Description of James Ferrabee's Steam Engine Patent 2858
The patent for James Ferrabee's "Steam Engines &c.", Patent No. 2858, 13 December 1858, is an eight page document. This brief description, published a few years later, summarises the intent of the new design.
A document from 1893 reveals that Wilson Hartnell, an engineer at The Phoenix Ironworks from 1854, came up with the ideas in Ferrabee's patent.
Specifications Relating to the Steam Engine Page 1613
A.D. 1858, December 13.-No 2858.
FERRABEE, JAMES.-Improvements in the construction and working of steam engines.
This invention consists in cutting off the supply of steam to the cylinder, at any portion of the stroke of the piston, by the con- tinuous motion of a cut off valve, the time of the cut-off being altered by the rising or falling of the governor balls, and the supply of steam to the cylinder regulated without the intervention of a throttle valve. Encreases the elasticity of the steam when discharged from the boiler of a duplex cylinder engine by forming the cylinders and jackets in one piece; and forming the hollow cylinder heads, so as to admit the steam from the jacket circulating through them; and in placing the cylinders and valve boxes in a casing or jacket of iron, and connecting it by a pipe communi. cating with a hot-air chamber filled with tubes placed in the flues at the end of the boiler, whence hot air is drawn by a revolving fan and discharged into the case; and after circulating through the case and heating the steam in the jackets is returned again to the fire-place or chimney.
Describes the apparatus of the cut-off equilibrium valve; the swinging frame, and the governor for working it.
[Printed, 10d. Drawing.]
PublicationOtherDateSourceGoogle Books/Patents for Inventions/Vol78/1871/P1613Link