Improvements in Steam Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct. 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, EMILE MERTZ, of 5, Weidengasse Bâle, in the Republic of Switzerland,
Engineer, 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 has for its object a vertical or horizontal equilibrated steam engine
with one or more quadruple acting cylinders each having two pistons fitted to two
different rods one of which passes through the other and actuates, through the
medium of a connecting rod, a crank arranged at an angle of 180° with the cranks
actuated by the second piston rod through the medium of two connecting rods placed
on each side of the first mentioned connecting rod in such a manner that, steam
being admitted alternately between the two pistons and in contact with the outer
faces thereof, the said pistons always move in opposite directions so that the pressures
which the connecting rods, actuated by the said pistons, tend to exert upon the
bearings of the driving shaft, are always counterbalanced whereby the machine runs
smoothly and without jars or shocks.
In the accompanying drawings,―
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 6bis shew as an example of my invention a steam engine
with two cylinders in which the steam works successively.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the engine in a plane passing through the longitu-
dinal axis of each cylinder:
Figure is a side elevation of the engine partly in section, the pistons of the
high pressure cylinder being supposed to be in the middle of their strokes :
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line X-X Figure 1:
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line V-V Figure 1:
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line W--W of the same Figure:
Figures 6 and 6 bis are partial sections on the lines Y-Y and Z-Z Figure 4:
Figures 7 and 8 shew modifications of the distributing valve:
Figures 9 to 17 refer to details of construction; and,
Figures 18 to 23 relate to a centrifugal governing device for the engine.
On the frame A of the engine, which frame forms a closed space, are fixed the
two cylinders B, B1 each having a pair of pistons C, D, C¹, D¹.
The rod E or E¹ of each piston C or C¹ is connected by a connecting rod F or F1
to a crank a or a² of the driving shaft H which is arranged in the lower part of
the frame A and is supported near its ends by suitable supports b, b secured to the
frame A and at intermediate points by supports b¹, b¹ also connected to the
frame A. The rod G or G¹ of each piston D or D¹ (which rod is hollow and
through which passes the rod E or E¹ of the corresponding piston C or C¹) is
or c¹, c¹ on the
connected by two rods K, K or K¹, K¹ to two cranks c, c
driving shaft H, which cranks are placed at an angle of 180° to the corresponding
crank a or a¹.
It is obvious that the piston C or C¹ of each cylinder B or B₁ will move in an
opposite direction to that in which the other piston D or D¹ of the same cylinder
moves. Furthermore, the crank a is at an angle of 90° to the crank a¹ and the
cranks c. c are at an angle of 90° to the cranks c¹, c¹.

page_text: I is a box or case fitted to the shaft H and designed to contain the centri-
fugal governor which operates, as hereinafter described, the mechanism of the
distributing device enclosed in the valve chest J designed for the distribution of
steain to the cylinder B. This chest J communicates with the middle and with
the ends of the cylinder B respectively by the passages f, g and e and is provided
with a hollow cylindrical valve R having three annular peripheral grooves h, k, o,
of which his designed to place the passages g and e in communication with an
exhaust passage i which opens into an intermediate chamber I placed between the
two cylinders B and B whilst the passage k is in communication by orifices j, j with
the interior of the hollow valve and is designed to be alternately placed in com-
munication with the passages e and f; the third annular groove o is adapted to make
communication between the passage f and the exhaust passage n opening into the
intermediate chamber L when the valve R is near its lowermost position; the lower
space d of the valve chest J (which space communicates with the inlet for the fresh
.steam regulated by the valve A2) is placed in communication with the passage g
when the valve R is near its uppermost position.
The valve R¹ and its chest J¹, which effect the distribution of the steam in the
cylinder B¹, are of analogous construction to the valve R and chest J; the letters d¹, g¹
¹, h¹, c¹, k², j¹, f¹, n¹, o¹ and indicate corresponding parts to those above referred to
by the letters d, g, i, h, e, k, j, f, n, o and l. The space d¹ is, however, in communication
with the intermediate chamber L whilst the passages n¹ and communicate with the
exhaust M for the steam which has worked successively in the two cylinders B and B³,
whether such exhaust takes place into a condenser or into the atmosphere.
The rods N, N¹ of the valve R, R¹ are screwed into guide-pieces R2 running in
guides R³ and connected by rods 0, 0¹ and bell-crank levers S, S¹ to rods T, T¹ of
eccentrics U, U¹. The eccentric U¹ is keyed upon the driving shaft H whilst the
other U is fitted to the side of the box I of the centrifugal governor so as to be
controlled by this latter in such a manner that its eccentricity with respect to the
driving shaft H can be varied by the said governor to vary the admission of steam
to the cylinder B. By more or less unscrewing the rods N, N¹ from the guide-
pieces R2, the position of the valves R, R¹ can be speedily adjusted.
The lower part of the frame A, which is provided with two removable doors or
covers R4, can be filled with oil so as to effect the lubrication of all the movable parts
of the engine which are enclosed in the said frame.
:
The operation of the engine above described is as follows.
Suppose the movable parts of the engine in the position shewn in Figures 1, 3, 6
and 6bis of the drawings, that is to say, in the position wherein the pistons C and D
are just reaching the middle of the cylinder B and the pistons C₁, D¹ are near the
middle of their stroke; if the valve R moves downwards in such a manner as to bring
the groove opposite the passage e, fresh steam will pass from outside the valve Ŕ
through the orifices j, j into the passage e and the cylinder B so as to exert pressure
upon the inner faces of the two pistons C and D and separate them from one another
whilst the partially expanded steam in the said cylinder B above the piston C and
below the piston D will escape through the passages f, o, n and g, h, i respectively
into the intermediate chamber L whence it passes to the cylinder B¹; at the same
moment the steam which has already done work in the cylinder B will pass from the
chamber I partly through the passage d' and below the bottom edge of the valve R¹
into the passage g¹ so as to operate upon the lower face of the piston D¹, and
partly through the passages l', j, k¹ into the passage f¹ so as to act upon the upper
face of the piston C in such a manner as to drive the two pistons C¹ and D¹ towards
one another, thereby expelling the expanded steam which has previously done work
in the cylinder B₁ through the passages e¹, h¹ and ¹ to the exhaust M (Figure 4).
When the two pistons C³, D¹ have reached the middle of the cylinder B¹, that is
to say, after the first quarter of a revolution of the driving shaft H, the pistons C, D
continue to separate from one another and the pistons C¹, D¹ commence to separate
from one another, the partially expanded steam from the intermediate chamber L
passing from the interior of the valve R¹ through the orifices j¹, j³ into the passage e¹

page_text: nd acting upon the inner faces of the two pistons C¹, D¹ causing them to separa
hilst the expanded steam in the said cylinder B¹ above the piston C¹ and below the
iston D¹ will pass respectively through the passages f¹, o¹, n¹ and g¹, h¹, i¹ to the
xhaust M.
At the end of the second quarter of a revolution, that is to say, when the two
istons C, D have reached the ends of the cylinder B, the pistons C¹, D¹ continue to
eparate from one another whilst the pistons C, D approach one another, steam then
passing on the one hand through d below the lower edge of the valve R into the
passage g and operating upon the lower face of the piston D and on the other hand
rom the valve interior l, through j and k into the passage f so as to operate upon the
apper face of the piston C in such a manner as to drive the pistons C and D towards
one another, whilst the partially expanded steam which is contained between the two
pistons C, D will escape through the passages e, h and i into the intermediate
chamber L, whence it escapes to do work in the cylinder B'.
After the third quarter of a revolution, that is to say, when the pistons C¹ and D¹
have reached the ends of the cylinder B¹, the pistons C, D continue to approach one.
another whilst the pistons C¹, D' are also approaching one another, partially expanded
steam which has previously done work in the cylinder B passing from the inter-
mediate chamber L on the one hand through d¹ and g¹ under the lower face of the
piston D¹, and on the other hand through 1, j¹, ke¹ and f¹ to the upper face of the.
piston C¹ in such a manner as to drive the two pistons C¹, D¹ towards one another,
whilst the expanded steam contained between the two pistons C¹, 11, will escape
through el, hi and ¹ to the exhaust M.
At the end of the fourth quarter of a revolution, that is to say, when the pistons
C and D are reaching the middle of the cylinder B, the movable parts of the engine
will have reassumed the positions indicated in Figures 1, 3, 6 and 6bis and the
above described operation will be repeated.
It is obvious from the foregoing description that the two pistous C, D or C¹, D¹ of
each of the cylinders B, B₁ are always moving in opposite directions as they are
constantly subjected to equal steam pressures acting in opposite directions, so that
the pressures which each of the said pairs of pistons C, D, C, D¹, tends to exert upon
the bearings of the supports of the driving shaft reciprocally counterbalance one
another and the engine runs smoothly and without jarring or shocks.
As will be seen from Figures 3, 6 and 6bis the valves R, R¹ are open at their ends
so that they are completely equilibrated; the rods of the valves are, furthermore,
connected to pistons a moving in air chests designed to deaden the jarring of the
said valves when moving upwards.
The centrifugal governing device which is enclosed in the box I and is designed to
operate the eccentric U serving to actuate the distributing valve R is of the construc-
0 tion indicated in Figures 18 to 23. Figures 18 and 19 are two vertical sections at
right angles to one another; Figure 20 is a front view; Figure 21 is a horizontal
section on the line X, XI Figure 18, the movable parts of the governor being ad-
justed in position to correspond to the normal velocity of the engine; Figure 22 is
a detail view and Figure 23 is a section on the line Y¹, Y¹ Figure 18.
To the box I there are pivoted by pins c³, c3 two blocks B3, B³ each of which is con-
nected on the one hand by means of a connecting rod C3 with one arm of a two-armed
lever D³ pivoted in the box, and on the other hand by a spiral spring H³ to a head-
piece E3 pivoted to the outer end of a rod F3 guided in a projection do of the box I
and in a hole in the boss e3 of the said box which is keyed to the driving shaft H of
50 the engine. The rod F³ terminates at its inner end in a screwed part 3 passing
through the central screw-threaded hole in a toothed wheel g³ arranged between the
projection d³ and the boss e³. This wheel g³ gears with a worm or endless screw h
suitably held in the box I and having a square end 3 so that by turning the said
screw h³ by means of a key fitting on the square 23, the toothed wheel g³ can b
55 rotated so as to displace the rod F3 and thus vary the tension of the springs H
which exert upon the blocks B³, B³ a pull opposed to the centrifugal force actin
on them.

page_text: To the pivot J³, by which the lever D³ is pivoted in the box I, there is fixed an
eccentric K³ arranged in a hole Vs in an arin L³ formed in one with the eccentric U
actuating the distributing valve R of the cylinder B, the said eccentric U turning
with the box I and being held therein by a bolt N³ passing through an elongated
hole formed in the arın L³ near its free end, and by a bolt Ws passing through a
curved slot M³ in the body of the eccentric U. The eccentric U is furthermore,
provided with an elongated slot S3 through which the shaft H passes in such a manner
that the said eccentric can be moved upon the box I with respect to the axis of the
shaft H so as to vary its eccentricity.
This governor operates as follows-Supposing that the rod F³ is in such a position
that the tension of the springs H3, H³ is such that the engine has the normal velocity,
for example, 150 revolutions per minute, then if the velocity of the engine increases
beyond this normal velocity, the action of centrifugal force upon the blocks B³, B³
overcoming the centripetal action exerted upon them by the springs H³, H³, the said
blocks will swing further outwards from the shaft H so as to cause the said
blocks B³, B3 to turn around the pivots c³, c³ in the direction of the arrows v³, v³.
The movement of the blocks turns the lever D³ and the eccentric K³ in the direction
of the arrow x3 whereby the eccentric U receives an angular displacement around N³
in the direction of the arrow y³ so as to increase the distance between the centre of
the shaft H and that of the eccentric U, that is to say, to increase the eccentricity of
this latter and thereby cause the steam inlet orifices to the cylinder B to be more
rapidly closed, that is to say, to provide an admission of less duration.
But if, on the contrary, the speed of the engine falls below the normal, the centri-
petal action of the springs H³, H³ upon the blocks B³, B³ will be greater than
the centrifugal force of the shaft H so that the said blocks are turned upon the
pivots c³, c in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows ³, and the
lever D³ and the eccentric K³ in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow x³
whereby the eccentric U is turned around N³ in a direction opposite to that indicated
by the arrow y³ so as to reduce the eccentricity of the eccentric U and consequently
to provide a slower closing of the steam inlet orifices to the cylinder B, that is to say,
to provide an admission of longer duration.
If, now, it is desired to adapt the governor to a normal velocity higher than that
above supposed, say for example, to a velocity of 250 revolutions per minute, it is
only necessary to turn the worm h³ in the direction proper for setting the
springs H3, H at a greater tension so that a greater centrifugal force will be necessary
to hold the eccentric U in the normal position corresponding to the normal velocity
which will thus be higher than that above mentioned. By turning the worm /³ in
the opposite direction that is to say, for reducing the tension of the springs H³, H³, the
normal velocity can be again reduced.
The rods E, E¹ of the upper pistons C, C¹ are guided (Figure 2) by means of guide-
pieces c5 fitted to pivots c connected to the said rods E, E¹ in slides C² fixed to the
frame of the engine, each of the said pivots c being held in the corresponding guide
piece by a collar c and a nut c² screwed upon the screw-threaded end of the said
pivot.
The hollow rods G, G¹ of the lower pistons D, D¹ are guided-by means of guide-
pieces c fitted to pivots cº connected to the said rods G, G¹-in slides C fixed to
the frame of the engine, each of the said pivots 9 being made in one with a piece
c10 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) in which is screwed the piston rod G or G¹ which is held
therein by a nut c¹, and being held in its guide-piece c8 by a collar c¹² and a
nut c¹³ screwed upon the screw-threaded end of the said pivot.
Each piece co is provided with a cylindrical portion upon which the cross-piece D²
can oscillate, the said cross-piece being provided with two pivots d², d² which receive
the ends of the corresponding connecting rods K, K, or K¹, K₁, in such a manner
that if the length of one rod of either pair K, K or K¹, K' should be a little different
from the length of the other rod of the same pair, the cross-piece D² could assume a
position slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding
piston rod.

page_text: e joints between the inner piston rods E, E
the joints around the piston rods G, G¹ where these latter pass through the
ms of the cylinders B, B₁ are made of antifriction metal in the manner for
aple, shewn in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 for the piston rod G. Such a joint
ures 12, 13, 14, 15) comprises two superposed rows, each formned of four packing
es of which the two opposite pieces d³, d³ have the form of segments of a circle
the two others d', d' of portions of rings fitting the said segments in such a
ner that each row of pieces d³, d³, d³, d* constitutes an annular packing
rounding the piston rod G. The pieces d, of one row d³, d³, d, d are
ectly above the pieces d³, d³ of the second row d³, d³, d, d' whilst the pieces d*, d*
this latter row d³, d³, d', d' are directly below the parts d³, d³ of the first
d³, d³, d, d.
These two superposed rows of packing-pieces d³, ³, d*, d are arranged inside a
xd5 fixed to the bottom do of the cylinder by bolts d which also secure to the
ttom a bush d³ arranged in the said bottom do and enclosing the rod G. The lower
w of the said packing pieces rests upon a ring d" supported by an internal annular
ojection d in the box d5, and upon the upper row of the said packing-pieces there
applied a washer d" provided with projections d¹² entering recesses or holes in the
ush do, which recesses or holes contain spiral springs d¹³ acting upon the said
asher d so as to press the two rows of packing pieces d³, d³, d', d* one against the
ther and to force the lower row of the said packing pieces against the ring de and
he latter against the projection d10 of the box d³.
The packing pieces d³, d³, d*, d, which can be of hard brass lined on the inside
with antifriction metal or which may be formed wholly of antifriction metal, are
pressed against the rod G by four springs d¼, the ends of which are applied
against internal projections on the box d in such a manner that each of the said
packing pieces is subjected to the action of a separate spring. The ring do is
provided with four lower projections d passing through the box do through an
annular hole formed around the rod G in such a manner that by turning the
ring do, by means of a key engaging with the projections, it can be ground upon
its seat d10.
The joints around the rods N, N¹ of the valve R, R¹ where they pass through the
said valves are arranged in the same manner, as is, for example, shewn in Figures 16
In these figures the letters d³, d³, d, ds, d³, do, d², dº, d¹º,
and 17 for the rod N.
d1, d2, d¹³, d¹ and 15 represent parts corresponding to those indicated by the same
letters in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15.
To enable the cylinders B and B₁ to be heated before the engine is started, each of
the chests J. J of the distributing valves is connected by four tubes ht, ho, ho, h
be placed in
or 14, 15, 16, 17 communicating respectively with the passages d, g, e, f or d¹, g¹, e, f,
or N with which these tubes can
0 to a vertical passage M',
communication by three-way cocks m², m³, m³, m³ or nt, no, no. With this
arrangement if, before the engine is started, the pistons of the high pressure
cylinder B are brought to a dead point, steam conveyed through A2 into the
d and the cocks m², m³, mo, m7, opened the said steam passes from d through
space
45 h, M, ho, ho, h", g, e and f, into the cylinder B and through the passages n, i into
the intermediate chamber L whence it passes, after the cocks n², n³, nº are
opened, from d¹ through 4, N4, 15, 18, 1, g¹, e¹, f¹ into the cylinder B and
through the passages n¹, i¹ to the exhaust M so as to heat the cylinders B, B
By afterwards opening the exhaust M and a passage extending from the inter
50 mediate chamber to the said exhaust, the water which has condensed in the engin
can be caused to flow away after the driving shaft-H has been slightly rotated t
move the pistons C, D from their dead points and start the engine; shortly afte
wards the communication between the intermediate chamber L and the exhaust
is closed.
55
Instead of having cranks a² and c¹, c¹-to which the connecting rods F¹ and K¹, I
are connected-placed respectively at an angle of 90° to the cranks a and c, é
which the corresponding connecting rods F and K, K actuated by the pistons of t

page_text: cylinder B are connected, the connecting rods F¹ and K¹, K₁ can be secured to
cranks placed at an angle of 180° to the corresponding cranks a and c, c which the
connecting rods F and K, K actuate. Furthermore, if instead of making the
engine work with double expansion it is desired to arrange it to work with triple
expansion this is effected employing in conjunction with the cylinders B, B¹ a third
cylinder having two pistons, etc.
Instead of obtaining in the high pressure cylinder B variation in the expansion, that
is to say, variation in the admission, through the medium of the centrifugal governor
acting directly upon the distributing valve of the said cylinder, the said governor
can be caused to actuate this valve R by an eccentric which will give constant
admission and vary the expansion by two concentric valves Ro placed inside the valve
R upon a rod No extending through the rod N of the valve R as illustrated in Figure 7,
the rod No of the second valve being then alone operated by the governor.
The cylindrical valves can also be replaced by flat or slide valves as shewn in
figure 8 for the valve of the high pressure cylinder. This slide valve is provided
with three orifices do, jo, fo corresponding to the parts d, j, k or d¹, j, k¹ above men-
tioned and with two grooves o°; ho, corresponding to the parts o, h or o¹, h¹ above
mentioned. The rod No of this slide valve is actuated by an eccentric which gives
a constant admission and the said valve is combined with three other slide valves Roll
placed upon a rod No" which alone is actuated by the governor.
It is obvious that the motor above described can be employed as a stationary engine
or that the invention can be applied to locomotives, motor cars, steain-boats, etc.
For this latter case, the motor is specially advantageous as it occupies less height
than ordinary engines and also because it enables a greater speed than ordinarily to
be obtained by virtue of the perfect equilibrium of the pressures of the pistons
upon the bearings of the driving shaft.
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. A vertical or horizontal equilibrated steam engine having one or more double
acting cylinders each having two pistons fitted to two different rods of which one
passes through the other and operates, by means of a connecting rod, a crank placed
at an angle of 180° to the cranks upon which the second piston rod operates through
the medium of two connecting rods placed on each side of the above described con-
necting rod, each of the said cylinders being combined with distributing mechanism,
comprising an equilibrated valve, and enabling steam to be admitted alternately
between the two pistons of the said cylinder and upon their outer faces in such a
manner that the pistons of one cylinder always move in opposite directions by being
subjected to equal steam pressures acting in opposite directions so that the pressures
that the connecting rods operated by the said pistons tend to exert upon the bearings
of the driving shaft counterbalance one another thus ensuring that the engine works
smoothly and without jars, substantially as described.
2. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described, distributing mechanism,
formed of a reciprocating hollow valve (R or R¹) open at both ends and provided
with three annular peripheral grooves (h, k and o or h¹, kel o¹) of which one (k or k¹)
communicates with the inside of the valve by holes (j, j or j¹, j¹) and, by a valve-
chest communicating with the middle of the corresponding cylinder by a passage
(e or e), with the two ends of the same cylinder by two passages (g, f or g¹, f¹) and
with the exhaust by two passages (i, n or i¹, n¹) in such a manner as to effect the
alternate admission and the exhaust of the steam to the middle and to the ends of
the cylinder by a single equilibrated distributing device, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
3. In a steam engine of the kind hereinbefore described, distributing mechanism
adapted to each cylinder and consisting of a slide valve (Ro¹) having a reciprocating
movement and provided with three orifices (do, jo, jo) and two grooves (0° and hº)
and of a valve chest communicating with the middle of the corresponding cylinder

page_text: a passage (e), with the two ends of the same cylinder
with the exhaust by two passages (20, nº) so as to effect the alternate admission
exhaust of the steam to the middle and to the ends of the cylinder by a single
tributing device, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
1. In a steam engine of the kind hereinbefore described, the arrangement upon
driving shaft of the machine of a centrifrugal governing device designed to
ry the expansion and consisting of a box (I) rotating with the driving shaft and to
ich are pivoted two blocks (B3, B³) connected at the one hand by two rods (C³, C³)
the two arms of a lever (D³) pivoted in the box (I) and of which the pivot can
erate a device actuated by the driving shaft and effecting the distribution of
eam to the cylinder or to the high pressure cylinder of the engine and on the
ther hand to two springs (H3, H³) fitted to the ends of a head-piece (E3) hinged
the outer end of a screw-threaded rod (F3) carried by the box (I) and adapted to
e rotated by means of a toothed wheel (gs) forming a nut for the rod (F³) arranged
o that by rotating the said toothed wheel, the degree of compression of the
prings (H3, H³) can be varied in order to vary the centripetal action which these
prings exert upon the blocks (B3, B³) in opposition to the centrifugal force and
thereby to vary the normal velocity of the engine, substantially as described and
illustrated.
5. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described and claimed in Claim 4,
the fitting of an eccentric (K³) to the pivot of the lever (D³), the said eccentric
fitting into a suitable recess (V³) in an arm (L³) made in one with the eccentric (U)
operating the device distributing steam to the cylinder or to the high pressure
cylinder of the engine and turning with the box (I) of the governor, being held in
the said recess by a bolt (N³) passing through an elongated hole or eye formed in
the arm (L3) near its free end and by a bolt (W3) passing through a curved slot (M³)
in the eccentric (U), the said eccentric (U) being, furthermore, provided with an
elongated slot (S3) through which the driving shaft of the engine passes in such a
manner that by moving the lever (D³) by means of the governor the eccentric (K³)
can move the eccentric (U) upon the box (I) for the purpose of producing variations
in the eccentricity of the latter eccentric and thereby in the admission of steam
to the cylinder, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
6. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described and claimed in Claim 2,
the arrangement in the interior of the hollow cylindrical valve (R) of three con-
5 centric valves Ro upon a common rod No passing through the rod N of the valve R,
the valve R being actuated by an ordinary eccentric upon the driving shaft whilst
the valves Ro are operated by a device actuated by the governor of the engine
for the purpose of obtaining variations in the expansion in the cylinder or in the
high pressure cylinder of the engine, substantially as herein before described and
10 illustrated.
7. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described and claimed in Claim 3,
the combination of the slide valve Rot with three slide valves Roll mounted upon a
common rod No¹¹, the said slide valve Ro¹ being actuated by an ordinary eccentric
mounted upon the driving -shaft whilst the valves Ro¹¹ are actuated by a device
45 operated by the governor of the engine for the purpose of obtaining variations in
the expansion in the cylinder or in the high pressure cylinder of the engine, substan
tially as described and illustrated.
8. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described, a device for ensuring th
tightness of the joint between the piston (of each cylinder) which is the nearest 1
50 the driving shaft and the rod of the piston which is furthest from the said shaf
between the rod of the piston which is the nearest to the driving shaft and th
bottom of the cylinder or between the rod of the distributing valve and the botto
of the valve chest, the said device consisting of two superposed rows of packin
pieces of antifriction metal each of which is formed of four pieces (d³, d³, d', d¹‚)
55 which the two opposite pieces (d³, d³) are in the form of segments of a circle whi
the two others (d, d) have the form of portions of rings fitting the said segments
order that each row of pieces d³, d³, d, d shall form an annular packing each of t

page_text: said pieces d³, d³, d, d, being separately pressed against the rod passing between
them by a separate spring d4, the ends of which abut against internal projections in
a box do enclosing the two rows of packing pieces, of which two rows the lower rests
upon a ring d applied against an annular projection 10 of the box d³, a washer d¹
being applied to the upper row of packing pieces, which said washer is acted upon
by springs d³ pressing the two rows of packing pieces against one another, between
the washer d and the ring (d), substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
9. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described, the arrangement of the
pivots (d², d) by which the hollow rod of the lower piston of each cylinder actuates
the two connecting rods connecting it to the driving shaft in such a manner that they
are rigidly connected to a cross-piece (D2) adapted to oscillate over a cylindrical
journal formed on a piece (c10) fixed to the said hollow piston rod and provided with
a pivot connected to a guide-piece running in suitable guides in order that the said
cross-piece (D2) can take a slightly inclined position with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the piston rod if the two said connecting rods be not exactly of the same
length, substantially as described.
10. In a steam engine of the kind herein before described and claimed in Claim 2,
the combination of the box enclosing the distributing valve with four tubes (h4, h³,
ho, h) and (14, 15, 16, 17) communicating respectively with the passages (d, g, e, f or d²,
g¹, e, f) and connected to a vertical passage M4 or N with which these tubes can be
placed in communication by three-way cocks (m², m³, m³, m7 or n², no, no) for the pur-
pose of enabling the cylinder to be heated before the engine is started, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated the 21st day of March 1900
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.