IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WINDLASSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM CLARKE of the firm of Clarke Chapman and Company of Victoria
Works Gateshead-on-Tyne in the County of Durham Engineers do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WINDLASSES" to be as
follows:-
My Invention has for its object to provide steam-windlasses with a convenient
simple and efficient arrangement whereby the starting reversing, stopping or
regulation of the engine can be readily effected.
Each of the cylinders of the windlass has a cylindrical steam chest in which a
cylindrical or partly cylindrical valve is arranged so that it is capable of sliding
for admitting steam in the ordinary way and also of having a rotary movement
given to it for the purpose of covering or uncovering the steam parts so as to start,
stop, reverse or regulate the engine. The rotary movements of the valves for these
purposes are given thereto by means of a handle or lever which is centered to a
fixed point and attached to a connecting rod or link which at each end is connected
to a crank each crank being fixed upon a spindle, the said spindles being
respectively attached one to each of the cylindrical valves and projecting through
stuffing boxes in the ends of the respective steam chests.
The passages through
the valves and the ports in the cylinders are so arranged that when a movement
of partial rotation is given to the valves in one direction through the handle or
lever aforesaid the steam is admitted by one set of ports to the cylinder and the
windlass is driven in one direction and when the reverse movement is given to the
said valves the passages through the valves communicate with another set of ports
in the cylinders which leads steam into the cylinders in the reverse direction and
consequently reverses the engine. When the lever or handle is in mid-position
the steam is cut off.
Its admittance can be regulated as required by partially closing the ports by
partially rotating the valves.

page_text: I WILLIAM CLARKE of the firm of Clarke Chapman & Co of Victoria Works
Gateshead on Tyne in the County of Durham Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WINDLASSES" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention has for its object to provide steam windlasses with a convenient
simple and efficient arrangement whereby the starting reversing stopping or
regulation of the operating engine can be readily effected.
According to my Invention the cylinder or each of the cylinders of the windlass
has a cylindrical steam chest in which a cylindrical or partly cylindrical valve is
arranged so that it is capable of sliding longitudinally for admitting steam in the
ordinary way and also of having a movement in a rotary direction given to it for
the purpose of covering or uncovering steam ports so as to start stop reverse or
regulate the engine. The passages through the valve or valves and the ports in
the cylinder or cylinders are so arranged that when a movement of partial rotation
is given to the valve or valves in one direction the steam is admitted by one set
of ports to the cylinder or cylinders and the windlass is driven in one direction
and when the reverse movement is given to the said valve or valves the passages
through the said valve or valves communicate with another set of ports which leads
steam into the cylinder or cylinders in the reverse direction and consequently
reverses the engine. When the valve or valves is or are brought to mid position
the steam is cut off: The quantity of-steam admitted can be regulated as required
by rotating the valve or valves so as to partially close or fully open the ports.
The movement of the valve or valves in a rotary direction may conveniently be
effected by attaching a spindle to the end of each valve and leading it to outside
the steam chest where it is provided with a handle.
When the arrangement is applied to an apparatus with more than one cylinder
the rotary movements of both or all the valves may be given thereto simultaneously
by means of a handle or lever which is centered to a fixed point and attached to a
connecting rod or link which is connected to cranks or levers one such crank or
lever being fixed upon spindles respectively attached one to each of the cylindrical
valves and projecting through stuffing boxes in the ends of the respective steam
chests as herein before mentioned.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same in its application to a two cylinder
engine from which its application to engines with other number of cylinders will
be readily understood and for that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the
annexed Sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in views at right angles to each other a double cylinder
steam windlass provided with my improvements. Figure 3 shews a section of the
cylinders valves and steam chests through the line W X. Figure 5. Figure 4 shews
a section through the line Y Z. Figure 5, Figure 5 shews a section through the
Jine S T Figure 3, and Figure 6 is an end view of the cylinders shewing the
operating mechanism-In Figures 3 and 5 one only of the valves is shewn the
other being omitted to show the ports in the steam chest.
Each steam cylinder is provided with a cylindrical steam chest A in which a
cylindrical or partially cylindrical slide valve B works, being reciprocated by the
rod of an eccentric O in the usual manner or by any other suitable means.

page_text: In each steam chest A and communicating with each adjacent cylinder are steam
ports D D' and C. C¹. leading respectively to reverse ends of the cylinders (as
shewn in Figure 5) and an exhaust port E, F and F¹ are the steam ports of each
of the valves B and G is its exhaust port, H is the steam inlet branch of each of
the steam chests A and J is its exhaust outlet branch.
By means of the spindle K (the squared end k of which passes through a similarly
formed slot in one end of each valve B) each said valve can be turned on its axis
to any desired extent either when at rest or while in reciprocating motion.
In Figure 3 the valve B is shewn closed for stopping the engine-To start the
engine the valves B are turned on their axes till. the steam ports F and F¹ in the
valves coincide in position or come into line with either the steam ports C. and C¹.
in the steam chest faces, the exhaust ports G coinciding or coming into line with
the exhaust ports E. The engine will then start forwards or backwards according
as the valves B have been turned to the right or left for the ports therein to come
into line with or coincide with either the ports D. D₁ and E or C. C. and E while
the engine may be stopped entirely by the valve B being turned into the central
position shewn on Figure 3.
In grouping the two cylinders together I prefer to connect the spindles K
together by a coupling rod L connected to a lever or crank M on each spindle K
and actuated by a handle N placed in convenient position for working both
spindles simultaneously-This is shewn in Figure 1, 2 and 6.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is-
First. In steam windlasses the combination with the steam cylinder or cylinders
thereof of a steam valve or valves and ports arranged as described the said valve
or valves being provided with means for operating it or them for the purpose of
regulating starting, reversing and stopping the apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of handle or lever N rod L and cra xs or levers M
in combination with valves and ports arranged as claimed by the preceding claiming
clause for simultaneously operating the said valves as herein before described and
illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated the 11th day of June 1884.