IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLY AND CUT-OFF APPARATUS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Brossard of Swansea in the County of
Glamorgan for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPLY AND CUT-OFF
APPARATUS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Brossard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1882.
ANTOINE BROSSARD of Swansea in the County of Glamorgan
"
IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUPPLY AND CUT OFF APPARATUS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM
ENGINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying and cutting
off steam to be used in place of slide valves and is intended more particularly for
marine engines, although it is also applicable to other fixed steam engines both
rotary and reciprocating.
The objects of the Invention are 1st to distribute the steam to one or more
cylinders with less friction than heretofore, to economise the steam and to obtain
the greatest possible regularity in working; 2nd to regulate the speed to any
desired number of revolutions per minute; 3rd to simplify the control of the
machine by employing a single handle only and 4th to produce a supply and cut
off apparatus which can be adapted to all kinds of stationary steam engine with
facility, and at a comparatively small cost.
The apparatus about to be described is reversing and is intended to supply
steam to two cylinders say of a marine engine.
It consists of a valve box or case having in its upper part an inlet and exit
port for one cylinder, and at its lower part and inlet and exit port for the other
cylinder. The valve box encloses a cylinder which has two openings on opposite
sides thereof, and serves to change the direction of the steam thus reversing the
engine. This cylinder is operated through gearing by a single handle. Inside this
cylinder is a second cylinder formed with three large openings. This cylinder is
driven continuously, and always in the same direction by suitable gearing from the
I Price G1

page_text: propeller shaft, and is arranged to make one revolution to three strokes of the
piston of the engine. A third cylinder formed with three openings and provided
with longitudinal flanges externally is placed inside the second cylinder and rotates
with it. This third cylinder is intended to diminish the size of the openings in
the second cylinder under the action of a governor to be more particularly described,
and allow the engines to work expansively.
These two last named cylinders by their movement distribute the steain
alternately to the two piston cylinders.
Placed on the top of the valve ox or case, or in any other convenient
position, are two pumps which are worked from the propeller shaft in any suitable
manner.
These pumps are in connection with the governor, and are intended to pump
into the governor some non compressible liquid for working the same.
The governor consists of a double cylinder cast in one piece, the space between
the two cylinders serving as a common reservoir. The smaller cylinder contains
a piston which is pressed forward by a coiled spring. The tension of this spring
is regulated by a screw inserted through the cover at the rear end of the cylinder.
The piston rod which projects through the front cover of the cylinder is connected
by link rods with cranks keyed on an axle carried by the second valve cylinder.
Keyed also upon this axle are a pair of mitre wheels in gear with which is a pinion
in connection with the third valve cylinder.
The liquid forced by the pumps into the governor cylinder enters in front of the
piston and escapes at once to the discharge pipe which is also in front of the piston.
If however the discharged pipe be throttled by a cock suitably placed the pressure
of the liquid will act on the piston and drive it back against the pressure of the
spring, until certain openings in the sides of the cylinder are uncovered. The
excess of liquid will then pass through these openings into the reservoir from
whence-it-will-escape_by_a_byepass in connection with the discharge pipe and will
serve to again feed the pumps. The movement of the piston will-actuate-the-bevel
wheels carried by the second valve cylinder, and turn the third cylinder so as to
open or close the exit ports for the steam.
The steam enters a steam chest, suitably placed in the valve box, and open to the
interior of the third cylinder.
If the throttle valve or cock is opened, the liquid will be pumped through the
governor without acting on the piston and the engine will then work non-
expansively as the position of the third valve cylinder when once set will always
remain the same.
If desired means may be provided by which the handle may be moved from the
bridge.

page_text: 1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Antoine Brossard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th August
1882.
ANTOINE BROSSARD of Swansea in the County of Glamorgan
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN SUPPLY AND CUT OFF APPARATUS FOR MARINE AND OTHER ENGINES
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying and cutting
off steam to be used in place of slide valves, and is intended more particularly for
marine engines although it is also applicable to other stationary engines both rotary
and reciprocating.
The objects of the Invention are first to distribute the steam to one or more
cylinders with less friction than heretofore, to economise the steam and to obtain
the greatest possible regularity in working; Second to regulate the speed of the
engine to any desired number of revolutions per minute; third to simplify the
control of the engine by employing a single handle; and fourth to produce a supply
and-cut off apparatus which can be adapted to all kinds of engines with facility,
and at a comparatively small cost.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shown the supply and cut off apparatus as
adapted to the rotary engine described in the Specification of a Patent granted to
ine and bearing date the Twenty fifth day of November One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one, No. 5156 Fig: 1 being a longitudinal section Fig 2 an
end view partly in section and Fig: 3 a plan view of the engine with the apparatus
in position.
I will describe my rotary engine only so far as is requisite to understand the
application of the supply and cut-off apparatus thereto.
It consists of a steam cylinder A in the interior of which and set excentrically
thereto is a second and smaller steam cylinder B.
Steam is admitted to the cylinder A through passages cast in the cylinder walls
and to the cylinder B through passages formed in the main shaft C.
In constructing my improved supply and cut-off apparatus, which is capable of
being reversed, provision must be made for the ingress and egress of steam to and
from these two cylinders.
The apparatus consists of a valve box or case D in the upper part of which are
two chambers a. b.-The chamber a is in connection with one end of the cylinder B
by means of a pipe a¹ which is inserted into the side of the box D, the chamber b
being in connection with the other end of the cylinder B through the pipe b' which
is inserted into the opposite side of the box D-Similar chambers c d are formed
in the lower part of the box D, the chamber c being in connection with the
passage c¹ of the cylinder A and the chamber d with the passage d¹ of the same
cylinder. At one end of the box D is a steam chest to which is connected a steam
upply pipe E and inserted into opposite sides of the box D are exhaust
pipes FF.
Inside the valve box D is fitted a hollow cylinder G which is made slightly
conical externally. It is provided on opposite sides with an opening or slot e to
admit of steam passing to the chambers a. b. c. d; and circumferential passages or
grooves e' are formed in the outer periphery to allow for the exhaust steam passing
rom the chambers a b c d to the exhaust pipes F F, as will be hereafter moro
particularly referred to. This cylinder is shewn detached in plan and section at
Tigures: 4.
This cylinder G extends through the end of the box D opposite to the steam
hest and is provided at its outer end with external teeth finto which gear on

page_text: opposite sides thereof two pinions f¹. Each of these pinions f¹ is mounted on one
end of a rod f the other end of the rods carrying a spur wheel ƒ³ which gears
with a pinion f* placed between the two spur wheels f³, and mounted on one end
of an axle f³ suitably carried and provided with a handle fo
When the handle fo is in a central or vertical position the engine is stationary,
the openings c being opposite the portions between the chambers a b and c d, see
Fig 7. By moving the handle to one side or the other the cylinder is partially
rotated and opens either the chambers ad or bc to the admission of steam to
drive the engine ahead or astern as required. When it is desired to reverse from
full ahead to full astern the cylinder G is caused to rotate one cleventh of its
circumference by moving the handle, by which means the position of the openings
If desired the
or slots e will be changed say from facing a d to facing b c.
movement of the valve may be effected from the bridge of the vessel by means of
the rod f' and the bevil wheels ƒ³ ƒ⁹.
Inside the cylinder G works a second hollow cylinder H which is formed with
three large rectangular openings g scc the detached views Figures 5 which
represent a plan and cross section respectively of the cylinder. One end of this
cylinder H projects into the steam chest, and is fitted with a cross-head / to which
is secured in any convenient manner an axle h'.-This axle h¹ projects through a
stuffing box forming part of the cover of the steam chest and carries a pair of
clutch wheels he h² with a sliding clutch between them and a crank /* beyond
them. In gear with the clutch wheels is a bevil pinion h which receives motion
through bevil gearing from the main shaft C. It will thus be seen that a
continuous rotary motion is communicated to the cylinder H from the main shaft C
and by means of the clutch arrangement the motion will be always in the same
direction.
Across the opposite end of this cylinder H (which projects beyond the end of the
cylinder G) is mounted an axle for the purpose to be presently-explained.-
Inside the cylinder H is a third hollow cylinder I one end of which is closed,
and secured to the closed end is a mitre wheel i. The opposite end of the cylinder I
is open to the steam chest. Three longitudinal openings or slots are formed in
the cylinder I and immediately in rear of each of these openings is secured in any
convenient manner to the cylinder I a rib or feather These ribs or feathers 2
work on the rectangular openings g of the cylinder Hand are intended to diminish
the size of these openings, and they form with the cylinder H and under the action
of a governor to be hereafter described a variable expansion arrangement. The
cylinder I turns with the cylinder H, the gearing of which is so arranged as to
cause it to make one rotation to every three rotations of the piston of the engine.
This cylinder I which I term the "distributor "is shewn in the detached views
Figures 6 which are a plan and cross section respectively.
The governor consists of a double cylinder J the annular space between the two
cylinders forming a reservoir.
The smaller cylinder is open at the rear end and contains a piston j the rod of
which projects through one cover of the cylinder J and is adjustably connected by
a pair of links to a pair of crank arms j. cast with or secured to a pair of mitre
wheels . which are mounted loosely on an axle j carried by the cylinder H across
the open end thereof.
The mitre wheels . gear with the mitre wheel . of the cylinder I.-It is by
means of this mitre gearing that the two cylinders H and I are locked together so
that they may rotate together, but under the action of the governor the mitre
wheels are caused to rotate in opposite directions which motion through the
mitre wheel i turns the cylinder I independently of the cylinder H to throttle,
This throttling
more or less, the exits for the steam to the chambers a. d b. c.
action will be clearly understood on reference to Fig: 2 and the diagram Fig 7
the latter Figure shewing the relative positions of the two cylinders H and I when
the engine is at rest, and Fig: 2 shewing the engine working.
The piston j. is pressed forward by a coiled spring which has its abutmen

page_text: against a washer secured to the end of a screw 77 inserted through the other cover
of the cylinder, by means of which scrow 7 the tension of the spring can be regulated
as required.
The action of the governor is caused by pumping through it a liquid, say water.
K. K. are two force pumps the rods of which are connected to the rock lever k.
This rock lever k. is connected by a link . to the crank pin of the crank /*
which is actuated from the main shaft C through the clutch gearing above referred
to and consequently the pumps follow exactly the speed of the engine.
The pumps K are connected to the cylinder J on the same side of the piston by
a pipe . which I term the supply pipe, and a pipe . which I term the discharge
pipe. In the pipe ³. is a cock . and connected with the pipe . above the
cock and also with the annular space in the cylinder J. is a bypass ¼°, Sco
Fig. 8.
The governor apparatus is completely filled with liquid and the pumps K. being
set to work force the liquid through the supply pipe into the cylinder Jin front
of the piston, and the cock kt. being full open (the area of the supply and discharge
pipes being the same) the liquid passes out through the discharge pipe without
exerting any pressure on the piston j. the engine therefore works under a full head of
steam and at the highest possible speed; but if it be desired to regulate the speed of the
engine to a certain number of revolutions per minute, the cock k. is closed more or
less. The result is that the pumps not being able to draw a sufficient supply of
liquid from the piston cylinder will draw it from the annular space in the cylinder J.
By this means the equilibrium will be destroyed and the pressure exerted on tho
front of the piston by the delivery of the liquid will force it backwards. The
movement of the piston will be communicated to the axle jt. and through it to the
cylinder I and the exits for the steam to the chambers a. d or b. c will bo
diminished, the flow of the steam being thereby restricted and the speed of the
engine consequently reduced.
The pressure of the liquid will be exerted on the piston until a series of openings
in the piston cylinder which are ordinarily covered by the piston are uncovered,
and tho liquid is allowed to flow through them into the annular space in the
cylinder J. by which means equilibrium is established and the spring is allowed
to exert its power on the piston to force it forward and reopen the steam
valve.
This action is repeated continuously while the engine is working.
When the engine is stopped the piston is relieved from the pressure of the liquid
and the spring will act thereon to press it forward until the crank arms je assume
a vertical position when the cylinder I will be turned into the position (with
relation to the cylinder) H shown in Fig: 7.
To start the engine "abead "the cylinder G is turned by means of the handle fº.
as before explained into the position shewn at Fig: 2. In this position the
chambers a d will be opened to the entrance of the steam which will pass in the
direction shewn by the arrows Fig: 2, and start the engine. As soon as sufficient
motion is obtained the cylinder I under the action of the governor will be caused
to assume with relation to the cylinder H the position shown at Fig: 2 which may
be termed the working position.
Although shown as applied to a rotary engine it will be evident that the supply
and cut off apparatus is equally applicable to reciprocating engines.
It will also be obvious that any ordinary governor may be adapted to the steam
valve arrangement in place of the governor above described and that other
means may readily be devised, first, for giving a continuous rotary motion to the
cylinder H, and secondly for working the pumps K K from the main shaft and I
therefore do not intend to confine myself to the means described above.
Having now described the nature of my Invention for "Improvements in Supply
and Cut-off Apparatus for Marine and other Steam Engines" and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I claim.
First: The steam valve arrangement consisting of the three cylinders G. H. J.

page_text: all constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and
described.
Second A governor for marine and other engines the action of which is caused
by the pressure of a liquid, such pressure being produced partly by the action of
force pumps worked from the main shaft of the engine, and partly by throttling the
discharge of the liquid from the governor substantially as herein shown and
described.
Third: The governor J and its accessories all constructed arranged and operating
substantially as herein shewn and described for the purpose set forth.
Fourth In combination with the steam valve arrangement the means substan-
tially as herein shown and described for operating the same.
Fifth: In combination with the steam valve arrangement the governor J and its
accessories substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof I the said Antoine Brossard have hereunto set my hand
and seal the Tenth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
A BROSSARD
(LS)