IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Merryweather, of the Firm of Merryweather and
Sons, Engineers and Fire Engine Makers, of Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, and Christopher John Wallace Jakeman, of Greenwich aforesaid,
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Merryweather and
Christopher John Wallace Jakeman at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 6th May 1880.
HENRY MERRYWEATHER, of the Firm of Merryweather and Sons, Engineers and
Fire-engine Makers, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, and CHRISTOPHER
JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN, of Greenwich aforesaid, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Our Invention has for its object improvements in steam fire engines, parts of
which are applicable also for other purposes.
In our improved steam fire engine the whole of the parts to be manipulated to
work the engine, and including the stean valve, fly-wheel, pump suction, and
delivery pipes, delivery valve, and boiler feed, are accessible to an attendant
stationed opposite or near the fire-door, who may thus conveniently work the
engine as well as stoke the fire.
The steam engine and pump cylinders with other parts are supported on a frame
to one side of the boiler. The pistons of the steam and pump cylinders are
connected by a rod, to which is connected between the said cylinders a bent arm,
which in one arrangement is bifurcated. This arm extends over the upper part of
the one cylinder, and as it reciprocates with the piston rod is guided and steadied
by a suitably faced surface or bed on that cylinder.
The fly-wheel shaft is arranged with its axis in a plane at right angles to the
common axis of the steam engine and pump cylinders, and may conveniently be
about midway between, but above or below them. A connecting rod connects the
bent arm with a crank of the fly-wheel shaft. The steam slide or valve is operated
ГР.

page_text: from that shaft. The boiler is vertical; it has an annular water casing around the
fire-box, and with this we combine and arrange in a peculiar manner two kinds of
water tubes, namely, bent tubes arranged at two opposite sides of the fire-box, and
each establishing communication between the water space above the fire box crown,'
and the annular water space around the fire-box; also other tubes which are
inclined to the horizontal, and arranged crosswise of the fire box, entering the
annular water space at the two opposite sides or lateral portions of the fire-box, not
furnished with bent tubes, as above described.
The details of construction of our improved steam fire engine may of course be
varied more or less according to circumstances without departure from the essential
features of our Invention.
Furthermore, pumping engines according to our Invention as hereinabove
described may be used for various purposes without the mechanical parts that
are employed therewith in a steam fire engine; also, our improved construction of
boiler or steam generator may be employed for various purposes other than its use
in steam fire engines, and we would remark that it is especially suitable for use
where lightness, compactness, and rapid generation of steam are desirable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Morryweather and Christopher John Wallace Jakeman
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th November 1880.
HENRY MERRYWEATHER, of the Firm of Merryweather and Sons, Engineers and
Fire Engine Makers, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, and CHRISTOPHER
JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN, of Greenwich aforesaid, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Our Invention has for its object improvements in steam fire engines, parts of
which are applicable also for other purposes.
In our improved steam fire engine the whole of the parts to be manipulated to
work the engine, and including the steam valve, fly wheel, pump suction, and
delivery pipes, delivery valves, and boiler feed, are accessible to an attendant
stationed opposite or near the fire door, who may thus conveniently work the
engine as well as stoke the fire.
The steam engine and pump cylinders with other parts are supported on a frame
to one side of the boiler. The pistons of the steam and pump cylinders are
connected by a rod, to which is connected between the said cylinders a bent arm,
which in one arrangement is bifurcated. This arm extends over the upper part of
the one cylinder, and as it reciprocates with the piston rod is guided and steadied
by a suitably faced surface or bed on that cylinder.
The fly wheel shaft is arranged with its axis in a plane at right angles to the
common axis of the steam engine and pump cylinders, and may conveniently be
about midway between, but above or below them. A connecting rod connects the
bent arm with a crank of the fly-wheel shaft. The steam slide or valve is operated
from that shaft. The boiler is vertical; it has an annular water casing around
the fire box, and with this we combine and arrange in a peculiar manner two
kinds of water tubes, namely, bent tubes arranged at two opposite sides of the
fire box, and each establishing communication between the water space above the
fire box crown, and the annular water space around the fire box; also other tubes
which are inclined to the horizontal, and arranged crosswise of the fire-box, entering
the annular water space at the two opposite sides or lateral portions of the fire-box,
not furnished with bent tubes, as above described. This arrangement provides a
free and ample passage extending over about three fourths of the area of the steam
space for the exit of the steam generated in the tubes, thereby obviating the danger
of priming so common to small boilers.
The details of construction of our improved steam fire engine may of course be
varied more or less according to circumstances without departure from the
essential features of our Invention.
Furthermore, pumping engines according to our Invention as hereinbefore
described may be used for various purposes without the mechanical parts that are
employed therewith in a steam fire engine; also, our improved construction of
boiler or steam generator may be employed for various purposes other than its use
in steam fire engines, and we would remark that it is especially suitable for use
where lightness, compactness, and rapid generatian of steam are desirable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The name latter of rafazeres donate similer parts throughout all the Figures.

page_text: various parts, and removed from the carriage; k is a frame on one side of the
vertical boiler carrying the steam engine h and the pump cylinder i. The steam
valve a, fly wheel b, pump suction c, delivery pipes d, d, delivery valves e, e, boiler
feed f, and fire door g, arc, as will be seen, arranged in convenient proximity to one
another. The pistons of the steam cylinder and pump cylinder i are attached to
the same rod m to which the bent arm n is fixed. The other end of the arm n
works in a guide or slide o on the upper side of the pump cylinder. The connecting
rod joins the end of the bent arm to the crank of the fly wheel shaft p, from
which the steam slide or valve is operated by the eccentric & and rod t.
8
Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet II., are central vertical sections in planes at right angles to
one another; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section in line 2, 2, and Fig. 8, a horizontal
section in line 1, 1, of our improved boiler, as used in the above-described steam
fire engine and as adapted for other purposes. 1 is an annular water casing
between the fire-box 2 and the boiler shell; 3, 3, are two sets of bent or curved
tubes establishing communication between the water space 4 above the fire-box
crown 5 and the annular water space 1 around the firebox 2; 6, 6, are inclined
tubes arranged crosswise of the firebox, and entering the annular water space at the
two opposite sides of the firebox.
The other parts of the engine, such as gauges, valves, air vessel, and the internal
construction of the pump need no special mention, as they will be readily
understood.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner of carrying it
into effect, we would have it understood that what we claim as new and original,
and secured to us under the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,-
First. Constructing and arranging steam fire engines, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. of Sheet I., so that the steam valve, fly wheel,
pump suction and delivery pipes, delivery valves, and boiler feed, and other parts
requiring supervision during work are accessible to an attendant stationed opposite
or near to the fire door, who may thus conveniently work the engine as well as
stoke the fire.
Second. Constructing pumping engines, substantially as described and shewn in
Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet II.
Third. The use or employment in steam boilers of inclined cross tubes in com-
bination with bent or curved tubes establishing communication between the water
space above the fire box crown, and the annular water space around the fire-box,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Merryweather and Christopher John
Wallace Jakeman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty.
HENRY MERRY WEATHER.
(L.S.)
CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN. (L.S.)