IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS HUNT of Gorton Foundry, Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM ENGINES" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates firstly to the governing of the supply of motive fluid to
the engine to regulate the speed thereof.
According to this part of my Invention I connect with the valve in the steam
supply pipe to the Engine a valve which I will call an automatic valve the said
automatic valve being moved during the action of the engine by means of water
air or other fluid forced past or against the said automatic valve by a double acting
pump or two single acting pumps operated from the engine so that the rate or force
of the passage of the fluid is in accordance with the speed of the engine and the
automatic valve is operated more or less in accordance with the force of the pumps
and in its turn acts upon the steam valve to supply and regulate and cut off steam
as necessitated by the varying work of the engine.
The automatic valve may if desired be connected with a valve so as to open it
to supply steam to a brake when any predetermined speed is attained.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means for packing the piston
rods or the like.
According to this part of my Invention I provide a series of discs of a square or
equivalent form externally and with a central orifice to suit the rod with which
they are to be used. Each disc is cut diagonally into two portions through two
opposite corners the series of dises being placed in the gland or packing box so that
they break joint with each other. Outside these discs I fit corner pieces at the
angles of the discs the length of each corner piece being equal to the depth of the
whole series of discs employed and serving to retain the discs in position and break
the joint where the said discs are divided and by means of a hoop or other spring
applied externally on each corner piece the requisite pressure is put upon the discs
to secure a steam tight joint and fitting. The discs may bear at their interiors
directly upon the rod with which they are used or they may be recessed internally
o carry packing.

page_text: My Invention further relates to improvements in means for superheating the
exhaust steam of Steam engines and consist in projecting the fire box into the
barrel of the boiler and inserting in that projection a chamber or chambers into
which the exhaust steam from the cylinders is conveyed through tubes within
some of the boiler tubes and after being superheated therein the steam escapes
through other tubes within other of the boiler tubes into a chamber or box and
from thence into the chimney of the furnace or into a pipe or chimney independent
of the chimney of the furnace so that the superheated exhaust steam or such portion
of it as may be desired shall escape into the atmosphere without exciting the
draught of the boiler furnace or fire.

page_text: I, THOMAS HUNT of Gorton Foundry Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention relates firstly to the governing of the supply of motive fluid to
the engine to regulate the speed thereof According to this part of my Invention
I connect with the valve in the steam supply pipe to the Engine a valve which
I will call an automatic valve the said Automatic valve being moved during the
action of the Engine by means of water air or other fluid forced past or against
the said automatic valve by a double acting pump or by a single acting pump or
single acting pumps operated from the engine so that the rate or force of the
passage of the fluid is in accordance with the speed of the Engine and the
Automatic valve is operated more or less in accordance with the force of the pumps
and in its turn acts upon the steam valve to supply & regulate and cut off steam
as necessitated by the varying work of the Engine. The automatic valve may'if
desired be connected with a valve so as to open it to supply steam to a brake when
any predetermined speed is attained I will describe this part of my Invention
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of which
are sectional views illustrating this part of my Invention. The supply of motive
fluid to the engine is obtained by means of single acting pump or pumps or by a
double acting pump forcing the water, air or other fluid employed, through the
pipe a into the pipe b in which latter are one or more openings c. Surrounding
the pipe b is the automatic valve d in which are one or more openings e. To the
upper end of the automatic valve d, a stem f is attached which works through a
stuffing box g, to which stem, connection is made (through the lever h, supported
on the vibrating pillar j and through the link and lever j,) with the throttle
valve k, which regulates and cuts off when necessary the supply of steam to the
engine and which is placed in the steam pipe 1, between the boiler and the
cylinders. The pipe b, and automatic valve d, are enclosed in a casing m, at
the lower side of which is the outlet pipe n, for conveying the water or other fluid
back to the pump or pumps, which are not shewn in my drawings, as they in
themselves form no part of this Invention, and may be of any suitable known
construction. To regulate the pressure in the pipe b, and consequently the power
of the automatic valve d, to move the steam valves and machinery to which it is
connected, the upper end of the stem f, is screwed into the socket o, and is fixed in
position therein by the nut p. By screwing or unscrewing the stem f in the
socket o, the apertures e, in the automatic valve d, are made to cover more or less
the apertures c, in the pipe b, thereby contracting or increasing the area of these
apertures through which the motive fluid or air escapes into the casing m, so that
the pressure on the internal surface of the automatic valve d, through the open
end of the pipe b, is at any given speed of the Engine increased or decreased and
the requisite power given to the automatic valve d, to move the steam valve or
valves and machinery to which it is or they are connected. By means of this
adjusting screw on the stem f, such an area of the apertures, c and e, is promptly

page_text: provided as to enable the automatic valve d to operate on the throttle or other
valves and prevent the allowed maximum speed being exceeded. For the purpose
of more rapidly increasing the internal pressure on the automatic valve d and
render its action more prompt as the speed of the engine increases, (and con-
sequently as more fluid or air is pumped into the pipe b, in a given time,) The
apertures e &c may be made with one or both of their sides angular, so that as the
automatic valve rises, the area of the said apertures will be contracted. The
diagrams at Figure 1A shew suitable shapes of the openings e and c, and the
diagrams, Figure 24 shew the regulation of the available passage by the relative
adjustment of the said openings. The steam or throttle valve kc, Figures 3, 4, 5,
may if necessary be arranged with its spindle r, out of the centre of the valve, as
shewn in figure 3, so that when it is closing or is closed, the additional pressure of
steam from the boiler acting on the larger half of the valve will tend to open it
and thus tend to restore the automatic valve d, and its connections to their normal
positions, after reducing the speed of the engine, or the said valve spindle may be
arranged in the centre of the valve and the valve opened and the automatic
valve d, and its connections brought to their normal positions by a weight or
spring. Figure 5, shews an arrangement by which the automatic valve d, in
addition to operating on a throttle valve as herein before described, also operates
upon another valve for supplying steam to a brake or brakes. To the steam or
throttle valve spindle r, (Figure 5,) or by any other convenient connection, by
which motion can be obtained from the automatic valve d, I attach a steam valve
of any suitable kind but preferably, a hollow conical valve as shewn at s, figures 5
and 6, surrounded by its casing t, and enclosed in the chamber or box u, into which
chamber or box u, steam flows through the opening v, in the pipe 1, on the boiler
side of the throttle valve k.-The hollow conical valve s is caused to revolve by
the automatic valve d, and its machinery as herein before described, when the
speed of the Engine requires the brake or brakes to be applied, so as to bring the
opening w, in the valve s, opposite the opening t¹ in its casing t, and thus permit steam
to flow through the open end of the valve s, and along the pipe s¹ to the piston or
pistons of the brake cylinder or cylinders, (which are not shewn in my drawings,
as they in themselves form no part of this Invention,) and when the speed of the
engine is thus reduced by the application of the brake or brakes, the additional
pressure of steam on the larger half of the throttle valve k, or by a dead weight or
spring, when an equilibrium throttle valve is used, will cause the valve s to revolve
so that its opening w, will be brought opposite the exhaust opening y, in the
casing t, and the steam thus escapes from the brake cylinder or cylinders and the
brakes are removed.
It will be evident that the valve d may be placed internally of the pipe b, instead
of externally, as shewn.
The second part of my Invention relates to the means for packing the piston
rods or the like.
According to this part of my Invention I provide a series of discs of a square or
equivalent form externally and with a central orifice to suit the rod with which
they are to be used. Each disc is cut diagonally preferably into two portions
through two opposite corners the series of discs being placed in the gland or
packing box so that they break joint with each other: Outside these discs I fit
corner pieces at the angles of the discs the length of each corner piece being equal
to the depth of the whole series of discs employed and serving to retain the discs
in position and cover the places where the said dises are divided and by means of
a hoop or other spring applied externally on each corner piece the requisite pressure
is put upon the discs to secure a steam tight joint and fitting. The discs may
bear at their interiors directly upon the rod with which they are used or they
may be recessed internally to carry packing.
Figures 7. 8. 9 are sectional views illustrating this second part of my Invention
a is a cylinder cover provided with a bush b on which a number of packing rings c
are placed, which rings may be square as shewn in my drawings or of any other

page_text: suitable shape externally-These rings are each divided into two parts the division
being at the diagonal corners of the square as shewn at d.figure 9 and the. rings are
placed one upon another in the gland box a¹ of the cylinder cover a so as to break
joint with each other. At each corner of the rings c is a V pièce e'the length of
which is equal to the combined depth of all the rings c c so as to cover the breaks
or divisions at the corners of the rings-Surrounding the V or corner. pieces
are one or more, corrugated hoop springs f.ff.the.pressure of which on the said
V pieces and packing rings retains the whole in position and supplies the requisite
pressure of the packing upon the piston rod or other rod working therein to make
a steam tight joint-In figure 7 the packing rings c are shewn with a continuous
straight passage through them so as to be in contact with the piston rod working
therein, and in figure S the packing rings c are shewn recessed to receive an
intermediate packing of fibrous, textile or metallic, material, to be in contact with
the piston rod or other rod. The packing rings c, V or corner pieces e, and
springs fare held in position (to resist the sliding movement. of the rod working
in them) by the. plate g and bolts h. I prefer to form the bottom ring c and the
top ring c and the bush b and plate g with engaging recesses and projections as
:shewn.
:
It will be evident that the rings c may be of other external form than -square
and that they may be divided in more than two places provided that they present
the necessary angular. or equivalent projections for being covered at the openings
and secured in position by the pieces e which will be shaped to correspond to and
cover the parts at which the divisions are formed.
My Invention further relates to improvements in means for superheating the
exhaust steam of steam engines and consists in projecting the fire box into the
barrel of the boiler and inserting in that projection a chamber or chambers into
which the exhaust steam from the cylinders is conveyed through tubes preferably
within some of the boiler tubes and after being super heated therein the steam
escapes through other tubes preferably within other of the boiler tubes into
chamber or box and from thence into the chimney of the furnace or into a pipe or
chimney independent of the chimney of the furnace so that the superheated
exhaust steam or such portion of it as may be desired shall escape into the
atmosphere without exciting the draught of the boiler furnace or fire.
j
This is of course applicable to super heating steam other than exhaust steam.
Figure 10 to 18 inclusive are views of parts of a road Locomotive Engine
illustrating means by which I carry out this third part of my invention.
Figure 10 being a longitudinal sectional view of the boiler, fire box, superheater
and tubes of a road locomotive engine and Figure 14 a transverse section of the
same. a is the boiler b the firebox, c boiler tubes, and d the steam, superbe iter
shown detached in front view in Figure 15) which may be of any convenient shape.
e Figures 10 12 14 and 15, are tubes for conveying the exhaust or other steain
from the cylinders e' to the superheater d or it may be conveyed by one tube only
as shown at, e Figure 13.- are tubes for conducting the exhaust or other steain
from the superheater d into the receiving box g (or into the single tube g
Figure 13) from which box g (or tube g¹) the steam passes into the valve box h¹
(shown in enlarged detail Figures 16 17 and 18) from thence the whole or ȧ
portion of the said steam passes up the tube i into the atmosphere above the top of
the chimney without exciting the draught of the boiler furnace or fire. j is a
circular valve shewn on a large scale in Figures 16 17 and 18 which is capable of
being operated by the handle j¹ (6gure 12) so as to allow a portion of the exhaust
or other steam to escape when required through the openings into the smoke
box and up the chimney ¹ to increase the draught in the boiler furnace or fire.-
In figures 11 and 13 the exhaust or other steam passes from the receiving box g
or from the tube f through the blast pipe gl into the chimney i¹ and thus the
whole of the exhaust or other steam is used to excite the draught of the boiler
furnace or fire.—The tubes e and f may pass through the boiler tubes c when they
will be of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the said boiler

page_text: tubes so as to provide an annular space between the inner and outer tubes for the
passage of the heated products of combustion from the boiler furnace or fire to the
smoke box.
The fire box b has an extension b' into the barrel of the boiler a as shewn in
Figure 10 for receiving the superheater & which may consist of any suitably
shaped vessel or receiver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is
First. In steam engines the combination of a valve (such as is described with
reference to the valve d Figures 1 and 2) operated by a pump or pumpa actuated
from the engine for regulating or opening and closing the supply of steam to the
engine or to the brakes or both.
Second. In Steam Engines the combination of a valve (such as is described with
reference to the valve d Figures 1 and 2) operated by a pump or pumps actuated
from the engine and capable of having the passage past it adjusted as described for
regulating or opening and closing the supply of steam to the engine or to the
brakes or both.
Third. The arrangement or combination of parts constituting the apparatus
described with reference to and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 and the
modification described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 both for the purposes
described.
Fourth. A packing for piston rods and other rods of steam engines consisting of
superposed rings or discs divided in two or more places and covered at the divided
places and provided with a spring or means for giving the requisite pressure all
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The arrangement constituting the packing for the piston rods or other
rods of steam engines as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 7.8
and 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In connection with steam engines a prolongation of the fire box into the
boiler in which prolongation a vessel or vessels is or are situated into which
exhaust or other steam admitted and from which it is conducted substantially
as herein before described.
Seventh. In an arrangement such as is claimed by the last preceding claiming
clause the combination of a tube or tubes (for conveying the steam into or from
(or both into and from) the superheating vessel or vessels) situated within an
ordinary tube or tubes of the boiler substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. In connection with steam engines the combination with a steam super-
heater from which the steam is lead to the chimney of means for enabling the
steam to escape without exciting the draught of the furnace substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth. In connection with steam engines the combination with a steam super-
heater from which the steam is led to the chimney of means for enabling the steam
to escape either so that it does not excite the draft of the furnace or so that a
portion of it can when so desired be utilized for exciting the said draught
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this 30th dow at M
1000