CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF GENERATING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ETHAN
CAMPBELL, of the City of New York, in the United States of America, Philo-
sophical, Practical, and Experimental Engineer, and Citizen of the said United
States, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighteenth day of October, in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Ethan Campbell, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Ethan Campbell, my exors, admors, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Ethan Campbell, my exors, adññiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonics and Plantations abroad, and
in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention
of "CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF GENERATING AND
APPLYING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN PROPELLING VESSELS;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Ethan Campbell, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Ethan Campbell, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference. being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters. and figures.marked thereon
(that is to say):
This Invention refers, firstly, to a new construction and arrangement of
parts for obtaining and applying the vapor of alcohol, and other like vapors, as
a motive power; secondly, to improvements in certain parts or appendages to
motive power machinery generally; and, thirdly, to improvements in apparatus
for propelling vessels.
The obtaining and applying the vapor of alcohol, or other volatilized spirit,
as a motive power I propose to effect, first, by using a separate furnace to heat
water, and circulate it through pipes into and out of a boiler containing alcohol
that does not mix with the water, and is not in contact with the fire heat of the
furnace; secondly, by a condenser or condensers, formed with cylindrical double
compartments of metal that receive the vapor within them, so that it is con-
densed by an exterior and circulating current of cold water, which condenses
the vapor but does not mix with it; thirdly, by the means employed for
passing the condensed liquor into the boiler again without waste through a
feeding apparatus. The result is, that the alcoholic or other vapor from the
boiler circulates through and works the engine, then passes to and is liquefied
in the condenser, from which the feeding apparatus receives and passes the
liquor into the boiler, to be used again safely, and without waste.
The mechanical means for effecting these objects are, first, the furnace and
appendages, next the boiler and the apparatus directly attached, next the
steam engine condenser and feeder to the boiler; these collectively subserve
to one end (namely), the using the vapor of alcohol as an effective motive
power economically, without waste, and without danger.
The mechanical means herein-after described, are shewn in the Drawings
referred to, as embodied in a marine engine working a peculiar form of pro-
pelling apparatus shewn as applied in a ship; but the same general arrange-
ments are equally available for any uses to which steam engines can be
applied.
To the companying Dai
forming nort of this my Specification.

page_text: Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a general plan of the works in a ship; Fig. 2 is a sectional
elevation of the same, taken through the line A, B, of Fig. 1, as if about two
thirds of one side of the ship were removed (the better to shew the working
parts of the engines and propellers, and the positions of the other parts in
place); Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the internal parts, as seen from the end B
of Figures 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan in larger size of a condenser, as
taken through the line C, D, of Fig. 5, which is a similar sized end elevation
of the condenser, with the head removed to shew the interior parts in place;
Fig. 6 is a detached sectional elevation of the propelling apparatus on an
enlarged scale, and Figures 6* shew the propeller valve in plan and edge view.
In Sheet II., Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the furnace and
boiler; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional elevation of the furnace, at the line E, F, of
Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an end elevation at the fire-door end; and Fig. 10 is an end
elevation at the back end of the boiler proper. The Figures in this Sheet
shew the external and internal construction and arrangement of the parts most
directly attached and acting to produce the required vaporization of alcohol in
the manner herein-after described.
In Sheet III., Fig. 11 is an exterior elevation of the feeder vessel, of which
Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation at a right angle with Fig. 11, shewing the
internal construction.
In the same Sheet III., Fig. 13 is an elevation of a combined steam gauge
and safety valve, fitted for the purpose of preventing waste of the liquor, by
leading off any surplus of steam to be condensed and returned to the boiler,
instead of allowing it to escape to the atmosphere.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of the gauge and safety valve, taken at a
right angle to Fig. 13, to shew the interior arrangement of the parts.
Fig. 15 shows an improved water and liquor gauge for these purposes.
Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of the steam engine cylinder and valves,
without a "cut off," with the piston rod prolonged for the purpose of being
connected with the propeller valve, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I.
Fig. 17 is a like sectional elevation of the steam cylinder and valves, with
one form of "cut off," that is, only adapted to act at the back stroke of the
piston; the Fig. 17* is a plan of the "cut off" parts.
Fig. 18 is a like sectional elevation of the steam cylinder and valves, and
Fig. 18 is an end elevation; at the working end of Fig. 18, shewing a second
form of "cut off," that is, adapted to act with either stroke of the piston. These
two latter Figures are both shown, as prepared, to connect with the condenser
by exhaust pipes, as usual.
3

page_text: Fig. 23 is a plan view of a third mode of forming a "cut off" that may
operate on one or both motions of the steam piston. The same marks o
reference apply to the like parts in all the Figures, except where otherwise
specially designated hereafter. G is the ship proper, built in any usual manner
but shewn in outline only; H is the furnace formed by an exterior shell o
casing a, and an interior shell or casing a'; these form a water space o
chamber 1, 1, 1, 1, all round the furnace. In the Sheet T., this furnace is shewn
as a square; but the cylindrical form shown in Sheet II. is preferable; a³ is
the fire door and frame, in the front of the furnace, through the water space 1, 1
made in any usual form, but fitted air-tight; 2, 2, 2, are water flues or tubes
forming both the grate bars and the lower pipes to return circulating and
heating water in the space 1, 1, around the fire door; a is the ash-pit; 3, the
ash-pit door. 4, 4, is a plate lying below the pipes 2, 2, 2, and perforated with
small holes; it is merely intended as an auxiliary means of spreading out the
air which enters the furnace below the tubes or water flues 2, 2, 2; in general
this plate may be dispensed with. A blast of air is also supplied to the furnace
(through ways formed in the surrounding sheet of water 1, 1,) at about hal
way up the fire chamber I, above the fuel K. The extent of this supply may
be regulated by cocks in the supply pipes; 7, 7, are four upper tiers of water
tubes, connecting the back and front water spaces 1, 1, in the ends of the
furnace, and carrying on the highly heated water within them towards the
boiler M. The flame and combustible gases pass from the furnace through
an opening 8 made in the crown thereof, and connected by a chamber 8**, with
a descending flue as, which passes round one or both sides of the boiler (but
may be made to pass round the end of the furnace). This fluc a, communi-
cates with a horizontal flue as, which runs lengthwise beneath the boiler M, to
the vertical shaft a³. The heated gases, therefore, in passing from the furnace,
traverse the flues a³, and aº, and finally escape through the chimney shaft a
into the atmosphere. The flue a³, is fitted with a cleaning door 9, at the back
end, and a damper valve a', with a chain 10, by which the extent of draft is to
be regulated. At about the middle of the depth of the furnace a dividing
plate 11 is fitted in the water space at the back end and in both sides thereof,
for the purpose of separating the hotter water in the spaces 1, 1, above the fire
from the less heated water in the lower compartment, leaving the space round the
fire door uninterrupted, to complete the circulation required, as shown here-
after. L, is an expansion and pressure cylinder above the furnace, with a flow
pipe a³, open at top into the cylinder, and at the bottom into the upper part
of the water space 1, 1. A side pipe 12, connects the bottom of the cylinder L

page_text: with the water space at the bottom of the furnace; and at 13 (see Fig. 9) is
a branch pipe and cock, serving as a connection to a force pump to fill and
replenish the water. This may be so fitted in any usual manner as to let off
any surplus water. At b, on the cylinder L, is a glass water gauge, the same
as described hereafter with reference to Fig. 15, and at b' is a mercurial heat
and pressure gauge, so divided as to indicate the condition of the water in the
furnace. M is the boiler proper, the shell of which is prolonged from the back
plate and back water space of the furnace, and has several ranges of tubes 14, 14,
leading the hot water from the upper part of the furnace (through the liquid
to be vaporized in the boiler) into the space b³, formed by the shell of the
boiler, prolonged to receive an interior head 15, and an exterior head 16.
The lower ranges of tubes 17, 17, carry the water back into the lower portion
of the water spaces 1, 1, in the furnace, and beneath the plate 11. At & is
the level of the liquid which is intended to be vaporised; and at 63 (Fig. 10)
the liquor gauge is shewn on the boiler (see the description referring to
Fig. 15); N is the steam dome, fitted with a combined safety valve and pres-
sure gauge b', described hereafter with reference to Figures 13 and 14, and
at 65, are the branch steam pipes to the steam engine, valves, and cylinder.
In the furnace thus described, the combined chemical and mechanical effect
of the arrangement is such, that the water both in the upper pipes 7, 7, and in
the water space 1, 1, above the division plate 11, is highly heated, and made
to flow into the boiler pipes 14, 14, the metal of which transmits the heat of the
passing water into the surrounding liquid. The current of water then passing
down between the plates 15 and 16, enters the lower tubes 17, 17, and passing
through them, enters the water space, below the plate 11, returns into the
space around the fire door, and thence passes forward again, giving up each
time it circulates through the boiler M a large amount of heat, and vaporizing
the liquid contained therein. The expansion of the water thus heated is pro-
vided for by the flow pipe aº, which admits the water into the expansion and
pressure cylinder L, whence it is carried off by the side pipe 12, to the water
space at the bottom of the furnace. By means of this cylinder L, which forms
an escape chamber for the heated water and the steam generated in the
boiler, a sufficient supply of water under pressure is ensured to all parts of the
water space of the boiler, and thus no part of the heating surface will be
allowed to be acted upon injuriously by the furnace fire. The water gauge ba
(referred to at Fig. 15), indicates the quantity of water in the water space of
the furnace, and the mercurial thermometer and pressure gauge b' indicates
both the temperature and the pressure of the water. The air for supporting

page_text: combustion is supplied by a fan or blower to the furnace, through the trunk
5, which opens into the ash-pit, as shewn at Fig. 7; a' are branch pipes,
leading from the trunk 5 to opposite sides of the furnace, and communicating
respectively with a set of tuyere pipes 6, for the purpose of injecting small
streams of air upon the incandescent fuel in the chamber I. The branch
steam pipes 66, from the steam dome N (see Figures 1, 2, and 3, in Sheet I.),
are supplied with cocks or valves 18, 18, and conduct the steam or vapor
into the steam valve cylinder or chests 6° (Fig. 2), fitted with exhaust
chambers 20. These cylinders 6° are made an extra length, for uses here-
after explained. The stuffing box 19 receives a valve rod 21, carrying the
metallic piston valves 22, which open or close the steam or vapor passages 23, 24,
of the steam working cylinder P. This cylinder is fitted with heads b', and
stuffing boxes 25, for the piston rod 26, which carries the piston b. The
rod 26 is shewn as prolonged through the second head to connect at one end
with the propeller valve hereafter referred to. These parts are shewn in
duplicate in Fig. 1, the two engines working together, and at the opposite end
each piston rod is fitted to a cross head bº, the ends of which are formed into
slides 27, and work against parallel guide frames 28, fitted on standards 6°.
At 29 is a double joint, connecting the cross heads 6º, to the forked connecting
rods c, c, whose other ends are respectively jointed to the crank arms c', c³.
These are not set at a right angle, but at an obtuse angle of 135° on c³, a
cross shaft in front of the furnace H. The crank shaft is supported on two
standards c³, bolted to the foundation plate.
On the valve 21 is a cross head 30 (see Figures 17 and 17*, Sheet III.),
which represent the "cut off" parts, on an enlarged scale. Each end of the
cross head 30 is fitted to receive a slide rod 31, which rods each run through
a small standard 32, and near the outer end of each slide rod 31 is a tappet
83, so adjusted with respect to the cross head 30 as to ensure the proper motion
of the valves 22 for admitting of the ingress or egress of the steam to or from
the cylinder P as hereafter shewn. A part of each of these rods 31 is made
larger in diameter than the rest of their length, and a screw thread is cut
thereon to receive a pair of set nuts, one on each side of a cross head c*, which
connects the rods 31 together. This cross head c' has jointed on it a latch
piece c³, and beneath this is a permanently fixed latch plate 34. The tail of
the latch piece c is so wedge-formed, that as an arm co pendent from the
principal cross head 6º comes up at near the half back stroke (applying this
term to the operation of the propellers in the ship), that arm takes the latch
piece c³, and carries it on with the rod and valves so much as that the port 23

page_text: is closed by one of the valves 22. The fixed plate 34 then trips the latch
piece c³ from the arm by the wedge form of the tail; the motion of the
valves is arrested, the ingress of the steam is "cut off," and the steam within
the cylinder P acts by expansion during the remainder of the stroke, while
the port 24 remains open to allow of the exhaust steam running to the con-
denser by the chamber 20, until the entire back stroke is completed. At the
end of each back stroke (applying this term as before), the arm c", taking the
tappet 33, moves the valves 22 to open the port 24 to admit the steam and
open the port 23 to the exhaust chamber 20, and reverses these movements
by taking the cross head 30 at the opposite stroke. These parts are all so
arranged that the arm cacts, as explained, by bringing one valve 22 under
the port 24 at the half back stroke, yet leaves the opposite port 23.open to
the exhaust chamber 20 until the end of the stroke, when the steam
piston 6º comes over the port 24; this causes the pause of an instant before
the piston moves in the opposite direction, which allows the eduction steam to
escape at the opposite port and go to the condenser; and this result is obtained
when the piston valve 22 moves and opens the port to admit the steam. before
the motion of the steam piston 68 commences. The commencing motion of
the pistons 68 in the ship is given by the opposite one of the two cranks c.
In any double engine, either for marine, locomotive, or stationary use, the
motion of each opposite crank will always start either piston; and in a single
engine this effect will be produced by the momentum of the fly wheel, and in
either of these cases the action of the parts is, that the steam is inducted and
educted full through each port without what is technically known as "wire-
drawing it." This is mainly obtained by making the steam valve chest bo
longer than is usual, in proportion to the steam cylinder, as shewn in the
Drawings. At Fig. 2, Sheet I., and Fig. 16, Sheet III., the steam piston and
steam valves and ports are shewn as arranged to act without "cutting off" the
steam. In Fig. 16, Sheet III., 6¹ is the steam valve chest; 24 the stuffing
box; 25 the valve rod made hollow; 26 are the metallic piston valves; be is the
steam working cylinder, with stuffing boxes 27, piston rod 28, and piston b³.
The steam valve governor rod 34 works through a screw cap 35 in the outer
end of the valve rod 25, with a head on the inner end, and a tappet on the
rod 34, (not shewn in the Drawing Fig. 16, Sheet III., and only partially
exhibited at Fig. 2, Sheet I.), takes the pressure of the pendent arm co, from
the cross head above, so that the rod 34, sliding in the rod 25, moves that and
the valves 26, to admit steam into one end of the cylinder 6 by the ports 36,
and educts it through the exhaust chamber 37, at the opposite end of the valve
chest b¹

page_text: At Figs. 18 and 18* the second form of "cut off" apparatus is shewn as
arranged for a locomotive engine. h is the steam cylinder; i, the piston rod
jointed to the connecting rod k; 18 is the cross head sliding on guides 17,
and pendent from it is an arm 20; 21 is the valve rod which slides in front
of a plate m fixed to the framing. In this plate a groove 25 is formed to
receive the pins *, *, of two latches 22, the upper ends of which slide through
slots in the valve rod 21, and are acted upon by the traversing arm 20. The
latches 22 are connected to the valve rod by links 23 and bolts 24, the latter of
which form stops to receive the pressure of the arm 20. By this arrangement
each latch 22 is alternately raised by its pin *, in the groove 25, as the arm 20
sets the stud 24, to commence each single stroke of the piston rod i, and at
the half stroke the arm 20, as it comes either way takes the latch 22, and
moves that and the valve rod and valves to shut the then inducting port, but
leave the other or educting port open to the end of the stroke; since the
groove 25, taking the pin, draws down the latch 22, and the arm 20 passes
on to strike the next stud 24, which again changes the action of the ports,
steam valves, and piston, and at the same time sets the corresponding latch 22
to "cut off" at the half stroke then commenced, leaving the steam to act
expansively during the half of each single stroke of the piston i; and if so
chosen, the latches 22 can be set to "cut off" at any other portion of the
stroke. n is a lever, connected by a link 26 to one of the studs 24, on the valve
rod 21, to allow the engineer to cut off and let on the steam as required.
Fig. 23, Sheet III., is a sectional elevation of a third mode for forming a
"cut off" with steam engines fitted in other respects the same as before
described. In this Figure the valve rod 21 is fitted with a cross head 30, slide
rods 31, standards 32, and tappets 33, and pendent arm c from the cross head
above (all as before described). 88 is a cross frame below all the parts, taking
the lower joint 89 of a radius arm or lever 90, the upper end of which is
jointed on near the moving end of a latch piece 91, the fixed end of which is
jointed into the cross head c³, moved and adjusted between the rods 31, as in
the former Figures. The operation of these parts is, that on the arm c³ coming
up and striking the point of the latch 91, the latch rods and valves are moved
so much as to place one valve 22 under the port 24, and "cut off" the steam,
and the radius arm 90, swinging on the joint 89 in a small segment of a circle,
as shewn by dotted lines, draws down the point of the latch 91, and disengages
that from the arm c. All the other movements take place as before described,
and, by duplicating the latch 91 and radius arm 90 in an opposite position,
the "cut off" may be effected during the movement of the steam piston in
each direction, The exhaust pipes 35 (see Figures 1 and 3, Sheet I.,) take

page_text: the steam or vapour from the exhaust chambers 20, 20, to the condensers Q.
These condensers, the construction of which is shewn at Figures 4 and 5, con-
sist of a cylindrical outer metallic case 36, provided with concentric annular
spaces or chambers to receive the vapors to be condensed. These concentric
chambers are formed severally of two metal cylinders c, which are kept at a
proper distance apart by indentations or blunt nipple-formed projections +, +, +,
being made in one cylinder, and brought into contact with the inner face of
the other of the pair of cylinders; thus affording means for keeping the plates
regularly apart, and also increasing the cooling surface, whereby the steam or
vapor entering from the exhaust pipe 35, through two vertical and two hori-
zontal pipes c is condensed. These pipes are connected by nozzles 37 to each
pair of interior condensing plates c', from out of which the condensed vapor is
taken by the pipe co, from the middle of the condenser to the feed pumps d,
Fig. 1, which pumps may be fitted and worked in any usual manner. The
condensation of the vapor or steam within the spaces +, +, +, is effected by
the introduction into the spaces o, o, o, between the cylindrical vapor plates c',
of a current of cold water from outside the ship, or by any other convenient
means, but shewn in Sheet I. as entering through the pipes d', to the bottom
of the condenser Q, by the shoe-piece 38. The water so inducted goes off by
the pipe d² from the top of the condonser, which pipe is fitted with a similar
shoe 39; thus, by the motion of the vessel in either direction, a continuous
current of water is made to flow into and out of the condensers Q, to condense
but not mix with the vapor coming from the engine. An excentric d³ on each
end of the shaft c, by a rod 40, works the pumps d, and a pipe 41 from the
pumps terminates by a rose head in the reservoir R. This reservoir is furnished
with an air valve opening outwards, and is supported by a standard which rises
from the top of the boiler M. From the reservoir R. a pipe d' conducts the
liquor to the ascending pipe d³, which has a lateral branch with a valve open-
ing upwards to pass the liquor into the feeding vessel S. This vessel, which
is shewn on an enlarged scale at Figures 11 and 12, Sheet III., is fitted at
the bottom with a pipe do, which projects into the boiler M. In the pipe de is
a valve 56 opening downwards, and made to close by a coiled spring. Within
the feeder vessel S a globular float is fitted with a tubular passage through
it to receive a guide rod 57, which carries the valve 56 at its lower end.
the guide rod is an adjustable nut or stop piece o' for the float d'. The upper
end of the rod has an enlarged head which projects through a screw cap on
the lower end of a vertical sliding tube 58. This tube is pierced with holes
just above the screw cap, and is provided on its outer periphery with a ring,
forming a value, which rests on a seat in the flanched screw joint & fixed on
On

page_text: the top of the feeder vessel S. Above this joint is a cylinder d fitted on the
upper end with a rebate to receive a moveable valve seat intended to receive
a second valve on the tube 58. This valve seat is kept in place by an union
joint which holds down on it the inner edge of a cap piece d° connected by a
coupling joint 59 to a pipe e communicating with the top of the reservoir R.
A lateral pipe e¹, attached by a joint 60 to a branch of the cylinder do, forms
a connection with the boiler. Beneath the top of the cylinder S two supports
61 receive the sliding arms of a toggle joint e, connected to the rod 57; a little
below the tube 58 an expansive helical spring 62 is placed round cach arm of
this toggle joint, with one end against a support 67, the other end against an
adjusting nut 63. The action of these parts is as follows:-The boiler having
been filled with alcohol or other suitable liquid, and heat applied thereto, as
above described, to volatilize the same, the pressure of the vapor on the under
side of the valve 56 will keep that valve closed. The cylinder 58 being in the
position shown in. the Drawing, the vapor from the boiler will be prevented
from entering the feeder vessel through the pipe e¹; but the liquid for supply-
ing the boiler will run from the reservoir R by the pipe d', and through the
cylinder into the feeder vessel S, until a quantity of liquid has accumulated
sufficient to float the globe d', and carry it up. into contact with the underside
of the toggle joint e. From this point the buoyancy of the float, as it becomes
immersed in the liquid, is exerted against the resistance of the springs coiled
round the arms of the toggle joint until these come into a straight line, at
which time the float will be nearly covered with the liquid, and its buoyancy
will act with nearly its full power. So soon as the arms of the toggle joint
are brought into a horizontal line, the expansive power of the springs will aid
the float in carrying the joint suddenly upwards, and thereby forcing the cylin-
der 58, upwards in the same direction until the top of the cylinder strikes the
top of the cap piece do. This movement places the upper end of the cylinder 58
over the liquid opening 59, and thereby cuts off the flow of liquid, and admits
the steam from the boiler within the feeder vessel S. When the pressure of
steam in the vessel S is equal to that in the boiler, the hydrostatic pressure
of the liquid in that vessel opens the valve 56, and the liquid escapes down-
wards into the boiler by the pipe. As the liquid descends the float d' slides
down the rod 57 into the position shown in the Drawing. The weight of the
float must be sufficient to overcome the resistance of the coiled springs, and
bring the arms of the toggle joint over the dead point. The sudden expan-
sive impulse of the springs will then, together with the weight of the float
draw down the rod 57 and cylinder 58, and thereby shut off the steam from
the boiler, and open the passage for the flow of the liquor from the reservoir R.,

page_text: The steam contained within the feeder vessel will now find its way into the
reservoir R, and, after blowing out through the air valve, any air contained
therein will be immediately condensed, either by the colder liquid descending
into it, or may go off to the condenser by the pipe. In either case the reser-
voir R is cleared of any air, and the vacuum kept up therein, and the liquid
in the reservoir descends into the feeder vessel. At the instant the condensa-
tion takes place, the elastic pressure of the vapor in the boiler effects the
closing of the valve 56. The like operations are successively performed, and
the quantity of liquid thus sent into the boiler is only limited by the quantity
supplied to the reservoir. In this manner the supply to the boiler is effected
without employing any portion of power from the steam engine to force in a
supply by a pump which might act against the pressure of the vapor in the
boiler; and all the steam or vapor used in these operations is condensed and
returned again as liquid to the boiler, so that there is no waste of the liquid,
and the power which would be required to work a feed pump is economized,
while the vapor used heats, the liquid in the reservoir, sending it hot into the
boiler.
In Sheet III., Fig. 22 is a sectional representation of a more simple form
for fitting the acting parts above the feeder vessel. In this Figure, S is the
upper part of the feeder vessel, as before. 57 is the valve rod going through
the float fitted with jointed arms and springs, as described and shewn in
Figures 11 and 12. On the top of the vessel S is a cylinder i connected
with the reservoir R by a pipe i, above and with the boiler by a pipe, both
as already described. Inside the cylinder i a tube is fitted to receive the
head of the rod 57 through its lower end, and is pierced with a set of vertical
slots 85 next above. At the top of the tube is a packing 86, and a second
packing 87 below. These parts are shewn in the Drawing as admitting the
liquid from the reservoir R by the pipe, tube 3, and slots 85 into the vessel S.
When the liquid has so buoyed the float d', Fig. 12, that it lifts the joints e
to the end of the tube, the arms and springs 62 throw the tube ³ up, so
that the packing 86 closes the pipe i, and, carrying the packing 87 past the
pipe, admits the steam from the boiler into the vessel S, so that when the
steam in the boiler and in the vessel are equal in pressure, the liquid in
the vessel S descends into the boiler, as described with reference to Figures 11
and 12. Above the tube two small stops inside the top or cap on the tube i
prevent the tube from closing up under the cap, and leave a small space.
between the cap and the top of the tube 2, in which the steam acts, to balance
the pressure of the steam beneath the lower packing 87, which, without this
precaution, would act to interfere with the float when descending. As the
.

page_text: liquor in the vessel S descends into the boiler, the tube is to be prevented
from descending too low by any convenient means; but a pair of small suspend-
ing gauge rods and heads may be applied to act on the tube in any way that
will be clear of the arms &. These rods are not shewn in the Drawings, but
their position and use will be understood. The descent of the float drawing
down the tube shuts off the steam by the packing 87, and opens the pipe i¹
to admit the colder liquid from the reservoir R. This liquid condensing the
steam at once closes the valve to the boiler below, and admits the body of
liquid from the reservoir to fill the vessel S; and the foregoing movements
are repeated without any waste of the liquid in the boiler, since all that is
condensed from steam is returned to the boiler again. In this arrangement
the top pipe both admits the liquid from the reservoir R, and passes any
steam upwards for condensation into the reservoir, thus rendering unnecessary
the side pipes d', d, shewn in Figures 11 and 12, and operating by one sliding
tube without any valves, though the mode of fitting shewn in Figures 11 and
12 may be used when the reservoir R cannot be placed at a sufficient height
above the vessel S.
The Figures 13 and 14 represent the combined steam gauge and safety
valve already referred to by b' on the steam dome N. Sheet II. In these
Figures is a pipe leading from the boiler M or dome N to the lower end of
the vertical cylinder ; and e is a pipe leading from the reservoir R to the
upper end of the cylinder. 64 is a piston on a rod which works through a
stuffing box, and is attached to a cross head 65. This cross head is connected
by side rods 66 to the yoke piece 67 below, from which a rod 68 is pendent.
The lower end of this rod slides in a steel-yard box T, and it has a tendency
downward by reason of an expansive helical spring e pressing upon its foot,
to which is attached an index pointer projecting through the index plate 69.
This plate can be set by screws going through slotted flanches in the side of
the box T, or by a ratchet and pawle, as shown in the Drawing, or by any
other convenient means, to hold the piston 64 against a determinate and limited
pressure of steam beneath it. If the pressure of steam increases, the piston 64
will ascend and open up a passage to the pipe e to allow of any surplus quan-
tity of steam escaping to the reservoir R, where it will be condensed and
returned to the boiler without any blowing off into the atmosphere. By this
improved arrangement, therefore, of steam gauge and safety valve, the pressure
of the steam will be indicated, and the escape of the surplus steam to the
condenser will be effected simultaneously, and that without any waste of the
vaporized fluid.
Fig. 15. Sheet III., represents an improved gauge to shew the level of the

page_text: water or liquid in the boiler, or in the pressure and expansion cylinder L of
the furnace. In this Figure f, f, shew one upper inverted and one lower direct
screw flanch pipe; the upper opening to the steam, the lower to the water in
the boiler. At their outer ends they are severally provided with a female
screw cup carrying cotton packing for the ends of a glass tube f*, around
which a ring of thin metal is tightly fitted. The cotton packings are made
tight by male cup screws f³ entering the cups f². A steam cock fi is in the
upper joint, and a water cock in the lower joint. The lower end is drawn
as at a right angle to the upper end, to shew the other parts and washing
cock f complete, similar parts of the upper end being shewn in section only.
The only new part claimed in this water gauge is the ring of thin metal round
the ends of the glass tube, the object of which is to take the pressure of the
cotton packing from the glass tube. As glass and metal expand by heating
and contract by cooling in nearly equal proportions, tubes thus packed will be
seldom broken in use from the effects of expansion or contraction.
In Sheet I., at Figures 1 and 2, the propelling apparatus forming part of
this Invention is shewn in place for use, and at Figures 6 and 6*, it is shewn
detached and on an enlarged scale. In these Figures U is the propeller
cylinder; V the induction cylinder beneath, opening to the exterior water by
its mouth being fitted to the form of the ship, and curved toward the entering
current of water; W are prolonged nozzles from the cylinder U formed as
horizontal cones, whose mouths are fitted to the exterior form of the ship, and
the area of each mouth is made equal to about one fourth of the area of the
cylinder U; X is a descending pipe to give the ship a back movement nautically
termed "stern way;" is the cylinder head; and 70 a stuffing box through.
which a prolongation of the steam piston rod 26 passes. The extremity of
this rod is forked as at g', and carries a propeller ring g², which is fitted with
a hinge and pin joint 71 to receive two nearly semicircular disks of metal g³,
shewn detached in plan and section at Figures 6*. These hinged plates form
a kind of butterfly-valve propeller, and take the position shewn by dotted lines
in the plan Fig. 6* on the return stroke of the piston rod, thereby preventing
the displacement of the stream of water; but at the commencement of the
propelling stroke they close upon the ring and drive out the water through
the nozzles W at a speed which, compared with that of the piston, is increased
in the proportion of the difference in size between the nozzles W and the
cylinders U; and the body of water round the nozzles and ship remaining com-
paratively immoveable, the ship recedes from this water in the direction opposite
to that of the ejected stream of water with a speed proportionate to the ratio
between her own resistance and the power of the engine. At the junction of

page_text: the cylinders U and V, flanches g* are provided, which form a valve box 72,
through the stuffing box 73 of which a valve rod 74 works. To one end of
this rod the valve 75 is attached, and by means of a link joint 76 the other
end of the rod 74 is connected to a cross lever 77, by which the valve 75
may be moved forward to close, or back to open, the upper part
the cylin-
der V. At the cylinder U is made with flanch joints 78, which form a
valve box for the vertical valve 79, to which is attached a rod 80 to hoist or
lower the valve. These valves 75 and 79, serve to shut out water when the
propeller valve or cylinder head is under repair. The top of the backing
pipe X is formed with a strong joint 9 beneath, or as part of the flanch by
which it is jointed-between the cylinders U and W, and in this joint is a rod
81 carrying the backing valve'g'. This usually lies in a seat 82 in the top of
the pipe X but when set vertically up by the lever 84 on the rod 81, it takes
into a seat 83, which is prepared for it, between the cylinders W and U.
When in this situation the water propelled through the pipe X acts against
the exterior water in the direction of the arrows, and the resistance of the
exterior water impels the vessel in the opposite direction, or, as before
expressed nautically, causes it to make "stern way."
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,―
First, the general arrangement of parts, as described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, for obtaining the
vapor of alcohol or other like vaporizable substance, and applying it as a
motive power;
Secondly, I claim the means whereby a continuous circulation is kept up
in the water spaces of furnaces and boilers, as described with reference to
Sheet II.;
Thirdly, the peculiar construction of condensers, as shewn at Figures 4 and
5, Sheet I. of the Drawings;
Fourthly, the arrangement of apparatus for feeding steam or vapour gene-
rating boilers, as described with reference to Figures 11, 12, and 22,
Sheet III.;
Fifthly, the construction of vapor or steam gauges, as described with refe-
rence to Figures 13 and 14, Sheet III. of the Drawings; also the mode of
packing water gauges, as explained;
Sixthly, the several modes shewn in Sheet III. for actuating the valves of
the working cylinders of motive power engines; and
Seventhly, I claim the peculiar arrangement and construction of parts con-
'

page_text: stituting my improved propelling apparatus, as exhibited in Sheet I. of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ethan Campbell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Taken and acknowledged, by Ethan
Campbell, party hereto, at the City of
New York in the United States of
America, this Second day of March,
in the year One thousand eight hun-
ETHAM (L.s.) CAMPBELL.