AN IMPROVED STEAM-ENGINE, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A PUMP AND AS A FLUID METER
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED STEAM-ENGINE, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A PUMP AND AS A
FLUID METER." A communication from abroad by Pierre Besnard and
François Eugène Besuard, both of Nantes, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1881.
ALSO
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London.
" AN IMPROVED STEAM-ENGINE,
APPLICABLE AS A PUMP AND AS A FLUID METER." [A communication from
abroad by Pierre Besnard and François Eugène Besnard, both of Nantes,
France.]
machine of this
This Invention relates to steam-engines of novel construction, which may also
be employed as pumps, meters for liquids, and gases and the like.
The said Invention has for its object to provide an engine or
nature in which the number of parts are practically reduced to those which are
strictly indispensable (when the machine is used as a steam engine) for the
distribution of steam, for receiving its motive power, and for transmitting the
same, that is to say, to a distributing valve, a piston working in a cylinder, and a
driving shaft.
In steam engines constructed according to this Invention the steam is distributed
in the ordinary manner by means of a slide-valve at the side of the cylinder, and
is alternately admitted above and below the piston. Through the central part of
the cylinder passes a crank-shaft. The crank carries a slide-piece directly actuated
by the piston so as to impart the required rotary movement to the shaft without
the necessity of employing a connecting rod or an analogous device. The shaft
controls the slide-valve, and is provided in the ordinary manner with a pulley
acting as a fly-wheel, or with a pulley and a fly-wheel.
The steam-cylinder is constructed in two parts, each cast in one piece with its
end, and the two parts are united by flanges bolted together; both in the flango of

page_text: the upper part and in that of the lower part recesses or indentations are provided
forming on diametrically opposite sides bearings to receive the crank-shaft, which
thus passes through the cylinder at the centre of the latter, as hereinbeforo
mentioned. At one end this shaft has an excentric journal or crank pin which
controls the notion of a distributing slide valve placed in a suitable valve-
chest, and arranged according to the conditions under which the machine is to
work.
The piston is made in two parts in order that it may be inserted within tho
cylinder when the shaft has been mounted. The two parts of the piston when in
their proper place are bolted together. The central part of the piston is cut away
so as to form recesses which allow the arms of the crank to pass when the shaft
rotates, and thereby is also formed a guide in which a slide engages and works;
this slide forms a bearing for the cross-piece of the crank. In its alternate move-
ments the piston acts upon the said bearing, which rises and descends, moving in
its guide and carrying with it the crank, thus causing the crank-shaft to revolve.
The rotary movement of the latter is transmitted by suitable parts to the devices
to be set in motion thereby.
By dispensing with stuffing-boxes and exterior parts great advantages are gained,
and the machine may serve as a motor, a meter, or a pump for either liquids or
gases. The two parts of the cylinder may be made of different diameter to cause
the said engine to work like a two-cylinder engine, and the most perfect distributing
devices (whether slide-valves or others) may be applied thereto; the cut-off may
be varied by hand or by a governor. The form and dimensions of the engine and
the material of which it is constructed may vary within wide limits without
affecting the principle of its construction or its operation, and applicability to a
variety of purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1881.
«< AN IMPROVED STEAM-ENGINE, ALSO
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, 3
Southampton Buildings, London.
APPLICABLE AS A PUMP AND AS A FLUID-METER.' A communication from
abroad by Pierre Besnard and François Eugène Besnard, both of Nantes,
France.
This Invention relates to an improved steam engine, which may also be employed
as a pump or fluid meter.
The said Invention has for its object to provide an engine or machine consisting
of the smallest practicable number of parts, that is to say, of those parts only which
are strictly necessary (when the machine is used as a steam-engine) for the distri-
bution of steam for receiving its motive power and for transmitting the same, or
in other words, a distributing valve, a piston working in a cylinder, and a driving
shaft.

page_text: In steam-engines constructed according to this Invention the steam is distributed
in the ordinary manner by means of a slide-valve at the side of the cylinder, and is
alternately admitted above and below or to the two ends of the piston. Through
the central part of the cylinder the crank-shaft passes, the latter being provided
with a sliding picce or block directly actuated by the piston so as to impart the
required rotary movement to the shaft without the necessity of employing a con-
necting-rod or analogous device. This crank-shaft controls the movements of the
slide-valve, and is provided in the ordinary manner with a pulley acting as a fly-
wheel, or with both a pulley and a fly-wheel.
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated the application of my Invention
to a steam-engine. In this Drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the said engine, and
Figure 2 is a plan partly in horizontal section of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation, and
Figure 4a transverse section of the said engine.
Figure 5 is an end view of the piston employed in the said engine, and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the same on the line A, B, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a side view of the said piston, and
Figure S is a horizontal section of the same on the line C, D, Figure 7.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The cylinder of the said engine is constructed in two parts a, a', having their
heads or ends cast in one piece with the same; these two parts are united by bolts
passing through flanges on the said parts. Both in the flange of the upper part and in
that of the lower part recesses or grooves are provided, and form on diametrically
opposite sides bearings to receive the shaft b, which thus passes through the cylinder
at the centre thereof. At one end this shaft has an excentric stud or pin c,
which controls the movement of the slide-valve d suitably arranged in the valve-
chest e.
The piston is made in two parts f, f', so that it may be readily fitted in the
cylinder when the shaft is in position. These two parts when in their proper place
are connected by bolts g passing through the same.
I
The said piston is cut away at
its centro so as to form recesses h, will allow the arms i of the crank to pass as the
shaft rotates, and is also cut away so as to form a groove or guideway j, in which a
piece is inserted and moves to and fro. This sliding piece forms a bearing for
the cross-piece of the crank. The piston in its movements acts upon the said
bearing or sliding piece k, which rises and descends with the said piston, whilst at
the same time it moves to and fro in its guideway and carries with it the crank,
thus causing the shaft to revolve. The rotary movement of the latter is transmitted
by suitable means to the devices to be driven thereby.
It is obvious that by dispensing with stuffing boxes and other exterior parts great
advantages are attained, and that the engine or machine will serve either as a
motor or as a meter or pump for liquids, vapours, or gases. Moreover it is evident
that the two parts of the cylinder may be made of different diameter to cause the
engine to work in a similar manner to a two-cylinder engine, and that distributing
devices of the most suitable construction (whether slide or other valves) may be
applied thereto and the cut-off may be varied by hand or by a governor.
In Figure 9 of the Drawing I have shown in longitudinal section an engine
having the two parts of its cylinder of different diameter; the two parts f. f, of
the piston being also of unequal size. The slide-valve in this case is constructed in
a peculiar manner so as to ensure the proper distribution of the steam upon the
two unequal faces of the piston. For this purpose I provide in the valve in
addition to the ordinary exhaust-passage o which connects the larger end of the
cylinder, and this only with the exhaust pipe or channel p with a supplementary
interior passage n, which conducts the steam escaping from the smaller end of the
cylinder to the larger end, where it expands and acts upon the large face of the
piston. It is obvious that the diameter of the two faces of the piston will be

page_text: calculated according to the expansion of the steam to be obtained, and the conditions
under which the engine is to work.
Figure 10 is a vertical section; and Figure 11 a horizontal section on the
line A, B, Figure 10, of a piston which is so constructed as to compensate
automatically for the wear of the bearing , whilst the engine is working without
requiring any part to be detached. The two parts ff of this form of piston aro
not in contact; they are however held together by bolts as above described, but the
heads of these bolts are supported on an annular plate u, placed in a recess in one
part of the piston. This plate is constantly raised or forced outward by a coiled
spring v, which bears against the bottom of the recess, and thus tends automatically
to bring the part f¹ nearer to the part fas wear takes place. The said recess is
closed by a plate or cover w, held in position by a screw x.
My improved engine or machine may be constructed of any required dimensions
and of any suitable materials.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the saine I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The general arrangement of the apparatus above described, consisting of a
cylinder containing a piston which directly actuates a shaft passing through the
said cylinder and piston and carrying the devices for the transmission of power as
above set forth, and for the purposes specified.
Second. The cylinder and piston both formed in two parts suitably connected
with each other, so as to allow the shaft which passes through the said cylinder
and piston to be placed is position, as above 'described.
Third. The piston formed in two parts and having recesses in its body to prevent
the passage of the arms of the crank-shaft when the latter rotates, and to receive
a sliding piece which serves as a bearing for the crank pin of this shaft, so that
the movements of the said piston effect the rotation of the said shaft without
intermediate mechanism, as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a cylinder whose two parts are of different
diameter, of a piston having ends of unequal size, and a slide-valve having the
interior passages n and o, substantially as shewn in the accompanying Drawing,
aud for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The modification of my Invention wherein I employ in combination with
the bolts for connecting the two parts of the piston, the plate u, and spring v, as
above set forth, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)
4