IMPROVEMENTS IN INVERTED DIRECT ACTING MARINE ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Allan of Sunderland Engine Works South
Dock Sunderland for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVERTED DIRECT
ACTING MARINE ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Allan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1882.
WILLIAM ALLAN of Sunderland Engine Works South Dock Sunderland,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INVERTED DIRECT ACTING MARINE ENGINES."
In constructing inverted direct acting marine engines I fix the surface condenser
either on the port or starboard side of the engine. The condenser is a separate
casting and bolted to the columns so as to be easily removed. And I perform the
operations of producing a vacuum and circulating the water through the condenser
tubes as follows:-
To the piston rod of each of the two cylinders of the engine I attach a cross-head
to which is secured a wrought iron slab to the ends of which an air and circulating
pump rod is attached. The two circulating pumps are at one side of the bed and
the two air pumps at the other. The parts of the bed plate are of the box section.
There are four box shaped passages passing across from one side portion of the bed
to the other-they carry the main bearings-The circulating pumps draw the
water from the injection valve through two of these passages and lift it up into
the pump chamber tops and then discharge it into the annular space between the
working barrels of the pumps and an outer case by which they are surrounded;
the water then flows from the bottom of this outer case through the other two
passages in the bed plate and into the condenser tubes and from thence overboard.
The water passages in the bed plate being immediately below and around the main
bearings and a continual current of cold water being kept passing through these
passages the bearings are less liable to heat. Two of the columns are made to act as
air vessels to the circulating pumps.

page_text: The air pumps are constructed similarly to the circulating pumps that is the
working barrel is enclosed in an outer case or cylinder, having an annular space
between for the passage of the water lifted by the buckets. The air pumps draw
through the foot valves direct from the bottom ends of the condenser, each air
pump having its own suction. The water is lifted up into the outer cylinder and
then falls into a space in the side portion of the bed plate forming the hot well and
from thence it is pumped by the feed pumps into the boilers. The two columns
at the air pump side of the engine form air vessels for the pumps and when working
the engines as common jet condensing the water is discharged through one of the
columns, overboard.
The feed and bilge pumps are worked off the crosshend direct.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
'by the said William Allan' in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th April
1883.
WILLIAM ALLAN of Sunderland Engine Works South Dock Sunderland
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INVERTED DIRECT ACTING MARINE ENGINES"
In constructing inverted direct acting marine engines I fix the surface condenser
either on the port or starboard side of the engine.
:
The condenser is a separate casting and bolted to the columns so as to be easily
removed.
And I perform the operations of producing a vacuum and circulating the water
through the condenser tubes as follows:-
=
To the piston rod of each of the two cylinders of the engine. I attach a crosshead
to which is secured a wrought iron slab to the ends of which an air and circulating
pump rod is attached. The two circulating pumps are at one side of the bed,
and the two air pumps at the other. The parts of the bedplate are of the box
section. There are four box shaped passages passing across from one side portion
of the bed to the other, they carry the main bearings. The circulating pumps
draw the water from the injection valve through two of these passages and lift it
up into the pump chamber tops, and then discharge it into the annular space
between the working barrels of the pumps and an outer case by which they are
surrounded; the water then flows from the bottom of this outer case through the
other two passages in the bedplate and into the condenser tubes and from thence
overboard.
The water passages in the bedplate being immediately below and around the
main bearings, and a continual current of cold water being kept passing through
the passages the bearings are less liable to heat.
Two of the columns are made to act as air vessels to the circulating pumps.
The air pumps are constructed similarly to the circulating pumps, that is,-the
working barrel is enclosed in an outer case or cylinder having an annular space
between for the passage of the water lifted by the buckets.
The air pumps draw through the foot.valves direct from the bottom ends of the
condenser each air pump having its own suction. The water is lifted up into the
outer cylinder and then falls into a space in the side portion of the bedplate forming
the hot well and from thence it is pumped by the feed pumps into the boilers.
The two columns at the air pump side of the engine form air vessels for the pumps
and when working, the engines as common jet condensing, the water is discharged
through one of the columns overboard..
The feed and bilge pumps are worked off the crosshead direct.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 represents a plan of the bed plate and pump chambers, half of which is
in section shewing the course of the circulating water indicated by blue arrows;
and the course of the condensed steam indicated by red arrows.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the bedplate and circulating pumps on the circulating
pump side; half of which is a section through the circulating pump and outer
chamber shewing the sea water going through the pump and falling into the
annular space between the brass chamber of the pump and the outer chamber.

page_text: Figure 3 is an elevation of the bed plate and air pump on the air pump
side half of which is a section through the air pump and outer chamber, showing
the condensed steam going through the foot valve and air pump and falling into
the annular space between the brass chamber of the pump and the outer chambér.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the bedplate through the sea injection pipe
looking forward.
Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation showing the general arrangement of the
engine.
A is the cylinders; B B are the columns having the piston rod guides attached;
Cis the bedplate; D is the circulating pump outer chamber. E is the air pump
outer chamber; F'is the crosshead slab which connects the pumps to the piston rod;
G is the condenser containing the tubes which is bolted on to the columns on the
air pump side. H is the circulating water discharge from condenser tube box
overboard; Jis the air pump discharge from hotwell overboard which is used
when working jet condensing; K is the exhaust steam pipe leading from the
cylinders to the condenser; L are the pipes which lead from the condenser to the
air pumps, and from the circulating pump discharges to the condenser tube boxes;
M is the inlet for the condensed steain from the condenser through the pipes L. to
the air pumps, whence it is drawn through the foot valves and lifted by the bucket
through the head valve, when it falls through the annular space between tlie brass
pump chamber and the outer chamber into the hotwell O from which it is pumped
by the engine feed pumps into the boilers. 'N is the inlet pipe for injection water
from sen which flows under the two centre main bearings before reaching circulating
pumps D which lift it into the annular space, between the brass pump chamber and the
outer chamber, when it falls to the soleplate bottom and flows through beneath the
end bearings through the pipes L to the condenser tube box, having run through
the tubes it is discharged overboard into the sea through pipe H.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that in respect to inverted inarine
engines I claim :—
First. Mounting the surface condenser upon the columns carrying the cylinders,
on one side of the engine, either port or starboard substantially as described.
Second. Actunting the air and circulating pumps by attaching their rods to slabs
on the crossheads substantially as described.
Third. The arrangement of the bedplato with four transverse box shaped passages
carrying the main bearings serving to lead water to and from the circulating pumps
substantially as described.
Fourth. The construction of the pumps substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The general arrangement and construction of the engine substantially as
described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Allan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this second day of April in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.