IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ridealgh of 14 Gilsland Street, Sunderland in
the County of Durham for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ridealgh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1882.
CHARLES RIDEALGH of 14 Gilsland Street, Sunderland in the County of Durham,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
"
This invention has reference to multiple cylinder single acting engines
The cylinders are fixed with their axes in the same plane, and their bases in a
plane at right angles to their axes,
The bases of the cylinders are attached to a plate in which are formed the
several ports and passages communicating with the several steam cylinders,―these
cylinders are either arranged to act independently of each other (as regards
circulation of the steam) as ordinary non-compound engines or the exhaust port of
one is made to communicate with the slide-jacket of another thus forming a
compound engine. Two ports are formed in the plate opposed to the base of each
cylinder, the one being the inlet and the other the exhaust port.
The faces of all the ports are in a common plane or in parallel planes. When all
the cylinders exhaust directly into the air or into a condenser, one slide jacket or
steam chest is made to contain the whole of the slide valves; but in cases where
the engines are compounded partitions are formed to divide the slide jacket into
the required number of jackets according to the number of cylinders.
Each slide face is fitted with a distributing valve which may be of the
ordinary D construction or may be a rotary valve. In the former case the
positions of the cylinder ports are such as to allow of the traverse of the slides at
right angles to the plane of the axes of the cylinders, and in the latter case of
the rotation or oscillation of the rotary valve on an axis parallel to the crank
shaft
On the back of each slide, when this form of valve is adopted, there are formed two
projections with plane or other surfaces opposed to each other leaving a space

page_text: between them these plane (or other) surfaces are at right angles to the line of
traverse of the slides and the space between them is such as to receive a naked
eccentric revolving on a shaft between them with little or no play, or in other
words so that the eccentrics may revolve between the surfaces and give the full
amount of travel to the slide due to the eccentricity of the eccentrics. A shaft
carrying all the eccentrics, or the rotary valve as aforesaid, passes throughout the
valve jacket or jackets in the same plane as the axes of the cylinders and parallel
with the plane of the bases of the cylinders: this shaft is fitted with suitable
bearings and stuffing boxes as may be required, the one end projecting and being
caused to revolve by suitable gearing in connection with the crank shaft at the
required speed to so move each slide valve as to give admission and emission of
steam at the required times. When rotary valves are employed they are placed on
this shaft and are driven by it.
The cylinders casting (or casing) is extended in a hollow cylindrical form open to
the open ends of the cylinders and having its axis in the same plane as that of the
cylinder axes but at right angles to those axes, this cylindrical casting has closed
or partially closed ends, and forms a chamber in which the crank shaft revolves,
suitable bearings being provided for the crank shaft. Or instead of the cylinders
casting being extended the cylinders may be supported by frames and the open
space covered in with sheet iron if necessary.
It will thus be seen that the crank shaft revolves and the connecting rods
vibrate in the chamber formed by the above mentioned extension of the cylinders
casting or casing and the open ends of the cylinders themselves
The reversing is effected by altering the angular position of the shaft that carries
the eccentrics or rotary valve with relation to the crank shaft. This may be
conveniently effected by driving it or the shaft that connects it to the crank shaft
by means of clutches that can be fixed in two positions one corresponding to
forward and one to backward motion of the engine. Or a sliding sleeve may be
connected to the shaft by a scroll or helical connection that will allow of its
assuming any position between two extreme points-Or the reversing may be
effected of course by any other known contrivance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Ridealgh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th May
1883.
CHARLES RIDEALGH of 14 Gilsland Street, Sunderland in the County of Durham
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
This invention has reference to multiple cylinder single acting engines. The
cylinders are fixed with their axes in the same plane, and their bases in a plane at
right angles to their axes. The cylinders are at one end attached to a plate in
which are formed the several ports and passages communicating with the several
steam cylinders, these cylinders are either arranged to act independently of each
other (as regards circulation of the steam) as ordinary non-compound engines or the
exhaust port of one is made to communicate with the slide-jacket of another thus
forming a compound engine. Two ports are formed in the plate opposed to the
end of each cylinder, the one being the inlet and the other the exhaust port.
The faces of all the ports are in a common plane or in parallel planes. When
all the cylinders exhaust directly into the air or into a condenser, one slide jacket
or steam chest is made to contain the whole of the slide valves; but in cases
where the engines are compounded partitions are formed to divide the slide
jacket into the required number of jackets according to the number of cylinders.
Each slide face is fitted with a distributing valve which may be of the
ordinary D construction or may be a rotary valve. In the former case the
positions of the cylinder ports are such as to allow of the traverse of the slides
at right angles to the plane of the axes of the cylinders, and in the latter case
of the rotation or oscillation of the rotary valve on an axis parallel to the
crank shaft.
On the back of each slide, when the D shape of valve is adopted, there are
formed two projections with plane or other surfaces opposed to each other leaving
a space between them: these plane (or other) surfaces are at right angles to the
line of traverse of the slides and the space between them is such as to receive a
naked eccentric revolving on a shaft between them with little or no play, or in
other words so that the eccentrics may revolve between the surfaces and give the
full amount of travel to the slide due to the eccentricity of the eccentrics. A shaft
carrying all the eccentrics or the rotary valves as aforesaid, passes throughout the
valve jacket or jackets in the same plane as the axes of the cylinders and parallel
with the plane of the bases of cylinders: this shaft is fitted with suitable bearings
and stuffing boxes as may be required, the one end projecting and being caused to
revolve by suitable gearing in connection with the crank shaft at the required speed
to so move each slide valve as to give admission and emission of steam at the
required times. When rotary valves are employed they are mounted on this shaft
in such a manner that they shall be driven by the shaft but at the same time shall
be free to find their own bearing on their several slide faces which faces must be
situated in planes at right angles to the axis of the slides shaft and provided with
suitable passages connecting the ports with the cylinders
The cylinders casting (or casing) is extended in a hollow cylindrical form open
to the open ends of the cylinders and having its axis in the same plane as that of
the cylinder axes but at right angles to those axes; this cylindrical casting has
closed or partially closed ends, and forms a chamber in which the crank shaft
revolves, suitable bearings being provided for the crank shaft. Or instead of the
open ends of the cylinders themselves forming a junction with this cylindrical
casing, a casing may be formed which will enclose all the cylinders and form one
piece with the above mentioned hollow cylinder or casing. Or instead of the

page_text: cylinders casting being extended the cylinders may be supported by frames and the
open space covered in within sheet iron if necessary.
It will thus be seen that the crank shaft revolves and the connecting rods
vibrate in the chamber formed by the above mentioned extension of the cylinder
casting or casing and the open ends of the cylinders themselves or their casing.
The reversing is effected by altering the angular position of the shaft that carries
the eccentrica or rotary valves with relation to the crank shaft. This may be
conveniently effected by driving it or the shaft that connects it to the crank shaft
by means of clutches that can be fixed in two positions one corresponding to forward
and one to backward motion of the engine. Or a sliding sleeve may be connected
to the shaft by a scroll or helical connection that will allow of its assuming any
position between two extreme points. Or the reversing may be effected of course
by any other known contrivance.
In some cases the working chambers may be hollow quadrilateral prisms with
rounded corners and filled with square pistons also with rounded corners.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig 1 is a side elevation and part vertical section in line A. B Fig 2 of a three
cylinder single-acting non-compound engine with common casing enclosing all three
cylinders and constructed according to my invention.
Fig 2 represents the engine in plan showing parts of the slide jacket and driving
shaft in section in line C. D. of Fig 1.
Fig 3 shews a transverse section of the engine in line E F of Fig 1.
The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures.
a Figs 1 and 3 is one of the cylinders, b the piston, c the connecting rod coupling
the piston with its crank and vibrating in the open end of the cylinder, d the crank
shaft, e the crank-shaft casing, ff fixing brackets cast on e, g bushed stuffing box
bearings for the crank shaft, h cylinder-casing cast in one piece with the cylinders
and crank shaft casing, is the slide jacket common to all the slides, k the steam
inlet, the exhaust opening, m the eccentric shaft common to all the eccentrics,
n one of the eccentrics turned solid with the shaft, -the eccentrics join end to end
along the shaft m so give considerable strength, o is the end bearing of the
eccentric shaft, p stuffing box bushed bearing of eccentric shaft, q mitre motion
wheel keyed on the end of m, r mitre wheel giving motion to q, 8 motion shaft for
communicating motion from the crank shaft to the eccentric shaft, t t mitre wheels
to drive 8 from the crank shaft, u shews in section one of the slide valves with the
parallel faces between which the corresponding naked eccentric works to give
motion to the slide, v steam port through slide, w steam and exhaust port into and
from cylinder, exhaust passage, y D hollow in slide joining w and when
required, z sliding spiral sleeve actuated by the lever ¹ by which angular motion
is given when required to alter the relative angular position of the eccentrics with
regard to the angular position of the crank shaft for the purpose of reversing the
engine.
The action of the engine is as follows;-steam is admitted by the passage k into
the slide-jacket i whence it passes through either or any of the passages vinto the
cylinders a, through the ports w in each case forcing the corresponding piston b to
the end of its stroke as shewn in section Fig 3 where the slide is just on the point
of connecting the passage with x which will allow the spent steam in a to
escape through exhaust outlet on the return stroke which is completed by the
other pistons through the medium of the crank shaft. The three crank-throws are
set at an angle of 120° with regard to each other and consequently each piston
begins to exert its force before that of the preceding piston has subsided and a
regular continued motion is attained.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect I would have it understood that what I claim is :-
1 The improved team engine constructed arranged and operating substantially
as herein before described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings
or modified to act as a compound engine as hereinabove set forth

page_text: 2 In a steam engine the use of a distributing valve operated by a naked
eccentric on a shaft such eccentric revolving between two surfaces at right angles
to the line of traverse of the valve so as to give it the full amount of travel due to
the eccentricity of the eccentric substantially as described.
3 In a steam engine the arrangement substantially as hereinabove described and
shewn for operating the distributing valve or valves from the crank shaft.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Ridealgh have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
21—
No text detected.

page_text: 2 In a steam engine the use of a distributing valve operated by a naked
eccentric on a shaft such eccentric revolving between two surfaces at right angles
to the line of traverse of the valve so as to give it the full amount of travel due to
the eccentricity of the eccentric substantially as described.
3 In a steam engine the arrangement substantially as hereinabove described and
shewn for operating the distributing valve or valves from the crank shaft.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Ridealgh have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
CHARLES RIDEALGH (L.S.)