IMPROVEMENTS IN VAPOR ENGINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
A communication from
of
66
IMPROVEMENTS IN VAPOR ENGINES."
-
abroad by Joel Addison Hartley Ellis, of Springfield, County of
Windsor and State of Vermont. United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 31st January 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lanc, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VAPOR ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to utilize the waste heat of steam
generators and engines for evaporating volatile liquids, and to use the
vapors thus obtained for the movement of engines, pumps, or other
suitable machinery. By this method I am enabled to economize more

page_text: than one hundred per cent. of the power ordinarily obtained by the
steam apparatus only.
The Invention consists principally in providing an evaporating
chamber or pipe within or in immediate contact with the smoke flue of
the steam generator so that the heat of the escaping products of com-
bustion may be utilized for heating the volatile liquid in said chamber or
pipe.
The Invention consists also in carrying the exhaust steam of the
engine to and through the same said chamber or pipe with the object
also of utilizing the latent heat of the exhaust steam.
The Invention consists also in the application to the said apparatus of
a vapor superheater which receives the vapors produced by the heating
process above referred to, and the exhaust steam direct so that by means
of the latter the vapor may be superheated or brought to the desired
degree of heat. This superheater consists of an annular steam chamber
surrounding the vapor pipe, and serves therefore not only the stated
purpose but also the further object of protecting the vapor against
condensation while on its way to the engine, and of utilizing the exhaust
even before it reaches the main operating chamber.
The Invention consists also in the combination with the said vapor
engine of a condenser into which the vapors are carried from the engine
to be condensed by the water within the same. This water may be used
as feed water for the steam generator and will be heated to advantage by
the vapors which it condenses.
Finally, the Invention consists in the use of an improved stuffing box
for the vapor engine and also for the piston and valve rods of the steam
engine. Said box contains a chamber between two stuffing rings or
boxes which surround the rod or plunger. A tube extends from the
chamber to a condenser or exhaust pipe or to the reservoir containing the
volatile liquid. By this means I am enabled to prevent the escape of
vapor or steam into the engine room, and it becomes unnecessary to
pack the stuffing box as tightly as heretofore. Hence considerable
friction is avoided.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a vertical longi-
tudinal section of a steam generator provided with my improved attach-
ment; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of my improved stuffing box;
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: A represents a steam generator of suitable construction; B is the
smoke chamber, and C the smoke stack or escape flue of the same; Dis
a sheet metal vapor generating vessel of cylindrical or other suitable
form supported by means of brackets or otherwise within the escape
flue C. The vessel D may be provided with smoke pipes b, b, which
penetrate it from end to end, and it is furthermore shown as surrounded
by a smoke space c; d is a worm or coiled steam pipe arranged within
the vessel D and connected at one end by a pipe e with the exhaust
pipe of a steam engine of suitable construction. The other end of the
coil d leads to the water tank F or other suitable receptacle. The steam
engine is supplied with steam from the generator A, and the products of
combustion from the latter pass through the flues b or c, or both, heating
thereby the contents of the vessel D. The exhaust steam in passing
through the worm is condensed and gives off its latent heat to the
contents of the vessel D. A pipe g leads from a force pump into the
lower part of the vessel D for supplying the same with bisulphate of
carbon or other volatile liquid. A pipe h conveys the vapor from the
upper part of the vessel D to the vapor engine. Directly after leaving
the vessel D the vapor pipe enters a steam chamber or sleeve N which
surrounds almost its entire length. The exhaust pipe ƒ of the steam
engine enters directly the lower end of the sleeve and discharges the
exhaust steam into the same, the pipe e taking it from the upper end of
said vessel to the coil d. The exhaust steam when in its hottest state is
thus brought near the vapors just before they enter the vapor engine
and superheats them, thus making them better adapted to the operation
for which they are intended.
Another advantage of the superheater N is that it reduces the size of
the vessel D and appendages as it completes the evaporation which
otherwise would have to be completed within said vessel D.
The steam engine independent of its ordinary action serves thus by its
exhaust steam and the products of combustion to create a power from
the volatile liquid sufficient for driving a vapor engine of even greater
effectiveness than the steam engine. The vapor engine discharges its
spent vapors into a worm placed within a condensing vessel. This latter
vessel has a false bottom above which it contains water, whereby the
vapors are promptly condensed and discharged as liquid into the lower
chamber beneath said false bottom. The water will become warmed by
the vapors and may be utilized as feed water for the steam generator.

page_text: From the lower chamber of the condenser the volatile liquid is returned
by a pipe to the vapor generator by means of a force pump. The volatile
liquid it will be noticed is during the entire circuit never exposed to the
atmosphere and will therefore not be wasted. From the stack C a pipe J
extends into the main chimney. A smoke pipe L may be arranged
between the smoke chamber B and pipe J as shown. It is used to
convey the products of combustion direct to J whenever it is not desired
to pass them through the flue C, in which case a suitable slide or
damper w within B is closed to shut back the smoke from C. The
pipe L is useful particularly for starting the fire as the draft through C
will not be sufficient as long as all its contents are cold. But when once
warmed from beneath and by the exhaust the passage through C can be
thrown open and L closed by a damper j.
The stuffing box employed on both engines, but particularly those for
the vapor engine, are of the kind represented in Figures 2 and 3. In
this M represents the head of a cylinder or other vessel provided with
a projecting box
or stuffing at n.
beyond which it
into which is fitted a gland m for the packing
The gland m contains an annular vapor chamber o,
receives another layer p of stuffing that is held in
place by a second gland r. Screws or bolts & serve to secure the
gland m to the head M while other screws t hold r to m. The annular
chamber o which surrounds the rod or plunger is provided with a tube u
that extends from the said chamber to the condenser of the engine, or to
the exhaust pipe. The vapor which may have passed by or through the
packing n enters the chamber o and passes off by the tube u so that its
power to retard the motion of the rod by friction is stopped. The
packing p prevents the steam or vapor from leaving the chamber o
except through the tube u. The gland or the metal at r surrounding
the rod or shaft may be sufficient without elastic packing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 22nd July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
3

page_text: 1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year.
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, 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 VAPOR ENGINES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Joel Addison Hartley Ellis, of
Springfield, County of Windsor, and State of Vermont, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instru- '
ment 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 Alexander Melville Clark, 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 Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say)
-
The object of this Invention is to utilize the waste heat of steam
generators and engines for evaporating volatile liquids, and to use the
vapors thus obtained for the movement of engines, pumps, or other
suitable machinery. By this method I am enabled to economize more
than one hundred per cent. of the power ordinarily obtained by the
steam apparatus only.
The Invention consists principally in providing an evaporating
chamber or pipe within or in immediate contact with the smoke flue
of the steam generator, so that the heat of the escaping products of
:

page_text: combustion may be utilized for heating the volatile liquid in said
chamber or pipe.
The Invention consists also in carrying the exhaust steam of the
engine to and through the same said chamber or pipe with the object
also of utilizing the latent heat of the exhaust steam.
The Invention consists also in the application to the said apparatus of
a vapor superheater, which receives the vapors produced by the heating
process above referred to and the exhaust steam direct, so that by
means of the latter the vapor may be superheated or brought to the
desired degree of heat. This superheater consists of an annular steam 1
chamber surrounding the vapor pipe, and serves therefore not only the
stated purpose, but also the further object of protecting the vapor
against condensation while on its way to the engine, and of utilizing
the exhaust even before it reaches the main operating chamber.
The Invention consists also in the combination with the said vapor 1
engine of a condenser, into which the vapors are carried from the
engine to be condensed by the water within the same.
This water may
be used as feed water for the steam generator and will be heated to
advantage by the vapors which it condenses.
Finally, the Invention consists in the use of an improved stuffing 2
box for the vapor engine and also for the piston and valve rods of the
steam engine. Said box contains a chamber between two stuffing rings.
or boxes, which surround the rod or plunger. A tube extends from
the chamber to a condenser or exhaust pipe or to the reservoir containing
the volatile liquid. By this means I am enabled to prevent the escape 2
of vapor or steam into the engine room, and it becomes unnecessary to
pack the stuffing box as tightly as heretofore; hence considerable
friction is avoided.

page_text: D is a sheet metal vapor generating vessel of cylindrical or other
suitable form supported by means of brackets or otherwise within the
escape flue C. The vessel D may be provided with smoke pipes b, b,
which penetrate it from end to end, and it is furthermore shown as
surrounded by a smoke space. c. d is a worm or coiled steam pipe
arranged within the vessel D and connected at one end by a pipe e with
the exhaust pipef of a steam engine E of suitable construction. The
other end of the coil d leads to the water tank F or other suitable
receptacle. The steam engine is supplied with steam from the generator
A, and the products of combustion from the latter pass through the
flues or c, or both, heating thereby the contents of the vessel D. The
exhaust steam in passing through the worm is condensed and gives off
its latent heat to the contents of the vessel D. A pipe g leads from a
force pump
into the lower part of the vessel D for supplying the same
with bisulphate of carbon or other volatile liquid. A pipe h conveys
the vapor from the upper part of the vessel D to the vapor engine G.
Directly after leaving the vessel D the vapor pipe h enters a steam
chamber or sleeve N, which surrounds almost its entire length. The
exhaust pipef of the steam engine enters directly the lower end of the
sleeve N, and discharges the exhaust steam into the same, the pipe e
taking it from the upper end of said vessel to the coil d. The exhaust
steam, when in its hottest state, is thus brought near the vapors just
before they enter the vapor engine and superheats them, thus making
them better adapted to the operation for which they are intended.
Another advantage of the superheater N is that it reduces the size
of the vessel D and appendages as it completes the evaporation which
otherwise would have to be completed within said vessel D.
The steam engine independent of its ordinary action serves thus by
its exhaust steam and the products of combustion to create a power
from the volatile liquid sufficient for driving a vapor engine G of even
greater effectiveness than the steam engine. The vapor engine dis-
charges its spent vapors into a worm i which enters a condensing
vessel H. This latter vessel contains water above its false bottom x,
whereby the vapors are promptly condensed and discharged as liquid
into the lower chamber 3. The water will become warmed by the
vapors and may be utilized as feed water for the steam generator. From
the chamber y of the condenser the volatile liquid is conducted through

page_text: a pipe z to a force pump I by which it is returned through the pipe g to
the vapor generator D. The volatile liquid it will be noticed is during
the entire circuit never exposed to the atmosphere and will therefore not
be wasted. From the stack C a pipe J extends into the main chimney.
A smoke pipe L may be arranged between the smoke chamber B and
pipe J, as shown in Figure 1. It is used to convey the products of com-
bustion direct to J whenever it is not desired to pass them through the
flue C, in which case a suitable slide or damper 20 within B is closed to
keep the smoke away from C. The pipe L is useful particularly for starting
the fire, as the draft through C will not be sufficient as long as all its con-
tents are cold, but when once warmed from beneath and by the exhaust the
passage through C can be thrown open and L closed by a damper j.
The stuffing boxes employed on both engines, but particularly those of the
vapor engine, are of the kind represented in Figures 4 and 5. In this M
represents the head of a cylinder or other vessel provided with a projecting
box into which is fitted a gland m compressing the packing or stuffing
at n. The gland m contains an annular vapor chamber o, beyond which it
receives another layer p of stuffing that is held in place by a second gland r.
Screws or bolts 8, 8, serve to secure the gland m to the head M, while
other screws hold to m. The annular chamber o which surrounds the
rod or plunger is provided with a tube that extends from the said
chamber to the condenser of the engine or to the exhaust pipe. The
vapor which may have passed by or through the packing n enters the
chamber o and passes off by the tube a so that its power to retard
the motion of the rod by friction is stopped. The packing p prevents
the steam or vapor from leaving the chamber o except through the
tube u.
The gland or the metal at r surrounding the rod or shaft may
be sufficient without clastic packing.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The vapor generator D arranged within the smoke flue of a
steam generator as set forth.
2ndly. The pipe d arranged within the vapor generator D to convey
exhaust steam through the same as specified.
3rdly. The combination of the smoke flue C and exhaust pipe d with
the vapor generator D, all arranged to operate as described.

page_text: 4thly. The smoke chamber B provided with the damper or slide w
and combined with the flues C and L, substantially as and for the
purpose herein shown and described.
5thly. The superheater N applied to the vapor pipe / between the
vapor generator and vapor engine, substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
6thly. The condenser H provided with the false bottom a to form the
lower chamber y as set forth.
7thly. The stuffing box provided with a vapor chamber o, and a tube
for conveying away the escape vapors as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one
Witness,
JAS. O. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)