Energy & Power

Palmer’s Display Model of a Refrigerator Car (Patent Number 290,600) – ca 1883

Description

In 1883 Cassius Clay Palmer of New York, NY applied for and received a patent for a railway refrigerator car that was cooled by mechanical refrigeration. This model was not filed as part of his application but was used for display purposes to explain the car’s operation and promote sales. At the time of Palmer’s patent refrigerated railcars depended upon large quantities of ice being loaded into the cars. Palmer claimed that his system was “..the first which has been devised by means of which the use of ice can practically be dispensed with….” The Palmer design took power from one axle of the car via a pulley and belt which drove the machinery. To provide a constant speed drive for the refrigeration compressor and to provide power during periods when the car was not in motion, Palmer used stored compressed air. The axle driven belt ran a two cylinder air compressor which fed compressed air to storage tanks mounted beneath the car. A check valve and pressure regulator supplied constant pressure air from the cylinders to an air-driven engine which in turn powered the compressor for the refrigerant (chloride of ethyl) returning from the cooling coils inside the refrigerated compartment. Palmer made provisions for some of the compressed air to be used to keep a positive pressure differential with the outside environment. This discouraged warm air and dust from entering the refrigerated portion of the car. The compressed air engine also powered an air circulation fan to aid maintaining a uniform temperature throughout the car. Palmer’s design proved successful in tests, and in 1888 Armour & Company had eight cars built for them. However, the Palmer car did not find lasting commercial success. The then existing refrigerated car infrastructure was based on ice, and those in charge of the industry did not want the status quo disturbed. As a result mechanical refrigerator cars were not a commercial success in the United States until 1950.

The display model is constructed of wood, brass and iron. It is of a natural wood color. The model includes details of double door openings on the sides as well as the compressed air cylinders beneath the car.

Location

Currently not on view

date made

ca 1883

ID Number

TR.335473

catalog number

335473

accession number

321708

patent number

290600

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Davies Steam Pump, Patent Model

Description

This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Joseph D. Davies, of Covington, Kentucky, March 9, 1880, no. 225351.

The model represents a direct-acting steam pump, provided with two auxiliary oscillating cylinders, which offer a constantly decreasing resistance to the movement of the steam piston during the first half of its stroke and a constantly increasing assistance during the remaining half. The purpose of this is to equalize the effective force of the steam piston throughout its stroke when the steam is used expansively.

The two auxiliary cylinders are mounted in trunnions, one on each side of the frame of the engine. The rods from the auxiliary pistons are attached to a clamp on the main piston rod, so located that the auxiliary cylinders are perpendicular to the main piston rod when the main piston is at midstroke. The auxiliary pistons, in the model, work against a spiral spring, which is compressed during the first half of the stroke and which expands during the last half. In effect the springs act as would a flywheel, storing the energy in excess of the resistance, while steam at high pressure acts upon the engine piston, and delivering the stored energy after the steam has been cut off and is expanding in the cylinder. The inventor described his device using a fluid, as steam or water under pressure within the auxiliary cylinders.

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

1880

patent date

1880-03-09

inventor

Davies, Joseph D.

ID Number

MC.308711

catalog number

308711

accession number

89797

patent number

225,351

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Mauzey’s Patent Model of a Solar Heater – 1880

Description

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 227,028 issued to James P. Mauzey of Blackfoot, Montana Territory on April 27, 1880. His patent was for a new and improved solar heater. Mr. Mauzey’s design provided for a series of reflecting mirrors mounted on a rectangular frame which could be oriented so as to focus the sun’s rays upon an object to be heated. The image of the patent model shows the frame and mirrors. The frame would be oriented to point the central, oval shaped mirror directly at the sun. This mirror was shaped and oriented so as to focus the sun’s rays along a line at some distance behind the mirror frame assembly. Additional mirror elements were mounted within the frame as shown, and these too were designed to focus energy at the same distance behind the frame. The brown colored rod and material at the top of the frame modeled a curtain which could be rolled across the frame to block the mirrors as necessary for repair or adjustment. The frame assembly shown in the image was intended to be mounted on a supporting base which could be used to tilt the frame up or down to track the sun’s position in the sky. The base was in turn mounted on wheels or rollers to allow additional adjustments to track the sun. The object to be heated would be located on the base at the focal point of the mirrors. Additionally, the mirror assembly could be moved up or down relative to the base allowing for an accurate focus on the object to be heated. Diagrams showing the complete design of the heater can be found in the patent document online www.USPTO.gov/patents/process/search/index.jsp). Research of available trade literature and other sources has not revealed any commercial use that may have made use of Mr. Mauzey’s invention. His work was mentioned by Charles H. Pope, a solar heating advocate, in his 1903 book titled Solar Heat: Its Practical Applications. However, Mr. Pope indicated no additional information on Mauzey had been found.

The patent model is constructed of tin, wood and fabric. It models the mirror assembly and curtain mechanism. Also shown are the side arms that would have attached the assembly to the supporting base.

Location

Currently not on view

date made

1880

patent date

1880-04-27

inventor

Mauzey, James P.

ID Number

MC.251506

accession number

48890

catalog number

251506

patent number

227,028

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Ericsson Hot-Air Engine, Patent Model

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

Data Source

National Museum of American History

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

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

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Sciple's Patent Model of a Portable Steam Engine –1879

Description

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 224,482 issued to Harry M Sciple of Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1880. The patent was for a new and improved portable steam engine. Mr. Sciple's goals for his design were lightness, durability and low cost. He claimed his innovation was making the majority of the engine from only two castings. The first and largest was the base, steam cylinder, and steam valve. The second was the cylinder head combined with the crosshead guides. In the image of the model the steam valve is the horizontal cylinder on the side of the steam cylinder; and the crosshead and guides casting is the arch shape at the top. The piston rod is attached to the crosshead which can be seen across the arch. Another new design feature claimed by Mr. Sciple was the use of vee- shaped crosshead guides. Instead of the typical metal sliding on metal crosshead and guide design, he used rubber coated rollers attached to each end of the crosshead. The connecting rod is the inverted u-shaped hoop seen connected to a bar across the crosshead and descending on each side of the cylinder to the crankshaft. The eccentric gear is shown on the shaft just outside the base. The rod connected to it operates the steam valve via the crank arm shown.

Before the widespread use of electric motors, small high-speed steam engines such as the Sciple design were common for general light duty. Simple and dependable, such engines were cheap to build and easy to operate and maintain. They could be connected directly to pumps, generators, blowers and other machinery.

All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated in detail by the model. The patent model parts representing the large castings are made of lead. Other metal is used for the moving parts. 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

1880

patent date

1880-02-10

inventor

Sciple, Harry M.

ID Number

MC.308710

catalog number

308710

accession number

89,797

patent number

224,481

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Model of an Oscillating Steam Engine – ca 1889

Description

This is a demonstration model of an oscillating cylinder steam engine. It was designed by William Graham of Carlisle, Pennsylvania about 1889. Graham was awarded United States Patent Number 413,506 on October 22, 1889 for the design of this type engine, and the patent drawings match this model very closely.

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 is connected to a crosshead which moves fore and aft within a set of guides. The crosshead in turn is coupled via a pin to the connecting rod which allows it to pivot independently as the crankshaft revolves.

One advantage of an oscillating cylinder design is the engine is relatively compact and occupies less space than a standard engine. Graham made such a claim as a benefit of his patent. He also claimed his design used few parts, was simple in construction and low in construction cost. His patent also included new features for reducing and compensating for wear of the engine steam valve as well as a method for assuring steam-tight attachments where the steam enters and exits through the cylinder’s pivot points. Engines based on this design were built in sizes from 5 to 10 horsepower and were popular in central Pennsylvania for small shop power.

In the image of the model the steam cylinder is seen at the left with its cylinder rod attached directly to the crank arm of the flywheel. The steam valve is the horizontal cylinder on top of and at 90 degrees to the steam cylinder. As the steam cylinder oscillated up and down about its central pivot, the valve was operated by the lever shown extending from its front to a sliding pivot in the slotted vertical frame at the front of the engine. The timing of the valve could be adjusted by the small wheel at the top which moved the pivot point up and down in the slot. The patent drawings show the pivot point was intended to be adjusted by a fly-ball governor.

date made

ca 1880

ID Number

MC.310898

catalog number

310898

accession number

132,179

patent number

413,506

Data Source

National Museum of American History