Improvements in Machinery for the Compression of Air or other Elastic Fluids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification_Left, 9th Nov., -1894-Accepted, 15th-Dec., 1894–
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Compression of Air or other
Elastic Fluids.
I, WILLIAM CHORLEY 14 Western Street, Seedley, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to machinery for compressing air or other clastic fluids,
and its principal object is to provide a mechanical arrangement whereby the
power derived from the steam of motor cylinder is augmented in proportion as the
increase of pressure takes place in the compressing cylinders. It has also for its
object to permit the use of a steam cylinder of longer stroke than that of the
compressing cylinders, to allow of greater expansion. It has also for its object so
to arrange the position of the compressing cylinders, that their pistons and parts
operating them balance each other, and to diminish the velocity of the pistons
towards the end of their strokes. It has still further for its object to provide an
arrangement whereby one single acting compressing cylinder shall make two
compressions, to one revolution of the engine, compression taking place when the
steam piston is at the middle of its stroke.
In carrying my invention into effect, I cause two single-acting compressing
cylinders to be secured to the lower portion of a cast iron upright or standard of
suitable section. The centre lines of these cylinders form two sides of a triangle,
and converge at a point about midway in height of the standard, the included
angle varying according to the length of the stroke and other conditions connected
therewith.
The compressing cylinders are fitted with trunk pistons, both of which are
connected to the lower ends of two thrusting levers, the opposite ends being
attached by means of a short steel oscillating shaft or pin to the lower end of a
third thrusting lever, which' lever is suspended and radiates from a fixed steel
shaft fitted in the upper portion of the upright or standard, and exactly over the
apex of the triangle formed by the centre lines of the compressing cylinders. To
the top of the upright is secured an inclined and inverted steam cylinder whose
centre line may be parallel with one of the compressing cylinders. The centre of
the crank shaft coincides with a straight line drawn through the limits of the arc
described by the oscillation of the thrusting levers.
The crank is formed on the shaft and works between two bearings cast on the
upright, a flywheel being secured to the shaft outside of one of the bearings. To
the crank two connecting rods are attached, one to the oscillating shaft connecting
the three thrusting levers, and the other to the crosshead of the engine, the slide
bars of which are arranged on the side of the upright. The centre portion of the
upright consists of two sides of rectangular or other suitable section; a facing is
also cast on the inside of each in the form of an arc, and corresponding with that
described by the suspended lever. The central pin of the levers terminates with
an adjustable bronze bearing at each end and which moves between the facings
thus preventing any lateral movement of the levers.
The stroke of the steam cylinder may vary from one and a half to twice that of
the compressing cylinders when only one crank is used; but it may also be equal
to that of the compressing cylinders by having a disc crank secured on the end of
the crank shaft, and equal in diameter to the stroke of the compressing cylinders,
the connecting rod from the oscillating levers being attached to the disc crank.
The three thrusting levers are of equal length, which length varies according to

page_text: the terminal pressure required, and are fitted at each end with adjustable bearings.
The centre lever, being almost always in compression, may consist of a cust steel
rectangular frame of section with jaws at each end. Instead of the three levers
and connecting rod working on one centre pin, the lower jaw of the rectangular
frame may be extended at right angles to its length to permit of the connecting
rod being attached to a separate pin.
Tie rods would be connected from the compressing cylinders to the fixed
radiating shaft or pin.
Supposing one trunk piston to be at the end of its stroke, the two levers
operating it would be almost in a straight line, and the connecting rod attached to
them approaching a right angle. The other trunk piston would be at the
commencement of its stroke, the lower levers connected thereto making an angle
varying from 15° to 18° with the centre line of the cylinder. After the piston
has traversed five-sixths of its stroke the lever connected to it coincides with the
centre line of the cylinder; on the completion of the stroke the lever passes over
and makes an angle of from seven to nine degrees on the other side of the centre
line.
The compressing pistons have a decreasing velocity, but an increasing power, as
the levers operating them approach to a straight line.
This decreasing velocity towards the end of the stroke and the beginning of
the return stroke, prevents the shock to which the inlet and delivery valves are
liable.
For extreme pressures the compressing cylinders may be compounded, and fitted
with rams, the inlet and delivery valves being fixed in the end cover of the
cylinders. These rams would have a cylindrical shell cast on the front portion,
which shell would act as a bearing or guide, and be fitted with steel pins to permit
of the thrusting levers being attached.
A modification of this compressor would consist of one horizontal single-acting
compressing cylinder. Secured to one end of a cast iron bed plate, the opposite
end having a recess cast in, and in the sides forming the recess would be fitted a
steel shaft, on which would radiate one end of a pair of thrusting levers. Over
the centre joint of these levers, and carried by a cast iron framing, would be the
crank shaft of an engine, the steam cylinder of which would be inclined_and
secured to the end of this framing, which again would be supported by and be
secured to the front portion of the compressing cylinder. The crank shaft would
be sufficiently high to allow of a connecting rod being attached to operate the
thrusting levers. The front portion of the framing consists of two sides, the feet
of which are secured to the bed plate. In this case the connecting rods may work.
on the same crank.
Another modification would be to place an inverted steam cylinder at right
angles to the centre line of a single-acting compressing cylinder, the crank shaft
of the engine being beneath the thrusting levers; and to attach a shorter con-
necting rod from the levers to the centre of the crossbead pin of the engine, the
connecting rod to the crank consisting of either one with a long fork, or two
separate ones, between which the levers would work. Also to arrange that when
the steam piston is about the middle of its stroke the thrusting levers are in a
straight line. This arrangement would produce two short stroke compressions
during one revolution of the crank shaft.
The compressing cylinder may be compounded by forming an air or valve
chamber between the high and low pressure portions of the cylinder; the trunk
pistou of the low pressure cylinder contains an inlet valve, and terminates in the
form of a ram, which ram would move through a sleeve fitted with a stuffing box,
the sleeve being cast on to the underside of the valve chamber cover. On the
outside of the sleeve would slide a delivery valve which would cover the low pressure
cylinder. The compressed air from the low pressure cylinder would be conducted
and pass through inlet valves formed in the cover of the high pressure cylinder,
and in which also would be fixed one or more delivery valves.

page_text: When not compounded, the compressing cylinder may be caused to oscillate by
means of trunnions cast on each side of the cylinder, whose bearings would be
formed on the bed plate. A combined thrusting lever and ram would work
through an outer_bearing_attached_to_the_front_of_the_cylinder.
Each of the above mentioned arrangements of compressing cylinders may be
driven by means of a pulley and belt, the pulley being secured to one end of the
crank shaft, and a fly wheel to the other end. The action of the levers produces
a more uniform strain on the belt and also permits of a higher velocity of the
same.
Dated this 90th day of Woher 1201
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Compression of Air or other
Elastic Fluids.
I, WILLIAM CHORLEY, of 14, Western Street, Seedley, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanical 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 refers to machinery for compressing air or other elastic fluids, and
its principal object is to provide a mechanical arrangement, whereby the power
derived from the steam or motor cylinder is augmented in proportion as the increase
of pressure takes place in the compressing cylinders. It has also for its object to
permit the use of a steam cylinder of longer stroke, than that of the compression
cylinders to allow of greater expansion. It has also further for its object so to
arrange the position of the compression cylinders, that their pistons and the parts
operating them balance each other, and also to greatly diminish the velocity of the
compression pistons as they attain the end of their stroke. It has still further for
its object, to provide an arrangement whereby one single acting compressing
cylinder, shall make two compressions during one revolution of the engine, the
compression taking place when the steam piston is at the middle of its stroke.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto three sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1, Sheet I, is a vertical section, Fig. 2 a plan of an air compressor
constructed in accordance with one form of my invention.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged section at line A-B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detached vertical section of a modification of Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 & 6, Sheet II, and Fig. 7, Sheet III, are vertical sections of three other
forms of air compressors constructed in accordance with my invention.
In carrying my invention into effect and referring to Sheet I, I cause two single
acting compressing cylinders a, a¹ to be secured to the lower portion of a cast iron
upright or standard 6 of suitable section. The centre lines of these cylinders form
two sides of a triangle, and converge at a point about midway in height of the
standard b, the included angle varying according to the length of stroke and other
conditions connected therewith.
e to the
The compressing cylinders a, a', are fitted with trunk pistons c, c', both of
which are connected to the lower ends of two thrusting levers d, d', the opposite
ends being attached by means of a short steel oscillating shaft or pin
lower end of a third two part thrusting lever f, which lever is suspended and
radiated from a fixed steel shaft f¹ fitted in the upper portion of the upright or
standard and exactly over the apex of the triangle formed by the centre lines of
the compressing cylinders a.
In lieu of attaching both of the levers d, d', to the shaft or pin <, the lever d

page_text: may be only attached thereto and d' jointed to an eye d² formed on the lever d, as
shown in Figs. 1 & 3.
To the top of the upright or standard is secured an inclined and inverted steam
cylinder, whose centre line may be parallel with one of the compressing
cylinders a. The centre of the crank shaft h coincides with a straight line drawn
through the limits of the are described by the oscillation of the thrusting
levers d, d & f. The crank is formed on the shaft h and works between two
bearings cast on the upright or standard b, a fly wheel being secured to the
shaft outside of one of the bearings . To the crank are attached connecting
rods ggg², g² to the oscillating shaft or pine connecting the three thrusting
levers d, d, & f, and the others g, g¹, to the crosshead 93 of the engine, the slide
bar of which is arranged on the sides of the upright or standard b. The centre
portion of the upright or standard consists of two sides of rectangular or other
section, a facing 2 is also cast on the inside of each in the form of an arc, and
corresponding with that described by the suspended lever f. The oscillating
shaft or pin e terminates with an adjustable bronze bearing e¹ at each end, which
move between the facings 2, thus preventing any lateral movement of the
levers d, d', & f.
The stroke of the steam cylinder piston 95 may vary from one and a half to
twice that of the compressing cylinders a, a, when only one crank is used; but it
may also be equal to that of the compressing cylinders, by having a disc crank
(not shown) secured on the end of the crank shaft h. and equal in diameter to
the stroke of the compressing cylinder piston c, c¹, the connecting rod g² from the
oscillating levers f being attached to the said disc crank.
The three thrusting levers d, d', & fare of equal lengths, which length varies
according to the terminal pressure required, and are fitted at each end with
adjustable bearings. The oscillating lever f being almost always in compression,
may consist of a cast steel rectangular frame of T section with jaws at either end.
Instead of the three levers d, d' & fand connecting rod g² working on one shaft or
pin e, the lower jaw of the oscillating lever f may be extended at right angles to
its length, to permit of the connecting rod being attached to a separate pin (not
shown).
Supposing the trunk piston c is at the end of its stroke, the two levers operating
it would be almost in a straight line, and the connecting rod g² attached to them
approaching a right angle. The other trunk piston would be at the
commencement of its stroke, the lower lever d¹ connected thereto making an
angle varying from 15 to 18 degrees with the centre line of the cylinder a¹.
After the trunk piston c¹ has travelled about of its stroke, the lever d¹ connected
to it coincides with the centre line of the cylinder a', on the completion of the
stroke the lever d¹ passes over and makes an angle on the other side of the centre
line from 7 to 9 degrees.
The compressing pistons c, c¹ have a decreasing velocity, but an increasing power
as the levers d, d', operating them approach in a straight line. This decreasing
velocity towards the end of the stroke and the beginning of the return stroke
prevents the shock to which the inlet and delivery valves k, k¹ are liable.
For extreme pressures the compressing cylinders a, a', may be compounded, see
Fig. 4, and fitted with rams c², the inlet and delivery valves k, k¹, being fixed in
the end cover a² of the cylinders a, a'. These rams would have a cylindrical
shell cast in the front portion, which shell would act as a bearing or guide
and also fitted with steel pins to permit of the thrusting levers d, d', being
attached.
A modification of this compressor consists of one horizontal single acting
compressing cylinder a, see Fig. 5, Sheet II, secured to one end of a cast iron bed
plate, the opposite end having a recess cast in, and in the sides forming the
same would be fitted a steel shaft f' on which would radiate one end of a pair of
thrusting levers f. Over the centre joint of these levers, and carried by a cast
iron framing b, would be the crank shaft h of an engine, the steam cylinder g of

page_text: which would be inclined and secured to the end of the framing 6 which again would
be supported by, and be secured to the top portion of the compressing cylinder a.
The crank shaft would be sufficiently high to allow of a connecting rod g² being
attached to operate the thrusting levers f, the front portion_of_the_framing b
consists of two sides, the fect of which are secured to the bed plate 7, on each of
these sides would be cast a facing in the form of an arc and between these
the thrusting levers would move; in this case the connecting rods gl may work
on the same crank.
Fig. 7 shows the compressing cylinder a arranged vertically, the centre of
the oscillating two part thrusting lever being exactly over the centre of the
compressing cylinder a and the lower end off being connected to the compression
piston c by means of the lever d. At a right angle to the are described by the
levers d&fis arranged a crankshaft mounted in bearings formed on the upright
or standard secured to the top of the compressing cylinder a.
The crank h¹ of
the shaft is connected to the oscillating shaft or pin e by means of the rod g².
The inlet valve k slides in a bearing formed in the centre of the delivery valve k¹
which again slides in a bearing formed in the cylinder cover a².
Assuming the crank and rod 9 being at right angle to the levers f & d when
in their furthermost position from the shaft h, the compression piston would be at
the commencement of its stroke.. When the levers f & d arrive in a vertical
position, e will have arrived at the end of its stroke. The crank h¹ will then have
made about a quarter of a revolution downwards and on a further quarter of a
revolution the piston has returned to the beginning of its stroke and the
remaining part of the crank revolution will produce another compression. Thus
producing two short stroke .compressions during one revolution of the crank shaft.
The compressing cylinder a may be compounded by forming an air or valve
chamber between the high and low pressure portions of the cylinder, the trunk
piston of the low pressure cylinder containing an inlet valve and terminating in the
form of a ram, which ram would move through a sleeve fitted with a stuffing box,
the sleeve being cast onto the underside of the valve chamber cover. On the
outside of the sleeve would slide a delivery valve large enough to cover the
diameter of the low pressure cylinder. The compressed air from the low
pressure cylinder would be conducted and pass through inlet valves formed in
the cover of the high pressure cylinder, and in which also would be fixed one or
more delivery valves.
When not compounded the compressing cylinder a may be caused to oscillate, see
Fig. 6, Sheet II, by having trunnions a³ cast on each side of the cylinder, the
bearings for which being formed on the frame b. A combined thrusting lever c
and ram d would work through an outer bearing (not shown) attached to the front
of the cylinder.
Each of the above arrangements of compressing cylinders may be driven by
means of a pulley m and belt m', as shown in Fig. 6, the pulley being secured to
one end of the crank shaft and a fly wheel to the other end, the action of the
levers d, e, producing a more uniform strain on the belt, and also permits of a
higher velocity of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
"In machinery for the compression of air or other elastic fluids."
1st. The general construction and combination of parts constituting my
improvements operating substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In an air compressor the application of jointed thrusting levers to either
trunk pistons or rams operated from a crank shaft for the purpose of increasing
the power derived from the motor, at the same time as the increase of pressure
takes place in the compressing cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: 3rd. The thrusting levers, specified in the preceding claim, so arranged as to
give two short compressions during one revolution of the crank shaft, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of November 1894.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co..
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.