$8 IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES WITH THREE CYLINDERS to be as
Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY TURNER of 6 Barnard Road, Claughton, Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE
MENTS
follows:-
:
"
$8
IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES WITH THREE CYLINDERS to be as
:
This invention relates to improvements in steam engines in which steam is
admitted at first into a high pressure cylinder, secondly into an intermediate
cylinder, and thirdly into a low pressure cylinder.
The first part of my improvements consists in the relative positions of the cranks
and crank pins, with reference to the cylinders, and the second improvement in thé
arrangement of the valves, and ports, so as to make only two sets of slide valves,
casings, or chambers, and gearing necessary for the whole of the cylinders,
although the three cranks are placed relatively in different positions on the crank
circle.
In Vertical Engines the cylinders are all placed above, and in a vertical line over
the centre of the shaft. The intermediate cylinder cranks and crank pins, arè
placed exactly, or nearly opposite to the high pressure cylinder crank pins, so as to
cause a reverse motion to take place in the travel of the two pistons, whereby the
steam as it is exhausted from the high pressure cylinder passes directly, through
short passages, into the adjoining steam passages of the intermediate cylinder and
by that means causes an almost, continuous expansion to take place. The low
pressure cylinder crank pin is placed at an angle of 90, or about 90 degrees with
the other two crank pins, say midway; the intermediate cylinder crank pin leading.
The weights of the working parts of the high pressure and those of the inter-
mediate cylinder balance each other in their action upon the shaft, and the moving
parts belonging to the low pressure cylinder are counterbalanced or very nearly so,
by the weights and pressures of the air pump, circulating pump, feed pump, and
Bilge pump, which are actuated by a beam which is connected to the low pressure
cylinder crosshead. By this arrangement both weights and working pressures are
efficiently balanced. The high pressure cylinder is placed at the forward end of
the engines, the intermediate cylinder follows on the after side, with a piston valve

page_text: chest which is common to both high and intermediate cylinders, placed on its
forward side and may or may not be situated exactly on the centre line of the
cylinders. The intermediate cylinder has a receiver attached to it, to contain its
exhaust steam in its passage to the low pressure cylinder, and which latter named
cylinder is placed on the after side of the engines. The low pressure cylinder has
its own slide valve within the receiver; and the before mentioned slide valve with
all its gearing is placed on the forward side of the low pressure cylinder and may
or may not be situated exactly on the centre line of the cylinders.
The receiver can be jacketed if found necessary,
Another improvement in the engines consists in the manner of forming the
piston valves with their chambers and casing, which are common to both the high-
and intermediate cylinders, and are so arranged that one set of valve gearing, only,
is necessary for the admission and exhaust of steam for both these cylinders. The
pistons of the high and intermediate cylinders work, as before mentioned, in
opposite directions, so that the steam exhausts from the high pressure cylinder,
directly into the intermediate cylinder. The piston valve casing has two hard
metal tubes, or liners, fitted in it, one placed above the horizontal centre line of the
cylinders, and the other one below such line. These liners do not meet each other,
but have between them a space of sufficient size for the admission of steam between
the two high pressure piston valves, which valves take their steam from an inlet in
the central space between them instead of from the ends, as is the general practice.
In each of these circular liners the top one and the bottom one are formed the
following surfaces and diagonal openings or parts, 'and which surfaces and openings
'commence and follow each other as hereinafter described, on each side of the
horizontal centre line of the cylinders. Firstly a space is left for the admission of
steam, next to that a plain surface then a steam port admitting to and exhausting
from the high pressure cylinder, and which has the usual steam passages, then a
plain surface follows, then an exhaust port for same cylinder, which has passages in
the casing, which passages lead to the steam chambers of the intermediate cylinder,
and which chambers are placed at the extreme ends, top and bottom of the valve
casing, then follows a plain surface again next the exhaust port of the intermediate
cylinder, which leads into the receiver hereinbefore mentioned, then a plain surface
again; then follows the steam port of the intermediate cylinder then a plain surface
again, and next and lastly, the before mentioned steam chambers for the intermediate
cylinder.
There is only one central piston valve rod or spindle, on which are fitted six
metallic packed piston valves, which are placed at distances suitable for the before
named steam and exhaust ports and surfaces. Firstly come, the high pressure
cylinder piston valves adjoining the central high pressure steam chamber, one above
and the other one below the horizontal centre line of the cylinders, for the admission
and exhaust of the high pressure steam and which have sufficient lap for cutting off
steam at about half the pistons stroke, next to these are fitted piston valves, one
above and one below which separate the high pressure cylinder exhaust from the
intermediate pressure cylinder exhaust, then follow the two intermediate cylinder
piston valves, one above and one below the separating metal piston valves, which
admit the steam from the extremities, and have sufficient lap to cut off steam at
about three quarters of the intermediate cylinder piston's stroke. These valves, as
usual, open the exhaust towards the centre of the valve casing, and into the receiver
hereinbefore mentioned. It will be seen that by this arrangement both sets of
valves, viz, one set for the top stroke and the other set for the bottom strokes of the
pistons, of the high pressure and intermediate cylinders, and which travel in opposite
directions and consequently require the steam to be admitted from the opposite
sides of the valves; and it will be seen by this arrangement of valves and ports,
the admission of, and the exhaust of steam will, likewise, be reversed, so as to work
simultaneously with the pistons of both cylinders. One valve chest contains all
the valves on one spindle, or rod, and one set of valve gear works the whole for
these two cylinders.

page_text: The intermediate and low pressure engines can be made to work together, the
crank pins are placed opposite to each other, instead of those of the high pressure
and intermediate engines, as before described, in this case the high pressure crank
will be placed at right angles with the other two. The same application of piston
valves will also be substituted; but the balancing of the pressures, and of the power
exerted, will not be quite as efficient.
[.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Steam Engines with Three
Cylinders.
I HENRY TURNER of 6 Barnard Road, Claughton, Birkenhead in the County
of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COMPOUND STEAM ENGINES WITH THREE CYLINDERS, 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 to improvements in steam engines in which steam is
admitted at first into a high pressure cylinder, secondly into an intermediate
cylinder and thirdly into a low pressure cylinder.
The first part of my improvements consists in the relative positions of the
cranks and crank pins with reference to the cylinders, and the second improvement
in the arrangement of the valves and ports so as to make only two sets of slide
valves casings, or chambers and gearing necessary for the whole of the cylinders,
although the three cranks are placed relatively in different positions on the crank
circle.
In vertical engines the cylinders are all placed above and in a vertical line over
the centre of the shaft. The intermediate cylinder cranks and crank pins are
placed exactly or nearly opposite to the high pressure cylinder crank pins, so as to
cause a reverse motion to take place in the travel of the two pistons, whereby the
steam as it is exhausted from the high pressure cylinder passes directly through
short passages into the adjoining steam passages of the intermediate cylinder and
by that means causes an almost continuous expansion to take place. The low
pressure cylinder crank pin is placed at an angle of 90°, or about 90 degrees with
the other two crank pins, say midway; the intermediate cylinder crank pin
leading. The weights of the working parts of the high pressure and those of the
intermediate cylinder balance each other in their action upon the shaft and the
moving parts belonging to the low pressure cylinder are counterbalanced, or very

page_text: nearly so, by the weights and pressures of the air pump, circulating pump, feed
pump and bilge pump, which are actuated by a beam which is connected to the
low pressure cylinder crosshead. By this arrangement both weights and working
pressures are efficiently balanced. The high pressure cylinder is placed at the
forward end of the engines, the intermediate cylinder follows on the after side
with a piston valve chest which is common to both high and intermediate cylinders
placed on its forward side and may, or may not be situated exactly on the centre
line of the cylinders. The intermediate cylinder has a receiver attached to it to
contain its exhaust steam in its passage to the low pressure cylinder and which
latter named cylinder is placed on the after side of the engines. The low pressure
cylinder has its own slide valve within the receiver and the before mentioned slide
valve with all its gearing is placed on the forward side of the low pressure cylinder
and may or may not be situated exactly on the centre line of the cylinders.
The receiver can be jacketted if found necessary.
Another improvement in the engines, consists in the manner of forming the piston
valves with their chambers and casing which are common to both the high and
intermediate cylinders and are so arranged that one set of valve gearing only is
necessary for the admission and exhaust of steam for both these cylinders.
The pistons of the high and intermediate cylinders work, as before mentioned,
in opposite directions, so that the steam exhausts from the high pressure cylinder
directly into the intermediate cylinder. The piston valve casing has two hard.
metal tubes, or liners, fitted in it, one placed above the horizontal centre line of the
cylinders, and the other one below such line. These liners do not meet each other,
but have between them a space of sufficient size for the admission of steam between
the two high pressure piston valves, which valves take their steam from an inlet
in the central space between them instead of from the ends, as is the general
practice. In each of these circular liners the top one and the bottom one are
formed the following surfaces and diagonal openings or ports and which surfaces
and openings commence and follow each other, as hereinafter described, on each
side of the horizontal centre line of the cylinders. Firstly, a space is left for the
admission of steam, next to that a plain surface, then a steam port admitting to
and exhausting from the high pressure cylinder, and which has the usual steain
passages, then a plain surface follows, then an exhaust port for same cylinder which
has passages in the casing which passages lead to the steam chambers of the inter-.
mediate cylinder, and which chambers are placed at the extreme ends-top and
bottom of the valve casing, then follows a plain surface again, next the exhaust
port of the intermediate cylinder which leads into the receiver herein before men-
tioned, then a plain surface again, then follows the steam port of the intermediate
cylinder, then a plain surface again, and next and lastly, the beforementioned steam
chambers for the intermediate cylinder.
There is only one central piston valve rod or spindle on which are fitted six
imetallic packed piston valves, which are placed at distances suitable for the before
named steam and exhaust ports and surfaces. Firstly come the high pressure
cylinder piston valves adjoining the central high pressure steam chambers-one
above and the other one below the horizontal centre line of the cylinders for the
admission and exhaust of the high pressure steam and which have sufficient lap for
cutting off steam at about half the pistons stroke, next to these are fitted piston
valves one above and one below which separate the high pressure cylinder
exhaust from the intermediate pressure cylinder exhaust, then follow the two
intermediate cylinder piston valves-one above and one below the separating
metal piston valves-which admit the steam from the extremities and have
sufficient lap to cut off steam at about three quarters of the intermediate cylinder
piston's stroke. These valves, as usual, open the exhaust towards the centre of the
valve casing and into the receiver hereinbefore mentioned. It will be seen that by
this arrangement both sets of valves, namely, one set for the top strokes and the
other set for the bottom strokes of the pistons, of the high pressure and inter-
mediate cylinders, and which travel in opposite directions and consequently require

page_text: the steam to be admitted from the opposite sides of the valves and it will be seen
by this arrangement of valves and ports, the admission of and exhaust of steam
will, likewise be reserved, so as to work simultaneously with the pistons of both
cylinders. One valve chest contains all the valves on one spindle, or rod, and one
set of valve gear works the whole for these two cylinders. The intermediate and
low pressure engines can be made to work together the crank pins are placed
opposite to each other, instead of those of the high pressure and intermediate
engines as before described, in this case the high pressure crank will be placed at
right angles with the other two. The same application of piston valves will also
be substituted; but the balancing of the pressures and of the power exerted will
not be quite as efficient.
The beforegoing being the nature, object and purposes of my Invention, I will
now proceed to more particularly describe how the same may be carried out into
practical effect, reference being had to the annexed sheets of drawings which make
a part of this specification and to the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same, or corresponding
parts throughout the several views and figures of the Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a compound steam engine with three cylinders
and constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 shown partly in section.
Figure 4 is a section through X. X. Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a plan showing an alternative positioning of the valves.
Figure 6 shows diagrams of the engines.
This invention relates as before stated to improvements in steam engines in
which are used a high pressure cylinder, an intermediate pressure cylinder, and a
low pressure cylinder, and the example shown in the Drawings shows an example
of this type of engine constructed and arranged according to my Invention, which
consists, firstly, in the relative positions of the cranks and crank pins with reference
to the cylinders, namely, the position of the crank A of the high pressure cylinder B,
the crank C of the intermediate pressure cylinder D, the crank E of the low
pressure cylinder F, in relation to the said cylinders B. D and F, and secondly in
the arrangement of the valves of the high pressure cylinder B and the intermediate
pressure cylinder D and the low pressure cylinder F so that two valves, two valve
boxes and two sets of gearing serve for the three cylinders B, D and F, although
the cranks A, C and E are placed relatively in different positions on the crank
circle.
In vertical engines I place the cylinders B D F above and in a vertical line over
the centre of the shaft G. The crank C and crank pin of the intermediate
cylinder D are placed on the shaft G exactly or nearly opposite to the crank A and
crank pin of the high pressure cylinder B, so that I obtain a reverse motion in the
travel of the piston H of the high pressure cylinder B and the piston I of the
intermediate pressure cylinder D. By this reverse motion the steam, as it is
exhausted from the high pressure cylinder B passes directly through the short
passages J into the adjoining steam passages k of the intermediate cylinder D and
by this means causes an almost continuous expansion of the steam to take place.
The crank E and crank pin of the low pressure cylinder F is placed at an angle
of 90°, or about 90° in relation to the other two cranks A and C. The inter-
mediate cylinder crank C being the leading crank. By this arrangement the
weights of the working parts of the high pressure cylinder B balance the weights
of the working parts of the intermediate pressure cylinder D during their action
upon the shaft G, and the moving parts belonging to the low pressure cylinder F
are counterbalanced, or very nearly counterbalanced by the weights and pressures
of the air pump, circulating pump and feed and bilge pump which are all actuated
よく

page_text: from a beam L shown in diagram which is connected to the crosshead M of the
low pressure cylinder F. By this arrangement both weights and working pressures
are efficiently balanced. The high pressure cylinder B is placed at the forward end
of the engines, the intermediate cylinder D follows with a piston valve chest N,
which valve chest N is common to the high pressure cylinder B and the inter-
mediate pressure cylinder D. The valve chest Ñ may or may not be positioned
exactly in the centre line of the cylinders B and D. The intermediate cylinder D
has a steam receiver O attached to it to contain the exhaust steam from the
intermediate cylinder D in its passage to the low pressure cylinder F. The low
pressure cylinder F is positioned at the after end of the engines and has an
independent slide valve P working within the receiver Ọ. The slide valve P with
all its gearing being placed on the forward side of the low pressure cylinder F and
positioned either on or off the centre line of the cylinders B. D. F. The receiver O
may be steam jacketted if found necessary.
The improvements in connection with the valves of the engines consist in the
manner of forming the piston valves Q, Q1, with their chambers and casing, or
valve chest N which are common to the high pressure cylinder B and the inter-
mediate pressure cylinder D and are so arranged that only one set of eccentrics S
and valve gearing is necessary for the admission and exhaust of steam of both the
cylinders. The pistons H and I of the cylinders B and D work, as before
mentioned, in opposite directions so that the steam exhausts from the high pressure
cylinder B directly into the intermediate pressure cylinder D. The valve casing N
of the piston valves QQ¹ has two hard metal tubes, or liners a fitted in it. One
of these liners a is fitted above the horizontal centre line of the cylinders and the
other hard metal liner a is placed below such centre line. These liners a do not
meet each other, but have between them a space 6 of sufficient size for the
admission of steam between the two high pressure piston valves Q and Q¹, which
valves and Q¹ take their steam from an inlet d in the central space b between
the valves instead of taking the steam at the ends of the valves as is the usual
practice. In each of these circular liners a there are provided the following
surfaces and diagonal openings or ports and which surfaces and openings commence
and follow each other as hereinafter described on each side of the horizontal centre
line of the cylinders. Firstly, the space b is left for the admission of steam; next
follows a plain surface e, then a steam port f admitting to and exhausting from the
high pressure cylinder B, which cylinder and its valve chest have the usual steam
passages; next follows a plain surface e¹; then an exhaust port g for the high
pressure cylinder, which exhaust port g has two passages J in the casing N which
passages J lead to the steam chambers h of the intermediate cylinder D. These
chambers h are placed at the extreme ends at the top and bottom of the valve
casing N. Next to the exhaust port g there follows a plain surface e* and next to
this the exhaust port i of the intermediate cylinder D, which exhaust port i leads
to the receiver O of the low pressure cylinder F before spoken of. Next to the
exhaust port i follows a plain surface e and next to the plain surface e³ follows
the steam port k of the intermediate cylinder D. Next to the port k there is
a plain surface e*, and next and lastly the before mentioned steam chambers h for
the intermediate cylinder D.
There is one central piston valve rod, or spindle m on which are fitted six
metallic packed piston valves & which are placed at suitable distances for the before
mentioned steam and exhaust ports and surfaces. Centrally come the high pressure
cylinder B piston valves 7 for the admission and exhaust of the high pressure steam
and which have sufficient lap for cutting off the steam at about half the piston
stroke. Next to these follow the piston valves / which separate the high pressure
cylinder exhaust port g from the intermediate pressure cylinder exhaust port i.
Then follow the two, intermediate cylinder piston valves which admit the steam
from the chamber h to the intermediate cylinder steam ports k. These intermediate
cylinder piston valves have sufficient lap to cut off the steam at about three
quarters of the stroke of the piston i of the intermediate cylinder D. These piston

page_text: valves as usual open the exhaust from the ports k of the intermediate cylinder D
towards the centre of the valve casing N and through the ports i into the receiver O
before mentioned.
It will be seen that by the arrangement above described the two valves Q and Q,
namely the valve Q for the top strokes and the valve Q¹ for the bottom strokes of
the pistons H and I of the cylinders B and D which pistons H and I, travel in
opposite directions and consequently require the steam to be admitted from the
opposite sides of the valves and it will be seen by this arrangement of valves and
ports the admission of and the exhaust of steam will likewise be reversed, so as to
work simultaneously with the pistons H and I of the cylinders B and D. The
one valve chest N contains all the valves on the one spindle or rod m, and one
set of eccentrics S and gear works the valves for the two cylinders B and D.
,
As an alternative arrangement to that before described the intermediate
cylinder D and the low pressure cylinder F can be made to work together, the
cranks C and E being in this case placed opposite to each other, instead of the
cranks A and C being placed opposite to each other as before described. In this
case the high pressure crank A will be placed at right angles to the cranks C and E.
The same arrangement of piston valves as before described will also be used in
connection with the cylinders D and F and a single valve will be used for the high
pressure cylinder, and the pumps will be worked from the crosshead of the high
pressure cylinder, but in this case the balancing of the pressures and of the power
exerted will not be quite so efficient.
Instead of using the piston valves as before described, slide valves having their
ports and passages constructed and arranged in manner such as described in
reference to the piston valves & can be used.
In Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 the valves are shown arranged centrally with the
cylinders, but they may be arranged at the side of the cylinders as shown in plan
at Figure 5.
In the indicator diagrams shown at Figure 6, with an initial pressure of one
hundred and sixty pounds above the atmosphere, the steam is cut off at one half
stroke, the mean pressure of the high pressure cylinder is 88-45 lbs;
the mean
pressure of the intermediate cylinder is 20-75 lbs; and the mean pressure of the
low pressure cylinder is 13.95.
By the use of my Invention the following are amongst others—some of the
advantages, effects and results which are obtained. By arranging the cranks and
cylinders as herein described I am enabled to obtain an efficient balancing of the
engines; namely, the high and intermediate engines balance each other and the low
pressure engine is balanced by the pumps and their gear; or the intermediate
and low pressure engines balance each other and the high pressure engine is
balanced by the pumps and their gear. There will also be the minimum amount
of lateral strain on the shaft and bearings. I also obtain a nearly continuous
expansion between the high and intermediate cylinders or between the intermediate
and low pressure cylinders, as the case may be, and compression of the steam is
therefore avoided. Also two valves, chambers and gears serve for three cylinders.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In compound engines of the type herein described arranging the cranks
and cylinders so as to obtain a continuous expansion in two out of the three
cylinders, as set forth.
Second. In compound engines of the type herein described arranging the cranks
of the high pressure cylinder and the intermediate pressure cylinder opposite to
each other and arranging the crank of the low pressure cylinder at about right
angles to the cranks of the high pressure and intermediate pressure cylinders as
and for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: Third. In compound engines of the type herein described arranging the cranks
of the intermediate pressure cylinder and the low pressure cylinder opposite to each
other and arranging the crank of the high pressure cylinder at right angles to the
cranks of the intermediate and low pressure cylinders as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
Fourth. In compound engines of the type herein described, the use and
employment of a valve, ports and passages constructed and arranged as herein
described and common to both the high and the intermediate pressure cylinders as
set forth.
Fifth. In compound engines of the type herein described the use and employment
of a valve, ports and passages constructed and arranged as herein described and
common to both the intermediate and low pressure cylinders as set forth.
Sixth. The construction and arrangement of parts constituting a compound triple
expansion steam engine as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Seventh. The particular construction and arrangement of parts constituting a
valve for use with compound steam engines having triple expansion as herein
described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Dated thie Sixteenth day of Mamb 188A