IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS FOR GENERATING STEAM, AND IN FEED PUMPS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cameron, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILERS FOR GENERATING STEAM, AND IN FEED PUMPS AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 23rd February 1858, and dated the 3rd November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cameron
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd November 1852.
I, JOHN CAMERON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS FOR GENERATING STEAM, AND IN FEED PUMPS
& APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows, reference being
made to the Drawings, annexed hereto :-
Figure 1, represents a vertical section of the boiler, which in its
exterior is cylinderical, with the upper end hemispherical, and is placed
in a vertical position. The "fire box" is formed of the frustum of two
cones, onc inverted within the other, being united together at the upper
end, and the outer cone with the exterior cylinder at the lower end. The

page_text: or inside conc.
"grate" or fire bars are marked and shewn in the Drawings, and may
be made fixed, or to have a slow revolving motion round the central
The door of the furnace is placed at a; one, two, or
more doors may be made, as may be required. The inside cone of
the "fire box" is continued to form a sediment or mud receiver, &
provided with means to blow it off, such as a cock. The "flue" com-
anonces at the upper part of the "fire box," and may be formed of
several openings, connecting the outer cone with the exterior cylinder
of the boiler, or a number of tubes may be inserted (as shown) partly
or round the whole fire box. The exterior of the boiler may be sur
rounded with "brickwork," wholly or partly, and formed as a cover for
the boiler and an "open flue," which may be connected with the
chimney from the lower part of it. Openings are formed below the
"grate bars" for removing ashes, &c.
66
Figure 2, and 3, a feed pump for the purpose of feeding with water
the said boiler, and is equally applicable as a feed pump to all other
description of boilers, whether for stationary, locomotive, or marine
purposes. Figure 2, represents partly a vertical section & elevation
of the said pump (similar apparatus being commonly called "donkey
engines"). Figure 8, is an horizontal or plan section of the same
apparatus. The Drawings will be sufficient to enable any mechanic to
understand the apparatus, as the fly wheel a, crank b, piston & piston
rod C, C', cylinder D, valve E, (for the alternate admission to & emis-
sion of steam from each side of the piston) are sufficiently well known
parts, and will require no further description. The ram F, of the pump
is a continuation from the piston of the steam cylinder, and works
directly through the bottom of the steam cylinder into the "barrel"
or cylinder G, which forms a continuation of the steam cylinder. I
may here explain that the steam cylinder D, and valve box & pump
barrel or cylinder G, are formed and cast all in one piece. H, is a
well known valve for admission of water to the barrel of the pump.
I, the valve through which the water passes to the boiler (the valves
only permit the water to pass in one direction). K, is a receiver, the
cap of which can be readily removed to examine the valves. L, is a
cock, commonly called a "pet cock" (the peculiarities of which will be

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Cameron, Her special
license that I, the said John Cameron, my executors, administrators,
the said John Cameron, my execu-
and assigns, or such others as
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BOILERS FOR GENERATING STEAM, AND IN FEED PUMPS AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Cameron, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and scal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manuer the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Cameron, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing annexed hereto,
and the letters and figures marked thereon, the same letters being used
to represent similar parts in each Figure (that is to say):
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in an improved boiler for
generating steam; second, in an improved steam pump for supplying the
same or other description of steam generating apparatus with water;
third, in an improved pit valve or cock, to be inserted in the pump
barrel, which is equally applicable to any other pumps. Figure 1, of
the Drawing shews partly a vertical section of my first improvement;
Fig. 2, partly a plan section of my second improvement; and Fig. 3, a
vertical sectional side view of tho valves and side elevation of the same;"
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, modifications of my third improvement.

page_text: herein-after further described), to allow the escape of any air or
clastic vapour which may collect or be admitted into the barrel, and is
equally applicable to other similar purposes in other pumps.
I wish particularly to call attention to the mode of making the joint
between the pump and steam cylinder at M, the peculiarity being in
the use of the internal gland (F), fitting loosely round the ram F, and
continued nearly to the bottom of the barrel (having openings for the
free passage of the water), by which means the hempen or other pack-
ing material (or metalic packing) may be tightened at any time by
means of the screw N, which is inserted through the bottom of the
pump barrel, and acts upon the end of the internal gland (1), forcing
it forward against the packing; the parts particularly referred to are
coloured blue in Figures 2, & 3. Two of the said pumps may be worked
together without the general arrangement being materially altered, &
if connected on one crank shaft, with the crank at right angles, the fly
wheel might be dispensed with.
Figures 4, 5, & 6, & 7, shew sections of different modifications of
the "pet cock" L, herein-before referred unto, the peculiarity of which
consists in having a valve formed so as to allow the outward passage of
the air or clastic vapour from the barrel of the pump, but not to
permit any air to enter during the suction stroke. In Fig. 4, the valve
a, opens during the forcing stroke, and closes during the suction stroke
of the pump, when the screw b, is withdrawn; but when the screw b, is
forced against it its action ceases, remaining closed. Figure 5, and 6,
shew two sections of the same cock. Figure 7, the section of another,
being the ordinary cocks, with the valve a, applied, working as described
onon
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Cameron in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN CAMERON, of Manchester (now the City of Manchester), in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanic, send greeting.

page_text: My first improvement is upon that class of steam generators called
vertical boilers, and is what I call a vertical "conical fire box" boiler,
the object of my improvement being to increase the surface of the fire
box, and to adopt such form as would resist the internal pressure, so as
to dispense with the necessity, as far as possible, for internal stays; this
I accomplish by forming the "fire box" of an hollow cone, the apex
of
which (I may be allowed to suppose for the purpose of description) is
forced into the inside of the cone till it comes to the base. This form
combines the requisites which I seek with simplicity and ease of con-
struction. The same object may be gained by a departure from the
true cone, and still the fire box in its cross sections be true circles,
but I think without advantage, and at the expense of simplicity and
ease of construction. I will now proceed to describe Fig. 1, which shews;
the manner and form in which I prefer to construct my improved
vertical boiler. a, a, a, are cast iron feet, four of which I use to support
the boiler b, b, the cylindrical shell or exterior of the boiler, hemi-
spherical at its upper end; c, c, the base part of a cone, which is joined
by angle iron to the shell or exterior of the boiler; d, d, the apex part
of a cone inverted into the interior of the base, and joined at the upper
end (c 1) with the base part c, c. The apex of the inner cone d, d, is:
formed into a mud or sediment receiver and blow off cock e, which I.
prefer to make of cast iron fixed by a flange to the angle iron. Another
blow off cock c', is also placed so as to blow off mud or sediment, &c.
from the water space between the outer cone and the external shell or
cylinder of the boiler. At the upper end of the firo box, at f, f, the
passage or flue is formed leading to the draft or chimney; they may
consist of one or more passages by which the interior of the fire box
and exterior of the boiler are connected; they may be formed of a series;
of tubes, and the flue may be continued direct to the chimney, or it may:
be made by brickwork or otherwise to traverse over the exterior of the
boiler. 9, 9, are "grate bars" or "fire bars," which are fixed or may be
made (fixed in a framing) to have a slow revolving motion round the
centre cone. h, is a fire door; one or more may be used, but I prefer two,
placed at such positions as to be at about an angle of one hundred and'
twenty degrees distance from each other; of course, in forming the fire:

page_text: ing orifices the fire box and outer cylinder is connected. The principal
part of the boiler is made of plates of iron or copper rivetted together.
It is not necessary to add anything further in explanation of this part
of my Invention, as ordinary workmen will be enabled to carry my
improvements into effect from what has been already herein-before
described.
The second part of my Invention relates to feed pumps or apparatus
for supplying with water the boiler just described, which, as already
herein-before stated, is also equally applicable to the supplying of
other boilers with water, whether for locomotive, stationary, marine, or
other purposes, and consists of what is generally termed a "donkey
engine." My improvements consist, first, in the arrangement of the
parts; second, in construction, that is, in casting the pump barrel and
valve barrel, steam cylinder and valve ports or passages, all in one
casting, thus avoiding joints; third, in the manner of packing the joint
between the pump and steam cylinder, which may be an hempen or
metallic packing, by means of an internal gland forced up by a screw
from the exterior of the pump barrel, by which means it can be
tightened at any time. Figs. 2, and 3, shew the arrangement of this
apparatus, and my improvements, which I will now proceed to describe.
a, is the fly wheel fixed on the end of a cranked shaft b, which is sus-
tained in the brackets attached to the cylinder lid c; the cranked part
of the shaft b, revolves in brasses d, which slide in the slotted T head
formed termination of the piston rod, which slot shinped T head is so
constructed that it can be narrowed by means of the separating pieces
ff, as the brasses wear. 9, 9, is the steam cylinder from the bottom
side of the piston; h, the ram of the pump; i, forms a continuation, 50
that it will be seen that the area of the piston for steam on one side is
much greater than the other side; j, j, steam passages; 4, the exhaust;
1, valve of ordinary construction; m, valve chest; n, steam inlet;
o, valve spindle; p, stuffing box; 7, valve connecting rod; ", valve
excentric plate fixed on end of shaft b; s, the stuffing box and gland of
steam piston rod; t, t, pump, ram, barrel, or cylinder; u, cap or lid
scrowed on to end of barrel t, t, through the centre of which is inserted
the screw v, provided with a lock nut v'; this screw acts upon the end

page_text: of the internal gland w, which fits loosely round the ram i, and in the
interior of the barrel t, t, so as to force up or keep tight the packing;
the internal gland w, has an opening towards the valves to admit water
to and from the ram i; a, a, is the valve barrel cast on one side of the
pump barrel; y, is the cover or lid forming the air vessel;=, is the inlet
orifice; A, the outlet orifice; B, is the inlet valve; C, the outlet valve,
both of which are of the ordinary construction, working in seatings
fixed in the valve barrel; D, and E, are stoppers to prevent the valves
opening too much. Without altering materially the general arrange-
ment of the apparatus just described, two of them may be connected
together, using only one crank shaft, and having the cranks at right
angles, and thus dispensing with the fly wheel.
"
The third part of my Invention consists in an improved "pet valve
or "cock" which is inserted (but not shown) in the pump barrel.
This improvement consists in combining a valve with an ordinary cock,
or in using a valve instead of the ordinary pet cock, which will permit
the outlet of clastic vapour or air from pump barrels, but will close so
as not to admit the inlet of air, that is, opening during the forcing stroke
of the pump, and close during the suction stroke. Figs. 4, and 5, are
sections, across or at right angles to each other, of a pet cock, with
the valve attached. Fig. 6, section of a pet valve. a, is the valve; b, the
stop piece to prevent the valve opening too much; and d, the orifice
for the escape of elastic vapour, &c. from the valve; in Figs. 4, and 5,
the valve is in action, when the conical plug c, is turned so as to open
the passage between the valve a, and the pump. It will be seen by
Fig. 6, that the valve a, can be made to stop the passage by screwing
down the stopper b, so as to keep the valve against its seat, and that
by screwing the stopper b, up it is brought into action.
Having now particularly described the nature of my Invention, and
in what manner the same may be performed and carried into effect,
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim all the parts herein
described and referred to, some of them being old and well known;
nor do I confine myself to the precise details, so long as the peculiar
character of my improvements are retained; but what I claim is,-
Firstly, the combination of the parts forming the first part of my

page_text: Invention, as herein-before described. Secondly, the mode of forming
the fire box, as herein-before described. Thirdly, I claim the arrange-
ment and combination of the parts and mode of construction of the
feed apparatus or "donkey engine," hercin-before described in the
second part of my Invention. Fourthly, I claim the use of an internal !
gland for packing the joint, as already shewn and explained. Fifthly,
I claim the application of a valve in place of or in addition to the
ordinary pet cock as the third part of my Invention.
In witness whercof, I, the said John Cameron, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, One thousand 1
eight hundred and fifty-three.
Sigued, sealed, and delivered (being
first duly stamped) by the within-
named John Cameron in the pre-
sence of
PETER J. LIVSEY,
JOHN CAMERON. (L.B.)
of Manchester.