1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class VIII.: Thomas William Cowan
1830. COWAN, THOMAS WILLIAM, Kent Iron Works, Greenwich.
Patent nominal 6-horse power trunk engine.
BURGH and COWAN'S PATENT TRUNK ENGINE of 16-horse power.
It is a well-known fact that the trunk engine is the most simple at present in use; but the immense friction of the trunks in their respective stuffing boxes, and their alternate exposure to the steam and atmosphere, render them highly destructive to steam and tallow.
T. W. Cowan, the sole manufacturer of Burgh and Cowan's patent engines, is desirous of introducing them to the public. The following are a few of the many advantages gained by the use of these improvements:-
1. The area is gained, hitherto lost in trunk engines, thereby a saving in space.
2. The immense stuffing boxes being entirely dispensed with, a great reduction in friction and packing is effected.
3. The trunks are never alternately exposed to the steam and atmosphere; also the moving or piston think is entirely frictionless, gaining a considerable saving in tallow and in steam.
4. The connecting rod is in the centre of the cylinder, and perfectly accessible to tighten and lubricate, which dispenses with the guides beyond the cylinder.
5. The guides being within the cylinder, and cast in the trunk, they never get loose, and are entirely out of harm's way.
6. In beam engines, this improvement entirely dispenses with the expensive and complicated parallel motion, thus rendering engines cheaper and simpler than those at present in use.
7. In high and low pressure engines, the high pressure is within the low pressure, while the areas of both are maintained. This is a great advantage over those at present in use.
8. The simplicity of the whole engine, together with the small space it occupies at any given horse-power, renders it highly advantageous, particularly for marine purposes.
9. In stationary engines the connecting rods are about six times the length of crank.
10. Marine engines made on the same principle as the above engraving are much lighter, take up less space, and are much cheaper to work than any other description of engines.
11. Vertical engines on this principle are particularly adapted for places where there is little room to spare; a 10-horse power engine only taking up the space of 1 foot 4 inches by 1 foot 8 inches.
12. In steam fire engines the pumps are connected by a rod, to the piston, through the bottom trunk, thereby taking up less space.
13. The high and low pressure engines are invaluable where fuel is expensive, as they save a great deal of steam that is altogether lost in other engines.
These engines being of the best materials and workmanship are found to be cheaper and work longer than any other engines.