Improvements in Steam and other Gaseous Fluid Pressure Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
UUMI LEIE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE RICHARDSON ENGINE AND STEAM SHIP
COMPANY, a Corporation organized under the Laws of the State of West
Virginia, and having its principal Office at the City of Baltimore, State of
Maryland, United States of America.]
Improvements in Steam and other Gaseous Fluid Pressure Engines.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 that class of steam engines in which vibrating wings, or
pistons are mounted upon an oscillating shaft extending through the cylinder and
having its axis concentric therewith.
It is the purpose of my invention to provide a steam engine of this type in which
the piston rod is replaced by a shaft which is extended throughout the cylinder,
and provided with wings, or plates which practically form the pistons and to
combine with the working chambers, in which the pistons vibrate, means whereby
the live steam shall be admitted thereto from independent ports and caused to
expand and push against the alternately opposite faces of the wings, or pistons, to
move them to a point where the expanded steam will be discharged, and fresh
steam admitted from other independent ports to force the pistons back to their
original position, thereby causing an oscillation of the shaft upon which they are
oppositely mounted. It is my object in other words, to provide a steam engine
having an oscillating shaft concentric with the cylinder, which shall move easily
and without the jarring and heavy strain which is incurred in direct acting engines,
whereby an equal pressure of live steam shall be exerted upon the opposite pistons,
and whereby, also, a considerable increase in the horse power developed may be
obtained without a corresponding increase in the space required for the accom-
modation of the steam mechanism and without increasing the steam-pressure.
It is my further purpose to provide a steam engine having a shaft extending
through and concentric with the cylinder, and provided with opposite wings,
constituting pistons, which vibrate in opposite sector-shaped chambers and to
combine therewith means whereby live steam shall be admitted to both of said
chambers at the same moment, or substantially so, in such manner that it shall
push against the alternately opposite faces of the opposite pistons with like force,
each piston having its own independent live steam and exhaust ports.
It is my purpose, also, to combine with a high pressure cylinder a shaft extending
centrally through the centre of the cylinder and provided with opposite wings, or
pistons, rigidly mounted on the shaft and vibrating under steam pressure in sector
shaped chambers to which live steam is admitted in opposite directions, to push against
the alternately opposite faces of the opposite pistons, with an equal or balanced
pressure on each, and a second low pressure cylinder, having a similar, central
shaft, independent of the shaft of the high pressure cylinder, but vibrated by
similar devices; the low pressure cylinder being so arranged as to receive the
exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinder, and the independent vibrating
shafts of both cylinders being connected to the same counter shaft, by pitmans..
It is my purpose, also, to provide a steam engine having an oscillating shaft
substituted for the piston-rod, and extended through the cylinder from end to end,
said shaft being provided with opposite wings constituting the pistons, and arranged
to vibrate in sector shaped chambers formed by oppositely arranged metallic filling
pieces or sector-blocks having live steam and exhaust ports in each and containing
valve chambers communicating with the steam chest, and to combine therewith
LD017

page_text: simple and novel means for giving movement to the valves whereby each piston
shall have its own live steam and exhaust ports, the live steam being supplied by
independent ports to the alternately opposite faces of the pistons at the same time
and with a balanced pressure.
It is my purpose, finally, to simplify, and..improve the construction of steam
engines of this class; to decrease materially the weight of the metal forming the
pistons, as compared with those of direct acting engines to diminish the. ris inertia
which must be overcome by the steam before power can be obtained; to increase
the ease and smoothness with which the engine is operated and to avoid the jar and
strain ordinarily caused by the sudden reverse movement of the heavy piston heads
used in direct acting engines; to provide a novel construction of the valves opening
and closing the steam ports, and to combine therewith simple and novel means for
effecting the valve-movement; to combine together a high pressure and a low
pressure cylinder, arranged in the same axial line, each having an independent
shaft extending centrally through its cylinder and oscillated by opposite wings
constituting the pistons, said shafts having vibrating cross-heads connected by
parallel links to cross-heads on a counter shaft, while the counter shaft has a crank
arm connected to a wrist pin. on the power shaft by a pitman, and to provide an
engine of the type specified with an arrangement of steam ports whereby the
travel of the live steam and exhaust steam shall be diminished to such a degree
that the expansive power shall be materially increased while condensation is
avoided in a corresponding degree.
To these ends my invention consists in the several novel features of construction
hereinafter fully set forth and then more particularly pointed out and defined in
the claims following this Specification.
To enable others skilled in the art to which the said invention pertains to make,
construct and use the same, I will proceed to describe the, said invention in detail,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :—
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an engine embodying my invention, with its several
connections, shewing the intermediate or counter shaft, and a portion of the
power-shaft.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the engine, the view being taken from the low
pressure end of the engine in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a transverse or vertical section of the high pressure cylinder in Fig. 1,
the section plane being upon the line 3--3. in said figure.
Fig. 4 is a similar section upon the line 4-4 Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the high pressure cylinder, the casing and a
portion of the steam pipes being in vertical section and the interior parts in
elevation.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the high pressure cylinder, the section plane
being in the line 6-6 Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a detail perspective, of one of the sector-blocks containing the, valve
chambers and steam ports.
Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of one of the duplex valves.
Fig. 9 is a similar view of the valve stem, with the duplex valves removed.
Fig. 10 is a detail perspective of one of the wings, or pistons, removed from the
oscillatory shaft.
In the several figures of the drawings the supporting framework of the engine
and its several connections have been wholly omitted in order to render the
illustration more easily understood and to avoid the confusion, which would be
caused, in some degree, by the union of the operative, parts with their supports.
The frame of the engine may be of any known or preferred construction,,, and
forms no part of my present invention.
In the said drawing, the reference, numeral 1, indicates the engine-cylinder,
which, if the engine is of the compound type, will be the high pressure, cylinder.
While I have shewn the invention embodied, in, a compound engine,, in the drawings
of this application, in which the numeral 2 denotes the low pressure cylinder, it

page_text: should be clearly understood that said invention is not limited to this, or to any
specific type of engine, as it may be applied to steam or other engines of any type.
It should be remembered also, that the steam mechanism of the low pressure
cylinder, in the compound engine shewn, is precisely identical with that of the
high pressure cylinder, the parts being duplicates one of another.
For this reason,
also, have illustrated the construction of the parts enclosed by the cylinder 1,
only, the cylinder 2 containing the mere duplicates of said parts, differing therefrom
in area alone.
The cylinders 1 and 2 are preferably arranged in such manner that their axes are
coincident with one and the same straight line, and in the cylinder 1, is placed a
central shaft 3, extending through the interior of the cylinder and having its ends
projecting through glands 4 in the opposite heads of said cylinders. Upon each
outwardly projecting head of the shaft 3 is mounted a duplex crank consisting
usually of a ring 5, keyed, or otherwise fastened upon the shaft and having
oppositely projecting arms 6 the construction being identical with that shewn in
Fig. 2. The cylinder 2 of the compound engine is provided with a similar, but
independent shaft 7, having upon its projecting ends duplex cranks of the form
already described, the function of which will be shewn hereafter. Each cylinder is
provided with duplex or divided steam chests 8 and 9, co-extensive with the
length of the cylinder upon which they are formed, or mounted, and having a
diametrically opposite arrangement, one with the other, as seen in Figs. 1 to 4
inclusive. A pipe 10 for the live steam enters the chest 8 of the high pressure
cylinder at or near its end, and a second or similar pipe 10 enters the opposite steam
chest 8 at a corresponding point. From a point at or near the other end of each
steam chest 8 and 9 of the cylinder 1, pipes 13 extend to the steam chests of
the low pressure cylinder, to convey the steam from the cylinder 1, after its first
expansion therein, to the low pressure cylinder 2, where it undergoes a second
expansion, and is exhausted through pipes 15.
Within the cylinders 1 and 2 are arranged sector-blocks 17, shewn in detail in
Fig. 7. These sector blocks have convex outer faces which coincide with the interior
circular face of the cylinder, while their inner or opposite faces are partly removed
to form recesses 18, extending longitudinally the whole length of the block. The
portion 19 which remains after the formation of the recess 18 is provided with a
concave face 20, concentric with the outer face of the block, which is of such
thickness that the concave face will rest upon the shaft 3 and form a close joint.
The breadth of the outer or convex face of the block is such that when arranged
within the cylinder directly beneath the steam chest 8, or above the steam chest 9
a marginal longitudinal portion of the convex face will have contact with the circular
interior of the cylinder upon opposite sides of the steam chest, as shewn in Figs. 3
and 4. Two of these sector blocks are arranged in each cylinder diametrically
opposite each other, and covering the open steam chests, their longitudinal, marginal
portions forming close joints with the circular inner face of the cylinder on each
side of the steam chest. It will be seen that by this opposite arrangement of these
sector-blocks, the interior of the cylinder is divided into two opposite working
chambers 21 and 22, of substantially the same shape in cross section as the sector
blocks 17. The parts last named are supported and fastened by means of bolts 23.
The construction and arrangement of these sector blocks is such that the longi-
tudinal recesses 18, by which a portion of the concave or inner face of each block
is removed, have their open sides turned in opposite directions, as shewn in Figures 3
and 4.
The reference numeral 25 denotes the wing or plates which constitute the pistons
of each cylinder. These pistons which are usually formed of a single piece of metal
as shewn in detail in Fig. 10, each consist, essentially, of two members or parts, one
being a flat, oblong, rectangular plate of suitable thickness and having a length and
width equal, respectively to the interior length of the cylinder, and the radial
distance between the surface of the shaft 3 to the inner surface of the cylinder.

page_text: Upon its inner edge is formed a foot plate 26, curved in such manner that its inner
face shall be concentric with the shaft 3, and provided with openings to receive
bolts 28 by which it is fastened in place. The angle between this curved plate and
the flat plate, or wing 25, is such that, when the former is placed upon the shaft 3,
a diametrical line drawn through the cylinder shall substantially coincide with a
line drawn centrally from the inner to the outer edge of the plate, or wing. The
piston plates are mounted on the shaft diametrically opposite one to the other, their
fastening plates 26 lying in the recesses 18, in the sector blocks, made to receive
them, whereby the alternately opposite faces of the pistons are enabled to closely
approach the flat faces of the sector blocks, which lie in plane substantially parallel
with the adjacent faces of the p.stons, when the latter are in the position shewn in
Figs. 3 and 4.
In the sector blocks 17, upon each side of the diametrical line of the cylinder, arè
formed circular valve-chambers 29, extending longitudinally from the end of the
sector blocks to a central septum, hereafter described. Communicating with these
valve chambers are two similar live steam ports 30, both formed in the same half of
the sector-block, and having connection with the steam-chest 8, which is divided by
a central partition 31, lying between the live steam inlet and the outlet for the low
pressure steam, into two equal steam chambers 32 and 33, the former having com-
munication with the live steam pipe 10 only, while the latter is in connection with the
pipe 13. The live steam ports 30, which enter the valve chambers 29 are each
separated by a central septum, or wall 34, in the centre of the sector block 17, from
ports 35, formed in the other end of the sector block and communicating with the
steam chamber 33 in the chest 8, said chamber being upon the opposite side of the
partition 31, the edge of which makes a close fit and forms a tight joint with the outer,
or convex surface of the sector block, between the ports 30 and ports 35.
The live
steam ports 30, and valve chamber 29, communicate with the working chambers 21
and 22, by steam ports 36, preferably formed at a right angle with the flat faces of
the sector blocks, as shewn in Fig. 3.
Upon the other side of the central septum, or wall 34, are ports 36", communi-
cating with the working chambers 21 and 22, and having connection, also, with
valve chambers 29", having their axes coincident with the axes of the valve
chambers 29. The ports 35, which enter the valve chambers 29ª, have communi-
cation with the steam chamber 33, in the divided steam chest.
In each of the valve chambers 29, and extending through each valve chamber 29ª,
is a duplex valve stem which passes through an opening in the septum, or wall 34,
the stem being provided with a central, circular enlargement 38, which closely fits
the opening in the septum 34. Upon each side of the central enlargement 38 of the
valve stem is an angular portion, shewn in the drawings, Figs. 3, 4, 8, and 9, as of
rectangular form in cross section. The angles of one portion 39 do not, however,
coincide with the similar angles of the other portion 40, as shewn in Fig. 9, the two
angular portions having such relative arrangement that the angles of one alternate
with those of the other. When the valve stem is introduced within the valve
chambers 29 and 29", in both sector blocks 17, with its central enlargement 38,
closely fitting the opening in the septum 34 the valves are placed in the following
⚫manner.
Each stem carries two separate, rotary valves having substantially similar
form, each being composed of a metallic body having in cross section a shape
resembling a crescent; the exterior surface of each valve closely fitting the
inner surface of the valve chamber in which it is inserted, a central opening,
or longitudinal channel being formed in the inner or concave face for the
reception of the angular portion of the stem. Each valve, also, is of the same
length as the valve chamber in which it lies, so that its one end abuts against
the central enlargement 38 of the stem and the central septum 34, while its other
end is flush with the end of the sector block. The stem is supported by journals 41,
projecting beyond the outer ends of the angular portions 39 and 40, these journals

page_text: having bearings in bushings 42, set in the ends or heads of the cylinder,
and packed therein by a suitable packing nut 43. The journals project beyond the
outer faces of the packing nut, and receive discs 43, of similar size, each disc
being provided with a wrist pin 44, for a purpose hereinafter described.
By reference to Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, it will be seen that the live steam ports 30
and 36 are so arranged with relation to cach other, and that the inner faces of the
rotary valves lying in the valve chambers 29, are so concaved that both ports 30
and 36 may be thrown open and a continuous channel or passage, formed from the
live steam chamber 32, in the steam chest 8, to the working chamber 21 where it
expands between the piston 25, and the adjacent flat face of the sector block 17,
through which the port 36 is cut. At the same time the other, duplicate
portion of the valve lying beyond the other side of the central enlargement 38
closes the port 35, which opens into the low pressure steam chimber 33, of the chest 8.
The construction of the valves, valve chambers, and steam ports in the opposite,
or lower sector block 17, is the same as that described, and these ports have com-
munication with the two chambers in the lower chest 9, in the same manner already
set forth in connection with the devices in the upper sector block. There is this
difference however, between the two: viz., that the live steam ports open apon
alternately or diagonally opposite faces of the two sector blocks, in order that the
steam may be thrown and caused to push against the alternately opposite faces of
the pistons 25, as shewn by the positions of the valve described above, and the
alternately opposite live steam valve, open below, and admitting live steam to push
against the face of the piston 25 Fig. 3, thereby balancing the pressure upon both
sides of the shaft 3. The means by which this movement of the independent valve
is automatically produced will be described hereafter, it being sufficient to state,
as this point, that the four valves and ports delivering live steam to the working
chambers 21 and 22 have such arrangement that when one of the upper valves is
opened the lower valve on the same side of the shaft is closed while the lower valve
on the other side of said shaft is opened simultaneously while the other upper
valve is closed. I will now show how the steam which has already expanded in
the working chambers 21 and 22, and brought the pistons 25 into the position
shown in Fig. 3, finds an exit from said chambers and is either exhausted or passes
to the low pressure cylinder.
Referring to Fig 3, it will be remembered that one of the parts of the duplex
valve is set upon its portion 39 of the stem in such manner that it will act upon
the ports entering its duplex valve chamber at different times, as compared with
the other part of the duplex valve. For example, if the two part valve shewn in
Fig. 8 is inserted in the valve chambers 29 and 29", lying above the recess 18 as
shown in Figures 3 and 4, and if the valve stem be turned to open the live steam
ports 30 and 36, the other part of the valve in the chamber 29, will still cover
the port 35, as shown in Figure 4, thereby preventing the escape of live steam to
the chamber 33, and thence to the low-pressure cylinder. In order, however to
allow the expanded steam which has already done its work to pass out of the
working chambers 21 and 22, the alternately, or diagonally opposite valves in the
lower left hand valve chamber 29", and the upper right hand chamber 29",
Figure 4, are both opened, while the valves carried by the same stems but lying
in the valve chambers 29, on the other side of the central septa 34 are both closed,
as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen from the above description that each piston
has its own inlets and exits for the live steam and expanded steam respectively, and
that these are arranged upon the same side, or face, of the piston when acting
successively, and upon opposite sides, or faces, thereof when acting at the same
time.
in
The disks 43ª upon the projecting journals of the valve stems, are connected by
link-bars 45, Figure 2, whereby both valve-stems lying in the duplex valve-
chambers in the same sector-block shall be compelled to rotate, or oscillate in the
same direction, simultaneously. In the link-bar 45, upon each side of its middle
part, is formed a notch 46, with one or the other of which the end of a spring

page_text: latch 47, engages, as the link bar reaches the opposite limits of movement. The
spring operating said latch is arranged within a housing 48, mońnted on the end
of the casing.
The valve movement is produced by the oscillation of the arms 6, of the duplex
cranks keyed upon the ends of the shaft 3. The ends of the wrists 44 project
somewhat beyond the outer surface of the link-bars 45, and at each oscillation of
the duplex crank the upper edge of one of said crank arms 6, strikes one of the
said projecting wrists and forces it to move horizontally, the spring latch 47 being
disengaged by the movement of the link-bar at right angles to its own line of
movement and by the rounded form of its engaging head, which enables it to lift
with ease from the notches 46; the function of these parts being, not to lock the
valves positively in either position, but to provide means by which accidental
displacement may le prevented.
At the same montent that the upper edge of either crank arm makes contact
with the projecting end of one of the wrists 44 on either disk 43, the lower edge
of the opposite crank-arm 6 is brought against the similar wrist projecting from
the face of the alternately opposite disk Figure 2, or mounted upon one of the
valve stems in the lower sector-block, and thus the two upper, duplex valves are
oscillated in one direction, thereby bringing the valves which control the entrance
of live steam into the position shown in Figure 3, and at the same time moving the
valves by which the steam has exit to the position shown in Figure 4; or in other
words, opening the live steam ports of the upper left hand valve chamber, Figure 3,
and enclosing the similar ports of the valve-chamber horizontally opposite; and
effecting an alternately opposite position of the live steam valves in the valve
chambers in the lower sector-block.
Arranged above the engine and having support in any suitable bearings is
an intermediate, or countershaft 49, of any suitable length, its axis being in the
same vertical plane as the axis of the shaft 3 of the high pressure cylinder, and
that of the independent shaft of the low-pressure cylinder. At suitable points
upon this counter shaft are rigidly mounted duplex cranks 50, duplicates in all
essential respects, of the similar devices upon the ends of the oscillating shafts, to
which they are pivotally connected by parallel link bars -51. I prefer to mount
the duplex cranks upon both ends of each independent cylinder shaft, and connect
the same to duplex cranks on the counter shaft, in order to balance the frictional
resistance to obtain a perfect equilibrium of pressure, and produce a smoother
and easier action of the engine; but I do not confine my invention to such an
arrangement.
Power is communicated to the working shaft, or power shaft 52, by a pitman 53,
connected at one end to a wrist 54, carried by a disk 55, rigid on the power shaft
and at its other end to a crank arm 56 on the power shaft.
My invention is applicable to any engine, operated by steam, gas, hot or
compressed air, or other expanding medium.
In all large reciprocating or direct acting engines of these several species, the
weight of the piston head which reciprocates within the cylinder is very consider-
able in proportion to the area of the cylinder. For example, in a cylinder of sixty
inches diameter, having an area of two thousand eight-hundred and twenty-seven
square inches and forty-four hundredths of an inch, the weight of the piston head
is ordinarily about three thousand one hundred and thirty-nine pounds, independent
of the weight of the piston-rod. If the stroke is two feet in length and the
number of revolutions one hundred per minute, it will be perceived that the piston
travels four-hundred feet per minute and that the direction of movement of this
heavy mass of metal is changed diametrically two hundred times. The enormous
strain thus exerted upon the parts by these forces is readily apparent, and the
jarring of the mechanism caused by this constant and rapidly repeated change of
movement of this great weight, is a great damage, in continued use, to the
mechanism itself and to the structure, or fabric containing it.
Moreover, when a direct acting engine has a vertical stroke, the descent of the

page_text: piston will be assisted by gravity, and its reverse movement will be resisted by the
same force, thus increasing the injurious effects referred to.
My invention avoids these objections by reason of the fact that said invention
provides a balanced piston, oscillating upon an axis which is in substantially perfect
equilibrium at all times and in all positions in which it can be placed.
As this balanced piston takes steam in opposite directions upon the alternately
opposite faces of the wings constituting said piston, and takes said steam at the
same moment on both of said faces and from the same steam generator, the pressure
or push of the steam, is also balanced, upon each side of the axis of oscillation,
thereby rendering the movement of the parts far smoother and easier, avoiding in
a great measure if not entirely, the jar of the mechanism, and increasing the possible
horse power developed.
It should be noted, also, that by my invention the live steam from each steam-
chest has the minimum distance to travel in order to reach the working-chambers.
In fact, it may be said that practically it has no travel, because the opening of the
valve exposes the steam-faces of the vibrating wings against which the live-steam
expands without any material travel. Moreover, after its first expansion it exhausts
in the same direct manner through an exit-port lying in the same plane with the
live-steam port and opening through the same face. It is due to these facts that
there is but an extremely small loss of expansive force, and that a largely increased
power is developed in the low-pressure cylinder, as compared with other engines of
the same type.
By attaching the wings 25 directly to the piston-rod 3, in contradistinction to
mounting them upon a piston-cylinder surrounding the shaft, a much greater steam
face is given and a corresponding power is gained without any increase in the
diameter of the cylinder. In marine engines where the available space is limited,
this advantage is of the highest importance.
It will be seen, also that in my invention the steam is thrown simultaneously
against the alternately opposite faces of the opposite wings and act successively
upon both faces thereof, thereby balancing the power upon the opposite sides of
the shaft, the cylinder being provided with steam-chests upon opposite sides for
this purpose.
Finally by my construction I am able to turn out the steam face of the cylinder
and thereby secure a good steam fit.
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 :-
1. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a cylinder having two
working chambers, arranged upon opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, of an
oscillating shaft having its axis coincident with that of the cylinder and independent
duplex, or two-part valves to open and close the separate inlets for live steam
pushing against wings, or pistons, oppositely mounted on the shaft, and to open and
close the exit ports, for the steam, substantially as described.
2. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a cylinder having a central
longitudinal shaft provided with opposite wings which constitute pistons, adapted
to vibrate in working chambers upon opposite sides of the shaft, of independent
oscillating valves controlling the admission of live-steam to the working chambers,
and similar but differently timed valves, carried by the same stems and controlling
the exit of the expanded steam, substantially as described.
3. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a cylinder having section-
shaped working chambers upon opposite sides of the axis of the cylinder, of a
central shaft having its ends packed through the ends or heads of the cylinder, and
provided with opposite wings constituting pistons, oscillating valves controlling the
live-steam from steam chambers in oppositely arranged and centrally divided steam
chests on the cylinder, and differently timed oscillating valves on the same stems,

page_text: governing the outlet ports on the same side of each piston, substantially as
described.
4. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a cylinder having opposite
steam chests centrally and transversely divided, of section blocks having convex
faces closing the communication of the steam-chests with the cylinder, but provided
with duplex valve chambers, separated by a central septum, a duplex or two-part
valve mounted on a single stem lying in both valve chambers and a central shaft
having opposite wings which constitute pistons, each sector block being provided
with live steam ports and exit ports having connection with the duplex valve
chambers and through the latter with working chambers on opposite sides of the
shaft whereby a simultaneous push is communicated to both pistons in opposite
directions, substantially as described.
5. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a cylinder having a central
shaft, provided with opposite radial wings which constitute pistons adapted to
vibrate in working chambers on opposite sides of the central shaft, of duplex valve
chambers formed in the sector-blocks separating the working chambers and each
having an inlet and an exit port, for the live steam and expanded steam respectively,
said ports being separated by a central septum, the live steam ports communicating
with steam chambers in opposite and divided steam chests, and the exit ports
having communication with outlet chambers in said steam chests, duplex, or two-
part valves lying in said valve-chambers, having their parts differently timed but
oscillating by the same stems, the valve stems in each sector-block being connected
by a link, and duplex cranks mounted on the ends of the central oscillating shaft,
and moving the link connections of the upper and lower valves in opposite
directions, simultaneously, at each vibration of the crank-arms, substantially as
described.
6. In a steam or other engine, the combination with a central shaft having
wings vibrating in opposite working chambers, of independent inlet and outlet ports
adjacent to each face of each piston, and duplex or two-part valves opening and
closing said ports, whereby the steam introduced through an inlet port finds exit
through a port adjacent to the same face of the piston, substantially as described.
7. In a steam or other engine the combination with a cylinder of a central,
'oscillatory shaft having opposite wings or plates directly mounted thereon, and
vibrating in opposite, sector-shaped chambers, and live steam and exhaust-valves
mounted on a single stem, and alternately delivering steam to and exhausting it
from the face of each wing, substantially as described.
8. In a steam or other engine the combination with a cylinder having opposite
working chambers separated by sector-shaped blocks, of a central oscillatory shaft
upon which said blocks have bearing, said shaft being provided with opposite
wings or plates, and a live steam and exhaust-valve rigidly mounted on a single
stem and arranged in valve chambers in each sector-block between the steam chest
and the working chamber, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of July 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.