Improvements in Double-acting Simple-compound and Single and Double-acting Triple, Quadruple, and still further Compounded or Expansive Steam or other Motive Fluid Engines for Stationary, Marine, or Locomotive Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Double-acting Simple-compound and Single and
Double-acting Triple, Quadruple, and still further Compounded or
Expansive Steam or other Motive Fluid Engines for Stationary,
Marine, or Locomotive Purposes.
We, LUDLOW PATTON PERKINS of 148 Abbey Road, London, N.W. in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and ROUGHSEDGE WALLWORK of the firm of
Henry Wallwork & Co., of Union Bridge Iron Works, Roger Street, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounders, Engineers and Machine Makers do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-
ACTING SIMPLE-COMPOUND AND SINGLE AND DOUBLE-ACTING TRIPLE,
QUADRUPLE AND STILL FURTHER COMPOUNDED OR EXPANSIVE STEAM OR
OTHER MOTIVE FLUID ENGINES FOR STATIONARY, MARINE OR LOCOMOTIVE
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
Placing the cylinders of variously compounded engines as above, one inside
another and concentrically, forming the inner ones annular so that their thicknesses
act as pistons, and causing the effective areas of the pistons to increase in suitable
ratios and also the upper and lower surfaces of pistons for the corresponding grade
of expansion to have the same area or slightly different areas if in vertical engines,
by adjusting the thicknesses of the walls of the various cylinders and pistons.
By the above method of constructing steam or other motive fluid engines if
suitably carried out as hereinafter described the following advantages are
secured.
(1) The maximum power for the minimum space and weight having due regard
to economy.
(2) Small number of moving and other parts.
(3) Short passages for steam or other motive fluids.
(4) Small radiating surfaces of ports and cylinders.
(5) The cylinders, to a certain extent, keep each other hot, thereby lessening
condensation and obviating the necessity for extensive steam jacketting.
(6) Ease and cheapness of jacketting.
(7) Any steam or other motive fluid leaking from any cylinder enters another,
the piston of which is moving in the same direction as that of the cylinder from
which the steam has escaped and thus does not retard the motion of the engine.
(8) Easy accessibility to all parts.
This invention applied to a single acting triple-compound engine consists in con-
structing an ordinary cylinder with a trunk guide projecting outwards from one
end, and a fixed high pressure piston projecting inwardly the length of the cylinder
from the cover at the other end. A moving piston working in the cylinder is con-
nected to the slipper in the trunk guide by a hollow trunk which forms on the
inside the bigh pressure cylinder for the fixed inwardly projecting high pressure
piston. The annular surface of the moving piston, outside the connecting trunk
forms the intermediate piston, the area of which is adjusted suitably to those of
the high and low pressure pistons by the thickness of the walls of the connecting
runk.
The engine works as follows: Steam or other motive fluid is admitted to the
high pressure cylinder by a common slide or other valve or valves through a
suitable port or passage cast in the thickness of the fixed inwardly projecting
piston. On the completion of the stroke the steam exhausts through a suitable
passage in the valve or valves to the medium cylinder formed by the annular space
between the outside of the connecting trunk, and the moving piston, and makes the
eturn stroke.

page_text: The steam then exhausts through the same passage in the valve or valves to the
other side of the piston which side, having a larger area, acts as the low pressure
piston.
Simultaneously the high pressure cylinder is taking a new charge of steam or
other motive fluid.
The moving piston in the above engine is connected by a connecting rod of any
description to the crank shaft which we preferably enclose in a tight casing. The
valve or valves may be driven by any kind of valve gear most suitable.
A double acting simple compound engine is constructed in the same manner
as the engine just described and with similar but differently proportioned parts, with
the exception that the end of the trunk guide before referred to is closed and
the motion of the piston is transmitted through it by a piston rod passing
through a stuffing box and coupled to the connecting rod in any ordinary way.
An additional passage is also formed leading from the valve face through the
thickness of the trunk to admit steam between the end of the same which now
forms one of the low pressure cylinders and the end of the moving piston.
The annular space which in the last described engine formed the intermediate
cylinder now becomes the second high pressure cylinder, while the low pressure
cylinder in the last engine remains as the second low pressure cylinder.
The steam or motive fluid is admitted to the first high pressure cylinder by
a slide or other valve or valves through a suitable port or passage cast in the
thickness of the fixed inwardly projecting piston. On the completion of the
stroke, during which the first low pressure cylinder formed by the closed trunk
guide is exhausting, the steam passes through a suitable passage in the valve or
valves into the now empty low pressure cylinder and makes the return stroke
during which live steam or other motive fluid is entering the annular space
which in the last described engine formed the intermediate cylinder and which
is now the return high pressure cylinder, while the return low pressure cylinder
which is formed in the same way as was the low pressure cylinder in the last
described engine, is open to the exhaust.
The return high pressure cylinder then exhausts into the return low pressure
cylinder.
The motion and valve or valves for this engine are similar to those for the pre-
viously described engine, but in cases where steam or other motive fluid of great
pressure is used, we prefer to connect two piston rods to the other and low
pressure end of the moving piston thus doing away with the well known difficulty
attending the construction of glands to withstand high pressure.
Two of either of the above described engines may be connected by the flanges
of the steam chest and the valves are then accessible for examination or repairs
through the end of the steam chest which we prefer to close by an extension of the
Hange of the cylinder covers. This economises space and obviates the necessity of
separate steam chest covers.
This invention as applied to a double acting triple compound or expansion engine
consists in constructing a main cylinder half the length of which is of a smaller
diameter than the other half. At the end of the smaller portion is a fixed high
pressure piston projecting inwardly the length of the smaller part of the main
cylinder from the cover thereof, while from the cover of the end of the larger
portion of the main cylinder a fixed annular intermediate piston projects inwardly
the length of the larger part of the main cylinder, the inside of which annular
piston forms the return high pressure cylinder A'.
The moving high pressure piston is connected to the low pressure piston by
a hollow trunk which forms on the inside the first high pressure cylinder A, in
which works the fixed inwardly projecting high pressure piston. From the outer
edge of the first low pressure piston working in the smaller part of the main cylinder,
a second hollow truck connects to the return low pressure piston working in the
larger part of the main cylinder.
The annular space between the outside of the last named hollow connecting trunk

page_text: and the wall of the larger part of the main cylinder forms the first intermediate
cylinder B while the inside annular space between the first and second trunks forms
the return intermediate cylinder B¹. The annular space between the inward pro-
jecting fixed piston and the wall of the smaller part of the main cylinder forms the
first low pressure cylinder C.
The annular space between the outside of the fixed annular intermediate piston
and the wall of the larger part of the main cylinder forms the return low pressure
cylinder C.
The engine works as follows.
Steam or other motive fluid is admitted by a common slide or other valve or
valves through a suitable port or passage cast in the thickness of the inwardly
projecting fixed high pressure piston into high pressure cylinder A. On the
completion of the stroke during which cylinder A¹ has been exhausted into B,
B has been exhausting into C, and has been exhausting into the air or
condenser, the steam from A passes through a suitable port or passage in the
valve or valves into B¹, and makes the return stroke in conjunction with A' which
is receiving live steam and C¹ which is receiving the steam from B, while C is
exhausting into the air or condenser. The above path or paths of the steam are
controlled by suitable ports or passages in the valve or valves.
In the above description the cylinders which together make the first stroke that
is in the same direction are lettered A, B and C, while those making the return stroke
together in the opposite direction are lettered A', B' and C¹.
Two piston rods may be used for this engine in the same manner, and for similar
reasons as for the engine last described. Two of these engines may also be connected
in the same manuer and for the same purposes as described in reference to last engine,
the end of the steam chest being closed by an extension of the flange of the smaller
part of the main cylinder.
Still further compounded or expansive steam or other motive power engines may
be constructed on the hereinbefore described system.
(1) By combining two or more of any of the above engines of different sizes or
strokes, the exhaust of one set being the steam supply for the next. The engines
may either be fixed side by side connected to the crank or cranks by one or more
ordinary or triangular connecting rods, or one behind the other with the cylinders
in line and connected by rods passing through glands or with the centre of the sets
of cylinders arranged radially about one crank shaft.
(2) By adding to the engines as above described further main cylinders of
different sizes tandemwise the moving pistons of which are connected by trunks
forming further cylinders to the pistons of the engines to which they are added.
(3) By adding to the engines above described further concentric and annular
fixed pistons and cylinders round and in which work corresponding moving cylinders
and pistons attached to the moving piston of the above described engines.
If the spaces cored out for lightness in the annular and projecting fixed pistons
of the above engines when used for steam, are closed and supplied with steam from
the boiler they form cheap and effective steam jackets.
Any of the above engines may be constructed like the first described single
acting triple compound or expansion engine, that is to say, with a packed trunk
guide to which the connecting rod is coupled direct, and may be placed in a
tight case.
The valve or valves of above engines may be fitted with a cut off valve of any
ordinary description and controlled if considered advisable by a governor.
Dated this Second day of June 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEY
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Double-acting Simple-compound and Single and
Double-acting Triple, Quadruple, and still further Compounded or
Expansive Steam or other Motive Fluid Engines for Stationary,
Marine, or Locomotive Purposes.
We, LUDLOW PATTON PERKINS, formerly of 148 Abbey Road London N.W.
and now of 30 Stocks Street Cheetham, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and ROUGHSEDGE WALLWORK of the firm of Henry Wallwork & Co.
of Union Bridge Iron Works, Roger Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Founders Engineers and Machine Makers 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 :-
In constructing the cylinders of variously compounded engines we place the
cylinders one inside another and concentrically, forming the inner ones annular so
that their thicknesses act as pistons, and we cause the effective areas of the pistons
to increase in suitable ratios and also the upper and lower surfaces of pistons for
the corresponding grade of expansion to have the same area (or slightly different
areas if in vertical engines) by adjusting the thicknesses of the walls of the various
cylinders and pistons.
By the above method of constructing steam or other motive fluid engines if
suitably carried out as hereinafter described the following advantages are
secured :-
1. The maximum power for the minimum space and weight having due regard to
economy.
2. Small number of moving and other parts.
3. Small radiating surfaces of ports and cylinders.
4. The cylinders to a certain extent keep each other warm.
5. Ease and cheapness of steam jacketting.
6. Small inducement for steam to leak past any piston owing to the small
difference in pressure on the opposite sides of the same.
7. Any steam leaking past any piston does useful work as it enters the next
grade cylinder which is taking steam at the time.
8. Absence of external glands.
9. The improved cylinders being generally constructed with a single piston rod
they can easily be substituted for existing simple cylinders of existing engines.
10. Easy access to all parts.
11. By opening passages past or through some of the pistons, either by with-
drawing the packing rings or by opening suitably constructed ports in the pistons,
steam at initial pressure may be made to act on all the pistons and the power of the
engine be thus increased for any temporary emergency.
In order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe more fully some of the methods of performing the
same having reference to the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 shows one way of applying the invention to the construction of a single
acting triple compound engine.
We construct an ordinary cylinder with a trunk guide A projecting outwards
from one end and a fixed high pressure piston B projecting inwardly the length of
the cylinder from the cover C at the other end. A moving piston D working
in the cylinder is connected to the slipper E in the trunk guide A by a hollow
trunk which forms on the inside the high pressure cylinder H for the fixed
inwardly projecting high pressure piston B. The annular surface of the moving
piston D outside the connecting trunk F forms the medium piston the area of
which is adjusted suitably to those of the high and low pressure pistons by the
thickness of the wall of the trunk F. The space between the inwardly projecting

page_text: nign pressure piston 1 and the walls of the ordinary cylinder forms the low
pressure cylinder L.
The spaces which the steam successively occupies in its three grades of
expansion are lettered respectively H, M and L, signifying high, medium and low.
The engine works as follows, steam or other motive fluid is admitted to the high
pressure cylinder H by a slide valve through a port or passage J cast in the
thickness of the fixed inwardly projecting piston B. On the completion of the
stroke the steam exhausts through the same passage J and through a passage K
in the valve to the medium cylinder M through the port N and makes the return
stroke. The steam then exhausts through the same passages N & K to the low
pressure cylinder L by the port O and after completing the stroke exhausts
through and the recess P in the valve into the air at Q. Simultaneously the
high pressure cylinder H is taking a new charge of steam or other motive fluid.
The moving piston may be connected to the crank shaft of the engine in the
ordinary way as shewn or in any other suitable manner.
The course of the steam may be controlled by a single valve of any description
such as a slide (as shewn) or a piston valve or by two or more valves of any
suitable description.
Fig. 2 shews one way of applying the invention to a double acting simple
compound engine. We construct a main cylinder half the length of which is of a
smaller diameter than the other half. At the end of the larger portion of the
main cylinder is a fixed high pressure piston projecting inwardly the length of the
larger part of the main cylinder from the cover thereof. One moving low pressure
piston working in the larger part of the main cylinder is connected to the other
low pressure piston by a hollow trunk which forms on the inside the first high
pressure cylinder H into which projects the fixed high pressure piston. The
annular space between the outside of the hollow trunk and the larger part of the
main cylinder forms the second high pressure cylinder H2. The smaller part of
the main cylinder forms the first low pressure cylinder L, and the annular space
between the outside of the inwardly projecting fixed piston and the larger part of
the main cylinder forms the second low pressure cylinder L².
The engine works as follows: Steam or other motive fluid is admitted to the
first high pressure cylinder H by a slide or other valve through a passage cast in
the thickness of the inwardly projecting high pressure piston. On the completion
of the stroke, during which the second low pressure cylinder L has been
receiving steam from the second high pressure cylinder H2 and the first low
pressure cylinder L has been exhausting into the air or condenser, the steam from
the first high pressure cylinder H passes to the first low pressure cylinder L and
thus makes the return stroke with the second high pressure cylinder H2, which is
receiving live steam, while the second low pressure cylinder L' is exhausting to
the air or condenser.
The moving piston may be connected to the crank shaft of the engine in any
suitable manner. The course of the steam may be controlled by a single valve of
any suitable description such as a slide valve (as shewn) or piston valve or by two
or more valves of any suitable description.
Fig. 3 shews a method of applying the invention to the construction of a double
acting triple compound or expansive engine.
We construct a main cylinder half the length of which is of a smaller diameter
than the other half. At the end of the smaller portion is a fixed high pressure
piston projecting inwardly the length of the smaller part of the main cylinder
from the cover thereof, while from the cover of the end of the larger portion of the
main cylinder a fixed annular intermediate piston projects inwardly the length of
the larger part of the main cylinder, the inside of which annular piston forms the
return high pressure cylinder H2.
The moving high pressure piston is connected to the low pressure piston by a
hollow trunk which forms on the inside the first high pressure cylinder H in which
works the fixed inwardly projecting high pressure piston. From the outer edge of

page_text: the first low pressure piston working in the smaller part of the main cylinder a
second hollow trunk connects to the return low pressure piston working in the
larger part of the main cylinder.
The annular space between the outside of the last named hollow connecting
trunk and the wall of the larger part of the main cylinder forms the first
intermediate cylinder M while the inside annular space between the first and
second trunks forms the return intermediate cylinder M². The annular space
between the inwardly projecting fixed piston and the wall of the smaller part of
the main cylinder forms the first low pressure cylinder L. The annular space
between the outside of the fixed annular intermediate piston and the wall of the
larger part of the main cylinder forms the return low pressure cylinder L².
The engine works as follows:
Steam or other motive fluid is admitted by a common slide or other suitable
valve or valves through a suitable port or passage cast in the thickness of the
inwardly projecting fixed high pressure piston into the high pressure cylinder H.
On the completion of the stroke during which cylinder H2, has been exhausting
into M, M², has been exhausting into L and L2 has been exhausting into the air or
condenser, the steam from H passes through a suitable port or passage in the
valve or valves into M² and makes the return stroke in conjunction with H2, which
is receiving live steam and L' which is receiving the steam from M while L is
exhausting into the air or condenser. The above path or paths of the steam are
controlled by suitable ports or passages in the valve or valves.
In the above description the cylinders which together make the first stroke that
is in the same direction, are lettered H, M and L, while those making the return
stroke in the opposite direction are lettered H³, M2, and L2.
The moving piston may be connected to the crank shaft of the engine in any
suitable manner.
The course of the steam may be controlled by a single valve of any suitable
description such as a slide valve (as shewn) or by a piston valve or by two or more
valves of any suitable description.
In cases where steam or other motive fluid of great pressure is used we prefer
to connect two piston rods to the outer and low pressure part of the moving piston
thus doing away with the well known difficulties attending the construction of
glands to withstand high pressures.
Fig. 4. shews one method of arranging any of the above described engines in
pairs for example two sets similar to Fig. 3. If fitted with slide valves the
cylinders may be advantageously bolted together by the flanges (x-x) of the
valve chests the valves being then accessible for examination or repairs through
the end of the valve chest, which we prefer to leave open, and to close by an
extension y of the flange of the cylinder covers as shewn in Fig. 4.
All the arrangements shewn in the figures are for vertical engines but we do not
bind ourselves to that position as the cylinders may be arranged horizontally or
inclined or in any other way, either fixed or oscillating.
Still further compounded or expansive steam or other motive power engines may
be constructed on the hereinbefore described system in the following ways.
1st. By adding to the engines above described further main cylinders of
different sizes tandem-wise, the moving pistons of which are connected by trunks,
forming further cylinders to the pistons of the engiues to which they are added.
2nd. By adding to the engines above described further concentric and annular
fixed pistons and cylinders round and in which work corresponding moving
cylinders and pistons attached to the moving piston of the above described
engines.
3rd. By arranging the sets of cylinders above described in groups of two or
more sets suitably proportioned and arranged either for the steam to pass entirely
through one set and afterwards through the other or to pass to and fro between
any suitably proportioned cylinders of the different sets. Such combination
working either on the "Woolf" or "Chamber" systems.

page_text: The engines may either be fixed side by side connected to the crank or crauks
by one or more ordinary or triangular connecting rods or one behind the other
with the cylinders in line and connected by rods passing through glands or
with the centres of the sets of cylinders arranged radially about one crank
shaft.
When the engines are of large size the cylinder walls of necessity become thick
enough to admit of their being made hollow and their interiors being supplied
with steam they form efficient steam jackets.
The valve or valves of the hereinbefore described engines may be of any
suitable description and may be fitted with a cut off valve or valves controlled by
a governor if considered advisable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the particular arrangements and designs herein-
before described and shewn since they may be widely varied without departing
from the principles of construction they embody which principles are set forth in
the claims below.
We would also have it understood that we do not lay claim to all arrangements
of annular cylinders placed one within the other but declare that what we do
claim is:
1st. Placing the cylinders of variously compounded engines one inside another
and concentrically, forming the inner ones annular so that their thicknesses act as
pistons.
2nd. Placing the cylinders of variously compounded engines one inside another
and concentrically, forming the inner ones annular so that their thicknesses act as
pistons and causing the effective areas of the pistons to increase in suitable ratios
and also the upper and lower surfaces of pistons for the corresponding grade of
expansion to have the same area (or slightly different areas if in vertical engines)
by adjusting the thicknesses of the walls of the various cylinders and pistons.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of cylinders substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 1.
4th. The combination and arrangement of cylinders substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 2.
5th. The combination and arrangement of cylinders substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 3.
Dated this 28th day of February 1893.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.