Improvements in Obtaining Motive Power, and Application of the same to Transmitting and Measuring Aeriform Bodies and Fluids.
Year: 1852

page_text: Improvements in Obtaining Motive Power, and
Application of the same to Transmitting and
Measuring Aeriform Bodies and Fluids.
GORMAN'S SPECIFICATION.
то ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM GORMAN, of Glasgow, in
in the
the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engraver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters l'atent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth
day of December, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Gorman, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Gorman, ny exors, admors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said William Gorman, my exors, adñiors, or as-
signs, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time totime
and at all times 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 IM-

page_text: PROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS OR PARTS
THEREOF ARE APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING AND TRANSMITTING AERIFORM
BODIES AND FLUIDS," for which said Invention Letters Patent for Scot-
land have been granted to me, bearing date the Twentieth day of April
last, in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring that
I, the said William Gorman, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and shall cause the same to be enrolled 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said William Gorman, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by this present instrument in writing,
as follows, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto attached,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates, first, to the economization of the fuel
used in the production or obtainment of motive power, by the employ-
ment of the heat which ordinarily passes off as waste up the chimney,
or flue of the boiler, or heat generator, to heat the air which passes
into the furnace for the support of the combustion of the fuel therein.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, on my Sheet of Drawings, represent three several
views of my arrangements for this purpose. a, a, are a series of pipes
open at both ends, and let into suitable perforated plates, which plates
are encased in brickwork as at b, b, and are fixed to the tube ends.
The arrows show the direction of the currents. The heated escape
gases are admitted into the interstices between the pipes to cominu-
nicate heat to the exterior surfaces of such pipes, the cold air being
forced into the pipes at c, by a blower, or by my improved fan, to be
herein-after described. The air is thus made to circulate through the
ranges of pipes, and is finally discharged at d, in a heated state ready
for conveyance to the furnace to aid the combustion therein. The
cold air to be heated enters the series of heating pipes at the end

page_text: which is most distant from the furnace, so that as it passes through it
gradually approaches the greatest heat, and takes up more heat than
it would do if simply blown through the heating pipes indiscriminately.
By suitably contriving this heat transferring process, the escape heat
of the furnace may be reduced nearly to the temperature of the external
atmosphere, the heat taken up in such reduction being economically
applied by a re-transfer to the furnace. Second, to the interposition
of materials or substances capable of acquiring a high temperature
between the flame in the furnace or flues and the comparatively cold
surface of the steam boiler or body to which the furnace heat is
applied, the object of such interposition being the prevention of the
chilling of the ignited gases, and the consequent feeble and imper-
fect combustion thereof, as well as the effective burning of the
carbonaceous particles of the matter to be consumed for the pro-
duction of heat. Figures 4, 5, and 6, represent one mode of accom-
plishing this part of my Invention; Fignres 4, and 6, shewing two
different boilers. In Figure 4, the interposed material a, is on the
outside of the boiler shell; and in Figure 6, it is in the interior
cf the flue. This interposed substance a, may be of iron, fire clay, or
thin bricks, as may be found most effective, and is only necessary to be
continued or extended so long as the gases are in a state of combustion,
the uninflamed heated gases being allowed to act upon the boiler or
flue surfaces in the ordinary manner. Third, to the super-heating or
surcharging of steam to be used in working engines of various kinds;
such surcharged or highly-heated steam, after performing its work in
the engine or motive machine, being passed down through small tubes
or suitable minute passages surrounded with water, which is contained
in a vessel suitable for the generation of steam.
With this arrange-
ment the waste surcharged steam in passing down these passages com-
municates or gives off its heat to the surrounding cooler fluid so as
to produce available steam from such fluid, whilst the surcharged steam
itself on cooling will be suitable for forcing into the boiler again in the
form of hot water for the further generation of steam.
Should any
steam remain it may be forced into the steam vessel also, or used for

page_text: any other purpose, or allowed to escape. Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
and 13, represent various detailed views of apparatus for this purpose,
showing the processes of surcharging the steam and the subsequent
transfer of its heat for producing new steam in a regenerating vessel.
a, is the auxiliary boiler for commencing the operation, as well as for
compensating for any loss during after-working. b, are the steam heat-
ing tubes; and c, the regenerator, down which the heated steam is
passed after it has actuated the engine, so as to produce fresh steam:
The steam so generated passes out of the vessel d, or holder of the re-
generator, through the pipe e, for combination with the steam from the
auxiliary boiler a, being surcharged with heat in its passage through
the tubes b, in readiness for impelling the engine. The regenerator c,
may be formed in the manner of the steam heater b, which is composed
of two flat chambers connected by means of numerous small tubes, the
chambers being respectively connected by pipes, with the engine on
the one hand and the boiler on the other. By suitably reducing the
diameter of these tubes, and extending their length, any reasonable
amount of condensation and transfer of heat may be obtained. The
essential feature of this plan of regenerator is that it is placed so that
the current of steam to be deprived of its heat shall commence at or
near the surface of the water to be evaporated or formed into steam,
and the current gradually descending towards the lower end of the
vessel comes in contact with the cooler portions of the water, which is
kept coldest at the bottom owing to the greatest heat being applied at
the top, as well as to the feed water being forced in at the bottom,
whilst heated fluids are lighter or less dense than cold ones, and also
that water cannot be readily heated at the surface. And even if the
water could be heated and formed into steam at the surface, the heat
so applied will not pass down into the fluid mass further than it is
actually applied, or at least very slowly and inefficiently. But by pro-
viding passages or directing channels down through the fluid the heat
may be effectively transmitted to the surrounding water. Under these
conditions the heated waste steam enters the regenerator where the
water in the containing vessel is hottest, and being deprived of a por-

page_text: tion of its heat is passed to a lower level and consequently to a colder
portion of the fluid. This goes on until the steam arrives at the bottom
of the regenerator, when the resulting hot water is forced into the
containing vessel, to be again formed into steam. My air-heating
tubes for economising the otherwise waste heat of the furnace, as I
have already herein-before described in reference to Figures 1, 2.
and 3, on my Sheet of Drawings, may be placed in the space m, be-
neath the boiler in Figure 8, the passage n, being the duct for the
exhausted gases and cooled air in passing to the chimney. The
Figures 11, 12, and 13, represent on an enlarged scale a very powerful
and effective regenerator as marked e, in Figures 7, and 9. Figure 12,
shews a metallic frame set between a pair of metal plates, the parts
being riveted together. A number of such arrangements are placed
together with a separating piece at top and bottom, and bolted up as
represented in the Figures. The pipe, conveys the heated steam
to the engine, the waste steam being brought from the engine
by the passage g, to be passed through or over the surfaces of
the parts of the regenerator. No feed pumps are shewn in the
Figures, as such details are obviously necessary, and are well under-
stood by practical men. Fourth, to a rotatory engine or steam
wheel constructed somewhat like a fan wheel, the steam being con-
ducted to the blades or vanes by suitable channels at or near the
periphery of the wheel, so that the revolving vanes may thus receive
the impelling medium at a high velocity. The vanes and guiding
passages are so formed that after the outer ends of the vanes, which,
of course, revolve at the highest velocity, have received the effluent
stream of steam at its highest velocity, the vanes gradually absorb the
maximum of the steam power by the gradual absorption of the steam
force, owing to the steam current being directed towards the axis or
centre of revolution of the wheel. By this contrivance, as the rate
of the current diminishes, the rate of motion of the surfaces upon
which such current acts diminishes in a corresponding ratio, and the
steam finally leaves the wheel at its centre of motion, where the motion
both of the impelled and impelling bodies is nil, or nearly so. Water,

page_text: air, or other motive matter may also be used for impelling such wheels.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, exhibit various views of such a fan
wheel or impelling engine, or, as I term it, a momentum wheel or
engine, from its capability of receiving and communicating nearly the
whole momentum of a body in motion. When such an engine is used
for steam or other aeriform body, 1 enclose it within an external shell
or case fitted with suitable ducts or channels for the application of the
motive matter or power, as delineated in Figures 16, and 18. Such
a case or covering is required simply for the prevention of the retarding
effects of the external atmosphere upon the rotating wheel, which
necessarily moves at a very high velocity. Where water or other
-matter, not aeriforin, is used, this case is unnecessary, the acting blades
or scooped channels of the wheel being made large enough to receive
and hold the actuating fluid until such fluid shall reach the centre of
motion, from which point it is allowed to fall clear away from the
wheel. The wheel, if water is used, works most effectively in a hori-
zontal plane, with a vertical spindle; and the direction of issuing motion
of the aeriform body or fluid in relation to the circle through which the
periphery of the wheel works, must be such that when the speed of the
wheel and that of the impelling fluid are taken into account, none of
the actuating power will escape past the ends of the blades, as the
latter recede from the point at which the impelling matter comes into
actuating play. In my illustrative views, Figure 14, is a side elevation
of the steam wheel divested of its case. Figure 15, is a corresponding
transverse sectional elevation. Figure 16, is a sectional side elevation
of the wheel and case; and Figure 17, is an external edge view of a
portion of the wheel and influx ducts; whilst Figure 18, is a transverse
vertical section of both the wheel and case. The actuating arms a,
revolve just clear of the interior surface of the fixed case 6, round
which a feed duct c, is carried. The impelling matter enters by the
pipe d, and enters through a series of apertures in the periphery of the
fixed case.
As the vanes or arms revolve, the steam or other matter
gradually approaches the centre of revolution, and finally escapes
thereat, or at the slightly eccentric aperture c. At f, is a stop cock, to

page_text: The
allow the water of condensation to flow off from the fixed case.
spindle g, is keyed fast in the revolving wheel, and the motive power
is conveyed from it by the spur pinion h. Fifth, to the transmission
of fluids and aeriform bodies by the use of a modification of the form
of rotatory wheel last described, enclosed in a case or receiver, round
the circumference of which are a number of outlets, which outlets or
passages are collected or diverted into one or more channels or ducts,
as may be required. The fluid or aeriform body in this instance enters
at the centre of the case, as in the common fan blower, the rotatory
wheel being driven by any suitable prime mover; and the current or
currents so produced are applicable for the transmission of power and
motion for various purposes, by causing the several ducts or channels
leading from the prime mover to communicate with other rotatory
wheels or engines. It is obvious that such application is suitable
for keeping up a certain amount of hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure
within a range of pipes or receivers, such pressure being available
for use at any time. Figures 19, and 20, are modifications of
the momentum wheel which I have just described under the fourth
head. It may either be used for obtaining power from air, steam, or
water, or for lifting or transmitting fluids or acriform bodies. When
used as a prime mover, the impelling fluid is let on at A, and the
current passes through the ducts C, C, which open nearly tangentially
upon the circular path of the revolving blades. Such blades I prefer
to make of the form shewn in Figure 14; but if the wheel is to be
applied for the transmission of bodies, then the arms give a better
effect without the turned, bent, or curved ends. Indeed, for trans-
mission purposes, the blades may be made straight and flat, like
common fan blades. The essential novelty of this special arrangement
consists in the baving ducts or channels placed at a certain determined
angle all round the circumference of the internal wheel; hence the
blades may be very narrow, and as the power is taken off or brought
on the machine all round, and in small or minutely divided quantities,
the action is more steady and uniform than that of common impelled
blade wheels. In Figure 19, the rotatory wheel is removed from its
case, but it is to be understood that the vapour or water is directed

page_text: as
on to the blades of the wheels in numerous jets, cach in the line of the
ducts C, and that as the wheel revolves the impelling matter gradually
finds its way along the blades, and escapes at or near the centre of
motion, as at b. In impelling matters the converse action arises, the
matter to be transmitted being taken in at the centre. b, and expelled
through the tangential apertures C. Sixth, to the obtainment of
motive power by forcing water into one or more vessels containing
substances presenting extended surfaces, capable as well of receiving
heat, and transmitting or communicating such heat to the water in
contact with such surfaces for the production of steam, öf
again taking up such heat, or a portion thereof, from the steam,
when the latter has performed its labor in the cylinder of the
engine or the machine to be driven. Such extended surfaces are
heated in any convenient way, and water being supplied to their
containing vessel, steam is produced, and this steam is then highly
heated or surcharged by suitable means prior to being passed off
to actuate the engine. In this surcharged condition the steam works
the engine, and is then returned to its generating vessel, and passed
over or in contact with the surfaces therein, by which means it is
deprived of its heat, and is drawn off in the state of water, and what
ever steam remains is allowed to escape, fresh water being supplied to
make up the loss. By this means, great economy is secured in the
working of the engine, as the same heat is thus made available to a
greater or less extent over and over again. The principle is clearly
applicable in cases where air or other fluids are used instead of water.
Figures 21, and 22, represent a mode of carrying this into effect.
porous mass, such as would result from piling together layers of wire
cloth or wires notched so as to form a porous pile, is contained in the
receiver a, into which water is forced by the downward action of a
pump B, the fluid being thus made to mingle with the porous matters;
or, on the elevation of the plunger, the fluid is withdrawn from the
vessel. At D, is a safety valve opening into the vessel a; and C, is a
weight hung to this valve so as to load it as required; this weight being
so situated that it shall be eased off its valve every time the plunger B
is elevated during working by the long lever F. In this way the valve
A

page_text: D, is opened periodically to permit whatever amount of steam is not
reduced to water by the heat-absorbing mass to escape from the vessel a.
At H, is a small stop cock for regulating the supply of water to the
vessel a; and G, is a small pump which will only require to be used
when there is only a slight pressure in the feed water. When the small
pump is not used, the supply duct K, is connected directly with the
pump B. The vessel a, is covered with a lid I, into which tubes
are entered by their upper ends as closely together as possible;
such tubes being of excessively small bore, or filled with wires;
the essential object being to economise the space, which should be as
small as possible consistent with the quantity of steam to be passed
through them.
The whole apparatus is covered over with a brick-
work or other cone; and heat being applied to the exterior of the
tubes, the steam passing through them is thereby heated, and is
finally collected at the top by a suitable chamber, as shewn in
my Drawings at J, whence it may be withdrawn for actuating
the engine. An engine working in direct connection with one of
these regenerators would only be actuated during the ascent of
the piston; but by using a second regenerator, the engine piston
might be worked both ways, but I prefer to have two cylinders,
as stuffing boxes can be dispensed with. When in action, fire is
applied in the furnace L, so as to heat the exterior of the chamber a;
a passage n, being made to allow the products of combustion to pass off
from the space enclosing the chamber. Then the damper o, being
opened, and the doors m, n, closed, the heat ascends to the tubes, and
when these have got sufficiently heated the engine is ready for starting.
This is accomplished by opening the stop cock H, and forcing water
into the vessel by its pump B; the cock P, being left open until all the
ir is driven out of the apparatus. The pressure of the steam thus
formed, then drives up the piston X, of the engine over head; and
when the engine has thus arrived at the top of its stroke, the pump B,
s reversed to withdraw the water from the vessel. Hence the pressure
being taken away from the piston, the latter may descend for the
everse stroke, and the steam which has just actuated the piston now
basses down through the porous mass, to which mass it transfers its

page_text: heat and is condensed, whatever vapour remains uncondensed being
then allowed to escape. Figure 22, exhibits a vertical section of this
regenerator as applied in connection with one of my momentum or
rotatory engines, the case of the engine only being delineated, various
modifications of such apparatus may be contrived. For example, the
lower portion containing the porous mass may be put in connection
with a boiler instead of the regenerator, which I have herein-before
described, and several such regenerators might be connected with a
passage common to all, with clack valves to prevent the steam frome
one regenerator entering its neighbour, sɔ
that a constant steam
pressure may thus be kept up; and clack valves opening inwardly must
also be provided for preventing the steam from acting against the
eduction side or exhaust of the engine, as delineated in Figure 22,
at S. Figures 23, and 24, shew the regenerator a, with a different
mode of heating the steam. A number of bars b, are joined together
with plates, so as to keep them a little asunder to form passages for
the steam, and separating the internal passages where the steam is
heated from the outside where the bars are heated. The plan differs
only in mechanical arrangement from that delineated in Figures 21,
and 22. Seventh, to the measurement of fluids and aeriform bodies
by the use of a rotatory fan machine or engine, in the working of
which, the matter to be measured is supplied at or near the periphery
of the wheel, where it performs the same office as upon the rotatory
wheel before described, only that the wheel not being retarded, the
matter being measured, communicates its entire velocity less only by
friction to the wheel, which velocity bears a constant relation to the
quantity passed through the machine; a counter being attached to
the axis of the wheel will indicate the revolutions, and consequently
the cubic feet or gallons, as required. Figures 25, and 26, are sections
at right angles to each other of a measuring apparatus.
The apparatus
consists of a rotatory wheel similar to that delineated in Figures 19,
and 20, the only essential peculiarity in the apparatus being the valve
A, as delineated on a large scale in Figure 27. This valve is a common
clack held down by an adjustable spring, the object of such valve being
the acceleration of the flow of the body being measured when minute

page_text: quantities only are passing. Such an arrangement, indeed, acts on the
principle that if a greater quantity of fluid or an aeriform body is
passed through a given size and number of passages at one time than
at another, then the body so passed must travel at a higher rate when
the superior amount is passed. Such law holds good for any quantity
passed; and in relation to a meter or measuring apparatus, there is
only the friction of the rotatory wheel to interfere with the accuracy of
its results. Therefore, I introduce this valve to avoid this friction
when a very small quantity of the measured matter is passed; for when
the valve is closed, a small aperture a, in the clack admits a minute
supply of the matter to be projected with force and rapidity upon the
wheel in the case, The screw at B, is intended for regulating the force
of this small current by pressing upon the valve to a greater or less
extent.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom, without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention. But what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the herein-before described general arrangements of mechanism,
apparatus, or means for the several purposes herein-before explained.
Second, the system or mode of economising heat and fuel by the
application of the escaping heat of furnaces to heat the air supplied to
the furnace for combustion.
Third, the transfer of the heat of the escaping products of com-
bustion to the air supplied to the furnace.
Fourth, the application or interposition of substances capable or
acquiring and presenting a high temperature between the gaseous
flames of furnaces and the surface of the boiler or body to be heated.
Fifth, the system or mode of producing steam by passing surcharged

page_text: or highly heated steam through or between minute passages surrounded
with water.
Sixth, the application and use of waste surcharged steam for the
generation of other steam as herein-before described.
Seventh, the application and use of a rotatory engine or wheel
wherein the actuating current is directed at its highest velocity against
the extremities of the rotating arms or blades, and retained in contact
with them until the actuating medium is deprived of its momentum or
nearly so.
Eighth, the system or mode of obtaining motive power, wherein the
momentum of the actuating medium is gradually and efficiently
absorbed by directing the current along rotating arms towards the
centre of motion of such arms for discharge, at or near the centre, as
herein-before described.
Ninth, the system or mode of taking up and economising the
momentum of actuating currents, by proportioning the diminishing
rate of the currents to the corresponding diminishing rate of the
rotating blades towards the centre of motion of such blades.
Teuth, the system or mode of obtaining or economising motive
power by the alternate introduction and withdrawal of water into or
between extended surfaces capable of the reception and transmission
of heat to fluids surrounding such surfaces, as herein-before described.
Eleventh, the system or mode of continuously using or working the
same heat and fluid as herein-before described, in reference to Figures
21, and 22, on my Sheet of Drawings.
Twelfth, the system or mode of transmitting or impelling aeriform
bodies or fluids by the use of a rotatory fan or wheel, wherein the
body is entered at or near the centre thereof and discharged at the
periphery suitable emission ducts being provided for the discharge
of the body direct, without being carried round, securing the com-
bined effect of the centrifugal and tangential forces, as herein-before
described.
;
Thirteenth, the system or mode of measuring and registering the
flow of aeriform bodies and liquids, as herein-before described.

page_text: Fourteenth, the application and use of my duplex passage valve for
measuring purposes, as herein-before described in reference to Figures
25, and 27, on my Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gorman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Enrolled the First day of June, in the year of our Lord On
thousand eight hundred fifty-three.