An Improvement in Compound Steam Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Compound Steam Engines.
We, JAMES ATKINSON, of Amherst, Fallowfield, near Manchester, and
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of The Cedars, Didsbury near. Manchester both Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a simple construction of compound steam engine
arranged as follows: . We provide three parallel single acting cylinders of
successively increasing areas and connect their pistons to cranks set at equal
intervals around a shaft. We provide a slide or other valve which may be rotary
or partly rotary for supplying the first or smallest cylinder with steam, arranging
it so that the supply can be cut off at various parts of the stroke. From the first
cylinder there is a lateral port communicating with the next cylinder in order, so
that when the first piston at a certain part of its stroke uncovers this port, steam
from the first cylinder expands into the next, propelling its piston.
In like manner steam passes by a lateral port from the second to the third
cylinder. The steam finally passes by a lateral port from the last cylinder to a
condenser or exhaust.
We prefer to enclose the passage from each cylinder to the next in a jacket
supplied with boiler steam, so as to heat the expanding steam. Instead of
arranging the cylinders parallel, with their pistons linked to separate cranks, they
may be arranged at equal differences of inclination around a single crank.
We prefer to provide a passage furnished with a stop valve from the lateral port
of the first cylinder direct to the third cylinder. On opening the stop valve, steam
from the first cylinder can expand directly into the third cylinder, 'causing 'reversal
of the engine.
Instead of three cylinders and pistons operating as above described for triple
expansion, there may be four constituting a quadruple expansion engine, and in this
case two of the pistons may be linked to one crank, and two to another crank.
The cylinders may be made double acting by using long pistons, uncovering ports
at both ends, and in order that engines thus constructed may be reversible,
the connecting passages, between the cylinders, may be crossed, suitable valves
being employed to control them.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Compound Steam Engines.
We, JAMES ATKINSON, of Amherst, Fallowfield, near Manchester, and
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of The Cedars, Didsbury, near Manchester, both
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 :-
Our invention relates to a simple construction of compound steam engine
arranged as we shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 is a transverse section on Z Z of
Ti 1

page_text: We provide three parallel single acting cylinders A, B and C of successively
increasing areas and connect their pistons to cranks set at equal intervals around a
shaft D. We provide a slide valve E (for which a rotary or partly rotary or other
suitable valve might be substituted) for supplying the first or smallest cylinder A
with steam.
Instead of the simple eccentric e shewn, this valve may be worked by a link
or otherwise so arranged that the supply can be cut off at various parts of the
stroke.
From the first cylinder A, there is a lateral port a communicating with the next
cylinder B, so that, when the first piston at a certain part of its stroke uncovers
the port a, steam from the first cylinder expands into the next cylinder B propelling
its piston.
In like manner steam passes by a lateral port from the second to the third
cylinder C. The steam finally passes by a lateral port c from the last cylinder to a
condenser or exhaust.
The cylinders may be enclosed within a casing F containing non conducting
material or within a steam jacket so as to heat the expanding steam.
Instead of arranging the cylinders parallel, with these pistons linked to separate
cranks they may be arranged at equal differences of inclination around a single crank.
We prefer to provide a passage as indicated by the dotted lines G from the lateral
port of the first cylinder A direct to the ingress of the third cylinder C. This
passage is furnished with a stop valve, on opening which, steam from the first
cylinder can expand directly into the third cylinder causing reversal of the engine.
When this arrangement is adopted the eccentric e, instead of being fixed on the shaft,
has to be driven by stops allowing reversal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A compound steam engine having three successive single acting cylinders each
communicating with the next in order by a lateral port uncovered by the piston at
a suitable point in its working stroke, substantially as described.
2. In a compound engine such as above referred to a passage furnished with stop
valve from the lateral port of the first cylinder to the ingress of the third cylinder,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.