improvements in Quick Speed Expansive Fluid Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: improvements in Quick Speed Expansive Fluid Engines.
I HORACE ROBINSON 9 Albert Square Manchester Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in engines worked by steam or other expan-
sive fluid and the ports governing the expansion.
The cylinder is preferably horizontal. This cylinder is open at one end and is of
the single acting type and this end is attached against a trough shaped casting which
forms the bed of the engine and in which the crank works. This trough shaped bed
is formed with a slot at each side extending to the top. The sides of this bed are
increased in thickness at the lower end of these slots and for some distance up them
and a tongue piece fitted into each of them. These tongue pieces are firmly secured
in place by a pin or cotter passing through each of them and through the before
mentioned thickened part of the sides. The slots and tongue pieces at their bottom
ends are bored out to receive two long bushes of phosphor bronze or other suitable
bearing metal and in these the crank shaft works. These bushes extend outwards and
their inner ends come up to the crank sides. On the inner side of each tongue piece a
short strong oil pipe is inserted which passes into each bush to lubricate it and also
prevent it from turning with the crank shaft.
A hole is provided at the opposite side of each bush so that it can be turned half
round to bring a fresh part into operation when one side is worn. The crank shaft is
formed preferably of cast steel with balance weights cast upon it forming extensions
of the webs on the other side of the shaft centre.
Semi-
The crank is connected direct to the piston by means of a connecting rod formed
preferably of steel and of channel shape, its piston end being formed into an eye bored
ont to fit over a pin which passes through it and through the piston. This pin being
formed of phosphor bronze or other suitable material to indure the friction.
circular bushes of phosphor bronze or other suitable metal are inserted into the crank
end of the connecting rod which end is formed with a cap and bolts and these half
bushes can be interchanged when one is worn out, an oil pipe passing through the
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page_text: metal of the connecting rod end also passes into the bush metal and prevents it from
turning with the crank, a hole is formed in each half bush for the reception of this
pipe. A hole is also formed through the metal of the eye of the connecting rod at the
piston end communicating between the channel shaped part of the rod and the before
mentioned pin which passes through the piston. Also below the web of the connecting
rod an oil hole may be formed at each end so that oil splashing against the lower side
of the rod may pass into the bearing surfaces by capillary attraction or otherwise.
The piston is of considerable length and when exhausting into a condenser the piston
must be longer than the stroke of engine. To lubricate the working parts a light
shaft preferably working in a hole formed in one side of the engine bed or trough and
a slot at the other side of the bed or trough, is driven round by a pulley and a light
band or strap to the engine shaft.
This light shaft is formed preferably conical near to the points of support and a light
ring of chain or of other suitable form hung upon each of the coned parts which parts
are inside the sides of the trough or bed. These rings dip into oil which is allowed to
remain in the aforesaid bed or trough of engine, and the oil by capillary attraction
and their motion is brought up to a rod or perforated pipe which is preferably bent
over the shaft near to each part of the shaft upon which the chain rings run, the
conical parts of the shaft causing the chains to bear up against the said bent rod or
pipe. The ends of this rod or pipe inclining downwards extend to the main bearings
or bushes and the oil passes along these ends and thus to the bearings or bushes. The
other part of the before mentioned rod or pipe projects towards the cylinder and also
inclining downwards causes oil to drop upon the piston as it projects from the open
end of the cylinder and also upon the connecting rod which being of channel form
causes the oil to run into its working surfaces through the before mentioned oil holes.
The crank also may dip into the oil lying in the engine trough-or-bed. A lid formed
to cover the trough or bed protects the crank and other parts from dirt and upon this
lid projections may be formed the points of which hang downwards over the before
mentioned-oil-holes of the bushes or bearings so that oil which may splash against the
lid drops off at these said points-into-the oil holes. As before mentioned the engine
is of the single acting type. The steam or other finid-is-admitted and exhausted
preferably in the following manner. A Bat valve with no exhaust cavity but consisting
simply of a light block covers or uncovers a port to admit steam or other fluid at the
proper time behind the piston. This valve has therefore but small unbalanced area
and is comparatively easy to move.
The piston is formed with a clearance space at its inner end and the exhaust is
uncovered by the piston near to the outward end of its stroke.
The exhaust is preferably formed by three or more holes at the bottom side of the
cylinder opening into a cavity or chamber cast upon the cylinder from which cavity
the exhaust pipe, which is of large diameter, is taken. An eccentric preferably formed
with or attached to the fly wheel (where the work is uniform) extends over the
projecting part of one of the before mentioned crank shaft bushes, and may be formed
as a ring the eccentric strap working inside it which permits the oil escaping from the
bearing or bush to be caught by the eccentric.
For engines where the work is variable and regularity of speed is desirable, in
place of the fixed eccentric a governor of the shifting eccentric type but of the follow-
ing peculiar construction may be used to vary the point of cut off and so govern the
speed.
A ring turned out to fit the eccentric strap is formed with a lug upon it and this
lug is formed to fit over a pin fixed into a faced plato which preferably forms the
centre part of the fly wheel, another pin is attached to the said faced plate and a
weight formed with a hole near one end of it fits upon this pin. This weight is
preferably of a curved form to fit over part of the eccentric. The end of the weight
nearest to its point of suspension is extended into a cam shape or short lever and the
other end is attached by a spiral spring with an adjustable tension to a foot projecting
from the lug formed upon the eccentric. The tendency of this spring by its mode of
attachment to the eccentric foot and the weight, is to cause the eccentric to bear

page_text: against the before mentioned cam or short lever and thus to take up wear and prevent
back lash and at the same time to hold the weight inwards against its centrifugal
force. A slipper may be interposed between the said cam or short lever of the weight
and the eccentric to reduce wear. When the speed of the engine rises the weight by
moving outwards causes the cam or short lever upon it to move the eccentric upon its
before mentioned pin and thus the well known effect of the self shifting eccentric is
brought about, namely the variation of the cut off in proportion to the load, the time
of admission remaining nearly the same.
D

page_text: 344
Speed Expansive fluid Engines.
I HORACE ROBINSON 9 Albert Square Manchester 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in engines worked by steain or other
expansive fluid and the ports governing the expansion. The cylinder is preferable
horizontal. This cylinder is open at one end and is of the single acting type and this
end is attached against a trough shaped casting which forms the bed of the engine
and in which the crank works.
This trough shaped bed is formed with a slot at each side extending to the top.
The sides of this bed are increased in thickness at the lower end of these slots and for
some distance up them and a tongue piece fitted into each of them. These tongue
pieces are firmly secured in place by a pin or cotter passing through each of them and
through the before mentioned thickened part-of-the-sides. The slots and tongue pieces
at their bottom ends are bored out to receive two long bushes of phosphor bronze or
other suitable bearing metal and in these the crank shaft works. These bushes extend
outwards and their inner ends come up to the crank sides. On the inner side of each
tongue piece a short strong oil pipe is inserted which passes into each bush to lubricato
it and also prevent it from turning with the crank shaft. A hole is provided at the
opposite side of each bush so that it can be turned half round to bring a fresh part
into operation when one side is worn. The crank shaft is formed preferably of cast
steel with balance weights cast upon it forming extensions of the webs on the other
side of the shaft centre.
The crank is connected direct to the piston by means of a connecting rod formed
preferably of steel and of channel shape, its piston end being formed into an eye bored
out to fit over a pin which passes through it and through the piston. This pin being
formed of phosphor bronze or other suitable material to endure the friction. Semi-
circular bushes of phosphor bronze or other suitable metal are inserted into the crank
end of the connecting rod which end is formed with a cap and bolts and these half
bushes can be interchanged when one is worn out, an oil pipe passing through the
metal of the connecting rod end also passes into the bush metal and prevents it from
turning with the crank, a hole is formed in each half bush for the reception of this
pipe. A bole is also formed through the metal of the eye of the connecting rod at the
pistou end communicating between the channel shaped part of the rod and the before
imentioned pin which passes through the piston. Also below the web of the connecting
rod an oil hole may be formed at each end so that oil splashing against the lower side
of the rod may pass into the bearing surfaces by capillary attraction or otherwise.
The piston is of considerable length and when exhausting into a condenser the piston
must be longer than the stroke of engine. To lubricate the working parts a light
shaft preferably working in a hole formed in one side of the engine bed or trough and a
slot at the other side of the bed or trough, is driven round by a pulley and a light band

page_text: A flat
or strap to the engine shaft. This light shaft is formed preferably conical near to the
points of support and a light ring of chain or of other suitable form hung upon each
of the coned parts, which parts are inside the sides of the trough or bed. These rings
dip into oil which is allowed to remain in the aforesaid bed or trough of engine and
the oil by capillary attraction and their motion is brought up to the rod or perforated
pipe which is preferably bent over the shaft near each part of the shaft upon which the
chain rings run, the conical parts of the shaft causing the chains to bear up against
the said bent rod or pipe. The onds of this rod or pipe inclining downwards extend
to the main bearings or bushes and the oil passes along these ends and thus to the
bearings or bushes. The other part of the before mentioned rod or pipe projects
towards the cylinder and also inclining downwards causes oil to drop upon the piston
as it projects from the open end of the cylinder and also upon the connecting rod
which being of channel form causes the oil to run into its working surfaces through
the before mentioned oil boles. The crank also may dip into the oil lying in the
engine trough or bed. A lid formed to cover the trough or bed protects the crank
and other parts from dirt and upon this lid projections may be formed, the points of
which hang downwards over the before mentioned oil holes of the bushes or bearings
so that oil which may splash against the lid drops off at these said points into the oil
holes. As before mentioned the engine is of the single acting type. The steam or
other fluid is admitted and exhausted preferably in the following manner.
valve with no exhaust cavity but consisting simply of a light block covers or uncovers
a port to admit steam or other fluid at the proper time behind the piston. This valvo
has therefore but small unbalanced area and is comparatively easy to move.
The
piston is formed with a clearance space at its inner end and the exhaust is uncovered
by the piston near to the outward end of its stroke. The exhaust is preferably formed by
three or more holes at the bottom side of the cylinder ening into a cavity or chamber
cast upon the cylinder from which cavity the exhaust pipe, which is of large diameter,
is taken. An eccentric preferably formed with or attached to the fly wheel (where
the work is uniform) extends over the projecting part of one of the before mentioned
crank shaft bushes, and may be formed as a ring, the eccentric strap working inside
it, which permits the oil escaping from the bearing or bush to be caught by the
eccentric. Ior engines where the work is variable and regularity of speed is desirable,
in place of the fixed eccentric a governor of the shifting eccentric type but of the
following peculiar construction may be used to vary the point of cut off, and so
govern the speed. A ring turned out to fit the eccentric strap is formed with a lug
upon it, and this lug is formed to fit over a pin fixed into a faced plate which
preferably forms the centre part of the fly wheel, another pin is attached to the said
faced plate, and a weight formed with a hole near one end of it fits upon this pin.
This weight is preferably of a curved form to fit over part of the eccentric. The end
of the weight nearest to its point of suspension is extended into a cam shape or short
lover and the other end is attached by a spiral spring with an adjustable tension to a
foot projecting from the lug formed upon the eccentric. The tendency of this spring
by its mode of attachment to the eccentric foot and the weight, is to cause the
eccentric to bear against the before mentioned cam or short lever and thus to take
up wear and prevent back lash, and at the same time to hold the weight inwards
against its centrifugal force. A slipper may be interposed between the said cam or
short lever of the weight and the eccentric, to reduce wear. When the speed of the
engine rises, the weight by moving outwards causes the cam or short lever upon it to.
move the eccentric upon its before mentioned pin and thus the well known effect of
the self-shifting eccentric is brought about, namely the variation of the cut off in
proportion to the load, the time of admission remaining nearly the same.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1. is a vertical section through the
centre line of engine and Fig. 2 a horizontal section at the level of the axis of the
crank shaft and centre of cylinder. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line A. A.
Fig. 2 through the cylinder and exhaust ports. Fig. 4 shows the eccentric &c. and
flywheel in elevation. Figs. 5. 6. and 7. are sections taken on the line B. B.
Fig. 2 through the centrifugal weight, the internal eccentric strap and the eccentric

page_text: ring itself. The same letters show the same parts in all the figures. C. Fig. 1.
2 & 3 is the single acting cylinder formed with an inlet passage 1. and the exhaust
or exit E. which is uncovered by the piston P. T. Figs. 1 and 2 is the trough shaped
bed of engine in which the crank S. works. This trough shaped casting is formed
with a slot U. Fig. 1 at each side and the sides of this bed are increased in thick-
ness at the lower end of these slots as shown at H. A tongue piece J. Fig. 1. is
fitted into each of these slots. A pin or cotter L. passes through H. and J. at each
side of the engine bed to firmly secure the said tongue pieces J. and bushes G.
These bushes G. are of considerable length and as before mentioned are formed of
phosphor bronze or other suitable bearing metal and they extend up to the crank
sides and to the faced plate or fly wheel to which the eccentric is attached, thus
giving the maximum of support to the shaft with ample bearing surface. D. is the
strong oil pipe inserted into each tongue piece and passing into each bush to lubricate
it and also prevent it from turning. The connecting rod M. is of channel form
and N. N. are the bushes. R. is the oiling pipe. V. V. are the oil holes. W. is a
light shaft for lubricating when necessary. This shaft is driven by a light band or
strap from the engine shaft and it may be dropped into a slot at one side of the
engine trough or bed and a hole at the other as indicated in Fig. 1. and 2. Light
rings X. X. of chain or of other suitable form are hung upon this shaft W. these dip
into oil which is allowed to remain in the trough T. and by their motion and capillary
attraction they bring up oil to the wire or pipe Z. and the oil runs down to the
bearings and on to the connecting rod and piston in the mannor before mentioned.
F is a lid formed to cover the trough or bed T. and upon this lid F. projections are
formed so that oil splashed upon then-and the lid drops from them into the bearings.
K. is a flat valve with no exhaust cavity but consisting simply of a light block to
control the admission passage-I. O. Figs. 2. 4. and 7. is an eccentric which is in the
form of a ring, and within this ring O the eccentric strap A' works. This internal
-strap Al is formed in one with the eccentric rod which is best provided with an oil box
or cavity as shown to lubricate-the-eccentric through the oil holes as shown in Figs. 4.
and 6. The eccentric O. may be formed with or attached rigidly to the faced fly
wheel Y where the work is uniform. Uniformity of load is however seldom the case
and Figs. 2. 4. 5. 6 and 7. show the ring eccentric O formed with a lug B' upon it
fitting over a pin C¹. This pin C is best set directly with the crank or a little in
advance of it. A weight D' extending into a cam or short lever E at one end is
suspended by a pin F. The spring G is attached to a foot H³ of the ring eccentric
at one end and to the weight D1 at the other end as will be seen more clearly on
reference to Fig. 4. and the tension of this spring G¹ may be adjusted by looping it
into one or other of the notches formed for its reception in the weight D-As before
stated the tendency of the spring by its attachment at one end being to the eccentric
foot H and its attachment at the other end to the weight D¹ is to cause the eccentric O
to bear against the cam or short lever end E' of the weight D' and thus to take up
wear and prevent back lash and at the same time to hold the weight inward against
its centrifugal force. When the speed of the engine increases the weight Ď¹ by
moving outwards causes its cam end E¹ to move the eccentric O. upon its pin C
bringing the eccentric centre more in advance of the crank and nearer to the shaft
centre and thus the well known effect of the self shifting eccentric is brought about
namely the variation of the cut off in proportion to the load.
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. The combination, in a single acting horizontal engine, of the flat block
single port slide valve K, the exhaust consisting of holes E at the lower side of the
cylinder uncovered by the long trunk piston P, the long bush bearings G extending
to the crank sides, and the internal ring eccentric strap A¹ encircling the outer end of
one of these bushes G as described and illustrated.
Second. The combination of the eccentric O having the lug B¹ and foot H¹, the

page_text: weight D having the cam or short lever E¹, and the spring G' attached at one end to
the weight D and at the other end to the foot H' as and for the purposes describad
and illustrated.
Third. The use of the flat slide valve K formed without exhaust cavity but being
a simple block with comparatively small unbalanced area as described and illustrated,
in combination with the peculiar construction of governor consisting of the weight Di
with its cam or short lever E, the eccentric O with its lug B¹ and foot H¹, the spring G₁,
and the eccentric strap A¹ as described and illustrated.
Fourth. The combination in a single acting horizontal engine, of the long bushes G
extending up to the crank sides and capable of being turned half round, as described
and illustrated, with the tongue pieces J extending to the top of the trough T,
cotters L, oil pipes D and the ring eccentric strap A which encircles the outer end of
one of the said bushes G as described and illustrated.
Fifth. The combination, in a single acting horizontal engine as described and
illustrated, of the peculiar form of projections extending downwards from the lid F,
with the oil holes D and bearings or bushes Gas and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
Sixth. The oiling device consisting of the light shaft W, rings X and pipe or wire Z,
in combination with the channel shaped connecting rod M with its oil holes V as
described and illustrated.