APPENDIX (A). List of Patents for the Steam Engine, with an Analytical Account of those more immediately connected with its Improvement and general Application to the useful Arts.* T. SAVERY, London, July 25, 1698. THIS patent, which is the first upon record, for an invention in which steam was employed as a prime mover or principal agent in hydraulics, describes two modes of effecting this very desirable object. In the first, it is used merely to produce a vacuum by condensation; and, in the latter, the impellent or expansive force of the steam is made to act upon the surface of the fluid to be raised, and by its pressure in a close vessel, the water is driven up a connecting tube to the required height. In this engine a vacuum being first formed by the condensation of steam, the water was afterwards raised by the pres * A complete list of the patent-right inventions connected with this branch of our manufactures, has long been a desideratum; while a reference to the chronological arrangement will shew the progressive improvements that have been effected in its construction. In addition to this, the future experimentalist may derive considerable benefit from the labours of his precursors thus at one view presented to his notice. It is scarcely necessary to add, that a large portion of these exclusive monopolies are of little value beyond that of swelling the fees of the patent office; many of them being precisely the same in both principle and application. when the steam is in excess, it may diminish the supply of coals in proportion to that excess, and vice versa. V. Safety-valve. W. Self-acting stop-valve, to prevent the steam passing from one boiler to the other when two boilers are used. X. A rod connected with the lever Y, which by pressing upon the stop-valve, closes the communication between the two boilers, when a reduced supply of steam is required. Z. Gauge pipes to ascertain the amount of water in the boiler. a. Man-hole of waggon boiler, furnished with an internal safety-valve b. c. Stone float within the boiler. d. Bridge walls. pass f. Sand trough, in which revolves a thin plate attached to the fire grate, to prevent the air ing in any other way than through the bars. h. The fire bricks surrounding the grate bars. i. A scraper attached to the grate, and, which revolving with it, cleans the air-flue. From the above description it will be evident, that the great advantage arising from the employment of this apparatus, consists in an equable supply of coal, and in the smoke arising from its combustion having to pass over the entire mass of burning fuel prior to entering the chimney. By these means, the greater part if not the whole of the smoke is consumed; and it will be evident that the inflammable materials of which it is composed, will furnish an additional supply of valuable fuel, which would otherwise be thrown unconsumed into the atmosphere. As, however, direct experiment is the only sure test, by which this, or indeed any project, can fairly be tried, we annex the results arising from two experiments; the one made at the distillery of Messrs. Liptrap and Smith, Whitechapel, London, to whose kindness we are indebted for the means of completing the above description, and the other at the Old Union Mill, Birmingham. At the Old Union Mill, Nine days experiment, Common Furnace consumed 465 cwt. The Whitechapel Distillery, Eighteen Days experiment, Common Furnace consumed Fire Regulator 284 bushels. APPENDIX (A). List of Patents for the Steam Engine, with an Analytical Account of those more immediately connected with its Improvement and general Application to the useful Arts.* T. SAVERY, London, July 25, 1698. THIS patent, which is the first upon record, for an invention in which steam was employed as a prime mover or principal agent in hydraulics, describes two modes of effecting this very desirable object. In the first, it is used merely to produce a vacuum by condensation; and, in the latter, the impellent or expansive force of the steam is made to act upon the surface of the fluid to be raised, and by its pressure in a close vessel, the water is driven up a connecting tube to the required height. In this engine a vacuum being first formed by the condensation of steam, the water was afterwards raised by the pres * A complete list of the patent-right inventions connected with this branch of our manufactures, has long been a desideratum; while a reference to the chronological arrangement will shew the progressive improvements that have been effected in its construction. In addition to this, the future experimentalist may derive considerable benefit from the labours of his precursors thus at one view presented to his notice. It is scarcely necessary to add, that a large portion of these exclusive monopolies are of little value beyond that of swelling the fees of the patent office; many of them being precisely the same in both principle and application. A |