Improvements in the Cylinders and Valves of Steam, Compressed Air, and other Reciprocating Motors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cylinders and Valves of Steam, Compressed Air,
and other Reciprocating Motors.
I. ALFRED HOLMGREN, of 184, Avenue A, New York City, United States of
America, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of the cylinders of
steam and other reciprocating engines in such a way that the ports for the
induction and eduction of the motive fluid are reduced to a minimum, while at the
same time the construction of the valve for governing the supply and exhaust is
also considerably simplified, and its action rendered much more efficient.
For this purpose I construct each of the cylinders of the motor so that same are
double, that is to say that each consists of two cylinders one within the other, and
it is in the annular space between these two cylinders that the valve for controlling
the ports at the opposite ends of the cylinder works. The two cylinders have a
head common to both at each end, and at or near each end of the inner cylinder a
port is formed by simply cutting the wall of the cylinder away all round, simply
leaving sufficient metal at suitable intervals to connect the two parts of the inner
cylinder together. The part of the space between the outer and inner cylinders
over the port at each end is turned to form a valve cylinder, and in this cylinder
the valve (which is of annular form) reciprocates, the valves for governing the
opposite ports being preferably connected together at suitable intervals all round by
rods so as to cause them to work together.
The annular space between the two valves may serve either for the steam space or
chest, common to both cylinder ports, in which case the exhaust ports will lead
from each end of the outer cylinder, or the steam inlet may be at each end and the
exhaust from the space between the two valves.
From one end of the valve spindles work through glands at diametrically
opposite points of the cylinder head, and are actuated simultaneously by any
suitable means, such as a forked lever engaging both spindles and caused to rock in
any suitable manner so as to actuate the valves at the required times.
If desired the valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder might be each actuated
separately.
Any form of expansion gear may be fitted to the valve so as to regulate the cut
off as desired.
By the construction of cylinder and valve described the valve will be relieved of
all pressure, and will be perfectly balanced; and further, the admission and
exhaust of the motive fluid will be perfectly free and unobstructed.
Dated this 19th day of December 1892.
ALLISON BRUS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cylinders and Valves of Steam, Compressed Air,
and other Reciprocating Motors.
I, ALFRED HOLMGREN, of 184 Avenue A, New York City, United States of
America, Consulting 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:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of the cylinders of

page_text: steam and other reciprocating engines in such a way that the ports for the
induction and eduction of the motive fluid are reduced to a minimuni, while at the
same time the construction of the valve for governing the supply and exhaust is
also considerably simplified, and its action rendered much more efficient.
For this purpose I construct each of the cylinders of the motor so that same are
double, that is to say that each consists of two cylinders one within the other, and
it is in the annular space between these two cylinders that the valve for controlling
the ports at the opposite ends of the cylinder works. The two cylinders have a
head common to both at each end, and at or near each end of the inner cylinder a
port
is formed by simply cutting the wall of the cylinder away all round, simply
leaving sufficient metal at suitable intervals to connect the two parts of the inner
cylinder together. The part of the space between the outer and inner cylinders
over the port at each end is turned to form a valve cylinder, and in this cylinder
the valve (which is of annular form) reciprocates, the valves for governing the
opposite ports being preferably connected together at suitable intervals all round
by rods so as to cause them to work together.
The annular space between the two valves may serve either for the steam space
or chest, common to both cylinder ports, in which case the exhaust ports will lead
from each end of the outer cylinder, or the steam inlet may be at each end and the
exhaust from the space between the two valves.
The two valves may be connected by an annular shell, so as to separate the
annular space between the two cylinders into two parts, the inner one serving as a
steam jacket for the inside cylinder (for which purpose suitable steam inlet and
outlet openings will be formed through the heads of the cylinders and leading into
such annular space), while the outer space will serve either as the steam chest or
as the exhaust common to both cylinder ports. In this arrangement passages will
be formed through each valve into the outer annular space, so as to connect the
cylinder ports with the latter at the required times.
From one end of the valve, spindles work through glands at diametrically
opposite points of the cylinder head, and are actuated simultaneously by any
suitable means, such as a forked lever engaging both spindles and caused to rock
in any suitable manner so as to actuate the valves at the required times.
If desired the valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder might be each actuated
separately.
Any form of expansion gear may be fitted to the valve so as to regulate the
cut off as desired.
By the construction of cylinder and valve described the valve will be relieved
of all pressure, and will be perfectly balanced; and further, the admission and
exhaust of the motive fluid will be perfectly free and unobstructed.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder and valves constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation (partly in section) of the valves.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder and valves constructed according to
my invention, in which the space between the two cylinders is divided into two
parts by the valves working in such space.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation (partly in section) of the valves.
Fig. 5 is transverse section through the valves on the line a, b, Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing how the valves may be actuated.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, A is the inner motor
cylinder, and A' the outer motor cylinder, the two being separated by an annular
space a in which the valves B, B', work, such valves being connected at intervals
by rods or arms b, so as to work in unison.
The cylinders A, A', are provided with heads C, C, common to both, and the
piston rod D of piston D', which reciprocates in the inner cylinder A, works
through a gland or stuffing box E in the head C¹, in the usual manner.

page_text: The inner cylinder A is provided with ports F, F', at each end, which are formed
through such cylinder all round, and which are controlled by the valves B, B¹.
The annular space a between cylinders A, A', is permanently open to exhaust
or supply (as the case may be) through the pipe G, while passages H, H', formed
through the outer cylinder A', open into the space in which the valves B, B',
reciprocate, and are controlled by such valves, so as to alternately connect the
ports F, F, respectively, with the annular space a, and with the passages H, H',
the action being such that wben port F is in connection with space a, the port F
is in connection with passage H', and when port F is in connection with passage H,
port F is in connection with space a. If space a serves as an exhaust space, the
passages H, H', will serve for the supply, and vice versa.
From opposite sides of the valve B', spindles 1, I', project, and work through
stuffing boxes or glands in the cylinder head C', and same are caused to reciprocate
by any suitable means, such as by an eccentric K (as shown diagrammatically in
Fig. 6), the rod k of which actuates a rocking lever L, with arms 7, 11, connected
respectively to one of the valve spindles 1, I'.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the valves B, B¹, are connected
together by an annular shell b¹, so that such shell divides the space between the
cylinders A, A', into two parts, a, a', the former of which as in the previous
arrangement, serves either for supply or exhaust, while the latter forms a jacket
through which steam can be caused to circulate by means of passages a³, a³, pro-
vided in the cylinder heads C, C, and the inner cylinder A, the metal left between
the ports F, F, respectively, of which, must at one point be sufficient to permit
of the formation of such passages a², a³, through such metal.
The valves B, B¹, will in this arrangement be provided with passages b², 1³,
through same all round, so as to place the ports F, F1, alternately in connection
with the space a, serving for supply or exhaust (as the case may be), when such
valves are in the requisite position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with motor cylinders formed with double walls and an
annular space between such walls, of ports formed through the inner wall of such
cylinders and controlled by annular valves which are caused to reciprocate in the
space between such walls, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with motor cylinders formed with double walls and an
annular space between such walls, of ports formed through the inner wall of such
cylinders and controlled by annular valves which are caused to reciprocate in the
space between such walls, the valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder being
connected together by an annular shell dividing the space between the walls of the
cylinder into two parts, the inner one of which serves as a steam jacket, while
the outer one is by means of passages through each valve placed alternately into
communication with the opposite ends of the inside of the cylinder.
Dated this 18th day of September 1893.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.