Improvements in and relating to the Stern-tubes of Steamships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Stern-tubes of Steamships.
JOHN SAMPSON STARNES, Engineer of 13 Broad Street Ratcliff London E. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The nature of my invention consists of a simple valve and valve box arranged
for preventing any undue leakage or rush of water from the sterntubes of screw-
steamers. To look at the valve box proper it is somewhat similar to an ordinary
sluice valve in appearance, but with this distinction, that it is so constructed as to
be capable of fulfilling several functions; thus, for instance, it can be fitted at
any time to the stuffing box end of any sterntube whether the vessel is afloat or
not, or it can be carried in the engine room as spare gear and fitted in place
whenever required even if the vessel is at sea, and without at all interfering with
any fittings as in an old tube. The valve box is made in halves flanged along the
centre line, and the way of applying same simply to draw back the present gland
along the shaft leaving a little draw in recess of stuffing box to suit the depth of
spicket on new valve box: then, as the two halves of the valve box are bolted
together on the shaft outside the old gland studs, the whole detail may be readily
slid into place and so make the flange joint on the face of the old stuffing-box with
the old bolts or studs; and, the spicket on the new valve box will take the place
of the old gland then, as the new valve can be adjusted to a nicety as it is a
perfect fit and sits like a saddle so to say on the shaft; hence the engineer has
full control over the water in the tube whether leakage takes place through the
loss of a propeller blade or otherwise. Then again as a matter of extra precaution,
there is a new stuffing box formed on the fore part of the valve box and the old
gland is made use of for same, so the packing and support of the tail shaft and
stuffing-box is doubly secure, and this is not by any means a temporary thing,
and it can be fitted permanently in position in an hour or so even when at sea.
Furthermore, with regard to a new sterntube for any steamer (new or old), of
course the formation of the valve box could be cast in the new tube, and the valve
fitted in the ordinary way.
Dated thin 7th dow of W1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Stern-tubes of Steamships.
I, JOHN SAMPSON STARNES, Engineer of 13 Broad Street, Ratcliff London E.
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:-
undue
This invention has for its object to provide a means for preventing any
leakage or rush of water from the stern tubes of screw steamers, and consists of a
simple arrangement of valve and valve box fitted to the stuffing box end of the
stern tube all as hereinafter particularly described.
In appearance the device somewhat resembles an ordinary sluice valve, the valve
box however being made in halves. Both portions are suitably flanged along the
centre line to allow of their being bolted together when in position around the
shaft. The apparatus can be fitted at any time to the stern tube whether the vessel
is afloat or not, or it can be carried in the engine room as spare gear and be fitted
in place whenever required even if the vessel is at sea, and without at all interfering
... 011

page_text: ot me original notings of the stern
has full control over the water in the tube whether leakage takes place through
packing or bearing wearing down or through the loss of a propeller blade or
otherwise then the shaft can be withdrawn and, the arrangement is so simple that
the valve can not only be worked to the greatest nicety; but, the water can be shut
off effectually in a few minutes; and again, the apparatus can be locked by the
engineer so that it cannot be tampered with. If it be required to repack a stern
gland at any time, even when at sea, then by my arrangement of valve and valve
box the water may be confined in the tube, or should by any means the stern tube
be broken or strained, so as to produce leakage into the "after peak," then the
water can be shut off and be confined in the "after peak," provided of course the
bulkhead holds good. And, in order that my invention may be fully understood
and readily carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe same with reference
to the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the valve box partly in section to shew the valve
therein.
Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the valve box through line A B Figure 1,
shewing valve in full, and
Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 34 is a rear elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the locking arrangement.
Figure 4 shews, in side sectional elevation, the shut off valve and box applied
to and in position upon the stuffing box end of a stern tube of a screw steamer ;
and,
Figure 5 illustrates a new stern tube with the valve box cast thereupon.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
a and are respectively the top and bottom halves of the valve box with
flanges a¹ and 6 by which they are bolted together around the shaft c. A. suitable
drain cock may be provided in the lower half of the valve box to allow of the
water contained therein being drawn off when required. In this valve box is
contained the valve d fashioned as aforesaid somewhat in the manner of an ordinary
sluice valve and having a semicircular projection or shoulder d' which fits upon
the shaft e like a saddle. It will be seen that as a shaft wears down even and
leakage is taking place over the centre line the valve & being an exact fit will,
when brought down effectually stop all leakage. The valve d is raised or lowered
by means of the screwed spindle or rod e carried upwards through the stuffing
box and actuated as and when required by the hand wheel 7. This hand
wheel h I form, around its periphery, with indentations or teeth into which takes
the pawl o This latter is pivotted at pl to the standards or brackets p bolted
to the valve box cover and serves to hold the valve securely in any fixed position by
the interposition of a pin 9 through the standards and pawl as shewn particularly
in Figure 3A. The pin may be locked in position by means of a padlock and thus
any tampering with the apparatus may be prevented. The valve box a b is formed
with a spigot i which when the apparatus is fixed will act as a gland in the stuffing
box on stern tube k¹.
As a matter of extra precaution the fore part of the valve box may be
formed as a stuffing box and the old gland from the stuffing box of the stern tube
is made use of for same, so that the packing and support of the tail: shaft and
stuffing box are doubly secured. The simple packing sleeve constructed in
accordance with my Specification of Letters Patent No. 16326 dated 12th
September 1892 will be found of particular advantage in connection with this
present invention.
When it is desired to affix this shut off valve and valve box to
the stern tube the gland m is drawn out of the stuffing box k of stern tube k¹ a
sufficient distance to allow of the introduction of the two halves a and b of the
valve box which are bolted together around the tail shaft c through their
longitudinal flanges a¹ and b'. The box then is easily slid along the shaft and the
spigot will enter the stuffing box of stern tube and take the place of the
gland m removed therefrom. Through. the flange n formed on the valve.box

page_text: the same is bolted to the face of the stern tube stuffing box as shewn particularly
in Figure 4. The gland m is then made use of by inserting it within the stuffing
box formed upon the forward end of the valve box and all is secure; any water
in the stern tube being entirely under control, and if required, easily shut off for
repairs or other purposes. Where a new stern tube is to be made, the valve box
as hereinbefore described may easily be cast upon and in one with said stern tube
as shown particularly in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In stern tubes of steam ships the construction, arrangement, and
application of valve box and valve substantially as herein before described and
shown for the purpose of controlling or shutting off any water which may leak
into said stern tube.
Second. The valve box formed with flanges a', 6' for bolting together around
the shaft, and with spigoti at one end, and stuffing box at the other, and containing
a valve such as d substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Third. A stern tube k¹ constructed with valve box cast in one therewith for the
reception of valve d for the purpose of controlling or shutting off any water
contained therein substantially as hereinbefore described, with particular reference
to, and as shown in, Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of March 1893
JOHN SAMPSON STARNES,
13, Broad Street, Ratcliff, E.