Improvements in, or relating to, Engine Shaft Thrust Blocks.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROTIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in, or relating to, Engine Shaft Thrust Blocks.
A communication from Joux PHILP of 432 West 28th Street, New York, State
of New York, United States of America, Marine Engineer.
I, ROBERT PHILP, of Devonshire Villa, Sholing, near Southampton in the County
of Hants, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the thrust gear of engine shafting, more especially to
that of Marine engine propeller shafting.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means and devices by which
the thrust of the propeller can be taken off-more or less as desired-the existing
thrust block or blocks, as now ordinarily fitted, thereby saving loss by friction at
same.
According to my said invention I provide and fit or form on the engine shafting,
at any convenient position lengthways of same, a flanged collar, the flange project-
ing around outside the shafting to the desired extent for the purpose in view,
hereafter described.
I further provide another collar made to loosely fit round the shafting
so that
it can be moved backwards and forwards on same at will, the face of this collar
having an annular recess formed in same. For the purpose of further explanation
I will hereinafter refer to this collar as the thrust collar, and to the other collar as
the fixed collar.
The flanges of the two collars are arranged to face each other when fitted in
position on the shaft, and the thrust collar is held in position, lengthways on the
shaft, by any suitable means, for instance, rods may be arranged to pass through
the flange of the thrust collar on each side of the shaft, one end of each rod being
connected to the ordinary thrust block.
A thread is formed on the rods where they pass through the thrust collar flange,
and nuts are arranged to work on the threads on each side of the flange so that the
thrust collar can be adjusted at will lengthways on the shaft--by turning the nuts
-in its relation to the fixed collar, that is the collar fixed on the shaft, noting that
the shaft revolves freely in the thrust collar the latter having no circular movement
on the shaft, it being only free to more lengthways of same in manner described,
or similar thereto.
Taking it that the thrust collar is adjusted on the shafting so that the face of this
collar is brought close up to the face of the fixed collar, the object in view is to
force the shaft backwards so as to relieve or entirely take off the thrust on the
ordinary thrust block; and I attain this object by injecting under pressure in to
the annular recess in the thrust collar a fluid, preferably, oil, thus, when the oil is
under pressure in the recess the face or bearing surface of the fixed collar
practically revolves on the fluid, and the shaft revolves therefore on, or against a
floating or fluid thrust, thereby reducing the thrust friction to a minimum; and
in accordance with the pressure under which the fluid is injected into the annular
recess in the thrust colla:, and consequently against the flange of the fixed collar,
077

page_text: the shafting will be forced back and the thrust therefore on the ordinary thrust
block relieved, or entirely removed.
A special force pump of the necessary power will be provided for injecting the
fluid into the aforesaid recess in thrust collar through an opening provided for the
purpose.
It is obvious that when the fluid is under high pressure part of same will escape
between the collars, to avoid waste I therefore provide that the collars, shall be
enclosed in a suitable casing and the escaping fluid will be collected at the underside
into a tray or receiver and can be used again and again by the force pump.
I may further provide a recording gauge connected with the oil recess in the
thrust collar, by means of which the following valuable data will be found.
1st. The thrust required to drive a vessel at any speed and displacement.
2nd. The average thrust applied throughout the voyage.
3rd. The thrust required to drive one vessel of a given speed and displacement
compared with that of another of same speed and displacement but with different
lines.
Dated this 5th day of October 1896
A communication from JoHN PHILP of 432 West 28th Street, New York, State
of New York, United States of America, Marine Engineer.
I, ROBERT PHILP, of Devonshire Villa, Sholing, near Southampton in the County
of Hants, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the thrust gear of engine shafting, more especially to
that of Marine engine propeller shafting.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means and devices by which
the thrust of the propeller can be taken off-more or less as desired-the existing
thrust block or blocks, as now ordinarily fitted, thereby saving loss of power by
friction at same.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my apparatus.
Fig. 2 a plan on top of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a sectional plan taken on the line a a.
Fig. 4 a cross sectional elevation taken on the line b b.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
According to my invention I provide and fit, or form, on the propeller
shafting A, at any convenient position lengthways of same, a flanged collar B, and
on the shafting A, another collar C, made to fit loosely round the shafting so that
it can be moved backwards and forwards on same at will, the face of this collar
has an annular recess D formed in same for the purpose hereinafter described.
The collar C is held in a fixed position lengthways on the shaft by any suitable
means, but I prefer to do this by the means illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which, E is a stool firmly secured in place to the floor or framing of
the vessel; arms F project above the base of the stool on both sides of same, and

page_text: threaded rods or bolts G G pass through the head of the arms and through the
flange of the collar C, and by means of the nuts H H the collar C may be adjusted
lengthways on the shaft to a limited extent and held in the desired position on
same.
Taking it that the collar C is adjusted on the shafting so that the face of
same is brought close up to the face of the collar B3, the object in view is to force
the shaft backwards so as to relieve or entirely take off the thrust on the ordinary
thrust block, and I attain this object by injecting under pressure into the annular
recess D through a hole J provided in the collar C, a fluid, preferably oil thus
when the oil is under pressure in the recess 1), the face or bearing surface of the
collar B practically revolves on the fluid thereby securing a floating or fluid
thrust, and a consequent reduction in the thrust friction to a minimum, and in
accordance with the pressure under which the fluid is injected into the recess D, the
shafting will be thrust back and the thrust therefore on the ordinary thrust block,
relieved or entirely removed.
A force pump of the necessary power will be provided for injecting the fluid
into the recess 1), through the hole J.
I may provide a suitable casing over the collars to catch and confine the escaping
oil or fluid, the same being collected in a trough provided at the underside, the
fluid can thus be used again and again by the force pump.
I may further provide a recording gauge connected with the oil recess in the
collar C by means of which, among other data, the following may be found.
1st. The thrust required to drive a vessel at any speed and of any displacement.
2nd. The average thrust applied throughout the voyage, or for any given time.
3rd. The thrust required to drive one vessel of a given speed and displacement,
compared with that of another of same speed and displacement, but of different
form.
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:-
1st. The combination with the propeller shaft, of a thrust bearing or block
arranged particularly as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
so as to form a fluid or floating thrust, for the purpose above specified.
2nd. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and arranged
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The herein described method of taking the thrust of propeller shafting by
the injection of oil or other fluid under pressure into one, and between two collars
provided on the said shafting substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4th. The herein described method of using oil or other fluid to take the thrust on
propeller shafting, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
5th. For a thrust bearing or block the arrangement and combination of parts
comprising the stool E the collars B and C, the recess D in the collar C, and other
devices, all constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purpose above specified.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1897.
Herbert P. Blake, M.I.N.A.,
HILP.
70 High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.