Improvements in Steam Engines and Pumps.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Steam Engines and Pumps.
I, OSSIAN ALBERT RINGBOM, of Lahtis, Finland, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to steam engines and pumps and comprises the following
improvements.
As applied to steam pumps the pump consists of two parts, the steam cylinder
and the pump cylinder, which are placed in a straight line with each other and
suitably connected and have their pistons secured on a common piston rod.
The steam cylinder has two diameters, inside which moves a differential piston
or one baving two diameters to correspond with the cylinder.
The slide valve is placed inside this differential piston, which now will be further
described as well as the action of the same.
The valve is tubular or is a so-called pipe-slide and moves in the hollow piston.
The bore hole of the piston is somewhat wider at the end situated nearest the
larger piston and the slide is formed of a corresponding shape, in such a way
however that its larger part does not possess the same length as the larger portion
of the bore hole in the piston. The central hole of the slide is bored from the end
nearest the larger piston and communicates with the larger part of the steam
cylinder through channels made in the cross head of the piston-rod, attached to the
piston.
At the opposite end of the bore hole in the piston there is an orifice or two or
more orifices, communicating with corresponding orifices in the piston and through
these latter with the exhaust outlets leading to the air or to a condenser. On the
other side of the bottom of the bore-hole is a stuffing-box through which and
through a hole in the said bottom passes a central bar, whose free projecting end is
surrounded by a spiral spring, which at the one end bears on the aforesaid bottom
and at the other end, bears on a head pin or similar device fixed in the end of the
bar which is screwed to the cover belonging to the smaller part of the steam
cylinder. On the outer end of the bar is provided a nut by means of which the
bar can be moved more or less into the slide. In a cavity on the inside of the
cover there is a buffer, which may be conveniently made of a spiral spring.
similar buffer is also placed in a cavity on the inner side of the cross-head of the
piston-rod, and serves to limit the motion of the slide in this direction and to
prevent it from striking the said cross-head.
A
The space between the slide and the pisten at the larger end communicates
through a small channel with the exhaust space outside the piston.
The improvements described above act in the following manner:
During the outward stroke of the piston and the slide, the smaller ends of the
steam cylinder is filled with steam which acts upon the slide and presses it so far
into the piston, that the orifices in the slide are within the piston and consequently
closed, the steam having therefore no outlet. The piston and the slide travel
together until the bottom of the slide strikes against the spring bufier on the
central bar whereby the slide is arrested while the piston continues its way and
uncovers the apertures in the slide. Simultaneously the piston has reached the
forward end of its stroke. By moving the central bar more or less, the length of
the stroke of the slide and of the piston may be regulated. As soon as the orifices in

page_text: the slide are opened the steam rushes through them from the small end of the
cylinder and through the bore hole in the slide and the channels in the large piston
to the large end of the steam cylinder and the pressure then becomes uniform in
both ends of the cylinder.
But since the piston and the slide offer larger surfaces to the steam pressure at
the forward than at the rear ends the piston as well as the slide will be driven back
the slide being ahead of the piston, this position of the slide relatively to the piston
being maintained until the slude, at the end of the stroke, strikes against and is
arrested by the buffer, whereupon the piston continues its movement alone till it
reaches the end of its stroke. The piston thus changes position again relatively
to the slide and thereby closes the communication through the slide between the
two ends of the cylinder. Then new steam acts with full pressure upon the
smaller piston thus forcing the piston forward again. The seam of lower pressure
then existing in front of the larger piston escapes through the exhaust channels
either to the air, or to a condenser.
The steam or air, which on the return stroke of the piston remains in the little
space between the piston and the slide escapes through a channel into the exhaust
space around the piston. This channel is however bored a distance from the inner
edge of the wider part of the bore-hole in the piston, consequently when the slide
moves so far back, that its wider part closes up this channel, the remaining steam
is compressed and acts then as a buffer, and prevents the slide from striking against
the bottom of the wider bore hole in the piston.
The stuffing-box above mentioned is not necessary, but the regulating bar must
be steam tight in the slide bottom.
It is clear, that the improvements above described, are not restricted to steam
motors which are directly connected with pumps but can of course be applied to
any steam engine working with piston.
The pump cylinder consists of two excentric cylinders cast in one piece the one
being somewhat shorter than the other and the entire cylinder being constructed
in such a way that a space is left between the bottoms of the cylinders as well as
between the lower parts of their surfaces, while the upper parts of the surfaces
are made in one piece. The space between the cylinders form suction-channels
and communicate with the suction pipe, while the inner cylinder is connected
with a water pipe for high pressure, to which in the usual way, an air-chamber is
applied.
The bottoms of the inner cylinder have conical openings, both of which are
inclined in the same direction. Through these openings a pump lining or barrel
forming the pump cylinder proper is introduced the ends of the lining being formed
or fitted with inclined flanges, which correspond to the above mentioned bevelled
or coned openings in the pump cylinder.
The lining is passed through the ends of the inner cylinder and its ends are
inserted in ring shaped grooves in the covers. By this improvement it is easy, by
removing the end cover from the steam cylinder to take out the entire pump lining
or barrel together with the valves carried thereby for the purposes of examination
cleaning or repair.
The valves are arranged in the following way:
In those parts of the pump lining or barrel, which are outside the inner pump
cylinder, are formed a number of holes or inlet-orifices, which connect the interior
of the pump barrel with the suction-channels and the suction-pipe.
Inside the pump barrel and in front of the above mentioned orifices at each end
a spring is introduced forming an inlet valve which presses against the inner wall
and thus closes the orifices. The spring may be retained in place by a screw or
otherwise.
Within the inner bottoms of the pump cylinder the delivery valves are placed
One at each end. These are also formed by springs but are fixed outside the pump
barrel instead of inside. They are situated between the inclined flanges before
mentioned on the pump barrel and small projections upon the barrel, the springs

page_text: enclose the pump barrel and are retained in place in a manner similar to the
suction spring valves. The outlet holes in the pump-barrel closed by the delivery
valves communicate with the delivery pipe.
When the pump piston is put in motion there results a pressure in front of the
piston and a suction behind the same. In consequence of the pressure in front of
the piston the delivery spring is forced out from the exterior wall of the pump-
barrel, exposing the outlet orifices and the liquid collected before the piston, is
then ejected through these orifices into the delivery pipe. In consequence of this
pressure, the suction spring is pressed more firmly against the interior wall of the
socket.
Behind the piston, where the suction takes place, the case is the reverse, that is
to say in consequence of the suction the inlet springs contract and allow the
water to enter and the delivery spring is more firinly sucked against the pump
barrel.
If wished, the springs may be covered with leather, indiarubber or other suitable
material. The valves may also be made of any suitable material that is not a
spring and be supported by a spring within the same for the suction valves and
around them for the delivery valves.
For example the suction valve may be made of two half cylindrical pieces of
sheet iron or cast iron which are attached to the pump barrel by a screw. These
pieces are pressed against the interior wall of the barrel by a spring which is
fastened at the middle by means of a screw. Or again for the delivery valve the
plates or the cast pieces may be placed outside the pump barrel and pressed against
the exterior wall of the same by means of a spiral spring.
Dated this 7th day of August 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, OSSIAN ALBERT RINGBOM, Lahtis, Finland, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to steam engines and pumps.
An important feature of the said invention is a steam pump in which the slide
valve is arranged within the piston, and is controllable from outside of the cylinder
so that the length of the stroke of the piston may be varied as desired.
Another feature of my invention is a steam cylinder having two diameters in
which work two pistons connected by a trunk and so arranged that when the steam
has operated on the small piston it passes through the said trunk and then operates
on the large piston to effect the return stroke, and then escapes by the exhaust
passage.
My improved pump cylinder is furnished with a removable lining which carries
the valves, the latter being removable in a body with the lining to admit of
examination, repair, or renewal. My invention also includes special constructions
of valves and other details as hereinafter described.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a steam pump, and
in which
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the cylinders.
Figures 2 to 5 are transverse sections on an enlarged scale of the valves herein-
after described.

page_text: A is the pump cylinder and B the pump piston; the steam cylinder has two
diameters forming virtually two cylinders riz. a large cylinder C and a smaller
cylinder C'; D, D' are the two pistons of the parts C, C¹ respectively of the steam
cylinder. The said pistons are connected by a trunk E. The steam cylinder C, C¹
and the pump cylinder A are placed in a straight line with each other and are
rigidly connected together by beams A°. F is the piston rod one end of which is
formed with a head F¹ connected to the piston D by screwing or otherwise and the
other end of which is connected to the pump piston B. An axial opening El
constituting the valve chamber is provided in the pistons and their connecting
trunk to receive the slide valve G which is tubular, the end however nearest t the
small piston D' being closed. The other or forward end of the said valve is
provided with a collar or head G that fits within an enlarged part E2 of the
valve chamber. The collar G' does not possess the same length as the said enlarged
part of the valve chamber but can slide therein for a purpose that will hereinafter
appear. The interior of the slide valve communicates at the forward end with the
larger part C of the steam cylinder through ports H, H made in the head F' of
the piston-rod F.
Near the rear end of the valve G there is a port J or two or more such ports
communicating with an annular recess K formed in the trunk E, from which recess
a passage K leads to the annular space V around the trunk E. L is the exhaust
outlet leading from the annular space V directly to the atmosphere or to a
condenser. N is a stuffing-box screwed into the rear end of the slide valve. G
through which and through a hole in the end of the valve passes a central bar or
rod O, whose forward end is surrounded by a spiral spring P. The said spring
bears at one end against the end wall of the valve and at the other end against a
nut and washer O' for example secured. on the forward end of the bar O. The rear
end of the said bar O is screwed into the end cover T of the smaller part C¹ of the
steam cylinder and can be adjusted axially as described. O is a lock nut for
locking the bar O in any position to which it may be set. S is a buffer spring
loosely mounted on the bar or rod O within the cylinder and bearing against the
cylinder cover T for a purpose hereinafter described. A similar buffer spring S
is placed between the head F' of the piston rod F and the forward end of the slide
valve and serves to limit the motion of the slide valve in the forward direction and
to prevent it from striking the said head. A recess is provided as shown in the
head F to maintain the spring S' in place.
The annular space formed around the slide valve by the enlargement E of the
valve chamber is in communication, through a small channel U, with the exhaust
space V around the trunk E.
The improvements described above act in the following manner: Steam, air or
other working fluid being admitted by the inlet R to the small part C' of the
cylinder it operates to effect the outward or forward stroke of the pistons, and of
the slide valve the latter being pushed so far forward that the orifices .J, J in the
slide valve are within the piston and consequently closed to the steam which is
therefore confined within the cylinder C. The pistons and the slide valve travel
together until the latter is stopped by the spring on the bar O whereupon the
piston continuing its travel uncovers the ports J J in the slide valve, and allows
the steam to pass through them and through the slide valve G and the ports H H
and escape into the large part C of the steam cylinder. The pressure thus becomes
uniform on both pistons, and by reason of the large area of the pistou D as compared
with the piston D₁ the pistons will then be driven back or caused to perform the
return stroke. Moreover since the forward end of the slide valve is larger than
the rear end thereof the steam pressure will drive the valve back as far as it can
go and will maintain it in this position relatively to the pistons during the return
stroke, so that during this stroke the parts C, C₁ of the cylinder are maintained in
communication. When the return stroke is nearly completed the rear end of the
slide valve strikes against the buffer spring S and the valve is thereby stopped
whereupon the piston continuing its movement alone slides over the valve Gand

page_text: closes the communication through the ports J, J between the two parts C, C' of
the cylinder, and at the same time places the ports J, J in communication with the
passage K and so allows the steam in front of the piston D to pass through the
channel K into the annular space V and escape by the exhaust outlet L. Then
the steam acting with full pressure on the piston D' causes the pistons to move
forward again and the operations above described are repeated. It is obvious that
by adjusting the bar O the slide valve can be stopped sooner or later in the
forward stroke and so the length of the stroke cau be regulated at will.
Some of the steam which on the return stroke of the pistons remains in the
small annular space between the slide valve and the enlarged part E2 of the valve
chamber escapes through the channel U into the annular exhaust space V around
the trunk. The channel U being however bored a distance from the rear end
of the enlarged part of the valve chamber E' it follows that when the slide valve
moves so far back that its collar G' closes the channel U, the steam remaining
in the small annular space is compressed and then acts as a buffer, and prevents
the valve from striking forcibly against the end of the enlarged part of the valve
chamber.
The stuffing-box N is not absolutely necessary providing the regulating bar O IS
made to work steamtight in the end of the slide.
C³ is a recess communicating with the cylinder and suitably prepared to receive
a lubricating cup.
It is clear, that the improvements above described, are not restricted to steam
motors which are directly connected with pumps but can of course be applied to
any steam engine having a reciprocating piston.
The pump cylinder A encloses another smaller and shorter cylinder A¹ formed
therewith but arranged eccentrically thereto. The construction is such that a
space W is left between the ends of the cylinders as well as between their lower
parts, while their upper parts are united. The said space W between the cylinders
constitutes the suction-channel and communicates with the suction pipe X. The
inner cylinder A' communicates with an outlet pipe Y to which, in the usual way,
an air-chamber Y' is applied.
The ends of the inner cylinder A' have conical openings A2 A2, inclined in the same
direction, through which a lining or barrel Z forming the pump cylinder proper is
introduced, the ends of the said lining being formed or provided with inclined
flanges Z¹ Z¹ to fit within the said conical openings A'A'.
The barrel Z is passed through the ends of the inner cylinder A' and its
ends are inserted in ring-shaped grooves A³ A³ formed in the covers A* A¹ of the
pump cylinder. By this improvement it is easy, on removing the end cover A
furthest from the steam cylinder to take out the entire pump lining or barrel
Logether with the valves carried thereby for the purpose of examination, cleaning
or repair.
The valves are arranged in the following manner:
In those parts of the pump lining or barrel Z which are outside the inner pump
cylinder A, are formed a number of holes or ports aa which connect the interior of
the pump barrel Z with the channel W and the suction-pipe X.
Inside the pump-barrel Z at each end thereof a spring b is introduced forming an
inlet valve which presses against the inner wall of the pump-barrel and serves to close
the corresponding orifices a as shown clearly in Figure 2. The spring may be
etained in place by a screw c or otherwise.
e, e are the outlet ports or passages communicating with the interior of the
cylinder A' and with the outlet pipe Y. d, d are the delivery valves also formed by
springs which are secured outside the pump barrel as shown in Figure 3, and are
situated between the aforesaid inclined flanges Z Z on the pump barrel Z and
small projections Z Z' upon the barrel. The said springs d d enclose the pump
barrel and are retained in position by screws c c in a manner similar to the suction
valves.
When the pump piston B is set in motion there results a pressure in front of the

page_text: piston and a suction behind the same. In consequence of the pressure in front of
the piston the delivery valve in front of the piston is forced away from the exterior
wall of the pump-barrel Z, and the liquid collected before the piston is ejected
through the orifices e e into the delivery pipe Y.
In consequence of this pressure, the suction spring at that end of the
pump barrel is pressed more firmly against the interior wall of the pump barrel Z.
Behind the piston, where the suction occurs the reverse action takes place, that
is to say, in consequence of the suction, the inlet spring b contracts and allows the
water to enter the barrel, this water being in its turn ejected on the return stroke
of the pump.
If desired, the springs b, d may be covered with leather, india rubber or other
suitable material. The valves may also be made of any suitable material that
is not a spring and be supported by a spring within the same for the suction
valves and around them for the delivery valves as shown in Figures 4 and 5
respectively.
For example the suction valve may be made of two half-cylindrical pieces ? g
Figure 4 of sheet iron or cast iron attached to the pump barrel Z by a screw and
pressed against the interior wall of the barrel by a spring which is held at its
middle by means of the screw c. In the case of a delivery valve, plates or cast
pieces Figure 5 may be pressed against the exterior wall of the barrel by means
of a spiral spring h¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A reciprocating engine having the slide valve arranged within the piston,
substantially as described.
2. In such an engine the combination with the slide valve of means for controlling
the same from the outside of the cylinder for the purpose of varying the length of
the stroke of the piston, substantially as described.
3. A steam engine having a cylinder of two diameters and so constructed that the
steam after working on the small piston is passed through the piston by means of a
slide valve therein, and then works on the large piston to effect the return stroke,
and then escapes by the exhaust, substantially as described.
4. A steam pump having its cylinder, pistons and valve with their passages
constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing,
for the purposes specified.
5. A pump cylinder having a removable lining or pump barrel proper which carries
the valves, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
6. A pump valve formed by a curved spring, or by a curved piece of metal or
other material supported by a spring, substantially as described.
7. A pump cylinder constructed substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.