Improvements in and relating to Multiple Expansion Motive-power Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Multiple Expansion Motive-power
Engines.
Communicated from abroad by EDWARD SAMUEL MATHEWS, of
Yokohama, Japan, Engineer.
I, JOHN SIME of the Firm of W. R. M. Thomson and Company, Patent Agents
and Consulting Engineers, 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts, and specially the valves and valve
gearing of steam or other fluid pressure engines of the multiple expansion type
and whereby eccentrics and link motion for working the valves will be dispensed
with, and large steam or fluid pressure chests rendered unnecessary.
In carrying these improvements into practice as applied to a triple expansion
steam engine of the inverted type under one arrangement the high, intermediate,
and low pressure cylinders would be erected vertically side by side in parallel line
and would be fitted with cylindrical or piston valves, hollow throughout so that
the steam may pass to or from both ends without a central steam casing and the
valves work in a parallel cylindrical valve chamber in front of the port face of
each cylinder. Two ports lead direct from the extreme ends of the cylinders into
this valve chamber, and a centre port is used for the emission or admission of the
steam through an annular space formed in the centre of the valve between its two
end working pistons so as to lead to and from ports on each side of the centre port,'
leading to the said end ports each of the end pistons covering these two ports in
their closed positions leading to and from each end of the cylinder. The
connecting rods of the engines would be coupled to cranks connected to a main
crank shaft, the cranks of the high and intermediate pressure cylinders being set
in positions directly opposite each other on the shaft, so that when the crank of
the high pressure cylinder is at the top centre, that of the intermediate pressure
cylinder would be at the bottom centre, and vice versa; while the crank of the
low pressure cylinder would be set at nearly right angles to the positions of the
aforesaid cranks. The valves of the high and intermediate pressure engines
would be worked by one rocking radial valve motion from lever mechanism coupled
to the connecting rod of the high pressure engine. While the valve of the low
pressure engine would be operated by a separate radial valve gear from its
connecting rod in an analogous manner.
This would be effected for the high and intermediate pressure engines by a
simple beam lever hung and fulcrumed on two links near its outer end which
would be jointed to the lower end of a link or connecting rod having its upper
end connected to the lower end or stem of the valve spindle of the high pressure
cylinder. This valve stem would be jointed by a sliding bush or link to a lever on
a horizontal wiper shaft carrying a corresponding lever similarly connected to the
stem of the valve rod of the intermediate cylinder; all so that the radial rocking
beat lever of the high pressure engine may actuate the valve of the intermediate
engine as hereinafter described. The rocking valve lever has its long inner arm
directly connected to a point in the connecting rod of the high pressure cylinder.

page_text: The two oscillating links on which the radial valve lever is fulcrumed and rocks,
have their upper ends connected by studs to levers on each side, keyed or secured
on a hand reversing weigh shaft with a hand lever and securing quadrant at its
one end; all so set and mounted that when the crank and piston of the high
pressure engine are in their top position for the crank shaft turning in either
direction, the short outer arm of the rocking lever would gradually open the valve
downwards and admit the steam from the upper end of the valve, chamber through
the upper port direct to the cylinder; while the central recess in the valve would
open and pass the exhaust steam from the lower end of cylinder through the
intermediate side port to the central exhaust port, from which it would pass to the
annular space round the steam valve of the intermediate cylinder and which would
be descending the same as the valve of the high pressure cylinder, and enter by
the central port and intermediate port to the lower end of the intermediate
cylinder to push up the piston and crank of this engine from their lowest position,
while the piston and crank of the high pressure engine was going in the opposite
direction; while the exhaust steam from the top of piston in the intermediate
cylinder would pass out by the upper port above the top of valve to the valve
chamber above the valve of the low pressure cylinder in a similar manner to that
in which it entered the high pressure cylinder, and vice versa in the high and
intermediate pressure cylinders when the cranks of these were rising from the
lowest position of the high pressure cylinder and from the highest position of the
intermediate cylinder. The valve of the low pressure cylinder is actuated in an
analogous manner to that of the high pressure cylinder by a similar radial
rocking valve lever, having its outer short arm directly connected by a link to the
lower stem of the valve rod; while the inner long arm of the rocking lever is
directly jointed to the connecting rod of this low pressure cylinder which has its
crank at right angles to the cranks of the high and intermediate pressure cylinders,
and has the valve gear all so set and mounted as to admit the steam from the upper
and lower ends of the valve and cylinder ports, when the crank is turning down-
wards or upwards respectively from the extreme positions, the valve travelling in
the same direction, and the exhaust takes place at the same time from the lower
and upper ends of the cylinder respectively through the central chamber and
intermediate ports to the central exhaust port from which it would pass to the
condenser as usual. The mere reversing of the levers and their shaft carrying the
oscillating links of the rocking beam, reverses the action of the valves to suit
the direction the crank shaft is to be turned. The same motion of the connecting
rod which works the rocking levers of the low or of the high pressure engines, may
work beam levers or other equivalent behind for actuating the air, circulating, feed,
and bilge pumps, as in other forms of engines.
Although only one piston valve has been described for each cylinder, for large
cylinders there might be two, having their valve rods connected below by cross-
heads which would be actuated by the links from the outer short end of the rocking
valve lever, and by the wipers or levers on the wiper shaft. And although piston
valves only have been described as applied to these improvements, it will be under-
stood that ordinary slide valves may be used and actuated in a like or equivalent
manner.
Dated 26th Jul 1802
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents..

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Multiple Expansion Motive-power.
Engines.
Communicated from abroad by EDWARD SAMUEL MATHEWS, of
Yokohama, Japan, Engineer.
1, JOHN SIME, of the Firm of W. R. M. Thomson and Company, Patent Agents
and Consulting Engineers, 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, 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, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts, and specially the valves, and' valve
gearing of steam or other fluid pressure engines of the multiple expansion type
and whereby eccentrics and link motion for working the valves will be dispensed
with, and large steam or fluid pressure chests rendered unnecessary.
And in order that this invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are used,
as far as possible, to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a front side elevation and Figure 2 a corresponding plan view of a
triple expansion steam engine as arranged according to these improvements.
Figure 3 is an end view corresponding to Figure 1 looking towards the high
pressure cylinder.
Figure 4 is a similar view, partly in section, of the low pressure cylinder and
mechanism, and Figures 5 and 6 are detached sectional elevations of the intermediate
and high pressure cylinders respectively showing the position of the pistons and
actuating fittings.
Referring to these drawings:-
In carrying these improvements into practice as applied to a triple expansion
steam engine of the inverted type, under one arrangement as shown in these
drawings the high, intermediate, and low pressure cylinders 1, 2, and 3
respectively would be erected vertically side by side in line and would be each fitted
with cylindrical or piston valves at a hollow throughout so that the steam may
pass to or from both ends without a central steam casing, and the valves work in
a parallel cylindrical valve chamber a in front of the port face of each cylinder.
Two ports b, b, lead direct from the extreme ends of the cylinders into this valve
chamber a, and a centre port 62 is used for the emission or admission of the steam
through an annular space a³, formed in the centre of the valve between its two end
working pistons a¹, a², so as to lead to and from ports b', 6', on each side of the centre
port & leading to the said end ports b, b, each of the end pistons a' a' covering these two
ports b, b, in their closed positions leading to and from each end of the cylinder.
The connecting rods c, d, e, of the engines would be coupled to cranks c', ', e' connected
to a main crank shaft C, the cranks c', d', of the high and intermediate pressure
cylinders 1, 2 being set in positions directly opposite each other on the shaft C so
that when the crank c' of the high pressure cylinder 1 is at the top centre, that d¹
of the intermediate pressure cylinder 2. would be at the bottom centre, and vice
versa; while the crank e¹ of the low pressure cylinder 3 would be set at nearly
right angles to the positions of the aforesaid cranks c', d. The valves a¹ a of the
high and intermediate pressure engines 1 and 2 would be worked by one rocking
radial valve motion from lever mechanism coupled to the connecting rod c¹ of the
high pressure engine. While the valve of the low pressure engine 3 would be
operated by a separate radial valve gear from its connecting rod in an analogous
.manner. This would be effected from the high and intermediate pressure engines 1.

page_text: 11
and 2 by a simple beam lever or levers ff' hung and fulcrumed on two links fllfll
near its outer end which would be jointed to the lower end of a link or connecting
rod f having its upper end connected to the lower end or stem of the valve spindles
of the high pressure cylinder 1. This valve stem would be jointed by a sliding or
oscillating bush g Figure 3 to a lever g' with crank pin on a horizontal wiper
shaft g2 carrying a corresponding lever or crank g' similarly connected to the stem
of the valve rod 93 of the intermediate cylinder 2; all so that the radial rocking
beam lever f, f', of the high pressure engine 1 may actuate the valve of the
intermediate engine as hereinafter described. The rocking valve lever has
its two arms f connected together by a forked end and pin joint at h and has
its long inner forked arm f¹ directly connected to a point e² in the connecting
rod of the high pressure cylinder 1. The other end of the short lever
arm is connected at to the one end of a lever having its other end
jointed at to the framing of engine. The two oscillating links f" fll on
which the radial valve lever f, f', is fulcrumed and rocks have their upper
ends connected by stud pins to levers or cranks on each side, keyed or
secured on a hand reversing weigh shaft carried in bearings in the framing
at and with a hand lever and securing quadrant * at its one end; all so set
and mounted that when the crank c and piston of the high pressure engine 1
Figure 6 are in their top position for the crank shaft C turning in either direction,
the short outer arm of the rocking lever ff' would gradually open the valve
downwards and admit the steam from the upper end of the valve chamber a through
the upper port direct to cylinder 1; while the central recess a³ in the valve would
open and pass the exhaust steam from the lower end of cylinder through the
intermediate side port 6 to the central exhaust port from which it would pass to the
annular space a³ round the steam valve of the intermediate cylinder 2, as shown in
Figure 5, and which would be descending the same as the valve of the high pressure
cylinder 1 and enter by the central port 2 and intermediate port b' to the lower end of
the intermediate cylinder 2 to push up the piston and crank d¹ of this engine from their
lowest position, while the piston and crank cl of the high pressure engine were going
in the opposite direction. And the exhaust steam from the top of piston in the
intermediate cylinder 2 would pass out of the upper, port above top of valve to
the valve ehamber a above the valve of the low pressure cylinder 3 in a similar
manner to that in which the initial steam entered the high pressure cylinder 1.
As shown in Figures 1 and 4 the valve a a³ of the low pressure cylinder. 3 is
actuated in an analogous manner to that of the high pressure cylinder 1 by a similar
radial rocking valve lever ff having its outer short arm directly connected by a
link to the lower stem of the valve rod f³; while the inner long arm of the
rocking lever is directly jointed at 2 to the connecting rode of this low pressure
cylinder 3 which has its crank el at right angles to the cranks c'd' of the high
and intermediate pressure cylinders 1 and 2, and has the valve gear all so set and
mounted as to admit the steam from the upper and lower ends of the valve and
cylinder ports, when the crank is turning downwards or upwards respectively from
the extreme positions the valve travelling in the opposite direction; and the exhaust
takes place at the same time from the lower and upper ends of the cylinder
respectively through the central chamber and intermediate ports to the central
exhaust port from which it would pass to the condenser as usual. The oscillating
links are similarly connected through levers or cranks i to the weigh shaft,
so that the mere reversing of the levers and their shafts carrying the oscillating
links of the rocking beam levers reverses the action of the valves to suit the direction
the crank shaft C is to be turned. The same motion of the connecting rod e¹ which
works the rocking levers ff of the low pressure engine 3 or it may be of the high
pressure cylinder 1 may through a link and oscillating shaft work levers j2 or
other equivalent behind for actuating the air, circulating, feed, and bilge pumps,
located at 3 as in other forms of engines.
Although only one piston valve with pistons a¹, a², has been described for each
cylinder for large cylinders there might be two, having their valve rods connected

page_text: below by crossheads which would be actuated by the links from the outer short end.
of the rocking valve lever f,f, and by the wipers or levers on the wiper shaft.
And although piston valves only have been described as applied to these improve-
ments, it will be understood, that ordinary slide valves may be used and actuated in
a like or equivalent manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
First. The construction of multiple expansion motive-power engines with the
crauks of the high and intermediate pressure cylinders placed in opposite positions.
and the crank of the low pressure cylinder placed at right angles to these, in
combination with their valves and valve gearing, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In multiple expansion motive-power engines, the arrangement of rocking.
radial valve motion from lever mechanism coupled to the connecting rod of the high.
pressure cylinder, to operate the valves of the combined high and intermediate
pressure cylinders, and separate mechanism to operate the valve of the low pressure
cylinder, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
acccompanying drawings.
Third. In multiple expansion motive-power engines, the arrangement of levers.
and mechanism for operating the valves of two cylinders from radial motion received
from the connecting rod or organ of one of the cylinders, substantially as herein
described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 25th April 1894.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.