Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting, Carrying, and Guiding the Pistons and Piston-rods of Horizontal, Diagonal, Vertical, and other Engines Worked by Steam or other Motive Power.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
COME LETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting, Carrying, and Guiding
the Pistons and Piston-rods of Horizontal, Diagonal, Vertical,
and other Engines Worked by Steam or other Motive Power.
I WILLIAM BUCKLEY of Millsands Sheffield in the County of York 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 in writing and on reference to the accompanying drawings, that
is to say:
My invention relates to and consists in new and useful improvements in the
construction of apparatus for supporting carrying and guiding the pistons and
piston rods of horizontal diagonal or vertical steam or other motive power engines,
the object of this invention being to effect a free and unretarded movement of the
piston and the piston rod in a direct line central through the cylinder and glands, to
support the weight of the same, and to maintain the piston in a suspended position
throughout the length of the stroke of the engine independently of the sides of the
cylinder and the bushes and glands of the cylinder covers, and thus preventing the
piston and piston rod from bearing upon and being dragged along the cylinder
sido and glands to remove friction from and to prevent the wearing away of the
same.
In carrying out my invention in practice according to one modification thereof I
apply and use one or more antifriction bearers which I make of any suitable material
in the form of either wheels, pullies, rollers or balls which are made to revolve either
on pivots or spindles, or studs, or in conical roller or ball bearings, or in centres or
grooves, and I place them upon podestals or brackets and fix or suspend them securely
either in a vertical, horizontal or inclined position under or at opposite sides of the
piston rod at one or both ends of the cylinder either on the outside or inside and near
to or attached to the cylinder covers in such a manner that the rims or peripheries of
the pullies or rollers are brought into contact with the piston rod and they will revolve
freely on their axes, in the alternate directions the rod moves as it passes over or
between them; I make the bearings or pedestals of the pullies or rollers adjustable
by means of set scrows or other suitable appliances so that they can be raised or
moved in the required direction until the weight of the piston and piston rod rests
upon them and the piston is suspended in a central position in the cylinder. The
piston rod is made sufficiently long so as to be in contact with and rest upon the
pullies or rollers and be supported and guided by them, and the piston will be
maintained in its suspended position throughout the length of its stroke. The outer
rims of the pullies or rollers can be made either of flat, bevilled or of other suitable
shape in section and the piston rod can be made with a flat side as shown in the
drawing or with a groove to work in contact with the rollers or pullies or it can be of
the usual circular form.
According to another modification of my improvements I apply and use one or
more wheels, pullies, rollers or balls made of any suitable material and of any desired
shape in section, which I attach either to the piston or to the piston rod by
brackets or pedestals placed at either side of the piston, in such a manner that the
rims or peripheries of the pullies or rollers aro brought into contact with the
cylinder side and they will roll on the cylinder as they move to and fro with
the piston and piston rod, the bearings of the wheels or pullies can be of any of the
forms described in the previous modification and they can be adjusted to allow of the
piston and piston rod being raised or moved in the cylinder until the weight of
the same rests upon the rollers or pullies, by this means the piston and rod
are supported and guided in a central position in the cylinder and glands throughout
the length of the stroke as described in the previous modification.

page_text: In order that my invention may be fully understool I have illustrated the same
in the accompanying five sheets of explanatory drawings, in describing which
the letters marked thereon are the sume for corresponding paris in all the figures of
the drawings.
a, indicates the pulley or roller. b, the piston rod. ', the flat sile on the piston
rod. c, the pedestal or trough and bracket. d, the spindle and centres, the
bearings of the spindle, the adjusting scrows. g, the studs upon which the pullies
revolve., the sylinder cover. 7, the cylinder, anilj, the piston.
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, represent and comprise sectional side and end elevations of
a pulley a, supported and enclosed within a po lestal or trough e, on a spindle d, which
will revolve in the bearings e, with adjustable serows, and supporting a piston
rod, having a flat side 6, in contact with the rim of the pulley.
Figs. 3, and 4, Sheet 1, represent and comprise sectional side and end elevations of
a pulley a. in contact with a piston ruil 6, of circular form supported by the
pedestalo, fitted with a spindles ɗ, which will revolve in the hearings e, with adjusting
screws f
Figs. 5, and 6, Sheet 1, represent and comprise sectional end and side olovations of
two pullies a, placed at an angle with each other, and fixed upon the studs g, upon
which they will revolve with the rims of both pullies in contact with and supporting
the piston rod b.
Fig. 7, and 8, Sheet 2, represent and comprise side and end elevations of one
example of my improved apparatus in a working position as applied to a horizontal or
diagonal engine in which the piston rod, with a that side ', rests upon the rim of the
pulley a, which is fixed near to the outside of the cylin ler cover h.
Figs. 9, and 10, Sheet 3, represent and comprise side and end elevations of a pulley
or roller with centre bearings d, and mounted on a bracket or pedestal e, secured to
the cylinder cover h, supporting the piston rod 7, having a flat side 1, and with
adjusting screws f
Figs. 11, and 12. Sheet 4, represent and comprise side and end elevations of
a pulley, attached to the piston j, forming a support and earringe for the
same, and which will roll on the cylinder i, as it is moved to and fro with the
piston.
Figs. 13, and 14, Sheet 5, represent and comprise side and end elevations of two
pullies a, attached one on each side of the piston j, forming a support and carriage
for the same and which will roll along the cylinder i, as it is moved to and fro with
the piston.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion und in what manner the samo is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and combination in horizontal, diagonal, vertical and other
ongines worked by steam or other motive power of one or more antifriction, whoals,
pullies, rollers, or balls, made of any suitable material and of any desired form in
section arranged so as to revolve on either pivots, spindles, or studs, or in conical
roller or ball bearings, or in centres or grooves with adjustable bearings or podostals
or brackets fixed or suspended in either a vertical, horizontal, or inclined position,
under or at each or opposite sides of the piston rod, at one or both ends of the
cylinder, either on the outside or inside, near to or attached to the cylinder covers,
in such a manner that the piston rod will rest upon the rims or peripheries or the
other parts of the pullies, rollers, or balls which will revolve freely on their axes in
tho alternate directions that the rod moves by its contact with them as it passes over
or between them, for the purpose of supporting, carrying, and guiding the pistons
and piston rods of such engines in a direct lino central through the cylinder and
glands, and to maintain them in a suspended position so that they can move freely
and unretarded throughout the length of their stroke independently of the cylinder
sides and the glands and bushes of the cylinder covers, to be used with piston rods
having a flat side or sides or a groove in contact with the pullies, rollers or balls

page_text: or with rods of the usual circular form, substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated on Sheets 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings or any equivalent
modification thereof.
2. The construction and combination in horizontal, diagonal, vertical and other
engines worked by steam or other motive power of one or more antifriction
wheels, pullies, rollers, or balls, made of any suitable material and of any desired
shape in section, attached either to the piston or to the piston rod by suitable
brackets or pedestals fixed at either side of the piston and arranged so as to revolve
either on pivots, spindles, or studs, or in conical, roller, or ball bearings or in centres
or grooves and which can be adjusted until the weight of the piston and piston
rod rests upon them and they will roll along the sides of the cylinder with the alternate
movements of the piston for the purpose of supporting, carrying, and guiding the
pistons and piston rods of such engines in a direct line central through the cylinder
and glands throughout the length of the stroke, substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated on Sheets 4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings, or any equivalent
modification thereof.
Dated this 10th day of September
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.