IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Messina Lowe, of 38, Scholes, Wigan, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER
ENGINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Messina Lowe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1881.
MESSINA LOWE, of 38, Scholes, Wigan, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention has for object improvements in steam and other engines.
In an engine according to my Invention the cylinder is not rigidly fixed, but is
able to reciprocate or oscillate in a straight or curved path under the influence of
the actuating fluid exercised alternately on its opposite ends or covers. The
cylinder is coupled to the crank or other device by which its reciprocating or
oscillating motion is to be transformed into a rotary motion by means of a con-
necting rod, or of connecting rods in any suitable manner.
The piston is also connected by a system of rods and levers to the same crank or
other device. By this arrangement the pressure of the actuating fluid on one
cylinder cover, and also on one face of the piston at each stroke, is rendered
available for the propulsion of the engine.
In one form of engine according to my Invention I provide for the motion of
the cylinder by attaching it to or carrying it by a rod or lover which is pivotted at
its other extremity to a fixed point, and which lever I will, for the sake of
clearness, call the first lever.
The piston rod is connected at its outer end to a lever of the third order, which
I will call the second lever, and which should be of considerable length in relation
to the stroke of the said piston. One end (the fulcrum end) of this lever is con-
nected by a rod or link to a fixed point, and the other extremity is extended past
or beyond the point to which the piston rod is connected, until it is opposite the
fixed point at which is pivotted the hereinabove mentioned first lever to which the
cylinder is attached. This extended end of the second lever is connected to the
crank or other device mentioned above for converting reciprocating into rotary
motion by a system of links and levers so arranged, that the motion of the second
lever must always take place in the opposite sense to that of the first lever.
It will be evident that engines according to my Invention may be modified in
various ways to suit the class or type to which they belong, and the circumstances
under which they are to work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Messina Lowe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th February 1882.
MESSINA LOWE, of 38, Scholes, Wigan, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES."
"IMPROVE-
In an engine according to my Invention the cylinder is not rigidly fixed, but is
able to reciprocate or oscillate in a curved path under the influence of the actuating
fluid exercised alternately on its opposite ends or covers. The cylinder is coupled
to the crank or other device by which its reciprocating or oscillating motion is to be
transformed into a rotary motion by means of a connecting rod or of connecting
rods in any suitable manner.
The piston is also connected by a system of links and levers to the same crank or
other device. By this arrangement the pressure of the actuating fluid on one
cylinder cover, and also on one face of the piston at each stroke, is rendered
available for the propulsion of the engine.
In one form of engine according to my Invention I provide for the motion of
the cylinder by attaching it to or carrying it by an arm, rod, or lever which is
pivotted at its other extremity to a fixed point, and which arm, rod, or lever I will,
for the sake of clearness, call the first lever. The piston rod is connected at its
outer end to a lever of the third order, which I will call the second lever, and
which should be of considerable length in relation to the stroke of the said piston.
One end (the fulcrum end) of this lever is connected by a rod or rods, or link or
links to a fixed point, and the other extremity is extended past or beyond the
point to which the piston rod is connected, until it is opposite the fixed point at
which is pivotted the hereinabove mentioned first lever to which the cylinder is
attached. This extended end of the lever is connected to the crank or other device
mentioned above for converting reciprocating into rotary motion by a system of
links and levers, so arranged that the motion of the second lever must always take
place in the opposite sense to that of the first lever.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation
partly in section of an engine constructed according to my Invention, and Fig. 2 is
a plan of the same.
The cylinder A, which may advantageously be of comparatively short stroke, so
as to keep its angular motion within moderate limits, is mounted or carried upon
an arm B capable of oscillation round the fixed point or centre C. Upon the
cylinder or upon the arm B are gudgeons or journals D which form points of
attachment for connecting rods E, which at their other ends are coupled to the
pins F of cranks F, whose throw is equal to one half the travel of the piston or
thereabouts. The piston rod G is pivotted to the lever H (herein before called the
second lever). This piston rod may well be carried through the back cover, and
should be of sufficient strength to bear any transverse strain caused by the lever H.
If found necessary guides might be attached to the cylinder to support the end of
the said rod. The lever H is pivotted at its upper end to a rod or link, or rods or
links I, the other end of which is or are pivotted to a fixed point or fixed points.
Other means may be employed, such as a slotted guide, to cause the upper end of
the lever H to move in the proper path, that is, in a path which is consistent with
the combined oscillating motion of the cylinder, and the reciprocating motion of
the piston. At its lower end the lever H is coupled by the link or rod J to one
end of the levers L oscillating round the fixed point M. This lever communicates
its motion by connecting rods N to the crank pins F. The distributing valve of
the cylinder A may be arranged and operated in any convenient manner. For

page_text: instance, the valve rod may end in a block moving in a slotted link operated by
the eccentric, somewhat in the manner that obtains in an ordinary oscillating
engine, or it may be arranged to move at right angles to the axis of the cylinder
as shewn, and be operated by a rod, whose other end is coincident or thereabouts
with the point or centre about which the cylinder oscillates. The steam and
exhaust pipes are connected to opposite sides of the pivot, or centre of motion
about which the cylinder moves and enters through glands and stuffing boxes.
When the actuating fluid is admitted to one end of the cylinder, say, the back end,
it exercises equal pressures on the back cylinder cover, and on the rear face of the
piston. The former pressure causes a movement of the cylinder towards the left,
which is communicated to the crank by the connecting rods E, as shewn, and the
latter pressure causes a movement of the piston towards the right, which is com-
municated to the cranks by the piston rod G, the lever H, link or rod J, levers L,
and connecting rods N.
I have shown hereinabove my Invention as applied to a horizontal engine, but it
will be obvious that it is applicable to other forms or types of engine besides the
one shewn in the accompanying Drawings, and that the details may be modified
without departure from the essential characteristics of my Invention as above
described, and as hereinafter defined in the claiming clauses.
And having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would have
it understood that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
secured to me under the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,-
1. In a steam or other engine actuated by fluid pressure, the method, substan-
tially as above described, of utilising or rendering available for useful work the
pressure of the actuating fluid on both the piston and the cylinder covers.
2. In a steam or other engine in which the cylinder is able to reciprocate or
oscillate in a curved path, transferring or communicating the opposite motions of
the cylinder and piston to one and the same crank shaft by a system of levers and
links or connecting rods, substantially as described.
3. The improved engine, constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as
described with reference to the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Messina Lowe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
MESSINA LOWE. (L.S.)