IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beckett Johnson, of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Manager for Messrs. Ormerod and Son,
Engineers and Iron Founders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 23rd May 1854, and dated the 23rd November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beckett
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd November 1853.
I, WILLIAM BECKETT JOHNSON, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager for Messrs. Ormerod and Son, Engineers and Iron
Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to compound engines, that is to say,
those engines in which the steam, after having acted in one cylinder, is
admitted to a second, there in like manner to exert its force. The
novelty consists in placing the two cylinders in such a position that
their centre lines intersect each other at a point situate above them,
which point is that occupied by a crank shaft, to which they are both
connected.

page_text: Another point of novelty is in the form of framework I employ for
engines with the above arrangement of cylinders, whether such engines
be compound or working, with two high pressure or with two low
pressure cylinders. The framework consists of an upright part, pro-
vided with suitable portions on its face, to which the cylinders may be
bolted, and carrying at its upper end a bearing for the crank shaft;
from the back of this framework a rib extends passing downward to
the foundation plate...
A third feature of novelty consists in placing the slide valyes of two
steam engine cylinders, situate as above described, facing each other,
that is to say, within the. space included by the two cylinders. The
last improvement also applies to engines, in which two cylinders are
situate as aforesaid, and consists in placing the air pump between the
two and working, it direct from the crank shaft above.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Beckett Johnson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM BECKETT JOHNSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Manager for Messieurs Ormerod and Son, Engineers and Iron-
founders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Beckett Johnson, Her especial
license that I, the said William Beckett Johnson, my exccutors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Beckett
Johnson, iny 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

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and. Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Beckett Johnson, by an instrument in writing
under my
hand and seal, 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 William Beckett Johnson, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that
is to say):
My improvements relate, firstly, to compound engines, that is to
say, such engines in which the steam, after having acted in one
cylinder, is admitted to a second, there in like manner to exert its
force, and is shewn in front and side elevations at Figs. 1 and 2. The
novelty consists in placing two cylinders a and b in such a position that
their centre lines intersect each other at a point situate above them,
which point is that occupied by a crank shaft g, to which the power of
the two cylinders is communicated by means of the usual piston and
connecting rods, and crank d..
Another point of novelty is in the form of framework I employ for
engines with the above arrangement of cylinders, whether such are
compound or working with two high pressure or two low pressure
cylinders. The framework consists of an upright part e, e, with suitable
portions e', e', on its face, to which the cylinders a and b may be bolted,.
and carrying at its upper end a bearing f, for the crank shaft g.
From the back of the framework a rib or ribs h extend, passing down-
ward to the foundation plate i.
A third feature of novelty consists in placing the slide valves j and k
of two steam engine cylinders a and b, situate as above described,
facing each other, that is to say, within the space included by the two
cylinders. The last improvement also applies to engines in which the
cylinders a and b are situate as aforesaid, and consists in placing the

page_text: air pump between the two cylinders, and working it direct from
the crank shaft g above, by means of a connecting rod taking hold of
the crank pin at its upper end and of the piston or rod at its lower
end.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it
to be understood that I claim,—
Firstly, placing the two cylinders of compound engines in such a
position that their centre lines intersect each other at a point above,
which point is that occupied by the crank shaft to which they are both
connected.
Secondly, constructing the framing of engines, having cylinders placed
in the position before named, of an upright part, to the face of which
the cylinders are fixed, and strengthening such framing by extending
from its back a rib or ribs downwards to the foundation plate.
Thirdly, placing the slide valves of two steam engine cylinders, situate
as before mentioned, facing each other, or within the space included by
the two cylinders.
Fourthly, placing the air pump between two steam engine cylinders,
situate as before named, and working it direct from the crank shaft
above.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beckett Johnson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four.
W. B. JOHNSON. (L.S.)