IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Procter Burgh at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th January 1859.
I, NICHOLAS PROCTER BURGH, of Sheerness, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," to be
as follows:
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of parts of direct-acting
marine, and other steam engines, and consists in substituting for the ordinary"
and well-known trunk and piston arrangements of marine and other engines a
piston having an opening in the centre, for a trunk or tube of a parallelogram
or other convenient form, to pass through or slide upon. This trunk or case,
whatever its sectional form or shape, is open at one end only, and is fitted to
or may form part of one of the covers of the cylinder, and within it works back
and forth the end of the forked or other form of connecting rod, which is
jointed to, with, or upon the enclosed end of a T-framepiece or bar. To the
outer end or head of the T is connected and secured two or more piston rods,
which pass through stuffing boxes in the cylinder cover to the piston, or flat
links, or other equivalent arrangements may be substituted for the single
T-plate and forked connecting rod. The piston rods may either be prolonged
and passed through the back end of the cylinder with suitable stuffing: boxes,
or they may, after passing through the piston, there terminate and be secured
by nuts or otherwise.

page_text: The trunk or case, being fixed to the cylinder, does not move, and being
closed at the inner end, no steam enters thereinto.
In the back side, or side furthest from the crank, the piston has fitted to it
a trunk or case with a closed outer end, of a shape corresponding with and of
a size large enough to pass over the closed end of the inner or fixed trunk or
case, and permit free space around and between them; this second trunk or
socket tube being fitted to the piston moves back and forth with it, and when
the piston is at the outer end of the stroke, it will project beyond the outer
end of the cylinder to a length equal to the length of the stroke. The pro-
jecting end of this last trunk or socket tube is protected by similar but still
larger size of trunk or socket tube, which, in like manner to the last, encom-
passes the enterior moving trunk or tube, and is likewise closed at its outer
end, and is fitted on to and securely attached to the cylinder cover, or it may
form part thereof, being in small engines cast with the cover.
Each of these trunks or socket tubes have a clear space or free passage-way
between their surfaces, by which steam freely passes, and longitudinal guides,
and wearing or friction strips may be introduced between such parts or sur-
faces as may be found desirable in addition to those introduced into the
enterior of the smallest trunk fixed to the front cover of cylinder for guiding
the T-piece and connecting rod end.
The internal trunk or tube around or along which the piston works need
only be of an internal height sufficient to permit the play up and down of the
connecting rod therein during the rotation of the crank, and the width of the
trunk or tube need only be sufficient to admit of the joint of the connecting
rod end and T-piece passing back and forth with sufficient clearance around
it. Although I have mentioned a parallelogram in section, any other shape
which may be preferred can be given to this internal trunk or tube, and those
which surround it.
I prefer in horizontal marine steam engines constructed according to my
Invention, and intended for working the screw propeller, to place the steam
cylinders diagonally on the plan, the forward engine on the starboard side
when the after engine is on the port side, or vice versa, each air pump being
worked direct from the piston of the engine opposite to it.
I prefer to steam-jacket the cylinders, and the case or tube projecting from
the back cover of the cylinders fitted according to my Invention, and it is
desirable (economically) to supply these jackets or steam casings with steam
of a higher pressure, or greater temperature than the steam which enters
the cylinders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nicholas Procter Burgh in the Great Seal Patent Office On
the 9th July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NICHOLAS
PROCTER BURGH, of Sheerness, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Nicholas Procter Burgh, Her special licence that I, the said Nicholas
Procter Burgh, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Nicholas Procter Burgh, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Nicholas Procter Burgh, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calender months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent. .
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nicholas Procter Burgh, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of parts of direct acting
marine and other steam engines, and consists in substituting for the ordinary
and well-known trunk and piston arrangements of marine and other engines
a piston having an opening in the centre for a trunk or tube, of a parallelogram
or other convenient form, to pass through or slide upon. This trunk or case,
whatever its sectional form or shape, is open at one end only, and is fitted to
or may form one part of one of the covers of the cylinder, and within it works
back and forth the end of the forked or other form of connecting rod, which is
jointed to, with, or upon the enclosed end of a T-framepiece or bar. To the
outer end or head of the T-framepiece or bar is connected and secured two
or more piston rods, which pass through stuffing boxes in the cylinder cover
to the piston, or flat links or other equivalent arrangements may be substituted

page_text: for the single T-plate and forked connecting, rod. The piston rods may either
he prolonged and passed through the back end of the cylinder with suitable
stuffing boxes, or they may after passing through the piston, there terminate
and be secured by nuts or otherwise.
The trunk or case being fixed 'to the cylinder end or cover does not move,
and being closed at the inner end no steam enters thereinto.
To the back side, or side furthest from the crank, the piston has fitted to
it a trunk or case with a closed outer end, of a shape corresponding with
and of a size large enough to pass over the closed end of the 'inner or fixed
trunk or case, and permit 'free space around and between them; this second
trunk or socket tube being fitted to the piston, moves back and forth with it,
and when the piston is at the outer end of the stroke, it will project beyond
the outer end of the cylinder to a length equal to the length of the stroke.
The projecting end of this last trunk or socket tube is protected by a similar
but still larger size of trunk or socket tube, which, in like manner to the last,
encompasses the interior moving trunk or tube, and is likewise closed at its
outer end, and is fitted on to and securely attached to the cylinder cover, or
it may form part thereof by (in small engines) being cast therewith.
Each of these trunks or socket tubes 'has a clear space or free passage
way between their surfaces by which steam freely passes, 'and longitudinal
guides and wearing or friction strips may be introduced between such parts
or surfaces as may be 'found desirable, in addition to those introduced into
the interior of the smallest trunk fixed to the front cover of cylinder for
grinding the T-piece and connecting rod end.
The internal trunk or tube around or along which the piston works need
only be of an internal height sufficient to permit the play up and down of the
connecting rod therein during the rotation of the crank, and the width of the
trunk or tube need only be sufficient to admit of the joint of the connecting
rod end and T-piece passing back and forth with sufficient clearance around it.
Although I have mentioned a parallelogram in section, any other shape which
may be preferred can be given to this internal trunk or tube, and those which
surround it.
I prefer in horizontal marine steam engines constructed according to my
Invention, and intended for working the screw propeller, to place the steam
cylinders diagonally on the plan, the forward engine on the starboard 'side
when the after engine is on the port side, or vice versa, each air pump
being worked direct from the piston of the engine opposite to it.
I prefer to steam-jacket the cylinders, and the case or tube projecting from
the back cover of the cylinders fitted according to my Invention, and it is

page_text: desirable economically to supply these jackets or steam casings with steam of
higher pressure or greater temperature than the steam which enters the
cylinders.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a pair of
engines constructed according to my Invention, suited for driving a screw
propeller, and which exhibits a side view of the cylinder, air pump, and
condenser apparatus of the fore engine, the view being taken transversely
through the screw shaft as at A, B, on Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional
view of the aft engine, the sections being taken on the lines C, D, and E, F,
Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a general plan view of a pair of engines constructed
according to this Invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylinder of the aft
engine and the air pump and value arrangements of the fore engine being
shewn in section. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 3 taken on the
line G, H, showing the cylinder of one engine and the air-pump and condenser
of the other engine alongside of it, the connecting rods, guide piece, and block
being removed; the two main bearings and their brasses being shown in
section. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the cylinder and
air pump, exhibiting the steam jacket and antifriction trunk arrangement of
the cylinder, and the valvular arrangements of the air pump and condensing
apparatus.
In these several views are shown a pair of engines of 400 nominal horses
power, suited for rotating the screw propeller of a ship of war, although they
are also equally suited for propelling a commercial steam ship. The economy
in space, as compared with that usually occupied by marine engines of the
same nominal power, will be at once perceived by those who are conversant
with the construction and application of marine engines, and whilst great
compactness is secured by the arrangement of parts according to this Invention
ready access to any and every working part is obtained, and facilities for the
examination and repair of any and every part thereof are afforded.
It will be seen that the cylinders shown in the accompanying Drawing are
surrounded with a steam space or jacket for the admission of steam of suitably
high temperature, and the caseing projecting from the back end of each
cylinder is for the same reason cast hollow, or otherwise formed for the
purpose of affording the opportunity for surrounding it also with steam; and
although the fore and aft ends or covers of the steam cylinders are not in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings shown as being steam jacketted or cased,
but they may be cased or provided with steam jackets. The arrangement of
the cylinders diagonally admits of their longitudinal centre lines being brought
closer together, and instead of having a double crank or 2 distinct throws

page_text: forged on the same crank shaft. I have arranged two throws at an angle of
90 degrees with each other, and connect the pins of the two half cranks
together by means of an intermediate or drag link, which materially simplifies
the construction of the crank shaft, whilst it admits of ready disconnection
and removal of parts and the bringing together of the two engines without
involving crowding of their parts. I have shown the feed pump applied on
the top side of the trunk casing, the plunger being worked direct from the
piston, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, but it may be placed in any other
convenient position, and worked in any other manner.
In the air-pump arrangement which I have adopted there is nothing to
which I make claim as novel, but I have shown a convenient arrangement or
disposition of valvular parts, and of the means for giving access thereto upon
the removal of cover plates.
The hand gear and levers for stopping and starting, regulating the ex-
pansion, injection, feed, bilge, and other apparatus, are brought up to the
platform line, and there disposed conveniently together within reach, as shewn
in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, but I make no claim in respect of such arrangement
or combination of these parts employed for the management, working, or
regulation of steam engines generally.
In the several views in the accompanying Drawing I have shown the
opening in the cylinder cover, the trunk or closed tubes, and trunk cover or
case, all as of a parallelogram shape in section, but any other section which
may be preferred or found more advantageous may be employed instead
thereof, as whatever the form adopted may be, the area or surface removed
from one part of the piston or cylinder cover is transferred to or replaced in
another part within the cylinder, so that the full and effective area of each
piston is maintained, instead of as in the ordinary trunk engine where the
central area of the piston occupied by the trunk has to be subtracted from
the total area of the piston as being non-effective.
In the several views in the accompanying Drawing I have shown V guides
for the receiving and guiding the crosshead block at the inner end of the
T-piece, as well as for receiving and guiding the piston, as will be seen on
reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5; but any other form of guide may be used,
and if found desirable, guide bars and grooves of V or other form may be
added to the exterior of the piston trunk and the interior of the projecting
cover tuble, for the purpose of further guiding or steadying the piston; or the
piston rods may be prolonged and passed through stuffing boxes formed in the
back end of the cylinder.
I have thought it unnecessary to enter into further detail herein as to the

page_text: general arrangement, and as to the numerous parts of the engine which do not
relate to the cylinder and piston or their immediate connections and apparatus,
as they will be readily understood without the aid of letters of reference, and
moreover being, as parts of a marine steam engine, well known, although in
the accompanying Drawing they may be differently disposed and arranged
in a more convenient manner, yet the cylinder, piston, and their adjacent parts
constructed according to this Invention, and as arranged in the accompanying
Drawing as a marine engine, are herein-after referred to by the aid of letters
on the corresponding parts for the purpose of more readily describing the
construction and working thereof. In the sectional views Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5;
the several parts of and relating to the cylinders, pistons, trunks, connecting
and piston rods, cranks, &c., are designated by small letters upon the corre
sponding parts, a being the steam cylinder, b the fore-end cover, which may
be either cast as part of the cylinder or may be separate therefrom, c a trunk
or tube securely attached to the fore end cover of the cylinder, the fore end of
such trunk or tube being open whilst the back or inner end is closed perfectly
steam-tight. This trunk or tube has within it running longitudinally along the
top and bottom sides thereof, guide bars d, d, for receiving the guide block é
formed at the inner end of the T.piece f, and through which guide block
passes the crosshead or stud piece upon which the forked connecting rod g
vibrates, the opposite end of the connecting rod 9 having a single bearing gl
working upon the crank pin h of the crank shaft i, the two half cranks being
connected together at a suitable angle by means of an intermediate or drag
link . The T piece f is connected with the piston, and receives motion
therefrom through the piston rods 7, 1, which work in stuffing boxes provided
for them in the fore end or cover of 'the steam cylinder, being secured to the
piston end means of nuts, although any other mode of "fastening may, if
preferred, be adopted. From the after side of the piston' m projects a closed
trunk or tube n, which may be bolted on to or otherwise attached to the back,
face, or side of the piston, the piston being guided whilst travelling back and
forth by means of the guide piece or blocks o, o, working upon the external
guide bars or projections on the face of the fixed trunk or tube pièce c, but
there may be more than two such guides if necessary. The back end or
cover p of the steam cylinder is shown as enclosing the end of the annular
space or steam jacket surrounding the cylinder, as well as enclosing the end
of the cylinder; it has bolted or otherwise attached to it a' cap, closed tube, or
trunk cover 7, which, in the Figures 2 and 3, is shown as being cast or
otherwise formed with a steam space or jacket. Sufficient clearance and
steam passage-way is left between the inner surface of the moving trunk or

page_text: tube end, and the outer surface of the fixed trunk or closed tube piece c, as also
between the inner surface of the cap piece or trunk cover 2, and the external
surface of the moving trunk or closed tube n to admit of the free and un-
impeded passage and action of the steam, as the area of the surface removed
from the fore face of the piston is transposed and equivalated by the inner
surface or end of the moving trunk or closed tube n, in the action of the
steam between the fore end of the piston and the front cover, and the area
removed from the centre part of the back side of the piston from the opening
therein made, is equivalated by the exterior surface or end of the moving
trunk or tube n, upon which surface the steam acts or presses during the
adimission of steam between the back cover and the back side of the piston;
and the area of the centre portion removed from cach of the covers is made
up by the surface of the external. end of the fixed trunk or closed tube c, and
the internal surface of the cap piece or trunk cover q. The introduction of
steam jackets around the cylinders and the projecting cap pieces or trunk
covers may also be extended to the fixed trunks c and to the cylinder covers,
with a view to enable the most advantageous application to be made of the
early cut off, and an extended degree of expansion of steam, by which con-
siderable coal economy may be effected, and thus add to the advantages
claimed for this Invention, viz., economy of space from the smallness of room
occupied by engines of a given power, as compared with other forms or
constructions of engines heretofore employed, the avoidance of the continuous
cooling or abstraction of heat, and reduction of effective pressure of the steam
contained in the cylinder by the exposure of the trunk or trunks to the
external atmosphere by their alternate projection beyond the cylinder cover at
each stroke, and also from the material reduction of friction, and the total
absence of external leakage of steam outward and of air inward through the
extended surfaces of the large glands necessary in the ordinary construction of
trunk engines.
Having now described my said Invention and illustrated its application to a
particular form of marine engine suited for screw propelling by the several
views, Figs. 1 to 5, both inclusive, contained in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, I wish it to be understood that although I have selected for the
purpose of illustration that form of engine, it is applicable to various other
forms of engines intended for the same and for other purposes; and although
I have shown two piston rods passing through the front cover only, they may
be increased in number, and may be prolonged and extended through the
back cover, and any variation may be made in the form of the T connecting
piece to accommodate it to the particular form of engine, or to the mode or

page_text: means adopted for communicating the motion of the piston to the crank; and
instead of placing the crank in the position shown in the accompanying
Drawing, it may be placed above or below the central line of the cylinder,
and suitable variations made in the form and disposition of the connecting rod,
bar, or link, to enable the position of the crank shaft to be changed, and
otherwise such changes or modifications in the position of the cylinder or
cylinders, as from the horizontal to the vertical, or any intermediate angle or
position which may be found best suited, and also any other variation or
modification of the means of communicating the motion of the piston to the
crank may be adopted to suit the particular application or the circumstances
or requirements of the case. I claim,-
First, the novel arrangement and combination of parts of cylinders, pistons,
and trunks of steam engines, as herein described and illustrated.
Second, the arrangement and combination of parts of steam cylinders and
pistons in combination with the mode or modes of communicating motion to
the crank or cranks of marine and other steam engines, as herein described. :
Third, the novel arrangement and combination of parts of marine steam
engines, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Fourth, the general arrangement and disposition of the parts of a marine
engine, as herein described, whether two or more steam cylinders be employed,
and irrespective of the shape of the trunk or of the number of the piston rods
employed, or of the form of the T-piece or its equivalent, or of the shape of
or of the portions of the connecting rod, or of the shape or form or the
description of cranks employed, or whether the steam cylinders and air pumps
be arranged alternately or set diagonally, or more than one cylinder be placed
on the same side of the crank shaft.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Proctor Burgb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eight day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
0
Witness,
FREDERIC ROBERTS,
NICHOLAS PROCTER BURGH. (L.S.)
19, Salisbury St, Strand.