Improvements in Motive Power Engines for Steering Ships and for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Motive Power Engines for Steering Ships and for
other Purposes.
I JOHN WHITHAM WILSON of 17 Foyle Street, Sunderland in the County of
Durham Consulting Engineer and Mechanical Draughtsman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :—
A construction of Motive Power Engine in which the reversing, stopping, starting
& regulating, is performed by the slide valve of the cylinder, without requiring any
reversing link or stop valve.
In a double Cylinder Engine, the cylinders have each a double row of steam ports
side by side and distanced apart a little more than their own width. The first row is
as usual in an ordinary Engine, the top port communicating with the top end of
the cylinder, and the bottom port with the bottom end of the cylinder.
The second row is the reverse of the first, the top por communicating with the
bottom end of the cylinder and the bottom port with the top end of the cylinder.
The exhaust ports of both rows communicate with each other, & with the exhaust
pipe.
The Slide Valve is actuated through a slide rod by an eccentric in the usual manner,
but is capable of being moved (in a direction transverse to that imparted to it by the
eccentric) through a second slide rod, by the operator or by other mechanism.
The Slide Valve is constructed with an exhaust cavity as usual, but is cut away at
the lap edges at the centre, and at each side the lap is so great as to keep the ports
continually closed when the valve is in a central position notwithstanding the
reciprocating motion imparted to it by the eccentric, the object being to enable the
valve to command either row of ports seperately and to be brought into a central
position and thus close all ports.
The operation is as follows
When the slide commands the first row of ports, it keeps the second row closed,
and steam is admitted and released by the direct ports, the Engine moving in a
J

page_text: When the Slide Valve is moved to command the second row of ports the first row
is kept closed and steam is admitted & released by the indirect or reversed ports, the
Engine moving in a backward direction.
When the Valve is moved into a central position the Engine is stopped and a near
approach to this position reduces its speed.
Though the ports are spoken of as steam ports, the engine or engines may be
driven by other motive force.
Dated this 7th day of March 1888.
JOHN WHITHAM WILSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motive-power Engines for Steering Ships and for
other Purposes.
I JOHN WHITHAM WILSON of 17 Foyle Street, Sunderland, in the County of
Durham, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a construction of motive-power engine in which the
reversing, stopping, starting, and regulating, is performed by the slide-valves of the
cylinders, without requiring any reversing-link motion, or stop valve.
According to my invention, the cylinders have each a double row of steam-ports
arranged side by side, one row leading as usual in an ordinary steam engine, the
other being the reverse of the first. Both are commanded by a slide-valve of special
construction which is capable of being moved transversely (by a transverse slide-rod,
or by other suitable means) so as to command either of the rows of ports, or to keep
both closed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which represent an ordinary steam
cylinder. having ports slide valve according to my invention.
Fig. 1. is a vertical elevation of the cylinder looking into the steam chest, the
cover being removed. Fig. 2. is a sectional elevation at G. H. of Fig. 5. Fig. 3. is
a sectional elevation at J. K. of Fig. 5. Fig. 4. is a sectional plan showing slide-valve
and transverse rod in mid position. Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation at 1. Q. of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. is a plan of the slide-valve looking on the back. Fig. 7. is a plan of the
slide rod and its cross-piece which engages with, and reciprocates the slide-valve.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

page_text: The construction is as follows
The ports A and C. Fig. 1, 2, 3, 5. communicate with each end of the cylinder direct
in the usual manner.
The ports B and D communicate in an indirect manner with the
opposite ends of the cylinder than that at which they are situated, as shown, i.e.
B communicates with the lower end, and D. with the upper end. Fig. 2. which is a
section at G. H. of Fig. 5. shows the direction of port B. and Fig. 3. which is
a section at J. K. of Fig. 5. shows the direction of port D. The indirect ports B.
and D. join the direct ports A. and C. which alone terminate at the ends of the
cylinder.
The slide valve P. has its edges V and T cut away, for the admission of steam
to the ports X is an exhaust cavity for the exit of steam. R and S is a transverse
rod and clutch, for guiding the slide-valve, and causing it to command either row of
ports, or to remain in a mid position. E and F are exhaust ports which communicate
with the chamber L. and outlet Z. Y Y is a steam inlet. M is the slide rod for
imparting a reciprocating motion to the slide-valve as usual.
The operation is as follows.
When the slide is brought centrally over the ports A. E. C. the engine will move,
say in a forward direction, and when over the ports B. F. D, it will move in
a backward direction. When central, it will stop, and any approach to this mid
position, will reduce its speed. Though the ports are spoken of as steam ports the
engine may be driven by other motive force and though a transverse slide rod
is shown in the drawings, and spoken of in the specification for guiding the valve,
other suitable mechanism may be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
In motive power engines. The arrangement of cylinder or cylinders thereof with
steam ports and slide valve or valves, substantially as herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of November 1888.
JOHN WHITHAM WILSON,
17, Foyle Street, Sunderland.