Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Steam Engine.
CHARLES GIBBONS TILL Gentleman No. 8 South Street Finsbury London E.C.
care of Mr. Guppy 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 consists in a series of cylinders, cach series consisting of two or
more, mounted upon or secured to a hollow shaft, or projection therefrom. The
piston rods of each series of two or more, are connected to a cross-head, which in
turn is connected to the crank pin by a single rod. The invention further involves
suitable valves controlling the admission and escape of steam, to and from the
cylinders, said valves being connected to arms engaging with an eccentric upon the
crank-pin, all of which will be hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engine, and
Figure 2 is a side view and partial section thereof.
Like numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in
both the figures.
1 is the bed plate, whereon suitable pillow blocks 2 are mounted. 3 is the wall
of a chamber, enclosing the working parts of the engine. 4 are hollow fixed con-
nections, passing through the walls of the chamber 3, and carrying a crank-pin, 5.
Surrounding connections 4, is a shaft 6, arranged to rotate upon said connections.
7,7, are pulleys, mounted upon the shaft 6.
Fixed to the hollow shaft 6, is a box or chest, 8, forming a central chamber
within the chamber 3. I have shown in the present instance a square box, for the
reason that I illustrate my invention as having four sets or series of cylinders, but
when it is found desirable to use six, eight, or more sets or series of cylinders, the
said box will be made with six or eight sides, conforming to the number of sets of
cylinders.
Secured to box 8, are cylinders 9, provided with pistons 10, the rods 11 of each
piston passing through a stuffing box, 12. 13, 14, are the ports formed in each
cylinder, passing to a circular opening, 15, between each pair of cylinders, said
ports being controlled by a cylindrical valve shell, to be hereinafter described.
The outer extremities of the piston rods 11, are secured to a cross-head, 16, and
from said cross-head passes a rod, 17, to a bearing 18, which embraces the crank-
pin, 5.
It will be observed that each set of cylinders is shown as consisting of two,
but when it is desired to increase the power of the engine, four or more may be
employed in each set, arranged side-by-side, and all of the piston rods of each
set connected to a common cross-head 16. The connections to the crank-pin would
not be changed, and the engine would take up no more room in diameter, the
longitudinal size being increased only the width of the added cylinders, thus
providing very great power in a small space. Where six, eight or
the four sets of cylinders shown, are used, the entire engine will take up no more
space in any direction, while the power will be greatly increased.
more than
19 is a valve shell, having outlet ports 20, said valve shell being circular in shape,
and fitting into the opening 15, between the engine cylinders. 21 is a lug secured
within the valve shell, and 22 is a rod pivoted thereto, and to a strap 23, encircling
an eccentric 24 mounted upon the crank pin 5.
In operation, steam is supplied to the central box or chamber through the
hollow fixed connections 4, from either direction, filling all the space within

page_text: said box, and also the chambers 25 at the other extremity of each set of
cylinders, formed by the caps 26 which encloses the cross-heads 16. When
the pistons occupy the positions indicated in Figure 1, the course of the steam
is through the ports 13, into the cylinders; at the same time the ports 14 are
open for exhaust, the course of the steam being from said ports, through
ports 20, to the chamber wherein the cylinders revolve, and out through the
casing at 27.
The cylinders revolve about the fixed crank-pin, being carried around by the
pressure of the connecting rods there-against, and the valve shells are caused
to reciprocate, supplying and cutting off the steam to each cylinder twice during
each revolution, thus causing live steam to be present at all times in some of
the cylinders. As the cut-off takes place in one set of cylinders, steam is
admitted to the next set, and consequently live steam is being admitted at all
times. In case six sets of cylinders are employed, the cut-off will take place
at one-third of the stroke, and this principle is applied in accordance with the
number of sets of cylinders employed. By the compact arrangement of the
cylinders and their ports, and the location of the crank-pin and the connections
to the piston rods, the live steam has but a short distance to travel, reducing
the condensation to a minimum, and keeping all of the parts hot, the cylinders
being surrounded by the outer casing, which forms an effective steam-jacket.
If it is found desirable to rotate the crank-pin, and the connections thereto,
instead of the outer shaft, by fixing the cylinders, and the box to which they are
attached, and loosening the connections to the crank-pin, a very compact and com-
plete engine is produced, of the reciprocating type.
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 I
claim is :-
:-
1. In an engine of the character herein specified, the combination with the
rotable shaft and fixed crank-pin, of several series of cylinders, each cylinder being
provided with a piston rod, connected to a cross-head, said cross-head being con-
nected to the crank-pin by a single rod.
2. The combination with the rotable shaft, the cylinders connected therewith,
and the valve shells mounted between the cylinders, of the arms extending from the
eccentric fixed to the crank pin to said valve shells.
3. In an engine of the character herein specified, a central chamber wherein is
fixed a crank-pin, a hollow shaft whereon the walls of said chamber, and the
cylinders are mounted, and an outer chamber surrounding the cylinders, and into
which the exhaust steam escapes.
4. In an engine of the character herein specified a single connecting rod for each
series of cylinders, pivoted to a common cross-head, and engaging with the fixed
crank-pin.
5. In a steam engine of the character herein specified, a fixed case, forming an
enclosing chamber; à rotable box whereon the cylinders are mounted; hollow
fixed shafts passing to the interior of said box, and bearing a fixed crank pin, and
the connections between the piston rods and the crank-pin, as shown and
described.
6. The combination with the central box or steam chest, of several series of
cylinders, mounted thereon, and the supply for live steam communicating with
said box.
7. The combination with the revoluble box or steam chest and the steam supply
communicating therewith, of the cylinders mounted upon said box, the supply and
exhaust ports communicating with said cylinders, and the valve shells controlling
said ports.
8. An engine in which is comprised an outer casing into which the exhaust steam
passes; a central box or chest into which live steam passes; a revoluble shaft

page_text: connected to said box; a number of series of cylinders mounted upon said box, and
arranged to revolve therewith; connections between the piston rods and a crank-
pin fixed within the central box or chamber, and valve shells also connected to the
crank-pin, and controlling the supply and exhaust of steam.
9. The combination with the cylinders, arranged in pairs as set forth, of the
common, cylindrical, reciprocating valve, as described.
Dated this 16th day of June 1891.
CHARLES GIBBONS TILL.