Improvement in Steam Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3'st July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
Improvement in Steam Engines.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLYN SPARR, of 148 St. James Place, Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a steam engine in which the steam, before it is finally
exhausted, is applied successively to opposite sides of the piston head, so that its full
power may be utilized.
The steam cylinder is provided with an enlarged central chamber and with equally
contracted ends at both sides of said chamber. The piston head is provided at its
center with a collar adapted to reciprocate within the chamber, while the two solid
ends of the piston are of a size to engage the two contracted ends of the cylinder.
Two ports lead to the extreme ends of the cylinder, and two ports lead to opposite
ends of its central chamber. The valve is provided with a steam duct adapted to
register with the ports, and with a second steam duct adapted to register with the
exhaust.
The steam after acting against one of the contracted ends of the piston, passes to
the opposite side of the collar and is finally exhausted. Thus the steam is fully
utilized and the operation of the piston is precisely the same at both strokes.
Dated this 10th day of May 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Steam Engines.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLYN SPARR, of No. 148 St. James Place, Brooklyn,
Kings County, State of New York, United States of America, 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 invention relates to a steam engine in which the steam, before it is finally
exhausted, is applied successively to opposite sides of the piston head, so that its
full power may be utilized. The piston head is constructed in a peculiar manner,
being provided at its center with a collar or flange, against which the steam is made
to act, after it has previously acted upon the opposite end of the piston itself.
Thus the action of the piston is precisely the same at both strokes and a uniform
movement results.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a steam cylinder provided with my
improvement.
Figure 2 is a similar section, showing the parts in a different position.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line x, x, Fig. 1, with the piston omitted, and
Figure 4 a cross section on line y, y, Fig. 2, with the piston, valve chest and
valve omitted.
The letter a, represents a steam cylinder provided with an enlarged central
chamber a', and with contracted ends at both sides of said chamber. The piston
head b, is provided at its center with a fixed collar b', adapted to reciprocate within
[Ꭰ Ꮧ 1

page_text: chamber a', while the two ends of the piston are of a size to engage the two
contracted ends of the cylinder. The cylinder a, is provided with four ports,
1, 2, 3, 4, of which the ports 1 and 4 enter the extreme ends of the cylinder itself,
while the ports 2, and 3, enter opposite ends of the chamber a¹. The valve c, is
provided with the steam duct 5, adapted to register with the ports 1, 2, 3, and 4,
and with a duct 6, adapted to register with the exhaust 7.
The operation of the engine will be readily understood. Steam enters the valve
chamber d, through pipe 8, and passes into port 1, (Fig. 1), to move the piston
toward the right. The valve c, will move past port 1, to open the same fully
(Fig. 2). At the same time, the steam from port 4, will pass through duct 5 and
port 2, against the left hand face of collar bi, to assist the steam entering through
port 1. The steam from the right hand side of collar b', goes to the exhaust by
passages 3, 6 and 7. When the piston has reached its extreme position, the
operation of the parts is reversed. That is to say, the live steam enters port 4,
from the valve chamber and the steam from the left hand end of the piston, passes
through port 1, duct 5, and port 3, to the right hand side of collar 6. The
steam from the left hand side of such collar is exhausted through passages 2, 6
and 7. It will be seen, that with my engine, the steam is fully utilized before it is
exhausted and that the operation of the piston is precisely the same at both strokes.
The advantages connected with my engine are its simplicity, efficiency and
economy in power and space.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A steam cylinder having an enlarged section between contracted ends and a
piston having a laterally extending collar intermediately secured thereto and
working in the enlarged section of said cylinder, substantially as specified.
2. The combination of a steam cylinder having an enlarged section between
contracted ends with a piston having a collar between its-ends to engage said
enlarged section and with steam ports leading to the ends of the cylinder and to the
ends of the enlarged sections, substantially as specified..
3. The improved steam cylinder and piston constructed and arranged substan-
tially as described and shown.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.