IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS USED THEREWITH
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Loftus Perkins and William Wallington Harris, both of
Seaford Street, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS USED THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Loftus Perkins and William
Wallington Harris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
January 1880.
LOFTUS PERKINS and WILLIAM WALLINGTON HARRIS, both of Seaford Street, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS USED
THEREWITH."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to one of us No. 507, in the
year 1877, was described means of opening and closing valves used for controlling
the admission and escape of steam from the cylinders of steam engines whenever
lifting valves were used for this purpose. Each valve was lifted from and lowered
on to its seat by means of a rod passed up through a stuffing box into the steam
passage below the valve. The rod had a positive upward and downward motion
given to it, and moved away from the valve when the valve was resting on
its seat.
When such valves were used by us for controlling the admission and escape of
steam to and from the low pressure cylinder of the engines described in that
Specification the space occupied by the four valves and valve passages requisite for
its control was considerable.
To allow of lifting valves being used for controlling the admission and escape of
steam to and from the low pressure cylinder of this engine and to the cylinders of
other engines without the space occupied by the valves and valve gear being too
great we now place the steam and exhaust valves used for controlling the passage of
steam to and from each end of the cylinder in valve chambers vertically one above
the other. The exhaust valve is arranged to be the lower one, it slides up and
down on a tubular guide which projects up into the lower valve chamber, and is

page_text: raised and opened by a tube which passes up through the tubular guide on which the
valve works. The upper valve, which is the steam valve, is opened by a rod which
passes up through the centre of the tube that opens the exhaust valve.
Each valve seat we make of the form of a hollow truncated cone closed at the
top, and with an opening or openings formed as rings all around it. The valve is
formed of a solid ring or rings to cover these openings. At the top of the valve is
a central collar, from which pass radial arms which serve to hold the collar and
rings together, and it is upon this collar that the lifting tube or rod acts to raise
and open the valve. The valve rings are formed with inclined valve faces at top
and bottom to fit on corresponding valve faces at the top and bottom of the
openings in the valve seat. Each solid ring of the valve is also arched outwards
so as when lifted to give a free passage of steam to the openings in the valve seat.
The valve chambers containing the valves for controlling the passage of steam to
and from one end of the cylinder, we place side by side with the chambers
containing the valves for the other end of the cylinder.
The two rods for opening the two admission valves we couple to the opposite
ends of a lever, to which a rocking motion is given by a link motion and eccentrics
on the main shaft.
The two tubes for opening the two exhaust valves have each a pair of horizontal
arms standing out from them, between which is a block free to slide to and fro
along the arms. A pin carried by an arm descending from a rock shaft works in
the block, and as the shaft rocks to and fro raises and lowers the tube, and, as
described in the Specification before mentioned, lifts the tube slowly until it
commences to lift the valve and then quickly completes its lifting motion, the
reverse taking place on the closing of the valve. The two rock shafts receive their
rocking motion by other arms upon them, being coupled to one slide, moved to and
fro by a link motion and eccentrics.
In order to avoid loss of steam or water at the stuffing boxes through which the
piston and valve rods, and pump rods or plungers of the steam engine work, and to
avoid the necessity of having the packing of the gland pressed heavily against the
rods or plungers we place around the rod or plunger in the centre of the packing a
ring of metal having a groove or channel all around its exterior. A hole is formed
through the outer case of the gland opening into the space formed by this groove
or channel, and to this hole is fitted a small pipe which is led to the condenser;
thus any steam which may pass the inner portion of the packing of the gland will
be led away to the condenser and its escape from the engine prevented. Similarly
when metallic packing rings are used in the glands a central space in the packing
may be connected with the condenser. When the condenser is formed with tubes
exposed to the air in place of having the steam admitted to the interior of these
tubes, as heretofore, we form each tube with its ends closed and in its interior a
vacuum, with the exception of a small quantity of water or other volatile liquid.
The tubes we stand vertically with their lower ends passing down through the top
of the condenser, and their upper ends exposed to the air. The lower ends of the
tubes may stand and fit into thin hollow thimbles, which descend from the top of
the condenser into its interior, or other means may be adopted for preventing
When the boilers for
escape of steam from the condenser where the tubes enter it.
supplying steam to the engines have to be worked at very high pressures and have
consequently to be formed of numerous comparatively small tubes with branch
water way connections to couple the tubes one to the other, we form each of such
connections in two parts, one with a screw thread cut on it from end to end to
screw into a hole in one tube, the other with a similar screw thread cut on it
externally at one end only to screw into a hole in the next tube. The other end
of this part of the connection we form with an enlargement or head, which has an
internal thread cut in it to screw on to the end of the first mentioned part of the
connection.
When the parts of the connection have been screwed into the tubes and to one

page_text: another the joints are made tight by caulking or closing in metal around the
external screw threads of the two parts of the connection.
The assemblage of tubes forming the boiler we enclose as heretofore in a casing
packed with non-conducting material, and we form in this casing a compartment
in which is a coil or assemblage of pipes, through which the feed water is forced by
the feed pumps of the engine before it enters the lower part of the boiler.
The products of combustion from the boiler furnace are led through this
compartment before being allowed to escape to the chimney and so heat the feed
water.
The compartment may be at the top or side of the casing.
The water gauges of the boilers are ordinarily made with a draw off cock at the
bottom; we place the draw off cock at the top, so that whenever the cock is opened
water is swept past the glass or mica front of the gauge and serves to clean it,
whereas, if the cock is at the bottom, the glass or mica is swept only with steam,
and the glass or mica becomes gradually obscured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Loftus Perkins and William Wallington Harris in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th July 1880.
LOFTUS PERKINS and WILLIAM WALLINGTON HARRIS, both of Seaford Street, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS USED
THEREWITH."
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to one of us, No. 507, in the
year 1877, was described means of opening and closing valves used for controlling
the admission and escape of steam from the cylinders of steam engines whenever
lifting valves were used for this purpose. Each valve was lifted from and lowered
on to its seat by means of a rod passed up through a stuffing box into the steam
passage below the valve.
The rod had a positive upward and downward motion
given to it, and moved away from the valve when the valve was resting on
its seat.
When such valves were used by us for controlling the admission and escape of
steam to and from the low pressure cylinder of the engine described in that
Specification, the space occupied by the four valves and valve passages requisite
for its control was considerable.
To allow of lifting valves being used for controlling the admission and escape
of steam to and from the low pressure cylinder of this engine, and to the cylinders
of other engines without the space occupied by the valves and valve gear being too
great, we now place the steam and exhaust valves used for controlling the passage
of steam to and from each end of the cylinder in valve chambers vertically one
above the other. The exhaust valve is arranged to be the lower one; it is raised
and opened by a tube which passes up through the tubular centre of the valve
seat. The upper valve, which is the steam valve, is opened by a rod which passes
up through the centre of the tube that opens the exhaust valve.
Each valve seat we make of the form of a hollow truncated cone, closed at the
top and with an opening or openings formed as rings all around it. The valve is
formed of a solid ring or rings to cover these openings. At the top of the valve
is a central collar from which pass radial arms which serve to hold the collar and
rings together, and it is upon this collar that the lifting tube or rod acts to raise
and open the valve. The valve rings are formed with inclined valve faces at top
and bottom to fit on corresponding valve faces at the top and bottom of the
openings in the valve seat. Each solid ring of the valve is also arched outwards
so as when lifted to give a free passage of steam to the openings in the valve
seat. The valve chambers containing the valves for controlling the passage of
steam to and from one end of the cylinder, we place side by side with the chambers
containing the valves for the other end of the cylinder.
Figure 1 is a section shewing two pairs of lifting valves, arranged as above
described, for admitting steam to and allowing it to escape from both ends of the
cylinder of a steam engine; Figure 2 is a section taken at right angles to the
section, Figure 1, through the pair of valves for admitting steam to and allowing
it to escape from the lower end of the cylinder. These Figures shew the valves
applied to the low pressure cylinder of a steam engine constructed as described in
the Specification above mentioned; but, as before stated, similar valve apparatus
may be used for admitting steam to and allowing it to escape from the cylinders of
other engines.
A is the inlet valve for admitting steam to the upper end of the cylinder, and B
the exhaust valve for this end; C is the inlet valve for the lower end of the
cylinder, and D the exhaust valve. These valves are in separate chambers A¹, B',
C¹, D¹. The inlet valves A, C, rest on valve seats A³, C³, which stand up from
plates forming the division between the chambers A¹, B¹, and C³, D¹. The exhaust

page_text: valves B, D, rest on valve seats B2, D2, which form part of the division between
the chambers B¹, D¹, and the exhaust passage E by which the exhaust steam is
conveyed away to the condenser; F, F, are rods for lifting the inlet valves A, C,
and G, G, tubes for lifting the exhaust valves B, D. Each tube G passes up
through a stuffing box H with a long neck which stands up from the bottom
of the exhaust passage E, and rises up above the solid top of the valve
Beats B², D²
The valve rings of which each valve is composed, as above explained, are
connected by arms with a central boss or collar, up through which the rods F pass.
When the tube is lifted it comes against the bottom of the collar and lifts the
valve off its seat, and when the tube is lowered the valve comes down with it
until it is left resting upon its seat. The rods F pass up through the tubes G, and
their upper ends pass into the central boss of the inlet valves, so that the boss
forms a cap to cover over the top of the rod. On the exterior of the boss is a small
valve to close down on to a corresponding valve face formed around the top of the
opening in the solid top of the valve seat, up through which the rod passes, so that
the escape of steam through this opening is prevented when the valve A or C is
resting upon its seat. When the rod F is lifted or lowered the valve is raised or
allowed to descend on to its seat, as explained ; I is a portion of the low pressure
cylinder of the engine, and J is a portion of a double casing by which the steam
cylinders, passages, and valve chambers of the engine are all enclosed, as explained
in the Specification before mentioned.
Many ways of raising and lowering the rods F and tubes G at the times required
for opening and closing the valves may be adopted. One arrangement of mechanism
for raising and lowering the rods and tubes at the times required is shewn at
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7; this arrangement permits of the ordinary link motion
being employed.
The two rods for opening the two admission valves we couple to the opposite
ends of a lever to which a rocking motion is given by a link motion and eccentrics
on the main shaft.
The two tubes for opening the two exhaust valves have each a pair of horizontal
arms standing out from them, between which is a block free to slide to and fro
along the arms. A pin carried by an arm descending from a rock shaft works in
the block, and as the shaft rocks to and fro raises and lowers the tube, and, as
described in the Specification before mentioned, lifts the tube slowly until it
commences to lift the valve and then quickly completes its lifting motion, the
reverse taking place on the closing of the valve. The two rock shafts receive their
rocking motion by other arms upon them being coupled to one slide moved to and
fro by a link motion and eccentrics.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, Figure 4 a vertical section, and Figure 5 a plan
view of the mechanism; Figures 6 and 7 shew the same applied to an engine
constructed in the manner described in the Specification above mentioned.
L
Each lifting rod F has at its lower end an enlargement F1 with a horizontal slot
in it, in which a bearing block can slide to and fro. Pins K¹ at the two ends of a
rocking lever K enter into these blocks; the lever rocks in a stationary bearing at
its centre. The enlargement F' at the end of one of the rods F has also passing
into it a pin on the end of an arm L' which forms part of a slide L. This slide at
its lower end has a pin projecting from it, which is received in a guide block that
can slide along the slot of the link M of a link motion worked by eccentrics on the
crank shaft N of the engine in the ordinary manner, as shewo at Figures 6 and 7.
Thus, as the slide L is raised and lowered by the link motion a rocking movement
is given to the lever K, and one rod F is lifted as the other is lowered, so opening
one inlet valve at the time when the other is closed.
O is another slide raised and lowered by another link motion. At the top of this
slide is a horizontal slot; in this slot work two bearing blocks, each block embraces
a pin which stands out from an arm fast on one or other of two rock shafts P.
Other arms on these rock shafts are similarly coupled to bearing blocks which can

page_text: slide to and fro along slots formed in arms that stand out horizontally from the two
lifting tubes G. Thus, as the slide O is raised and lowered the two exhaust valves
are opened and closed alternately, and the opening and closing is effected quietly, as
explained in the before mentioned Specification.
In order to avoid loss of steam or water at the stuffing boxes through which the
piston and valve rods, and pump rods or plungers of the steam engine work, and to
avoid the necessity of having the packing of the gland pressed heavily against the rods
or plungers we place around the rod or plunger in the centre of the packing a ring
of metal having a groove or channel all around its exterior. A hole is formed
through the outer case of the gland opening into the space formed by this groove
or channel, and to this hole is fitted a small pipe which is led to the condenser;
thus, any steam or water which may pass the inner portion of the packing of the
gland will be led away to the condenser, and its escape from the engine prevented.
Similarly, when metallic packing rings are used in the glands a central space in the
packing may be connected with the condenser.
Figure 8 is a vertical section and Figure 9 a plan view partly in section of a
stuffing box constructed as above described. A is a piston rod, or it might be
other rod or plunger passing through a stuffing box B; C is a ring of metal with
a recessed channel all around its exterior; D is a hole formed through the outer
case of the stuffing box and opening into the space formed by this recessed channel;
E is a pipe led away from this hole to the condenser; the pipe is, as shewn, fitted
with a valve by which the passage through it can be closed whenever required.
In steam engines having a condenser formed with tubes exposed to the air, in
place of having the steam admitted to the interior of these tubes as heretofore we
form each tube with its ends closed, and in its interior a vacuum with the exception
of a small quantity of water or other volatile liquid. The tubes we stand vertically,
with their lower ends passing down through the top of the condenser and their
upper ends exposed to the air. The lower ends of the tubes may stand and fit into
thin hollow thimbles which descend from the top of the condenser into its interior,
or other means may be adopted for preventing escape of steam from the condenser
where the tubes enter it.
Figure 10 is a vertical section and Figure 11 a plan view in section of a con-
denser constructed as above described; Figure 12 shews a longitudinal section of
one of the tubes. A is an enclosed chamber forming the body of the condenser;
through the top of this chamber are formed numerous holes; into each hole is passed
the lower end of a tube B; to make a tight joint where the tubes pass through the
top of the condenser we prefer to solder the tubes and condenser top one to the
other. The upper ends of the tubes are received in holes in a plate C, which keeps
them at a uniform distance apart; this plate may be secured in any desired manner
to the body of the condenser. Each tube is made preferably of thin brass or copper,
its ends are in the first case closed up with the exception of a small hole at one
end; a small quantity of water, or ether, or other volatile liquid is introduced into
the tube and made to boil therein at its closed end, and whilst steam or vapour is
escaping from the hole at the other end of the tube this hole is soldered over and
closed.
When the boilers for supplying steam to the engines have to be worked at very
high pressures, and have consequently to be formed of numerous comparatively
small tubes with branch water way connections to couple the tubes one to the
other we form each of such connections in two parts, one with a screw thread
cut on it from end to end to screw into a hole in one tube, the other with a similar
screw thread cut on it externally at one end only to screw into a hole in the next
tube. The other end of this part of the connection we form with an enlargement
or head, which has an internal thread cut in it to screw on to the end of the first
mentioned part of the connection.
When the parts of the connection have been screwed into the tubes and to one
another the joints are made tight by caulking or closing in metal around the
external screw threads of the two parts of the connection; a connection formed in

page_text: the above manner is shewn at Figure 13, the metal is caulked inwards at a, b,
and c.
The assemblage of tubes forming the boiler we enclose as heretofore in a casing
packed with non-conducting material, and we form in this casing a compartment
in which is a coil or assemblage of pipes, through which the feed water is forced
by the feed pumps of the engine before it enters the lower part of the boiler.
The products of combustion from the boiler furnace are led through this com-
partment before being allowed to escape to the chimney, and so heat the feed
water. The compartiment may be at the top or side of the casing.
Figure 14 shews a vertical section of a steam boiler having a feed water heating
compartment, as above described; Figure 15 is a vertical cross section taken
through the boiler, and Figure 16 a vertical cross section taken through the feed
water heater; Figure 17 is a front elevation of the boiler and feed water heater ;
Figure 18, a plan view, and Figure 19 a horizontal section of the same. A is a
casing packed with non-conducting material; B is the assemblage of pipes forming
the boiler; C, the assemblage of pipes forming the feed water heater; D are the
fire bars. The bot gases from the fire rise upwards through the assemblage of
boiler tubes to the top of the casing, then descend through the compartment con-
taining the assemblage of feed water heating tubes, and from the bottom of this
compartment rise up through a passage E to the chimney outlet F. G is a valve,
by opening which the products of combustion may, when desired, be allowed to
pass directly to the chimney without passing through the compartment containing
the feed water heating pipes. The feed water enters the assemblage of pipes which
forms the feed water heater at H. It passes into the lower end of each bent pipe
C, rises up through these pipes, and from the top of the pipes is led into a short
cross pipe I, from which it is conducted by a pipe J to the lower part of the boiler,
as shewn at Figure 14.
Water gauges for steam boilers are ordinarily made with a draw off cock at the
bottom. We place the draw off cock at the top, so that whenever the cock is
opened water is swept past the glass or mica front of the gauge and serves to clean
it. Whereas if the cock is at the bottom the glass or mica is swept only with
steam, and the glass or mica becomes gradually obscured.
Figure 20 shews a front elevation, and Figure 21 a side elevation of a steam
boiler water gauge constructed as above described. The gauge shewn is a mica
gauge, that is, the front and back of the body A of the gauge are closed by plates
of mica, but the body of the gauge might be formed in other ordinary manner.
B is a valve, by which water from the boiler is admitted to the bottom of the
gauge; C, a similar valve at the top of the gauge, by which the top of the gauge
can be shut off from the steam space of the boiler; D is a valve, by which water
may be allowed to escape from the boiler through the gauge into the pipe E when
the cock C is closed. The water so blown off through the gauge may be conducted
by the pipe E to the condenser, so that there may be no loss of the water used for
working the engine.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First. The arrangement of lifting valves for controlling the admission and escape
of steam from the cylinders of steam engines, substantially as described, the inlet
and exhaust valves for each end of the cylinder being placed vertically one above
the other, and one lifted and opened by a rod, whilst the other is lifted and opened
by a tube surrounding such rod.
Second. The combination of mechanism for controlling the upward and down-
ward movement of such lifting rods and tubes, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of the stuffing boxes, through which the piston rods,
valve rods, and pump rods, and plungers of steam engines work with an open
cavity in the centre of the packing, which cavity, by a pipe leading from it, is put
into connection with the condenser for the purpose described.
Fourth. The construction of the condensers of steam engines with numerous

page_text: tubes, each having part of its length exposed to the air, whilst the remainder of
its length passes into the condenser, substantially as described, each such tube
being closed at its ends and having a vacuum therein, with the exception of a small
quantity of water or other volatile liquid.
Fifth. The construction of the tube connections of steam boilers, which are built
up of numerous tubes of comparatively small diameter, substantially in the manner
herein before described and illustrated at Figure 13.
Sixth. The combination of steam boiler and feed water heater, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated at Figures 14 to 19.
Seventh. The construction of the water gauges of steam boilers with a draw off
cock at the top, for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wallington Harris, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TISATA