Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Steam Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct, 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Steam
Engines.
I, JAMES WOOD of Brooklands, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to condensing engines of the overhead-beam construction;
and consists of an arrangement and combination in a beam engine of two or more
high and one low pressure cylinders, through which steam is worked successively on
the triple or quadruple expansion principle. For this purpose, I place-adjoining
the condensing cylinder-a non condensing or high pressure cylinder, from which
steam is conveyed to a McNaught or other suitable or similar cylinder, that
exhausts into the condensing or low pressure cylinder in the usual way.
In cases where it is desired to construct the engine on the quadruple expansion
principle, it will be obvious that an additional high pressure cylinder will be
required.
The first non condensing or high pressure cylinder above described may be
provided with two sets of valves, one for the admission of steam into the cylinder,
and which is actuated by the ordinary eccentric and levers, whilst the other may be
worked from the main beam, through the medium of a shaft and levers, to cut off
the steam at any required part of the stroke.
Dated this 4th day of April 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Steam
Engines.
I, JAMES WOOD of Brooklands, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting 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 condensing engines of the overhead beam construction;
and consists of an arrangement and combination in a beam engine of two or more
high, and one low pressure cylinders, through which steam is worked successively
on the triple or quadruple expansion principle.
For this purpose, I place adjoining the condensing cylinder, a non-condensing or
high pressure cylinder, from which steam is conveyed to a McNaught or other
suitable or similar cylinder, that exhausts into the condensing or low pressure
cylinder in the usual way.
In cases where it is desired to construct the engine on the quadruple expansion
principle, it will be obvious that an additional high pressure cylinder will be
required.
The first non-condensing or high pressure cylinder above described may be
provided with two sets of valves, one for the admission of steam into the cylinder,
and which is actuated by the ordinary eccentric and levers, whilst the other may be
worked from the main beam through the medium of a shaft and levers to cut off
the steam-at any-required part of the stroke.

page_text: And in order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into practical effect I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheets of drawings,
marked with figures and letters of reference; the same letters referring to the same
parts in the various views and figures.
In Fig. 1, A and B represent two high pressure cylinders. The former is located
in front of the low pressure or condensing cylinder C, whilst the latter or high
pressure cylinder B occupies a position between the centre of oscillation of the
main beam D, and the point of attachment of the connecting rod E indicated by
dotted lines.
The piston of each respective cylinder is attached to the main beam in the order
represented on the drawings. In this view, it will be observed that the end of the
main beam projecting in the direction of cylinder A is lengthened to allow the
piston of the said cylinder to be attached to this part of the beam.
Steam is first admitted into high pressure cylinder A through pipe F, from which
cylinder the steam after expansion is discharged through pipe G into the high
pressure cylinder B where it is again expanded, and discharged therefrom along
pipe H to the low pressure or condensing cylinder C, where it is condensed in the
usual manner.
I would here observe that the main beam may be also extended, and made to
project beyond the point of attachment of the crank rod, as a means of connecting
thereto the piston of a cylinder, which may be located at the extreme end of the
beam, so as to act in conjunction with other cylinders on the triple or quadruple
expansion principle.
Fig. 2 is a modification of my invention, in which arrangement the position of the
high pressure cylinder A, and the low pressure cylinder C is reversed, whilst the
arms or ends of the beam are of equal length as in the ordinary construction.
The triple expansion of steam is effected in this case in precisely the same manner
as in the foregoing arrangement, that is to say, that the steam is first made to
expand in cylinder A, then in cylinder B, and finally in cylinder C.
The capacity for steam in cylinder A is preferably about one third that of
cylinder C. The piston rod of cylinder A in this arrangement is made to pass
through the bottom of the said cylinder, when it is attached to the air-pump rod,
which it actuates.
Fig. 3 represents a beam engine constructed on the quadruple expansion principle
in accordance with my invention. In this view the high pressure cylinder A and
low pressure or condensing cylinder C are arranged in position with respect to each
other as described and shewn in relation to Fig. 1; the high pressure or non-
condensing cylinder B being also located on the same side of the main beam as
cylinders. A and C. Another high pressure cylinder in this arrangement is
employed and situated on the opposite side or end of the main beam. The steam
first enters cylinder A, and after expansion therein passes on to cylinder B, in which
it again expands, and from whence it is discharged through pipe J into cylinder I
for further expansion, when it is then conveyed by pipe H into condensing
cylinder C for final expansion and condensation.
I would here observe that the first expansion of steam in any of the above
arrangements may be effected in two small cylinders instead of one, the combined
capacity of which is equal to that of cylinder A. The piston rods of the said
cylinders are connected by a crosshead to the piston of the condensing cylinder,
with which they co-operate in its actuation.
In conclusion I would observe that the valves of the various cylinders may be
actuated in the usual manner from the ordinary eccentric by means of bell cranks
or the like. However, I prefer to employ two sets of valves for cylinder A, one
for the admission of steam, which is actuated by the eccentric and levers above
described, whilst the other is worked from the main beam by bell crank levers and
connecting rods as illustrated to cut off the steam at any required part of the
stroke.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a condensing engine of the overhead beam construction, the combination of
two non-condensing cylinders, oue of which is located in front of the condensing
cylinder, and has its piston rod attached to an extended part of the beam, whilst
the other is located on the opposite side of the centre of the beam, substantially as
described in relation to Fig. 1.
2. In a condensing engine of the overhead beam construction, the combination
and location of two non-condensing cylinders, and the order, in which the steam is
made to expand in the respective cylinders, and the method of connection and
actuation of the air-pump rod from the piston rod of the first steam receiving
cylinder, substantially as described in relation to Fig. 2.
3. In a condensing engine of the overhead beam construction, the combination
and location of three non-condensing cylinders, substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. 3.
4. In a beam engine, constructed on the triple or quadruple expansion principle,
two small cylinders, which receive the first expansion of steam, and which are
located one on each side of the condensing cylinder, and connected by a crosshead,
substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of October 1801
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.