CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR ANY OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, WHICH INVENTION ALSO INCLUDES THE APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SUCH STEAM OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUID
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Stephens Brown, of Number 2, Alex-
andrian Lodge, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, Gentle-
man, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO
BE WORKED BY STEAM OR ANY OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, WHICH INVENTION
ALSO INCLUDES THE APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SUCH STEAM OR OTHER
ELASTIC FLUID."
Sealed the 27th May 1858, and dated the 28th March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Stephens
Brown at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th March 1853.
I, DAVID STEPHENS BROWN, of Number 2, Alexandrian Lodge, Old
Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES
TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR ANY OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, WHICH INVENTION
ALSO INCLUDES THE APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SUCH STEAM OR OTHER
ELASTIC FLUID," to be as follows:-
Confing the said steam or other elastic fluid in air-tight, flexible,
or elastic bags or tubes when used either with or without a cylinder.

page_text: Placing an air-tight, flexible, or clastic bag or sheet in the generating
apparatus or boiler, for the purpose of removing the salt which accu-
mulates therein, and for which purpose the said boiler has also a
chamber and valves, and is placed in an inclined position. Economizing
the steam, &c., by using it expansively, by means of a cylinder divided
into different chambers, having steam, &c., of different degrees of
pressure in each different chamber. Strengthening the boilers &
cylinders by the employment of internal wires, and an external fabric
made of woven wire to hold the parts together. Placing wool or cotton
in the boiler to promote the evaporation, and prevent the small particles
of water escaping with the steam. Reducing the voluity with which
the steam escapes by the interposition of some liquid substance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Stephons Brown, in the Great Seal Patent 1
Office, on the 27th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
DAVID STEPHENS BROWN, of No. 2, Alexandrian Lodge, Old Kent Road,
in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said David Stephens Brown, Her special
licence that I, the said David Stephens Brown, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Stephens
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great a
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR
ANY OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, WHICH INVENTION ALSO INCLUDES THE APPARATUS

page_text: FOR GENERATING SUCH STEAM OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUID," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said David Stephens Brown, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Stephens Brown, do
hereby declare 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, with the aid of the drawings therein
referred to, that is to say:
It consists in confining the said steam or other elastic fluid in an air-
tight, flexible, or elastic bag or tube when used either with or without
a cylinder. Figure 1, in the two copies of the drawings which accom-
pany this specification, exhibits some of the new parts of an engine of
this contrivance; (a) being the cylinder, (b) the piston; (c) (c) (marked
red) are two flexible or elastic bags (which may be made of vulcanized
India-rubber, or cloth impregnated with ordinary India-rubber, if the
heat be not too great,) placed on either side of the piston, and tied
or otherwise joined to the pipes (e) (e); (d) (d) are two piston
rods, by which motion may be given to a crank in the usual manner.
The steam or other elastic fluid is to be let in and out of the
bags alternately through the pipes (e) (e), by means of an arrange-
ment shewn by Figure 2, consisting of the plane surface (a), having
joined to it the two pipes (e) (e), which communicate with the
bags, and has also placed on it, fitting air-tight, the bottomless
box (b), divided into three compartments; the centre compartment (c)
communicates, by means of the flexible or elastic air-tight tube (d),
with the boiler or generating apparatus, and the other two com-
partments (f) and (g), are intended to receive the waste steam
from the bags, and allow it to escape by means of the two
flexible or elastic air-tight tubes (h) (h). The said box is to
have a reciprocating motion communicated to it between the
points (i) (i), from the engine, by means of the rod (), by which

page_text: it is also kept in contact with the plane surface (a) by the aid of
the two pillars (k) (k), in which the rod works; but instead of
this simple arrangement for reversing the action of the steam the
ordinary means used may be employed. As the steam, &c.,
alternately fills the bags the piston will be pushed backwards and
forwards; but as it only acts on it through the bags, such piston need
not fit air-tight in the cylinder, and both it and the cylinder may be
made of wood, and of any shape; each bag should be large enough to
contain a greater amount of steam, &c., thau would fill the cylinder,
in order to prevent any strain upon them. Figure 3, is a modification
of the Invention; (a) is the bag used without the cylinder, and to which
is attached the flexible strap or rope (6), by means of which motion
may be given to a crank, provided it has a fly wheel, by the alternate
collapsing and distending of the bag as the steam is let in and out of it
through the pipe (c), and by means of which pipe it is also affixed to
the frame (). The bag is to be strengthened by being surrounded by
a netting similar to that which covers a balloon, or by another stronger
bag, or one made of strong string, sewing thread, or woven wire. The
bag may be modified by being made in a cylindrical form, having its
two ends or disks of wood or metal, leaving the sides only flexible, like
an accordion or a bellows; one of its ends or disks should be fixed to a
frame or stand, or such disk might itself form the stand, or it may be
dispensed with if the orifice of the pipe which supplies the bag with
steam be made of the same diameter as the bag, and the end of the
bag tied round such pipe; the other end or disk should be free to move,
and to which a rod or strap may be attached, in order to give motion to
a crank as the bag distends and collapses. If the free end be made to
move in a straight line by means of pillars or rods to guide it, the bag
may be employed to push as well as to pull the crank round, and in
that case it would be desirable to make its sides in three parts or layers
of flexible material, the inner and outer ones being for the purpose of
strengthening the middle layer, which middle layer should be air-tight.
Figure 4, is another modification of this Invention; (a) (a), are two
cylinders which slide one into another like the parts of a telescope; (b),
marked red, is the bag placed outside of the cylinders, and fastened air-

page_text: tight to the lower part of the outer cylinder by being tied or otherwise
joined thereto. When the steam or other elastic fluid is drawn out
through the pipe (c), by being condensed or cooled, the bag will collapse,
causing the upper cylinder to slide down into the lower one, which
lower cylinder is fixed to a frame or stand; and by means of the rod (d),
attached to the upper and moveable cylinder, motion may be given to a
crank. If an additional bag, similar to one of those described in Figure
1, be placed in the lower cylinder, the steam, whilst acting through such
additional bag, may be employed to force up as well as to pull down the
upper cylinder. Figure 5, is another modification of the Invention;
the bag (a), (marked red,) being of a semi-spherical form, and placed in
the air-tight globular chamber (6), to which it is joined in the centre,
by being placed between the two parts of which the chamber is com-
posed, as shown in the drawing, and by means of the two rods or straps
(c) and (d), motion may be given to two cranks placed on either side
of the chamber, as the steam, &c., is let in and out through the pipes
(e) (e). The steam may be so condensed or cooled by a condenser in
the ordinary manner, or by allowing it to flow into pipes or chambers
surrounded externally by wet cloths or ice, or that contain sulphuric
acid, dry sand, scorched oatmeal, or other absorbsive substance, which
substances can be used over and over again if taken out of the con-
denser when saturated, and the water, &c., expelled from them by heat;
and if the boiler, and the water in it, as well as the condenser and the
absorbsive substances in it, be freed from air by means of an air-pump,
in the first instance, no pump will afterwards be required for the
condenser; and even the fire which heats the boiler may be dispensed
with if desired, for the force of the vapour in the boiler will be greater
than it is in the condenser, in which latter it would be cooled or absorbed
as aforesaid; and if the boiler were made black, and placed in the sun,
the effect would be still greater. Other liquids may be substituted for
water, such as alcohol, ether, liquid ammonia, liquid carbonic acid, &c.,
&c. The next improvement is for placing an air-tight, flexible, or
elastic bag or sheet in the boiler or generating apparatus, for the
purpose of removing the salt and other solid bodies that accumulate
therein, and for which purpose the boiler, &c., has also a chamber and

page_text: valves, and is placed in an inclined position. Figure 6, represents a
contrivance of this kind; (a) being the boiler, (b) the bag (marked red),
which may be made of vulcanized India-rubber, or, where the heat is
not too great, cloth impregnated with ordinary India-rubber; (c) is the
chamber, (d) and (e) are the valves, and (f) is a rod, one end of which
is attached to the bag, and the other extends outside of the boiler, by
ineans of which the bag may be raised or shaken from time to
time, which will cause the salt, &c., to fall into the chamber (c),
from where it can be removed by closing the valve (d), by means
of the rod (g), and opening the valve (c). The fire may either be
placed under the boiler at (h), or in the tube (i), which passes
through it; (j) is the pipe which conveys the steam to the engine.
Figure 7, is a modification of this contrivanco; (e) being the bag,
having passing through it the metal tube (b), into which tube the fire
is to be placed, and to which the bag is tied or otherwise fastened at
the parts (c) and (d); the external part of the boiler is dispensed
with, and the bag is to be strengthened in the same manner as
described in Figure 3, or by being inclosed in a case or box; (c) is the
pipe which conveys the steam to the engine, but such pipe may be
joined to the tube (b), when such tube occupies a perpendicular
position. The flexible air-tight tube (f), which is closed by being
tied at bottom, is for the purpose of removing the salt, &c.; when full,
it is to be tied at top, where it joins the bag, and untied at bottom!
to allow tho salt to escape. Round the metal tube (), at the parts
(c) and (d), where the bag is tied to it, two small collars should be
placed, made of wood or other non-conducting substance, to prevent
the bag from being injured by the heat. The next improvement is
for economizing steam, &c., by using it expansively, which I do by
dividing a cylinder into two or more parts or chambers, having steam
of different degrees of pressure in the different chambers. Figure 8,
represents a contrivance of this kind; (a) being the said cylinder, and
(b) (c) and (d) the different chambers. The engine is a rotary one,
where the steam acts by simple emission; the pipe (e) supplies it
with steam, &c., and also serves as one of the axles on which the
cylinder is to revolve; (/) being the other axle. Supposing the steam

page_text: when brought into the chamber (b) to have a pressure of three pounds
on the square inch, it will, when allowed to flow into the chamber (c)
from the chamber (b) by means of one or more bent tubes, as repre-
sented by the letters (g), Figures 8, and 9, have a tendency to cause
the cylinder to revolve; and, supposing again, when the steam has
arrived in the chamber (c) it is at a pressure of two pounds on the
inch, it will, when allowed to escape therefrom into the chamber (d),
give another impetus to the revolution of the cylinder; and, again,
supposing that the steam when it arrives in the chamber (d) to be at
a pressure of one pound on the inch, it will, when escaping from this
Jast chamber into the atmosphere, give a still further impetus to the
revolution of the cylinder. The steam is to be kept at the different
degrees of pressure in the different chambers, by arranging the pipes
(9) which convey it from one chamber into another of different sizes,
according to the pressure required. Figure 9, is an end view of the
cylinder, exhibiting one of its disks, by which the position and shapes
of the tubes (g) are seen, also the direction in which the steam issues
from the chambers, as shown by the dotted lines (h) (h). Supposing
the steam in the boiler to be at a greater pressure than that in the
chamber (b), the pipe (e), after entering such chamber, should be bent
so as to allow the steam to escape in the same direction as it does
through the pipes (9), by which means another impulse might be given
to the revolution of the cylinder. By this means the velocity of the
steam is also reduced in aniount; and it may be still further diminished
by partly filling the chambers with some liquid substance, which may
be prevented from flowing from one chamber into another by placing
in the pipes (9) valves opening only in the direction in which the
steam escapes. The Invention may be modified by making the cy-
linder (a) immovable, and placing in each of the said chambers a
wheel, with vanes similar to a windmill, or screw, against which the
steam should be directed by pipes or orifices as it flows from one
chamber into another. The wheels might be made after the fashion
of horizontal or vertical windmills, and may be all fixed on one axle,
passing through the centre of the cylinder from end to end. In this
modification the employment of the liquid substance before alluded to

page_text: would not be desirable, and in both arrangements the cylinders may
have an increasing diameter towards one end to allow the chambers
to be enlarged in proportion to the expansion of the steam; and the
engines may also be rendered condensing, if a pipe similar to the one
which conveys the steam from the boiler to the first chamber be em-
ployed to convey it from the last one to a condenser. The next
improvement is for strengthening the boilers, cylinders, &c., which
I do by the employment of internal wires to hold the parts together,
and surrounding them with an external cylinder or stocking made of
woven wire. Figure 10, represents a boiler so strengthened, by having
its two ends (a) and (b) held together by the internal wire (c); and
the part (f), marked red, is the outer cylinder of woven wire. This
Figure represents a tubular boiler, in which the water is placed inside
a number of tubes, similar to the one here represented; the tubes are
then to be placed in contact, and arranged in straight lines or ridges,
or in a circle, leaving suflicient space between the ridges or inside the
circle for the fire. By means of the pipe (d) each tubes communicate
with a common pipe that supplies the engine with stram, and by the
pipe (c) they communicate with a common pipe which supplies them
with water. If the diameter of these tubes be not more than a few inches
or less, the metal of which they are made may be so thin as to be
flexible, and may be tied to the ends (a) and (b), or otherwise joined.
If the diameter of the tubes be increased so as to allow a metal tube
to pass through them for the purpose of placing the fire in, as described
in Figure (7), the tubes may be made of vulcanized India-rubber, or
cloth impregnated with ordinary India-rubber, if the heat be not too
great, and strengthened in the same manner as described therein. The
cylinder described in Figure 8, may also be thus strengthened, or by
coiling round its external surface wire or strong sewing. thread in a
spiral manner, and so may also the other cylinders alluded to; and
where it is not convenient to strengthen the ends by means of internal
wires, the wires may be placed outside if two cross pieces are placed
over such ends, and the wires be made to extend from one cross piece
to another, as represented by Figure 11, in which the two ends of the
cylinder (a) are shown to be so strengthened; (b) and (c) being the

page_text: cross pieces, and (d) and (e) the wires or rods. The next improve-
ment consists in placing cotton, wool, or other such absorbsive sub-
stances in the boiler to promote or accelerate the evaporation, and to
prevent the escape of small particles of water with the steam, and
which I do by lining the interior of the boiler with sheeting, or cloth
made of such absorbsive substances, or suspending them in that form,
or in the form of ropes or threads, from the top of the boiler, or placing
them in in a raw state. Where weight is not an object, cylinders of
porous earthenware may be employed for this purpose, and linen,
hemp, flax, or sponge may also be made use of. The particles of the
water are to be prevented from escaping with the steam by tying over
the orifice of the pipe which conveys the steam from the boiler to the
engine some cloth made of cotton or other such like substance. The
pipe which supplies the boiler with water may be prevented from
bursting in frosty weather by inclosing in it a flexible air-tight tube
filled with air, and closed at both ends, as represented by Figure 12;
(a) being the said pipe, and (b) the internal flexible tube, being a
portion of the flexible air-tight bag, before described as being in the
boiler, extended to such pipe.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Stephens Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-three.