AN IMPROVED STEAM ENGINE
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
Eve, late of Augusta, Georgia, in the United States of America, but now
residing at Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the sixth year of Ilis
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Eve, His especial licence that I, the said Joseph Eve, my exors,
admiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Eve, my exors,
adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His said Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED STEAM
ENGINE; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me,
the said Joseph Eve, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to
be enrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had had, will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Eve, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Improved Steam
Engine consists of five particulars :—

page_text: 1st, in the application of revolving cones to rotary engines in the manner
herein-after described, for the purpose of compensating any loss by friction,
and in the general arrangement of the various parts of the rotary engine
herein-after described.
2nd, in a steam generator so constructed of tubes that the heat of the
furnace shall cause the water to circulate constantly through the tubes, thereby
preventing the steam from driving the water out of them, by which means
the said tubes are less liable to burn out or become oxidated.
3rd, in an arrangement of one or more revolving cock or cocks, for the pur-
pose of supplying the generator with water, in lieu of the ordinary forcing pump.
4th, in a new safety apparatus, by which the elasticity of steam in boilers
is ascertained by weight directly applied, instead of indirectly, as in the
ordinary steelyard valve.
And, 5th, in such an arrangement of cog-wheels with a compound engine in
such manner that the steam, after having acted as high-pressure, may be used
as low-pressure with greater effect than in any engine now in use.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Joseph Eve,
do hereby describe the manner in which my said Invention is to be performed
by the following mechanical description of the various improvements con-
stituting the same, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon; (that is to say):
!
Sheet First contains three modes of constructing my rotary steam engine.
Fig. presents an end section, Fig. II. a longitudinal section of the said
engine on the simplest manner of construction. The same letters refer to
similar parts in all the Figures. In Sheet the First, a, a, are the cylinder and
cone revolving in contact in opposite directions, the cone having one groove,
and being 1/3d of the diameter of the cylinder, which latter has three wings
or pistons c, c, c, the ends of which, as they revolve, touch the outer case E,
and do not admit any steam to pass. The steam is admitted through pipe F,
acting on the wing c, causes the cylinder to revolve until the said wing passes
the pipe G, where the stratum of steam lodged between each two wings is
allowed to escape. The wing which has thus passed falls into the groove
of the cone, the bottom of which groove it touches in passing, thus allowing
no steam to escape between the said wing c, then passes again by the steam
pipe F, and is acted upon as before described, and so on in rotation. The cylin
der a, which is firmly fixed to its axis b. rests on one side on the outer case E
through which the axis projects; but as there is some friction produced by
the revolution of the said cylinder at its 'two ends touching the outer case, I have
placed a false end h, h, under the opposite end of the cylinder, which false end

page_text: slides on the axis 6 freely, and has a thread cut at the end, by means of which
and the adjusting nut i the cylinder, if worn at the two ends, can be easily
tightened and adjusted. The adjusting nut is confined by the collar K, which
collaris screwed to the outer case. The conical shape of the small runner,
which can likewise be moved upwards or downwards in the outer case, serves
to keep the two convex surfaces of the cylinder and cone in contact, so that no
steam can escape between them. It is obvious, from the conical shape of the
runner, that the longer the engine will be in use the better it will work, and the
more steam-tight it will become. By referring to Fig. III., which presents a
longitudinal view of the conical runner, it will be seen that the grooved is
cut into a seperate piece of metal, which slides by an adjusting screw up and
down in the empty space X, so that when the engine is adjusted the groove,
or the piece of metal into which the said groove is cut, can be moved up and
down so to fit the wings of the cylinder, by means of the adjusting screw O,
as exhibited in this and in Fig. IIII., which latter. Figure presents an end
view of the before-described cone. The dotted lines in the said Figure IV.
shew, the appearance of the sliding piece containing the groove. Letters n, n,
in Fig. II., present two cog-wheels running into each other, attached on the
outside of the engine to the axis of the cylinder and cone, placed there for the
purpose of producing a corresponding revolution of the said cylinder and cone,
causing the groove of the cone to present itself regularly to the wings of the
cylinder. O is a pinion fixed to the other end of the axis, by means of which
auy machinery can be put into motion. Another variety of constituting a
steam engine on my principle is shewn by an end section view in Figure V. and
an external view in Figure VI. This engine has a cylinder with three wings,
and two small conical runners on each side, said conical runners being of the
ame construction as in Fig. 1II., represented with one groove cut into each,
and of one third of the diameter of the cylinder. There are two induction and
two eduction steam pipes. And altho' the engine may be, with the exception
of the addition of one of the conical runners, exactly of the same size as the
one first described, a double quantity of steam is requisite, and twice the
power of the former engine is gained. The steam enters through pipe Fa,
and acts on the wing c, which, after having passed pipe G, where the steam
escapes, falls into the groove d of the lower cone," and appearing at the
induction steam pipe F6 is loaded again with steam pressure, which it dis-
charges at the second induction pipe Gb, and then enters the groove of the
upper cone, after having passed which it is loaded again at the first-mentioned
induction pipe. Letters m, m, m, in Fig. VI, are bridges by which the
spindles b, b, b, of the cylinders and cones are supported. I have represented

page_text: six bridges in the Drawing; but two bridges on each end, and supporting the
three spindles or axis, will answer as well, or any other contrivance to support
them properly. This engine has three cog-wheels, n, n, n, attached to the
three spindles, so as to cause the cylinder and cones to revolve in unison, and,
like the first described engine, a pinion O, on the opposite end of the cylinder.
Fig. VII. shews an end section view, Fig. VIII., a longitudinal section,
Figures XII. and XIII., two external views of an engine which I have_con-
structed upon a different plan, without altering any of the leading principles
of the two engines heretofore described. The same letters already explained
apply likewise to the last-mentioned Figures. The two conical runners in this
engine are of an equal length and diameter. Each has two wings or pistons
attached, and two grooves cut into it; and, in revolving in opposite directions,
the wing of one of runner falls alternately into the groove of the other. The
steam enters by pipe F; and, as the cylinders are running in contact, it cannot
escape between them, but acts upon the two wings in an opposite direction,
and escapes at the eduction pipe G, after the said wings have passed the same.
By reference to Fig. VIII., which represents the longitudinal section, it will
be seen that the two cones have each two false ends, h,h,h,h, sliding freely on
their spindles. The two outer cases E, E, fit over the runners and their
wings exactly. Each of the four false ends has an adjusting nut, by which
the engine is tightened if steam escape, or slackened if it run too tight
Each pair of the false ends where they join have a plate that connects them,
and breaks their joint, so as to prevent escape of steam. This plate p slides
into the groover, cut out of the false ends,as exhibited by Fig. X. and XI.,
the former shewing an end view of the false ends, with the connecting plate
in the middle, the latter, Figure XI., exhibiting a longitudinal view of the said
false ends or bottoms. On these false ends, packing rings Q, Q, Q, which are
confined to the sliding plate, as exhibited in Fig. IX., are placed. These
rings press against the hollow outer case, and prevent any steam escaping by
them. These packing rings are shewn in section in Fig. VIII. It will be
evident that the false ends need not be made true, if the connecting plates and
packing rings, as above described, are adopted; and that the engine, if pro-
vided with moveable false ends, conical runners, and the afore-described con-
necting plates and packing rings, attached as shewn in Figure VIII., cau
always be kept steam-tight, and by use the various parts on which there is
any friction will fit better.
Sheet Second, 5, 6, 7, and 8, exhibit various views of iny said second
particular, and which I call my circulatory tubular steam generator, as also o
uy said third particular, being an arrangement of two revolving cocks to supply

page_text: the waste of water, in lieu of the forcing pump. Fig. V. is a side view, Fig. VI.
a frontview Fig. VIII. a back view of the said generator. The same letters of
reference apply to all the Figures. A is the lower conduit pipe; B, the steam
receiver; c, c, are two pipes, in which the water descends from the steam
receiver to the lower or conduit pipe; dis the dome connected with the steam
receiver, from which dome the steam enters into the steam pipe F and into the
pipe E, which latter leads to the safety apparatus. 9, 9, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, are
ten pipes, which communicate with the lower conduit pipe and the upper
pipe or steam receiver. Fig. VII. presents one of these ten sections in front,
and the manner in which they are formed and bent, and connected with the
two horizontal pipes, which latter are shewn in section in this Figure. hand i
are two valves, the former kept open by its own weight, and the latter floating.
With these two valves every section of pipes is provided, at its two orifices,
where they communicate with the lower conduit and steam receiving pipc.
p is the grate and fire place, over the middle of which the smaller combination
of pipes are placed; o, o, is the ash pit; Q is an end which screws into the
lower conduit pipe, by means of which the same may be cleaned out when
necessary. The number of sections, number of pipes composing each section,
and the manner in which the pipes are bent, are arbitrary. The generator or
boiler is fed with water through the orifice O, in Figure V. Each of the two
horizontal tubes or pipes is shewn as composed of two pieces in my Drawings,
and united by means of their flanges, and bolts and screws. They may, how-
The heat of the furnace will cause the
ever, be cast in one piece of metal.
water to circulate constantly through the tubes, thereby preventing the steam
from driving the water out of them, and by which means they are in a great
degree prevented from burning out or oxidating. My tubes in the sections are
from to inch thick, and 1 and 2 inches diameter. They may be of copper,
iron, or any other metal which is sufficiently strong to bear the pressure. This
pressure will be comparatively small, on account of the small size of the pipes,
although steam of the highest pressure be used. My horizontal pipes are
1 inch thick, and 9 inches diameter; the vertical pipes inch thick, and
14 inches diameter. The valves and i, attached to the orifices of each of
the section pipes, where they cuter into the horizontal tubes, are placed there
in case of a rupture in one of the sections to which they belong, in which
5 case the unbalanced pressure of steam would force the water so rapidly into
the particular scction that was ruptured as to cause the valves to closo,
thereby preventing any waste of steam, and detaching the ruptured section
from the rest of the generator, whereby the engine need not be stopped, but
would only lose so much of its power as the proportion of one section to the

page_text: remaining sound ones would be. The two large vertical as well as the two
large horizontal tubes are imbedded in brickwork, and the sections only are
exposed to the heat of the fire; therefore no steam will be formed or generated
in the former, while the action of the fire will cause the steam and water to
ascend rapidly through the small pipes into the steam receiver, while the water
in the steam receiver, being heavier than the water combined with steam in the
smaller pipes, will descend through the vertical tubes into the lower conduit
tube, thereby causing a continual circulation through all the tubes, great
and small. The steam will of course accumulate at the top, and through the
dome find its way to the steam pipe and safety apparatus. In case the circula-
tion should be too rapid, and to prevent the possibility of the water being
forced into the steam pipe before it descends'again through the vertical pipes,
I have placed a piece of sheet iron perforated with small holes, similar to a
strainer, in the middle of the steam receiver, all across from end to end,shewn
by a line across in the Drawing in Fig. VII. I have given to the small pipes
in the sections the peculiar serpentine form, in order to enable the steam to
rise to the top more rapidly than the water.
My generators or boilers are supplied with water by means of one or more
revolving cocks, to serve in lieu of the forcing pump, as shewn in Sheet Second
Fig. VIII., where two cocks are represented, and which number I prefer.
» is a vessel filled with water, of any convenient shape, one side of which
vessel is near the furnace, so as to keep the water warm. This vessel is
connected with the generator through a tube entering at O, which is shown in
section in the Drawing. This tube has two revolving cocks, K and I, with
a chamber between them, as is shewn by letter m. The cocks are made to
revolve equally by cog wheels 2, gearing into cach other. So if cock / is open
towards the water reservoir, cock I will be closed towards the tube leading
to the generator. The chamber between the cocks will therefore be filled with
water through cock k. By that time cock closes, and Zopens towards the gene-
rator; the water in the chamber will then descend through Ointo the generator
by its own gravity, and its place be occupied in the chamber by steam from the
generator. Cock opens again towards the chamber, and is closed towards
the generator; the steam in the chainber will be condensed by the water now
entering, or escape into the water reservoir . This revolution goes on con-
tinually. If water be presented by cock L to the generator, and the said
generator should be sufficiently full, the water being up to the dotted lines, in
such a case the water will not be received, but remains in the chamber until
part or the whole is wanted, the cocks constantly revolving. By this arrange-
ment the water can be kept constantly at the desired height.

page_text: Fig. 1, 2, 3, and 4, elucidate my improvements in the safety apparatus as
applicable to my tubular circulatory steam generator, or to any other boiler
where high or low pressure steam is generated. Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal
section of the compound tube. a is the piston rod screwed into the piston b,
which piston fits into the cylindrical tube E, screwed or otherwise fixed at its
base into the pipe that connects it with the steam receiver or boiler. o is a
hole perforated through b, to allow the steam to ascend into the hollow
space n above the piston, so that the pressure is equal on both sides, with
the exception of the piston rod, the diameter of which alone is unbalanced.
The piece h, screwed into the upper part of tube e, prevents the steam from.
ascending higher. Another piece 9, 9, having a hollow space on the top, is
screwed into h. Both these pieces have a hole bored in their center length-
ways, of a diameter equal to the piston rod a, and to allow it to work-up and
down. The hollow space i, i, in the middle of the two pieces g and h, is filled
with packing, so as to prevent any escape of steam along the piston rod. The.
hollow space p
at top is filled with oil. k is a basin, with water up to the dotted
line, to keep the upper part cool. The weights with which the safety apparatus.
are intended to be loaded are placed on the collar m.
The hollow tube cas
longitudinal openings, as will be perceived by Fig. III., which presents
an outside front view of the apparatus, and through these openings the steam
escapes whenever the piston b rises. These holes may be of an indefinite.
length and breadth.
A jacket f, represented by Fig. 2, which fits over the.
tube e, and has likewise the same number of longitudinal holes cut through
it, slides over the said tube; and by adjusting this jacket at X, the channel for
the escape steam can be made narrower, according as it may be desirable
to have the piston rod raised more or less. The hollow vessel L, or a vessel of
any other form, slides or is otherwise fixed over the lower part of the appa-
ratus, so as to intercept the steam from incommoding the upper part of it, where
the rod is loaded. The pipe q leads from this hollow vessel L to the steam
condenser, or serves for the escape of steam. Fig. IV. presents an outside
view of the piston. a is the rod already described; c, c, are packing rings, two
on the: :upper side and two on the lower side; these rings press against the
tube e in order to keep it steam tight, so that no steam can escape through
the longitudinal openings; d, d, are two pieces of metal screwed on at the top
and base of the piston, to confine the packing rings.
+
Sheet Third, Figure V., exhibits an elevation of my said compound steam
engine, with the aforesaid arrangement of cog-wheels, constituting my said
5th particular. A is the furuace, containing the steam generator or boiler;
B is the dome on the top of the steam receiver, with the steam pipe C and
.

page_text: safety apparatus M. D is a cock, upon pipe C, through which steam is
admitted to the high-pressure engine E. After having acted upon it, the said
steam passes into the low-pressure engine F, constructed on my principle on a
larger scale, so as to allow the steam to expand, and then act upon it, as
Jow-pressure.
E and F have piuion wheels of an equal pitch, gearing into a
spur wheel G.
These wheels determine the power given to each engine,
by regulating their motion with reference to the power required from each.
The steam finds its escape at Z into the condenser H. The condensed steam
or water runs through pipe I, by its own gravity, towards the two revolving
cocks K, whence it is conveyed back to the feeding pipe in the steam generator.
V. is an engine constructed upon the plan elucidated by Fig. 5 and 6, on
Sheet First, having two induction and twoeduction pipes, which engine serves
as a pump in this particular situation. Pipe W sucks the water from the well
or river, and carries it into the refrigerator. X receives the water in the
refrigerator, and carries it downwards. P is the bellows fanning the fire by
means of a band round the axle Q, connected with two pulleys R and S, or by
any other contrivance. O is the valve and the lever of the bellows, connecting
by rod N with the safety apparatus. T and U are pulleys connected by a
band, to give rotary motion to pump
Vi
but many other contrivances may
be used. Lisa cock which is only opened before the engine is set to work, in
order that the air may be driven out of the pipes and condenser by the steam;
the cock may then be shut, and the engine set to work. Y is a pipe leading
from the safety apparatus to the condenser. Therefore, if an engine be so con-
trived, and the boiler be once filled with water, the same water will answer for
working the engine as long as all the pipes through which the steam and water
circulate are tight, or at any rate the loss of water will be very inconsiderable.
Now whereas I claim as my Invention,-
First, the general arrangement of the rotary engineherein-before described,
and in particular that conical-shaped part which I have called a conical
runner.
2ndly, the particular construction of generators herein-before described.
3rdly, the revolving cocks herein-before described, but only as applied to the
purpose of supplying water to the generator, instead of the ordinary forcing
pump.
4thly, in the new safety apparatus herein-before particularly described.
And, 5thly, in the peculiar arrangement of a compound engine, and the
cog-wheels regulating the high and low pressure, as herein-before described.
And whereas these last-mentioned five parts of my Invention so claimed as
aforesaid are the five particulars alluded to in the former part of this

page_text: Specification, and such five parts so claimed as aforesaid, constituting my
Invention, and being, to the best of my knowledge and belief, entirely new,
and never before used within that part of His said Majesty's United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His said Dominion of
Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, nor in any of His said Colonies and
Plantations abroad; I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the
same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification doth comply
In all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso in the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore I
hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Eve have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand sight hundred and twenty
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.