AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING RECTILINEAR MOTION INTO ROTARY MOTION, AND VICE VERSA
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
'I, JOHN KIк 125 Cemetery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York Clerk
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING RECTILINEAR MOTION INTO ROTARY MOTION, AND
VICE VERSA, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for converting
rectilineal notion into rotary and vice versa, rotary motion into rectilineal motion,
such method and mechanism being applicable to a great variety of useful purposes,
on account of its simplicity and easy application; the motive power is also more
equally exerted throughout the stroke of the piston rod (when applied to an
Engine) than is the case when an ordinary crank is used.
In carrying out my invention in its application to convert the rectilineal motion
of the piston rod of a horizontal Steam Engine (for example) into a rotary motion,
so as to rotate a Fly Wheel; I fix in front of the Engine Cylinder, a second cylinder,
supporting through its longitudinal centre the fly wheel shaft which is carried in
suitable bearings at each end of the second cylinder, one end of the shaft projecting
on which is fixed the fly wheel, spurwheel, pulley or drum.
The interior of the "second cylinder" is cylindrical or tubular, and it is most
convenient to make it into two parts dividing it horizontally through its centro,
and through the bearings of the shaft.
The fly wheel shaft which is preferably made square, is provided with a slot cut
through from side to side, and extending towards each end, in which is fitted a slide
block that can move easily from end to end.
The neck of the shaft next to the engine cylinder is bored through longitudinally
into the slot, to allow the piston rod to be passed through, and firmly secured to the
slide block;
but in such a manner as to allow the slide block and shaft to revolvo,
and this may be accomplished in various well known ways such as by adjustable
collars upon the pistonrod.
On one side of the slide block I fix a projecting antifriction roller, free to revolve
upon a strong stud.
This roller projects sufficiently to allow it to enter a groove formed in the insido
ubular surface of the second cylinder. The groove in one half of the cylinder

page_text: resembles the female thread of a right hand screw, and that in the other half,
resembles the female thread of a left hand screw of the same pitch; and when put
together they form an internal elliptical cam.
The action of the apparatus is as follows; when the piston rod is moved forwards,
the slide block is carried round (and with it the shaft and fly wheel) by the friction
roller following the course of the elliptical groove, half a revolution being accom-
plished when the piston rod reaches the end of the stroke, the return stroke causes
the roller to enter and traverse the opposite half of the groove, and thus continues
and completes the revolution.
By altering the pitch of the groove, and applying the motive power to rotate the
shaft a rectilineal reciprocating motion is obtained.
In some cases I use two internal grooves, one being in advance of the other, and
I then place a second antifriction roller on the opposite side of the slide block, and
thus the strain is more equally balanced.
The principle of my invention is not confined to the arrangement as above
described in which the grooves are made on the internal surface of a cylinder; but
a groove, or a projecting rib, may be used upon the outside of a drum or cylinder
fixed upon the main shaft; the groove or projecting rib traversing the outer
periphery, in the manner as before described, the rectilinear slide or piston rod
being provided with a roller or stud for the groove, or a clip for the rib, as the case
may be.
Dated the 1th J. of 100A

page_text: a mounication of the apparatus.
Fig. 4, is a cross section, with the slides.
In carrying out my invention in its application to convert the rectilineal motion
of the piston rod of a borizontal Steam Engine (for example) into a rotary motion,
so as to revolve a Fly Wheel, I fix in front of the Engine Cylinder, a second
cylinder A, supporting through its longitudinal centre a Fly Wheel shaft B running
in bearings at each end of the second Cylinder; one end B¹ of the shaft B, projects
from the Cylinder, on which is fixed the Fly Wheel C, or other driving gear.
The interior of the second cylinder A, is preferably made cylindrical, and for
convenience it is made in two parts, being divided horizontally through the centre
and through the bearings of the shaft B.
The portion of the Fly Wheel shaft B that is inside the Cylinder is preferably
made square with a slot D cut through from side to side, and extending towards
each end, in which is fitted the slide-block E, that slides freely from end to end.
The neck F, of the shaft B, next to the Engine Cylinder is bored through
longitudinally into the slot D, to allow the piston-rod G, to be passed through and
secured to the slide block E, but in such a manner as to allow the slide-block and
shaft B to revolve; this may be accomplished in various ways, such as by adjustable
collars H fixed on the piston rod as shown.
On one side of the slide-block E, I fix a projecting antifriction roller I, upon a
strong stud J. This roller runs in a groove or channel K formed in the inside
surface of the tubular Cylinder A.
The groove round one half of the Cylinder resembles the female thread of a right
hand screw, and that in the other half resembles the thread of a left hand screw of
the same pitch, and when put together they form an internal elliptical cam.
The action of the apparatus is as follows; when the piston-rod G, is moved
forwards, the slide-block E, the shaft B, and By-wheel C, are carried round by reason
of the friction roller I, following the course of the elliptical groove K. When half
a revolution is accomplished the piston rod G, has reached the end of the stroke;
the return stroke causes the roller to enter and traverse the opposite half of the
groove, thus completing the revolution of the shaft,

page_text: If the groove is made to a suitable pitch and the motive power applied to rotate
the shaft B, (by means of a belt on the fly wheel for example,) a rectilineal and
reciprocating motion may be obtained, which may be utilised for punching and
other similar purposes.
If desirable two internal elliptical grooves may be used, one being placed in
front of the other, the second antifriction roller being placed on the opposite side of
the slide block to more equally distribute the strain.
The arrangement shown in Figs 3 and 4, is adapted to be driven by a coupled or
two cylindered Engine, the action of the piston rods L, L, being alternate, so that at
the end of the stroke, the rollers are in the position shown in Fig. 3. In fig. 4. they
are shown at the half stroke. Instead of the grooves K being in a Cylinder, they
are formed on the outside of a cylindrical block M on the shaft N, that carries the
fly wheel. Instead of grooves one or more projecting curved ribs may be used for
the rollers to act against.
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 The method of converting rectilinear motion into rotary motion, or vice
versà, by means of the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
2nd In apparatus for converting rectilinear motion into rotary motion, or vice
versa, the use of an internal or external elliptical groove K, a traversing block E, a
slotted shaft B, in combination; for the purpose specified, and substantially as
described and illustrated.
3rd In apparatus for converting rectilinear motion into rotary motion, the use of
a block or cylinder M having an elliptical groove K attached to a shaft N, in con-
nection with the rollers I, I, projecting from the slides of the motive power engine
or driver, for the purpose specified, and substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the 5th day of December 1884.