CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO IMPELLING OR FACILITATING THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS IN THE WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOCOMO- TIVE ENGINES FOR RAILWAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1848

page_text: HANDCOCK'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELIAS
ROBISON HANDCOCK, of 16, Regent Street, in the City of Westminster, and
Rathmoyle House, in the Queen's County, Ireland, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twelfth day of October One thousand eight hundred and forty-
eight, in the twelfth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Elias Robison Handcock, my
heirs, exors, admors, or assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privi-
lege and authority, that I, the said Elias Robison Handcock, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times hereafter during the term of years therein men-
tioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the Islands of
Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO IMPELLING OR FACILITATING THE PROPULSION OF
VESSELS IN THE WATER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOCOMO-
TIVE ENGINES FOR RAILWAYS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES;" in which Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso that I, the said Elias Robison Handcock,
shall cause
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months after the date in said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Elias Robison Handcock, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, as particularly described and
ascertained in the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, first, in the means of relieving the friction in revolving
and rotary engines, and reducing the rubbing surface of the piston.
Secondly, in preventing the escape of steam beyond the piston or otherwise.
Third, in the peculiar method of rendering the piston steam-tight.
Fourth, in the method whereby I apply, retain, and adjust the packing.
Fifth, in the arrangement whereby the shaft, piston, and sides of the cylinder
revolve together, which improvements are equally applicable to marine engines, for
the purpose of propelling and facilitating the propulsion of vessels in the water,
in particular as regards the paddle wheel or screw, as now used, giving direct
action without a crank, and also to locomotive engines for railways and
stationary engines, and engines for common roads impelled by steam or any
other suitable fluid.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, Elias Robison Handcock,
do hereby describe the manner in which the said Invention is to be performed,
used. and applied that is to sov..

page_text: cylinder is firmly keyed to the shaft L, and revolves with it. To the internal
part of this cylinder is firmly attached a strong block of metal, which may be
denominated the piston (B), as seen in Figs. 2 and 9. This block or piston also
revolves with the annulus and the shaft, being either inserted into slots cut in
the sides of the cylinder or bolted to them, so as to retain it firmly in its place,
and render it quite steam-tight, and preventing any rubbing surface except on
one side. In this plate or piston a slot or groove is cut of sufficient depth to
allow the introduction of a bow or other spring, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4 (B),
over which is placed a piece of bell metal or other suitable metal, and fitted with
great accuracy [so as to prevent the escape of steam under it], and by means of
which the escape of steam beyond or over this plate or piston is prevented, the
piece of bell or other metal here mentioned being pressed firmly up by means of
the spring against the stationary plate E. E is a stationary plate accurately
fitted into a groove or recess cut in the annulus or cylinder, as shewn in
Figs. 2 and 6. On this plate is cast two circular rings or flanges, as shewn in
Figs. 2, 7, and 6, and marked 1, forming a portion of the bed or stuffing
box in which the packing is placed. Between these flanges and the annulus
(A) is placed a circular ring of metal (K), as seen in the Figs. 2 and 6. This
ring being neatly fitted between the cylinder A and flange of the stationary
plate E, immediately over [and covering the joining of the cylinder (A) and the
plate (E)] acts as a foundation for the packing (F), which packing may be of
soft metal, hemp, or asbestos, or such other substance as may be close enough
to prevent the escape of steam. This packing, together with the ring (K) is
retained in its bed, and pressed against the cylinder and stationary plate by
means of the circular rings G, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, which circular
plate or rings (G) are bolted to the annulus A, and revolve with it. Inime-
diately over the packing (F), and immediately under the plate or ring G, is
another ring of metal, which is pressed tightly against the packing by means
of adjusting screws. To prevent the lateral pressure of the steam acting too
forcibly on the stationary plate E, and causing it to bind, and thereby increase
the friction, I retain the fixed plate E in its position by means of two braces or
plates (P), as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 8. These braces are cast on or
attached to the vertical pillar n, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 8, provision
being made in those braces, by means of slots, to admit tongues or thick pieces
of metal attached to the stationary plate E, to prevent it revolving or being
forced out of its position. Thus the stationary plate E is prevented from being
forced outwards, and also being retained by the support J (in Fig. 1). It can
be adjusted by means of screws to any requisite pressure against the cylinder,
and the lateral pressure of the steam itself relieving the stationary plate from

page_text: friction against the cylinder, the friction and pressure can be reduced to the
smallest possible amount, and be so arranged that none whatever need be
permitted, except such as may be necessary merely to prevent the escape of
steam, as in an ordinary stuffing box. Fig. 1, letter 2, shews the method of
opening and shutting the steam valve by means of a cam fastened to the shaft
L. Thus I propose to work the steam expansively by having moveable cams
dovetailed into the shaft L, or into beds fastened on the shaft, so that the
cams may be moved backwards or forwards up to the position required to work
the steam more or less expansively. i is the steam valve; H, H, the induction
"and eduction or exhaust ports; u, the reversing gear; S, the piston valve box.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section of Figures 1 and 3, as before described. C is
the piston valve or fulcrum, seen in Fig. 2, which is drawn back by means of a
cam Y, acting upon a roller Z, attached to the valve lever (as seen in Fig. 3 and
8), to enable the piston to pass, and again is drawn or forced back to its place
after the piston has passed, by means of a spiral or other spring (W). This
piston valve (C) is composed of two plates of metal nicely ground together, at
the upper and under sides of which is left a hollow place into which is intro-
duced spiral or other springs, as shewn in Fig. 2, and over these springs is
placed a piece of metal, which is forced against the sides (top and bottom), so
as to prevent the escape of steam. E is the stationary plate, as before described;
'A, the revolving cylinder, also before described; P, the braces; and B, the plate
or piston, also as before described. Fig. 3 shews a front view of a reciprocating
marine engine, being two single engines bolted together, the piston valve in
cylinder being thrown open to allow the piston to pass at the time the steam
is exhausting in the cylinder. The other cylinder (A) shews the position of
the steam valve when the full steam is on, the valve C being shown shut. This
reciprocating action is produced by the piston or block in the cylinder being
placed at right angles to the piston or block in the cylinder A, also by means
of the cam Y being placed also at right angles to the opposite cam, and acting
upon rollers placed on the forked lever X. Fig. 8 shews a locomotive engine
with similar parts, as before described in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7. The space
between the flanges of the two engines, as shewn in Fig. 3, is here jacketed or
filled up by means of felt placed next the cylinder, and a circular ring of metal
or wood fixed over all, to prevent the condensation of the steam by the action
of the air, and this I propose to use in all the engines. Fig. 4 and 5 shews a
side view of a single rotary engine, the principle being the same as the revolving
engine before described, but the arrangement different, the outer ring E, E, or
perepheray in this being alone stationary, and the interior (or inner three sides
of the cylinder), together with the plate, block, or piston and shaft, all revolving

page_text: together. In this Fig. the three sides and the bottom to which the spokes (m)
are attached, as seen in Fig. 10, revolve. The two sides A, b, may be bolted
steam-tight, or cast on the drum (A); but I prefer it being bolted steam-tight for
the facility of manufacture, and to these two revolving sides A, b, and the
drum A, the piston B is firmly bolted or otherwise permanently fixed steam-
tight, as seen also in Fig. 4, and the shaft, piston, and three sides of the cylinder
all revolve together. The piston valve and steam valves are worked much in
the same manner as described in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8, with the exception
that the plates E, as in the Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8, become revolving plates,
and are attached to the hollow or under drum, while the outer cylinder or
periphery and the circular plates or rings G become stationary; also the
piston valve box being attached to the outer ring, the valve works through
the stationary or external cylinder or ring; but I do not confine myself to
any particular method of working this slide, that being of minor importance.
CLAIM:
Having now described the nature of my said Invention for Certain Improve-
ments in Mechanism Applicable to Impelling or Facilitating the Propulsion of
Vessels in the Water, which Improvements are also Applicable to Locomotive
Engines for Railways and other similar Purposes, I wish to be understood, that
I do not confine myself to the particular shape of the annulus as shewn in the
Figures 2, 4, 6, 10, with angular sides, as this annulus may be constructed
so as to form a portion of a hollow ring, as in the dotted lines Fig. 6, or
otherwise; nor do I claim as new, all the parts or apparatus as described in
this my Specification, as many such parts are and may be in common use, but
I do claim as my
Invention,-
First, the general combination of parts which constitute my revolving and
rotary engine; but more particularly I claim,-
Firstly, the block or piston, as seen in Figures 2, 4, and 10, fastened per-
manently steam-tight to the cylinder, annulus, or ring, having but one rubbing
surface, which block or piston revolves with and in the same direction as the
shaft or axle, and also with and in the same direction as the cylinder, to
which it is firmly bolted or attached, and with the axle or shaft, to which
either a paddle wheel or screw for marine purposes, or wheels for railway
carriages or common roads, may be affixed, thus showing the peculiarity of a
fixed block or piston revolving with the cylinder and shaft, three sides of which
block or piston has no rubbing surface.
Secondly, I claim the stationary circular plate, as shewn, and marked letter E
in Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7, to which the machinery for the valves, the induction

page_text: and eduction or exhaust ports, the valve box, &c. &c. are attached; and also
the flanges or rings cast on or attached to the plate E, for the purpose
of retaining the metal ring (K) and packing (F), as seen in Figures
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10, and the means whereby the packing is adjusted, and
the bed formed to receive and retain it in its position, as in an ordinary
stuffing box; and also the plate or rings G, by means of which it can be
adjusted.
Thirdly, I claim the peculiar adaptation of this engine to locomotive
purposes, for railways and common roads, as shewn in Fig. 8, having the
engine attached to or keyed on the shaft, and revolving with it, together with
the plate or piston as before described, without coming in contact with the
rail or road, or requiring any external additional fulcrum or abutment, except
such as is supplied and afforded by the wheels of the carriage acting on the
rails or on the common roads..
Fourthly, I claim the means of preventing the escape of steam, as shewn
in Figures 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10, and also the ring or plate G, and the means of
retaining and adjusting the packing rings (K), and the means of retaining
and adjusting packing of hemp, asbestos, or metal F, as before described,
forming, as it were, a stuffing box to the cylinder; I also claim the plates or
braces P, and the pillar or support N, as applied to the stationary plate E,
as seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 8.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elias Robison Handcock, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, One thousand eight