Improvements in and relating to Steam Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
Improvements in and relating to Steam Engines.
I, EMMETT MCCONVILLE, Manufacturer, of the Imperial Power Building, in
the City of Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, 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:-
My invention has reference to improvements in steam engines whereby much
saving of steam and increased horse-power is gained, and which consists of certain
novel features of construction which will be hereinafter fully described in the
specification and pointed out in the claims.
The object of the present invention is to so construct a steam engine that a
reciprocating cylinder which moves in an opposite direction to the within con-
tained piston upon ways or guides, will have the friction upon said moving
cylinder reduced to a minimum, through the medium of friction rollers properly
arranged between the moving cylinder and its supporting guides.
A further object of my said invention is to so construct the connecting rod with
springs or any other yielding devices that all undue shocks will be eliminated
from the wrist. pin when the engine is changing its position from forward to
backward stroke or the opposite.
A further object of my invention is to connect a rocking lever upon a moving
cross head with its opposite ends attached respectively, to an eccentric rod and
also to a valve rod.
A further object of my invention is to provide a pair of cross heads, one con-
nected direct to a piston and connecting rod, and having openings for allowing
reach bars for connecting the cylinder-head, the opposite ends being secured to a
yoke cross-head adjacent to two connecting rods.
A further object of my invention is to provide parallel jointed steam connections,
whereby a movable cylinder can reciprocate and allow said jointed steam connec-
tions to accommodate themselves to the moving cylinder.
It is obvious to those conversant with steam engines, that this class has
advantages not possessed by stationary cylinder engines. The cylinder moving
opposite to the piston shortens the stroke one-half, and consequently can move
with double the velocity in completing a stroke, thus increasing the horse-power
one hundred per cent. minus friction of the moving parts.
Description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved engine. Figure 2 is a plan of the
same. Figure 3 is a plan in detail of the cross-heads and cylinder-heads parts
being broken away and partly in section, exhibiting the construction and relative
position of the three connecting rods. Figure 4 is a front elevation of the yoke
cross-head with the valve-rod lever pivoted thereon, the reach bars and connect-
ing rods secured thereto. Figure 5 is a front elevation of the piston-rod cross-
head. Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section of the steam cylinder and valve
chamber secured to its accompanying guides or ways by friction rollers. Figure 7

page_text: is a detail, partly in section of a connecting-rod head, exhibiting the means for
arranging the spring devices.
Figure 8 is a detail in section of the relative position, the guides or ways assume
towards the cylinder, with the friction rollers removed to exhibit more fully
the bearing surfaces for the friction rolls. Figure 9 is a modification of the
friction rolls and their bearings in the guides and cylinder.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The engine consists of a bed A, having ordinary boxes for a shaft B, and which
is integral with three cranks, viz., two side cranks b b, and a central crank bl.
The side cranks b carry connecting rods, C, C, the opposite ends of said connecting
rods C are secured to a yoke cross-head D by means of pivotal pins d, d, see
Figure 4, respectively; also secured to said yoke cross-head D, by pins d are
reach bars E, E, their opposite ends being secured by pins e, e, through ears f, f,
the latter being integral with the front cylinder head F of the steam cylinder 1.
The central crank 61, previously referred to, carries a much heavier connecting
rod C, and which is secured at its opposite end to a cross-head G; said cross-
head supports the piston rod H which makes direct connection with the steam
cylinder through the medium of a piston. Cross-head G has two rectangular
openings, g g, see Figure 5, for allowing the reach bars E to pass through freely,
but not contacting said openings g..
The main connecting rod C₁, previously referred to, not only receives all the
load that comes upon its crank, but it also must operate the side cranks b for
moving the reciprocating cylinder F, and to provide for sudden shocks, outside
of cushioning by the steam, I provide an effective means through the medium of
two opposing springs, I, see Figure 7, which will be hereinafter more fully
set forth.
Secured to the yoke cross-head by means of a wrist-pin is a lever K fulcrumed
near its lower end, and adapted to connect with an eccentric rod L at its lower end,
and at its upper end to a valve rod m.
Secured to the bed. A by bolts a are ways or guides N, having an external
V-shaped contour h for the reception of friction rollers P. The ways F2 upon
the cylinder F¹ are internal V-shaped in their contour, and make connection with
said ways N through the medium of friction rollers P, previously referred to,
see Figure 6. To prevent any slight movement of the steam cylinder, and to
keep it in alignment, I provide an annular rib p, centrally located on each
friction roller, and I also provide longitudinal grooves f³ in the V-bearings h
and F respectively, for said ribs to move in; by this means the cylinder is kept
in perfect alignment both laterally and vertically.
The friction rollers P are provided with oil holes p¹, and also covers q, the
latter for preventing dust from entering among the rollers.
The springs I in the connecting rod head previously referred to, play against
the opposite ends of a bisected box R. Said box is secured in the head of the
connecting rod by side flanges r shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. Boxes R
are recessed for holding said springs; projections s extend partly into said
recesses to more fully operate as bearing surfaces for springs I to rest against..
Figure 9 is a modification of the friction rollers, and are well adapted for heavy
reciprocating cylinders. The reciprocating cylinder is connected to parallel
jointed steam connections t which oscillate in harmony with the reciprocating
steam cylinder and furnish steam and exhaust similar to a stationary cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In combination with a reciprocating steam cylinder moving on ways or
guides, friction rollers interposed between said cylinder and guides, longitudinal
grooves in projections integral with said cylinder, also similar grooves in the

page_text: ways or guides secured to the engine bed, said guides being adapted to receive
friction rolls, which are provided with annular ribs for entering said longitudinal
grooves in the cylinder and ways, for the purpose set forth.
2. In combination with a reciprocating engine mounted on ways secured to an
engine bed and operated by two reach rods and three connecting rods and two cross
heads, of an eccentric and valve rod connection through the medium of a lever
pivoted to a movable yoke cross-head, as specified.
3. In combination with a steam engine, a connecting rod provided with a
bisected box, and an enlarged head surrounding said box, springs at opposite
ends or sides of said box located in recesses formed in the same, and projections
integral with the connecting rod and extending into said recesses against said
springs, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a reciprocating cylinder operated on ways secured to
an engine bed or support, reach rods pivotally secured to said cylinder, and
passing through but not contacting, a cross-head bearing a piston rod and con-
necting rod, and pivotally secured to a yoke cross-head contiguous to a pair of
connecting rods, the latter secured at their forward ends to cranks on an engine
shaft, as specified.
5. In a three crank reciprocating engine, a cylinder working on ways in one
direction, a piston within said cylinder moving in the opposite direction, in
combination with friction rollers mounted on ways for guiding and supporting
said cylinder, and the means for taking up any sudden shocks to said engine
through the medium of an elastic connecting rod head, as shown and described.
Dated this Wich
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.