IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND APPLICATION OF STEAM ENGINES, FOR THE BETTER MEANS OF TRANSMITTING MOTION AND CONVERSION OF MOTION, AND OF APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert James Mary'on at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th February 1855.
I, ROBERT JAMES, MARY'ON, of No. 87, York Road, Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND
APPLICATION OF STEAM ENGINES, FOR THE BETTER MEANS OF TRANSMITTING MOTION
AND CONVERSION OF MOTION, AND OF APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows,
consists of,-
Firstly, an improvement which I effect by the construction of oval coupled
or connected pistons to act in concert with my previously patented improved
action of motion, which will be found in the first section of a Patent
granted to me on the 18th day of July 1854, in
Her Majesty's
reign, and which said action of motion I do call my coupled piston pressure
rotato-reciprocating action engine. Now, this improved construction of my
application of oval coupled pistons is to act in lieu of circular pistons to work
my previous patent action, which I have experimentally applied, and I find
that the form of oval coupled pistons is better for to work my action of motion,
by reason of the pistons elongated or deep rubbing surface will better suit the
working of the rotatory agent or agents of motion, which I have applied to
obtain my said action of motion in my previous Patent, such as the crank,

page_text: eccentric, or cam (which I apply to a shaft, or constructed thereto, forged in
a solid at suitable angle or angles, as is usual, to make or apply to suit old
machinery purposes). I therefore wish it to be plainly understood that I now
apply oval coupled pistons (in lieu of circular to work within an oval chamber
or chambers (in lieu of my cylindrical), for the better means of transmitting
the rectilinear action of my coupled pistons pressure, to better convert the
same into or unto rotatory action of movement of shaft or shafting, and I
apply this my improved coupled oval piston pressure rotato-reciprocating action
for the better construction of stationary, locomotive, or marine engines.
Secondly, to the pistons rubbing surfaces I apply hardened metal rollers or
any suitable guides, formed wrought in the solid, or bolted across the pistons
surfaces, to receive working pressure blocks, and I apply to the centre of my
coupled pistons swivel radius or ball socket pressure blocks, which may be
lined with suitable hardened metal or metals or brasses. I, to supplant wear,
apply pistons which may be drawn together by four coupling rods, with a left
and right hand cut thread screw at ends fitting the taped bosses of the pistons,
and consequently easily adjusted by a wrench; thus the pressure blocks will
be brought in contact with the periphery of any rotatory agent that I may
apply. The swivel pressure blocks I apply when I work an eccentric, cam, or
crank is of a curve, to fit the rotatory agents periphery, and the piston radius
guide centre is of a semi V form to fit the swivel pressure guide blocks; thus
as my coupled piston forces alternately at the eccentric, the eccentric will adjust
the swivel pressure blocks working at the pistons centre surface; the pressure
swivel or guide blocks may be bedded to work on hardened rollers fitted in the
pistons, applied between the swivel block and piston; and these guide pressure
blocks and compressed swivel curved blocks for to obtain a centre pressure
and equilibrate the coupled pistons action rectilinear, and supplant wear or
indentation of the periphery of the rotatory agent, constitute my second
section of my improvement.
Thirdly, I construct my coupled oval pistons with packing, gasket, or elastic
or fatty and metallic, and to prevent leakage I cause the packing or packings
to become expanded by steam pressure (in addition to the usual means); I
construct by forming on the steam-acting sides of the pistons an inclined
flange, to act in concert with an inclined flange formed in the piston channel
or packing groove, and a little loose spring being left when packed between
the flange and the packing, the steam pressure will tighten the packing by
pressure on my incline piston flange, and this I arrange so as to recoil slightly
on the exhaust of the pressure, or to be kept in that compressed position by
means of palling the flange from any recoil by suitable catches or nips, (and

page_text: I apply any kind of fatty, or elastic, or gasket, or metallic packing); and this
steam-expanding packing constitutes my third section of my improvement.
Fourthly, I construct my coupled oval pistons of wrought and cast metals
combined as one, by bolting or screwing such equivalent connections; the
bosses and periphery of the pistons I cast, and the rubbing or contact pressure
centre part of my pistons I construct of wrought metal, to better contend
against the force exerted by the steam pressure while working my piston
against the rotatory agent while transmitting motion of the rectilinear action
of my improved coupled oval piston pressure rotato-reciprocating acting
engine or engines, which I apply horizontally, vertically, or diagonally for
screw or paddle propulsion, or the main driving wheels or coupled driving
wheels of locomotives, inside the wheels, to work eccentrics or cams or cranks,
formed in the solid with the axle shaft or applied thereto, and to stationary
engines for pumping and driving machinery of every class for working shaft-
ing; and this constitutes my fourth section of improvement.
Fifthly, the fifth section of my said improvements in steam engines has
reference to an important improvement in working out to better advantage my
said previously patented action of motion of my coupled piston pressure,
granted to me as herein-before stated, which will be found in the first section
of my said Patent, filed on the 18th day of January 1855, which said action
of motion of my coupled piston pressure engine I practically find would be
much better if my coupled pistons' strain of steam force could equalize their
pressure when in contact with any of the rotatory agents of motion I employed
and applied to effect a rotatory action of motion which receive the pressure
imparted from my coupled pistons in a tangent line when on the half stroke,
or when rising or falling above or below the centre line of my coupled piston's
pressure, which said imperfection I supplant and remedy by the following
construction of and application of a second rotatory agent of motion, acting
in one chamber or coupled chambers as an equivalent to one chamber; thus
it will be clearly seen that these plural rotatory agents will serve to more
equalize or equilibrate the pressure of my improved coupled oval, or my
previous patent coupled circular piston's pressure, while working through the
arc of which the rotatory agents of motion describe, and consequently will
when on the half stroke form or assume two distinct tangent lines, or
eccentric right lines, and when on the top or bottom stroke, or what is
commonly called the dead centre of motion, assume one concentric right
line; and to effect the working and application of these plural rotatory
agents of motion I apply the one eccentric or cam agent in the solid forged
with the main driving shaft, and the other eccentric or cam rotatory agent

page_text: of motion with a hollow boss or shaft, forming this boss or shaft hole
throughout, or recessed, or tubed up, as far as may be, necessary,.,to, suit
each particular purpose for which I may construct and apply this class of
engines; thus the rotatory agents will pass each other's centre in opposite
directions while rotating, which I construct to work separate disconnected to
work disconnected auxiliary shafting or connecting and disconnecting shafting,
and apply these two rotatory agents of motion to gear sidewise together to
receive and transmit or convert my coupled piston's pressure rectilinear
into rotatory motion of shaft or shafting, and which I cause to pass or work
through the dead centres of motion by the agency of the usual fly. wheel, or
by rotatory agent or agents formed in the solid, with the shaft or hollow shaft-
ing, or applied at right angles, triangles, or any suitable angles as; is, usual
to counterbalance, I apply to act in concert with my coupled oval circular
piston's pressure action of motion herein-before, described, and I apply my
auxiliary disconnected hollow or tubular shafting to the working of air pumps,
and sometimes also to the working of the bilge and feed pumps, and some-
times also to the working of the valve rod or rods or links collectively, in
order to give all the work of the movement of the detail parts of the engine
or engines to my equalizing rotatory agent, which consists of an auxiliary
eccentric or cam or crank, which I apply to act in concert with the main
driving shaft rototary agent, which may consist of an eccentric or cam or
crank, as usual is forged solid entire with the shaft, and slotted out to lighten
the metal and to increase strength, and the eccentric or cam is by this means
obtained of a much greater throw, with comparatively a much less diameter;
to the periphery of the eccentric or cam may be applied a hardened metal
ring expanded thereon, or which may be made to work freely around the
agent's periphery as an anti-friction ring, which I construct to work within
flanges I form on each side of my guide pressure blocks; these blocks are
kept in postion by their piston pressure V guides, and so consequently the
pistons regulate my pressure blocks, and my pressure blocks regulate the
anti-friction ring to keep it in position, as the solid eccentric I use has not any
flanges; and this said auxiliary equalizing rotatory agent of motion to more
effectually retain the equilibrium of my coupled piston's pressure, as herein-
before given in detail, constitute my fifth section of my improvements.
Sixthly, I construct to work my action of motion by oval coupled steam
chambers, either cast or bolted together in a right line, with bearings formed
on each side of my oval chamber, or what may be better understood, is an oval
bored chamber, (in lieu of the usual cylindrical bore,) and therefore I call this
chamber an oval coupled piston pressure engine. I work my shaft at right

page_text: angles with the steam chambers between the coupled pistons, either in an open
space formed in the centre circumference body of the chambers, or by forming
stuffing glands on each side to work the shaft through, and I form a cap in
order to get in the shaft when I form a vacuum between my pistons by a
communicating passage from the centre of my chamber with the air pump;
thus, should there be any leakage of the pistons, it will not escape outside
the engine, and to work, which I apply the usual valve chest links to my
said engine or engines; I apply vertically, or diagonally, or horizontally, as
preferred; and which said construction of, as herein given, constitute my sixth
section of improvements.
Seventhly, when I apply this class of engines to screw propulsion, I arrange
the air pump or pumps vertically underneath my oval engine, inside the
condenser, and at a right angle with my oval engine. I bolt my engine to the
condenser, and which forms my engine's pedestal and framing; or in lieu of
this arrangement, I sometimes apply and work the air pumps diagonally
between my engines, and sometimes, in lieu of arranging or working my engines
horizontally, I work them vertically, bolting the engines to the condenser
pedestal, as herein-before given for screw propulsion; and when I apply this
class of engines to paddle wheel propulsion, I apply my coupled piston pressure
engines to the main driving shaft, or by connecting the main shaft by gearing
for speed or for power as may be found best, or by connecting rods to transmit
the motive power of my engine's driving shaft to the paddle shaft, as may be
preferred. When I apply this class of coupled oval piston engines to locomotive
engines, I apply my steam engine chambers to the main driving shaft or axle
of the driving wheels, close to the wheels inside the centre wheels, to clear or
suit the bilge of the boiler; and I work the valve link motion either before
or abaft the steam chambers. I construct the axle driving shaft with the solid
eccentrics or cams, or cranks, as rotatory agents of motion working in the
centre of my improved oval steam chamber as herein-before stated, bolting my
oval cylindrical steam chamber to the fire or ash box; and the inlet steam
pipe or pipes or passages I form to pass from the doom down inside the boiler,
alongside the flue tubes, or by passing the pipe or pipes through the fire box
furnace to increase radiation of steam, while on its passage from the doom to
the working parts of the engine. I protect the steam passages or pipe or pipes
from burning, when the engine is not at work, by means of an outside or
double casing, admitting steam or fluid in the passage between the inside and
outside skins or casings of the working steam passages, and I apply the valve
chests vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, as best to suit each particular
construction of engine; and sometimes I apply my oval cylindrical engines to

page_text: the aftermost driving wheels of locomotives, which I apply in like manner as
herein given, with this difference, the steam chambers I apply inside the ash
or fire box, or partially under the engine driver's foot plate, which admits of
great facility to get at the working parts for repair, and also admits of keeping
the under part of the boiler bilge clear throughout; the outlet or exhaust pipes,
or tubes or passage, I construct inside the boiler on the bilge, as it is better
to keep the spent steam radiated, the water being warmer than the atmosphere.
A section may be formed in the ash box by a partition to insert my oval
cylindrical coupled piston pressure engines, while the heat of the fire box will
keep them warm, and thereby lessen condensation in working the steam; but
I reserve the right of applying my oval cylindrical cylinders outside any of the
locomotive wheels, and I apply, when suitable, the usual outside coupling
connecting rods to connect by end cranks; and I apply to my oval cylindrical
covers, screw caps, so as to get in a screw wrench to tighten up the piston's
elastic packings, as I double pack my pistons with gasket or any elastic fatty
packing, and also with metallic packing; and this class of oval cylindrical
coupled piston pressure steam power I apply to construct express, or tank,
or heavy, and every class of locomotive engine, as herein given, with all
modifications of my several applications of ny said oval piston engines, and the
construction of my oval cylindrical cast or connected chamber or chambers for
working my action of motion of oval coupled piston pressure constitutes my
seventh section of my improvements in steam engines for the better means of
transmitting and conversion of motion, and of applying steam power, (as I
dispense with the greater part of engines complication, and thereby cause much
diminution of engine room and expensive work.
Eighthly, I apply to construct and work my coupled piston pressure rotato-
reciprocating action of motion by the following means, (viz) in lieu of working
this action by coupled piston's pressure, I I work this action by coupled cylinder
pressure, or by coupled oval cylindrical engine or engine's pressure, by forming
a cross head pressure block (if a crank agent is used) across the cylinder, or
oval engine's solid or bolted cover, so that the coupled engines shall push and
pull alternately at the rotatory agent of motion; if an eccentric or cam shall
be used as a rotatory agent, I then use pressure blocks (as herein-before
described, applied to my coupled pistons), and form or bolt across the cylinder
cover or engine cover V guides to work my pressure blocks in contact with the
rotatory agent. This marked difference of this class of engine is, that in this
instance the chamber engine moves and works in guides, and works the rotatory
agent; while the piston or pistons are stationary, the steam is got in and out
the moving coupled cylinder or moving oval engine. I apply piston trunk pipes

page_text: to cach engine chamber to get in the steam, and exhaust through a packed
telescopic pipe passage; or in lieu of that plan, the steam may be got in and
out by telescopic pipes packed steam-tight, and which also serves as guides to
my moving coupled engine. The two engine pistons and cylinders, or equivalent,
may be coupled by connecting rods; these rods are passed under and over the
main shaft, and sometimes I construct, in addition to these coupling rods, two
gland coupling or connecting piston rods, passing under and over the main
shaft to steady the stationary coupled pistons, which also serve as guides to my
moving coupled cylinders or oval cylindrical engine. This constitutes my
eighth section of my improvements. (I will remark that I know travelling
moving oval and cylinder engines, for old action engines, and steam hammers
and experients have been constructed before; I therefore wish this to be
understood, that I do not claim the shape or form of bore, or of the trunk or
steam pipes, or of the travelling of the steam chamber); but I wish this to be
understood, that which I do set forth as my Invention is, my mode of appli-
cation for the improved construction of engines, either acting by coupled oval
pistons pressure, or by coupled oval or cylindrical steam chambers pressure,
for working rotatory agents, and as given herein-before and herewith, this
eighth section of my improvements.
Ninthly, I construct my coupled piston pressure tank engine locomotive with
a water tank in a right line with the ash and fire box extending to the front
of the engine; to effect this, I work the foremost four wheels axles shafts
through stuffing boxes or glands of any rubber or fatty or metallic elastic
packing; I cause to be galvanised that part of the axles shaft which works
inside my bed tank; or, in lieu of galvanising, they may be cased with anti-
corrottive metal or metals. This tank is bolted to the fire box and head front
of the engine, or to the boiler body; thus, for permanent way engines, this
application of my construction of locomotive gives more room in the tender or
tank tender by my reduction, by means of my under carriage of the water in
my improved coupled piston pressure tank locomotive for permanent way; and
this constitutes my ninth improvement of application.