Engineering, Building, and Architecture

Engine Room From Coast Guard Buoy Tender Oak

Not many museums collect houses. The National Museum of American History has four, as well as two outbuildings, 11 rooms, an elevator, many building components, and some architectural elements from the White House. Drafting manuals are supplemented by many prints of buildings and other architectural subjects. The breadth of the museum's collections adds some surprising objects to these holdings, such as fans, purses, handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and other objects bearing images of buildings.

The engineering artifacts document the history of civil and mechanical engineering in the United States. So far, the Museum has declined to collect dams, skyscrapers, and bridges, but these and other important engineering achievements are preserved through blueprints, drawings, models, photographs, sketches, paintings, technical reports, and field notes.

Topic: Models (representations)

Carpenter Compound Hydraulic Engine, Patent Model

The model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Oramill C. Carpenter, of Brooklyn, New York, December 17, 1878, no.
Description
The model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Oramill C. Carpenter, of Brooklyn, New York, December 17, 1878, no. 210915.
The engine is essentially a hydraulic transmission, which takes motion from eccentric cams on a central shaft turned by a steam or other engine and transmits the motion to shafts on either side of and parallel to the central shaft. The inventor designed the engine to be applied to a streetcar, and the model is mounted in a miniature nickel-plated car truck.
It is a 4-cylinder engine with opposed cylinders in groups of two. Single-acting plungers work in and out of the cylinders as the central shaft is turned. The head of each cylinder leads directly to another cylinder of reduced diameter in each of which a driven piston works through a longer stroke in time with the short stork of the driving piston. Valves for the relief of an excess pressure of liquid and spring-cushioned piston heads are described for smoother running.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1878
patent date
1878-12-17
inventor
Carpenter, Oramill C.
ID Number
MC.309252
catalog number
309252
accession number
89797
patent number
210,915

Moore and Dickie’s Patent Model of Hydraulic Pump– 1879

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 222,418 issued to Joseph Moore and George W. Dickie of San Francisco, California on December 9, 1879.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 222,418 issued to Joseph Moore and George W. Dickie of San Francisco, California on December 9, 1879. The patent was for improvements in hydraulic pumps for operations in mines.
The Moore and Dickie concept was based on using a central power plant and pump to distribute water under high pressure to several hydraulic pumps that service multiple mines. A steam engine was used to power a water pump that drew water from a water tank and pumped it into a hydraulic pressure accumulator. The inventors noted that the pump could be powered by a water wheel if available. Pipes led from the accumulator to each mine where a hydraulic ram would lift the vertical rod of the mine’s pump. Provisions were made for the water from the ram to be returned to the central tank for reuse.
The amount of pressure in the system was regulated by adjusting the amount of weight on top of the accumulator ram. Additionally, each mine pump had a local valve that allowed adjustment of pressure to suit the pumping demand of that mine. The inventors suggested having multiple engines available for redundancy and noted the ease with which hydraulic power could be rerouted and managed in the event of an emergency.
Mr. Moore and Mr. Dickie were involved in the business of mining machinery for the gold and silver mines in California and Nevada. They were associated with the Risdon Iron Works of San Francisco where Mr. Moore was Vice President and General Superintendent. In 1877 they jointly authored a detailed book on pumping and hoisting water from such mines.
The model as shown in the image illustrates all of the key elements of the patent. It is constructed of painted tin. It represents a notional layout of the pumping machinery on a hill containing multiple mine shafts. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879
patent date
1879-12-09
inventor
Moore, Joseph
Dickie, George W.
ID Number
ER.325622
catalog number
325622
accession number
249602
patent number
222,418

Firmenich and Stiker’s Patent Model of a Steam Boiler - 1875

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 169,977 issued to Joseph Firmenich and Flavius P. Stiker of Buffalo, New York on November 16, 1875. The patent was for an improved design for steam boilers.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 169,977 issued to Joseph Firmenich and Flavius P. Stiker of Buffalo, New York on November 16, 1875. The patent was for an improved design for steam boilers. The design was for a water tube type boiler in which water enclosed in a large number of pipes was exposed to the heat of the furnace. This was considered to offer safety advantages over the fire-tube type in which a large volume of water was pierced by tubes carrying hot flue gases.
Their design is shown in the image of the patent model. A brickwork encased the entire boiler. The fire grate would have been just above the two large metal drums seen at the bottom. Combustion air was drawn from the top of the boiler through passages in the brickwork. This preheated the air which increased efficiency. Vertical tubes are shown connecting upper, horizontal steam/water drums with the lower water/mud drums. Large water tubes behind the back wall of the boiler directly connect the upper and lower drums to allow cool water to circulate downward to the lower drums. The larger, horizontal drum at the top of the model collected and distributed the steam for use.
Firmenich and Stiker constructed a boiler of this design and demonstrated it at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. Scientific American Magazine in June, 1878 referred to the Firmenich and Stiker boiler as a “safety steam boiler” and noted two 150 horsepower units had been installed at the Negara Starch Works in Buffalo. On October 8, 1887 a Firmenich boiler used in a flour mill in St. Louis, Missouri exploded with loss of life and significant property damage and raised questions about elements of the design.
The patent model is constructed of metal and wood painted to look like brickwork. It illustrates all of the key elements of the design. A full description of the operation of the boiler along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
date made
1875
patent date
1875-11-16
inventor
Firmenich, Joseph
Stiker, Flavius P.
ID Number
MC.309213
catalog number
309213
accession number
89797
patent number
169,977

Sales Model of a Round Oak Furnace – ca 1920

This model was made ca 1920 by the Round Oak Stove Company (officially known as the “Estate of P.D. Beckwith” after the death of its founder in 1889), of Dowagiac, Michigan.
Description
This model was made ca 1920 by the Round Oak Stove Company (officially known as the “Estate of P.D. Beckwith” after the death of its founder in 1889), of Dowagiac, Michigan. The model is made of aluminum and was used by the Warm Air Heating Research Laboratory of the University of Illinois. Similar models were used by salesmen for marketing purposes. The model represents the company’s Model B-3, No. 28 Moistair Heating System furnace, which was intended for heating 10 to 12 rooms according to Round Oak Catalog #32. The furnace was advertised by highlighting its healthful moist air and ventilation . The moisture was created by a pan of water located inside the furnace. The entire structure was intended to be enclosed within an outer casing which circulated air to be heated and then carried via convection to rooms above the furnace room. The air to be heated passed over the hot surface of the entire furnace, including the radiator which was intended to extract heat efficiently from the exhaust gases. A portion of the Round Oak’s radiator can be seen at the left of the image. Combustion gases were directed upwards into the dome-shaped chamber at the top of the furnace. A damper at the rear could be opened while the furnace was being started in order to provide a direct draft. When the damper was closed, the hot gas was directed downwards through the vertical pipes on each side of the furnace. They circulated through a cast iron structure at the bottom and then upwards via another vertical pipe at the rear and thence to the flue and chimney. This provided a large area of heated metal for the air to be heated to pass over. Round Oak provided many sizes and types of furnaces similar to this model up until 1947 when the company ceased business.
The model is highly detailed and clearly illustrates the important elements of the furnace’s design and function including all of the access doors, humidifier, radiator and flue system, various dampers, and the mechanism for shaking the ashes into the ash-pit.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
ID Number
MC.326835
catalog number
326835
accession number
263166

Crane Hot-Air Engine, Patent Model

This model was submitted with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for the Patent no. 46084, issued to Moses G.
Description
This model was submitted with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for the Patent no. 46084, issued to Moses G. Crane, of Newtown, Massachusetts, January 31, 1865.
This engine consists of one vertical work cylinder and two pump or air-transfer cylinders connected to two furnaces. In operation two separate quantities of air are used repeatedly. One quantity of air is circulated between one furnace and the upper end of the work cylinder by one of the air pumps, while the other charge of air is supplied from the other furnace to the lower end of the work cylinder. In each case the air is heated in the furnace, transferred to the work cylinder, allowed to expand doing work against the piston, and is then returned to the furnace by the pump, to be reheated. The pump pistons and valves are actuated by slotted bell cranks on the ends of the engine crankshaft.
Reference:
This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1865
patent date
1865-01-31
inventor
Crane, Moses G.
ID Number
MC.308670
catalog number
308670
accession number
89797
patent number
46,084

Ericsson Steam Engine, Patent Model

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 41,612 issued to John Ericsson of New York, New York on February 16, 1864.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 41,612 issued to John Ericsson of New York, New York on February 16, 1864. The patent was for an improvement in reciprocating steam engines that would reduce the destructive vibration effects of then current designs.
Many marine steam engines were mounted transversely in the vessel in order to facilitate operating crank arms to turn the propeller. With each successive cycle of the engine the oscillating masses of the engine’s pistons produced high concussive forces on the engine mounts and hull of the vessel. This was more serious for engines directly driving the ship’s propeller without gearing; the engine needed to run at higher speeds thereby making the vibrations more damaging.
Mr. Ericsson’s patent design provided a rolling counter balance weight that moved in the opposite direction as the motion of the of the engine’s piston. The weight would be matched to the combined weight of the piston and its pushrods and other oscillating masses. He provided for a crank lever mechanism that would translate the motion of the piston to that of the counter balance weight.
Mr. Ericsson was a prolific inventor; his inventions included many types of steam engines and associated apparatus as well as hot air engines. He was the designer of the USS Monitor for the North during the Civil War. The Monitor engine was based on his Patent Number 20,782 of July 6, 1858 . In that patent he began to address design issues that would reduce stresses on the engine’s components and its bed. In this patent, Number 41,612, he addressed the issue of concussive force effect of that engine and showed how his counterbalancing weight concept could be applied.
The patent model is shown in the image. It is constructed of wood and brass and illustrates the major elements of the patent. A brass plate on the model is engraved “J. Ericsson, Inventor, 1863.” A spring motor causes the model to simulate actual operation with the piston moving and the counterbalancing weight moving within a hollow space in the wooden base of the model. Diagrams showing the complete design of the engine can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864
patent date
1864-02-16
inventor
Ericsson, John
ID Number
ER.308672
accession number
89797
catalog number
308672
patent number
41,612

Model of a Controlled Forced Circulation Boiler, 1942

This model represents the first major controlled circulation boiler in the United States. It was installed at the Somerset, Massachusetts Station of the Montaup Electric Company in 1942.
Description
This model represents the first major controlled circulation boiler in the United States. It was installed at the Somerset, Massachusetts Station of the Montaup Electric Company in 1942. Shortly thereafter the controlled circulation concept reached full commercial development and was widely used in public utility central stations throughout the world.
The history of steam power is one of increasing steam pressures in search of increased efficiency. However, with higher pressures the natural circulation of water of varying densities within the boiler's many circuits becomes less effective.
In controlled circulation boilers, water is continuously and rapidly circulated by pumps which are completely independent of the feed water pumps and thus operate with a relatively small pressure differential. By forcing the water's circulation, the elements of the boiler can be located without regard to hydraulic head, and because frictional loss is not a consideration, smaller tubes can be used. Further, heat is transferred from the fire to the water more efficiently.
The actual boiler this model represents could produce 650,000 pounds of steam per hour at 2,000 pounds per square inch pressure. It contained a volume of 7,800 gallons of water which the pumps could recirculate in just one minute.
date made
1941-1942
ID Number
MC.326787
catalog number
326787
accession number
263167

Wiegand’s Patent Model of a Gas Engine – ca 1864

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 44,572 issued to S. Lloyd Wiegand of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 4, 1864. Mr. Wiegand’s patent was for improvements in gas engines.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 44,572 issued to S. Lloyd Wiegand of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 4, 1864. Mr. Wiegand’s patent was for improvements in gas engines. Claimed improvements included: protection against the buildup of carbon deposits on the piston and cylinder; more accurate and fuel-efficient speed control; and a lower cost and higher durability construction.
Mr. Wiegand’s engine was designed to use “illuminating gas” which was a coal based product used for gas lighting. Due to inefficiency in combining the gas and air, carbon deposits were left on the surfaces of the combustion chambers. This damaged the seals between the cylinders and pistons resulting in leakage and reduced power. The patent called for a fluid to be injected into the cylinders via channels near the seals. The fluid would loosen and eject the carbon through the exhaust.
To improve the speed regulation and fuel-efficiency of the engine, Mr. Wiegand varied the timing of the intake valves. A shaft governor was included in one of the engine’s two flywheels, and this was coupled to a mechanism that adjusted the angle of the cam which opened and closed the valve. If the engine exceeded its desired speed, the cam adjustment would shorten the time the intake valve was open. The reduction in the amount of fuel entering the engine soon slowed it.
A search of available literature did not reveal any practical use of the patent. Shortly after Mr. Wiegand’s patent, N. A. Otto and others patented advances in gas engine such as compressing the fuel-air mixture prior to combustion and the introduction of the four stroke engine design.
The model as shown in the image illustrates all of the key elements of the patent except for the internal details of the valves and cylinders. It is constructed of metal. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864
patent date
1864-10-04
inventor
Weigand, S. Lloyd
maker
Wiegand, S. Lloyd
ID Number
ER.325619
accession number
249602
catalog number
325619
patent number
44,572

Model of Oliver Evans Flue Steam Boiler

This is a model of an early (ca 1802) boiler designed with an internal flue. The concept for the flue boiler was originally devised by John Smeaton of England ca 1770. But it is Oliver Evans who is credited with the practical development of an internal flue boiler.
Description
This is a model of an early (ca 1802) boiler designed with an internal flue. The concept for the flue boiler was originally devised by John Smeaton of England ca 1770. But it is Oliver Evans who is credited with the practical development of an internal flue boiler. In the “flue boiler” type design an outer cylinder contains the water and steam, and a smaller inner cylinder contains the heat source and conducts the hot gases to the chimney. Prior to this development boilers were normally spherical with heat being applied externally.
Evans in the United States and Richard Trevithick in England were pioneers in developing high-pressure steam engines based on boilers of this type. They reached pressures of 120 pounds per square inch. However, high pressure steam was not widely adopted for many years, and flue boilers were initially developed with the goal of obtaining the largest heating surface possible without regard to increasing strength.
The model was made by the Smithsonian in 1955.
date made
1804
1955
ID Number
MC.314650
catalog number
314650
accession number
208322

Gilman’s Patent Model of a Valve for an Oscillating Steam Engine – ca 1851

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 7,871 issued to Samuel H. Gilman of Cincinnati, Ohio on January 1, 1851. Mr. Gilman’s patent was for an improvement in the design of valve gear for an oscillating steam engine.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 7,871 issued to Samuel H. Gilman of Cincinnati, Ohio on January 1, 1851. Mr. Gilman’s patent was for an improvement in the design of valve gear for an oscillating steam engine. An oscillating steam engine differs from a standard engine in that the steam cylinder is pivoted on the engine frame and oscillates up and down about the pivot as its connecting rod operates the crankshaft of the engine. In a standard engine, the cylinder is fixed in orientation, and the piston rod moves fore and aft within a crosshead which allows the connecting rod to pivot independently as the crankshaft revolves.
Mr. Gilman did not claim as new an entire design of such an engine. He limited his claim to a modification of the tube that guides the pushrod which controls the steam valve. He included threads at the bottom of the rod and shaped that portion so that it could clamp and secure the ball at the end of the pushrod. When threaded into the collar on the valve housing it allowed the pushrod to move slightly to conform to the motion of the valve house. He referred to his improvement as a “tubular nut.” The patent did not elaborate on exactly what Mr. Gilman claimed for improved function.
The model as shown in the image illustrates all of the key elements of the patent. It is constructed of metal and mounted on a wooden base. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1851
patent date
1851-01-01
inventor
Gilman, Samuel H.
ID Number
ER.325617
accession number
249602
catalog number
325617
patent number
7,871

Corliss’ Patent Model of a Steam Pump - 1876

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 185,390 issued to George H. Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island on December 19, 1876.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 185,390 issued to George H. Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island on December 19, 1876. The goal of the patent’s design was an efficient steam-driven water pump.
This patent was based in part upon his June 2, 1857 patent for the same purpose. That patent claimed a design for a steam pump that improved efficiency of fuel use while providing a well-regulated stream of pumped water. This was accomplished by multiple powered steam cylinders alternating with pump cylinders located around the circumference of a circular structure. Inlet and outlet water mains formed the framing of the structure. That design allowed for smooth and efficient pumping without the need for a flywheel. Corliss however desired to further improve the overall efficiency of the pump.
A principal goal of the Corliss design in Patent Number 185,390 was to provide for slow operation of the water pumps while allowing the steam engine driving the pump to work at high speed. It was known that slow pump motion was needed to allow the pump to fill and empty efficiently. However, steam engines could operate more efficiently when run faster and using the work from the expansion of steam in the cylinders.
The new patent improved upon the 1857 patent by eliminating the need for multiple steam-powered cylinders. A single steam cylinder, shown at the top of the image, was connected to a crankshaft that turned a small gear and a large flywheel at high speed. The small gear meshed with a larger gear plate upon which was mounted an offset crankpin that was connected to the pushrods for eight water pumps located around the circumference of the pump frame. The gearing allowed the goal of rapid steam cylinder and slow water pump speeds to be attained.
Corliss also made provisions in the patent design to drive the air-pump and feed-pump associated with a condensing type steam engine. The connection for the pumps was to the crankshaft for the small gear. A pushrod from that connection passed over the steam cylinder pushrod and operated a bell-crank on the engine framing. Rods at each end of the bell-crank operated the air and feed pumps which would be located below the primary pumping mechanism. The compact design of the pumping mechanism was claimed as another benefit that allowed installation in a small pumping-house. Corliss received a later patent which expanded upon the details of the air-pump mechanism.
The patent model is constructed of wood and metal. All of the key features of the invention are illustrated by the model to include the driving steam cylinder, pushrod, gearing, pump cylinders, and fly-wheel. The air-pump and feed pump pushrod is also shown, but not the bell-crank nor pump mechanisms. The details of the pump cylinder intake and outlet connections and valves are not modelled. Note that while the model shows a vertically mounted steam cylinder and pump frame, the intention of the patent was for horizontal mounting as can be seen in the patent application drawings. A full description of the invention along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1877
1876
patent date
1876-12-19
1877-05-22
inventor
Corliss, George H.
ID Number
ER.308694
accession number
89797
catalog number
308694
patent number
190,958
185,390

Ericsson Hot-Air Engine, Patent Model

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 226,052 issued to John Ericsson of New York, New York on March 30, 1880.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 226,052 issued to John Ericsson of New York, New York on March 30, 1880. The patent was for an improvement in air engines.
In this type of engine a charge of air is repeatedly heated and cooled as it is transferred from one end to the other of a single cylinder. One end of the cylinder is surrounded by a furnace, the other end of is water jacketed. The air expands and contracts beneath a work piston that travels through a short stroke near the upper end of the cylinder. The air is displaced from end to end of the cylinder at the proper time by a large loosely fitting transfer piston independently connected to the crankshaft.
Mr. Ericsson claimed his design improved the method of connecting the short stroke of the work piston so as to magnify the length of its stroke at the crankshaft. This also produced a longer stroke for the exchange piston in order to properly time its movement. He also made provisions for a water pump that was operated by the engine. It circulated water into the jacket surrounding the engine’s cylinder in order to more rapidly cool the hot air in the upper part of the cylinder.
Mr. Ericsson was a prolific inventor; his inventions included many types of steam engines and associated apparatus as well as hot air engines. He was the designer of the USS Monitor for the North during the Civil War, and that vessel included one of his then new marine steam engine designs.
The patent model is shown in the image. It is made of brass, steel and wood. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model including the crank mechanism and the water pump. The upper cylinder is cut away to illustrate the motion of the two pistons. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
patent date
1880-03-30
inventor
Ericsson, John
ID Number
MC.251286
catalog number
251286
accession number
48865
patent number
226,052

Model of McNaught Type Compound Steam Engine

This is a model of an early design for a compound steam engine. A compound steam engine consists of a high pressure cylinder and one or more lower pressure cylinders. The steam exhausted from the high pressure cylinder is used as inlet steam for the next lower pressure cylinder.
Description
This is a model of an early design for a compound steam engine. A compound steam engine consists of a high pressure cylinder and one or more lower pressure cylinders. The steam exhausted from the high pressure cylinder is used as inlet steam for the next lower pressure cylinder. Each cylinder is sized in proportion to its inlet steam pressure so that each produces the same amount of work. Compounding was introduced in 1845 by John McNaught and widely used in many applications from steamship propulsion to powering large electrical generators.
The model represents McNaught’s original approach for the addition of compounding to standard beam engines. The original low pressure steam cylinder is seen at the right with its piston rod attached to the right end of the beam. McNaught added the smaller, high pressure cylinder just to the right of the crankshaft connecting rod at the left end of the beam. Hundreds of engines had their capacity increased by “McNaughting”, and new engines were built on this principle for many years.
date made
mid 19th century
ID Number
MC.315636
catalog number
315636
accession number
220003

Luttgens’ Patent Model of a Steam Engine Governor – ca 1851

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 8,447 issued to H.A. Luttgens of New York, New York on October 21, 1851. The patent was for an improvement in controlling the speed of a steam engine by varying its cut-off valve timing.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 8,447 issued to H.A. Luttgens of New York, New York on October 21, 1851. The patent was for an improvement in controlling the speed of a steam engine by varying its cut-off valve timing. Luttgens claimed that his concept better controlled the speed of the engine under varying loads and steam pressures.
The patent uses a common fly-ball governor to sense speed variations of the engine, and in the image of the model it can be seen at the top of the mechanism. The Luttgens design does not use the position of the fly-balls directly for control of the cut-off valve. Instead, the position of the balls controls a feedback mechanism that progressively changes the eccentric until the desired, steady-state speed is achieved. The feedback mechanism is powered by the engine shaft itself. It uses a very complex system of gears, pulleys, belts and friction brakes to measure the difference between actual speed and desired speed. It then moves the eccentric in progressively smaller adjustments until the engine returns to proper speed.
This control method allowed the governor to make continuous, small adjustments to bring the engine back to proper speed whereas the more common approach made a one-time adjustment based on a change in speed. The result was the Luttgens unit had much better steady state accuracy. However, it was much less able to respond rapidly to large and sudden engine speed variances.
The patent model is constructed of brass, steel and wood. All the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model. It includes a small hand crank to permit demonstration of actual operation. A full description of the operation of the governor along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
date made
1851
patent date
1851-10-21
inventor
Luttgens, H. A.
ID Number
MC.251288
catalog number
251288
accession number
48865
patent number
8,447

Corliss' Demonstration Model of a Steam Engine Valve Gear and Spring Dash Pot

This is a crank-operated demonstration model of an early type of Corliss detachable rotary valve gear. The model is constructed of partially painted bronze and mounted on a walnut base. In the image the rotary valve is located in the wooden block at the upper left.
Description
This is a crank-operated demonstration model of an early type of Corliss detachable rotary valve gear. The model is constructed of partially painted bronze and mounted on a walnut base. In the image the rotary valve is located in the wooden block at the upper left. The valve stem terminates in a short lever by which the valve is rotated. This lever is permanently connected to a plunger in a closed cylinder or dash pot located below the valve. A hook or latch is operated up and down in a position so that the hook engages with the lever on its upstroke and rotates the valve to open it. A stiff flat spring holds the hook against the lever while a bearing pin is located so that it will disengage the hook from the valve stem lever after the hook has raised it a determined amount. When the lever is freed a spring closes the valve. The dash pot prevents the too rapid closing of the valve.
Corliss was a prolific inventor of steam technology in the middle 1800s and was the founder of the Corliss Steam Engine Company. His engines were used worldwide, and his designs were adopted by other engine manufacturers.
ID Number
MC.309816
catalog number
309816
accession number
109438

Sturtevant’s Patent Model of a Heating and Ventilating Apparatus – ca 1870

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 100,211 issued to B. F. Sturtevant of Jamaica Plains, MA on February 22, 1870.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 100,211 issued to B. F. Sturtevant of Jamaica Plains, MA on February 22, 1870. The patent described a forced air heating system consisting of a steam producing boiler, a steam engine to drive a centrifugal wheel fan for circulating air, a heat exchanger to heat the air via the combustion products of the boiler, a condenser utilizing the circulating air to return the steam to water for reuse, and a series of duct work and valves. The patent model illustrates only the central duct work, heat exchanger and steam condenser. Diagrams showing the complete heating and ventilating apparatus design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov/patents/process/search/index.jsp). In the image the upper cylinder is the steam condenser. The cylinder at the bottom represents the heat exchanger. The opening at its front is where the combustion gases from the boiler would exit via a flue or chimney. Cold air entered at the ducts at the lower right. Two separate intakes are shown – the bottom was for fresh air from outside the building and the upper for recirculated air from heated rooms. A valve allowed engineers to regulate the ratio of outside to inside air. Hot air exited at the right side of the condenser via the ductwork which was connected to the engine-driven fan’s inlet. The heated, pressurized air exited from the fan into a series of ducts that would supply heat to various parts of the building. The patent also made provisions for domestic water heating by utilizing some of the condenser’s hot water for that purpose. Sturtevant claimed his design increased efficiency by making use of hot flue gases as the primary source to heat air but also by using the remaining energy of the steam in the condenser to further heat the air. Sturtevant was extremely successful with this and his other patents (no less than 10 patents dealing with heating and ventilation were granted to him on the same day as this patent). In 1860 he founded the B. F. Sturtevant Co. which was extremely successful and long lived; Westinghouse bought the company in 1945, and operations continued at the Hyde Park, MA factory until its closing in 1989. The company’s equipment was installed in many public and private buildings including the U.S. Capitol and the “New National Museum, Washington, D.C” – now the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
The patent model is constructed of brass and tin. It represents the central duct work, heat exchanger, and steam condenser of Sturtevant’s patent. The flue pipes are modelled inside the heat exchanger. The valves controlling the mixture of fresh and recirculated air are present within the inlet duct. A model of the pipe carrying exhaust steam to the condenser is also included.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1870
patent date
1870-02-22
inventor
Sturtevant, B. F.
ID Number
MC.308725
catalog number
308725
accession number
89797
patent number
100,211

Porter’s Patent Model of a Steam Engine Governor – ca 1858

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 20,894 issued to Charles T. Porter of New York, New York on July 13, 1858. The patent was for an improvement in controlling the speed of a steam engine by use of a fly ball governor.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 20,894 issued to Charles T. Porter of New York, New York on July 13, 1858. The patent was for an improvement in controlling the speed of a steam engine by use of a fly ball governor. This design was one of the earliest weighted fly ball governors. It differed from the common fly ball governor in that the balls were of very light weight, and the governor was intended to be operated at much higher speeds of rotation. The governor included gearing that rotated the fly balls at approximately ten times the speed of the engine's rotation. The design did not suffer from the increased friction of heavy fly balls which would reduce responsiveness. The inventor claimed the advantages of his design were more sensitive and rapid responses to small changes in engine speed. The Porter governor design was used in the Porter-Allen engine introduced about 1867, and the weighted fly ball principle was widely used from then on.
The patent model is constructed of cast iron and steel. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model. It includes a hand crank to permit demonstration of actual operation. A full description of the workings of the governor and diagrams showing the complete design of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
date made
1858
patent date
1858-07-13
inventor
Porter, Charles T.
ID Number
MC.251289
catalog number
251289
accession number
48865
patent number
20,894

Allen’s Patent Model of Cut-Off Valve for Steam Engines – ca 1841

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 2,227 issued to Horatio Allen of New York, New York on August 21, 1841. The patent was for an improved design for the mechanism controlling the inlet valve of a steam engine.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 2,227 issued to Horatio Allen of New York, New York on August 21, 1841. The patent was for an improved design for the mechanism controlling the inlet valve of a steam engine. Allen’s design provided a means of adjusting the point in the power stroke of the engine’s piston at which high pressure steam being fed to the cylinder was cut off. This was desirable as power was extracted from the expansive force of the steam after the valve closed. This saved fuel by avoiding continuous use of high pressure steam.
The image of the model shows a cross section of the steam cylinder at the right with the piston rod and connecting rod extending to the left to the crankshaft. The steam inlet valve is shown above the cylinder and is of the slide valve type. It is operated by a shaft eccentric mounted on the crankshaft. In the model, the valve is made of wood and slides back and forth to admit steam to each side of the piston. The cut-off is the separate brass slide valve above the main valve. It is operated by its own eccentric, and the range of its travel is controlled by the brass hand crank and gears. Turning the crank thus allowed the point of steam cut-off to be varied as required.
Allen’s design in this patent was soon improved by himself and others to allow for a simpler mechanism that did not require the separate slide valve for cut-off.
The patent model is constructed of brass and wood. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model. It includes a small hand crank to permit demonstration of actual operation. A full description of the operation of the valve gear along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
date made
1841
patent date
1841-08-21
inventor
Allen, Horatio
ID Number
MC.308649
catalog number
308649
accession number
89797
patent number
2,227

Diesel Engine Indicator, De Juhasz Design – ca 1938

This diesel engine indicator was based on U.S. Patent Number 2,040,082 issued to Kalman John De Juhasz of State College, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1936.
Description
This diesel engine indicator was based on U.S. Patent Number 2,040,082 issued to Kalman John De Juhasz of State College, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1936. An engine indicator is an instrument for graphically recording the pressure versus piston displacement through an engine stroke cycle. Engineers use the resulting diagram to check the design and performance of the engine. Engine indicators were originally developed for use on steam engines, and Mr. De Juhasz's design is one of many adaptations of steam engine indicator designs for use on diesel engines.
The device consists of a piston within a cylinder as shown on the right in the image. This cylinder is connected to a port in a cylinder of the engine under test, and the indicator's piston rises and falls as the pressure within the engine changes. A spring at the top of the cylinder provides a return force when the pressure in the engine decreases. A stylus is connected via a linkage to the moving piston so that it also rises and falls with pressure changes and records the pressure on a revolving drum with a paper card wrapped around it. This drum is seen to the left of the image. A cord is wrapped around the base of the drum and led via the pulley on the left to be attached to the engine under test so that it causes the drum to turn one revolution each stroke of the engine. A spring on the inside of the drum returns the recording paper to its starting point as the cord is relaxed. The result is a pressure-volume diagram of the engine while in operation, and engineers can measure and adjust the engine's properties under real time varying load conditions.
De Juhasz claimed his design improved over others due to his addition of cooling fins to the piston cylinder, reduction of mass of the piston and stylus, the use of light weight materials such as Bakelite, and a built in lubricator. He was an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Pennsylvania State College and Chief Engineer of a company manufacturing engine indicators.
The indicator is constructed of steel and Bakelite. Diagrams showing the complete design of the patent that it is based upon can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
date made
ca 1938
ID Number
MC.311621
catalog number
311621
accession number
151188
patent number
2040082

Miniature Steam Engine, ca 1880

This is a miniature operational model of a simple box-bed engine. Box-bed engines were also known as mill engines and were common sources of power for facilities such as cotton mills. It measures just 1 1/8 inch in length. It was donated to the museum in 1961 by J.C.
Description
This is a miniature operational model of a simple box-bed engine. Box-bed engines were also known as mill engines and were common sources of power for facilities such as cotton mills. It measures just 1 1/8 inch in length. It was donated to the museum in 1961 by J.C. McDowell, son of the maker of the tiny model.
date made
ca 1886
ID Number
MC.319415
catalog number
319415
accession number
237077

Worthington and Baker’s Patent Model of Boiler Water Gauge – ca 1847

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 4,972 issued to Henry R. Worthington of New York, New York and William H. Baker of Williamsburgh, New York on February 20, 1847.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 4,972 issued to Henry R. Worthington of New York, New York and William H. Baker of Williamsburgh, New York on February 20, 1847. The patent was for an improved design for a gauge to measure the level of water in a steam boiler. The inventors claimed to be the first to employ a “percussion gauge” for this purpose.
The image of the model shows a brass cylinder which contains a loosely fitting piston. The piston is connected by an internal rod to a crank that operates the indicating arrow shown at the top of the model. Two flanges on the brass cylinder would be mounted to the side of the boiler so that the desired level of water would lie between the two. There are holes through each flange that extend into the cylinder, and these admitted steam at the top and water at the bottom.
The term “percussion gauge” comes from the manner of operation of the gauge. The arrow pointer would be raised as high as possible and then dropped. This allowed the piston to fall until it hit the surface of the water with percussive force and stopped with the arrow indicating the level of water.
The patent model is constructed of brass and iron. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model. A full description of the operation of the gauge along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
patent date
1847-02-20
inventor
Worthington, Henry R.
Baker, William H.
ID Number
MC.308652
catalog number
308652
accession number
89797
patent number
4,972

Holley’s Patent Model of a Steam-Boiler Furnace – 1880

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 238,235 issued to Alexander Lyman Holley of Brooklyn, NY on March 1, 1881. Holley’s patent was for an improved gas-fueled steam-boiler for use in a furnace. Mr.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 238,235 issued to Alexander Lyman Holley of Brooklyn, NY on March 1, 1881. Holley’s patent was for an improved gas-fueled steam-boiler for use in a furnace. Mr. Holley noted that past objections to the use of gas for fuel dealt with poor combustion of the gas due to incomplete mixing with combustion air. His invention related to a new way to mix the air and gas more completely prior to introduction into the combustion chamber. He provided for separate entry flues for the gas and air. These ran beneath the floor of the combustion chamber. Slots were cut into the floor perpendicular to the flues. Alternate slots were connected to either the gas flue or air flue. In his patent application drawing, he showed five slots – two for gas and three for air. He conceived that the pressure feeding the air and gas would create jets through the slots into the combustion chamber where mixture would occur and combustion take place. To facilitate this, he included a curved diaphragm as the top of the combustion chamber. The combustion gases would then be carried upwards through tubes in the boiler and thence to the exhaust. Research of available trade literature and other sources has not revealed any commercial product that may have made use of Mr. Holley’s invention. Mr. Holley was an engineer of great reputation in the steel making industry and was a founding member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
The patent model is constructed of wood and sheet metal. The boiler is sheet metal painted black. The wooden frame of the model is painted red with black lines to give it the appearance of being made of brick. The model conforms to the patent drawings and represents the major elements of the patent. The air and gas inlet pipes and flues are present. The burner is made of wood and has slots cut into it to represent the alternating gas air and gas ports. The model has a tag that includes the date (January 24, 1880) of the patent application.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
patent date
1881-03-01
inventor
Holley, Alexander L.
ID Number
MC.336506
catalog number
336506
accession number
1978.0318
patent number
29,007
238,235

Peer’s Patent Model of Gear Cutting Machine, 1874

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 153,370 issued to John A. Peer of San Francisco, California on July 21, 1874. The patent was for an improvement in gear cutting machines.Mr.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 153,370 issued to John A. Peer of San Francisco, California on July 21, 1874. The patent was for an improvement in gear cutting machines.
Mr. Peer’s design was for a complex cutting machine that could be set up to construct a variety of different types of gears. The patent claimed that, with only simple adjustments, the machine could cut bevel, spur, crown, mortise, face, spiral and rack-bar gears. The machine was capable of cutting gears in metal and wood, and its design assured the teeth of the gears would be perfectly symmetrical.
As seen in the image of the patent model, the machine consisted of a lathe-bed with a head-block (at the far left of the image) holding a pulley-driven spindle into which the blank to be cut was chucked. The spindle had a control plate mounted at the outer edge. The plate was drilled with holes arranged at appropriate angles for each type of gear to be cut and was indexed into position by a lever and pin.
The cutting blades were mounted in the center of a set of adjustable frames that allowed them to engage the blank at the appropriate horizontal and vertical position. Screw jacks moved the frames into position for each series of cuts. An inner frame (the angled brass frame in the image) could be set for the proper angle for bevel gears, and the cutters could also be moved along that frame to effect the cuts. Mr. Peer made provisions for cutting rack gears by replacing the spindle and chuck with a horizontal rack bed.
This patent model was on display in the Oval Office of the White House from 2009 to 2017.
The patent model is made of brass, steel and wood. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1874
patent date
1874-07-21
inventor
Peer, John A.
ID Number
MC.308817
catalog number
308817
accession number
89797
patent number
153,370

Demonstration Model of a Corliss Mill Steam Engine, ca 1875

This is a model of a steam engine utilizing the Corliss patent design for an automatic cutoff gear. George H. Corliss was a prolific inventor of steam technology in the middle 1800s and was the founder of the Corliss Steam Engine Company.
Description
This is a model of a steam engine utilizing the Corliss patent design for an automatic cutoff gear. George H. Corliss was a prolific inventor of steam technology in the middle 1800s and was the founder of the Corliss Steam Engine Company. His engines were used worldwide, and his designs were adopted by other engine manufacturers. Other examples of Corliss engines and patent models of his cutoff gear inventions can be found at www.collections.si.edu.
The model was built in the Corliss works about 1875 and was used for demonstration and promotion. The model is very detailed, to include a working fly ball governor with its linkage for controlling the advance of the cutoff gear. It is made of bronze and steel and is mounted on a silver plated steel base.
date made
ca 1880
ID Number
MC.327675
catalog number
327675
accession number
268278

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