Improvements in Appliances for Regulating the Supply of Steam to the Engines of Steam-boats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Regulating the Supply of Steam to
the Engines of Steam-boats.
We, ALBERT EDWIN STUKLEY, of 68 Paddington, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Printer, and THOMAS ATKINSON, of 18 Clifton Road, Brighouse,
in the County of York, Pork Butcher, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances designed for controlling
and regulating the supply of steam to the screw propellers of steam-boats, the
object being to prevent what is known as racing of the engines caused by the
propellers being raised wholly or partly out of the water by the pitching of
the boat, in which case the propellers revolve with greater rapidity, the engines
practically running away, and wear and tear of the same, and often breakage or
damage to the boat or engines resulting. The invention consists of appliances so
designed that the pitching of the vessel automatically controls the supply of steam
to the engine, and when the propellers are out of the water, the supply of steam is
practically cut off.
According to this invention, we employ a weighted rod somewhat similar to a
pendulum, the weighted end being free to move in a slide or bed which prevents
breakage when the vessel rolls. Connected to this rod is a bell-crank lever, by a
link connected to a rod or piston forming part of a valve in the main steam supply
pipe. The weighted rod is pivoted at its upper end, and always maintains a vertical
position, and when the vessel pitches forward, and the propellers come partly or
wholly out of the water, the rod maintaining its vertical position, acts on the levers
and valve, so that the latter is partly or wholly closed as required, and the supply
of steam is regulated. A stop prevents the weighted rod moving when the vessel
pitches in the opposite position, and the stern of the vessel is deep in the water,
and consequently the propellers are covered, as it is only requisite that the steam
supply should be lessened as the propellers come more or less in contact with the
resisting water.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895.
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Appliances for Regulating the Supply of Steam to
the Engines of Steam-boats.
We, ALBERT EDWIN STUKLEY, of 68 Paddington, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Printer, and THOMAS ATKINSON, of Clifton Road, Brighouse, in
the County of York, Pork Butcher, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances designed for controlling

page_text: and regulating the supply of steam to the screw propeller or propellers, paddle, or
paddles of steam-boats, the object being to prevent what is known as racing of the
engines caused by the screw propellers or paddles being raised wholly or partly out
of the water by the pitching of the boat; in which case the screw propellers or
paddles revolve with great rapidity, the engines practically running away; and
wear and tear of the same, and often breakage or damage to the boat or engines is
the result. The invention consists of appliances so designed that the pitching of
the vessel automatically controls the supply of steam to the engine, and when one
or both of the screw propellers or paddles are out of the water, the supply of steam
is practically cut off."
According to this invention, we employ a weighted rod or lever suspended in the
vessel and attached to a valve in the steam supply pipe, and the rod being free to
swing after the manner of a pendulum, it will always maintain a vertical position,.
and as the vessel pitches, the weighted rod will act on the valve, and the latter is.
partly opened or closed as required.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, in
which :--
Fig. is a side elevation of the improved appliance for purpose aforesaid,
the dotted lines shewing the position assumed by the several parts when the vessel
pitches.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but shewing the weighted rod connected
directly to the valve, the bell-crank lever and its connections being dispensed
with.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 when the vessel is pitching.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the improved appliance.
Fig. 5 is an end view of a detail.
In the several drawings similar figures of reference refer to similar parts
throughout.
According to this invention, and referring to Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings,
we employ a weighted rod 1, somewhat similar to a pendulum, the weighted end 2
being steadied and supported on a slide bed or rod 3, which prevents breakage or
binding when the vessel rolls. The weight 2 is preferably made of bridge
or form (see Fig. 5), and a rod 3 passed through the bridge portion forms the
steadying device. The rod 3 is curved to the arc of a circle, so that it may move
through the weight 2 as the vessel pitches, without binding. The rod 1 is
suspended on a pin or stud 5, fixed in the vessel about its centre, or as near the
point on which the vessel pitches as can be ascertained; this is about midship..
Adjustably fixed on the rod 1 is a short arm 6, connected to a bell-crank lever 7,
on a fulcrum 8 fixed to some part of the ship, and the lever 7 is by adjustable
link 9 connected to the lever rod 10 of the throttle valve 11, or a valve in the main
steam supply pipe 12, which supplies steam to the engines. The weighted rod 1
always maintaius a vertical position, and as the vessel pitches forward (the direction
the vessel is travelling is indicated by the arrow), and the screw propellers or
paddles come partly or wholly out of the water, the rod 1 remains stationary, and
the remaining parts assume the position indicated by dotted lines; the weighted
rod 1 acts on the bell-crank lever 7, and by its connections, on the valve 11, and
When the
the latter is partially closed, and the supply of steam is reduced.
vessel pitches so that the stern dips deep in the water, and the paddle or screw
propellers are covered, the spring stop 13 prevents the rod 1 maintaining the
vertical position, by moving it along with, or as a part of the vessel, the
valve is not acted on, and the steam supply remains full "on as though
the vessel were quite level, as it is only necessary that the steam supply
should be lessened when the paddles or screw propellers are more or less out
of the water.
35
The slide bed or rod is fixed on one of the decks 14 of the vessel, or on a
pedestal thereon.

page_text: In Figs. 2 and 3, the rod 1 is pivoted about its centre on a stud or pin 5 fixed to
the ship, and its upper end is slotted at 15, and in this slot is received a pin 16 fixed
in the rod or lever 10 of the valve 11. The action of the appliance is similar to
that already described in reference to Fig. 1.
In Fig. 4 the lever 1 is shewn pivoted at 5 as in Figs. 2 and 3, but the upper end
of the lever terminates in a toothed sector 17, which gears with a toothed wheel or
segment 18, which itself forms the handle of the valve 11.
The improved appliances are fixed in close proximity to the cylinders of the
engines, and when used on a paddle boat are arranged that the rolling of the vessel
will have the same effect as the pitching of a vessel driven by screw propellers, and
will operate in the same way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
the improved appliances for purpose herein set forth, and substantially as illustrated
by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The weighted rod 1 suspended or pivoted on a fixed point in a ship or
vessel, and by links and levers or gear connected to a valve for controlling the
supply of steam to the engines for driving the screw propellers or paddles, as and
for the purpose herein described, and substantially as illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1896.
ALBERT EDWIN STUKLEY,
THOMAS ATKINSON,
By their Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax..