IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING STEAM. A communication.
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING
STEAM. A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1854.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
5 in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND
UTILIZING STEAM" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of expediting the generation of
steam in tubular boilers, the main object being to render steam power available
for fire engines. For this purpose the water space is formed of a serpentine
tube, which increases in capacity from the inlet to the outlet end, where it is
connected with the steam chamber. This increased capacity is obtained by
constructing the tube of a trumpet form, or gradually increasing diameter or
of portions of different diameters, but each of equal bore throughout, which
tubes must be so arranged that the diameter of the water space shall increase
.

page_text: towards the exit passage; or the like effect is obtained by constructing the
coiled pipe with branches, from which in turn other branches proceed. At the
points where the branches commence division plates are set within the pipe,
for causing the water or steam to ascend in equal proportions, or nearly so, to
each branch. Water is fed to this serpentine tube by a force pump, actuated
by the engine which the boiler is intended to supply with steam, the pistons of
the engine and the pump being on the same rod. The traverse motion of this
piston rod is employed to set a rocking lever in motion, one end of which is
linked to a slotted rod, which slides in guides, and is intended to work the
valve of the engine, which working of the valve forms the second head of this
Invention.
On the axle of the valve, which is by preference conical, a weighted lever is
mounted loosely, and on the end face of the valve projections are formed, for
the lever to strike against, and thereby rock the valve in its seat. The lower
end of this lever projects through the slotted rod, which is actuated by the
piston rod. By the traverse, therefore, of this rod the weighted lever is
thrown either to the right or left, and the steam way is either opened or closed
by the rocking of the valve.
This arrangement permits of the valve remaining stationary, until the piston
is at the point of finishing the stroke, and of then instantly opening up a
passage for the exit of the exhaust steam and the inlet of steam to the other
side of the piston. Elastic check pieces are provided to receive the falling
lever; and to prevent any rebound, a second weight is jointed to the upper
end of the lever, which weight will fall over as the lever attains its lowest
position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st December 1854.
.. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County 3
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, g
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William

page_text: Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING STEAM," being a com-
munication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my band
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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of expediting the generation of
steam in tubular boilers, the main object being to render steam power available
for fire engines. For this purpose the water space is formed of a serpentine
tube, which increases in capacity from the inlet to the outlet end, where it is
connected with the steam chamber. This increased capacity is obtained by con-
structing the tube of a trumpet form, or gradually increasing diameter, or of
portions of different diameters, but each of equal bore throughout, which tubes
must be so arranged that the diameter of the water space shall increase towards
the exit passage; or the like effect is obtained by constructing the coiled pipe
with branches, from which in turn other branches proceed. At the points where
the branches commence division plates are set within the pipe, for causing the
water or steam to ascend in equal proportions, or nearly so, to each branch.
Water is fed to this serpentine tube by a force pump, actuated by the engine
which the boiler is intended to supply with steam, the pistons of the engine
and the pump being on the same rod. The traverse motion of this piston rod
is employed to set a rocking lever in motion, one end of which is linked to
a slotted rod, which slides in guides, and is intended to work the valve.
of the engine, which working of the valve forms the second head of this
Invention.
On the axle of the valve, which is by preference conical, a weighted lever is
mounted loosely, and on the end face of the valve projections formed, for the

page_text: lever to strike against, and thereby rock the valve in its seat. The lower end
of this lever projects through the slotted rod, which is actuated by the piston
rod. By the traverse, therefore, of this rod the weighted lever is thrown
either to the right or left, and the steam way is either opened or closed by
the rocking of the valve.
This arrangement permits of the valve remaining stationary until the piston
is at the point of finishing the stroke, and of then instantly opening up a
passage for the exit of the exhaust steam and the inlet of steam to the other
side of the piston. Elastic check pieces are provided to receive the falling
lever; and to prevent any rebound, a second weight is jointed to the upper
end of the lever, which weight will fall over as the lever attains its lowest
position.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved steam generator, shewing the
outside of the fire-box and cover, with the opening to attach the smoke pipe.
Fig. 2 is the front elevation, with the fire-box removed partly, so as to see
the coil inside. In this instance the object of the Invention is effected by
ndding branch pipes, in which the steam is allowed to expand; but the same
object may be effected, as will be hereafter explained, by employing a steam
pipe of a gradually increasing area.
The first pipe commences at A, where it comes through the fire-box, then
continues back and forth for some distance, then divides into two pipes; after
ascending some distance it subdivides into four pipes, as seen in Fig. 5, or any
other number that may be desired. At the top of the steam chamber of the fire-
box the pipes B, E, B, B, come out, and are attached steam-tight to the steam
box into which they discharge the steam. The little projection cast on the top
of each one of the turns is provided with a hole, for the purpose of passing a
bolt through to fasten the ends to the inside of the fire-box. Fig. 3 is a side
clevation, shewing the side of the coil in the fire-box. Fig. 4 is a section, taken
in the line A, B, of Fig. 3, shewing the pipes as they appear on top. Fig. 5 is
a diagram of the steam pipe drawn out, to show what the pipe would look like
if it were straightened out; this will give a correct idea of the manner in which
it is constructed.
The first portion of the steam pipe is single; it is then divided into two
sections, and afterwards subdivided into four; thus, suppose each section
to be ten feet long, there would be seventy feet of pipe, while it will
be seen that the steam will have only thirty feet to travel, because in the
two last sections it is divided, and passes through both pipes at the same time.
This illustration will serve to explain the true nature of the improvement.
In many cases the steam or water would be likely to pass in undue pro-

page_text: portions into one or other of the branch tubes, and therefore dividers or
splitters C, Fig. 5, of a wedge or other suitable form, are made to extend into
the front, and divided, so as to cause an equal division, or nearly so, of the
steam, and thus make a portion to pass up each branch. These splitters are
placed at each of the branches, so as to turn the steam or water, as indicated
by the arrows in Fig. 5.
A modification of this boiler may be made in the following manner :-
Instead of increasing the capacity of the boiler by means of branch pipes,
this object may be effected by gradually enlarging the tube, or making it of a
trumpet form; or, if found difficult to make the enlargement gradual, it can be
made at intervals, by using tubing of different areas or diameters. The main
object aimed at is to increase the capacity of the boiler from the fire to the
steam receiver, and this constitutes the gist of the Invention, and when this
form of the tube is used the dividers or splitters will not be necessary.
Under this part of the Invention, I claim dividing the coil or coils, com-
mencing with one, then dividing into two, and then subdividing into four or
any other number, as above explained, the coils constituting the boiler, the
water being received at the bottom, and the streams multiplied or the capacity
increased as they ascend. I also claim the use and application of the dividers
or splitters placed at the point where the branches (when used) commence,
for the purpose of causing the steam or water to ascend in equal proportions,
or nearly so, into each branch.
Fig. 6 is a side view of an engine or pump which may be used in connection
with the improved steam generator, above described; Fig. 7 is a transverse
sectional view; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section.
1 is a steam cylinder; 2, the pump; 3, the piston rod; 4, the lower rod for
moving the valve, the lower arm of the tumbling shaft being passed through
a slot in it; 5 represents the standards on which it has its bearings; 6
(Figs. 6 & 9) is a block or knocker for moving the valve and its gear; 8 is the
lower arm of the tumbling shaft or lever for working the valve; 9 is the upper
arm of the same; 10 is the rod connecting the upper arm of the tumbling
shaft 8 to the slotted rod 11, for moving the weighted lever 12, with its lower
end running through the slot of the rod 11; 13 is the segmental space for the
lever 12 to move in before striking the jogs 14. These two jogs 14 are shewn,
in Fig. 6, with the lever 12 laying against the upper edge of the right one and
the lower edge of the left one; 15 is the large ball laying on its resting stud;
16 is the small ball, which is jointed to the top of the arm or lever 12 in such
a manner that it may fall over on either side, according as the lever is moved
to and fro; 17, 17, are the two resting supports or cushions, provided with

page_text: pieces of india-rubber 18, nailed to the wood; 19 is the slotted segment which
guides the lever 12; and 20 (Figures 6 and 7) is the adjustable screw for
tightening the valve; 21 (Fig. 8) represents the flat place in the lower part of
the valve for the exhaust port; 22, 22, (Figures 7 and 8) shew the two cross
ports in the valve; 23 is the port or opening running in along the centre of
the valve to the cross ports; 24 is the steam pipe coming from the steam
generator; 25 is the exhaust port; 26 is the stem of the valve; 30 (in
Fig. 8) shews the rod passing through the cylinder head and pump head;
31 (in Fig. 8) represents a stift arm fastened to this rod, and also connected
to the slotted rod.
By this mode of constructing and working the valves of engines steam will
be economized, and the engine will be made to perform its functions better
than in ordinary engines. It will be seen that the steam cylinder piston and
the pump piston are connected together by their rods, and this arrangement
will be found exceedingly applicable and convenient for fire engines. I claim
under this part of the Invention, the use and application of the double-weighted
lever, having one fixed and one jointed weight, as described, for opening and
closing the valve instantly at the end of each stroke of the piston without a
rebound.
I also claim connecting the slotted rod, or its equivalent, with the valve by
means of the weighted lever, and the jogs on the valves, so as to allow
the valve to remain stationary until the piston is at the point of finishing
the stroke, and then instantly opening and closing the ports by means of the
weighted lever.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)