Improvements in Steam Engines and similar Motors.
Year: 1894

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JEAN JACQUES HEILMANN, of 19, Rue Cambon,
Paris, in the French Republic, Engineer.]
Improvements in Steam Engines and similar Motors.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of steam engines
and like prime motors, its object being to ensure the perfect balancing of such
motors by the neutralisation of the forces of inertia or passive resistance of the
moving parts one by the other.
The present improvements are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and
hereinafter described, as applied to steam engines of the inverted vertical type.
They may however be similarly applied to other similar prime motors.
Figure 1 represents an elevation, half in section of the engine, and
Figure 2, a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the relative positions of the moving
parts.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the crank shaft shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 6 is a plan of a modified form of the engine shewn by Figures 1 and 2.
In the engine represented by Figures 1 and 2, if it be supposed that it is divided
by a perpendicular plane a-y, each of the two half engines has its three cranks
120 deg. apart and the two half engines are symmetrical with reference to the
planey. That is to say, two symmetrical pistons, relatively to the plane, have
their cranks positioned at the same angle and move in the same direction.
The respective moving parts connected with each cylinder are constructed to
have exactly the saine weights.
If the case of an engine with a single cylinder be considered, it is seen that the
parts, pistons piston-rods, connecting rods, etc., which have alternate movements,
produce variable efforts of inertia with variable positions of the crank. These
efforts are manifested by their external reactions. To suppress these reactions, it
is necessary to arrange upon the same sufficiently rigid framing, two or more
cylinders in such a manner that their efforts of inertia balance themselves at each
instant. This equilibrium can be obtained with three parallel cylinders, the pistons
of which act upon three cranks at 120 deg. apart, the corresponding moving parts
appertaining to the respective cylinders having the same weight. Nevertheless,
there exists in this case, a couple, arising from the fact that the axes of the three
cylinders are at a certain distance apart. The arrangement of the six cylinder
Obviously more
engine shewn, exactly permits the suppression of this couple.
than one series of six cylinders may be employed.

page_text: Cylinder No. 2
Cylinder No. 3
Cylinder No. 4
Cylinder No. 5
Cylinder No.
120 deg.
2.40 deg.
240 deg.
-
120 deg.
Zero.
Figure 3 shews the relative positions of the connecting rods, each of which is
denoted by the same numeral as in Figure 1.
Each of the six cylinders being alike, all the moving parts are interchangeable.
The framing B is of sufficient rigidity in the direction of its length to resist
the efforts of inertia which balance themselves by its intermediary. It will be
observed that the organs of distribution are positioned relatively to each other
at the same angles as the cranks, and that consequently they are balanced also.
The engine represented by Figures 1 and 2 is a single acting compound engine
with 12 cylinders arranged in pairs in tandem, but these improvements may be
applied to double acting engines of whatever type.
Seeing that the cranks 3 and 4 have the same positions, it is evident that these
may be replaced by a single crank operated by a single cylinder, if the weights of
the moving parts be made double that of the corresponding parts belonging to any
other cylinder of the system. The engine may thus become a 5 cylinder engine
as illustrated by Figures 5 and 6, the moving parts appertaining to the cylinder C
having weights double those of the similar parts belonging to the other
cylinders c c.
There may be adapted to these engines all the arrangements commonly
employed in other engines, and particularly, such systems of distribution as may
appear convenient.
There may also be applied a system of lubrication by means of an oil bath, the
framing B of the engine Figure 1, forming a closed chamber containing the bath
of oil or mixed oil and water into which the cranks and connecting rods plunge.
It is evident that this balanced engine, in place of being formed of two 3 cylinder
engines of the same dimensions can be formed of six cylinders of different
dimensions and of different lengths of stroke with this condition only, that the
length of the connecting rod to the radius of the crank should be the same for
all the cylinders and that the relation of the stroke to the weight of the moving
parts of each cylinder should be such that the forces of inertia shall be the same
for all the cylinders. In an engine thus constructed, and in which the cranks are
positioned as herein before described, the efforts of inertia are balanced as in the
engines before described.
It is demonstrable that the balancing of an engine in a direction perpendicular
to the crank shaft which is obtained with three cranks 120 deg. apart, can be
obtained also with four cranks at 90 deg. apart or with any convenient number of
cranks being multiples of or 4. It follows that by coupling two 4 crank engines
symmetrically arranged, a balanced engine of 8 or of 12 cylinders may also be
constructed according to this invention.
These engines, having no external reactions, can convey no vibrations to their
foundations, may advantageously be employed on vehicles and vessels without risk
of imparting vibrations to them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A balanced engine or prime motor consisting of one or more series of cylinders
and their accessories divided into two or more symmetrical portions, the cranks
of each portion being arranged at equal distances onart constructed and

page_text: arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. An inverted vertical engine having six cylinders or series of six cylinders of
which the two halves are symmetrical relatively to a vertical plane cutting across
the centre of the engine, the three cranks of each half of the engine being 120 deg.
apart and the pistons piston rods and other reciprocating parts having respectively
exactly the same weight for each cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. A balanced engine constructed and arranged as set forth in the preceding
claiming clauses but having the two middle cylinders and accessories substituted by
a single cylinder of double capacity and accessories of double weight, substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. A balanced engine having a number of cylinders being a multiple of 3 or
of 4 in which the cylinders and their moving accessories have different dimensions
and different weights, the relation of the weights to the strokes being such that the
forces of inertia are the same for all the cylinders and that the relationship of
the length of the connecting rod to the radius of the crank is the same for all the
cylinders, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of November A.D. 1894.