IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING NAVIGABLE VESSELS, PARTS OP WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Davies and Stanley Wilson, both of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING NAVIGABLE
VESSELS, PARTS OP WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 1st February 1876, and dated the 4th November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Davies and
Stanley Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th November 1875.
We, EDWARD DAVIES and STANLEY WILSON, both of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
NAVIGABLE VESSELS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS
OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-

page_text: Secondly. To the application of such steam pumping engine to
propelling navigable vessels.
Thirdly. To an arrangement of parts constituting condensers to be
used with such steam pumping engines, whether such engines are used
for propelling purposes or otherwise.
Fourthly. To a novel arrangement of spiral pipes or tubes in a steam
generator or boiler, whether such steam generator or boiler be vertical
or horizontal. A steam generator or boiler so fitted, being particularly
adapted for supplying steam to steam pumping engines constructed
according to our Invention, when such engine is used for propelling
navigable vessels.
A steam pumping engine constructed according to our Invention
may consist of a steam cylinder which is set or placed between two
water cylinders or pumps, or opposite and at the end of a water
cylinder, or cylinders being pumps. The steam cylinder is arranged to
use the steam compoundedly, namely, at a high pressure direct from the
boiler on one side of the piston and at one end of the cylinder, and at
a low pressure and expansively at the other side of the piston and at
the other end of the cylinder. This result is obtained by providing the
piston with a ram or trunk, which is of size sufficient to reduce the
arca or steam space at one end of the cylinder, so that the steam may
be expanded from such end of the cylinder to that end which is not
provided with the ram or trunk. The ports of the cylinder are arranged
to supply live steam to the one or reduced end of the cylinder, and to
exhaust from such end and supply such steam expansively to the other
end of the cylinder, which is fitted with a third, or exhaust port, leading
to a condenser or the atmosphere. The ram, trunk, piston, or con-
necting rod, takes on to a cross head or other equivalent, and the action
or working of such cross head actuates the slide valve of the steam
cylinder, which is of ordinary type, or of type such as generally used
for steam pumping engines. The cross head, or other equivalent, is
connected to and works the plungers, buckets, rams, or pistons of the
water cylinders or pumps. These water cylinders when used for the
ordinary purposes of a steam pump are provided with rams or pistons,
and suitable suction and discharge valves.
When the steam pumping engine as before described is used for the
purpose of propelling navigable vessels, we fit such pumping engine at
:

page_text: the stern or other suitable part of the vessel, and by preference use the
water cylinders open at their lower or after end, which communicate
with a pipe, pipes, or passages leading through the stern of the vessel,
each pump discharging its water respectively on either side of the stern
post of such vessel. The fore or upper ends of the water cylinders are
provided with inlet or suction valves, which communicate with supply
pipes or inlet passages leading from the bow of the vessel or from the
sides or bottom thereof. The water cylinders are provided with water
buckets in lieu of solid plungers, such buckets being arranged so as to
force or eject the water from the water cylinders through the pipes or
passages and stern of the vessel when working. This is the simplest
arrangement for applying our pumping engine as a propeller for
navigable vessels, but the same result is arrived at by having the water
cylinders closed at both ends and fitted as in the case of ordinary steam
pumps, sucking and discharging their water through suitable inlet and
outlet pipes leading respectively from the bow, or sides, or bottom, to
the stern of such vessel.
When steam pumping engines, constructed according to our Inven-
tion, are used for propelling vessels, we provide a condenser for creating
a vacuum in the low pressure end of the steam cylinder by leading the
steam from the cylinder through pipes or passages, and intermingling
it with the discharge water from the pumps or water cylinders, or we
lead such steam through or around pipes whose interior or exterior
surface is chilled by contact with the inlet or outlet water of the
pumps. The steam and water cylinders may be placed to work either
horizontally or vertically.
As it is essential,, in the case of using our Invention for propelling
vessels, that the boiler or steam generator for supplying steam to the
steam cylinder should be of comparatively small size and at the same
time be provided with great heating surface, we place a spirally coiled
pipe or pipes in the case of vertical boilers above the furnace of such
boiler, the lower end of such pipe or pipes being in connection with the
water space at the bottom, or near the bottom of such boiler, and the
other or upper end of such pipe or pipes being in connection with the
water space above the furnace crown of the firc-box of boiler.
In the case of horizontal boilers, Cornish, Lancashire, or other type,
we place such spiral tube or tubes in the flue of such boiler and behind

page_text: the furnace. The ends of the tube or tubes respectively communicate
with the upper and lower water space of the boiler.
The spiral tubes are by preference made helical in form, so as to
throw the heat against the sides of the flue of the boiler. In the case
of vertical boilers we provide a baffle plate at the lower part of the
uptake to throw the heat back against the crown of the furnace or
fire-box.
Our Invention can be used as a steam pumping engine for any of the
various useful purposes for which steam pumps are applicable, also as
a propeller for navigable vessels, particularly for vessels navigating
shallow and contracted waters, such as canals and rivers. From its
compactness, simplicity, and direct action, it is well adapted as a pro-
peller or hydraulic motor for canal boats. It is also applicable for
steering or manoeuvring vessels by injecting or ejecting water on either
side of such vessel, as will be understood.
In action, the suction or inlet water is taken direct from the sea,
river, or canal. In the case of leakage, collision, or otherwise, the
suction or inlet water may be taken from the vessel itself, as will be
understood.
The part of our Invention which relates to the compounding of the
steam cylinder and the arrangement of parts connected therewith is
applicable to the cylinders of steam engines generally, when used for
other purposes than those particularly described in the before-going
Specification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Davies and Stanley Wilson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 2nd May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
DAVIES and STANLEY WILSON, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in

page_text: the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Edward Davies and Stanley
Wilson, Her special licence that we, the said Edward Davies and
Stanley Wilson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Edward Davies and Stanley Wilson, our exc-
cutors, 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, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING NAVIGABLE VESSELS, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Edward Davies and
Stanley Wilson, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edward Davies and Stanley
Wilson do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
11
11

page_text: according to our Invention, when such engine is used for propelling
navigable vessels.
A steam pumping engine constructed according to our Invention may
consist of a steam cylinder, which is set or placed between two water
cylinders or pumps, or opposite and at the end of a water cylinder or
cylinders being pumps. The steam cylinder is arranged to use the steam
compoundedly, namely, at a high pressure direct from the boiler on one
side of the piston and at one end of the cylinder, and at a low pressure
and expansively at the other side of the piston and at the other end of
the cylinder. This result is obtained by providing the piston with a ram
or trunk, which is of size sufficient to reduce the area or steam space at
one end of the cylinder, so that the steam may be expanded from such
end of the cylinder to that end which is not provided with the ram or
trunk. The ports of the cylinder are arranged to supply live steam to
the one or reduced end of the cylinder, and to exhaust from such end
and supply such steam expansively to the other end of the cylinder,
which is fitted with a third or exhaust port leading to a condenser or the
atmosphere. The ram, trunk, piston, or connecting rod takes on to a
cross head or other equivalent, and the action or working of such cross
head actuates the slide valve of the steam cylinder, which is of ordinary
type, or of type such as generally used for steam pumping engines. The
cross head or other equivalent is connected to and works the plungers,
buckets, rams, or pistons of the water cylinders or pumps. These water
cylinders when used for the ordinary purposes of a steam pump are
provided with rams or pistons and suitable suction and dischargo
valves.

page_text: force or eject the water from the water cylinders through the pipes or
passages and stern of the vessel when working. This is the simplest
arrangement for applying our pumping engine as a propeller for navi-
gable vessels, but the same result is arrived at by having the water
cylinders closed at both ends, and fitted as in the case of ordinary steam
pumps, sucking and discharging their water through suitable inlet and
outlet pipes leading respectively from the bow, or sides, or bottom to
the stern of such vessel.
When steam pumping engines constructed according to our Invention
are used for propelling vessels, we provide a condenser for creating a
vacuum in the low-pressure end of the steam cylinder by leading the
steam from the cylinder through pipes or passages, and intermingling it
with the discharge water from the pumps or water cylinders; or wo
lead such steam through or around pipes whose interior or exterior
surface is chilled by contact with the inlet or outlet water of the pumps.
The steam and water cylinders may be placed to work either horizontally
or vertically.
As it is essential in the case of using our Invention for propelling
vessels that the boiler or steam generator for supplying steam to the
steam cylinder should be of comparatively small size, and at the same
time be provided with great heating surface, we place a spirally coiled
pipe or pipes in the case of vertical boilers above the furnace of such
boiler, the lower end of such pipe or pipes being in connection with the
water space at the bottom or near the bottom of such boiler, and the
other or upper end of such pipe or pipes being in connection with the
water space
above the furnace crown of the fire-box of the the boiler.
In the case of horizontal boilers, Cornish, Lancashire, or other type,
we place such spiral tube or tubes in the flue of such boiler, and behind
the furnace. The ends of the tube or tubes respectively communicate
with the upper and lower water space of the boiler.
The spiral tubes are by preference made helical in form, so as to
throw the heat against the sides of the flue of the boiler. In the case of
vertical boilers we provide a baffle plate at the lower part of the up-take
to throw the heat back against the crown of the furnace or fire-box.
Our Invention can be used as a steam pumping engine for any of the
various useful purposes for which steam pumps are applicable; also as

page_text: a propeller for navigable vessels, particularly for vessels navigating
shallow and contracted waters, such as canals and rivers. From its
compactness, simplicity, and direct ation it is well adapted as a pro-
peller or hydraulic motor for canal boats. It is also applicable for
steering or manoeuvring vessels by injecting or ejecting water on either
side of such vessel, as will be understood.
In action the suction or inlet water is taken direct from the sea, river,
or canal. In the case of leakage, collision, or otherwise, the suction or
inlet water may be taken from the vessel itself, as will be understood.
The part of our Invention which relates to the compounding of the
steam cylinder and the arrangement of parts connected therewith is
applicable to the cylinders of steam engines generally when used for
other purposes than those particularly described in the before-going
Specification.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of this our
Invention, we will now proceed to describe more in detail how the same
may be carried out into practical effect, and for that purpose we have
hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters and figures
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation. Like
letters and figures denote similar parts throughout the various views.
Figure 1 is an end elevation, being an outside view of an apparatus
constructed according to our Invention, and arranged as an hydraulic
motor for navigable vessels; Figure 2 is a section through A, B,
Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1, shown partly in section.
Figure 4 is an elevation showing a vertical arrangement of an appa- 2
ratus constructed according to our Invention, shown partly in section;
Figure 5 is a section through C, D, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional clevation of a vertical boiler with our improve-
ments applied thereto.
Upon reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 it will be seen that a steam
pumping engine or hydraulic motor constructed according to our Inven-
tion consists of a steam cylinder A, which is set or placed between two
water cylinders or pumps B, B'. The steam cylinder A is arranged to
use the steam compoundly, namely, at a high pressure direct from the
boiler at one end of the cylinder A at C, and at a low pressure and 3

page_text: expansively at the other end of the cylinder at D. This result is
obtained by providing the piston E with a ram or trunk F of size
sufficient to reduce the steam space at one end of the cylinder A as
at C. The ports of the cylinder A are arranged to supply live steam
through the port G to the end C, and to exhaust from C through G and
through H to the other end D of the cylinder A, and after the steam
has been used expansively at D it is exhausted through H and the
exhaust port I to a condenser or the atmosphere. The ram F is con-
nected to a cross head J, and is fitted with a slipper slide K, and works
the slide valve L by means of suitable gear, such as M. The cross
head J is connected to and works the plungers of the pumps B, B'.
In Figure 3 the pump B' is shown in section. N is the plunger or
bucket; O, suction pipe; P, delivery or discharge pipe.
Where the engine is used as a means for propelling navigable vessels
we fit two discharge pipes P, Q; P for going ahead, Q for going astern.
We also provide a valve R capable of closing the pipe P or Q as may be
required. S is an inlet or suction valve.
In some cases we provide a discharge valve in connection with the
pipes P, Q; and where the engine is used as a steam pump we fit the
valve box at each end of the pumps B, B', with suction and dischargo
valves, and use a solid plunger or piston at N in lieu of the bucket
shown.
We provide a condenser for creating a vacuum in the low-pressure
end D of the cylinder A by leading the oxhaust steam from the port I
into the discharge end of the pumps B, B', so that such exhaust steam
mingles with the discharge water from the pumps; or we lead such
steam through pipes whose surface is chilled by contact with the inlet
or outlet water of the pumps B, B¹.
Upon reference to Figures 4 and 5, which show a vertical arrange.
ment of our Invention, the water cylinders or pumps B, B', are con-
nected at the bottom ends to any suitable arrangement of suction and
discharge valves and pipes, the top of the cylinders at T being used as
condensers, namely, the exhaust steam from the part D of the cylinder A
is led into the part T of the pumps B, B'; it is there condensed by a jet
or spray of cold water, and discharged through a suitable valve on the

page_text: side or top of the pumps, and is taken away with the discharge water of
the pumps.
The arrangement shown at Figures 4 and 5 show our Invention
worked with a trunk F, a crank U, shaft V, and eccentric W.
Upon reference to Figure 6 our Invention, as relating to boilers or
steam generators, consists in the application of the spiral coiled pipes X,
which are placed above the furnace Z, one end of each pipe at Y being
in connection with the water space above the furnace crown, and the
other end of the pipes at Y' being in connection with the water space
near the bottom of the boiler.
In application an apparatus constructed according to our Invention,
such as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3, is so placed in a navigable vessel
that the pipes O lead to the forward end of such vessel, and the pipes P
to the after end of such vessel. The pipes Q return and discharge to the
forward end of such vessel. Water is drawn into the cylinders B, B¹, by 1
the action of the plungers or buckets N, and is discharged through the
pipes P or Q for going ahead or astern, as the case may be.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and
purposes of our Invention, and shown how the same may be carried out
into practical effect, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to any particular dimensions of the parts, as shown in the
Drawings, nor to the identical arrangement, as shown in the Drawings,
as the same may be varied without departing from our Invention; but
what we claim as our Invention is,―
Firstly. The combination and construction of a steam cylinder, such
as A, with water cylinders, such as B, B', constructed respectively as
herein described, and arranged in relation to each other as set forth for
the purposes specified.
Secondly. A steam cylinder, such as A, fitted with a ram or trunk,
such as F, and arranged to work compoundly, in manner as herein-
before described and set forth.
Thirdly. The combination and construction of a steam cylinder, such
as A, and water cylinders or pumps, such as B, B', as shown in Figures 4
and 5, constructed respectively as herein described, and arranged to
work in relation to each other in manner and for the purposes specified.

page_text: Fourthly. The improvement applicable to boilers or steam generators
consisting of the application of a pipe or pipes, such as X, arranged in a
steam boiler in manner as shown at Figure 6, for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Davies and Stanley
Wilson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
EDWARD (L.S.) DAVIES.
STANLEY (L.S.) WILSON.