IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR -A communication from GOVERNING THE ACTION OF THROTTLE VALVES.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue &
Birkbeck, Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
-A communication from
GOVERNING THE ACTION OF THROTTLE VALVES.'
abroad by George Merrill, Treasurer to the Sewing Machine Engine
Company. New York, United States of America.
.
Bealed the 20th January 1874, and dated the 26th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue
at the Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition,
--
on the 26th July 1878.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck,
5. Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
. Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
-
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS, AND. IN APPARATUS FOB
GOVERNING THE ACTION OF THROTTLE VALVES," to be as follows:—
The first part of this Invention relates to the combination of the
flues of the boiler, the heads, and the shell in such a manner that the

page_text: flues may be used as chimneys to ordinary coal oil lamps, the object of
this part of my Invention being to use a cheap fuel for generating steam
that requires no replenishing for a considerable time.
The Invention also relates to the combination of the lamp, the boiler,
and the fire-box or stand upon which the boiler rests, so as to bring the
heat from the flame of the lamps in contact with the flues and heating
surface of the boiler in such manner as to utilize the greatest amount
of heat, and have perfect combustion in burning the oil.
The heads or ends of the boiler are fastened in the ends of the shell by
rivets, or in any other suitable manner, the flues placed vertically inside
the shell passing through and fastened to the heads. The safety valve
is similar to the safety valves of ordinary steam boilers, except that the
valve lever is so arranged as to be readily removed from the valve by
withdrawing a small pin, and-swinging it to one side without disturbing
the spring. Small caps with openings in them are placed at or near the
top of the flues to decrease the size of the top opening of the flues.
A steam cock or throttle regulates the supply of steam to the engine.
The water gauge is a glass tube so connected with the boiler as to show
the height of the water in the boiler by water in the tube. The fire-box
or stand upon which the boiler rests is so arranged that one side of it
forms a door. The lamp, having one or more burners, as the case may
require, is so arranged in connection with the fire-box as to be swung
from under the boiler by opening the door of the stand. This boiler is
adapted to the use of coal oil for fuel burned in the ordinary lamp, using
the flues of the boiler as chimneys to the lamps. The flues are con-
structed in such manner that when gas or a more expensive oil is used,
as well as with coal oil, the heat is utilized to that extend that only a
small quantity of the burning material need be used to generate sufficient
steam for the purposes designed. A sufficient quantity of water is intro-
duced into the boiler at one time to furnish steam to run the machinery,
to which the power is applied, one half of the usual working day or
more, thus doing away with the ordinary pumping apparatus employed
to keep up the necessary supply of water, and therefore relieving the
operator from that attention which such apparatus necessarily requires.
By the use of coal oil burned in the ordinary lamp a constant and
uniform heat is obtained, sufficient fuel being furnished at one time to
last eleven hours or more, and therefore the heating apparatus needs no
attention during running hours.

page_text: To utilize the greatest amount of heat the flues ärë' made of thin sheet
metal, and are stayed or braced upon the inside by rings or their equiva-
lents to resist the required pressure, but they may be made of sufficient
thickness or rigidity to be used without the supporting rings. The
boiler is raised somewhat above the burners of the lamp, and the burners
are incased by a diaphragm in such manner as to form a hot air chamber
under the bottom of the boiler, thus obtaining more heating surface
without interfering with the perfect combustion of the oil, and serving
to protect the lamp from the heat, or it may be placed lower down so
that the flues rest upon the burners similar to the glass chimneys
ordinarily used with the burners. To further aid the combustion of the
oil caps are placed at or near the top of the flues, but the flues may be
made smaller at the top than at the bottom, or a perforated plate or disk
may be placed over the flues, thus accomplishing the same result
without the use of the caps. By attaching the lamp to the door of the
fire-box the lamp may be removed from underneath the boiler by simply
swinging back the door. The water is introduced into the boiler through
the safety valve opening, the valve being removed for this purpose..
By this means all sticking of the safety valve is avoided.
The second part of this Invention relates to the arrangement of
mechanism for actuating and controling a throttle valve by means of a
treadle or lever in such manner that the throttle valve may be operated
by the foot or knee, this part of these improvements being applicable to
sewing machines, lathes, or other mechanism actuated by steam, com-
pressed air, gas, water, or other fluid.
The throtlle valve connected with an engine is provided with a
suitable lever by which it is opened and closed. The treadle of the
sewing of other machine' is attached to the valve lever by'a suitable
connection.
Now by placing the foot on the treadle, and pressing down the toe
part, the throttle is opened, and by pressing down the heal it is closed;
and thus it may be opened, closed, and regulated at the pleasure of the
operator without using the hand. To make this operation more con-

page_text: connection. Or a lever may be so arranged that it may be operated by
an upward pressure of the knee, or it may be pivoted so that a side
pressure of the knee will produce the same result.
A rod and stirrup may be used in connection with the knee lever or
independent of it.
The lever may be used in a similar manner to the machine treadle,
the rod being moved by the hand, and in connection with the foot
arrangement is of great convenience.
Besides the devices already described a pendulum or swinging treadle
may be used, so that by moving the foot to or from the operator, or to
the right or left, the throttle valve may be similarly opened or closed.
A lever to be operated by the foot when arranged for a side pressure
may also be employed. A cord and pulley or its equivalent or a com-
bination of; levers suitably connected other than those described, may be
arranged to bring this operation under the control of the foot or knee,
the particular arrangement of the devices used being a matter of con-
venience.
This apparatus is particularly adapted to sewing machines and small
lathes where the engine is immediately connected with the machine,
and its great advantage is that it brings the motive power completely
under the control of the operator without requiring the use of the hand
in its operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said John Garrett Tongue, Her special
license that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Garrett
Tongue, 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 STEAM BOILERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING THE
ACTION OF THROTTLE VALVES," a communication to me from abroad by
George Merrill, Treasurer to the Sewing Machine Engine Company,
New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 John Garrett Tongue, 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 thereof, that is to say :—
This Invention more especially relates to improvements in the arrange-
ment and construction of steam boilers of the class designed for driving
small engines, and using gas or oil as a fuel, the object being to secure a
complete combustion of the fuel to utilize the greatest practicable amount
of heat, and to secure a cheap, simple, economical, and safe boiler, which
can be set up in any dwelling or other house; and operated without
danger by any person of ordinary intelligence, and the supply of steam
remain under complete and easy control by the operator.
According to another part of these improvements, instead of making
the throttle valve an attachment of the engine, it is directly connected
with and forms an integral part of this improved arrangement of boiler,
inasmuch as in portable motors of this class the steam connections would
otherwise leak or cause inconvenience, and the treadle or its equivalent

page_text: is considered simply as a convenient arrangement of a lever for opening
or closing the throttle.
In order that others may readily understand and carry out my.
improvements, I will proceed to describe their construction and
operation.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a boiler, in which
all the improvements herein claimed are embodied; Figure 2 represents
a vertical central section through the same; Figure 3, a plan of the
boiler; Figure 4, a horizontal section through the line Z, Z, of Figure 2;
Figure 5, a similar section through the fire-box on line X, X, with the
door and lamp swung open.
Figures 6 and 7 represent side elevations of two sewing machine
stands, the operating machine and throttle valve governing the supply
of steam from the boiler.
Figure 8 shows another modification of operating levers with helical
spring used to close the throttle valve, and a portion of the attached
boiler, which is not shown in Figures 7 and 6.
The shell A of the boiler may be made of any sheet metal, the heads
or flue plates B, B, being preferably formed of malleable cast iron,
through which pass the flues c, c¹, c³, c³, properly secured to the heads.
As the pressure exerted by boilers of this class is not great, and as it is
desirable to utilize the largest amount of heat practicable, the flues are
usually made of thin sheet copper braced by the internal rings o, o, or
the coiled spiral braces o³, o¹, or their equivalents to prevent danger from
rupture or collapse of the flues when under pressure. These rings or
spiral braces may simply be hand-tight in the flues or fastened into
place as desired. These braces also serve the important purpose of
effectually breaking the column of ascending gases, and together with
the use of the perforated caps 9, 9, or an equivalent contraction of the
upper end of the flues retard the passage of the gases of combustion, and
secure a much larger per-centage of heat than otherwise would be the
case. It is found in practice however that the best results are attained
by constructing the flues slightly conical, as shewn at c¹ in Figures 1
and 2, strengthening them by a continuous spiral brace, and using the
perforated caps g, g, in conjunction.
The boiler base forms a fire-box S (Figure 2) containing the lamp M
and burners N, N, which lamp is usually attached to the swinging

page_text: door m, so that the lamp is swung open with the door, thus affording
easy access to the lamp, and instantly removing the fire from the boiler.
A perforated diaphragm R, R, simply fitting the burners protects the lamp
from being overheated, and forces all the air to pass through the burners,
thus compelling more perfect combustion, and increasing the heat in the
flame chamber formed between the diaphragm R, R, and the bottom of
the boiler. By being placed in close proximity to the flues the burners
do not require any other chimney, which is a great saving in trouble and
expense. A safety valve D of ordinary construction is located on top of
the boiler, and held in position by the lever L, which is pin jointed at e,
and held down at its further end by the spring f, which spring is set to
any desired pressure, and can be "locked" from. interference if desired.
By removing the pin e the lever L may be swung out of position without
interference with the spring f, and the boiler filled through the safety
valve, which dispenses with the use of a feed pipe, and removes the
danger of the safety valve sticking in its seat. The boiler is designed to
contain sufficient water to run half a day or more, while the lamp has a
capacity for oil to burn about eleven hours without replenishing, thus
obviating frequent attention from the operator. As a further pre-
caution against danger the flues are purposely made much weaker than
the shell, so that an undue excess of pressure could only result in a
collapsed flue. A water gauge K indicates the height of water in the
boiler.
In order that the operator may readily control the quantity of steam,
; and the resulting speed of the machinery to be driven, the throttle
valve D (Figures 6, 7, and 8) is closely attached to the boiler (a portion
of which is shewn in Figure 8), and connected by the lever E and link C
to a foot lever or treadle B' by which the throttle is actuated.
Various modifications of mechanism for effecting the same object by
the feet, knees, or hand, or any two conjointly, are-shown in Figures 6,
7, and 8. A spring or weight is preferably used to close the valve
positively whenever the levers are released. If a spring is used it may
be of any desired form, as shown by the spiral spring F in Figure 6, and
the helical spring in Figure 8.
Now by placing the foot on the treadle, and pressing down the toe
part, the throttle is opened, and by pressing down the heel it is closed;
and thus it may be opened, closed, and regulated at the pleasure of the

page_text: operator without using the hand. To make this operation more con-
venient, as well as to insure the positive closing of the throttle valve, the
spring F is used.
The treadle may be entirely separate from the machine stand, the
treadle B' simply resting at one end on the floor, and attached to the
throttle by connection e.
-
In Figure 7 the lever H is so arranged that it may be operated by an
'upward pressure of the knee, or it may be pivoted so that a side pressure
of the knee will produce the same result. Or the rod C and stirrup B³
may be used in connection with the knee, lever, or independent of it.
"
こ
In Figure 8 the lever K is used in a similar manner to the machine
treadle, but the rod L may be moved by the hand, and in connection
with the foot arrangement is of great convenience.
Besides the devices already described a pendulum or swinging treadle
may be used, so that by moving the foot to or from the operator, or to
the right or left, the throttle valve may be similarly opened or closed.
A lever to be operated by the foot when arranged for a side pressure
may also be employed.
A cord and pulley or its equivalent, or a combination of levers suitably
connected other than those shown, may be easily arranged to bring this
operation under the control of the foot or knee, the particular arrange-
ment of the devices used being a matter of convenience. This apparatus
is particularly adapted to sewing machines and small lathes, where the
engine is immediately connected with the machine, and its great advan-
tage is that it brings the motive power completely under the control of
the operater without requiring the use of the hand in its operation.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention, and the
manner of performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim
under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The improved arrangement and combination of the boiler and
fire-box, together with its swinging door, and heated by a lamp or by
gas, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before fully
set forth, and shewn in the Drawing annexed.
Secondly. The improved arrangement and combination of the flues
and braces inside the perforated caps, the safety lever pin jointed for

page_text: removal and inspection, the fire-box, the perforated diaphragm and
burners, acting substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
Thirdly. The improved arrangement and combination of the boiler,
substantially as described, the throttle valve being attached to or com-
bined with the boiler, and actuated by the foot, knee, or by hand levers,
either with or without a self-closing spring or weight, the whole being
arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
-before described and shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four