape and construction with similarly
arranged fire-box as now in use. In some cases I enclose all the tubes within
an inner shell so arranged that the tubes will be subjected to the heat and
flame, as in the present construction of locomotive steam boilers; the ends of
the inner shell will be strongly secured by angle iron to the plates forming
the ends of the outer shell, or by such other means as may be found requisite.
In other cases I also place tubes in the outer shell through which the heat
passes after its passage through the tubes of the inner shell; each shell will
be separately filled with water by injectors or pumps, taps or valves, and each
will be supplied with distinct safety and other valves, water and steam guages,
and each will have independent regulator valves for supplying steam to the
cylinders; thus in both stationary and locomotive boilers upon each superficial
square inch of the inner shell I propose having an internal pressure equal at
least to double that in the external shell, so that supposing the inner shell has
an internal pressure of two hundred pounds above atmospheric pressure, and
in the outer shell surrounding the same there is only one hundred pounds, it
will be clearly observed that there is double the pressure in the inner shell,
yet the cylindrical part of the same (and in stationary boilers the ends also)
being surrounded by the pressure in the outer shell, the internal expansive
power is the same in one case as in the other, so far as it relates to the
cylindrical part of the inner shell (and in the case of stationary boilers the
ends also).
For locomotive engines I attach to each engine two small and two large
cylinders, the piston rods of which respectively act upon cranks (arranged at
quarter or other centres as desirable) on one or more crank shafts; the usual
means are adopted for connecting the cranks and piston rods, as also in the
arrangement of the slide valves and method of working them. I also propose,
where practical, to connect the leading or trailing wheels by outside con-
necting rods with the driving wheels. The two small cylinders will be
supplied with steam from the inner shell, and the exhaust steam will be dis-
charged into the outer shell, or into pipes connecting the valve chests of the
larger cylinders with the outer shell, or direct into the atmosphere. The large
cylinders will be worked by steam supplied from the outer shell or jointly from
the same, and the exhaust steam from the small cylinders, and the exhaust
steam from which large cylinders will be discharged into the atmosphere in

page_text: the usual manner. In the interior of the fire-box I propose to employ fire
bricks or tiles or a series of tubes, in order to prevent the heat from being
absorbed into the outer shell before it has been taken up by the water of the
inner shell. I also propose to have a boiler with a vertical flue and fur-
nace; the upper part of the vertical flue is wider than the lower part, and
the space between the two parts is open to the water in the boiler, either
directly or through a number of holes in a plate, by which means the heated
gases will enter the water and increase the generation of stean, a fan
or blowing cylinder being employed for forcing the heated products into the
water.
The manner in which my said Invention is to be performed will be clearly
observed and understood by reference to the accompanying three Sheets of
Drawings, in which the same letters refer to similar parts in so far as such
parts appear in the several views or diagrams as shown.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a longitudinal section of one method of constructing my
system of compound boiler; Fig. 1, Sheet 2, is an end view of the same (both
ends of the boiler being alike); Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections of Fig. 1,
Sheet 1, respectively through lines A, A, and B, B. The outer shell C
entirely surrounds the inner shell D, and the latter is so arranged as to
occupy as little room in the water space of the external shell as possible, in
order to prevent the water in the latter absorbing too much of the heat thrown
off by the former. The furnace flues or fire-boxes E', E, and E, are three
in number, and at the end of each are fixed a number of longitudinal tubes F,
through which the heated gases pass to the back of the boiler at G, where the
current is divided; one portion of the heated products passes through the
longitudinal flues H, H, I, H, H, and I, to the front end of the boiler (as
shewn at 1), and is there turned into flues alongside or underneath the boiler.
K and K are vertical pipes connecting the inner shell with the longitudinal
dome L, to which the supply pipes are connected for working a high-pressure
engine, whilst the steam from the outer shell for supplying a condensing engine
passes out at one of the domes M and M; the exhaust steam from the high-
pressure cylinder (where not conveyed direct to a condensing engine) enters
into the other dome through the thoroughfare M' or M. Each shell will be
supplied with distinct safety valves, blow-off cocks or valves, steam and water
gauges, and will be separately supplied with water in manner as usual. The
man-holes in connection with the inner shell D are in this arrangement three
in number, as shewn at N', N, and N³, which afford easy access to the interior
of the inner shell for cleaning and other purposes. The man-holes for tho
outer shell are arranged as in boilers now in use.

page_text: The application of that part of my Invention relating to locomotives is
illustrated in Sheet 3, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a locomotive, with my system of
compound boiler and four cylinders shewn applied. A' is the inner shell;
B, the regulator valve for supplying the small cylinders C and C² (shewn
in Figs. 2 and 3,) with steam conducted through the pipe D to the valve
chest E. It will be observed in this arrangement the inner shell extends
from the fire-box F to the sinoke-box G, and all the tubes II are placed
within the same, in order that the inner shell may take up the largest possible
amount of heat, and the ends of the inner shell are made as strong as
possible, being double plates. There is shewn a safety valve I applied to
the inner shell A', which when opened by the internal pressure of the inner
shell the steam escapes into the outer shell A, or it could be arranged
in such manner as to allow the waste steam (through over pressure) to
escape into the atmosphere. The regulator valvo B is worked by the rod K
passing through the stuffing boxes L', L2, and L3, to the fire-box F end of the
engine; access for packing the stuffing box L is had through the outer shell
man-hole M, and so through the man-hole N of inner shell A¹ to the stuffing
box L³. The dome O of the inner shell is so arranged as to be covered by the
dome P of the outer shell, under which is fixed the regulator valve for
supplying the large cylinders R' and R'; the pipe S, connected with which
valve Q, conducts the steam to the valve chests T and T2, and the exhaust
steam from the cylinders C and C₁ is conducted into the said pipe S by
branch pipes U and U, thus mixing with the steam from the external shell,
and the exhaust steam from the large cylinder R and R' passes through tho
branch pipes W' and W2, and escapes through the blast pipe X into the
atmosphere.
By reference to Fig. 2, a plan of Fig. 1, the general arrangement of the
cylinders and their connections will be clearly understood. The small
cylinders C and C³ are charged with steam by the action of slide valves in the
valve chest E, which are worked by connection with the eccentrics Y¹ and
Y on the crank shaft Z; the piston rod of the cylinders C and C² are
attached to the slide blocks a¹ and a connected by rods b¹ and to the cranks
and c. The large cylinders R' and R² are worked by valves placed in the
valve chests T and T, the respective pistons of which are attached to the
slide blocks d¹ and d³ connected by rods e and e with the cranks f¹ and f³.
The several pistons all acting with greatest force upon the cranks c³, c', f',
and f, at different periods in the revolution of the driving wheels g' and g³, a
more uniform speed and power will be obtained, and it is also evident the

page_text: engine will be steadier in its working than can be where pistons exert force
only at half-centres.
It will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 that the various steam pipes are so
arranged as not to interfere (to a greater extent than in existing arrange-
ments) with free access to the tubes for cleaning purposes, whilst Fig. 4, a
cross section, shews the relative position of the inner and outer shells.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as
such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof;
but I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and
belief has not been hitherto used within the realm,-
First, the compound boiler consisting of an inner and outer shell.
Second, the application of two or more cylinders to one engine when
worked in combination with the compound boiler, as herein described.
Third, the application of four cylinders to a locomotive engine in com-
bination with the compound boiler and system of working.
Fourth, the system herein described of forcing the heated gases into the
water.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smethurst, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named John Smethurst,
in presence of
JOHN HENRY TRAVIS,
Patent Agent,
JOHN SMETHURST. (L.s.)
Manchester.