IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUID AND GASEOUS FLUIDS, AND FOR PUMPING & COMPRESSING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ramsbottom, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING
MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUID AND GASEOUS FLUIDS, AND FOR PUMPING &
COMPRESSING
"
Sealed the 18th June 1878, and dated the 17th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ramsbottom at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1878.
JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUID AND GASEOUS FLUIDS,
AND FOR PUMPING & COMPRESSING."
This Invention relates more especially to improvements in oscillating motors,
pumps, or compressors, whether the fluids used be liquid or gaseous, and notably to
those whose cylinders are intended to oscillate on the bottom parts thereof, and
which contain portways that open and close during such oscillation.
The cylinder bottoms are curved inwards so as to fit and oscillate upon a valve
box whose upper surface forms the arc of a circle. This valve box or chest, on whose
upper surface the cylinders oscillate, is divided longitudinally by a radial midfeather
whose bottom edge or line of length outside the chest forms the centre of said oscil-
lation, and beneath and across this edge or line of length situate under the centre of the
valve chest I affix a tension plate or plates and bind the cylinders thereto by adjustable
bolts or screws, so that the tension plates in contract with the knife edge forming
the centre of oscillation is thus almost divested of movement at this point, or along
this edge of contract, so as to work with diminished friction, and secure the no-
cessary tightness adjustably to duty or to extreme pressure.
At each side of the upper part of the radial midfeather which divides the valve
chest longitudinally, slotted portways are formed, so as to distribute the fluid or

page_text: fluids to and from the cylinders working thereon, as these portways are caused re-
spectively to correspond with those in the bottom of said cylinders during the act
of oscillation.
In cases where the valve chest is adapted to serve or form part of a compound
engine, or as an engine and pump or compressor, or in cases where one cylinder or
set of cylinders are to be supplied with the gaseous liquid or fluid matter which is
being discharged from another cylinder or set of cylinders, then in such cases the
valve chest will require to be divided across the direction of its length, so as further
to seperate the longitudinal compartments thereof in such manner as to return the
fluid discharged by one cylinder or set of cylinders to supply another before the
final discharge of said fluid from the valve chest.
The arrangement of a single cylinder, as well as of double and treble cylin-
ders or sets of cylinders on such a valve chest, is here intended as a means of
effecting the distribution of fluids to and from such cylinders by the single act of
oscillation thereon, and also in some cases to divide a gaseous from a liquid fluid,
or a fluid of moderate pressure from an extreme pressure, and so on.
It will be obvious that where engine, pump, or compressor has only one cylinder,
one tension plate would serve to bind the cylinder to the valve chest. Or if three
cylinders were joined together, so that the centre cylinder had constructed upon it
alone the arched base on which they all jointly oscillated, then in such case also one
tension plate would serve, and one crank shaft only would be required for an engine
so arranged. But where a number of cylinders were severally oscillating on the
valve chest, then tension plates would be required for each, and crank centres could
also be adapted in number and position for same, as desirable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Ramsbottom in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
July 1878.
JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ENGINES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUID AND GASEOUS FLUIDS,
AND FOR PUMPING & COMPRESSING."
My said Invention relates more especially to improvements in oscillating motors,
pumps or compressors, whether the fluid used be liquid or gaseous, and notably to
those whose cylinders are intended to oscillate on the bottom parts thereof, and
which contain portways that open and close during such oscillation.
The cylinder bottoms are curved inwards so as to fit and oscillate upon a
valve box whose upper surface forms a portion or are of a circle. This valve
box or chest, on the upper surface of which the cylinders oscillate, is divided.
longitudinally by a radial midfeather whose bottom edge or line of length outside
the chest forms the centre of said oscillation, and beneath and across this edge or
line of length situate under the centre of the valve chest I affix a tension plate or
plates, and bind the cylinders thereto by adjustable bolts or screws, so that the
tension plates in contact with the knife edge forming the centre of oscillation is
thus almost divested of movement at this point or along this edge of contact, so as
to work with the slightest amount of friction and to secure the necessary tightness
adjustably to duty or extreme pressure.
At each side of the upper part of the radial midfeather which divides the valve
chest longitudinally slotted portways are formed so as to distribute the fluid or
fluids to and from the cylinders working thereon, as these portways are caused re-
spectively to correspond with those in the bottom of said cylinders during the act
of oscillation.
In cases where the valve chest is adapted to serve or form part of a compound engine,
or as an engine pump or compressor, or in cases where one cylinder or set of cylinders
are to be supplied with gaseous liquid or fluid matter which is being discharged from
another cylinder or set of cylinders, then in such cases the valve chest will require
to be divided across the direction of its length, so as further to separate the longi-
tudinal compartments thereof in such manner as to return the fluid discharged by
one cylinder or set of cylinders to supply another before the final discharge of such
fluid from the valve chest.
The arrangement of a single cylinder as well as of double and triple cylinders or set
of cylinders on such a valve chest is here intended as a means of effecting the distri-
bution of fluids to and from quch cylinders by the simple act of oscillation thereon,
and also in some cases to divide a gaseous from a liquid fluid, or a fluid of moderate
pressure from an extreme pressure, and so on.
It will be obvious that where engine, pump, or compressor has only one cylinder,
one tension plate would serve to bind the cylinder to the valve chest. Or if threo
cylinders were joined together, so that the centre cylinder had constructed upon it
alone the arched base on which they all jointly oscillate, then in such case also one
tension plate would serve, and one crank shaft only would be required for an engine
so arranged. But where a number of cylinders were severally oscillating on the
valvo chest, then tension plates would be required for each, and crank centres could
also be adopted in number and position to suit same, as desirable.
In the accompanying Drawings descriptive of the application of this Invention
to several forms of use, as motors, pumps, or compressors, the views given will.
clearly shew the general adaptability thereof, and in the Drawings similar letters
refer to similar parts in the different views or Diagrams shewn.
In Fig. 1, Sheet 1, A. shows the section of the curved bottom of a cylinder; B,
the portway through same; and C shews the valve box or chest divided by D into
two compartments with portways therein, E and F, also shewn by dotted lines in
Fig 2, E¹ being the inlet, and F' the outlet. These portways communicate alter-,
.

page_text: nately with B, when the curved bottom A in cylinder is made to oscillate by the
motion of the crank shaft A².
The tension plate G is shewn as secured by bolts H, H, betwixt the bottom or
knife edge C¹ of valve chest C and the cylinder A', and the edge or line of length
is the centre of that portion of the circle or arc on which the oscillationtakes place,
and by which the direction of the fluids to and from the several machines is regu-
lated. In the view here given, two piston rods, A³ and A4, are shewn as coupled
directly with the crank pin A5, as for large sizes this might be preferable.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of valve chest C shewing the tension
plate G in cross section.
Figs. 4 to 9, Sheet I, illustrate the Invention as applied to a three cylinder motor
pump or compressor, and shews also as forming a part thereof a reversing valve and
lever I and J, to stop or change the direction of motion of the machine or of the
liquids or fluids traversing the same.
Fig. 4 corresponds with Fig. 1, inasmuch as it shews a similar section of cylinder
bottom and of valve box and tension plates and bolts.
Fig. 5 shews a vertical section of reversing valve I on line K (enlarged at Fig. 5*)
containing parts I and I³ secured adjustably together and connected with an ac-
tuating lever J. The two parts I' and I each contain a recess or cavity L, L', which
are made to traverse by moving the lever J, and so bring the orifice M, and the
orifice M¹, through which fluid is supplied and discharged, into communication with
the side passages N and N1, leading to E and F divisions in the valve box C, and
so to change the motion as desired.
Fig. 6 shews an elevation with relative position of triple cylinders at equidistant
crank centres and reversible valve and lever; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views in
section and plan of valve chest C, to shew position of passages and portways as
traversed by oscillation when imparted by the reversing lever to reverse the valve
or by the crank shaft to the cylinders.
Sheet 2, Fig. 1, shews plan of valve box C, as adapted to form part of a compound
engine with midfeather divided or constructed to admit gaseous fluid to the ports
and centre cylinder, and thence on the return stroke to enter the side cylinders,
as shewn by the direction of the arrows, before final discharge or exhaust.
Fig. 2 shews the position of the cylinders on each side of the central cylinder at
opposite crank centres in relation thereto.
The relative diameters of the cylinders might be constructed according to
relative pressures or convenience, and in some cases it might be necessary to
change or reverse the admission and discharge ways, and so to compress the fluid on
the discharge side.
Fig. 3 shews section of the valve chest C with one of the cylinders thereon,
together with the tension plate G (as previously described in reference to Figs. 1,
3, 4, and 6, Sheet 1).
Fig. 4 shews how a gaseous fluid may be divided from a liquid fluid, or a
fluid of moderate pressure or elastic force from one having an excessive pressure.
Thus B, Figs. 4 and 5, is a common feed or exit way for the two outside
ram cylinders; and Fig. 6 shews a cross sectional plan of C through line O, O,
and B' and B2, Fig. 5, are common to passage P, which forms the supply and exit
way betwixt the top portion of the middle cylinder above the piston, and with E
and F, passages in the valve chest C, alternately by oscillation, which oscillation is
here shewn as in contact with the curved bottom of the middle cylinder only, so
that one tension plate G, and two bolts H, H, might be sufficient in this case to
tighten valve to cylinders.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the three cylinders shewing the various passages, B, B¹, B³,
and P.
B³, in Figs. 5 and 7, shews centre portway common to middle cylinder only.
Having described the nature of this my Invention with the improved form
of valve box, and of cylinder or cylinders intended to work and be kept tight
thereon severally or jointly, with tension plates and bolts adjusted to compensate

page_text: wear or resist fluid pressure, as necessary, and having also shewn the general pur-
poses intended by these improvements, viz., to divide, regulate, and distribute the
conveyance of liquid or gaseous matter to and from either single or compound motors,
pumps, or compressors, to enable them to serve their respective duties, I wish
it to be understood that I do not limit the number of cylinders intended to be
served by such valvular arrangement, nor to limit its use to inelastic or hydraulic
fluids only, nor strictly to such fluids as steam or air, but as applicable to either
liquid or gaseous matter, or to matter becoming such, either by explosion, com-
pression, or expansion, and that I claim substantially the construction and use of
the valve box, and of the curved cylinder bottom or bottoms, and the arrangement
of a tension plate or plates binding together such valve and cylinders across the
line or centre of oscillation thereof, as a means of resisting great pressure or disrup-
tive strain, with diminished friction in machines intended to work as motors, or as
pumps, or compressors, as heroin described and explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ramsbottom, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.