AN IMPROVED MOTOR ENGINE
Year: 1880

page_text: NAL DI PUIFICATION felt by the sam Jount MˇIderson at the Unice
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
JOHN MCPHERSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
MOTOR ENGINE."
This Invention relates to an improved motor engine of the rotary type to bo
driven by steam or other expansive fluid, gas, or compressed air. The engine may
also be adapted to work as a water motor.
The engine consists of a cast iron or other metal casing or box, which is steam
filled. Within this casing or box there is hung a pendulous steam chamber having
parallel sides, the lower end forming a segment of a circle, and the upper end being
rounded to receive an eccentric crank hereafter referred to. The shaft of the
engine passes centrally through the casing or box and through the pendulous
steam chamber, and has formed thereon or attached thereto an eccentric crank,
which fits between the sides of the pendulous steam chamber, and is of depth equal
to the depth of the steam chamber. The eccentric works between two slide blocks,
which work against plates provided with an elastic packing on the sides of the
steam chamber. The pendulous steam chamber works between the one cover of
the casing or box and an adjustable plate formed on the other cover of the casing
or box, such cover and plate forming sides to the steam chamber. Steam is
admitted to the casing or chamber by a slide valve worked by an eccentric from
the shaft, and through passages (on the cover of the casing or box) and ports which
lead into the top and bottom of the pendulous chamber. The engine is also
supplied with a pipe which admits steam to the casing or box, so that the
pendulous steam chamber moves in an atmosphere of steam, having a like pressure
all round to counterbalance the pressure within the pendulous steam chamber.
Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft by the force of the steam acting against the
major radius of the eccentric crank, which revolves within the steam chamber, the
steam acting alternately at the top and bottom of the steam chamber, and
alternately exhausting therefrom. The steam may be worked expansively by
providing a cut off at the back of the slide valve, and the steam may be led to a
condenser if required to produce a vacuum in the steam chamber on the side of the
eccentric not being operated upon by the steam.
•
In operation one or more engines may be used to work one length of shafting or
one shaft. The engine is especially adapted for driving screw propeller shafts,
rotary blowers, pumps, and other like purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John McPherson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
November 1880.
JOHN MCPHERSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
MOTOR ENGINE."
"AN IMPROVED
This Invention relates to an improved motor engine of the rotary type to be
driven by steam or other expansive fluid, gas, or compressed air. The engine may
also be adapted to work as a water motor, and the following is a full, clear, and
exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings making a part of this Specification, and to the letters and figures of
reference marked thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same or
corresponding parts throughout the various views.
Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation of an engine constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 2 is an outside view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section at X, Figure 2.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that the engine consists of a cast
iron or other metal casing or box A, which is steam filled through the pipe a.
Within the casing or box A there is hung a pendulous steam chamber B having
parallel sides b. The chamber B is suspended from and has pendulous action on
the shaft or pin C. The lower portion B¹ of the chamber is of segmental form, and
the upper portion B is rounded to receive an eccentric crank D hereafter referred
to. The shaft E of the engine passes centrally through the casing or box A and
through the pendulous steam chamber B, which latter is formed open at the sides e,
as shown at Figure 3. The shaft E has formed thereon or attached thereto the
eccentric crank D which fits between the sides 6 of the pendulous steam chamber B,
as shown at Figure 1, and is provided with the loose slide blocks which bear
against the adjustable plates forming the sides b of the chamber B. The crank D
is of depth about equal to the depth of the pendulous steam chamber taken from
the centre, and revolves and works between and against the plates b. The sides e.
of the pendulous steam chamber work, as shown at Figure 3, between the cover H
of the casing or box A and an adjustable plate J formed on the other cover of the
casing or box A. The cover H and the plate J thus enclose the pendulous
chamber B and the crank D. Steam is admitted through the ports ƒ and g by
means of the slide valve K worked by the lever M and the eccentric N; P is the
steam pipe; R is the exhaust pipe; S, fly wheel; T, T, stuffing boxes.
In operation the chamber B has pendulous action on the shaft C within an
atmosphere of steam in the chamber A, the pressure in the chamber A being
equal to and counter balancing the pressure in the chamber B, and thus keeping
the same tight and preventing escape from the chamber B. Rotary motion is
imparted to the shaft E by the force of the steam supplied through the port g or f
by the valve K, the pressure of such steam acting against the major radius of the
eccentric crank D which revolves within the chamber B, the steam acting
alternately at the bottom B¹ and top B₁ of the steam chamber B and alternately
exhausting therefrom.
.
In the further carrying out of my Invention, the steam may be worked
expansively by providing a cut off valve at the back of the slide valve K, and the
exhaust steam may be led to a condenser if required to produce a vacuum in the
steam chamber B on the side of the eccentric crank D not being operated upon by
the steam.
Further, the engine may be compounded by using two engines of different sizes
on the same shaft, in one of which the steam in the chamber B is worked at a high

page_text: pressure and expands into the other or larger chamber B, where it is worked at a
low pressure, the larger chamber being connected to a condenser in the manner
similar to ordinary compound engines.
One or more engines, as just described, either single or compound, may be used to
work one length of shafting or one shaft.
The engine is especially adapted for driving screw propeller shafts, rotary
blowers, pumps, and for other like purposes.
Although I have particularly described my Invention in its application as a
steam motor, it will be evident that it is capable of being driven by the pressure of
fluids other than steam.
The method of operating the slide valve is also capable of modification. The
eccentric being the simplest action, I have shown this, but it will be understood
that other devices may be employed.
Having now described my Invention, and shown how the same may be put into
practical operation, I would state that I do not claim the principle of pendulous
action in connection with the chamber B, as I believe such has been used prior to
my Invention, but what I claim as my Invention and secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of motor engines with a pendulous
chamber such as B, an eccentric crank such as D, working within a steam filled
chamber such as A, substantially as herein set forth and as illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. In motor engines of the type hereinbefore described, the use and
application of the adjustable plate J against which the chamber B has pendulous
action, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In motor engines of the type hereinbefore described, the use and
application of the adjustable side plates b against which, through the intervening
slide blocks h, the eccentric crank D has rotary motion.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McPherson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TATT