IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WHITHAM, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifteenth day of January, in the second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Whitham, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Whitham, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Whitham,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said William
Whitham, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with said proviso, I, the said
William Whitham, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of improvements in engines to be worked by steam consists!
in such a modification and arrangement of, and addition to, some of the
ordinary and well known parts of such engines as enable me to perform, within
one and the same cylinder, all the separate functions of the three distinct
varities of reciprocating steam engines, distinguished by the several names of
high pressure, expansive pressure, and atmospheric pressure engines, and to
define three descriptions of pressure resulting from one and the same steam
admitted into the interior of one and the same cylinder, to operate in impelling
one and the same piston,-first, by high pressure; second, by expansive
pressure; and, thirdly, by condensation, with direct atmospheric pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED A.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of that part of a steam engine to which
my improvements are applied, having the slide valve in the proper position
for the descending stroke. Figure (2) shews the same vertical section, with
the valve in the proper position for the ascending stroke. In each of the
Figures the same letters of reference indicate similar parts. (A) is the steam
cylinder, of the usual form; (B), the piston, which I call a compound piston,
because it partakes of the qualities both of the piston and plunger combined.
The lower parts of the piston (B) fits the interior circumference of the
cylinder (A), and is made to work steam tight therein by metallic or other
packings in the usual manner; the upper part (B1), which I call the plunger
part, rises from the piston (B) in the form of a hollow cylinder, having its
exterior surface turned perfectly cylindrical and smooth. This part, which
is made longer than the interior cavity of the cylinder (A), passes through
the cylinder cover and the stuffing box, within the last of which it is made
to work steam tight by any of the well known modes of packing usually
resorted to for a similar purpose.. (C) is the piston rod, having its lower end
fixed in the centre of the piston (B), and its upper end connected to the beam,
cross gudgeon, and the links of the parallel motion, in the usual manner. And
I would have it understood that though I have here represented the piston
rod (C) as being attached to a beam, such, beam is not absolutely necessary, as
motive power may be transmitted from the piston to machinery by any of the
well known means employed for that end. (D) is a valve box, through which
open three steam passages (1, 2, 3). The upper passage (1) leads to the

page_text: •
upper part of the cylinder; the middle passage (2) leads to the lower part of
the cylinder; while the lowest passage (3) leads to the condenser. (E) is a
slide valve of the usual form, with the exception of the lower part, which part
is so extended lengthwise in á flat surface as to cover the eduction passage (3)
when the valve is in the position shewn on section Figure (2), as will be
herein-after explained. (4) is the steam passage leading to the boiler,
in which must be fixed the throttle valve for regulating the speed of the
engine, which valve may be controlled by a governor, or by any other means
calculated to insure the steady performance of the engine. The slide valve-(E)
may be worked by an eccentric, or by any of the well known contrivances for
that purpose. All the other parts of my engine are similar to the correspond-
ing parts of other reciprocating steam engines, which, being well known, need
no further description. The difference between the area of the internal cavity
of the cylinder (A), and the area of a section of the plunger part of the
piston (B), determines to what number of times a given volume of steam shall
expand; as, for instance, if the area of the plunger part be three, and the area
of the cylinder be four, expand from one volume to four volumes, and it is
evident that by increasing the circumference of the plunger part of the
piston (B), and diminishing the annualar space between the internal circum-
ference of the cylinder (A), and the external circumference of the plunger part
of the piston (B), the principle of expansion may be carried to the utmost
beneficial extent. When the engine is to be set to work, the slide valve (E)
must be detached from the eccentric and raised above its working range, in
order to open a communication between the boiler and condenser, for the
purpose of what is technically called blowing
the steam to expel the air out of the condenser.
injection cock opened, if an ascending stroke be
be moved below its working range in order to open both the passages (1) and
(2), that is, the upper and lower passages of the cylinder, to the pressure of
the steam from the boiler. In this state the pressure in the upper and lower
part of the cylinder is equal, and the piston (B), with its plunger part, is forced
upwards with a power proportionate 'to the sum of the plunger's area, multiplied
by the pressure of the steam in the cylinder over and above the pressure of the
atmosphere. When the piston has ascended to the top of the cylinder the
valve (E) must be raised and connected to the eccentric, which necessarily
places the valve in the proper position for the descending stroke; but if, after
expelling the air out of the condenser, a descending stroke is required, the valve
must be connected to the eccentric at once.
through, that is, allowing
When that is done, and the
required, the slide valve must
Figure 1 shews the, position of valve (E)-when-the-piston is making a

page_text: descending stroke. The upper passage (1) is admitting steam from the boiler
to the annular space between the plunger (B), part of piston (B), and the
cylinder (A), which steam is acting upon the annular surface of the piston (B);
at the same time the two passages (2) and (3) are connected by the hollow
cavity within the valve, and form a communication between the bottom of the
cylinder and the condenser. A vacuum below the piston consequently exists,
while the direct pressure of the atmosphere upon the whole area of the
plunger (B'), together with the pressure of the steam on the annular surface
of the piston (B) combine their united forces to depress the piston. Note.-In
calculating the effective pressure of the steam acting upon the annular surface
of the piston (B), an additional pressure, equal to that of the atmosphere over
and above the direct high pressure, must be added.
Figure 2 shews the position of the valve (E), where the piston is making an
ascending stroke. The eduction passage (3) is shut by the flat extended
surface on the bottom of the valve (E), while the two passages (1) and (2) are
connected by the hollow cavity within the valve, and form a communication
between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder (A), thus shutting off all
communication between the boiler and the cylinder, and also between the
cylinder and the condenser. The high pressure steam which, during
the preceding descending stroke, had accumulated in the annular space
between the interior surface of the cylinder (A) and the exterior surface of the
plunger part of the piston (B), is now acting against the plunger with its whole
force of expansion for the ascending stroke, while the annular surface of the
piston (B) is rendered passive or inert, in consequence of the pressure above
and below being equal. By the time the piston has ascended to the top of the
cylinder the high pressure steam is again admitted to act upon the annular
surface of the piston; at the same time the bottom of the cylinder is opened to
the condenser, whereby the steam beneath the piston is reduced by previous
expansion to the state of low pressure, steam is condensed as before, and the
alternate motion of the piston is continued. On comparing the amount of
power produced by each stroke of the piston respectively, it is found that
the descending impulse exceeds the ascending impulse. Now, in order to
equalize the two, I weight the rim of the fly-wheel at about one eighth
of its circumference back from the perpendicular, supposing the crank to stand
vertical, and I attach the air pump to the outer arm of the beam, so that the
power required to work this pump is taken from the greater impulse, and
the
pump is exhausting when the cylinder is open to the condenser.
I will now proceed to describe my "Improvements in Engines to be Worked
by Water," which improvements are applicable to hydraulic engines of the

page_text: reciprocating kind, that is, such engines as receive and impart motive power
from the gravitating pressure of water made to operate alternately on both
sides of a piston in a cylinder (such water being conducted in pipes or other-
wise from elevated springs, drains, tanks, or reservoirs for that purpose), and
comprises such a modification and arrangement of, and additions to, some of
the ordinary and well known parts of such engines as enable me, firstly, to
receive and impart motive power from the pressure of water, with freedom
from checks, concussions, or loss of useful effect, and at a velocity as great
as is usually obtained from the pressure of steam or other elastic fluids.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING MARKED B.
Figure 1 is a side view of an engine constructed according to this part of
my Invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the same; and Figure 3 is a section
-the same letters of reference indicating similar parts wherever they occur.
a represents the cylinder fixed upon and communicating with the hollow
chamber b, which last is screwed fast upon the upper surface of the table or
framing; (c), (d) is a piston of the ordinary construction, having a valve (e)
opening upwards. A rod or spindle (f) proceeds from the centre of the
under side of this valve, and passes downwards through the stuffing box (g) to
the vibrating catch (h). This catch consists of a stud or tooth projecting
from the middle of a short axis, which axis vibrates upon bearings fixed on
each side of a square opening in the middle of the carrying bar (i), which bar
is suspended to the piston cross bar (j) by the two rods (k, k). By this
arrangement the carrying bar (i) with the vibrating catch (h), partake of the
same motion as the piston (d). To the lower end of the valve spindle (ƒ) is
attached the locking piece (1), which consists of a piece of steel, or other
metal, having a slot or opening, as shewn on a larger scale at Figures 4 and 5.
The vibrating catch (h) moves within this slot occupying the upper or narrow
part when the valve e is shut, but on the valve (e) being raised a certain
height, the catch turns laterally on its axis within the broad part of the slot,
and prevents the valve (e) from shutting so long as the catch remains in that
position. The lateral movement of the catch is effected by the lever (m),
fixed by the middle on one end of the axis of the vibrating catch (h); one arm
of this lever is so much heaver than its opposite as to give the catch (h) a
constant tendency to move towards the broad part of the slot, while the
opposite or higher end performs the part of a trigger, by means of which the
catch is turned back within the higher or narrow part of the slot, when it is
expedient to release the valve (e) and allow of its being shut; (n) is a bridge
or support over the crank shaft (9), having a small hollow cylinder (p) fixed

page_text: upon its crown directly underneath the locking piece (1); a strong belical
spring is placed at the bottom of the inside cavity of this cylinder (p), and
upon this spring a solid cylindrical plunger of wood, long enough to project
one inch or more above the top of the cylinder (p), and capable of moving
freely up and down within it. This plunger (7) is placed so as to intercept
the locking piece (1) a little before the piston arrives at the end of its descent,
and endeavours to prevent the piston valve (e) from descending so low as the
piston; but the superior presure on the valve presses the plunger.(g) down the
cylinder in opposition. to the spring until the piston is about to change the
direction of its motion, when the valve, being relieved from its pressure, (as
will be hereafter described) is lifted open by the reaction of the spring, and it
is kept open during the time the piston (d) is performing its upward motion
by the heavier end of the lever turning the vibrating catch (h) within the
lower or broad part of the slot; n' is a stud projecting from the under surface
of the table or framing (c), directly over the trigger of the vibrating catch (h);
this stud intercepts the trigger a little before the piston arrives at the top of its
ascending stroke, and causes the vibrating catch (h) to turn laterally within
the upper part of the slot, by which movement, the valve, being, no. longer
borne up by the catch, descends upon its seat. To the upper end of the
piston rod is fixed the hollow plunger or ram (d'), the upper part of which I
prefer to be made globular to serve as a receptacle for air which, when the
motion of the piston is about to be reversed, supplies the want of elasticity in
the impelling fiuid, and prevents check or concussion. The lower cylindrical
portion of the ram passes through the cover of the cylinder, and is made tight
by a double collar of leather or other suitable stuffing placed in the recess in
the cover of the upper part of the cylinder, similar to that employed for a like
purpose in the hydraulic press; and though I do not confine myself to any
relative proportions, yet I wish it to be understood that I prefer this lower or
cylindrical portion of the ram (d) to be made of such a diameter that its area
shall be equal to half the area of the piston (d). (r) is the eduction valve,
and consists of a plate of brass, or other metal, which alternately covers and
uncovers the passage in the eduction pipe (s). And I would here remark
that the passage through the eduction pipe should not be less than half the
area of the working cylinder (a), and also that the eduction valve (1) should
be made twice as long in the direction of its motion as is required to cover
the eduction passage, in order that a longer sweep may be given to it, and that
it may travel more rapidly over the passage. The requisite motion is given to
this valve by the eccentric wheel t fixed on the fly-wheel shaft (0), which
actuates the connecting rod (v), and the lever (1). which lever is connected to

page_text: the valve rod (v2), as will be seen on the Drawings. (w) represents the
induction pipe jointed to the upper thoroughfare. of the cylinder (a). And I
would remark that the bore of this pipe ought to be at least as large as the
outside of the ram (d¹). (w¹) is the throtle valve, connected to and controlled
by the governor in the usual manner. (a) is a slide valve for stopping the
engine, and is opened or shut by turning the handle (¹) on the end of the
spindle (a) of the valve (a). (w³) is an air vessel connected to the induction
pipe behind the valve (a), the air within which softens the blow occasioned by
the momentum of the fluid when the current is stopped by closing the
valve (a). The cross head is affixed to the upper part of the ram and piston
rod of the cylinder (a), and by means of the connecting rods (y) give motion
to the fly-wheel shaft (o). The table or upper part of the framing is
supported by four pillars (c¹), which pillars are bolted fast upon the foundation
plate in the usual manner.
Having described the various parts of an hydraulic engine constructed
according to my Invention, I will now explain in what manner the several
parts are made to operate in concert so as to produce the alternate movements
of the piston-Suppose the piston about to commence its descending stroke
from the upper part of the cylinder (a), the piston valve (e) will be shut by
the trigger of the vibrating, catch (h), having been intercepted by the
detaching stud (n), which stud having prevented the trigger from ascending
so high as the axis of the catch (h) on which it is fixed, has caused the catch
to turn within the higher or narrow part of the slot in the locking piece (4),
and set the valve at liberty; at the same time the eduction valve (r) has been
opened by the eccentric (t), to allow the fluid beneath the piston to escape,
and has set the piston free from the counteracting pressure of the fluid beneath.
In this state of things the pressure of the fluid on the upper surface of the
piston tends to press it down with a force equal to the weight of a column of
the fluid, the area of whose base equals the area of the piston, and whose
length is the perpendicular altitude of the fall. But as the fluid presses equally
in all directions, the same power that tends to drive the piston downwards,
tends also to drive the ram upwards, and the available effective power is, conse-
quently, as the difference in the area of the two, that is, of the piston and the
ram. The area of the ram being only half that of the piston, the latter pre-
ponderates, and gives an effective impulse equal to the weight of a column of
fluid, the base of which is equal to half the area of the piston, and whose
length is the perpendicular altitude of the fall. The quantity of fluid expended
in producing this downward movement is proportionate to the amount of
available power given out, that is, just half the contents of the portion or

page_text: space in the cylinder through which the piston moves, the other half being
occupied by the ram. When the piston has descended to near the termination
of its stroke, the bottom of the locking piece (1) comes in contact with the
plunger projecting from the cylinder (p), and presses the plunger (9) down in
opposition to the resistance of the spring. The pressure of the fluid on the
upper side of the piston keeps the valve (e) down until the eduction valve (7)
is shut at the end of the stroke. The closing of the eduction passage at the
end of the stroke renders the pressure above and below the piston equal,
while the piston valve (e) released from the pressure above, is opened by the
reaction of the spring within the cylinder (p), and is kept open during the
ascending stroke by the heavier end of the lever turning the catch within
the broad part of the slot, as shown at Figure 5; and I would observe that
the piston valve may be opened for the ascending stroke by merely causing
the eduction valve (r) to close a little before the piston arrives at the end of
its descent, without the use of the plunger (9) and helical spring, but I prefer
the mode I have described. The closing of the eduction valve (r), and the
opening of the piston valve (e), having rendered the piston passive, the tubular
ram being no longer restrained by the superior pressure on the piston, exerts a
force upwards equal to that of the piston downwards, and requires to produce
it the same quantity of fluid to fill up the space left by the ram, namely, half
the cylinder full. The two movements above described complete one double
stroke, in performing which double stroke no more water is expended than is
required to fill that part of the cylinder through which the piston moves.
Note: I would remark that it will be evident that the engine described
under the first part of my Invention may be worked by the vapours of other
fluids than water, as has been heretofore practised in other engines, at the
same time I would have it understood that my Invention does not relate to
the description of fluid used for working of the engine, but relates to the
modes of combining the parts of the engine. And I would also have it under-
stood that what I claim is,-
First, the mode of constructing an engine to be worked by the pressure
of steam (or the pressure of vapours of other fluids), the pressure of expan-
sion, and the pressure of the atmosphere, as above described.
And, secondly, I claim the mode of constructing an engine to be worked by
the pressure of water, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whitham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
WILLIAM (L.s.) WHITHAM.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Third day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid William Whitham came before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One
Inrolled the Fifteenth day of July in the your
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
of our Lord One