IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1806

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WILLCOX, of the Parish of Saint Mary Lambeth, in the County of Surry,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-first day of May, in the forty-sixth year of His
reign, did give and grant to me, the said Richard Willcox, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, His especial liceuce, sole privilege and authority,
during the term of fourteen years therein mentioned, to exercise, use, and
vend my Invention therein called "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," within
that part of the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, His Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
improvement; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Richard Willcox, by an instrument in writing under my band
and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month after
the date of the said Letters Patent, which in and by the said Letters Patent,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Willcox, do hereby declare that my further Improvements in the
Steam Engine consist in the following novel and appropriate combination of
parts (viz):-
First, my improvements are on the rotary steam engine, and consists exclusively.
in certain parts generally known by the appellation of gates, pallets, valves, or
cocks, or any more appropriate name by which they may be hereafter

page_text: be denominated, which said gates, pallets, valves or cocks are by their
particular and novel construction capable or susceptible of coufining
and detaining steam or other elastic or dense fluids between the said
gates, &c. The said gates, &c. (hereafter to be described) work or move
between the inside of a fixed cylinder and the outside of an inner cylinder,
there being an interstice left for that purpose, which said interstice is securely
covered with lids or covers, and the said pallets fixed, the one to the outer
stationary cylinder, and the other to the inner or revolving cylinder, whilst a
passage is formed on each side the gate in the stationary cylinder, one of which
passages communicates with the boiler, and the other to the condenser, by
which means the steam or other fluids are brought to act or operate between
the said gates, which are opened or shut from the external part of the engine
by geer similar to that used in the present steam engines, by which means the
inner or revolving cylinder is forced round in the circle it prescribes by the
elasticity of the steam or other fluids pressing against the pallet fixed to the
revolving cylinder, which said pallets, &c., during the time of their passing each
other, either double up, turn on their edges, or slide backwards and forwards,
or upwards and downwards; and in other cases, as in Figures 10, 11, and 12,
turn on their own axis, as will be more particularly described hereafter, whereby
the whole of the original powers exerted, such as steam at any temperature
that engines are now wrought by, or water or other dense fluids, produces their
whole effect without any reaction or dimunition of power, friction alone
excepted, which is in this engine very trifling.
Secondly, in every instance where I use a cock or pallet, or portion of a
circle, which turns similar to a cock, and which admits of a fixed palet on the
revolving cylinder, as in Figures 10, 11, and 12, I cut a longitudinal on
oblique groove or rabbit down the part of the cock, &c. which comes into
actual contact with the revolving cylinder, and fit into or against the said
rabbit or groove a piece of metal, which I generally harder and pack secure
with bolts against the rabbit, where it is applied against the edge or side of
the cock, and place a spring or elastic packing behind (or on any more con-
venient part) the said metalic piece, whereby it is kept close in contact with
the revolving cylinder; and in the other cases, when the said metalic piece is
packed in a groove, the same precautions as to packing are to be strictly
observed; and when one part of the said metalic piece is worn or ground off
by the constant friction of the revolving cylinder, I then pack the said metalic
piece out further till it is worn out, when a similar piece is put in its stead, at
a very trifling expence and loss of time, by which means the cock, &c. will
remain tight for many years.
Furthermore, I do hereby declare that in cases where the water abounds

page_text: with or is impregnated with minerals which corrode iron or steel, I use or
employ as a substitute for the said piece of metal introduced into or against the
cock as aforesaid compositions of metals, such as pewter and tin, or bell metal,
or any other composition of hard metals now known, and not liable to corrode,
or in other cases hard woods may be substituted, or paper prepared with oils,
such as is used for the purpose of preparing paper tea-trays, &c.; or in any
other cases, in small engines, I make my cocks of steel, and harden it after-
wards, or of iron, which must be case-hardened.
Thirdly, as no packing will work well or last long without a frequent supply
of liquid grease or other animal fat (more particularly melatic bodies), there-
fore, in order to effect so valuable a purpose in this my rotary engine, I form
for that purpose a communication from the external part of the engine to the
parts which require to be lubricated, by drilling a hole through the spindle of
the cock or palet down into the body of the cock or pallet, and from thence
horizontally to the parts of the cock or pallet in immediate contact with the
cylinder; and by placing a funnell with a regulating cock upon the top of the
said spindle between the spindle and funnell, the parts may be lubricated at
pleasure without stopping the engine, for by opening the said cock the tallow,
&c. is admitted through the said spindle to the extreme part of the pallet, cock,
&c. liere it may not unnecessary to remark, to prevent infringements, that
although I have described the grease as descending through the spindle and
cock, nevertheless it may occasionally be made to ascend by drilling a hole
through the bottom of the cock, and so forming a communication by a
pipe to a cysturn or reservoir of fluid suett or grease, placed at some
convenient place above the level of the part of the engine requiring to be
lubricated.
Lastly, to deminish the size or dimensions of the said rotary engine, or
occasionally to increase its powers after they are built, I add two or more setts
of palletts, gates, &c., so as to cause the steam or other fluids by which the
engine is wrought to act in two or more places at the same time, thus aug-
menting its power in a two or threefold degree, according to the number of of
palets, cocks, &c. that are added.
REFERENCES TO THE DRAWINGS.
TV

page_text: engineer may find most appropriate or suitable to the locality of the premises
where the engine is to be erected. B, B, the inside or revolving cylinder
attached to and connected with the vertical shaft, which is the first moover,
and which gives a rotative power to any description of machinery requiring the
same, by or through the medium of a spur wheel fixed to the said shaft, or
when a vertical motion is required, or with a bevel geer wheel where a hori
zontal motion is wanted. C, C, moveable pallets, gates, or valves, for
regulating the action or operation of the steam or other fluids in the said
engine. One of the said pallets, &c. is attached to the fixed cylinder A, and the
other to the moving or revolving cylinder B, as is more distinctly seen in
Fig. 2d and the references annexed. D, tho steam valve for the admission or
ingress of steam or other fluids between the said palletts. E, the exausting
valve for the egress of steam. The geer requiring for opening and shutting the
said valves D and E, and for opening and shutting the said pallets or gates
C, C, is so nearly similar to those of common engines, that it would be useless
to describe it, more than the said valevs D and E require to be opened and
closed at the same time, whereas in general they are opened and shut
alternately by the plug tree or other simple and well-known means. F, the
top of the cylinder, composed of a ring of of metal, for pressing the packing
round the moveable cylinder, which said lid or ring is screwed down with
screws, as is usual in securing the lids or tops of cylinders. G, G, two rings
of metal pressed by screws from a lever secured to the top of the cylinder F,
for compressing the packing and securing the joint of the cylinders A, B.
H, H, a circular channel, into which the revolving cylinder B works, for the
purpose of preventing the ingress of air or other fluids into or by the said
interstice or channel, and which is packed with hemp and grease, and pressed
in such manner with a ring as thereby to render the engine more efficient by
keeping it perfectly tight. I, the common condeser and necessary pumps,
which is wrought by studds or stops projecting from the horizontal shaft, or any
other simple and effectual way the engineer may think proper, as is more dis-
tinetly seen in Fig. 3d, which is the end view of the shafts and the side
view of the piston rods, the operation of which is so obvious as not to require
elucidation.
Fig. 2d exhibits the bird's-eye view of Fig 1st, with the top of the cylinder
and compressing rings removed, to shew the operation or apparatus for opening
and closing the pallets, gates, &c., and also part of the flango removed, to shew
the situation of the valves. The letters of reference in this case, Fig. 2d, are
placed upon similar or the same parts of the engine as in Fig. 1st, which it
would be superfluous to recapitulate. C, C, the pallets, &c., formed of two (or

page_text: more) pieces of metal. One part of the said pallet is permanently secured to
each cylinder A and B, whilst the other part (or parts) turn on a joint or
binge, which said joint or hinge is made steam tight or secure together, with
the whole of the edges coming into contact with the cylinders, with a hemp
cloth, stuffed, wadded, or folded together, or by other similar materials capable
of stopping the passage of steam, and which must be screwed or otherwiso
fastened on the front of the said pallet, and by the pressure of the steam it is
pressed or brought in contact with the said pallet and cylinders, and thus it
effectually prevents the escape of steam or other fluids by or with which the
engine is wrought. K, K, two racks and pinions communicating by a straight
and parrarel bar, working through a stuffing box in the sides of each cylinder,
whereby the said valves are opened and shut whilst passing each other from
the external part of the engine, by a piece projecting from the upper or
lower part of the fixed cylinder, which may be placed at the option of the
engineer; which said piece in its passage comes into contact with geer
connected with the said pallets, and thereby with any of the well-known
simple methods or geer used for opening and shutting the valves in the present
steam engines. The gates, &c. of of the engine are opened and shut as
occasion requires.
L, Fig. 2, exhibits a second gate, &c. which in this case slides backward
against a straight and pararel surface during the time the pallet on the
revolving cylinder is passing, when the said gate is sliding by the geer against
the revolving cylinder as in drawing. The said gates may be opened and
closed in a variety of ways, such as spindle ground into the bottom of the fixed
cylinder, and connected by a link to the said gate internally, or a crank or
compound levers may be applied instead of the rack and pinion externally.
Neither of these plaus or methods form any part of my Patent, as being well
understood by the engineers; but I rest my claim upon the use and application
of the gates and pallets or cocks, as applied to the steam engine in the manner
specified:
Fig. 4th exhibits a vertical section of a different plan for producing the
same or similar effects as in Fig. 1 and 2, previously explained, by causing
the pallets, slides, &c. to be lifted from below the bottom of the cylinder. In
this case I always prefer making the cylinder shallow and wide, in order
that the gates and slides may have but as little space as possible to slide or
move through; whilst in Fig. 1st I prefer the keeping the cylinder deep and
narrow, in order that the gates, valves, &c. may be quickly opened and shut.
References to Figure 4th :-A, the outside stationary cylinder; B, the inner
cylinder; C, the top of the cylinder and rings, as in Figures 1st and 2d, already
explained; D, plate of metal, as represented by the dotted lines, made very

page_text: straight, smooth, and pararel, as it respects its thickness; E, a small shaft or
axle working through a stufling box on each end, and connected at the centre
to the extremity of the said plate, inside a box or receptical fixed to the outside
of the cylinder A, allowing room sufficient for the said plate to drop clear off
the bottom of the cylinder, whilst an accurate incision is made in the bottom
and side of the cylinder, sufficient to admit the said plate D to slide freely up
and down, which is effected by a rack and pinion or lever, or any other simple
contrivance, attached or connected to the extremity of the shaft E, by which
means the steam is caused to act on the same or a similar principle as in
Figure 1st, previously explained.
F, Figure 4th, presents a second way of producing the same effect, namely,
that of raising a plate of metal through an incision made in the bottom of the
cylinder A, from a box fixed underneath the cylinder, through the medium
of a pararel barr working through a stuffing box, whereby the said plate D is
raised or depressed as the working of the engine requires.
Fig. 6th is the side view of the apparatus necessary for raising and
depressing the said plate D by the working of the engine. H, a lever or arm
fixed to the revoking cylinder; I, the connecting rods, with a weight at the
lower extrimity, equal to raise the said plate D. Thus, as soon as the lcever H
comes into contact with the lower connecting rod or leever I, the weight on
the extremity is thereby lifted, and the plate D is depressed, and thereby
the fixed pallet on the moving cylinder is allowed to pass; but as soon as the
lever H has passed the leever I the weight on the end of the said leever I
raises the plate D into the cylinder, and fills up the place, when the steam
is admitted between the plate D, and the pallet secured to the revolving
cylinder, and so on vice versa.
Figure 5th is the bird's eye view of Figure 4th, with the same general
letters of reference to their respective parts as in Figure 4th. K, steam
passage; L, passage leading or communicating with the condenser when the
steam is required to be condensed. Here it may be necessary to remark,
to prevent infringements, that although I have shewn the plate D as raising
upwards, as being the most convenient way, nevertheless the boxes necessary
to receive the plates may be placed above the eylinder, and the plates be made
to raise in them, or the plates may be raised in an oblique instead of a
perpendicular direction.
Figure 7th is the vertical section of my further improved rotary engine.
A, the outer fixed cylinder; B, the inner or revolving cylinder; C, compress-
ing ring, similar to Figure 1st; D, D, two or more pallets working through a
deep stuffing box, and by a leever or leevers, racks, wheels, &c. are from the
external part of the engine turned alternately flat or edgeways. In one side of

page_text: the said Figure 7th they are fixed to the lower part of the stationary cylinder,
and are these scen flatways, &c. The passage stopped on the other side of the
said pallets D are fixed to the revolving cylinder, and are seen on their edges
with the passages open. E, steam passage; F, passage to the condenser.
Figure the 9th presents a view of the said pallets and part of the cylinder and
stuffing boxes on a large scale.
Figure the 8th is the bird's-eye view of Figure 7th, with the same letters of
reference as corresponding in similar parts in Figure 7th, previously explained.
In this Figure the cylinder top or lidd is removed, and two setts of valves are
shown; the first D, D, as shut, and ready for the action of the steam; the other
said pallet are shewn on their edges preparatory to their passing each other,
during which time the steam valve is to be shut, which is performed by geer as
in the common steam engines, and which will be varied at the option of the
engineer.
Figure the 10th is the bird's-eye view of my notary engine as wrought with
a cock or portion of a circle, whereby a similar effect is produced as in
Figure 1st, by or with a portion of circles. In these Figures, 10, 11, and 12,
the lid of the cylinders are removed, and a part of the flanges, where the circles
or irregular cocks are used, is broken off, to render the working parts clear
and conspicuous. In these Figures the stationary parts are shadowed light, and
the moveable parts dark. A, the outer or fixed cylinder; B, the inner or
revoling cylinder; C, C, the pallet, cock, 'or portion of a circle, fitted
accurately into the circles it prescribes with a spindle working through the top
of the cylinder, as in Figure 7th; D, the groove, as is shadowed red, into or
against which the part coming into contact with the revolving cylinder
is secured with a piece of hardened metal, in order that the constant friction of
the revolving cylinder shall not injure the pallet or cock; E, the passage to the
boiler; F, the passage to the condenser; G, the pallet secured to the working
cylinder. In this Figure 2 portions of circles are cocks are introduced for the
purpose of shewing clearly their situations in different places, the same as as in
Figures 11 and 12.
Figure 11th is the bird's-eye view of an engine in most respects similar to
Figure 10th. A, the fixed cylinder; B, the inner or revolving cylinder;
C, C, 2 pallets or portions of circles turning on their axes, secured to the
revolving cylinder, into which they turn as they pass the fixed or stationary
plate D, which is fixed on its edge, and occasionally pressed into contact with
the revolving cylinder by an adjusting screw from the external part of the
engine; E, the seat for the steam valve; F, the seat for the exhausting valve,
which are wrought as in Figure 1st, previously explained.
Figure 12th exhibits the bird's-eye view of my said notary engine as

page_text: wrought by a cock or cocks which regulate the steam, instead of valves, and
also act as the principal cock or palet in the said engine. A, the outer fixed
cylinder; B, the inner revolving cylinder, with a fixed pallet; C, C, the cocks,
which are wrought from the external part of the engine by a spindle passing
through the top, as in Figure 7th, previously described; D, a piece of hard
metal introduced into the said cock, to resist the friction of the revolving
cylinder, as explained in Figure 10th; E, steam passage; F, passage to the
condenser.
Lastly, in cases where my said engine is employed to raise or give motion to
my fluid introduced therein, the effects produced will be similar to those
for a lifting and forcing pump; and it is furthermore applicable to extinguish-
ing engines, forge furnace bellows, and all such other engines as operate by
giving motion to fluids.
And I do hereby further declare, that although I have drawn and described
the cylinders pararel, and situated or fixed in a vertical direction, nevertheless
they may, when required, be placed in a horizontal or inclined direction, and
the cylinders may have the forms of frustrums of cones or other figures
described by rotation, instead of being pararels; and the pallets, as in
Figure 1 and 7, may be opened by striking against each other, instead of being
opened by geer externally.
Likewise, with regard to the fittings, they must be very accurate, and the
materials properly proportioned, which in both cases must depend upon the
judgment of the engineer.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Willcox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand oight hundred and sin