IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND THEIR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Scott, Engineer, of the "Alpha Works," Isle
"IMPROVEMENTS
of Dogs, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
Sealed the 24th October 1861, and dated the 25th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
April 1861.
1
I, GEORGE SCOTT, Engineer, of the Alpha Works, Isle of Dogs, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND THEIR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
STEAM,' to be as follows:-
The first part of these improvements applies to oscillating engines, and is as
follows: I make the trunion bearings hollow, so as to form a receptacle for
the steam; suitable openings or ports are formed in the bearings for the
purpose of the admission to and withdrawal of the steam from either side of
the piston, thus acting in place of the present ordinary valve faces. The
trunions of the cylinders through which the steam passes from the bearings into
the cylinder in order to work the piston, are fitted with suitable openings or
passages to admit, cut off, or withdraw the steam to & from the cylinder.
The steam may be admitted to or withdrawn from the cylinder by either

page_text: trunion, entering at one trunion & passing off at the other. By this mode the
ordinary valve gear of oscillating engines is rendered unnecessary, and the
mechanism simplified.
The second part of these improvements relates more especially to a large and
efficient method of exposing the exhaust steam of steam engines to the cooling
and therefore condensing action of cold water, and also to the mode of con-
struction, so that cleaning & repairs may be performed with dispatch &
efficiency. This surface condenser consists of a chamber or chambers con-
taining very large areas of surface composed of sheet copper, brass, or other
suitable metal divided into narrow chambers, such chamber or chambers being
appropriated for steam and water. cach space divided by a number of square
corrugated rods of copper, brass, or any other suitable material, thereby
changing the direction of the flow of the condensing water & steam to be
condensed, and also acting as stays to prevent the colapse or bursting of any
sheet composing the chamber or chambers. Each of these chambers are fitted
with proper passages & receptacles for the condensed steam to be returned to
the boiler or boilers as feed water to be again converted into steam. These thin
copper or brass plates, or of whatever suitable material formed, with their corru-
gated divisions, are built up on a suitable metalic plate or plates, & capped or
covered with a corresponding plate or plates, & fitted with iron clamps passing
from the top to the bottom plate or plates, said clamps are fitted with screws
or wedges bearing on the upper plate or plates, whereby the whole mass of
plates are powerfully pressed together, thereby forming steam-tight joints, or a
small hydraulic pump may be used for pressing & retaining the mass of plates
together. By this method of forcing and keeping the joints together the
slacking of the screws or wedges, or the withdrawal of the water from the
hydraulic pump, each sheet forming the divisions of the condenser can be lifted
out, cleaned, repaired, and expeditiously put again together.
The third part of these improvements is a means for saturating highly
superheated steam. This I effect by introducing into the steam pipe, near the
cylinder, a jet or jets, drop. or drops of water, water mixed with oil, tallow, or
other lubricating substance or material in such proportions and at such times
as are most suitable to produce the desired saturation, and so reduce the
temperature.
In the fourth part of these improvements I connect the tubes or pipes of
steam generators, tubes of surface condensers, or any other tubes or pipes
where it is necessary to remove them expeditiously for cleaning, repairing, &
forming a close joint for steam, air, gas, water, or other fluid by means of a
pipe or tube bent in the form of a semicircle, or other suitable portion of a

page_text: circle, or other curve, or angular form; the ends of the tubes or pipes to be
connected have a V formed on the end or ends of them, and the bent pipe or
tube has a corresponding recess turned or formed in the metal surrounding the
orifice into which the V fits, and the circular or bent portion of the connecting
pipe or tube has a hole drilled, so that a bolt may pass throug & through the
pipe or tube, with nuts on the outside of the curved or bent part, which, when
screwed up, tighten the V end of the pipe or tube into the corresponding end
of the bent pipe; or I weld, braze, or screw a collar on the end of the pipe or
tube, V the end, and recess the end of the bend, & pass a strap outside, forked
at each end, which grips the collars and bears by a set screw or bolt on the
bent pipe or tube, thereby bringing the V and the recessed part of the bend
into close contact; or I pass a bolt through a stay which grasps the tubes
back of the collar, and passing through the body of the bend, through a hole'
surrounded by metal, a screw nut, key, or wedge is affixed to its point, by the
action of which the end surfaces are brought into close contact. Instead of
V I use flat, circular, or other curved and corresponding recesses on either the
bent or curved or straight tubes as most suitable, and I do not confine the
employment of these joints to the purposes herein-before described, but apply
them to the junction of other pipes or tubes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SCOTT, Engineer, of the "Alpha Works," Isle of Dogs, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth 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 me,
the said George Scott, Her special licence that I, the said George Scott,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Scott, 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

page_text: STEAM ENGINES AND THEIR APPARATUS
FOR
GENERATING STEAM," upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said George Scott, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 George Scott, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
-
The first part of these improvements applies to oscillating cylinders, and
is as follows:-I make the trunnion bearings hollow, so as to form a receptacle
for the steam. Suitable openings, passages, or ports are formed in the
bearings for the purpose of the admission to and withdrawal of the steam
from either of the sides of the piston so as to reverse the motion, they
thus acting in place of the present ordinary valve faces.
The trunions of
the cylinder, through which the steam passes from the bearings into the
cylinder in order to work the piston, are fitted with suitable ports, openings,
or passages to admit, cut off, or withdraw the steam to and from the cylinder.
The steam may be admitted to, cut off, or withdrawn from the cylinder, and
to and from either side of the piston by either trunion entering at one
trunion and passing off at the other. By this mode the ordinary valve
gear of oscillating cylinders is rendered unnecessary and the mechanism
simplified. The bed plate is made hollow in order to be used as a steam
chest, from whence the steam is admitted to the cylinder through the ports,
openings, or passages in the bearings and trunnions, and in which I place
a valve working over the ports, passages, or openings entering the trunion
bearings, to be acted on by an eccentric cam, the vibrating motion of the
cylinder or other means used to cut off the steam, and thereby use it
expansively in the cylinder.
The second part relates more especially to a new and efficient method of
exposing the exhaust steam from the cylinder to the cooling and condensing
action of cold water or air, and also to the mode of construction of the
condenser, so that cleaning and repairs may be effected with ease, dispatch,
and efficiency. This surface condenser consists of a chamber or chambers
containing large areas of surface, composed of sheet copper, brass, or any
other suitable metal, divided into narrow chambers, such chamber or chambers

page_text: being respectively appropriated for steam and water, each space or chamber
divided by a number of small square corrugated rods or strips of copper,
brass, or any other suitable metal or material, thereby changing the direction
of the flow of the condensing water or air and steam to be condensed, and
also acting as, stays to prevent the colapse or bursting of any sheet or
sheets forming the space or chamber or chambers. Each of these chambers
or spaces are fitted with proper passages and receptacles for the con-
densed steam to be returned to the steam generator or generators, boiler
or boilers, as feed water to be again converted into steam. The thin
copper, brass, or metallic plates, or of whatever suitable material formed,
with their corrugated divisions, are built upon a suitable metallic plate or
plates, and capped or covered with a corresponding plate or plates, and fitted
with iron or other metallic clamps passing from the top to the bottom plate,
these clamps being fitted with screws or wedges bearing on the upper
plate, whereby the whole mass of plates are powerfully pressed together, and
thereby forming steam tight joints, or a small hydraulic pump may be
used for pressing and retaining the mass of plates together. By these
methods of forcing and keeping the joints together, the slacking of the
screws or wedges, or the withdrawal of the water from the hydraulic pump,
each sheet forming the spaces, divisions or chamber of the condenser can
be taken out, cleaned, repaired or renewed, and expeditiously replaced.
For forming this surface condenser, plates placed on their flat sides and
kept with a space between them by distance pieces on the edges of the
plates as they are built up, which are then forced together and retained in
their relative positions and distances from each other by the means above
described.
The third part of these improvements is a means for saturating highly
superheated steam, this I effect by introducing into the steam pipe near
the cylinder or any other suitable place a jet or jets, drop or drops of water,
water mixed with oil, tallow, or other saturating or lubricating substance or
material, in such proportions and at such times as are most suitable to
produce the desired saturation, and reduce the temperature sufficiently to
prevent injury to the slides or other parts of the cylinder.
For this purpose
a vessel containing a supply of the saturating liquor or substance is connected
with a cup, similar to grease cups, and fitted with a stop valve or cock
which is opened as required by an eccentric or other means producing a
vibrating motion.
The last part of my improvements consists of the means of connecting the
tubes or pipes of steam generators; of surface condensers, of hothouses, or any

page_text: other tubes or pipes where it may be necessary to remove them expeditiously
for cleaning, repairing, altering, or substituting new portions for any that may
be injured or worn out, and forming a close joint for steam, air, gas, water, or
other fluids, and which I effect by means of a tube or pipe bent in the form of
a semicircle or other suitable portion of a circle or other curve, or of an
angular form. The ends of the tubes or pipes to be connected have a V formed
on the end of them, and the bent or curved pipe or tube has a corresponding
recess turned or formed in the metal surrounding the orifice, into which
the V fits, and the circular or bent portion of the connecting tube or pipe has
a hole drilled or formed, so that a bolt may pass through the tube or pipe,
with nuts on the outside of the bent or curved part, which, when screwed up,
tightens the V-end of the pipe or tube into the corresponding end of the bent
or curved pipe or tube.
Another manner of joining these pipes is the following:-I recess or taper
the end of the bent or curved pipe or tube, and the end of the other pipe or
tube is fitted to the recess, or tapered to correspond to and form a tight joint;
or I weld, braze, screw, or otherwise fix a collar on the end of the pipe or
tube V, or taper the end, recess or taper the end of the bent or curved pipe or
tube, and pass a strap outside, forked at each end, which grasps the collars,
and bears, by a set screw or bolt, on the bent or curved pipe or tube, thereby
bringing the V recessed or tapered socket, and tapered or recessed end of pipe
or tube, into close contact; or I pass a bolt through a plate which grasps the
pipes or tubes back of the collars, and passing through the body of the bent
or curved tube or pipe through a hole surrounded by metal, the ends or
surfaces are brought into close contact by a screw, nut, key, or wedge at the
exterior end of the bolt. I also groove or recess the end of the bent or curved
pipe or tube, and form a corresponding groove or recess in the corresponding
straight pipe or tube, and insert a ring or any other suitable shaped piece of
soft metal, such as copper, which, when the pipes or tubes are brought and
forced together, forms a tight joint. Instead of V, I use flat, circular, or other
curved projections and corresponding recesses on either the bent or curved
and straight pipes or tubes as I find most suitable, and I use these joints for
other purposes to which they can be applied besides those herein-before
mentioned.
Sheet No. 2, Figure 1" is a sectional plan, in part, of a horizontal oscil-
lating cylinder. A is the steam cylinder; B, piston and rod; C, C', trunions;
D, D', D, D, openings or ports in trunions for the admission and exit of
the steam from the cylinder; E, E¹, part of the bed plate, made hollow to be
used as a steam chest; F, crank; G, bearing for shaft; H, crank shaft;

page_text: K, K¹, K, Ki, ports or passages connected with the ports or passages
D, D¹, D, D. The water supplied to the generator is regulated by a pump,
with two or more plungers working one within the other.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section. A is the cylinder; C, C¹, trunions;
D, D', D, DI, passages or ports; E, E¹, steam chest; F, cone bearings,
made hollow with suitable passages or ports; K, K¹, passages, openings, or
ports for conveying the steam to cylinder; L, L, steam and exhaust pipes;
M, M¹, stop valves for admission of steam or exit of exhaust steam; N.
three-way cock for admission of steam from generator or boiler to cylinder.
Figure 3 is a vertical elevation of steam cylinder. shewing the trunion
and bearing in section. A, cylinder; B, piston rod; C, trunion; D, D', ports
or passages; E, steam chest; F, cone bearing; G. G', ports or passages in
cone bearings; H, grease cock, for lubricating with water, oil, tallow, &c., to
saturate the superheated steam.
Sheet No. 2, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of water tank, in which the
series of plates and distance pieces are placed. A is a section of the sides of
the tank; B, B', B", three of the series of plates and distance pieces between
them; D, D, D", grooves or channels for the admission and exit of water or
air between each; E, clamps; F, tightening screws; G, inlet for uncondensed
steam; H, outlet for condensed steam; I, inlet for condensing medium;
K, overflow; L,,passages for uncondensed steam. (Only a portion of the
plates are lettered, as they are sufficient to illustrate the description.)
Figure 2 is plan of same.
Figure 3b is a different mode of forming the distance pieces from that
represented in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, the same letters referring to corre-
sponding parts.
Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views in part being a sectional elevation
and plan of distance pieces, and plates for the admission and exit of the water
or air used for condensing; D, D', grooves or channels: L, opening through
which the uncondensed steam passes from one series of plates to another.
Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged views in part of sectional elevation and
plan of distance pieces and plates for the admission and exit of the uncon-
densed steam; D, D', grooves or channels; L, opening through which the
uncondensed steam passes from one series of plates to another.
Figure 8 is a corrugated strip placed between the plates in order to direct
the currents of water and steam respectively from a direct course, and thereby
ensure a more perfect condensation of the steam. These corrugated strips
form a support also for each plate while under the pressure required to hold
the apparatus firmly and tightly together,

page_text: Sheet No. 1. Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the arrangement of
the tubes or pipes. A, A¹, A", is a section of the straight tubes; B, steam
receiver; C, cylinder of engine, as fixed to the side of the generator; D,
grate bars and furnace; E, E¹, E", E, E, E, are the tubes or pipes,
surrounded by fire clay tubes or pipes as protectors; F axle mounting two
wheels G, G; H, band fly wheel; I, small pulley; K, perforated plate, through
which passes the smoke and unconsumed gases; L, chimney; M, M³, brick-
work, forming sides of furnace.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. A, A', A", tubes or pipes; B, B',
steam receivers; D, grate bars and furnace; E, tubes or pipes, surrounded by
fire-clay tubes or pipes; F, section of axle; G, wheel; K, perforated plate;
L, chimney; M, brickwork; N, fire door; 0, 0¹, hot air chambers containing
curved or bent tubes or pipes P, P1, P¹¹, P; R, connecting tube or pipe
between tube or pipe and steam receiver: S, S₁, cone joints; T. T¹, T. T
bolts passing through tube or pipe, and bent or curved pipe or tube with nuts
to screw up the joints; V, V', tube for pipe plates; W, feed end of pipe or
tube; X, spiral water diffuser or circulator.
Figure 3 is a section of a mode of joining bent or curved and straight pipes
or tubes together. A, straight tube; P, bent tube; B, B¹, joints; C, C¹,
orifices on either side of bolt; D, bolt and nut; E, plate embracing collar
Fon straight tube or pipe.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of same, showing both tubes connected with
the bend; A, A', tubes; P, bent or curved tube; B, B', joints; D, bolt and
nut; E, plate grasping collars F.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of another way of connecting bent or curved
tubes or pipes and straight ones. A. A¹, straight tubes; P, bent or curved
tubes; B, B, joints; D, D¹, hooked strap with set screw; F, F, collars on
tubes.
Figure 6 is a section of same. A, straight tube or pipe; P, curved or bent
tube; B, B. joints; D, D¹, hooked straps with set screws; F, F, collars on
tubes; G, opening of curved or bent tube or pipe. (Some only of the tubes
and bolts passing through them are lettered).
$5
"
Having declared the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
"the same is to be performed, and particularly described and ascertained it
by the foregoing statement," and illustrated portions of same by plans and
elevations, it must be clearly understood that I do not claim all the separate
parts of these improvements as my Invention, that what I do claim are the
following:-
Using the trunions of oscillating cylinders for the admission and exit c

page_text: steam to the cylinder, and to and from both sides of the piston working in the
cylinder, and making the bed plate hollow so as to serve as a steam chest
whence the steam is supplied to the cylinder through ports, openings, or
passages in the bearings and trunions, and means for using the steam
expansively.
An improved surface condenser, formed of any series of plates by pressing
them, with distance pieces and corrugated strips between them at suitable
distances from each other by means of a hydraulic press, clamps, screws,
wedges, or any other known mechanical power, so that they can be readily
taken asunder, cleaned, repaired, altered, or defective parts removed.
Saturating highly superheated steam by introlucing into the steam pipe at
any suitable place near the cylinder a jet or jets, drop or drops of water, water
mixed with oil, tallow, or other saturating or lubricating material, in such
proportions and at such times as are most suitable, so to reduce the tempera-
ture of superheated steam as to prevent injury to the valves, slides, or any
other part of the engine.
The joining or connecting straight tubes or pipes with a curved or bent
tube or pipe or tubes or pipes by means of V ends fitting into corresponding
recesses, and kept in close contact by bolts on their equivalents, fitted with
suitable nuts, and passing through and through the bends and pipes.
The taper socket and taper end of pipe or tube fitted to and retained in its
place by an iron strap hooking on to collars made on ends of the tube or pipe,
and passing outside of bent or curved pipe or tube, through which strap passes
a set screw acting or bearing on end of curved tube.
The joining or connecting the ends of bent or curved and straight tubes by
bolts passing through the curved pipe, through a hole surrounded by metal,
leaving a passage on either side of the metal, through which the hole for the
bolt is formed, said bolt passing through a plate grasping the back of the
collars fixed to the ends of the straight tube or pipe. (I do not claim as my
Invention the plate grasping the collars at the back.)
The insertion of metalic rings or other suitable form into recesses or recep-
facles in the ends of straight and curved or bent tubes or pipes; these tubes or
pipes being brought into and retained in close contact by means of the bolts,
screws, keys, wedges, or other suitable mechanical equivalents.
The application of a spiral conductor or diffuser, made of metal, earthenware,
or other suitable material, to the circulation of water in tubes, in which water
is used to be evaporated.
The tube protectors made of fire clay or other material.
The plan and mode of constructing portable engines and steam generator,

page_text: as shown in Sheet No. 1, Figures 1 and 2, and the application of the tubes,
curves, fastenings, and all other parts to. steam generators, whether used for
stationary, marine, portable, or traction engines.
It is also to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact forms
of each part I have described, but vary them, provided such variation carries
into effect my said improvements.
I also use these descriptions of joints vice versa, using the V taper end and
hollow taper, &c., on either the straight or bent or curved tube.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Scott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Present,
W. H. KINGSTON.
GEO. SCOTT. (L.S.)