Improvements in Single Acting Steam Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aor., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1889
Improvements in Single Acting Steam Engines.
I, NOEL CHANDLER, of Cannock Chase Engine Works Hednesford, in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for object improvements in Steam Engines of the inverted single
acting type. The Engines may be of the simple, compound or multiple expansion
classes, and have either one or more throws of the crank shaft.
In the case of a single cylinder engine the lower end of the Cylinder is closed by a
cover having stuffing boxes through which the piston and valve rods pass. The end
of each rod is guided by a crosshead working in a bored guide contained within a
casing and discontinuous from the cylinder. This casing is provided with doors or
covers through which access can be obtained to the stuffing boxes above mentioned.
Steam is admitted to and exhausted from above the piston in the cylinder by means
of a piston valve operated from an eccentric on the crank shaft.
This piston valve works in a cylindrical valve chamber whose axis is parallel to the
axis of the Engine cylinder.
The upper part of this valve chamber is connected to the steam inlet while the
lower part has two connections, one to the lower part of the cylinder, and the other
to the exhaust pipe. This latter connection is commanded by an annular or sleeve
valve mounted on the valve spindle and moving with it. The steam acts constantly
on the top of the admission valve keeping -the valve and eccentric rods always in
compression.
This valve which allows steam at all times to pass through its centre, is adjusted so
as to close the exhaust port as the piston nears the upper end of its stroke to a
sufficient extent to cause a compression of the exhaust steam in the cylinder, the
cushioning action of which will absorb the momentum of the moving parts, and so
keep the connecting rod and brasses close on to the crank pin. When the steam is
cut off the vapour thus shut in will prevent the formation of a vacuum on the upper
side of the piston.

page_text: .
The crank chamber is arranged to contain lubricant which by the rapid revolutions
of the crank is splashed on to the moving parts of the engine inside the said chamber.
The lubricant also obtains access to the piston and valve rods through holes in the top
of the crossheads.
A perforated plate or plates may be arranged in the crank chamber below and clear
of the moving parts for the purpose of preventing excessive agitation of the lubricant.
Outside and near to the bottom of the crank chamber there is provided a receptacle
for the purpose of supplying water.or lubricant to the crank chamber when required.
The governing device I prefer to employ is such as is described in the Specifica-
tion of Letters Patent No. 6594 of 1886 but modified by the spindle of the equilibrium
valve being placed vertically in a long hanging sleeve and worked by a bell crank
lever, one arm of which is in this sleeve and one outside.
Two or more cylinders such as above described may be arranged side by side, each
piston being connected in the usual manner to a separate crank pin of the crank
shaft.
In the case of compound single acting steam engines according to this invention the
cylinders are placed one above another tandem fashion,, the valves are also arranged
one above the other on the same rod at the sides of their respective cylinders.
The underside of the high pressure piston is open to the valve casing into which the
high pressure cylinder exhausts. The annular or sleeve valve above mentioned is
arranged below the piston valve of the low pressure cylinder and controls the exhaust
part of the said low pressure cylinder in the manner and for the purpose above
described.
Below the lowest steam cylinder suitable doors are provided at back and front of
the engine casing which surrounds the crosshead guides for the purpose of easy access
to the stuffing boxes and moving parts.
According to a modification the high and low pressure cylinders may be placed
side by side and work on to a separate throw of the crank shaft. In this case the
valve chamber of the low pressure cylinder will be fitted with an annular sleeve
valve.
The crank chambers in engines according to this invention are not necessarily
closed nor airtight, and the cylinders may be carried by ordinary standards or
columns.
Dated this 18th day of Anril 1888
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields; London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Single Acting Steam Engines.
I, NOEL CHANDLER of Cannock Chase, Engine Works Hednesford, in the County
of Stafford 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 improvements in Steam Engines of the inverted
single acting type. The Engines may be of the simple; compound or multiple-
expansion classes, and have either one or more throws of the crank shaft.
In the case of a single cylinder engine the lower end of the cylinder is closed by a
cover having stuffing boxes, through which the piston and valve rods pass. The end
of each rod is guided by a cross head, working in a bored guide contained within a
casing and discontinuous from the cylinder. This casing is provided with doors or
covers through which access can be obtained to the stuffing boxes above mentioned.
Steam is admitted to and exhausted from above the piston in the cylinder by means
of a piston valve operated from an eccentric on the crank shaft.
This piston valve works in a cylindrical valve chamber whose axis is parallel to
the axis of the engine cylinder.
The upper part of this valve chamber is connected to the steam inlet while the
lower part has two connections, one to the lower part of the cylinder, and the
other to the exhaust pipe. This latter connection is commanded by an annular or
sleeve valve mounted on the valve spindle and moving with it. The steam acts
constantly on the top of the admission valve keeping the valve and eccentric rods
always in compression.
The sleeve valve which allows steam at all times to pass through its centre, is
adjusted so as to close the exhaust port as the piston nears the lower end of its
stroke and just as the steam is liberated from above the pision, to a sufficient extent
to cause a compression of the exhaust steam in the cylinder, as the piston ascends,
the cushioning action of which will absorb the momentum of the moving parts until
such time as the steam from the boiler, or high pressure cylinder, enters the cylinder
above the piston, and so keep the connecting rod and brasses close on to the crank
pin. When the steam is cut off, the vapour thus shut in will prevent the formation
of a vacuuin on the upper side of the piston.
The crank chamber is arranged to contain lubricant, which, by the rapid revolutions
of the crank, is splashed on to the moving parts of the engine inside the said chamber.
The lubricant also obtains access to the piston and valve rods through holes in the
top of the crossheads.
A perforated plate or plates may be arranged.in the crank chamber below and
clear of the moving parts, for the purpose of preventing excessive agitation of the
lubricant.

page_text: Outside and near to the bottom of the crank chamber, there is provided a
receptacle for the purpose of supplying water or lubricant to the crank chamber when
required.
The governing device I prefer to employ is such as is described in the Specification
of Letters Patent No. 6594 of 1886 modified by the spindle of the equilibrium valve
being placed vertically in a long hanging sleeve and worked by a bell crank lever, one
arm of which is in this sleeve and one outside.
Two or more cylinders such as above described may be arranged side by side,
each piston being connected in the usual manner to a separate crank pin of the
crank shaft.
In the case of compound single acting steam engines according to this invention,
the cylinders are placed one above another tandem fashion; the valves are also
arranged one above the other on the same rod at the sides of their respective
cylinders.
The underside of the high pressure piston is open to the valve casing into which
the high pressure cylinder exhausts. The annular or sleeve valve above mentioned is
arranged below the piston valve of the low pressure cylinder and controls the exhaust
port of the said low pressure cylinder in the manner and for the purpose above
.described.
Below the lowest steam cylinder suitable doors are provided at the back and front of
the engine casing, which surrounds the crosshead guides, for the purpose of easy
access to the stuffing boxes and moving parts.
According to a modification the high and low pressure cylinders may be placed side
by side and work on to a separate throw of the crank shaft. In this case the valve
chamber of the low pressure cylinder will be fitted with an annular sleeve valve.
The crank chambers in engines according to this invention are not necessarily closed,
nor air tight, and the cylinders may be carried by ordinary standards or columns.
Referring to the accompanying four sheets of drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical central
section through an inverted single acting engine according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar section at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of part of fig. I drawn to an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, of a compound engine according to this
invention.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. In Figs. 1 and 2 the cylinder 1 is mounted on a
frame or casing 4, which has doors 5, 5, giving access to the stuffing box 6 of the steam
cylinder and the stuffing box 21 of the valve rod. Within the frame or casing 6 is a bored
guide 7 in which works the cylindrical crosshead S. In the crosshead and in its
guide there are bored holes 9 for the passage of lubricant, as will be explained.
The frame or casing 4 stands upon a base or bed 10 (which may be case in one
piece therewith) to which are connected bearings 11, 11, for the crank-shaft 12.
These bearings have glands 13 at the outer end to prevent the leakage of lubricant.
There are doors 15, 15 at each side of the base for gaining access to the crankshaft and
other parts of the machinery. Ordinarily the base or bed is kept closed, and oil and
water are fed into it to such a depth that at each revolution the crank dips into the
oil, and drives it upwards in spray into the bearings, and through the holes in
the crossbead and crosshead guide. A perforated partition 16 keeps the liquid in the
lower part of the bed comparatively still, while a vessel 17, that serves both as an oil
feeder and as an oil catcher, permits of the level being seen and of oil being added
as required.
Steam is distributed to the cylinders by the piston valve 18 mounted on the rod 20,
which has a stuffing box 21 accessible through the doors 5, 5. The lower end of this
rod is guided by a cylindrical crosshead 22, working in a bored guide 23, situated
within the frame or casing 4. This crosshead is lubricated in a similar manner to the
crosshead 8.
Steam is admitted by the valve 18 to the upper end of the cylinder 1. It is then
-exhausted into the chamber or receiver 25 which has free communication with the
lower end of the cylinder through the sleeve valve 28 and the port 14.

page_text: The sleeve valve 28 which offers no impediment to the passage of the steam to the
lower part of the cylinder, is adjusted so as to close the exhaust port 27 as the piston
nears the lower end of its stroke, to a sufficient extent to ensure a compression of
the exhaust steam in the cylinder on the return of the piston; the cushioning action
of this steam will absorb the momentum of the moving parts and so keep the
connecting rod and brasses close on the crank pin.
The valve rod is worked in the usual way by an eccentric 29".
:
The steam supply is regulated by the valve 24 actuated by the governor 25"-This
governor comprises a disc 26 mounted on the crank shaft and carrying with it two
pivotted hell crank levers or arms 27" 27". One end of each bell crank takes into a
groove in spindle 28", fitting into a recess in the end of the shaft. The other end of
each bell crank forms a weight to be acted upon by a centrifugal force in opposition to
the force of the springs 27*. The spindle 28 is connected with the end of the
lever 29 on the spindle 30. Another arm or lever 31 on this spindle is coupled to the
rod 32 of the valve 24. This spindle stands in a long hanging sleeve which fills
with water of condensation. The spindle 30, serves as a fulcrum to the levers 29
and 31 and passes through an ordinary stuffing box 30" as seen more clearly in fig. 2ª
which is a horizontal section, but owing to the fact of the hanging sleeve Z' and the
case Z Fig. 1, being full of cool water of condensation, the stuffing box 30" may be
packed with elastic packing which entirely prevents leakage and is practically
frictionless.
The spindle 32 does not need to pass through a stuffing box. It is simply guided
at the points 32" 32".
In the engine shown in Figs. 3 and 4 like parts to those which occur in Figs. 1
and 2 are similarly numbered.
The high pressure cylinder 1 is mounted directly upon the low pressure cylinder 2,
and both pistons are on the same rod 3. The casing marked 4 in Fig. 1 and the frame
or base 10, are shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 as made in one piece. In addition to the
doors 5, 5, the ordinary doors 33, 33, are lengthened so as to give access to the
stuffing-boxes as well as to the crank chamber.
Steam is distributed to the two cylinders by piston valves 18 and 19 mounted on
the rod 20. Steam is admitted at 24 first to the upper end of the cylinder 1. It is
then exhausted into the chamber or receiver 25 which has free communication with the
lower end of the cylinder 1.
This chamber or receiver has also a communication with the upper end of the
cylinder 2, but this communication is controlled by the valve 19. After the steam
has been exhausted from the upper end of the cylinder 1, it is admitted to the
chamber or receiver 25 and below the piston of cylinder 1 and on the next down-
stroke of the piston is discharged into the cylinder 2 above the piston therein and
on the return or upward stroke passes below the valve 19 into the receiver or
chamber 26. This chamber or receiver communicates with the lower end of the
cylinder 2 and with the exhaust pipe 27. This latter communication is controlled by
the sleeve valve 28, which, however, offers no impediment to the passage of the steam
to the lower part of the cylinder. This valve 28 is adjusted so as to close the exhaust
port as the piston nears the lower end of its stroke, to a sufficient extent to ensure a
compression of the exhaust steam in the cylinder on the return of the piston ; the
cushioning action of this steain will absorb the momentum of the moving parts and
so keep the connecting rod and brasses close on the crank pin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a single acting steam engine, a frame or casing situated between the cylinder
and the bed or base, or forming part of the base, and provided with doors or covers
such as 5. 5. which can be removed to give access to the stuffing boxes of the piston
and valve rods, substantially as described and shewn.

page_text: 2. In a single acting engine a tubular crosshead guide formed within the frame or
casing, and provided with holes through which lubricant is splashed by the crank,
substantially as described and shown.
3. In a single acting steam engine a sleeve valve situated in the passage leading
from the acting to the idle end of the cylinder, and admitting the passage of steam
through itself while its periphery commands the exhaust passage substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
4. In a compound single acting steam engine the combination with two piston
valves, one for the high pressure and one for the low pressure cylinder, of a sleeve
valve admitting the passage of steam through itself while its periphery commands the
exhaust passage from the low pressure cylinder substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
5. The combination with equilibrium valve 24, of rod 32, lever 31, and spindle 30,
all enclosed within the hanging sleeve and box Z in both of which water of
condensation accumulates substantially as and for the purpose described.
.
6. The improved single acting steam engine constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
7. The improved compound single acting steam engine, constructed, arranged,
and operating substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.
NOEL CHANDLER.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.