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.

    6/18
    Willcoxs Impts. in the Steam-Engine Furnace or Boiler and Air Pump, <Sfc. the different degrees of elasticity to which the steam is now liable to be raised by placing an horizontal slide, or other most convenient formed valve, capable of being counterpoized either by a weight or column of mercury or other fluids, which being placed between the boiler and the engine, where the throtle valve is now usually placed, will, by the pressure or elasticity of the steam in the 5 boiler, upon its being increased (from the irregular combustion of fuel) diminish the aperture between the boiler and the engine. Hence whenever the equi¬ librium is destroyed by the rarity of the steam, and thereby the aperture more or less closed, a proportional quantity of steam is permitted to act on the piston; the said regulator likewise indicates or exhibits the power of the steam 10 as effectually as the usual gage. Therefore, having provided against the inequalities of the engine arising from the different pressure of steam on the piston, I apply my second regulation by means of the centrifugal power of balls which govern the position of a piece or part of my aparatus for opening and shutting the valves, so as to produce the same effect in shutting off the steam 15 from the engine during its stroke, as could be done by the hands of the engineer, and is more particularly explained in the description of Figs. 12, 13, and 14. Fifthly, my other improvements consist in applying steam to the extraction of sugar from the cane, instead of passing it through rollers, and likewise for manufacturing of sugar and spirits. Fig. 1 is the vertical section 20 of a single engine, in which the steam performs three offices. A, the steam cylinder and piston; B, the case surrounding the cylinder; C, the valve com¬ municating to the boiler ; D, the valve leading to the case; E, the hand geer, as usual; F, the lever beam and parallel motion, as is usual; G, a pump for supplying the condensing cistern; H, the improved air pump; I, the upper 25 piston; J, the lower one; K, a valve counterbalanced, opening outwards, to permit air and other fluids to pass from between the pistons; L, L, two foot valves; M, the valve communicating with the condenser; N, the condenser, im¬ mersed in a cistern of water; 0, the injection valve; P, the hot water pump; Q, the lever for opening the valve to the condenser and injection valve. The 30 engine being thus constructed, the following will be its operation. The three valves C, D, and M, being opened, the steam from the boiler will blow out the air, &c. from the whole of the engine, condenser, and pump through the foot valves L, L. The piston at starting is supposed to be at the top of the cylin¬ der. The valve D is then to be closed, whilst the valves C- and M are opened, 35 consequently the steam and other fluids underneath the piston case and at top of the piston of the air pump I, rushes into the condenser, and there meeting with a jit of water, is reduced to its primitive state; the valves C and M are then closed, and the valve D is opened; the steam that occupied the upper