Specification of Richard Willcox : steam-engine furnace or boiler and air pump.

  • Willcox, Richard.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Richard Willcox : steam-engine furnace or boiler and air pump. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/18
    10 15 20 25 30 35 A.D. 1802.—N° 2574. 3 Willcoxs Irtish, in the Steam-Engine Furnace or Boiler and Air Pump, $c. level within, and in tlie use and application of boilers and furnaces so improved my intention and practice arc, that the depth of water over the horizontal or gently inclined bottom plate should be as small or as shallow as possible, at the same time that the depth of the water in the interstices or space round upon the horizontal or gently inclined bottom plate should nevertheless be sufficiently deep as in no case to allow the bottom plate to acquire so elevated a temperature as would, particularly with iron boilers, cause the water and metal to act upon each other, so as to produce a quantity of permanently elastic fluid. Secondly, my improvements do further consist in ^economising steam when generated and applied to the engine by causing that fluid, after it has performed its usual operations on the piston, instead of passing off to the condenser, as is usual, and there being destroyed by condensation, to perform two other distinct operations, first by causing it to surround the cylinder, and thereby keep it constantly up to its proper temperature; and secondly, to produce an equilibrium on or under the upper piston of the air pump, so as to work that and the under piston of the pump either connected with the engine or detached from it. In either case the engine is not deprived of any portion of its power as it is at present, consequently an increased power is obtained. In other cases I retain a part of the steam by opening a communication with another vessel, and permitting the steam to pass freely into that vessel till the steam is of equal density and spring with that in the cylinder, and then, upon shutting the communication with the said vessel, the steam left in the cylinder is suffered to pass to the condenser, whilst the fluid reserved is permitted to enter freely on the other side of the piston, as in a double engine. Hence, with one cylinder full of steam, I am enabled to produce a power each and every stroke equal to the power that is now pro¬ duced by a quantity of steam sufficient to fill one cylinder and a quarter, whilst in double engines I retain a portion of the steam each time the cylinder is exhausted, and apply it to work the air pump, or to other useful purposes, and this without the least detriment to the engine. For a description, see Figs. 7, 8, and 12. Thirdly, my improvements further consist in rendering the engine more efficient and simple by dispensing with the whole of the external apparatus for opening and shutting the valves, whereby all risque and liability to derangement from air or steam escaping by the spindles, which so frequently deranges the operations of engines (more particularly those of the smaller kind) are avoided. For a description, see Figs. 5 and C. Fourthly, my further improvements consist in regulating the engine in a more perfect and regular manner than has hitherto been practiced, by more effectually guarding against