IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED STEAM ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hamilton, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED
STEAM ENGINES AND PUMPS."
| Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 2nd March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hamilton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1877.
WILLIAM HAMILTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED STEAM ENGINES AND PUMPS."
This Invention has reference to a new or improved construction or general
arrangement of the parts of a reciprocating, direct acting, condensing steam engine
and pump suitable for donkey engines for feeding steam boilers with a crank shaft
for working its steam valve, and which when made large or with double cylinders
and a strong crank shaft is also suitable for pumping engines or for motive power
purposes generally, and will be cheaper in first cost and more economical in heat
and fuel than the combined steam engines and pumps heretofore in use.
The nature and novelty of the Invention or construction and arrangement of this
steam engine and pump consist all as follows:-The steam cylinder is placed in the
same axial line as the pump, which is of the ordinary plunger class with the stuffing
box of its barrel or chamber facing that of the close end of the steam cylinder,
having sufficient room between them for packing and screwing them up, and when
the pump plunger is the same size or smaller than the piston rod they may be cast
in one piece, preferably also (for small sizes of engines) in one with the steam piston,
which would then be inserted into the steam cylinder at the upper or outer end
closed by an ordinary flanged cover and screw bolts; and for small engines the
steam cylinder and pump barrel may be cast in one to a flanged bracket or sole
plate for bolting it to a wall vertically or other suitable foundation horizontally.
The steam cylinder and piston are made long enough to have the inlet steam
branch formed on the centre of the cylinder so as to admit the steam direct to the
valve chamber formed in the middle of the piston as a transverse rectangular
steam chamber having its ends facing each other and planed or slotted right across
Dries B21

page_text: the two adjacent cylindrical ends of the piston for the slide valve to work or reci-
procate across.
Packing rings are fitted in each end of the piston, and space is left between them
and the inner ends of the cylinder equal to the stroke of the crank piston and
clearance desired for the steam to act in, and the steam and exhaust ports are formed
in the end of the piston next the piston rod and pump plunger which are both
hollow and in a line with the exhaust port formed in the centre opposite or in a
line with the hollow rod, so that the exhaust steam escapes or rushes direct into the
hollow plunger of the pump, which by these improvements is made to form the
condenser to the engine, and the pump to act as an air pump to it, as will
herein-after be more fully described, the steam ports being formed on either side of
the exhaust port, the one leading direct into the front end of the cylinder, and the
other to the back end of the piston and cylinder through one of the segments
joining the two ends of this duplex piston on each side of the steam chamber of the
slide valve (working in it), preferably formed in two parts, the one as an ordinary
short slide valve with end faces over the steam ports, and the close D chamber
between them through which the steam exhausts from either end of the cylinder
into the hollow piston rod and pump plunger, as stated, while the other part of the
valve fits into a close turned chamber in the back part of the valve proper, and has
its other face working up against the planed back face of the valve chamber; thus
keeping the face of the valve up against the opposite or front face with the ports
in it, and otherwise acting as a guiding and moving block to the valve port by a
lateral hole in it into which the crank pin works on the crank end of a shaft passed
through an elliptical hole in the side of the centre of the cylinder, and revolves in
the port space of the piston cut away to form the steam valve chamber, the spindle
or outer part of the crank shaft working out through a bush bearing block secured
by a steam-tight flange or otherwise over the hole in the cylinder through which.
the crank is inserted, and having a steam-tight stuffing box outside the bearing, and
a fly wheel on the overhanging end when a single cylinder engine is used; but two
such direct-acting steam pumps might be fitted to work together as a double cylinder
engine on the same framing, with a coupled crank shaft with the cranks at right
angles to each other, which arrangement would be most suitable for motive-power
engines, as for marine engines, or engines for the propulsion of tramway cars, or for
other purposes. The hollow plunger of the pump fitted with a great number of
surface condensing cross tubes as close as convenient throughout its whole surface
length at various radial angles open at their outer ends beyond the stuffing box,
where it works freely in its barrel or chamber with a space all round sufficient to
allow the water to pass the plunger and circulate through the cross tubes while passing
from the inlet water valve chamber and branch at one side of the end of the barrel
to the outlet branch and valve chest at the upper or inner end of the barrel near
the stuffing box, where an annular chamber is formed all round to lead the water
freely from the tubes to the said outlet branch.
The exhaust steam in passing through the inside of the plunger as a surface con-
denser gets condensed on its surface and that of the tubes on which it impinges,
these being always kept cold by the water circulating through them and the space
between the barrel and the plunger, as before stated.
The condensed steam as water and any vapour or air not condensed passes off by
a small tube at the extreme end of the plunger working through a stuffing box in
the end of the pump barrel into a close discharge chamber fitted with a blow-off
cock on it for letting the exhaust steam escape at starting, and also with an outlet
branch and valve leading to the inlet cold or supply water valve chamber of the
pump.
When the pump is properly at work and the water circulating through it and the
cross tubes the blow-off cock is shut, and the hot condensed water and air or vapour
drawn through the pipe and valve controlled by a regulating screw into the suction
yalve chamber, and forced through the pump with the inlet water; and when
desired a self-acting check valve opening outwards may be fitted in the extreme

page_text: end of the hot water discharge pipe of the plunger, and which would allow a free
escape of the exhaust steam and condensed water, but prevent their flowing back,
and even force the hot water into the inlet valve chamber of the .pump on the
inward stroke of the plunger, thus enabling the pump to use all the waste hot water
of the condensed steam, and feed it into the boiler at as high a temperature as was
found possible to condense the steam, shutting down the inlet lift of the water
valve as found desirable to suit the best working condition of the pump. When
this construction of engine is used for motive power driving purposes the power
might be transinitted by a wheel or pinion keyed on the duplex crank shafts
coupled between the engines to drive the other shafts and gearing when tooth
gearing is to be employed; but when bands or belts are to be used a grooved or flat
pulley or drum might be keyed on the middle of the said crank shaft, and it might
be made to act as a fly wheel also when desired.
In some cases the hollow pump plunger may be used in whole or in part as a
jet condenser by perforating it with small holes, or by inserting a perforated rose
pipe through its sides near the stuffing box when at the outer part of its stroke, so
that a portion of cold water might enter in jets near where the steam enters, and
have all the benefit of the cold surface condensation of the plunger or tubes beyond;
and the small tube with the valve beyond might in that case be made to force
the hot condensed water direct into the boiler by shutting the connexion between
its chamber and that of the pump supply valve chest, and this would be done also
for surface condensation (without rose jets) where the water passed through the pump
is saline or bad for being put into the boiler by the force pump, and for marine
engines where salt water would be circulated through the pump.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
September 1877.
WILLIAM HAMILTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED STEAM ENGINES AND PUMPS."
$8
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved construction or general
arrangement of the parts of a reciprocating direct-acting condensing steam engine
and pump suitable for doukey engines for feeding steam boilers with a crank shaft
for working its steam valve, and which when made large or with double cylinders
and a strong crank shaft is also suitable for pumping engines or for motive-power
purposes generally, and will be cheaper in first cost and more economical in heat
and fuel than the combined steam engines and pumps heretofore in use.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Invention
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the
purpose of showing the best modifications and means I am at present aware of for
putting the Invention into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating
the same or like parts in the several Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings are a vertical elevation,
partly in section, and a sectional side elevation at right angles to each other of one
construction or modification of my said new or improved steam engine and con-
densing pump combined, the pump being of the single acting class or form suitable
for a donkey engine for feeding steam boilers, or as a low lifting and force pump
for raising and forcing water or other fluids generally for other purposes.
Figure 3 is a sectional clevation of a different construction of simple acting lift,
feed, and force pump from that shown in Figures 1 and 2, suitable for the samē
engine as a deep lift and force pump generally, while Figures 4 and 5 are vertical
and horizontal sections taken irregularly near the centre lines 1.
1 and 2
-2

page_text: •
respectively, each on the other, of a double-acting arrangement of the pump part of
my Invention suitable for feeding steam boilers, or for drawing and forcing water,
or other liquids generally for other purposes.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the nature and novelty of the Invention, or con-
struction and arrangement of this steam engine and pump combined, consist all as
follows: The steam cylinder A is constructed or placed in the same centre or
axial line 3-3 as the pump barrel B, C, inade of the ordinary flanged class with
the stuffing box C₁ of its plunger C and barrel or chamber B formed in or facing
that of the close end of the steam cylinder A, having sufficient room between them
for packing and screwing them up at the flanges C, and preferably long enough
at C2 to be formed with internal ring grooves for the condensed steam and water
to collect in and make the working stuffing box fluid-tight. The pump plunger C
is shown as cast separate and screwed at Cx into the piston A¹ of the steam
cylinder A, but when the plunger C is the same size as or smaller than the piston
rod, part of it working through the stuffing box C¹; they may be cast in one piece,
and for small sizes of engines it might be also in one with the steam piston A¹,
which would then be inserted into the cylinder A. at the upper or outer end closed
by an ordinary flanged cover and screw bolts at A, shown as fitted with the
usual grease cock z; and for small engines the steam cylinder A. and pump barrel B
may be cast in one to a flanged bracket at A*, or it might be a sole plate for
bolting it to a wall vertically or to other suitable foundation horizontally. The
steam cylinder A and piston A¹ are made long enough to have the inlet steam
branch formed on the centre of the cylinder fitted with a stop-cock A, or other
equivalent, so as to admit the steam direct to the valve chamber A11 formed in the
middle of the piston A¹ as a tranverse rectangular steam chamber having its ends
facing each other, as A2, A3, where they are planed or slotted right across the two
adjacent or internal ends A2, A3, of the piston for the slide valve a, a, to work or
reciprocate across.
Packing rings are fitted in each end of the piston A¹, and spaces are left
at A, A, between them and the inner ends of the cylinder A equal to the stroke
of the crank piston and clearance desired for the steam to act in, and the steam and
exhaust ports all, all, and a respectively are formed in the end of the piston A¹
next the piston rod A and pump plunger C, which are both hollow and in a line
with the exhaust port all formed in the centre opposite or in a line with the
hollow rod C, so that the exhaust steam escapes or rushes direct into the hollow
plunger of the pump which by these improvements is made to form the condenser
to the engine and the pump to act as an air pump to it, as will herein-after be
more fully described; the steam ports a, a, being formed on either side of the
exhaust port all, the one leading direct into the lower or front end of the
cylinder A and the other to the upper or back end of the piston and cylinder, as
seen respectively in Figures 1 and 2, through a solid segment joining the two ends
of this duplex piston A¹, A', at all, on one side of the steam chamber A2, A³, of
the slide valve a, a, (working in it) preferably formed in two parts, the one a as
an ordinary short slide valve with end faces over the steam ports a", a¹¹, and the
close D chamber over the exhaust port al between them, and through which the
steam exhausts from either end of the cylinder A into the hollow piston rod and
pump plunger C, as stated, while the other part a¹ of the valve fits into a close
chamber in the back part of the valve a proper and has the back or upper face of
this part a working up against the planed back face A³ of the valve chamber All,
thus keeping the face of the valve a up against the opposite or front face A³ with
the ports in it, and otherwise acting as a guiding and moving block to the valve
part a by a lateral hole in it, into which the crank pin p works on the crank end P¹
of the shaft P, passed through an elliptical hole at A in the side of the centre of
the cylinder A, and revolves in the port space Aч of the piston (Figure 2) cut
away to form the steam valve chamber to allow the crank P¹ to turn, the spindle
or outer part of the crank shaft P working out through a bush bearing block Q
secured by a steam-tight flange or otherwise over the hole A in the cylinder A

page_text: through which the crank P¹ is inserted, and having a steam-tight stuffing box Q¹
outside the bearing part Q and a fly wheel W on the overhanging end of the crank
shaft P when a single cylinder engine is used. The lower end of the hollow
plunger C of the pump is fitted with a great number of surface condensing cross
tubes c as close as convenient throughout its whole surface length at various radial
angles, open at their outer ends within the barrel B and beyond the stuffing box
part B, where it works freely in its barrel or chamber with a space b all round
sufficient to allow the water to pass between the barrel B and the plunger C, and
circulate through the cross tubes c while passing from the inlet water valve
chamber and branch D screwed or fitted at the one side of the lower end of the
barrel B, and an outlet branch E and valve chest E' are fitted at the upper or inner
end of the barrel B near the stuffing box B", where an annular chamber 6¹ is formed
all round to lead the water freely from the space b and tubes c to the said outlet
branch E.
The exhaust steam in passing through the inside of the plunger C, as a surface
condenser, gets condensed on its inner surface and the outer surface of the tubes c
on which it impinges, these being always kept cold by the water circulating
through them and the space b between the barrel B and the plunger C, as before
stated.
The condensed steam, as water and any vapours or air not condensed, pass off by
a small tube c' at the extreme end of the plunger C, working through a stuffing
box B¹ in the end of the pump barrel B, into a close discharge chamber F, fitted with
a blow-off cock f on it, for letting the exhaust steam escape at starting, and also
fitted with an outlet branch and pipe G and tap or cock g, with discharge ball
valve G¹ in it, leading into the inlet cold or supply water valve chamber D of the
pump; both cocks fand g being fitted with reverse closing and opening levers f¹, g¹,
coupled by a link rod g¹¹, both worked by the handle f
When the pump is properly at work, and the water circulating through it and the
cross tubes c, the handle f is raised, so as to close the blow-off cock f and open the
cock g, when the hot condensed water and air or vapour are drawn through the
pipe G and valve G into the suction valve chamber D on the up or out stroke of
the plunger C, and forced through the pump with the inlet water, drawn through
the valve D¹ from the water lift or suction pipe D", all as indicated by the arrows
in Figure 2; the lift of the valve D' being controlled by a regulating band screw D²,
with stuffing box in the cover of the valve chest D. A part of the condensed steam and
water passing through the pipe G and valve G¹ nay, when desired, be led by the pipe h
from the end of the tap g, through the branch and tap h¹ into the upper part of the
barrel B, and pass by the groove b¹ more directly to the discharge pipe and valve E, E.
Thus, in either case, as described, this improved arrangement of pump is enabled to
use all the waste hot water of the condensed steam of the motive cylinder or
engine A, and feed it through the discharge chest and valve E; E¹, and pipe E¹¹ into
the boiler, at as high a temperature as was found possible to condense the the steam
at, shutting down the screw D³ to regulate the proper flow of the water through the
inlet water valve D¹, as found desirable to suit the best working condition of the
pump, when used as a donkey engine for feeding boilers; an air pressure vessel E³
being fitted on the top of the discharge branch E, when desired, as for force pumps
for general purposes, or for fire engines.
Referring to Figure 3, the barrel B of the pump, in order to make it form a better
vacuum below the plunger C, so as to draw the water from a greater depth than the
pump shown in Figures 1 and 2, is bored and has its plunger connected to the
exhaust port of the steam piston A¹ by the hollow piston rod C³, working through
the grooved or other stuffing box C between the cylinder A and barrel B; and the
plunger C is formed with ring packing piston part at r¹, to work fluid pressure tight
in the upper part of the bored barrel B, and fitted with an annular discharge
valve 6 with ports 61 through from the space b round the condensing part C, c, of
the plunger into the seat and upper part B of the barrel B leading to the discharge
valve chest and pipes E, E¹, E". The inlet or lift' water pipe D and its valve

page_text: chest D₁ are fitted direct to the lower part of the barrel B, without the tap g, and
valve G¹, for admitting the hot condensed steam or water which in this case is led
from its discharge chamber F (fitted with a simple discharge starting and shutting-
off tap) through the branch and pipe G, direct through the check valve and
chamber G1, G2, to the upper end Bui of the barrel B on every down or in-stroke
of the piston C, 7, which forces it out through the discharge valve chest and
pipes E¹, E, along with the cold water from the inlet valve and ports D, 6, 6,
after passing through the space and tubes b, c, to be condensed in passing through
the condensing part C* of the plunger C, all indicated by the arrows, and otherwise
all as described in reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, which show the pump double acting or lifting and
forcing at both ends B, B³, of the barrel B, and condensing hollow plunger C, c, which,
for this purpose, has the piston ring part, formed in the middle, working tight in a
central turned part of the barrel B, with annular spaces b, b, at both sides for the
water drawn in and forced out at both ends B1, B3, circulating through the surface
condensing tubes c; the ports i, i¹, forming the inlet and outlet passage from the
opposite ends of the barrel B being led down opposite sides into the opposite ends
I, I, of a transverse cylindrically bored chest or chamber I in the middle, fitted
with a turned slightly-tapered valve case J, easily inserted and withdrawn at one
end, with flanges I111, fitting one end of the case, the other being closed by a plain
flange cover K, to which the inlet condensed steam and hot-water tube G is con-
nected at G³ from the discharge chamber F. The turned valve case J is formed with
longitudinal feathers or ribs J¹ to form four divisions or chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, the
chambers 1 and 2 being formed right across the case from end to end, forming the
inlet and discharge valve chambers respectively, with an inlet and discharge seat j
and valve j, formed and fitted in the centre at each side, opening into the space 3
between the valves, separated by a division web 31, so as to open into the different
or top and bottom ports i, i, of the barrel B; while the division 4 is filled and fitted
with a tapered case and key or plug g, and two small inlet ball seats and valves G¹,
similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2, for the admission of the condensed steam
and hot water through the pipe G, and ports G, when the key is opened by the
lever g on its spindle working out through a stuffing box I, in the valve case J;
the free end of the lever g¹ being connected by the rod g" to the hand lever f¹, f",
of the starting cock f, substantially as in Figures 1 and 2; so that when turned in
one direction the condensed steam is blown off at F¹, and when turned in the other
direction it passes up the pipe G, in through one or other of the ball valves G¹
to the corresponding chamber 3 between the inlet and discharge valves j, j', and
ports or leading to the corresponding ends B1, B3, of the barrel B, as its
hollow piston plunger C recedes therefrom, and is discharged again through the
valve, chamber 2, and pipe E at each stroke, all as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 4. The pump is thus made a double acting, lifting, and forcing pump, at the
same time condensing and passing all the condensed steam and hot water from
the motive engine A, A¹, through the new or improved hollow condensing plun-
ger C, c, to and through the pump B, C, along with the cold water, all in
accordance with this Invention, as in the other modifications. But two such
direct acting steam pumps might be fitted to work together as a double-cylinder
engine on the same framing, with a coupled crank shaft or shafts P, P, the cranks
PI, P', being set at right angles to each other; which arrangement would be most
suitable for motive-power engines, or engines for the propulsion of tramway cars, or
for other purposes. When the said duplex construction or arrangement of this
engine is used for motive power driving purposes, the power might be transmitted
by a wheel or pinion keyed on the duplex crank shaft P, P, coupled between
the engines to drive the other shafts and gearing when tooth gearing is to be
employed; but when bands or belts are to be used, a grooved or flat pulley or
drum might be keyed on the middle of the said coupled crank shaft, and it might be
made to act as a fly wheel also, when desired.
In some cases the hollow pump plunger C may be used in whole or in part as a

page_text: jet condenser by perforating it with small holes, or by inserting a perforated or rose
pipe through its sides near the suffing box at c", when at the outer part of its stroke,
so that a portion of cold water might enter in jets near where the steam enters, and
have all the benefit of the cold surface condensation of the plunger C or tubes c
beyond, and the small discharge tube c¹ beyond might in that case be made to force
the hot condensed water into the boiler direct, by shutting the connexion between
its chamber F and that of the pump supply valve chest D by the cock g, and this
would be done also for surface condensation (without rose jets) when the water
passed through the pump is saline or bad for being put into the boiler by the force
pump, and for marine engines where salt water would be circulated through the
pump.
When desired, a self-acting check valve opening outwards may be fitted in the
extreme end of the hot water discharge pipe c¹ of the plunger C, and which would
allow a free escape of the exhaust steam and condensed water into the chamber F,
but prevent their flowing back, and even force the hot water through the pipe and
valve G, G, into the inlet valve chamber D of the pump, or otherwise direct into
the steam boiler on the inward or down stroke of the plunger C. And in some cases
when the condensing surface of the hollow plunger or piston C is made large enough,
the small surface condensing tubes c may be dispensed with; and this new or improved
pump would be very suitable for drawing and forcing semi-liquid oils or similar
substances requiring heat to liquify them, the condensed steam passing through the
plunger having the effect of melting them.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of
a condensing steam pump, or steam engine, and condensing pump combined, for
feeding steam boilers, or for the forcing and raising, or drawing and forcing of
water or other fluids generally, or for motive-power engines, as herein described
in reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modifica-
tion thereof.
Second. The construction of the steam cylinders of engines with central slide valve,
worked by the crank shaft working out through the centre of the piston and cylin-
der, so as to exhaust through the hollow piston rod, all substantially as described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Third. The construction and use of reciprocating hollow condensing plunger or
piston pumps B, C, for feeding steam boilers, or for the raising or drawing and
forcing of water or other fluids, all substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM HAMILTON. (L.S.)