IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Reverend Henry Moule, Clerk, Master of Arts,
of Fordington, in the County of Dorset, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM
FOR STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 19th May 1863, and dated the 29th November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Moule at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
November 1862.
I, The Reverend HENRY MOULE, Clerk, Master of Arts, of Fordington,
in the County of Dorset, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
STEAM FOR STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in locomotive engines,
and in apparatus for generating steam for steam engines. In con-
structing locomotive engines I make the ash-pit of the engine of suitable
capacity so that it shall be water-tight, and when closed as near as possible
air-tight, and I lead into it a steam pipe from the boiler. Into the ash-
pit, through an opening provided for the purpose, I introduce a charge of

page_text: bituminous coal, together with oil or oily substance, vegetable or other, and water,
and then by means of a suitable cover fitted to the opening I close the ash-pit
as near as possible air-tight. The charge thus put into the ash-pit is suffi-
ciently large to last for the whole journey the locomotive is intended to
make. On the fire-bars within the furnace of the locomotive I lay in alter-
nate layers coal or coke, and chalk, limestone, or lime, until the furnace is
sufficiently full; I then light the coal or coke. These substances may be
mixed together in place of being laid in layers. Air to support combustion is
then, and constantly throughout the working of the engine, admitted to the
furnace by apertures above the fire-bars. When the contents of the furnace
are well hot, and steam commences to be generated, I allow it or a portion
of it to pass into the ash-pit, and from thence (with the gases and vapours
generated by it, and by radiation and conduction of heat from the furnace) it
escapes into the furnace, where it excites a vivid combustion, which continues
so long as the steam is allowed. to enter the ash-pit.
In constructing apparatus for generating steam for marine and stationary
engines, as also for moveable engines for agricultural purpose, I proceed in
a similar manner, employing a closed ash-pit suited to receive a large charge of
coal with oil or oily substance, whether vegetable or other, and water, and con-
nected by a pipe with the boiler, and also a furnace into which air can be
admitted over the fire-bars, and for working I charge the ash-pit and furnace
in the manner already described, and admit steam to the ash-pit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Moule in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, the
Reverend HENRY MOULE,, Clerk, Master of Arts, of Fordington, in the
County of Dorset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Moule, Her special licence, that I, the said Henry
Moule, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Moule, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and 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 LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM FOR STEAM
ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Moule, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the 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 Henry Moule, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in locomotive engines, and
in apparatus for generating steam for steam engines. In constructing a
locomotive or other engine I make the fire-box and ash-pit of the engine.
of suitable dimensions. The bottom and sides of the ash-pit are closed
water-tight in order to its containing water below the fire-bars. At the sides
of the ash-pit openings are formed for the admission of air to the fire; over
these openings slides or covers are used in order to regulate the admission of
air, and, when desired, to shut off the supply of air altogether, a steam pipe
is applied between the ash-pit and the steam boiler in order that steam may
be admitted to the ash-pit. On the steam pipe is a cock or valve by which
the supply of steam to the ash-pit may be regulated or shut off. Into the
ash-pit a mixture of oil or oily or fatty matters mixed with powdered-coal is
to be introduced, and a supply of water is to be constantly kept up in the ash-
pit so as to touch the fire-bars, or to come as near thereto as may be. On
the fire-bars alternate layers of coal or coke, and chalk, limestone, or lime
are to be placed sufficient to fill the fire-box to the desired height; or the
fuel and chalk, limestone, or lime may be mixed before introducing them
into the fire-box. The fire is to be lighted, air being admitted freely at the
openings at the sides of the fire-box or ash-pit. When the fire is well
ignited steam may be admitted into the ash-pit from the steam boiler, and
the admission of air may generally be reduced. The engine-man will, during
the working of the boiler, regulate the admission of air and of steam, or stop

page_text: is required to maintain the quality or character of fire he desires.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows an external view of the lower part of the fire-box of a
locomotive or other engine boiler; Figure 2 shows a section of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 shows a transverse section thereof.
A is the lower part of the fire-box and ash-pit, which is made air and
water tight in order that it may contain water. Above the water line are
openings B, B, to admit air; these openings have slides C, C, to regulate the
admission of air to the fire, and such slides are capable of closing the openings
when desired. The lower part of the fire-box or ash-pit is mounted on an
axis D, so as to admit of its being lowered when the key E or other fastening
used is removed; F, F, are fire-bars, which are preferred to be cranked
downwards, so that they may be more or less in contact with the water, or
only slightly above the level thereof; G is a pipe by which the supply of
water to the ash-pit is kept up. A steam pipe, not shown in the Drawing, is
applied between the steam boiler and the ash-pit, in order that a supply of
steam from the boiler to the ash-pit above the water therein may be made;
on this pipe there is a cock or valve to regulate the supply of steam, and to
cut it off when necessary..
The quantity of oil or oily or greasy matter used, and of the powdered
coal mixed therewith, may be greatly varied, but I have found that one
part by weight of oily or greasy matter to sixteen parts by weight of
powdered coal is a good mixture; and I introduce a quantity of this
mixture into the ash-pit, and then introduce the water, so that it may
rise a few inches above the mixture. If I use oily matters, such as linseed,
I find it desirable to soak the same in water. for some hours; thus, when
linseed is used, I steep at the rate of a peck in about sixty-four gallons of
water for twenty-four hours, and then combine or mix therewith powdered
coal. When the fire in the fire-box has become well lighted, the water in
the ash-pit will be caused to boil, and vapours of the water together with
vapours or products from the mixture will rise between the fire-bars. By
these means a very bright fire will be produced, depending on the admission of
the steam from the boiler being regulated or cut off as may be found neces-
sary, the admission of air being also regulated.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim separately
the use of limestone, chalk, or lime with the fuel in the fire-places of steam
boilers, nor do I claim the introduction of water or of steam in the ash-
pits of steam boiler furnaces; but what I claim is the combination herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Moule, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
HENRY MOULE. (L.S.)