IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF THE ORDINARY MARINE ENGINE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Temple, of the Borough and County of New-
castle-on-Tyne, Brick Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PROPELLING VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF THE ORDINARY MARINE ENGINE."
Sealed the 4th May 1877, and dated the 8th November 1876.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Temple at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1876.
THOMAS TEMPLE, of the Borough and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Brick
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF THE ORDINARY
MARINE ENGINE."
In lieu of the ordinary marine engine, with its paddle wheels or screw propeller,
I employ a horizontal cylinder and piston, the latter being actuated by steam
supplied by a steam pipe from the boiler, which may be of any ordinary pattern.
The steam may act upon one side only of the piston, and the return of the said
piston may be caused by the pressure of a fluid upon a second piston working in a
second cylinder or pump barrel placed horizontally in a line with and upon the same
Jevel as the first-mentioned cylinder. The two pistons aforesaid are connected
together by a piston rod. The second cylinder forms part of a pipe or tube which
communicates by an open mouth with the water astern of the vessel.
suitable distance within this tube is a back stop valve, which prevents the return of
the water propelled rearward when the apparatus is in action, and a small feed
valve suitably placed and opening inward allows the external water to slowly enter
the second cylinder, and carry back the piston therein after the propulsion of a
previous supply of water. The return of the pistons is further induced by opening
at the same time the exhaust port of the steam cylinder. The slide valve is worked
by suitable gearing from a small donkey engine.
At a
The action of the apparatus would be as follows:-The donkey engine being set
to work opens the steam port of the steam cylinder; the piston therein is driven
up by the force of the steam to the full length of its stroke. The steam is at a
suitable time cut off, and the exhaust port opened; the piston will now return to its
starting point, being assisted by means herein-after explained. At the proper time

page_text: the donkey engine closing the exhaust port again opens the steam port of the said
cylinder, when a similar action to that above described takes place, and which will
be repeated so long as the donkey engine is kept at work. The longitudinal motion
of the steam piston is participated in by the second piston, to which it is connected
by a piston rod. In front of the last-mentioned piston is a body of water that has
accumulated (through a small feed valve opening inward in the pump barrel or
cylinder) between a stóp-back valve and the aforesaid piston; consequently, when
the steam acts upon the steam piston this body of water is forced out of the pipe or
tube astern of the ship, thus propelling the ship.
The stop-back valve before mentioned is so placed as to prevent the return of the
body of water thus ejected, but the small feed valve allows the said cylinder to
become again charged with water, the force of which, together with the exhaust in
the steam cylinder, carries back the two pistons ready for another propulsion.
Provisions are made by which the water propelled along the pipe or tube may be
made to enter a branch, and be emitted therefrom in such a direction as to retard
or stop the vessel, or propel it astern.
There may be a multiplicity of the above arrangement, according to the power
required. The cylinders and tube may be placed in a line, or parallel with the keel
of the ship, and the donkey engine so placed as to work the whole of the slide
valves.
i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Temple in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May 1877.
THOMAS TEMPLE, of the Borough and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Brick
Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR PROPELLING
VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF THE ORDINARY
MARINE ENGINE."
In lieu of the ordinary marine engine, with its paddle wheels or screw propeller, I
employ a horizontal cylinder and piston, the latter being actuated by steam supplied
by a steam pipe from a boiler which may be of any ordinary type. The steam may
act upon one side only of the piston, and the return journey of the said piston may
be caused or assisted by the pressure of a fluid upon a second piston or plunger
connected thereto by a piston rod, and working in a second cylinder or barrel placed
horizontally in a line with and upon the same level as the first-mentioned cylinder.
The second cylinder or barrel forms part of a pipe or tube which communicates by
an open mouth with the water astern of the vessel. At the mouth of or at any
suitable distance within this tube is a stop-back valve, which prevents the return of
the water propelled rearward when the apparatus is in action. A small feed valve
placed below the level of the tube and opening inward allows the external water to
slowly enter the tube, and, accumulating between the stop-back valve and the
plunger; assists in forcing back the said plunger after the propulsion of a previous
supply of water. The plunger and piston being connected together by a piston rod
their return journey may be furthered by opening at the proper time the exhaust
port of the steam cylinder, the slide valve of which is worked by means of a small
donkey engine that is necessarily required for feeding the boiler.
'
Provisions are made by which the water propelled along the pipe or tube may be
made to enter a branch, and be emitted therefrom in such a direction as to retard or
stop the vessel or propel it astern.
There may be a multiplicity of the above, arrangement, according to the power
required. The cylinders and tubes may be in a line with or parallel to the keel of
the ship, and the donkey engine so placed and the connections so arranged as to
work the whole of the slide valves.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a sectional plan of a pair of
steam cylinders, each arranged and fitted according to my Invention to propel a

page_text: '
body of water rearward. They are placed one on each side of the line of keel, and
supplied with steam by the pipe S from any suitable boiler. The description of one
cylinder and connections will suffice for both.
P¹ is the steam piston connected by a piston rod a carried in a guide b to the
piston or plunger P, which latter works within the accurately bored barrel E. This
barrel forms part of a pipe or tube which communicates with the external water by
means of the feed valve C, and at the stern of the vessel by the stop-back valve F
(Figure 2), both of which may be of any approved construction. Along this pipe
is also a chamber D containing a valve D, or appliance for diverting the effluent
water in such a direction as to retard or stop the vessel, or to propel the same in a
different direction when such is required. This valve is actuated by the engineer,
who by aid of manual or steam power from the donkey engine operates by
means of a shaft and worm upon the worm wheel d keyed on the valve spindle d'
(see Figure 2). This opens the valve to any required extent, which act also closes
to the same degree the straight tube E, Figure 1, and directs the water to follow
the course of the bent pipe D'. It is evident that this direction of the water would
produce the desired results.
E is the mouth-piece or jet from which issues with great force the body of water
propelled in front of the plunger P₁ by the pressure of the steam in the cylinder
acting upon and driving rearward the piston P¹.
The slide valve, by which the supply of steam to the cylinder is regulated and
controlled, is actuated at the proper moment and to the required degree by a donkey
engine, of which g, Figures 1 and 2, is the crank or driving shaft. To an engineer
many methods will suggest themselves for converting the circular motion of the said
shaft into a variable and intermittent horizontal motion suitable for accomplishing
the object in view. I have shown one mode of effecting the same by means of a
cam groove h, Figure 2, cut in the face of a disc h¹ keyed on the crank shaft or any
suitable working part of the donkey engine. This cam groove engages with a pin
or tappet projecting from the slide valve spindle I, which as the disc revolves
actuates the slide valve at the proper moment and to the required degree. The said
spindle is suitably supported in guides and bearings.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal. elevation partly in section on line A, B, Figure 1, to
explain more clearly the construction of the valve chambers C and D. The former,
it will be observed, has a branch pipe, in which is fitted the valve c', and commu-
nicates with the external water. at the nearest point. This chamber is also provided
with a suitable stop-cock or sluice valve G, which is closed down when the apparatus
is not at work.
The chamber D may be rectangular in cross section, in order that on opening the
aperture of the bent pipe D' (Figure 1) the straight pipe E shall be similarly closed,
e, e, acting as valve seatings (see also Figure 4, which is a section on line 1, 2,
Figure 1). The external orifice of this bent pipe may be closed by a stop-back
valve.
The action of the apparatus would be as follows:-The donkey engine actuating
the slide valve spindle of the cylinder I by means of the cam grooved wheel or
circular disc h¹ admits steam into the said cylinder through the steam port p;
Figure 1, driving the piston therein in the direction shewn by the arrow.
This act
drives rearward the body of water which has accumulated in the barrel E¹ and in
front of the plunger P"; this body of water issuing at the stern of the vessel from
the tube E with great force drives the ship forward.
During the above operation the duplicate cylinder I¹¹ has been preparing for
another propulsion of the water that is flowing (through the feed valve C) and
accumulating between the stop-back valve F" and the plunger P", the same being
assisted by the exhaust port to the condenser, being then open as shown. The
propulsion of the water takes place directly the driving shaft g has carried the
dise h, with the cam groove cut therein, to the position shewn in the detached
view, Figure 3 (drawn to a larger scale).
The tappet or pin (k) entering successively the segments 1, 2, and 3, see Figures 2

page_text: and 3, actuates by means of the spindle rod (1), the slide valve, and causes it to
(1st) open the steam port; (2nd), shut the steam port; and (3rd), open the exhaust
port to the condenser. The segment 3 is longer than the segments 1 and 2 for the
reason that it is contemplated that the piston will take a much longer time to
accomplish the return journey than to perform the outward journey; consequently,
the tappet not being acted upon during the exhaust until the driving shaft has
performed as much as, say, three-fourths of a revolution, allows the piston to arrive
by that time well home.
It is anticipated that the vacuum in the condenser (the condenser being of ordinary
construction is not shown in the Drawing) acting in conjunction with the pressure
of the water flowing through the feed valve will supply sufficient motive power to
drive the plunger and piston slowly back; if, however, from the peculiar circum-
stances of the case this should not be considered adequate, I would then have the
cylinder or cylinders closed at both ends, and steam admitted to both sides of the
piston in the usual manner, as shewn in Figure 5, which is a plan partly in section
of a modified arrangement of my Invention, Figure 6 being a longitudinal section of
the same on line 5-6, the letters marked thereon referring to similar parts in
Figures 1 and 2 already described. No further description of these Figures is needed,
save that the stop-back valve F, instead of being at the mouth of the straight pipe E,
is placed where the two pipes E', E¹, merge into one. The valve seatings in this
and the former arrangement may be covered where required with a yielding or elastic
substance.
Having now set forth the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the means of carrying the same into effect, I would here remark that I do not
confine myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have herein
described and have shewn on the Drawings, as the same may obviously be
varied in detail without in any way departing from the essential parts of my
Invention, but I claim as novel and original and therefore as the Invention secured
to me by the above in part recited Letters Patent, the means above described for
propelling vessels, the employment of which dispenses with the use of the ordinary
marine engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Temple, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
THOMAS TEMPLE. (L.S.)