Patent GB-190603976-A (GB)
Title: Improvements connected with Propelling and Reversing Vessels by Turbine Engines.
Inventor: PENROSE PHILIP OWEN
Filed: 1906-02-17
Granted: 1907-02-14
Abstract: 3976. Penrose, P. O., and Spooner, H. J. Feb. 17. Elastic-fluid turbines.-A parallelflow turbine specially adapted for screw propellers with blades which are reversible and of variable pitch is shown in the Figures. The turbine is in two parts, the primary part A, Fig. III, being mounted on a hollow shaft A<1> connected to the propeller boss and the secondary part B being mounted on a solid shaft B<1> passing inside the hollow shaft and connected to the adjustable propeller blades in the usual way. By making the secondary turbine momentarily run at a higher or lower speed than the primary turbine, the propeller blades are reversed or varied in pitch without stopping the turbines, and this is effected by varying the steam supply to the turbines. The main steam - pipe divides into two parts S, s connected to the two turbines, and a rocking sector valve V<3> controls the relative sizes of the openings to the two pipes by obstructing one or other of the pipe openings. Pipes s<2>, s<4> fitted with stop valves v<1> connect the two turbines and serve as auxiliary means for varying the relative speeds of the turbines by varying the back pressure. The two turbine shafts are connected by a clutch such as a Hele-Shaw clutch C, Fig. IX, of the kind described in Specification No. 28,145, A.D. 1902, [Abridgment Class Mechanism &c.]. The clutch is of the usual kind except that the presser ring is actuated by arms C' engaging with cam-surfaces on a sliding sleeve C' which is actuated by a handle C<5> to put the clutch in or out of gear, and is lubricated by oil supplied through an axial hole in the solid shaft B' and passing outwards through a channel H<3> into the parts of the clutch. Superfluous oil is expelled centrifugally through a passage H' and collected in an encircling troughlike ring H<5>. The clutch contains a limit box L formed on the end of the hollow shaft A' and enclosing a nut L<1> engaging with a screw-thread formed on the solid shaft B', the arrangement being such that the travel-of the nut inside the limit box governs the movement of the propeller blades. The nut carries rods L<2> which project outside the box and carry a disk K engaging a jockey J on a pivoted lever J<3> carrying a pointer J<5> working over a scale I and adapted to indicate the movements of the propeller blades. In order to reverse the ship's motion when it is going, say, ahead, the clutch is disengaged by the handle C' and the handle O is rotated to move a frame G, and parts carried by it to the right. This causes the arm J<3> and sector J<4> to move in a clockwise sense so that the connecting-gearing G<2>, G<4> moves the valve V<3> to diminish the steam supply to the secondary turbine. The speed of the secondary turbine is diminished and the propeller blades are reversed. An intermediate movement of the parts varies the pitch of the blades without reversing them. Two pointers J<5>, G', working over a scale I indicate when the blades have attained the required pitch, and by a handle M a catch device keeping the clutch out of engagement is released and a spring causes the clutch to engage. A device for balancing end thrust when the propeller blades are reversed or varied in pitch is shown in Fig. XIII. The usual dummy pistons Q, R, U are provided, but the largest dummy piston Q is arranged in a separate chamber F<1>, to which steam is normally admitted by a valve E and pipe E'. When the pitch of the blades is varied, the jockey J moves an arm J<6> connected by a rod J<9> to a spring and lever device D<4>, so as to relax a spring D<3> and 'open a valve D which admits high-pressure steam to the dummy-piston chamber, the valve E closing by its own weight. The valve D closes when the pressure is sufficient to balance the end thrust. A device for automatically engaging the clutch when the variation in speed between the two turbines is excessive consists of tappets M<5>, Fig. IX, adapted to be actuated by a nut M<4> controlled by the gearing actuated by the jockey J and by a lever M<6> and handle M causing the clutch to engage. A device may be provided which only allows the clutch to be disengaged when the turbines are running at the same speed. A modified device for the branched main steam-pipe is shown in Fig. II. Ordinary butterfly throttle valves are arranged in the pipes S, s, and their spindles carry rollers T', working in cam-slots in a rocking plate V<4>, the arrangement causing one valve to open as the other closes. The throttle valve or valves may be fitted with supplementary hand - gear. The invention may be modified in detail.