Improvements in Direct Acting Steam Engines with an Improved Equilibrium Slide Valve for the Propulsion of Steam Ships without the Aid of Paddles, Screw Propellers, Propeller Shafts, or the present Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Direct Acting Steam Engines with an Improved
Equilibrium Slide Valve for the Propulsion of Steam Ships
without the Aid of Paddles, Screw Propellers, Propeller Shafts,
or the present Engines.
I WILLIAM HUTCHINSON of 66 Elizabeth Street Eccles New Road Weaste
Salford in the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:
My invention relates to the propulsion of steam ships and other marine vessels
by the increase of a direct thrust pressure whereby a great economy in fuel and
other attendant expenses are effected, also au increase of speed without vibration.
In the carrying out of my invention I employ a series of one, two, three four (or
more if thought desireable) pairs of cylinders of any length of stroke, and of various
sizes in diameter which are supplied with steam and water and fitted up with all
necessary valves & valve gear for the proper ingress and egress of steam from the '
boiler or boilers which is fed in the first instance to number one steam cylinder (or
direct into each steam cylinder if deemed needful) I prefer to work the.
engines upon the compound principle. The steam after performing its work in
number one steam cylinder, 'exhausts itself into number two steam cylinder, and
this cylinder exhausts into number three steam cylinder, and from hence the
steam is exhausted into number four steam cylinder: by the arrangement of steam
and water cylinders as set forth, get eight expansions with a thrust pressure
from each expansion direct on the ship. At the front end of each steam cylinder
I'employ a water cylinder which is open to the sea direct at the stern end of the :
ship by means of perforations made at the most suitable position or positions in the
lowest part possible of the ship, whereby the said water cylinders are open to the head:
water of the sea. The whole of the said cylinders (steam and water) are jacketted,
and fitted up with my improved special metallic pistons, and piston rings, crank
shaft with four cranks set at various angles and with or without 'small fly wheels,
connecting rods, and cross heads coupled to piston rods of each engine in the
ordinary way with slide bars.
The water cylinders are coupled to the stern of the ship with wrought iron.
pipes of the sizes that may be required, the pipes in question being fitted with
a wing valve, and slide stop valve also, in order that the pressure of water from
the sea may be excluded in case of 'need.
As the steam is ready to be exhausted from number four steam cylinder (it
will possibly have a pressure from eighty to ninety pounds on the square inch)
I propose to convey such into a donkey boiler or boilers (heated or not as desired)
and to use the said exhaust steam for driving electric light engine and dynamo's,
fans for ventilation, cooking, and any other purposes that may be required, which
after being used for the general purposes before named, the exhaust or spent steam
is exhausted into four surface condensers which are part and parcel of the four
water cylinders before mentioned and conveyed therefrom with all necessary pipes
required back again into the boiler or boilers to be reused for generating fresh
steam.
In order to accomplish the aft thrust when required I propose to fix a duplicate
set of two steam and water cylinders one on each side of the ship, and fixed in the .
forward part fitted up in all respects as before set forward.
The steam to be admitted into and exhausted from the four steam cylinders
I purpose to regulate with my improved equilibrium slide valve worked direct by:
:

page_text: eccentrics from the crank shaft in connection with the beforesaid engine or engines,
and I furthermore propose to regulate the speed of the said engines by means of a
special made govenor and equilibrium throttle valve so that in case when the
ship is pitching or heaving there will always be a thorough uniform speed of the
engines guaranteed under all circumstances.
The diameter of the said water cylinders in front of the said steam cylinders
will be in the ratio as three to one (more or less) of number one steam cylinder.
Dated 20th May 1893.
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Direct Acting Steam Engines with an Improved
Equilibrium Slide Valve for the Propulsion of Steam Ships
without the Aid of Paddles, Screw Propellers, Propeller Shafts,
or the present Engines.
I WILLIAM HUTCHINSON of 66 Elizabeth Street Eccles New Road Weaste
Salford in the County of Lancaster 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:-
My invention relates to the propulsion of steam ships, and other marine vessels
by the increase of a direct thrust pressure whereby a great economy in fuel and
other attendant expenses are effected, also an increase in speed without vibration,
such also being applicable for the propulsion of life and pleasure boats.
In the carrying out of my invention I employ a series of one, two, three, four
(or more if thought desirable), pairs of cylinders of any. length of stroke and
various diameters, fitted up with all necessary valves, and valve gear for the proper
ingress and egress of steam and water. The steam is fed in the first instance to
number one steam cylinder (or direct into each steam cylinder if deemed needful)
I prefer to work the engines in question upon the compound principle. The steam
after performing its work in number one steam cylinder exhausts itself into number
two steam cylinder (and if found more advantageous after leaving number two
steam cylinder such is exhausted direct into the condenser hereinafter mentioned)
and from hence into number three steam cylinder, and then into number four
steam cylinder. By the arrangement as herein set forth I get eight expansions
with a thrust pressure from each expansion direct on the ship. I do not tie myself
to the number of either steam, or water cylinders as the same may either be
increased or decreased in order to meet the varied requirements desired.
At the back end of each steam cylinder I employ a water cylinder which is
attached to a specially prepared bulkhead, provided with, or without manholes
therein, such bulkhead being open to the sea direct at the stern end of the ship,
by means of perforations made at the most suitable positions in the lowest part
possible of the ship, whereby the said water cylinders are open to the head water
of the sea.
In order to supply the said bulkhead with a continuous supply of water whether
the ship is heaving, or pitching, I provide a water take up, on each side of the
ship or if preferable as near the keel as possible or in such position as may be
found most advisable, and with or without valves.
In order to strengthen the aforesaid bulk-head, purpose dividing each water
cylinder compartment with a wrought iron partition, perforated, or not as desired,
but, I do not bind myself to use such partition if found in practice that better
results can be attained without it.
The whole of the said cylinders (steam and water) are jacketted, and fitted up
with my improved metallic pistons, piston rings, crank shaft with four cranks (or
more) set at various angles (and with or without small fly wheels) connecting rods,

page_text: and crossheads coupled to the piston rod of each engine in the ordinary way with
slide bars.
The water cylinders may be coupled to the stern of the ship by means of wrot
iron pipes, or passages, of the sizes that may be required: the said pipes, or passages,
in question being fitted with a wing valve, and slide stop valve, (worked by means
of a lever, or box key fixed in the most suitable position) in order that the pressure
of water from the sea may be excluded in case of need.
As the steam is ready to be exhausted from number two, or four steam cylinders,
it will be conveyed into an auxiliary boiler, or boilers, (heated or not as desired)
and I purpose to use such exhaust steam for driving electric lighting engine,
dynamos, fans for ventilation or other purposes that such might be utilized for, and
after such has been used for the various general purposes before mentioned, it is
exhausted into four (or more) surface condensers, which are part and parcel of the
said water cylinders before mentioned, and conveyed therefrom with all necessary
pipes requisite, back again into the boiler, or boilers, to be reused for generating
fresh steam.
:
L
In order to accomplish the aft thrust when required or for steering purposes, I
purpose fixing a duplicate set of steam and water cylinders, one set on each side of
the ship: the water cylinder's, being fixed in the forward part of the ship, and
worked by a thrust rod from the steam cylinder's in connection with same, and.
secured to the hull of the ship by means of brackets with roller pullies. The said,
water cylinders, are fixed in the forward part of the ship for the purposes herein set
forward, and are open to the sea by means of specially prepared passages, or tubes,
nade through the hull on both sides of the ship. The steam cylinder's in connection
with the above arrangement are fixed in the ordinary engine house and fitted up in
all respects as the engines for the forward thrust, and if desired such is worked by
a tappet motion. I do not confine myself to use steam at one end of the steam
cylinders only for steering or getting the aft thrust, (as is the case for the forward
thrust) because the same may be more advantageously employed by using steam at
both ends of the said cylinders, when quick action is required.
The area of the said water cylinders, at the back of the said steam cylinders, will
be in the ratio as twenty, to one, (more or less) of number one steam cylinder.
In order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may be
properly understood, I hereunto append one sheet of drawings, showing a plan,
and sectional elevation of my improved system for the better propulsion of steam
ships, and other marine vessels, premising that in these drawings the same reference
letters are used to indicate the same, or like parts, wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 is a general plan of my proposed system showing the arrangements of
both steam and water cylinders, bulkhead; wing valves, condensers, ingress and egress
of water. a, a, a, a, are water cylinders: B. B. B. B steam cylinders. C. C.
C. C. slide bars: d, d, d, crank shaft pedestals, E. E. crank shaft. F. F. F. F. cross
girder that carries crank shaft. FF cranks: G. G G. G connecting rods.
HHHH wing valves for shutting off water from water cylinders when required
III partition plates in bulkhead for separating each water cylinder if desired.
JJJJ stop valves, for excluding water from the sea into ship during repairs
KK bulkhead plate L. L. perforations for ingress of water to bulkhead.
M plan of bulkhead chamber. O. O inside of the hull of ship P. P. P. P.
P. P. P. P. surface condensers space.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of steam, and water cylinders, slide bars, crank,
and bulkhead chamber a is water cylinder B steam cylinder Cslide bars
F' crank H wing valve M bulkhead chamber PP surface coudenser space.
Figures 3 is a plan of the steam cylinders, and thrust rods, for the aft thrust and
steering purposes A A is steam cylinder and N N is thrust rod.
Having thus particularly described my said invention and the manner of
performing same 1 declare that what I claim is
1st. The combination of apparatus, and general arrangements of steam, and

page_text: water cylinders, bulkhead, wing and other valves substantially as, and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
2nd. The employment of steam at one end of the steam cylinder's only working
in conjunction with the water cylinder's for the obtaining of the forward thrust,
substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3rd. The construction of the said steam and water cylinder's, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4th. The construction of the said condensers in connection with the said water
cylinders substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
5th. The construction and general arrangements of steam and water cylinders for
the ingress and egress of water for steering purposes and attaining an aft thrust
worked specially by a tappet motion substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
6th. The construction of a water bulkhead, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
7th. The construction and working of wing, and other valves, for the ingress and
egress of water to bulkhead and water cylinders substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
8th. The construction of a water take up, for the constant supply of water to the
water bulkhead together with, or without valves substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
February 21st 1894.
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON.