IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GAS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Robinson, of Westbromwich, in the County of
Stafford, Ironworker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE
WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1880.
SAMUEL ROBINSON, of Westbromwich, in the County of Stafford, Ironworker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GAS."
My improvements consist, first, in applying two pistons working in one cylinder
with independent piston rods passing out one at each end of the cylinder, and
being connected at their outer ends with connecting rods or other mechanism for
giving motion to the other parts of the engine or machinery. The valve or valves
are arranged to alternately admit steam, compressed air, or gas for explosion
between the two pistons, forcing them to opposite ends of the cylinder, and then
to allow the steam or other motor, as aforesaid, to exhaust either into the atmo-
sphere, or in any manner now in use; or in the case of steam into my improved
condenser, hereinafter described. If the steam or other motor is exhausted into
the atmosphere, the valve or valves are arranged to admit steam or other motor
as aforesaid, to force back the pistons to the middle of the cylinder again, and also
to exhaust the steam or other motor; but when a condenser is used atmospheric
pressure forces back the pistons.
This Invention consists, secondly, in the application of an improved condenser
to an engine constructed with two pistons working in one cylinder, as before
described, and worked by steam. The condenser is formed conical-shaped, being
closed at the larger end, and being connected by means of a neck or pipe to the
exhaust passage from the cylinder; it is constructed of thin metal, preferably
copper. To increase the efficiency of the condenser, the neck or pipe aforesaid
may be connected to the exhaust passage by means of a stuffing-box and gland or
other trunnion joint, and the condenser be rotated by any suitable mechanism, as,
for instance, by a strap working on a pulley on the engine shaft, and on a pulley
on the axis of the condenser. The efficiency of the condenser may be increased
also by placing a coil of light tubing within the conical-shaped part, and either
filling the said coil with water, or causing water to circulate through it. A tap is
fixed in the bottom of the condenser to run the condensed water out by, either at
intervals or by continuous dripping. A relief valve may be placed at the top of the
condenser in case of too great an accumulation of pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June
1881.
SAMUEL ROBINSON, of Westbromwich, in the County of Stafford, Ironworker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, AIR, OR GAS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of engines to be worked by
steam, compressed air, or gas, and for use for every purpose to which such engines
are applicable, including tram-car, locomotive, marine, traction, and stationary
engines.
According to one modification of my Invention two pistons are arranged to work
in one cylinder, the said pistons being provided with independent piston rods
passing out one at each end of the cylinder, and connected at their outer ends
with connecting rods for giving motion to the crank shaft. The valve is arranged
to admit steam, compressed air, or gas, for explosion alternately between the two
pistons, forcing them to the opposite ends of the cylinder, and between each piston
and the corresponding end of the cylinder, forcing the pistons back again towards
one another. The valve is of course constructed to allow of the exhaust to take
place at the proper time. In the case of a steam engine the steam may exhaust
into the atmosphere or into my improved condenser, to be presently described.
I arrange the parts of the engine, constructed according to this modification, with
the crank shaft carried through the centre of the cylinder, and with connecting,
rods working back from cross-heads on the ends of the piston rods to the cranks.
The valve is of the ordinary three-port slide construction, and the cylinder ports
are arranged in the usual manner, but one end port passes to the centre of the
cylinder to supply the motive-power between the two pistons, and the other end
port branches out to supply the motive-power to the two ends of the cylinder
simultaneously. The middle port is the exhaust port.
According to a second modification of my Invention I arrange only one piston
to work within the cylinder, and I make the cylinder itself, as well as the piston,
to move endways, the cylinder thus in effect taking the place of one of the pistons
mentioned in my first modification. In this modification the valve and ports are
of the ordinary construction. The crank shaft is carried at the back end of the
cylinder. Two connecting rods are carried back from a cross-head on the end
of the piston rod to their connection with the cranks, and two connecting rods
are carried back from studs fixed to the front end of the cylinder to their con-
nection with their corresponding cranks. The cylinder moves backwards and
forwards in suitable guides.
According to the first modification I obtain the advantage of using the pressure
of the motive-power on two moving surfaces at the same time when admitting the
motive-power between the two pistons, and I gain the same advantage at each
stroke of the engine constructed according to my second modification. In either
modification I set the cranks at a suitable angle with respect to each other to
overcome as much as possible the "dead" points, thereby effecting with one
cylinder what is usually done by two cylinders, the crank motion assimilating to a
rotary motion.
My improved condenser, which can be used in conjunction with the steam engine
constructed according to either of the foregoing modifications or for other
descriptions of steam engines, consists of a coil of pipe fixed inside an inverted
conical-shaped casing. Cold water circulates upwards through the coil, and the
exhaust steam enters the condenser through the neck of the cone at the bottom.
The coil is constructed of thin metal, preferably copper. A small air-pump may

page_text: be used in conjunction with the condenser to draw off the condensed water and
vapour to give a vacuum as in an ordinary condensing engine. If an air-pump is
not used, of course a pipe must be provided to carry off the uncondensed steam.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed more
particularly to describe the method of performing the same with reference to the
accompanying Drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.
The Drawings on Sheet 1 illustrate my Invention as it relates to the arrangement
with two pistons working in one cylinder, and shew also my improved condenser
used in conjuction therewith. Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of
a steam engine. A is the steam cylinder carried upon the bed-plate B. The bed-
plate B may also act as a tank for supplying water to the condenser; C, C, are the
piston rods; D, D, is the crank shaft passing through the centre of the cylinder A;
E, E, are bearings on each side of the cylinder to carry the shaft; F, F, and F¹, F',
are cranks, the two pairs being respectively in the same plane, but the pair F, F, is
set to make an angle of about 156° with the pair F¹, F', so as to avoid "dead"
points; G, G, and G₁, G₁, are connecting rods working respectively from the cross
beads H, H; J, J, J1, J1, are slide bars; K, K, are plummer blocks supporting the
outer ends of the crank shaft; L is the steam chest. The valve gearing is of the
ordinary description. On the Drawing, two eccentrics are shewn for reversing,
but this of course is required only in the case of a reversing engine; M is the fly-
wheel; N is the condenser, which is shewn in section in Figure 1. The condenser N
has the coil pipe a, etc., made of thin metal (preferably copper) therein, through
which a stream of cold water is made to circulate upwards; O is the exhaust pipe
which delivers the steam up through the bottom of the conical condenser N, the
said pipe O rising some short distance inside the condenser. A small pipe (not
shewn) is fixed to the bottom of the condenser to drain off the condensed water, or
to supply it to the boiler pump. If an air-pump is not used, a pipe must be
provided to cary off the uncondensed steam. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a
longitudinal section and a plan (with the steain chest lid removed) of the cylinder
and steam chest illustrated by Figures 1 and 2. For simplicity of drawing the
stuffing-boxes, bearings, and slide-bars, are omitted; P, P, are the two pistons, and
D the crank shaft passing through the cylinder; E' is a sleeve or pipe connecting
the bearings E, E, so as to prevent any escape of steam where the crank shaft
passes through the cylinder; U is the slide valve, which is of the ordinary
construction; b, the steam port for supplying steam simultaneously to both ends
of the cylinder. The port 6 passes to one side before branching out longitudinally,
as shewn by dotted lines, Figure 4, so as to miss the other ports; c is the port for
supplying steam between the two pistons; d is the exhaust port.
b
The Drawings on Sheet 2 illustrate my Invention as it relates to the arrange-
ment by which both the cylinder and piston move endways. Figures 5 and 6
illustrate respectively a side elevation and plan of a steam engine; A is the
cylinder, which is mounted upon cross-bars B, B, working in V-guides C, C; A' is
the steam chest; D is the piston rod; and E, a cross-head attached thereto. The
cross-head works in the guides F, F; G is the crank shaft; and H, H, H¹, H¹, cranks.
The cranks H, H', form one wide crank, as shewn, and are set to form an angle of
about 156° with the cranks H, H; J, J, are a pair of connecting-rods from the
cross-head E to the cranks H, H; and K, K, are a pair of connecting-rods from
studs L, L, fixed to the front of the cylinder A to the cranks H¹, H¹. The engine
is shewn as hanging from a framing M of a vehicle or other structure, but it may
of course be carried on a bed-plate, if desired, for a stationary engine; N, N, are
brackets hanging from the framing M; and the guides F, F, C, C, and the shaft G
are carried by the brackets as shewn. The slide valve and ports are of the
ordinary construction, and the valve gearing is shewn of the ordinary construction
for a stationary engine; the way-shaft and levers being carried by and travelling
with the cylinder. The eccentric O, however, is carried by one of the cranks H³,
being fixed eccentrically thereto. As the cylinder itself moves, the lengths of the
levers, etc., for the valve gearing must be proportioned to suit the vibratory and
.

page_text: "
other motions incidental to the description of engine according to the special
circumstances of each case, and it is recommended that the proportions be arrived
at by the use of templates. It will be seen that this arrangement of engine is a
very compact one, for the power of the engine, which with the arrangement for
preventing dead centres" makes it specially applicable for use in the case of light
vehicles, such as tram-cars. It will be observed that the cylinder can travel beyond
the centre of the shaft G by employing the wide arrangement of crank H', H', and
this arrangement may also be employed in the case of a moving cylinder working in
conjunction with a fixed piston. P is the steam pipe fixed to the steam-chest-lid.
The said pipe P travels with the cylinder, and is provided with a packing-box P¹
which slides upon the fixed supply pipe R; S is the exhaust pipe, which may either
be connected by means of a packing-box to a fixed exhaust pipe, or may pass
loosely through a hole in the side of a receiver or otherwise, as required.
The application of my Invention to engines worked by compressed air and by
gas will now be sufficiently obvious without need for special illustration.
The Drawings on Sheet 3 illustrate my moving-cylinder steam engine arrange-
ment as applied to the underside of a tramway car. Figure 7 is a longitudinal
elevation partly in section, and Figure 8 an end elevation. A, A, etc., is the
framing of the car; B is the engine, constructed substantially as that illustrated
by the Drawings on Sheet 2, and not requiring therefor special description; C is a
small spur wheel on the engine shaft, and D a spur wheel on one of the main
axles E; F is one of my improved condensers; G is the exhaust pipe, which in
this case enters the top of the condenser; H is a water cooler, having a number of
tubes a, a, etc., made of thin metal (preferably copper), passing longitudinally
therethrough. As the car is travelling the air rushes through the tubes a, a, etc.,
cooling the water in the cooler H. The water from the cooler H circulates
through the pipe b and up through the coil in the condenser F. As the water in
the coil is heated it delivers itself through the swan-necked pipe c into the
trumpet-mouthed pipe d, which extends soine distance down into the cooler H.
The heated water is delivered into the cooler at the opposite side to where the
cooled water passes into the pipe b. The condensed water is drawn from near the
bottom of the condenser F to feed the boilers, and the surplus steam passes through
the pipe e into the cooler H, where the condensation is completed. A small pipe
is carried from the cooler H to the funnel to carry off any remaining steam. By
this arrangement of condenser and cooler no noise is produced by the exhausting
steam. The Booring of the car immediately above the engine is preferably hinged,
so as to be readily raised for access to the parts. Referring to Figure 8, G and G¹
are the boilers as I propose to use them for a tram-car engine; Figure 9 is a plan
of the same shewing the boilers in position on the end of the car. In each view
the boiler G' is shewn in section; f, f, etc., are a series of tubes passing from the
fire-box H to the flue J, J, and g, g, etc., are a series of inner tubes also passing
from the fire-box H to the flue J, J; K, K, are two cylindrical flue-pieces, capable
of being slid up and down in the cylindrical short flues L, L, which communicate
direct through the medium of the flue M, M, with the funnel N; h, h, is a lever
moved by the handle k. The lever h, h, works upon a central stud as shewn, and
is jointed to the parts K, K. When the handle k is in the position shewn, the
right hand piece K is down upon the top of the boiler G', and the left hand piece K
is raised above the boiler G, and a valve actuated by a lever m is held in the
position shewn, closing up the left hand side of the flue M. While the parts are
in the position shewn, a bright fire is kept burning in the fire-box H, and the
products of combustion from the fire-box of the boiler G take the direction-shewn
by the arrows passing down the tubes f, f, etc., thence over the bright fire in the
fire-box H, and together with the products of combustion from the fire-box H pass
up the tubes g, g, etc., through the right-hand sliding flue-piece K, and thence
through the right hand flue L and the right hand side of the flue M into the funnel N.
When fuel is applied to the fire-box H, the levers h, h, etc., are reversed, and the
products of combustion from the fire-box H pass over the bright fire in the fire-box

page_text: of the boiler G. By this arrangement the smoke from the fires is consumed, and
thus prevented from passing out into the atmosphere.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I do not limit
myself to the exact details shewn, but what I claim as my Invention, and desire to
secure by the hereinbefore in-part-recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The duplex double-acting piston engine to be worked by steam, compressed
air, or gas, having a piston rod passing out at each end of the cylinder, and con-
nected by means of a rod or rods with the crank shaft, and operating substantially
as herein described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
2nd. In a duplex piston engine, carrying the crank shaft through the centre of
the cylinder, and connecting the cranks and cross heads in the manner substantially
as herein described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
3rd. The construction of engine to be operated by steam, compressed air, or gas,
in which both the piston and the cylinder are capable of longitudinal movement,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
4th. The arrangement of wide crank employed for the purpose of allowing the
moving cylinder to travel beyond the centre of the crank shaft, substantially as
berein described and illustrated by Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
5th. The improved condenser constructed and operating substantially as herein
described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
6th. In an engine to be worked by steam, compressed air, or gas, constructed
according to either modification before-described, setting the cranks at suitable
angles, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn by Figures
1, 2, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Robinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
SAMUEL ROBINSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY CHILTON,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.