Improvements in Steam Connections for the Engines of Grab Dredgers and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Steam Connections for the Engines of Grab
Dredgers and the like.
I, ALFRED HEDGES BEASLEY, of Rockingham Iron Works, Uxbridge, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
to be as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the necessity for
indiarubber or other flexible connections is obviated in cases where the steam or
other fluid is supplied to an engine which is required to swivel or otherwise
move in one or more directions, and is more especially intended for use in supply-
ing steam to and removing it from the cylinders of what are known as grab
dredgers and other similar machinery.
For this purpose the steam cylinder is provided with gudgeons in such a
manner that it is free to oscillate or turn to the required extent. These gudgeons
are carried in a frame which may also be provided with gudgeons carried in
suitable bearings on the jib of the grab dredger, for example, or other fixed part
of the engine frame, the whole forming a combination somewhat like the gimbals
of a marine compass. Steam is conducted to or from the outer gudgeons by
pipes which are connected to other pipes or passages carried on or formed in the
beforementioned oscillating frame, by suitable swivel-joints which form steam-
tight but flexible connections between the steam supply or exhaust pipes and
the pipes or passages on or in the said oscillating frame. These last named
pipes or passages are placed in communication with the steam cylinder by means
of similar joints at the gudgeons by which the cylinder is carried in the said
oscillating frame.
T
1
Improvements in Steam Connections for the Engines of Grab
Dredgers and the like.
I, ALFRED HEDGES BEASLEY, of Rockingham Iron Works, Uxbridge, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d.1

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement : —
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the necessity for
indiarubber or other flexible connections is, obviated in cases where the steam or
other fluid is supplied to an engine which is required to swively in one or more
directions, and is more especially intended for use in supplying steam to and
removing it from the cylinders of what are known as grab dredgers and other
similar machinery.
For this purpose, the steam cylinder is provided with gudgeons in such a
manner that it is free to oscillate or turn to the required extent. These gudgeons
are carried in a frame which is also provided with gudgeons carried in suitable
bearings on the jib of the grab dredger, for example, or other fixed part of the
engine frame, the whole, forming a combination somewhat like the gimbals of
a marine compass. Steam is conducted to or from the outer gudgeons by pipes
which are connected to other pipes or passages carried on or formed in the
beforementioned oscillating frame by suitable swivel-joints which form steam-
tight but flexible connections between the steam supply or exhaust pipes and the
pipes or passages on or in the said oscillating frame. These last named pipes
or passages are placed in communication with the steam cylinder by means of
similar joints at the gudgeons by which the cylinder is carried in the said oscil-
lating frame.
+
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood. I will now
proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings
in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of the steam cylinder of a grab
dredger with my improved 'steam connections applied thereto, and Figure 2 is
a sectional plan of same taken on the line X-X of Figure 1.
A represents part of the steam' cylinder which is carried by the hollow
gudgeons B, B free to turn in corresponding bearings in the frame C... This
frame C is provided with hollow gudgeons DD which are free to turn in corre-
sponding bearings in the ends E of the jib of the grab dredger. It will be seen
in Figure 2 that the gudgeons B 13 stand at right angles to the gudgeons D D¹
so that the steam cylinder A is free to swing in two planes at right angles to
each other. F is a pipe connecting the gudgeon B with the upper end of the
steam cylinder A, and G is a pipe connecting the gudgeon B₁ with the lower
end of the steam cylinder A. H is a pipe or passage in the frame C which opens
at one end into the gudgeon D, and terminates at its other end in a pipe H¹
which enters a stuffing box in the gudgeon B, a steam-tight joint being made
by a gland H2 and packing in the usual way. I is a pipe which passes up the
jib E and terminates in a stuffing box in the end of the gudgeon D of the frame C,
a steam tight joint being made by a gland I¹ and packing in the usual way.
It will be understood that the hollow gudgeon B forms a communication, between
the pipe and the pipe H¹, and that there is a similar connection between the
passage H and the pipe I.
The pipe G is connected in a similar way through the hollow gudgeon B¹
with a pipe J opening into a stuffing-box in that gudgeon and made steam-tight
therein by a gland J. The pipe J' is connected by a pipe J2 with a passage in
the frame C similar to the passage H and which terminates in a stuffing-box in
the gudgeon D' of the frame C into which stuffing box the end of the pipe K
passes steam-tight through the gland K¹.
The pipes I and K are connected at their other ends with a valve box or other
suitable device by means of which either of those pipes can be put into com-
munication with the steam boiler or with the atmosphere according as it is to be
used as a steam or as an exhaust pipe..
It will now be understood that if the pipe I is put into communication with
the boiler and the pipe K with the atmosphere, steam will flow through the pipe I,
passage H, pipe H and pipe F to the upper.end of the cylinder A in order to force

page_text: the piston downwards, the steam from below the piston escaping through the
pipe G, pipes J, J2, passage in the frame C, and pipe K to the atmosphere. If
on the contrary he pipe K is put into communication with the boiler and the
pipe with the atmosphere steam will be admitted through pipe G to the lower
end of the cylinder A to force the piston upwards, and the steam above the piston
will be exhausted through the pipe F.
By the arrangements above described the connections with the steam cylinder
are effected by means of metallic or other rigid pipes and passages instead of
indiarubber or other flexible connections as heretofore.
In the above description it has been assumed that the motive fluid is steam;
but it is obvious that similar connections may be employed in cases where other
motive fluid, such as water for example, is employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire to have it
understood that I am aware that it is not novel to mount the cylinders of grab
dredgers and the like on gudgeons in a ring or frame which is itself mounted
on gudgeons in a frame or on the jib ends, but, so far as I am aware, the connee-
tions to the cylinders have heretofore been made direct with indiarubber or other
flexible pipes and I make no claim to such arrangements; but I declare that what
I do claim is:-
1
First. In the engines or cylinders of grab dredgers and the like which are
required to swivel in more than one direction, the means of effecting the connec-
tions for the delivery of the motive fluid to and from such engines or cylinders,
which consists in mounting the cylinder on hollow gudgeons turning in a frame
which is itself mounted on hollow gudgeons turning in another frame or support,
and in making the connections by means of metallic or other rigid pipes and
passages through the said gudgeons and frame, substantially as described.
Second. In the engines or cylinders of grab dredgers and the like which are
required to swivel in more than one direction constructing the frame in which
the cylinder is mounted on gudgeons, with inlet and outlet passages, substantially
as described.
Third. The improved connections for the engines of grab dredgers and the like,
constructed and applied substantially as described.
LOAD
v 10 και
of August 100.
A. H. BEASLEY,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.