IMPROVE- MENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSMITTING POWER
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Craig, Archibald Fulton Oraig, and
Alexander Morton Strathern, all of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSMITTING
POWER."
Sealed the 2nd April 1875, and dated the 12th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Craig, Archibald
Fulton Craig, and Alexander Morton Strathern at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th October
1874.
We, JAMES CRAIG, ARCHIBALD FULTON, CRAIG, and .ALEXANDER
MORTON STRATHERN, all of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSMITTING
POWER," to be as follows:-
-
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved construction
of the ports, and of the plate or brander form of “cut-off” valves, and

page_text: mode of actuating these, on the back of the slide valves (or of the slide
valves themselves) of steam engines, or it might be other pressure flud
motors, and of that also of the ports and slide valves for controlling the
admission and exhaustion of the steam to and from the motive cylinders
of direct acting reciprocating (or non-rotative) pumping steam engines; a
and also of a new or improved construction of engaging and disengaging
or reversing clutch for transmitting motive power from rotative engines
through revolving shafts, and in the construction of the guide blocks of
piston rods for compensating and making good the wear and tear in
these blocks, all for the greater simplicity and efficiency of action of the
said ports and engines than has been possible heretofore. And the
nature and novelty of the said first improvement in cut-off valves (as
applied to short slide valves with long ports in cylinder) consists in
having the inlet steam port or ports (when there are extra inner ports)
at each opposite end of the slide valve (and which in this case pass 1
through it) formed at a considerable angle transversely in reverse
directions, converging towards each other on one side, and diverging on
the other, and in having the corresponding opposite ends of the plate
forming the cut-off valve, or these and the ports in it (when it has
these opposite the extra inner ports in the slido valve) formed at, the 2
same angle as the respective ports in the slide valve, and so as to lie
parallel to these in the form of the section of a truncated cone, but
somewhat broader over all, so that when shifted laterally towards one
side it gradually closes or covers the ports in the slide valve, and vice
versa when shifted towards the opposite side it gradually opens these?
ports, and as it were lengthens or shortens the cut-off valve in relation
to or gives more or less cover over the ports below it in the slide valve.
This new lateral motion is given to the cut-off valve by the governor of
the engine (or it might be by hand in engines without governors), thus
dispensing with a throttle valve and giving an extra variable cut-off of
the steam by the same valve, in addition to the regular fixed cut-off
given by its longitudinal motion, and eccentric or other equivalent.
By one arrangement the lateral motion is given to the cut-off valve
by one or two toothed racks on its back or upper face, and corre-
sponding small segmentally toothed pinions geared therein, or an
eccentric working in guides and keyed on the longitudinal reciprocating
spindle, which is free to oscillate or turn, as well as reciprocate, in its
stuffing box and guides, and actuating boss or snugs on the back of the

page_text: valve. This valve rod also reciprocates through and is connected by
a groove and feather to the eye of a spanner or wiper having its turned
boss oscillating in the bush bearing in a fixed bracket, and its free end
connected by a rod or other equivalent to that of the lever of or actuated
by the governor, that it thus reciprocates the cut-off valve to cut off or
give less or more opening and steam at both ends of the valves in pro-
portion to the speed of the engine above or below its normal velocity
and state of the governor; the outer end of the valve spindle being
connected to its actuating eccentric rod by a swivel and an ordinary
flat oscillating joint to it, to turn while its eccentric rod only recipro-
cates. It is to be understood that this construction and arrangement
off cut-off valve, and system or mode of actuating the same, may also
be applied to long slide valves, or to short single slide valves, with the
short direct ports into the cylinders, and both worked by one long
reciprocating and oscillating rod with segmental pinions working
toothed racks on the back of each valve within its casing, the rod
working out through stuffing boxes in these, and the segments working
in the grooves on the back of the valve might form the guide for keeping
it in its lateral action on its rod; or the rod might pass through bushes
made to slide in short slotted guides in snugs on the back of the valve
by which it is reciprocated, longitudinally or otherwise. When these
single cut-off valves are desired to be worked at each end of the cylinder
by levers simultaneously the levers could be connected to lateral spindles
working through a stuffing box in one side of cach casing, having the
inner end either connected to the valve by an oscillating link or by a
pin and slot connection, either of which would actuate the valves
laterally while they were being reciprocated longitudinally by their
usual rods and other connections. And although lateral motion has
only been described as given to the cut-off valve plate it will be obvious
that this might be stationary, and that the lateral motion might be
given to the slide valve by the governor in any equivalent manner, but
in the opposite direction; and further, that ordinary D or other slide
valves might be thus moved laterally by the governor to give the
variable cut-off, all with much the same effect and result.
In regard to the second improvements, as to the construction and
arrangement of the ports and slide valve of the steam cylinders of direct
acting reciprocating pumps, the ports are formed in the cylinder so as
to cross or pass each other equally on each side of the centre of the

page_text: valve's motion before reaching the face plate and casing, which is
preferred to be made in the form of a hollow cylinder, with a long
piston slide valve working in it, having the entering steam port in
its centre, and with the exhaust ports, both in the valve and the face
plate, outside of the said cross steam ports, exhausting out through a
branch on the side of the cylinder below the face plate and casing, into
which the steam from the boiler enters by a central branch, and is led
through a back recess into the mid steam space of the valve, and
through the central port into either of the cross ports to the opposite
ends of the cylinder from that to and at which the valve is moved and
held by the entering of the steam behind the close end of the valve
through a small duct or port leading from the same end of the cylinder
just behind the piston when the latter has reached near the extreme end
of its stroke, so as to shift or reverse the valve by this steam, which has
done its work, and admit the acting steam through the valve and cross
port at the opposite side of the centre to the other side of the piston and
the said end of the cylinder to reverse or force it forward to the other
end and exhaust the steam through the other cross port at the end of
the valve from which it had been pressed; and in like manner when the
piston reaches near the other end the same reverse action of the valve
would take place through a like port leading behind that end of the
valve and reverse or force the piston through its back stroke, all as
described in reference to the forward stroke. For this action of the
valve its ends are preferred to be made of a hollow piston shape, slightly
longer than the length of their traverse for "cover over the small
ports leading from the cylinder, and which admit the steam through
perforations in the web of a crescent or eccentric-shaped groove in it
over each port to the hollow space within these ends, which is nearly filled
up by the hollow caps on the close ends of the casing when the valve
reaches its extreme throw or position towards these ends. The steam,
which has shifted the valve at the other end, then escapes out through
the perforations and crescent groove by a small recess in the face of the
plate into the exhaust port at that end of the valve from which it has
been shifted in either action of the valve.
"
For starting or stopping the engine a small spindle is made to pass
in through a stuffing box in the casing or steam pipe behind the valve,
with a lateral central wiper on it working into a recess in the back of
the valve, so as to shift and set it as desired by a hand lever or whee]

page_text: on the outer end of the spindle; and when desired the piston of the
steam cylinder and the steam valve might be cushioned either by tho
exhaust steam or by live steam left or admitted behind them; or the
valve might be cushioned by springs set by pinching screws in the said
hollow end covers.
Although a piston valve has been described it is to be understood that
D shaped or other ordinary slide valves might be used, when these arc
constructed and arranged to act as described in reference to the piston
valve.
The construction and arrangement of the improved clutch or coupling
consist as follows:-In forming cither a solid or hollow, and preferably
parallel or cylindrical, wheel or coupling box turned truly with one,
two, or more V shaped concentric frictional grooves in it, keyed or loose
on its spindle, with another plain wheel, disc, or boss, conversely cither
loose or keyed on its spindle, carrying one, two, or more strong fixed
studs projecting over the said grooved coupling surface, with eccentric
segmental tongue and frictional grooved wipers or clutches oscillating
loose on them, balanced with light springs, which press their cccentric
groove surface slightly into action with the grooved coupling wheel
driven or to be driven.
The power required to transmit the motion tightens the friction
coupling grooves in proportion to the power required to be transmitted,
so that slip cannot take place, while the disengaging or uncoupling of
the clutch is effected by arms or levers projecting inwards from the eye
of the eccentric clutch wipers towards a conical sliding boss on one of
the shafts, which when pushed towards these arms by a clutch lever
working in a groove in its boss turns their gripping grooved surfaces out
of action with the great force due to the conical action of the sliding
boss and said levers in the reverse direction to and against the power of
the said light springs which held them in action.
Another improvement has reference to a mode and means of
tightening up the slide blocks of piston cross heads to compensate or
make good the wear and tear of these blocks in their guides, and consists
in angling the opposite sides of the cross head or piston rod butt longi-
tudinally, next and to which the guide blocks are fitted and attached
with correspondingly reversed angled surfaces, with snugs abutting
against the ends of the butt, and a cotter at its wide ends, so as to

page_text: tighten up the said angled slide blocks as wedges, at any time when
desired, by cutting or dressing a little off the opposite end abutting
snugs. The piston rod butt, in this case, is preferably solid, and when
the connecting rod pin works through it the bushes are tightened up
by a pinching screw and jamb nut at the extreme end, space being left 5
in the fork of the connecting rod for this purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Craig, Archibald Fulton Craig, and
Alexander Morton Strathern, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
CRAIG, ARCHIBALD FULTON CRAIG, and ALEXANDER MORTON STRATHERN,
all of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said James Craig, Archibald Fulton
Craig, and Alexander Morton Strathern, Her special licence that we, the
said James Craig, Archibald Fulton Craig, and Alexander Morton
Strathern, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said James Craig, Archibald Fulton Craig, and Alexander
Morton Strathern, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND MECHANISM FOR TRANS-
MITTING POWER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
James Craig, Archibald Fulton Craig, and Alexander Morton Strathern,
our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Craig, Archibald Fulton
Craig, and Alexander Morton Strathern, do hereby declare the nature of
our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying three
Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
Our said Invention has reference to and consists generally, first, of a
new or improved construction of the ports and of the plate or brander
construction of "cut-off" valves, and mode of actuating theso on the
back of the slide valves, or of the slide valves themselves, of steam
engines, or it might be other pressure fluid motors; and, secondly, of
the improved construction, arrangement, and action of the ports and
slide valves for controlling the admission or exhaustion of the steam to
and from the motive cylinders of direct acting reciprocating (or non-
rotative) pumping steam engines; and, thirdly, of a new or improved
construction of engaging and disengaging, or reversing clutch or
coupling, for transmitting motive power from rotative engines to and
through revolving shafts; and, fourthly, in a new or improved con-
struction of guide blocks of or for the piston rods, which would maintain
their tightness in fitting and filling, thus compensating or making good.
the wear and tear of these blocks; all, for the purpose of giving greater
simplicity in construction and efficiency in the action of the said parts
of engines and motive-power transmitting mechanism than has been the
case heretoforc.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing or
putting our said Invention into effect or practice, we will now proceed
to describe the several Figures on the three Sheets of Drawings which
we have hereunto appended, showing sufficient modifications and
adaptations of the several improvements for that purpose, the same.
reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in all-
the Figures where shown.
Referring to the several Figures on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, and to the first and third improvements of our said In-

page_text: vention, Figures 1 and 2 are a longitudinal front or side elevation, and
a plan respectively; and Figure 3, an end elevation; all of a (portable
or self-contained) horizontal steam engine, constructed in accordance
with and illustrative of the said first and third improvements of our said
Invention, showing one modification of our improved construction of
angled cut-off valve A, and angled inlet steam ports b, b, on the back
of the slide valve B, as applied to this engine; and also the application
of one modification or construction of our engaging and disengaging
friction clutch or coupling P, Q, for transmitting the revolving motion
of the crank shaft 4 of the engine to the motive-power transmitting
shaft 4* to be driven thereby; which improved coupling or clutch P, Q,
is shown in complete section in Figure 3, and front elevation or face
view in Figure 4.
Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, a front and back clevation of the
slide valve B, the latter showing the same with two of the improved 1
inlet steam ports b, b³, angled equally and transversely from each other
towards each end of the valve, and entering into different steam ducts
or chambers b¹¹, 6ª, separated by a central division, feather, or web at 6*
(seen in Figure 7) at the back of the exhaust recess and port d in the
centre between the two ports 61, 6³, respectively seen in Figure 5,) and 2
all three formed square across the face, as in ordinary short slide valves,
to open into the corresponding ports and long ducts c, c", and c¹, c²,
leading to each end of the cylinder, and on each side of the central
exhaust port and duct d', d", leading to the exhaust outlet branch d³,
all as shown, particularly in the central horizontal section, Figure 7, of 2
the cut-off and slide valves A, B; Figures 8 and 9 being a back elevation
and central transverse section of the cut-off valve A, and all corre-
sponding to Figures 1, 2, and 3, but drawn to a larger scale to show
the construction, arrangement, and action of the parts in detail more
clearly.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the general construction of this
engine consists of the cylinder 1 with the steam and valve chest 2 cast
on it at one side, and the ordinary steam ports c, c¹, c¹, c³, in the face 2¹
leading to each end of the cylinder, and the exhaust port and duct d¹, d",
leading to the outlet exhaust branch pipe & below, and with the inlet a
steam branch 2" on the top of the steam chest 2, all so far much as
usual, with a stool or flanged bracket 1' cast on the lower back end of
the cylinder, while the flange 1" at its front end is bolted to the back

page_text: disc end 3¹ of the long frame casting 3, as a steam-tight cover, with a
corresponding stool or bracket 3" as a support for the front end of the
cylinder and the back end of the frame 3, which is semi-cylindrical,
hollow, and open at one side, and planed above and below to form the
parallel guides G, G, for the slide blocks G¹ of the cross head g of the
piston rod g; while the front end of this frame 3 is carried forward and
has the bush-bearing pillow block 3 formed on it for the crank or disc
neck bearing of the crank shaft 4; all portable, ready for being bolted
down to any suitable foundation Z, as at 1, 3, 31, or to a strong wall
or other equivalent, when used as a wall engine, having the other crank
shaft pillow block 4' carried on any suitable wall box or other
equivalent 4. The slide valve is of the construction shown and
described in reference to the large scale views, Figures 5, 6, and 7, and
as shown in Figure 1, where the steam casing 2 is shown open with the
cover off and the cut-off valve merely indicated in outline; it works
with its face (Figure 5) up against the face 2¹ of the cylinder, and the
back (Figure 6) outwards with the cut-off valve A (Figure 8) working
over it, both actuated by their valve rods A¹ and B', respectively,
working out through stuffing boxes 2" on the end of the steam chest 2
and through the guide bracket 5 bolted to the frame 3 carrying the
governor 6 above, and its driving spindle 6¹ below. The rods A¹, B', of
these valves are jointed at A", B", to the free ends of the rods A¹¹¹, B¹¹¹
of the two eccentrics A³, B³, keyed on the crank shaft 4 so as to actuate
these valves in a usual manner.
,
The improvements in reference to the construction and action of the
valve A according to the first part or improvements of our said Invention
(when applied to a short slide valve B and long or longitudinal ports
c, c¹¹, and c¹, c³, leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder) consist in
having the inlet steam port or ports b, b₁, (as in this case when there are
extra inner ports 6') at each opposite end in the back of the slide valve
formed at a considerable and equal angle transversely in reverse
directions, converging in the centre at 6* towards each other on one
side and diverging on the other, and in having the corresponding
opposite ends a, a, of the plate A forming the cut-off valve; or these and
the ports a' in it (when it has these opposite the extra inner ports 6' in
the slide valve) formed at the same angle as the respective ports b, b¹,
and b, &, (as seen in Figures 8 and 6 respectively) in the slide valve,
and so as to lie parallel to these in the form of the section of a truncated

page_text: cone but somewhat broader over all, so that when shifted laterally
towards one side it gradually closes or covers these ports in the slide
valve, and vice versa, when shifted towards the opposite side it gradually
opens them so as to practically lengthen or shorten the cut-off valve A
in relation to or give more or less cover over the ports b, b¹, below it in
the slide valve, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. This new or
improved lateral motion is given to the cut-off valve A (through the
lever and rod 7, 71, connected to the lever or spanner 8 of the spindle A'
of the valve A, as will herein-after be more particularly described) from
and by the governor 6 of the engine (or it might be by hand in engines
without governors), thus dispensing with the necessity of a throttle valve
and giving an extra variable cut off of the steam by this valve A in
addition to the regular fixed cut-off given by its longitudinal motion
through the eccentric A² and eccentric rod A¹¹ or other equivalent.
By one arrangement the lateral motion is given to the cut-off valve by
a short toothed rack a¹¹ on its back or upper face and corresponding
small segmentally toothed pinion a³ geared therein, keyed on the longi-
tudinal spindle A' which is free to oscillate or turn as well as reciprocate
in its stuffing box 2" and guide 21 at the opposite end of the casing 2
and in the bracket 5, and actuating snugs A* on the back of the valve, 1
with sufficient clearance to allow of its transverse in the lateral direction,
but tight enough in the longitudinal direction to move and hold it
steadily while working in both directions. The valve rod A' also reci-
procates through and is connected by a groove and feather to the eye of
the spanner or wiper 8 before mentioned, having its turned boss:
oscillating in the bush bearing in the fixed bracket 5, and its free ond
connected by the rod 7' or other equivalent to that of the lever 7 of or
actuated by the governor 6; as before stated, so as to reciprocate the
valve A to cut off or give less or more opening and steam at both ends
of this valve, and the slide valve B in proportion to the speed of the
engine above or below its normal velocity and corresponding state of the
governor 6; the outer end of the valve spindle A¹³ is connected to its
actuating eccentric rod A™ by a swivel point near the ordinary flat
oscillating joint A" beyond the bracket 5 so as to turn while its eccentric
rod A only reciprocates. Instead of the single rack a" and segmental
pinion a² at the back of the valve A for actuating it laterally two such
racks and pinions might be employed on each side of a snug A*, or
otherwise an eccentric might be keyed on the valve spindle A' working
in guide recesses or snugs on the back of the valve A.

page_text: It is to be understood that this construction and arrangement of the
cut-off valve A and system or mode of actuating the same may also be
applied to long slide valves or to short single slide valves with the short
direct ports into the cylinders, and both worked by one long reciprocating
and oscillating rod A' with segmental pinions a² working in toothed
racks a¹¹ on the back of each valve within its casing, the rod A' working
out through stuffing boxes in these, and the toothed segmental pinions
or eccentrics working in the grooves on the back of the valve might form
the guide for keeping it steady in or during its lateral action on its
rod A¹; or the rod A' might pass through bushes made to slide in short
slotted guides in snugs A* on the back of the valve, by which it would
be guided laterally and reciprocated longitudinally. When these single
cut-off valves are desired to be worked at each end of the cylinder by
levers simultaneously the levers could be connected to lateral spindles
working through a stuffing box in one side of each casing, having the
inner end of each connected to its valve by an oscillating link or by a
pin and slot connection, either of which would actuate the valves
laterally while they were being reciprocated longitudinally by their
valve rod or rods and other connections otherwise as usual. And
although lateral motion only has been described as given to the cut-off
valve plate, it will be obvious that this might be stationary laterally,
and that the lateral motion might be given to the slide valve B (between
it and the face of the cylinder although we do not profer this) by con-
necting it with the governor in any equivalent manner but traversed in
the opposite direction to that shown and described in reference to the
cut-off valve, that is, so as to give a greater cut off when the governor
rises in speed, and less when it falls below the normal speed, and further
that ordinary D or other slide valves might be thus moved laterally by
the governor to give the variable cut off, all with much the same effect
or result, as described in reference to the cut-off valve A.
Referring to the improvements under the third part of our said
Invention, which consist in the new or improved construction and
action of the engaging and disengaging coupling or clutch (shown in
Figures 2, 3, and 4), the construction and arrangement of the parts are
as follows:-In forming either a solid or hollow, and preferably parallel
or cylindrical wheel or coupling box, as P, turned truly, with one (or it
might be two or more) V shaped concentric frictional grooves in its edge
or periphery and keyed on the driving spindle 4, with another plain or

page_text: hollow wheel Q keyed on the driven spindle 4* (conversely to the other
P) carrying the four strong fixed studs Q₁ (or it might be one, two,
three, or other number) projecting over the said grooved coupling
surface P, and with eccentric, segmental, frictional, tongue, and grooved
wipers or clutch pieces 9 oscillating loosely on the studs Q', and each
counterbalanced with light springs q', which press their eccentric,
tongued, or V grooved surface a slightly into action with the grooves of
the coupling wheel P, either driven or to be driven, according to the
shaft 4 or 4* on which it is keyed. The power and motion being
transmitted by or through the friction grooves and ridges of the wheel
box and the eccentric or cam griping clutch pieces tighten these in
proportion to the power required to be transmitted, so that slip cannot
take place; while the disengaging or uncoupling of the clutch is effected
by the arms or levers 2" projecting inwards towards the shaft, one from
the eye of each eccentric clutch wiper q, and towards the point of a
conical sliding boss R on one of the shafts, as 4, and which when pushed
under the segmental points of these arms 2" by a clutch lever (not
shown in the Drawings) working in a groove in the eye of this loose
sliding engaging and disengaging tapered boss R turn the griping groove
surfaces of the eccentric segments q out of action with the powerful
force and leverage due to the conical action of the sliding boss R and its
lever, and that of the arms q¹¹ on the griping cam pieces 7 in the reverse
direction to and with a force greater than the power of the said light
springs q¹ and griping force of the gripers q, which hold them in action,
so that the withdrawal or insertion of the tapered boss sets the coupling :
into action or gear, or puts it out of gear respectively.
In the several Figures 1 to 9 where shown the blue arrows indicate
the direction of the steam or fluid through the ducts, valves, and ports,
and the black arrows indicate the direction of the motion of the
parts.
Referring to the several Figures on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, which represent three different modifications of the improve-
ments under the second part of our said Invention, Figures 10 and 11
are a longitudinal vertical section and a horizontal section respectively
taken on the lines 1---1 and 2- -2, each on the other, and Figures 12:
and 13 are respectively transverse vertical sections taken through the
line 3- 3 of the steam engine, and 4---4 of the pump in Figure 1,
all of an improved arrangement of direct-acting reciprocating steam
114

page_text: pump, having one modification of our new or improved construction and
arrangement of the ports and the steam slide valves (for such engines
and pumps) applied thereto, under and illustrative of the nature and
mode of performing this second part of our said improvements or
Invention; and Figures 14 and 15 are respectively an upper or back,
and an under or face view of the slide valve C (as detached from
Figures 10 to 13) to show the ports and details of construction moro
clearly.
.
Referring to these Figures 10 to 15 the general construction and
arrangement of the parts of this improved portable direct-acting recipro-
cating steam engine and pump combined, consist in forming the
cylinder A and steam valve chest B in one, open and bored parallel
throughout with the ends of the hole planed or machined flat across
for the end covers A¹, A", B¹, of both to be faced and fitted flat across
both flanges, one sole or sustaining stool bracket A being cast on the
lower central part of the cylinder A, while the pump D is similarly
formed and cast in one with the inlet and discharge valvo chambers
H, I, above with holes and covers h, h¹, above cach valve for the easy
boring and fitting in of the valve seats with the bottom flange of a close
air vessel h² secured over the discharge chamber I in the centre between
the four covers h' of the valves, having the whole top machined plain
for that purpose, and formed with a single central stool bracket D
below, the same height as that A on the steam cylinder, so that the
rod D' of its piston A* answers as that of the solid rod D' of the pump
plunger D working in the same central line through stuffing boxes
A³, D³, formed on the near side of the covers A", D", of both the
cylinder and the pump, and cast in one by a curved frame picce A*
between them below, carried up on each side of the covers and stuffing
boxes as strengthening feathers to maintain the whole engine and pump
in one portable, compact, or self-contained form ready for being secured,
by its said two stool brackets A", D, to any suitable foundation, wall,
or beam, horizontally or vertically, without special sole plate or framing.
The inlet valve chambers H above at each end of the pump are con-
nected by one longitudinal duct H₁ below cast parallel on one side of
the pump with its inlet branch H" in the centre, while the upper part
of the chamber I above the discharge valves I' is similarly connected
to the outlet well or duct I" with a lateral outlet branch I³ in the centre
opposite the inlet branch.

page_text: The new or improved construction and arrangement of the ports and
slide valve of the steam engine cylinder A, consist as follows:-The
ports or passages a, a¹, from the opposite ends of the steam cylinder A
are formed in the sides of the cylinder so as to cross or pass each other
before reaching the face B' of the casing B, where they enter equally
on each opposite side of the centre of the valve's motion at a", a², as
seen in Figures 10 and 11.
The steam chest or casing B is preferred to be made in the form of a
hollow cylinder with a long hollow piston slide valve C working fluid-
tight in it, and having the entering steam chamber and port c in its
centre, with the exhaust chambers and ports d, d³, in the face side of
the valve C, and the corresponding ports b, b, in the face plate B¹, both
cquidistant outside of the said cross steam ports a¹¹, a³, and exhausting
out through the chamber 6" and branch 611 on the one side of the
cylinder A below the face plate B' and casing B. The steam from the
boiler enters the casing B by the central branch B₁ on the top, and is
led through a back recess into the mid steam space c of the valve C,
and through the central port c into cither of the cross ports a", a³, to
the opposite ends of the cylinder A from that to and at which the
valve C is moved and held by the entering of the steam behind one or
other of the close ends 0" or C³ of the valve, through one or other of
the small ducts or ports a*, a*, leading from near the ends of the
cylinder B just behind the piston A³ when it has reached near the
extreme end of its stroke either way, and so as thus to shift or reverse
the valve C by the pressure and escape of a portion of the steam which
has done its work in forcing the piston to, say, the inner end of the
cylinder, and then admit the acting steam through the valve port c and
cross port a³, a¹, (in the position shown in Figure 10) at the opposite
side of the centre to the inner side of the piston A³ and end of the
cylinder A to reverse or force it forward to the outer end, and at the
same time exhaust the steam through the other cross port a, a¹¹, through
the ports d¹³, b', at the inner (or it might be the outer) end of the valve O
from which it had been pressed, and in like manner, when the piston A³
reaches near the other or outer end the same reverse action of the
valve C would take place through a like port a leading behind that 3
end of the valve C and reverse or force the piston A' through its back
or in stroke, all as described in reference to the forward or out stroke
of the piston. To give this action of the valve O its ends are preferred

page_text: "
to be made of a hollow piston shape at C", C, slightly longer than tho
length of their traverse for "cover over the small ports a*, a*, leading
direct from the cylinder behind the piston when near its two ends, and
admit the steam through perforations e in the hollow web of a crescent
or eccentric shaped shallow groove e¹ cut in it over each port a*, a*,
into the hollow spaces C", O³, within these ends (as seen in Figures
10 and 15), and which are each nearly filled up by the hollow caps B™
on the close covers of the casing B when the valve reaches its extreme
throw or position towards these ends B¹¹¹. The steam which has thus
shifted the valve C at the other end then escapes out through the per-
forations e and crescent groove e¹ by a small recess e" cut in the face B¹
of the steam chest or plate B for the purpose (Figure 11) into the
exhaust port 6' or b at that end of the valve C from which it has been
shifted in either action of the valve.
For starting or stopping the engine a small spindle E is made to pass
in through a stuffing box E¹ in the casing or steam branch B" above or
behind the valve C, with a lateral central wiper E" on it, working down
into a recess in the back of the valve C, so as to shift and set it as
desired by a hand lever or wheel at E³ on the outer end of the
spindle E for the purpose, and when desired the piston of the steam
cylinder, and the steam valve might be cushioned either by the exhaust
steam, or by live steam left or admitted behind the ends, or the valve C
might be cushioned by springs set by pinching screws in the said hollow

page_text: actuated as a long slide valve, by a fixed axial or central rod C¹ working
out through the stuffing box B, so that both may be reciprocated lon-
gitudinally in a usual manner, by an eccentric or tappets respectively,
according as applied to a rotative, or to a reciprocating steam pump or
engine; and oscillated or turned half round, by these improvements,
when the engine has to be reversed, or the piston to traverse in the
opposite direction to that of the valve, as set for working in the forward or
usual direction, by a lever attached to the valve spindle C' outside by a
slot and key or feather, such as the lever 8 in Figures 1 to 3, on Sheet 1.
In this case (Figures 16 and 17) the steam is admitted from the
branch B through the long ducts B³ to both ends of the casing B and
slide valve C; and the working face B' of the cylinder or valve chest
has the exhaust port 6 (leading to the outlet duct and branch 6", 6¹¹¹)
formed in the centre, with the crossing ports a¹¹, a², in this case on each
side of it, leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder, and two extra
ports a¹¹¹, a³, led direct into the continuation of these ports a', a, respec-
tively. The long slide valve C has open inlet recesses O" at the ends
for the admission of the steam to cylinder, with a web separating the
recess from the long and short exhaust recesses d, d³, on opposite sides
of the valve in the centre, as shown respectively in these Figures; all so
that the steam either passes the end of the valve face at c on the one
side (Figure 16), or enter the open end of the valve and pass through
the ports c¹ on the other (Figure 17, according as the valve c is turned
or set) respectively, through the ports a¹¹¹, a³, or a¹¹, a², in the face B¹
of the valve chamber, the latter ports a¹¹, a³, only cross each other (as
in Figures 10 to 13), while the former a¹¹, a³, enter direct into the long
ports a', a, leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder A. Thus when
the engine is moving or turning, say, in the usual or forward direction, as
indicated by the black arrows on the piston A³ and valve spindle C³, the
steam enters past the inner end c of the valve C through the ports a¹¹, a¹,
behind the corresponding end of the piston A, and exhaust through the
corresponding ports a, a³, (in the front end of the cylinder between it
and the valve chest) and ports &³, d, in the valve C out through the
exhaust port and passages b, 61, 61, so as to force the piston A³ to
the front end, and when there the valve would be reversed in a usual
manner, so as to traverse in the same direction as the piston, and vice
versa, receive the steam behind it through the ports a³, a, and exhaust
from the inner end of the cylinder and piston by the ports a², a¹¹¹,
₫¹¹¹, d', and b, b", the long bearing parts d", d, of the exhaust port d'

page_text: of the valve C, covering the cross ports a¹¹, a³, not used when thus
working the engine. On the other hand when the engine has to be
reversed or run in the backward direction with the valve C reciprocated
longitudinally in the reverse direction to the piston A³, as indicated by
the black arrows in Figure 17, the valve C is oscillated or turned half
round by its valve rod O³, as before described, so that the broad bearing
parts d³, &, of the valve cover the ports a¹, a³, formerly used for the
inlet and exhaust of the steam, which would now enter by the outer
ports c¹ through the cross port a³, a¹, behind the inner end of the
piston A* and exhaust through the port a, a, and the short centre
port d³ in the valve through the outlet ducts b, 61, 61, so as to force the
piston to the outer end of the cylinder, and vice versa, for the inner
stroke, receive the steam through the port c², a, a, and exhaust through
the ports a, a, into the centre exhaust ports d, b, 64, 6³, all as indicated
by the blue arrows in this Figure.
Figures 19 and 20 are a longitudinal and a transverse section respoc-
tively of the valve chest B and part of a cylinder A of a direct-acting
reciprocating steam pump, showing another slightly different modi-
fication of our said improvements of these parts with their ports from that
shown in Figures 10 to 15 under this second part of our said Invention;
and Figures 21 and 22 are an upper and lower horizontal face view
and transverse sections respectively of the valve C as detached from
Figures 19 and 20. In this arrangement the steam is admitted by the
back c of the valve O through the two ports c³, one on each side of the
exhaust ports d, b, 6", direct into the ports a², a, in this case not
crossing each other at the centre leading to the respective opposite ends
of the cylinder by the ports a, a', all so that, as indicated by the blue
arrows and as described in reference to Figures 10 to 15, when the steam
has forced the piston A² to either end of its cylinder, a portion of it
escapes up one or other of the small ports a* through the annular
recess e¹ and small holes e of and into the hollow end 0" of the valve C,
and forces it to the other end of its valve chest B, so as to admit the
steam through the ports c, c³, and a², a¹, behind the inner end of the
piston A³, in the position of the parts shown in Figure 19, and exhaust
it from the other end through tho ports a, a", and d, b, b¹. The steam
(which so shifted the valve C to the other end) is allowed to escape from.
the hollow end O" by the small holes and recesses e, e', through the longi-
tudinal slots e", e¹¹, into the exhaust port d of the valve, and cut in the
B

page_text: In this case the cylinder 1 has both a steam and exhaust chest 2 and 3
cast on the outside of each end cover 1", 1", with their respective
brander slide valves B and C worked in them by their rods B', C', passed
out through stuffing boxes at one end, and at an angle towards the shaft
41, so as to be actuated by eccentrics B³, C³, thereon through the rods
B, C, (or it might be cams or other equivalents), all respectively much
in a usual manner except that the ports 6 of the steam slide valve B are
angled towards the outer face on which the improved cut-off valve A
works, with corresponding angled ports a, with face bars a¹ between,
fully as broad as the ports, each valve A being reciprocated longi-
tudinally by its swivelling spindle A' working in a close and open
stuffing box 2", in the ends of the casing 2 by the outer eccentric A³ and
rod A" at each end of the cylinder with a swivelling joint at A". The
improved lateral cut-off action is given to both valves A, A, simul-
taneously by the two eccentrics A³ fixed on the spindle A³, working
between end snugs A*, A", on the back of the valves, longitudinally and
laterally (Figures 27 and 28), and turned by the lever 8 keyed on each
spindle A' outside the stuffing box 2" next the shaft 4', and having their
free ends projecting upwards, and coupled by the short swivel links 8¹ to
the ends of the horizontal rod 7¹, oscillated by the lower forked or
jointed end of the lever 7 of the spindle and horizontal bow arm 6¹ of the
governor 6, all so set as to oscillate or shift the two cut-off brander
valves A, parallel across the face of the slide valves B, at right angles to
the longitudinal motion in the direction to close the ports a, which lie at
a great angle thereto, when the engine and governor run away beyond
their normal speed, and when they fall below that speed they shift the
valve A in the opposite direction, and open the ports a and thus bring
the engine up to its normal speed. The covers on the casings 2 and 3
are made to retain the valves up against the working face 2¹ of the end
covers 11. The governor 6 is carried in the column or open bow
standard 5 secured to the bracket 5' and to the sole plate z, and driven
by the bevel wheels 5" below one of which is keyed on the middle of the
shaft 4. The steam enters by the branch pipe 21 and passes along the
long pipe or duct 2 to the top of the steam chests 2 at each end of
the cylinder, and through the ports a, b, and c, in the valves A, B, and
end covers 1", exhausting out through the ports d, d, in the face and
valves C out through the chambers d" and branches du of the two
exhaust steam and valve chests 3 all as indicated by the blue arrows in
Figures 27 and 28.

page_text: Figures 30 and 31 show a longitudinal and a transverse section of a
modification of our new or improved friction clutch or coupling, described
in reference to and shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 on Sheet 1, under the
third part of our said Invention or improvements, suitable for reversing
purposes, as disengaging one axle and engaging another from a third,
which may either be the driven or driving axle, or geared so as to work
in opposite directions, as for planing machines and other purposes
wherein reversing or different speeds are required. In this case the
driving axis or part P of the clutch is made in the form of a plain pulley
outside, and driven by the broad belt 3 from any adjacent motive shaft,
although it might have teeth on its outer circumference and be driven
by wheel gear. This pulley revolves loosely on the central shaft 1 by a
deep cyc P' with a central web and two internal annular V grooves p on
each side of the outer web having four eccentrics with A shaped friction
segmental cam pieces 7 working into cach groove p. Each set of friction
cams q
is carried on studs Q¹ fixed in strong discs Q", Q³, on each side
of the driving pulley P, the former keyed on the spindle 1, and the
latter revolving loosely on it by the long boss 2, as one of the trans-
mitting driving spindles having a transmitting spur pinion X keyed on
it for giving a slow powerful motion, while the central spindle 1 has the
larger wheel Y keyed on it at the other side for giving a greater speed,
the motion of which could be given in the reverso direction when desired
by an intermediate wheel. Each eccentric segmental friction griper q
has a spring.q' secured to its carrying driving disc Q and Q³, in this
case acting to take or keep the gripers q and discs out of gear with the
central grooved driving pulley P. Near the eye each of these discs
Q" and Q is formed with arms and four openings for the bevelled or
conical ends of the two sliding friction clutches R and R¹ mounted
loose on the spindles 1 and 2 to enter so as to take on to the free ends of
the arms q" in the one disc or the other against the power of the springs
(the arms being set at an angle for that purpose, as seen in Figure 31),
by a sliding engaging and disengaging rod and two forked arms attached
to it working in the collar grooves 7¹ of the eye of each clutch block R
either by hand or automatically by tappets or other equivalents when
desired. And although the central pulley P has been described as the
driving pulley it is to be understood that it may be made the driven
pulley or wheel by having the discs Q" and Q' and their axles 1 and 2
primarily driven by their wheels Y and X respectively at different speeds
or in different directions when desired, and when this latter is the caso

page_text: the set of eccentric gripers or clutches q and their springs and lever
q', q", would all require to gripe and act in reverse directions on the
opposite discs Qu, and Q³.
The fourth and last improvement of our said Invention has reference
to a new or improved mode and means of tightening up the slide blocks
of the piston cross heads of steam engines to compensate for the wear
and tear of these blocks and maintain them in a good fitting and filling
state in their guides, and consists in angling the opposite sides of the cross
head or piston rod "butt" longitudinally next the guide blocks which
are fitted and attached with correspondingly reversed angled surfaces
with a snug at one end bearing against the end of each "butt,” and a
cotter at its other wide ends so as to tighten up the said angled slide
blocks as wedges at any time when desired by cutting or dressing a little
off the opposite end abutting snugs, and then tightening up the cotter.
The piston rod butt in this case is preferably solid, and when the con-
necting rod pin works through it the bushes are tightened up by a
pinching screw and jamb nut at the extreme end, space being left in the
fork of the connecting rod for this purpose.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, we would observo in conclusion that what we consider novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
bofore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general arrangement and construction of the parts of steam
engines with their improved ports, valves, and modes and means of
actuating these, all substantially as herein described and distinguished
under the several modifications of the first and second parts of our
Invention in reference to Figures 1 to 9, 10 to 15, 16 to 18, 19 to 22,
23 to 26, and 27 to 29, shown on the accompanying three Sheets of
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and arrangement of the parts of angled cut-
off valves and ports for the admission of steam to steam engine cylinders,
and the mode of actuating these valves, all substantially in the new or
improved manner herein described under the first part of our said In-
vention or improvements, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.

page_text: Third. The construction and arrangement of the ports and construction
and action of the valves for controlling the admission and exhaustion of
steam to and from the motive cylinders of direct acting pumping steam
engines, all substantially in the new or improved manner herein
described under the second part of our said Invention, and shown in the 5
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The construction, arrangement, and action generally of the
parts of an engaging and disengaging or reversing friction clutch or
coupling, all substantially in the new or improved manner herein
described under the third part of our said Invention, and shown in the 1
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of the parts of the cross heads
and guide blocks (of the piston rods of steam engines) for tightening
them up against wear and tear, substantially as herein described under
the fourth part of our said Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Archibald Fulton Craig, and
Alexander Morton Strathern, on behalf of the said James Craig
and of ourselves, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.
J
A. F. CRAIG.
(L.S.)
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
A. MORTON STRATHERN. (L.S.)