IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILLIAM SCHWARTZ, of Great St. Helens, in the City of London, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the cleventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry William Schwartz, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Henry William
Schwartz, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
William Schwartz, my exors, adiñors, 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
yend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," communicated to me from abroad; in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Henry William Schwartz,
should cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of

page_text: the said in part 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
Henry William Schwartz, do hereby declare that the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
This Invention consists of a mode of constructing of steam engines so that
steam after having acted on one cylinder may be charged to act more advan-
tageously in a second cylinder.. The high-pressure steam passing through the
pipe A from the boiler is almitted through the slide valve B at its lowest
position, and through the passages C and D, above and below the piston E in
the upper smaller cylinder. In the meantime the slide F cuts off the com-
munication to the larger and lower cylinder. The slides B and F are then
brought into positions, as shewn in the Drawing, and the steam contained below
the small piston escapes into the largo cylinder, whilst the steam contained
above in the small cylinder presses down the piston. The steam suddenly rush-
ing into the large cylinder G impels the piston H downwards, and drives the
air contained below the piston out at the valve I, this valve being closed again
by the outer pressure of air and the spring K. When the large and small
pistons have arrived at their lowest positions, the slide L admitting the out-
ward air below the piston is opened, and the slide F cuts off the communica-
tion between the large and small cylinders, whilst it opens the passage y leading
from the cylinder G to the air pump N. The piston H is now driven upwards
by the force of the atmosphere, and pressing against the rods M communicates
its motion to the beam and to the whole engine. In the meantime the slide B
has passed to its lowest position, and the steam is admitted above and below the
small piston, until the piston arrives at its top stroke, when the former operation
is repeated. The rods M are attached to the plate S, which has a large open-
ing in the middle to allow of the free passage of the steam, and is provided
with two springs T, which have the effect of communicating the motion of the
ascending piston to the rods M with greater regularity. The slide gear is
worked by the lever R, regulated by the cam U. O is the cold-water pump,
P the feed pump, and Q the beam. According to this construction the pressure
of steam is used for the down stroke, and for the up stroke the pressure of the
atmosphere. It has been found from observations upon small and large
experimental engines made according to the Invention have always given the
same clear proof of the astonishing effect of steam acting by sudden impulse

page_text: upon a loose and unconnected piston. Its power, which is scarcely to be cal-
culated, is capable of producing a vacuum greatly surpassing in its effect than
that of the steam used in forming it. It is evident that by this means a very
small quantity of fuel is required in comparison with other engines. The form
and construction of the engine admit of various modifications.
What I claim as the Invention, and wished secured to me by Patent, is, the
constructing of steam engines according to the principle here explained,
whereby motive power is obtained by means of the action of steam and air
upon a loose piston, or a piston not immediately connected to piston rods.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry William Schwartz, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
H. W. (L.s.) SCHWARTZ.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1848, the aforesaid Henry William Schwartz came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.