Year: 1886

page_text: 1, ARTHUR GEORGE BROWN, at the Sentinel Works, Polmadie, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, 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, that is to say —
My said Invention relates to steam motors of the type of which the Westinghouse
Automatic Engine is a well known example, and has for its object to improve the
construction and operation of certain parts of or connected with such motors.
In motors of the kind referred to single-acting cylinders are used, and the crank
shaft, and valve working and governing mechanism are enclosed in a casing in which
oil and water are present. One of my present improvements consists in applying
apparatus for the separation of the excess of water which arises from condensation of
steam in the motor in a better manner and so as to be freer from oil than heretofore ;
and another improvement consists in interposing between the exhaust part of the
valve casing and the condenser, when a condenser is used, an automatic valve which
closes or partly closes the passage to the condenser when steam is shut off from the
motor, and thereby prevents the action in the cylinders of too low a back pressure.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing parts of steam motors as made with my
improvements.
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings are vertical sections
as at right angles to each other of the lower part of the casing of a Westinghouse
Automatic Engine, as constructed with my device for separating water from the
oil in the casing. Figures, 3, and 4, on sheet, 2, are vertical sections as at right angles
to each other of a modification of the water separating device adapted for being applied
to existing engines. Figure, 5, is a vertical section showing the kind of valve to be
interposed between the exhaust port of the valve casing and the condenser. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.

page_text: When applying my water-separating device in the construction of a new engine 1
make the lower part of the easing in which the cranks work as shown in figures, 1,
and 2. I form the casting, 6, for carrying the middle bearing of the crank shaft, 7, of
an inverted channel section, instead of a T-section as formerly, and in the inverted
hollow thus formed I arrange the overflow for the mixture of oil and water in the
casing, the liquid being comparatively quiet in the part thus selected. The overflow
passage is formed by a funnel, 8, which has one or two small holes at its bottom end
and is fixed in a well or depression, 9, formed in the bottom of the casing, and this
well, 9, communicates by an opening at the bottom of it with a chamber or compart-
ment, 10, formed partly under the casing and partly at the side, the part at the side
extending up to a short distance above the intended liquid level. The compartment, 10,
is open topped, but may be closed by a cover, and has in it an overflow pipe, 11,
by which the separated and overflowing water may be led away to any convenient
outlet or receptacle. The liquid flowing through the holes at the bottom of the funnel, 8,
inside of the casing will be a mixture or emulsion of oil and water, but as it will pass
very slowly down the well, 9, and without agitation there will be ample opportunity
and time for the oil to separate from the water, and rise to the top of the funnel, and it
will be water nearly free from oil which will pass from the bottom of the well, 9, into
the outer compartment, 10, and so off by the external overflow pipe, 11.
In the case of a Westinghouse automatic engine already constructed in the ordinary
way, or in any case in which it may be convenient I apply the modification of water-
separating apparatus shown in figures, 3, and 4. This apparatus consists of a separator
casing, 12, constructed for being put in communication with the casing of the motor,
by an opening, 13, which is to be at about the liquid level in the motor casing. This
separator casing, 12, may be attached to the motor casing so as to connect the
opening, 13, to the interior of the casing. A smaller communication, 14, is formed at
a lower point between the motor casing and the separator casing, and it is expected
that the liquid will enter the latter from the former principally by this lower commnni-
cation, 14. In the separator casing, 12, the liquid will be comparatively quiet and the oil
will separate from the water and rising to the top will flow back through the upper
opening, 13, into the motor casing; whilst the water nearly free from oil will pass by
an opening at the bottom into an outer compartiment, 10, made in the same casting,
with the separator casing, 12, and thence off by an overflow and discharge pipe, 11.
The precise shape of the parts of my water-separating apparatus is obviously of no
importance so long as it is provided with an inner compartment in which the mixture
of oil and water can be comparatively quiet whilst the water can pass from the bottom
of it into an outer compartment and thence away by an overflow and discharge pipe.
The apparatus shown in figure, 5, consists of a valve box, 15, made with an inlet,
16, to be connected to the exhaust pori of the motor valve casing and an outlet, 17,
to be connected to the condenser. The valve piece, 18, is a hollow cylindrical plunger
accurately turned externally to work in an accurately bored part of the valve box, and
through two accurately bored diaphragms or partitions, 19, 20, formed in the space
between the inlet, 16, and outlet, 17. The inlet, 16, communicates with the space above
one diaphragm, 19, and with the space below the other diaphragm, 20, whilst the
outlet, 17, communicates with the space between the two diaphragms, 19, 20. The
valve piece, 18, is pressed upwards by a light spring, 21, of a strength little more than
sufficient to lift its weight, this spring being adjustable by means of a disk, 22, which
can be screwed up or down in the lower end of the valve box, 15. The valve
piece, 18, with its spring, 21, and adjusting disk, 22. is introduced through the lower
end of the valve box, 15, which is then closed by a screwed cap, 23, which, however,
has a small hole through it to admit the atmospheric pressure and to allow vapor or
water to escape.
A shoulder, 24, is formed on the valve piece, 18, near its lower end
and when the valve piece is raised up to its closing position (in which it is shown in the
figure) this shoulder fits close up against a seat formed for it in the valve box, 15, and
thereby prevents leakage of air into the interior. With the view also of preventing
leakage of steam when the engine is running, the valve piece, 18, is made of consider-

page_text: able length and has a number of small grooves formed round it. As long as the
engine is working the exhaust steam presses down the valve piece, 18, and finds its
way past it to the condenser, but whenever the steam is shut off the valve piece rises
and closes the passage in consequence of the pressure ceasing to act down on it; and
at the same time the shoulder, 24, closes up against its seat; and prevents the entrance
of air.
A chamber or receiver is by preference interposed between the valve and the exhaust
passage from the motor, and the effect of the valve is to maintain a certain small back
pressure in this receiver and in the cylinders, the back pressure in the cylinders
preventing the momentum of the pistons and connecting rods when approaching the
outer ends of their strokes from reversing their pressures on the cranks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The providing steam motors of the Westinghouse-Automatic-Engine type with
apparatus for separating water from the mixture of oil and water in the casing, such
apparatus consisting of an inner compartment or space in which the mixture is quiet,
and at the bottom of which an opening allows the water to pass into an outer compart-
ment having an overflow outlet, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The providing steam motors of the Westinghouse-Automatic-Engine type with
a valve automatically controlling the passage to the condenser the said valve and parts
connected with it being constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein-
before described.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.