IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz Albert Groth, of 6, Bective Road, in the County
of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES." A com-
munication from abroad by Conrad Samuel Tegnander, of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Sealed the 23rd December 1879. and dated the 26th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Albert Groth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1879.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, of 6, Bective Rond, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES." (A communication from abroad by Conrad
Samuel Tegnander, of Gothenburg, Sweden.)
1. The following are the distinguishing properties of steam engines made
according to this Invention as compared with steam engines of other constructions.
The steam imparts rotary motions to the mechanism in such a manner that part
of said mechanism rotates round its own centre of gravity, another part of saine
revolves with its centre of gravity in circular curves, and the remaining rotating
part of the mechanism traverses with its centre of gravity elliptical curves, the
eccentricity of which approaches to nothing; all the parts rotate with even velocity
relatively to each other. The work of the ingoing steam in the engine is always
positive and the exhaust exit is always open. The work of the engine is in all
positions during its rotation very nearly alike, wherefor it is of no importance for
the starting and working of the engine in what position it is stopped. All
manoeuvres with the engine, such as "ahead," "stop,"
""back," and the complete or
greater or less alterations in the expansion are regulated by turning a single
handle, and each such manoeuvre only takes about as long time as to move the
hand to the right or left. All the parts of the engine arranged round the engine
shaft are symmetrical and exactly balanced. The engine shafts are working in
bearings and in the same plane but in elevation, placed at angle to each other, their
axes intersecting and forming an obtuse angle; the body of the engine is cylin-
drical outside, and is fixed on the revolving slanting shaft.
There are, say, four cylindrical chambers in the body; these form the cylinders
of the engine, with pistons therein rotating with their centro of gravity in the
same elliptical curve and working backwards and forwards in their cylinders.
There are end covers common to all the cylinders and piston trunks working out
•

page_text: through stuffing boxes; the power is transmitted from the pistons by piston rods
to a disc, which is fixed on the horizontal shaft and causes it to revolve; the piston
rods are formed at each end with spherical heads working in bearings in the disc
and in bearings in the piston trunks; the bearings may be set up as required by
the screws fitted with ratchet teeth.
There are two rods formed with spherical head at each end serving to transmit
the rotary motion from the disc to the body and shaft, whence thus both the shaft
by the coupling mechanism transmit the work of the engine. These crooked rods
work partly in spherical bearings on the parts projecting from the body and partly
in spherical bearings on the disc, so that motion is thus transinitted from tho disc
to the body and shaft. There is a stationary circular ring or slide fitting steam
tight against the bottom cover of the rotary body, and balanced by steam pressure
on both sides.
To ensure a constantly steam tight joint between the ring and the bottoin cover
the latter is provided with clastic packing rings. That side of the ring which is
against the steam distributor is, at the outer as well as the inner periphery, formed
with circular projecting rims or flanges with connecting ribs between the same;
all the steam spaces or ports in the ring are enclosed and separated from each other
by the rims and ribs aforesaid, which enter into corresponding recesses in the
distributor; the ring is held elastically against the botton cover.
The engine operates as follows:-The steam enters the valve and valve chest ;
the position of the valve relatively to the valve face determines the inlet and outlet
of the steam. The valve is sot by a spindle passing through a stuffing box and
continued to that place where the manipulator of the engine is stationed; a handle
serves to turn the valve as required, and in accordance with the indication of a
hand and index inscriptions marked on. To cause the engine to go round to the
right, and with 2, expansion the valve is so placed that the steam passes through
the distributor, and through a port in the ring enters ports which partake in the
rotation of the body of the engine, and into the cylinders, entering first the spaces
between the cylinders, pistons, and the bottom cover, which vary in volume, and
then continuing with about half its volume through diagonal passages to the four
diagonally placed, and as to volume variable spaces between the pistons and the
top cover. After having done its work the steam passes back the same way within
the rotary part of the engine, it then continues to the exhaust pipe. By another
position of the handle the engine works with '/, expansion, and by another the
engine works with full pressure throughout; but in all three cases all the ports
are open for the exhaust steam.
To work the engine in the opposite direction the handle is turned the opposite
way. If the number of the steam ports be increased other degrees of expansion are
obtained with the same facility.

page_text: stationary circular ring or slide fitting steam tight against the bottom cover D¹
of the rotatory body A, and balanced by steam pressure on both sides.
To ensure a constantly steam tight joint between the ring R and the bottom
cover D1, the latter is provided with elastic packing rings u, u, Fig. 6. That side
of the ring R, which is against the steam distributor Q, is at the outer as well as
the inner periphery formed with circular projecting rims or flanges W¹, W³, Figs.
2, 13, and 14, with connecting ribs V between the same; all the steam spaces or
ports m', m³, m³, and n³, n³, n³, in the ring R are thus enclosed and separated from
each other by the rims and ribs aforesaid, which enter into corresponding recesses
in the distributor Q and there form steam tight joint with the soft packings g; the
ring R is thus held elastically against the bottom cover D¹, and thus the wear and
tear and the alterations in temperature in these important parts of the engine have
no hurtful influence. The pressure of D' against R can be increased or lessened
by means of the set screws Y, Fig. 1. Z' are pipes for the supply of lubricating
material to R and D¹ and to the pistons of the cylinders. B¹, B³, B³, B*, Z", are
pipes for tapping off condense water.
The following description whilst specifying other parts of the apparatus will
serve to show how the engine operates:-Steam is admitted by the passage and
pipe M, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 16; N is the exhaust passage and pipe. The steam
from M enters the valve P and valve chest o; the position of the valve P relatively
to the valve face P¹ determines the inlet and outlet of the steam. The valve P is
set by a spindle P₁ passing through a stuffing box O', and operated direct or by
couplings or other connections from that place where the manipulator of the engine
is stationed. In order that the great difference in steam pressure on the upper and
lower side of the valve P may not cause it to be hard to work, the steam pressure
on P is balanced by partly shutting off the steam from its upper side by the elastic
packing ring PS recessed into the back thereof. P is a handle on the valve
spindle placed near the engine or in any other convenient part of the spindle P*,
or more than one such handle may be placed thereon or on its continuation, which
serves to turn the valve P as required and in accordance with the indication of a
pointer hand and index inscriptions marked on 02, Fig. 1, so as to regulate the
operation of the engine as desired. To cause the engine to go around to the right
in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 1, and with /, expansion the valve is so placed
that the steam from M enters the port M', then passes through the distributor Q
and through the port m' in the ring R enters the ports S¹, S', S, S', which partake
in the rotation of the body A of the engine into the cylinders B', B³, B3, B4, entering
first the spaces between the cylinder pistons and the bottom cover D', which vary
in volume, and then continuing with about half its volume through the diagonal
passages T, TT, T, Figs. 2, 5, and 6, to the four diagonally placed, and as to
volume variable spaces between the pistons and the top cover D³. After having
done its work the steam passes back the same way within the rotatory part of the
engine; it then continues through the exhaust ports n', n³, n³, and N¹, N³, N³,
into R, Q, P, and then through the part N to the exhaust pipe. If steam is
admitted simultaneously through M' and Mª through m¹ and m³ the engine works
with one third expansion; if M', M³, M³, are open the engine works with full
pressure throughout, but in all three cases all the ports n', n³, n³, and N³, Nº, N³,
are open for the exhaust steam.
To work the engine in the opposite direction the handle P is turned the opposite
way, so that N', N³, N³, and n¹, n³, n³, become the steam inlet ports, and m³, m³, m³,
M², M², M³, the exhaust ports, see Figure 16. If the number of the steam ports n',
etc., N¹, etc., be varied other degrees of expansion are obtained with the same
facility.
Experiments made with a model engine, weighing 79 pounds avoirdupois, gave
the following results :—
Theoretical horse power 1.335 } bv 644 revolutions,

page_text: Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention I
claim,
1. The valve chest O, with valve P, valve face P¹, and ports N¹, N³, N³, M²,
M, M³, as and for the purpose specified.
2. The steam distributor Q with the vibrating ring R, with its ports m³, m³, m³,
and n', n³, n³, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. Arranging the slide ring R in an elastic manner by packing 9 on the dis-
tributor Q, so that the ring R if need be can vibrate (which is not necessary when
the engine is constructed mathematically correct), the slide thus being stationary
while the slide valve face is movable and the pressure on the slide balanced, as
described.
4. The cylindrical body A with its chambers or cylinders B¹, B³, B³, B*, passages
T, T, T, T, and covers D', D³, as herein set forth.
5. The piston rods G and bearings i and I operating the disc H and shaft A³,
also the screws with pawls K.
6. The disc H, operated and working as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The mechanism G, G, with bearings J, J; and
8. The general arrangement and construction of the engine, substantially as
described and shown by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorentz Albert Groth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
TODEN AT DER GRATH