IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Frederick Spencer, of Adelaide Place, London
Bridge, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER
Scaled the 13th July 186, and dated the 17th January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Frederick Spencer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th January 1860.
I, JOHN FREDERICK SPENCER, of Adelaide Place, London Bridge, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to steam engines for propelling ships. and other
vessels, and for other similar purposes.
Italso refers, more or less, to further improvements upon and modifications
of the Inventions previously patented by me on the 16th of November 18 7,
& numbered 2874, and on the 29th of March. 1:58, and numbered 661.
This Invention consists of several parts, each and all of which have reference
to improvements in steam engines working in connection with surface con-
densers of the kind or description patented by me. in the year 1857.
-The first part of my prosent Invention relates to a novel arrangement ofthe
ונס' מי

page_text: parts of inverted cylinder direct-acting marine screw engines in combination
with surface condensers constructed according to my previous Invention.
The second part of my present Invention relates to a novel arrangement
of the parts of marine engines suited for giving motion to paddle wheels in
combination with surface condensers as before referred-to..
The third part of my present Invention relates to a novel arrangement of the
parts of horizontal or approximately horizontalmarineengines suited fordriving
the screw propeller in war ships and other vessels, and the combination there-
with of surface condensers constructed according to my previous Invention.
The fourth part of my present Invention relates to a novel arrangement and
combination of the parts of the slide valves of marine engines.
I construct direct-acting screw engines with inverted cylinders, and framo
them together, and support them in the following manner:-I introduce
under the cylinders and between their vertical centres, a central case or hollow
frame of a suitable form and of sufficient size to receive the arrangement of
horizontal tubes forming a surface condenser. In this condenser the tubesare
placed horizontally, or but slightly inclined, and are in each case disposed
across the line of the keel of the ship, and in this case as in all others where
surface condensers are constructed according to my previous Patent the cir-
culation of the condensing water is produced by mechanical means and takes
place within the thin metal tubes, whilst the steam to be condensed is brought
in contact with the exterior surfaces. This central surface condenser forms
the support to the cylinder on the inner sides, whilst the forward and aft
portions of the cylinders are carried by columns or other framework secured
to them, and also to the bed plate. The central surface condenser is sup-
ported-upon and secured to the bed plate by two chambered legs, one or
both of which may be employed for or used as a portion-of-the-condenser,
the central body of which is raised sufficiently high above the level of the
bed plate to allow the cranks to be drawn out or in endways.
The slide chests may be placed in such positions as may be found most
convenient for giving motion to-the-slides or for any other purpose.
I prefer to place the piston cross heads fore and aft, and to fit them with
guide blocks to work in guides, one of which for each crosshead is attached
to the columns or framing carrying the outsides or forward and aft portion
of the cylinders, whilst the other is attached to or may form part of the case
of the central surface condenser.
The air pumps can be worked either by the main engine, or by separate
steam cylinders as described in my previous Patents.
By the arrangement of surface condensers, according to the present Iuven-

page_text: tion in inverted screw engines, ready access is secured to every part of the
engine and condenser for the purposes of examination, cleaning, and repair;
and more particularly it enables any or all of the condenser tubes to be
removed and replaced without deranging any rivetted, screwed, or other
description of steam, or other joint or connection in the engine, excepting
only the water joints of the cover plate in the condenser case giving access
to the ends of the condenser tubes.
In direct-acting engines for driving paddle wheels, I place the tubes in the
direction of the line of the keel, and either horizontally or slightly inclined,
and thus insure, as in the case of the application of the surface condensers to
inverted screw engines, ready access to the tubes of the condensers, and the
facility of removing them by withdrawing them from the case forming the
central condenser, to which is connected each cylinder. It is intended that
the condenser should form the support for the central bearing of the paddle
shaft, although this arrangement is not indispensable; also as in the case
of the inverted cylinder screw engines, the air pumps may be worked by
the main engines or by seperate cylinders as before mentioned.
In horizontal or approximately horizontal engines intended for driving the
screw propeller in ships of war or other vessels, I place the case of the surface
condenser forming the central framing of each engine in a position relatively
the same as in the inverted engines before described, or between the athwart-
ship horizontal, central, or axial line of each cylinder, the tubes of the con-
denser being at right angles with or across the line of the keel, and in ships
of war the condenser is kept below the water line.
My improvements in slide valves for regulating the supply of steam to
marine engines refer to valves in which the amount of cut off or expansion in
the cylinder is regulated by one or more cut-off valves working on the back
of an ordinary single or double-ported slide worked with the gab or link motion,
such as is usually fitted to marine engines in this country, such cut-off valves
working over ports formel in or through the main slide, and worked by one
or more eccentrics unconnected with those that give motion to the main slide.
In ordinary marine engines it is usual to relieve the main slide from the
steam pressure by a faced ring at the back, so fitted as to prevent the steam
acting on a given surface of the back of the slide, but when the cut-off
slides work on the back of the main slides the arrangement referred to for
relieving the pressure cannot be effectually carried out.
By my improvements I am enabled to use one or more cut-off valves or
slides of the kind-described, and at the same time to relieve the main slide
from the steam pressure on its back. 1 effect this object by causing the cut-off

page_text: slide or slides to work in a chamber of a rectangular or approximately rectan-
gular section formed at the back of the main slide. This chamber may either
be a portion of the casting of the main slide, or a seperate casting bolted on.
It is formed by surrounding the back of the main slide with a supplementary
back and sides, the supplementary back being fitted-with-thefaced ring-before
referred to for relieving the back pressure, the supplementary sides and ends
being perforated with apertures of any convenient size or form to admit tho
steam freely to the cut-off slides. By this arrangement the working of the
cut-off slides does not interfere with the fitting of the face ring ordinarily
employed for the purpose of relieving the main or exhaust slide from the
pressure of the steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Frederick Spencer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FREDERICK SPENCER, of Adelaide Place, London Bridge, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Frederick Spencer Her special licence that I, the said
John Frederick Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Frederick Spencer, 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, au Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND OTHER
VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that.
I, the said John Frederick Spencer, my executors or administrators, by au
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be 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 John Frederick Spencer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, and accompanying Sheet of Drawings
This Invention relates to steam engines for propelling ships and other vessels,
and for similar purposes.
It also refers, more or less, to further improvements upon and modifications
of the Inventions previously patented by me on the Sixteenth of November,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, and on the Twenty-ninth of March
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
This Invention consists of several parts, each and all of which have
reference to improvements in steam engines working in connexion with sur-
face condensers of the kind or description patented by me in the year One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
And it relates to a novel arrangement of the parts of direct-acting marino
screw engines, in combination with the surface condensers, constructed accord-
ing to my previous Inventions; and also to a novel arrangement of the parts
of marine engines suited for giving motion to paddle wheels, in combination
with the surface condensers before referred to.
In describing my present Invention, and the modes of carrying the same
into effect, I propose to illustrate its application to engines intended for driving
the screw propeller, and adopt for this purpose a type of engine which is par-
ticularly suited for commercial marine purposes; and I have therefore preferred
in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings to illustrate that form of engine.
In like manner, I prefer for the purpose of illustrating the application of
my present Invention to engines intended for rotating paddle wheels, to adopt
the form of paddle wheel engine shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Draw-
ings; but whatever the form or type of engine may be, I introduce between
the steam cylinders thereof and in direct communication therewith, a surface
condenser of the kind or description previously patented by me,and as herein-
before referred to; and the casing of such condenser may form part of the
framing or means of supporting such engines, and a part of the general
arrangement and construction thereof.
I construct direct-acting screw engines with inverted cylinders, and frame
them together and support them in the following manner:-I introduce under
the cylinders and between their vertical centres a central case or hollow frame
of a suitable form, and of sufficient size to receive the arrangement of hori-
zontal tubes forming a surface condenser. In this condenser the tubes are
placed horizontally, or but slightly inclined, and are in each case disposed across

page_text: the line of the keel of the ship; and in this case, as in all others where surface
condensers are constructed according to my previous Patent, the circulation of
the condensing water is produced by mechanical means,and takes place within
the thin-metal.tubes, whilst the steam to be condensed is brought in contact
with the exterior surfaces. This central surface condenser forms the support
to the cylinders on the inner sides, whilst the forward and aft portions of the
cylinders are carried by columns or other framework secured to them, and also
to the bedplate. The central surface condenser is supported upon and secured
to the bedplate by two chambered legs, one or both of which may be em-
ployed for or used as a portion of the condenser, the central body of which is
raised sufficiently high above the level of the bed plate to allow the cranks to
be drawn out or in endways.
The slide chests may be placed in such positions as may be found most con-
venient for giving motion to the slides, or for any other purpose. I prefer to
place the piston crossheads fore and aft, and to fit them with guide blocks to
work in guides, one of which for each crosshead is attached to the columns or
framing carrying the outsides or forward and aft portion of the cylinders,
whilst the other is attached to or may form part of the case of the central
surface condenser.
The air pumps can be worked either by the main engine or by separate
steam cylinders, as described in my previous Patents.
By this arrangement of surface condensers, according to the present Inven-
tion, in inverted screw engines, ready access is secured to every part of the
engine and condenser for the purposes of examination, cleaning, and repair,
and more particularly it enables any or all of the condenser tubes to be
removed and replaced-without-deranging any rivetted, screwed, or other
description of steam or other joint or connection in the engine, excepting only
the water joints of the cover plate in the condenser case giving access to the
ends of the condenser tubes.
In direct-acting engines for driving paddle wheels, I place the tubes in the
direction of the line of the keel,and either horizontally or slightly inclined, and
thus insure, as in the case of the application of the surface condensers to inverted
screw engines, ready access to the tubes of the condensers, and the facility of
removing them by withdrawing them from the case forming the central con-
denser, to which is connected each cylinder. It is intended that the condenser
should form the support for the central bearing of the paddle shaft. Although
I prefer this arrangement in many cases, it is not indispensable. Also, as in
the case of the inverted cylinder screw engines the air pumps may be worked
by the main engine or by separate cylinders, as before mentioned.

page_text: In designing engines according to my present Invention, whether the same
be intended to work exclusively each with a surface condenser or condensers,
or as also in the case of altering or converting old engines or engines originally
designed to work exclusively with injection condensation, they may work with
it or by surface condensation, that either may be availed of.
In each or either of such cases, and whatever the form, type, or general
arrangement of engine may be, I place or dispose the surface condenser
between the main cylinders in such manner as may be convenient and adapted
to the form, construction, or arrangement of the parts of such engines.
1 prefer to employ the following description of slide valve in connection
with the arrangements of marine engines herein-before referred to. In
ordinary marine engines it is usual to relieve the main slide from the steam
pressure by a faced ring at the back so fitted as to prevent the steam acting
on a given surface of the back of the slide; but when cut-off slides work on
the back of the main slide, the arrangement ordinarily employed for relieving
the pressure cannot be effectually carried out. But I am enabled to use one
or more cut off valves or slidos, and at the same time to relievo the main slide
from the steam pressure on its back; and this is effected by causing the cut-
off slide or slides to work in a chamber of a rectangular, or approximately
rectangular, section formed at the back of the main slide. This chamber may
either be a portion of the casting of the main slide, or a separate casting
bolted on.
It is formed by surrounding the back of the main slide with a
supplementary back and sides, the supplementary back being fitted with the
faced ring before referred to, for relieving the back pressure, the supple-
mentary sides and ends being perforated with apertures of any convenient
size or form to admit the steam freely to the cut-off slides. By this
arrangement the working of the cut-off slides does not interfere with the
fitting of the faced ring ordinarily employed for the purpose of relieving the
main or exhaust slide from the pressure of the steam, and forms a very
useful adjunct to the marine engine.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I have shewn two forms or
descriptions of engines, constructed in accordance with my present Invention,
and which will serve to illustrate the general features thereof, and, for the
purpose of avoiding unnecessary complication, I have shewn the several
Figures more or less in outline only.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view, partly in section, of a pair of
direct-acting inverted cylinder screw engines, having the surface condenser
arranged according to this Invention. The tubes in this case, it will be
observed, are placed across the line of the keel of the vessel.

page_text: Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation, taking through one of the
cylinders in Figure 1, the surface condenser being shewn in elevation; B, the
guide blocks of the piston crossheads, working in the guides C. The con-
_necting rods are in these two Figures removed for the purpose of avoiding
complication. The other parts of the engines-are-so-clearly shewn, and wili.
be so readily comprehended by those conversant with the steam engine, that
any further letters of reference thereto would be superfluous after the
description of the particular arrangement and combination of such parts
which has already been previously given in this Fiual Specification.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of a pair of direct-acting oscil.
lating marine paddle engines, with surface condenser, &c., arranged according
to this Invention, the tubes of the condenser in this case being placed in the
direction of the line of the keel of the vessel, as shewn, instead of athwart-
ship, as in the direct-acting marine screw engines above described. In this
view, as in the two preceding Figures, A is the surface condenser, arranged as
previously described. Any other letters of reference would be unnecessary,
there being nothing novel in the form or arrangement of the cugine.
In the inverted cylinder engines I have shewn the cylinders, together
with their top and bottom covers, as hollow, for the purpose of surrounding
the cylinders with steam of a suitably high temperature to prevent the undue
condensation which would otherwise take place. In Figure3 I have shewn,
for the sake of variation, the cylinder covers only as being hollow; but each
cylinder may be surrounded by a casing, and the bottom of each may likewise
be hollow; and cach chamber or space thus formed should be filled or charged
with steam, as in the Specification of my previous Patents set forth.
-Having-now_described my said Invention of "Improvements in Steam
Engines for Propelling Ships and other Vessels, and for other-l'urposes,"-and-
having illustrated it by two forms or types of engine, to which it is applicable,
and having also described an arrangement of slide valve apparatus, which I
prefer to employ for the purposes of relieving the main slide from the steam
dressure on its back whilst using cut-off valves or slides in connection there-
with, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim for the general use or
employment, form or arrangement, of such valve apparatus in marine or other
steam engines. What I claim is,-
First, in the arrangement of inverted direct-acting screw engines the dis-
position of surface condensers of the kind described by me in my previous
Patents herein-before referred to, by which the external casing thereof forms
part of the main framing, and is placed between and under the cylinders of
such engines (whether there be two or more cylinders), and the tubes whereof,

page_text: being horizontal or slightly inclined, are placed across the line of the kee
or propeller shaft.
Second, in the arrangement of paddle wheel engines, the disposition of
surface condensers, of the kind described by me in my previous Patents
herein-before referred to, by which the external casing thereof is placed
between the cylinders (whether there be two or more), and may or may not
form part of the main framing of such engines. The tubes of such condensers
being horizontal or slightly incliued, are placed across the line of paddle shaft,
and in line with the keel.
Third, the arrangement, construction, disposition of parts, and mode of
working condeusing steam engines, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Frederick Spencer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JOHN FREDERICK SPENCER. (L.S.)
5
Witness,
JOHN WILLIAM TIBBERT,
19, Salisbury Street, Adelphi.