IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Turuer, of Park Street, Mile End, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH
33
Sealed the 4th November 1859, and dated the 5th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Turner, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
May 185..
I, HENRY TURNER, of Park Street, Mile End, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:--
This Invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively to marine steam
engines, and consists in constructing and fitting steam cylinders of larger
diameter than ordinarily employed on board of ships and other vessels, and in
other similar situations; and by means of the arrangement and apparatus
hereafter described, admitting and employing and using the steam within the
cylinder at its full pressure for only a very small part or portion of the travel
of the piston within such cylinder, after which it is allowed to expand, and
aided by the vacuum on its opposite side, the piston moves or travels to the
end of the cylinder, and thus performs its full stroke; but instead of employing

page_text: the ordinary air pump and injection condenser, arrangements heretofore in use
I substitute the novel arrangement of apparatus hereafter described, by the
introduction of which I am enabled to effect considerable economy in boiler
room, and in the consumption of fuel necessary for generating or producing a
given amount of power in engines constructed and worked as heretofore
Instead of the ordinary air pump and condensing arrangements ordinarily
employed, I construct a rectangular or other suitable form of vessel, and I fill
it with a series of cellular passages or sheet spaces for the purpose of exposing
as large a heat-abstracting surface as possible; and I so arrange this frame or
case containing these cells or sheet spaces within the outer rectangular or other
form of box or casing, that they may be readily got at or removed therefrom
either for examination, cleansing, or repair; and I connect these cells by means
of a flange or other connection to the exhaust steam pipe from the main
cylinders; and I either construct two or more seperate and distinct sets of cells,
one for each cylinder, or provide the means of shutting off communication
between the cells and either of the cylinders or their exhaust pipes. The steam
conducted from the exhaust ports of each cylinder enters these cells or sheet
spaces, and upon coming in contact therewith becomes condensed and falls to
the bottom, where the condensed water is collected in a suitable chamber or
reservoir, from which it is pumped; the inner surfaces of the cells or sheet
spaces contain the steam for condensation and abstract the heat therefrom,
their outer surfaces being surrounded with the cold condensing water, which is
caused to circulate between and through amongst them.
In the same outer case which contains the frames, cases, or cells, as before
described, or attached to or connected therewith is a centrifugal wheel or fan
revolving freely within a casing or chamber suitably formed for it to work in;
the bottom of this lattercase has a central opening or space for the admissionof
water, and at the periphery of the wheel, the fanner or centrifugal machine,an
opening is made in the case for the flow or escape of water (from this case)
into the surface condenser, and through amongst the cells or sheet spaces, and
escapes at the same or any other level by means of an outlet pipe, for the
discharge of the water which has abstracted the heat previously contained in
the steam exhausted from the engineor engines, and from thecondensed water,
which is thus cooled down so as to enable it to be pumped back and employed
as feed water for the boilers. I prefer to rotate the fan or centrifugal wheel
by an independent or donkey steam engine, which may work the air pump and
feed pump or pumps; the steam employed towork the independent or donkey
engines, is likewise made to exhaust into the surface condenser. The high
vacuum which is thus attainable,is employed upon the greatlyincreased area

page_text: of the main piston, and the engines being employed solely in working or
rotating the propelling apparatus or machinery, instead of as ordinarily
employed in working the ordinary air pumparrangements; in addition thereto,
the power generated and employed in the steam cylinders is thus entirely
available for the purpose for which it is required. The steam is by means of
suitable expansion gear cut off at but a small portion of the stroke, say one-
tenth to one-sixth, and by the arrangement of the ports and slide valve, the
vacuum is permitted to act fully upon the opposite side of the piston.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
TURNER, of Park Street, Mile End, Engineer, send greeting
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Turner, Her special licence that the said Hcury
Turner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Turner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 IMPROVE.
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Turner, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 calender months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Turner, do hereby declare the
nature of said mylnvention, and in what mauner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings:-

page_text: The economy incident to the generation and use of high-pressure steam, as
compared with that resulting from the generation of steam at low pressures,
and its use in steam engines, is now commonly recognized; and the tendency
of steam engineering, more especially marine steam engineering, at the
present time, is, to generate steam of higher pressure, increase the working
pressure, and work expansively; but, inasmuch, as this either involves a total
change of construction, or such important modifications in the construction and
proportions of the machinery, as to render it totally impossible to employ high-
pressure steam therein, the economy pertaining to the generation of high-
pressure steam cannot, according to the present modes of applying it, be fully
taken advantage of.
Now, the object sought to be attained by the present Invention are, the
economic employment of high-pressure steam, which has been generated by
any suitable means, by using it in the highest degree expansively in low-
pressure engines,as herein-after described; and also in the economical treatment
of the steam after it has performed its work in the cylinder or cylinders of a
steam engine by the employment of surface condensation effected by a novel
arrangement of surface condenser and centrifugal water-circulating apparatus,
as herein-after described; and also by further economizing fuel and securing
the continuous supply exclusively of fresh feed water to the boilers of marine
and other engines by making up the waste arising from leakages and other
causes, by means of a novel contrivance or apparatus designed for the purpose,
as herein-after described.
This Invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to marine
steam engines, and consists in constructing and fitting steam cylinders of
larger diameter than ordinarily employed on board of ships and other vessels,
and in other similar situations; and by means of the arrangement and appa-
ratus hereafter described, admitting and employing or using the steam within
the cylinder or cylinders from the steam pipe or expansion box at any suitable
pressure, for only a very small part or portion of the travel of the piston within
such cylinder, after which it is allowed again to expand, and being aided by the
vacuum on its opposite side, the piston moves or travels to the end of the
cylinder, and thus performs its full stroke. But instead of employing the
ordinary air pump and injection condeuser arrangements heretofore in use, I
substitute the novel arrangement of apparatus hereafter described, by the
introduction of which I am enabled to effect considerable economy in boiler
room, and in the consumption of fuel necessary for generating or producing a
given amount of power in engines constructed and worked as heretofore.
Instead of the ordinary air pump and condensing arrangements, as ordinarily

page_text: employed, I construct a rectangular or other suitable form of vessel, and I fill
it with a series of cellular passage or sheet spaces, for the purpose of exposing
as large a heat-abstracting surface as possible; and I so arrange this frame or
case containing these cells or sheet spaces within the outer rectangular or other
form of box or casing, that they may be readily got at or removed therefrom,
either for examination, cleansing, or repair; and I connect these cells by
means of a flange or other connection, to the exhaust steam pipe from the
main cylinders; and I either construct two or more separate and distinct sets,
of cells, one for eich cylinder, or I provide the means of shutting off com-
munication between the cells and either of the cylinders ortbeirexhaustpipes.
The steam conducted from the exhaust ports of each cylinder enters these cells
or sheet spaces,and upon coming in contact therewith, becomes condensedand
falls to the bottom, where the condensed water is collected in a suitable
chamber or reservoir, from which it is pumped. The inner surfaces of the
cells or sheet spaces contain the steam for condensation, and abstract the heat
therefrom, their outer surfaces being surrounded with the cold condensing
water, which is caused to circulate between and through amongst them.
In the same outer case which contains the frames, cases, or cells, as before
described,or attached to or connected therewith, is a centrifugal wheel or fan,
revolving freely within a casing or chamber suitably formed for it to work in;
the bottom of this latter case has a central opening or space for the admission
of water, and at the periphery of the wheel, fanner, or centrifugal machine an
opening is made in the case for the flow or escape of water (from this case)
into the surface condenser, and through amongst the cells or sheet spaces, and
escapes at the same or any other level, by means of an outlet pipe for the
discharge of the water which has abstracted the heat previously contained in
the steam exhausted from the engine or engines and from thecondensedwater,
which is thus cooled down so as to enable it to be pumped back and employed
as feed water for the boilers.
I prefer to rotate the fan or centrifugal wheel or pump by an independent
or donkey steam engine, which may work the air pump and feed pump or
pumps; the steam employed to work the independent or donkey engines is
likewise made to exhaust into the surface condenser. The high vacuum
which is thus attainable is employed upon the arca of the main piston; and
the engines being employed solely in working or rotating the propellingappa-
ratus or machinery, instead of as ordinarily employed in working the ordinary
air-pump arrangements in addition thereto; thepowergeneratedandemployed
in the steam cylinders is thus entirely available for the purpose for which it
iareunired

page_text: The supply of high pressure steam is admitted under regulation, and by
means of suitable expansion boxes orchests, is first permitted to expand, and
then, by means of suitable gear, cut off at but a small portion of the stroke,
say one-tenth to one-sixth, and is permitted freely to expand within the
cylinder throughout the whole length of the stroke of the piston, and by the
arrangement of the ports and slide value the vacuum is permitted to act fully
upon the opposite side of the piston.
In describing the mode or method which I prefer to employ in applying my
Invention in practice, I propose to select, by way of illustration, its application
to an ordinary form of marine steam engine, suitable for driving a screw
propeller,and as applicable for use in ships of war. Although, of course, by
suitable modifications in the form or character of the engine and dispositionof
its parts, my Invention may be applied to other forms of engines, and to
engines for other purposes. I will, therefore now, first proceed to describe
generally, the mode which I prefer to employ in adapting my Invention to
a horizontal marine engine, and afterwards describe the views of the several
parts of my Invention, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
The steam is generated in one or more high-pressure boilers, to what is
termed, by way of distinction,a high-pressure (say from forty pounds pressure
on the square inch to one hundred pounds and upwards. The steam is first
caused to pass, by the introduction of a steam pipe, into a receiver formed of
two separate chambers or compartments, the first of these chambers or com-
partments into which the steam is first adnitted, is of a capacity equal to the
amount of steam required to be used for every half stroke of the engine; the
capacity of the second chamber is regulated by the pressure whichmaybedeter-
mined upon as the working pressure on the piston atthe beginningof itsstroke.
The steam enters the first chamber through an opening communicating with
the boiler; this opening is fitted with a slide or other valve, worked by the
engine by means of an eccentric and rod, and is so arranged as to fill the first
chamber with high-pressure steam during the time steam is cut off from the
cylinder by the main slide valve; there is also an opening forming a commu-
nication between the two chambers, which is also fitted with a slide valve, or
other valve so arranged as to be open all the time during the stroke of the
piston of the engine, except at the time when the valve for the supply of the
steam from the boiler is itself open to steam.
It is intended that the whole of this apparatus shall be enclosed in a steam
jacket filled with high-pressure steam from the boiler, so as to keep up or
maintain the temperature of the working steam in its passage to the cylinder.
The steam having by its expansion in the chamber provided for it, been

page_text: "
reduced to a pressure equivalent to what is known as "low-pressure steam
before its power is brought to bear on the piston of the engine, will, through
the
agency of steam jacketings, still retain approximately, the temperature of
high-pressure steam, also the total quantity of steam contained in the expansion
vessel, which is not subject to any cooling influence, will keep mixing with
that in the cylinder during its expansion, and thus condensation will be
retarded, and expansion will therefore be carried on beneficially to a very great
degree, and the working parts of the engine need only be of a strength
suitable for low-pressure engines.
The second chamber is shewn in the Drawings as being fitted with an
escape valve to regulate the pressure in that compartment. The high vacuum
obtainable by the surface condenser, fitted with the centrifugal pump apparatus
for rapidly circulating a very great increased volume of condensing water,
when taken into account together with the advantages of higher pressure in
the boilers, fresh heated feed water, and also the leaving the main engine free
te exert its power exclusively in driving the propelling machinery, will secure
for the present arrangementan amount of coal economy which has not hitherto
been attained.
The full supply of fresh water from the condenser to the boiler is to be kept
up in the following manner, the principle being that of boiling water in a
vacuum by means of the exhaust steam; and this apparatus is provided to
make up for loss occasioned by leakage, and loss from the escape of waste
steam through the safety valve,and from other sources of waste, the description
of which apparatus is as follows:-A series of tubes (as in the surface con-
deuser) are so arranged as to abut into or connect two seperate chambers.
These are filled with sea water; the top chamber is provided with a pipe
leading to the condenser for the purpose of carrying off the vapour, which is
therefore very readily generated under the influence of a vacuum. The
exterior surfaces of the tubes are exposed to the heating influence of the
exhaust steam in its passage from the cylinder to the condenser; the bottom
chamber in connection with the salt water is provided with a blow-off cock,
and the supply pipe from the sea is furnished with a valve and regulator, and
also with a water guage; the whole is made so as to be easily cleaned out.
I also insert in the exhaust pipes a somewhat similar form or arrangement of
apparatus(but without the float and shut-off valve) for heating the feed water
before it is permitted to enter the boiler. But for the construction and employ-
ment of this feed water heating apparatus I make no claim, as I am aware
that the same has heretofore been suggested, and may possibly have been put
into practice.

page_text: As I have already stated, and herein-before in part described, my Invention
of improvements in steam engines combine a novel mode of applying or using
high-pressure steam in low-pressure cylinders or engines; also the application
of a centrifugal pump or apparatus to a surface condenser, for the purpose of
driving through a larger quantity of water, and causing it to circulate rapidly
through amongst the cellular spaces contained in the vessel which is used to
condense the steam by surface condensation, and also an apparatus applied in
the exhaust pipe for the purpose of providing distilled water for the boilers, to
make up for loss through leakage, &c. (the principle whereof being that of
evaporating water in a vacuum).
The description of the views in the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings
relating to the several parts of my said Invention is as follows:-The steam is,
as herein-before mentioned, generated in the boilers at what is termed high-
pressure, and is reduced to a lower pressure by expansion before its power is
brought to bear on the piston of the engine by means of the apparatus shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1. The quantity of high-pressure steam required for a
half stroke of the piston is, so to say, measured out after leaving the boiler in
a vessel or chamber of suitable capacity to contain the same, provided and
applied as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, the steam is afterwards expanded
to an extent suitable to give the pressure determined upon as the initial or
working pressure at the beginning of the stroke of the piston; by this
means the shock that would ensue if the full force of the high-pressure steam
was allowed to act directly on a large surface of piston is thereby avoided, at
the same time the advantages derived from high-pressure steam, as to its
generation and the extent of expansion, are still retained.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional view and plan of the apparatus for the
expansion of steam; A is the high-pressure chamber; B is the valve which
gives communication with the boiler; C is a valve which, when open, allows
the high-pressure steam contained in the chamber A to expand in its passage
to the cylinder. Both these valves are shewn as worked in common by an
eccentric and rod, but they may be worked seperately. The high-pressure
chamber is filled with steam during the time that the communication with the
cylinder is cut off by the lap on the main slide valve. The peculiarities of
this arrangement have herein-before been described; Fig. 2 is an elevation of
the slide valve casing, as in Fig.1,showing a section through the high-pressure
chamber ; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.
Sheet 2 refers to the surface condenser with centrifugal pump or apparatus
for rapidly circulating a greatly increased volume of water for condensing the
exhaust steam.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of the condenser, showing a section through the
tubes or sheet spaces. Metal bars or division pieces are fixed or rivetted
between the thin metal plates; these are inserted to prevent collapse; and it also
shows the centrifugal apparatus. Fig. 2 is an outside view in plan of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of the condenser, air pump, and
centrifugal pump or apparatus for driving the condensing water through the
condenser.
The steam after having done its duty in the cylinder passes through the
eduction pipes into the top chamber D of the condenser, and from thence into
a series of tubes or cells E, E, &c., which are made of thin metal; they are
surrounded by cold water drawn from the sea or other sufficient source of
supply; the water is caused to circulate through the condenser by means of
the centrifugal pump, which may be worked by an engine fitted for the purpose,
or by the main engines themselves. The bottom end of these tubes or sheet
spaces lead into a chamber G common to all of them; this chamber is in com-
munication with a small air pump,fitted with foot, bucket, and delivery valves,
as shewn in the views, Figs. 3 and 4. The whole of this surface condenser
apparatus is so constructed as to be easily got at for the purpose of cleaning
out, examination, or repair.
In Sheet 1, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, shew an apparatus for the purpose of
supplying distilled water to make up for waste occasioned by leakage, &c.;
salt water is drawn from the sea by the vacuum which is formed in the con-
denser, and passes into a series of cells or tubes similar to those used in the
surface condenser. The top chamber H is put in communication with the
condenser by means of the pipe I; the outside surface of these tubes is in
contact with the exhaust steam during its passage from the cylinder to the
condenser. The vessel containing the sea water being acted upon by the
vacuum in the condenser, will generate vapour at a very low temperature;
and this vapour, as in a still, will pass into the condenser, and will there be
turned again into water, but will be pure and fresh; from thence it will be
pumped out by the air pump, and in conjunction with the fresh water produced
from the condensed steam in the surface condenser, will supply the boilers
with amply sufficient fresh feed water.
The apparatus last described and shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 5, Sheet 1, is pro-
vided with a guage glass, and also with a float to regulate the supply of sea
water. K is the suction pipe from the sea, which also serves the purpose of a
blow-off pipe; upon the steam being admitted into the top chamber of the appa-
ratus through the pipe L(the communication with the condenser having been

page_text: previously cut off by means of a cock or valve fitted to the pipe I), it will
expel the sea water when found to be saturated with too much salt.
Fig. 1, Sheet 3, is an end elevation of a marine steam engine showing the
arrangement and application of the several improvements thereto according to
my Invention; Fig. 2 being a plan of the same.
The mode or method herein-before described of using high-pressure steam
to low pressure is applicable to land as well as marine engines.
The application of a centrifugal pump to the condensers of steam engines
is also applicable to land engines when a sufficiently good supply of water can
be obtained.
Having now described this Invention and illustrated by the accompanying
three Sheets of Drawings the mode in which I prefer to employ the same for
the purpose herein set forth, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim
the exclusive use or employment of a surface condenser or condensers how-
soever such condensers may be constructed, applied, or worked; nor do I
claim the use of agitators or the giving motion to the condensed or the
condensing water in surface condensers, as described; neither do I make any
claim for the mechanical construction of the several parts ofthe machinery or
apparatus herein described, except when used or employed in manner herein
set;th; nor do I confine myself to the exact form, configuration, proportion,
or disposition of the several parts of the machinery or apparatus herein
described, as any or either of the same may be varied to suit them for the
particular purpose, position, or application for which they are required; but
what I claim, is,―
First, the novel construction and arrangement of parts and mode of working
steam engines, as herein described, whereby high-pressure steam may be
advantageously used or employed in condensing engines.
Second, the employment of one or more separate or combined expansion
boxes or chests between the boiler or boilers and the cylinder or cylinders of
a steam engine, as herein described and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third, the novel construction and mode of working surface condensers, as
herein described.
Fourth, the combination of a centrifugal pump or wheel with a surface
condenser for producing the passage of a larger volume, and a more rapid
circulation of condensing water therethrough.
Fifth, the novel arrangement herein described for vapourizing salt water
under vacuum by means of the exhaust steam, for the purpose of making good
the waste of steam and fresh water from leakage and other causes, and for

page_text: increasing the quantity of fresh feed water available for the supply of the
boilers of marine and other team engines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Turner, have hereunto set. my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
HENRY TURNER. (L.S.)

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