Improvements in Propelling Engines of Steam Ships.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling Engines of Steam Ships.
We, PHILIP WATTS, Naval Architect, and MAGNUS SANDISON, Marine
Engineer, both of Elswick Shipyard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the County
of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It consists of improved arrangements whereby the propelling engines of steam
vessels may,
(1) Attain a high power with a short stroke of piston.
(2) Run at a large number of revolutions without undue vibration owing to the
uniformity of the turning moment which the arrangement renders it possible to
attain.
(3) Attain greater economy in the consumption of steam when only a low power
is required.
The invention applies equally to compound triple expansion and quadruple
expansion engines.
With the arrangement contemplated each of the cylinders of an ordinary engine
is replaced by two cylinders generally adjacent to one another and having cranks
preferably opposite to one another, the whole of the cylinders forming one group,
which may be carried in one frame.
Each high pressure cylinder would be provided with an independent steam pipe and
the receiver pipes from these would pass to the next pair of cylinders, one to each,
and so on, so that the shaft would be virtually actuated by two engines whose
cylinders would be alternated with one another.
Figures I and II shew arrangements of the cylinders and steam pipes in the cases
of double and triple expansion engines respectively. S and S¹ are the steam pipes
in both arrangements. In the case of Figure 1 the cylinders A and A', and B
and B', form virtually two compound engines. Similarly in the case of Figure II
the cylinders A, B and C and A', B and C¹ form virtually two triple expansion
engines. Figure 111 shews another arrangement of cylinders for a triple expansion
engine; and Figure IV shews an arrangement for a triple expansion engine in
which there are four low pressure cylinders, C C¹, D D'. In this latter case each
of the receiver pipes from the intermediate cylinders opens into two of the low.
pressure cylinders whose cranks would be preferably opposite to one another.
It will be at once seen that the comparative smallness of the cylinders required
enables a high power to be attained with a short stroke of engine; that a large
number of revolutions may be run without undue vibration, as the forces which
produce vibration in an ordinary engine may be more nearly balanced; and that
by disconnecting one set of cylinders from the shaft it will be possible to steam at
a lower power with greater economy than if all the cylinders were employed;
while, owing to the manner in which the cylinders of the two engines are
alternated with one another the crank shafts will not wear out of line as would he
the case were the two engines placed independently in different positions on the
shaft.
Dahin oond 1. CM 1005
P. WATTS.
M. SANDISON.

page_text: Improvements in Propelling Engines of Steam Ships.
We, PHILIP WATTS, Naval Architect, and MAGNUS SANDISON, Marine
Engineer, both of Elswick Shipyard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland, 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 improved arrangements whereby the propelling engines
of steam vessels may-
(1.) Attain a high power with a short stroke of piston.
(2.) Run at a large number of revolutions without undue vibration owing to the
uniformity of the turning moment which the arrangement renders it possible to
attain.
(3.) Attain greater economy in the consumption of steam when only a low power
is required.
The invention applies equally to compound triple expansion and quadruple
expansion engines.
In our arrangement each of the cylinders of an ordinary engine is replaced by
two cylinders generally adjacent to one another and having cranks preferably
opposite to one another, the whole of the cylinders forming one group, which may
be carried in one frame.
Each high pressure cylinder is provided with an independent steam pipe and the
receiver pipes from these pass to the next pair of cylinders, one to each, and so on,
so that the shaft is virtually actuated by two engines whose cylinders are alternated
with one another.
In the drawings left with the Provisional Specification
Figures 1 and 2 are diagram views shewing arrangements of the cylinders and
steam pipes in the cases of double and triple expansion engines respectively.
Figure 3 shows another arrangement of cylinders for a triple expansion engine,
and Fig. 4 shews an arrangement for a triple expansion engine in which there are
four low pressure cylinders.
In these figures S S¹ are steam pipes, E E' exhaust pipes and A. A' high pressure
cylinders. In Figure 1 B B are low pressure cylinders, and in Figures 2, 3 and 4
they are intermediate cylinders. In Figures 2, 3 and 4 C C¹ are low pressure
cylinders and in Figure 4 D D¹ are also low pressure cylinders.
In this latter case each of the receiver pipes from the intermediate cylinders opens
into two of the low pressure cylinders whose cranks are preferably opposite to one
another.
It will be at once seen that the comparative smallness of the cylinders required
enables a high power to be attained with a short stroke of engine; that a large
number of revolutions may be run without undue vibration, as the forces which
produce vibration in an ordinary engine may be more nearly balanced, and that
by disconnecting one set of cylinders from the shaft it will be possible to steam at
a lower power with greater economy than if all the cylinders were employed,
while, owing to the manner in which the cylinders of the two engines are
alternated with one another the crank shafts will not wear out of line as
'would be the case were the two engines placed independently in different positions
on the shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The combination of four or more cylinders onerating the same crank shaft and

page_text: forming two engines each complete in itself, the cylinders of one engine being.
alternated with the cylinders of the other substantially as described.
2. The combination of four or more cylinders operating the same crank shaft
and forming two engines each complete in itself, the cylinders of each engine being
ranged in order of expansion and the cylinders of one engine being adjacent to the
corresponding cylinders of the other substantially as described.
3. The combination of four or more cylinders operating the same crank shaft
and forming two engines each complete in itself, the cylinders of one engine.
being alternated with the cylinders of the other and the cranks of one engine
being diametrically opposite the corresponding cranks of the other substantially as
described.
4. The combination of four or more cylinders operating the same crank shaft
and forming two engines each complete in itself, the cylinders of each engine.
being ranged in order of expansion, the cylinders of one engine being adjacent
to the corresponding cylinders of the other and the cranks of one engine being
diametrically opposite the corresponding cranks of the other substantially as.
described.
5. Marine engines substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
Doted this 19th day of December 1805
P. WATTS.
M. SANDISON..