mprovements in the Engines for Propelling Ships of War, being also applicable to Ships of Commerce.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1892-Accepted, 26th Aug. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in the Engines for Propelling Ships of War, being
also applicable to Ships of Commerce.
ROBERT BRUCE SMITH 44 Seymour Street Higher Tranmere Birkenhead
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention has for its object to enable the engines for propelling ships of
var and others, to be worked at low powers; and still maintain the proper economy
due to the expansive working of high pressure steam.
In carrying out my invention 1 cause a valve or its equivalent to be fitted to each
of the cylinders of the propelling engines to close the upper steam ports throngh
which the steam is admitted, to the upper sides of their respective pistons, and
thereby cause the steam to work on the under sides of the said pistons only; this
valve may be fitted in various ways, for example a valve may be fitted to turn
round on the outside of the piston valve liner to close the steam ports in it, or the
valve face on the cylinder may be made to screw up and down to completely close
the top port in it, and leaving the lower port open, and other methods might be
quoted; but preferably I cast a pocket or pockets in each of the cylinder covers of
the engines, immediately above the admission steam ports at the upper end of the
cylinders, into which pockets these valves will be fitted, and be made to screw up to
open the top steam ports, and to screw down to shut said steam ports, so as to
prevent the admission of the steam to the upper sides of the pistons of the various
cylinders, all to be done by means of screws, the lower ends of which attached to
the valves, and the upper ends passing through stuffing boxes constructed in the
tops of the pockets, and which through suitable gearing will be worked from the
starting platform at the convenience of the attending engineer if so desired.
The main slide valve gear of the engines being undisturbed, the slide valves will
now admit steam to the under or crank side of the cylinders only, which will have
the effect of lifting the moving weights, and of throwing all the strain on the upper
portions of the main crank shaft bearings, and thus preserve unworn the under
bushes of these bearings; then since the steam operates on the under sides of the
pistons only the power or energy of the engines will be reduced by one half the
power they were before; but as the boilers are delivering the steam to the engines
at their normal working pressure, the proper economy due to the expansive working
of the high pressure steam will still be maintained.
By another modification of my invention these aforesaid valves could be fitted to
the bottoms of the cylinders, and be made to close the lower ports, in which case
the steam would operate on the upper sides of the pistons only, but the strain would
all be on the under bushes of the main bearings, which would wear uniformly, and
also the leakage of steam through the piston rod stuffing boxes would not occur,
and if it were thought that this arrangement would be the more economical then
my invention could be carried out in this way.
Further by another modification one of these valves or their equivalents, could
be fitted to the top of two of the cylinders, and to the bottoms of the others--or
other, or rice versa, or one only may be fitted to the low pressure cylinder, or
cylinders, either at the top or bottom, as the requirements to suit the steam pressure
demanded.
3 shi. Toonts cocond dex of October 1909,
ROBERT BRUCE SMITH,
Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Engines for Propelling Ships of War, being
also applicable to Ships of Commerce.
I, ROBERT BRUCE SMITH of 44 Seymour Street, Higher Tranmere, in Cheshire,
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 :-
My said invention has for its object to enable the engines for propelling ships of
war, and others; to be worked at low powers; and still maintain the proper
economy due to the expansive working of high pressure steam.
In carrying out my invention I cause a valve or its equivalent to be fitted to each
of the cylinders of the propelling engines to close the upper steam ports through
which the steam is admitted to the upper sides of their respective pistons, and
thereby cause the steam to work on the under-sides of the said pistons only: this
valve may be fitted in various ways, for example a valve may be fitted to turn
round on the outside of the piston valve liner to close the steam ports in it, or the
valve face on the cylinder may be made to screw up, and down, to completely close
the top port in it, and leaving the lower port open, and other methods might be
quoted; but preferably I cast a pocket or pockets in each of the cylinder covers of
the engines immediately above the admission steam ports at the upper end of the
cylinders, into which pockets these valves will be fitted, and be made to screw up
to ope. The top steam ports, and to screw down to shut said steam ports, so as to
prevent the admission of the steam to the upper sides of the pistons of the various
cylinders these screws may be placed anywhere suitable between the starting
platform of the engines and the cylinder cover, but arranged so as to be worked
from the starting platform at the convenience of the attending engineer if so
desired.
The main slide valve gear of the engines being undisturbed, the slide valves will
now admit steam to the under or crank side of the cylinders only, which will have
the effect of lifting the moving weights, and of throwing all the strain on the upper
portions of the main crank shaft bearings, and thus preserve unworn the under
bushes of these bearings: then since the steam operates on the under sides of the
pistons only, the power or energy of the engines will be reduced by one half the
power they were before, (in this statement indicated horse power is not meant) but
as the boilers are delivering the steam to the engines at their normal working
pressure, the proper economy due to the expansive working of the high pressure
steam will still be maintained.
By another modification of my invention these aforesaid valves could be fitted to
the bottoms of the cylinders, and be made to close the lower ports, in which case
the steam would operate on the upper sides of the pistons only; but the strain
would all be on the under bushes of the main bearings, which would wear uniformly,
and also the leakage of steam through the piston rod stuffing boxes would not
occur; and if it were thought that this arrangement would be the more economical
then my invention could be carried out in this way. Further, by another modifi-
cation one of these valves or their equivalents, could be fitted to the top of two of
the cylinders, and to the bottoms of the others or other, or cice versa, or one only
may be fitted to the low pressure cylinder, or cylinders, either at the top or bottom,
as the requirements to suit the steam pressure demanded.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention
Fig. 1. is an elevation in diametral section of a steam cylinder, (upper end only)
cylinder cover, steam port or passage, and the closing or shut off valve for same;
Fig. 11. shews three parts external plan of cylinder cover, and one part sectional
through cylinder cover, steam port, or passage, and the closing or shut off valve.

page_text: In both of the figures the same numbers relate to the same parts.
1 is the upper
end of steam cylinder, 2, is the larger part of the cylinder cover; 3, is the other
part, 2, and 3, bolted together, steam tight, form the complete cover, and in the
plane of the joint of the two parts is formed a pocket 4, into which the closing or
shut off valve 5, is moved, when it is not required to shut off the steam from that
end of the cylinder. 8. are spindles by which the valve is opened and shut, these
pass through stuffing boxes in the cover, and are moved upwards, or downwards by
gear, which may be led to the engine-room starting platform; 6, is the port or
passage leading the steam from the main slide valve to the cylinder 7 is the same
port where it cuts through the cylinder cover; 9, are ribs in 3. the small part of
the cover, and are angled to form with 10, (the face of the valve) a vee shape, the
purpose of which is, to force the valve against its face, as it is being moved down
to shut off the steam from that end of the cylinder, and aid in keeping it steam
tight. In Fig. 2. the form of closing or shut off valve on plan is drawn circular,
but if desired it may be made straight as closing valve 5, in Fig. 4.
:
Fig. 3. (Sheet 2) is an elevation in diametral section of a steam cylinder, (upper
end only), cylinder cover, steam port or passage, and the closing or shut off valve
for same; Fig. 4. is three parts external plan of cylinder cover, and one part
sectional through cylinder cover, steam port or passage, and the closing or shut off
valve.
In both the figures the same numbers relate to the same parts.
1, is the upper
end of steam cylinder, 2, is the larger part of the cylinder cover, 3, is the other
part, 2, and 3, bolted together, steam tight, form the complete cover, and in the
sume plane as the joint, is the face of the closing or shut off valve; (in Fig. 4. this
face is shewn straight, but it may be made curved as in Fig. 2). Pocket 4. in 3. is
made deep enough to permit the closing or shut off valve 5, to be moved back from
the face by means of the spindles 8. 8. 8. which are attached to the valve, and by
which it is opened and shut, these pass through stuffing boxes in the cover, and
are moved to and from the face by gear, which may be led to the engine-room
starting platform. 6, is the port or passage leading the steam from the main slide
valve to the cylinder. 7 is the same port where it cuts through the cylinder cover.
9. are ribs in 3. the smaller part of the cover, and are machined on the edge next
the valve so as to act as guides thereto, when it is being moved to and from the
face. 10, is the valve face.
Figures 5. 6. & 7. (Sheet 3) are elevations in diametral section of steam cylinders
(upper portion only), cylinders covers, steam ports, or passages, and the closing or
shut off valves for same. The same numbers relate to the same parts in each.
1, are the upper ends of steam cylinders, 2, are the larger parts of the cylinder
covers, 3, the other smaller parts, 2, and 3, bolted together steam tight form the
complete covers. 4, are pockets for moving the closing or shut off valves into, when
they are not required to shut off the steam from the ends of the steam cylinders.
5, are the closing or shut off valves, 8, are the spindles by which the valves are
opened and shut, and which pass through stuffing boxes in the cover, and are moved
by gear, which may be led to the engine-room starting platform. 6, are the ports,
or passages, leading the steam from the main slide valves to the steam cylinders,
7, are the same ports where they cut through the cylinder covers. In Figures 5
and 6, 9, are wypers which attach spindles 8, to the closing, or shut off valves 5.
10, in Figures 5. 6. and 7. are the valve faces.
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 combination of a cylinder and cover, with a port closing valve, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes described & illustrated.
(2.) In combination with a cylinder and cover, a port closing valve of the types
or their equivalents as shown in Figures 1. 3. 5. 6. and 7. substantially as, and for
the
è purposes described and illustrated.

page_text: (3.) When the port closing valve is shut it might be desirable in some cases to
open the end of the cylinder shut off from steam to the atmosphere, or to the
condenser, in such cases, in combination with a steam cylinder and cover, capable
of being opened to the atmosphere, or to the condenser, a port closing valve,
substantially as, and for the purposes described and illustrated.
(4.) When the port closing valve is shut, it might be desirable in some cases, to
use the end of the cylinder shut off from steam to draw air heated by the waste
gases of the boilers, and deliver the same to the boiler furnaces, in such cases. In
combination with a cylinder and cover, arranged to draw air heated by the waste
gases of the boilers, and delivering same to the boiler furnaces. A port closing
valve, substantially as, and for the purposes described, and illustrated.
*
(5.) As these port closing valves could be used to prevent engines from racing,
by attaching to them a simple mechanism moved by any governor or governing
medium. In such an application, in combination with a cylinder and cover, port
closing valve and an arrangement for moving same to prevent an engine, or engines
from racing. The port closing valve substantially as, and for the purposes described
and illustrated.
(6.) The application of the port closing valve to any end, or to both ends of a
cylinder, substantially as, and for the purposes described and illustrated.
(7.) The application of the port closing valves to the cylinders, or cylinder of
the modern triple, or quadruple expansion or compound marine steam engine, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes described and illustrated.
(8.) In cases of engines for electric lighting, in ships, or otherwise, where from
one engine, small power is required during the day, and a large amount of power
during the night-in such cases-the application of the port closing valve to any end
of the cylinders of those engines, substantially as, and for the purposes described,
and illustrated.
(9.) The closing of any end of a steam cylinder by means of a moving loose face,
on the main slide valve face, or by means of a closing valve to turn round on the
outside of the piston valve liner, or any other equivalent method, substantially to
effect the purposes described and illustrated.
Dated this Twenty-first day of July 1893
ROBERT BRUCE SMITH,
Applicant.