A NEW OR IMPROVED OSCILLATING ENGINE, SUITABLE EITHER AS A STEAM OR OTHER PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR OR AS A WATER OR OTHER FLUID DRAWING AND FORCING PUMP OR MACHINE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robertson, of Johnstone, in the County'
of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of" A NEW
OR IMPROVED OSCILLATING ENGINE, SUITABLE EITHER AS A STEAM OR OTHER
PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR OR AS A WATER OR OTHER FLUID DRAWING AND
FORCING PUMP OR MACHINE." A communication from abroad by
John Robertson, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United
States of America, Engineer.
-
Bealed the 20th December 1872, and dated the 1st July 1872...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robertson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st July 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED OSCILLATING ENGINE, SUITABLE EITHER
AS A STEAM OR OTHER PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR, OR AS A WATER OR OTHER FLUID
DRAWING AND FORCING PUMP OR MACHINE," to be as follows, that is to
say:
:

page_text: or centre
cross section, and hollow with close ends and sides, the latter being
turned truly parallel on the outside annularly or circumferentially,
so that each end oscillates to and fro within a correspondingly shaped
hollow. chamber, the open ends being made fluid pressure tight by
stuffing boxes with metallic or other packing. The length of stroke
desired to be given to the segment is regulated by the "throw" of the
crank of an ordinary crank shaft and reciprocating connecting rod,
which is directly jointed tangentially to near the crown
of the outer circumference, between the ends forming the plunger
pistons working within the opposite sides of the said segmental chamber,
preferably formed in one piece or casting as the sole plate and framing
of the whole engine, and formed into two separate single acting motive
cylinders or forcing pump (according to the purpose for which they are
applied) by forming oné, or it may be two, solid webs across near the
middle or lower part of the segment, in the latter case enclosing a small
space or chamber, to answer as the exhaust space between the exhaust port
from the slide valve face plate and chest, on the one side, and blow off
or discharge pipe on the other; or when used for drawing and forcing
fluids, this enclosed central chamber may be made the inlet or discharge
chamber common to both barrels, and have the space enclosed between
the centre and inner shell or periphery of the segmental chambers
to form the other discharge or entrance chambers, having both fitted
accordingly, with their discharge and inlet ports and valves to. both
barrels, preferably of the hinged lid or clack valve class. While an
ordinary single slide valve is made to admit and exhaust the steam (or
motive. pressure fluid) to and from both cylinders, and worked over
a port leading to each, on each side of the exhaust port in the said face
plate and valve chest, placed centrally on one side of the cylinders, by
an ordinary arrangement of two eccentrics at one side of the main
crank, and by their rods and reversing link motion, with any ordinary
"cut off" arrangement for expansion by "cover" at end of slide valve, or
by a separate cut off valve, worked by eccentric or cam and governor
as desired, while the exhaust steam is blown off to the air, or led to
a water heating cistern or to a condenser by a branch and pipe from
the opposite side of the exhaust chamber. And for working highly
expansive and on the compound cylinder principle two of these new
or improved duplex single acting motive cylinders or engines could b
coupled together as compound high and low pressure expansive engines
connected to one motive crank shaft, having their cranks set at
'

page_text: slight angle to and nearly opposite each other, so that the large cylinder
could be placed close to the high pressure one, and receive the exhaust
steam direct from its central exhaust chamber, the greater capacity of
the large cylinders might easily be obtained by making the pistons and
oylinders of greater width, which would give the greater area without
increasing the radial length of the cylinder or its stroke, although this
could be done when preferred or desired. The high pressed steam would
enter the valve casing of the first cylinders and engine, and after acting
therein would escape and expand through the central exhaust chamber
into the valve casing of the pair of low-pressure cylinders of the second
engine, from which it would finally exhaust into any ordinary condenser'
used for other forms of condensing engines.
When used as a fire-engine or forcing pump for giving a constant jet
or stream, an ordinary air vessel is fitted on the discharge chamber, and
the segmental pistons would, be actuated through the shaft driven by
manual or motive power, or by a long rociprocating and hand bar,
directly inserted and attached to the piston without the crank shaft
and connecting rod.
A combined steam engine and pump of this new or improved con-
struction could also be made, the first to drive the crank shaft which
would actuate the latter, all otherwise as herein-before specified.
It will be understood that other forms and arrangements of the valves
and modes of actuating them, and other modifications of the details
may be adopted than those specified without departing from the main
feature or novelty of the Invention, which consists substantially of the
arrangement of two single acting oscillating segmental plunger pistons
in one, and their cylinders or chambers, all as described.
The advantages claimed for this engine or pump are, its great
compactness and simplicity, with few parts to wear or get out of order
and the great power capable of being obtained in little space, and in
one case specially applied on board ships, enabling all the weight to be
kept near the bottom, below the water line, out of the way of shot in
war ships, launches, or gunboats.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robertson in the Great Seal Patent
-Office on the 30th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERTSON, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,.
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Robertson, Her
special licence that I, the said William Robertson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Robertson, my 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED OSCILLATING ENGINE, SUITABLE EITHER as a
STEAM OR OTHER PRESSURE FLUID MOTOR, OR AS A WATER OR OTHER FLUID
DRAWING AND FORCING PUMP OR MACHINE," the same is a communication to
me from abroad by John Robertson, of Brooklyn, in the State of New
York, United States of America, Engineer, upon the condition (aniongst
others) that I, the said William Robertson, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner 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 immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robertson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Sheet
of Drawings, and to the several illustrative Figures, modifications, and
applications or adaptations of my said Invention, thereon, and which
I have hereunto appended for the purpose of describing and showing

page_text: •
the nature, novelty, and mode of performing the Invention, the same
reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in all
the Figures.
-
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved form and
construction of segmental oscillating or reciprocating motive or pumping
engines or machines; and the advantages claimed for these engines or
machines are their great simplicity and compactness, with great power
and efficiency for work in little space, and with few parts to wear or get
out of order; and in one form or construction especially applicable as
ship pumps and as a fire engine, also as a motive engine for ships of
war, launches, and gunboats, enabling all to be kept below the water
line out of the way of an enemy's shot or shell.
1
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings are corresponding sectional and side
elevations of one modification of this Invention or machine as a most
simple duplex or double-lifting pump for ordinary or general purposes;
worked by a simple oscillating lever a, a", with open delivery well or
trough and ordinary lateral open spout Z'.
Figure 3 is a side elevation through the centre joint, and Figures 4
and 5 are transverse and horizontal sections taken on the lincs 1---1
and 2-2 respectively of Figure 3, to which they correspond, all of
another modification of this Invention as a simple form of duplex lifting
and forcing pump (or two single lifting and forcing pumps combined)
with one inlet or lifting pipe z2, 61, and well B, and one discharge or
forcing well e and pipe e³, e", suitable for fire-engines, ship pumps, or
for other general liquid lifting and forcing pumps and purposes.
*Figures 6 and 7 are a sectional elevation and a plan respectively of
one modification of this Invention or machine applied as a most simple
form and construction of high-pressure steam engine for general
motive-power purposes.
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of an engine similar to
Figures 6 and 7, with the parts slightly modified, and Figure 9 is a
sectional side elevation of the segmental piston A as detached from
Figure 8, all arranged so that the exhaust steam from the cylinders is
led in at one end c¹ of the hollow trunnion A* and up one side of the
arm A* through two diverging pipes into the hollow piston A. so as
to keep it hot before finally passing out by the other side of the arm A*
and trunnion, all as indicated by the red arrows in these Figures.

page_text: ---
.. Referring generally to these Figures 1 to 5 for the application of this
Invention to pumps, and particularly to the larger views; Figures 6 to 9,
for its application to fluid-pressure motive-power. engines; my said
Invention and mode of performing or carrying it into practice sub-
stantially consist all as follows:-First and essentially of an arrange-
ment of two single-acting oscillating segmental plungers, as A¹, A",
joined and formed so as to be worked as one plunger piston A in
opposite directions within correspondingly shaped hollow segmental
close stuffing box " stoup" or working barrels B¹, B", cast, formed, or
jointed into one main case B, forming the portable framing of the whole
engine or machine. The piston A is of a segmental parallel plunger
construction, by preference rectangular or nearly so, in radial cross
section (as indicated at the lines 3 3 in Figures 1ª and 6^, but it might
be round or of other section, as shown in Figures 3 to 5), and hollow
with close flat free ends A¹, A¹, and sides A³, A³, the latter being turned
truly parallel both on the side faces A³ and on the inner and outer
circumferential surfaces A³ and made in two lengths joined at A
(Figures 1 and 2 and 6 to 9); or solid as in Figures 3 to 5, so that each
free end A¹; A", can enter the top open ends and oscillate to and fro
within the two chambers B¹, B", in a correspondingly hollow-shaped
main segmental cylinder B divided at the lower central part by the close
exhaust chamber B, the upper open ends being made fluid pressure-
tight by stuffing boxes at C, C", with leather washers or metallic or
other packing and glands at C round the plunger piston A. When for
a motive engine or pump driven by a revolving shaft the working
length of each cylinder B and piston or plunger A is regulated by and
corresponds to the full “throw" of the crank D as of an ordinary crank
shaft (as D, D', Figures 6 and 7) with a reciprocating connecting rod E
directly jointed to it and a centre or studs at E' at its free forked end E"
near the middle or crown A¹¹, so as to reciprocate nearly tangentially
to the outer circumference between the ends A¹, A", of the plunger
piston A working on the axle A* within the opposite sides B¹, B", of
the said segmental chamber B, preferably formed as shown in one
piece or casting with flanges as the sole plate B³ and framing B* of
the whole engine or machine, and having the two separate single acting
motive cylinders B³, B, Figures 6 to 8, or lifting or forcing pump,
Figures 1 to 5 (according to the purpose for which they are applied)
formed with one or it may be two solid webs b, b, across near the
middle or lower part of the segment, in the latter case enclosing

page_text: "
the small space or chamber B™ to answer as the exhaust space
between the exhaust port 61 from the slide valve face plate and
chest b³ cast on the one side of the cylinders B with blow-off or
discharge pipe 68 on the other, and having the steam ports b¹, b
on each side of the exhaust port 6 leading into the respective
cylinders B, B. Thus a single ordinary D-shaped slide valve may
be made to admit and exhaust. the steam (or other motive pressure
fluid employed) to and from both cylinders, and worked, as so far.
described and shown in Figures 6 and 7, over the ports 61, 6", leading
to each cylinder on opposite sides of the exhaust port 6; within the
said face plate and valve chest 6 placed centrally on one side of and
between the cylinders B', B", by an ordinary arrangement of valve gear,
as by the eccentric F keyed on one side of the crank and crank shaft
D, D', the rod F¹ from which works a simple bell crank G, G¹, carried
on a stud G on the side of one of the frames B', the stud in one
arm G¹ of the crank G, G¹, being linked to the free or gab." end of
the long rod G³ which works the valve rod. H and valve within the steam
casing 6º, to which the high pressure steam from the boiler is admitted
by the branch pipe 6*. The crank shaft D¹ is shown as carried in journal
bearings Du, formed and fitted in two hollow side web frames B', cast
in one with the main cylinder B and sole plate B³, and when made and
delivered as a portable engine it would have the fly wheel 1' overhung
on one end of the crank shaft D', or it may be made long as shown in
Figure 7, and carried in a plummer block as D¹¹¹ secured in a wall box
or other equivalent support, and when the engines are required to reverse,
two eccentrics F may be properly set and keyed on the shaft D³, with
an ordinary arrangement of duplex rods and reversing link motion, and
for working expansively any ordinary arrangement may be employed, as
by "cover on the ends of the slide valves or a separate "cut-off" valve
worked by an eccentric or cam motion and the governor as in other
engines.
"

page_text: pressure engine, and receive the exhaust steam direct from its central
exhaust chamber B¹ and branch 6³, while the greater capacity of the
large cylinders might easily be obtained by making the pistons A and.
cylinders B of greater width, laterally or radially, which would give the
greater area and capacity required without increasing the central radial
length of tle piston A or its stroke, although this could be done when
preferred instead of increasing its area. The high pressed steam would
enter the valve casing of the first cylinders and engine by the branch b*,
and after acting therein would escape and expand through the central
exhaust chamber B (as shown and described in reference to Figures 6
and 7) into the valve casing of the pair of low-pressure cylinders of the
second engine, from the exhaust pipe of which it would finally escape
into any ordinary condenser used for other forms of condensing engines.
When used only as a high-pressure engine the exhaust steam may be
blown off to the air or utilized. to cause a draught in the chimney, or led
to á feed water heating cistern, or blown into the moving bollow piston A
so as to heat it, as will be herein-after described in reference to Figures 8
and 9, or for a single condensing engine, exhausted or led by the
branch 6, and pipe at the opposite side of the exhaust chamber B™" to
any ordinary construction of condenser in use.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9 (and the differences in the construction
of the parts from that shown and described in reference to Figures 6
and 7), the steam from the boiler enters the casing by the end branch b*,
and exhausts from the two cylinders B', B", through the hollow valve
and central exhaust port 6¹¹ and ducts 6™, led up to the branch 6³ at
the upper side of the casing 6 to the knee pipe c, into the one end c¹ of
the trunnion A*, and up the duct c" at the one side of the oscillating
arm A* of the piston A and equally down the two pipes c¹¹³, cllll, to
near the lower ends A³, A", where it escapes so as to fill and return
through the inside of the piston A, and thus keep it hot before escaping
down the duct c³ in the other side of the arm A*, out through the other
open end c³ of the trunnion 'A' into the final exhaust pipe c*. These
two exhaust branch pipes c, c', are held from turning and have their
two open ends. passed in through fluid-tight stuffing boxes in the
ends c¹, c³, of the trunnion A, and the two halves or lengths A³, A",
of the segmental piston are jointed steam tight at the centre joint A¹¹¹,
between the flanges a* of the arm A*, and a saddle piece d on top,
which has the studs E attached thereto, to which the free end E" of
1

page_text: the connecting rod E is linked, otherwise this engine may be substantially
the same as described in reference to Figures 6 and 7, the piston.
oscillates by its arm A* and trunnion A* working in bearings a' in the
sides of the main cylinder or case B.
When this Invention is to be used for drawing and forcing fluids the
enclosed central chamber Bui may be made the inlet or discharge
chamber common to both barrels B¹, B", and have a space enclosed
above at e (between the centre or axle A* and inner shell or periphery
of the segmental chambers B', B"), to form the other or discharge well
or chambers e or vice versa, and having both chambers B and ẻ
accordingly fitted with their inlet and discharge ports, seats, and valves
1 and 2 to both barrels B', B", preferably of the hinged lid or clack
valve or ball class, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
The segmental pistons A. of these pumps may be actuated by a connecting
rod and revolving crank shaft (as D', E, Figures 6 and 7), which would
be driven in this case by manual or motive power, or they might be
worked by a long reciprocating hand lever a, a", directly inserted and
attached to the piston A without a crank shaft and connecting rod, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, or by a lever a, a", keyed on the oscillating
centre A* of the piston outside with a double oscillating lever f and hand
rails f¹, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and as used in fire-engines.
Referring to the construction of these pumps and particularly to that
shown in Figures 1 and 2 A is the segmental piston made in two pieces
A¹, A", and jointed and bolted fluid tight at the centre A¹ to its
oscillating arm a, a', and actuating hand lever a combined, all oscillating
on the centre a¹ in the axis of the hollow segmental vessel or cylinder B
cast in one with the sole plate B³ forming a framing for the whole pump
with the two free ends A¹, A", of the piston working down into the two
open ends B of the chamber B¹, B", of the whole cylinder or vessel B.
In this case the piston and cylinder A, B, are rectangular in cross
section, as shown in Figure 1ª, taken on the line 3
.3, and the upper
ends B of the latter are made liquid tight by two reverse flanged
leathers C, the fixing screws and glands of which also secure the open
discharge chamber Z with its side delivery spout Z', the plate sides Z" of
which enclose the whole centre as part of or in one with the delivery
chamber or well Z. As the lever a" is oscillated to and fro the water
rises up the main lift pipe z through the central chamber B™ and
through the inlet foot valves 1 of the cylinder B" in which the piston A

page_text: is rising so as to fill it, while the other cylinder B¹ (which had previously
been similarly filled) is descending and shuts its foot valve 1 and forces
the water up through its lift and discharge valve 2, fitted within and
over a valve seat and opening at the lower end of each piston A¹, A",
which is made hollow for the water to flow up into and be discharged
at every oscillation through one or other of the discharge or outlet
apertures 3 formed through the inner top side of the piston A close to
the lever a" into the open well Z so as to fill it and be discharged at
the delivery spout Z' all as indicated by the position of the parts and
the arrows in Figure 1. It will be observed that doors ¹ are fitted and
secured on one or both sides of the chamber B for the insertion and
removal or inspection of the foot or clack valves 1, 1.
•
Referring to the modification of lifting and forcing pump, shown in
Figures 3, 4, and 5, the segmental piston A is shown as made in one
piece, either solid or cored out hollow, and truly turned round in cross
section and parallel, having its radial arm A* secured to it by a pin or
cotter at A, while the central eye or boss of which is firmly keyed on.
the central spindle A* worked in journal bearings a¹ in the axis of the
two sides B, B, of the main cylindrical case B of the pump by the
lever a, a¹¹, secured on the square end of the spindle projecting out at
one side for the purpose, to the top a" of which lever a, a¹¹, a double
armed horizontal arm or lever f is secured in a portable manner with
hand bars or rails to be worked by manual power up and down in
the manner in which fire-engines are worked.
In this modification the main case or body of the pump is made in
two halves B, B, (bolted together by flanges all round), and in a close
hollow circular form, enclosing the working segmental piston A and its
radial guiding and actuating arm A*, the two ends A¹, A", of the
piston A working in the two close annular chambers B¹, B", on each
-side of the main case B through two transverse annular stuffing-box
recesses C³, C¹¹, with a ring of flexible or elastic material C, as leather,
hemp, or asbestos, used for such packing, tightened up by a crescent or
*segmental plate of steel or iron C³ on each side by pinching screws C³
on the outside.
The water is drawn from the main lift pipe z
through the lateral branch 63 at one side into the lower central well
or chamber B₁ common, and leading to both working
arrels B, B", through the inlet valves 1, 1, and discharged through
"
stoup
""

page_text: similar valves 2, 2, above into a common discharge well e and singlé
outlet branch e¹ on the opposite side, the valves. being preferably of the
hollow india-rubber ball class, filled with small lead shot, sand, or other
equivalent to produce weight and maintain a spherical shape, all as
seen particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the black arrows indicating the
reciprocating-action of the piston and its levers and connections, and the
blue arrows the direction and motion of the water through the pumps.
When used as a fire-engine or forcing pump for giving a continual jet
or stream an ordinary air vessel as e* is fitted on the discharge chamber
or pipe e".
A combined steam engine and pump of this new or improved con-
struction could also be made, the first to drive the crank shaft D' (to
work and reverse the motion of the valves) which would actuate the
latter, all otherwise as herein-before described, either by a connecting
rod; or the engine may work the pump pistons A direct by being keyed
on the same or corresponding coupled oscillating centres A, and for
condensing and marine engines. These pumps may also be made the
air pumps and circulating and bilge pumps.
It will be understood that other forms and arrangements of the valves
for both motive engines and pumps and modes of actuating them for the
latter may be adopted, as well as other minor details modified or used
(which would occur to the practical engineer) than those herein shown
and described without departing from the main or essential features of
my said Invention.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would now observe that what I consider novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
berein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of motive-power
engines and pumps, substantially in the new or improved manner and
for the purposes herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The construction and use of a segmental oscillating piston

page_text: single acting.segmental cylinders or barrels for motive-power engines or.
pumps, all substantially as herein described. and shown in the accom+
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robertson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December,
in-the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
W. ROBERTSON. (L.S.)