IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-ACTING HOT-AIR ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Morgan, Secretary of the Inventors' Patentright
Association, Limited, of 21, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-ACTING HOT-AIR
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Samuel Sudheim, of Cassel, in
the unive of Cermony
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Morgan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1882.
THOMAS MORGAN, Secretary of the Inventors Patentright Association Limited
of 21 Cockspur Street Charing Cross in the County of Middlesex. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DOUBLE ACTING HOT AIR ENGINES." (A communication from abroad
by Samuel Sudheim, of Cassel in the Empire of Germany).
The Invention consists mainly as follows:-(1.) In a new disposition of levers
and connecting links by which the displacer is moved in the most simple
manner.
(2.) In a slide valve arranged on the upper surface of the piston, causing the
adinittance or exit of air into or from the cylinder, in order to avoid the injurious
compression and vacuum which is generated in all existing machines of similar
construction.
(3.) In the combination of the cylinder with a reservoir or equilibrator wherein
any surplus of pressure is received.
(4.) In the manner of dividing the displacer in several sections, in order to
moderate the temperature of the cooler part of the displacer. A furnace surrounds
the fire pot which forms the lower part of the working cylinder.
The displacer moves therein, hanging on its rod, which passes through the hollow
piston rod, and carries on its top end a cross head.-The displacer is arranged in
several parts, each of which has a different temperature as the inner spaces do not
correspond.
The sections are air tight sheet iron vessels, provided with small projections on
the top and bottom plates, so that these surfaces cannot come in contact with each
other.

page_text: Thus the top end of the displacer entering the upper part of the cylinder can
remain cool, while the bottom end playing in the fire pot receives a very high
temperature which cannot be transferred so easily to the upper part as is done in
displacers of old construction.
The working cylinder is surrounded with a water reservoir, which is supplied
with cold water by a pump, its piston rod being moved by an eccentric on the
driving shaft, while the warm water runs off through a suitable tap.
The reservoir is supported by four posts rising from the foundation plate. Two
standard posts on the cover of this reservoir or refrigerator receive in bearings the
driving shaft with fly wheel, belt pulley and crank.
The crank pin is made very long, the front end is connected with the piston by
a connecting rod, behind the head of which is placed the eye of a link. A small
shaft is provided with two arms, one being connected to the crank pin by the
aforesaid link, the other being connected to the cross head of the displacer by a
connecting rod. From this it will easily be understood how the revolutions of the
driving shaft give motion to the displacer. The hollow piston rod, surrounding the
rod of the displacer is guided in a bush of a cross bar or bow when this piston
makes its down or up stroke, which motion by its connecting rod, is transformed
into rotary motion.
The inner space of the working cylinder can be made to communicate at the
proper times with a reservoir by means of a check valve, which is acted upon by
the governor.
When the machine exceeds the normal velocity, the governor balls lift up their
sleeve, and give motion to a suitable combination of levers whereby the valve is
opened, so as to let off the surplus of pressure which escapes into the said reservoir
or equilibrator. The piston is formed of a cast iron piece and a metal ring, with
an inner annular air passage and radial openings for the exit of the air. Two
leather junk rings, are placed above and below this ring, the whole being united by
a cover plate provided with the necessary passages.
In a box upon this cover plate moves a slide valve, pressed against its seat by
springs or in any convenient way and actuated by a rod receiving motion from
the oscillations of the connecting rod.
The piston, when it has come into the position where it commences to draw a
vacuum, loses much of the effect. In this position the valve has opened a passage,
by which the air of the surrounding atmosphere freely enters, and filling the
annular channel in the ring of the piston passes through the radial passages over
the lower junk-ring (which gives no obstruction to the air coming in this direction)
into the cylinder. The piston when it has come into the position where it
commences to produce a compression loses again much of the effect.-In this
position the slide valve has been pushed so far to the left that the passages under
its hollow communicate. Thus the compressed air is free to pass into the annular
channel in the ring of the piston, and from there through the radial passages over
the upper junk ring into the atmosphere-Oblique passages may be arranged
above and below the junk ring, to facilitate the passage of the air into the cylinder
or into the atmosphere.
Both the leather junk rings are placed in a recess so that they can recede when
the air is passing in the direction as described, but they keep tight when the air
attempts to rush in from the opposite side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Morgan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st July
1882.
"
THOMAS MORGAN Secretary of the Inventors Patentright Association Limited,
of 21 Cockspur Street Charing Cross in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVE
MENTS IN DOUBLE ACTING HOT AIR ENGINES." (A communication from abroad
by Samuel Sudheim of Cassel in the Empire of Germany.)
The Invention consists (1.) in a new disposition of levers and connecting links, by
which the displacer is moved in the most simple manner.
(2.) In a slide valve arranged on the upper surface of the piston, causing tho
admittance or exit of air into or from the cylinder in order to avoid the injurious
compression and vacuum which is generated in all existing machines of similar
construction.
(3.) In the combination of the cylinder with a reservoir or equilibrator wherein
any surplus of pressure is received.
(4.) In the manner of dividing the displacer in several sections, in order to
moderate the temperature of the cooler part of the displacer.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of the engine Fig. 2 is
a front elevation Fig 3 a vertical longitudinal section, the other Figures represent
details, which will be explained in the following Specification. B is a furnace
surrounding the fire pot C, which forms the lower part of the working
cylinder F.
The displacer H is moving therein, hanging on the rod J, which passes through
the hollow piston rod M, and carries on its top end the cross head W. The
displacer is arranged in several parts, each of which has a different temperature as
the inner spaces do not correspond.-The sections are air tight sheet iron vessels
provided with small projections on the top and bottom plates, so that these
surfaces cannot come in contact with each other.
Thus the top end of the displacer entering the cooled part of the cylinder can
remain cool, while the bottom end playing in the fire pot, receives a very high
temperature, which cannot be transferred so easily to the upper part as is done in
displacers of old construction. The working cylinder F is surrounded with a
water reservoir D, which is supplied with cold water by the pump Y, its piston rod
being moved by the excentric on the driving shaft, while the warm water runs
off through the tap 2. The reservoir is supported by four posts E, rising from the
foundation plate A. Two standard posts O. O. on the cover K of this reservoir or
refrigerator receive in bearings the driving shaft with fly wheel, belt pulley and
crank. The crank pin is made very long, the front end is connected with the
piston by the connecting rod Q, behind the head of which is placed the eye of a
link R. A small shaft turning in the bearings U U is provided with two arms S
and T. S is connected to the crank-pin by the link R and T is connected to the
cross head W of the displacer by the link V. From this it will easily be
understood how the revolutions of the driving shaft give motion to the displacer.
The hollow piston rod M surrounding the rod J of the displacer is guided in a
bush of the cross bar or bow L, when the piston makes its down or up stroko
which motion by the rod Q is transformed into rotatory motion. The inner space of
the working cylinder F can be made to communicate at the proper times with a
reservoir p, by means of a check valve o which is acted upon by the governor
balls. When the machine exceeds the normal velocity, the governor balls, (Figs. 1
and 6) lift up the sleeve and give motion to the lever h, supported in the arm g,

page_text: and by means of the link m, the crank n is turned, and the valve is opened,
so as to let off the surplus of pressure which escapes into the reservoir or
equilibrator p.
Figs, 7 and 8 illustrate in upper and side view a ring forming an essential part
of the piston, which is represented in Fig. 4 in its up stroke and in Fig. 5 in its
down stroke. The piston is formed of a cast iron piece r and the above mentioned
ring 8, with an inner annular air passage and radial openings f, for the exit of the
air. Two leather rings t and t' are placed above and below the rings the whole
being united by a cover-plate, provided with the necessary passages. In a box
upon this cover plate moves a slide valve a, pressed against its seat by springs or
in any convenient way and actuated by a rod receiving motion from the
oscillations of the connecting rod Q. The piston as represented in Fig. 4 has come
into the position where it commences to draw a vacuum, thereby loosing much of
the effect. In this position, the valve a has opened the passage d by which the air
of the surrounding atmosphere freely enters and filling the annular channel in the
ring 8, passes through the radial passages and the grooves x Fig. 8 over the lower
junk ring (which gives no obstruction to the air coming in this direction) into the
cylinder.
The piston, as represented in Fig. 5 has come into the position where it
commences to produce a compression, thereby losing again much of the effect. In
this position the slide valve à has been pushed so far to the left that the passages d
and communicate. Thus the compressed air is free to pass into the annular
channel in the ring s, and from there through the radial passages and the grooves
(Fig. 8) over the upper junk ring into the atmosphere.
Oblique passages may be arranged above and below the junk-rings as indicated
in the Drawing, to facilitate the passage of the air into the cylinder or into the
atmosphere. Both leather junk rings, are placed in, a recess, so that they can
recede when the air is passing in the direction as described, but they keep tight
when the air attempts to rush in from the opposite side.
The arrows in Figs. 4 and 5 indicate the directions taken by the air.
Figs. 9-15 represent constructions by means of which I, also prevent the injurious
vacuum, and compression.-The piston (Figs. 9, 10, and 11) and the trunnion
receiving the connecting rod Q are provided with passages p.
The eye of the connecting rod Q has a conical bore fitting on the conical hollow
cock-shaped trunnion, and is provided with openings n and o, which by the
oscillation of the connecting rod Q are alternately set in communication with the
passage p. The opening is closed by a check valve y, allowing air to pass out,
when it is compressed in the cylinder, but not allowing the air to enter when a
vacuum is formed in the cylinder. The opening o is closed by a valve x, working
in a contrary direction to valve y, that is to say it will let the air in and does not
allow it to escape when it is compressed in the cylinder.
Fig. 12 and 13 show a slide valve arranged on the side of the cylinder, and
guided by an ordinary excentric on the driving shaft. The slide valve has two
holes a and b, which alternately open the communication of the interior of the
cylinder with the atmosphere, through passages c and pipe d-Figs, 14 and 15
represent a similar slide valve, consisting of a revolving disc, oscillating round the
centre pin d, and provided with a slot c, which alternately opens the passages a
and b, to let the compressed or dilated air pass into or from the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, what I claim as my Invention is:-
(I.) In a double acting hot air engine of the described class, the application of
an elongated crank pin and its combination with the link R, arms S and T
and connecting rod V, in order to move the displacer substantially as set
forth.
(2.) In the piston, the ring 8, with annular passage, radial passages, and
grooves x. x. arranged in the middle, between two leather junk rings, in combination

page_text: with a slide valve a on the piston, guided by a link b, connected to the oscillating
rod q, as and for the purpose specified.
(3.) The passage p and the hollow cock shaped trunnion in combination with the
eye of the connecting rod Q being provided with passages n. o and valves y. x, as
and for the purpose specified.
(4.) A slide valve with openings a b. arranged at the side of the cylinder, in
combination with passage c and pipe d, as described with reference to Figs. 12
and 13.
(5.) The oscillating disc-valve with slot c arranged at the side of the cylinder in
combination with the passages a and b,
(6.) A. displacer composed of separate air tight sections, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
(7.) The combination of the cylinder with a closed reservoir p, and the method
of establishing the communication by a valve being opened by the governor,
substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Morgan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.