IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF THE ENGINES AND PROPELLERS OF SCREW-STEAMERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ignatz Kosztovits, of Wieselburg, Hungary, for an
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE
SPEED OF THE ENGINES AND PROPELLERS OF SCREW-STEAMERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ignatz Kosztovits at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
IGNATZ KOSZTOVITS, of Wieselburg, Hungary. “IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF THE ENGINES AND PROPEllers of
SCREW-STEAMERS."
One of the greatest inconveniences experienced in the working of screw-steamers
arises from the fact that it is very difficult to keep the engines in regular steady
motion when the vessel is in a high sea, or when travelling against the wind. The
propelling screw under these and similar circumstances does not constantly remain
under water, and at each immersion of the screw, that is to say, every time it
plunges into the water, the sudden resistance it meets with in revolving is so great
that without some special contrivance, it not only becomes impossible to keep up a
steady motion of the engine, but the screw itself is frequently liable to be broken.
Of all contrivances heretofore designed to prevent these inconveniences not one
has given satisfaction when practically put to the test.
This Invention relates to simple and effective apparatus for rendering the
admission of steam into the engine dependent on the position of the propelling
screw in relation to the surrounding water, and is carried into practice as follows,
that is to say :-
I place in the stern of the screw-steamer a vertical pipe descending nearly to the
screw-shaft, above which it is bifurcated, one branch extending on each side in
such a manner that the ends of both branches will communicate with the sea
through the steamer's sides. The apertures of these pipes are protected by
perforated plates in order to prevent their being obstructed. In the said vertical
pipe I place a float connected with the steam-admission valve, or with the
expansion valve of the engine in such a manner that whenever the float descends
the steam admission valve is proportionally shut, or the expansion valve caused to
cut off the steam sooner. The rising or descending of the float depends on the
77

page_text: level of the water in the vertical pipe, that is to say, on the draught of water.
astern, and consequently upon the depth of the screw's immersion, therefore the
application of this contrivance must necessarily cause the admission valve to be
shut at each emersion of the propelling screw.
The connection of the said float with the admission-valve may be effected in
various manners. I may employ flexible connections, such as cords, string, chains,
or the like, or rigid connections, such as levers or rods. When using flexible
connections the float is secured to the end of a cord, string, or the like, the other
end of which passes around a pulley situated above the vertical pipe, and is thence
conducted to a horizontal pulley, from which it passes along the side of the vessel
to the steam admission valve or to the expansion-valve, whereon the string or cord.
acts by means of a convenient arrangement of levers connected with a counter-
balance. For this purpose I attach to the axis or spindle of the steam admission
valve, or of the contrivance serving to change the degree of expansion of steam in
the engine, a bent lever, one arm of which is provided with a weight designed to
overcome the friction on the said axis or spindle, and to keep up the equilibrium of
the float and the whole moving connections. The other arm of the lever is
provided at its end with a slot, wherein is placed a pin or stud fastened to one end
of another lever oscillating on an intermediate axis. The opposite end of this lever
is connected with the string or cord, and consequently participates in the motion of
the float. It is evident that a part of the string or cord may be replaced by wire,
wire-rope, a chain, a metal rod, or the like.
In employing rigid connections no counter-balance is required. In this case the
float is firmly fixed to an inflexible metallic rod, one end of which coming out of
the vertical pipe moves in a slot provided in one arm of a bent lever, whose other
arm acts by means of a rod upon the steam admission valve or upon the expansion
valve, as hereinbefore explained.
It is evident that the cord or rod may also be connected with some safety
apparatus, such for instance, as an electric bell.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ignatz Kosztovits in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
November 1880.
IGNATZ KOSZTOVITS, of Wieselburg, Hungary. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING OR CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF THE ENGINES AND PROPELLERS OF
SCREW-STEAMERS."
One of the greatest inconveniences experienced in the working of screw-steainers
arises from the difficulty of keeping the engines in regular steady motion in a high
sea, or when running against the tide or wind. The screw-propeller in these cases
does not constantly remain under water, and at each emersion of the screw the
variation in the amount of resistance to its revolution is so great that without
some special contrivance a steady motion of the engine will be impossible, and
moreover the engine is frequently liable to injury.
Of all the contrivances heretofore designed to prevent these inconveniences, none
have given entire satisfaction when practically tested.
This Invention relates to a very simple manner of rendering the admission of
steam into the engine dependent on the position of the screw-propeller in relation
to the surrounding water. The said Invention is carried into practice by means of
the apparatus shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly exterior and partly interior of the stern of a
vessel provided with this Invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 is a vertical section shewing portions of my improved apparatus drawn
to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the same.
In the stern of the screw-steamer is placed the vertical tube a descending nearly
to the screw-shaft b, and bifurcated laterally above the same in such a manner that
the ends of both branches a¹ and a² pass outside through the steamer's sides. The
apertures of the pipes a' and a² are protected by a grating in order to prevent their
clogging or obstruction. In the pipe a is placed the float c, connected with the
steam-admission-valve or the expansion-valve of the engine in such a manner that
as soon as the float c descends or rises the steam-admission-valve or the expansion-
valve is proportionately closed or opened, thus cutting off or admitting the steam.
The rising or descending of the float c depends on the level of the water in the pipe a,
that is to say, on the draught of water astern, and consequently on the depth of
the screw's immersion, therefore the uso of this Invention must necessarily cause the
admission valve to be closed or opened at each emersion or sinking of the propelling
screw.
The up and down movement of the float takes place without a counter-weight,
therefore the float works with the same weight upward and downward; in order
to obtain the same force upward and downward, the float is arranged to expel by
its volume twice its own weight of water. The connection of the float with the
steam-valve is made by means of strong inflexible devices, that is to say, the float
is solidly fixed to the inflexible metallic rod d, one end of which extending out of
the pipe a moves in the slot of the arm n of the bent lever, which acts on the
axle d', as shewn in Figure 2, and through the medium of the latter upon the steam-
admission valve or the expansion-valve. m, Figure 2, is an india-rubber buffer
which serves to limit the stroke of the float.
The following calculation will facilitate the application of the said Invention:
Let the diameter of the steam-admission pipe in centimetres; n = the steam
pressure in the boiler in atmospheres; r = the radius of the axis of the steam-
admission valve; f the co-efficient of friction in the grease-box of this valve;
L = the length of stroke of the float (the weight in the pipe) depending on the
radius of the screw.

page_text: Calling w the surface of the steam-admission pipe, w will be
=
xd'
3
and the pressure
on the steam'valve when closed w, n, klgr. For turning the valve the greatest
power is required at the moment of its opening because F the friction on the axis
is then strongest, and equal to f, w, n, the power X, to be applied to the lever, whose
length is equal to R, for opening the valve is found by the equation
―
The motion of the float c being considerably greater than the stroke L, it is
necessary to employ levers for the transmission; for instance, in order to increase
this stroke, and consequently to diminish in the same measure the weight
of the float, the transmission is equal to 1; thus X
= the weight of the float in
Being destined to open the valve as soon as the water rises in the pipe, the float
must produce an upward pressure equal to its weight X, and consequently must
displace by its volume a quantity of water equal to 2 x klgrs.
If v =
the volume of the float in cubic centimetres, vis = 2000 X cubic
centimetres.
(2.)
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
The vertical pipe arranged in the steamer near the screw-propeller in communi-
cation with the water surrounding the latter, and provided with the float therein
acting without a counterweight with the same force upward as downward upon the
steam-admission-valve, or upon the apparatus serving to change the degree of
expansion in the steam-engine, all constructed and operating substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ignatz Kosztovits, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
IGNATZ KOSZTOVITS.
(L.S.)