Improvements in and relating to Steam Winches and Cranes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan.. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Winches and Cranes.
A communication by MATHIAS MORTERUD, of Christiania, in the Kingdom of
Norway, Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM Phillips THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
As is well known, steam winches are very uneconomical as far as regards the
utilisation of steam, owing to the fact that the cylinders are arranged in such a way
that the degree of expansion of the steam cannot be varied at will according to the
work to be performed by the winch. As the winches have to be constructed for
the maximum of work, it follows that, in loading and unloading the most commonly
shipped goods, a great deal of steam is used up to no useful purpose and nearly the
same amount of steam is consumed when the goods are lowered as when they are
hoisted up.
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the steam may be
utilised in a much more economical manner in steam winches and steam cranes of
any construction. This is done by arranging, between the two cylinders of the
steam winch or steam-crane, a suitable valve.and valves, and connecting these
valves with the steam chests of the cylinders in such a manner that, the cylinders
may at will both be charged with live steam or only one with live steam and the
other with exhaust steam from the first cylinder, the cylinders of the steam winch
working then as a compound engine. In this way, it is possible to save as much as
50 per cent, steam, as, for most of the work, it is sufficient to let the winch operate
in this latter manner.
but
The pipes and valves for the steam may be arranged in any suitable manner,
it is preferable to arrange a single valve, which connects all of the pipes, so that,
by moving the valve spindle from one position to another, the steam may be shut
off, admitted to both cylinders, or admitted to only one cylinder.
As examples, two valve constructions are shown on the accompanying drawings,
either one may be used advantageously.
Figures 1 to 5 inclusive depict a six-way valve;
Figures 6 and 7 a slide valve, and
Figure 8 a general arrangement of the piping with valve or cock.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive :-
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the cock in such position as to make the
cylinders work on the compound principle; Figures 3 and 5 are horizontal sections
on lines x- and y-y respectively, showing the body of the cock in the same
position as in Figure 1; Figures 2 and 4 are similar sections but showing the cock
turned so that both of the cylinders will get live steam.
I, is the steam-port in the cock housing for one cylinder, I¹ for the other, U
and U¹ the corresponding exhaust ports, D the channel for live steam, E the exhaust-
steam-pipe. The cock body has three ways or channels a, b, c.
One of these, a,
connects, in one position (see Figure 4) both exhaust ports U U¹, with the main.
exhaust pipe E, but, in another position (see Figures 1 and 5) it connects only one
of the exhaust ports U¹ with the main exhaust pipe E. The channel c connects, in
the first case, the boiler steam pipe D with both of the steam ports I I', leading to
the cylinders (Figure 2), but, in the other case, only with one of the steam ports I
(Figures 1 and 3); the channel b connects in this instance the exhaust port U with

page_text: the steam port I', while, in the other instance, it is out of communication with any
of the channels in the cock housing. When steam is to be shut off entirely, the
cock is turned so that the part of the same marked o will cover the live steam
channel D..
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a slide-valve constructed very much like the
cock above described, and Figure 7 is an end view of the same. The slide is shown
in a position to shut the steam off entirely. The letters used all through these two
figures are the same as used throughout Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, so that the
drawing will explain itself.
Figure 8 shows a general plan or arrangement of the invention. It is obvious,
however, that, once given the general idea, other arrangements as well as other
forms of valves may be designed for the purpose, without departing from the nature
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a steam winch or steam crane, the combination, with the steam chests and
their steam and exhaust pipes, of a valve or valves, by means of which the live
steam from the boiler may be at will admitted directly to both cylinders in the
usual way, or admitted directly to only one of the cylinders, in which latter case,
the exhaust steam from this same cylinder is led to the steam chest of the other
cylinder, whereby the cylinders will operate on the compound principle.
2. The six-way steam cock and slide valve constructed substantially as shown
and described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The general combined arrangement or construction of pipes and valves for
steam winches and cranes, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 4th day of December 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.