IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM ENGINES FOR THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Pellew Plenty, of the Eagle Iron Works,
Newbury, in the County of Berks, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM ENGINES FOR THE PROPULSION
OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 10th September 1867, and dated the 15th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Pellew Plenty at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th March 1867.
I, EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY, of the Eagle Iron Works, Newbury, in the
County of Berks, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for." Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM ENGINES FOR THE
PROPULSION OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction and
arrangement of steam engines for the propulsion of boats, and other vessels,
and whereby great advantages are obtained. Instead of placing the cylinder
and crank frame on supports at the fore end of the boiler, and separate there-
from, as is usually the practice in arranging engines for boats and other small
vessels which are propelled by means of a single shaft, the same are attached
to the after end of the boiler itself, and the pumps are driven from a cross
head either above or below the cylinder. By the cylinder and crank frame
being attached to the boiler all the steam pipes can be placed inside the smoko

page_text: box and boiler, thus in a great degree preventing evaporation. The smoke box
is surrounded by a double shell or casing so as to have a space or chamber
entirely surrounding the same; such space or chamber is filled with water up
to the level of that contained in the boiler, the remainder thereof being occu-
pied by steam, thus preventing the radiation of a considerable amount of heat
from the smoke box, and allowing it to be more effectually insulated by felting
or otherwise than can ordinarily be the case, the consumption of fuel being at
the same time greatly lessened. Engines constructed and arranged as herein-
before mentioned are especially applicable for use in ships boats, launches, and
other small vessels which are propelled by means of a single shaft, and by
reason of the whole machinery being connected together, as before described
the engine can be readily placed in the vessel, and secured by means of cotters,
as well understood, whilst the removal of the latter will allow of the engine
being removed with equal facility. An additional advantage obtained by
attaching the cylinder and crank frame to the boiler itself is that greater
solidity of bearing is gained, together with less vibration than by the methods
of construction and arrangement previously adopted, a great additional
advantage being that much weight is saved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Pellews Plenty in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
PELLEW PLENTY, of the Eagle Iron Works, Newbury, in the County of Berks,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward Pellew Plenty, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Pellew Plenty, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Pellew Plenty, 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 lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF STEAM ENGINES FOR

page_text: THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Pellew Plenty, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said.
5 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Pellew Plenty, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, that
is to say:
My said Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction and
arrangement of steam engines for the propulsion of boats and other vessels,
and whereby great advantages are obtained. Instead of placing the cylinder
and crank frame on supports at the fore end of the boiler and separate there-
from as is usually the practice in arranging engines for boats and other small
vessels which are propelled by means of a single shaft, I attach the same to
the after end of the boiler, and the pumps are driven from a cross head
either above or below the cylinder. The cylinder and crank frame being thus
attached to the boiler all the steam pipes can be placed inside the smoke box
and boiler, thus in a great degree preventing evaporation. The smoke box is
surrounded by a double shell or casing, so as to have a space or chamber
entirely surrounding the same, and which space or chamber is filled with water
up to the level of that contained in the boiler, the remainder thereof being
occupied by steam, thus preventing the radiation of a considerable amount of
heat from the smoke box, and allowing it to be more effectually insulated by
felting or otherwise than can ordinarily be the case, the consumption of fuel
being at the same time greatly lessened. Engines constructed and arranged
in accordance with my said Invention, as herein-before mentioned, are especially
adapted for use in ships' boats, launches, and other small vessels which are
propelled by means of a single shaft, and, by reason of the whole machinery
being connected together, as before described, the engine can be readily placed
in the vessel, and secured by means of cotters, as well understood, whilst the
removal of the latter will allow of the engine being removed with equal facility.
An additional advantage obtained by attaching the cylinder and crank frame
to the boiler itself is that great solidity of bearing is gained, together with
less vibration, than by the methods of construction and arrangement previously
adopted, a great additional advantage being that much weight is saved.

page_text: The nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood by refer-
ence to the accompanying Drawing.
1 is the steam. cylinder; 2, steam chest; 3, guides; 4, connecting rod;
5, cross head; 6, link motion for reversing; 7, eccentric rods; 8, cranks;
9, crank frame; 10, fly wheel; 11, pumps and valve; 12, water and steam
space.
Having thus fully declared and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as
being the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the construction and arrangement of steam engines for the
propulsion of boats and other vessels, as substantially herein-before set forth and
described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Pellew Plenty, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY. (L.S.)