Improvements in Compound Steam Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894n
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Steam Engines.
We HENRY WOOD and NORMAN MACBETH both of the Victoria Foundry,
Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
.
Our invention relates to compound or multiple expansion engines and more
particularly to engines of the vertical type.
In the case of a triple expansion engine we mount the three cylinders with their
axes in one plane at right angles with the axis of the crank shaft. The central
cylinder is or may be vertical and be mounted directly above the crank shaft. On
each side of this central cylinder we mount a cylinder having an inclined axis.
The connecting rod of the central cylinder takes hold of the crank pin of a crank
on the crank shaft. The outer end of each connecting rod of the outside cylinders
is jointed to the head of the central connecting rod which is provided with a pin or
a bearing for a pin upon each side. The said head may be formed with jaws
to receive the ends of the two connecting rods or the said ends may be formed with
jaws. We may arrange less or more than three cylinders in line.
In the case of two cylinders the axes of both cylinders would be inclined and the
connecting rod of one cylinder would be jointed to the head of the connecting rod of
the other cylinder. When arranging four cylinders in line the connecting rod ends
of three of the cylinders may be jointed to the head of the connecting rod of the
fourth cylinder or two central cylinders may be coupled to one cross-head. The
axes of all of the cylinders would by preference radiate from the axis of the crank
shaft. The cylinders would by preference have "Corliss" valves all disposed on
the same side of the combination so as to be readily accessible.
Dated this 20th dow of Dreamber 1902
o, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.
.:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compound Steam Engines.
We HENRY WOOD and NORMAN MACBETH both of the Victoria Foundry,
Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, 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 and accompanying
drawings:-
Our invention relates to compound- or multiple cylinder expansion engines and
more particularly to engines of the vertical type.
In the case of a triple expansion engine we mount the three cylinders with their
axes in one plane at right angles with the axis of the crank shaft.
On each side of the central cylinder we mount a cylinder having an inclined axis.
The connecting rod of the central cylinder takes hold of the crank pin of a crank
[Price &d.]

page_text: on the crank shaft. The outer end of each connecting rod of the outside cylinders
is jointed to the head of the central connecting rod which is provided with a pin, or
a bearing for a pin, upon each side.
The said head may be formed with jaws to receive the ends of the two connecting
rods or the said ends may be formed with jaws. We may arrange less or more than
three cylinders with their axes in the same plane.
In the case of two cylinders the axes of both cylinders would be inclined and the
connecting rod of one cylinder would be jointed to the head of the connecting rod
of the other cylinder. When arranging four cylinders in line, the connecting rod
ends of three of the cylinders may be jointed to the head of the connecting
rod of the fourth cylinder, or two central cylinders may be coupled to one cross-
head.
The axes of all of the cylinders would by preference radiate from the axis of the
crank shaft.
To render our invention clearly understood we will now proceed to describe
the same more fully with the assistance of the annexed sheet of illustrative
drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a triple expansion engine constructed in accordance
with our invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
We mount the three cylinders a, b and c above the crank shaft d, and with their
axes in the same plane (see Fig. 2).
The central high pressure cylinder a is arranged vertically and directly over the
crank shaft d. The second expansion cylinder b is arranged on the right hand side
of the central cylinder a and has its axis inclined, so that if prolonged the axial line
would pass through the centre of the crank shaft as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
On the left hand side of the central cylinder a is situated the third expansion
cylinder chaving its axis inclined towards the centre of the crank shaft in a
manner similar to the cylinder b. The connecting rod e of the central cylinder a
engages with the crank pin f of the crank g in the usual manner.
The connecting rods and i of the cylinders b, c are jointed by means of pins
to the butt of the connecting rod e, the latter being formed at the butt with jaws e
to carry the pins e and receive the heads of the connecting rods h, i; or the
connecting rods h, i might be formed with jaws to lay hold of snugs or projections
on the butt of the connecting rod e.
Thus the united power of the three cylinders is brought to bear upon the crank
pin and crank g.
The cylinders a, b and c as shown in the illustrated example are fitted with
"Corliss" valves marked k k &c.
We may however use the ordinary slide or piston or any other suitable form of
valves, as the essential of our improvements does not relate to the valves or their
disposition.
The illustrated type of engine constitutes a compact and economical arrangement.
The crank has no dead points and by the union of the parts, smooth and effective
working is secured.
Although we have illustrated a triple cylinder engine it will be understood that
we may arrange less or more than three cylinders with their axes in the same plane,
the parts being suitably arranged in accordance with the circumstances.
For example in the case of two cylinders, the axes of both cylinders would
be inclined to the centre of the crank shaft and the connecting rod of one cylinder
would be jointed to the head of the connecting rod of the other cyliuder in
the manner already described and illustrated.
When arranging four cylinders in line, that is with their axes in the same plane,
the connecting rod ends of three of the cylinders may be jointed to the head of the
connecting rod of the fourth cylinder or two central piston rods may be coupled to
one cross-head. Our invention is not confined to the vertical types of engine as it
is also applicable to the horizontal, superposed or diagonal arrangements.

page_text: 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. In multiple cylinder engines having their cylinders arranged radially to the
centre of the crank shaft, coupling the connecting rod of one of the cylinders
directly to the crank pin and jointing the connecting rods of the remaining cylinders
to the head or butt of the directly coupled connecting rod, substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
our improved compound or multiple expansion engine substantially as described and
as shown in the drawings.
Dated this 28th dox of Santambor 120,1
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.