Improvements in Steam Boilers applicable for Use in connection with Lawn Mowers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1893-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Boilers applicable for Use in connection
with Lawn Mowers.
1, JAMES SUMNER, of Water Street Works, Leyland, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironfounder and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object to construct a boiler such as will cuable steam
power to be advantageously applied for driving and propelling lawn mowers.
My improved steam boiler when used for this purpose is with a steam engine fixed
directly over the lawn mowing machine and carried or supported on attachments.
affixed to the machine sides, the necessary driving and propelling appliances being
provided.
The boiler is of the vertical type and is more particularly designed for the better
utilization of the heat from the fire box for the better generation of steam in the
boiler and for obtaining dry steam.
For this purpose the boiler is constructed with conically shaped tubes which are
arranged so as to allow of a steam dome being placed on the top or crown of the
boiler. The large or lower ends of these conically shaped tubes are fixed in
the fire box crown and the small or upper ends are fixed in the crown of the boiler.
The steam dome is fixed on the centre of the boiler crown and the small ends of the
conically shaped tubes are arranged in circles around it in order that the heat from
the said tubes in passing to the chimney above may dry the steam within the dome.
and thus conduce to economy.
I use ordinary petroleum or paraffin oil for fuel the oil being carried or contained
in a specially constructed reservoir which surrounds the top of the chimney and as
the latter stands about four feet above the burner in the fire box the oil passes
through the burner under a certain amount of pressure and so causes the burner to
give out a large flame of great heat. The oil is conducted from the reservoir
to the burner through a small tube or pipe carried down the side of the chimney and
the boiler. A valve is provided on the said oil tube for regulating the supply
of oil to the burner and is placed near the point where the said tube or pipe turns
horizontally into the fire box. This valve is actuated by a steam diaphragm which
is fixed to the side of the boiler and is in communication with the interior of the
boiler by means of a steam tube which at its lower end opens into the upper part of
a steam chamber of which the diaphragm forms the lower part. Attached to the
underside of the diaphragm is the upper end of a connecting rod whose lower end
is connected to the oil valve. When the steam in the boiler has attained a given
or pre-arranged working pressure the diaphragm will be forced downwardly and
will close the oil valve and as soon as the pressure begins to fall the diaphragm will
recede upwardly and open the oil valve. By this arrangement the diaphragm
automatically controls the supply of oil to the burner and the intensity of the heat
generated thereby and consequently the steam pressure in the boiler.
The burner is of the type known as the parro naphtha or oil gas burner
I sometimes use more than one burner according to the size of the boiler.
When applying my improved boiler for the purpose indicated I employ with it
an ordinary high pressure steam engine either of the single double or compound
type with a force pump for feeding the boiler and an exhaust feed water heater.
The power
is transmitted from the engine crank shaft to the lawn mower cylinder
and drum shafts by means of pitch chain gearing or by spur or toothed wheel
gearing. The cylinder in which the water for feeding the boiler is contained may

page_text: be conveniently carried between the shafts of the lawn mower.
The steam is
conducted to the engine through a pipe running from the top of the steam dome on
the boiler to the steam chest on the engine cylinder and the steam valve for
regulating the supply of steam to the engine is on the said pipe the handle
for working the said valve being carried through the medium of a rod and lever
close to the hand of the driver.
In the accompanying sectional drawing
box;
11 are the conical boiler tubes tapering from about one and a quarter inches in
diameter at the bottom to about half an inch in diameter at the top; 2 is the fire
3 the interior of the boiler; and 4 the steam dome on the top of the boiler.
5 is the chimney carrying at its upper end the oil reservoir 6. 7 is the oil tube
from the reservoir 6 to the burner 9 and 8 is the oil valve for regulating the oil
supply to the burner. 10 is the steam diaphragm; 11 the steam pipe from boiler
to diaphragm; and 12 a rod connecting the diaphragm 10 to the oil valve 8.
13 13 are attachments or arms for supporting the engine and boiler.
14 is one side
of the lawn mowing machine; 15 the drum or main roller; 16 the cutting cylinder;
and 17 the front roller thereof. 18 18 are chain wheels. 19 is the engine crank
shaft 20 the connecting rod; 21 the piston rod; 22 the engine cylinder; 23 the
steam supply pipe; 24 the steam valve; 25 the valve rod; and 26 the handle for
operating the steam valve 24. 27 is the feed water cylinder and 28 one of the lawn
nowing machine shafts or handles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved construction of vertical steam boiler having conically shaped
tubes arranged as set forth, and a steam dome on the top or crown of the boiler
substantially as hereinabove described and shewn in the drawings for the purpose
specified.
2. Providing and arranging at the top of the chimney of a vertical boiler an oil
reservoir substantially as-hereinabove described and shewn in the drawings for the
purpose specified.
3. The application of a steam diaphragm to regulate the oil supply and the
steam pressure in the boiler in manner substantially as hereinabove described and
shewn in the drawings.
W. Lloyd Wise,
JAMES SUMNER.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.