The scavenging pump is mounted on one end of the engine and is driven from the crank-shaft, the cross-head of the pump forming one piece with the piston of the low pressure cylinder of the injection air cylinder. All of the compressor stages are water cooled and fitted with automatic valves. The double acting scavenging pump has a piston valve driven by a link motion for reversing it when the engine is reversed. The air enters the pump through the top valve chamber from a pipe leading into the engine room. The air discharges a pressure of about 3 pounds per square inch in a header that passes in front of all four working cylinders. By means of a valve the air entering the low pressure stage of the compressor can be taken either from the atmosphere or from the discharge of the scavenging pump; taking the air from the latter allows of a greater weight of air taken by the compressor and consequently a higher compression for use in emergencies.
As in the ordinary type of two stroke cycle engine, two independent sets of exhaust ports are used, one set being for the scavenging air and the other for the exhaust gases, both sets being at the end of the stroke as usual. The air inlet ports are divided into two groups, however, one group being controlled by the piston of the working cylinder, and the other group by an independent piston valve driven from the cam-shaft. Both sets of ports connect with the main scavenging air header. By means of the valve controlled ports it is possible to admit scavenging air even after the other ports are closed by the piston, which greatly increases the scavenging effect. With the air at 3 pounds pressure the air from the valve controlled ports throw the scavenging air to the top of the cylinder even after the exhaust ports are closed. This valve is provided with a reverse mechanism. A single cam is used for operating the fuel inlet valve and the air starting valve, and the reversal of the engine is obtained by turning the cam shaft through a small angle relative to the crank-shaft, which of course also reverses the lead of the fuel valve. Starting is accomplished by compressed air, with the air valve lever on the cam, and the fuel valve lever off. After turning through a few revolutions, the air valve levers are raised, and the fuel levers dropped back on the cams which results in the engine taking up its regular cycle.
By moving the tappet rod of the fuel valve out of or into a vertical position, the time of the fuel valve opening is regulated and the amount of air is controlled. This movement is normally performed by a compressed air motor, but in an emergency hand wheels may be used.
One of these serves to rotate the camshaft through the required angle in order to set the cams in the positions for astern or ahead running and also reverses the link motion of the scavenging pump valve by the rotation of shaft, as mentioned above. The other auxiliary motor operates the fuel and starting air valves by moving the small spindle longitudinally to bring the tappet lever of the air valve about the required cam for ahead or reverse and also lifts this or the fuel valve tappet rod off its cam, according as it is desired to run on fuel or air.
The spindle on which the valve levers are pivoted is in two parts, divided at the center. This is to allow two of the cylinders to run on air whilst the other two are running on fuel, and, as can be seen from the dial where the pointer indicates the position, in starting up, whether astern or ahead, first two cylinders are put on air, then four on air, next two on air and two on fuel, and finally all four on fuel. This allows very rapid attainment of full speed.
The amount of fuel entering each cylinder can be regulated separately by small hand wheels.
Below the fuel pumps are arranged three auxiliary pumps, two of these being oil pumps for the oil circulation, whilst the other is of the piston cooling water. On the left of the engine and driven in a similar manner from the cross-head by links are three other pumps, one for the circulating water and the other for the general water supply of the ship.
Lubrication for the cylinders is furnished by 8 small pumps, just above the water pumps, two oil pumps being provided for each cylinder. As the supply pipe is divided into two parts, the oil reaches the cylinder at four points in its circumference. Four oil pumps are provided for the air compressor.
Four steel columns are provided for the support of each cylinder in addition to the cast iron frame of the base, and by this means the explosion stresses are transmitted directly to the bed plate. The cast iron columns provide guide surfaces for the cross-head shoes. The guides are all water cooled.