IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND CONVEYING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHAT COME, 1, ALONZO
BUONAPARTE WOODCOCK, of Manchester, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-second day of
August, One thousand eight liundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock, my exors, adñiors, 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 expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND
IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND CONVEYING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS;"
in which Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Alonzo
Buonaparte Woodcock, should 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 inrolled in Her said
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
annear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates, first, to the improvement of those parts of steam
engines severally known as the piston of the steam cylinder, the stuffing box
of the piston rod, and the bucket or piston of that part of a steam engine
called the air pump.
Secondly, to the improvement of pumps or apparatus used in raising or
forcing water and other fluids in those parts known as the buckets or pistons
of such pumps, blowing cylinders, and other similar apparatus.
Thirdly, to the improvement of the apparatus used in conveying water and
other fluids in those parts of such apparatus known as valves, taps, and cocks.
Fourthly, to improvements in the cylinders or barrels of pneumatic and
hydraulic machines.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood I remark
that in those parts of the machines above described as the cylinders and
pistons (or buckets) it is usual for the circumference of such piston or bucket
to fit accurately into and press hard against the internal circumference of such
cylinder, so as to prevent the fluid that may be contained in one part of tho
cylinder from passing to another; in other words, that the piston shall be
steam-tight, water-tight, or air-tight, as the case may be. When this tight
fitting is obtained, and the machine set to work, the piston or bucket slides
against the circumference of the cylinder, thus causing great friction, loss of
power, and wear of the rubbing surfaces.
Now, the object of the first, second, and third parts of this my Invention is,
the substitution of a rolling packing for pistons or buckets for those of the
sliding character herein described, and the application of such rolling packing
generally to the purposes herein named and others of a like nature.
Having thus stated the object of these parts of my Invention, I proceed
more particularly to describe the best means with which I am acquainted for
carrying the same into effect; that is to say, I cause to be prepared one or
more elastic rings of a cylindric or other suitable form, and of any suitable
elastic material, as india rubber (caoutchouc), any variety thereof, or com-
pounds of any variety of india rubber and other substances, but I prefer rings
of india rubber prepared by Messrs. Mackintosh & Company under a Patent
granted to Mr. Thomas Hancock, bearing date the Twenty-first November,

page_text: One thousand eight. hundred and forty-three, and which india rubber is now
well known by the name of vulcanized india rubber, a material which, on
account of its permanent elasticity under considerable variations of temperature.
and its endurance of the action of acidulated or alkaline solutions, is eminently
adapted for the purposes herein specified; and I make these remarks in order
to state that the manufacture of such rings forms no part of my Invention,
and that I make no claim to their use for or application to any other purpose
than those set forth in this my Specification.
Figure 1 is a plan of one of these rings, and Figure 2 is the same in
section. I make the internal diameter of the ring smaller than the piston for
which it is intended, and the piston of so much less diameter than the cylinder
in which it is to work as that, when the ring is stretched on to the piston, and
the whole inserted into the cylinder, the ring, by reason of its elasticity, shall
be compressed into an eliptical figure in its section; and, as the permanent
elasticity of the ring has a continued tendency to regain its original figure, it
consequently presses firmly against the external circumference of the piston
and the internal circumference of the cylinder, thus making a perfect air-tight
or steam-tight joint. The piston being now put in motion, the ring revolves
upon its own axis, and at the same time rolls along the circumference of both
piston and cylinder, thus preserving the tightness of joint without any contact
or rubbing of the piston against the cylinder, so that there is no friction or
wear of the parts, and no oil required for lubricating. I would here make
the general remark, that the ring, by reason of its elasticity, adapts itself to
any irregularity in the surfaces of cylinders or pistons, and that where such
rolling packings are used the cylinders and pistons need not be bored and
turned, but may be left rough from the casting, and consequently the first cost
of such apparatus be very much diminished.
Figure 3 is a sectional drawing of so much of a lifting pump, with the
rolling packing applied thereto, as will enable any practical person to clearly
understand these parts of my Invention, and apply the same to any of the
purposes herein specified. A, A, is the working barrel of a common lifting
pump; B, B, is a hollow bucket or piston; C is a valve made to open
upwards; D, D, is the elastic packing forced into an eliptical form by pressure
against the circumference of the barrel A, A, and that of the bucket B, B, the
result being the formation and continuance of an air-tight joint. The elastic
packing being made to roll upwards by the motion of the piston, the air is
withdrawn from the lower part of the pump; the water follows, and, passing
through the valve C, is delivered at the mouth E. These rings I apply to the
pistons and cylinders of steam engines in the same manner as for air.
pumps.

page_text: I
I would here remark, that the elasticity of the rolling packing permits the
passing of mud or particles of coal, stones, sand, and other substances; con-
sequently, pumps made according to my Invention are not liable to become
choked or injured by the friction of granular particles. Hence they are well
adapted for excavations, mining purposes, and ships. For such purposes
make the barrels or other portions of the usual material, as wood, lead, cast
iron, or other metal, but for purposes in which wood would be destroyed, and
the presence of lead or other metal injurious, as in chemical operations, or
where great cleanliness is required, as for domestic purposes, I make the
barrels and other portions of the pumps wholly or in part of glass, china, or
earthenware.
Figure 4 is a sectional drawing of my Invention as applied to such
apparatus as is used in conveying water and other fluids, as valves, taps, or
cocks. A, A, is the outer cylinder or casing, which is furnished with two or
more openings, as the inlet B and the outlet C; D, D, is a metal piston,
made either solid or hollow, according to the size of the valve. For small
taps they may be solid; but where weight is objectionable, as in large valves
for water or gas mains, I prefer to make them hollow. E is a screw firmly
connected to the piston at F, and passing through the nut handle G. Now,
if this valve be connected with a water cistern or main by means of the flange
at B, the water will flow into the casing of the valve as far as the rolling
packing I, I, as shewn, but no further. The handle being now turned, and
the piston raised, the packings H, H, and I, I, will roll along (between the
piston and casing) beyond the outlet C, thus allowing the water to flow freely
through. The act of turning the handle in the contrary direction will cause
the packings to roll back to their former situation, and thus effectually cut
off the passage of the water. I have said that the casing of this valve is
furnished-with-one-outlet-C,-but-I do not confine myself to one outlet, but
place any number of openings in the circumference of the casing, and thus
obtain any number of jets that may be required. I prefer an oblong figure
for the outlets at those parts of the casing where the elastic packing rolls over
them, in order that it may not press far into them in the act of rolling.
Where great pressure of fluids is to be sustained I prefer my rolling packings
to be made solid, as shewn in section, Figure 2; but in the case of glass or
earthenware valves, cocks, or pumps, or where very light pressures are used,
I make the rolling packings hollow, and wholly or in part fill them with air
or other fluid, and thus render them more soft and yielding than when made
solid, but in either case cause them to be made of permanently elastic.
materials, as herein-before described.
My improvements in the cylinders or barrels of pneumatic and hydraulic

page_text: machines consist in rendering them elastic by forming them of or lining them
with vulcanized india rubber. These linings I make of any required thick-
ness, taking care to have the interior surface as smooth and even as possible.
I attach them to the barrels or cylinders of pumps or other machines, whether
formed of wood, metal, pottery, glass, or other material, by any suitable
cement or other means. I also form these cylinders or barrels entirely of
vulcanized india rubber. The pistons to be used in these barrels may be such
as I have before described, but I prefer them to be made of soine smooth and
inelastic material, such as glass or metal (preferring tin) or hard wood, and
of such a form as that the rubbing surface should present a curved or rounded
figure to the barrel, the part impinging being only of such a breadth as may
be necessary to prevent the passage of fluids. When I make the entire
barrels of vulcanized india rubber I proportion the thickness to the diameter,
the pressure of the atmosphere, and the duty the machine has to perform.
By means of these elastic barrels and linings the amount of friction is greatly
diminished, and the wearing parts rendered much more enduring than with
ordinary barrels.
Having thus described the nature of my Inventions, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the details so long as the peculiar
character of them be retained, and also that I do not claim any of the well-
known mechanical arrangements of the machinery or apparatus herein
described, nor of the materials of which they are composed which may have
been heretofore employed in their construction. But what I claim is,—-
Firstly, the application of one or more permanently elastic rings, of a
cylindric or other suitable form, and of any suitable elastic material, as rolling
packings to the pistons or stuffing boxes of steam engines or other apparatus.
Secondly, the application of one or more of the before-mentioned clastic
rolling packings to the pistons or buckets of pumps or other apparatus used in
raising or forcing water or other fluids.
Thirdly, the application of one or more of the before-mentioned elastic
rolling packings to valves, cocks, taps, or other similar apparatus used in the
conveyance of fluids.
Fourthly, the lining of the barrels or cylinders of pneumatic and hydraulic
machines with vulcanized india rubber, and also forming cylinders or barrels
for such purposes entirely of vulcanized india rubber.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
ALONZO B. (L.B.) WOODCOCK.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Alonzo Buonaparte Woodcock
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.