IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES AND BOILERS."-A communication from abroad by Henry Giffard,
of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
Sealed the 22nd April 1862, and dated the 1st November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st November 1861.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS," communicated to me from abroad by Henry
Giffard, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the construction of boilers and engines for
the employment of steam at very high pressures, at least five times that of
ordinary boilers. For this purpose an improved boiler is constructed with a
reservoir or reservoirs for containing steam and water at about the same
temperature,. constituting a reserve of heat and motive power, and intended to
keep the pressure of the steam up and the work of the engine regular,
notwithstanding the diminution of pressure and irregularities consequent on
the incidents of feed and combustion, and the power expended. Arrangements
are herein proposed constructed for working steam expansively at very high
pressures.

page_text: In one arrangement the boiler is constructed with a reservoir, consisting of
a chamber containing hot water and steam, and placed either outside of, or
wholly or partially enclosed in the furnace, into which chamber opens a set of
tubes for holding water and steam, and set one above another in a more or
less inclined position over the fire-bars. The tubes communicate with the
reservoir at one end, and their other ends lead to outside the furnace,
where they are closed or plugged (waste heat may be utilized by sending feed
water into the upper tubes, or circulating it through a serpentine, or otherwise
in the chimney.) A number of such reservoirs and tubes may be arranged
side by side communicating above and below, and may form rows of horizontal
and vertical tubes. Branch tubes may open into the tubes transversely,
leading from them to outside the furnace, where the ends are plugged.
Sometimes the tubes are dispensed with, and only the reservoir used. The
reservoirs are sometimes composed of tubes of a spiral or other arrangement,
of sufficient capacity to contain water and steam enough to keep the engine
going a certain time, though feed and fire should be stopped, and sometimes
the tubes may be vertical, the flames and hot gases passing through them to
the chimney, the upper parts dry or superheat the steam that surrounds
them.
Another arrangement is a horizontal or inclined tubular boiler, in which a
single shell contains tubes, stays, and reservoir, or two shells of smaller
diameter, of which one that contains the reservoir is set over and com-
municates with the other in which are the tubes..
In one arrangement the boiler ends are of thick iron, screwed and rivetted
at each end, the tubes acting as stays between them, and the shell is
strengthened by hoops. The furnace need not be enclosed in the boiler, but
may be outside, and joined on to it. The appendages, such as safety valve,
gauge cocks, and delivery pipes, are very small.
זי
In another arrangement a tubular boiler is constructed of which the shell
consists of a number of rings or annular pieces turned, screwed, "caulked,"
and connected together at half thickness, as is illustrated in the Drawing.
The cocks are screwed into the two end rings, which are made thicker than
the others. The boiler ends are composed of steel or other plates screwed
into the end rings, and having the tubes screwed and rivetted or fixed into
them.
In one arrangement of engine, instead of the usual cylinder two tubes or
cylinders are used, in each of which works a plunger or piston, which plungers
are sometimes of such size that when at the end of their inward stroke they
about occupy the whole area of the cylinder, and at the opposite stroke nearly

page_text: clear it. These cylinders are sometimes fixed end to end, with a cover, block,
or piece between them, through which are formed the ports, one to each
cylinder, and on which works the slide valve. At the opposite end of the
cylinders are stuffing boxes or like contrivances through which the plunger
rods work. The plungers are connected by rods or links at those ends, and so
arranged that when one completes its stroke inward the other has completed
its stroke outward, (that is, when one plunger is at the end nearest the other
cylinder, the other plunger is at the end furthest from the first cylinder.)
Steam enters each cylinder on one side of the plunger only; and though thus
single acting, work like a double-acting piston in a single cylinder. By
jointing one plunger to a connecting rod, motion can be transmitted to a beam
shaft or lever. Or the cylinders may be set with the stuffing-box ends nearest
each other, motion being taken from the plungers by connections from
between the cylinders. Two single-action slide valves worked by one rod
may be used. Or the cylinders may be fixed apart, and act on a beam
vertically or horizontally. The steam and expansion valves are sometimes
two valves one over the other; or there may be a single valve, the steam
passing wholly underneath, its internal face being recessed, the supply steam
entering one or more of the recesses, and the escaping steam the others. To
balance the tendency of the steam to lift the valve, a sort of rod may be used,
one end resting on the valve and following its motion, and a spring which
presses on the other end is regulated to exert a slight excess of pressure; or
the valve may be equipoised by a piston or plunger receiving the steam, for
which a corrugated or wrinkled tube may be used, the motion being varied or
reversed by reversing or varying the gear, or a bent and flattened tube may be
employed. The valve may be without a box. The valves may be worked
expansively by combining with the ordinary link motion and its two excentrics
an intermediate link motion, which I call a "correcting apparatus," and on
which the usual link motion acts, instead of acting directly on the valve. By
this arrangement the lap and lead to escape and pressure are reduced, or so
affected as to obtain the maximum opening of the steam ports, and thereby
obtaining a higher degree of expansion without bringing the usual link so
near its dead point. Here the ordinary link acts upon a lever or rod which
turns on one end jointed to a fixed point, and carries the supplementary or
"correcting link," in the slot of which works a block or slide piece, herein
called the "correcting block," to which is fixed a rod or bar which transmits
motion to the valve rod. This block is actuated by another rod having a
motion perpendicular to the axis, so that in respect to the inclination of the
correcting rod the valve rod at certain times partakes of the longitudinal

page_text: motion imparted by the ordinary link and the said perpendicular motion
simultaneously. The correcting block may be worked by various means, as
by a third excentric and rod throwing two levers or jointed rods out of the line
of the common longitudinal axis on each side, the first lever being connected
to a fixed point, and the opposite end of the other moves up and down, and
transmits motion to the correcting block either directly or by a lever, allowing
the plane of transmission to be changed, so that whatever the direction of the
engine's motion, that imparted to the correcting slide block remains the same
at the beginning of the stroke. To render the cut off easier, and the notion
of the correcting block quicker at the first few throws of the crank, the third
excentric may have its motion rendered variable, and operate on the jointed
lever by forming a slot in this lever, in which works another block or slide
piece guided by one or more links attached to a fixed point; or a stationary
curved link may be used, in which a roller moved by a third excentric imparts
perpendicular motion to the correcting slide block. The number of vibrations
of the block or slide piece are double those of the pistons. The engine may
be regulated by an ordinary valve, or by moving the expansion gear by a
governor or regulator for varying the cut off, either directly or by connecting
the engine with the regulator gear. The engine may be fed by a modification
of Giffard's injecting or feed apparatus, or by small feed pumps, preferring to
use two attached at each side of a beam axis, with an arrangement for varying
or neutralizing the stroke of the feed pistons or plungers. When the engine
is condensing, and surface condensation used, it may be effected by air or
water, and in tubes fixed to the walls or elsewhere, straight or bent tubes may be
placed inside the chimney, or in the building yard or roof, or flattened or close
tubes used, or tubes arranged like organ pipes or stops. The steam may
enter and leave the condenser at bottom through two pipes passing out
through the smaller one (or one with a cock of small bore) into a tank near
the pumps; the condenser pipes may open at top to the air to keep down
pressure, and prevent vacuum, and the steam may be distributed by con-
tractions at parts and one or more general communications; condensing tubes
may be enclosed in a chest, steam passing inside or outside them. In marine
engines fresh supplies of cold water may be admitted into the condenser as
the vessel proceeds through two pipes, one starting from the fore, and the
other opening at the back.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Michael Henry, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS," communicated to me from abroad by
Henry Giffard, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, 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 Michael Henry, 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 fol-
lowing statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
The object of this Invention is the construction of boilers and engines for
the purpose of employing steam at very high pressures, namely, at least five
times that of ordinary boilers. For this purpose, according to this Invention
an improved boiler is constructed, having a reservoir or reservoirs for con-
taining steam and water at about the same temperature of sufficient volume to
constitute a reserve of heat and motive power intended to keep up tho

page_text: pressure of the steam, and to keep the work of the engine regular notwith-
standing the reduction of pressure and irregularities consequent on the
incidents of feed and combustion and on the power expended.. Also an
improved arrangement of engine is herein proposed to be constructed for
working steam expansively at very high pressures.
In one arrangement of this improved boiler the boiler is constructed with a
reservoir such as above described, consisting of a strong chamber containing
hot water and steam, and placed either outside of or wholly or partially
enclosed in the furnace; into this chamber open's a set of tubes for holding
water and steam, set one above another in a more or less inclined position
above the fire bars. The tubes communicate with the reservoir at one end,
and their other ends lead to outside the furnace, where they are closed or
plugged. The covers or plugs that close them should be readily removable, so
that the interior of the tubes may be easily got at and cleaned. The waste
heat of the furnace may be utilized by sending the feed water into the upper
tubes or circulating it through a serpentine or otherwise in the chimney.
A number of such reservoirs and tubes may be arranged side by side, com-
municating above and below, and forming several rows of horizontal and
vertical tubes, thus fully utilizing the heat of the furnace, though occupying a
comparatively small space. Transverse branch tubes may be connected with
these tubes in such manner that one end of the branch tube opens into them
and the opposite end of the branch 'tube leads to outside the furnace, where
those ends are plugged, so that they may be readily opened and cleaned.
Sometimes (for engines of small "horse-power) the tubes are dispensed with,
and only a vertical or horizontal "reservoir" used, enclosed wholly or partially
within the furnace. But this boiler (that is a boiler composed of the reservoir
without the tubes) is not claimed herein separately or apart from its com-
bination with the engine herein described.' The reservoirs are sometimes
composed of tubes arranged spirally or otherwise, but they must be of sufficient
capacity to contain enough water and steam to keep the engine going a certain
time though the feed and fire should be stopped.
The foregoing arrangements, it will be observed, apply to boilers in which
the water is heated externally, that is, in which the water is held in water
spaces, tubes, channels or chambers, wholly or partially surrounded by the fire,
hot air, and products of combustion. But for internal flue or tubular boilers,
in which the flames and heat pass through tubes and flues carried through the
water, as in locomotive boilers for example, the two following arrangements
may be used-In one the reservoir is used, but is heated by the well known
vertical tube boiler arrangement, in which the flames and hot gases pass to

page_text: the chimney through vertical tubes, the upper parts of which thus dry or
superheat the steam that surrounds them.
Another arrangement of this class consists of a horizontal or slightly inclined
tubular boiler, in which a single shell contains tubes, longitudinal stays, and
the "reservoir;" or this may be modified by using two shells of smaller
diameter, of which one which contains the "reservoir" is set over and com-
municates with the other, in which are the tubes (or tubular flues). In
these two last arrangements, i.e., the upright boiler plan and the single or
double shell plan, the tubes serve as struts or stays between the boiler ends,
and should be of thick iron, screwed and 'rivetted at each end; the shell should
be strengthened by wrought-iron or steel hoops. The furnace need not be
enclosed in the boiler, but may be outside and joined to it. Indeed I should
mention that when in carrying the Invention into effect the two foregoing
plans are used, it is preferable not to use an internal fire box or furnace (i.e.,
furnace surrounded by the water) on account of the risks of leakage and the
extra strength of struts, but to use instead a furnace (made of fire-brick, fire-
clay, or sheet metal,) joined on to and communicating with the boiler, the sides
of the furnace being of sufficient thickness to avoid loss of caloric by radiation
for (allowing for a slight increase of tubular surface,) as full a yield will be
obtained from the fuel in such a furnace as in an internal furnace. The
sections of bore, passage, orifice, or opening of the various appendages of
boilers used in this Invention, such as safety valve, gauge cocks, and delivery
pipes, are very small. The strength of the foregoing boilers should be such as
to considerably exceed the highest pressure. This may be tested by subjecting
them to the press in a cold state to a three-fold pressure.
In another arrangement of boiler suitable for the purposes of this Invention
a tubular boiler herein called "ring-shell boiler," is constructed with a shell
consisting of a number of rings or annular pieces turned, screwed, "caulked,"
and connected together at half thickness. The cocks are screwed into the two
end rings, which are made thicker than the others. The boiler ends are
composed of steel or other plates screwed into the end rings, and having the
tubes screwed and rivetted or fixed into them.
I now proceed to describe the engine constructed according to this Invention.
In this improved arrangement of engine, two tubes or cylinders are used,
instead of the usual working cylinder; in each of these tubes or cylinders there
works a plunger or piston; these plungers are of such a size, that when at
the end of their inward stroke, they about occupy the whole area of the
cylinder, and at the opposite stroke they nearly clear it. These cylinders are
sometimes fixed end to end with a cover block or piece between them, through

page_text: which are formed the ports, one to each cylinder, and on which works the slide
valve. At the opposite end of the cylinders are stuffing boxes or like con-
trivances through which the plungers work. The plungers are connected by
rods or links at those ends, and so arranged that when one completes its stroke
inward, the other has completed its stroke outward, that is when one plunger
is at the end nearest the other cylinder, the other plunger is at the end furthest
from the first cylinder. Steam enters each cylinder on one side of the plunger
only, and thus though single-acting they work like a double-acting piston in a
single cylinder. By jointing one plunger to a connecting rod, motion can be
transmitted to a beam shaft or lever; or the two cylinders may be set with
the stuffing box ends nearest each other, motion being taken from the plungers
by connections from between the cylinders, and in that case two single-action
slide valves worked by one rod may be used; or the two tubes or cylinders
may be fixed apart and act on a beam vertically or horizontally.
The steam and expansion valves are sometimes two valves one over the
other, arranged and worked in the manner heretofore known; but instead
thereof there may be a single valve, the steam passing wholly underneath it,
and for this purpose the internal face of the valve is recessed, the supply steam
entering one or more of these recesses and the escaping steam the other.
To balance the tendency of the steam to lift the valve, a sort of rod may be
used, one end resting on the valve, and following its motion, and a spring
which presses on the other end is regulated to exert a slight excess of pressure,
or the valve may be equipoised by a piston or plunger receiving the steam;
this piston or plunger may consist of a corrugated or wrinkled tube, the motion
being varied or reversed by reversing or varying the gear, or a bent and
flattened tube may be employed: The valve may be without a box, but it is
preferred to use a box to receive the escaping steam.
To work the valve expansively, and vary the cut off with a single valve and
a single handle during the progress of the engine in whatever direction it may
be working, the Inventor uses the ordinary link motion worked by two
excentrics, one for the forward motion and the other for the backing or reverse
motion; but he combines therewith an intermediate link motion, which I
herein call a correcting apparatus," on which the usual link motion acts,
instead of acting directly on the valve. By this arrangement, at equal
expansion, the lap and lead to escape and pressure are reduced or so affected
as to obtain the maximum opening of the steam ports, thereby obtaining a
higher degree of expansion without bringing the usual link so near its dead
point. In this arrangement, the ordinary link instead of acting directly on the
valve rod acts on a lever or rod, which turns on one end jointed to a fixed

page_text: point, and carries the supplementary or "correcting link," in the slot of which
works a block or slide piece herein called the "correcting block," to which is
fixed a rod, which transmits motion to the valve rod. This correcting block
is worked in its link by certain mechanical arrangements and by another rod,
which transmits motion to it in a direction perpendicular to the axis carrying
the correcting link, so that in respect to the inclination of the correcting lever
the valve rod at certain times partakes simultaneously of the longitudinal motion
imparted by the ordinary link, and of the said perpendicular motion. The
mechanical arrangements which work the correcting block may vary, thus they
may consist of a third excentric and rod, throwing two levers or jointed rods
out of the line of their common longitudinal axis on each side the first lever,
being connected to a fixed point, and the opposite end of the other moves up
and down, and transmits motion to the correcting block, either directly or by
a short lever, whereby the plane of transmission may be changed, so that
whatever the direction of the engine's motion that imparted to the correcting
slide block remains the same at the beginning of the stroke. To render the
cut off easier (for high degrees of expansion) and the motion of the correcting
block quicker at the first few throws of the crank, the action of the third
excentric rod on the jointed lever may be varied and rendered more powerful
by forming in it a slot, (so as to form a link motion) in which works another
block or slide piece, guided by one or more connecting or suspending pieces
attached to a fixed point; or instead of the last arrangement and of the jointed
rods, a stationary curved link may be used, in which a roller moved by a third
excentric imparts perpendicular motion to the correcting side block; in all
these various arrangements all violent shocks are avoided, the motion being
transmitted gradually and gently. The number of vibrations of the block or
slide piece are double those of the pistons.
The engine may be regulated by an ordinary valve, which cuts off the steam
as required, or by moving the variable expansion gear by a governor, or by a
rapidly working regulator for varying the cut off, either directly or by con-
necting the engine with the regulator gear. The engine may be fed by
Giffard's injecting or feed apparatus, just modifying it to adapt it to the high
state of tension of the steam, or the feed may be effected by small feed pumps,
preferring to use two attached at each side of a beam or axis with a simple
mechanical arrangement, such as any ordinary workman might readily con-
struct for varying or neutralizing the stroke of the feed pistons or plungers,
even while the engine is at work.
When the engine is a condensing one, and surface condensation is used, it
may be effected by air or water in various ways. In condensing by air, especially

page_text: outlet way or cock I. J, J, are a pair of steel plates, forming the boiler ends
or covers, to which, or rather to projections formed thereon, are screwed the
tubes K, K, which form the flues through which the flames and hot air pass
from the furnace.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the improved steam engine. L, L, are a
pair of tubes or narrow cylinders, closed at one end by a block M, and ter-
minating at the opposite ends by stuffing boxes N, N; O, O, are ports or
ways, formed through the block M, for the passage of steam to and from the
cylinders; P is the steam inlet way; Q, Q, the eduction ways for the escape
of the steam after acting in the tubes L; R is a slide valve working to and
fro on the face of the block M, and opening and closing the ports;. S, valve
rod; T, valve box, in which the valve works; U, spring; V, a sort of double
rod adjusted as to length by a screw W, one end of this rod or piece V resting:
on the valve, while on the other end the spring U rests, by these means the
tendency of the valve to rise may be duly balanced; X, X, are plungers or:
pistons working in the tubes L, L. The plungers are of such length and
diameter as to fill the whole area of the tube when inserted. The plungers
work through the stuffing boxes and their. glands N, N, and are connected:
together by links or side rods. Y is a connecting rod at the end of one
plunger for transmitting motion to a working beam. The plungers are so
combined; that when one is at the end of its stroke inward, or at that end of.
the tube which is nearest the block M, the other plunger is at the end of its
stroke outward or that end of the. tube nearest the. stuffing box. The steam
enters through the block into the tube at one side only of each plunger.
Figure 4 is a Diagram exemplifying the arrangement of the correcting
apparatus as applied to the ordinary link motion. The old or known parts
are shewn in black lines, and the new parts or correcting apparatus are shewn
in red lines. a is the shaft, and 6 the crank; c, connecting piece, by which...
the ordinary link d is suspended; d is the ordinary link; e is the additional
or correcting link; f, valve rod; g, g, fixed points. The link d acts on a
rod h, jointed at one end to a fixed point i in the link d, on which point i the
rod h turns. The rod h carries the correcting link e, in the slot of which
works the correcting block or slide piece j, to which is fixed a rod k, which
transmits motion to the valve rod f. A rod 1 works the block j in a
direction at right angles to the axis carrying the link e, so that the valve rod
thus partakes of the longitudinal motion communicated by the ordinary link
and the perpendicular motion of the rod k. I wish it to be understood,.
however, that the details of this arrangement may be varied without departing
from its general principle or nature as set forth herein.

page_text: By combining the improved engine herein-before described with one of the
boilers herein-before described, and using with the engine one of the arrange-
ments herein explained for admitting steam and controlling its expansion, a
steam engine will be obtained capable of working at a very high pressure, (at
the very least at a pressure of twenty atmospheres..).
Having now described the nature of the said Invention; and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the application to or combination with steam boilers of the reservoir
herein described combined with tubes as set forth, and I claim especially the
arrangement and combination of parts constituting the boiler, represented in
Figures 1 and 1º, and herein-before described.
Second, the arrangement and combination of parts constituting the ring
shell boiler, represented in Figure 2, and herein-before described.
Third, the arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
steam engine herein-before described.
Fourth, the application to and combination with the ordinary link motion.
of the arrangement and combination of parts constituting the correcting
apparatus herein-before described.
Fifth, the combination of any one of the boilers herein-before described
with the steam engine herein described, provided with one of the arrangements
for supplying steam and controlling expansion, herein set forth, for the pur-
pose of obtaining a complete steam engine working at very high pressure
(namely, at a pressure of not less than 20 atmospheres).
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office,
84, Fleet Street,
London.
M. HENRY. (L.B.)