CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN FURNACES AND BLOWING MACHINES; AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND MACHINERY FOR DRIVING THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE MOTIVE POWER IS REQUIRED
Year: 1848

page_text: LLOYD'S SPECIFICATION,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE: PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LLOYD, of Stepney, in the County of Middlesex; Ironfounder, send greeting."
WHEREAS' Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, 'by Her
Royal Letters Pafent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
-Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight; in the eleventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, 'Her heirs' antl 'successors, give and grant 'unto me,' the
said George Lloyd, my exors, adfñors, and assigns, Her: especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said George Lloyd, my exors,
adiñor's, and assigns, 'or such 'others' as "," the said-George Lloyd, my exors,
admñórs, or assigns, should' at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time to time, and at all times during the térni of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, my Invention of CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FURNACES AND BLOWING MACHINES; AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND
MACHINERY FOR DRIVING THE SAME, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES WHERE MOTIVE POWER IS REQUIRED;" in which 'said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that I, the said George Lloyd,. should cause a par
ticular description of the nature of iny said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed; by an 'instrument in writing under 'my
hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited: Letters Patent, as"in and by the same, reference being there
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Lloyd, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described in and
by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention, in so far as it regards furnaces, has relation to boiler
furnaces chiefly, and has for its object the more complete conversion to heating
purposes of the gaseous matters evolved during the combustion of coal and
other sorts of fuel, the avoidance of smoke, and the better protection from tear
and wear of the parts of which the furnaces are composed. The manner in
which this object is carried out is shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed; Figure 1 being a plan, Figure 2 a front eleva-
tion, and Figure 3.a longitudinal section, of a furnace constructed according to
this part of my Invention; and Figures 4 and 5, views of the furnace bars
detached from their fixings. A, A, are the external side walls, which are made
of fire-brick; A is an interior basement, also of fire-brick, which extends
between the two side walls A, A; B is a metal floor plate overlaid with fire
tiles, which rests on the basement A³, and is let into the outer walls A, A, on
each side; D, D, are the fire-bars, which in this furnace are placed vertically,
and secured at top and bottom to cross bars N¹, Ns, which have their bearings
in the side walls A, A, (the peculiar construction of these bars will be after-
wards described;) B' is the space or compartment behind the fire-bars, which
would ordinarily be called the fire-place, but may here be more properly
designated as the fuel chamber, or place for holding the ignited and igniting
fuel; C is the hopper, through which the fuel is dropped into the compart-
ment B'; E, E, E, are a row of square tiles or lumps of fire-clay, which are
placed on their ends immediately behind the fuel compartment B³, and with
spaces between them equal to the spaces between the fire-bars (the fuel being
thus placed, as it were, between two sets of fire-bars, one in front and the other
behind); F is a flame chamber, which occupies the space between the back
ends of the lumps E, E, and the bridge I; F, F, are a series of air tubes for
supplying atmospheric air to the chamber F, which are placed vertically, one
behind each of the lumps E, E, (in order that they may be thus protected from
the interference of any cross current,) and communicate at bottom with an
open tunnel G, which runs underneath the furnace; H is a slide valve, by
which the air tubes F, F, may be all simultaneously closed, either in whole
or in part; L is the passage to the chimney; K, the boiler; M, the ash-pit;
and P, a space between the under cross bar N and the floor plate B, through
which the fuel may be stirred occasionally, and any clinkers which may be

page_text: formed can be withdrawn. The fire-bars, the construction of which is shewn
separately in Figures 4 and 5, (Figure 4 being a side view, Figure 5 a top
view,) are formed in two parts, a and b, bolted together, of which the inner
part a consists (by preference) of wrought iron, and the outer 6 of cast iron,
and the former is made flat and square, while the latter is curved out endwise,
that is to say, in the direction from front to back, and also widened at the
points where the connecting bolts pass through, in order to give it sufficient
strength at these parts. Three bolts are used to connect the parts of each bar;
one at the centre and one at each end, and their heads rest in holes counter-
sunk for them in the inner half of the bar, but the centre bolt only is screwed
up tight, while the others are left loose in the holes, to allow for any excess of
expansion to which the inner half of the bar may be subject from its close
proximity to the fire. When the bars are longer than those represented in the
Drawings, five or any greater number of bolts may be used to connect them
(observing the same rule as to tightening the centre bolt only). The object
of thus making the bar in two parts is, that the front part, when it is wasted
by the heat, may be removed without sacrificing the other part, and a fresh
piece put in its place; and the. reason of my preferring wrought iron to cast
iron for the front part is simply because of its greater durability. Even if both
parts, however, are made of cast iron, there will be still a considerable saving
from inaking the bars in two pieces.
The mode in which the process of combustion goes on in the furnace will
show very clearly its superior advantages as a generator of heat. After the
fire has been lighted for a short time, the lumps E, E, get very hot, and the
gascous matters that escape from the fuel in the compartment B³, in passing
between the lumps, are raised to so high a degree of temperature, that on
emerging into the chamber F, and receiving there a due admixture of atmo-
spheric. air from the vertical pipes F, F, instant inflamation of the mixed
vapours or gases takes place, with a great developement of heat and entire
disappearance of smoke.
The preceding improvements do not at all apply to cupola furnaces, used by
iron smelters and founders, in which the combustion is already carried to a
sufficiently high degree of intensity; but even in the case of these furnaces
there is a good deal of heat wasted, that is to say, which passes off through
the chimney, without being appropriated to any useful purpose. In Figure 7
I have shown an arrangement whereby this waste may be prevented. A, A, is
a cylindrical boiler (which may be supported in any convenient and suitable
way), with a branch at one end, which turns downwards at right angles from
the main body of the boiler, and terminates a little way above the mouth of

page_text: the furnace E. B; B) is a fire tube, which is of the same form as the boiler,
and passes through it in the manner shewn, being open at one end to the heated
vapours arising from the furnace, and terminating at the other in a vent pipe
or chimney (not shewn in the Drawing). F is a cylinder, which slides on the
down branch of the boiler, and is moveable' up and down' by means of a
counter weighted chain carried round pullies overhead. When the furnace E
is' to be charged, the cylinder F is raised completely out of the way, but after
the fuel has been thrown in, it is lowered till it encloses the whole of the space
between the under end of the fire tube B and the mouth of the furnace, with
the exception of an opening of an inch or two all round. The atmospheric
air rushing through the small opening thus left combines with and inflames
the carbonic oxide gas which always exists in abundance at the mouth of such
furnaces; and the fire tube becomes filled with a volume of flame and heated
vapours "sufficient' to evaporate the water in the boiler, and produce steam
enough to work (at least) the blower of the furnace.
"Secondly, my Invention, in so far as it regards blowing machines, have special
relation to fan blowers, and consists in an improved mode of constructing the same,
whereby they are augmented in power; and enabled to work free from noise.
The common fan blower consists of a circular case, with a central hole on each
side for the inflow of air, and an opening in the periphery through which the
air so admitted is expelled. A spindle passes through the central holes, and is
supported in suitable bearings at the two ends. On the middle of this spindle
is keyed a boss, from which project several arms, to each of which is attached
a flat blade of a square form, which is made as wide as may be without
touching the case. Motion is given to the blades by a strap rigger on the
spindle, and connected to a steam engine or other prime mover. Now, since
it is clear that the air which is drawn in at the central holes must always fall
short of what is required to fill the larger space, the circumference of which is
described by the tips of the blades, it follows that there must be always more
or less of a vacuum formed behind each blade when revolving, and that the
air which is condensed in front must rush over the ends and sides of the
blades to fill up the vacuum so formed, causing no doubt that disagreeable
humming noise which is common to all the ordinary fan blowers, and absorb-
ing a large portion of the power employed.for no better purpose than beating
the air within the case. My improvements have for their object the complete
removal of both these defects. Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a fan
blower embodying these improvements, and Figure 9, a transverse section
through the centre of the machine. A, A, are the side plates, which are made
with central openings. (B,B,) as usual. C; the periphery: D, the air. discharge

page_text: pipe. E,,a spindle, which, passes through the central openings. B, B, and
terminates in conical ends, which revolve in the bearings F, F. I is a central
boss, keyed on to the spindle, having six arms, to which as many blades K, K,
are bolted, of a triangular form, and curved, as shewn. L is an inner casing,
5 which encloses the blades, and is of a corresponding, triangular section, with
openings at the centre and in the periphery for the admission and escape of
air. M, M, are two rings, which are screwed on to the outer case, and encircle
closely two collars N, N, which are raised on the inner case, one on each side
of its central opening, but project a little. way beyond the line of the outer one,
, so that by means of these rings and collars, the two casings are joined at this.
part perfectly air-tight. 0, 0, are the strap riggers by which the machine is
driven. The air entering the inner case by the central openings is by the
rotation of the blades driven out of it through the openings in the periphery
into the outer case, and is prevented by the converging form of the inner case
from reacting upon the blades (as in the common, fan blowers), and from the
outer case it is expelled by the centrifugal action of the machine through the
discharge pipe D. The flow of the air, even at the greatest velocities, is
uniform and steady, free from any back lash, and almost noiseless. The total
area of the openings in the periphery of the inner, case must of course not
exceed the total area of its central openings. When a very great, pressure is.
required to be exerted at the point of emission, the openings in the peripheries
of, both wheels, must be proportionably contracted, even in some instances to
the extent of one-half the usual size. The blades, when enclosed within an
inner case, such as before described, will work well at whatever radial angle
they are set; but I have found in practice that they produce the greatest, effect
when set back at an angle of about sixty degrees, as represented in the
Drawings. The power of the machine being in an exact ratio with the speed
at which it can be driven, is of importance that the spindle should revolve in
its bearings with as little friction and be kept as cool as possible. One mode
of obtaining these objects is represented in the Drawing, Figure. 9.....The
spindle bearings F, F, consist of short cylindrical pieces, screw, threaded on the.
outside, which are screwed fast into eye-holes in brackets G, G, attached.. to
the outside. of the outer casing of the blower.. On, the inner end of each 1
bearing there is a conical socket s, in which one end of the spindle revolves,
and from the opposite or outer end of the bearing there, is a conical. hole
drilled till it penetrates by a very small aperture the bottom of the socket-s:
H is an oil. vessel with a tubular termination, .bent. at right angles to
the body of the. vessel, which, termination fits into the conical. hole in
the outer end of the bearing. piece. The vessel H. has an air-tight.cap.

page_text: to protect it from the pressure of the atmosphere, so that none of the
oil runs out, except when it is drawn out by the rotation of the spindle,
and as required for its due lubrication. Another mode of constructing
the bearings of the spindles, and which I rather prefer to the preceding, is
shewn in Figure 10. S represents one end of the spindle; and T, the bearing
in which that end revolves, which consists of a hollow cylinder, bevilled off at
the front edges to suit the conical form of the end of the spindle. The space y
in the cylinder, immediately 'fronting the conical termination of the spindle, is
filled with plumbago, which is pressed up against the spindle, and into the
form of the spindle by means of a plug Y, which again is pressed forward by
a screw piston W, turned by hand. The. bearing T may be upheld by a
bracket, in the same way as before described, or in any other suitable manner.
A blowing machine on another plan, and differing also advantageously from
those in common use, is represented in Figure 11 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, which is a sectional elevation of the machine. A, A, are two cast-
iron side frames (one of which only is seen in the Drawing), consisting each of
a polyagonal rim of sixteen sides and eight arms, A2, A2, radiating from a
central boss. The rim of each frame presents in its cross section the appear-
ance of a piece of angle iron. C is a spindle, which passes through the
centres of both frames, and is cranked in the middle to nearly the same
extent as the side frames are apart. B, B, are eight pairs of 'bellows, of a
square form, which are attached by their outer end boards to the periphery of
the frame piece, one to every alternate side of the polygon, the boards being
laid crosswise so as to embrace both rims. E, E, are the bellows valves;
one being in the inner end board, and the other in the outer. D, D, are
sixteen rods for working the bellows (one-half of which only are seen in the
Drawing), there being two rods attached to the inner end board of each bellows,
and connected at their opposite or inner extremities to a boss H, on the cranked
spindle C. F is the general air discharge pipe. G, G, are guides, one on
the inner face of each arm, to maintain the parallelism of the pairs of bellows
when working. The spaces betwixt the arms of the side frames, as also those
between the rims in the alternate sides of the polygon, are filled up with wood
or sheet iron, so as to render the entire case perfectly air-tight, except where
the valves E, E, and discharge pipe F, are inserted. A door should, however,
be made on each side, between the arms, in order to obtain access to the
bearings, for the purpose of occasional lubrication. The mode in which this
apparatus works is as follows:-When the cranked spindle C is turned (which
I may be done by hand power, or any other convenient means), it follows, from
the varying position of the centre boss, to which the working rods D, D, are

page_text: attached, that there must in every stage of the revolution of the spindle be
some of the pairs of bellows fully distended, others only partially so, and some
quite collapsed (as exemplified in the Figure), but that each bellows must in
succession be once distended and collapsed, that is, make one complete stroke.
The machine therefore furnishes the means of delivering a very large quantity
of air at a nearly uniform pressure. The number of pairs of bellows used
may, be of course increased or diminished according to the amount of blast
required.
Thirdly, my Invention, in so far as regards engines and machinery for
driving blowing machines, consists in the employment for that purpose of the
improved steam engine, represented in the Drawings, Figures 12, 13, and 14.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the engine on the centre line; and
Figure 18, a section of one of several chambers, into which it is divided on a
line at right angles to the axis. The engine may be described in general terms
as consisting of a circular case revolving on two hollow end shafts (which serve
as the steam induction and eduction passages), and divided into two, three, or
more perfectly similar chambers, each of which chambers encloses a pair of
revolving arms. A is the foundation plate. B, B, two standards, which
support the immediate engine bearings C, C. D¹ and D³ are the hollow end
shafts on which the engine rotates, and through which the steam is admitted
and discharged. E, E, E, E, E³, are five circular plates, with annular
pieces F, F, F, F, projecting at right angles from them, and which being suc-
cessively bolted together, in the manner shewn in Figure 12, form four distinct
chambers 0, 0, 0, 0, of which the body of the engine consists. H³, H²,
H, H, are a series of hollow arms, cast on the inner faces of the plates
E', E, E, E, within the annular pieces F¹, F, F, F, and of about one-
third their depth. I, I, I, 14, are apertures in the arms, through which the
steam issues in a direction at right angles to the arms into the chambers O', O²³,
O", O', respectively, and which are successively increased in size in a ratio
corresponding to the expansion of the steam (or with sufficient nearness at
least for practical purposes). J, J, are slide valves (see Figure 18), by which
the apertures I are shut and closed. K, K, are the slide valve rods, which are
attached to and worked by a double crank motion L, on the central spindle M,
which again is worked by the three-armed piece Q, afterwards mentioned.
N, N, are stuffing boxes, to keep the spindle steam-tight. P¹, P³, P³, P', are
segmental pieces, placed between the arms to prevent them from agitating the
steam in the different chambers. Q is a piece of three arms, which is attached
to the outer end of the spindle M, as shewn separately at Figure 14, and
revolves in a portion of the eduction shaft D2, which is enlarged for the

page_text: E.
purpose of affording room for the, rotation of these arms without interfering
with the passage of the steam. R, R, R, are the handles to the arms of
the piece Q. S is a packing ring, to keep the apertures steam-tight in which
the arms of the piece Q rotate. T is a wheel, and U a break, which act
jointly in controuling the three-armed piece Q and are worked by the lever V,
in manner shewn in Figure 14;..and W, W, are steam-tight joints, for steam
induction and eduction pipes.. The course which the steam takes through the
engine is indicated by the arrows, and the manner of its operation is as
follows:-Let it be supposed that the steam, as it enters from the boiler into
the first set of arms H', is sixty pounds pressure, or forty-five pounds above
the pressure of the atmosphere. From these arms it will, escape through the
aperture I', into the chamber O¹, with a loss of (say) fifteen pounds. From O
it will flow in a continually expanding state through the central opening in the
plate E into the second pair of arms H, from which it. will emerge through
aperture I, which is one-fourth larger in size than I', into the second
chamber 02, where the average pressure may be reckoned as equal to thirty
pounds. From 02 it will pass into the arms H³, and thence through I³ into
the third chamber O³, where the pressure of the still expanding and attenuating
steam will become reduced to (say) fifteen pounds. From O³ it will pass in a
similar manner into. O', where the pressure will be about equal to the atmo-
sphere; and from O' it will be discharged through the eduction shaft D², into
the atmosphere, or into a condenser... The entire working power in any given
quantity of steam is. thus turned to useful account; and herein consists the
great distinction between this and other engines constructed on what is known
as the "emissive principle;". for while in these other engines the steam, which
causes each revolution of the arms, is, discharged into the atmosphere (no
matter how partially exhausted that, steam may be), it is here caught up, and
made to pass though as many other sets of arms as it is able to actuate. The
number of arms and chambers through which the steam may be made to pass
advantageously must of course depend in all cases on the initial pressure
of the steam; but it must. be observed at the same time, that in proportion as
the number of the arms and chambers is encreased,, the speed of the engine
must be diminished, and the gain resolve itself into a greater amount of duty
performed with a given expenditure of fuel. It will also be obvious that the
power of the engine may, at any time be reduced, by closing more or less the
apertures I, which may be effected with great facility by means of the valves J,
and the machinery by which these arms are worked.
When the engine is required to be reversed, this is done in manner fol-
lowing: Supposing the engine to be revolving in the direction of the arrows

page_text: in Figure 14, the break U is brought by means of the lever V into contact
with the wheel T, which retards the arns Q until they come "dead against
the stops Z, Z (which takes place in about one-sixth of the circle). The
arms give motion to the central spindle M, and that, acting simultaneously
through the cranks L, L, and rods K, K, on the whole series of valves, causes
one set to close and the other to open, and so reverses the action of the engine.
In engines which are only required to work one way, such as engines employed
for driving fan blowers, flour mills, &c., this reversing gear may be dispensed
which will simplify the engine, and reduce its first cost considerably.
with,
In setting this improved engine to perform any given work, it may be con-
nected with its work through the medium of toothed gearing, or by means of a
strap rigger attached to either of the shafts, or even to the body of the engine.
But, as in consequence of the peculiarity of its construction it may be adapted
to almost any desired rate of speed, the better way, in the majority of cases,
will be to connect it directly to its work by a continuation of shafting on the
same line as its own axis. For screw steam vessels, for example, where it is of
so much importance to bring the engine and screw into perfect working
harmony, an engine of this description must be especially suitable.
Fourthly, my Invention consists in the employment, in engines and ma-
chinery for driving blowing machines, of an improved strap rigger, formed in
manner following:-The body of the rigger is cast in iron, in the same way
as the common strap rigger, but made a little rougher at the edges. I then
take a strip of sheet gutta percha, of length sufficient to go round the rigger,
but a little broader, and immerse this in hot water until it becomes soft and
pliant. I now draw this tightly round the iron, and bring the two ends of the
gutta percha close together. I afterwards work the overhanging edges of the
gutta percha over and underneath the edges of the iron, which makes the
whole perfectly fast. When the gutta percha envelope becomes cold, the entire
rigger is turned true in a lathe. A rigger thus covered is found to have much
greater adhesion than one of the common sort made of uncovered iron.
Fifthly, my Invention consists in applying certain of the improvements
before described to other purposes where motive power is required. The parts
of my Invention to which I refer under this head are the following:-First,
the spindle bearing, in which the end of the spindle works in a bed of plumbago,
as represented in Figure 10, and before described, and which I consider ap-
plicable to all spindles and shafts which have to rotate at high velocities, and
more especially where they are so placed as not to be readily accessible for
purposes of lubrication and repair, as, for example, the shafting of screw
steamers.

page_text: Second, the improved steam engine, before described, which may be pm-
ployed with advantage in most cases where a direct motive power, adjustable to
any degree of speed, and economical in use, is required.
And, third, the improved rigger, before described, consisting of iron enveloped
in gutta percha.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention in the several
parts thereof, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare
that the improvements which I claim as constituting my said Invention are as
follows:-
First, I claim the steam boiler furnace described under the first head of
this Specification, in so far as regards the combination therein, in manner
before described, of vertical fire-bars made in two pieces, vertical fire-clay
lumps behind the fuel chamber, and vertical air tubes behind the fire lumps,
with other parts which are more or less common to other furnaces.
Second, I claim the employment in furnaces of all descriptions of bars
made in two pieces, as before described.
Third, I claim the mode or means of applying the vapours arising from
the chimneys of cupola furnaces to heating purposes, in manner before
described.
Fourth, I claim the fan blower, represented in Figures 8 and 9 of the s
Drawings hereunto annexed, and before described, in so far as regards the
employment of an inner casing L, with openings of small area in its periphery,
and the parts peculiar thereto.
Fifth, I claim the bellows. blower, represented in Figure 11, and before
described, in the general arrangement and combination of parts of which the
same consists.
Sixth, I claim the improved steam engine, herein-before described, in so
far as regards the employment of two or more chambers, and two or more
sets of arms, and steam apertures in the said arms, of successively.encreasing
area.
Seventh, I claim the improved spindle or shaft bearing, in which the end of
the spindle or shaft works in a bed of plumbago, as before described.
And, eighth, I claim the forming of strap riggers of a combination of iron
and gutta percha, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lloyd, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
GEORGE (L.B.) LLOYD.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1848, the aforesaid George Lloyd came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and everything 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 Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.