Improvements in Steam Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, PETER WILLIAM WILLANS, of Ferry Works, Thames Ditton, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in steam engines.
Water is liable to collect in the cylinders of steam engines under certain con-
ditions and when this takes place the economical working of the engine is much
impaired. I find that this defect can be removed by very simple means viz.: by
providing heating appliances in connection with small water receptacles in the
cylinders (either existing or specially provided) so that any water formed by
condensation in the cylinder at once passes into a receptacle which is maintained at
The
a temperature somewhat above that of the other parts of the cylinder.
arrangement which I prefer where the cylinder is vertical is as follows:--around
the cylinder cover I provide a small annular gutter and in this gutter I lay a small
steam pipe through which steam from the boiler can be passed either continuously
or when required. The small additional supply of heat thus provided locally to
the part or parts of the cylinder where otherwise water would first accumulate I
find to be quite sufficient to keep the cylinder free.
Dated this 25th day of April 1890.-
CARPMAEL & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
1, PETER WILLIAM WILLANS, of Ferry Works, Thames Ditton, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, 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 has for its object improvements in steam engines.
Water is liable to collect in the cylinders of steam engines under certain con-
ditions and when this takes place the economical working of the engine is much
impaired. I find that this defect can be removed by very simple means viz.: by
providing heating appliances in connection with small water receptacles in the
cylinders (either existing or specially provided) so that any water formed by
condensation in the cylinder at once passes into a receptacle which is maintained at
a temperature somewhat above that of the other parts of the cylinder. The
arrangement which I prefer where the cylinder is vertical is as follows:-around
the cylinder cover I provide a small annular gutter and in this gutter I lay a small
steam pipe through which steam from the boiler can be passed either continuously
or when required. The small additional supply of heat thus provided locally to the
part or parts of the cylinder where otherwise water would first accumulate I find to
be quite sufficient to keep the cylinder free.
The annexed drawing at Figure 1 shows the application of my invention at the
lower end of a steam engine cylinder.
Figure 2 shows its application at the upper end.
In Figure which is a vertical section a is a portion of the cylinder, is the
piston, c the piston rod. d is the valve, a piston valve is here shown but a valve of
any sort may be used. The valve descends to admit steam to the cylinder and

page_text: rises to the position in which it is shown. in. the figure to permit the steam to escape
from the cylinder. e is a gutter formed around the cylinder at its lower end in
such a position that any water there may be in the cylinder beneath the piston at
once passes into it. The lower end or cover of the cylinder is made convex or of
such a form as to facilitate the passage of the water into the gutter e. f is a small
metal pipe lying in the gutter it is connected at its two ends with the steam pipe
preferably on either side of the stop valve to favour the passage of steam through
the pipe Water entering the gutter. receives heat from the steam pipe and
passes off as steam and does not provoke further condensation as it would do if it
remained in the cylinder.
The arrangement for the upper part of the cylinder is similar; g is a gutter into
which when the piston rises any water there may be in the cylinder above the
piston is swept. The form of the upper surface of the piston is such as to favour
the passage of the water above the piston into the gutter g. h is a steam pipe lying
in this gutter and supplied. with steam in the same way as the pipe f
In some cases it may be found sufficient to apply the invention at the lower end
of the cylinder as it is here especially that water tends to accumulate.
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 :-
1. The method herein described for preventing the accumulation of water in the
cylinder of a steam engine, such method consisting in applying heat to a small
receptacle which receives the water condensed in the cylinder by means of a steam
pipe or like heater so arranged in the said receptacle, as to become immersed in the
water contained therein as soon as an appreciable quantity, of water collects and so
keeping such receptacle and its contents hot relatively to other parts of the
cylinder.
2. The combination with the cylinder of a vertical engine of one or more water
receiving cavities e, g, and heating pipes f, h, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
P. W. WILLANS.