CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEAM ENGINE AND BOLLER, AND APPARATUS OR MACHINERY CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO THE PROPELLING VESSELS, CARRIAGES, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HOLWORTHY PALMER, of Manchester Street, Gray's Inn Road, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of September, in the second year of His reigu,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Holworthy Palmer, His especial licence, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said George Holworthy Palmer, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Holworthy Paliner, my exors, adñors, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick
upon Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEAM ENGINE
AND BOLLER, AND APPARATUS OR MACHINERY CONNECTED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE TO
THE PROPELLING VESSELS, CARRIAGES, AND OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said George Holworthy Palmer, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His 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 thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Holworthy Palmer, do hereby declare that the object I have in view by
the improvements made in the steam engine is to render it less costly, more
portable and effective, as well as more economical in its expenditure of fuel,
than those engines now in use, whether required for the propulsion of locomo-
tive carriages and steam vessels or for giving motion to any other description of
machinery. Before referring to the Drawings and descriptive reference of the
same I shall detail the abstract parts of the engine and boiler, which I claim
as being novel either in principal or as regards their peculiar. modification.
First, the self-regulating blast apparatus, by which the quantity of fuel to be
ignited in a given time is governed in order to insure the generation of a
volume of steam suited precisely to all the variable speeds and powers of the
engine.
Secondly, the steam calorific self-adjusting apparatus, which acts in con-
junction with the blast regulator, and is so contrived as to lift the weight from
the lever of the safety valve, and permit the steam to escape from the boiler
should the aforesaid apparatus fail of instantly checking its evolution. The
safety valve is, however, only an auxiliary or secondary mode of insuring
security to the boiler under circumstances which are not likely to occur.
Thirdly, the self-acting safety apparatus by which the security of the boiler is
insured should the apparatus for supplying it with water fail in its effect, so that
in the event of the water in the boiler being reduced below a determined level
the process of combustion will be instantly suspended, and the boiler protected
from injury.
Fourthly, making the products of combustion evolved from the furnace escape
into the atmosphere below the level of the furnace bars, which will most effec-
tually prevent the admission of atmospheric air into the furnace, excepting that
portion which the blast and calorific regulating apparatus permits the blower to
project upon the fuel undergoing combustion. This mode shuts off the entrance
of atmospheric air as effectually as if cocks or valves were resorted to, for the
moment the blower is thrown out of action, the fuel in the furnace, however
intense its inflammation, is instantly damped in consequence of the ignited fuel
being enveloped in an atmosphere of gaseous inflammable matter, which as effec-
tually extinguishes inflammation as carbonic acid gas or other non-inflammable
when oxygen or the supporter of combustion, is not combined therewith.
This is not individually claimed as new, but as a necessary arrangement in
conjunction with the blast, and calorific regulators, which together with the mode
of raising the safety valve from its, seat, I must be distinctly understood as
claiming, not only as applied to a steam engine, but also to every other descrip-

page_text: tion of boiler or vessel used for the purpose of evaporation or heating in the arts
or manufactures whenever a regulated intensity of heat is required, let the pur-
pose or object be what it may, or where a determinable temperature is required
to be communicated, as in the purification of sugar, the distillation of spirits,
&c. &c., through the medium of oils, fusible metals, and the like; instead of im-
pinging the heat directly against the vessel containing the material intended
to be so heated, it will be necessary in this case to generate. the elastic fluid,
which gives motion to the small piston of the regulating apparatus, in a copper
or other close vessell about five inches diameter, as shewn in the Drawings.
Fifthly, the pipes leading from the opposite ends of the horizontal part of
the boiler, connecting with the lowermost part standing at right angles thereto,
act as stays to steady the whole, but the ostensible object of their introduction
is to convey the water most remote from the direct action of the furnace by its
own gravity to replace that portion which may be carried to the upper part of
the boiler by the great volume of steam generated between the two concentric
cylinders; the interior one (the furnace) but for this or a similar contri-
vance would presently be destroyed by the intense action of the heat imping-
ing thereon, inasmuch as the water in its attempt to descend perpendicularly
into the space from whence it is constantly being projected, would be steam-
logged, and consequently prevented from absorbing the caloric so rapidly as it is
taken up by the metal. On no consideration whatever must other than distilled
water or spirits be used in this boiler, for the deposition of earthy matter would
lead to a rapid destruction of the boiler, and increase the consumption of fuel,
and that in proportion as the capacity of the metal to transmit caloric through
its pores and from, thence to the water in the boiler is impeded by reason of the
slow conducting powers of the earthy incrustations, thus. deposited upon the
heating medium.
Sixthly, to insure a length of stroke in high pressure engines (that is, only
limited by the maximum length the cylinder can be cast and bored),
and that without increasing the diameter of the piston rods beyond that which
is required to withstand the right line tug of the whole power of the engine,
and which could never be accomplished were the piston rods' subjected to an
alternate tug and thrust, without resorting to the very objectionable short stroke
and piston rod of so large a diameter, and without which it would be incapable
of withstanding the thrust, without being crippled and rendered useless. It is the
modification and disposition of the various parts of the engine that is claimed
under this head, and not any one part abstractedly considered...
Seventhly, the slide valve or valves where more than one are used, with their
various modifications, requiring neither casings nor stuffing boxes; I claim as

page_text: perfectly novel; the action of these being seen, admit of mathematical adjust-
ment by an effective mechanical arrangement (not claimed), and which enables
the engineer instantly to reverse or stop the engine at pleasure.
Eighthly, for a modification of the crank and beam intended to supersede
the use of a beam of the usual weight and dimensions, parallel motion, cross
heads, and costly fittings and bearings connected therewith. This mode of
converting the reciprocating into the rotative motion accomplishes the grand
desideratum of making one cylinder produce a more regular and equalized
motion than can be accomplished by two cylinders when used to give motion to
locomotive engines or paddle wheels.
Ninthly, the condensation by which highly elastic steam of any temperature
may be converted into water without the application of injections, or by the
extension of surface, by making the cubic contents of the condensing chamber
equal to the number of cubic inches of steam discharged each stroke of the
engine when expanded into or below atmospheric steam (disregarding the addi-
tional effect obtained by a diminution of temperature). The cubic contents of
the condensing chamber being arranged to condense steam of a previously
determined maximum density, will effect the condensation of steam of any inter-
mediate elasticity between the said maximum and steam of one atmosphere;
lower than this little or no advantage will be obtained, and at atmospheric steam
this mode is altogether inapplicable.
To insure this mode of condensation, it becomes a sine qua non that no
steam be permitted to pass between the piston and its cylinder or thro'
the apertures in the valves that alternately shut off the communication
between the cylinder and the condensing chamber, otherwise the condensa-
tion will partially cease, and that in proportion to the quantity of steam
permitted to pass into the condensing chamber. It is also of great importance
that the water be drawn from the condensing chamber as fast as it is formed
or precipitated therein, and conveyed to the boiler by a small force pump or
any other effective means, not only to prevent the cubic contents of the con-
densing chamber being diminished, but also to insure a proper supply of
distilled water to the boiler. The said condensing vessel to consist of one
chamber, which may be made of light copper or other material. The sphere
is preferred as combining strength with great capacity. I accomplish the
conversion of highly elastic steam into the liquid state exclusively by expansion,
without regard to cooling surface. I claim also the making the condensing
chamber of flexible material, as varnished canvass, silk, cotton, or other suitable
air and steam tight material, so as to allow of its alternate inflation and col-
lapsing every stroke of the engine; and to avoid rupture (should the steam

page_text: ever arrive at any elasticity exceeding the atmospheric pressure), it must be
enclosed in a wove wire casing, which will effect the object, and permit the
atmospheric air entering and escaping with great facility, without checking the
inflation or collapsing of the aforesaid condensing chamber. The more this
condensing chamber exceeds the proportions given, the more effectual will be
its operation, as the steam will expand with less resistance than in a vessel of
less capacity, as it more resembles the process of turning highly elastic steam
into the atmosphere.
Lastly, I claim not only all the aforesaid parts that are new either in prin-
ciple or modification of previously known mechanism, but also the general
arrangement of the engine and boiler united as a whole, holding myself at
liberty to combine these improvements under a variety of forms in which the
same objects are effected, the external character varying as circumstances may
require. The figure and form of the engine as applied to locomotive carriages
or paddle wheels of steam vessels will be explained by the Drawing and
descriptive references accompanying this Specification. Figure 1 is an eleva-
tion of the machine, shewing the disposition of the various parts. Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal section of the boiler and furnace, shewing the flues, steam cylinder,
&c. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the boiler, furnace, and calorific regulator,
shewing its connection with the blast regulator. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan
of the lower part of the boiler, furnace, and flues. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal
section of one of the slide valves, with its seat. Fig. 6 is a plan of the seat,
shewing the steam and condensing passages. Fig. 7 is a section of an evapo-
rating vessel in connection with a metallic or other bath, shewing the application
of the calorific regulating apparatus. The same letters of reference are used
to denote the same parts.in all the views. A is the boiler, in the lower part of
which and concentric with it is placed the furnace B, secured to it by flanges,
bolt, and nuts. The grate C is supported upon an iron fraine D, and is retained
in its place by a wedge or other simple fastening, and by releasing which the
grate may be withdrawn when required. The furnace is replenished with
fuel through an aperture in the crown by means of a pipe extending outside;
the boiler terminates by two slides or doors, which are alternately opened
when fuel is admitted. To prevent the discharge of the heated gases a rake
is added, working in a stupping box, to force the fuel into the furnace, should
the pipe get cholked. It is my intention, however, to adopt a self-acting
mode of feeding the furnace with fuel by means of fluted rollers or other
equally efficient means, and which will receive their motion from the steam
engine. E, E, E, E, are four flue pipes connected to the top of the furnace,
and descending below the bottom of the ash pit, which prevents the natural

page_text: flow of atmospheric air to supply the furnace. The exit of the pipes being
carried below the level of the furnace is not claimed as new, but is adopted
in preference to cocks, or such like contrivances in conjunction with the blast
regulating apparatus. F, F, are two circulating tubes by which the annular
space round the furnace is more uniformly supplied with water. G, a pipe
with its valves 'through which the supply of water to the boiler is injected
to-replace the quantity evaporated. H; the injecting pump for supplying
the boiler with water. I, the blowing apparatus for injecting the requisite
quantity of atmospheric air into the furnace. K, a pipe through which
the atmospheric air is injected into the casing L, which surrounds the ash
pit, between which a communication is formed by perforations in the lower
part of the cylinder which constitutes the furnace; the blast is by this means
rendered less partial in its action on the fuel. To one extremity of the pipe
K is attached a regulating valve or cover M, which when closed prevents the
exit of the air contained in the pipe; the quantity of air discharged through
this aperture depends on the area of the opening given to the valve. It is
opened or shut or otherwise adjusted by means of a screw and handle, or
may be operated on by any other convenient means. This valve is used for
regulating the quantity of atmospheric air passed through the furnace suited to
all the variations of resistance. To the other extremity of the pipe K is
adapted a hinged valve or cover N so weighted as to counterpoise the pressure
of the air within; the pipe when closed compels the air discharged by the
blowing apparatus to pass into the casing L, and from thence into the furnace
through the flue pipes E, E, &c. into the atmosphere, excepting that quantity
which may be discharged thro' the valve M. The use of this valve is to limit
the temperature of the water, and consequently the pressure of the steam in the
boiler, by permitting when open the discharge of a great portion of the atmo-
spheric air otherwise required for combustion; to effect this object the valve N
is connected by levers O, P, Q, with their necessary rods of communication to
the calorific regulating apparatus R, which consists of a piston of sufficient area
to overcome the resistance opposed to it, working thro' a stuffing-box in a cylin-
drical syphon tube, containing a quantity of mercury as a medium by which the
steam, passing from the boiler into the regulator chamber, acts upon the afore-
said piston. S, a safety valve with its graduated lever and weight; a loop T is
formed on the end of the lever, and embraces the screwed end of the regulator
piston. When the nut V comes in contact with the loop, the lever and safety
valve are lifted, effectually preventing the occurrence of accidents, should the
safety valve remain closed beyond the limiting pressure. The action of the
safety valve and lever is rendered simultaneous by two small connecting

page_text: links W. X is a chamber attached to the crown of the pinnace, and con-
nected by a tube Y, with a piston and cylinder of precisely the same
description and construction as that used for the calorific regulator R,
and may be placed in any convenient situation for operating on a safety
slide cock or valve Z, which, when the water in the boiler has evaporated
so low as to endanger its safety, from a deficiency of supply from the
force pump; is closed, and completely prevents the passage of atmospheric
air into the furnace; thus combustion instantly ceases, the ignited flue being
deprived of air. The motion communicated to the piston by the steam gene-
rated in the chamber X operates on the lever I by the cam 2, the lever rising
with the piston until the cam or detent passes the pin 3, when the slide Z is
instantaneously released, and falls by its own gravity, completely closing the
passage thro' the pipe K. The combustion being suspended, the temperature
of the water, and consequently the pressure of the steam, is instantly reduced,
thus preventing the destruction of the boiler by the powerful action of the
fuel when the heating surface is unprotected by the water; for facilitating the
reference, the regulators R are arranged with a view to perspicuity rather than
mechanical exactness. It will be perceived that the safety slide, with its
appendages, have been omitted in Fig. 1, lest it should have been rendered too
confused. The steam cylinder, piston, and stuffing boxes being of the usual
construction, do not require a particular description, the only peculiarity being
the great length of the cylinder compared with its diameter, and the small
diameter of the piston rod. The adjustment of the piston in the cylinder is
effected by means of screws and nuts at the two extremities, where they are
connected to the chains by the loops r, r. The slide valves a, a, are connected
together by two adjusting side rods b, b, and have two apertures each, with
a connecting chamber c. The seats have each 3 apertures of equal area
with those in the slide, so that the alternate operation of admitting
steam to the cylinder and condensing it is produced without the aid of a
casing or cover over the slide. The movement producing the alternating
motion of the slides is of the tappet kind, capable of the nicest adjustment by
means of screws and nuts at each end of the tappet rods d, d, which also con-
nect them with the chains; e, a carriage for supporting the tappet lever ƒ and
guide rollers 9, 9, against which the tappet rods rub, and by which they are
prevented from deflecting out of the right line when brought into action.
The side rods b, b, are united at h, the middle of their length, by a carriage
furnished with friction rollers, which is embraced by the forked end of the
tappet rods f, and by which the slides are moved. The pressure tending to
lift the slides from their seats by the action of the steam in their passages, is

page_text: counterbalanced by an external pressure produced by two helical springs k, k,
at the back of each slide, and the friction is diminished by two grooved
rollers 1, 1, working on a guide parallel to the face of the slide. m is the con-
densing chamber, into which the steam is admitted after it has performed its
office in the cylinder, where it is permitted to expand freely; the slide valve
seats communicate with the upper part by the pipes n, n, which enter the
chamber separately or united in one pipe. The water produced by the con-
densation of the steam is drawn from the chamber by the force pump H
through the pipe and valves o, which chamber is furnished with an inverted
safety valve p to prevent collapsing. The steam is completely excluded from
the engine by closing the slide valve q.. The chains S, S, are fixed to the
pullies t, t, whose axes turn in bearings on the bracket v, v, firmly secured to
the transverse bearers of the framework of the carriage. These pullies should
be more in circumference than double the length of the piston's stroke. The
reciprocating motion of the pulley t and the engine produces the revolution or
rotation of the crank shaft w by means of a lever a key'd on one end of the
pulley axis, and the intervention of the connecting rods y, the crank shaft
revolving in bearings attached to the frame of the carriage. The radius of
the lever a must exceed in a trifling degree that of the crank w, w; z, a
toothed spurr wheel working into a pinion of half its diamer on the axis of the
carriage wheels 5, so that the carriage performs a distance equal to twice the
circumference of the wheels 5 for cach double stroke of the engine; any
other proportions of the wheel and pinion may of course be adopted, as the
nature of the machine or the required speed of the carriage may render
necessary. On the crank shaft W is a pulley 6, grooved to receive a catgut
band for the purpose of driving the machinery to work the blowing apparatus.
These wheels and pulley 6 have been represented by dotted lines to prevent
confusion. The machinery for working the blowing apparatus consists of two
pullies 7, on an axis 8, supported on two brackets 9, fixed to the side frames
of the carriage; one pulley to receive the motion from the crank shaft W,
and the other to communicate the motion to the pulley 10 on the axis of the
blowing fan. A greater number of pulleys may be found convenient to vary
the velocity of the blowing fan, according to circumstances. The pulley
axis 8 is cranked to form a winch, by which the blowing apparatus can be
worked by manual labor when the engine is at rest, and for which purpose
a provision is made to disengage the pulley from the crank shaft W by
sliding the brass bearings in the bracket heads in the direction of the crank
shaft. The catgut band will then be slackened, and the pulley will revolve
without it; when it is required to be connected with the engine, the reverse of

page_text: this operation will be necessary, in either of which positions the axis will be
retained by a set screw 11. The force pump is worked by means of an
adjusting crank 12 key'd on one end of the axis of the pulley t, and com-
municating with the pump piston by a connecting rod and slings 13. The
pump is secured to a portion of the bracket v projecting below the carriage
frame. The application of the aforesaid engine and machinery and boiler to
the purpose of propelling vessels will be evident from the preceding description,
by considering the wheels 5 as the paddle-wheels of the vessel; as a stationary
engine applied to various purposes in the arts and manufactures, the same
arrangement is used, with the substitution of a fly-wheel in the place of the
wheels 5. The application of the calorific regulating apparatus to the pur-
poses of heating or evaporating by means of a bath composed of a metallic
fluid, or other heating medium, is shewn in Figure 7, where a is the evaporating
vessel; b, the heating medium; and c, the vessel in which the steam is generated
by the heat which the medium acquires from the furnace d, to act upon
the regulator piston, and ultimately by the intervention of the pullies e, e,
lever f, and chain or rod g, on the damper h, by which the quantity of atmo-
spheric air admitted into the furnace for the combustion of the fuel is regu-
lated. In some cases a second damper between the furnace and the chimney
shaft is an advantage, and may be operated on by the same pullies simul-
taneously with the damper h, which admits the atmospheric air to the
furnace.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Holsworthy Palmer, have hereunto
cot my hand and cool this Driftaurth day of Mamh One thousand night