IMPROVEMENTS IN APARATUS FOR OBTAINING, AND REGULATING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howden and Alexander Morton, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for the Inventiou
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APARATUS FOR OBTAINING, AND REGULATING MOTIVE
POWER,"
Sealed the 15th September 1859, and dated the 19th March 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howden and
Alexander Morton at the Office of the Commissioniers of Patents, with
thoir Petition, on the 19th March 1859.
We, JAMES HOWDEN and ALEXANDER MORTON, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND REGULATING
MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This lavention relates to various improvements in the arrangement and
construction of the parts of steam engines and boilers,and to certain improved
contrivances for regulating the action of such motive power apparatus.
'A modification of engine embodying a portion of the improvements com-
prises three cylinders, one of which receives steam direct from the boiler,
whilst the other two alternately receive the steam from the first. - 'These three
cylinders are so arranged or so connected to the crank shaft as that their
respective strokes commence at periods about one-third of, the revolution
distant from each other; thus they may be placed in a lue above, below, or
to one side of the shaft, their pistons being connected to separate cranks, or
they inay be placed so that their pistons may all be connected to one crank,

page_text: such crank being either a common crank or an oblique or Z-crank. The piston
of the first or high-pressure cylinder has an equal or nearly equal effective arca
on opposite sides, whilst the pistons of the two low-pressure cylinders have
unequal effective areas on their opposite sides. The high-pressure cylinder
receives steam direct from the boiler during a part of its stroke, and the steam
finds egress thence through a port into a valve chest, whence it enters what
may be termed the small end of one of the low-pressure cylinders. The same
steam subsequently acts in the larger end of the low-pressure cylinder, and
finally escapes to the condenser or atmosphere. The steam entering the high-
pressure cylinder during its return stroke acts in a similar way in the other
low-pressure cylinder; it is preferred to proportion the parts so as to obtain
as uniform a rotative action on the crank as is possible. This class of engine
may be modified in various ways; thus the two low-pressure cylinders may be
connected to diametrically opposite cranks, the high-pressure cylinder acting
upon a crank at right angles to these two cranks; or the cylinders may be
otherwise connected to the shaft to obtain an equivalent result, the working of
the valves being modified to suit. In another modification the low-pressure
pistons receive steam on both sides from one or from two high-pressure
cylinders.
In a modification of engine constructed according to this Invention for
working on the double cylinder expansion system, the high-pressure cylinder
is placed against the cover of the low-pressure cylinder,the pistons of the two
being connected by a rod passing through an intermediate stuffing box. Two
piston rods pass from the low-pressure piston through stuffing boxes at each
side of the high-pressure cylinder,and have attached to their ends slide blocks
working in guides formed on the sides of the high-pressure cylinder, whilst a
forked or double connecting rod is jointed to thema and passes to the crank
shaft. This design admits of the introduction of a high-pressure cylinder
without occupying greater space than is ordinarily required without it.
In several arrangements of engines embodying some of the improvements
comprehended in this Invention cylinders are used, having each a trunk of
considerable size on one side of the piston, the effective area on this side being
much less than on the opposite side. The steam direct from the boiler acts
first on the reduced piston area, and is then transferred to the larger area on
the opposite side. Two or more of these cylinders are arranged vertically
above or below the shaft, their pistons being connected to separate cranks, or
they may be connected to a single crank,the cylinders being placed in positions
radiating therefrom in directions inclined to each other; or again, the
cylinders may be placed parallel to the shaft, as in the Z-crank engine.

page_text: An improvement applicable to all single trunk engines consists in holding
the connecting rod end in the bottom of the trunk by means of a rod or bolt
passing through a tube which works through a stuffing box in the cylinder
cover opposite to the trunk. This bolt or rod can be adjusted externally with
the greatest facility, whilst the tube in which it lies acts as a guide to the
piston. In the case of double trunk engines the bolt or rod is similarly
extended to the outer end of the back trunk to obtain facility of adjustment.
A second improvement in trunk engines consists in forming the trunk or
trunks with casings, to receive steam direct from the boiler; the piston may
also be formed with external steam spaces in connection with the trunk
casings.
A third improvement in trunk engines consists in placing in the trunk stuffing
box a ring of brass, iron, or other suitable material, having a flange portion
and a cylindrical portion, the latter portion having longitudinal or diagonal
slits to give it elasticity whilst it tightly embraces the trunk. The steam has
access to the outside of the cylindrical portion of the ring, and aids in keeping
it in close contact with the trunk like a cup leather. Packing of the ordinary
kind
may be applied outside the flange of the ring. A packing ring of the
kind just described may be applied to the stuffing boxes of ordinary piston
and other rods.
An improved piston constructed according to this Invention consists of a
couple of brass or iron discs, formed with cylindrical rims or flanges extending
in opposite directions. The cylindrical rims or flanges are slit longitudinally
or diagonally, and being constructed so as to give the segments a tendency to
bear against the inside of the cylinder, the pressure of the steam inside them
assists in keeping them tight. A single disc with double flanges may be made
to answer the same purpose, or the cylindrical rim may be entirely detached
from the body of the piston; in other words, the piston may be packed with
a thin cylindrical rim, and in this case the longitudinal or diagonal slits may
be made alternately from opposite sides, and may be extended beyond the half
width, to prevent steam passing through the slits, and inside the rim gasket
may be introduced behind the ring, or a second ring may be fitted within the
first in such a position that the slits of the two break joint.
An improvement in steam engine valves, comprehended in this Invention,
consists in forming the slide with an internal steam space, which receives
steam from the steam pipe through a port or ports in the cylinder port face,
and distributes it to the cylinder ports as required. The slide is covered by a
casing as usual.
A second improvement in steam enginevalves and ports consists in disposing

page_text: them in a trunk formed inside the cylinder. It is preferred to make the
trunk cylindrical and to use "piston valves."
A portion of the improvements comprehended in this Invention relates to
the treatment of the steam by means of which the motive power is developed.
One of such improvements consists in introducing superheated steam,air,or
gas into jackets or spaces contiguous to the spaces through which theworking
steam passes or in which the working steam acts,the object being to maintain
theworking steam in a sufficiently heated condition. The spaces for the super-
heated steam, air, or gas may be applied to the steam pipe, to the valve
casing, to the cylinder, to the cylinder ends, to the piston, and to the piston rod,
rods, trunk or trunks, or to any of these parts. Instead of superheated steam,
the fire gases from the boiler furnace may be introduced into such of the
spaces just indicated as may be conveniently arranged therefor, as, for
example, into the space round the steam pipe.
Another improvement consists in inserting a mass of permeable material,
such as wire gauze, in a passage or chamber through which the steam passes
from the cylinder to the condenser, the object being partly to reduce the
amount of heat to be abstracted by the coudenser and partly to prevent the
excessive cooling of the cylinder during the exhaust.
Another
improvementconsistsinformingasurfacecondenseror a refrigerator
for colling water to be used in the condenser, with tubes bent so that the ends
by which each tube is fixed both lie in the same direction. In the case of a
refrigerator for marine engines the condensing water may be cooled by currents
of sea water made to pass by pumping or otherwise along the outsides of the
tubes in the contrary direction to the flow of the condensing water through
the tubes, or vice versa. In the case of screw steamers the cooling currents
may be obtained or accelerated by the sucking action of the propeller, such
currents passing from the refrigerator to the stern through a passage or
passages opening immediately in front of the propeller and near its centre.
5-
In a modification of boiler for generating steam for motive power purposes
according to this Invention there is a series of annular cylindrical water
spaces formed by the concentric arrangement of a number of cylinders, the
spaces between which are alternately occupied by the water or steam and the
fire gases, the water spaces being in communication with each other. The
water spaces are crossed by stays, by which great strength is imparted to the
boiler. In one simple and convenient arrangement the cylindrical spaces are
disposed horizontally, and the fire gases first pass back between the outer
water space and the next inner one, they then return between the latter water
space and a still more central one, and next proceed back again through the

page_text: centre space.
inside this third water space. finally returning round the outer
shell. By suitable partitions the fire gases may be made to pass spirally round
between the water spaces.
In another modification of boiler an outer annular cylindrical water space
contains within it a number of annular water spaces formed each by a couple
of coucentric tubes. The fire gases pass through the centres of these tubular
water spaces and througha spiral flue encompassing the outer water space, or
vice versa, whilst the space surrounding the tubular water spaces forms a
steam space, and communicates with the steam dome. The space within the
outer cylindrical water space may be entirely asteam space, with the exception
of a flue or flues for superheating the steam; or superheating flues as well as
tubular water spaces may be introduced. The furnace may be arranged in a
brickwork casing outside the boiler.
To strengthen cylindrical boiler flues, it is by this Invention proposed 'to
insert rings internally in segments, provision being made for wedging them out
to fit the flue. With the same object, a ring in two or more segments is
applied externally,provision being made for contracting ittightly upon the flue.
Similarly, external rings may be applied to boiler shells to strengthen them.
The improvements comprehended in this Invention, which relate to the
regulation of motive power apparatus,are more particularly designed for screw
propeller engines.
One improvement consists in introducing a spring ata couplingin the length
of the propeller shaft.such spring being compressible by the longitudinal thrust
of the propeller. The portion of the shaft on which the propeller is fixed is
capable of a slight longitudinal movement, and is connected with the throttle
valve of the engine in such a way that when the thrust decreases from any
cause (such as the elevation of the propeller out of the water caused by the
pitching of the ship), the consequent movement due to the reaction of the
spring will cause the throttle valve to close, and so reduce the supply of steam
to the engine.
Another improvement consists in a mode of obtaining a similar regulating
action from the torsional resisting strain of the propeller shaft. In this case a
short coupling piece is introduced in the longth of the propeller shaft, this
piece being capable of moving longitudinally against a spring carried by the
engine portion of the shaft. The propeller portion of the shaft is connected to
the coupling piece by inclined or helical grooves and feathers, so that a
torsional strain transmitted through the line of shafting tends to produce a
longitudinal movement of the coupling piece. The coupling piece is connected
to the throttle valve of the engine, and the action of the apparatus is'similar

page_text: to that of the modification previously described. The modification last
described is applicable to all motive power apparatus. Both arrangements
possess a certain amount of regulating or relieving power independently of the
connection with the throttle valve, which connection may in some cases be
dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Howden and Alexander Morton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
HOWDEN and ALEXANDER MORTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said James Howden and Alexander Morton, Her special liceuce that we,
the said James Howden and Alexander Morton, our executors,administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Howden and Alexander
Morton, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, (xercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND REGULATING MOTIVE POWER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said James Howden and Alexander Morton,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
one of our or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what mauner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar mouths next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Howden and Alexander Morton,
do hereby declare the nature of our said 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
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: Our said Invention relates to various improvements in the arrangement and
construction of the parts of steam engines and boilers, and to certain improved
contrivances for regulating the action of such motive power apparatus. And
in particularly describing our said Invention, we shall refer as we proceed to
the two accompanying Sheets of explanatory Drawings, premising that the
same reference letters mark the same or like parts in all the Figures in
which they occur.
A modification of engine embodying a portion of our improvements com.
prises threecylinders, one of which receives steam direct from the boiler, whilst
the other two alternately receive steam from the first. According to one plan,
these three cylinders are so arranged or so connected to the crank shaft as that
their respective strokes commence at periods about one-third of the revolution
distant from each other. They may be placed in a line above, below, or to one
side of the shaft, their pistons being connected, to separate cranks, or they
may be placed so that their pistons may all be connected to one crank, such
crank being either a common crank or an oblique or Z-crank. The piston of
the first or high-pressure cylinder has an equal or nearly equal effective area on
opposite sides, whilst the pistons of the two low-pressure cylinders have
unequal effective areas on their opposite sides. The high-pressure cylinder
receives steam direct from the boiler during a part of its stroke, and the steam
finds egress thence through a port into a valve chest, whence it enters what
may be termed, the small end of one of the low-pressure cylinders. The
same steam subsequently acts in the large end of the low-pressure cylinder,
and finally escapes to the condenser or atmosphere. The steam entering the
high-pressure cylinder during its return stroke acts in a similar way in the other
low-pressure cylinder It is preferred to proportion the parts so as to obtain
as uniform a rotative action on the crank shaft as is possible. This class of
engine may be modified in various ways; thus the two low-pressure cylinders
may be connected to diametrically opposite cranks, the high-pressure cylinder
acting upon a crank at right angles to these two cranks, or the cylinders may
be otherwise connected to the shaft to obtain an equivalent result, the working
of the valves being modified to suit.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a vertical section,
showing the principal parts of a set of engines embodying a modification of.
these improvements. The high-pressure cylinder A and two low-pressure
cylinders B, C, are placed in a line above the crank shaft D, the low-pressure
pistons b,c, being connected to diametrically opposite cranks, whilst the high-
pressure piston a is connected, to a crank at right angles to the other two.

page_text: The cylinders are inverted and the pistons are of the trunk class. Steam
direct from the boiler enters the high-pressure cylinder A, from which it has
egress by a side port E, which is passed or exposed by the piston a at about
half stroke, at or before which part of the stroke it is preferred to cut off the
supply from the boiler. By the port or passage E the steam finds its way to
a valve chest containing ports, and a valve or valves (not shown in the Figure)
for distributing the steam to the low-pressure cylinders B, C. These ports
and valve or valves are so arranged and worked as to admit the steam first to
the small end of one of the low-pressure cylinders B, C. From the time the
steam commences to leave the high-pressure cylinder A, and to enter the low-
pressure cylinder B (or C), it continues to expand in both cylinders A and B
(or C) until the stroke of the cylinder A is terminated, after which the
expansion is continued only in the low-pressure cylinder B (or C), first in
the small end thereof, and on the return stroke in the large end thereof,
whither it is transferred by the action of the valve or valves. Instead of
the steam leaving the high-pressure cylinder A by a port, as at E, in the
middle of its length, it may leave it by the port at which it enters, the ports or
passages and valves being arranged to suit. In another modification of the
same class of engine which is represented in vertical section in Figure 2,
Sheet 1 of the Drawings, the low-pressure pistons b, c, receive steam on both
In this case the low-
sides from one or from two high-pressure cylinders A.
pressure pistons b, c, are of nearly equal effective area on opposite sides.
In a modificatiou of engine constructed according to this Invention for
working on the double cylinder expansion system, the high-pressure cylinder A
is placed against the cover of the low-pressure cylinder B, as shown in
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, these Figures being
longitudinal sections taken at right angles to each other. The high and low
pressure pistonsa, b, are connected by a rod F, passing through an intermediate
stuffing box. Two piston rods G pass from the low-pressure piston 6 through
stuffing boxes at each side of the high-pressure cylinder A, and have attached
to their ends slide blocks, working in guides formed on the sides of the high-
pressure cylinder A, whilst a forked or double connecting rod H is jointed to
them, and passes to the crank shaft. This design admits of the introduction
of a high-pressure cylinder without occupying greater space than is ordinarily
required without it. A slightly modified example of the design is represented
in longitudinal section in Figure 5, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Here two high-pressure cylinders A, A, are placed against the cover of the low.
pressure cylinder B, their pistons a, a, being connected by rods F, F, to the

page_text: low-pressure piston b, whilst a single central rod G passes from this last to the
connecting rod H, the guide blocks working in guides between the two high-
pressure cylinders A, A. In another modification the high-pressure cylinder
is in an annular form; the main piston rod G and the connecting rod H being
arranged to work in the central cylindrical space thereof.
In several arrangements of engines embodying more or less of the improve-
ments comprehended in this Invention cylinders are used, having each a trunk
of considerable size on one side of the piston, the effective area on this side
being much less than on the opposite side. The steam direct from the boiler
acts first on the reduced piston area, and is then transferred to the larger area
on the opposite side. Two or more of these cylinders are arranged vertically
above or below the shaft, their pistons being connected to separate cranks, or
they may be connected to a single crank, the cylinders being placed in positions
radiating therefrom in directions inclined to each other; or again,the cylinders
may be placed parallel to the shaft as in the Z-crank engine. Figure 6
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is an end elevation, partly in vertical
section, and Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of engines
of this class. Here two inverted trunk piston cylinders I, I, are placed
vertically above the crank shaft D, their pistons being connected to separate
cranks at right angles to each other. In this case a single valve chest J
serves for both cylinders, being placed between them; and an expansion or cut-
off vulve K is applied to the back of each slide valve L, the cut-off valve of
one slide valve being worked by the movement of the other slide valve, with
which it is connected for that purpose.
An improvement applicable to all single trunk engines consists in holding
or adjusting the connecting rod end in the bottom of the trunk by means of a
rod or bolt passing through a tube which works through a stuffing box in the
oylinder cover opposite to the trunk. This bolt or rod can be adjusted
externally with the greatest facility, whilst the tube in which it lies acts as a
guide to the piston. In the case of double trunk engines, the bolt or rod is
similarly extended to the outer end of the back trunk, to obtain facility of
adjustment. Two modes of applying this holding or adjusting rod are shown
in Figure 1. Each of the connecting rods h, h, of the low-pressure cylinders
B, C, has fixed in its forked end a pin M, the outer ends of which bear against
brasses N, fitted to the bottom side of the piston, whilst the part of the pin M
crossing the fork of the connecting rod is embraced by the eyed end of a bolt
or rod O, and has a brass fitted to its under side only, the upper side being
clear. The rod O passes up a tube P, forming part of the piston, and is made

page_text: to hold and tighten up the connecting rod pin M by means of a nut Q, screwed
on it and up against the end of the tube P. The tube P works through a
stuffing box in the top cover or end of the cylinder, and assist in guiding the
piston. The connecting rod h' of the high-pressure cylinder A is formed with
a spherical end, which is held against the piston by a brass cover R, made in
two halves and bolted to the piston, whilst a rod O, passing to the top end of
the (in this instance) double trunk, is made by means of a key to hold down
a brass against the top side of the spherical connenting rod end. In the
example represented in section in Figure 7, the last described plan is
adopted, and rod O, however, passing up a tube P.
A second improvement in tiunk engines consists in forming the trunk or
trunks with casings to receive steam direct from the boiler. The piston may,
also be formed with internal steam spaces in connection with the trunk casings.
Figure 8, Sheet I of the accompanying Drawings, is a longitudinal section of
a trunk and piston constructed in this way. The steam is introduced by
means of a pipe S, which passes through a stuffing box to admit of the motion
of the trunk; or the steam may be admitted into the trunk and piston casing
from the high-pressure end of the cylinder, either through a self-acting valve
as at s, or through a small aperture.
A third improvement in trunk engines consists in placing in the trunk
stuffiing box a ring of brass, iron, or other suitable material, having a flat or
transverse flange portion and a cylindrical portion, the latter having longi-
tudinal or diagonal slits to give it elasticity, whilst it is made so as to tightly
embrace the trunk. The steam may have access to the outside of the cylin-
drical portion of the ring, to aid in keeping it in close contact with the trunk,
like a "cup leather." Packing in the ordinary kind may be appled outside
the flange of the ring. Figure 9, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is
a section of a trunk stuffing box fitted with our improved flanged or cup
leather" packing ring T. We wish it to be clearly understood that the flat
or transverse flange of this ring is not cut through at any part, the requisite
elasticity being obtained by slitting the cylindrical portion longitudinally or
diagonally as shewn, the slit edge having a "set" or slight inward inclination
given to it to make it tend to close upon the trunk. In the example repre-
sented in Figure 9, ordinary gasket packing is applied outside the ring T, the
whole being retained in place by the usual gland U. A modified arrangement
is represented in section in Figure '10 (Sheet 1), a reversed flange ring t
being applied outside the ring T. The outer ring t is not slit, but is slightly
tapered externally, and the gland U being correspondingly tapered externally.

page_text: serves to jam it up Packing rings of the kind just described may be applied
to the stuffing boxes of ordinary piston and other rods.
An improved piston constructed acccording to this Invention consists of a
couple of brass or iron discs or flat rings formed with cylindrical rims or
flanges extending in opposite directions. The cylindrical rims or flanges are
slit longitudinally or diagonally, and being constructed so as to give the
segments a tendency to bearagainst the inside of the cylinder, the pressure of
the steam inside them assists in keeping them tight. The disc part or flat
portion of this packing ring is not cut through at any part. A single disc or
fint ring, with double flanges,may be made to answer the same purpose, or the
cylindrical rim may be entirely detached from the body of the piston; in other
words, the piston may be packed with a thin cylindrical ring, and in this case
the longitudinal ordiagonal slits may be made alternately from opposite sides,
and may be extended beyond the half width. To prevent steam passing
through the slits and inside the ring,gasket packing may be introduced behind
the ring, or a second ring may be fitted within the first in such a position that
the slits of the two break joint.
Several examples of our improved pistons are represented in Figures 11
to 16, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings. In the piston shown in
Figure 11, two discs with cylindrical rims or flanges V are used, these being
fixed on the piston rod G, together with filling up blocks, which are made so
as to admit the steam to act on the insides of the rims V. The piston shown
in longitudinal section in Figure 12, and in transverse section in Figure 18,
is made all in one piece, together with its rod G. The piston itself consists in
this ase of a single disc with double cylindrical rims or flanges V. The outer
edges of these rims Vare originally turned slightly larger than the bore of the.
cylinder, and being slit, are compressed to get them into the cylinder,inwhich
their tendency to re-expand makes them fit tightly. In the piston represented
in section in Figure 11, and in elevation in Figure 15, a single disc with
double flanges or rims V is fixed on the rod G, together with filling-up
blocks. In Figure 16, which is partly in elevation and partly in section, the
application is shown of two thin rings W, placed one within the other, these
rings being slit alternately from opposite edges, whilst the slits of the inner
ring are placed opposite the intervals between the slits in the outer ring.
An improvement in steam engine valves comprehended in this Invention
consists in forming the slide with an internal steam space, which receivessteam
from the steam pipe through a port or ports in the cylinder port face, and
distributes it to the cylinder ports as required. The slide is covered by a

page_text: cising as usual, into which a little steam is to be admitted by a separate
passing or otherwise, to keep the valve on the port face and render it equili-
brium or nearly so. This improvement is applicable to various classes of
slide valves, and three applications of it are shown in Figures 17, 18, 19, 3,
20, and 21, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings. Figure 17 is a section
through the slide valve and port face as arranged for an ordinary cylinder;
Figure 18 is a face view of the slide valve; and Figure 19 is a view of
the port face. The slide valve is formed with a space or passage X.
which receives steam by lateral passages Y from literal ports y in the port
face, and distributes it by the openings Z to the cylinder ports z in the
ordinary way. The slide valve, shown in soction in Figure 3 is modified to
serve for combined high and low pressure cylinders. A steam space or cup X
is provided to receive steam from lateral ports, and to distribute it alternatoly
to the ports 1, 2, of the high-pressure cylinder A. On leaving this cylinder
the steam debouches into the valve casing, and enters at the sides of a
transverse passage
3 in another part of the slide valve. finding its way thence
into one or other of the ports 4, 5, of the low-pressure cylinder B. The steam
escapes to the exhaust port 6 by a passage 7 in the slide valve, passing round
the transverse steam passage 3 Another modification of the same class of
valve is shown in section in Figure 20, Figure 21 being a face view of the
valve Here the steain space or cup X in the slide valve receives steam by
lateral ports in the port face,distributing it alternately to the ports 1, 2, of the
high-pressure cylinder. To bring these ports into the positions suitable for
this valve, the passages from them are made to cross round each other. The
steam from the high-pressure cylinder exhausts into a passage 8 in the slide
valve, which distributes it to the port 4. 5, of the low-pressure cylinder,
the steam from which last passes into the exhaust port 6 in the ordinary way.
A second improvement in steam enginevalves and ports consists indisposing
them in a trunk formed inside the cylinder. It is preferred to make the
trunk cylindrical, and to use "piston valves." A modification of this arrauge-
IDent is shewn in vertical section in Figure 22, Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings. The valve chest is a cylindrical trunk 9, placed centrally in the
steam cylinder 10. The slide valve is a pipe 11, having at each end a piston
12, working steam-tight in the trunk casing 9. The steain enters by the pipe
13, and has access to the ends of the trunk casing to the bottom end through
the centre of the valve 11, 12. The movement of the valve brings the
cylinder ports 14, 15, alternately outsi le of or between the pistons 12 The
steam is exhausted from the annular space between the pistons 12 and round

page_text: the pipe 11 by the ports 16, communicating by the passage 17 with the con-
denser 18. his class of valve may be modified in various ways; thus the
steam may be made to exhaust through the central tubular portion of the
valve, the fresh steam from the boiler being made to surround this. The
piston portions 12 of the valve may be made in one or other of the modes
herein-before described in connection with Figures 11 to 16 (Sheet 1).
A portion of the improvements comprehended in this Invention relate to
the treatment of the steam by means of which the motive power is deve-
loped. One of such improvements consists in introducing superheated steam,
air, or gas into jackets or spaces contiguous to some of the spaces through
which the working steam passes, the object being to maintain the working
steam in a sufficiontly heated condition. The spaces for the superheated
steam, air, or gas may be applied to the steam pipe, to the valve casing, to
the piston rod, rods, trunk or trunks, or to any of these parts. Instead of
superheated steam, the fire gases from the boiler furnace may be introduced
into such of the spaces just indicated as may be conveniently arranged there-
for, as, for example, into the space round the steam pipe.
Another improvement consists in inserting a mass of permeable material,
such as wire gauze, as at .9, Figure 22, Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, in a passage 17 or chamber through which the steam passes from
the cylinder 10 to the condenser 18, the object being partly to reduce the
amount of heat to be abstracted by the condenser, and partly to prevent the
excessive cooling of the cylinder during the exhaust.
Another improvement consists in forming a surface condenser or a refri-
gerator for cooling water to be used in the condenser, with tubes bent so that
the ends by which each tube is fixed both lie in the same direction. In the
case of a refrigerator for marine engines, the condensing water may be cooled
by currents of sea water made to pass by pumping or otherwise along the
outsides of the tubes in the contrary direction to the flow of the condensing
water through the tubes, or vice versa. In the case of screw steamers, the
cooling currents may be obtained or accelerated by the sucking action of the
propeller, such currents passing from the refrigerator to the stern through
a passage or passages opening immediately in front of the propeller,
and near its centre. A refrigerator for cooling the injection water, and
embodying a modification of our improvements, is shown partially sectioned
in Figure 6, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings. In this example the
tubes for the passage of the injection water are fixed in top and bottom tube
plates, the top one being shown uncovered. The spaces beyond the tube

page_text: plates are divided by partitions formed on the cover 20 aud bottom of the
refrigerator, in such a way as to cause the water rising up the row or rank of
tubes nearest the cylinder to pass down the second row, up the third row,
down the fourth row, and so on through the whole. The cooling water which
is admitted from the sea by the pipe 21 enters the refrigerator at the end at
which the injection water leaves it, and is made to pass up outside one rank or
row of the tubes, down outside the next, and so on throughout in the opposite
direction to the water inside the tubes, this being effected by inserting plates
completely across the refrigerator between each rank or row of tubes, these
plates springing alternately from each tube plate, and extending to within a
short distance of the other tube plate. In Figure 23, Sheet 1 of the accom-
panying Drawings, a refrigerator is shown in vertical section embodying
ancther modification of our improvements, Figure 24 being a horizontal section
of the same. In this case the water from the condenser and air pump enters
the chamber 22, and passes thence up a row of tubes 23, each of which
tubes is continued in an alternate upward and downward direction to the
opposite side of the refrigerator, where it opens into the cold well 24. The
tubing is made up of straight tubes connected by bends, as shown, the extreme
ends both terminating downwards, as shown, to allow the tubes to freely
lengthen and shorten from change of temperature. The cooling water from
the sea is introduced at 25, and is caused, by plates 26 inserted between the
rows of tubes alternately from top and bottom, to pass along the tubes 23 in
the opposite direction to the water inside them, finally leaving the refrigerator
at 27. Figure 25, Sheet 1, is a vertical section of a refrigerator, in which
the tubes are disposed horizontally, and Figure 26, Sheet 1, is a horizontal
section of a refrigerator in which the passages for both injection and cooling
water are formed by plates.
In a modification of boiler for generating steam for motive power purposes
according to this Invention there is a series of annular cylindrical water
spaces formed by the concentric arrangement of a number of cylinders the
spaces between which are alternately occupied by the water or steam and the
fire gases, the water spaces being in communication with each other. The
water spaces are crossed by stays, by which great strength is imparted to
the boiler. In one simple and convenient arrangement, represented in vertical
longitudinal section in Figure 27, Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings,
and in end elevation, partly sectioned transversely, in Figure 28, the cylin-
drical spaces are disposed horizontally in two series, forming a double boiler
and having two furnaces. The fire gases of each furnace first pass back

page_text: between the upper part of the outer water space and that of the next inner one,
they then return between the upper part of the latter water space and that of
a still more central one, and next pass back again through the centre space
inside this third water space. The fire gases then return forward beneath the
third water space, passing back again through the lower part of the nextouter
gas space, and finally find their way to the funnel ronud the outer shell, round
a detached cylindrical vessel 28 communicating with both boilers, and round
the steam dome 29 upon the vessel 28.
Figure 29, Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, is a vertical section
of a modification of this improved kind of boiler, in which the cylindrical
spaces are disposed vertically. The direction of the fire gases is clearly
indicated by the arrows, and it merely remains to be added, that in this
example, as well as in that previously described, partitions may be introduced
to cause the fire gases to pass spirally round the outside of the boiler and
between the water spaces.
In another modification of boiler, an example of which is represented in
longitudinal and transverse vertical section in Figures 30 and 31, Sheet 2 of
the accompanying Drawings, an outer annular cylindrical water space 30)
contains within it a number of annular water spaces 31, formed each by a
couple of concentric tubes. The fire gases may pass through the centres of
these tubular water spaces 81, and through a spiral flue 32, encompassing the
outer water space; or they may be made to pass first through the external
spiral flue 32, and then through the centres of the tubular water spaces 31, as
shown, whilst the space 33, surrounding the tubular water spaces 31, forms a
steam space, and communicates with the steam domes 34. The space 33
within the outer cylindrical water space may be entirely a steam space, with
the exception of a flue or flues for superheating the steam; or superheating
flues or tubes 35, as well as tubular water spaces 31, may be introduced. The
furnace 86 may be arranged in a brickwork casing outside the boiler, as
shown.
To strengthen cylindrical boiler flues, it is by this Invention proposed to
insertrings internally in segments, provision being made for wedging them out
to fit the flue. With the same object, a ring in two or more segments is
applied externally, provision being mude for contracting it tightly upon the
flue. Similarly, external rings may be applied to boiler shells to strengthen
them. An example of the application of the strengthening rings to the inside
and outside of a cylindrical flue is represented in transverse section in Figure 32,
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. The internal ring 37 is inserted in

page_text: two halves, a wedge 38 being introduced between their contiguous ends at
one side, to expand them tightly against the inside of the flue. Wedges may
also be introduced between the ring and the flues at points where the lap joints
of the flue plates prevent close contact with the ring. The external ring 39
is also applied in two halves, which are contracted tightly upon the flue by
means of bolts, as shown at 40. Wedges may be inserted between the ring 39
and the flue where the parts are not in close contact.
The improvements comprehended in this Invention which relate to the
regulating of motive power apparatus are more particularly designed for screw
propeller engines.
One improvement consists in introducing a spring at a coupling in the
length of the propeller shaft, such spring being compressible by the longitudinal
thrust of the propeller. The portion of the shaft on which the propeller is
fixed is capable of a slight longitudinal movement, and is connected with the
throttle valve of the engine in such a way that when the thrust decreases from
any cause (such as the elevation of the propeller out of the water caused by
the pitching of the ship), the consequent movement due to the reaction of the
spring will cause the throttle valve to close, and so reduce the supply of steam
to the engine.
A modification of this contrivance is represented in Figures 33 and 34,
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, the former showing the engine
shaft 41 and the propeller shaft 42, partly in longitudinal section, and the
latter being a transverse section, as at the line a-b, in Figure 33. The engine
shaft is provided with the usual collared journal and grooved bearing 43, for
receiving the thrust of the propeller. It extends abaft of this bearing, and its
end is formed with a socket to receive a caoutchouc or other suitable spring 44
and the end 45 of the propeller shaft 42. The ends of the two shafts are
formed with lugs or projections at 46, by means of which the driving power is
transmitted, these being constructed to admit of a slight longitudinal move-
ment of the propeller shaft 42, whilst the latter shaft is also mounted in such
a way as to be free to move longitudinally The longitudinal movement of
the propeller shaft is communicated to the throttle valve of the engine by the
bell crank lever 47.
Another improvement consists in a mode of obtaining a similar regulating
action from the torsional resisting strain of the propeller shaft. A modifi-
cation of the contrivance for this purpose is represented in Figures 35 and 36,
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, the former being a longitudinal
section, and the latter a transverse section, as at the line c-d, in Figure 55.

page_text: In this case a short coupling piece 48 is introduced in the length of the
propeller shaft 12, this piece being capable of moving longitudinally against
a spring 44, carried by the engine portion 41 of the shaft. The propeller
portion 42 of the shaft is connected to the coupling piece by inclined.or
helical grooves and feathers 49, so thata torsional strain transmitted through
the line of shafting tends to produce a longitudinal movement of the coupling
piece 48. The coupling piece is connected to the throttle valve of the
engine, and the action of the apparatus is similar to that of the modifica-
tion previously described.
The modification last described is applicable to all motive power appara-
tus. Both arrangements possess a certain amount of regulating or relieving
power independently of the connection with the throttle valve, which
connection may in some cases be dispensed with.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we have to state
that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise details herein-before
described or delineated, and that we do not claim to have invented every
separate detail herein-before described and delineated; but that what we
consider to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to us
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the combining of high-pressure cylinders with low-pressure
cylinders in such a way that the steam having acted in the high-pressure
oylinder next acts in one end of the low-pressure cylinder, and finally in
the other end of the low-pressure cylinder, substantially as herein-before
described, an example thereof being represented in Figure 1, Sheet 1 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the combining in a set of engines of two low-pressure cylinders,
acting diametrically opposite to each other, with a high-pressure cylinder
acting at 'right angles to them, substantially as herein-before described, an
example thereof being represented in Figure 2, Sheet 1 of the accompany-
ing Drawings.
Third, the combining of high and low pressure cylinders substantially
as herein-before described in connection with Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 1
of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the disposing vertically above or below the shaft of two or more
cylinders receiving steam first on one side of the piston, and then transfer-
ring the same steam to the other side thereof, substantially as herein-before
described in connection with Figures 6 and 7, Sheet1 of the accompanying
Drawings.
:

page_text: Fifth, the holding or adjusting of the joint between the connecting rod
and piston in trunk engines by means of a rod passing out at the outer or
back end of the cylinder through a tube or trunk, substantially as herein-
before described.
Sixth, the heating of trunks and trunk pistons by means of steam casings
substantially as herein-before described in connection with Figure S,
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh, the packing of trunk and other stuffing boxes and of pistons with
flanged discs or rings partially slit, substantially as herein-before described
in connection with Figures 9 to 15, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth, the packing of pistons with thin cylindrical rings partially slit,
substantially as herein-before described in connection with Figure 16,
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth, the arranging and constructing of steam cylinder slide valves sub-
stantially as herein-before described in connection with Figures 17, 18, 19,
3, 20, and 21, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Tenth, the disposing of the valves of a steam cylinder within a trunk
or casing inserted in the cylinder, substantially as herein-before described
in connection with Figure 22, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eleventh, the applying of superheated steam, air, or gas, by means of
jackets or casings, to the steam pipe, to the valve casing, to the piston rod.
rods, trunk or trunks, or to any of these parts of steam engines.
Twelfth, the using of wire gauze or other permeable material in a passage
or chamber between the steam cylinder and condenser of a steam engine.
Thirteenth, the constructing of surface condensers and refrigerators with
tubes bent so that the ends by which cach tubo is fixed or held both lic in
the same direction, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourteenth, the constructing of refrigerators so that the current of
cooling water passes along in the opposite direction to the current of
water to be cooled, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifteenth, the improvements in steam boilers hercin-before described in
connection with Figures 27 to 32, Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixteenth, the regulating of the supply of steam to the engines of screw
steainers by the action of the thrust, substantially as herein-before described in
connection with Figures 33 and 34, Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventeenth, the regulating of the supply of steam to steam engines by
the torsional strains on the main shafts, substantially as herein-before
described in connection with Figures 35 and 36, Sheet 2, of the accom-
Danving Drawings.

page_text: Eighteenth, the relieving of strain upon engine shafts, by means of con-
trivances such as are herein-before described in connection with Figures
33 to 36, Sheet of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Howden and Alexander Morton,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
JAMES HOWDEN.
ALEXANDER MORTON.
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
(L.S.)
(L.B.)