IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALFRED PAYNE Engineer of Frome Hall Lodge near Stroud Gloucestershire do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object, the almost instantaneous stopping of a
condensing Steam Engine, should any accident occur to stop the governor working,
through the strap coming off or from any other cause. It also affords a means of
stopping the Engine more quickly than would be possible without it in case of an
accident.
To effect this object I destroy the vacuum in the condensor or any other part of
the Engine, where it exists, by opening a valve which admits air, to these parts
and destroys the vacuum instantly, thereby stopping the Engine more quickly, than
would be possible, by shutting off the steam alone for in compound Engines in
particular the vacuum keeps the Engine runing for several revolutions after the
steam is shut off. I prefer to open the valve, automatically by attaching it to the
governor, so that when the balls fall, the vacuum is destroyed at the same time that
the steam is shut off by King's or by other patent safety governor. Under
ordinary circumstances the valve is kept closed by the vacuum and by its weight,
and is lifted to admit the air by the governor in the last stage of its fall or just
before it stops, and it may be so arranged that the valve may be sealed by a sinall
quantity of water or other liquid, to insure, there shall be no leakage of air to.
impair the vacuum under ordinary working conditions.

page_text: I ALFRED PAYNE, Engineer of Frome Hall Lodge, near Stroud Gloucestershire do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for QUICKLY STOPPING CONDENSING
STEAM ENGINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has for its object the almost instantaneous stopping of a
Condensing Steam Engine, should any accident occur to stop the governor through
the strap slipping or coming off or from any other cause. It also affords a means
of stopping the Engine more quickly than would be possible without it in case of
an accident. To effect this object I destroy the vacuum in the condenser or any
other part of the Engine where it exists, by opening a valve which admits air to
these parts and destroys the vacuum instantly at the same time that the steam is
shut off.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory Drawings-
The general Drawing shows one of King's patent safety governors to which the
improved arrangement is attached.
1 is an ordinary cone seated valve shown in its raised position, with the air
rushing through the pipe 2 to the condensor to destroy the vacuum.
The valve has been raised through the governor pulling to its lowest level (say
through the strap coming off). This lifts the end of the lever 3', thus at the same
time destroying the vacuum, and shutting off the steam through the weight 4
closing the throttle or equilibrium valve, when the gab end of the rod 5.is lifted.
out of gear.
6 is a cap into which water or any other liquid may be poured to test the
tightness of the valve.
In case of an accident in the mill this arrangement also possesses great value as
by lifting the handle 7 the Engine is almost instantly stopped by the steam being
shut off, and the vacuum destroyed at the same time.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
.1st The application of a valve or its equivalent in a Condensing Steam Engine,
and so arranged that by being opened air may rush into the condensor or its
connections and destroy the vacuum.
2nd The application of such a valve in connection with a safety governor, so that
when the governor stops the steam will be shut off and the vacuum destroyed at
the same time.
3rd The combination of a valve for destroying the vacuum, with a valve for
shutting off the steam in a condensing Engine, both valves being actuated by the
same or seperate handles.
Dated this 19th day of January 1886.