Improvements in Steam and other Engines, also applicable to Pumps and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Engines, also applicable to Pumps
and the like.
A communication by ANTOINE PIERREZ, of Haubourdin, in the Republic of
France, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This improved system of engine which forms the object of this invention, has for
its aim the entire utilisation of the force that the motive or resistant fluid (steam,
gas, liquid, et cetera) exerts on the pressure surfaces, arranged in such a way as to
counterbalance, at the same time, the action that they transmit or receive.
Taking as an example an engine with one cylinder and one piston, there is in
this improved arrangement a change in the physical condition of the fixed surfaces
which are the cylinder covers in ordinary engines so that these surfaces follow the
back and forward movement of the piston. Consequently in motors or driving
machines the motive fluid entering between the two surfaces, separates them one
from another in an opposite direction, in order to simultaneously transmit such
movements to the driving shaft; and in resisting machines, such as suction pumps,
the fluid is drawn between the two surfaces, when they separate one from another
in order to be forced out when they are approached, the double back and forward
movement being produced by the crank shaft. In all old patterns on the contrary
one of these two surfaces is alone movable and in engines with a fixed cylinder, the
force developed by the fluid between the fixed cover of the cylinder and the piston
is transmitted longitudinally on the one hand to the cylinder itself, and on the other
hand by the piston to the main shaft or its bearings so that the action of the fluid
against the fixed surface on which it presses is not only completely lost, as regards
a return, since it is not transmitted to the shaft, but also the drawing force
exercised in this particular on these parts necessitates a solid anchorage and
consequently expensive and bulky foundations, such as are at present employed.
On the other hand, by changing the physical condition of these surfaces in such
a way that they are displaced under the action of the fluid in an opposite direction
to that of the piston, their power is equally transmitted to the driving shaft in
addition to that of the piston, consequently not only the cylinder and the supports
have no longer to support any of the drawing action, and no longer is it necessary
to have the above named anchorage, but also the force exerted on the driving shaft
is doubled by this means and the useful return is increased.
The above named change in the physical condition of the surfaces at present
fixed in engines may be realised by various modes of construction, some of which
are shown as an example in the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 being an elevation partly in section of an engine with a cylinder
having a back and forward motion;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of same;
Figure 3 represents its duplication as a tandem engine :

page_text: Figure 4 is a horizontal section of an arrangement in which the movable surfaces
are pistons replacing the cylinder covers.
Figure 5 is a modification of this system;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the driving shaft of this modification.
Proceeding on the principle of transmitting the back and forward movement to
the surfaces at present fixed, which in this case are the cylinder cover or covers
according as it is a question of a single or double acting engine, the cylinder in its
entirety is arranged in such a way as to move backward and forwards in an inverse
direction to the piston as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which a suitable frame B is
held on supports S simply bolted to the ground. The cylinder C travels longi-
tudinally in suitable slides G, and the driving shaft A. has three cranks of equal
radius, the middle one M' of which is placed diametrically opposite to the two
others M M. On the centre crank M', there is attached in the usual manner the
connecting rod B' of the piston rod P, whilst to the two external cranks M² M² the
two crank rods B2 B2 are attached, the opposite extremities of these crank rods
being hinged directly to suitable lugs formed on the external casing of the cylinder.
It will therefore be evident that if the piston pushes the crank M in one direction,
the cylinder itself will be drawn in an opposite direction, the cranks M² M'
concentrating on the shaft to assist its rotation. In order that the slide valve may
exactly follow all the positions of the cylinder as regards the piston, the eccentric E
which actuates it and which transmits to it the ordinary movement, is keyed on a
trunnion of one of the cranks M³, whilst the other itself may have, as usual, a
pulley for driving the regulator by means of a belt, or even any other suitable
regulating apparatus. An engine constructed on this plan may be easily made
a double one, by arranging two cylinders C C in tandemn, the pistons P P of which
cylinders are directly connected with one another, and each supplied by two
valves T T also connected to a common rod as is shown in Figure 3, the other
mechanism remaining the same as in Figures 1 and 2. Instead of employing as
movable surfaces the cylinder covers themselves, these covers may be replaced by
two pistons combined with the ordinary piston. In this modification which is
shown as an example in Figure 4, the cylinder is fixed in its place on the frame. It
has no cover; and its sole function is to encase the pistons. In this example, the
ordinary piston P2 has two rods which pass in suitable packings through the front
external piston P¹ and may be attached to the crank rods of the cranks M² M²,
whilst the front piston is attached to the rear piston P³ by a centre rod which
traverses the inside piston, and is connected to the crank rod of the central crank M',
the slide valve T and the other parts being operated as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
It must be noted that, in the two arrangements hereinbefore described, the
central piston is double acting whilst the coverers or outer pistons are only single
acting.
The arrangement of three pistons may also be applied to a fixed cylinder with
cover, as shown in Figure 5. In principle the arrangement is the same but it is
more complicated in that two slide valves must be employed, because in this
modification the outer pistons are double acting like the central one. Nevertheless
a single slide valve only may be employed if the orifices are arranged in such a
way as to alternately communicate with the external and internal orifices, that is
to say, with P, and 12 with 1. Further, as, in this case, the surfaces of the two
outer pistons act simultaneously in competition with the surfaces of the single
internal piston, it is necessary also in view of equalising the powers transmitted to
the driving shaft to change the relationship between the cranks, it becoming
necessary for those of the inside piston to have a radius double that of the outside
ones in view of the doubling of their surfaces in proportion to that of the central
piston (Figure 6).
It may be noted that, in engines constructed on this new system, there may be
added to the advantages resulting from the concentration of all the force of the
fluid on the driving shaft further all those advantages arising from a rational
expansion such as is produced in the engines at present employed, by suitable

page_text: mechanisms, the distribution being able to be done either by slide valve or throttle
valve.
The same principle and all the arrangements berein before enumerated, may be
employed for producing the oscillation in a contrary direction of a system of
parallel or oblique balance lever, situated in the same plane or not, which allows
it to be used for operating tools driven by pressure or that of cylinders with .
opposed movable surfaces having a resisting action or even for setting in operation
a rotary shaft.
בד
Improvements in Steam and other Engines, also applicable to Pumps
and the like.
A communication by ANTOINE PIERREZ, of Haubourdin, in the Republic of
France, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 improved system of engine which forms the object of this invention, has
for its aim the entire utilisation of the force that the motive or resistant .Auid
(steam, gas, liquid, et cetera) exerts on the pressure surfaces, arranged in such a
way as to counterbalance, at the same time, the action that they transmit or
receive.
Taking as an example an engine with one cylinder and one piston, there is in
this improved arrangement a change in the physical condition of the fixed surfaces
which are the cylinder covers in ordinary engines, so that these surfaces follow the.
back and forward movement of the piston. Consequently in motors or driving.
machines the motive fluid entering between the two surfaces, separates them one
from another in an opposite direction, in order to simultaneously transmit such
movements to the driving shaft; and in resisting machines, such as suction pumps,
the fluid is drawn between the two surfaces, when they separate one from another.
in order to be forced out when they are approached, the double back and forward,
movement being produced by the crank shaft. In all old patterns on the contrary
one of these two surfaces is alone movable and in engines with a fixed cylinder, the
force developed by the fluid between the fixed cover of the cylinder and the piston
is transmitted longitudinally on the one band to the cylinder itself, and on the
other hand by the piston to the main shaft or its bearings, so that the action of the
fluid against the fixed surface on which it presses is not only completely lost, as
regards a return, since it is not transmitted to the shaft, but also the drawing force.
exercised in this particular on these parts necessitates a solid anchorage and
consequently expensive and bulky foundations, such as are at present employed.
On the other hand, by changing the physical condition of these surfaces in such
a way that they are displaced under the action of the fluid in an opposite direction
to that of the piston, their power is equally transmitted to the driving shaft iu
addition to that of the piston, consequently not only the cylinder and the supports
have no longer to support any of the drawing action, and no longer is it necessary.

page_text: to have the above named anchorage, but also the force exerted on the driving shaft
is doubled by this means and the useful return is increased.
The above named change in the physical condition of the surfaces at present
fixed in engines may be realised by various modes of construction, some of which
are shown as an example in the drawings accompanying the Provisional
Specification :
Figure 1 being an elevation partly in section of an engine with a cylinder having
a back and forward motion :
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of same:
Figure 3 represents its duplication as a tandem engine:
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of an arrangement in which the movable surfaces
are pistons replacing the cylinder covers:
Figure 5 is a modification of this system:
Figure 6 is a plan view of the driving shaft of this modification.
Further modifications are also shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 7 is a transverse section of a peculiar arrangement for the admission and
emission of steam in this class of machine :
Figure 8 is a partial elevation:
Figure 9 is a plan view partly in section showing, as does
Figure 10, which represents a similar arrangement, a means for rendering the
expansion variable by means of governors:
Figure 11 shows in side elevation the application of the invention to oscillating
engines.
Proceeding on the principle of transmitting the back and forward movement
to the surfaces at present fixed, which in this case are the cylinder cover or
covers according as it is a question of a single or double acting engine, the
cylinder in its entirety is arranged in such a way as to move backwards and
forwards in an inverse direction to the piston as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in
which a suitable frame B is held on supports S simply bolted to the ground.
The cylinder C travels longitudinally in suitable slides G and the driving shaft A
has three cranks of equal radius, the middle one M¹ of which is placed diametrically
opposite to the two others M2 M2. On the centre crank M', there is atttched in
the usual manner the connecting rod B' of the piston P, whilst to the two external
cranks M2 M² the two crank rods B2 B2 are attached, the opposite extremities of
these crank rods being hinged directly to suitable lugs formed on the external
casing of the cylinder. It will therefore be evident that if the piston pushes the
crank M' in one direction, the cylinder itself will be drawn in an opposite direction,
the cranks M2 M2 concentrating all the power of the fluid in the cylinder on the
shaft to assist its rotation. In order that the slide valve may exactly follow all
the positions of the cylinder as regards the piston, the eccentric E which actuates
it and which transmits to it the ordinary movement, is keyed on a trunnion of one
of the cranks M2, whilst the other itself may have, as usual, a pulley for driving
the regulator by means of a belt, or even any other suitable regulating apparatus.
An engine constructed on this plan may be easily made a double one, by arranging
two cylinders CC in tandem, the pistons P P of which cylinders are directly
connected with one another, and each supplied by two valves T T also connected to
a common rod as is shown in Figure 3, the other mechanism remaining the same as
in Figures 1 and 2. Instead of employing as movable surfaces the cylinder
covers themselves, these covers may be replaced by two pistons combined with
the ordinary piston. In this modification which is shown as an example in
Figure 4, the cylinder is fixed in its place on the frame. It has no cover, and
its sole function is to encase the pistons. In this example, the ordinary piston P
has two rods which pass in suitable packings through the front external piston P
and may be attached to the crank rods of the cranks M2 M2, whilst the front piston
is attached to the rear piston P³ by a centre rod which traverses the inside piston,
and is connected to the crank rod of the central crank M', the slide valve T and
the other parts being operated as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It must be noted

page_text: that in the two arrangements hereinbefore described, the central piston is double
acting, whilst the coverers or outer pistons are only single acting.
The arrangement of three pistons may also be applied to a fixed cylinder with
cover, as shown in Figure 5. In principle the arrangement is the same but it is
more complicated in that two slide valves must be employed, because in this
modification the outer pistons are double acting like the central one. Neverthe-
less a single slide valve only may be employed if the orifices are arranged in
such a way as to alternately communicate with the external and internal orifices,
that is to say, with 1, and with . Further, as, in this case, the surfaces
of the two outer pistons act simultaneously in competition with the surfaces of
the single internal piston, it is necessary also in view of equalising the powers
transmitted to the driving shaft to change the relationship between the cranks, it
becoming necessary for those of the inside piston to have a radius double that
of the outside ones in view of the doubling of their surfaces in proportion to that
of the central piston (Figure 6).
As in the pattern with alternating cylinder, irregularities of pressure will be
produced in the feed pipe which must be in two parts telescoping one into the
other, and which will consequently lengthen and shorten; this inconvenience is
obviated by making the openings in the cylinder for the admission and emission
travel on elongated passages constantly fed with steam at the same pressure. This
arrangement is shown in section in Figure 7, the passages e el being arranged in the
frame B open above and covered by the base of the cylinder. In this way the
pressure there is always cqual and the admission and emission may take place when
the cylinder ports are uncovered by the slide and thus correspond with these
passages. Figure 8 shows the middle position, and Figure 9 one of the extreme
positions of the cylinder relative to the tabe r. The same arrangement is applied
to oscillating machines of the kind in which the admission and emission takes place
by means of hollow trunnions r¹, Figure 11. It may be said that this form of
construction is the simplest of all patterns.
In order that the slide valves may be operated as in an ordinary engine whilst
following all the movements of the cylinder, the main eccentric is keyed in the
desired position on the trunnion of the crank, and in order to place the admission
of steam under the control of the governor, the latter is caused to act on another
smaller eccentric or cam e so as to throw this eccentric more or less to one side or
the other according to the movement of the governor, thus causing the expansion
valve d which travels with the slide valves, to have its movement therewith
checked by its projections or pins t encountering said eccentric whilst the valve s
still travels on its course, by which means the size of the admission ports (Figures 9
and 10) is either increased or decreased as the case may be. This eccentric e may
be operated by the governor, either by levers directly, or by means of bevel gear,
as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. In motor engines of all patterns, the changing of the physical condition of
the fixed pressure surfaces into pressure surfaces having a back and forward
movement in a contrary direction to that of the piston, and the transmission of
their action to the driving shaft in addition to the action of the piston either for
motor engines employing any kind of fluid for producing power, or vice versa, for
machines resisting the motive force by the said surfaces or fluid to which the action
is applied.
2. In view of the change in the physical condition of the fixed pressure surfaces
described in Claim 1, the form of construction consisting in connecting the cylinder
to the driving shaft and in thus causing it to describe a back and forward move-
ment concurrently with the piston, either by means of suitable slides, or by means
of a centre of oscillation substantially as described and illustrated.

page_text: 3. In view of the change in the physical condition of the fixed pressure surfaces.
described in Claim 1, the replacement of the cylinder covers by two external
pistons guided as well as the interior piston in a cylindrical casing substantially as
described and illustrated.
4. The modification of the three piston arrangement described in Claim 3,
consisting in their working in a closed and fixed cylinder substantially as described
and illustrated.
5. The form of construction of one of the arrangements hereinbefore described
consisting in connecting the opposed surfaces with a system of balance beam, the
oscillating movement in a contrary direction of the balance being capable of
utilisation for producing any suitable work substantially as described and
illustrated.
6. The form of construction of the invention as an oscillating engine, the
admission and emission being effected by means of trunnions carrying the frame
substantially as described and illustrated.
7. The arrangement of inlet and outlet passages with elongated openings in such
a way that the ports of the cylinder are in constant communication with them in
all their positions without causing inequalities of pressure substantially as described
and illustrated.
8. The keying of the eccentric on the trunnion of the crank in order to operate
the slide apart from the alternating movements of the cylinder and the governing
of the steam admission by the governor by means of an additional eccentric or cam
in combination with pins on the expansion valve substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of November 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.