Improvements in Corliss Steam Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corliss Steam Engines.
We, DAVID CARMICHAEL, and GEORGE CARMICHAEL, of Ward Foundry,
Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
Our said invention comprises improved arrangements or constructions of the parts
of Corliss steam engines. The improvements are embodied in a design for a triple
expansion engine the valve gearing of which is also applicable to an engine having
one, two, or more cylinders.
In carrying out the invention in the case of a triple-expansion engine, the three
cylinders are vertical and inverted and have their pistons connected to separate
cranks on the main shaft.. The several valve casings are arranged transversely to
the vertical plane of the crank shaft, the spindles of the Corliss valves being trans-
verse and projecting out towards one side of the row of cylinders, and being
connected to wrist plates or equivalent plates or levers which rock upon studs fixed
on the sides of the cylinders. For working the wrist plates, and through them the
valves, a counter shaft is arranged conveniently below the wrist plates and is driven
in any convenient manner from the crank shaft to which it is parallel. The
described arrangement of the valve casings and other parts allows of convenient
access to the valves, and possesses other practical advantages. The counter shaft
is at right angles to the axes of motion of the wrist plates, but by a special
construction of the parts the eccentrics on the counter shaft are directly connected
to the wrist plates notwithstanding that the vibratory movements are in planes at
right angles to each other. The eccentrics are made with spherical rims the straps
having counterpart concave bearing surfaces; and the eccentric rods have their
further ends jointed upon spherical studs fixed to the wrist plates or equivalent
levers. With this construction the eccentric rods can without strain or difficulty
assume the various slightly inclined positions required by the movements of the
parts to which they are connected. The admission and exhaust valves are by
preference actuated by means of separate eccentrics and wrist plates.
Dated this Fourteenth day of September 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corliss Steam Engines.
We, DAVID CARMICHAEL, and GEORGE CARMICHAEL, of Ward Foundry,
Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineers. 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, that is to
say
-
Our said invention comprises improved arrangements or constructions of Corliss
steam engines. The improvements are embodied in a design for a triple-expansion
engine the valve gearing of which is also applicable to an engine having one, two,
or more cylinders.
We hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings on Sheet, 1, of which is
shown a triple expansion engine, Figures, 1, and 2, being respectively end and side
elevations. Figures 3, and 4, on Sheet, 2, are enlarged sectional elevations of the
Din 97.7"

page_text: improved valve gearing for one of the cylinders. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
In carrying out the invention in the case of a triple-expansion engine, as shown
in Figures 1, and 2,. Sheet, 1, the three cylinders, A 1, A.2, A.3; are vertical and!
inverted and have their pistons connected to separate cranks on the main shaft, B.
The several valve casings, C, are arranged transversely to the vertical plane of the
crank shaft, B, the spindles, D, of the Corliss valves being transverse and projecting
out all on the same side of the row of cylinders, and being connected to wrist
plates or equivalent plates or levers E 1, F 1, E2, F 2, E3, F3, which rock upon
studs, G, fixed on the sides of the cylinders. For working the wrist plates or
levers, E, F, and through them the valves, a counter shaft, H, is arranged
conveniently below the wrist plates or levers, and is driven in any convenient
manner from the crank shaft B, to which it is parallel. As indicated in the
drawings the arrangement for driving the counter shaft, H, consists of an inclined
shaft, J, with bevil wheels which latter are indicated by dotted lines.
described arrangement of the valve casings and other parts allows of convenient
access to the valves, and possesses other practical advantages.
The
The counter shaft, H, is at right angles to the axes of motion of the wrist plates
or levers, E, F, but by a special construction of the parts, which will be best
understood from Figures, 3, and 4, on Sheet 2, the eccentrics, K, on the counter
shaft, H, are directly connected to the wrist plates or levers notwithstanding that
the vibratory movements are in planes at right angles to each other. The eccen-
trics, K, are made with spherical rims, L, the straps, M, having concave
counterpart bearing surfaces; and the eccentric rods, N, have their further
ends, P, jointed on spherical studs, Q, fixed to the wrist plates or equivalent
levers, E, F. With this construction the eccentric rods, N, can without strain or
difficulty assume the various slightly inclined positions required by the movements
of the parts to which they are connected.
In the drawings separate wrist plates or levers, E, F, are shown as provided fo:
the exhaust and admission valves of each cylinder; which arrangement we prefer ;
our improved construction with spherical connection surfaces is however obviously
applicable with single wrist plates, and in any arrangement of Corliss valve gear in
which the action of one or more eccentrics has to be transmitted to one or more
wrist plates or levers vibrating in a different plane.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved design of triple-expansion
Corliss steam engines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures, 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a Corliss steam engine the connecting of a valve eccentric to a wrist plate
or lever vibrating in a different plane by means of a rod fitted at one end upon a
spherical rim formed on the eccentric and at the other end on a spherical stud on
the wrist plate or lever substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Eleventh day of June 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.