Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 14th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Mar., 1887.
We WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of 10 High Road, Lee, Lewisham, in the
County of Kent and JOHN WILLIAM MAC KENZIE of Daisy Bank, Cheadle, in the
County of Stafford, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention for improvements in steam engines relates to engines of that class in
which each working cylinder is formed in or is part of a containing cylinder
oscillating in an enclosing casing about an axis at right angles to the axis of the
working cylinder and in which the ports through which the steam is admitted to and
exhausted from the working cylinder are formed in parts of the containing cylinder
working in contact with the enclosing casing and act in conjunction with ports
formed in the enclosing casing and communicating respectively with steam and
exhaust chests or pipes.
Our invention has for its objects, to provide efficient means for taking up the wear
of the containing cylinder and casing; to construct the exhaust ports and passages
of the working cylinder and the casing in such a manner that the exhaust shall be
opened slightly before the end of each stroke of the piston and shall be closed slightly
before the piston reaches the end of the next succeeding stroke as in ordinary reci-
procating steam engines; and to provide efficient means for cutting off the steam at
any desired given point of the stroke of the piston.
In carrying our invention into practical effect, the wear of the containing cylinders
and casing is taken up by means of two adjustable blocks arranged along the whole
length in one side of the enclosing casing parallel to the axis of oscillation of and
with their inner faces formed to the curvature of the containing cylinders. These
blocks are adjusted radially by means of screws in the enclosing casing and are then
fixed rigidly in position by means of other screws. The adjustable blocks subtend,
preferably, as large an angle as practicable at the centre of the enclosing casing.
The steam ports of each working cylinder, connected by passages with the two
ends of the cylinder, act in conjunction with two ports in the enclosing casing, these
latter ports being connected by passages with ports in a steam chest in which is a

page_text: rotary cut-off valve to be presently described. The steam ports also work in conjunc-
tion with an exhaust port situated in the enclosing casing centrally between the steam
ports. A supplementary exhaust passage leads from or near the centre of the working
cylinder to a supplementary port situated centrally between the steam ports at the
periphery of the containing cylinder. This supplementary port at the beginning of
each stroke of the piston is in communication with the central exhaust port in the
enclosing casing and before the piston passes the centre of the working cylinder this
supplementary port is closed and the corresponding steam port is in communication
with the central exhaust port of the enclosing casing and continues the exhaust. All
these ports and passages are preferably arranged on that side of the cylinder opposite
to the adjustable blocks. It will be seen that the object of the supplementary port
and passage is to take the first period of the exhaust and if the exhaust passages
debouched into the working cylinder at its ends and the exhaust were opened slightly
before the end of the stroke of the piston-that live steam would have a direct course
to the exhaust at the beginning of each stroke, the ports and passages being in the
same position when the piston is at either end of the working cylinder.
In a modification, the two steam passages leading to the ends of each working
cylinder serve only for the supply of steam and separate exhaust passages debouch
into the working cylinder at some distance from the ends and lead to ports working
in conjunction with ports situated preferably in the adjustable blocks and connected
with the exhaust chest. The passages where they debouch into the working cylinder
are closed by the piston respectively before the ends of its strokes and are not again
uncovered until, when in the returning strokes of the piston, the exhaust ports are
closed.
The rotary cut-off valve, hereinbefore mentioned, consists of a tube working in
contact with the port seatings in the steam chest and suitably cut away at different
points to admit and cut-off the steam to the ports at the required times; which ports
are arranged so that no part of one is opposite any part of another in the direction of
rotation of the valve, the passages being suitably inclined for this purpose. The
valve tube is mounted loosely on a spindle so that it is always forced by the pressure
of the steam and its own weight against the port seatings. It is driven from the
spindle by means of a boss fixed on one end of the spindle. Between this boss and
the adjacent end of the valve tube is inserted a ring provided with grooves or teeth
on either side cut diametrically and perpendicular to one another. These grooves or
teeth gear with teeth or grooves in the boss on the driving spindle and valve tube
respectively. By this construction, the valve tube is free to take up any position
required in following up the wear of the seating and valve tube.
The valve spindle is driven from the main shaft by means of a triangular shaped
frame connected at its angles to an eccentric or small crank on the main shaft, to a
crank on the valve spindle and to a supplementary crank, respectively, the cranks being
preferably at as nearly equal distances from one another as is practicable in the design
of the engine. If desired two supplementary cranks may be employed, one on either
side of the crank on the valve spindle so that the only strain on the valve crank is that
due to the turning of the valve.
WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY.
JOHN WILLIAM MAC KENZIE.

page_text: Improvements in Steam Engines.
We WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of 10 High Road, Lee, Lewisham, in the
County of Kent and JOHN WILLIAM MAC KENZIE of Daisy Bank, Cheadle, in the
County of Stafford, Engineers, 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 :-
This invention for improvements in steam engines relates to engines of that class
in which each working cylinder formed in or is part of a containing cylinder
oscillating in an enclosing casing about an axis at right angles to the axis of the
working cylinder and in which the ports through which the steam is admitted to and
exhausted from the working cylinder are formed in parts of the containing cylinder
working in contact with the enclosing casing and act in conjunction with ports formed
in the enclosing casing and communicating respectively with steam and exhaust chests
or pipes.
Our invention has for its objects, to provide efficient means for taking up the wear
of the containing cylinder and casing to construct the exhaust ports and passages of
the working cylinder and the casing in such a manner that the exhaust shall be
opened slightly before the end of each stroke of the piston and shall be closed slightly
before the piston reaches the end of the next succeeding stroke as in ordinary
reciprocating steam engines; and to provide. efficient means for cutting off the steam
any desired given point of the stroke of the piston.
at
In carrying our invention into practical effect, the wear of the containing cylinders
and casing is taken up by means of two adjustable blocks arranged along the whole
length in one side of the enclosing casing parallel to the axis of oscillation of, and
with their inner faces formed to the curvature of, the containing cylinders. These
blocks are adjusted radially by means of screws in the enclosing casing and are then
fixed rigidly in position by means of other screws. The adjustable blocks subtend
preferably as large an angle as practicable at the centre of the enclosing casing.
The steam ports of each working cylinder connected by passages with the two ends
of the cylinder, act in conjunction with two ports in the enclosing casing, these
latter ports being connected by passages with ports in a steam chest in which is a
rotary cut-off valve to be presently described. The steam ports also work in conjunc-
tion with an exhaust port situated in the enclosing casing centrally between the steam
ports. A supplementary exhaust passage leads from or near the centre of the working
cylinder to a supplementary port situated centrally between the steam ports at the
periphery of the containing cylinder. This supplementary port at the beginning of
each stroke of the piston is in communication with the central exhaust port in the
enclosing casing and before the piston passes the centre of the working cylinder this
supplementary port is closed and the corresponding steam port is in communication
with the central exhaust port of the enclosing casing and continues the exhaust.
these ports and passages are preferably arranged on that side of the cylinder opposite
All

page_text: to the adjustable blocks. It will be seen that the object of the supplementary port and
passage is to take the first period of the exhaust and if the exhaust passages
debouched into the working cylinder at its end and the exhaust were opened slightly
before the end of the stroke of the piston--that live steam would have a direct course
to the exhaust at the beginning of each stroke, the ports and passages being in the
same positions when the piston is at either end of the working cylinder.
The rotary cut-off valve, hereinbefore mentioned, consists of a tube working in
contact with the port seatings in the steam chest and suitably cut away at different
points to admit and cut off the steam to the ports at the required times; which ports
are arranged so that no part of one is opposite any part of another in the direction of
rotation of the valve, the passages being suitably inclined for this purpose. The valve
is mounted loosely on a spindle so that it is always forced by the pressure of the steam
against the port seatings. It is driven from the spindle by means of a boss fixed on
one end of the spindle. Between the boss and the adjacent end of the valve is
inserted a coupling provided with grooves or teeth on either side cut diametrically and
perpendicular to one another. These grooves or teeth gear with teeth or grooves in
the boss on the driving spindle and valve respectively. By this construction the valve
is free to take up any position required in following up the wear of the seating and
valve.
The valve spindle is driven from the main shaft by means of a triangular shaped
frame connected at its angles to an eccentric or small crank on the main shaft, to a
crank on the valve spindle and to a supplementary crank, respectively, the cranks
being preferably at as nearly equal distances from one another as is practicable in the
design of the engine. If desired two supplementary cranks may be employed, one on
either side of the crank on the valve spindle so that the only strain on the valve crank
is that due to the turning of the valve.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation of a two cylinder engine constructed according
to our invention, and
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation,
Fig. 3 is a front elevation,
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan,
Fig. 5 is an end elevation, and
Fig. 6 a plan, of the same.
Each working cylinder 1 is formed in a separate containing cylinder 2 fitted to
oscillate in a common cylindrical casing 3 provided with end covers and constructed
in two parts bolted together. The axes of the working cylinders 1 are thus at right
angles to the axes of the containing cylinders 2. In order to provide means for taking
up the wear of the containing cylinders 2 and the casing 3, the casing 3 is fitted along
its whole length with two blocks 4 arranged in one side of the casing and parallel to
the axis of oscillation. These blocks 4 are capable of being adjusted radially in
recesses formed in projections 5 on the casing 3 by means of the screw 6 and of being
rigidly fixed in position by means of the screws 7. The inner faces of the blocks 4
are bored out, in place, to form part of the internal cylindrical surface of the casing 3.
The blocks 4 are shown subtending as large an angle as practicable at the centre of
the casing. The piston 8 of each working cylinder is connected directly by the rod 9
to a crank on the main shaft 10, the two cranks being shown at right angles to one
another. The stuffing boxes for the piston rods 9 are formed in blocks 11 screwed
into the containing cylinders and projecting through the casing 3, and are fitted at
their inner ends with brass bushes 12 made in halves. The glands 13 are preferably
constructed as shown with brass bushes 14 made in halves. It will readily be seen
that by this construction of stuffing box, the bushes when worn can readily be
replaced without removing the piston. The stuffing boxes 11 project through
openings in the casing 3, any leakage of steam at these openings being prevented by
glands 17.
The casing 3 is hollowed out at 15 so as to leave room for the cylinder
cover 16 and their bolts.
The steam is admitted by the pipe 18 to a steam chest 19 running the whole length

page_text: of the casing 3, thence by the passages 20 in the casing 3 and passages 21 in the
containing cylinders 2 to the working cylinders 1. The ports of the passages 20
and 21 which work in conjunction with one another are arranged to give the required
lead for the working strokes and are in communication with one another during the
whole of those strokes. The cut-off of steam is effected by means of the rotary
valve 22 as hereinafter described.
The ports of the passages 21 also work in conjunction with exhaust ports 23
situated midway between the corresponding ports of the passages 20 and communi-
cating with the exhaust pipe 25. It will readily be seen that, if the ports of the
passages 21 were opened to the exhaust ports 23 slightly before the ends of the strokes
of the pistons, live steam would have a direct course to the exhaust at the beginning of
cach stroke as these ports occupy the same positions at the end of each half revolution.
In order to avoid this "blow through we arrange in each cylinder 2 a supplementary
passage 24 which debouches into the working cylinder at or near its centre and is in
communication with the exhaust port 23 at the beginning of each stroke of the piston
and is shut off from the said port before the piston passes the centre of the working
cylinder and until nearly the end of that stroke when it again communicates with the
port 23 to exhaust the steam from the other end of the cylinder 1.
Before the passage
24 is shut off from the port 23, the port of the corresponding passage 21 opens com-
munication with the port 23 and completes the exhaust; this communication being
again closed before live steam is admitted to that end of the cylinder. It will be seen
that all the ports are shown arranged on the side of the cylinders opposite to the
adjusting blocks 4 so that the wear can be taken up and consequently the escape of
steam prevented.
In a modification, the two steam passages 21 leading to the ends of each working
cylinder serve only for the supply of steam and separate exhaust passages deboucl
into the working cylinder at some distance from its ends and lead to ports working in
conjunction with ports situated preferably in the blocks 4 and communicating with an
exhaust chest. These ports are in communication during the whole of the exhaust and
where the passages debouch into the working cylinder, they are closed by the piston
respectively before the ends of the strokes and are not again uncovered until when
in the returning strokes of the piston the exhaust ports are closed.
The rotary cut off valve 22 consists of a tube working in contact with the port
seatings of the passages 20 in the steam chest 19. The tube is suitably cut away at
different parts as shown to admit and also, at the required given point of the strokes,
to cut off the steam to the passages 20. The ports working in conjunction with the
valve 22 are arranged so that no plane perpendicular to the axis of the valve will cut
both ports, the passages 20 being suitably inclined for this purpose. The said ports
are thus brought approximately into one straight line. The valve tube 22 is mounted
loosely on the valve spindle 26 so that it is always forced by the pressure of the steam
against the port seatings. In order to allow for taking up the wear, the valve 22 is
driven from the spindle 26 by means of a boss 27 fixed on one end of the spindle.
Between the boss 27 and the adjacent end of the valve 22 is inserted a coupling 28
provided on either side with grooves cut diametrically across it and perpendicular to
one another. These grooves gear with teeth on the boss 27 and on the valve
respectively.
If desired the valve may be solid, the spindle terminating at or near the end of the
valve and be driven as described above by a coupling arranged between the end of
the valve and a boss on the spindle.
By this arrangement of driving the valve its velocity ratio with respect to the spindle
is constant notwithstanding any wear.
The valve spindle 20 is driven from the main shaft 10 by means of a triangular
shaped frame 29 connected at its angles to a crank 30 on the main shaft 10 and to two
supplementary cranks 31. Between the two cranks 31, the frame 29 is connected to
a crank 32 on the valve spindle 26. It will thus be seen that the valve spindle is
driven from the main shaft without any strain except that due to the turning of the
valve spindle and that there are no dead points.

page_text: The cocks 33 are drain cocks for draining off condensed steam from the valve chest
and the casing. The main shaft 10 is lubricated by means of oil cups 34 provided
with syphon wicks. The valve and cylinders are lubricated by any suitable lubricator
situated on the pipe 18 by means of the steam. If desired lubricant may be placed
within the glands 17 to aid in lubricating the containing cylinders.
:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
A. In steam engines of that class in which each working cylinder is formed in or is
part of a containing cylinder oscillating in an enclosing casing about an axis at right
angles to the axis of the working cylinders and in which the ports through which the
steam is admitted to and exhausted from the working cylinder are formed in parts of
the containing cylinder working in contact with the enclosing casing and act in con-
junction with ports formed in the enclosing casing and communicating respectively
with steam and exhaust chests or pipes
:-
1. The method of taking up the wear between the containing cylinder and the
enclosing casing by means of blocks extending the whole length of and radially
adjustable in the said casing substantially as described.
2. The arrangement of a supplementary exhaust passage extending from the centre
or thereabouts of the working cylinder to the circumference of the containing cylinder
where its port works in conjunction with an exhaust port in the casing to exhaust the
steam from the working cylinder at the beginning of each stroke of the piston substantially
as described.
3. The arrangement of two distinct passages for exhausting the steam from the
working cylinder, the said passages being arranged to open out into the working cylinder
at some distance from its ends substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
B. In steam engines
4. Inclining the steam passages leading from the working cylinder to the steam
chest so that no plane perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cut-off valve shall cut
both ports at the circumference of the valve substantially as described.
5. The method of connecting the rotary valve to its driving spindle consisting of a
coupling situated between the end of the said valve and a boss on the said spindle
and formed with teeth or grooves cut diametrically across it on either side at right
angles to one another gearing with grooves or teeth on the end of the valve and on
the boss on the driving spindle substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
6. The arrangement of rotary valve consisting of a suitably formed tube mounted
loosely on a spindle having a less diameter than the bore of the tube and driven from
a boss on the spindle by means of an intermediate coupling formed on either side with
grooves or teeth cut diametrically across the said coupling at right angles to one
another and gearing with teeth or grooves on the said boss and on the end of the tube
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
7. The construction of mechanism for driving the valve spindle from the main
shaft consisting of a triangular frame connected to small cranks on the valve spindle
and main shaft respectively and to one or more supplementary cranks substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
C. 8. The construction of steam engines substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.