IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR BLOWING, PUMPING, OR FORCING AIR, PUMPING WATER, DRIVING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OF BEDS OF STEAM ENGINES PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Stead Crosland. of Ashton-under-Lyne, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR BLOWING, PUMPING, OR FORCING AIR, PUMPING
WATER, DRIVING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OF BEDS OF STEAM ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Stead Crosland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents. with his Petition, on the
8th September 1864.
I. JAMES STEAD CROSLAND. of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR BLOWING, PUMPING, OR FORCING AIR-
PUMPING WATER, DRIVING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OR BEDS OF STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
Firstly, my Invention relates to blast engines for pumping or forcing air,
and its object is to form a direct acting steam condensing blast engine,
dispensing with the beam hitherto used with condensing engines. and this
part of my Invention consists in a combination and arrangement of a steam
cylinder. blast cylinder, and air pump cylinder for the condenser, so that the
pistons are all connected to the same piston rod or a continuation of the
piston rod of the steam cylinder. Or this part of my Invention consists in
[Price 8d.]

page_text: arranging the steam and blast cylinder as above described, and in working
the air pump for the condenser by a lever or by a crank or excentric on the
crank shaft. This part of my Invention also consists in arranging and
combining the steam and blast cylinder and air pump together as above
described, and in regulating the motion of the engine, and working the valves
by connecting two piston rods to the piston of the air cylinder. and trans-
mitting the motion by connecting rods to a crank shaft. This part of my
Invention also consists in forming blast condensing steam engines by an
arrangement and combination of three steam eylinders to form one connected
blast engine. The three steam cylinders being bolted together side by side
so as to form a connected beam, a continuation of the piston rod of the
middle steam cylinder works a single or double acting air pump for the three
steam cylinders, and a continuation of each of the piston rods of the outside
cylinders works the piston of a blast cylinder, and the piston of each steam
cylinder is connected with a crank on the same crank shaft, so that the
pistons of the three steam cylinders are coupled together. Two or more
steam cylinders for blast engines may be connected together as above
described. This part of my Invention also consists in working the valves of
the binst cylinders by excentrics or cranks upon an independent shaft. having
two or more crauks upon it receiving motion by rods and levers from the
piston rods of the engine.
Secondly. my improvements relate to direct acting condensing steam
pumping engines. and consists in combinations and arrangements of such
engines as described for blast engines under the first division of my Invention.
substituting suitable pump barrels and valves in place of the blast cylinders.
This part of my Invention also consists in arranging and combining with a
condensing steam engine a pump. one side of the piston of which will act as
an air pump for the condenser. and the other side of the piston for pumping
water for general purposes. The capacity of the air pump may be made
equal to, or greater, or less than the water pump: one pump is made of less
capacity than the other by making the piston rod on that side of the piston
which is to have the least capacity in the trunk form. This part of my
Invention also consists in working compound air and water pumps of
different capacity as above described by continuations of the piston rods of the
steam cylinders. This part of my Invention also consists in a mode of
constructing valves for pumps by means of two discs of india-rubber, onc
above the other below a disc weight: one disc of india-rubber comes between
the weight and grid valve facing the other disc of india-rubber between the
weight and the stop, which limits the height to which the disc can lift. the

page_text: upper disc forming a buffer for the weight, which is guided by a pin or other
means in its ascent and descent.
Thirdly, my improvements apply more particularly where a number of
independent steam power engines are required, such as ordinary high-pressure
steam engines, steam hammers, blowing engines, rivetting machines at
various places or in different rooms, in manufactories, and where an economy
of steam will be effected by condensing the steam from such engines by
forming a vacuum equal to that in ordinary condensing engines, and this
part of my Invention consists in arranging so that each steam engine will
discharge its exhaust steam into a main pipe leading to à common condenser
(surface or otherwise) situated in any convenient position. If the main pipe
is extensive it will act in great measure as a surface condenser, and will be
placed in such position (as far as convenient) to act as a surface condenser,
and in connection with this common condenser or main pipe an air pump is
worked by any convenient power. If the number of engines in connection
with the common condenser is such as to require a large air pump. then I
employ a separate steam engine to work such air pump. By these improve-
ments the simplicity and convenience of high-pressure steam engines. placed
in any required position so as to dispense with heavy gearing and shafting.
may be obtained, combined with the economy of condensing steam engines.
Fourthly, my improvements relate to a mode of constructing and arranging
the bed and walls of houses for steam engines so as to give greater stability
with less bed, and it consists in placing an iron frame wholly or partly round
the side walls at the level of the entablature beams, and in bolting this frame
of iron to the foundation part of the walls by bolts built into the walls. so that
the walls become united in one solid mass. and thus any strains which the
engine puts upon the entablature beams are distributed over and resisted by
the whole of the side walls instead of a small part only as hitherto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Stead Crosland in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. JAMES
STEAD CROSLAND, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster. Engi-
neer. send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign. did, for Ierself. 1ler heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ne, the said James Stead Crosland, Her special license that 1. the said
James Stend Crosland, my executors. administrators. and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said James Stend Crosland. my executors. administrators.
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others. from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed. should aud
lawfully might make. use. exercise. and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland. the Channel Islands. and Isle of Man. an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR BLOWING, PUMPINO, OR
FORCINO, AIB, PUMPING WATER. DRIVING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OR BEDS OF STEAM ENGINES," upon the
condition, amongst oth, that I, the said James Stead Crosland. by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Stead Crosland, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood. I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being had to the
accompanying three Sheets of Drawings. and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts through-
out all the Figures. that is to say:---
My Invention relates to blast engines for pumping or forcing air, and its
object is to form a direct acting steam condensing blast engine. dispensing
with the working swing beam hitherto used with condensing engines: and
these improvements are represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, and 6 on Sheet
No. 1. and in Figures 7, 8. 9. 10. and 11 on Sheet No. 2: Figures 2, 4. 6,
7. 9, and 10 are front elevational sections. and Figures 1. 3. 5. and 8 are
side views respectively of the same: Figure 11 is a plan of Figure 10; in
the above Figures A represents the steam cylinder. B the blast cylinder, and
C the air pump cylinder for the condenser ; 11. 1, is the working cross
head secured to the continuous piston rod E, and working between the air
pump. C and sieam cylinder A: two connecting rods III. HI. Communicate
motion from the cross head to the crank shaft I, which regulates the

page_text: motion of the engine; h2, h2, are the parallel motion or slide guide bars of
the cross head H; S. S, are the main frames bracing all the cylinders
together; the pistons of the three cylinders A, B, and C are connected to
one continuous piston rod E. giving motion to the cross head H. connecting
rods HI, and crank shaft I. Or, as shew in Figures 3 and 4, the pistons of
the steam and blast cylinders are connected to one rod F1, and the air pump
is worked by a lever F, with side links. f. or an eccentric or eccentrics G. G.
may be made use of having a connecting rod or rods g. g, with cross head g',
which gives motion to the air pump rod g, as shewn in Figure 7 on Sheel
No. 2, or a double crank GI may be introduced with its connecting rod g,
and piston rod 2, shewn in Figure 9; or 1 arrange and combine the steam
cylinder A. the blast cylinder B, and air pump cylinder C together. that is to
say, coupling their pistons to a continuous rod E, as shewn in dotted lines in
Figures 7. 8, and 9. and regulating the motion of the steam engine by a
second piston rod E2. which is connected to the piston b, b, of the air
cylinder B, with the connecting rods H1, HI, coupled to the crank shaft 1;
or, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 on Sheet No. 1, two piston rods E2, E2,
coupling the air piston b, b, with the cross head II, II, on the steam piston
rod El, and to which also are linked the connecting rods H1, HI, which
turn the double cranks I, II, on the shaft 1. And this part of my Invention
also consists in forming blast condensing steam engines by an arrangement
and combination of three steam cylinders to form one connected or coupled
blast engine or engines, and shown in the sectional view, Figure 10 on Sheet
No. 2. The three steam cylinders A, A1, and A2, being bolted together side
by side so as to form a connected beam or girder, which is to be secured by
pillars or plated castings yl, yl, to the walls Y. Y, an elongation to the
piston rod E of the middle steam cylinder works a single or double acting
air pump C, which performs duty for the three steam cylinders A, A1, and A2,
if those cylinders are used all as condensing cylinders, but if desirable the
steam cylinder A and Al may be worked as high-pressure steam cylinders,
and from which the low-pressure condensing steam cylinder A2 shall receive
its steam, being made of double the capacity of the combined cylinders A
and Al, in order to increase the expansive working of the stean; an elon-
gation of each piston rod E1 and E2 of the outside steam cylinders A and A2
works the pistons of two blast cylynders B and B1. and each piston of the
steam cylinders A, AI, and A2 is connected by a crank and connecting rod
H. H1, and H2 to the same crank shaft I, I, I, so that three steam pistons
are employed to work two blast cylinders, the whole being coupled in one
common engine, with the three cranks working in different centres or positions.

page_text: Figure 9 shews a modification of the above arrangement, but with two steam
cylinders A1 and A2 working two blast cylinders B, B: and these steam
cylinders also may be made of the same size, and both connected to a common
condenser, or they may be of unequal capacity as before described. Al being
worked as a high-pressure steam cylinder, from which the condensing cylinder
A2 will receive its steam, being of double the capacity of the cylinder Al;
C is the air pump. and is worked by the double crank GI. or by an eccentric
placed in that position: is the connecting rod of the air pump, and 92 its
piston rod. These improvements in blast engines for pumping or forcing air
are applicable placed vertically, as shewn in the Drawings, or they may be
inverted, or they may be placed horizontally by providing suitable fixings and
framing for that purpose.
Secondly. my improvements in blast engines for pumping or forcing air are
also applicable as engines for pumping and forcing water. by substituting
suitable cylinders for that purpose in place of the air cylinders B and B1.
and for that purpose the engine and cylinders shewn in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4.
5. and 6 would be more suitable in the inverted position. These improve-
ments in steam engines are also applicable for driving machinery and for
other purposes, if the air or water pumping cylinders B and B1 are omitted:
or. when the cylinders B and B are retained, if with proportionably dimi-
nished capacities as compared with the steam power cylinders A. A. which is
exemplified more particularly in reference to Figures 12. 13. 14, and 15.
Figures 12 and 13 represent an inverted condensing steam engine with a
pump, one side of the piston of which will act as an air pump C for the
condenser D. and the other side C2 of the piston for pumping water for
general purposes, and is worked by an elongation of the steam piston rod E.
and this said pump C is placed between the steam cylinder A and the crank
shaft 1. which is worked by the double connecting or side rods III. II. on
the elongated double crank pin k, or by a forked rod and a short crank pin.
which projects from the disc or crank on the crank shaft 1; upon the piston
rod E a cross head h, h, is secured working in the slide guide bars 2. h2,
and between the steam cylinder A and the air pump C: the upper portion
(by preference see also Figure 6 on Sheet No. 1) of the cylinder or working
barrel C forms the air pump, with its foot valve or valves C1. delivery valve
or valves C2, hotwell C3, and condenser D; the hotwell column and con-
denser column D also constitute and form the main pillars or supports of the
steam cylinder A: the lower portions of these columns or pillars also (when so
required) form the the necessary air vessels of a pumping engine, in which case
b is the air vessel of induction or suction of water for general purposes, having

page_text: its suction valve b1. delivery valve b2, and air vessel of delivery b3: or, as in
Figure 6. the working barrel C is retained for an air pump exclusively. the
whole power of the engine is in that case devoted to turning machinery being
an improved arrangement of condensing steam engine designed for that
purpose. The capacity of the air pump C may be made equal to or greater
or less than the water pump C2. and one action or capacity of the pump is
made less than the other action or capacity by making the piston rod et in
the trunk form, as shewn in Figure 14.1 And this part of my Invention also
consist in working air pumps and water pumps for general purposes of
different capacities in one pump as above described, by clongated piston rods
as at E, el, and e2, of the steam cylinders A. AI, and A2, of Figure 10.
And this part of my Invention also consists in a mode of constructing valves
for pumps. I use two discs of india-rubber 1 and LI, placed above and below
a disc weight M, one disc or sheet of india-rubber comes between the weight. M
and the grid valve facing N, the other disc of india-rubber L is placed
between the weight M and the stop O, which limits their lift: the upper
disc LI forms a buffer to the weight M, and is guided in its ascent and
descent by a pin P. or by other means. In some cases leather may be
substituted for india-rubber.
Thirdly. my improvements apply more particularly where a number of
independent steam power engines are at work or required, such as steam
hammers, rivetting machines, blowing engines, and other ordinary otherwise
high-pressure engines; and the steam machinery or engines may he situate
in various places or in different rooms; and this part of my Invention consists
in arranging so that each steam hammer. machine. or steam engine will
discharge its exhaust steam into a main pipe leading to a common or general
condenser.
I will now more fully describe the mode or methods pursued by me in
applying this part of my Invention to steam hammers, that is to say, I form
a vacuum with an air pump and condenser or main pipe or piping, with or
without a jet of water in the said condenser, into which the steam is dis-
charged from the steam hammer.
My Invention of using vacuum with steam hammers is alike applicable to
all known forms or modes of the steam hammer, but my improvements give
rise to new features and modes of using and applying the said vacuum so
obtained by an air pump as described, and these are as follows:-I claim using
the steam with the vacuum acting on the top and bottom side of the piston
of a steam hammer, namely, as used double acting; or when the steam
with vacuum is used single acting, namely, only on the bottom side of the

page_text: piston of the steam hammer. as shewn in Figure 22, with or without the
atmosphere acting on the upper side of the piston, with open end cylinder,
being an atmospheric steam engine; or the cylinder may have a closed top.
in this case a compression of air will take place: or the steam hammer may
he made on the single acting system as described, with atmospheric pressure
acting upon the under side of the piston. as shewn in Figure 23. having
steam and vacuum applied to the upper side of the piston, which is regulated
by the working slide or other valve J and its working gear and handles J1;
when not required to be at work. the vacuum communication is shut off from
the steam hammer by a stop-cock or valve 1, and in like manner the steam
communication by the stop-cock or valve 2. Figures 17 and 23 inclusive
represent otherwise high-pressure steam engines. steam hammers, blowing
engines, and rivetting machines. being or required to be situate in various
places or in different rooms in manufactories, as shewn in Figure 17. which is
a longitudinal, or it may be considered as a vertical or as a horizontal section
of a manufactory with five stories or rooms R1, R2, R3. R4, and R5. having
steam engines A. A. A. driving as many lines of shafting T. T. T. as may be
required, arranged in any convenient manner, and by means of these arrange-
ments as described transverse and upright shafts and wheels for speeding and
Transmitting power are dispensed with. And this part of my Invention
consists in arranging so that each of the said otherwise high-pressure steam
engines shall discharge its exhaust steam into a main pipe r. leading to a
common or general condenser D1 in connection with an air pump C1. and
which said exhaust steam did or would in the usual well-known ordinary
method of non-condensing steam engine or engines have been exhausted or
blown into the open air or otherwise. And this part of my Invention consists
in making a general and common vacuum by air pump and condensation of
steam available for or with a series of land or stationary steam engines, as
also in the peculiar novelty in the used and application of vacuum and con-
densation with steam hammers. If the main piping W. W. is extensive in
its length and disposition. it will act necessarily in a great measure as a
surface condenser, and may be placed as much exposed to the action of cold
air or of water as may be found convenient: by this means a very little jet of
water will be required to complete the vacuum made permanent. by the air
pump. The air pump Ct is worked by a special steam engine for that
purpose, or an air pump and condenser already in use for other purposes
may be made use of, thus facilitating the adoption and use of my Invention
of changing non-condensing engines into condensing steam engines, and thus
secure a considerable amount of additional power and economy.
And this part

page_text: of my Invention consists in the use and application of
stop-cock or stop
valve to close the communication between the steam engine and the air pump
and condenser, and the said stop-cock or valve may have two ways or
passages, which when closed to the air pump may open to the atmosphere;
this stop-cock or valve WI closes the air pump connexion, and the stop-cock
or valve W2 closes the boiler connexion for steam.
Fourthly, my improvements relates to a mode of constructing and arranging
the bed and walls of houses for steam engines so as to give greater stability
with less bulk of foundations, and as shewn in Figures 10 and 11 on Sheet
No. 2; and it consists in placing an iron frame X, X, X, wholly or partly
built in round the side walls Y, Y, Y, at the level of the entablature beams
Z. Z. of the steam engine, and in bolting the said iron frame X, X. X, down
to the base of the walls Y, Y, Y, by long bolts . u, y, which are built into
the said walls, so that those walls throughout their height and length are
braced and consolidated, the better to resist shock and the usual strain and
tremor of vertical or other steam engines.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and particularly described
the manner in which the same is or may be performed, 1 wish it to be under-
stood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth, as
the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
Invention; but what I do claim is, -
Firstly, the arranging or combining an air pump and condenser with a
direct acting blast cylinder or cylinders, that is to say, so as to form a direct
acting steam condensing blast engine, dispensing with the beam hitherto used
with condensing blast engines, and substantially in the manner or modes
herein-before particularly described and delineated, or any mere modifications
thereof.
Secondly, the arrangements and combinations of steam cylinder, air pump,
and condenser with cylinder for pumping water, as shewn and described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Thirdly, the arrangements and combination of steam cylinder, air pump,
and condenser, the condenser and hotwell forming main supports of the
engines, with a double connecting rod or rods, or with a forked rod connected
to one crank pin, and having a cross head for the two connecting rods working
between the steam cylinder and air pump, and designed for turning machinery.
as shewn and described in reference to Figures 12 and 13.
Fourthly, the arrangement and combination of steam cylinder and air
pump double acting, one part of which is used for pumping water for general
purposes, with the surplus power of the steam engine being used to turning

page_text: machinery or otherwise, and as shown and described in reference to Figures
12, 13, 14, and 15.
Fifthly, the mode or method of using in common and general a vacuum
formed independently of the steam engine or engines requiring such vacuum,
and as shewn and described in reference to Figures 17 and 23 inclusive.
Sixthly, using vacuum and condensation with a steam hammer.
Seventhly, using a stop-cock or stop valve to close the communication
between any steam engine and the condenser.
Eighthly, the use of the alternative of working on the condensing or on the
non-condensing system with a steam engine or steam hammer by means of a
cock or tap with two ways, or by a slide or other valve with two passages.
Ninthly, the mode of using iron frames or plates bolted with strong through
holts down to the base or foundations for the purpose of solidifying the walls
of an engine house, as shan and described in reference to Figures 10
and 11.
Tenthly, the mode of constructing the valves for pumps as shewn and
described in reference to Figure 16.
In witness whereof. I. the said James Stead Crosland. have herenulo
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of March. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.