Improvements in Arrangement and Design of Cylinders of Compound or Multiple Cylinder Steam or Compressed Air Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1892-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangement and Design of Cylinders of Compound
or Multiple Cylinder Steam or Compressed Air Engines.
WILLIAM AKHURST Mapperley House Willesborough Ashford Kent do hereby.
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The primary object of this invention is to simplify the construction of cylinders
of compound or multiple cylinder engines and to construct them so that all pistons
and cylinders are easy of access, it consists in designing the cylinders with a joint
or joints, joining the two halves in a longitudinal direction so that one half of the
cylinders may be easily removed to effect the examination and repairs of pistons
internal covers &c. these two, three, or more cylinders can preferably be cast in
two pieces only and a simple arrangement produced or the covers of cylinders may
be made separately the internal ones fitted into grooves turned for the purpose or
all may be bolted in position.
11002
WILLIAM AKHURST.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangement and Design of Cylinders of Compound
or Multiple Cylinder Steam or Compressed Air Engines.
WILLIAM AKHURST Mapperley House Willesborough Ashford Kent
Mechanical Engineer 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 primary object of this invention is to simplify the construction of cylinders
of compound or multiple cylinder engines and to construct them so that all pistons
and cylinders are easy of access, it consists in designing the cylinders with a joint
or joints joining the two halves in a longitudinal direction so that one half of the
cylinders may be easily removed to effect the examination and repairs of pistons
internal covers &c. these two three or more cylinders can preferably be cast in two
pieces only and a simple arrangement produced or the covers of cylinders may be
made separately the internal ones fitted into grooves turned for the purpose, or all
may be bolted in position.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings in which reference letters are employed
to indicate corresponding parts
Fig. is a cross section of Fig. 2 through the line A and clearly shows trans-
versely the longitudinal joint Z the subject of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of three cylinders of a triple tandem
engine.
Fig. 3 is a plan of these cylinders shewing the flanges of the longitudinal joint at
B. C. D & E.
Fig. 4 is a skeleton sketch of general arrangement of a condensing horizontal
engine of considerable power fitted with these cylinders, shewing in what manner
the upper portion of cylinders can be quickly raised by means of roller stretching
Ecrews to effect the examination or repairs to cylinders pistons, glands &c. and also
shows the sinal space occupied compared with ordinary triple engines, and also
shows the small surface exposed that is subject to the radiation of heat.
Fig. 5 is a skeleton sketch of portable engine fitted with similar cylinders, but
the invention can be applied to any form of steam or fluid pressure engines either

page_text: horizontal, vertical diagonal, locomotive, land or marine, or it is especially
applicable to direct acting steam pumps.
In the above described drawings
Fig. 1 clearly shows the subject of the invention in the joint Z this is preferably
a faced and scraped joint fitted with substantial steady pins in order to ensure of it
always going back in the same position as when bored, and secured together with
screw studs & nuts, but the joint may be of any other class thought desirable.
Fig. 2 shows the cylinders fitted with movable covers at ends a & b, and internal
covers c & d made in halves and fitted into grooves turned in the cylinders; if
constructed in this way one boring bar with three heads can be used to bore the
three cylinders at the one operation, thus ensuring them absolutely in line and
greatly reducing friction in working, and the grooves for covers c & d afterwards
bored out with boring bar having an expanding head, or the smaller sizes may be
chucked in the lathe and bored out in the ordinary inanner, but if found neccessary
or desirable the covers may all be bolted in position or they may be cast solid in
halves with the cylinders and a special appliance used for boring or machining the
same. The internal glands e & fare shown fitted with plain spring rings and
.grooves bored in the halved covers to receive them, but any form of packing can
be used. The cylinders are shown fitted with ordinary piston and slide valves but
any form of valves or gear may be used with the arrangement.
Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate how it may be applied to small and large engines and also
the small space occupied.
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-
In the cylinders of a compound triple or multiple tandem cylinder steam or fluid
pressure engine or engines constructed with a longitudinal joint for the purpose of
rendering the cylinders pistons &c. easily accessable and for the several advantages
and purposes set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1893
WILLIAM AKHURST.