AN ENGINE CALLED A VAPOUR ENGINE, THEREBY GIVING MOTION BY THE EXPANSIVE POWER OF THE VAPOUR OF LIQUIDS, PARTICULARLY SUCH AS EVAPORATE AT A LOWER TEMPERA- TURE THAN WATER, AND COMPRISING A NEW METHOD OF PRODUCING THE CONDENSA- TION OF THE ELASTIC FLUIDS, AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VALVES, APPLICABLE TO THE ABOVE AND OTHER EKGINES
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HOWARD, of New Broad Street, in the City of London, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of October, in the sixth year of His said
Majesty's reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His
special licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, by myself or themselves,
or by my or their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such others as I,
the said Thomas Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, at any
time should agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term of years therein and herein-after expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention of "AN ENGINE
CALLED A VAPOUR ENGINE, THEREBY GIVING MOTION BY THE EXPANSIVE POWER OF
THE VAPOUR OF LIQUIDS, PARTICULARLY SUCH AS EVAPORATE AT A LOWER TEMPERA-
TURE THAN WATER, AND COMPRISING A NEW METHOD OF PRODUCING THE CONDENSA-
TION OF THE ELASTIC FLUIDS, AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
VALVES, APPLICABLE TO THE ABOVE AND OTHER EKGINES," within that part of His
Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His Do-
minion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His
Majesty's Plantations and Colonies abroad, in such manner as to me, the said
Thomas Howard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or any of them,

page_text: shall in my or their descretion seem meet, and that I, the said Thomas Howard,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might have and
enjoy the whole profit, benefit, commodity, and advantage, from time to time
coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason of the said Invention, for
and during the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters
Patent next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended according to the form
and effect of the Statute therein mentioned; in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso requiring me, the said Thomas Howard, by an
instrument 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 performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said recited Letters Patent, as by the said 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
Thomas Howard, do, by this instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the references thereto, and the
explanations and descriptions therein and herein-after mentioned and contained,
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, as follows, that is to say:-
I erect two metal cylinders (A, B, Drawing No. 1), made firm and secure by
any of the ordinary methods. These cylinders communicate with each other
at the lower part by a horizontal tube or small cylinder, or otherwise, so as to
form a free passage (at C) from one to the other. Then such a quantity of
fixed oil, mercury, or other fluid, or substance becoming fluid, but not eva-
porating at the degree of heat to which it will be there exposed, is introduced
into these cylinders as will fill the base of one, the intermediate passage, and
nearly the whole of the other cylinder, (as shewn in the Drawing No. 1, by
the parts colored yellow,) to serve as a medium of heat necessary for gene-
rating the vapour for working the engine. Within one cylinder (B) is placed
a piston fitted to the cylinder exposed above to the pressure of the atmosphere,
and having a rod and stuffing in the usual manner. This cylinder I call the
piston cylinder. In the other cylinder (A), which I call the vapour cylinder,
is placed a thin metallic dish (D) floating freely upon the oil (or the other
fluid before mentioned), but not fitting close to the cylinder. This latter
cylinder has a top fastened down quite air-tight, through the centre of which
top is brought a tube (E), proceeding from the condenser (herein-after de-
scribed), the lower end of which tube within the cylinder terminates in a nosle
pierced with many small holes. This tube is passed through a piece of cork,

page_text: wood, or other imperfect conductor of heat, fixed into the top of the cylinder,
with a ring screwed down above it, in which the tube is made secure by a
small screw (F), in order that all these parts may be air-tight. In the top of
the cylinder which I call the vapour cylinder is an oblong orifice closed by a
valve (G), of the like form, which opens inwards by a rod (H) striking the
valve near one end, with the advantage of a lever as a door, at which end is a
small hollow for the purpose of receiving the rod at the other end; the valve
is confined to its seat by a crane-neck spring bending over above it (as in the
Drawing No. 1, near G). The rod is entirely detached from the valve, so that
the rod has the power only to oven the valve, the advantage of which is,
that any accidental irregularity in the motion of the rod will not derange the
valve itself. The valve rod passes through an air-tight stuffing box (I) in the
usual manner. And I declare that it is the detached rod with a round end
falling into a corresponding cavity at one end of the valve, and acting thereon,
with the advantage of a lever combined with the crane-necked spring for
restoring the valve to its seat, as above described, which I claim as an
improvement in the construction of valves applicable to mine or other
engines. A safety valve (K) is placed on the top of that cylinder which
I call the vapour cylinder. There is an orifice (L) through the piston
(in the piston cylinder), into which is fitted a plug or stopper (M), by
means of which the height of the oil or other fluid herein-before described
above the piston (which should always be kept a little above the piston) may
be regulated when necessary. The oil or other fluid may at any time
when required be withdrawn from the cylinders by a cock (N) near
the bottom, and may be again introduced by the top of the piston cylinder
through the orifice (L) in the piston. The degree of heat necessary for the
purposo of working my vapour engine is obtained by means of a sufficient
number of lamps (0, 0, 0, 0,) on the principle of the Argand lamp, and
on a large scale when required. These lamps are supplied with oil or
other inflammable liquid, or gas, and placed below the cylinders, and the
chimneys of which lamps are passed into and through a thin metallic or other
covering, which covering is carried round both the cylinders, except the upper
part of the piston cylinder, at a small distance from the cylinders, so as to con-
fine and carry the heated air entirely round the cylinders, thereby rendering
more effectual the heat given out by the lamps. The lamp chimneys should be
made of metal, with a hole therein covered with talk, through which hole the
flame may be seen, for the purpose of regulation. There is a tube or chimney
(P), at the top of the last-mentioned covering, which tube may be more or less
closed by a top or register (Q), the better to regulate the heat of the air within

page_text: the covering. By means of a small forcing pump (R, in Drawing No. 1),
which is set in motion, and the length of its stroke regulated by any of the
ordinary methods in use in the steam engine, the tube (E) which enters the
top of the vapour cylinder is supplied from the condenser with the liquid
(shewn in the Drawing No. 1, by a blue shade), which is afterwards.to be
converted into vapour within the cylinder called the vapour cylinder. The
liquid to be employed may be either ether, alcohol, essential oil, or other liquid
which evaporates more rapidly and at a lower temperature than water.. : I do
not, however, confine myself to any particular liquid or liquids, for even water
may be used if the heat be sufficiently raised. The degree of heat (herein-
before alluded to), to which it is proper to raise the oil or other fluid medium
(herein-before described) within the cylinders; must be varied according to the
nature of the liquid to be evaporated, and to the extent of power required.. In
order readily to ascertain, and be enabled to regulate correctly, the degree of
heat within the cylinder, a thermometer is attached to any convenient part;
with its bulb passed through the cylinder into the oil or other fluid medium.
From the nosle of the tube (E), above described, a sufficient quantity of the
liquid before-mentioned is thrown, by the action of the forcing pump (R), not
gradually but quickly, and at once, 'upon the dish (D), which, being previously
heated by the oil (or other fluid medium) on which it floates, quickly converts
the liquid thrown on it into vapour, which vapour. receives an increase of
expansive power by the heat of the cylinder, and pressing upon the oil
(or other fluid medium) and dish floating thereon, forces the oil (or other
fluid medium) through the horizontal passage (C) into the piston cylinder;
and raises the piston to its heighest point of elevation. The valve (G) in
the vapour cylinder being now opened by the depression of the rod (which
is effected by any of the ordinary methods of working valves as in other engines),
the vapour escapes by a tube (S) into a separate vessel (as in the steam engine
of Watt), and is there condensed, the piston then returns by the pressure of
the atmosphere, and the dish is carried again to the top of the vapour cylinder.
The valve (G) being now relieved from the pressure of the rod (by any ordinary
means) closes by the aid of the crane-neck spring, and a fresh portion of liquid
is thrown by the forcing pump upon the dish to be converted into vapour, and
the operation is repeated as before. The dish (D) is not absolutely necessary,
as. the liquid may be thrown upon the oil (or other fluid medium); but I prefer
a dish which should be made of copper, with a flat bottom, the internal surface
of which should not be polished. A sliding valve (T) is passed across the
horizontal tube or passage between the two cylinders, so as occasionally either
entirely or partially to close the passage from one cylinder to the other, by

page_text: means of which the motion of the engine may be easily regulated or stopped.
In the top of the cylinder called the vapour cylinder is fixed a tube (S), com-
municating with the oblong orifice (G) before described, and closed by the
before-mentioned valve.. By this tube (S) the vapour is conveyed from the
cylinder to be condensed, and the tube should be divided, and a ring of cork,
wood, or other imperfect conductor of heat (a), should be placed between the
two parts, which should then be screwed up together air-tight. By means
of this arrangement, the transmission of the heat from the cylinder to
the condenser is interrupted. The other end of the tube is inserted into or
communicates with a circular tube or hollow ring (V, V), into which hollow
ring a number of smaller tubes (marked severally U), made of copper or
other metal as thin as the required strength will permit, are fixed and arranged
in a circle. These smaller tubes are also inserted into another vessel below
(W), which forms a reservoir for the vapour when condensed. The liquid
formed by the condensed vapour may, by means of a pipe with a cock (d)
placed in the bottom of the vessel, be withdrawn when required. The outer
and upper part of the condenser has upon it a circular bason or open vessel (X),
into which water is thrown by a pump, or otherwise, as may be convenient.
The smaller tubes (severally marked U) are cach wrapped round and covered
on their external surface with flannel or other porous substance of the like
nature, which is carried over into the upper ring or bason (X), from whence
(being previously wetted); the water is absorbed, and the flannel, or other porous
substance used, acting like a syphon, conducts it down the outside of these
tubes into. a vessel (Y) below them, from which it may be allowed to run
off or bo pumped again into the upper vessel (✗), if required. Within the
hollow circle formed by these smaller tubes (severally marked U) is a
machine upon the principle of a fan, kept in rapid motion by the engine
or otherwise. By this means a continued stream of air is thrown upon the
wet flannel, and the heat is consequently thereby more quickly withdrawn
from the condenser. Previously to setting the engine to work, it is necessary
to withdraw the air from the condenser and vapour cylinder, which is
done by means of an exhausting pump or syringe applied (at c) to a pipe with
a stopcock (b), fixed on the top of the condenser. The liquid to be con-
verted into vapour for working the engine is introduced into the vessel
or reservoir at the bottom of the condenser through a tube (e) closed by a
screw cap (f), having in it a small circle of glass, through which the height
of the liquid within the reservoir may be ascertained. From this vessel or
reservoir (the fluid in the cylinder having been first heated) the liquid is thrown
into the cylinder called the vapour cylinder, by the forcing pump (R), as before

page_text: described. A mercurial guage may be fixed in the usual manner to any part
of the condenser, in order to shew the degree of exhaustion within. This
method of producing condensation consists in exposing the vapour or elastic
fluid to be condensed to a large surface of metal, surrounded or covered with
flannel or some other porous substance, continually absorbing water, and at the
same time acted on by a stream of atmospheric air, and I claim the applica-
tion of this new method of producing the condensation of the elastic fluids or
vapour, as applicable generally and not as applicable to my engine only.
The condensation of the vapour or elastic fluid in my engine may also be
effected by injection upon the same principle as in the steam engine, but with
the advantage of dispensing with the constant use of an air pump, and effectually
preventing the escape of any of the vapour or liquid. To effect the condensa-
tion by injection a tube (S, Drawing No. 2) proceeding from the vapour
cylinder as herein-before described, conveys the vapour into an oblong vessel
(9) made of copper or other metal as thin as the pressure will allow. The
required quantity of the liquid (before mentioned, and to be afterwards thrown
into the cylinder, and marked as in the former Drawing by a blue shade) is
introduced into the condenser or vessel (9) by the tube (e) as before, or by a
funnel (o) on the top, through a stopcock (p). The forcing pump (R), the
tube (E) to convey the liquid into the cylinder, the pipe and cock (b) for with-
drawing the air, and also the pipe and cock (d), by which the liquid may at
any time be withdrawn, are constructed as in the herein-before described con-
denser, and answer the like purposes. A lifting pump (h) is put in motion by
the engine (by any ordinary method), at the same time the valve in the vapour
cylinder (G in the Drawing No. 1) is opened as herein-before described, and
the lifting pump withdrawing a quantity of the liquid (before mentioned) from
the bottom of the vessel or condenser (9), injects it into the top of the same
vessel, after passing it through a pipe or worm (i), the end of which pipe (k)
being pierced with many small holes, the liquid is dispersed throughout the
vessel (g), and condensing the vapour therein, passes with the condensed
vapour to the bottom of the vessel. Part of this liquid is again thrown into
the cylinder by the forcing pump (R), to be converted into vapour as before
described, and part of it is again employed to condense the vapour in the manner
last before mentioned. In effecting the condensation by injection the condenser
and tubes connected therewith are immersed in a cistern of cold water, a stream
of which is continually passing through the cistern' by two large cocks (m, m),
or in any other of the ways in ordinary use in the steam engine. The vapour
engine herein-before described operates against the pressure of the atmosphere.
This may be avoided and a double action produced by the following alterations:-

page_text: Let the two cylinders (A, B, No. 3 Drawing), connected together as herein-
before mentioned, have a piston (C, C,) working within each cylinder, and the
piston rods which pass out at the bottom of the cylinders be so framed in the
external machinery that when one piston is at its highest point of elevation the
other shall be at its lowest point of depression within the cylinders. Both
cylinders should be closed down air-tight at the top, and have each the same
arrangements as herein-before described as applicable to the vapour cylinder.
only, except that no dish is made use of, and two forcing pumps are employed
instead of one, by means of which the liquid (herein-before mentioned) is
thrown alternately into each cylinder, and evaporated from the top of each
piston instead of from a dish, herein-before described, floating in the oil (or
other medium) in one cylinder only. A valve (G, G, as before) in each
cylinder forms a communication alternately with the condenser by the tube
(S) herein-before described. The oil (or other fluid medium herein-before
mentioned, and described by the yellow shade in the Drawing) is about the
same in quantity as before, filling that part of both cylinders which is below
the pistons and the horizontal passage between them. The pistons are so
constructed that only a sheet or plate of metal forming a dish shall separate
the oil (or other fluid medium) below from the liquid (before mentioned)
thrown upon them to be evaporated. In order that the pistons may sustain
the pressure of the vapour, and that a support may be formed for the stuffing
and the rod, a sufficient number of bars (D, D), are placed edgeways below
the top or dish, which bars proceed from a small circle in the centre, in which
is fixed the piston rod, to an outer circle or rim which holds the stuffing in the
usual manner. The dish or top of the piston should not extend over the
stuffing, in order that it may be got at from above when required. The oil
(or other fluid medium) is first introduced into the cylinders through a funnel
(E) by a pipe (F), and that it may pass close up to the bottom of the
pistons a small hole is made through each piston plate (at H, H), to allow the
air to pass out, and which hole, after the oil or other fluid medium is intro-
duced, is closed by a screw plug. The cross bars beneath the piston plate
have also a small hole (g, g,) in each of them, forming a general communica-
tion under the piston plate, that the air may not be retained between them.
The pipe by which the oil or other fluid medium is introduced (F) outside the
cylinders is turned downwards into a vessel (I) partly filled with the oil (or
other fluid medium) to allow room for its expansion and play, and it may at
any time be withdrawn from the cylinders by a cock (K) near the bottom.
The other arrangements not now referred to are the same as in the first
described engine. A vapour engine may also be constructed so as to

page_text: receive the pressure of the vapour upon each side of the piston alternately,
as in the steam engine, without the intervention of oil or other medium
within the cylinder. In this case a cylinder (A, No. 4 Drawing) is placed
horizontally, with a piston and piston rod within it as usual.
The two
ends (B, B,) of this cylinder is screwed down quite air-tight in the usual
manner, and are so constructed as to form an inclined plane, and the liquid
(before mentioned) is thrown by similar means to those before described
alternately on each end from the nosle of the tube (E. E,) and is converted
into vapour by the heated surface of the inclined plane of metal or ends of
the cylinder down which it runs. To enable the ends of the cylinder to bear
the pressure of the vapour without making them of such a thickness as would
be incompatible with the quick transmission of the heat through, they may
be strengthened by cross bars in the same manner as described in the
pistons in the last herein-before described form of the engine. The vapour
is withdrawn by means of valves (as before described) into the condenser
from each side of the piston alternately. That the whole cylinder, and par-
ticularly the ends on which the liquid to be evaporated is thrown, may receive
the required degree of heat, it is placed in another cylinder or vessel (C)
surrounding it, and which is filled by a funnel (D) with oil, mercury, or other
such fluid medium as herein-before described (shaded yellow in the Drawing),
and this outer vessel is again surrounded with an exterior covering to confine
the air which is heated by the lamps, as in the other forms of the engine
herein-before described. The oil (or other fluid) may at any time be withdrawn
from this outer cylinder or vessel by a cock (F); a transverse section of the
end of the cylinder is shewn beneath the last Drawing, as the position of the
valve and injecting tube could not be clearly described in the former Drawing.
E is the nosle of the tube, from which the liquid to be evaporated is thrown
upon the end of the cylinder by means of a forcing pump, as herein-before
described. G, the valve, the end only of which is seen in this Drawing, with
the rod above it. S, the tube conveying the vapour to the condenser. K, the
safety valve. The outer vessel or cylinder C is so arranged round these
parts that the hot oil (or other fluid) may not reach them. The heated air
is also cut off by the ring or circle F. The arrangement of the lamps:and
other parts is upon the same plan as herein-before described in the other
forms of the engine, and as shewn by the former Drawings. Although I
prefer the use of lamps upon Argand's principle in order to obtain the
requisite degree of heat to give motion to my vapour engine, yet an engine
may be so constructed that fuel of any kind may be used.
The foregoing are some of the combinations of machinery to which my Inven-
7

page_text: tion is applicable; but I moreover claim as my exclusive Invention the applica-
tion for the purpose of giving motion to machinery of vapour generated from
liquids within the cylinder or other vessel in which the power operates, the
vapour receiving an increase of expansive power by the heat of the said vessel,
particularly when the vapour is generated from such liquids as evaporate at a
lower temperature than water.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and twenty-six.