An Improved Method of Heating the Cylinders and Accessory Parts of Steam Engines, and Appliances Employed therein.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Feb., 1889
An Improved Method of Heating the Cylinders and Accessory Parts
of Steam Engines, and Appliances Employed therein.
I, JAMES CARLTON STITT, of 17 Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:
This Invention relates to the method by which initial condensation of steam in the
cylinder, or cylinders of steam engines is prevented, the method consisting of sur-
rounding the walls of the cylinder, or cylinders with steam heated to a higher
temperature than that of the steam employed in them.
The chief object of my Invention is to prevent the initial condensation of steam
by the use of steam in the jackets of the cylinders, covers, and the accessory parts
while depriving the steam made in the generator for supplying the engines of as
little of its heat as possible. To this end the method by which the prevention of
initial condensation of the steam in the cylinders of steam engines is effected, as
follows:-
In compound engines-such as of the double, triple and quadruple compound
type I take the steam used for heating the cylinder, or cylinders from a convenient
portion of the engine after it has done work in one, or more cylinders of the engine,
heat it to a temperature higher than that of the steam used in the high pressure, or
other cylinder, or cylinders and employ it in the jackets of the cylinder, or
cylinders and cylinder covers of the high pressure cylinder, or other cylinder, or
cylinders.
As an example, I will describe generally how I apply my Invention to the high
pressure cylinder of a triple compound engine, that is an engine in which the
expansion of steam is carried out in three grades. In the uptake of one, or more
steam generators of the engines I place the device for heating the jacket steam to a
temperature above that of the steam used in the high pressure cylinder. This device
may consist of any suitable arrangement of tubes of any suitable material. I lead
steam from the steam receiver, or passage, lying between the intermediate and low

page_text: pressure cylinders to the system of pipes and then lead the steam heated in passing
through them to the jackets of the high pressure cylinder. From these it may be
passed back into the low pressure valve casing or to the condenser. The pressure
of steam in the part of the engine from whence it is taken will be sufficient to cause
the required circulation, or passage of the steam through the system of heating pipes
and the jackets of the cylinders, covers and accessory parts.
In the case where the steam after use in the cylinder jacket is returned to the low
pressure casing the flow of the steam may be assured by the use of two valves
operated automatically by the varying pressure of the steam in the casing. Or such
valve, or valves may be operated mechanically if so desired.
In double compound engine the steam would be taken from some portion of the
passage, or receiver through which the steam passes from the high pressure to the low
pressure cylinder, or cylinders and controlled and used as above set forth.
I would have it understood that I do not limit the matter I may deem advisable
to claim under this Invention to the exact means or apparatus above specified of
carrying out the herein described method, as they merely constitute examples by
which the method may be put into practice.

page_text: of Steam Engines, and Appliances Employed therein.
I, JAMES CARLTON STITT, of 17 Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:―
This invention relates more particularly to the prevention of initial condensation
of steam in the cylinder or cylinders of steam engines, and has special reference to
that method of preventing condensation which consists of surrounding the walls of
the cylinder or cylinders, with steam heated to a higher temperature than that of the
steam employed in them; and it also relates to the evaporation of water in the
steam.
The chief object of my invention is to prevent the initial condensation of steam by
the use of steam in the jackets of the cylinders, covers, and their accessory parts,
while depriving the steain made in the generator for supplying the engines of as
little of its heat as possible. To this end the method by which the prevention of
initial condensation of, and the re-evaporation of the water existing in the steam, in
the cylinders of steam engines, is effected as follows:-
In compound engines--such as of the double, triple and quadruple compound
type I take the steam used for heating the cylinder or cylinders, from a convenient
portion of the engine, after it has done work in one or more of its cylinders, heat it to
a temperature higher than that of the steam used in the high pressure or other
cylinder or cylinders, and employ it in the jackets of the cylinder and cylinder covers
of the high pressure cylinder or other cylinders or cylinders.
As an
example, I will describe generally how I apply my Invention to the high
pressure cylinder of a triple compound engine, that is an engine in which the expan-
sion of steam is carried out in three grades. In the uptake of one or more steam
generators of engines, I place the device for heating the jacket steam to a temperature
above that of the steam used in the high pressure cylinder. This device may consist
of any suitable arrangement of tubes, of any suitable material. I lead steam from
the steam receiver or passage, lying between the intermediate and low pressure
cylinders, to the system of pipes, and then lead the steam, heated in passing through
them, to the jackets of the high pressure cylinder. From these may be passed
into the low pressure valve casing, or to the condenser. The pressure of steam in the
part of the engine from whence it is taken will be sufficient to cause the required
circulation, or passage of the steam through the system of heating pipes, and the
jackets of the cylinders, covers and accessory parts.
In the case where the steam, after use in the cylinder jacket, is returned to the
low pressure casing, the flow of steam may be assured by the use of two valves,
operated automatically by the varying pressure of the steam in the casing. Or such
valve or valves may be operated mechanically, if so desired.

page_text: In a double compound engine, the steam would be taken from some portion of the
passage or receiver, through which the steam passes from the high pressure to the
low pressure cylinder or cylinders, and controlled and used as above set forth.
The above describes generally the nature, object, and effects of my Invention, but
to set forth the same more clearly, I will now describe it with the aid of the
accompanying Drawings.
The Drawings which serve to illustrate my invention show one mode or means
of carrying it out, especially designed to apply to a marine engine.
In the Drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the high pressure cylinder of
say, an ordinary compound engine, and the "uptake" of a marine steam generator;
and Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the steam heating tubes, of the apparatus shown
in Figure 1.
With reference to the Drawings, A designates the high pressure cylinder of the
engine, B the "receiver" communicating between the high and low pressure cylinders,
C the uptake of the steam generator, E the steam heating pipes in said uptake, F the
steam pipe leading from the said receiver to the pipes E, and G the superheated
steam, pipe leading from the pipes E to the jacket H and spaces H of the cylinder A.
1 are the pipes by which communication is made between the sets or series of pipes E,
into which such pipes are arranged, and J is a relief valve of any known type by
which the pressure in the pipes E, and jackets of the cylinder, is prevented from
rising above that necessary or deemed desirable. K are covers provided with a
partition by which the steam is caused to pass seriatim through the pipes E, as
indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. The pipes E are preferably made of either cast
iron or steel.
The course of the steam through the apparatus is as follows:-
The steam, after having done work in the cylinder A, is admitted to the receiver B,
in the usual way, and from this receiver it is conducted by the pipe F to the first of
the pipes E. These it will be seen, are formed in sets of three each, and the steam
passes seriatim through these three pipes, the flow being regulated by the covers K
and partitions ;-it then travels to the next set by the pipe I, and so on throughout
them all. In travelling through these pipes, the temperature of the steam is raised
to above that corresponding to the initial pressure of the steam employed in the
cylinder A, and this "su perheated" steam passes by the G, to the jacket H of the cylinder
and the space H2 of the cylinder bottom, which spaces are in direct communication
with each other, it also passes to the space H' of the top cover of the cylinder by
the passage G¹. The steam is led away from the jacket H, and spaces H and H2, by
the pipes G, and is conducted thereby to the condenser or any other outlet that may
be deemed expedient.
The temperature at which the steam must be delivered into the jackets, and the
volume thereof, will vary under the varying applications of the invention; for
instance, with different points at which the steam is cut off in the cylinder, the amount
of condensation under ordinary conditions is found to vary, and in different engines
the amount of water in the steam coming from the steam generator also changes, and
therefore to meet these varying conditions, a certain volume of superheated steam at
a certain temperature, in each case, will have to be provided, in order to prevent
initial condensation of the steam, and to evaporate the water in such stoam. In most
cases, however, the temperature of the steam, as delivered to the jackets and other
casings, enclosing the cylinder, may be about 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit above that
of the initial steam used in that cylinder.
The superheated steam after use in the jackets and spaces surrounding the high
pressure cylinder of an engine may be conducted to a second, third, or fourth, as the
case may be, and used therein. By so using the steam, the pressure in such cylinders
will, if the temperature be higher than the working steam within them, be caused to
be augmented, or in other words, its fall in pressure will not be so rapid, for given
expanded volumes, as it would be, if the working steam-assuming it to be " dry "
were expanded in the usual way.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature, object, and purposes
of my invention, and the manner of performing the same, I would state in conclusion
that it will be obvious to Engineers that the apparatus herein illustrated and set forth
may be widely varied, and therefore it must be understood that I do not restrict or
confine my invention to the particular form, construction, or arrangement herein
described, but what I do claim in respect of the herein described invention is :-
:-
1. Effecting the prevention of the condensation of steam in the initial cylinders of
steam engines, and the evaporation of water carried into them, by introducing into
the jackets or spaces enclosing such cylinders and their accessory parts, steam, which has
done work in the engine, and has then been superheated to a temperature higher
than that employed in said cylinders.
2. In steam engines, the employment in the jackets or spaces enclosing the initial
cylinders, of steam which has done work in the said cylinders, and has been
superheated to a temperature higher than that of the initial steam used in such
cylinders.
3. The herein described mode of heating the metal in contact with the working
steam of the initial cylinders of steam engines, which consists of taking some of the
steam exhausted or emitted from said cylinders, heating it in a suitable chamber or
pipes by the heat of the " waste gases of the steam generator of said engine, and
then conveying it to spaces surrounding the said metal of the cylinders.
"
4. The system of tubes E constructed substantially as described, and arranged in
the "uptake" C of a steam generator, for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of the tubes E, covers K, and pipes I, arranged in the
66 uptake," C, of a steam generator, for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with a system of tubes E, in which steam is superheated as
described, of a relief valve operating as and for the purposes set forth.
This outh das of Novemba 1000
JAMES CARLTON STITT.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.