Improvements in or relating to Steam Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steam Engines.
I, NOEL CHANDLER, of Cannock Chase Engine Works, Hednesford, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference inter alia to an improved construction and
arrangement of combined single acting compound engines whereby the same are
specially adapted for use as a reversible marine engine. My improved combined
engines comprise two or more sets of single acting vertical compound steam engines
arranged with the axes of their cylinders in a common vertical plane and with their
pistons working outo a multiple throw crank shaft within a closed crank chamber,
the axes of the pair of cylinders of each engine and of the valve operating rod for
such pair of cylinders being in a vertical plane inclined to that containing the axes
of all the cylinders, so that the cylinders may be arranged close together, and each
set of valves being operated through reversing valve gear of special construction
whereby the several engines can be simultaneously and easily started, stopped or
reversed, according to requirement, by the operation of a suitable hand operated
device, such as a reversing lever, located outside the crank chamber. In practice
I find it advantageous to employ three sets of engines working onto three cranks
arranged 120° apart.
The cylinders and valves for each set of compound engines are constructed and
arranged substantially in the manner explained with reference to the construction
of compound engine described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted
to me No. 5792 of 1888, except that the upper steam valve may be provided with a
balance piston or valve adapted to relieve the load on the valve gear but not to
entirely balance the valves, and each engine may advantageously be constructed
with lead passages for admitting steam to the upper ends of the high and low pressure
cylinders, independently of the main valves, in the manner described in the
Specification of other Letters Patent granted to me No. 2621 of 1893, in order to
cushion each piston as it approaches the end of its upward stroke and so absorb
the momentum of the moving parts and keep the connecting rod and brasses close
on the crank pin. The crank chamber is or may advantageously be constructed
with large removable side doors as and for the purpose described in my said former
Specification No. 5792 of 1888.
The reversing valve gear for each set of engines comprises an eccentric fixed on
the crank shaft near to one of the webs of the corresponding crank and directly
opposite to the crank pin. The eccentric rod, or its equivalent such as a plate, is
arranged to work in a lateral direction and is jointed to a cross-head or slide-block
or blocks mounted to work in a guide, or there may be more than one, that is
normally inclined to the horizontal and the angle and direction of inclination of
which can be readily changed by a rock shaft that extends through one end of the
crank chamber, motion being imparted to the corresponding set of valves by a
valve rod jointed to the eccentric rod at a point between the cross head or slide
block or blocks and the centre of the eccentric so that a compound motion will be
imparted to the lower end of the said valve rod as a result of the lateral angular
and vertical movements of the eccentric rod caused by the eccentric and inclined
guide respectively. The arrangement is such that the engine will be caused to
run in one direction when the guide is inclined in one direction, and in the opposite.

page_text: direction when the guide is oppositely inclined, the engine being brought to rest
when the guide is turned into a horizontal position.
The adjustable guides of the reversing gear for the several sets of engines are
worked by the same rock shaft so that they will all be operated at the same
time.
For launch engines I prefer to make one of the bearings for the crank shaft in
the form of a thrust block bearing fixed to the outer side of one of the end walls
of the crank chamber.
Reversing valve gear constructed and operating as hereinbefore described can be
advantageously used in steam engines of various constructions.
Improvements in or relating to Steam Engines.
I, NOEL CHANDLER, of Cannock Chase Engine Works, Hednesford, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, 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 :--
This invention has reference inter alia to an improved construction and
arrangement of combined single acting compound engines whereby the same are
specially adapted for use as a reversible marine engine. My improved combined
engines comprise two or more sets of single acting vertical compound steam engines
arranged with the axes of their cylinders in a common vertical plane and with
their pistons working onto a multiple throw crank shaft within a closed crank
chamber, the axes of the pair of cylinders of each engine and of the valve operating
rod for such pair of cylinders being in a vertical plane inclined to that containing
the axes of all the cylinders, so that the cylinders may be arranged close together,
and each set of valves being operated through reversing valve gear of special
construction whereby the several engines can be simultaneously and easily started,
stopped or reversed, according to requirement, by the operation of a suitable hand
I a
operated device, such as a reversing lever, located outside the crank chamber.
practice I find it advantageous to employ three sets of engines working onto three
cranks arranged 120° apart.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in vertical section and partly in end elevation, a single acting
compound reversible engine according to this invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagram
showing in plan, the relative arrangement of the cylinders and valve casings of such
an engine.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 4 a sectional plan of a portion of one of
the reversing valve gears.
A
In the arrangement shown there are three sets of single acting vertical compound
engines each comprising a high pressure cylinder 1 low pressure cylinder 2 and
valve casing 3 with steam piston valves 4 and 5 and exhaust sleeve valve 6, the
axes of the several cylinders being arranged in a common vertical plane a band
the axes of the pair of cylinders 12 of each engine and of the corresponding
valve operating rod 7 being in a vertical plane cd inclined to the plane a bas
shown in Fig. 2 so that the cylinders can be brought close together.
The cylinders and valves for each of the compound engines are constructed and
arranged substantially in the mauner explained with reference to the construction

page_text: of compound engine described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me No. 5792 of 1888, except that the upper steam valve.3 may with
dvantage be provided with a balance piston or valve 4* arranged to work in a
chamber 4 and adapted to relieve the load on the valve gear but not to entirely
balance the valves. Each of the engines may advantageously be also constructed
with lead passages for admitting steam to the upper ends of the high and low
pressure cylinders independently of the main valves, in the manner described in
the Specification of other Letters Patent granted to me No. 2621 of 1893, in order
to cushion each piston as it approaches the end of its upward stroke and so absorb
the momentum of the moving parts and keep the connecting rod and brasses close
on the crank pin. The engine pistons work onto a common crank shaft 8 having
three cranks arranged 120° apart and located within a closed crank chamber 9
which is or may advantageously he constructed with large removable side
doors 10 as and for the purpose described in my said former Specification No. 5792
of 1888.
The reversing valve gear for each set of engines comprises an eccentric 11 fixed
on the crank shaft 8 near to one of the webs 12 of the corresponding crank and
directly opposite to the crank pin 13. The eccentric rod, or its equivalent such as
a plate 14, as shown, is arranged to work in a lateral direction approximately at
right angles to that of the valve rod to be operated, and is jointed by a pin 14° to
a cross-head or slide-block 15 (which may be in two parts) mounted to work in a
guide 16 (or there may be more than one) that is normally inclined to the
horizontal but the angle and direction of inclination of which can be readily
changed; it may be for this purpose carried by a rock shaft 17 that extends
through one end of the crank chamber 9. Motion is imparted to the corresponding
valve rod 7 and set of valves 4, 5 and 6 by a link 7° jointed to the lower end of the
valve rod and to the eccentric rod or plate 14 at a point 14" between the cross head
or slide block 15, (or blocks) and the centre of the eccentric 11 so that a compound
motion will be imparted to the lower end of the said valve rod as a result of the
lateral angular and vertical movements of the eccentric rod caused by the eccentric
and inclined guide respectively. As will be readily understood the arrangement
is such that the engine will be caused to run in one direction when the guide 16 is
inclined in one direction, and in the opposite direction when the guide is oppositely
inclined, the engine being brought to rest when the guide is turned into a
horizontal position.
The adjustable guides 16 of the reversing gear for the several sets of engines are
carried and worked by the same rock shaft 17 so that they will all be operated
at the same time, it may be by a hand lever 18.
For launch engines I prefer to make one of the bearings for the crank shaft in
the form of a thrust block bearing fixed to the outer side of one of the end walls of
the crank chamber.
Reversing valve gear constructed and operating as hereinbefore described can be
advantageously used in steam engines of various constructions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A reversible engine comprising two or more sets of single acting vertical
compound steam engines of the kind set forth arranged with the axes of their
cylinders in a common vertical plane and with their pistons working onto a
multiple-throw crank shaft within a closed crank chamber, the axes of the pair of
cylinders of each engine and of the corresponding valve operating rod being in a
vertical plane inclined to that containing the axes of all the cylinders and each set
of valves being operated through reversing gear comprising an eccentric having a
laterally working rod, or equivalent part connected to the valve operating rod at a
point between its end and the centre of the eccentric and jointed to a crosshead or
slide block mounted to work in a guide that is normally inclined to the horizontal

page_text: but the angle and direction of which can be readily changed substantially as
described and shown.
2. In a steam engine, reversing valve gear comprising an eccentric having its rod
or equivalent arranged to work in a direction approximately at right angles to that
of the valve rod to be operated, and jointed to a crosshead or slide block mounted
to work in a guide the angle and direction of inclination of which can be varied,
and also to the valve rod at a point between the slide block and the centre of the
eccentric, the arrangement being such that a compound motion will be imparted to
the point of attachment of the valve rod with the eccentric rod or equivalent, and
that the engine will run in one direction when the guide is inclined in one
direction and in the opposite direction when the guide is oppositely inclined, the
engine being brought to rest when the guide is turned into its mid position
substantially as herein described.
3. My improved engine reversing gear shown in and described with reference to
the drawings.