ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ON STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR MAKING TOOLS USEFUL IN MAKING CERTAIN PARTS OF THE SAME
Year: 1813

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WITTY, of the Town of Kingston-upon-Hull, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifth day of June, in the fifty-third year of His reign, did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Witty, His special licence that I, the said Richard Witty, my executors,
adiiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Witty, my exors,
admors, 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, my Invention for "ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR ON STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR MAKING TOOLS USEFUL IN MAKING CERTAIN PARTS
OF THE SAME;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Richard Witty, by an instrument under my hand and seal, parti-
cularly to describe 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 inrolled in
His 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, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Witty, do declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained in
the plan drawn in the margin of these presents, and in the following explana-
tion thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: :
My additional improvements in the construction of steam engines, and for
tools useful in making certain parts of the same, are fully described and ascer-
tained in manner and form following, reference being had to the Drawings in
the margin of these presents, that is to say:-I use a rod or rods, lever or
levers, cranks or a crank, or other means, as herein-after described, to restrain
the piston rod as the cylinder or steam vessel and piston revolve upon an axis
or shaft, or otherwise move or vibrate through any convenient portion of a
circle. The tools are for boring out tapers or hollow frustrums of cones.
Figure 1 is a section of the engine. A is the steam vessel or cylinder fixed
in a fly wheel. P, the piston, with its ring or plate p for securing the pack-
ing down on the opposite side to the side where the piston rod comes through.
a, the stuffing box through which the piston rod works air-tight, having a
metal bottle y fixed into it to contain oil, tallow, or grease, and also a loose
brass ring 9, grooved to allow the grease to circulate round the piston rod
which passes through it, the ring being pressed down with the stuffing to the
middle of the box where the grease enters froni the bottle. b, b, are two
cocks fixed in the hollowed parts of the cylinder lids to occasionally let out
water, air, &c. Dis an axis or shaft upon which the cylinder revolves or
moves, having two semi-circular ducts or channels c, c, cast in it, the ends of
which are plugged up at e, e. Over the two holes marked 1 and 2 is fixed a
cock, in order to communicate steam to both sides of the piston at starting
the engine, commonly called blowing through (see section of blow cock,
Figure 11). The ducts c, c, are made to communicate each with its respec-
tive end of the cylinder by the two side pipes E, E. The axis D is fastened
to the cylinder by screw bolts through the corresponding flanches F, one being
cast upon the cylinder and the other upon the said axis. Another axis or
shaft, having a crank in it at G, is coupled on at H. The axis or shaft thus
continued is supported across the condensing cistern (when condensation is
applied) at I, I. The condenser B and air pump C, with the waste pipe T,
are seen in the section. The short axis K (which is cast upon the cylinder)
is supported by the cranked piece of cast iron L, L, fastened or wedged into
the cast-iron frame g, g, which is cramped down to the stone pillar N.
Figure 2 shews the hanging part of L, L, which faces the cylinder and carries
the axis end K, Figure 1. The brasses are supported in a block O, which is
easily raised by the screw bolt % passing through the upper part P, so as to
adjust it to the wear of the brasses. The neck Q. Figure 1, of the cranked
piece L, L, is turned, smooth, so as to form a fixed axis, and which is placed
exactly half the length of the stroke of the piston from K the axis of the
cylinder. Round this neck, as a centre, the centripial crank or restraining

page_text: rod turns, having brasses fitted in it, and is fitted on the neck in two parts by
screw bolts. The crank or rod is made of a cast-iron shank R, having two
wrought-iron bars or rods i, i, screwed or fastened to it, which, with the cross
barr m, carry a friction wheel n, n, the round part of the cross bar m, passing
through its centre, and through the crutch cap O, on the end of the piston
rod, the other end of the crank or rod being balanced by a weight W, seen in
Figure 3. The cylinder wheel and the centripital crank thus connected, being
moved round, the piston P will slide backward and forward from end to end
in the cylinder, being restrained within its proper orbet by the centripital crank,
the friction wheel running to and fro upon the arm of the fly wheel in which
the cylinder is fixed, as at n, w, w, seen in Figure 3. In that part of the
axis D, Figure 1, which is taper, there are two holes (as capacious, and which
are to answer the same purpose as the valves used in other engines,) perforated
to the two ducts c, c, and the taper works air-tight through a concentric conical
collar S, S, which is stationary, resting upon a projecting arm r, from the
bridge I, the weight of it being sustained by a screw, spring, or other con-
trivance. The concentric collar has also two holes, one communicating with
the steam from the boiler, and the other with the eduction pipe. Figure 4 is
a transverse section of the axis in the collar. The spaces betwixt the holes in
the collar are a little larger than the holes in the axis, so as in a certain posi-
tion just to cover or stop the communication. At each end of the concentric
collar, the inore to secure its working air-tight, there are two stuffing-
boxes, u, u, u, u, Figure 1, filled with hemp and tallow for the axis to work
through. When steam enters at the steam pipe supposed to be joined to one
side of the concentric collar, the hole in the axis then open to it receives and
admits it through the side pipe to the piston, which is thereby propelled to the
other end of the cylinder, its opposite surface being open to the eduction pipe,
the centripital crank restraining the piston rod, and by the friction wheel at
the end of it pressing upon the arm of the fly wheel, causes it to revolve. As
the holes in the axis alternately pass the steam and eduction pipes, each side
of the piston will be alternately pressed by the steam during its motion to the
end of the cylinder. At the moment it arrives there, the centripital crank
and the piston rod being in a line with the two centers Q and K, Figure 1, all
communication with the steam and eduction pipes being cut off, the engine
may be said to be passing centres similar to the state of the crank of a beam
engine when at its vertical position, and by the momentum acquired by the
cylinder and fly wheel a continuous equable rotary motion is obtained, and
the work is driven by the axis D.
Figure 3 is an elevation of 'the engine and the back part of the stone pillar
:

page_text: on a reduced scale (half scale of Figure 1). The same letters denote the same
parts. The fly wheel is made in two pieces and fastened to the cylinder by bolts
at the corresponding flanches v, u, v, v; the rim being bolted together at T, T.
The slide bars w, w, are cast with projections or feet x, x, x, x, x, x, and are
fastened with screws to the arms of the wheel, z. Under these feet pieces of
thin iron may be introduced to keep them up to the wear of the friction wheel n.
Corresponding bars are fixed to the other side of the wheel, with a balance
weight merely to preserve its equilibrium and uniformity. In the section,
Figure 1, the engine is in the situation of passing one of the centres; the
other centre is passed when the piston rod is hanging down; but after it has
moved one quarter of a revolution from that position, the piston rod and cen-
tripital crank make the greatest angle, as seen, Figure 3, where the piston rod
exerts the greatest force upon the wheel.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the engine, having the cylinder varied in. its
proportions, the condensing cistern seen in front of the cylinder and wheel.
The pumps are worked by a little beam G (supported by two columns, one of
which only is seen at J,) and moved by the crank g, connected with the
vibrating rod f; b, the rod which works the air pump; F, the cold water pump;
c, the rod which works the hot-water pump; T, the waste pipe; I, a bridge
which supports the axis of the engine across the condensing cistern.
Figure 6 is a plan of the cistern and pumps. I, I, are the two bridges
going across the cistern, and carry the axis of the engine in the brasses a, a;
b. b, are the feet of the two columns, one of which is seen at J (Figure 5),.
which support the little beam to work the pumps; B, the condenser with the
injection cock at Z; C, the air pump; D, the hot-water pump taking its water
from the bot well E, to supply the boiler; F, the cold water pump; T, the
waste pipe; G, a cylindrical vessel communicating with the head of the cold
water pump. In this vessel is suspended a hollow float H, Figure 5, by a
lever supported by the fulcrum E, connected with a common throttle valve d,
fixed in the steam pipe, which is seen broken off at S. The eduction pipe
bending downwards is seen at Y. The discharge of water from the cold
water pump into the cistern being regulated by a slide or valve at c, Figure 6,
the water in the pump head, and consequently in the vessel G (having com-
munication), will rise when the engine goes fast, and descend when it slackens
speed; and the float H, Figure 5, by its rising and falling contracts or widens
the aperture in the steam pipe, and thus governs the admission of steam. By
this simple contrivance is the power of the engine adapted to the work to
be done..
Figure 7 is a section cutting the cistern and the pumps, the spectator

page_text: supposed to be placed with his back to the fly wheel and cylinder. The same
letters mark the same parts as in the former Figures. This section shews all
the valves of the pumps in their relative situations, except the foot valve
betwixt the condenser and air pump, and it is seen at V, Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a contrivance to be substituted for the centripital crank when
the engine is of large power or has a wide cylinder. It consists of a circle
H, H, fastened to the frame I, I, at a, a, a. The centre of this circle L is
placed at the same distance from the axis of the cylinder as the fulcruum
or centre of the centripital crank would be to produce the same length of
stroke in the piston. K is the axis of the cylinder passing through the inside
of the circle H, H. M, M, is a circular moveable frame with an arm ex-
tending to P. The two friction wheels N, N, are hung in this frame, and
traverse round the circle H, H. At c, c, are two brasses fixed in the frame
M, M, to slide round the rim H, H, to keep the frame steady.
Figure 9 represents an edge view of a fly wheel a, with a cylinder R combined
in.it. The ducted axis K, S, is fastened to it at the corresponding flanches F..
The side pipes are seen at E, E. In this Figure they are made square (see
cross section,. Figure 10,) and the blow cock at 6; the taper part of the axis
is seen without the collar, shewing the two holes at t, t. On each side of the
wheel and cylinder is placed one of these circular frames (described, Figure 8),
supported by the frame I, I, carrying the friction wheel N, N, N, N, all seen
edgewise; four of the bolts, which fasten the circles H, H, are seen at a, a, a, a.
The bolt or bar T, T, joins the ends of the armis P, P, and the piston rod with
its friction wheel now works in the middle of this bolt or bar, which passes
through the centre of the said friction wheel, by which means all lateral pressure
is obviated, and the axes S, S, of the cylinder and wheel being produced on
each side through the excentric circles, they are supported and connected with.
machinery at pleasure.
Figure 12 is a cylinder with side pipes E, E, conical collar and axis,.as
before.. The steam pipe e, with throttle valve i, and eduction pipe o, and the
beam for working the necessary pumps, are seen plainly, in this Figure.
Instead of the cylinder moving quite round, as in the other Figures, it is
made to vibrate through an arc or portion of a circle, its piston rod having
a friction wheel Y, with slide bars for it, to run upon in common with
the other Figures to keep it parallel, and is connected with a crank or equi-
valent contrivance fixed on the axis or shaft V of a common fly wheel D, D.
The axis of the vibrating cylinder is supported by a frame W, W, W.
As the movement by thus vibrating is not original, I do not claim an
exclusive privilege to it, except in the form or construction now described.

page_text: .
The motion of the conical taper being much less than when the cylinder
revolves, it is necessary to make the holes in the axis and concentric collar
much longer extended lengthwise, as seen in the axis, Figure 13, to allow
a sufficient aperture for the steam to pass. The alternations or changes, or the
openings and shuttings, take place when the cylinder is in a vertical position.
In this construction the work to be done by the engine is connected with the
axis V of the fly wheel D, D, either of which may be made to work the pumps
instead of the beam shewn by my Drawing. The engine may be made.
to revolve either way by reversing the communications of the steam and
eduction by valves and corresponding pipes. The tools which I make for
boring out tapers or hollow frustrums of cones, are of various sizes to suit the
different dimensions of the said tapers, although one of these instruments will
bore out several sizes.
Figure 14 is a view of one of these tools or instruments as seen in actual
work. 6 is the spindle or mandrel of a strong lathe with a cylindrical hole in
its centre. A, the tool or instrument having the end a turned true to fit the
hole for the mandrel of the lathe to turn round upon at b. In the other end
of the bar at c is a centre to receive the pivot point of the lathe B. The short
bar m is truly grooved, in which groove is steel cutter x. The two pins or
screws e, e, are moveable through holes in the bar c, a, and are for the purpose
of adjusting the instrument to the taper required. The cutter x is slided
backward and forward at pleasure by the screw n, which advances it up to its
work when boring. If pieces of wood be packed betwixt the straight bar and
the inclined bar, and screwed up tight, the instrument will be less liable to
vibrate when at work. G, G, is a conical collar in its situation when boring,
fixed in the lathe by adjusting screws o, o, through a cast-iron frame H, H,
fixed to the plate I, I, of the mandrel.
Figure 15 is a view of the edge of the instrument, the inclining piece
which carries the cutter x being upwards. a, the pin which worked in the
spindle of the lathe. The instrument may be supported by a rest under the
bar c, d, Figure 14, or the inclined bar m may be supported as most covenient
to the workman.
Although I have described the condensing apparatus, the pumps, and
manner of working them, I conceive other methods of arranging this part of
the engine may be made equally effective, and therefore consider it as arbi-
trary with the engine builder. The engine itself is a complete machine,
without the condensing apparatus, and when made to work by the elastic or
expansive force of steam alone, the axis or shaft is only to be supported on each
side of the cylindar and wheel, which can be done by any simple ordinary

page_text: means, at the option of the engine builder. The cylinder of these engines
may be cased with wood or other non-conductor of heat. By placing two
cylinders at right angles to each other upon the same axis or shaft a double
engine on the plan of Fig. 1, is easily constructed, that is, an engine equable
in its motion without a fly wheel. In the Figures described the axis of the
engine is placed horizontally, yet it may be placed vertically to suit convenient
purposes, and the axis or centres Q and K, Figure 1, may be placed horizon-
tally, or the axis K of the cylinder may be placed above the neck or axis Q,
at pleasure. The cocks b, b, in Figure 1, are not repeated in Figures 3, 5,
9, and 12. I use such metals and materials in the constructing of these
engines as are commonly used for other engines. It may be proper to observe,
that I use such boilers as are common to other engines, except when the high
pressure of steam is used, in which case they must be made proportionably
stronger, and I most approve of globular and cylindrical boilers for this
purpose.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand seal, this Thirtieth
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirteen.