Improvements in Steam and other Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1890-Accepted, 26th Sept.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Engines.
I, CHARLES EDWARD BASEVI of 13 Pittville Lawn, Cheltenham Hon. Colonel
in H.M.'s Land Forces do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
fellows:-
My invention consists in returning steam to the boiler after it has done its work
in the cylinder by compressing the steam either in the same cylinder or a subsidiary
cylinder or cylinders, into a considerably smaller volume than that at which it first
entered the cylinder, and then allowing it to return to the boiler by its own clastic
force: the steam being superheated & kept in this condition during the above process
by ordinary methods. I regulate the supply of steam from the boiler to the cylinder
and its return direct to the boiler, or thro' the subsidiary cylinder or cylinders to the
boiler, by necessary valves so constituted to open and close that the steam shall not
be allowed to return to the boiler until after compression.
(2) 1 claim by this mechanical arrangement of cylinders and valves to effect.great,
economy, as the lateral heat of the steam is conserved.
(3) Liquids, other than water may be used in the boiler instead of water.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Engines.
I CHARLES EDWARD BASEVI of 13 Pittville Lawn, Cheltenhamn in the County of
Gloucester, Honorary Colonel in Her Majesty's Land Forces, 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 for improvements in steam and other engines has for its object to
construct an engine in which the latent heat of the steam or other gas employed to
propel the piston of the said engine is not completely lost or wasted, and consists in
returning the said steam or other gas to the boiler after it has done its work in the
cylinder by compressing it into a considerably smaller volume, and to a higher pressure
than that at which it entered the cylinder and then connecting the space it occupies
to the boiler, so that it returns on account of its superior pressure. The steam or gas
may be superheated in any convenient manner after leaving the boiler and may be
used either expansively or not as desired.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shows. the cylinder of an engine constructed
to work, according to this invention.
In this arrangement the steam or other gas is compressed previous to its return to
the boiler in the same cylinder in which it does its work. The piston. A works in the
cylinder B, the length of which is about three times the length of the stroke of the
piston A, so that a clearance space equal to the stroke of the piston is left at each end
of the cylinder B. The cylinder is provided with two steain chests Cone at each
end, in each of which works a slide valve D. The valves D are connected to a single
valve rod E worked by an eccentric on the main shaft of the engine or in any other
convenient manner. The steam or other gas from the boiler is admitted to the valve
chests by the pipe F. Between the boiler and the valve chests any suitable apparatus
may be placed for superheating the steam or other gas. Each stean chest Cis
provided with a port and passage H leading to the corresponding end of the cylinder
IP Rd1

page_text: and controlled by the valve D. The valves D are adjustable on the valve rod E
by means of the lock nuts L so that they can readily be set in the proper positions.
Blow off cocks are provided at each end of the cylinder.
The valves are shown arranged to cut off at the end of the stroke, but by suitably
adjusting their position and that of the eccentric the cut off may be varied and the
steam or other gas used expansively to any desired degree.
The whole of the cylinder, steam chests, and a part of the steam pipe are sur-
rounded by a casing I in which heated air or steam circulates for the purpose of
retaining the heat in the steam or other gas employed.
The operation of the engine is as follows:-Supposing the piston to be at the left
hand end of its stroke, both valves D will just cover the ports of the passage II, and
on starting the engine in the proper direction, steam or other gas will be admitted
and will propel the piston to the end of that stroke when it is cut off and admitted
to the other side of the piston which then makes is return stroke compressing the gas
which previously filled about two-thirds of the cylinder into the clearance space at the
end of the cylinder or about one-third of the cylinder. It will be seen that at the end
of this return stroke, the compressed gas is put in communication with the boiler
through the valve D which also admits any further quantity of gas necessary to force
the piston to complete its next or third stroke, and so on.
It will readily be understood that the gas may be compressed in a separate cylinder
or cylinders without departing from the nature of tliis invention and that water,
petroleum, ether, or other suitable fluid may be employed in the boiler.
Instead of the reciprocating engine described above I may employ a rotary engine
of any suitable construction.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent a transverse vertical section, and a vertical longitudinal
section respectively of a rotary engine constructed according to this invention.
A cylinder J mounted on a shaft K working in bearings L has secured on its
periphery at diametrically opposite points the two angled wings M, N, extending
through its whole length and fitting cylinder O.
The annular space between the two cylinders J, O, is divided into three equal com-
partments P, Q, R, by the three sliding partitions or valves S, T, U, which are
normally pressed against the periphery of the cylinder J by the springs V, but which,
on the rotation of cylinder J are displaced by the angled wings M, N, thus allowing
the said wings to pass from one compartment to another.
The ends of the cylinder O are closed by covers W in which the bearings L are
formed.
Steam is led from the boiler through the main steam pipe X and the branches Y
to the different compartments, and the whole is enclosed in an outer cylinder or
casing Z in which hot air or steam circulates to form a jacket for the steam pipes
and working cylinder.
The mode of action is as follows:-
Steam being turned on enters the three compartments P, Q, R, at once through the
pipes X, Y. The steam enclosed in the compartiment P has no action, but that entering
the compartments Q, R, force the wings M, N, in the direction of the arrow, and the
shaft commences to revolve, when the angled side of the wing M coming in contact
with the base of the valve S raises it and passes into the next compartment P, the
motion being continued partly by the inertia of the cylinder J and partly by the steam
pressure on the wing N.
The valve S being now closed by the spring V, the wing M which is in the
comparment P filled with steam, continues its motion, the steam between the wing M
and the valve T being compressed into a smaller volume and higher pressure by
this action until the wing M lifts the valve T and equilibrium is restored.
similar action takes place with wing N as it passes into and through the com-
partment Q.
A
Instead of the valves S, T, U, being raised by the wings M, N, I may actuate them
by means of cams on the shaft K.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1° The method of working steam and other engines consisting in returning the
steam or other gas to the boiler after it has done its work in the cylinder by com-
pressing it into a considerably smaller volume and to a higher pressure than that
at which it entered the cylinder and then connecting the space it occupies to the
boiler snbstantially as described.
2° The arrangement of steam engines substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 92nd day of July 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.