Improvements in Marine Engine Controllers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Marine Engine Controllers.
I, JAMES SAUNDERS GIBBONS, of Wynyard Road, Auckland, New Zealand,
Miller and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in marine engine controllers and the
object is to provide means whereby the racing of the engines and the dangers
attendant thereon may be avoided. To this end I proceed in or in about the fol-
lowing manner. Upstanding in the vessel and preferably near the stern post I
provide a vertical (or more or less so) pipe or tube, the lower end of which com-
municates directly, by side pipes, or in any other suitable manner with the water
in which the vessel floats. This vertical tube or pipe may or may not be closed
or closeable at its upper end. Within the said tube is a float to which is attached
a rack, chain or other means whereby is operated when the float rises or falls a
system of toothed wheels and bell crank or other levers of any suitable kind
attached to the starting and shutting off arrangements in connection with the
engine. I so arrange the various parts that when the stern of the vessel is lifted
in, or out of, the water the float will fall and operate the wheels and levers so as
When on the
to shut off or reduce the supply of steam or other motive power.
other hand the steam falls again into or below its normal position the float will
rise and operate in the opposite direction the wheels and levers so that the supply
of the motive power is again brought into use to operate the engines. Thus is
provided an automatic controller whereby whatever may be the position of the
stern of the vessel and however much that position may vary a corresponding
starting regulating or stopping of the engines will be brought about.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1899.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, E.C., Agents..
Improvements in marine Engine Contro
I, JAMES SAUNDERS GIBBONS, formerly of Wynyard Road, but now of Mount
Eden, both in Auckland, New Zealand, Miller and 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 relates to improvements in marine engine controllers whereby
the racing of the engines and the consequent dangers may be avoided. In or on .
the vessel and preferably near the stern I provide a vertical or more or less so

page_text: pipe tube well or equivalent, the lower end of which communicates directly by
side pipes or in any other suitable manner with the water in which the vessel
floats. This tube pipe or equivalent may or may not be closed or closable at its
upper end. Within the said tube is a float to which is attached a rack, chain or
other means whereby is operated a system of toothed wheels and bell crank levers
or other means of any suitable kind attached to the starting and shutting off
arrangements in connection with the engine.it
'
To further explain my invention I make reference to the accompanying draw-
ing which shows in Fig. 1 a sectional end view and in Fig. 2a sectional side
view of how my invention may be put in practice when a chain is employed for
causing the movement of the float to operate the gear for regulating the admission
of steam to the engine. As already mentioned however any other suitable means
may be substituted for the chain as means for transmitting movement from the
float to the regulating gear. Referring to the drawing a represents the tube or
well in communication at its lower end and below the float b with the water in
which the vessel floats. The float is connected with a chain c running over the
suitably supported sprocket wheel d and the plain pulley d. The axle of the
sprocket wheel d carries the pinion e which gears with a spur wheel f the rota-
tion of which operates by suitable means the starting and shutting-off arrange-
ments. One way of effecting this would be by a crank g on the shaft of the
wheel the said crank operating the connecting rod h which in turn gives the
necessary motion to the regulating gear. I prefer to attach the pulley d to a
rod by which it can be withdrawn from the well a, bolts: jbeing provided to
keep it in place when in the said well. I also prefer that the rod i should slide
in a groove in the well a and that the block carrying the pulley d should rest in
a V shaped seat to prevent it sticking.
In assembling the various parts together I so arrange that when the stern of the
vessel is lifted in or out of the water the float 6 will fall and through the chain c
cause the wheel & and pinion e to operate the gearing f. g, h, so as to shut off
and reduce the supply of steam or other motive power. When, on the other hand
the stern falls again into or below its normal position the float will rise and
operate in the opposite direction the wheel d and the gearing f, g, h, so that the
supply of the motive power is again brought into use. In this manner is pro-
vided an automatic controller whereby whatever may be the position of the
stern of the vessel and however much that position may vary a corresponding
starting, regulating or stopping of the engines will be brought about. If desired
more than one well a, float b and the other co-acting parts of the arrangements
may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The method of controlling the speed of marine engines by the action of a
float free to rise and fall within a vertical or more or less so tube well or equi-
valent provided on or in the vessel, the said well tube or equivalent having its
lower end in communication with the water in which floats the vessel, substan-
tially as described in the above specification.
2. For controlling the speed of marine engines by the method claimed in the
above Claim 1, the combination of a tube well or equivalent on or in the vessel,
having its lower end in communication with the water in which the vessel floats:
a float free to slide up and down in the said tube, well or equivalent: a chain
connected with the said float and forming therewith an endless combination;
a sprocket wheel and a pulley for the said chain to run over: means for raising
the pulley as and when required and means for transmitting the movements of
the said float chain wheel and pulley to a suitable arrangement for operating
the starting and stopping mechanism of the engines, substantially as described
in the above specification and exemplified by the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 3. For controlling the speed of marine engines by the method claimed in the
above Claim 1, the combination of a tube well or equivalent on or in the vessel,
having its lower end in communication with the water in which floats the vessel:
a float free to ride up and down in the said tube well or equivalent: and means
for communicating the movements of the said float to co-acting parts whereby is
regulated or shut off the supply of steam or other motive power to the engines,
substantially as described in the above specification.
4. Modifications of the method and means for controlling marine engines
claimed in the above Claims 1, 2 and 3, whereby more than one tube, well, or
equivalent and more than one float and co-acting parts are employed substan-
tially as described.
Dated this 11th day of August 1900.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents.