Improvements in Steam Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct.,
1895
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, JOHN ROBERT BIRD, of 10 Morrison Street, in the City of Glasgow,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide a steam engine of extremely simple
construction designed to run at high speeds and wherein the vibration set up in
running is reduced to a minimum.
The improved engine, which is of the single acting type, consists of two cylinders
arranged opposite each other on the same centre line, fitted with trunk pistons and
connecting rods formed so as to engage each with a separate crank on the main
shaft. The cranks are opposite each other on the same plane and the shaft is
carried on bearings on each side of the crank chamber. One end of the shaft
projects through to the valve face and has a square recess formed in it into
which is fitted a pin forming part of a disc on the other side of which a stud is
turned eccentrically for the purpose of moving the valves. Each valve is circular
in form, having a circular recess in the centre, provided with an arm projecting
from one side having a lever near the end which fits the eccentric stud attached to
the crank shaft. The ports are so arranged that steam is admitted and exhausted
to and from the two cylinders simultaneously.
A single circular valve may be used instead of two separate valves the steam
port branching right and left to supply the two cylinders. It is held in position
by means of a stud on the back working in a slot in the casing cover.
Two ordinary slide valves connected together may be used to drive a connecting
rod from the eccentric pin in the crank shaft.
A cylindrical valve may be used having steam and exhaust ports formed in it
corresponding to suitable ports in the valve casing and driven by a square
projection formed on the end of the crank shaft.
Two pairs of cylinders may be employed and
connected to cranks in one plane
on the same shaft the ports being so arranged that circular valves similar to
those first described open each port alternately. Each steam port supplies a pair
of cylinders.
A single circular valve may be used for double engines, driven as before and
opening two steam ports alternately, the valve being retained in position by means
of a stud and slot.
1 Desemba 1901
I, JOHN ROBERT BIRD, of 10 Morrison Street, in the City of Glasgow,
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 :--
This invention has for its object to provide a steam engine of extremely simple

page_text: construction designed to run at high speeds and wherein the vibration set up in
running is reduced to a minimum.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a modification
of the improved engine with one pair of cylinders.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, Fig. 4 a longitudinal section and Fig. 5 an end
elevation of another modification with two pairs of cylinders, and
Figures 6 to 15 are views of details hereinafter referred to.
As represented at Figures 1 and 2 the improved engine, which is of the
single acting type, consists of two cylinders A, A, arranged opposite each other
on the same centre line, fitted with trunk pistons B, B, and connecting
rods C, C, formed so as to engage each with a separate crank D, D), on the
main shaft E. The cranks are opposite each other on the same plane and the
shaft is carried on bearings F on each side of the crank chamber G. One end
of the shaft E projects through to the valve face at H and has a square
recess e formed in it into which is fitted a pin i forming part of a disc I on the
other side of which a stud is turned eccentrically for the purpose of moving the
valves J, J. Each valve J is circular in form, having a circular recess j iu
the centre, provided with an arm projecting from one side having a hole near
the end which fits the eccentric stud attached to the crank shaft E. The ports K
are so arranged that steam is admitted and exhausted to and from the two
cylinders simultaneously.
As represented at Figures 3, 4 and 5 the improved engine may be constructed
with two pairs of cylinders A, A, connected to cranks D, D, in one plane on the
same shaft E the steam and exhaust ports being so arranged that circular
valves J, J, similar to those described open each port K alternately. Each steam
port supplies a pair of cylinders.
A single circular valve J, as shewn at Figures 6, 7 and 8 may be used instead
of two separate valves the steam port K branching right and left to supply the
two cylinders. The valve J is held in position by means of a stud L on the back
working in a slot in the casing cover M.
As shown at Figures and 10 two ordinary slide valves J, J, connected
together may be used; driven by a connecting rod N from the eccentric pin in
the crank shaft E.
A cylindrical valve as represented at Figures 11, 12 and 13 may be used having
steam and exhaust ports k, k¹, formed in it corresponding to suitable ports in the
valve casing and driven by a square projection formed on the end of the crank
shaft E.
A single circular valve as shown at Figures 14 and 15 may be used for double
engines such as represented at Figures 3, 4 and 5 the valve being driven by an
eccentric stud i¹ from the crank shaft as before described and opening two steam
ports K, K alternately, the valve being retained in position by means of a stud L
and slot L¹.
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 :-
A single acting steam engine the parts of which are constructed and arranged or
combined substantially as herein before described under several modifications with
reference to the annexed drawings.