IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON- TROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF MARINE ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Smith, of No. 436, Euston Road, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON-
TROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF MARINE ENGINES."
Sealed the 23rd November 1877, and dated the 5th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1877.
JAMES HENRY SMITH, of No. 436, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF
MARINE ENGINES."
i
My Invention has for its object to prevent the "racing" of marine engines
when by the pitching of the vessel, or by the passing of large waves, the screw
propeller is for the time raised partly or wholly out of the water, whereby the
work is more or less entirely taken off the engines. For this purpose I fix at or
near the stern of the ship, either inside or outside the same, a vertical cylinder or
tube, the lower end of which communicates with the water outside,. and in .this
tube I provide a float having a rod, which is connected by a cord, chain, or other
suitable means of connection to the lever of a throttle or equilibrium valve on the
steam pipe of the engines in such manner that when the float falls in the pipe the
valve will be thereby caused to closo and cut off the supply of steam to the- engines,
while when the float rises again the valve will be opened.
The said float is so arranged in the tube relatively to the water line of the vessel,
that so long as the propeller is under water the float shall also be under water
and prevented from rising beyond a certain point, either by stops in tlie tube, or
by other suitable known means. Thus, so long as the propeller is under water, no
rolling or pitching of the vessel will cause the float to rise or fall, and any unneces-
sary actuation of the throttle valve of the engine will by this means be prevented,
the said valve being under such circumstances held permanently in its open position
by the float, and being only actuated when either by the raising of the stern out-of
A

page_text: the water, or by the passing of a large wave, sufficient to uncover the propeller
wholly or partially, the water sinks in the tube to such an extent as to allow the
float to fall away from its stops.
SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions. of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Henry Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd December 1877.
"
JAMES HENRY SMITH, of: No. 436, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED
OF MARINE ENGINES."
My Invention has for its object to prevent the "racing" of marine engines
when by the pitching of the vessel, or by the passing of large waves, the screw
propeller is for the time raised partly or wholly out of the water, whereby the work
is more or less entirely taken off the engines. For this purpose I fix at or near
the stern of the ship, either inside or outside the same, a vertical cylinder or tube,
the lower end of which communicates with the water outside, and in. this tube I
provide a float having a rod, which is connected by a cord, chain, or other suitable
ineans of connection to the lever of a throttle or equilibrium valve on the steam
pipe of the engines in such manner that when the float falls in the pipe the valve
will be thereby caused to close and cut off the supply of steam to the engines, while
.when the float rises again the valve will be opened.
The said float is so arranged in the tube relatively to the water line of the vessel,
that so long as the propeller is under water the float shall also be under water, and
prevented from rising beyond a certain point, either by stops in the tube, or by
other suitable known means. Thus so long as the propeller is under water no
rolling or pitching of the vessel will cause the float to rise or fall, and any unneces-
sary actuation of the throttle valve of the engine will by this means be prevented,
the said valve being under such circumstances held permanently in its open position
by the float, and being only actuated when either by the raising of the stern out
of the water, or by the passing of a large wave, sufficient to uncover the propeller
wholly or partially, the water sinks in the tube to such an extent as to allow the
float to fall away from its stops.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews a part longitudinal section of a steamship with my Invention applied
thereto; and Fig. 2 shews an end view of the governing apparatus.
A is the tube or cylinder containing the float or piston B working loosely therein,
the tube being open at its lower end B' to the water outside at a point by preference
near the propeller C, so that as long as the propeller. is. immersed in the water. the
float will be kept up by the upward pressure. of the water against the stop D fixed
in the tube, the said stops being fixed at a point level with or somewhat below the

page_text: to the lever of the throttle valve I of the steam pipe. Thus it will be seen that so
long as the propeller is immersed the float will be maintained in the position shewn
on the Drawing, keeping the throttle valve full open, as shewn in full lines at
Fig. 2; but as soon as by the pitching of the vessel, or by the passing of the wave,
the screw is partially or wholly uncovered, the water will sink to a corresponding
extent in the tube so as to allow the float to fall, and this will cause the spindle Ğ
to turn so as to effect the closing of the throttle valve as indicated by the dotted
lines. It will be evident that instead of controlling the float by means of stops
inside the tube or cylinder B, this may be effected by stops acting either upon the
spindle or the connecting levers of the apparatus.
The lever F may be provided with a counterweight, as shewn, for partially
balancing the weight of the float; and in order to reduce the power required for
turning the spindle G as much as possible when this is of any considerable length,
it may be supported on antifriction rollers instead of in ordinary bearings. If
necessary, a second throttle valve or equilibrium valve may be provided in the
steam pipe, operated by the ordinary engine governor. If necessary the stops D
may be made adjustable in height in the tube B so as to allow the position
of the float relatively to the tops of the propeller blades being adjusted as may be
found desirable.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim generally the
use, for regulating the supply of steam to marine engines, of a float contained within
a tube or cylinder communicating with the outer water and connected to the throttle
or other valve of the steam pipe, but I claim so controlling the movement of the
said float by stops or equivalent means that it can only move downwards so as to
close the throttle valve when the propeller is partially or wholly out of water, sub-
stantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
J. H. SMITH. (L.S.)