Improved Means and Apparatus. for Preventing "Racing" in Marine Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus. for Preventing "Racing" in Marine
Engines.
I WILLIAM JOHN EWING of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland Gentleman,
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 improved means and apparatus for preventing racing in
marine engines and consists in applying to the aftermost part of the keel of a ship a
water pressure steam regulator or bellows acted upon by the water in such a
manner that when the screw or screws are rotating more or less immersed in the
water the throttle valve or valves of the engine will be partially or entirely closed,.
steam being correspondingly cut off according to the varying pressure under the
ships stern.
It is a well known fact that air vessels and momentum wheel governors such as
heretofore constructed have been found impracticable for preventing racing in
marine engines on account of their not acting with sufficient uniformity and
rapidity.
In carrying my invention into practice I apply my improved apparatus singly to
ships, provided with one screw only, but in the case of twin screws the apparatus is
made to assume a duplicate form, there being two bellows one on each side of the
ship, connected together, so as to act in unison, and these only require one rod to
actuate the throttle valve or valves. My apparatus is intended to operate the throttle
valve of compound, whether triple or quadruple expansion engines, in which the
said valve controls the admission of steam to the high pressure cylinder, but as
when such valve cuts off steam from that cylinder, the steam previously admitted is
expanding in the other cylinders and continues for a few seconds longer, to actuate
the screw which enables the racing to take place for a similar period. I prefer in
order to remedy this defect, to apply a throttle valve to each cylinder, so that my.
apparatus will act simultaneously upon all the cylinders and instantaneously stop the
motion of the screw.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood, I have shown the
same in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a
portion of a steam ship, to which my invention is applied, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5,
illustrating constructive details of my improved apparatus.
To apply my improved apparatus to a ship, necessitates the formation in the aft
part of its keel K, of a central recess, in which a frame N is located as shown in
Figs. 2 and 4. This frame contains the water pressure steam regulator or bellows B,
formed of two hinged flaps f, ", forming an angle together, and in which are
arranged two or more divisions or tongues & t¹, held apart by several spiral
springs mo, m, m², m³, m³ m²; I may use any other resilient material instead of
such springs, but I give preference to the latter. The outer sides of the bellows B,
are provided with leather, india rubber, or other suitable covering, the front covering e
extending as far as the frame N, to prevent water passing between the said frame,
and the bellows B. The frame N is provided on both sides, or on one side only,
according as required with guards G, G, designed to prevent any sudden rush of
water, or foreign substance from interfering with the working of the bellows.
A rod O passes through the divisions or tongues t t¹, and is connected to the
frame N, its object being to close more or less the throttle valves v, v1, v³.. This is
effected by the distension of the bellows taking place, when the screw emerges out
of the water, and the stem of the vessel descends, the water ceasing then to exert
he same pressure on the bellows as it did when the screw was thoroughly
{ Duin 177

page_text: immersed therein. The rod O is connected to a crank lever p, joined to the main
or horizontal rod R, carried by the brackets or bearings 5, s¹, s³. This rod R,
actuates the three throttle valves e. v1, v2, of the cylinders C, 0, 0, by means of the
crank levers b, b1, b2, and of the rods 1",
E, shows a portion of the engine, S,
the screw and P. the supply pipe.
↑
Fig. 5 is a section at an enlarged scale of the throttle valve V of the cylinder C, and
clearly shows the action of the rod r, upon such valve. As the screw becomes
immersed again, the throttle valves are opened by reason of the contraction of the
bellows, due to the extra pressure now exerted thereon by the water.
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
more
(1) The improved means and apparatus for preventing racing of marine engines
arranged, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
(2) In apparatus for preventing racing in marine engines, the water pressure
steam regulator or bellows B, formed of a frame N containing one or
divisions or tongues such as tt', held apart by means of spiral springs or other
elastic means substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
(3) Providing for the purpose of preventing racing in compound marine engines,
each cylinder with a separate throttle valve arranged upon a pipe, common to all the
cylinders, these throttle valves being simultaneously closed or opened by the water
pressure steam regulator or bellows B, described in claim 2 substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
C A
1000
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.