MODES OF CONDUCTING STEAM, AND LIKEWISE OF GENERATING STEAM, WHEREBY GREAT ADVANTAGES WOULD ARISE IN THE SAVING OF FUEL BY APPLYING OF THOSE NEW INVENTED PRINCIPLES TO STEAM ENGINES OR OTHER MACHINES THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROPERTIES, WHICH INVENTION WOULD PROVE OF THE GREATEST UTILITY TO THE PUBLIC
Year: 1793

page_text: DALE'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DALE, of Leominster, in the County of Hereford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by His
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighteenth day of April, in the thirty-third year of His
reign, give and grant unto me, the said John Dale, His special licence, full
power, sole privilege, and authority, that I, the said John Dale, during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon
Tweed, my Invention of "MODES OF CONDUCTING STEAM, AND LIKEWISE OF
GENERATING STEAM, WHEREBY GREAT ADVANTAGES WOULD ARISE IN THE SAVING OF
FUEL BY APPLYING OF THOSE NEW INVENTED PRINCIPLES TO STEAM ENGINES OR OTHER
MACHINES THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROPERTIES, WHICH INVENTION WOULD PROVE OF THE
GREATEST UTILITY TO THE PUBLIC ;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said John Dale, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, to particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and cause the same
to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within three calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in
and by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, may more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
John Dale, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained by the plan hereunto annexed and as follows (that is to say) :—
My new Invention consists in employing the clastic power of steam to make
a given measure or a cylinder full of the said steam to enter the cylinders or
steam vessels, one after another, any number of them, and to press the pistons,
or whatever may be used instead of them, a certain number of times either
against a vacuum made in the cylindrical or other cavity on the contrary side
of the said pistons and during the time of the stroke, or against a constant
vacuum on the other side the pistons, or against the counteracting pressure of
air or steam contained in the said cylindrical cavity on the other side the said
pistons. In applying the steam according to these principles I employ any
number of the cylinders or steam vessels. These I call my first, second, third.
fourth, or fifth cylinders or steam vessels, or the sixth, seventh, or eighth c, t, to
the greatest number of cylinders employed, and are so called from the order in
which they receive the said measure or the cylinder full of steam to be
employed in that cylinder for giving additional power to the engine.
In these cases I employ three, four, five, or six, or any other number to ten
or twenty cylinders, or any greater number of these cylinders or steam vessels;
and with respect to the comparative dimensions of the cylinders, the precedent
and succedent cylinders are in many cases of such proportions in their relative
bulk that the dimensions of the succedent cylinders will exceed that of the
next precedent cylinder two, three, or six or twelve times, or a greater number
of times; or the precedent and next succedent cylinders may in some cases be
employed of an equal bulk; and in other cases, with some of the cylinders, the
precedent can be made to exceed the next succelent cylinder in its dimensions,
and they may be employed of any intermediate proportion that can be taken
between the aforesaid proportions of the cylinders' dimensions. For applying the
steam in the first case the said steam is conveyed from the boiler or vessel in
which it is generated, and made to enter the first cylinder or steam vessel, and
it there presses the piston with its whole force against a vacuum that is made
on the other side of the said piston, and in some cases against expanded steam
that is contained on the other side the piston, and which has a consider-
ably less degree of elastic power than that which makes the stroke by its
pressure on the contrary side of the piston. When this first cylinder is filled
with steam, and the piston is arrived at the end of his stroke, I shut off the
communication between the said first cylinder and the boiler, and open a com-
munication between the first and second cylinders, and this steam is then con-

page_text: ducted into the second cylinder and is dilated, and presses the second cylinder
piston with the whole force that arrives from its elastic power against a vacuum
or a considerably dilated steam on the other side of the said piston; at the
same time there is opened a communication between the cylindrical or other
cavities separated by the piston in the first cylinder, and thereby an equal
pressure of steam is made on both sides the said piston, and therefore this
piston returns back in equilibrio at the time that the second cylinder piston is
making his stroke, and when the said stroke is compleated, and likewise the
first cylinder piston returned back by the steam balance, I shut off the com-
munication between the first and second cylinders and that between the two
cylindrical cavities made separate by the piston in the first cylinder, and again
open the communication between the boiler and the first cylinder for repeating
the aforesaid process. At the same time a communication is opened between
the second and third cylinders, and this steam is then conducted into the third
cylinder and is further dilated, and presses the third cylinder piston, by means
of its elastic power, against a vacuum or a much expanded steam on the
other side of the said third cylinder piston. The said expanded steami on the
other side the said piston is that which remains at the return of the piston
from making the aforesaid equal pressure of steam on both sides the pistons,
which steam, instead of being condensed, is admitted into the succeeding
cylinders or into the next cylinder except one, and again presses the pistons
against a vacuum or a more dilated steam on the other side the piston; but
it is this small part only of the steam which is condensed for making the
vacuum in the cylinders after the piston in cach cylinder has made his stroke
and has returned back again, in case the pistons are pressed against a vacuum.
And in case they are pressed against the expanded steam no condensation will
be made to precede the stroke of the piston in those cylinders, and this may be
the case with only some few of the cylinders, or the condensation may not be
made in any of the said cylinders excepting in the last cylinder and preceding
the stroke in that cylinder, but in all these cases much the greatest part of the
steam will remain uncondensed till the last cylinder piston has made his stroke.
To peruse the process further with additional cylinders, I open, a communica-
tion between the cylindrical or other cavities separated by the piston in the
second cylinder, and thereby make an equal pressure of steam on both sides
the said piston, and by this means the said second cylinder piston returns back
in equilibrio or by the steam balance, and this return will he made whilst the
third cylinder piston is making his stroke; and when this stroke is completed,
and the said return of the other piston is made by the said steam balance, I
shut off the communication between the second and third cylinders and that

page_text: which is between the cylindrical cavities, separated by the piston in the second
cylinder, and again open the communication between the first and second
cylinders for repeating the process; and at the same time a communication is
opened between the third and fourth cylinders. This steam is then conducted
into the fourth cylinder and is still further dilated, and presses the fourth cylinder
piston, by its elastic power, against a vacuum made on the other side of the said
piston, and at the same time there is opened a communication between the cylin
drical or other cavities separated by the piston in the third cylinder, and thereby
admits the steam to produce an equilibrio or steam balance, whilst the third cylin-
der piston returns back again; both pistons or all of them being arrived at the
end, I shutt off the communication between the third and fourth cylinders and
that between the cylindrical cavities in the third cylinder, and again open a
communication between the second and third cylinders. In order to repeat the
process, a communication is at the same time opened between the fourth and
fifth cylinders; the said steam is then conducted into the fourth cylinder, and is
greatly dilated, and presses the fifth cylinder piston, by its elastic power, against a
vacuum that is made on the contrary side of the piston, and there is opened a
communication between the cylindrical cavities separated by the piston in the
fourth cylinder, and hence the fifth cylinder piston returns back in equilibrio,
whilst the fifth cylinder piston is making his stroke, which said stroke being
completed, I shutt off the communication between the fourth and fifth cylin
ders, and likewise the communication between the cylindrical cavities made by
the piston in the fourth cylinder, and again open the communication between
the third and fourth cylinders for the purpose of repenting the process. And
in case a greater number of cylinders aro employed, the process may be
further continued by opening a communication between the precedent and the
next succedent cylinders; the said steam is then conducted into the said
succedent cylinder, and is dilated and presses the said succedent cylinder piston,
by its elastic power, against a vacuum, and in some cases against steam that
is greatly expanded, and at the same time to open a communication between
the cylindrical (or other) cavities separated by the piston in the said precedent
cylinder, and thereby make an equal pressure of steam on both sides the said
piston, by which means it returns back in equilibrio, and afterwards, by
shutting off the communication between the aforesaid precedent and nex
succedent cylinders, and likewise the communication between the cylindrica
cavities separated by the piston in the said precedent cylinder; and the mode
of the operation above described may be continued to any number of cylinder
by proceeding in a repetition of the said process till the stroke is compleated in
the last cylinder. I then open a communication between the cylindrical cavi

page_text: tics separated by the piston in the said last cylinder, and hence there will be
an equal pressure of the greatly dilated steam, or in other cases a vacuum on
both sides the said piston, and therefore the said Inst cylinder piston will
return back in equilibrio, and the steam contained in this cylinder (or the
whole of the steam admitted from the boiler into the first cylinder at each
stroke) is condensed each time the said last cylinder piston makes his stroke.
The steam will expand to a further repetition of the process, and a further, or
until the said steam becomes too far dilated or expanded, and its elastic power
so much diminished as to produce very little additional power to the engine, if
continued, to repeat its action in the cylinders. On letting out the steam from
a preceding, and into the next succeding cylinder, it expands to fill the cylin-
drical cavities left by the pistons in both cylinders; it acquires the same degree
of density (very nearly) in the succeeding as that which it has at the same
time in the preceding cylinder, and expands during the time that tho piston is
making his stroke (excepting in the first cylinder), and with the above process
the steam will fill both the preceding and the succeeding cylinders as soon as
the pistons are arrived at the end of their stroke. But with those cases, for
which I shall next describe the process, this steam will fill only the succeding
cylinder at the time that the pistons are arrived at the end of their stroke.
Secondly, in the next case of applying the steam upon this principle, there is a
communication opened between the boiler and the first cylinder, and the steam
enters the said first cylinder and presses the piston with its full force either against
a constant vacuum on the other side of the piston or against air or steam in
this same cylindrical cavity on the other (or contrary) side of the said piston.
When this first cylinder piston is arrived at the end of his stroke, I shutt off the
communication between the first cylinder and the boiler, and open a communi-
cation between the first and second cylinders, and the steam from the first
enters the second cylinder, and is dilated and presses the second cylinder piston
with the whole force that arises from its elastic power against a constant
vacuum, or in other cases against air or steam on the other side of the said
piston, and whilst the second cylinder piston is making his stroke, as above
said, the first cylinder pistou returns back by the pressure of the said air or
steam on the other side the piston; and in the case wherein a constant vacuum
is used (instead of the said air or steam), the said piston returns back by means
of its being mechanically connected with the second cylinder piston, as I have
more fully explained in the foregoing cases that relates to the pressure of steam
against air or steam, and in other cases against a constant vacuum on the other
side the piston; the second cylinder piston having completed his stroke, and
the first cylinder piston returned back, I shutt off the communication between

page_text: the first and second cylinders, and again open the communication between the
boiler and the first cylinder for repeating the foregoing process. At the same
time, a communication is opened between the second (or precedent) cylinder
and the third or next succedent cylinder, and this steam is then conducted into
the third or succedent cylinder, and is further dilated and presses the piston by
means of its elastic power, against a constant vacuum, or in the other cases
against air or steam on the other side of the said piston, and this process may
be continued as with the above to any greater number of cylinders, and in
some cases I employ two or more cylinders upon the first of these principles,
or that method which produces an equilibrio for the piston whilst it is returning
back, and the other cylinders upon the second principle. The water or other
heavy fluids may be employed with these kinds of cugines for communicating
the steams pressure to the pistons, and also the force upon the pistons to some
other part of the engine, and likewise by observing the above description of
the process for these principles which employ (as aforesaid) any number of the
cylinders or steam vessels. In many cases, with this third principle which
employs many cylinders, there is only a small part of the steam condensed at
cach stroke of the piston to make each of the said pistons press against a
vacuum, yet by far the greatest part of the steam may remain, and can be
employed over and over again. This is in case a constant vacuum is not em-
ployed with each cylinder, whereas with other methods of applying the steam,
tho said steam employed for making the stroke is wholly condensed (and dis-
charged from the cylinder) immediately after the return of the piston back again,
if not before the said return is finished. In each of these cases upon these
principles, each or all of the cylinders (or steam vessels) may be placed at a
convenient distance from each other, or they may be firmly fixed and closely
joined or fitted to the sides or ends of each other, and in some other cases
those said cylinders (or steam vessels) are immerged in a vessel or in vessels of
water or other kind of fluid. The whole power of these engines, or the force
against the whole number of the pistons in all the cylinders, is connected by
means of rods only, or with those and direction or guide rods, or with those
and levers or wheels and teeth or chains or other mechanical means of com-
bining or uniting the force that is employed against each of the said pistons.
With my mode of generating steam, the hot water employed in producing the
said steam is very forcibly injected against the upper part, on the inside of the
vessels wherein the steam is generated; the vessel (which may be made of
copper, or other metallic substances) being near a red heat, and in a number
of small jets made by the force of compresst air, a forcing pump being furnished
with an air vessel and a loaded valve, that the said water, when injected, may

page_text: wts the Connectin
Rod, Pis the Rod that is united at one end by a moveable Joint to the Piston Ko
and is always nearly perpendicular, and at the other end by a moveable Joint to
the Connecting Rod, and to the Direction Rod Dis this Direction Rod FF are two
Friction wheels likewise (See Fig 4) (In Fig 2) CC is the Cylinder Pis the Piston BE
the Valve Boxes VVV the Valves.0.0. are openings for the Steam to pass in and
out of the Boxes, or to and fro from the Cylinder. TT is a very thin conical Shell
that receives the jets of Water that are employed in condensing the Steam.
Wis a
Pipe to carry off the hot Water A is a small Pipe through which the Air and
uncondensed Steam are discharged. E is a Valve through which the said Air
and hot Water are forced out when the Piston descends to the bottom
fixed to the Piston to fill up the Cavity where the Steam is condensed
Injection Tube made to take in and out readily by having the two Bevel parts
turned and ground like a Valve. The Cold Water injection is made in this Tube
by means of the same forcing Pump that serves for feeding the Boiler with hot water and
raising the said Water, one end serving for the Cold Water and is furnished
with a loaded Valve and Air Vessels, and the other end serving for the hot
Water, for this Purpose the Piston is made longer than the Stroke. In order to
equalize the Power by a mechanical method I employ a bended
Fis a Piece
I, is the
with three
or three Pair, or Sets of Connecting and Guide or Direction Rods for this Purpose only
This Mechanism is seen in Fig 1. and that Proportion serves in case the Steam is
dilated in that Cylinder, into six times the. space it occupies in the preceeding Cy-
Tinder For opening and shutting off the Communications as mentioned in all
the foregoing Cases upon the above Principles. Iusually employ Valves and Valve
Boxes that from the Mode of constructing them will always have an equal press-
ure from the Steam in two contrary Directions and consequently they will be mo-
ved with the greatest ease when loaded with the whole Pressure of the Steam.
the said Valves are opened and shut in many cases by means of a revolving Mo
tion for this and the method of condensing the Steam and discharging the air
with other vapour that remains uncondensed/See Fig 2) |