IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hook, of Bridgwater, in the County of
Somerset, Cutler, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 2nd December 1862, and dated the 7th June 1862.
the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hook at.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
June 1862.
I, CHARLES HOOK, of Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset, Cutler,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in forming an oscillating engine which regulates the
introduction and emission of the steam by the motion of the cylinder, thus
obviating or avoiding the necessity of a slide valve. To effect this I form in
one bearing or support of the cylinder two passages connected with the steam
pipe, and in the trunion of the cylinder cast corresponding holes or passages,
so that the apertures in the trunion of the cylinder coincide with those in the
bearing or support. In the opposite trunion I form two passages which serve
as the exhaust, the waste steam after being used passing down the interior of
the support to the exhaust pipe.
The next part of my Invention relates to the cock or valve which regulates
the introduction of the steam to the cylinder; this I make of a circular form;
hollowed out on two sides, by means of which, when turned obliquely to the

page_text: right or left, the steam is admitted or allowed to enter one passage of the
cylinder, which admits the steam into the bottom of the cylinder, and urges
the engine forwards. To reverse the engine, the cock is turned in the
opposite direction, the steam is admitted through the opposite port into the
cylinder above the piston, which thus changes the direction. When the
handle of the cock is turned quite straight both passages are closed, and the
engine will be at rest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Hook in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
Hook; of Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset, Cutler, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth. year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Charles Hook, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Hook, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Charles Hook, my exécutors, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition
(amongst others), that I, the said Charles Hook, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Hook, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention consists in forming an oscillating engine which regulates

page_text: the introduction and emission of the steam or other motive power by the
motion of the cylinder, thus obviating or avoiding the necessity of a slide
valve. To effect this I form in the one bearing or support of the cylinder
two passages connected with the steam pipe, and in the trunions of the cylinder
cast corresponding holes or passages, so that the apertures in the trunions of
the cylinder coincide with those in the bearing or support. In the opposite
trunion I form two passages which serve as the exhaust, the waste steam,
after being used, passing down the interior of the support to the exhaust
pipe.
The next part of my Invention relates to the cock or valve which regulates
the introduction of the steam to the cylinder; this I make of a cirular form,
hollowed out on two sides, by means of which, when turned obliquely to the
right or left, the steam is admitted or allowed to enter one passage of the
cylinder, which admits the steam into the bottom of the cylinder, and urges
the engine forwards. To reverse the engine, the cock is turned in the
opposite direction, the steam is admitted through the opposite part into the
cylinder above the piston, which thus changes the direction. When the handle
of the cock is turned quite straight both passages are closed, and the engine
will be at rest.
In order more clearly to illustrate the nature of my Invention, I have
appended to this Specification the accompanying. Drawings, which shew the
details of the differents parts of my engine, and the mode of introducing and
regulating the admission of steam to the cylinder. Modifications of the
various parts will, of course, be introduced according to the size and peculiar
use of the engine, the general principles of my Invention being retained..
Fig. 1' is a perspective view of the engine complete; Fig. 2, a horizontal
section of the cylinder on the line A, B, shewing the steam and exhaust
passages, and the relative position of the steam nozzles, with the supply and
exhaust ways in the trunions and bearing. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of
the steam cock and steam ways taken upon the line C, D, Fig. 1; Fig. 4,
perspective view of the steam cock.
In Fig. 2 the engine is represented on the centre. If it be wished to work.
it forward the lever M.is turned to the left. Steam will be thus admitted to
the way D, Fig. 3, from the steam pipe D¹, and the passage c will be opened.
to the exhaust pipe N. The steam will pass from the way D into either the
passage E orf (Fig. 2) at each alternate stroke of the piston, and from thence
into the cylinder, the passages 9 & h being alternately opened and closed in
the exhaust passages at t & v. As the crank rises the steam issuing from the
mouth of the supply at j will pass through the steam passage E to the back

page_text: of the piston, and will urge it to the other end of the cylinder. The same
motion of the crank will bring the passage over the opening t (Fig. 2), and
the steam will pass to the exhaust pipe. As the crank passes the centre
again, the passage E will be shut off from j, and the passages ƒ and g will be
opened with the respective passages j & v; by bringing the lever parallel with
the axis of the cylinder the engine will be stopped.
When the engine is to be reversed and worked in the opposite direction,
the lever is pulled to the right; steam is admitted to the way C, and the
way D is now open with the exhaust. The steam will now enter the pas
sages 9 &h, and pass out at the passages e &f to the exhaust pipe. As
the crank falls the steam will now issue through the nozzle v, and through the
steam passage 9 to the back of the piston, driving it to the end of the
cylinder. At the end of the stroke the passage f will be in communication
with j, and the steam will pass through it to the exhaust pipe; when the
crank turns the steam passages 9 & f will be stopped, and the passages h
&e opened, and steam will now enter at 7 on one side of the piston, while
that at the other side will escape through E, and through j, in the exhaust
pipe.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and how the same is
constructed and acts, I wish it understood, that what I claim and desire
secured by the before in part recited Letters Patent, is the mode of con-
structing a reversing oscillating engine so as to receive and discharge its
steam or other power used for giving the motive power, by the method, means,
and arrangements, as herewithin set forth, and more fully described in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hook, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
CHARLES HOOK. (L.S.)