IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Beck of Providence Works Brown Street Sheffield
in the County of York Engineer etc for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Beck at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1882.
ISAAC BECK, of Providence Works, Brown Street, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer etc IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES.
My invention has for its object to simplify and otherwise improve the construction
of Steam Engines used in combination with ordinary hand steering gear on ship
board, to economise space, to increase their efficiency and to render them more
accessible in all their parts.
In carrying my invention into practice I proceed as follows.
A pair of Steam Cylinders are fixed at right angles to each other, on one side of
one of the main standards or frames of the machine, and are made to act upon a
single crank on a first motion shaft, which shaft has upon it a pinion to transmit
motion to the main gearing actuating the wheel or barrel carrying the chain or
wire rope leading to tiller; and also has placed loosely upon it an eccentric arranged
to give motion to ordinary slide valves working in suitable steam chests which
correspond with the steam cylinders and are attached to the other side of aforesaid
main standard: each steam chest having ports and passages communicating through
the main standard with the steam passages of the corresponding steam cylinder.
And also has another port and passage communicating with a passage formed
in aforesaid main standard & having an outlet to which the exhaust pipe is
connected.
To enable the engines being made inore compact and still allow of the connecting
rods being of sufficient length to avoid unnecessary side thrust and friction, the
cylinders are formed with (or have fixed along their sides) parallel slides, to which
are fitted suitable blocks which are also connected to one end of piston rod in such
manner that the connecting rods transmitting motion to the crank shaft vibrate over
and along the sides of said cylinders.

page_text: The engines work in one direction or the other according to the position in which
the eccentric is placed by the movement of a hand motion-wheel fixed or connected
to a second Motion shaft which has screw threads formed upon it and over which a
sliding boss or clutch is fitted so that the rotation of the shaft and screw causes
the clutch to slide end ways and carry with it a lever connected therewith and also
connected to it and to another boss sliding upon crank shaft and inside of the
eccentric and as the last mentioned boss has suitable Helical grooves or screw
threads formed or fixed on the outside thereof, while the inside of the eccentric is
also formed to correspond and fit, the end motion of the boss causes the eccentric
to rotate and so move the slide valves in both the steam chests, thereby admitting
steam to the cylinders and so causing the engines to rotate in the required
direction. And in consequence of the first named clutch being also connected to the
main gearing of the Machine, the said clutch, sliding boss, and eccentric are
brought back to their normal positions, thus causing the slide valves to again cover
the steam ports and so stopping the Engines so soon as the movement of the hand
wheel is stopped

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Isaac Beck in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1883.
ISAAC BECK of Providence Works Brown Street Sheffield in the County of
York Engineer etc
話 IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES"
My invention has for its object to simplify and otherwise improve the construction.
of steam Engines, especially those used in combination with ordinary hand steering
gear on ship board to economise space to increase their efficiency and to render
them more accessible in all their parts.
In carrying out my invention into practice I proceed as follows:-
A pair of steam cylinders are fixed at right angles to each other on one side of
one of the Main standards or frames of the Machine and are made to act upon a
single crank on a first Motion shaft which shaft has upon it a pinion to transmit
motion to the Main gearing actuating the wheel or barrell carrying the chain or
wire rope leading to tiller, and has also placed loosely upon it an eccentric arranged
to give Motion to ordinary slide valves working in suitable steam chests which
correspond with the steam Cylinders and are attached to the other side of the
aforesaid Main standard each steam chest having ports and passages communicating
through the Main standard with the steam passages of the corresponding steam
cylinder and also has another port or passage communicating with a passage formed
in the aforesaid Main Standard and having an outlet to which the exhaust pipe is
connected
To enable the Engines being made more compact and still allow of the connecting
rods being of sufficient length to avoid unnecessary side thrust and friction, the
cylinders are formed with (or have fixed along their sides) parallel slides, to which
are fitted suitable blocks which are also connected to one end of piston rod in such
manner that the connecting rods transmitting motion to the crank shaft vibrate
over and along the sides of said cylinders.
The Engines work in one direction or the other according to the position in
which the eccentric is placed by the movement of a hand motion wheel fixed or
connected to a second Motion shaft which has screw threads formed upon it and
over which a sliding boss or clutch is fitted so that the rotation of the shaft and
screw causes the clutch to slide endways and carry with it a lever connected to it
and to another boss sliding upon the crank shaft and inside of the eccentric, and as
the last mentioned boss has angular projections or threads formed or fixed on the
outside thereof while the inside of eccentric is also formed to correspond and fit,
the end Motion of the boss causes the eccentric to change its position and so move
the slide valves in both the steam chests, thereby admitting steam to the cylinders
and so causing the Engines to rotate in the required direction, and in consequence
of the first named clutch being also connected to the Main gearing of the Machine
the said clutch sliding boss and eccentric are brought back to their neutral or
normal positions, thus causing the slide valves to again cover the steam ports and
so stopping the Engines, so soon as the movement of the hand wheel is stopped.
In order that my Invention may be better understood and explained I have
hereunto attached a sheet of drawings illustrating what I believe to be the best
and most convenient methods (but not the only methods) of carrying my Invention
into practical effect and whereon Fig 1 represents an end elevation of a steering
gear in combination with a pair of my improved Engines. Fig 2 is a side elevation
of the same with one cylinder removed. Fig. 3. 4. 5 are respectively front side
and plan views of a single cylinder Engine with reversible movements for direct
driving where motive power is required. Figs 6. 7 are views on an enlarged scale

page_text: of the eccentric with one guide plate and the sliding boss used for starting, stopping
or reversing. Fig 8 shews a pair of connecting rods for one cylinder
Like Letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
A is a steam cylinder of which I prefer to use a pair B is a crank shaft
conveying the motion from the piston to the desired mechanism. C. C¹ are blocks
working in the parallel guides formed or fixed along the sides of the cylinder the
said blocks also forming the ends of the crosshead or attachment to piston rod.
D is a fork connecting rod attached to the slide blocks C. Cand also at its other
extremity to the crank pin on B-E is a circular sheave (also called the eccentric)
placed loosely upon the crank shaft B and between a pair of guide plates F. F¹
the said sheave E being arranged to take up a position concentric or eccentric to
the shaft B, in consequence of the end motion of the sliding boss G when operated
by the lever H-I is a steam or valve chest having within it an ordinary slide
valve and the usual three ports for admission and exhaust of steam from the
corresponding cylinder A through and by means of passages formed in J one of
the Main standards or frames of the Machine and of which the Engine may form a
part. When the Engines are used in combination with steering gear I prefer to
also use wheels having their teeth formed on the double Helical system, thereby
securing additional strength and smoothness of working.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my invention and shewn
how the same may be carried out into practical effect, I would have it distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details and arrangement of
parts as illustrated in the drawings accompanying this Specification as it will be
evident that such details and arrangement of parts can be varied and applied to a
But what I claim as my
variety of uses without departing from my Invention.
Invention and to be secured to me by hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is
1 The construction and arrangement of the cylinders and Valve chests of Steam
Engines substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying
2nd The method of obtaining increased
drawings, or any modification thereof
length of connecting rod in a short engine substantially as herein described and as
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, or any modification thereof. 3rd The
construction arrangement and combination of parts for operating the slide valves,
and for starting, stopping or reversing the action of an Engine by the Motion of the
Eccentric, substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings or any Modification thereof
In witness whereof I the said Isaac Beck have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventh day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand