IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mark Runkel, of Centre Street, New York, United
States of America, and at present residing at 54, Regent Street,.
Quadrant, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES."
Sealed the 26th July 1864, and dated the 6th February 1864...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mark Runkel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
February 1864.
J, MARK RUNKEL, of Centre Street, New York, United States of America,
and at present residing at No. 54, Regent Street Quadrant, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES," to be as follows:-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my Invention; Figure 2 is a top
view of the same; Figure 3 is a side view of the main shaft and the cross
head, similar letters on these views denote like parts.
The primary objects of this Invention are to so construct an engine as to
dispense entirely with the connecting rod and the crank; 2, to give to a shaft
which is in a parallel position with the piston rod, or its substitute, a rotating
motion with but very little friction and less momentum, and with a more
direct connection in its working parts than in cases where connecting rods are
used; 3, to bring an engine in a most limited space.
My Invention will be perfectly understood by referring to the following
description and accompanying Drawing.

page_text: A, represents an ordinary horizontal cylinder, to the piston rod B of which
a cross head C is fastened; this cross head C is guided by a common slide D,
and on the side of the said cross head a pivot a, which may be surrounded by
a steel roller to lessen friction is applied, said pivot is lodged within a cavity
or recess b on the cylinder E, which forms part of the rotating shaft F in the
bearings G, and according to the fore or backward motion of the piston the
pivot a will be driven forward or backward within the recess b. This recess is
on an incline of equal degree on both sides of the cylinder E running out from
a given point c to reunite at the opposite side of the periphery, and on the
opposite end of the cylinder E at the point c, so as to divide said cylinder
into two equal parts. It will be readily seen that the pivot a within said
recess meeting on either side with an elevation must bring the shaft of which
the cylinder E forms part or may be rightly fastened, to a rotating motion in
accordance to the motion of the cross head C. The lenght of the recess b must
necessarily be at least the length of the stroke of the crosshead with addition
to the diameter of the pivot. The very little of momentum which may be on
the points c, c, is overcome with the greatest ease by the fly wheel or propelling
screw H. The compactness and simplicity of this engine and its dispensing
with many working parts, and consequently with considerable less friction, as
also being able to be placed perfectly under the water line, will make it
equally desirable as a stationary or a marine engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Mark Runkel in the Great Seal Patent Office on-the
1st August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARK
RUNKEL, of Centre Street, New York, United States of America, and at
present residing at 54, Regent Street Quadrant, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Mark Runkel, Her special licence that I, the said Mark
Runkel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Mark Runkel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Mark Runkel, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Mark Runkel, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.
Similar letters of these views denote like parts.
The objects of this Invention are, first, to so construct an engine as to
dispense entirely with the connecting rod and the crank; 2nd, to give to a
shaft which is in a parallel position with the piston rod, or its substitute, a
rotating motion with but very little friction, with less momentum, and with a
more direct connection in its working parts than in cases where connecting
rods and cranks are used; 3rd, to bring an engine in a most limited space.
My Invention consists in transforming the forward and backward motion
of a cross head into a constant and direct rotating motion of a shaft, as also
in transforming a constant rotating motion of a shaft into a forward and
backward motion of a cross head applicable to steam engines, pumps, and all
other kinds of engines where it is desirable to obtain the afore-mentioned
advantages.
My Invention will be perfectly understood by referring to the following
accompanying description and the accompanying Drawing, which shows the
improvement as applied to a horizontal steam engine.
A represents an ordinary horizontal cylinder, to the piston rod B of which
a cross head C is fastened; this cross head is guided by a common guide D,
and on the side of said cross head a pivot a, which may be surrounded by a
steel friction roller is applied; said pivot is lodged within a cavity or recess b
on the cylinder E, which forms part of the rotating shaft F in the bearings G.
According to the forward or backward motion of the cross head C the pivot a
will be driven in the same direction within the recess b. This recess is on an
incline of equal degree on both sides of the cylinder E running out from a

page_text: given point c to reunite at the opposite side of the periphery, and on the
opposite end of the cylinder E at the point c', so as to divide said cylinder
into to equal parts. It will be readily seen that the pivot a within said
recess meeting on either side with an elevation must bring the shaft of which
the cylinder E forms part (or may be rigidly fastened) to a rotating motion
in accordance to the motion of the cross head C. The length of the recess b
must necessarily be at least the length of the stroke of the cross head with
addition of the diameter of the pivot. The very little of momentum which
may be on the points c, c', is easily overcome by the fly wheel or propelling
screw H.
The compactness and simplicity of this engine, and its dispensing with
many working parts, and consequently its working with considerable less
friction, as also being able to be placed perfectly under the water line on
board of vessels will make it equally desirable as a stationary or a marine
engine.
What I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,
is,―
1. The rotating shaft F with the cylinder E forming part of said shaft
and recess b, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. The cross head C with the pivot a in combination with the cylinder E,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mark Runkel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
M. RUNKEL. (LS.)