US1226220A - Power-developing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

A T. KASLEY.

POWER DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man sPT.22, 1915.

Patented May 15, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR.

\MS&L

HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT m c nomas Pneus co4. rnmoumo., wAsH mc von. n r;

A. T. KASLEY.

POWER DEVELOPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILI-:D sEPT.22, ISIS.

1,226,220.l PanIedMay 15, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT ms Nomi/s new ca.. FNamIrua. wAsHmsr'uN. n cA TTTTTED TATE@ FATTE@ T TT`T@E.

ALEXANDER T. IIASLEY, 0F SFJISSVALE, PENNSYLVNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. n i

POWER-DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application led September 22, 1915. Serial No. 52,042.

'o all whom t may concern:

13e it known that l, ALEXANDER T. KAS- Lnv, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made a neu7 and useful nvention in Power- Developing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention relates Yto power developing apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus which may be employed in propeilinga submarine both on the surface and submerged.

An object of the invention is improved means for the utilization of fuel in developing' power or generating steam or other fluid under pressure.

A further object is to produce improved means for storing` heat resulting from the combustion of fuel and for transmitting the stored heat to apparatus for utilizing it in the production of power.

A further object is to produce an im-` proved method of utilizing fuel which may be employed in developing power in a submarine or similar vessel for the purpose of propelling' the vessel both on the surface and below the surface of the water.Y

In submarines it is impractical to develop power by the combustion of fuel while the vessel is submerged. The primary reason for this is that it is impossible, or at least imp "actical, to store sufcient oxygen or air Within the vessel to support combustion for an extensive period of time. this could be satisfactorily accomplished, the disposal of the products of combustion or of the exhaust gases would be diflicult, since they could not be retained within the vessel while it was submerged, and, if discharged from it. would indicate the location of the vessel by producing bubbles on the surface of the water.

It is well known. that storage batteries are ordinarily employed in propelling submarines while submerged. `Storage batteries are, however, costly, bulky, heavy and meflicient, and are objectionable because of to produce Even though and submerged. lVhile operating on the surface the steam or fluid pressure may be generated in the ordinary` manner, and while submerged the steam or fluid pressure is generated by means of stored up heat. The heat is stored while the vessel is at the surface, and preferably while it is maneuvering on the surface. This is accomplished by abstracting a portion of the sensible heat, resulting from the combustion of fuel, prior to its delivery to the steam or fluid pressure generators. In this way nearly all the heat rendered available by the combustion of the fuel is abstracted prior to delivering the products of combustion to the stack. The apparatus illustrated is adapted to employ liquid fuel, such for example as oil, and is provided with an oil burner which is so located and arranged that the products of combustion or burned gases are rst delivered to a heat storing apparatus and are then passed to the steam or iuid pressure generators from which they are delivered to the stack. At 'the beginning of the heat storing operation the major portion ofthe heat resulting from the combustion of the fuel is abstracted from the products of combustion prior to their delivery to the steam or fluid pressure genera-tors, and for this reason, I find it desirable to employ a second furnace or liquid fuel burner so arranged that the products of combustion or flue gases do not traverse the heat storing apparatus, prior to being delivered to the steam generator. ris the heat storing operation progresses, the temperature of the gases delivered from the heat storing apparatus increases and consequently considerable heat would be lost if the gases were no't delivered to the steam generator or to some other apparatus for conserving heat. At the timeof submerging, the combustion of ,the fuel is stopped and communication between the boiler room and the interior of the fuel burners or furnaces is closed. The stack is also closed and consequently the only heat available, for power purposes, is the' heat which has previously been stored in the heat storing apparatus. In order that this heat may be effectively delivered to the 3l steam or fluid pressure generator, I have included the heat storing apparatus and 'the steam generator in a closed circulatory system and have provided means, such for eX- ample as a fan, for creating a circulation of cof soy

air, or other fluid capable of carrying the heat, througlithe heat storing apparatus, where heat is taken up, then through the flues or Vtubes of the steam generator, Where heat is given up, and finally back to the heat storing apparatus, whichV then operates asa regenerator in that it supplies additional heat to the cooled air or heat-carrying gases. In this way the stored heat is conserved and isY also rendered available in developing power, and the rate at which the heat is utilized may be varied by varying the velocity of travelof the heat-carrying air or gases through the closed system.

The steamh generated is utilized in the ordinary manner, in developing power, by being delivered to an engine, such, for eX- ample, as a steam turbine, by being condensed after it is exhausted from the turbine and by finally being returned to the generator by the feed water pumps. ln order to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus as much as possible, per unit of horse power developed, I employ high speed turbines for driving the propellers of the vessel, and utilize reduction gearing between the turbines `and the propellers. When such an arrangement of apparatus is employed I obtain about 25% saving in weight, in a propelling apparatus capable of developing 600 horse power on the surface and 500 horse power submerged, over the weight of a propelling apparatus including Diesel engines and Edison batteries. The initial cost of apparatus embodying my invention is materially less than that of other apparatus capable of performing the same functions, and the horse power may be increased while the vessel is submerged by crowding the apparatus without the danger of permanently or even temporarily injuring it.

These and other advantages which will be pointed out throughout the further description of my invention, arerattained by meansV of apparatus embodying the features herein y described and illustrated in the drawings aecompanying and forming a part hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental, sectional elevation of a submarine equipped with apparatus -embodying my invention, a portion of the apparatus being shown in section for'convenience of illustration; and Fig. 2 is ay transverse sectional view of the submarine shown in Fig. 1, and a transverse sectional view along lines 2-2, and 3-3 of the power developing apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Y

The apparatus illustrated includes a steam generator 5, which may Ybe of any type (preferably a flash boiler) andwhich is adapted to supply steam to a steam turbine 6 through a header 7. The turbine shaft 8 is shown operatively connected toa propeller shaft 9 by means of a reduction' gearing 10. The gearing may be of any type,l

but as illustrated is provided with a pinion coupled to the turbine shaft 8 and a large gear coupled to the propeller shaft 9. The large gear may be so constructed as to operate as a thrust bearing if desired, or the propeller shaft may be provided with a separate .thrust bearing. The reduction gearing 10 is also provided with a second pinion, to one end of the shaft of which an electric generator 12 is coupled and to the other end of which a pump 13 is directly connected. The generator 12 is employed in connection with a storage battery 14 for furnishing light within the submarine and for driving `auxiliaries located at some distance from the turbine. The pump 13 is a circulating pump for cooling water and operates in connection with a condenser 15 which communicates with the exhaust of the turbine 6. AlsV illustrated, the air ofltalre port of the condenser communicates with the inlet port of an air ejector 17 which receives actuating steam from the header 7, through a branch pipe, and whichexhausts into a hot well 18. rlhe hot well is provided with a pump 19 which may be either steam driven or electrically driven and which operates to return water from the hot well tothe steam generator In the apparatus illustrated the generator 5 may receive heat from either or both yof two sources while the submarine is on the surface. One of the sources consists of a furnace, shown as an oil burner 20 directly below ythe generator 5 and having a combustion chamber 23 so constructed that the products of combustion or the burning gases are delivered `directly to the heating tubes or iiues of the generator. The other source of heat is similarly illustrated as an oil burner 20a but it is so located that the products of combustion or burning gases pass through a heat storing apparatus 21 prior to being delivered to the generator.

The heat storing apparatus illustrated includes an insulated chamber22, into which burning gases from the .oil burner 20a are discharged. Within this chamber, but below the point of admission of the burning gases Vfrom the burner 20aV is located a -checler 7 to being delivered to the generator 5. I

preferably employ silica or graphite, ar-

ranged in checker "brick formation, as the heat storing material 21.

As illustrated, the chamber 22 communicates` directly with the combustion chamber 23, which is shown located immediately below the generator 5. vWith this arrange- Vnient both chambers 22 and 23 are served by thersame stack 25 Vand a foreeddraft is induced by providing a fan 26 or equivalent way, two converging currents of hot gases are delivered to the `heating tubes or flues of the generator 5, one traversing the chamber 23 and the other traversing the chamber 22 and commingling with the gases in the chamber 23.

lt will beapparent that the burner 20l may be of such size that it will furnish all the heat necessary for generating steam while the submarine is maneuvering on the surface. With suchV an arrangement the generator could not be operated without storing heat and acertain amount of heat would have to be stored before the gener'-` ator could generate the desired steam pressure. F or both of these reasons it is desii-able to employ the two furnaces or oil burners so that heat can be delivered directly to the generator without` first storing heat in the heat storing apparatus 21.

lt will be apparent that both of the burners 20 and 20 may be operated simultaneously for the purpose of storing heat and generating steam, while the submarine is maneuvering on the surface, or that the generator may be operated without storing heat.

In order that the generation of steam may be continued when the vessel is submerged and consequently when the combustion of fuel has ceased, 'I provide means for creating a fiow of air, or other fluid capable of carrying heat, through the heat storing apparatus 2l, then through the generator 5, andeventually back to the heat storing apparatus so that the heat transmitting fluid is circulated in a closed system and is first subjected to the heating influence ofthe checker brick 21 and then to the cooling influence of the fiues or tubes of the generator. In the illustrated embodiment this is accomplished by providing a passage 27 which communicates with the off-take of the generator by means of a 2way valve 2S, and with the chamber 22 by means of a port 29. The 2-way valve 28 also forms a means of communication between the off'- take of the generator and the stack 25, and is so arranged that it is capable of either establishing communication between the stack and the oiftake and cutting off communication between the passage 27 and the offtake, or of establishing communication between the passage 27 and the off-take and cutting ofi' communication between the oil"- take and the stack. The fan 26 is so arranged that it operates to either discharge the products of combustion through the stack or to maintain the circulation of heatcarrying fluid through the inclosed system above described.

Prior tok submerging, the oil burners 20 and 20a are shut off and the air inlet ports to each burner are closed. The stack is then closed by means of the trap 31 and the valve 28 is turned so as to open communication between the off-take of the generator 5 and the passage 27. The fan 26 then causes a circulation of air or heat-carrying fluid through the passage 27, the chamber 22, the checker brick 2l', the chamber 23, the flues or tubes of the generator 5 and through the off-take of the generator back to thepassage 27.

rIhe fan 2G may be driven by a turbine re ceiving steam from the generator 5, or it may be driven by a motor 30, such as illustrated, receiving current from the storage battery 14, or from the generator l2. It may, however, be desirable to provide a coupling between the gearing 10 and the generator l2 so that the generator may be disconnected while the vessel is submerged.

Among the advantages obtained by ap paratus embodying my invention over apparatus now employedfor propelling submarines, is that less space is occupied by the heat storing apparatus than is occupied by the storage batteries employed while propelling the vessel submerged. In addition to this, it is not necessary to provide the propelling motor and consequently a greater amount of space is provided within the submarine for air to breathe. rlhe appara tus is also simple, both in construction and in operation, and consequently the crew of the submarine can be materially decreased. The boiler room, which includes the heat storage apparatus, may be closed and heat insulated from other portions of the vessel, since there is no necessity for an attendant in the boiler room, while the vessel is submerged.

Heat may also be stored in the heat storage apparatus while the vessel is developing full power at the surface and the vessel may be `crowded for a short time sc that it will develop substantially full power while operating submerged without a decrease in eliiciency or injury to the apparatus. There is ica also the possibility for employing steam ejectors for pumping water out of the vessel in emergency. The only disadvantage of the apparatus, as compared with the usual propelling apparatus of submarines, is that there Vwill be a certain amount of loss in stored energy due to heat radiation while the vessel is submerged. This, however, may be reduced to a very low minimum by insulating the steam generator 5, the heat stor age chamber, and all of the communicating passages. The kind of insulating material used and the extent of insulation will determine the amount of heat loss. The heat loss may also be materially reduced by insulating the boiler room and by keeping it closed.

While I have described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modications, additions, emissions and substitutions may be made in the apparatus illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope' of the invention as set forth by the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

l. In an organized apparatus of the character described, a power developing apparatus, refractory7 heat storing material in open communication with the power developing apparatus and means for creating a continuous flowy of heat carrying fluid through the refractory material, the power developing apparatus, and back to the refractory material.

2. In an organized apparatus of the character described, a pressure generator, a furnace for delivering heat to said generator, a heat storing apparatus between the furnace and said generator, and means for creating a flow of gases from the furnace through the heat storing apparatus and tothe generator. Y

3. In an organized power developing apparatus for submarines,'a heat conserving device, a furnace for delivering heat to said device, a heat storing apparatus between the furnace and the device, means for creating a flow of the products of combustion from the furnace through the heat storing l apparatus and to the device while the furnace -is v1n operation and forcreating a continuous fiow of heat carrying fiuid through the heat storing apparatus, the device, and

back to the heat storing apparatus when the A furnace is not in operation.

l. In a power developing apparatus for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, a furnace for delivering heat to said generator, a heat storing apparatus located between said furnace and said generator and means for creating a continuous fiow of heat carrying fluid from said heat storing apparatus, to said generator, and back to said heat storing apparatus when said furnace is not'in operation.

5. In a power plant for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, a furnace for delivering heat to said generator, a second furnace, and a heat storing apparatus between said second furnace and said generator, and through which the products of combustion from the second burner pass in passing tothe generator.

6. In a power plant for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, two furnaces for delivering heat to said generator, a heat storing apparatus located between one of said furnaces and the generator, a stack for serving both furnaces, and means for creating a continuous flow of heat carrying fluid through the storing apparatus, the generator and back to the storing apparatus while the stack is closed and the furnaces are inoperative.

7. vIn a power plant for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, two furnaces for delivering heat to said generator, one located immediately below the generator, and the second located at a distance from the generator, a heat storing apparatus located between the second furnace and the generator and through which the products of combustion from the second furnace pass prior to entering the generator, a staclr serving both furnaces, a passage for connecting the generator to the apparatus in a closed circulatory system, means for shutting off communication between the stack and said furnaces, and means for creating a current of heat carrying fluid through the closed circulatory system.

8. In a power plant for submarines, a fluid preure generator, a heat storing -apparatus, means for simultaneously delivering heat to said generator andsaid apparatus, and means for transferring heat from said heat storing apparatus to said generator when said heat delivering means are not in operation.

9. In a power plant for submarines, a fluidv pressure generator, a heat storing apparatus, means for delivering heat to said generator and to said apparatus, means for transferring heat to said generator from said apparatus when said heating means are not in operation, and means operating on the fluid pressure generated by said generator. 1

10. In a power plant for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, a furnace having a combustion chamber in proximity with said generator, a second furnace having a combustion chamber remotefrom said generator, a heat storing apparatus located between and forming a means of communication for said combustion chambers, a stack communicating with the off-take of said generator and serving both furnaces, means of communication between the off-take and said apparatus, and means for shutting off communication between the stack and the off-take and for establishing communication between the off-take and the apparatus for the purpose of delivering heat from the ap'- paratus to the generator, and means for creating a continuous flow of heat carrying fluid, through the heat storing apparatus, the generator, the otalre and back to said apparatus.

ll. A method of generating fluid pressure, which consists in burning fuel, delivering a portion of the heat resulting from the combustion of the fuel to heat storing material, and a portion of the heat to a fluid pressure generator, stopping the combustion of the fuel, and creating a continuous flow of heat carrying fluid over the heat storing material, through the flues or tubes of the generator and back to the heat storing material.

l2. A method of generating steam pres-` sure, which consists `in burning fuel, delivering a portion of the heat resulting from the combustion of the fuelto a heat storing material, and a portion of the heat to a steam generator, stopping the combustion of the fuel, inclosing the liues or gas passages of the generator andthe refractory material in a closed circulatory system and then creating a continuous flow of heat carrying fluid through the iiues or gas passages of the generator over thefheat storing material and back to the generator.

13. In a power plant for submarines, a

` fluid pressure generator, refractory heat storing material, means for delivering heat to the generator and to the material, and means for delivering heat from the heat Copies orthis patent may beV obtained for storing material to the generator-When the heat delivering means is not in operation.

14. In a povver plant for submarines, a fluid pressure generator, a refractory heat storing material, means for delivering heat to the material and to the generator, means for inclosing the refractory material and the generator in a closed circulatory system, and means for creating a continuous flow of heat carrying fluid over the refractory material, through the heating tubes or flues of the generator and back to the heat storing material.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my naine this 20th day of September, 1915.

ALEXANDER T. KASLEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents. Washington, ID. C.

Images