IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND of Richmond House Poplar Avenue Sandon
Road Birmingham in the County of Warwick Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO STEAM
ENGINES" to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to steam engines in which a generator, compound high
and low pressure cylinder engine, and condenser are combined so as to produce a
closed circuit: and the object is to render such engines more efficient by an improved
arrangement and construction of the parts.
The invention consists essentially. First. In arranging the generator, high and
low pressure cylinders condenser and circulation pump in such manner that the
steam rises from the generator to do work in the cylinders after which it descends
to the condenser where it is liquified; the resulting water flows and is drawn down
from the condenser into the circulation pump which forms the lowest part of the
system, and is thence fed into the generator from which it again passes into the
cylinders in the form of steam to do work.
Second. In order to ensure that the water shall pass from the condenser to the.
generator as required, the circulation pump is placed in an inverted position, that
is to say with the acting or suction and delivery end of the cylinder uppermost.
-
Third. In order to ensure that a pump placed in the inverted position named
shall work satisfactorily I construct such pump with a plunger or piston which at
the completion of the instroke quite or almost reaches the cylinder top. I arrange
the suction valve to open downwards into a small passage leading to the top of the
pump cylinder and I retain the said valve in position by a spring or springs
preferably adjustable. I place the discharge valve preferably immediately above
the top of the pump cylinder in order to give as little room as possible for the
formation of vapour.
Fourth. To prevent air entering the pump and keep the working parts cool, and
to condense vapour I surround the lower part of the said pump with a chamber or
vessel containing water. Two chambers or vessels one within the other may be
used. The water in the said vessel or chamber is changed by circulation or other-
wise as it becomes heated. When two chambers or vessels are used the water may
be changed in the exterior chamber or vessel only.

page_text: I, WILLIAM SEDDON SUTHERLAND of Richmond House, Poplar Avenue Sandon
Road Birmingham in the County of Warwick Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to steam engines in which a generator, compound high
and low pressure cylinder engine and condenser are combined so as to produce a
closed circuit, and the object is to render such engines more efficient by an improved
arrangement and construction of the parts.
The invention consists essentially First. In arranging the generator, high and
low pressure cylinders condenser and circulation pump in such manner that the
steam rises from the generator to do work in the cylinders after which it descends
to the condenser where it is liquified, the resulting water flows and is drawn
down from the condenser into the circulation pump which forms the lowest part of
the system, and is thence fed into the generator from which it again passes into
the cylinders in the form of steam to do work.
Second. In order to ensure that the water shall pass from the condenser to the
generator as required, the circulation pump is placed in an inverted position, that is
to say with the acting or suction and delivery end of the cylinder uppermost.
Third. In order to ensure that a pump placed in the inverted position named
shall work satisfactorily I construct such pump with a plunger or piston which at
the completion of the instroke quite or almost reaches the cylinder top; I arrange
the suction valve to open downwards into a small passage leading to the top of the
pump cylinder, and I retain the said valve in position by a spring or springs
preferably adjustable. I place the discharge valve preferably immediately above
the top of the pump cylinder in order to give as little room as possible for the
formation of vapour.
Fourth. To prevent air entering the pump, and keep the working parts cool, and
to condense vapour I surround the lower part of the said pump with a chamber or
vessel containing water. Two chambers or vessels one within the other may be
used. The water in the said vessel or chamber is changed by circulation or other-
wise as it becomes heated. When two chambers or vessels are used the water
may be changed in the exterior chamber or vessel only.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a steam engine constructed in accordance with my
invention, and fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the feed pump. Under the first part,
a is the generator, b c high and low pressure cylinders, d condenser, e circulation
pump, safety valve, g check valve, h connecting pipes. Under this part of my
invention the 'vatious parts are of any usual construction the feature of novelty
being so arranging the parts that the steam rises from the generator to the
cylinders, then descends to and through the condenser where it is liquified to the
circulation pump which forms the lowest part of the system, from which the water
of condensation is caused to rise to the generator to be again converted into steam.

page_text: Under the second part of my invention the circulation pumpe which forms the
lowest part of the system is placed in an inverted position with the acting or
suction and delivery end uppermost.
Under the third part. The plunger i is so made and connected to the crosshead j
and actuating rods k as to quite or almost reach the top of the cylinder Z on the
completion of the instroke. The suction valve m is arranged to open downwards
into the passage n leading to the top of the pump cylinder, and is retained in
position by the spring o the tension of which is regulated by the screw plug p.
The discharge valve q is placed immediately above the top of the pump cylinder.
Under the fourth part. is a chamber which surrounds the lower part of the
pump and is filled with water. If desired a second chamber may surround the
vessel r and the space between the two be filled with water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In the arrangement and combination of a steam generator, high and low
pressure cylinders, condensers circulation pump and connections substantially as
setforth.
Second. In compound condensing engines placing the circulation pump in an
inverted position substantially as setforth.
Third. Constructing inverted circulation pumps for steam engines with plungers
or pistons and valves arranged and operating substantially as setforth.
Fourth. Combining inverted circulation pumps for steam engines with a chamber
or chambers substantially as setforth.