IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND SURFACE CONDENSERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Percy Holt, Civil and Consulting Engineer,
of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND SURFACE
CONDENSERS."
Scaled the 9th May 1873, and dated the 11th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Percy Holt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th March 1873.
I, HENRY PERCY HOLT, Civil and Consulting Engincer, of Royal
Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
and Surface ConDENSERS,” to be as follows :—
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in high pressure and,
expansive condensing steam engines, and consists of a novel method of
rendering the back slide or cut-off plate, or expansive valve automatio
in its action by arranging the same under the direct control of the
governor; also of a safety arrangement of mechanism whereby the

page_text: expansion gear is caused to cut-off the steam at zero, and thereby stop
the engine, should the governor from any cause fall below a certain
fixed speed. According to this part of my Invention I form the ports
in the back of the slide valvo, and the cut-off edges of the back slide or
cut-off valve or plate at an angle of from about 30° to 45° to the right i
and left hand of the longitudinal central line of the cut-off valve spindle.
The cut-off plate is traversed longitudinally in the ordinary manner by
means of an eccentric and eccentric rod, the eccentric being placed at
about opposite centres to the crank pin, but in addition to this
longitudinal motion I impart to the cut-off valve or plate a transverso
motion by means of two levers fixed on the cut-off valve spindle at
suitable angles to each other. One of these lever is situate outside the
steam chest and connected to the governor, whilst the other lever is
situate inside the steam chest and connected by a suitable coupling to
the cut-off valve or plate. The cut-off valve spindle is capable of
rocking, whereby any variation in the speed of the governor will cause
the cut-off valve or plate to traverse transversly in one direction or the
other, and thereby increase or diminish the lap of the cut-off valve, and
consequently the time of cut-off which by this arrangement can rango
from zero to nearly full stroke.
In engines required to work at very high pressure I prefer to placo
the cut-off valve or plate in a separate small steam chest, and to
communicate with the valve of distribution and exhaust through a
"Dawes' Patent diaphragm and frame," or by separate ports under the
face of the valve. The traverse of the cut-off valve may be reduced by
forming it with two or more ports, the ports in the face against which
it works being make to correspond.
By the above described arrangement the cut-off valve will work in
either direction without reversing gear.
In order to cut off the steam at zero, should the governor fall below a
certain speed, the governor lever situate on the cut-off valve spindle
outside the steam chest is carried loosely on the cut-off spindle, but is
connected when the engine is at work to another lever fastened on the
cut-off spindle by means of a spring catch carried on one of the two
levers. Between these two levers I arrange a powerful coil spring, one
end of which is connected to the loose lever, whilst its opposite end is
connected to the fixed lever. When the engine is started this spring is
wound up about a quarter of a turn by means of one of the lovers,

page_text: when the spring catch carried on one of the levers engages with the
other lover and thus holds thom firmly together. Should the governor
fall below a certain fixed point the spring catch before mentioned comes
in contact with a fixed stop or tappet, which opens the catch and
releases the fast lever, which is then forced over by the coil spring and
traverses the cut-off valve into the position in which it admits no steam
and thereby stops the engine.
This Invention rolates, secondly, to an improved arrangement of slide
valves intended more particularly for compound engines. According to
this part of my Invention I form the steam ports in the cylinder covers
and struck from the centro of the cylinders, a bridge being provided
between the ports of the thickness of the metal of the cylinders, thereby
establishing a communication between the high and the low pressure
cylinders by means of a slido valvo having the shortest possible passago
intervening.
The ordinary steam chest is in this Invention converted into an
eduction chamber in which the slide valvo works. A small steam chest
is fixed on the back of the eduction chamber, in which steam chest a
cut-off valve or plate is made to act similarly to that described in the
first part of this Invention, a communication being made between the
steam chest and slide valve of distribution and exhaust for the high
pressure cylinder, and steam for the low pressure cylinder through a
passage made in a steel diaphragm and frame on the back of the
distribution valve. The low-pressure cylinder exhausts direct into the
eduction chamber, which exhaust is controlled by the lap on the valve.
A steel diaphragm and frame of suitable area, and provided with a
passage, is arranged on the back of the valve (also provided with a
passage) to counteract the steam and vacuum thereon, through which
frame the steam pressure reacts on the eduction chamber cover and
retains the valve on its working faco.
The above described method of converting the ordinary steam chest
into an eduction chamber, and the moans described for maintaining tho
pressure of the steam against the cover, may be employed in cylinders
having the valves placed in the ordinary positions.
.:
This Invention consists, thirdly, of an improved surface condenser
wherein the cooling surfaco is divided into several groups or parts,
cach of which is brought in. contact with a proportionato quantity of

page_text: seeam by means of nozzles or jets of such areas as to divide the eduction
steam equally among the groups of tubes. These tubes which are made
of thin drawn wrought iron are arranged annularly and in a vertical
position round each nozzle, they are closed at one end and opened out
slightly at their opposite ends, which latter ends are cast into iron
bonnets, each bonnet holding one group consisting of 10 or more tubes.
Several of these bonnets are secured over apertures in the bottom of the
return circulating chamber, which chamber is provided with an outlet
pipe. Over this return chamber I place the inflow circulating chamber,
in the division plate of which are several apertures into which drop
small rebated cast-iron bonnets having smaller circulating tubes cast into
them, which tubes when in position extend internally nearly to the
bottom of the stopped condenser tubes above mentioned. A casing is
secured on the top of the division plate of the circulating chamber,
which case is provided with an inlet for the condensing water. Below
the condenser there is another casing into which the eduction pipe enters
and in the top plate of this last mentioned casing or in the bottom of the
condenser, are arranged a series of vertical pipes or nozzles corresponding
in number, and arranged centrally under each annular group of con-
densing tubes. These vertical pipes or nozzles are several feet in length
and are employed to heat the condensed water that accumulates among
them, which water on rising to the level of the open ends of the last
mentioned pipes or nozzles runs down them internally into the before
mentioned casing situate beneath the condenser, from whence it is drawn.
off by the air pump, and forced back into the boiler. In the interior of
each of the vertical pipes or nozzles, a small jet of injection water is
admitted for the purpose of supplying any deficiency through leakago.
This Invention relates, fourthly, to an improved form of adjustable
end for the connecting rods of steam engines, and consists in per-
manently fixing the brasses in the cap and butt ends of the rod and
of forming them of such dimensions as to bed on the crank pins,
the requisite area for clearance only being allowed between the
brasses for taking up the wear until the brasses are worn out. This is
accomplished by an arrangement of lock nuts on the bolts on back
and front of luggs provided for the purpose on the butt end of the rod.
By this arrangement the cap and brasses are rendered as rigid both
ways as in an ordinary solid bushed end, whilst at the same time any
amount of wear can be taken up without reducing the brasses.

page_text: This Invention relates, fifthly, to an improved method of lubricating
the toothed gearing of steam engines, and consists in enclosing spur
wheels or other gearing in cases having tight fitting covers, the shafts
carrying the gearing working through stuffing boxes in the said cases,
these cases are filled with oil in which the wheels rotate whereby a great
reduction of friction and of wear and tear is obtained. A dirt accu-
mulator is fixed at the bottom of the oil caso into which the heavy or
foul oil enters, and from which it may be drawn by means of cocks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Percy Holt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PERCY HOLT, Civil and Consulting Engineer, of Royal Insurance
Buildings, Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Percy Holt, Her special
licenso that I, the said Henry Percy Holt, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, tho said Henry Percy Holt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "Ix.
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND SURFACE CONDENSERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Percy Holt, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
naturo of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
bo performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Percy Holt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement theroof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in high-pressure and expansive 5
condensing steam engines, and consists of a novel method of rendering the
back slido or cut-off plate or expansion valve automatic in its action by
arranging the same under the direct control of the governor; also of an
arrangement of mechanism whereby the expansion gear is caused to cut
off the steam at zero, and thereby stop the engine should tho governor 1
from any cause fall below a certain fixed speed, thereby ensuring greater
safety in working. According to this part of my Invention I form the
ports in the back of the slide valve, and the cut-off edges of the back
slide or cut-off valve or plate at an angle of from about 30° to 60° to the
right and left hand of the longitudinal central line of the cut-off valve 1
spindle, as may be found convenient. The cut-off plate is traversed
longitudinally in the ordinary manner by means of an eccentric and.
cccentric rod, the eccentric being placed at about opposito centres to the
crank pin; but in addition to this longitudinal motion I impart to the
cut-off valve or plate a transverse motion by means of two lovers fixed 2
on the cut-off valve spindle at suitable angles to each other. One of
these levers is situato outside the steam chest, and connected to the
governor, whilst the other lever is situate inside the steam chest, and
connected by a suitable coupling to the cut-off valve or plate. The cut-
off valve spindle is capablo of rocking, whereby any variation in the 2
speed of the governor will cause the cut-off valve or plate to traverse
transversely in one direction or the other, and thereby increase or
diminish the lap of the cut-off valve, and consequently the time of cut-
off, which can range from zero to nearly full stroke. This arrangement
is more particularly adapted for vertical engines, and will be clearly 8
understood by referring to the Drawings hercunto annexed, and tho
description herein-after given of Figures 13, 14, and 15.
A slight modification of this form is shown in Figures 16, 17, 18, and
19, which may be used for the same purpose.
Another form more particularly suitable for horizontal engines is 3
shown and described in Figures 10, 11, and 12, in which the governor is

page_text: Figures 20, 21, and 22 illustrato a similar form of connection, which
may be used for vertical engines with the intervention of screw gear or
steam or hydraulic power under the control of the governor, or direct by
means of a horizontal governor. I use theso several forms of connection
as may be the most convenient in application.
In engines required to act at a very high pressure I prefer to place
the cut-off valve or plato in a separato small steam chest, and to commu-
nicato with the valvo of distribution and exhaust through a "Dawes'
Patent diaphragm and frame," or by separate ports under the face of
the valve. The traverso of the cut-off valve may be reduced by forming
it with two or moro ports, the ports in the face against which it works
being made to correspond.
By the above-described arrangement the cut-off valve will work in
either direction without reversing gear.
'
In order to cut off steam at zero, should the governor fall below a
certain speed, the governor lever situate on the cut-off valvo spindle
outside the steam chest is carried loosely on the cut-off spindle, but is
connected when the engine is at work to another lover fastened on tho
cut-off spindle by means of a spring catch carried between the two lovers.
Between these two levers I arrange a powerful coil spring, one end of
which is connected to the loose lever, whilst its opposite end is connected
to the fixed lover. When the engine is started this spring is wound up.
about a quarter of a turn by means of one of the lovers, when the spring
catch carried on one of the levers engages with the other lever, and thus
holds them firmly together. Should the governor fall below a certain
fixed point the spring catch before mentioned comes in contact with a
fixed stop or tappet, which opens the catch and releases the fast lover,
which is then forced over by the coil spring, and traverses the cut-off
valvo into the position in which it admits no steam, and thereby stops
the engine. This lover and spring catch arrangement will be easily
understood by reference to Figures 23 and 24 on the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and the description heroin-after given thereof.
This Invention rolates, secondly, to an improved arrangement of slido
valves intended more particularly for compound engines. According
to this part of my Invention I form the steam ports in the cylinder
covers, and struck from about the centro of the cylinders, a bridge being
provided between the ports of the thickness of the metal of the cylinders,

page_text: thereby establishing a communication between the high and the low
pressure cylinders by means of a slide valve having the shortest possible
passage intervening. These ports in the cylinder covers can be filled up
by projections on the face of pistons fitting into them at each end of the
stroko, whereby the loss in passage room is decreased.
The ordinary steam chest is in this Invention converted into an
eduction chamber, in which the slide valve works; a small steam chest is
fixed on the back of the eduction chamber, in which steam chest a cut-off
valve or plato is made to act similarly to that described in the first part
of this Invention, a communication being made between the steam chest
and slide valve of distribution and exhaust of the high-pressure cylinder,
steam for the low-pressure cylinder being admitted through a passage
made in a steel diaphragm and frame on the back of the distribution
valve. The low-pressure cylinder exhausts direct into the eduction
chamber, which exhaust is controlled by the lap on the valve. A steel:
diaphragm and frame of suitable area and provided with a passage is
arranged on the back of the valve (also provided with a passage) to
counteract the steam and vacuum thereon, through which frame the
steam pressure reacts on the eduction chamber cover, and retains the
valve on its working face.
The herein-before described method of converting the ordinary steam
chest into an eduction chamber, and the means described for main-
taining the pressure of the steam against the cover may be employed in
cylinders having the valves placed in the ordinary positions.
This Invention consists, thirdly, of an improved surface condenser,
wherein the cooling surface is divided into several groups or parts, cach
of which is brought in contact with a proportionato quantity of steam
by means of nozzles or jets of such areas as to divide the eduction steam
equally among the groups of tubes. These tubes, which are mado of
thin drawn wrought iron, are arranged annularly and in a vertical a
position round each nozzle, they are closed at one end and opened out
slightly at their opposite ends, which latter ends are cast into iron
bonnets, each bonnet holding one group consisting of 10 or more tubes.
Several of these bonnets are secured over aportures in the bottom of the
return circulating chamber, which chamber is provided with an outlet g
pipe; over this return chamber I place the inflow circulating chamber,
in the division plate of which are several apertures, into which drop

page_text: small rebated cast-iron bonnets having smaller circulating tubes cast
into them, which tubes when in position extend internally nearly to the
bottom of the stopped condenser tubes above mentioned. A casing
is secured on the top of the division plate of the circulating chamber,
which case is provided with an inlet for the condensing water. Below
the condenser there is another casing into which the eduction pipe
enters, and in the top plate of this last mentioned casing and in the
bottom of the condenser are arranged a series of vertical pipes or
nozzles corresponding in number and arranged contrally under each
triangular group of condensing tubes. Theso vertical pipes or nozzles
aro several feet in length and are employed to heat the condensed water
that passes among them on the way from the hot well back to the boiler.
The condensed water runs down an internal passage into the before
mentioned casing situato beneath the condenser, from whence it is
drawn off by the air pump and forced back into the boiler. In the
interior of the condensed water passage a small jet of injection water is
admitted for the purpose of supplying any deficiency through leakage.
This condenser is moro fully described and illustrated by Figures 25
and 26 in the Drawings annexed.
This Invention relates, fourthly, to an improved form of adjustablo
end for the connecting rods of steam engines, and consists in per-
manently fixing the brasses in the caps or butt ends of the rod, and
of forming them of such dimensions as to bed on the crank pins the
requisito arca only. A bush is loosely fitted on to the crank pin,
having its joint at right angles to the cup joints and being in two pieces
when it cannot be got on otherwise; these bushes have openings for
the brasses or caps to pass through, as will be understood from Figures 1
to 9, and description thereof, clearance being allowed' between the
brasses for taking up the wear until the brasses are worn out. This is
accomplished by an arrangement of lock nuts on the bolts on back
and front of lugs provided for the purpose on the butt end of the rod.
By this arrangement the cap and brasses are rendered as rigid both ways
as in an ordinary solid bushed end, whilst at the same time any amount
of wear can be taken up without reducing the brasses or altering the
length of centres.
This Invention relates, fifthly, to an improved method of lubricating
the toothed gearing of steam engines, and consists in enclosing spur
wheels or other gearing in cases having tight fitting covers, the shafts

page_text: cases are filled with oil, in which the wheels rotate, whereby a great
reduction of friction and of wear and tear is obtained. A dirt accumu-
lator is fixed at the bottom of the oil case, into which the heavy, or foul
oil enters, and from which it may be drawn by means of cocks.
And in order that my said Invention may be better. understood
and more readily carried into effect I will now proceed to describe the
Drawings hereunto annexed and forming part of this my said
Specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
5
1
Figures 1 to 9, a, a, caps, having dies or parts of such dimensions as
only to give the proper amount of bearing on the crank pins. These dies
project through the bush b, b, and can be adjusted to take up wear; b, b, .
bushes fitting the crank pins loosely to keep out dust and retain the oil;
c, c, bolts, set screws, and check nuts for adjusting; d, d, butt ends of 1
connecting rods.
2
Figures 10, 11, and 12, a, a, cut-off plato with edges at from about
30° to 60° or other convenient anglo; b, b, main valvo having ports
arranged to suit the angles of cut-off edges on back face, and the ports
on the cylinder face on the front, whether skewed or rectangular, as may
, be found more convenient; c, c, ports in main valve; d, d, lugs to carry
cut-off plate transversely; c, e, tee connected to governor spindle to allow
cut-off plato to slide longitudinally; ff, governor spindle ;. 9, 9, cut-off
spindle; h, h, tee and friction rollers on cut-off spindle to allow
cut-off plate to traverse transversely; i, i, lugs to carry cut-off plate 2
longitudinally.
Figs. 18, 14, & 15, a, a, cut-of plato; b, b, main valve; c, c, ports;
a, d, lever secured on cut-off spindle; e, e, connecting links to carry cut-
off plate transversely; f.f, governor lever secured on cut-off spindle; to
this lever the governor rod is attached; 7, 9, cut-off spindle; h, h, swivel 8
to allow the cut-off spindle to twist round in the gland; i, i, eccentric.
rod to traverse the cut-of plate longitudinally; j,j, bracket support to
steady governor lever.
Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19, a, a, cut-off plate; b, b, main valve; c, c,
ports; d, d, segment of pinion used in lieu of lever and connecting link 8
to carry cut-off plate transversely; e, e, rack on back of cut-off. plate.
.

page_text: into which the pinion teeth gear; f, f, lugs to carry cut-off plate
longitudinally through medium of the cut-off spindle; g, g, cut-off
spindle. In this arrangement a lever as in Figures 13, 11, and 15, or
swivel and rack and pinion may be used to communicate the action
of the governor to the cut-off spindle, as may be found the more
convenient.
Figures 20, 21, and 22, a, a, cut-off plate; b, b, main valvo; c, c, ports
in main valve; d, d, lugs to carry out-off plate transversely by the
action of governor c, c, teo on governor spindle to allow cut-off plate to
slide longitudinally; f.f. governor spindle to communicate the action of
the governor which may be transmitted either direct or through the
medium of screw or other methods for obtaining power in large engines
as may be required or convenient; g.g, cut-off spindle; h, h, tee on cut-
off spindle to allow the cut-off plate to slide transversely; i, i, lugs on
cut-off plate to communicato the motion of spindle to cut-off plato.
.
Figures 23 and 21. a, a, lover fast on cut-off spindle; b, b, catch
which engages into lever ƒ, ƒ; c, c, spring to keep catch in gear except
when end of catch b, b, comes in contact with a stop suitably placed so
as to engago against b, b, if the speed of governor fall suddenly through
accident below a given velocity; d, d, volute spring fast at one end
to a, a, and at the other to f, f, in such a manner that when b, b, is
engaged there is sufficient torsion in spring to close the expansion gear
and cut off steam when catch b, b, is disengaged. c, e, governor rod;
ff, governor lover looso on spindle g, g, and connected at the opposito
end to governor rod e, e; g, g, cut-off spindle.
Figures 25 and 26. a, a, condensing water chamber and inlet; b, b,
circulating tubes cast into tube bonnets; c, c, return tubes also cast into
triangular bonnets; d, d, condensing water chamber and outlet; e, e,
steam jets from induction chamber; ff, feed water heater; g, inlet to
heater; h, outlet to heater; 4, i, induction chamber; j,j, communication
from condenser to hot well; k, k, hot well and air pump; 1, 1, injection
jet nose and valve; m, injection pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and how the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to
be understood that what I claim and desire to secure by theso Letters

page_text: 1st. The diagonal port and cut-off plate used as an expansion gear
variable by the control of a governor or otherwise, as herein-before
described and shewn in the Drawings annexed.
2nd. The arrangement of a safety catch for shutting off steam should
any accident cause the governor to fall below a fixed velocity, as herein- 5
beforo described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
3rd. The arrangement of slide valves on the cylinder covers to shorten
passages, and the stoppings on pistons to fill the ports, as herein-before
described.
4th. The combined arrangement of surface condenser and feed water 10
heater, and the construction of the same, as herein-before described and
illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
5th. The form of ends for connecting rods, whereby the wear can be
taken up and the centres adjusted without taking down, at the same time
dust is excluded and oil retained, as herein-before described and illus. 16
trated in the Drawings annexed.
6th. The arrangement for lubricating, gearing, and drawing off the
foul oil and dirt, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Percy Holt, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Tenth day of September, in the 20
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
HENRY PEROY HOLT. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY ELLIS HILL,
of the Firm of Barlow & Co.,
Patent Agents,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London,
W. O.