William McNaught (Glasgow)
Encyclopedia
William McNaught was a Scottish
engineer, from Glasgow
, who patented a compound steam engine in 1845. This was a technique of improving the efficiency of a standard simple Boulton & Watt beam engine
. The engine was compounded by adding a high-pressure cylinder between the support column and the flywheel, on the side opposite the low-pressure cylinder. This improvement could be retrospectively fitted to existing engines.
, Renfrewshire
, Scotland. William was the son of John McNaught, the inventor of the McNaught indicator, a device that measured the cylinder pressure cycle in steam engines. John started producing the indicators in 1830, and for the period 1832–40 he lived at 24, then 26 Robinson Street, Glasgow. William is recorded at that address in 1840. William patented his compound steam engine in 1845 (Patent no. 11001). He relocated to Manchester in 1849.
The Robertson Street workshop was operated by 'William McNaught & Son' as "Makers of Steam-Engine Indicators, Steam Gauges, etc" at 12 Hampden Terrace.
Glasgow at least until 1895.
MacNaught died in 34 Clarendon Rd, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester
, on 8 January 1881, leaving two sons who carried on the business. He was buried in Glasgow.
, but when McNaught'ed the new high-pressure cylinder could run at over 60psi, a pressure that the then new Lancashire boiler was capable of producing. In addition the stress on the centre of the beam was massively reduced, and those on the crank pin slightly reduced. This was important in preventing beam failure.
The thermodynamic benefits of high-pressure steam were beginning to be understood, as scientific opinion turned away from the ideas of caloric to the laws of thermodynamics
proposed by Joule
in 1849.
Many engine makers McNaughted existing beam engines including that of William McNaught (Rochdale)
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
engineer, from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, who patented a compound steam engine in 1845. This was a technique of improving the efficiency of a standard simple Boulton & Watt beam engine
Beam engine
A beam engine is a type of steam engine where a pivoted overhead beam is used to apply the force from a vertical piston to a vertical connecting rod. This configuration, with the engine directly driving a pump, was first used by Thomas Newcomen around 1705 to remove water from mines in Cornwall...
. The engine was compounded by adding a high-pressure cylinder between the support column and the flywheel, on the side opposite the low-pressure cylinder. This improvement could be retrospectively fitted to existing engines.
Family
William McNaught was born on 27 May 1813 at PaisleyPaisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, Scotland. William was the son of John McNaught, the inventor of the McNaught indicator, a device that measured the cylinder pressure cycle in steam engines. John started producing the indicators in 1830, and for the period 1832–40 he lived at 24, then 26 Robinson Street, Glasgow. William is recorded at that address in 1840. William patented his compound steam engine in 1845 (Patent no. 11001). He relocated to Manchester in 1849.
The Robertson Street workshop was operated by 'William McNaught & Son' as "Makers of Steam-Engine Indicators, Steam Gauges, etc" at 12 Hampden Terrace.
Glasgow at least until 1895.
MacNaught died in 34 Clarendon Rd, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, on 8 January 1881, leaving two sons who carried on the business. He was buried in Glasgow.
McNaught'ed beam engines
A beam engine might run at 5psi, using one low-pressure cylinder steamed by an 1840 wagon boilerBoiler (steam generator)
A boiler or steam generator is a device used to create steam by applying heat energy to water. Although the definitions are somewhat flexible, it can be said that older steam generators were commonly termed boilers and worked at low to medium pressure but, at pressures above this, it is more...
, but when McNaught'ed the new high-pressure cylinder could run at over 60psi, a pressure that the then new Lancashire boiler was capable of producing. In addition the stress on the centre of the beam was massively reduced, and those on the crank pin slightly reduced. This was important in preventing beam failure.
| Sample engine | Beam | Crank Pin |
|---|---|---|
| Before compounding | 85,408 | 42,704 |
| After compounding | 656 | 40,893 |
| Units lbs |
The thermodynamic benefits of high-pressure steam were beginning to be understood, as scientific opinion turned away from the ideas of caloric to the laws of thermodynamics
Laws of thermodynamics
The four laws of thermodynamics summarize its most important facts. They define fundamental physical quantities, such as temperature, energy, and entropy, in order to describe thermodynamic systems. They also describe the transfer of energy as heat and work in thermodynamic processes...
proposed by Joule
James Prescott Joule
James Prescott Joule FRS was an English physicist and brewer, born in Salford, Lancashire. Joule studied the nature of heat, and discovered its relationship to mechanical work . This led to the theory of conservation of energy, which led to the development of the first law of thermodynamics. The...
in 1849.
Many engine makers McNaughted existing beam engines including that of William McNaught (Rochdale)
William McNaught (Rochdale)
William McNaught was a steam engine engineer from Rochdale, Lancashire, England.McNaught was born in Manchester and apprenticed with a Mr Mills of Heywood, Bury...
.