AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING ESCAPE VALVE FOR DRAWING OFF THE CONDENSED Drang AND AMITED VISTO
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Vaughan, of Number 78, Monk's Road,
in the City of Lincoln, Engine Fitter, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING ESCAPE VALVE FOR DRAWING OFF THE CONDENSED
Drang AND AMITED VISTO "
Sealed the 15th December 1871, and dated the 18th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Vaughan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th July 1871.
I, HENRY VAUGHAN, of Number 78, Monks Road, in the City of
Lincoln, Engine Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING ESCAPE VALVE FOR DRAWING OFF THE
CONDENSED FLUIDS FROM STEAM ENGINES, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS," to be as
follows:-

page_text: A pipe is placed at a lower level than the steam pipe, and at the lower
end of the pipe are situated a brass valve and seat.
A screwed cap is
provided which acts as a guide for the valve, and an adjusting screw
is placed under the valve to regulate the same according to the length
of the pipe.
A bend outlet is attached to the apparatus just below the valve seating
to carry away the waste water.
The action of the apparatus is as follows -When steam is in the pipe
the latter expands by reason of the heat which is imparted to the metal
of which it is formed to such a degree as to close the valve. As water is
formed in the steam pipe by the condensation of the steam, it gradually
accumulates and runs into the before-mentioned pipe belonging to the
apparatus, and having risen to a certain height, the pipe will contract,
and will thus open the valve and allow the water to escape as it
accumulates, the water always remaining at the same level in the
pipe according to the adjustment of the screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Vaughan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
VAUGHAN, of Number 78, Monks Road, in the City of Lincoln, Engine
Fitter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Vaughan, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Vaughan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Vaughan, my exe-
cutors, 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 "AN IMPROVED
SELF-ACTING ESCAPE VALVE FOR DRAWING OFF THE CONDENSED FLUIDS FROM STEAM

page_text: ENGINES, PIPES, AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Vaughan, 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 Henry Vaughan, 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, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say :-
My said Invention consists in the construction of an improved self-
acting escape valve or ejector for drawing off condensed fluids from
steam engines of all kinds, including marine, locomotive, traction,
and stationary engines, and also from pipes and other vessels. It is
especially capable of being used advantageously when applied to steam-
jacketed cylinders, steam hammers, pressing cases, and to pipes used
for heating rooms or buildings.
The action of the apparatus is governed by the law of expansion and
contraction of metals by reason of change of temperature, and the
important features of being simple, efficient, and self-acting, whilst it is
not liable to get out of order.
A pipe is placed at a lower level than the steam pipe of the engine
or vessel to which the apparatus is applied, and at the lower end of the
pipe are situated a brass valve and seat. A screwed cap is provided.
which acts as a guide for the valve, and an adjusting screw is placed under
the valve to regulate the same according to the length of the pipe.
A bend outlet is attached to the apparatus just below the valve
seating to carry away the waste water. When steam is in the pipe
the latter expands by reason of the heat which is imparted to the metal
of which it is formed to such a degree as to close the valve. As water
is formed in the steam pipe by the condensation of the steam it gradually
accumulates and runs into the before-mentioned pipe belonging to the
apparatus, and having risen to a certain height, the pipe will contract,
and will thus open the valve and allow the water to escape as it

page_text: accumulates, the latter always remaining at the same level in the
pipe according to the adjustment of the screw.
This apparatus admits of modifications being made in matters of
detail without departing from the principles of my said Invention.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, which represent
the apparatus arranged as and in the form in which I prefer it shall be
constructed, and from which the nature of my said Invention will be
more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the
apparatus.
A is a screw by which the apparatus is connected to the pipe or vessel
to which it is applied; B is a brass globe with a pipe capable of ex-
panding and contracting, and furnished with a valve seat at the lower
end; C is a wrought-iron casing, slotted to admit the air, for the purpose
of keeping it at an uniform temperature; D is a valve which closes
against the end of the pipe B; E is the valve case with the outlet
branch F is the socket for the adjusting screw; G is the gland for
packing; H is the adjusting screw, and I is a hand wheel for adjusting
the valve.
The apparatus having been attached to the pipe or vessel as before
mentioned, and the steam turned on, time should be given for the
pipe B to acquire the full heat of the steam, which will be ascertained
by pure steam issuing from the outlet E. The valve D should then be
screwed up against its seat and secured by means of locking nuts
provided for that purpose.
When once properly set the apparatus does not require any further
adjustment or attention, as it is perfectly self-acting.
When applied to locomotive engines the apparatus may be placed at
an angle of 5° from the horizontal.
An important advantage gained by its application to locomotive and
other steam engines is that it is of great assistance to the lubricators,
absolute freedom from water being at all times ensured, thus giving the
cylinders the full benefit of lubrication, much wear and tear of the
machinery being thus avoided.
Another advantage secured by this apparatus when used in connection
with locomotive, and especially with traction engines, that the great

page_text: noise made by the opening of the cylinder or steam chest cocks at
starting is entirely avoided.
Having thus fully declared and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to
me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the com-
bination and arrangement of parts and mechanism as and for the
purposes substantially herein-before described and set forth, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Vaughan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
HENRY VAUGHAN, (L.S.)