CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS FOR MARINE AND LAND PURPOSES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Jack, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
AND BOILERS FOR MARINE AND LAND PURPOSES."
Sealed the 11th April 1860, and dated the 14th October 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Jack at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th October 1859.
I, JAMES JACK, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS FOR MARINE AND LAND PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in constructing a combined direct-acting compound
steam engine with the addition of extra high-pressure steam cylinders and an
apparatus betwixt the cylinder and condenser for heating the feed water, and
to boilers for burning or preventing the escape of "black smoke" into the
atmosphere, generating high-pressure and superheating the steam; by these,
separately or combined, an increase of power is obtained and a saving in
fuel effected. place in a direct line with the ordinary condensing cylinders,

page_text: one or more smaller cylinders into which are carried lengthened or continued
piston rods from the condensing cylinders, or rods connected to the piston of
the cylinder last mentioned, so that all the pistons move at the same time, or
when the steam at a superheated or high-pressure is admitted to the smaller
cylinders, the pistons in these are moved to the end of the stroke, after which
it is admitted into the larger or condensing cylinders, there acting expansively
and moving the pistons in the same direction; it will be observed I take the
steam from the top of the smaller to the bottom of the larger cylinders and
vice versa." In the passage of the steam from the cylinders (i.e. the large
cylinders) to the condenser I place a chamber or apparatus for holding water,
so divided by round flues or otherwise, that a large surface is exposed to the
action of the steam, thereby raising the temperature of the water for feeding
the boiler and passing the steam into the condenser so that less cold water is
required.
My improved boilers which require to be capable of carrying a high pressure
may be made either horizontal or vertical; the emission of unconsumed gasės
is prevented by having in horizontal boilers at the back of and in vertical
above the furnace or furnaces a contracted space, into which I admit a
sufficient quantity of atmospheric air to cause proper combustion of the gases
evolved from the fuel; in both, the flues are so arranged that they lead to the
highest part of the boiler (without passing outside of the shell) where is affixed,
either as part of the boiler or otherwise, a cylinder or vessel open to the boiler,
and so divided that the flame of the burning gases on their way to the
chimney or funnel superheats the steam to be supplied to the smaller cylinders
as herein-before specified. These improvements are equally applicable to
side lever" and other steam engines at present in use for marine and land
purposes, and the boiler arrangements allow sufficient space inside for cleaning
amongst the flues, thereby admitting the use of salt water at sea.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Jack in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
13th April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
JACK, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord 3

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Jack, Her special license that I, the said James Jack,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Jack, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS FOR MARINE AND LAND PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Jack, 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 James Jack, 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 (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to improvements in and applicable to steam engines
and boilers for marine and land purposes, and consists in constructing con-
densing engines, with the addition of extra high-pressure steam cylinders, and
an apparatus or chamber between the cylinders and condenser for heating the
feed water and lowering the temperature of the steam; and in arranging or
constructing the boilers for burning or preventing the escape of black smoke
into the atmosphere, generating high-pressure, and superheating the steam.
By these improvements, separately or combined, space is economised, an
increase of power is obtained, and a saving in fuel effected. I place in a
direct line, or parallel to a continued line, from the piston rods of the ordinary
condensing cylinders, one or more smaller cylinders, into which are carried
continued piston rods, or rods connected with the pistons of both cylinders, so
that all the pistons move at the same time. Thus, in marine condensing.
engines to which my Invention is more particularly, applicable, I admit steam
at a superheated or high pressure to one side of the pistons in the small
cylinders, and into pockets or chambers constructed therein, so that when the
pistons are moved. about half-stroke, the arrangements of slide valves admit

page_text: the whole or part of the steam contained in the pockets to the corresponding
sides of the pistons in the large cylinders, and move them in the same direction;
the high-pressure or superheated steam thus employed with the remaining
portion of the steam contained in the pockets, if any, is admitted to the
opposite side of the pistons, there acting expansively for the return stroke.
But it is not necessary to have pockets or chambers at all times, and when
these are dispensed with, the steam may be admitted to the corresponding
sides of the pistons in the small and large cylinders, and act by its expansive
force on any or every of the opposite sides of the pistons for the return stroke;
or the steam may act on one side of the pistons in the smaller cylinders, and
by its expansive force on the opposite sides of all the pistons for the return
In short, the pistons of the smaller cylinders may be actuated on
one stroke, and the larger on both, or vice versa, or all may be double-acting,
the steam used in the smaller cylinder acting expansively on at least one side
of the pistons in the larger cylinders. The valves may work on separate rods,
or one rod may be made to actuate the whole; but as these are on the usual
slide principle, they will be readily understood by marine engineers. In the
passage of the steam from the cylinders to the condenser I place one or more
chambers or apparatus for holding water, so divided that a large surface is
exposed to the action of the steam, thereby raising the temperature of the
water which is drawn off for feeding the boilers, and passing the steam into
the condenser, so that less cold water is required.
movement.
My improved boilers, which require to be capable of carrying a high
pressure, may be made horizontal, vertical, or of convenient shape to fit the
hold of a ship. The emission of unconsumed gases is prevented by having in
some boilers at the back of, and in others above the furnace or furnaces, a
space or chamber, into which I admit a sufficient quantity of atmospheric air
to make proper combustion of the gases evolved from the fuel; in all the flues
are so arranged that they lead to the highest part of the boiler, where is affixed
or situated, either as part of the boiler or otherwise, a cylinder, dome, or con-
veniently shaped vessel, open to or communicating with the boiler, and so
divided that the flames of the burning gases on the way to the chimney or
funnel superheats the steam to be supplied to the cylinders, in the manner
herein specified.
My improvements will be more clearly understood reference being had to
the two Sheets of Drawings accompanying this, and to the letters of reference
thereon.
In Sheet No. 1. Fiv. 1 represents a side view of a pair of direct-acting

page_text: condensing marine engines, shewn connected to the screw propeller shaft by
one rod, and illustrating one modification of my improved cylinder arrange-
ments, one engine being in elevation, and the other in section; Fig. 2, a plan
of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section across ship; Fig. 4, a fore-and-aft
section of another modification or double-acting arrangement of cylinders;
Fig. 5, a side elevation of the feed water apparatus; and Fig. 6, a vertical
section of the same. In all these views the same letters of reference represent
the same or equivalent parts.
a, the ordinary condensing cylinders; b, the high-pressure cylinders; c, the
pistons, shewn connected to one rod d, common to the large and small
cylinders; e, slides fastened to the pistons of the large cylinders, and moving
therewith; f, the steam ports; g, the steam pocket or chamber.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the arrangement shewn admits the steam to the under
side of the smaller cylinder b, and into the pocket or chamber g; the steam
in the latter being allowed to escape into the under side of the condensing
cylinder, there acting expansively for the remainder of the up-stroke; the
steam used on the under side of the pistons in the smaller cylinders being
admitted to the opposite sides of the pistons in the larger cylinders, where, by
its expansive force, it is used for the downward or return stroke. In Fig. 4,
the steam is first admitted to the under corresponding sides of the low and high-
pressure cylinders for the up-stroke, and then to the opposite sides, acting
expansively for the return. In this arrangement steam may be alternately
supplied under and above the pistons for both strokes, and in various other
ways similar to "Wolf's" and others; but the great and important advantage
in this arrangement is, being enabled to examine either piston by removing one
cylinder cover; the packing in the stuffing box can be renewed by removing
one piston. In Figs. 5 and 6, h represents the frame of the feed-water
heater; i, the divisions; j, the water space; k, the steam passage; 1, the
steam entrance port; m, the steam exit port; 1, the feed-water entrance; m²,
the feed-water exit.
In Sheet No. 2, Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of an upright tubular
boiler, with my improvements, the superheater being part thereof. Fig. 8, a
longitudinal section of a horizontal boiler, also with my improvements and
superheater as part thereof. Fig. 9, a plan of the superheater as applied
to boilers generally, with part of the cover removed. Fig. 10, also a plan view
of a superheater, with annular cylinders, the top cover being removed.
Fig. 11, another plan view of a superheater, with elliptic flues or tubes; and
Fig. 12, a longitudinal section of a boiler, with horizontal tubes, and having

page_text: seated on the top thereof my superheating chamber or vessel. The letters of
reference in this Sheet represent the same or equivalent parts in all the views.
n shews the tubes or flues in the boiler proper o; p, apertures with regulating
valves q, for admitting air into the chamber r, to maintain and cause proper
combustion of the gases, and which also serve as man-holes for cleaning the
flues or tubes; s, perforated plates, tubes, or bridges, for distributing the air;
t, the superheater, divided by a series of annular cylinders u, elliptic, round,
oblong or other shaped .tubes or flues v, placed at any suitable angle, and
around which the heated gases circulate in the spaces w; x, the bottom of the
funnel or chimney, shewn broken off; y, in Fig. 12, represents a pipe or
passage for the steam from the boiler o to the superheater t. The elliptic
tubes or flues by being made of two sheets of metal, having the necessary set,
rivetted or bolted together at the sides, offer a very large heating surface, and
as they can be fastened to the tube plates by angle irons, are calculated, in
connection with the several parts in these boilers, to give great strength; the
annular or concentric cylinders expose a large heating surface to the action of
heated circulating gases, and this fact makes them, as well as the elliptic tubes;
particularly applicable for superheaters, either placed on the top of the boilers
or heated by separate fires, and arranged at any suitable angle or position in
the casing.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode of
carrying the same into use, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the details laid down in the foregoing in part recited Letters
Patent, as such may be variously modified without departing from the principle
of the same, neither do I confine myself to any particular description or
arrangement of engine for marine and land purposes; but what I claim as my
Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and belief has not been
hitherto used within the realm is,-
Firstly, the application of one or more high-pressure cylinders to every low-
pressure or condensing cylinder in connection with the steam pockets or
chamber g and slides e, substantially as herein described.
Secondly, the application of a chamber or apparatus placed in the exhaust
steam passage between the cylinders and condensers, as herein described, and
for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly, constructing boilers with air passages p, regulating valves q, per-
forated tube plate or bridge s, and chamber », as herein described.
Fourthly, the construction of the elliptic-shaped tubes or flues v, and annular
or concentric cylinders u, for the purposes set forth.

page_text: And lastly, superheating the steam by the same flames that generate it, as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Jack, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
4, Clayton Square, Liverpool.
JAMES JACK. (L.S.)