Improvements in Single Crank Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th May. 1889-Accepted. 27th July. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Single Crank Engines.
I ROBERT PATRICK of 6 Baker Street Greenock in the county of Renfrew, North
Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to engines with one crank and with three or more
cylinders working at the same pressure or expansively, and my object is to reduce the
space required for the propelling power of steam vessels, by my arrangement of the
cylinders, and which arrangement also provides against the crank stopping on any
centre.
The improvements are applicable to land as well as marine engines. The improve-
ments also tend to the simplifying of the valve gear when applied to this arrangement
of cylinders.
11
m
ROBERT PATRICK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Single Crank. Engines.
I, ROBERT PATRICK of 6 Baker Street Greenock in the county of Renfrew, North
Britain, 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 relates to engines with one crank, and with three or more
cylinders, working at the same pressure, or expansively, and my object is to reduce the
space required for the propelling power of steam vessels, by my arrangements of the
cylinders, and which arrangement also provides against the crank stopping on any
centre. The improvements are applicable to land as well as marine engines. The
improvements also tend to the simplifying of the valve gear when applied to this
arrangement of cylinders, as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my Invention the improvements will be readily seen by the
three accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, the engines shown being triple
expansion surface condensing engines, but the application of my improvements to
quadruple expansion engines can be easily effected by placing a cylinder above or
tandem with cylinder, A, figure, 1 on sheet, 1. Referring to the accompanying
drawings figure, 1, on sheet 1 is a transverse sectional elevation. Figure 2, on
sheet, 2, being a part plan, while figures 3, 4, and 5, on sheet 3, shew the
arrangement of valve motion.
The reducing of space in the above stated triple expansion engines, consist in
their being placed athwart the ship, having one high pressure cylinder A figure 1
on sheet 1, placed upright or vertical with its piston and connecting rod, I,
figure, 2, on sheet, 2, connected to centre part of crank, D, figure 1 on sheet, 1,
and figure 2 on sheet 2, and connected by steam pipe K, figure 1, on sheet, 1, to
intermediate cylinder B, figure 1 on sheet 1, which is placed horizontally with its
piston and connecting rod, connected to fore end of crank D figure 2 on sheet 2,
it is then further connected to low pressure cylinder C, figure, 1, on sheet 1, which
is also placed horizontally but on the opposite side by pipe L figure 1 on sheet 1,
and having its piston and connecting rod, connected to after end of crank D
figure 2, on sheet 2, and finally connected to condenser E, figure 1 on sheet 1,
or may pass to the atmosphere. The intermediate and low pressure cylinders being
placed horizontally and low down in ship with the condenser, takes away the objection
to top weight.

page_text: The intermediate and low pressure cylinders being placed at right angles to the
high pressure cylinder, causes the valve gear to be placed in the same relative
position, therefore in place of using three sets of link motion gear, use only one
for the high pressure cylinder as shown on sheet 3, figures 3, 4, and 5, which
gives motion also to the valves of the two horizontal cylinders by a lever F,
figures 3, and 4, connecting with the valve rod M figure 4, of the high pressure
cylinder A, figure 4 by a link G, figure 4, and also by a short link H, figures 3. 4,
and 5, to the two valve rods N figure 5 of the two horizontal cylinders, thus
simplifying the valve gear by dispensing with two sets of link motion, and adopting
the above lever in its stead, or the three sets of link motion may be used in
preference.
Three great practical advantages of these engines are, first, the little space required
on board a ship, second, the economy of the valve gear, and third, cylinders B
and C being placed low down in the ship, the objection to top weight is overcome.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1st. In a single crank engine with three or more cylinders placing the cylinders
as herein before described.
2nd. The arrangements of the valve gear for cylinders in different angular
positions to the crank.
3rd. The arrangements all as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of May 1889.
ROBERT PATRICK.