Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 26th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows :—
My Invention comprises certain improvements in the constructive arrangement and
combination of the cylinders of triple and quadruple expansive marine steam engines,
(or it might be higher expansion with more than four cylinders), and of many of the
working parts of such engines for obtaining the full advantages of these improvements.
The object of my invention is to give greater compactness and strength to, and lessen
the number of, the main working parts, while lightening and simplifying the
construction and action of other parts, as hereinafter described.
The nature and novelty of my invention consist all as follows:-First, in placing
two of the set of cylinders alongside of each other transversely, so that their piston-
rods shall be connected to one crosshead, having one connecting-rod in the centre
working on one single or double crank. For quadruple cylinders, or for higher
expansions, iwo pairs of the cylinders can thus he connected to work on two double-
throw cranks. For triple cylinders and expansion and double-throw cranks, the first
and intermediate pressure expansion cylinders, would be placed alongside and
connected to work one crank, and the low-pressure cylinder placed centrally over the
other crank either forward or aft of the other cylinders as arranged. For quadruple
cylinders and expansion with triple-throw cranks, the third and fourth cylinders may
be placed in centre line, each over a crank of its own, either or both cylinders being
set forward or aft of the first and second pressure cylinders, placed alongside of each
other as before stated, working one crank.
These improved arrangements or dispositions of the cylinders enable the higher
expansions to be got with fewer connecting rods and cranks, and admit of the cylinders
being placed much closer together with the journals and their bush bearings closer up
to the cranks, thus giving greater strength and steadiness with less risk of breakage.
Room, however, would be left between the cranks or other parts of the crank shaft
for securing the large screw wheel for turning it by hand when the engines were
not working

page_text: Although the cylinders have been described as ranged vertically over the crank
shaft, set longitudinally or "fore" and "aft," suitable for driving screw propellers, it
is to be understood that they could be ranged in like manner under their cranks on a
transverse shaft or "athwart ships" for driving paddle wheels, or horizontally or at
any desired angles as arranged to such crank shafts.
In marine engines of triple, quadruple, or higher expansions, I, by a further
improvement place one high-pressure cylinder over the top of the other, and in this
case I arrange for the bottom of the one cylinder to form the cover of the other, using
metallic or other packing for the joint piston rod of the two cylinders thus obviating
the necessity of two stuffing-boxes. This metallic packing may either be screwed up
by long lateral screw spindles from the outside projecting out through the cylinder
bottom, or may use a special automatic expanding packing, with a thin hollow
cylinder of metal round the piston rod and an annular ring round the hole through
the end of the cylinder, both expanding rings being attached by a web, so that both
rings may be expanded by the pressure of steam within the cylinder, and thus keep
this packing automatically steam tight. These rings might be corrugated on their
inner surfaces exposed to the pressure of steam, which would assist their expansion,
and when made in the form of a cup for containing oil or other lubricant.
To carry these improvements further and save the space on the crank shaft usually
taken up by the large eccentrics necessary to work the valves of so many cylinders,
I use an intermediate light shaft with small eccentrics on it for this purpose. This
eccentric shaft is driven by the crank shaft and at the same speed by tooth wheel or
other gearing, or it may be by small cranks or eccentrics at different angles on the
overhung ends of both shafts; while a single eccentric would preferably be mounted
loose for working the steam valve of each cylinder, or the valves of pairs of cylinders
where these were connected to one crank, and have loose swivelling sleeves or other
ordinary sliding or friction clutch or hand gear used for reversing the loose
eccentrics of such valves. .
By another arrangement of the eccentrics, they may be cast together or separately
and left loose on the crank or intermediate shaft and driven by a stopper on said shaft:
the reversing motion being accomplished by means of friction applied to turn the
eccentric or eccentrics when the engine is at rest, and the steam valves being wrought
direct from the eccentrics or through an intermediate rocking lever shaft and rods.

page_text: Improvements in Marine Steam Engines.
I, CHARLES HENDERSON, of 9 York Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing, reference being had to the accompanying. Sheets of Drawings, and to the
letters anil figures marked thereon, that is to say-
My Invention comprises certain improvements in the constructive arrangements
and combination of the cylinders of quadruple expansive marine steam engines, or it
might be higher expansion with more than four cylinders.
The object of my invention is to give greater compactness, and to lessen the number
of the main working parts, thereby reducing the first cost, friction, and up keep of
the engines.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
two Sheets of explanatory Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 on
Sheet show a longitudinal elevation and plan respectively, and Figure 3, an end
view, all of one arrangement of quadruple cylinder expansive screw propeller marine
steam engines of the vertical upright inverted type, having the four cylinders A, B, C, D,
ranged over the crank shaft E, as will hereinafter he more particularly explained.
In this arrangement the surface condenser F is ranged longitudinally over the one
side of the bed-plate E', and forms the framing F₁ on one side for supporting the
cylinders, with upright hollow box standards or frames G on the other side, and
which carry the slide guides H inside, of the crossheads I to which the upper ends of
the connecting rods are coupled, having their lower ends connected to the
respective cranks J'. The air and circulating pumps and other pumps F are carried
on the lower frame E beyond the surface condenser F opposite or in line with the
centre of the large or low pressure cylinder D, so as to be worked with double beam
levers K, from the cross head I of that cylinder D, and on a rocking shaft K¹
mounted in bearings in the frame over the surface condenser F, these levers K and
the connecting rods J being only indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3. Figures 4
and 5 on Sheet 2, show a longitudinal elevation and plan respectively, and Figure 6, an
end view, all of another arrangement of quadruple cylinder expansive screw propeller
marine steam engines of the vertical upright inverted type, having the four
cylinders A, B, C, D, ranged over the crank shaft E. In this arrangement the

page_text: surface condenser F, is ranged transversely or athwart-ships over the lower bed-
frame E¹ and crank shaft E, and made to support that end of the cylinder and the
slide guides H of the crosshead I of the large or low pressure cylinder D the
pumps being mounted on opposite sides of the guides H over the bedplate E¹, so
as to be worked by the crosshead 1' of the large cylinder D.
Referring to these Drawings the nature and novelty of my invention consist all as
follows. First, in placing two of the set of cylinders, preferably the two smallest, or
first and second high pressure cylinders A and B, alongside of each other transversely,
so that their piston-rods A and B shall be connected to one crosshead I working in the
slide guides Has seen particularly in Figures 3 and 6, the crosshead I being actuated by
one connecting rod J working on a double crank J, (or it might be a single crank).
For quadruple cylinders or for higher expansions, two pairs of cylinders that is the
first and second, and third and fourth, could thus be connected parallel and transversely,
cach pair working through one cross-head and one crank of their own, thus obtaining
quadruple expansive engines within the minimum of longitudinal space, with an
arrangement of two cranks.
For quadruple cylinders and expansion with triple throw cranks, the third and
fourth cylinders C and D would be placed in centre line with the crank-shaft E, each
over a crank J, of its own, either or both cylinders C or 1 being set forward or aft
of the first and second pressure cylinders A and B placed alongside of each other as
before stated, working one crank, as shown in these Figures 1 to 6.
The steam from the boiler would enter the branch a¹ of the valve casing a of the
first high pressure cylinder A, and from this cylinder the exhaust stean would expand
into the jacket surrounding it, and the valve casing of the second cylinder B and
from the exhaust jacket of this cylinder B, into the valve casing of the third
cylinder C and from the exhaust jacket of this cylinder into the valve casing d of
the large or low pressure cylinder D, from which it would exhaust into and pass down
through the exhaust belt and box framing F, surrounding and supporting this
cylinder D over and down into the upper part of the surface condenser F; which in
the case of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, is ranged longitudinally as before described, and
in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, transversely at the stern, or it might be the fore-end of the
large low pressure cylinder D. The two rods a², 72 of the slide or steam valves of the
first and second cylinders A, B, pass down through stuffing boxes a³, 13 in the bottom
of their casing a, b, and are connected to one crosshead e, which may be guided by a
central rod and guide bush for the purpose in the bottom framing of the
cylinders A, B. The crosshead e has an oscillating slide block ƒ in the centre, for
receiving the slide segmental reversing links actuated by eccentric rods g' connected
to their eccentrics y on the crank-shaft E below. The valves in the casing c, d, and of
the cylinders C and D are each worked by one valve rod c, d, in the centre, passed
down through a stuffing box c, d, and connected to slide blocks and reversing
links and eccentric rods. ' and eccentrics on the crank-shaft E below, as
particularly seen in Figures 1 and 4. Although the valve casings c, d, are, shown as
arranged transversely between the cylinders C, D, in line with the crank shaft E for
the purpose of having their rods gworked by eccentrics direct: from the crank
shaft E, it will be understood that these casings c, d, and valves could be ranged in
longitudinal line to one side of the cylinders, and be worked by eccentrics on a second
valve motion shaft in line with them for the purpose, driven at a uniform speed from
the crankshaft or other valve gearing such as those worked by levers from the
connecting-rods or crossheads might be used.
Although the cylinders A, B, and C, D, have been described as ranged vertically
over the crank shaft E, set longitudinally, or fore and aft, suitable for driving. screw
propellers, it is to be understood that they can be ranged in like manner; under their
cranks. J on a transverse shaft or "athwartships for driving-paddle wheels, or
horizontally, or at any desired angles, to suclr crank shafts E either ranged
longitudinally or transversely.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I have to state that since lodging
my Provisional Specification I have learned that there are several of the parts therein
described, not new and I disclaim all such and have left them out of this Specification;
but what I now consider novel and original and claim are :-
First. The arrangement of quadruple or higher expansive marine steam engines,
having their four or more cylinders ranged in relation to their crank shafts (and
condensers) substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. A quadruple or higher expansion Engines, the arranging of one pair of
cylinders transversely to have their piston-rods worked by one crosshead, connecting
rod and crank, having the other cylinders in longitudinal line with their crankshafts
on either side of the transverse pair of cylinders, each worked by a crosshead,
connecting rod and crank of their own, substantially as herein described, in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In quadruple or higher expansion engines the arranging of the cylinders in
one, two, or more pairs transversely to their crank-shafts having their piston rods of
each pair worked by one crosshead and one crank respectively, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.