IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE INDICATORS OR CYLINDER PRESSURE RECORDERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE INDICATORS OR CYLINDER
PRESSURE RECORDERS A communication from abroad by George Hannibal
Crosby, of the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1882.
IN
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, IMPROVEMENTS
STEAM ENGINE INDICATORS OR CYLINDER PRESSURE RECORDERS, a communi-
cation from abroad by George Hannibal Crosby, of the State of Massachusetts,
United States of America,
The kind of indicator or Cylinder Pressure Recorder to which this invention
appertains is such as is usually employed to register the degrees of steam pressure
exerted on an engine piston during a stroke thereof, this kind of an indicator,
described in the British Patent 4045 for the year 1879, is provided with a rotary
drum or
cylinder for supporting and revolving a sheet of paper or other
material while it may be in the act of being marked, by the pencil or marker
moved vertically or rectilinearly or nearly so by mechanism connected with and
operated by the piston of the steam cylinder of the indicator. As indicators or
pressure recorders of the class mentioned are well known and in common use and
as their mode of operation and the results attainable by such are well understood
by engineers or persons skilled in Steam Engines it will not be necessary to
describe such.
The invention relates to or consists in the combination of a rotary paper carrier
provided with mechanism for revolving or partially revolving it during a stroke
of a steam engine piston with a marker and means or mechanism for imparting to
such marker in a given period movements corresponding in number to that of the
strokes of the said piston during such period, in order that marks indicative of the
number of such strokes may be made by the marker on the sheet of paper revolved
by the carrier against it the said marker during such strokes of the piston.

page_text: Also in the combination of a steam engine pressure indicator or cylinder pressure
recorder, provided with a rotary paper carrier, and with mechanism for registering
or marking on paper carried thereby a line indicative of the pressure on the
cylinder during a stroke of the piston of such cylinder, with a marker and means
or mechanism for imparting to such marker in a given period movements corre-
sponding in number to that of the said strokes of the said piston during such
period, in order that marks indicative of the number of such strokes may be made
by the marker on the sheet of paper revolved by the carrier against it the said
Inarker during such strokes of the piston the said carrier in such combination
being capable of being used not only to aid in registering the varying pressure of
steam in the engine cylinder during a stroke of its piston but also to aid in
recording in a given period the number of such strokes whereby the speed of the
engine may be ascertained.
Also in the combination for operating the marker of the said speed indicator,
such combination consisting of a cam, a lever, a rack, a tubular and slotted
standard, a spring, a sleeve, a pawl and a friction brake.
Also in the combination of a retaining lever and its cam, with a plate, and with
the mechanism for operating the marker of a speed indicator.
Also in the indicator piston spring as composed of two spiral springs and
a medial straight connection of them-the coils of one spiral being those of the
other.
Also in the combination of a nut provided with perforated radial wings, with the
indicator piston spring composed of two spiral springs and a medial straight
connection of them.
Also in the combination of the indicator piston head, provided with a tubular
and slotted shank, with a piston rod screwed into the said shank, and with the
spring composed of the two spiral springs and their medial straight connection,
the said medial connection being arranged within and across the said shank.
Also in the spring constructed of the two spiral springs, and their medial
connection and provided at the middle of the latter with a ball to rest in an
adjustable step.
Also in the combination of the spring having a ball to its medial part, with the
indicator piston head and rod connected and socketed to receive the ball.
Also in the combination of the indicator piston head provided with an
adjustable step or socketed screw with the piston rod socketed at its lower end
and with the spring composed of the medial part or connection and the two spiral
springs.
Also in an improved parallel motion or mechanism for operating the indicator
marker, consisting of a post, two levers, and two links.
Also in the indicator steam cylinder as provided with an annular chamber
arranged within it around its bore and to open into the lower part thereof.
Also in the marker lever and its piston rod and cylinder sleeve connection links,
in combination with a post, and with a link jointed thereto, and to one of the said
connection links.
Also in the post and the marker lever supporting link arranged on opposite
aides of the indicator steam cylinder or its rotary sleeve, in combination with the
marker lever, connected with the piston rod of such cylinder by a link and such
link with the post by a link.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1882.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINE INDICATORS OR CYLINDER PRESSURE RECORDERS, & communication
from abroad by George Hannibal Crosby, of the State of Massachusetts, United
States of America.
The kind of indicator or cylinder pressure recorder to which this invention
appertains is such as is usually employed to register the degrees of steam pressure
exerted on an engine piston during a stroke thereof, this kind of an indicator being
described in the British Patent 4045 for the year 1879, is provided with a rotary
drum or cylinder for supporting and revolving a sheet of paper or other material
while it may be in the act of being marked, by the pencil or marker moved
vertically or rectilinearly or nearly so by mechanism connected with and operated
by the piston of the steam cylinder of the indicator. As indicators or pressure
recorders of the class mentioned are well known and in common use and as their
mode of operation and the results attainable by such are well understood by
engineers or persons skilled in steam engines it will not be necessary to describe
such.
The invention relates to or consists:
First. In the combination of a rotary paper carrier provided with mechanism
for revolving or partially revolving it during a stroke of a steam engine piston
with a marker and means or mechanism for imparting to such marker in a given
period movements corresponding in number to that of the strokes of the said piston
during such period, in order that marks indicative of the number of such strokes
may be made by the marker on the sheet of paper, revolved by the carrier against
it the said marker during such strokes of the piston.
Second. In the combination of a steam engine pressure indicator or cylinder
pressure recorder, provided with a rotary paper carrier, and with mechanism for
registering or marking on paper carried thereby a line indicative of the pressure on
the cylinder during a stroke of the piston of such cylinder, with a marker and
means or mechanism for imparting to such marker in a given period movements
corresponding in number to that of the said strokes of the said piston during such
period, in order that marks indicative of the number of such strokes may be made
by the marker on the sheet of paper revolved by the carrier against it the said
marker during such strokes of the piston, the said carrier in such combination
being capable of being used not only to aid in registering the varying pressure of
steam in the engine cylinder during a stroke of its piston but also to aid in
recording in a given period the number of such strokes whereby the speed of the
engine may be ascertained.
Third. In the combination for operating the marker of the said speed indicator,
such combination consisting of a cain, a lever, a rack, a tubular and slotted standard,
a spring, a sleeve, a pawl and a friction brake arranged and applied substantially
as explained.
Fourth. In the combination of a retaining lever and its cam, with a plate, and.
with the mechanism for operating the marker of a speed indicator.
Fifth. In the indicator piston spring as composed of two spiral springs and a
medial straight connection of them, the coils of one spiral being between those of
the other.
Sixth. In the combination of a nut provided with perforated radial wings, with
the indicator piston springs composed of two spiral springs and a medial straight
connection of them.
Seventh. In the combination of the indicator piston head, provided with a

page_text: tubular and slotted shank, with a piston rod screwed into the said shank, and with
the spring composed of the two spiral springs and their medial straight connection,
the said medial connection being arranged within and across the said shank.
Eighth. In the spring constructed of the two spiral springs, and their medial
connection and provided at the middle of the latter with a ball to rest in an
adjustable step.
Ninth. In the combination of the spring having a ball to its medial part, with
the indicator piston head and rod connected and socketed to receive the ball.
Tenth. In the combination of the indicator piston head provided with an
adjustable step or socketed screw, with the piston rod socketed at its lower end
and with the spring composed of the medial part or connection and the two spiral
springs.
Eleventh. In a certain improved parallel motion or mechanism for operating the
indicator marker, it consisting of a post two levers and two links, constructed
arranged and applied substantially as explained.
Twelfth. In the indicator steam cylinder as provided with an annular chamber
arranged within it around its bore and to open into the lower part thereof.
Thirteenth. In the marker lever and its piston rod and cylinder sleeve connection
links, in combination with a post and with a link jointed thereto, and to one of
the said connection links.
Fourteenth. In the post and the marker lever supporting link arranged on
opposite sides of the indicator steam cylinder or its rotary sleeve, in combination
with the marker lever, connected with the piston rod of such cylinder by a link
and such link with the post by a link; all being substantially and to operate as
set forth.
Fifteenth. In the indicator piston head as provided with open chambers or
recesses in its outer periphery, and one or more holes leading from each to the
interior chamber or space within the piston head, such holes and external recesses
being to cause the steam to pass from the latter chamber to the open chambers of
the periphery in order to maintain the piston centralized in its cylinder.
Of the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive represent the first, second,
third and fourth improvements or parts of this invention. Of said drawings
Fig 1 denotes an elevation of a steam pressure indicator provided with this
invention to determine the speed of the engine or to register strokes of its piston in
a given period of time.
Fig 2 is a transverse and medial section taken through the speed marking
mechanism, and the drum of the pressure indicator, such section being taken on
the line of Fig 3.
Fig 3 is a top view of the speed and pressure indicator.
Fig 4 is a side elevation and Fig 5 a top view of the cam for actuating the lever
of the speed indicator.
Fig 6 is a top view, and Fig 7 a side view of the retaining lever of the speed
indicator.
Fig 8 is a top view, and Fig 9 a side view of the stylus or marker, or device for
marking the paper, to indicate the number of strokes made in one direction in a
given time, by the steam engine piston.
In the said Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, A denotes the steam cylinder of the
indicator a the piston rod thereof. B is the marker lever, C the reciprocating
drum. D its paper carrier or sleeve, and P the parallel motion.
To the base or bottom of the drum C there is fixed an annular cam E which is
arranged over a lever F placed within and fulcrumed to the plate b, that supports
the drum sustaining spindle c.
At its outer end the lever enters an annular groove d, in a vertical screw or
rack F, arranged within a stationary tubular and slotted standard G. A spiral
spring e suitably applied to the rack and the support plate 6 serves to depress the
said rack, such rack being raised by the action of the lever F, and the cam E, while
the latter is in the act of revolving one way with the drum C.

page_text: A retaining lever H, provided with an inclined projection or cam f, and arranged
within and pivoted to the plate b serves when the said cam or projection is forced
into the annular groove d in the rack, to elevate the rack so as to move the lever F,
into and retain it in a position, in which it will not be acted on or moved by the
cam while the drum may be in revolution.
The standard G has in its side a long slot h through which a spring pawl i,
projecting from a sleeve I extends to the rack, the sleeve being adapted to the
standard so as to slide therein with sufficient friction to prevent such slide from
being moved downward on the standard, during a depression of the rack and
slipping of the latter on the pawl. Or for this purpose there may be fixed to the
sleeve a friction spring or brake k, to bear against the slide of the standard. There
projects from the sleeve a marker L, which may be a stylus, pencil or suitable device
for marking or indenting paper when such paper may be quickly moved against
the point or inner end of such marker.
The drum C turns freely on its sustaining spindle c, and there is within such
drum and extending upward from its bottom, a tubular spindle m, that turns on
the spindle c. About such tubular spindle, is a spiral spring n, which attached to
the drum and to a hand o, fixed on the spindle, serves to effect the return rotary
movement of the drum.
The drum at its lower part has a groove p in and around it. To the drum and
in this groove, there is fixed a cord q which after having been carried in such
groove around the drum one or more times is led partially about a wheel r and
thence between guide wheels 8 8, such cord when the indicator is in use being
attached to the cross head of the piston or some other proper movable part of the
steam engine. Like other drums of the kind it and its supporting sleeve are to be
provided with stops to ensure of the drum being always arrested in one position
on being revolved by the retracting spring.
The paper carrier as in steam pressure indicators has two springs tt, to hold the
sheet upon it. After winding the said sheet about the carrier once, and inserting
it between the periphery of the carrier and the sheet supporting springs thereof,
one or both ends of the sheet should be extended outward a short distance from
between the said two springs, that is, sufficiently for the part so projecting to
strike the marker l, in each advance rotary movement of the drum and carrier.
From the above it will be seen that as the carrier will be partially revolved
during each stroke of the piston of the steam engine, there will be imparted to the
rack F¹, by means of the cam E, lever F, and spring e a short reciprocating vertical
motion, whereby the sleeve carrying the marker will through the action of the
pawl on the rack, be intermittently moved upward, each movement taking place
at each stroke of the engine piston. As the marker at each rise of it will be struck
by the paper there will be made in the latter a mark, the number of such marks in
any given time denoting the number of strokes the engine piston may have made
during such period.
Thus it will be observed that with the speed marking apparatus adapted as
explained to a steam engine indicator, we have not only a means of registering the
varying pressure of the steam during a stroke of the piston of an engine, but ineans
for registering the number of strokes made by the piston during a given period, as
a minute for example.
It will be evident that the cylinder piston marker and parallel motion of the
pressure indicator may be dispensed with, in which case the speed indicator or
registering apparatus, would consist of the rotary paper carrier, and its operative
mechanism, and the speed marker and its operative mechanism, but there is a new
result or advantage gained by using with one paper carrier two mechanisms as
described for marking upon it, as in such case there is saved one carrier and its
operative mechanism.
The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth of the improvements or parts of
this invention are represented in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of which Fig 10 is a
top view. Fig 11 a side elevation, and Fig 12 a longitudinal section of an indicator

page_text: piston and its spring embracing such improvements, Fig 13 being a bottom or lower
end view and Fig 14 a side elevation of the spring.
Indicator piston springs so far as I know to the contrary have heretofore been
composed of a piece of wire bent in the form of a single spiral.
The improved spring as shown at A is a wire which for a short portion a at its
middle is straight or substantially so the remainder or parts b b¹ of the wire being
bent in the forms of two separate spirals like the threads of a double threaded
screw, the coils of each spiral being between those of the other, as represented. At
the middle of the portion a is a small sphere or ball c which rests in an adjustable
step d, such step being a screw arranged within the piston head B, in manner as
represented, and having a concavity in its upper end to receive the lower part of
the ball.
The said piston head, is provided with a short tubular shank e slotted longi-
tudinally and diametrically as shown at f to receive the portion a of the spring in
order to prevent the head from turning more than necessary independently of the
spring.
The lower end of the piston rod C has in it a concavity g to receive the upper
part of the ball C, the said rod being screwed into the shank of the piston head and
to a shoulder h formed on the said rod. With the piston rod head so constructed
and applied they become not only connected to each other but the spring has a
ball and socket bearing at the middle of its lower end, whereby it is supported and
can operate to better advantage relatively to the piston head than when it is
composed of a single spiral of wire.
k
The screw nut D by which the upper part of the spring is screwed to the cylinder
head, is provided with a series of radial wings & extending from it in manner as
shown, each of such wings being perforated to receive the spirals of the spring
which go through the perforations, and are arranged in the said wings in manner
as shown. This adaptation of the nut and spring prevents them from becoming
accidentally separated while in use.
The eleventh and twelfth improvements or parts of this invention are represented
in Figs. 15, 16, and 17 of which Fig 15 denotes a vertical section of an indicator
formed with such improvements. Fig 16 being a side elevation and Fig 17 an end
view of its " parallel motion somewhat modified in construction from that
exhibited in Fig 15 although like it in principle.
33
In the said Figs. 15, 16 and 17 A denotes the indicator steam cylinder and B the
piston thereof.
Fulcrumed to the piston rod head a, which is forked to receive it is a lever C
whose lower and shorter arm b is jointed to a link D near one end thereof, such
link near its other end being jointed to a post E, extending upward from the head
or rotary cap c of the cylinder.
The marker lever E¹ is fulcrumed to the longer arm of the lever C, the shorter
arm of the said marker lever having a stud d projecting from it into a curved
slot e formed in a projection f extended from the head of the post, the said slot
being curved with radii whose centre is in the axis of the joint of the post and the
link D.
Instead of such stud and slotted projection, the shorter arm of the lever E¹ may
be jointed to a vibrator or link F, equal in length to the lever C and jointed to the
post E, all being as shown in Figs. 16 and 17.
In the improved parallel motion, the link D has a length equal to that of the
shorter arm of the marker lever, and besides the distance between the axis of the
stud d, and the axis of the rear joint of the link D is equal to the distance between
the axis of the joints of the arms of the lever C.
Furthermore the length of the shorter arm of the lever C, is to the length of the
longer arm of such lever, as the length of the shorter arm of the lever E is to the
length of the longer arm of such lever E'.
With such a parallel motion the marker carried by the longer arm of the lever E'

page_text: will during a stroke of the piston B' be moved or traversed in a straight line
relatively to the paper carrying drum G of the indicator.
Within the cylinder there is a narrow annular chamber h which is concentric
with and surrounds the base of the cylinder and opens into the lower part thereof,
This chamber extends upward within the walls of the cylinder in manner as
shown, as high or about as high as the piston moves, and when steam is let into
the cylinder, such steam has free access to and fills the annular chamber. The
steam thus can heat the cylinder when above the piston head at the same time it
heats the latter. In this the expansion of the cylinder and that of the head takes
place simultaneously, whereby the piston head is prevented from binding in
the cylinder by being suddenly expanded before expansion of the cylinder can
take place.
The thirteenth and fourteenth improvements or parts of this invention are
represented in Fig 18 which is a side elevation of an indicator provided with the
said thirteenth and fourteenth improvements, they having reference to mechanism
for moving the marker rectilinearly or approximately so.
In the said drawing A denotes the steam cylinder and B the piston rod thereof.
The lever for carrying the marker a is shown at E as jointed at its rear and to a
long link F which at its foot is jointed to a sleeve Ġ fitted to encompass and
revolve on the upper part of the cylinder A.
The said marker lever E is also fulcrumed to another link C which at or near
its lower end is jointed to the piston rod at its upper end. A third link D
jointed to the link C at or near its middle extends therefrom to and is jointed to
the upper part of a standard or post H projecting upward from the sleeve in
manner as shown.
The links being duly proportioned the marker lever on the piston rod being
moved upward will be so moved as to cause the marker to move rectilinearly or
substantially so over the face of the sheet of paper, that may be supported on and
revolved by the rotary drum I of the indicator.
The extreme positions of the marker lever and its operative links are represented
in dotted lines.
The fifteenth of the improvements is shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, the first of
such figures being an elevation and the second a vertical section and the third a
horizontal section of an indicator piston head, such as is represented in Figs 11
and 12, provided with the said improvement, such consisting in forming in and
around the head a series of shallow recesses or chambers a a a a, each opening
through its outer periphery as shown, and each having one or more holes or
passages b leading from it into the interior chamber or space c in the head. The
steam in the cylinder will pass through the holes band into the several
recesses a, and by its pressure against the cylinder will serve to keep the piston
concentrically therein.
CLAIMS.
1. The combination of a rotary paper carrier provided with mechanism for
revolving or partially revolving it during a stroke of a steam engine piston with a
marker and means or mechanism for imparting to such marker in a given period
movements corresponding in number to that of the strokes of the said piston during
such period, in order that marks indicative of the number of such strokes may be
made by the marker on the sheet of paper revolved by the carrier against it the
said marker during such strokes of the piston.
2. The combination of a steam engine pressure indicator or cylinder pressure
recorder, provided with a rotary paper carrier, and with mechanism for registering
or marking on paper carried thereby a line indicative of the pressure on the
cylinder during a stroke of the piston of such cylinder, with a marker and means
or mechanism for imparting to such marker in a given period movements corre
sponding in number to that of the said strokes of the said piston during such

page_text: period, in order that marks indicative of the number of such strokes may be made
by the marker on the sheet of paper revolved by the carrier against it the said
marker during such strokes of the piston, the said carrier in such combination
being capable of being used not only to aid in registering the varying pressure of
steam in the engine cylinder during a stroke of its piston but also to aid in
recording in a given period the number of such strokes whereby the speed of the
engine may be ascertained.
3. The combination for operating the marker of the said speed indicator, such
combination consisting of a cam, a lever, a rack, a tubular and slotted standard,
a spring, a sleeve, a pawl and a friction brake arranged and applied substantially
as explained.
4. The combination of a retaining lever and its cam, with a plate, and with the
mechanism for operating the marker of a speed indicator.
5. The indicator piston spring as composed of two spiral springs and a medial
straight connection of them, the coils of one spiral being between those of the
other.
6. The combination of a nut provided with perforated radial wings, with the
indicator piston spring composed of two spiral springs and a medial straight
connection of them.
7. The combination of the indicator piston head, provided with a tubular and
slotted shank, with a piston rod screwed into the said shank, and with the spring
composed of the two spiral springs and their medial straight connection, the said
medial connection being arranged within and across the said shank.
8. The spring constructed of the two spiral springs, and their medial
connection and provided at the middle of the latter with a ball to rest in an
adjustable step.
9. The combination of the spring having a ball to its medial part, with the
indicator piston head and rod connected and socketed to receive the ball.
10. The combination of the indicator piston head provided with an adjustable
step or socketed screw, with the piston rod socketed at its lower end and with the
spring composed of the medial part or connection and the two spiral springs.
11. A certain improved parallel motion or mechanism for operating the indicator
marker, it consisting of a post two levers and two links, constructed, arranged and
applied substantially as explained.
12. The indicator steam cylinder as provided with an annular chamber arranged
within it around its bore and to open into the lower part thereof.
13. The marker lever and its piston rod and cylinder sleeve connection links, in
combination with a post, and with a link jointed thereto, and to one of the said
connection links.
14. The post and the marker lever supporting link arranged on opposite sides
of the indicator steam cylinder or its rotary sleeve, in combination with the
marker lever, connected with the piston rod of such cylinder by a link and
such link with the post by a link, all being substantially and to operate as
set forth.
15. The indicator piston head provided with the internal chamber or space c, 4
the series of external chambers or peripheral recesses a, and the passages b, all
arranged substantially as shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighth day of September A.D. 1882.