IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAM OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hughes, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAM OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES.'
22
led the 19th April 1876, and dated the 31st January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hughes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1876.
HENRY HUGHES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester.
TRAM OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to locomotive engines to be used principally on tramways
or on ordinary roads, and consists more particularly in the employment of means,.
as herein after described, of effecting the condensation of the exhaust steam dis-
charged from the cylinders after having performed its duty therein, whereby not
only is such exhaust steam completely condensed, but its caloric is utilized in
heating the feed water, whilst at the same time the noise and inconvenience*
occasioned by the escape of the steam when allowed to pass in an uncondensed, con-,
dition into the atmosphere are entirely obviated.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I provide at any convenient
part of the engine a tank of suitable shape and dimensions for the reception of the
condensing water, and of the water of condensation, which together form the boiler
supply, and the flow of which into the said tank is regulated in the manner herein-
after described. Above this receiving tank at any convenient distance therefrom
there is placed another tank, which contains cold water, and forms the reservoir
whence the condensing water is supplied to a cooler or condenser situate below,
between the cold water tank and the receiving tank containing the feed water.
The cooler or condenser consists of a chamber communicating at its upper end.
with the cold water tank, and at its lower end with suitable pipes or conduits (by
preference passing through the receiving tank) for conducting the exhaust steam
from the cylinders, and with passages leading to the receiving tank.
The communications between the condenser and the cold water tank and exhaust
pipes or conduits are controlled conjointly and simultaneously by means of two
valves mounted in such a manner that the valve of the exhaust pipe shall be lifted.
or opened by the pressure of the exhaust steam, and that when this action takes.
place the valve of the cold water tank shall be also lifted or opened, whereby the
cold water from the tank will be brought into intimate contact with the exhaust'
steam simultaneously admitted into the cooler or condenser, and the complete con
[Price 6d.1

page_text: densation of such exhaust steam will thus be effected. By means of this arrange-
ment the cold water is only supplied to the cooler or condenser when the exhaust
steam is passing, and is admitted thereto in such quantity only as is required. The
variation in the pressure of head of water, and the supply is automatically regulated
by the descent in the level of the column of water above, and the consequent
diminution of pressure to be overcome by the exhaust steam. The mixture of the
condensing water and water of condensation passes through the passages before-
mentioned into the receiving tank below for the supply of-the boiler, and the surplus
may be discharged during the journey or at its close.
According to another mode of carrying out my Invention I regulate the discharge
of the water from the cold water tank by means of a meter arranged in connection
therewith, and operated by a fan driven by the exhaust steam.
Or I cause the
valve for controlling the supply to the boiler to actuate the cold water valve,
whereby a similar result will be obtained. The separate condensing chamber or
cooler may be dispensed with, the lower tank being utilized as a condenser.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
"
the said Henry Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July 1876.
HENRY HUGHES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester. IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAM OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES."
"f
My said Invention relates to. locomotive engines to be used principally on tram-
ways or on ordinary roads, and consists more particularly in the cinployment of
means, as herein-after described, of effecting the condensation of the exhaust steam
discharged from the cylinders after having performed its duty therein, whereby not
only is such exhaust steam completely condensed, but its caloric may be utilized in
heating the feed water, whilst at the same time the noise and inconvenience
occasioned by the escape of the steam when allowed to, pass in an uncondensed con-
dition into the atmosphere are entirely obviated.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
annexed Drawing, which represents a longitudinal section of a portion of a loco-
motive engine adopted for use in tramways, and with my Invention applied thereto
according to one mode of carrying out the same.
b
A is a tank containing cold water; B is a cooler or condenser consisting of a
chamber communicating at its upper end with the cold water tank A, and at its
lower end with suitable pipes or conduits (one of which marked a is shewn in iny
Drawing) for conducting the exhaust steam from the cylinders and with passages
leading to a receiving tank C. The communications between the condenser B and
the cold water tank A and exhaust pipes or conduits a are controlled conjointly and
simultaneously by means of two valves c, d, arranged in such manner that the
valve c of the exhaust pipe a shall be lifted or opened by the pressure of the exhaust
steam, and that when this action takes place the valve d of the cold water tank A
shall be also lifted or opened, whereby the cold water from the tank will be brought
into intimate contact with the exhaust steam simultaneously admitted into the
cooler or condenser B, and the complete condensation of such exhaust steam will
thus be effected. The valves c and d may be mounted on one and the same spindle,
or in any suitable manner, so as to obtain the required simultaneous action, but I
prefer the arrangement shewn in the Drawing, in which the spindle c of the valve d
rests upon the top of the valve_c, a washer of india-rubber being interposed between
the two surfaces. By means of the apparatus herein-before described the cold water
is only supplied to the cooler or condenser B when the exhaust steam, is passing, and
admitted thereto in such quantity only as is required. The variation in the pressure
of the head of water and the supply is automatically regulated by the descent in
the level of the column of water above, and the consequent diminution of pressure to

page_text: be overcome by the exhaust steam. The lift of the valves may be regulated by
means of the adjusting screw f, the stem of which is carried through the tank A,
and is surmounted with a hand wheel g for the facility of turning the same.
The
mixture of the condensing water and water of condensation passes through the
passages b into the receiving tank A for the supply of the boiler, and any surplus
water may be discharged through passages h on to the wheels of the engine, or on to
the rail during the journey or at its close, or I may dispense with the receiving
tank, and discharge the water direct from the condenser on to the wheels of the
engine, or on to the rails through pipes i, i, as shewn by the dotted lines in the
Figure.
According to another mode of carrying out my Invention I regulate the discharge
of the water from the cold water tank A by means of a meter arranged in connection
therewith, and operated by a fan driven by the exhaust steam. The separate .con-
densing chamber or cooler B may be dispensed with, the tank C being utilized as a
condenser.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination in a locomotive engine for the purposes before mentioned
of a cold water tank for containing condensing water, and a receiving tank separate
from the boiler, and into which such condensing water with the exhaust steam or
water of condensation is supplied, the discharge of the condensing water from such
cold water tank being regulated automatically, substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Secondly. The combination with the cold water tank in conjunction or not with
a receiving tank of a condensing or cooling chamber, into which the condensing
water and exhaust steam are simultaneously supplied for the purpose of effecting
the condensation of the latter, the admission of such condensing water and exhaust
steam being regulated automatically, substantially as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The combination with the cold water tank A and condenser B in conjunc-
tion or not with the receiving tank C of the valves c, d, when arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hughes, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, the Eighteeenth day of July, One thousand cight
hundred and seventy-six.
HNY. HUGHES.
(L.S.)