IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES AND PUMPS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Shand, of 245, Blackfriars Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, and Samuel Mason, of the same Place,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM FIRE ENGINES
AND PUMPS."
Sealed the 26th September 1861, and dated the 11th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Shand and Samuel
Mason at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 11th April 1861.
We, JAMES SHAND, of 245, Blackfriars Road, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and SAMUEL MASON, of the same Place, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM FIRE
ENGINES AND PUMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the more perfect construction, simplicity
of arrangement, efficiency, compactness, durability, and reduction in cost of
manufacture of fire engines worked by steam power.
One part of our Invention, consists in the use of an upright conical steami
generator or boiler, formed simply of an external and internal cone, with
an annular space between the internal cone forming both fire box and chimney,
thereby avoiding all flues. We pass the bind axle of the engine through
the boiler by fixing a horizontal annular tube through the body of the boiler
in a suitable position, the said tube forming a water space in connection with
the annular water space of the boiler.

page_text: Another part of our Invention consists in using two or any other number
of single acting steam cylinders in like manner; the fire engine will consist
of two or any other number of single acting pump cylinders or barrels,
placed in the same central line as the steam cylinders, and they may be
placed either vertically or horizontally, or in any other desired position that
may be most suitable to the requirements or particular adaptation of the
fire engine. In the construction of steam fire engines and pumps, according
to our Invention, we prefer that two or any other number of the steam or
water cylinders be cast together in combination with the crank shaft bearings
in one piece or casting, but, if desired, the whole may be made separately
and afterwards fixed together by bolts and nuts or other suitable means.
We connect the steam and water pistons together by four or other suitable
number of rods; these rods form a rigid connection between the steam and
water pistons, and this arrangement at the same time allows the steam and
water pistons to be removed at any time without disturbing or displacing
the cylinders or their covers. This arrangement of rods also allows of the
introduction between them of a crank shaft and connecting rods; the con-
necting rods are connected at one end, either to the steam or water pistons
as is most suitable, the opposite ends of the connecting rods being attached
to the cranks of the crank shaft which passes between the piston rods.
The crank shaft which may be in one or more pieces, may have any number
of cranks upon it, with connecting rods attached to it, corresponding to
the number of cylinders in use; the cranks may be set to any angle which
may be required. The slide valve or valves and the steam and eduction
pipes are formed upon and connected to the covers or ends of the steam
cylinders, the covers and steam chests being one complete casting suitable
to two or other number of cylinders, or they may be made separately if
preferred. The slide valve or valves will be placed at right angles to the
cylinders, either horizontally, vertically, or in any other position, according
to the position of the cylinders. We use metallic pistons and packings for
the steam and water cylinders; the pistons are made of brass or other
suitable metal, and have two concentric rings of cast iron, gun metal, or
steel fitted in any of the methods commonly used and practised in the
manufacture of metallic pistons. The valves of the fire engine are made
of metal, vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitable material, and are so
placed in the passages or communications to and from the cylinders that
access can be had to them without removing or deranging any part of the
machinery. The whole apparatus is secured either vertically, horizontally
or in other desired position to the steam generator or boiler, which thus

page_text: forms the bearing for the support of the steam and fire engine, and the
boiler also supports the framing which carries the axle of the wheels, and
other portions of the carriage, the hose and implement box, the receptaclo
for fuel, and the seats for the firemen.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Shand and Samuel Mason in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
SHAND, of 245, Blackfriars Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, and
SAMUEL MASON, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the, Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Shand and Samuel Mason, Her special licence that we, the
said James Shand and Samuel Mason, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said James Shand and Samuel Mason,
our 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
FIRE ENGINES AND PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said James Shand and Samuel Mason, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 James Shand, on behalf of myself and
the said Samuel Mason, 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 has for its object the more perfect construction, simplicity

page_text: of arrangement, efficiency, compactness, durability, and reduction in cost of
manufacture of fire engines worked by steam power.
One part of our Invention, consists in the use of an upright conical steam
generator or boiler A, as shown at Figures 1 and 2, in the Drawing hereto
annexed, formed simply of an external and internal cone with an annular
space between. The internal conc forms both fire box and chimney, thereby
avoiding all flues. We pass the hind axle B of the carriage through the
boiler A by fixing a horizontal annular tube through the body of the boiler in
a suitable position, the said tube forming a water space in connection with the
annular water space of the boiler.
Another part of our Invention consists in using two or any other number
of single acting steam cylinders C in like manner; the fire engine will consist
of two or any other number of single acting pump cylinders or barrels D,
placed in the same central line as the steam cylinders C, and they may be
placed vertically or horizontally, or in any other desired position that may
be most suitable to the requirements or particular adaptation of the fire
engine. In the construction of steam fire engines and pumps according to
our Invention we prefer that two or any other number of steam and water
cylinders be cast together in combination with the crank shaft bearings I,
as shown at Figures 3 and 4 in the Drawing in one piece or casting, but,
if desired, the whole may be made separately and afterwards fixed together
by bolts and nuts or other suitable means, and in this way we adapt our
Invention to any hand worked pumps or fire engines, or the hand worked
engines of the London fire brigade. We connect the steam and water pistons
together by four or other suitable number of rods E; these rods form a rigid
connection between the steam and water pistons, and this arrangement at
the same time allows the steam and water pistons to be removed at any
time without disturbing or displacing the cylinders or their covers. This
arrangement of rods also allows of the introduction between them of a crank
shaft F and connecting rods H; the connecting rods H are attached at one
end either to the steam or water pistons, as is most suitable, the opposite
ends of the connecting rods H being attached to the cranks of the crank
shaft F which passes between the piston rods E, the crank shaft F, which
may be in one or more pieces, and may have any number of cranks upon it
with connecting rods attached to it, corresponding to the number of cylinders
in use; the cranks may be set to any angle which may be required. The
slide valve or valves G and the steam and eduction pipes are placed upon
and connected to the covers or ends of the steam cylinders C, the covers

page_text: and steam chests being one complete casting, suitable to two or other number
of cylinders, or they may be made separately if preferred. The slide valve
or valves will be placed at right angles to the cylinders either horizontally,
vertically, or in any other position, according to the position of the cylinders.
We use metallic pistons and packings for the steam and water cylinders,
the pistons are made of brass or other suitable metal, and have two concentric
rings of cast iron, gun metal, or steel fitted in any of the methods commonly
used and practised in the manufacture of metallic pistons. The valves of
the fire engine are made of metal, vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitable
material, and are so placed in the passages or communications to and from
the cylinders that access can be bad to them without removing or deranging
any part of the machinery. The whole apparatus may be fixed either
vertically, horizontally, or in any other desired position to the steam generator
or boiler, which thus forms the bearing for the support of the steam and fire
engine, and the boiler is supported by the framing which carries the axle
of the wheels and other portion of the carriage K, the hose and implement
box L, the receptacle for fuel, and the seats for the firemen.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Shand, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
JAMES SHAND. (L.S.)