Improvements in and Applicable to Steam Engines and Steam Generators.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1837
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1837
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1338
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Applicable to Steam Engines and Steam
Generators.
HENRY TURNER of 28 Chapel Street, North, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
::
According to my Invention I construct Steam Engines using high pressure steam,
on the "Atmospheric principle and so arranged that the walls of the Cylinders
shall be heated to and maintained at a temperature about equal to or greater than the
temperature of the Steam used in the Cylinders. The heating of the Cylinders is
effected by heated air admitted to and expelled from the Amospheric" ends of
such cylinders by each stroke of the Engines, the heated air may also be passed over
other parts of the Cylinders and steam passages requiring to be kept warm. Further,
according to this invention the air for the purposes above set forth is heated by the
waste gases from the Steam Generator. I may use for the above purpose the waste
heat in the uptakes of Steam Generators to heat the air which I then use in the
Cylinders of the Steam Engines. The heated air preparing the Cylinder for the steam
by heating them in the manner above specified. The Engine acts as a pump to draw
the heated air from a Receiver in the uptake, and then expels such air which may be
used in the furnaces of the Steam Generator to supply air for the combustion of
the fuel.
The system above set forth and according to my Invention is capable of being
applied in various ways and to and in connection with various constructions of Steam
Engines and Steam Generators and amongst other ways to Compound Marine Steam
Engines and Gas Fired Steun Generators which affords a means of application and
a convenient way of carrying out my Invention and I will describe how according
to my Invention such an arrangement may be constructed.
The Steam Generator may consist of a double ended tube filled vessel having
cylindrical furnaces and a central combustion chamber as common to this type of
Generator. I use the furnaces which are preferably corrugated tubes as fire boxes
and without fire boxes and in front of these fire boxes I construct a furnace on the
Gas producer principle, having a closed Ashpit and provision for a secondary supply

page_text: a
of air above the fuel. Under the sheet of the Generator there is a Duct provided
with dampers and leading to the closed Ashpits and connecting the same with the
engines as hereafter described-In the uptake of the Steam Generator-I provide
receiver which is provided with tubes through which the waste heat and gases, after
leaving the Generator pass to the chimney. This Receiver has an inlet duct from
wherever it is desired to take the air and an outlet duct leading to the Engines. The
Engines are three in number, the connecting rod working three Cranks set at, equal
angles. Each engine has two cylinders placed one above the other. The upper
Cylinder is of smaller diameter than the lower Cylinder and uses the Steam at high
pressure direct from the Generator. The steam after doing work in this cylinder
passes direct through a valve to the lower Cylinder after having acted for the upstroke
in the high pressure Cylinder and then acis for the down stroke in the low pressure
cylinder passing from the low pressure cylinder direct to the Condenser. Thus the
steam acts only on the underside of the piston of the high pressure Cylinder and on
the top side of the piston of the low pressure Cylinder and vacuum being made use
of for the ascending stroke of the piston of the low pressure cylinder only-Heated
air is supplied through valves (from the outlet duct, or main from the Receiver in the
uptake of the Steam generator before mentioned) to the top side of the piston of
the high pressure Cylinder and to the underside of the piston of the low pressure
Cylinder, the pision thus working on what is known as the atmospheric principle,
but having its supply of air in a highly heated state, namely at a temperature of
about equal to or preferably greater than the temperature of the Steam on the other
side of the pistons. This heated air prepares the Cylinders by heating them for the
steam, and keeps up the temperature during the whole of the stroke of the pistons,
thereby maintaining the proper expansion of the steam by thus preventing loss of
heat from the steam by condensation and radiation. From the Cylinders the air
passes through valves to a duci connecting with the duct before mentioned as leading
to the closed ashpits of the Steam Generator, the engine thus acting as a pump to
draw the heated air from the receiver and after use in the Cylinders forcing such
air to the furnaces of the Generators. The Cylinders of the Engines are plain
cylindrical Shells connected by a chest having leads to the steam valves and the air
valves. The low pressure Cylinder has a bottom cover and stuffing box and a lead
to the valve box of the air main and the high pressure cylinder has a top cover and a
lead to the valve box of the air main.
The Receiver in the uptake for example for a Steam pressure of 250 lbs. inclusive
of the pressure of the atmosphere is so proportioned and of such capacity as to enable
the air therein to absorb the waste heat sufficiently to raise and maintain the
temperature of the air at about 400° taking the waste heat in the uptake plus the
temperature of the surrounding air from which the supply is taken at about 800°.
The air at this heat is taken by the Cylinders on the atmospheric side of the piston.
The air main is provided with a waste air pipe and valve through which the air is
led away to waste when the engines are not going.
I also provide the gas producer furnace of the generator with a steam je blower
or a fan which may be used when the Engines are not running or for giving an
additional supply of air to the furnace and to the Combustion Chamber of the Gas
Producer.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Applicable to Steam Engines and Steam
Generators.
I, HENRY TURNER, of 28 Chapel Street North, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
::
::
i.
According to my Invention construct steam engines using high pressure steam
on the atmospheric principle and so arranged that the wills of the cylinders shall
be heated to and maintained at a temperature about equal to, or greater than the
temperature of the steam used in the cylinders. The heating of the cylinders is
effected by heated air admitted to and expelled from the atmospheric ends of such
cylinders by each stroke of the engines. The heated air may also be passed over
other parts of the cylinders and steam passages requiring to be kept warm. Further
according to this Invention the air for the purposes above set forth is heated by the
waste gases from the steam generator. I may use for the above purpose the waste
heat in the uptakes of steam generators to heat the air which I then use in the
cylinders of the steam engines: the heated air preparing the cylinders for the steam
by heating them in the manner above specified. The engine acts as a pump to draw
the heated air from an air heater in the uptake, and then expels such air which may
then be used in the furnaces of the steam generator to supply air for the combustion
of the fuel.
The system above set forth and according to my Invention is capable of being
applied in various ways and to and in connection with various constructions of steam
engines and steam generitors and amongst other ways to compound marine steam
engines and gas-fired steam generators which affords a means of application and a
convenient way of carrying out my Invention, and I will describe how according to
my Invention such an arrangement may be constructed.
The steam generator may consist of a double ended tube filled vessel having
cylindrical furnaces and a central combustion chamber as common to this type of
generator. I use the furnaces which are preferably corrugated inbes as flues and
without fire bars and in front of these flues construct an external furnace having a
closed ashpit and provision for a secondary supply of air above the fuel. Under the
shell of the generator, or in any convenient position there is a duct provided with
dampers and leading to the closed ashpits and connecting the same with the engines
as hereafter described. In the uptake of the steam generator I provide an air heater
which is provided with tubes through which the waste heat and gases after leaving
the generator pass to the chimney. This air heater has an inlet duct from wherever
it is desired to take the air and in outlet duct leading to the engines. The engines
are three in number. the connecting rods working three cranks stat equal angles.
Each engine has two cylinders placed one above the other. The upper cylinder is of
smaller diameter than the lower cylinder and uses the steam at high pressure direct

page_text: from the generator. The steam after doing work in this cylinder passes direct
through a valve to the lower cylinder after having acted for the upstroke in the high
pressure cylinder and then acts for the downstroke in the low pressure cylinder,
passing from the low pressure cylinder direct to the condenser. Thus the steam acts
only on the underside of the piston of the high pressure cylinder, and on the top side
of the piston of the low pressure cylinder and vacuum being made use of for the
ascending stroke of the piston of the low pressure cylinder only. Heated air is
supplied through valves (from the outlet duck or main from the air heater in the
uptake of the steam generator before mentioned) to the top side of the piston of the
high pressure eylinder and to the underside of the piston of the low pressure cylinder,
the pistons thus working on what is known as the atmospheric principle, but having
their supply of air in a highly heated state, namely at a temperature of about equal to,
or preferably greater than the temperature of the steam on the other side of the
pistons. This heated air prepares the cylinders by heating them for the steam and
keeps up the temperature during the whole of the stroke of the pistons, thereby
maintaining the proper expansion of the steam by preventing loss of heat from the
steam by condensation and radiation. From the cylinders the air passes through
valves to a duct connecting with the duct before mentioned as leading to the closed
ashpits of the steam generator, the engine thus acting as a pump, to draw the heated
air from the air heater and after use in the cylinders forcing such air to the furnaces
of the steam generators. The cylinders of the engines are plain cylindrical shells
connected by a chest having leads to the steam valves and the air valves. The low
pressure cylinder has a bottom cover and stuffing box and a lead to the valve box of
the air main and the high pressure cylinder has a top cover and a lead to the valve
box of the air main.
The air heater in the uptake, for example, for a steam pressure of 225 pounds
inclusive of the pressure of the atmosphere is so proportioned and of such capacity
as to enable the air herein to absorb the waste heat sufficiently to raise and maintain
the temperature of the air at about 400° taking the waste heat in the uptake plus the
temperature of the surrounding air from which the supply is taken at about 800°.
The air at this heat is taken by the cylinders on the atmospheric side of the piston.
The air main is provided with a waste air pipe and valve through which the air is led
away to waste when desired.
I also provide the furnace of the generator with a stem jet blower, or a fan which
may be used when the engines are not running, or for giving an additional supply of
air to the furnace and the combustion chamber.
Having in the beforegoing description set forth generally the nature of my said
Invention, I will now proceed to more particularly describe the same reference being
had to the annexed six sheets of Drawings which make a part of this Specification
and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, like letters and figures
being used to denote like parts throughout the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of the cylinders, valves and passages of an
engine (of the single type) constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the "eylinders, valves and passages shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an outside end elevation of the cylinders, valves and passages shown in
Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the air valve chest.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the air valve chest.
Figure 6 is a plan of the air valve chest.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the eccentric valve gear for working the valves of
the cylinders shown in Figure 1.
Figure 8 is an end elevation of the valve gear shown in Figure 7.

page_text: Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a steam generator constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 10 is an end sectional elevation of the steam generator.
Figure 11 is an end view of the steam generator.
In the example of my Invention shown by the annexed Drawings there is illustrated
the cylinders, valves, passages, valve gear and a steam generator designed for a single
crank engine. I have omitted the lower part of the condenser, the shaft, frame, bed
plate pumps and other parts as these may be of any known construction and are not
required in this description. Although I have only shown my Invention in a single
engine arrangement of the compound, or high and low pressure type, I would have
it understood that by increasing the number of cylinders and their parts, it is alike
applicable to engines having two, three, or more cranks.
The example of my Invention shown in the Drawings illustrates a single crank
arrangement of an engine, having a high and a low pressure cylinder, arranged on
what is known as the tandem principle, working a single crank, and a steam generator
constructed and arranged to suit such engine.
A is the high pressure cylinder having a diameter of 6 inches and a stroke of
10 inches. B is the low pressure cylinder having a diameter of 17 inches and the
same stroke as the high pressure cylinder. These are proportions such as may be
employed, but it will be obvious that they can be varied." C is the piston of the high
pressure cylinder and D is the piston of the low pressure cylinder. The pistons
and D are fixed on the piston rod E which is common to both the cylinders A and B
and works in the stuffing box F of the cylinder A and G of the cylinder B. His
the steam valve chest of the cylinders A and B. It contains the valve of the high
pressure cylinder and the valve of the low pressure cylinder. These are of the piston
ype and with their valve gear are hereafter described. His the steam passage of
the high pressure cylinder A and H is the steam passage of the low pressure cylinder B.
Jis the exhaust passage of the cylinder B. The cylinders A and B are separated by
a chamber K. L is a hot air duct (from an air heater in the uptake of the steam
generator hereafter described) opening into the chamber K. M is the hot air valve
chest communicating with the chamber K through the duct N, with the top of the
high pressure cylinder through the duct O, and with the bottom of the low pressure
cylinder through the due P This valve chest is shown in detail at Figures 4..
and 6 and is hereafter described.
As above set forth and according to my Invention, the high pressure cylinder A
uses steam at high pressure (for example steam at 225 pounds on the square inch)
direct from the steam generator and on the under side of the piston C. The steam
after doing work in the cylinder A is led to the top of the low pressure cylinder B
acting on the top of the piston D for the down stroke and then passes to the condenser
through the exhaust passage J. For the downstroke the cylinder A is worked on
the atmospheric principle and for the upstroke the cylinder B is worked on the
atmospheric principle the air (which is heated) being take from the valve chest M
and after use in the cylinders A and B is forced through the ducts and O back to
the valve chest. M. and from thence through the duct R to the furnace of the steam
generator.
The above being the main features of the engine, I will now describe the parts more
in detail.
The steam generator shown in the Drawings consists of a cylindrical shell S having
a tapered flue T and a nest of return tubes U. V is the combustion chamber connecting
the fiue T and the tubes U. Wis an external furnace, or fire box which is fed with
fuel through the hopper W. The crown and bridge W of the furnace W are of
refractory material (such as fire brick). The furnace W is surrounded by an air
casing W³ which is in communication by means of the pipe R with the air duct R
from the valve chesi M. X in the fire grate. The lower part of the casing W³ forms
the ashpit which is closed. Y is the uptake from the tubes U. In the uptake YI
provide an air heater Z which is provided with tubes 2 through which the waste heat
and gases after leaving the uptake Y pass to the chimney Z. This air heater Z is

page_text: provided with an inlet from which a duct is led to wherever it is desired to take
the air and with an outlet Z connected to the air supply duct L The air heater Z is
provided with guiding diaphragms Z to give the air a circuitious course in passing
through the heater so as to abstract as much heat from the tubes as possible.
The pipe R which connects the air duct R with the air casing Wa is provided with
a double seated valve R and valve box R3. This valve box R³ has three ways one to
the duct R. one to the pipe R and one to a waste pipe R which communicates with the
chimney or elsewhere and through which the valve spindle R5 passes. By this
valve R² the air from the duct R can be shut off from the furnace Wand led to the
chimney Z, or elsewhere through the waste pipe R when desired.
A steam jet, or fan blower may be applied to the furnace W provisions being
provided for this purpose.
The construction of the steam valve chest H and the steam valves of the cylinders
A and B is as follows: (see Figure 1). The valve chest H may, as shown in the
Drawings, be formed in one casting with the chamber K. His the steam passage to
the cylinder A. His the steam passage to the cylinder 1. Jis the exhaust. The
valve is of the piston type and consists of two metallic packed valves a a¹ combined
in one and worked by the valve spindle and the link motion g. The valve chest H
is fitted with a circular liner e and is provided with a belt, or steam inlet passage h
communicating with the main steam pipe through the stop valve 4. The liner e is
provided with ports e e e³. These poris in the liner e open into the belt h, steam
passages Hand H, and to the exhaust J respectively and are of triangular form.
The piston valve covers and uncovers these ports in the liner e and opens them to
steam and to the exhaust. The valve has three circumferential grooves be and d. The
groove bserves to make communication between the port e¹ of the steam beli. A and
the port e and the steam passage H to the high pressure cylinder A. The groove c
serves to make communication between the port e² and a central passage in the
valve by which passage the steam is led to the bottom of the valve al and enters
the port e as it uncovers and passes through the passage to the low pressure
cylinder B. The exhaust from the cylinder B is through the port e the groove
and the port to the exhaust and to the condenser.
d
The valve surfaces, or pistons h, k, k², ³ are arranged as follows. The upper
piston / acts a sa balance valve only; The next piston is for the admission and the
exhaust of steam for the high pressure cylinder and is provided with a great amount
of lap so as to cut off steam at an early part of the stroke. This necessitates a great
amount of advance on the eccentrics. The piston forms a division between the
high and low pressure exhaust. The piston is for the admission and the exhaust
of steam for the low pressure cylinder and is provided with but a small amount of
lap so as to cut off steam late in the stroke of its piston D. The small amount of
lap on the piston ³ and the usual lead would require but a small amount of advance
on the eccentrics, but the valve k requires much advance to suit its lap. To provide
for this, the eccentric rings of the link motion valve gear, see Figures 7 and 8,
have each (the ahead and astern) a pin joint to their rods and at their opposite sides
another pin joint to which are attached short rods, the other ends of which are
carried in a certain fixed position by a stud, or pin which is attached to the bed
plate, or other convenient fixed part of the engine. These rods 13 with the pins l'as
centres describe an are of a circle at the end where they join the eccentric rings and
give extra advance for the piston and an early cut off to the cylinder A; and
reduced and retarded advance for the piston 43 and late "cut off" to the cylinder B,
but still giving the proper amount of steam opening for each cylinder.
The construction of the hot air valve chest M will be understood upon reference to
Figures 4, 5 and 6, and it consists of a vessel M divided into four chambers m n p
and
The chamber m communicates with the chumber K through the duet N. The
chamber communicates with the cylinder A through the duct O. The chamber
communicates with the cylinder through the duct P and the chamber
municates with the duet R which leads to the furnace of the steam generator. The
chamber m is common to the chambers and p and communicates therewith through
7 com-

page_text: the metallic flap valves and sand the chambers n and communicate with the
chamber (which is common to them) through the metallic flap valves und u.
q
"
and
In operation on the downstroke of the engine the hot air passes from the chamber m
through the valve into the chamber and through the duct O to the cylinder A
onto the top of its piston Cand on the upstroke is expelled back through the duct O
into the chamber a and through the valve into the chamber from whence it passes
through the duct R 10 the furnace of the steam generator. On the upstroke of the
engine the air passes from the chamber m through the valve s to the chamber
through the duct P to the cylinder B to the underside of its piston D and on the
downstroke is expelled back through the duct P into the chamber p and through the
valve into the chamber y from whence it passes through the duct R to the furnace
of the steam generator.
By using hot air on the atmospheric side of the pistons of
the cylinders A and B the walls of such cylinders are heated and prepared for the
steam on the other side of the pistons.
The air in the cylinders A and B may be used as a means of governing the speed of
the engines. This may be effected by providing a suitable governing valve on the
air due that will cause the air in the cylinders to be compressed, or have a back
pressure and check the speed of the engines.
A plurality of engines as above described and illustrated may be used set in line
over the shaft and working separate cranks set at suitable angies.
Although I have more particularly described my Invention as applied to what are
known as compound steam engines having two-a high and a low pressure-cylinders
I would have it understood that the system herein described of working steam
engines may be applied to engines having one cylinder only, or to engines having
multiple cylinders and to engines working on the double, triple or other multiple
cylinder expansion principle.
By my Invention initial condensation of the steam in the cylinders is prevented
as well as condensation at any subsequent time after steam has been cut off and is
expanding. This result is due to the heating of the walls of the cylinders and the
piston in the manner hereinbefore described.
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 :-
First. The method herein described of heating the walls and ends of cylinders and
pistons of steam engines, which method consists in introducing into such cylinders
previous to the admission of steam thereto, air, of a temperature approximating, or
higher than, that of the same employed in such cylinders.
Second. The improvements herein specified relating to the generation and utilization
of steam, which consist of the method herein described of working such generators
and engines that is to say (1) heating air by the hot gases of combustion after use
in the steam generator, (2) using such air so heated to heat the cylinder or cylinders
of the steam engine and (3) then delivering such hot air after use in the cylinder, or
cylinders of the engine to the steam generator furnace, or furnaces and utilizing it to
effect the combustion of the fuel employed to generate steam; all as, or substantially
as set forth.
Third. In steam engines in which one of the strokes of a piston in each revolution
of the crank is effected by the pressure of steam, and in the other stroke air is intro-
duced into the cylinder on one side of the piston, the employment of the end of the
cylinder and the stroke in which air is introduced as a hot air pump, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. A steam engine consisting essentially of a cylinder A and piston C. a
cylinder B and piston D, valves a, a, for controlling the passage of steam to and
from such cylinders, and a valve case M containing inlet and outlet valves r, s, and t, u,
for controlling the passage of hot air to and from such cylinders, and operating
substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination with a cylinder, or cylinders of a steam engine, of a valve

page_text: chest (such as M) containing inlet and outlet valves, operating as, or substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The combination of parts constructed substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 consisting of the steam generator (S) having a
furnace (W) flue (T) combustion chamber (V) and tubes (U) and the air heater (Z)
having air inlet and outlet passages Z and Z' and tubes Z.
Seventh. In connection with engines of the type herein described the means
substantially herein specified with reference to Figures 10 and 11 whereby the air
returned from the engines is either led to the furnace of the steam generator, or
generators or direct up the funnel, or other means of exit.
Eigth. In combination with a steam engine arranged and operating as herein
described and in which one valve controlling the passage of the steam to and from
the two cylinders is employed, the means substantially herein set forth with reference
to Figure 1, 3, 7, and 8 of the Drawings whereby the required amount of lead is
given to the valves and a different cut off is obtained to the two cylinders.
Ninth. The particular combination and construction of parts of the engine hercin
set forth with reference to the Drawings and operating as described for the purposes
specified.