Improvements in Steam Turbines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1598-Accepted, 24th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Steam Turbines.
Wo, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, of East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Mechanical Engineer,
and ROBBRT RINTOUL SYMON, of 20 Abchurch Lane, London, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the naturo 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 that class of steam engines operated under high pressure at
rapid speed by the action of steam jets upon a revolving whool and generally known
us steam turbines, and the objects of the invention are to facilitate the reversing of
engines of that kind, to reduce the weight of the driving wheel, to automatically
regulate the flow of steam, and to secure other advantages which will be fully set
forth hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an external elevation of a steam turbine embodying the improvements:
Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the centre,
Figure 3 a part sectional view on the line .-r of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a section on line y-y of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
feathered arrow,
Figure 5, a section on the line of Figure 1
Figure 6, an onlargod transverse section of part of the engine and
Figure 7, an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the steam inlet valves.
The casing 1 has a circular body and two heads 2, 2 enclosing the chamber 8 and
the heads are formed so as to enclose two annular chambors 4, 5, the chamber 4
communicating with a series of pipes or passages 6, and the chambor 5 with a series of
intermedinte pipes or passages 7. The steam pipe 8 has branches communicating with
the two chambers 4, 5, and a two-way valvo 9, which may be turned to direct the steam
into one chamber or the other at the will of the operator.
A shaft 10 axtonds through bearings in the heads of the casing and carries a central
dise or web 11, which supports a series of blades or vanes 12 arranged in a circle so as
to constituto a driving wheel, which rotates within the circle of pipes 6, 7, and in these
pipes are made fine ports 13 and 14 respectively. These ports of the two sets of
pipes 6 and 7 are inclined in opposite directions. The steam from one set of ports will
strike the blades 12 at an angle as illustrated in Figure 6, to propel the driving
wheel 11 in one direction, while the steam from the other set of ports will strike
the opposite sides of the blades to propel the wheel in the opposite direction. It will
therefore be seen that by admitting the steam to one set or the other of the two sots
of pipes 6, 7, the driving wheel may be driven in the one direction or the other, and
the reversal of the engine will be effected without altering the position of any part
except that of the valve 9. It will be evident that the supply pipe 8 may be connected
with the pipes 6, 7, in different ways, but we prefer to make use of the intermediate
ohambers 4, 5 to permit the use of the regulating valve 9 as above described.
The blades or vanes 12 may be of any suitable form but we prefer to provide them
with faces curved and converging towards the periphery of the wheel, as shown..
In order to socure some of the advantages resulting from the expansion of tho steam,
which is used at a very high pressure in engines of this character, we arrange within
the chamber 8, the blades 15, extending from the heads 2, on opposite sides of the

page_text: web 11, and below the blades 12, in such position that as each blade 12 comes into
position to receive the impact of the jet of steam from one of the openings, the heel of
the said blade 12 will begin to pass the edge of the blade 15, so that the steam will be
directed downward over the face of the blade 12, and will then pass into contact with
the proximate face of the stationary blade 15 and tend by its reaction to facilitate the
movement of the driving wheel. The blades of 15 may be of any suitable cross section,
as shown, they correspond in form to the blades 12, but are larger.
It is desirable in this class of engines to automatically regulate the speed and power,
and to this end we provide a series of valves controlling the flow of steam to the
pipes 6, 7, with means whereby the said valves may be closed, preferably in succession
as the speed of the engine increases. Different arrangements of valves and controlling
devices may be employed, and the valves may be of different construction. As shown,
each of the said pipes has at the end, a central opening 16 (see Figure 7) to which is
adapted a plug valve 17 carried by a stem 18 which projects through a suitably
packed opening in a plug 19 adapted to an opening in the head of the casing 1, so
that by moving the stem 18 inwards or outwards the port 16 may be closed or
opened. The stems 18 may have a direct sliding motion but preferably they have
screw threaded enlargements 20 adapted to screw threaded sockets in the plug 19, so
that by rotating the spindles 18 the plugs or valves 17, may be carried to or from the
ports.
Each of the stems 18 carries a pinion 21 (see Figures 3 and 4) which gears with an
annular rack 22, so that by turning the said wheel or rack all the stems 18 may be
simultaneously turned. As it is best to cut off the flow of steam to the pipes 6, 7
successively, we so adjust the valves in the first instance, or so proportion the length
of the plugs 17, that as the rack 22 is turned, first the ports of two diametrically
opposite pipes will be closed, and then the ports of the next pair of pipes and so on,
until all are closed, and it will be seen that the continued movement of the rack will
permit this action, as after a plug 17 enters its port and closes the samo, its longitudinal
movement may be continued as the other valves are closed, which would not be the
case if the valves were so constructed as to close by being brought directly against a
seat. When the motion of the ring is reversed the valves are carried successively
from their ports. We combine with the above described devices any suitable forin of
automatic governor whereby the ring is turned in one direction or the other according
to the speed of that engine. The ring 22 controls the valves of one series of delivery
pipes so as to regulate the flow of steam when the driving wheel is rotating in one
direction, and to rogulato the flow of steam to the other series of pipes we use a like
series of valves and ports controlled by a like annular rack or ring 28; and in order
that both rings may ho operated from a singlo governor or regulating device, wo
provide the rings with external racks gearing with pinions 24, mounted on
connecting shaft 25 turning in bearings mounted on the easing 1, so that when one
ring is driven the other will move with it.
One form of governor which may be employed consists of a vibrating arm 26
pivotted on a boss 26* on one of the heads 2 of the casing 1 and carrying two spring
pawls 27, 28 engaging in opposite directions two short racks 29, 80 on the periphory
of the ring 22 and with these pawls are combined means for throwing one or the other
out of engagement with its rack. Thus an arm 31, swinging loosely on the shaft 10,
carries a curved guard 32, which may be swung between either pawl and its rack.
When thrown to the left as shown in Figure 4, the pawl 27 is thrown out of action,
but the pawl 28 engages the rack 30, so that as the arm 26 swings in the direction of
the arrow, the ring 22 will be carried in the same direction being fed one step at
ench reciprocation of the arm and pawl until the short rack passes beyond the
pawl and the latter slides on the pluin surface of the ring which will not be moved
any further, all the valves being then fully opened. If the engine should now acquire
an undue speed the guard 32 will be swung to the right between the pawl 28 and the
rack 30, and the reciprocation of the arm 26 will bring the pawl 27 into engagement
with the rack 29, until the ring 22 is turned around sufficiently to close some of the
ports, when the speed will slow down and the guard 32 will again come between the

page_text: 5
pawl 27 and rack 29. Of course in such case the pawl 28 again engages the rack 30,
and opens the ports to a certain extent; but if undue speed is gained the ports will
again be olosed in-like manner.
The pawls may be driven from any suitable source of movement connected with
the machine. As shown, a counter-shaft 33, driven slowly from the shaft 10 by
reducing gear 34, 35 carries an eccentric 36 projecting into a slot in the arm 26.
The governor consists of a heavy rimmed wheel 37 pivottod on two spokes on the
shaft 10, a spring joint 38 tending to turn it at an angle to the shaft while in pro-
portion as the shaft rotates with increased rapidity the wheel 37 tends to approach a
vertical plane. The wheel is connected by a link 39 to a sleeve 40 sliding upon the
shaft 10, and having an annular groove.receiving pins upon a fork 41 connected to a
vertical rock shaft 42 turning in a bracket 43 on a standard 44. At the lower end
of the shaft 42 is an arm 45, connected by a link 46 with the swinging arm 31 carrying
the guard 82 so that as the wheel 37 assumes a vertical position the guard 82, will bo
carried to the right.
In order to permit the rondy escape of the steam after it has acted upon the
blados 12, and to permit the use of the reaction stationary blades 15, the blades 12 are
arranged separate from each other on the diec 11, the steam passing from the blades 15
to the interior of the chamber 3, and thence through an exhaust port 47 to the
exhaust pipo 48. The exhaust pipe ought to be of such dimensions as to permit a
very froe escape of the steam. The steain is thus exhausted from the centre of the
driving wheel and withdrawn from the blades as soon as its effective force is
expended and we are thereby enabled to make the wheel lighter in construction than
the wheels heretofore in use.
It will be evident that when the engine is not required to be reversed, the
controlling devices above specified may be used in connection with a single series of
pipes and passages.
We do not limit ourselves to the precise construction and arrangements of parts
shown, as they may be varied without departing from the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination with the driving wheel of a steam turbine, of two series of
pipes or passages having steam ports opening in different directions, and means for
directing the steam to one or other series, substantially as described.
2. The combination in a steam turbine of a casing having a central chamber with
a driving wheel therein, and two series of steam delivery pipes, two chambers each
communicating with a series of steain dolivery pipes, and means for directing the
steam to one or other of the said chambers, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a casing containing a driving wheel, two sets of stoam
delivery pipes, and means for directing the steam to one or other sets of pipes, valves
controlling the flow of steam to the said steam delivery pipes, and a governor con-
trolling the positions of the said valves, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the casing, driving wheel, steam delivery pipes, valves for
controlling the flow of steam to the said pipes and means for moving the said valves
in succession substantially as described.
5. The combination of the casing, driving wheel, steam delivery pipes, valves for
controlling the flow of steam to the said pipes, and a speed governor arranged and
connected so as to adjust the said valves automatically according to the speed of the
engine, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a series of valves controlling the flow to the steam
delivery ports of a steam turbine, of a series of pinions and a ring having teeth
engaging with the said pinions and a governor and connections for moving the said
ring, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the casing, driving wheel, steam delivery pipes and plug
valves adapted to the ports leading to the said pipes and means for moving the said

page_text: valves automatically into and out of the said ports in order to close and open the same
in succession, substantially as described:
8. The combination with the controlling valves of a steam turbine, of a. ring for
shifting all the valves, racks connected with the said ring; reciprocoating, pawls
engaging with the said' racks, moans for throwing the pawls into and out of
engagement with the said racks, and a governor controlling said means, substantially
as described.
9. The combination with the casing and steam delivery pipes of a steam. turbine,
of a driving wheel provided with a series of separate blades 12; substantially as
.described.
10. A steam turbine provided with a driving wheel open at the centre to receive
the exhaust steam, and with an exhaust port communicating with the centre of the
casing, substantially as described.
11. The combination with the casing, and steam delivery pipes of a steam turbine,
of a driving wheel having a series of separated blades 12 and a series of. stationary
blades 15, substantially as described.
Dated this: 23rd day of April 1896.
H. A. HOUSE; SENR.,
R. R. SYMON,
Per W. H., Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.