Improvements in Direct-acting Steam Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1891-Accepted. 28th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN ALEXANDER GROSHON, of No. 59, West
124 Street, New York, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Direct-acting Steam Engines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in direct-acting steam engines, and
particularly to the direct-acting duplex steam pumping engine of the well known
Blake" and other patterns.
In this class of engine in which the steam is used expansively it is necessary that
a force be created and transmitted to the main piston rod, in order thereby to oppose
the said rod during the first portion of its stroke and to assist the same during the
latter portion of its stroke.
For accomplishing this object my invention consists in the combination with the
main piston rod of a series of levers pivoted on different fulcrums and having a
simultaneous movement under pressure, one end of one of said levers being connected
with the piston rod and one end of another of the series of connected levers being
in connection with an auxiliary piston enclosed within a cylinder in communication
with a source of pressure, the whole being arranged as hereinafter described,
whereby during the first portion of the stroke of the main piston rod the pressure
will be transmitted thereto in a line opposite to its line of movement, and during
the latter part of said stroke the said pressure will be transmitted to the said rod
in line with its movement, thus first acting in opposition to said rod and then in
conjunction with it.
The invention further consists in means for utilizing the direct pressure of the
water in the main water cylinder or cylinders for creating the force which shall first
oppose and then assist the main piston rod, and this part of the invention comprises
an auxiliary plunger or plungers in the main water cylinder exposed to the pressure
of the water therein and connected by lever mechanism with the piston rod or rods,
whereby the pressure of the water will first act in opposition to said rod or rods and
then in conjunction therewith.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a direct acting steam engine constructed in
accordance with my invention, a portion of the steam and water cylinders with their
supports being broken away;
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 a side elevation partly in section of an embodiment of the invention in
which the auxiliary plungers are located within the water cylinder instead of within
the auxiliary cylinder detached from the engine; this figure represents the water
cylinder of the engine with its connecting mechanism and omits the steam
cylinder;
Figure 4 is an end view of same ;
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the dotted line 5-5 of Figure 3 ;
Figure 6 a top view, partly broken away, of the water cylinder and connecting
mechanism, shown in Figures 3 and 4, and
Figure 7 is a vertical section of same on the dotted line 7-7 of Figure 6.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, A, B, respectively, designate the steam
and water cylinders connected by the guides C, C, and being mounted upon the
supports D, D, in the usual manner. The main piston rod is represented by the
letter E and extends in the usual manner from the steam to the water cylinders and

page_text: upon this rod is secured the block F which has a reciprocating movement between
the guides C, C, and has pivoted to its opposite sides the links G whose outer ends
are pivotally secured to the upper ends of the rocking levers H. The levers H are
mounted upon the shaft I journalled in the bearings J at the lower side of the lower
guide C, the said levers H being in close relation to the opposite sides of said
guide C. The lower ends of the rocking levers H are connected by the rod K,
shown more clearly in Figure 2, which has secured upon its ends the lower ends of
the connecting rods L, the upper ends of which pass upward and are journalled
upon the studs M formed on the outer ends of the auxiliary rocking levers N, the
latter being connected by the shaft O secured in the journal box P which is
mounted upon the upper side of the upper guide C. The right hand ends of the
rocking levers N have the studs Q and upon these studs are secured the upper ends
of the rods R, the lower ends of these rods being pivotally secured to the upper
ends of the piston rods S, which enter and operate within the auxiliary cylinders T.
It will be observed that the mechanism is duplicated on each side of the main piston
rod E and that this mechanism has a simultaneous operation, with the one object in
view, namely, that of opposing the main piston rod during the first portion of its
stroke and acting in conjunction therewith during the latter portion of its stroke.
The auxiliary cylinder T is connected by a pipe V with the atmospheric
accumulator W containing the differential pistons X, the force of whose pressure is
transmitted through the pipe V to the auxiliary cylinders T and against the
pistons Y therein. The accumulator W is connected by a pipe Z with the condenser
of usual construction not shown.
In the operation of the mechanism above described it will be noted that during
the first portion of the stroke of the main piston rod E said rod and the block F
will force the link G and upper end of the rocking levers H toward the water
cylinder, thereby drawing downward on the rods L and causing the auxiliary
levers N to rotate a definite distance and draw the rods R upward against the force
exerted upon the upper surface of the pistons Y, which force during such movement
operates to oppose the movement of the main piston rod E until such time as the
rocking levers H have assumed a vertical position, at which time the continued
movement of the piston rod E carries the upper ends of the levers H beyond the
vertical centres of their axes, and permits the pressure within the auxiliary
cylinders T to return the pistons Y, the rods R and the connecting mechanism, to
their former relative positions, in the meantime acting in conjunction with the main
piston rod and assisting it in its movement. The pressure within the auxiliary
cylinders T thus opposing the movement of the main piston rod E during the
first portion of its stroke and assisting said rod during the latter portion of its
stroke.
I consider it desirable, although not at all necessary, to have the upper arms of the
rocking levers H, N, shorter than the lower arms of the same, in order to increase
the power and enable the manufacturer to attain the desired results with the
auxiliary cylinders T of the minimum area.
It is important to note that the lower ends of the rocking levers H move on one
arc of a circle and carry with them the lower ends of the rods L, which if left free
of the levers H would travel on a different arc of a circle. In Figure 1 of the
drawings I have illustrated by dotted lines the two arcs of the levers H and rods L,
that of the levers H being lettered a and that of the rods L being lettered b. In
the operation of the mechanism the lower ends of the levers H force the rods L
from their normal swing so that they will travel on the arc a and in doing this the
levers N and rods R must be moved to permit the lowering of the rods L, it being
necessary at such time to overcome the pressure within the auxiliary cylinders T. The
levers H and rods L, although hung from different centres, are thus made to travel
on the same arc and in doing so the force within the auxiliary cylinders T must
be overcome by the movement of the piston rod E during the first portion of its
stroke or until the levers H have assumed a vertical position, after which this force
within the auxiliary cylinders T operates to return the parts of the mechanism to

page_text: their normal positions and is exerted in line with the main piston rod E during the
latter portion of its stroke and assists the same.
It may not be desired at all times to employ auxiliary cylinders T, and hence in
Figures 3 to 7 inclusive I illustrate the invention in connection with auxiliary
plungers located within the main water cylinder and operable by the direct force of
the water therein.
The mechanism illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive embraces the second part
of my invention, and in these figures I have illustrated for convenience a single
auxiliary plunger within the main water plunger of the cylinder B, with proper
connecting mechanism whereby the force on said auxiliary plunger may be trans-
mitted to the main piston rod so as to oppose its movement during the first portion
of its stroke and to act in conjunction therewith during the latter portion of its
stroke.
Referring to Figures 3 to 7 inclusive, the auxiliary plunger is lettered d and has
its reciprocating movement within the casing e located within the main water
plunger f. The rod a of the plunger d extends outward beyond the rear end of the
water cylinder B, as illustrated more clearly in Figures 6 and 7 and is connected
with the slide h whose lower portion is connected by a link i with the upper arms j
of the double three-armed lever k mounted upon the shaft.m. The left hand end of
the link i is held between the upper ends of the arms of the levers k by means of
the pin n.
There are two of the levers k corresponding exactly with each other,
and they are cast side by side on a single hub which is mounted upon the shaft m.
The transverse arms q, r, of the levers are connected by pins s upon which are
mounted the upper ends of the connecting rods t, which extend downward and are
respectively collared upon the transverse pins u located in the outer ends of the
arms w, which arms constitute a portion of the frame a mounted upon the shaft a¹,
which is supported in the lower end of the frames and carries upon its opposite
ends the crank wheels c¹, the relations of which are illustrated more clearly in
Figure 4.
The opposite ends of the shaft m have rigidly affixed upon them the lower ends
of the levers d' whose upper ends are mounted upon the pins el and are connected
by the links with the rods lettered g', ', respectively extending from the main
water plunger and forming continuations or rearwardly projecting extensions of
the main piston rod A. The rear ends of the rods g', ', are connected with the
slides which with the slide are adapted to have a reciprocating movement on
the bed plate j', which is suitably grooved to receive and guide said slides. Upon
the pins e¹ are also mounted the upper ends of the connecting rods m' as shown in
Figure 4, which rods correspond with each other and have their lower ends secured
upon pins n¹ extending outward from the crank wheels c'.
It will thus be observed that each of the rods, g', h¹, is connected with the
shaft a¹ and shaft in by means of the links f', levers d¹, pins e', rods m¹ and crank
wheels c', while said shaft a' is through the medium of the rods t, levers k, link i
and slide connected with the rod g of the auxiliary plunger d.
In the operation of the mechanism above described it will be observed that the
forward movement of the main piston rod A of the engine will cause the plunger f
to move toward the rear end of the water cylinder B and that this movement will
cause the levers d' to travel on the arc described by the dotted line t¹ in Figure 3,
carrying with them the upper ends of the connecting rods m' and turning the crank
wheels c¹ a definite distance, which latter movement causes a partial rotation of the
shaft a' and frame x with the effect of imparting a corresponding rotation to the
levers k and a definite rearward sliding movement of the link i, slide and rod g
of the auxiliary plunger d. The auxiliary plunger d has thus a movement rearward
corresponding with that of the main water plunger / during a portion of the stroke
of the main piston rod A, and therefore the pressure of the water within the rear
end or compartment of the water cylinder B will act upon or be transmitted to the
auxiliary plunger d and operate to oppose any rearward movement of said auxiliary
plunger with its rod g and connecting mechanism between said rod and the shaft a³.

page_text: '
This opposition to the rearward movement of the rod g, shaft a¹ and connecting
mechanism is the force which opposes the movement of the main piston rod during
the first portion of its stroke; and it will readily be seen that this force or pressure
must be overcome by the main piston rod since during the first portion of its stroke
said rod through the medium of its extensions g', h¹ is compelled to force the upper
end of the levers d' on the line of the arc lettered t¹ in Figure 3, and thereby lift
the rods m¹ from the line of their normal travel represented by the dotted line u¹ in
Figure 3, to move on the arc of the levers d', in which operation the main piston
rod A is compelled to turn the wheels c¹ and shaft a¹ sufficiently to permit the
elevation of the connecting rods m¹ so that they may travel with the levers d' and
in so doing the pressure of the auxiliary plunger d is thus overcome or caused to
retard the motion of the main piston rod A during the first portion of its stroke or
until the levers d¹ have assumed a vertical position at right angles with the rods g¹, h¹.
As soon as the levers d' have gained this vertical position at right angles with the
rods g', ', the pressure on the auxiliary plunger d commences to act in conjunction
with the main piston rod and this is due to the fact that the arc t¹ or line of travel
of the levers d and the arc u¹ or line of travel of the connecting rods m' thereafter
gradually approach each other as indicated in Figure 3 and a force is created
through the connecting mechanism which instead of opposing the movement of the
main piston rod, acts in conjunction with and aids the same.
The pressure of the water within the cylinder B is thus utilized to oppose and
assist the main piston rod, and the use of auxiliary cylinders for storing up and giving
off power is obviated. I have specially devised the mechanism above described for
transmitting the pressure from the plunger d to the main piston rod, but I do not
confine the invention exclusively to its use nor to the details of its construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The main rocking lever connected at one end by a link with the piston rod of
the engine, and at the other end, by a rod with the auxiliary rocking lever, com-
bined with the rod extending from said auxiliary lever to a source of pressure, to
resist the movement of the main piston rod during the first portion of its stroke and
assist said rod during the latter portion of its stroke; substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. The main rocking lever connected at one end by a link with the piston rod of
the engine, and the auxiliary rocking lever connected by a rod, with the other end
of said main rocking lever, combined with the rod extending from said auxiliary
lever, the piston connected with the said rod and the cylinder receiving said piston
and being in communication with a source of pressure; substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. The atmospheric accumulator containing differential pistons and having the
pipe leading thereto from the condenser, combined with the system of levers under
the pressure of said accumulator for opposing the movement of the piston rod of the
engine during the first portion of its stroke and assisting the same during the latter
portion of its stroke; substantially as set forth.
4. In a direct acting steam engine one or more plungers in the main water
cylinder and lever mechanism connecting the same with the main piston rod or
rods, whereby the pressure of the water in said cylinder is caused to act in opposition
to said rod or rods during the first portion of the stroke and in conjunction therewith
during the latter part of the stroke; substantially as set forth.
5. The main water cylinder having the plunger and partition, combined with an
auxiliary plunger or plungers whose ends are exposed to the pressure of the water
at opposite sides of said partition, and lever mechanism connecting the auxiliary
plunger or plungers with the main piston rod, whereby the pressure of the water
may be caused to oppose the main piston rod during the first portion of its stroke

page_text: and to assist the same during the latter portion of its stroke; substantially as
set forth:
6. The water cylinder with its main and auxiliary plungers, combined with
lever d', the link connecting the same with the main piston rod, the connecting
rod m' and intermediate mechanism between the end of said rod and the rod of the
auxiliary plunger, whereby the pressure of the latter is transmitted to said rod m';
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The water cylinder with its main and auxiliary plungers, combined with the
lever d', the link connecting the same with the main piston rod, the connecting
rod m' connected at its upper end with the upper end of the lever d', the shaft a',
the crank wheel thereon and securing the lower end of the rod m', the frame x on
the shaft a' the rods t extending upward from opposite sides of said frame, and the
lever k connected with the upper ends of said rods t and by a link with the slide of
the auxiliary plunger rod; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of Len 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.