Improvements in Apparatus suitable for the Propulsion of Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Improvements in Apparatus suitable for the Propulsion of Motor
Road Vehicles.
We, JAMES CAMBELL STEVENSON, of 80, Peach Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, and HENRY GARDNER, of 21, Benson Street, Liverpool,
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
fellows:-
Apparatus according to this invention comprises one, two, or more oscillating
cylinders each having a piston-rod directly or otherwise connected to a crank on
a main shaft. Each cylinder may be mounted to oscillate on one or two suit-
ably supported hollow shafts adapted to serve as conduits to lead the live and
exhaust steam to and from the cylinder, suitable ports and passages being pro-
vided to enable the oscillation of the cylinder to cause steam to be admitted and
emitted to and from either end of the cylinder alternately; when a single hollow
shaft is used its interior may be divided into two parts by an oblique midfeather.
The passages leading to the two ends of each cylinder may open into a steam-
chest, which is secured to the cylinder, into communication with which the live
and exhaust steam conduits are brought and in which may be provided a slide or
other valve provided with means such as a train of link-work whereby it can be
moved so as to change the end of the cylinder to which steam is supplied and
thereby to reverse the direction of rotation of the crank-shaft. On the supply-
conduit there may be placed a sleeve adapted to be partly rotated and thereby to
vary the point of cut off as desired.
The steam after doing work in the cylinder or cylinders may pass into a surface
condenser with or without forming a vacuum according to requirements. The
condenser may comprise plates forming alternate air and steam chambers but pre-
ferably comprises a number of coils of double pipes cach composed of an internal
small pipe and a larger external pipe, there being sufficient space between the two
pipes to allow of the free passage of cooling air or the steam to be condensed, and
the ends of the internal and external pipes being connected to separate plates so
that the steam and cooling air do not come into direct contact with each other.
The cooling air may be forced through the condenser by one or more bellows
or pumps driven by the crank-shaft and may be caused to pass over or through a
suitable chemical cooling-agent before entering, the condenser, after leaving which
it may pass into the external atmosphere.
The steam is supplied to each cylinder by a generator which is connected to
the corresponding steam-supply conduit, a suitable valve being provided for con-
trolling the passage of steam from one to the other. The generator may comprise
a number of vertical or other pipes arranged within a casing and automatically
supplied intermittently with water, formed by the condensed exhaust steam from
the condenser, by one or more suitable pumps that force it in the form of spray
onto the heated tubes in such a manner that the water is immediately converted

page_text: into steam. The generator may be worked as a dry boiler, but preferably a small
quantity of water is retained in the lower portion in direct contact with the heat-
ing surface.
•
A compound safety valve may be provided on the generator and means may be
provided whereby, when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, the
safety-valve will automatically reduce the heating flame, which may be that of a
hydrocarbon or other lamp. The safety valve may comprise an internal cylinder
having its lower end slightly reduced in diameter to form a conical valve-seat upon
which rests
a piston-valve which fits inside the cylinder and may
be provided or not with packing-rings to form a steam-tight. joint
therewith and which may be pressed against its seat in any suit-
able manner by a weight or spring. In a suitable position in the internal
cylinder a small hole or holes is or are inade for steam to escape when the piston-
valve has been lifted some distance off its seat. Surrounding the internal cylinder
there is an outer casing which is provided with a suitable cover having a stuffing
box through which the valve-spindle passes; between the cylinder and the casing
there is a concentric space which may be separated or not from the interior of the
cylinder and which is connected with the surface-condenser so that all escaping
steam is conducted thereto. The pump or pumps for feeding the generator may
be actuated by eccentrics placed on the crank or main shaft: Each eccentric may
comprise two suitably formed discs each of which has a slot formed in it that will
allow the shaft to pass into its proper position, and has, it may be, in line with and
diametrically opposite to, this slot a portion with flat parallel sides projecting from
one of its faces, the arrangement being such that when the two discs are pro-
perly put together on the shaft the projection of each will fit into the slot of the
other. The two discs are then secured together by means of bolts and nuts.
The or each generator may be heated, as when the apparatus is applied, to a self-
propelling vehicle, by a suitable lamp having a number of burners, and means may
be provided whereby the flames of all or most of these burners may be automati-
cally regulated by the before mentioned compound-safety-valve, so that when a
small supply of steam is required the lights will be turned down. The lamp may
be constructed to burn benzoline or some other suitable hydrocarbon
A speed regulating governor may be employed and may be directly connected
with the reversing valve or the cut off sleeve of the or each cylinder, or a separate
throttle-valve.,
fe
When the apparatus is employed on a self-propelling vehicle the steering gear
may be so connected to one or more suitable stop or regulating valves that when it
is operated so as to direct the vehicle along a sharp, curve, the steam-supply will
be partly shut off and the speed reduced.
Dated this 3rd day of Hanamhaw 1807
:
2
Improvements in Apparatus suitable for the Propulsion of Motor
Road Vehicles.
We, JAMES.CAMBELL STEVENSON, of 80, Peach Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, and HENRY GARDNER, of 21, Benson Street, Liverpool
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
Each
Apparatus according to this invention comprises one or more oscillating
cylinders each having a piston rod connected to a crank on a main shaft.
cylinder is mounted to oscillate on a suitably supported hollow shaft adapted to
serve as a 'passage to lead the live and exhaust steam to and from the cylinder,
suitable ports and passages being provided to enable the oscillation of the cylinder to
cause steam to be admitted and emitted to and from either end of the cylinder
alternately the hollow trunnion shaft has its interior divided into two parts by
an oblique midfeather. The passages leading to the two ends of each cylinder
open into a steam-chest, which is secured to the cylinder into communication with
which the live and exhaust steam passages are brought, and in which is located
a valve provided in the case of reversible apparatus with means such as a train
of link-work whereby it can be moved so as to change the end of the cylinder
to which steam is supplied and thereby to reverse the direction of rotation of the
crank shaft. On the supply-conduit there is placed a sleeve provided with ports
and which may either be fixed or adapted to be partly rotated and thereby to vary
the point of cut off as desired.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate an oscillating
cylinder, the valve of which is shown adapted for use when the main shaft is to
be rotated in one direction only as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Figs. 1 & 2
are vertical longitudinal sections, both taken on the line AB of Fig. 3, with the
cylinder and parts connected therewith in two different positions. Fig. 3 is a
longitudinal section on the line CD Fig. 1 with the valve omitted and Fig. 4 is
a section on the line EF of Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive illustrate on a larger scale than the previous figures,
means for altering the position of the valve so as to reverse the direction of rota-
tion of the crank shaft. Fig. 5, shows a vertical section of the valve chest and
parts adjacent thereto, the valve being shown in a position for rotating the shaft
in an opposite direction to that indicated in Fig. 2.
Figs. 6, 7, & 8, are side elevations showing the reversing mechanism in various
positions Fig. 9 is a plan with the valve chest cover removed and Fig. 10 a
section on the line G H Fig. 6.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the oscillating cylinder 1 is connected
in any suitable manner with a casing 2 conveniently made in two parts bolted
together and comprising the valve chest 3 that oscillates with the cylinder 1 on a
hollow shaft 4, which is divided by a midfeather 5. The live steam enters at one
end say 6 of the hollow shaft 4 and passes through holes 6 into annular
cavities 7 and thence by passages 8 into the steam chest 3. The steam then
passes into the respective ends of the cylinder 1, through the steam ports 9, 10
alternately and exhausts through the port 11, which communicates with the other
end 12 of the tubular shaft 4, that is, at the opposite side of the midfeather 5.
On the hollow shaft 4 there is fixed, in the arrangement shown, a sleeve 13, in
which are formed the ports or passages 9, 10 & 11 of which 9 & 10 communicate
respectively with the cylinder ports 2ª & 2b. The ends of the sleeve 13 are kept
steam tight within the two parts of the casing 2 by suitable packing rings 13.
In some cases, instead of being fixed, the sleeve 13 may be rotatably mounted so
that it may be adjusted relatively to the valve for the purpose of varying the
expansion, when it is intended that the shaft should rotate in one direction only
the valve 14 is held in one position in the valve chest 3 as by a short arm 15
secured to a fixed spindle 16 so that the oscillation of the valve as it moves with
the valve chest opens and closes the ports 9 & 10 alternately. The piston 1* and
rod 1 are connected directly with the crank pin 1° of the main shaft as shown in
Figs. 1 & 2.
When the engine is required to be reversible, the valve 14 is provided with
teeth 14 that engage with corresponding teeth 15ª on an arm or quadrant 15 as

page_text: shown in Fig. 5. In this case the spindle 16 which passes through stuffing boxes
at the ends of the valve chest, has a short arm 17 attached at one end. This arm
is provided with a projecting pin 18 that enters a slot 18" in the reversing lever 19
which is mounted to oscillate on a stuffing box of the tubular shaft 4 as shown
in Fig. 10. On this lever there slides a block 20 which is moved up and down by
a spring pressed bell crank lever 21 pivoted near the upper end of the reversing
lever 19 and connected to the said block 20 by a link 21ª. 22 is a locking cap
for retaining the slide block 20 either in the lower position shown in Fig. 6 or
when the said block is fully raised as shown in Fig. 8, in which latter position a
tooth 23 which projects from the sliding block 20 engages in a recess 24 in a
quadrant-shaped extension 25, which may conveniently be secured to or made in
one with the valve chest cover 3". A link 26 is pivoted to a fixed pin 27 and
provided with a curved slot 26 into which engages a pin or stud 20ª on the
sliding block 20. This link 26 is also formed with a notch or slot 26 that is open
at one end and adapted to engage with the pin 18.
In the position shown in Fig. 8 the valve is adjusted for forward rotation of
the main shaft during which the reversing lever 19 oscillates with the cylinder in
consequence of the block 20 being locked to the valve-chest casing by the engage-
ment of the parts 23 & 25. The valve 14 is thereby held in the required position,
the slotted link 26 being raised above the pin 18 and the pin 20 working idly
in the slot 26. In order to reverse the engine the block 20 is first lowered until
the tooth 23 is free from the recess 24 and the pin 20ª presses the link 26 on
to the pin 18, the lever 19 is then pushed over into the position shown in Fig. 7,
the link 26 being raised so that the notch 26 is clear of the pin 18, whereupon
the reversing lever can be pulled over into the position shown in Fig. 6. The
block 20 is subsequently lowered when the cylinder is in a suitable position for
enabling the notch 26 to engage with the pin 18, the valve being then fixedly
held in the reversed position. The length of the crank arm 17, the position of
the fixed centre 27 of the link 26 and the position of the spindle 16 are respec-
tively arranged so that when the main shaft is rotating in the reverse direction,
the upper end of the reversing lever will not move and the valve will be held
in correct position.
The steam after doing work in the cylinder or cylinders may pass into a surface-
condenser, that may comprise plates forming alternate air and steam chambers
but which preferably comprises a number of coils of double pipes each composed
of an internal small pipe and a larger external pipe, there being sufficient space
between the two pipes to allow of the free passage of cooling air for the steam to
be condensed, and the ends of the internal and external pipes being connected
to separate tube plates or tubes so that the steam and cooling air will not come
in direct contact with each other.
The cooling air may be forced through the condenser by one or more bellows
or pumps driven by the crank-shaft and may be caused to pass over or through a
suitable chemical cooling-agent before entering the condenser, after leaving which
it may pass into the external atmosphere.
Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive illustrate one construction of such a condenser, Fig. 11
being a sectional elevation thereof showing the cooling tank arranged separately
from the double pipes. Fig. 12 a plan and Fig. 13 & 14 enlarged sections at
right angles to each other of an external and internal steam pipe and coupling
therefor. The steam after leaving the cylinder 1 flows through the hollow shaft 4
and leaves at the exhaust end 12 (Fig. 3) which is connected in this arrangement
with the inner steam pipe 28, Fig. 11, which pipe is surrounded by an outer
pipe 29 sufficiently large in diameter to allow enough space between the two pipes
for the free passage of cooling air. The ends of the internal and external pipes 28
& 29 are connected as shown in Fig. 11. The cooling air may be forced through
the coil of pipes by any convenient mean according to circumstances such as by a
centrifugal fan or a double acting bellows suitably actuated as by an eccentric
on the main shaft in the case of the bellows. The cooling air before entering

page_text: the pipe 29 passes through a coil 29ª arranged in a closed tank 30 (Figs. 11 & 12)
containing a cooling medium such as brine, the bellows being connected with the
inlet branch 29. The water of condensation is discharged into a suitable sealed
receiving tank, or tanks placed conveniently in proximity to the generator pumps.
The coupling for the ends of the tubes shown in Figs. 13 and 14 comprises a
sleeve 28 fixed over the joint of the inner tube 28 and provided with three wings
or distance pieces 28 that serve to hold the inner tube centrally in the outer
tube 29. The adjacent ends of the outer tube are provided with collars 29° that
are suitably clamped together as by screw rings 29ª.
The steam is supplied to each cylinder by a generator which is connected to the
corresponding steam supply pipe, a suitable valve being provided for controlling
the passage of steam from one to the other. The generator may comprise a
number of vertical or other pipes arranged within a casing and suitably heated
and which are supplied in an automatic and intermittent manner with water,
viz. the condensed exhaust steam from the condenser by one ог more
suitable pumps that force it in the form of spray into the heated
pipes in such a way that the water is immediately converted into steam. The
generator may be worked as a dry boiler, but preferably a small quantity of water
is retained in the lower portion in direct contact with the heating surface.
One arrangement of steam generator is illustrated in Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive,
in which Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation, Figs. 16 & 17 plans, one half of Fig. 16
being in section, Fig. 18 a plan of the heating lamp and Figs. 19 & 20 a vertical
section and a plan respectively of the spray producer. The vertical pipes 31 are
arranged in a cylindrical casing 31ª and are supplied with water through a
pipe 32, the water passing therefrom into a common central chamber 33 from
which radiate tubes 34 each of which conducts water to a corresponding generat-
ing pipe 31 through an annular perforated pipe or rose 35, from which the water
is intermittently sprayed against the upper end of the corresponding vertical
pipe 31.
The steam generator or each such generator may be heated, as when the appa-
ratus is applied to a self-propelling vehicle, by a suitable lamp having a number
of burners and means may be provided whereby the flames of all or most of these
burners may be automatically regulated by a suitable compound safety valve, so
that when a small supply of steam is required the lights will be turned down.
The lamps may constructed to burn benzoline or some other suitable hydrocarbon,
but that shown is adapted to burn composite candles 36 that are normally pressed
upwards as they burn away by means of springs 36ª resting on screwed caps 36b.
For the purpose of regulating the heat the candles or several of them are pro-
vided with extinguishing hoods or covers 37, which are carried by rock shafts 37
and which are kept normally raised but can be automatically turned down by suit-
able means to be hereafter described.
It
A compound safety valve may be provided on the generator and means may be
provided whereby, when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, the
safety-valve will automatically reduce the heating flame, which may be that of a
hydro-carbon or other lamp, for example a candle lamp as herein before stated.
A compound safety valve is shown by way of example in section Fig. 21.
comprises an internal cylinder 38, having its lower end reduced in diameter to
form a conical valve-seat 38 upon which rests a piston-valve 39 that closes the
end of the inlet branch 38b and which fits inside the cylinder. The said valve
may advantageously be provided with packing rings 39 to form a steam-tight
joint with the cylinder and may be pressed against its seat in any suitable manner
by a weight or spring; in the example shown a spring 40 and lever 40° are
employed. In a suitable position in the internal cylinder a small hole or holes 38°
is or are made for steam to escape when the piston-valve 39 has been lifted some
distance off its seat. Surrounding the internal cylinder there is an outer
casing 41, which is provided with a suitable cover 41 having a stuffing box 41b
through which the valve spindles 39 passes: between the cylinder and the casing

page_text: there is a concentric space 42, which may be separated, or, not from the interior
of the cylinder and which can be connected if desired with the surface-condenser
through an outlet 42° so that all escaping steam is conducted thereto. The internal
diameter of the cylinder 38 is made sufficiently larger than the diameter of the
valve seating in order to provide an excess of area to be acted on by the steam for the
purpose of obtaining the amount of power required to actuate suitable mechanism
for regulating the flames of the heating lamps. Pivoted near to the free end of
the lever is a rod 43 the lower end of which is connected to a suitable detent
lever 43 which engages with a lever 44 pivoted to the lamp casing 37b and which
is connected by links to two other levers. When for example seven burners are
employed as shown, each rock shaft 37 carries two or more extinguishing hoods
or covers, that are held by the detent lever 43ª in a vertical position between the
flames when the safety valve is on its seat, but as soon as the valve is lifted by an
excess of pressure, the rod 40" lifts the detent lever, 43ª and releases the rocking
shafts 37 whereupon the extinguishing hoods 37 are turned down by springs on
to the upper ends of the burning material and extinguishes' or partially extin-
guishes the flame. The hoods are raised by hand when extra heat and steam is
required, they may be connected in series so as to enable the whole or only a
portion of them being raised according to requirements.
**
The pumps for feeding the generators are of the ordinary construction. They are
actuated by eccentrics placed on the main driving or crank shaft and are supplied
from a suitable tank into which the water of condensation runs.
Figs. 22 & 23 show in elevation and cross section respectively an improved form
of detachable eccentric for actuating the said pumps.
Each eccentric may comprise two suitably formed discs 45, 46 each of which
has a slot 47, 48 respectively formed in it that will allow of it being placed in its
proper position on the driving shaft, and each disc in line with and diametrically
opposite to this slot a portion 49 & 50 respectively with flat parallel sides project-
ing from one of its faces, the arrangement being such that when the two discs are
properly put together on the shaft the projection of each will fit into the slot of
the other. The two discs are then secured together. by means of bolts and nuts,
and a a complete circular plate of uniform thickness is produced. By this means a
light and small eccentric can be fixed to the shaft.
Figs. 24 & 25 shown in outline a sectional elevation and a plan of these improve-
ments applied by way of example to a three wheeled autocar.
In this arrange-
ment the steam supply pipe 51 from the two generators 31* are led off near the
front steering wheel 52 and are provided with a three way regulating valve 51ª
preferably of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 2745
of. 1895 granted to H. Gardner. From the fork of the steering wheel projects a
lever 53 that is connected by a link 53° with another lever arm fixed on the
spindle of the threeway valve 51ª the arrangement being such that when the
steering wheel is moved at an angle to pass around a corner a portion of the
steam will be automatically shut off to prevent too great a speed being acquired
when turning, 54 is a stop valve for shutting off the steam supply 55 are
receiving tanks for the water of condensation and 56 are pumps for supplying
the water to the generator, 57 are bellows for supplying air to the
condenser, herein shown operated by means of an eccentric on the main
shaft. The operation of the auto-car will be readily understood from the before
description of the various parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
تم
1. In propelling apparatus of the kind hereinbefore referred to, one or more
oscillating cylinders each having a piston rod connected to a crank on a main
shaft, and each provided with a steam chest and valve which are both adapted
to oscillate with the corresponding, cylinder upon a hollow shaft which is formed

page_text: as a divided passage to lead the live and exhaust steam to and from the cylinder,
suitable ports & passages being provided to enable the oscillation of the cylinder to
cause steam to be admitted and emitted to and from each end of the cylinder
alternately, substantially as described, whether the valve be provided or not with
the means whereby it can be moved so as to effect the reversing of the engine.
2. Propelling apparatus comprising one or' more oscillating cylinders con-
structed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with refer-
ence to and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
3. In propelling apparatus comprising one or more oscillating cylinders as set
forth in Claim 1, means for altering the position of valve in the valve chest
whereby the direction of rotation of the engine is reversed, substantially as here-
inbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive of the
accompanying drawings.
4. In propelling apparatus the combination with an engine comprising one or
more oscillating cylinders, of a surface condenser formed of double pipes each com-
posed of an internal small pipe and an external large pipe, there being sufficient
space between the two pipes to allow of the free passage of cooling air for con-
densing the exhaust steam in the inner pipe, means being provided to prevent the
air and steam from coming into direct contact with each other, substantially as
described.
5. In propelling apparatus a tubular condenser comprising internal and external
pipes of such diameters that an annular space is formed between them for the
passage of exhaust steam or the cooling air, and cooling means such as a brine
tank through which the cooling air is passed by means of a coil submerged
therein, means such as a fan, pump or bellows being provided for forcing the air
through the pipes as described.
6. In propelling apparatus of the kind herein before set forth, a steam generator
constructed arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to
and shown in Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
7. In propelling apparatus, a compound safety valve constructed arranged and
operating as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Fig. 21 of the
drawings annexed.
8. In propelling apparatus a safety valve as described in the preceding claim
in combination with means for automatically operating a damper or dampers or
other means for reducing the supply of heat to the steam generator as the pres-
sure of steam increases substantially as described.
9. In propelling apparatus of the kind described the eccentric hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Figs. 22 & 23 of the drawings annexed.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in the drawings annexed and constituting apparatus for
the propulsion of motor road vehicles.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.