Improvements in Means for Converting Reciprocating into Rotary Motion, and in the Application thereof to Steam and other Motor Fluid Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Converting Reciprocating into Rotary
Motion, and in the Application thereof to Steam and other
Motor Fluid Engines.
I, FRANCIS BRISTOW RAWES of 2 Fern Villas Norman Street, Leytonstone in
the County of Essex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanical or structural appliances for converting
reciprocating into rotary motion and which may for instance be employed for the
purpose of communicating motion from cylinder engine pistons to axles or shafts
and putting the latter into rotary motion.
One part of my invention consists in arranging the engine shaft inside the cylinder
or partly inside and partly outside and in providing means for rotating it from one
or more pistons.
Another part of my invention consists in a new form or construction of the
crank part of the shaft and of parts combined or connected therewith. Instead of
cranking or otherwise constructing the shaft with a cranked part having the shaft
discontinued at such part for allowing the connecting rod to work as heretofore I
on the contrary continue the shaft. in such place or part and am enabled to do
away with the connecting rod. In one form or arrangement provide the crank
part on one or on each side thereof and at the required distance from the centre of
the shaft with a gudgeon which may be provided with a block or roller. The
crank part may be made with one or more webs. I provide in connection therewith
a structure or frame or frames each with a slot or chace or guide for each such
gudgeon or block or roller thereon to work in connection therewith.
Such structure or frame or frames is arranged in connection with a piston or
other reciprocating part in such manner as to participate in the reciprocating
motion of the same and by means of the aforesaid slots moves or guides the
said gudgeons in a circular path with the rotary motion of the shaft to be
rotated.
The aforesaid structure or frame may be constructed for instance with two slots
crossing each other at right angles and at their common centre or thereabouts
one of such slots being provided with a journal or block fitted to such gudgeon to
work in connection therewith and at a right angle to the direction of the motion
of the frame. The other slot is provided and arranged to allow of a free passage
of the shaft without obstructing the motion of the frame. The frame reciprocates
in guides of any suitable form.
A construction as described may be applied in the interior of a cylinder of a
steam engine or other fluid motor the shaft in such case passing out at one or both
sides through suitable stuffing box arrangements, and in such case the frame with
the aforesaid slots may be arranged between two pistons or between one piston and
a disc or on one side of a piston and formed in one or combined therewith. I
thus do away with piston rod and connecting rod. Such parts or construction
may be arranged or modified so as to be partly in and partly outside the
cylinder.
Another part of my invention consists in forming the end of a reciprocating part
say for instance the piston rod of a steam engine or other fluid motor with an open
suitably guided frame or crosshead in which the crank pin of an ordinary crank
shaft or the pin of a crank or disc at the end of a shaft works, being impelled in
both directions by suitable parts in the frame. More than one such crank may be
provided on the shaft at suitable angles to each other each working in a frame as

page_text: described, in order to overcome the dead points. Such an arrangement is applied
between two pistons or discs in the cylinder of a steam engine or other fluid
motor.
In another arrangement I omit the crank gudgeons employed with such recipro-
cating frame and communicate its motion by means of pressure from parts or cams
in or on the said frame acting upon a crank on the shaft to be rotated.
With a
view to easing the dead point I may provide more than one such crank on the shaft
at suitable angles to each other each acted upon by a frame as aforesaid. This
arrangement may be applied in connection with the cylinder of a steam engine or
other fluid motor and arranged either to work outside or inside the cylinder or
partly in and partly outside.
Although I have stated that I may do away with the piston rod and connecting
rod I wish it to be understood that I may employ either or both in connection with
any of the arrangements named.
Dated this 5th day of November 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Converting Reciprocating into Rotary
Motion, and in the Application thereof to Steam and other
Motor Fluid Engines.
I, FRANCIS BRISTOW RAWES, of 2 Fern Villas, Norman Street, Leytonstone,
in the County of Essex, Gentleman, 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 relates to mechanical or structural appliances for converting
reciprocating into rotary motion and which may for instance be employed for the
purpose of communicating motion from cylinder engine pistons to axles or shafts
and putting the latter into rotary motion.
One part of my invention consists in arranging the engine crank shaft with the
crank part inside the cylinder and the shaft passing out through one or both side
walls of the cylinder and in providing means for rotating it in that position from
a piston or pistons inside the cylinder.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical longitudinal section through
a cylinder (in horizontal position) of a steam or other motor fluid engine.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section and
Figure 3 is a transverse section of such cylinder on line A B in Figure 1 and
Figure 4 is a transverse section on line C D in Figure 2.
The cylinder a in this example is divided longitudinally and centrally into
two parts which are secured together such as by flanges and bolts. The shaft b
is cranked at inside the cylinder and passes out through stuffing boxes a¹ a',
one on each side of such cylinder; a fly wheel or fly wheels as required may be
arranged upon the shaft outside the cylinder. The shaft may instead of passing
out at both side walls of the cylinder pass out at one side only of such cylinder
and in such case is fitted or arranged with a single crank web 6. The crank
part of the shaft works between two pistons or a similar arrangement such as a
piston and disc each piston being provided with suitable packing such as ordinary
packing rings as shown.
In connection with such piston arrangement and so as to form one structure
therewith I provide a frame or frames with a slot part or guide such as c¹ the
position of such frame being in Figure 2 shewn between the two crank webs b¹ b¹,
the gudgeon or crank pin is inserted in the block d, which works in the slot or
guide c¹ c¹, or the crank pin may be arranged to work in such slot with or without
a roller thereon. In such case as the crank having two webs with the crank

page_text: pin which is cast or constructed with the shaft all in one piece the block or roller
requires to be constructed in two parts or halves in order that it may be applied
around the pin. In the case shown in. Figure 1 the slot is vertical but in the
case of the invention being applied to a cylinder placed for instance in the
vertical position the slot would be horizontal and the piston and frame construc-
tion work up and down. The slot frame or frames c c in Figure 1 may be
made as shown that is to say one half of it cast or fixed to the piston c² at
one end and the other half to the piston (or disc) at the other end of such
frame construction, and the pistons for instance may be arranged suitably to be
removable to admit of the requisite adjustment and fixing of the parts. For such
purpose also the cylinder is by preference arranged and constructed in parts such
for instance as before mentioned or such division may be made in a transverse
direction and by preference in such direction in the case of a cylinder in a vertical
position or for such mentioned purposes any suitable division or section of the
cylinder may be adopted. The cylinder may be utilized to form the bed of the
engine or a part thereof or cast or constructed in combination therewith and bearings
for the shaft may be constructed in connection with the same in addition to the
stuffing boxes at a' a' in Figures 2 and 3.
The frame or frames c c mentioned as being in two parts may be connected or
united by suitable bracings or for instance by a cylindrical rim extending from and
between the ends of such piston construction such as shown at r in Figures 1, 2
and 4 formed with a slot c³ at each side of sufficient width to allow the shaft being
admitted into place or position and of sufficient length to allow a free passage past
the shaft of the rim in its working to and fro. Such part of the cylindrical rim
may be arranged to act as guides working in contact with the shaft to counteract
any tendency of the piston construction to twist or turn round in the cylinder.
The slide valve or other means for the due distribution of the steam or other
motor fluid may be of usual or any other suitable construction and may be worked
by suitable rod and lever gear from an eccentric on the shaft.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an engine cylinder having a piston
construction somewhat different from the example before described the slot frame c' c¹
being held together by a plate or clamp et at one end at the top the other or
bottom end being cast or constructed in one with the frame or plates or clamps et
may be employed both at top and bottom of the frame the frame being at each end
united to the pistons *. Guides such as e Figures 1 and 2^ may be provided to
counteract any tendency of the piston construction to twist as before mentioned.
Such guides are fixed between and connect the two extremities of the piston
construction and work in contact with the shaft b or rollers thereon as in Figure 2ª.
In the case of a cylinder placed horizontal such guides may be adjusted to
work upon the shaft or rollers as at in such manner as to support the piston
construction and relieve the bottom of the cylinder inside of undue friction and
wear.
By the admission of steam or other motor fluid to the cylinder in the usual
manner the piston reciprocates and the block is worked up and down in the slot c¹ c¹
and the crank shaft bis rotated.
In lieu of the slot frame arrangement described I may in some cases with an
otherwise similar construction of a cylinder with a shaft passing out through the
side walls or one of them employ a short link for connecting the crank pin and
piston and communicating the motion of such piston to the crank in order to rotate
the shaft.
Figure 5 is a side view Figure 6 is a horizontal section and Figure 7 is a vertical
transverse section of such a construction.
One
The cylinder a is in this case as an example divided vertically that is to say
transversely through the stuffing boxes a' a' for the crankshaft the two divisio
being securely fastened together, as for instance, by means of bolts and nuts.
end of link (Figure 6) may be connected with the crank pin as ordinarily by
strap, key and cotter and the other end to a piston or disc as in Figure 6 by the

page_text: ping and the fork piece cx or other suitable devices may be employed. Two
guides e in Figures 6 and 7 may be arranged in the manner and with the object
before mentioned.
In Figures 5 and 6 the cylinder is provided with a cover at a³ in Figure 6 and
at the other end of the cylinder in lieu of a removable cover such end or cylinder
head may be cast or constructed in one piece with the portion of the divided
cylinder as shown having an aperture for admitting the cylinder boring rod
such aperture being provided with a suitable cover as in Figure 6 and
fastenings.
Another part of my invention consists in a new form of construction of the
crank part of the shaft and of parts combined or connected therewith. Instead
of cranking or otherwise constructing the shaft with a cranked part having as
heretofore the shaft discontinued between two crank webs for allowing the connecting
rod to work, I on the contrary continue the shaft in such place or part. The
crank part may be made with one or two webs by preference the latter having
crank pin between them and the crank pin is provided with a block. I provide
in connection therewith a structure or frame with a slot or guide for such crank
pin and block to work in.
a
Such frame is constructed in connection with a piston or other reciprocating
part in such manner as to participate in the reciprocating motion of the same, the
slot provided for the crank pin block to work in moving or guiding the crank pin
in a circular path to rotate the shaft.. Another slot at right angles to the crank
pin slot is also provided to allow snch frame to pass the shaft. The frame reciprocates
in guides of any suitable form.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a crank shaft of this construction. Figure 9 is a side
view of such a crank shaft with a frame slotted at right angles and as an example
is connected with a piston rod joutside the engine cylinder a (or such frame may
he connected at each end with a piston rod and arranged between two cylinders).
Figure 10 is an end view. Figure 9 is a plan view of the frame. The crank-
shaft is continued between the crank webs as shown at * in Figures 8 and 9
such part of the shaft being by preference of oval section or thereabouts for the
reason hereinafter mentioned.
The crank pin is provided with a block d which works up and down in the
slot of the frame h. The part of the shaft between the webs is as
mentioned oval in section in order that the central parts of the cross slot may
be made narrower thereby and I widen such slot on each side towards the point h³
where the part of the shaft passes through the several positions shown in dotted
lines to the vertical position at the end of the stroke, such slot at 2 Figure 9
being by preference as narrow as can be arranged to diminish the distance at 2
between the upper and lower part of the slot which the block d in its movements
has to pass. The frameworks in a dovetail guide or guides of any other
suitable form may be employed. 4 h are steel liners which may be used as wearing
pieces in the slot '.
As in some cases such for instance as the crank, crank pin and shaft being
made all in one piece access into the slots may be required the frame may be
constructed in parts as in two halves and connected or united by removable plates
or clamps such as m which in this case is made in two parts and by means such as
screws united to each other and to the frame h to hold together the upper ends of
the slot frame, and the lower ends may be similarly connected together or as in
the example shewn the upper ends of the slot may be so clamped together and the
lower ends of the slot cast or formed in one.
Figure 11 is a section and Figure 12 is a side view of a block for working in the
slots as hand. This block has a roller k¹ on the crank pin and on each
side thereof a roller working on a pin connected with two side plates p. p.
The block may be made in two parts such as with one of the side plates being
made removable and provided with fastenings such as screws at 8 s.
Figure 13 shows a frame with a crank shaft similar to Figures 9 and 10 the

page_text: frame in this example being combined with pistons to form one structure as in
Figures 1, 1, 2 and 24 but having the two halves connected together by means of
clamps or plates m m similar to that described with reference to Figures 9, 94
and 10. Steel liners may be provided in this case and so also in any of the
other examples where not already so specified.
I do not limit myself to the forms or examples of construction shewn and
specifically described as others may be devised without departing from the essence
of my invention.
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 :-
:-
First. In combination with a crankshaft passing out through one or both side
walls of a cylinder, a piston provided with a slot frame for the crank pin with or
without block or roller to reciprocate in, such reciprocation of the crank pin being
caused by the reciprocation of the piston in its cylinder by which means the crank-
shaft is put into rotary motion substantially as set forth.
Second. The steam or other motor fluid engine substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 14 and 24, consisting mainly of a cylinder made in
parts for putting the crankshaft into it, a piston to reciprocate therein, a slot frame
combined with the piston for the crank pin with or without block or roller to
reciprocate in and appliances for preventing the piston from twisting in the
cylinder and in the case of a horizontal or inclined engine, for supporting it on the
shaft.
Third. The steam or other motor fluid engine substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 1ª and 2ª consisting mainly of a cylinder made in
parts for putting the crank shaft into it, a piston to reciprocate therein and a slot
frame combined with the piston for the crank pin with or without block or roller.
to reciprocate in.
Fourth. The steam or other motor fluid engine substantially as described with
reference to Figures 5 to 7 consisting mainly of a cylinder made in parts for
putting the crankshaft into it, a piston to reciprocate therein and a link which is
connected to the piston and to the crank pin to communicate motion from the
former to the latter with or without appliances for preventing the piston from
twisting in the cylinder and in the case of horizontal or inclined engines for also
supporting it on the shaft.
Fifth. A crankshaft having the shaft continued between the crankwebs in com-
bination with a frame or crosshead to reciprocate, the frame being provided with a
slot or guide for a block on the crank pin to work in, such slot being interrupted at
the middle by another slot transverse thereto and adapted to allow the frame to
pass the shaft continuation between the crank webs substantially as described.
Sixth. The steam or other motor fluid engine substantially as described with
reference to Figure 13 consisting mainly of a cylinder made in parts for putting
the crank shaft into it, a piston to reciprocate therein and a frame combined with
the piston and having a slot or guide for a block on the crank pin to work in, such
slot being interrupted at the middle by another slot transverse thereto and adapted
to allow the frame to pass the shaft continuation between the crank webs.
Dated this 4th day of August 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.