CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Spencer, of Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Marine Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 14th May 1858, and dated the 16th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Spencer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th November 1857.
I, JOHN FREDERICK SPENCER, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Marine
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to marine
engines, although it is preferred in describing the several parts of this Invention
to refer to such improvements as belonging to and applicable to the engines
of a steam ship. The said parts of such Invention relate, firstly, to surface
condensation, and the mode of constructing such condensers; secondly, to an
arrangement for supplying the water due to waste of steam, which occurs
in the passage from the boiler through the engine to the condenser; thirdly,
in the arrangement and application of steam jacketings, available for the
purpose of supplying the necessary fresh water to make good the wastage;
fourthly, in the arrangement and disposition of auxiliary boiler power in con-
nection with the making up the loss of condensed water from waste of steam,
and also for the purpose of working independantly the air pump or air pumps.
and the other pumping arrangements for feed and bilge, &c., and which said
boiler may also be used for supplying steam to other engines, as hoisting or

page_text: donkey engines for loading and unshipping cargo and other purposes; fifthly,
in a novel construction of pump, by which the air pump and the pump for
supplying the condensing water are combined in one cylinder or chamber.
Instead of referring to the several parts of this Invention, serintem, I
propose to set forth the nature of my said Invention in a continuous
description thereof. As to surface condensation, or the condensation of steam
by its contact with a cold metallic surface, it is intended to provide for a
supply of condensed steam or fresh water to the boiler generating the steam
thus condensed. If the total quantity of steam generated could be passed
through an engine or engines into one or more metallic surface condensers,
the boiler or boilers generating such steam would receive through the feed
pumps a constant and ample supply of condensed steam or fresh water. It is,
however, a well-known fact that a portion of the steam generated in and
passing from a boiler through an engine into a condenser is wasted and lost
before reaching the condenser by escape through safety valves, leakage in
joints, glands, &c., and by premature condensation in the pipes and engine,
and in consequence of this waste and loss it is not possible to maintain a
sufficient supply of fresh water or condonsed steam, so as to replace in the
boiler the total quantity of water evaporated; therefore it is necessary to
supply, from some other source than the boiler before referred to, an additional
amount of steam sufficient to produce when condensed as much or more fresh
water as that wasted and lost by the unavoidable leakage and waste before
referred to, I propose to supply this additional quantity of steam required by
small auxiliary boiler of simple construction, and I propose to feed this
boiler with sea water, adopting the usual method of blowing out to keep tho
boiler free from any unsafe deposit of salt. I propose to use the steam
generated in this auxiliary boiler in an assistant engine or engines, arranged to
work (either one, some, or all,) the air, condensing water, feed, bilge, or other
pumps, as may be found most convenient; and I propose that the exhaust ports.
of this assistant engine or engines be in direct communication with tho
metallic surface condensers attached to the engine or engines that propel the
ship, and that the steam used in working the aforesaid assistant engine or
engines be passed into the aforesaid metallic surface condensers, and being
there condensed, thus gives the additional supply of fresh water required to
replace that lost by waste and leakage before referred to.
My improvement in the arrangement of metallic surface condensers consist
in causing the current of condensing water to be forced or drawn several times
through different portions of the same condenser formed by vertical or hori-
zontal divisions therein, thus effecting a more perfect condensation of the

page_text: steam in the said metallic surface condensers. In constructing such condensers
I introduce the following improvements:-First, the use of galvanized plate
iron as a material for the exterior shells; second, forming a perfect air and
steam tight joint where the tubes pass through the tube plates by the use of
one or more rings of vulcanized india-rubber forced over the ends of the tubes
into recesses in the tube plate, thus providing for the easy removal of any tube
for cleaning or repair, and without injury to the tube so removed. By this
arrangement a perfect system of metallic surface condensation having the
following advantages is effected :-First, a constant and ample supply of fresh
water to marine boilers; second, utilising a portion or the whole of the steam
generated in the auxiliary boiler for the purpose of supplying the unavoidable
deficit of fresh water caused by leakage, &c.; third, increased economy from
the preservation of marine boilers from such non-conducting deposit on the
plates and tubes, avoidance of all blowing out, the use of water with a lower
boiling temperature than salt water, the use of increased pressure of steam and
consequently increased expansion; fourth, increased, durability of marino
boilers.
Another portion of my improvement relates to the application and use of
steam-tight casings round the cylinders, and in the cylinder covers of the
assistant engine or engines before referred to, such steam-tight casings to be
filled with steam from either the large or auxiliary boilers. I propose thus to
maintain an even temperature and prevent any loss of pressure by prematures
condensation in the cylinders. Also the application of a steam-tight casing
round the steam pipe, connecting the boiler to the engine; this casing is to
filled with steam from the large or auxiliary boiler of equal or higher pressure
than that in the enclosed steam pipe. I propose by this arrangement to
preserve the steam passing from the boilers to the engine from premature
condensation.
My improvements in pumps consist in the combination of the air pump
with the pump for supplying the condensing water in one chamber, or the
cylinder with the usual inlet and outlet valves as required and before-men-
tioned; and this I effect, cither by converting one end of this piston or bucket
into a trunk, the diameter of which may be varied, whilst the opposite end of
such piston or bucket presents an uniform area, or by the arrangement or
disposition of the valves. According to my Invention I am enabled to use a
piston or bucket, having the same area at each or either end.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Frederick Spencer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FREDERICK SPENCER, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Marine Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the 21st year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Frederick Spencer, Her special licence, that me, the said John
Frederick Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
ns I, the said John Ferderick Spencer, 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THERE WITH," upon the condition, (amongst others) that I, the said John
Frederick Spencer, my executors or administrators, 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 1, the said John Frederick Spencer, do hereby
feclare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing:-
This Invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to marine
engines, although it is preferred in describing the several parts of this Invention
to refer to such improvements as belonging to and applicable to the engines of
a steam ship. The said parts of such Invention relate,-
First, to surface condensation and the mode of constructing such condensers.
Secondly, to arrangements for supplying the water due to waste of steam,
which occurs in the passage from the boiler through the engine to the surface
condenser.
Thirdly, to the arrangement and application of steam jacketings, available

page_text: for the purpose, if required, of supplying the necessary fresh water, to mako
good the waste before referred to.
Fourthly, to the arrangement and disposition of auxiliary boiler power, in
connection with the making up the loss of condensed water from waste
of steam; and also for the purpose of working independantly the air jump
or air pumps and the other pumping arrangements for feed, bilge, &c.; and
which said auxiliary boiler power may be also used for supplying steam to
other engines, as hoisting or donkey engines for loading and unshipping cargo
and other purposes.
Fifthly, to a novel arrangement of pump in which the air pump and the
pump for supplying the condensing water are combined in certain relativo
positions in one cylinder or chamber.
Instead of referring to the several parts of this Invention scriatem, I propose
to set forth the nature of my said Invention in a continuous description thereof.
As to surface condensation, or the condensation of steam by its contact with
a cold metallic surface, it is intended to provide for a supply of condensed
steam or fresh water to the boiler generating the steam thus condensed. If
the total quantity of steam generated could be passed through an engine or
engines into one or more metallic surface condensers, the boiler or boilers
generating such steam would receive through the feed pumps a constant and
ample supply of condensed steam or fresh water. It is, however, a well-known
fact that a portion of the steam generated in and passing from a boiler through
an engine into a condenser is wasted and lost before reaching the condenser
by escape through safety valves, leakage in joints, glands, &c., and by pre-
mature condensation in the pipes and engine, and in consequence of this waste
and loss, it is not possible to maintain a sufficient supply of fresh water or
condensed steam, so as to replace in the boiler the total quantity of water
evaporated; therefore it is necessary to supply, from some other source than the
boilers before referred to, an additional amount of fresh water equal to that
wasted and lost by the unavoidable leakage and waste before referred to.
I propose to supply this additional quantity of fresh water required by a
small auxiliary boiler of simple construction, and to feed this boiler with sea
water, or with salt and fresh water combined, adopting the usual method of
blowing out to keep the boiler free from any unsafe deposit of salt. I propose
to use the steam generated in this auxiliary boiler in working an assistant
engine or engines, arranged to work the air and condensing water pumps,
and also, if required, other feed and bilge pumps, and that the exhaust ports
of this assistant engine or engines be in direct communication with the
metallic surface condensers, hereafter described, attached to the engine or
I

page_text: engines that propel the ship, and that the steam used in working the aforesaid
assistant engine or engines be passed into the aforesaid metallic surface con-
densers, and being there condensed thus gives the additional supply of fresh
water required to replace that lost by waste and leakage, before referred to.
I also propose to supply the waste, before referred to, by passing the
steam generated from the auxiliary boiler, before to, through certain steam
jacketings, hereafter more particularly described, and thence direct into the
metallic surface condensers, and thus supplying the additional amount of fresh
water required for the large boilers. With this arrangement I either may, or
may not, use an assistant air pump engine or engines.
In my improved arrangement of metallic surface condensers, I prefer the
current of the condensing water to be forced or drawn by a pump or pumps
several times through different portions of the same condenser, formed with
either vertical or horizontal divisions therein, and thus to effect a moro perfect
condensation of the steam in the said metallic surface condensers. And for
forming a perfect air and steam tight joint where the tubes pass through the
tube plates, I use one or more rings of vulcanized indin-rubber forced over
the ends of the tubes into recesses in the tube plate without glands or
pressure rings or plates, thus providing for the easy removal of any tube for
cleaning or repair, and without injury to the tube plato or the tube so
removed. By these arrangements a perfect system of metallic surface con-
densation having the following advantages is effected:-First, a constant and
ample supply of fresh water to marino boilers; second, utilising a portion or
the whole of the steam generated in the auxiliary boiler for the purpose of
supplying the unavoidable deficit of fresh water caused by leakage, &c.;
third, increased economy from the preservation of marine boilers from much
non-conducting deposit on the plates and tubes by the avoidance of all
blowing-out from the use of water with a lower boiling temperature than salt
water, and from the use of increased pressure of steam and consequently
increased expansion; fourth, increased durability of marino boilers.
My improvements relating to steam jacketings consist, first, of the appli-
cation of steam-tight casings round the internal cylinders and in the covers
of all auxiliary air-pump engines, such casings to be filled with steam either
from the auxiliary or main boilers; secondly, of the application of steam-tight
casings round tho internal cylinders and in the covers of all marine engines
fitted with surface condensers, such casings to be filled with steam from the
auxiliary or main boilers; thirdly, of the application of steam-tight casings
round the steam pipes supplying steam. to the working cylinders of the main
or air-pump engines, such casings to be filled with steum from the auxiliary

page_text: or main boilers, and may be in connection or communication with the con-
denser; fourthly, of supplying from an auxiliary boiler any or or all of the
steam-tight casings just described with steam of a higher pressure than that
in the large or main boilers; all such casings may be in connection or com-
munication with the surface condenser. 1 propose by these arrangements to
preserve the steam passing from the boilers to the engines from premature
condensation.
My improvements in pumps connected with surface condensation consist in
the combination in one double-acting vertical pump of the air pump and the
pump for supplying the condensing water, so that the air and condensed
steam from the surface condenser shall be received into and discharged from
the upper portion of the said double-acting vertical pump, and the cold water
for condensing the steam shall be received into and discharged from the
bottom of the said double-acting vertical pump. I prefer to construct my
pumps with a trunk above the piston or bucket, the diameter of which may
be varied, whilst the opposite end of such piston or bucket (the condensing
water portion) presents an uniform area due to the diameter, although I may
in certain cases prefer to use in combination with other parts of this Invention
a piston or bucket having the same area at each end.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a surfaco
condenser constructed with three sets or series of tubes arranged horizontally,
the changes in the direction of the flow of the condensing water being indi-
cated by arrows, the treble passing being effected by the division plate placed
in each chamber, as shewn.
I make no claim for the means of dividing and increasing the length of the
flow or the number of passing of this condensing water back and forward
within the condenser; but my improvement relating to the construction of
surface condensers consists in the mode of securing or fastening the tubes in
the tube plates of such condensers by the employment of one or more vul-
canized or mineralized india-rubber rings or washers applied to the ends of
the tubes, as shewn in Figs. 3 & 4 to an enlarged scale.
In Figs. 1 & 2, a, a, shews the outer case or shell; b, b, the tube plate;
c, the tubes; e, the inlet for the flow of cold condensing water; f, the first
division plate; f, the upper division plate; g, the condensing water outlet ;
h, the inlet water pipe for exhaust from engine; i, the outlet pipe for the
water condensed from the steam which entered the surface condensers by the
inlet h.
Figs. 3 & 4 are enlarged views of a portion of the case or shell a, the
tube plate b, and of the tube c, Fig. 3 being an end view, partly in section,

page_text: taken on the line C, D, of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 being a longitudinal section of a
portion of a tube, and exhibiting the shell or case a and the tube plate bin
section, the tubo plate being bored out and recessed, in manner shewn. The
end of each tube projects through a corresponding hole in the tube plate, &
upon the ends of the tubes and within the recesses I place vulcanized india-
rubber washers, collars, or rings. In Fig. 4 three washers are shewn,
although one deep collar or any other number of washers, collars, or rings
may be employed. The vulcanized washers or rings are of a suitably small
diameter to grip the tube firmly, or when the tube is in its correct and
final position the india-rubber washers are forced by a proper tool over the
ends of the tube into the recesses in the tube plate, so as to press against
the inner end thereof, and thus perfectly close or seal the tubes in the tube
plates.
Fig. 5 exhibits a general plan of a pair of overhead cylinder engines for
driving a scrow propeller, which engines exhaust into a surface condenser;
and it also shews the disposition of the main boilers, as also the main steam
pipes, one of which is shewn in section with its steam casing or jacket, which
is intended to be connected with the surface condenser, and also exhibits the
improved surface condenser with the various exhaust steam pipes and jackets
connected; it also exhibits the combination of the auxiliary boiler applied to
working independent air-pump engines (either like thoso shewn in Figs. 6
& 7 or of any other form), which air-pump engines are shewn exhausting into
the surface condenser. This auxiliary boiler is also shewn as connected to
the steam jacket surrounding one of the main cylinders (the other being
supposed to be connected in like manner), the steam from such auxiliary
boiler, after having passed through the jacketings to the cylinders, pipes,
and other parts of the engine, escapes or is exhausted into the surface
condenser. The general arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is intended to combine
as much as possible of my improvements in one viow, and is subject to modi-
fication and to only partial adoption, although it comprehends the fullest
possible employment of surface condensation combined with steam jacketing.
and a form of independent air pump engine. In the Figures no letters of
reference are employed, nor are they necessary, as the several parts and their
connection are described upon the Drawing.
Fig. 6 exhibits a side clevation chiefly in section, Fig. 7 a transverse
sectional elevation of an arrangement of independent direct-acting overhead
steam cylinder air pump engine, combining the steam jacketing for the
cylinders arranged according to this Invention, and as hereafter more par-
ticularly described and illustrated by Fig. 8; it also exhibits the combined air

page_text: pump and condensing water pump, which in Fig. 6 is shewn with the bottom
or condensing water side of piston of the full area due to the diameter of the
pump cylinder, whilst the top or air pump side is an annular ring formed by
the piston rod being of large diameter and solid or a hollow trunk of suitably
large diameter. The arrangement of valves shewn are that which I consider
the best and simplest for this description of pump, and the arrangement of
valve boxes one above the other, and projecting from one side of the pump
cylinder, admits of ready access to the valves, &c.
In Fig. 7 a vertical section of a pair of combined direct-acting inverted
steam cylinders are shewn, working two combined air and condensing water
pumps direct from the piston rod ends; one pump is shewn with unequal
areas on the opposite sides of piston, whilst in the other pump the areas are
practically the same, the latter pump being, so far as relates to the piston, of
the ordinary construction. A small fly wheel is shewn fitted on to the short
crank shaft and between the two pumps, whilst two small pump barrels, which
may be used for feed or bilge purposes, are worked by eccentrics.
The steam cylinders of these steam pumps are shewn in Figs. 6 & 7 as being
jacketed according to my Invention, and are constructed in the manner shewn
in Fig. 8, where one half of a propelling engine cylinder is shewn in section
to a scale of 3 in. to a foot; the steam spaces formed around the cylinder and in
the cylinder covers and ends are connected by means of suitable pipes with the
auxiliary boiler, but where no auxiliary boiler is used with the main boiler or
boilers, and the said steam and the condensed water from these as well as
from the jacketings of the large steam cylinders, and from the jacketings of the
steam pipes, are or may be directed into the surface condenser for the purpose
of making up the loss of fresh water in the main boilers.
Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of half the diameter of a steam engine
cylinder, shewing the top and bottom ends thereof, the middle part of such
cylinder being broken off. The cylinder is overhead and inverted, with the
bottom cover cast on, it being chambered or cored out for a steam space, the
outer case or jacket and the bottom case being cast in one, as will be seen,
whilst the cylinder in which the piston works is cast separate, being an open-
ended cylinder, as shewn in Drawing, so that when bored internally and faced
and turned externally on the flanches it is dropped from above (if vertical)
into its place within the outer shell or jacket, the top and bottom surfaces
of which having been bored out and faced to receive the inner cylinder,
the washers, rings, or flanches of vulcanized india-rubber or other material
are placed between the fitting rings or flanches of the inner cylinder and
the outer shell or jacket. The cylinder cover is made with a projecting

page_text: flange on the inner face, of such a depth that, when it is screwed down steam-
tight on the outer cylinder, it shall by pressing on the inside cylinder keep tho
same in place, and compress or press tightly the elastic or other rings, so as to
make a perfect steam joint between the flanges of the two cylinders. By this
arrangement, when the cylinder cover is removed the inner cylinder can be
taken out for examination or repair without disturbing any other portion of
the machinery. In the a, a, aro the top and bottom plates of a piston;
b, the metallic ring; c, the piston rod; d, a metal bush in bottom end of
cylinder; is an outer jacket or cylinder, the top end being open, whilst the
bottom is cast in and is cored with a steam space f; g is an inner or working
cylinder, the lower fitting ring of which is small enough to pass through the
top end of the outer cylinder or jacket, whilst the upper ring or flanch is large
enough to fit on to the projecting ring cast inside the outer cylinder, and
these being respectively turned and faced, the inner cylinder is dropped into
its place and forms the steam space or chamber f'; and the top end or cover h,
with its cored chamber or steam space f", being brought down on to the end
of the cylinder, is bolted in its place, when the two rings or washers i, i, of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material placed between the fitting
flanches of the inner and outer cylinders thus produce perfectly steam-tight
joints, but allow of the inner or wearing cylinder being readily removed and
replaced, whilst the advantage to the founder in casting two or three simple
pieces of work instead of complicated and difficult cored castings will bo
apparent, and it also more fully insures perfectly sound cylinder castings.
Having described my Invention, and illustrated several parts of the same in
the accompanying Drawing, I wish it to be understood, that, as to the first
part of my said Invention or surface condensers, I make no claim for the
employment of tubes within a metal case, or for the division of such tubes into
several parts or sections by means of division plates or partitions, or for the
purpose of changing the direction of the flow of the condensing water, nor for
the employment of galvanised iron in constructing the outer shell or case of
surface condensers; but what I claim as novel in the construction of surface
condensers constructed with. or composed of tubes is the mode of fitting and
securing the tubes in the tube plates, as herein described.
As to the second and third parts of my said Invention, I claim the employ-
ment of steam and steam jacketings, as described, in connection with surface
condensers for making good the waste, as herein-beforo described, and also for
applying the same to all auxiliary air pump engines.
As to the fourth part of my said Invention, I claim the employment of
auxiliary boilers of any convenient forin or construction, in which salt or

page_text: partially salt water may safely be used in connection with making up the loss
of condensed water from waste steam and other causes, either by direct con-
nection with the surface condenser or by employing the steam generated in the
said boiler to work an independent air pump engine or engines, the steam
from which is afterwards exhausted into a surface condenser for the purpose
before described, or when employed for making up the waste, by passing the
steam generated in the auxiliary boiler direct into steam-tight casings or
jackets in or about the main or the assistant engines, and thence into the
surface condenser.
As to the fifth part of my said Invention, I claim the combination of an
air pump and condensing water pump within the same barrel, when the upper
side of the piston is employed as the air pump, and the lower side as the
condensing water pump for supplying cold water for surface condensation.
I also claim, in connection with surface condensation in marine engines, the
casing or jacketing of the parts of engines, and supplying any or all of the said
jacketings with steam of a higher pressure than that generated in or used
from the main boilers.
I also claim the mode or method herein described of constructing steam-
jacketed cylinders for steam engines, by which the internal or working cylinder
can be dropped into its place from the top or open end of the outer case or
cylinder, and be kept in place and steam tight by the cylinder cover and fitting
rings or washers.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Spencer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOHN FREDERICK SPENCER. (L.s.)
WILLIAM SMITH, C.E.,
10, Salisbury St., Adelphi.