IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hornsby and Robert Edwards both of the
Spittlegate Iron Works Grantham in the County of Lincoln, for
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND MOTIVE POWER ENGINES
"
an
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hornsby and
Robert Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th November 1882.
WILLIAM HORNSBY and ROBERT EDWARDS both of the Spittlegate Iron Works
Grantham in the County of Lincoln "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND MOTIVE
POWER ENGINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and motive power
engines.
A sliding block in a vibrating link actuated by a crank or eccentric on the
engine crank shaft is commonly employed to actuate slide or other valves used for
admitting gases or fluids to a steam or other motor and the admission is often
regulated by a governor which shifts the said block along the link.
Now we introduce an eccentric in the connections between the governor and the
sliding block so that the tendency to shift the slide arising from angular action of
the link may be more effectually controlled.
This eccentric can be placed directly on the spindle of the lever that receives
motion from the governor or in other intermediate position.
We employ an improved form of governor. It is made with a central revolving
spindle on which is mounted a frame carrying two or more bell crank levers. On
the one end of these levers balls are carried and the other ends take into or are
connected with a sleeve surrounding the spindle. The centrifugal action of the
balls is controlled by a transverse spring placed between them, or their levers or
arranged between continuations of the levers below their fulcrum. In some cases
two or more springs are attached to the arms of the ball crank levers that are
connected to the sleeve suitable arrangements being used in either case to
regulate the tension of the spring or springs.

page_text: To heat feed water we employ an arrangement which is simple and admits of
ready application under varying circumstances.
It consists of an external tube into which steam is admitted and ends forming
chambers attached to it by bolts; and one or both of these chambers can be turned
round to suit the connections. In these chambers are tube plates for small tubes
used to pass the feed water to be heated one chamber has cast or otherwise
connected to it the inlet and outlet for the water and also one of the steam
passages, the other steam connection being upon the other chamber.
The chambers have lids at their ends so that the small tubes can readily be got
at for cleaning. In some cases to admit of the expansion and contraction of the
tubes, the cover of one chamber is formed with a gland with packing. The tube
plate is moveable in the chamber and a trunk formed upon the tube plate works
through the gland.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hornsby and Robert Edwards in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th May 1883.
+
WILLIAM HORNSBY and ROBERT EDWARDS both of the Spittlegate Iron Works
Grantham in the County of Lincoln "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND MOTIVE
POWER ENGINES,"
This invention has for its object improvements in steam and motive power
engines.
A sliding block in a vibrating link actuated by a crank or eccentric on the
engine crank shaft is commonly employed to actuate slide or other valves used for
admitting gases or fluids to a steam or other motor and the admission is often
regulated by a governor which shifts the said block along the link.
Now we introduce an eccentric in the connections between the governor and the
sliding block so that the tendency to shift the slide arising from angular action of
the link may be more effectually controlled.
This eccentric can be placed directly on the spindle of the lever that receives
motion from the governor or in other intermediate position.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings shows a governor gear arranged in accordance
with this part of our Invention.
A slide valve on an engine is here shown worked by an oscillating link and the
travel of it is controlled by the raising and lowering of the block in it this is
effected by the governor acting through the medium of an eccentric.
a is the rod of the slide valve it is connected by the coupling rod b with a
block c. which is capable of being slidden by the action of the governor along the
alotted link d. is the fulcrum of the link-and e. is the eccentric on the engine
by which the link is actuated.
f is a governor of well known form and f¹ a slider on the spindle of the governor
which rises as the speed of rotation increases. The slider operates upon a short
arm or lever g and so partly rotates an axis g¹ which is mounted in stationary
bearings. h is an eccentric on the axis g' and h¹ is the strap of this eccentric, it is
connected with the counterpoised lever i, and this is connected by the coupling k
with the coupling rod b and block c. Thus the movement of the governor is
transmitted to the block c. and the travel of the slide valve is varied accordingly.
On the other hand any tendency the block c may have to shift along the slotted
link d, independently of the action of the governor is controlled by the friction of
the eccentric and so has but little disturbing influence on the governor.
The amount of friction can be adjusted by tightening more or less the eccentric
strap; or a brake block adjustable with a spring may be provided to regulate the
freedom with which the eccentric turns in its strap.
In Figure 2 the same travel of the block c. in the oscillating link d. (and thereby
a variable travel to the slide valve) is obtained through the intervention of a
lever l. actuated by the eccentric h. which in its turn is partially rotated by the
action of the governor. The fulcrum of the lever l. is at . The link d. is
suspended by its upper end.
The above arrangements can be varied and the eccentric h may be on an
intermediate shaft.
Another part of our invention relates to the construction of the governor itself.
We employ an improved form of governor. It is made with a central revolving
spindle on which is mounted a frame carrying two or more bell crank levers. On
the one end of these levers balls are carried and the other ends take into or are

page_text: connected with a sleeve surrounding the spindle. The centrifugal action of the
balls is controlled by a transverse spring placed between them, or their levers or
arranged between continuations of the levers below their fulcrum. In some cases
two or more springs are attached to the arms of the bell crank levers that are
connected to the sleeve. Suitable arrangements being used in either case to
regulate the tension of the spring or springs.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the governor with the transverse spring connected.
with the bell crank levers in the manner which we prefer.
a is the spindle of the governor and b. is a frame fixed upon it.
c. c. are bell
crank levers having their fulcra on the frame b. at c. c. d. d. are the governor
balls fixed on the levers c. c. At their other ends as represented in the Drawing
the levers c. carry small rollers c. to reduce friction and by means of these operate
upon the slider e of the governor which is connected with the valve in the usual
way. is the spring, a rod g passes through its centre and is jointed at g¹ to the
left hand. lever c, the rod g also passes through the abutment plate h. against
which one end of the spring rests and the plate is also connected by parallel
rods .. with the lever c on the right side of the governor. This lever c. is double
or is forked and the spring f passes. between its parts. k is a nut on the end of the
rod g it supports a washer on which the spring abuts and by screwing up the nut
the spring is compressed until it opposes a 'suitable resistance to the separation of
the governor balls.
J
As already stated the transverse spring may be below the fulcra of the bell crank
levers and the spring may be either in compression or tension. More than one
spring may be applied. This Governor will work in any position
Another part of our invention relates to apparatus for heating feed water by
means of the spent steam from the engine.
To heat feed water we employ an arrangement which is simple and admits of
ready application under varying circumstances.
It consists of an external tube into which steam is admitted and ends forming
chambers attached to it by bolts; and one or both of these chambers can be turned
round to suit the connections. In these chambers are tube plates for small tubes
used to pass 'the feed water to be heated. One chamber has cast or otherwise
connected to it the inlet and outlet for the water and also one of the steam
passages; the other steam connection being upon the other chamber.
.
The chambers have lids at their ends so that the small tubes can readily be got
at for cleaning. In some cases to admit of the expansion and contraction of the
tubes, the cover of one chamber is formed with a gland with packing. The tube
plate is moveable in the chamber and a trunk formed upon the tube plate works
through the gland.
The
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and Figure 5 is an end elevation of a heater
constructed according to our invention. a is the outer tube or casing, it has at its
ends the flanges a. a. which receive bolts to attach the end chambers c and d, and
these bolt holes are regularly arranged. The end chamber c. has the steam
passage e, upon it and also the water connections f. f. g is the tube plate within
the chamber c. and forming part of it. g' is a partition and h is the cover.
partition separates one pair of water connections from the other. These
connections are not intended to be all in use at the same time but one of each
pair is plugged and the others are employed as the water inlet and the water outlet
respectively; the apertures selected for use being those to which the connections
are most conveniently made. i. i are the circulating tubes extending from the tube
plate g to the tube plate k at the other end, this plate is moveable and as shown
in the Drawing it works through a gland or stuffing box at the end of the
chamber d. is the cover and M the steam connection upon the chamber d. The
steam from the engine entering either at e or at m is as in other water heaters
condensed more or less completely by the water circulating in the tubes i, i. and this
water becomes heated. In some cases the gland may be dispensed with. The
advantage which this heater offers is its easy adaptability to any position in

page_text: which it may be convenient to place the steam and water connecting pipes or
passages.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we would have it understood that we claim :-
First. The method described of controlling a valve by means of a governor
consisting in causing the governor to give motion to an eccentric and connecting
the said eccentric with block coupled with the valve and sliding in a vibrating
link substantially as described.
Second. The governor substantially as described in respect to Figure 3 in which
a transverse spring or springs acts to cause the approach of governor balls carried
on bell crank levers substantially as described.
Third A water heater consisting of an external tube or casing and end
chambers with tube plates and connecting tubes, such end chambers being capable
of being turned and set to convenient relative positions substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Edwards have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
()
EDWARDS
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