Improvements in or Appertaining to Motive Power Engines Worked by Elastic or Non-elastic Pressure, and in the Application thereof to Drills, Chisels, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec, 1888
Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
Improvements in or Appertaining to Motive Power Engines Worked
by Elastic or Non-elastic Pressure, and in the Application thereof
to Drills, Chisels, and the like.
A communication from abroad by FRANZ JACOB LAUN, of Villingen (Baden), in the
Empire of Germany, Mechanic.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND M. Inst. M.E. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
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 certain improvements in motors which are
distinguished essentially by a peculiar arrangement of distributing slide valve within
the steam piston itself, the steam piston being furnished on the inside with steam and
exhaust ports and on the outside with flutings or grooves, which in combination with
shell shaped cavities arranged on the inner wall of the cylinders, bring about the
automatic return of the distributing slide valve and consequently the reversing of the
movement of the piston.
Since the distributing slide valve is situated within the steam piston and its
movement is effected by the motion of the piston itself, the motor requires for its
operation no valve chest nor slide valve rod and no special mechanism to transmit the
motion of the piston to the slide valve.
A further, and in practice, very important advantage results directly from this,
namely, the compact form of the motor and the simplicity of construction, and it may
therefore be not only advantageously applied as a power working machine, but also
may admirably be adapted for the direct working of various kinds of machine tools.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 to 6 inclusive show the invention applied to a steam cylinder in various
working positions and aspects, while
Figures 7 to 11 inclusive show details of the same.

page_text: .
in Figures 12 and 15 the invention is shown adapted to Woolfschen and compound
engines.
Figures 14 to 22 inclusive show the invention applied as a direct acting engine.
In the steam cylinder B (Figures 1, 7 and 8) which in construction only varies
from the usual type of steam cylinders in that there are ports 4, 7, 11 and 13
(Figures 1, 7 and 8) on the inside instead of the usual ports at each end, the piston D
reciprocates.
=
The piston D may be a solid cylinder, or for the sake of lightness may be solid only
in the middle, but provided with a chamber m for the purpose hereafter described, and
elsewhere hollowed out. The piston rod (Figure 1) which serves as a steam pipe,
passes from the steam piston D, through the cylinder cover A, to the steam pipe G
(Figures 1, 2, 3) which is connected with the gland of the stuffing box, while the
main piston rod H passing through the cylinder cover A' is connected with the
connecting rod of the engine. The piston D is thus supported in the cylinder.
The distributing slide valve E is a piston valve of suitable construction which
intermittently reciprocates in the chamber m of the piston D.
The passages for the steam admission and exhaust as well as the grooves are placed
in the steam piston D or on its periphery. Supposing the piston 1) to have reached
the end of a stroke to the left, the movable portions of the motor will assume the
position shown in Figure 1. The steam passes from the feed pipe G through the
hollow piston rod / which is firmly fixed to the piston D, and into the piston itself by
passing through the port 1 and reaches the chamber m, thence it passes through the
ports 2 to the front of the steam piston D so that the pressure of the steam now causes
the latter to move towards the right (Figure 2). As soon as the piston reaches the
end of its stroke (Figure 3) the groove 13 establishes a connection between the
passage 3 & groove 31 (which is at right angles to the admission port 1) and
the upper end of the chamber m in which the distributing slide valve E oscillates.
The steam therefore passes through the hollow piston rod 7, the port 1, the passage,
and the groove 13, on to the piston of the distributing slide valve E, so that the latter.
moves in a downward direction and takes up the position shown in Figure 3; it being
supposed that the steam which is contained in the chamber m beneath the said slide
valve can escape. This is effected by the groove 11, which establishes a connection
between the groove 5 on the inside periphery of the piston D and the passage I
(Figures 4 and 6) which latter is. also on the periphery of the piston D and which
carries the exhaust steam to the exit.
When the piston valve Elias assumed the position shown in Figure 3, the entrance
of the steam to the lower part of the chamber m is cut off, it therefore enters the
upper part of the said chamber which it fills, and passes through the channel 8 to the
back of the piston D so that the latter now commences its return stroke.
K
The piston D is thus impelled from right to left, and the steam in the lower end of
the cylinder which impelled the piston towards the right must in consequence he
permitted to escape. For this purpose there are ports 9, 12 (Figures 3, 4, 9, and 10)
in the piston D which establish a communication with the groove I (Figures 4 and 5)
Ι
on the periphery of the piston. The groove I joins a second depression or groove.
on the periphery of the piston (Figures 5 and 6) lying parallel to the piston rods,
which, when the,, piston D oscillates, always remains in communication with the
exhaust Pin the wall of the cylinder B (Figure 5). If the piston D moves to the
lefs, the steam in the lower end of the cylinder escapes through channel 2 into
chamber m and from thence through port 9 and through the grooves I and K to the
exhaust port P. To.enable the piston to make its return stroke, the distributing slide
valve takes up,the, position shown in Figure 3 as previously described, and does not
move back till the piston D has again reached the bottom of the cylinder as. shown
in Figure 1.
In this position the steam which flows through the passage 3 is enabled to pass
along a groove -10 (Figure 6 dotted lines) to the groove 7, underneath the distributing
slide valve E (Figure 1).
The direct pressure of the steam thus returns the distributing, slide valve, whilst

page_text: the steam which is on the top of it passes away through the exhaust P (Figure 5)
through groove 4 in the wall of the cylinder, groove 14 (Figures 1 and 5) and
grooves I and K.
The steam from the boiler then flows again as above described through the steam
port 1, chamber m, and channel 2 to the front of the piston D and moves the said
piston from left to right. The steam on the top of the piston passes away to exhaust
through channel 8 to the upper end of chamber m and thence through the port 12
which is now uncovered, and through the passages I and K to the exhaust port P
(Figure 5).
If the exhaust steam is to be still further utilized then two motors may be combined
as in the compound engine as shown in Figure 12, or as in the Woolfschen compound
engine, as shown in Figure 13.
In the former arrangement there is no material variation in the construction, whilst
in the second the distributing slide valve E is furnished with special slide surfaces s s
and with exhaust ports 9, 12. The exhaust ports 9, 12 (Figure 13) establish com-
munication with the hollow piston rod which forms the connecting piston rod
between the two pistons.
If the two pistons E E take up the position shown in Figure 13, the steam
passes through the hollow piston roil 1, port 1. upper end of the valve chamber and
port S to the top of the high pressure cylinder, and pushes the piston back, whilst
the steam behind the high pressure pision which has already been used, passes away
to exhaust through channel 2 and lower end of valve chamber, and from thence
through the port 9 into the hollow piston rod . It then passes through port 1 of
the low pressure piston, the valve chamber, and the port 8, and expands so that
pressure is exerted on the top of the piston, and it also is moved towards the left
simultaneously with the high pressure piston.
On account of the small number of working parts and the simplicity of construction,
the invention may be made applicable for imparting motion directly to a tool either
attached to some other machine or held in the hand by the operator.
This part of the invention is shown in Figures 14 to 20 inclusive as applied to a
chisel, in Figure 21 to a chisel or drill, and in Figure 22 to a drill.
In Figures 14 to 20 inclusive, B is a cylinder closed by the cover A which encloses
the motive mechanism, and C a chisel holder to which the chisel is fastened in the
ordinary manner. The motive mechanism inside the cylinder B consists essentially of
the piston D provided with ports and channels and the distributing slide valve. E
inside the piston. The said valve is a piston slide valve of ordinary construction.
The movable head a of the holder C from which the said head a (preferably rounded
on its end face) projects, is inserted in the cylinder B. Underneath this plate a there
is a shoulder or neck d, against which a spiral spring e presses, while the lower end of
the spring rests against the face of the shoulder of the socket f. The cocket is placed
on the tubular neck g of the cylinder B and secured to the latter by means of the
screwed cap h. The chisel itself which is not shown in the drawings, is inserted in
the taper hole hored in the end of the chisel holder C, so that it sets itself firm by
work but can be again freed by forcing a pin or bar through the slot '. The chisel
holder C and the chisel are thus raised by the spring e when the force which drove it
down is removed.
Any suitable motive force may be provided such as, for example, compressed air.
Any other suitable force may be employed however instead of compressed air.
If the several parts are in the position shown in Figure 15, the compressed air
enters the piston, passing through the tubular neck k of the cover A, and through the
small tube screwed into the latter. The said guide tube fits closely a cylindrical
cavity in the piston D, and from thence the channel 1 leads into the valve chamber m
which is at right angles to the axis of the piston D and in which the piston valve E
moves. The compressed air fills the end I of the chamber m and passes upwards
through channel 1, 2. Since the cylinder B is air-tight above the piston D, the latter
is forced down, the passage 3 bored to meet the channel 1 reaches a groove or cavity 4
in the wall of the cylinder B so that the compressed air now passes through the pipe,

page_text: ports l'and 3, groove 4, and forces the distributing valve E to the position shown in
Figure 16, provided that the air which is in front of the slide valve (Figure 15) can
escape. This however takes place through the groove 5. The commencement of
groove is opposite to the port 3 and opens into a space 6. (Figures 17, 18 and 21)
in the side of the piston E, in front of which is the exhaust pipe P in the wall of the
cylinder. When the piston E descends, this groove 5' is placed in communication
with the chamber m by means of the groove 7 which is formed in the wall of the
cylinder besides being placed in coinmunication with the exhaust P (Figure 21),
therefore the air which is in front of the distributing valve E is permitted to escape to
the exhaust through the cavity 7, grooves 5, 51, and cavity 6 on the piston E, when
the valve E is moved to the left. The distributing valve E is therefore (in consequence
of the pressure of the air against the right hand end of the same) moved to the left
and takes up the position shown in Figure 16. In this position the part I of the
chamber m is shut off from the air supply but on the other hand the end II of
chamber m is placed in communication with port 1 and thereby with the compressed
air supply which thus fills the end of the valve chamber, and passes through the
channel 8 by which it is led beneath the piston D and reverses the motion thereof.
The air above the piston D which has been cut off from the air supply port 1
(Figure 16) resists the return movement and must therefore be permitted to escape.
For this purpose a port 9 is provided which when the distributing slide valve is in the
position shown in Figure 16, is uncovered and is in communication with port 2 and
recess 6 (Figure 18) on the piston D. Supposing the compressed air to flow through
the channel 8 and beneath the piston D to press the latter upward, the compressed
air which is above the piston Descapes through channel 2, section 1 of chamber m,
port 9, and recess 6 to exhaust P.
The piston D thus takes up again the position shown in Figure 15, whereupon
the distributing slide valve moves from the position shown in Figure 16 to that
shown in Figure 15. This change in position from left to right takes place in a
similar manner to that from right to left herein before described.
From the port 3 the groove 10 passes in the direction indicated on Figure 17 to
the opposite side of the piston D beneath the valve chamber m where it terminates.
When the piston D is raised, the end 10¹ of the groove 10 is placed in com-
munication by means of the groove 11 in the wall of the cylinder B, with
section 1 of the chamber m, so that now the compressed air passes through port 1
and passage 3 and reaches the groove 10 (Figure 17) where it flows half round
the piston D reaches (through the groove 11 Figure 15) the front of the valve E,
and forces the latter back again from right to left, as shown in Figure 15.
Section II of chamber m is cut off from communication with the compressed air,
while the communication between section I and port 1 is restored so that the air
again issues above the piston D passing through channels 1 and 2. In this position
the left hand piston of the valve E covers the exhaust port 9. The piston D is
therefore forced down, whereupon the air which is beneath the piston returns
through channel 8 to section II of chamber m and from here escapes through
port 12 (Figure 18) and so to the exhaust.
.
The air which was behind the valve and which would otherwise prevent the latter
moving to place the ports 1 and 2 in communication, escapes through the groove 13
(Figure 15) which establishes communication by means of the groove on the cir-
cumference of the piston D with the cavity 6 and consequently the exhaust pipe.
The ingress and egress of compressed air is thus regulated so as to produce a recipro-
cating motion of the piston.
The chisel holder Cas heretofore described is arranged beneath the piston D and
embraced by a spring in such a manner that it will rise as soon as the pressure on it
is removed; the holder receives as many blows or strokes in one minute as the
piston D makes backward motions in the same period of time. When the operator
has ascertained from the effect of the first few blows, the requisite amount of force to
be applied, he need only guide the chisel along the lines indicated and at these points
where he may desire the chisel to cut deeper, cause the chisel to operate on those

page_text: points until the desired effect has been produced. Since the operator does not himself
strike the chisel, he may easily and safely guide the latter along the material which is
being operated upon, and the most intricate lines can be followed with the greatest
accuracy.
As before described the exhaust air escapes through the opening P in the cylinder B
The air which in this arrangement escapes without further utility might he made nse-
of for blowing away the dust or chips produced, so that the lines to be chiselled cut
can always be clearly seen or followed by the operator. Furthermore this exhaust air
may be made use of to cool the chisel, and also, with a slight alteration in the cap
to rotate the rod 30 to enable holes to be chiselled. or..drilled. With these objects in
view a tube R leads from the exhaust P to the lower part of the cap and ends in a
hole n therein: Thé exhaust air passes through the small tube R and the hole n to the
lower part of the cap and the chisel holder C, along and around which it is conducted
by the annular space o and flows down to the chisel point which is in operation and
blows away the dust that is here produced by the action, for example, of a chisel
The air plays round the blade which is thereby cooled, or any over-
When the escaping air is employed for rotating the cutting blade, the lower part of
the cap (Figure 21) is provided with a head. The chisel holder is foursided
at p and on this is placed a small winged wheel F provided with a foursided bore.
upon stone.
beating avoided.
Now if the same apparatus is to be employed for chiselling holes, which has before
been described for straight chiselling, the screwed cap h (Figures 15 and 16) is
loosened, the capf (Figures 14 to 16) removed and instead of it a cap provided with
a head (Figure 21) is screwed on, within which head the winged wheel Fis
enclosed.
The exhaust air then issues against the wings F and sets them in motion, and as
they are keyed onto the foursided collar p the said chisel holder and the chisel also
rotate therewith, during the reciprocating motion of the piston. A circular hole may
thus be made in the material.
The exhaust air flows down as before from the cap f so that the dust formed during
the operation is blown away.
A further application for the direct working of a drill is shown in Figure 22.
The drill holder C is held in the cap f by means of a circular groove g¹ in the
circumference thereof, into which a ring is inserted so that the holder can revolve
but cannot be displaced vertically.
At the top end of the holder Č is a quick threaded screw S which penetrates a hole
in the piston D and receives the nut M. If the piston D is vibrated vertically, the
drill is made to rotate by means of the motion of the nut M on the screw S.
The compressed air required for the work may be generated in the case of heavy or
extensive works, by a special power machine, or in the case of light or smaller
works by a hollow india rubber ball. In the latter case the operator holds the
apparatus with the right hand against the point where the cutting is to be effected,
while with the left hand he squeezes the india rubber ball, and thereby supplies the
air pressure required for the work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a motive power engine, the arrangement and combination of the distributing
slide valve E within and at right angles to the axis of the steam piston D, the ingress
and egress ports 1, 2, 8, 9, and 12, and the grooves or channels 5, 10 and 14, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination and arrangement of the motive power engine for working or
operating a chisel or a drill substantially as set forth, so that as the piston D recipro-
cates it will rotate the drill shaft or impart blows or vibrations to the chisel holder
which latter is provided with a spring and is thus always raised, when the pressure of
the piston is released.

page_text: 3. In combination with the apparatus set forth in Claim 2, the side channel or
exhaust pipe R, leading from the exhaust port P to the lower end of the apparatus for
conveying the exhaust air and directing it on to the object operated upon, so as to
keep the point of the tool clear of dust, substantially as described.
4. In combination with the apparatus set forth in Claim 2, the winged wheel F on
the chisel holder C, upon the wings or blades of which the exhaust is caused to alter-
nately impinge with the object of causing the chisel to rotate while at work,
substantially as described.