Heslop's winding and pumping engine

Heslop's winding and pumping engine, 1795. The winding and pumping engine was erected about 1795 by Adam Heslop at Kells Pit, Whitehaven, where it worked for many years; subsequently used at other pits (Castlerigg Pit?; 1837, Wreah Pit, Whingill?). The arrangement is a combination of a single acting high-pressure cylinder with a Newcomen cylinder; patented by Heslop in 1790, although it would appear to have been an infringement of Watt's patent for the separate condenser which remained in force till 1800. Made at the Lowca Foundry/Engineering Works c. 1790.

Adam Heslop patented in 1790 a rotative beam engine in which, by employing two cylinders, he claimed advantages equivalent to those of a single-acting cylinder with James Watt's separate condenser, at a time when the latter's patent was still in force. There is some evidence that it was considered an infringement, but no legal action was taken. The invention was first tried in the neighbourhood of Coalbrookdale; later some fourteen engines, of which this was one, were built in the Whitehaven district. The engine was erected about 1795 at Kell's Pit, Whitehaven, and was used subsequently for winding and pumping at other pits in the district until its removal to South Kensington in 1878.

Details

Category:
Motive Power
Object Number:
1878-94
type:
stationary engine
credit:
The Earl of Lonsdale

Parts

2 bottom cills for frame

2 bottom cills for frame

2 bottom cills for frame (probably replacements made in Patent Museum)

Object Number:
1878-94/1
type:
frame
4 oblique uprights supporting centres of spring beams

4 oblique uprights supporting centres of spring beams

4 oblique uprights supporting centres of spring beams (lower ends of three replaced)

Object Number:
1878-94/2
type:
uprights
4 uprights supporting ends of spring beams

4 uprights supporting ends of spring beams

4 uprights supporting ends of spring beams (lower ends replaced)

Object Number:
1878-94/3
type:
uprights
Transom and other transverse timbers (6 in all)

Transom and other transverse timbers (6 in all)

Transom and other transverse timbers (6 in all)

Materials:
wood
Object Number:
1878-94/4
type:
timbers
2 spring beams and 2 side plates for frame

2 spring beams and 2 side plates for frame

2 spring beams and 2 side plates for frame

Object Number:
1878-94/5
type:
frame
4 corner-blocks for frame and various other make-up pieces in wood

4 corner-blocks for frame and various other make-up pieces in wood

4 corner-blocks for frame and various other make-up pieces in wood, the majority probably made in the Museum

Object Number:
1878-94/6
type:
block
Four Long Stay-Bolts for Frame

Four Long Stay-Bolts for Frame

4 long stay-bolts for frame, less gibs, cotters, plates and nuts (see /6); one made in the Museum

Measurements:
overall: 300 mm x 2945 mm x 330 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/7
type:
stay-bolt
Holding down bolts

Holding down bolts

Holding down bolts, glands etc. (bolts and bar glands probably made in Museum; 4 cast glands original)

Object Number:
1878-94/8
type:
bolt
Plummer blocks for Gudgeon complete with brasses

Plummer blocks for Gudgeon complete with brasses

Plummer blocks for Gudgeon complete with brasses (one each); caps (one broken); cover plates; bolts & nuts (photographed without bolts and nuts)

Object Number:
1878-94/9
type:
block
Working Beam

Working Beam

Working Beam

Object Number:
1878-94/10
type:
beam
2 beams to support cistern

2 beams to support cistern

2 beams to support cistern (possibly made in Museum)

Object Number:
1878-94/11
type:
beam
Cistern

Cistern

Cistern

Object Number:
1878-94/12
type:
cisterns
2 blocks to support cold cylinder and 2 boards to reduce hole in cistern

2 blocks to support cold cylinder and 2 boards to reduce hole in cistern

2 blocks to support cold cylinder and 2 boards to reduce hole in cistern (latter made in the Museum)

Object Number:
1878-94/13
type:
block
Shaft Neck Bearing with Two Brasses

Shaft Neck Bearing with Two Brasses

Shaft neck bearing complete with 2 brasses, taking up plate, keeper and cotter

Measurements:
overall: 1542 mm x 789 mm x 526 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/14
type:
shaft
Plummer Block for Neck Bearing

Plummer Block for Neck Bearing

Plummer block for neck bearing with bottom brass but no top brass, cap and bolts

Measurements:
overall: 228 mm x 844 mm x 273 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/15
type:
block
Shaft and crank

Shaft and crank

Shaft and crank (note crank is staked on only with wood)

Object Number:
1878-94/16
type:
shaft
Half flywheel

Half flywheel

Half flywheel (other half not collected by Patent Museum)

Measurements:
overall: 2110 mm x 4200 mm x 100 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/17
type:
flywheel
Pinion

Pinion

Pinion

Object Number:
1878-94/18
type:
pinion
Sweep rod

Sweep rod

Sweep rod

Object Number:
1878-94/19
type:
rod
Short connecting rods for 'hot' cylinder

Short connecting rods for 'hot' cylinder

Short connecting rods for 'hot' cylinder, complete with brasses etc (one brass broken in two)

Object Number:
1878-94/20
type:
cylinder
Pistons, Rod and Crosshead for 'Hot' Cylinder

Pistons, Rod and Crosshead for 'Hot' Cylinder

Pistons, rod and crosshead for 'hot' cylinder

Measurements:
overall: 1510 mm x 940 mm x 1030 mm, 514 kg
Object Number:
1878-94/21
type:
cylinder
'hot' cylinder

'hot' cylinder

'hot' cylinder, with bottom and with top cup; the latter is broken in 3 pieces with a small further piece wanting

Measurements:
overall: 1519 mm x 1283 mm x 1140 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/22
type:
cylinder
Long Connecting Rods for 'Cold' Cylinder

Long Connecting Rods for 'Cold' Cylinder

Long connecting rods for 'cold' cylinder, complete with brasses etc

Object Number:
1878-94/23
type:
cylinder
Pistons for 'Cold' Cylinder

Pistons for 'Cold' Cylinder

Pistons for 'cold' cylinder; rod and crosshead. Lacks snift valve

Measurements:
overall: 291 mm x 2528 mm x 598 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/24
type:
cylinder
'Cold' Cylinder

'Cold' Cylinder

'Cold' cylinder, with bottom, snift branch (but not valve itself) and top cup

Object Number:
1878-94/25
type:
cylinder
Two pairs of crosshead girders

Two pairs of crosshead girders

Two pairs of crosshead girders

Object Number:
1878-94/26
type:
girders
Nozzles with Two Valves and Cotters to Valve Spindles

Nozzles with Two Valves and Cotters to Valve Spindles

Nozzles complete with 2 valves & cotters to valve spindles

Measurements:
overall: 1330 mm x 1090 mm x 500 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/27
type:
nozzles
Crossover Pipe in Separate Lengths.

Crossover Pipe in Separate Lengths.

Crossover pipe in 3 separate lengths; top piece has 3 bolts etc in flange

Object Number:
1878-94/28
type:
pipe
Eduction Pipe with Snift Valve

Eduction Pipe with Snift Valve

Eduction pipe, 3 lengths bolted together to from a U, with snift valve

Measurements:
overall: 1320 mm x 1030 mm x 310 mm,
Object Number:
1878-94/29
type:
pipe
Final Length of Eduction Pipe and Trap Chamber

Final Length of Eduction Pipe and Trap Chamber

Final length of eduction pipe and trap chamber

Object Number:
1878-94/30
type:
pipe
Air Pump Bolted to Bearing Timber

Air Pump Bolted to Bearing Timber

Air pump bolted to bearing timber with bucket and rod

Object Number:
1878-94/31
type:
air pump
House pump

House pump

House pump, with foot, foot valve door (foot valve is probably not present) and length of rising pipe bolted on

Object Number:
1878-94/32
type:
pump
Feed pump

Feed pump

Feed pump, apparently complete with piston and rod; handle of one petcock is broken and lost

Object Number:
1878-94/33
type:
pump
Plug Rod with Clevis and Cotter

Plug Rod with Clevis and Cotter

Plug rod with clevis (top end) and cotter (bottom end) and 5 tappets; link from which plug rod hangs with clevis; house pump bucket (one clack elsewhere) and rod; link from which pump rod hangs with clevis; feed pump rod with 2 cotters to fork (incorrect); delivery piece of feed pump with narrow rising pipe; hanging arm for valve levers with nut, plate & washer and 3 clevis pins; 2 valve levers

Object Number:
1878-94/34
type:
rod
2 valve arbors

2 valve arbors

2 valve arbors, each with handle, 2 levers, all clevises and weight hooks (find square-hole washers amongst small parts); 2 weights; 2 rods (one with one clevis pin, the other with a bolt & nut) to go between arbors and long levers; 2 valve spindle caps each with a second link, one lacking one clevis; snift valve with rod & clevis, snift valve lever and joint knuckle

Object Number:
1878-94/35
type:
arbors
Trough for cross-over pipe

Trough for cross-over pipe

Trough for cross-over pipe (probably made in Museum) and 2 pump head launders

Object Number:
1878-94/36
type:
pipe
Bolts, nuts, washers

Bolts, nuts, washers

Bolts, nuts, washers, plates, cotters, brasses etc, nearly all numbered according to scheme on Technical File

Object Number:
1878-94/37
type:
bolts , nut and washers
Nut from Heslop's winding and pumping engine 1795

Nut from Heslop's winding and pumping engine 1795

Nut, single, from Heslop's winding and pumping engine, 1795

Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1878-94/38
type:
metalwork
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum