IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAN ENGINES IN GENERAL, AND MORE PARTICULARLY TO HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Steamship Agent, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAN ENGINES IN GENERAL, AND MORE
PARTICULARLY TO HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM ENGINES.”
Sealed the 7th March 1876, and dated the 17th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Demetrius
Spartali at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 17th September 1875.
I, NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Steamship Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES IN GENERAL, AND
MORE PARTICULARLY TO HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is more particularly to work high-pressure
steam engines at a very great velocity of piston stroke with great
economy of the volume of steam supplied through the valves at each
stroke, thereby reducing the consumption of steam, and consequently

page_text: the relative quantity of fuel, and giving time to the fire furnaces to
impart to the water and steam in the boilers the necessary degree of
bigh temperature to maintain in a constant manner the corresponding
working pressure, and the regular and quick generative supply requisite
for such rapid strokes and velocity of piston. To obtain this I divido
my_slide_valves_into_two_separate_sections_(upper_and_lower), thereby
forming two distinct valves worked by the same excentrics as described
in the Specification of my Patent of 24th August 1874, thereby
dividing the entrance of the steam into each part separately with great
accuracy.
I also in addition regulate by means of the excentrics the opening
and shutting of the supply of the steam through the slide valve at the
top and bottom of the cylinder, so that the supply of the steam through
the ports is almost instantaneous, or at very short intervals of time,
which intervals (in small cylinder engines) are as short as half a second
to a second of time, and in proportion for larger engines, but above all
I regulate the volume of supply according to the force and value of the
steam at its generated temperature.
The opening of the valve to the supply through the port of the
cylinder is reduced to about 4 or ½, of the area as compared to the
present system of valve admissions, and it is no sooner shut than it is
again opened, the interval between shutting and opening each valve
being almost imperceptible. The steam is admitted suddenly and
directly to the top and bottom ends of the cylinder whilst the exhaust
valve is (by an overlap) kept always more or less open, thus affording a
constant and continuous free release of the escaping steam cither to the
atmosphere or to a condenser, after having given off all its work and
power in the cylinder, thus reducing the condition of the steam, at the
exit to a mere vapour, having very_little_elastic force remaining.
The effect of the steam-on-the-top and bottom ends of the cylinders
by these sudden sharp, short, and multiplied admissions is similar to so
many little explosions from a gun at each stroke. Moreover the effect
of from 1000 to 2000 or more such admissions in the short space of one
minute tends to keep the metal of the cylinder walls at a very high
temperature, the rapidity of action not allowing any escape of heat into
the surrounding atmosphere by radiation or giving time for the steam to
condense. This stored heat serves naturally to superheat the steam in

page_text: the cylinder, whilst it has expanded four or five times its volume or
more, according to the temperature of its admission to the work per-
formed, and thus preventing any condensation in the body of the
cylinder, which is so fatal to the maintenance of even pressure during
the stroke, and which is the great complaint in the present system of
valve action in high as well as in combined high and low pressure
engines.
According to my Invention I pass the exhaust steam only through
the channels, while the supply steam (which acts more like sudden
gunpowder puffs emitted from a gun) is admitted into the top and
bottom of each cylinder direct, and acts by the great impulsiveness
emitted by steam at a high temperature and at sudden and short
intervals, which are nicely regulated by the valves. The steam supplied
in the manner described acts more like electric shocks, imparting a wild
speed to the engines and cranks; in fact, my model engines have already
exceeded in speed any electric machine in use. By this arrangement I
can work high-pressure steam in single cylinder engines without com-
plicating the parts and multiplying the number of cylinders into 3, 4, or
more, as at present, particularly in marine engines.
In my single cylinder engines, by regulating the volume of admissions
of steam to a nicety, as described, and according to the pressure valve of
the steam and its temperature, all the expansion of the steam takes
place in the cylinder automatically by its own clastic nature, the
quantity of supply being decreased according to the respective expansive
properties at each temperature, thus filling the capacity of the cylinder
with its volume at every stroke at a very high or powerful mean
pressure. By these small and rapid admissions the steam, even after
expansion, is superheated by the high temperature of the walls of the
cylinders, no time being allowed to them to give off any of their heat to
the surrounding atmosphere by radiation. By the lightness and strength
of metal I use in the construction of these cylinders (which is composed
of a pure metal), a composition of iron and steel containing as little
carbon in it as possible, I obtain a great advantage, the fibres of the
metal being of a tensile strength equal to from 40 to 45 tons to the
square inch of pressure, or more if possible.
In combination with my light diagonal centre long thin bladed
propellers in order to obtain a high speed in steamships of large size I

page_text: propose to reduce the diameter and bulk of the screw propeller shafts by
adopting the same kind of metal for their construction and for that öf
my propellers and engines; and, further, I propose to increase the
number of cranks and engines to two or three cylinders or pairs of
cylinders. Each pair of engines-will-work-diagonally-or-in-a-direct-
inverted line, as at present, over each pair of cranks, or in conjunction
with the after bearing dead weight and after crank described in my
Specification of 24th August 1874, and by adopting 4 or 6 small engines
of high pressure and great velocity of piston, I will be able to obtain a
very considerable increase of speed of the propeller, as much as 20 to
25 miles per hour at sea with large or ocean going steam vessels.
The short, rapid, and sudden admission and multiplied admissions of
steam are reduced in proportion to the force and volume of the steam;
according to its temperature and the superheating of the steam in the
cylinders without giving off radiation, the exhaust being always open
and free through the pipe, which is of twice or three times the size of
the admission pipe. The steam acts by its sudden impulsive expansive-
ness on its admission, and by its free and continuous release or escape
without any obstructive or cumbrous apparatus for expanding and sub-
expanding of the steam. By reducing my valve box to a very small
compass I also dispense with the large and heavy boxes now used, and
in which the steam expends a great deal of its elastic force by impinging
on the backs and sides and ends of the boxes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
-
filed by the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali in the Great Seal 2
Patent Office-on-the-17th-March-1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NICHOLAS
DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Steamship Agent, send greeting.
"
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign; did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me; the said Nicholas Demetrius

page_text: Spartali, Her special licence that I, the said Nicholas Demetrius
Spartali, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO STEAM ENGINES IN GENERAL, AND MORE PARTICULARLY TO HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM
ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nicholas
Demetrius Spartali, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed and to the lotters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say) :—
This Invention has for its object more particularly to work high-
pressure steam engines at a very great velocity of piston stroke with great
economy of the volume of steam supplied through the valves at each
stroke, thereby reducing the consumption of steam and consequently the
relative quantity of fuel, and giving time to the fire furnaces to impart
to the water and steam in the boilers the necessary degree of high
temperature to maintain in a constant manner the corresponding
working pressure and the regular and quick generative supply of steam
requisite for such rapid strokes and great velocity of piston. To obtain
this object I divide the valves into two separate sections (upper and
lower) thereby forming two distinct valves worked by the same
eccentrics, as described in the Specification of my Patent of 24th
August, 1874. By this means the entrance of the steam into each port
separately is divided with great accuracy. I also in addition regulato
(by means of the eccentrics) the opening and shutting of the supply of
the steam through the slide valve at the top and bottom of the cylinder

page_text: portion for larger engines.
I also regulate the volume of supply of steam according to the force
and value of the steam at its generated temperature.
The extent of opening of the valve to the supply through the port of
the cylinder is reduced to about one-fourth or one-fifth of the area as
compared with the present system of admission of steam through the
valves, and the valve is no sooner shut than it is again opened, the interval
between shutting and opening each valve being almost imperceptible.
The steam is admitted suddenly and directly to the top and bottom ends
of the cylinder whilst the exhaust valve is by an overlap kept always
more or less open, thus affording a constant and continuous free release of
the escaping steam either to the atmosphere, in the case of a high-pressure
engine, or to a condenser, after having given off all its work and power
in the cylinder, thus reducing the condition of the exhaust steam at its
exit to that of a mere vapour having very little elastic force remaining.
The effect of the steam on the top and bottom ends of the cylinder
(by these sudden, sharp, short, and multiplied admissions) is that it acts
with an impulsiveness similar to so many little explosions from a gun at
each stroke. Moreover the effect of from 1000 to 2000 or more such
admissions in the short space of one minute tend to keep the metal of
the cylinder walls at a very high temperature, the rapidity of action not
.allowing.any.escape of heat into the surrounding atmosphere by radiation
-or-giving-time-for the steam to condense. This stored heat serves
materially to superheat the steam in the cylinder, whilst it has expended
four or five times its volume, or more, according to the temperature-of
its admission to the work performed, and thus preventing any con-
densation (in the body of the cylinder) which is so fatal to the main-
tenance of an even pressure during the stroke, and which is the great
complaint against the present system of valve action in high as well as
in combined high and low pressure engines.
According to my Invention I pass the exhaust steam only through
the channels, while the supply steam (which acts more like sudden
gunpowder puffs emitted from a gun) is admitted into the top and
bottom of each cylinder direct, and acts by the great impulsiveness

page_text: exerted by steam at a high temperature and at sudden and short
intervals which are nicely regulated by the valves. The steam dis-
tributed in the manner described acts more like electric sparks by
imparting a wild speed to the engines and cranks; in fact my model
engines have already exceeded in speed any electric machine now in use.
By this arrangement I can work high-pressure steam in single cylinder
engines without complicating and multiplying the number of cylinders
by using three, four, or more as at present, particularly in marine engines.
The Figure in the accompanying Drawing represents in vertical section
a high-pressure engine constructed according to my Invention. It will
be seen that the cylinder a is mounted on the top of a hollow cast-iron
column b in which works the piston rod c and the link which connects
the lower end thereof to a crank on the main shaft d, on which are
mounted the pullics d', d', whereby the motive power of the engine is
transmitted to any mechanism which requires to be driven. An
excentric e on the main shaft d by means of a rod e¹ actuates the slide
valve ff, which is divided into two parts or sections, namely, the
upper and lower, one of which acts as a steam port, while the other acts
as an exhaust port. The inlet is connected with the steam supply
pipe, not shewn in the Drawing, and supplies steam to the top or bottom
of the cylinder, that is, above or below the piston h, as the case may be,
the other port of the valve acting as the exhaust port. The exhaust
steam on leaving the cylinder passes round the annular space formed by
the enveloping jacket and issues from the exhaust port i. The figuro
shews the piston at about one-fourth of its stroke from the bottom of
the cylinder. In this position it will be seen that both ports are open,
the lower one admitting just sufficient steam to force the piston to the
top of its stroke, and the upper one being fully opened to allow of a free
escape of the steam. The upper port will be shut off from the exhaust
and opened to admit the steam considerably before the piston reaches
the top of its stroke.
In this single cylinder engine by regulating the volume of admissions
of steam to a nicety, as described, and and according to the pressure value
of the steam and its temperature, all the expansion of the steam takes
place in the cylinder automatically by its own elastic nature, the
quantity of supply being decreased according to the respective expansive
properties at each temperature, thus filling the capacity of the cylinder
with its volume at every stroke at a very high or powerful mean

page_text: pressure. By these small rapid admissions the steam even after
expansion is superheated by the high temperature of the walls of the
cylinders, no time being allowed to them to give off any of their heat to
the surrounding atmosphere by radiation. By the lightness and strength
of the metal I use in the construction of these cylinders-(which-are
-composed of a pure metal) a composition of iron and steel containing as
little carbon in it as possible, I obtain a great advantage, the fibres of
the metal being of a tensile strength equal to from 40 or 50 tons to the
square inch of pressure, or more if possible.
In combination with my improved engine I use my light diagonal
centre three-bladed propellers in order to obtain a high speed in steam
ships of large size, but I propose to reduce the diameter and bulk of
the screw propeller shafts by adopting the same kind of metal for their
construction and for that of my propellers and engines; and further, I
propose to increase the number of cranks and engines to two or three
cylinders or pairs of cylinders, so that each pair of engines will work
diagonally or in a direct inverted line as at present over each pair of
cranks or in conjunction with the after bearing dead weight and after
crank, as described in my Specification of 24th August 1874, and by
adopting four or six small engines of high pressure and great velocity of
piston I am able to obtain a very considerable increase of speed of the
propeller, say as much as 20 to 25 miles per hour at sea with large occan
going steam vessels.
The short, rapid, and sudden admissions and multiplied admissions of
steam are reduced in proportion to the force and volume of the steam
according to its temperature, the exhaust and the superheating of the
|_ steam_in_the-cylinders-(without giving off radiation) being always open
and free through the pipe, which is twice or three times the size-of-the-
=admission-pipe. The steam acts by its sudden impulsive expansiveness
in-its-admission, and by its free and continuous release or escape without
any obstructive or cumbrous apparatus for expanding and super-
expanding of the steam. By reducing the valve box to a very small
compass I am also enabled to dispense with the large and heavy boxes
now used, and in which the steam expends a great deal of its elastic
force by impinging on the backs and sides and ends of the boxes.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim, constructing and

page_text: arranging the valves of steam engines, as herein described and shewn in
the Drawing, whereby great velocity of piston stroke with great
economy of the volume of steam supplied through the valves at each
stroke is obtained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this 15th day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
N. D. SPARTALI. (L.S.)