IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND PUMPS, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO WATER METERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Urias Bromley, George Crowe, and William James, all of
Chester, in the County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES AND PUMPS, APPLICABLE ALSO IN
PART TO WATER METERS."
Sealed the 12th June 1877, and dated the 14th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Urias Bromley, George Crowe
and William James at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
December 1876.
URIAS BROMLEY, GEORGE CROWE, and WILLIAM JAMES, all of Chester, in the
County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
AND PUMPS, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO WATER METERS."
Our Invention relates to motive-power engines and pumps, to be driven by
steam, air, water, or other fluid pressure, and consists in the arrangement of one,
two, three, or more cylinders, single or double acting.
The cylinders are in some cases made in one piece with the shaft, in others are
attached thereto and also quite separate. They have a port formed in their inner
or outer end when single acting, and one in each end when double acting. They
are fitted with pistons or plungers, and these are connected by rods to a pin carried
by a bracket, or standard, or by any other convenient means.
The driving shaft is in some cases made hollow, having a valve fitted in it. In
the valve is an inlet and an outlet passage, and at one end are ports corresponding
to those in the cylinder or cylinders by which the admission and emission of the
fluid pressure is regulated. The number of ports in the valve are varied according
to circumstances.
In some cases we make the driving shaft solid and insert the valve in a separate
casing.
The direction of motion of these engines may be reversed, firstly, by turning the
valve round; secondly, by cocks or valves on the steam pipes.
These engines and pumps may be constructed, firstly, so that the cylinders may
revolve; secondly, that the cylinders may revolve and oscilate; thirdly, that the
cylinders may revolve and not oscilate; and, fourthly, that the cylinders may be
stationary.

page_text: In the four modes of working described above the principles are the same, but the
details are varied to suit the different conditions under which they are applied.
When these engines are used as pumps they can be driven by gearing or other-
wise from any convenient motor, the only differences between an engine and a
pomp on our principle being slight alterations in the shape or proportions of the
ports and other parts.
Referring to the mode of working where the cylinders revolve and are connected
by rods to a pin carried by a bracket, standard, or by any other convenient means,
an alternative mode of working is to mount on the top of each piston or plunger
a grooved pulley or pullies, these to work upon the inner circumference of a fixed or
revolving annular ring, this ring being placed eccentrically with respect to the
centre of the path of revolution of the cylinders.
We prefer to make the ends of the valve conical, and so arrange them that their
longitudinal position can be adjusted by screws or otherwise, so that any wear in
the valve or valve face can be taken up. This can be done automatically by
means of a spring.
By making the cylinders of a definite capacity and adding a revolution indicator
our motor at once becomes a water meter of the greatest accuracy.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Urias Bromley, George Crowe, and William James in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th June 1877.
URIAS BROMLEY, GEORGE CROWE, and WILLIAM JAMES, all of Chester, in the
County of Chester. “IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
AND PUMPS, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO WATER METERS."
Our Invention relates to motive-power engines and pumps, to be driven by
steam, air, water, or other fluid pressure, and consists in the arrangement of one,
two, three, or more cylinders, single or double acting.
The cylinders are in some cases made in one piece with the shaft, in others
are attached thereto and also quite separate. They have a port formed in their
inner or outer end when single acting, and one in each end when double acting.
They are fitted with pistons or plungers, and these are connected by rods to a pin
carried by a bracket, or standard, or by any other convenient means.
The driving shaft is in some cases inade hollow, having a valve fitted in it. In
the valve is an inlet and an outlet passage, and at one end are ports corresponding
to those in the cylinder or cylinders, by which the admission and emission of the
fluid pressure is regulated. The number of ports in the valve are varied according
to circumstances.
In some cases we make the driving shaft solid and insert the valve in a separate
casing.
The direction of motion of these engines may be reversed, firstly, by turning the
valve round; secondly, by cocks or valves on the steam pipes.
These engines and pumps may be constructed, firstly, so that the cylinders may
revolve; secondly, that the cylinders may revolve and oscillate; thirdly, that the
cylinders may revolve and not oscilate; and, fourthly, that the cylinders may be
stationary.
In the four modes of working described above the principles are the same, but
the details are varied to suit the different conditions under which they are applied.
When these engines are used as pumps they can be driven by gearing or other-
wise from any convenient motor, the only differences between an engine and a
pump on our principle being slight alterations in the shape or proportions of the
ports and other parts.
Referring to the mode of working, where the cylinders revolve and are connected
by rods to a pin carried by a bracket, standard, or by any other convenient means,

page_text: MATLANATION VI
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 illustrate an engine having four stationary double acting
cylinders and one central revolving valve. In these Figure 1 is a transverse section
through the cylinder; Figure 2, longitudinal section; Figure 3, plan of valve;
Figure 4, section through Y, Z, of Figure 2; Figure 5, section through W, X, of
Figure 2; Figure 6, section through V, U, of Figure 2. In those like letters refer
to like parts, and in all succeeding Sheets the parts corresponding to similar parts
in these Figures will be marked with similar letters for case in reference. A, A, are
the cylinders; B, B, pistons; C, C, piston rods attached to cross heads D; these are
connected in pairs by guide rods E, E, having secured to them slotted cross
heads F, F, in which slide the blocks G, G, through both of which passes the crank
pin H of crank shaft I; shaft I is carried at its inner and outer ends in suitable
bearings; the inner end has an oblong recess formed in it, into which projects the
end of shaft J; upon this is keyed valve K, having formed therein admission ports L
and exhaust ports M; N is the steam pipe or supply pipe for motive fluid; Q, the
exhaust pipe.
Figures 7 and 8 are sections; Figure 9), elevation; Figure 10, plan, and Figure 11,
modified partial details of an engine or pump having single acting-cylinders
revolving around a stationary valve. It consists of three single-acting cylinders
A, in one casting, as illustrated, or they may be made separately if preferred; the
outer ends have ordinary stuffing box and gland. In each cylinder works a piston B
having packing rings at its inner end; the outer end is bored to receive a pin D¹,
upon which works one end of a connecting rod E³, the other end revolving upon a
stationary taper pin I which can be adjusted so as to take up the wear in the
connecting rods. The pin I¹ is carried by a standard or bracket T¹; the centre of
the pin I is fixed half of the required stroke of pistons higher or lower than the
centre of the cylinders A.
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 illustrate an engine for imparting motion by means of
belting or spur or friction gear, and as a pump for receiving motion by the same
methods, whilst Figure 11 shows a modification by which an engine of the samo
general construction as the one described above is able to drive direct; K shows the
valve; it is divided into two compartments L, M, forming admission and emission
passages, each acting as an inlet or outlet, according to the direction of motion of
the engine. The portion of the valve which regulates the inlet to and outlet from
the cylinder we prefer to make taper so as to be able to take up the wear of the
valve in its seat.
Figures 12 and 13 are sectional elevations, and Figure 14, sectional plan of a single
double-acting cylinder engine with stationary valve similar to that shown in Figures 7
to 11; a pair of these engines may be arranged to drive one shaft; all the letters of
reference correspond to similar parts in Figures 1 to 6.
Figures 15 and 16 are vertical sections; Figures 17 and 18, elevations of an
engine or pump in which the cylinders revolve and the valve is stationary,

page_text: A are the cylinders; B, pistons or plungers carrying pullies C, plain or grooved;
these revolve on the inside of ring P, thus obviating the necessity of connecting
rods. The pistons are kept with their pulleys true to the plane of rotation by
means of rods E passing through a flange on the cylinder; these are prevented
from falling by cam plate R; the remaining letters of reference are already described
in reference to Figures 1 to 6.
Figures 19 and 20 are vertical sections; Figure 21, elevation; Figure 23, sections
of valve of a pump, having four single-acting cylinders revolving, and a stationary
valve. In the four cylinders A are pistons B, through top of each of which passes a
pin D, and attached to it are one end of two rods E, the opposite ends working on
circular paths P¹, Q, the centres of which are placed one-half the stroke of the
pistons higher or lower than the centre of the plane in which the cylinders & revolve.
The ends of the rods E¹ that work upon the paths S, T, form segments of a circle
and have a space left between them to allow for the necessary oscillation, and they
are kept on their respective paths by rings U, V, as illustrated, or by eccentric
straps bolted together.
The general construction of the cylinders is similar to those illustrated in
Figures 7 to 11, the valve K being modified as illustrated by Figures 22, 23,
and 24, N, being the inlet, O, the outlet, L, the inlet port, and M the outlet
port;
the end of the valve is made taper, so that as it wears it can be adjusted.
Figures 25 and 26 are vertical sections, and Figure 27, elevation of an engine or
pump, in which the cylinders revolve and the valve is stationary. It consists of
three cylinders A, in which work piston B, through top of each of which passes a
pin D on which are two rods E³, each rod having a pin projecting outward parallel
to pin D upon which revolves a roller C¹ working in an annular groove P¹ formed
in each frame T, the centre of the circle which this groove forms being at a
distance of half the required stroke of the pistons higher or lower than the centre of
the valve K around which the cylinders revolve. The valve K is similar to the
one illustrated by Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Figures 28 and 29 are sectional elevations; Figure 30, plain elevation; Figure 31,
section of trunnion; and Figure 32, section of valve of an engine or pump having
three single-acting cylinders d, each cylinder oscilating upon a trunnion X, having
formed in it two ports i, i; in this trunnion is placed a valve b, having in it two
ports L, M, which in conjunction with the ports N¹, O¹, in trunnion X regulato
the admission to and emission from each cylinder. B, B, B, are pistons working in
the cylinders A, coupled at their outer ends to a pin H which connects the two
discs Y, Y, keyed on shafts I, I, from either of which motion may be taken when
employed as an engine, or imparted to when operating as a pump. Instead of
pin H, discs Y, Y, and shafts I, I, being made separate, as illustrated, they may be
replaced by an ordinary crank shaft if preferred.
The construction described above may be modified, so as only to require one
rotating valve driven from either of shafts I, I, the valve being placed in a casing
having inlet and outlet passages, and from which ports are formed leading into cach
trunnion.
Figures 33 and 34 are sectional elevations of a two-cylinder engine; Figure 35
is a section of the valve for same. The two single-acting cylinders A revolve
around valve K, having an inlet N at its outer end and an outlet O at its inner end
into the central chamber C, from which it escapes by the aperture 0¹. The shaft I
is revolved by means of pistons B, cross heads D, rods E, cross heads F, and
crank H.
Figure 36 is a vertical section; 37, side elevation; 38, horizontal section; and
39, plan of a cock suitable for starting, stopping, regulating, and reversing all our
engines, with the exception of the one illustrated in Figures 33, 34, and 35, which
can be reversed by giving the valve a half turn. It consists of a casing 2, bored
to receive plug 3, the upper portion passing through an ordinary stuffing box 4; it
may be rotated by means of a handle or hand wheel or squared stem 6, and its
position in casing indicated by an index; 7 is inlet or outlet in casing; 8, inlet or

page_text: outlet in plug; 9, ports in casing; 10, ports in plug; 11, outlet or inlet in casing.
The plug in Figure 38 is shown at right angles to its position in 30.
Figure 40 is an elevation without cam plate; and Figure 41, section of an engine,
in which the cylinders rovolve and the valve is stationary. It consists of a serios
of single-acting cylinders A, in cach of which works a piston B, the opposite end to
that upon which the fluid pressure acts having a ball C₁ let into it, this being pre-
vented from falling out by the ring U', which is secured in the end of the piston B
The balls C work upon an inclined groove in cam plate or cover Pl, and by this
combination of parts a rotary motion is communicated to the shaft I, upon which
the piece Z, in which the cylinders A are formed, is keyed. In some cases instead
of the balls C we use rollers or slides. By making the cylinders of a definite
capacity, and adding a revolution indicator, our motor at once becomes a water
meter of the greatest accuracy.
Having now described our Invention, and the best modes known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not claim the principle of a
series of cylinders radiating towards the same centre, and actuating the same crank
pin, or its mechanical equivalent, nor yet the individual parts herein described when
taken separately and not in combination with other parts to form a pump engine
or meter; but that what we believe to be new and desire to protect under the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The construction of engines, as described in Figures 1 to 6, with a double-
acting central, cylindrical, or conical valve with the fluid pressure substantially
equal on each side, regulating the inlet and outlet of the fluid to a series of
cylinders surrounding it, the cylinders or valve having a rotary motion relative to
each other.
2nd. The construction of multi-cylinder engines, pumps, or meters, substantially
as described, consisting of a series of cylinders working in one plane, and sur-
rounding a central cylindrical or conical valve actuating them all, in which the
pistons project outward, and are connected with an axis or shaft placed with its
axis parallel to the axis of the valve, the distance between the two axes being half
the stroke of the pistons.
3rd. The construction of valve, substantially as and for the purposes described,
in which two ports of large area in all single-acting and four in double-acting
engines work a series of cylinders circling round it, the large area enabling
great speed to be obtained, and the conical end allowing for any wear being
taken up.
4th. The arrangement of cock, substantially as described and shown in Figures
36 to 39, or any mere modification thereof, for starting, stopping, regulating, or
reversing.
5th. The various combined arrangements of steam or other engines, pumps, or
meters, substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and Drawings or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Crowe and William James, on behalf
of ourselves and the said Urias Bromley, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WAP. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
G, Lord St.,
Liverpool.
(L.S.)
CEORGE CROWE.
WILLIAM JAMES. (L.S.)