IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Algernon Parsons, Richard Clere Parsons and
John Hawthorn Kitson of Airedale Foundry Leeds in the County of York
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENT INT STRAY AND ATHED
D DECIDE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Algernon Parsons,
Richard Clere Parsons and John Hawthorn Kitson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1882.
CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, RICHARD CLERE PARSONS and JOHN HAWTHORN
KITSON of Airedale Foundry Leeds in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM AND OTHER FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES"
Our invention relates to four cylinder engines of the kind described in the
Specification to Letters Patent granted to C. A. Parsons on the 15th June 1877
No 2344 and of the modified kind provided with rotating slide valve described in
the Specification to Letters Patent granted to C. A. Parsons on the 24th October
1878 N° 4266. Our present improvements in engines of this type relate chiefly to
the application thereto of an eccentrically rotating slide valve, to the construction
and arrangement of the pistons, cylinders and framing of the engine, to means of
packing and lubricating the joints and working parts, and arrangements for
varying the cut off in such engines and for working them as compound engines.
We make the fraining in the form of a casing approximately cylindrical with its
lower part forming a well for holding oil or lubricant and such water of con-
densation as may come from the exhaust. Within this casing the four cylinders
revolve on trunnions projecting inwardly from the ends of the casing, within
which trunnions are the eccentrically situated bearings for the crank shaft which
extends through packing to the outside of the casing so that either end of it may
be coupled to the machinery which the engine is intended to drive. On a trunnion
projecting inwards from one end of the casing and eccentric to the cylinder
trunnion we fit a circular slide which is free to rotate, and which by its eccentric
movement relatively to that of the cylinders governs four ports formed in a lateral
facing of the cylinders and leading to the outer ends of the four cylinders
respectively. This slide is so arranged that the pressure of the working fluid bearing
it against the cylinder facing is nearly equilibrated by means of a packing ring on

page_text: the back of the slide bearing against the inner face of the slide casing: Passages
for admission of the steam or working fluid are formed in the trunnion and lead
through a packing joint to passages in the cylinder casing either directly or
through passages in the eccentric slide to tho alide casing and the exhaust from the
cylinders passes into the interior of the engine casing whence it is carried off by n
discharge pipe. Instead of mounting the rotating slide on a stationary trunnion,
we in some cases make the slide with a boss fitting within the loop or eye of a rod
which can be moved Interally so as to vary the eccentricity of the slide and thus
the periods of the successive opening and closing of the cylinder ports can be varied,
so as to alter the cut off, or to stop or reverse the engine. We also sometimes
arrange the rotating slide with an annular cavity, and place the ports for a pair of
the cylinders at a radial distance from their axis of revolution different from that
of the ports for the other pair, so that the exhaust from the one pair can pass
through the annular cavity of the slide to supply the other pair which are of
larger diameter, the engine being thus worked as a compound engine. For packing
the passages through the trunnion to the passages in the casing or slide we employ
two pairs of packing rings. Each pair consists of an inner split ring and an outer
solid ring recessed to receive the split ring; the two pairs of rings are kept apart
by lugs and being pressed by the steam or working fluid longitudinally against the
internal faces of the trunnion passage and inwardly against the trunnion, form a
tight rotating joint. The two pistons of each pair of cylinders being rigidly
connected together and having between them a central bearing for the crank, wo
make them in two pieces jointed together across the middle of this bearing and
secured by two bolts one on each side of the bearing. For the purpose of
.lubricating the working parts we provide a pump which draws the lubricant or a
mixture of it with water from the well in the lower part of the engine casing and
forces it by pipes to the trunnions on which the cylinders and slide revolve and in
which are formed the bearings for the engine shaft, suitable holes being provided
for passage of the lubricant to the rubbing surfaces, and holes being bored obliquely
from the journals of the shaft to its cranks. The surplus lubricant with water of
.condensation finds its way to the well to be pumped over again. The well is
formed with an overflow passage projecting down nearly to the bottom so that the
water which sinks down under the oil or lighter lubricating liquid can pass away.
The level of liquid in the well is thus kept constant, the oil pump drawing from
the upper layer which is mostly oil. For working the oil pump we fit an eccentric
on one end of the cylinder casing, and by the side of this eccentric we fit another
eccentric set at about right angles to the former, to work a piston slide which acts
as valves for the oil pump. The casing is so shaped internally that the lubricant
is kept as much as possible clear of the current of exhaust, and a chamber may be
provided for deposit of lubricant from the exhaust and a passage for its return to
the well..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed-
by the said Charles Algernon Parsons, Richard Clere Parsons and John
Hawthorn Kitson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th April 1883.
CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, RICHARD CLERE PARSONS and JOHN HAWTHORN
KITSON of Airedale Foundry Leeds in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM AND OTHER FLUID PRESSURE. ENGINES "
Our invention relates to four cylinder engines of the kind described in the
Specification to Letters Patent granted to C. A. Parsons on the 15th June 1877
N° 2344 and of the modified kind provided with rotating slide valve described in
the Specification to Letters Patent granted to C. A. Parsons on the 24th October
1878 N° 4266. Our present improvements in engines of this type relate chiefly
to the application thereto of an eccentrically rotating slide valve, to the construction
and arrangement of the pistons, cylinders and framing of the engine, to means of
packing and lubricating the joints and working parts, and to arrangements for
varying the cut off in such engines and for working them as compound engines.
We make the framing in the form of a casing approximately cylindrical with its
lower part forming a well for holding oil or lubricant and such water of condensation
as may come from the exhaust. Within this casing the four cylinders revolve on
trunnions projecting inwardly from the ends of the casing, within which trunnions
are the eccentrically situated bearings for the crank shaft, which extends through
packing to the outside of the casing, so that either end of it may be coupled to the
machinery which the engine is intended to drive. On a trunnion projecting
inwards from one end of the casing and eccentric to the cylinder trunnion we fit.a
circular slide which is free to rotate, and which, by its eccentric movement
relatively to that of the cylinders, governs four ports formed in a lateral facing of
the cylinders and leading to the outer ends of the four cylinders respectively.
This slide is so arranged that the pressure of the working fluid, bearing it against
the cylinder facing, is nearly equilibrated by means of a packing ring on the back
of the slide bearing against the inner face of the slide casing. Passages for
admission of the steam or working fluid are formed in the trunnion and lead
through a packing joint to passages in the cylinder casing, either directly or
through passages in the eccentric slide to the slide casing, and the exhaust from the
cylinders passes into the interior of the engine casing whence it is carried off by a
discharge pipe. Instead of mounting the rotating slide on a stationary trunnion,
we, in some cases, make the slide with a boss fitting within the loop or eye of a
rod which can be moved laterally, so as to vary the eccentricity of the slide, and
thus the periods of the successive opening and closing of the cylinder ports can be
varied so as to alter the cut off, or to stop or reverse the engine. We also sometimes
arrange the rotating slide with an annular cavity, and place the ports for a pair of
the cylinders at a radial distance from their axis of revolution different from that
of the ports for the other pair, so that the exhaust from the one pair can pass through
the annular cavity of the slide to supply the other pair, which are of larger
diameter, the engine being thus worked as a compound engine. For packing the
passages through the trunnion to the passages in the casing or slide, we employ
two pairs of packing rings. Each pair consists of an inner split ring and an outer
solid ring recessed to receive the split ring; the two pairs of rings are kept apart
by lugs, and being pressed by the steam or working fluid longitudinally against
the internal faces of the trunnion passage, and inwardly against the trunnion, form
a tight rotating joint. The two pistons of each pair of cylinders being rigidly.
connected together, and having between them a central bearing for the crank, we.
make them in two pieces jointed together across the middle of this bearing and
secured by two bolts one on each side of the bearing. For the purpose of
lubricating the working parts, we provide a pump which draws the lubricant or
ra

page_text: mixture of it with water from the well in the lower part of the engine casing and
forces it, by pipes to the trunnions on which the cylinders and slide revolve, and
in which are formed the bearings for the engine shaft, suitable, holes being provided
for passage of the lubricant to the rubbing surfaces, and holes being bored
obliquely from the journals of the shaft to its cranks. The surplus lubricant, with
water of condensation finds its way to the well to be pumped over again. The
well is formed with an overflow passage projecting down noarly to the bottom,
so that the water which sinks down under the oil or lighter lubricating liquid can
pass away. The level of liquid in the well is thus kept constant, the oil pump.
drawing from the upper layer which is mostly oil. For working the oil pump, we
fit an eccentric on one end of the cylinder casing, and by the side of this eccentric
we fit another eccentric set at about right angles to the former, to work a piston
slide which acts as valves for the oil pump. The casing is so shaped internally
that the lubricant is kept as much as possible clear of the current of exhaust, and
a chamber may be provided for deposit of lubricant from the exhaust, and a passage
for its return to the well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS;
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a transverse section and Fig. 3 is a plan
of an engine according to our invention. A is the barrel which contains tho
four cylinders a, a, a, a, and rotates on the trunnions 6 and 6 which project
inwards from the casing. Behind the trunnion band on the same bracket with it
is a second trunnion eccentric to b¹, and on this the circular slide valve c is free to
rotate. In this valve are passages d d for the working fluid to the annular space o
whence it passes by the ports ffff to the four cylinders in succession. is a
packing ring on the back of the valve, bearing against the interior face of the
slide casing h. Figs. 5 and 6.shew to an enlarged scale a section and clevation of
the joint of this ring. It is made a little larger than the groove, cut obliquely as
shown,, and sprung into the groove. It is of advantage to make the facing h
against which the ring g bears, slightly bevilled so that as the ring revolves
eccentrically over it, there is a slight play to and fro, which keeps it from setting
fast and equalises wear. is a regulator valve worked by a governor determining
the supply of working fluid admitted by the passage to the interior of the
trunnion bracket b' whence it passes by radial openings to the passages d in
the slide valve. The openings are provided with packing rings as shewn to an
enlarged scale in longitudinal and transverse section at Figs
and 9.
The inner rings and are cut, so that they are expanded by the pressure, and
they are kept apart by projections so that there is free passage between them.
The outer rings and are not cut but are pressed against the shoulder of the
valve c and the shoulder of the valve cover c' respectively.
The two pistons m m for one pair of the cylinders, shewn in transverse section
at Fig. 4 are joined at the middle so as to embrace the crank and are held together
by a pair of bolts, is the crank shaft working in bearings in the trunnions bb',
and extending through stuffing boxes o o beyond the casing. 2 the lubricating
pump its piston valve are worked by eccentric rods rr, from eccentric sheaves
on the the cylinder barrel A. The lubricant passes through a strainers and
by a passage v to the casing of the valve q and is discharged through a passage t in
the pump casing leading to the oil pipes uu u by which it is conveyed. to the
trunnions, to lubricate the cylinders, and the bearings for these and for the shaft, and
the eccentrics, and by holes bored in the crank shaft to the crank pins. The
lubricant, after passing these bearings, finds its way to the inside of the cylinder
barrel whence it is discharged by holes into the casing, and, flows down to the
lubricant well w to be pumped over again. is an overflow pocket by which
water of condensation passes to the water well y, whence it is discharged.
The exhaust from the cylinders passing from the interior cavity of the valve o is
projected against the rotating discs. When the working fluid is steam, its impact.
against the diso separates from it such lubricant as it may carry with it. Thị

page_text: exhaust passes by passages A¹ to the well y and thence to the exhaust pipe B. C ist
a door in the side of the casing giving access to the lubricant strainer S. D is a
spring loaded valve to relieve the lubricant pipes of excessive pressure. E is a cock
through which the engine is supplied with fresh lubricant. F is a try cock
connected with the lubricant pipes uu u to test the action of the pump.
Fig. 7 shews a mode of varying the admission and exhaust by altering the
eccentricity of the rotating valve c. The valve in this case is fitted free to rotate
in the loop of an arm G which is pivotted to the casing at H, so that its position
may be varied laterally by a screw or otherwise worked from the outside of the
casing. In this arrangement the working fluid is led to the annular space e from
the packing rings through passages J formed in the cylinder barrel
Fig. 10 is a part longitudinal section and Fig. 11 a transverse section shewing an
arrangement for working the engine as a compound engine, the section being taken
through the high pressure cylinders K K which are in line with each other. In
this case, the working fluid, after having done work in the high pressure cylinders,
is discharged into an annular space L, formed in the valve, and thence it passes
alternately to the low pressure cylinders M. M, by ports N N. From the low
pressure cylinders, the fluid is exhausted into the tank as in the "simple" engine.
PP are the ports of the two high pressure cylinders: N N are the ports of the two
low pressure cylinders.
In both forms of engines the cylinders may be jacketted by an annular space Q,
Fig 10, which may be filled with non-conducting material or may be in communi-
cation with the working fluid. In this arrangement the discharged oil flows out
of the inner chamber R. through holes in the side of the cylinder barrel..
Although in Fig 10 we have shewn the valve c fitted in a loop G so that its
position can be altered, it might obviously be arranged for the compound engine on
a stationary trunnion as shewn in Fig 1 for the simple engine.
Having thus described the nature of our invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we claim in respect of four cylinder engines of the kind
above referred to:-
First. The use of a circular slide valve free to rotate on a stationary trunnion
eccentric to that on which the cylinder barrel revolves, substantially as herein
described with reference to Figs 1 and 2.
Second. Fitting the circular slide valve within a moveable loop, so that the
eccentricity of its axis of rotation can be varied, substantially as and for the purpose.
herein set forth with reference to Fig 7.
Third. The modified form of circular eccentric slide valve and arrangement of
the cylinder ports so as to work the engine as a compound engine, substantially as
described with reference to Figs 10 and 11.
Fourth. Constructing each pair of pistons in two parts bolted together and
embracing the crank at their junction, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 4.
Fifth. Packing the laterial passages from the trunnion by rings constructed and
arranged substantially as described with reference to Figs 8 and 9.
Sixth. The combination of oil and water well, oil pump, pipes and passages for
lubricating the working parts of the engine, substantially as herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said Richard Clere Parsons have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fourth day of April in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
K. C. PARSONS (L.S.)