CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM' ENGINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Holt, of Gorton, near the City of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM' ENGINES."
Sealed the 4th May 1869, and dated the 26th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Holt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1868.
I, FRANCIS HOLT, of Gorton, near the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN 'STEAM' ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to reduce the friction by lubricating
the working surfaces of steam engines, and to prevent the escape of
steam in the stuffing boxes, and it consists, first, of an improved
lubricator; and, secondly, in an improved packing for stuffing boxes.

page_text: The lubricator consists of a vessel provided above and below with a
valve seating. The spindle of the upper valve is screwed into the spindle
of the lower valve, and the lower valve is held up against its seating by
a spring. The upper valve is opened to pour the lubricant into the vessel
by screwing the upper into the lower spindle, and it is closed by turning
the spindle in the contrary direction. When the cylinder or other
part requires to be lubricated the lower valve is opened either by turning
the upper spindle or by the partial vacuum in the cylinder to allow a
portion of the lubricant to flow out of the vessel, the quantity allowed
to escape being governed by the diameter of the spindle passing through
the seating.
This apparatus is particularly beneficial when applied to the cylinders
of locomotive engines, as the lubricant is only required when the steam
is turned off and when the engine is running down an incline, or in
motion by its own inertia.
The improved metallic packing for the stuffing boxes of locomotives
and other steam engines consists of two or more packing rings, which
are cut through at one part. These rings are slightly conical, and are
pressed by a spring into a conical bush loose in the stuffing box; the
end of the bush being faced to the end of the stuffing box prevents
the escape of steam and allows the packing to adapt itself to any slight
irregularity in the position of the piston or valve rod.
'SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Holt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
HOLT, of Gorton, near the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the 8
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Francis Holt, Her special license

page_text: and it is closed by turning the spindle in the contrary direction. When
the cylinder or other part requires to be lubricated the lower valve c¹ is
opened by turning the upper spindle 6 to allow a portion of the lubricant
to flow out of the vessel a through the elbow pipe e, the upper portion
of which serves as a guide for the square lower part of the spindle c, as
shewn in Figure 3, which is made with diagonal perforations e¹ to
convey the lubricant into the pipe e; the quantity of lubricant allowed
to escape being governed by the diameter of the shoulder e² on the
spindle c passing through the opening above the scating b³.
This apparatus is particularly beneficial when applied to the cylinders
of locomotive engines, as the lubricant is only required when the steam
is turned off and when the engine is running down an incline or is in
motion by its own inertia.
In condensing engines the vacuum formed in the pipe e causes the
valve c¹ to be opened at every stroke of the engine to the extent of the
back lash in the screw on the spindle 6 screwed into the socket of the
spindle c, thus rendering the lubricator self-acting in all cases where a
partial vacuum is formed under the valve c'.
Figure 5 is a plan and Figure 6 a section of my improved packings
for stuffing boxes. These improved metallic packings are adapted for the
stuffing boxes of locomotives and other steam engines. The packing
consists of two or more packing rings f, which are cut through in one
part. These rings are slightly conical at their circumference, and are
pressed by the spring g into the conical bush h loose in the stuffing box i;
the end of the bush h being faced to the end of the stuffing box prevents
the escape of steam, and allows the packing to adapt itself to any slight
irregularity in the position of the piston rod j of the piston working
in the cylinder k.
This improved metallic packing is also applicable to the valve
spindles of steam engines and to other purposes.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the
manner of performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
.
Firstly. The improved apparatus for lubricating the cylinders and
other parts of steam engines, as shewn and described in reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.

page_text: that I, the said Francis Holt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis Holt, 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 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Francis Holt, 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 Francis Holt, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
The object of my Invention is to reduce the friction in the working
surfaces of steam engines by means of an improved lubricating appa-
ratus, and to prevent the escape of steam in the stuffing boxes by means
of an improved metallic packing.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will
proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, Figure 2 an elevation, and Figures 3
and 4 are transverse sections of my improved lubricator.
The lubricator consists of a vessel a provided above and below with
a valve seating marked respectively a¹ and a²; the spindle 6 of the upper
valve 6' is screwed into the spindle c of the lower valve c', and the
valves 6' and care held up against their seatings a¹ and a² by the
spring d, which abuts against the fixed washer d', shewn detached in
Figure 4, and the loose washer d³ placed below the boss of the hand
wheel 6* fixed to the spindle b. The upper valve is opened to pour the
lubricant into the vessel by screwing the upper into the lower spindle,

page_text: And, secondly. The improved metallic packing for stuffing boxes, as
shewn and described in reference to Figures 5 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Holt, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, One thousand eight
'hundred and sixty-nine.
FRANCIS HOLT. (L.S.)