Year: 1887

page_text: I, GEORGE MARIE CAPELL, of Passenham Rectory, Stony Stratford, in the County
of Northampton, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in fluid-pressure motors, and consists in
improved methods of constructing compound multiple expansion and high pressure
motors the cylinders of which are arc-shaped spaces between a fixed cylinder and a
central drum which is keyed upon the motor shaft and adapted to move with a
reciprocating circular motion.
The said drum, having diaphragms or pistons of rectangular or circular form
projecting therefrom, through the arc-shaped spaces or working cylinders, situated
between said fixed cylinder and central drum aforesaid, to serve as pistons, as well as
fixed sector-shaped divisions projecting from said fixed cylinder to the drum dis-
charging the function of cylinder end covers in an ordinary engine.
According to my present invention, the valve chest is furnished with an ordinary
D valve, or its equivalent for the purpose of alternately opening and closing the
respective supply ports, but has no exhaust.
The motor-fluid passes from the valve through a suitable port in the fixed cylinder-
side to the high pressure cylinder, from which it exhausts through or past a plug-cock
in the sector-shaped division or along side it along a suitable port leading to the low
pressure, or second, cylinder of the series.
The cock receives a suitable reciprocating circular motion through a link gear,
from the valve rod of the engine, or from the motor shaft and its ports discharge the
following functions.
When the high pressure piston has reached the end of its stroke, a port in the cock
places the high and low pressure cylinders (or first two of the series) in communication.
The cock, being moved further round its axis, closes the above described port of
communication. When the low pressure piston has completed its stroke, the cock

page_text: establishes communication by means of a subsidiary port formed in it between the low
pressure cylinder and the exhaust. The latter is led away from the cock without being
taken through the valve chest.
The position of the cock is then changed for the purpose of re-establishing com-
munication from the high pressure to the low pressure cylinder again.
The said subsidiary port above mentioned may be at right angles with the first
mentioned port in the cock but I do not confine myself to this arrangement and
may use cone or other suitable valves, or pass the exhaust through the central drum.
A second cock is provided in a second sector opposite the one above described,
both being actuated from the valve rod or from the rocking lever on the
motor shaft.
The cocks may be replaced by either piston-valves or valves of a rectangular
section having a linear motion, but I prefer the former devices.
I do not confine myself to a double expansion only.
"
In constructing a high-pressure fluid-pressure motor according to my present
invention, I provide two or more pairs of pistons on the central drum, and two valve
chests, one on each side of the motor cylinder, which chests with their valves may be
of any well-known construction, the valves being operated after the usual methods.
Two adjoining pistons are, preferably, a pair, e., driven in one direction by the
same volume of motor-fluid, which is admitted from the valve chest along a single
supply port into the working cylinder of one of them.
The pistons are separated by sectors, consequently each piston has its own working
cylinder. No ports are formed in said sectors.
With reference to one pair of pistons, the motor fluid is led from the valve-chest
through a port in the fixed cylinder side into the nearest working cylinder, and
from there through a port in the central drum to the other working cylinder of the
pair. Both pistons of the pair will, therefore, be driven in the same direction;
while, at the same time, the other pair is driven necessarily, in the same direction
by a second volume of motor-fluid admitted to their cylinders under corresponding
circumstances and by corresponding devices.
For the succeeding stroke the pistons pair differently, one of each former pair
pairing with one of the other pair, a second set of ports being formed in the fixed
cylinder side and central drum for the purposes of supply, the last described set now
acting as exhaust ports.
I do not confine myself to the system of pairing the pistons above described.
I may compound an engine constructed substantially as last described by using
only one body of motor-fluid at a time, (and, consequently, only one valve chest and
its accessories), which is expanded from one cylinder to the others in succession or
simultaneously, suitable ports of communication being formed, for the purpose of
leading said motor fluid from one cylinder to the next, preferably in the
central drum.
I also form compound or multiple expansion engines in the same fixed cylinder by
forming a cylinder of a given size and which I divide into two unequal lengths by a
ivision of suitable thickness. I thus form two working cylinders of unequal capacity
I provide these with one or more pairs of sectors, a central drum and pistons fixed
to the drum. For a compound engine, I admit by suitable valves the high pressure
steam to the first or small cylinder upon the two pistons simultaneously, then by the
valves in the sectors of the first engine, the exhaust steam is led into the low pressure
cylinder, the diaphragm of which is at right angles to that of the smaller high
pressure cylinder thence the steam is exhausted into the air or condenser by
suitable valves.
It is obvious that by using my system of compounding at the opposite sides of a
cylinder as described above and forming a compound engine in the smaller capacity
side of cylinder divided into two unequal parts and a simple engine of the type as
described as above 1 obtain a triple expansion engine in one cylinder.
The steam passing first to the high pressure cylinder, thence to the low pressure
of the compound side, and thence it is exhausted into the adjoining cylinder where

page_text: it acts on the two pistons simultaneously, before being finally discharged by suitable
valves into the air or into a condenser. I may also use any of my above mentioned
devices for compound or triple or multiple expansion by using independent cylinders
of the above described form, or in triple expansion engines, with a drum of reduced
5 size to give greater space for expansion.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pressure Motors.
I, GEORGE MARIE CAPELL, of Passonham Rectory, Stony Stratford, in the County
of Northampton, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 relates to improvements in fluid pressure motors; and consists in
improved methods of constructing compound multiple expansion and high pressure
motors, the working cylinders of which are are-shaped spaces between a fixed cylinder
and a central drum keyed upon the motor shaft, in which cylinders the pistons pro-
jecting from the periphery of the central drum work with a reciprocating stroke.
In order that my invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to describe them in
iletail referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as
part of this specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a four cylinder double acting double expansion
engine constructed according to my present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line Y-Z of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the central drum illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 5 is a part sectional elevation illustrating a method of packing the pistons.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a two-cylinder single acting single expansion
engine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. S is a sectional plan taken on the line W-X of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line U-V of Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a two cylinder single acting double expansion
engine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 11 is an elevation of a four cylinder, double acting, triple expansion engine,
constructed according to my invention within one outer cylinder of an equal diameter

page_text: throughout. This is, in fact, a two cylinder, double expansion engine, and a two
cylinder, single expansion engine, arranged in series, both engines adapted to oscillate
in opposite directions.
Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional elevation corresponding therewith.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4; A is the fixed cylinder; and B, the motor
shaft. C is a slide valve; and D, its chest. E is the central drum, from one side
of which the motor shaft, B, projects; and e, a central fixed sleeve adapted to serve
as a bearing for the central drum and as a circular diaphragm in which ports
communicating with those in the drum can be formed.
Fis the high pressure cylinder; and G, H, and I, the low pressure cylinders,
divided by sectors f, g, hand : their respective pistons being f, g, h, 1. m, m, are
plug valves actuated by a link-gear in any convenient way. N is the exhaust.
The operation of an engine constructed as illustrated is as follows.
The steam (or equivalent motor-fluid) being admitted to the valve chest, D, and the
supply port, opened; the piston, f', will be driven towards the sector, As the
piston reaches the end of its stroke, the steam exhausts from the cylinder, F, through
the port, into the cavity of the sleeve, e; and from thence through the ports g², 12.
and, (shewn in dotted lines) into the respective cylinders G, H, and L. At the next
stroke of the slide valve, C, the port, 1, will be uncovered; and the piston, 1, be
driven, by a second supply of high pressure steam, towards the sector, ; while the
low pressure pistons, g, and, are being driven towards the sectors f, g, and h.
The cylinder, H, exhausts through the sleeve, e, into either cylinder, G or I, and
both the latter through the 3-way plug valves m, m, towards the main exhaust, N.
The plug-valves, m, m, and the slide valve, (, are actuated by any suitable type of
valve-gear with a respectively reciprocating-circular and linear motion.
The sleeve, e, is made adjustable round its axis for the purpose of regulating the
moments of exhaust from the high pressure cylinder to the three low pressure
cylinders, and from the latter to the main exhaust.
Any suitable device for effecting this may be adopted, e.g., an arm z, fast on a
continuation of the sleeve, adapted to be fixed at any point along a circular scale by
a set-screw, ¹.
The high pressure piston, f¹, may be of the same area as the low pressure pistons;
or, if the initial pressure of the steam be very high, of a smaller area, according to a
construction described more particularly with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
?
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, B is the motor shaft; and E, the central drum fast
thereon. Each piston consists of a pair of plates, 1, 1, fixed to the drum, or to the
shaft, in any convenient manner; which plates together form a case containing the
central plate, ; expanding springs, 4, on each side thereof; side-plates, 12, 12 and
nosings, 13, 13. The central plate, , is, or may be, fixed to the drum, E, in any
convenient way. The side plates, 12, and nosings, ³, are free to move between the
plates, 1, . The tops of the side plates, , are cut off at an angle, or bevelled outwards
in the direction of the axis of the shaft, D; the top making an angle of, preferably, 45°
with the inside edge of the plate. Upon each nosing I form two extensions, 15, 16, the
inner edges of which are parallel with the tops of the respective side-plates, 12, F. The
springs,, force the respective side plates, 2, outwards into steam-tight contact with
the cylinder covers; and as they are moved outwards, their bevelled tops engage with
the respective extensions, 15, of the nosings and force them steam-tight against the
inner faces of the fixed cylinder of the engine.
Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, K is the high pressure; and I, the low pressure
cylinder, divided by the sectors and b, and ',, their respective pistons. According
to this construction, the fixed cylinder, A, is of one and the same diameter throughout;
and the pistons kl, 61, of the same radial projection. The required differentiation in
functional area of the high and low pressure pistons and cylinders is, according to my
present invention, effected by stopping off the high pressure cylinder in the direction
of its axial length, by the insertion therein of a solid or hollow arc-shaped stopping
block, M, of the proper size for the purpose. This method is clearly illustrated in
Fic. &

page_text: I wish to point out that the aforesaid method of differentiating the dimensions of
the high and low pressure cylinders is not only perfectly effective for compounding:
but is, in point of practical manufacture, very economical, because the cylinder can be
bored out at one fixing or setting of the boring machine. The stopping block may be
carried either by the cylinder cover; or fixed to the fixed cylinder, A; or both
methods of supporting it in position may be adopted. And if desired, the cylinder
area corresponding to the stopping block, M, may be entirely dispensed with.
The operation of an engine constructed as illustrated in the said Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is
as follows.
The steam being admitted to the valve chest, D, and the supply pori, j, uncovered
by the motion of the. valve, C; the high pressure piston, ¹, is driven over towards
the sector, A. As the piston approaches the end of its stroke, the plug-valve, m, is
caused to open the port, m', through which the steam exhausts into the low pressure
cylinder Land drives its piston, ¹, towards the sector, k; the port, m³, being opened
towards the exhaust, m², by the plug-valve, m, as the said piston reaches the end of
its stroke.
The next stroke of the slide-valve, C, uncovers the port, j; and the piston, kl, is
driven back to the sector, b. As it reaches the end of its stroke, the port, m³, is
opened in the same way as described with reference to port, m¹ and the steam
exhausts through it into the cylinder, I, at the same time that a second supply of
steam flows from the steam chest through the port j into the cylinder K.
The plug-valve m, the ports m¹, m³, and the exhausts m², m³, are respectively
identical in construction, function, and operation.
Any suitable valve-gear may be adapted for operating the slide valve, C, and the plug-
valves, m, with the necessary reciprocating-linear and circular motions, respectively.
Referring to Fig. 10, which illustrates a construction of engine having two pistons
of equal radius and area in a central drum within a fixed cylinder of uniform diameter,
and adapted for compounding by admitting high pressure steam to one side only of
one of the pistons, exhausting through the slide valve to one side of the other piston
and to the other side of the first piston at the same time by a suitably placed port e. g.,
through the central drum.
D is the valve chest ; C, a D-valve adapted to uncover the port, j, at one stroke;
and to place the two ports, j and j³, in communication at the next; n, the high
pressure face of the first piston; n¹ the low pressure face thereof; I, a low pressure
cylinder, and its piston. 2 is a port through the central drum; and maintains
communication between the cylinder, L, and the low pressure face, n', of the opposite
piston.
The operation of an engine constructed as illustrated in Fig. 10 is as follows.
Steam having been admitted to the valve chest, D, it flows along the port, j, onto
the face, n, of the first piston, and drives it over to the sector, k, a small plug-valve, k²,
being opened to the exhaust, N; to prevent any back pressure.
The return motion of the slide valve, C₁, establishes a connection between the
ports, and j', through which the steam exhausts into the cylinder, L, and through
the central port, j, to the low pressure face, n¹, of the first piston, thereby completing
the first stroke of the engine as indicated by the dotted lines. At the end of this
stroke the piston uncovers the exhaust, N, that through the plug-valve, ², being
uncovered at the same time.
In some cases, instead of allowing the steam to exhaust from the piston-face, n,
direct towards the cylinder, L, I may provide an intermediate chamber adapted to
receive it for the purpose of preventing any back pressure occuring at this point of
the engine's operation.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 I wish to point out the advantages which result from
the peculiar construction of the engine illustrated thereby. These are
1. Compactness and economy of construction in connection with high speed engines.
2. Dispensing with a fly-wheel, inasmuch as there are two cranks at right angles
on the oscillating shaft connected to two cranks at right angles on the rotating shaft.

page_text: 3. Effecting triple expansion within one cylinder of a uniform diameter.
4. Jacketting the triple expansion cylinder with its supply steam.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, A is the fixed cylinder of an uniform diameter
throughout. It may be either made in one piece as illustrated in Fig. 12, or in two
separate cylinders, with a separate diaphragm, O, between them, the diaphragm being
either held in a fixed position between the two cylinders, or fixed to one of the
central drums and therefore adapted to oscillate therewith.
E is the central drum of the first and second expansion cylinders; and E¹, that of
the two third expansion cylinders.
Go is the high pressure or first expansion piston; G7, the second expansion piston;
and G, G, the two third expansion pistons. M is the stopping piece introduced
into the first expansion cylinder, as explained with reference to Fig. 8. J is the
motor-fluid supply to the cylinder, F, and J, the exhaust from the cylinder, F.
01, 02, 03, 0* are the four plug valves controlling the ports, o, o¹, 02, 0³, and actuated
by a rocking gear, R, driven from an eccentric upon the shaft, B.
The latter receives a rotary motion from the shafts B and B₁ through the instru-
mentality of the connecting-rods Q, Q¹.
I wish to point out that the shafts B and B are adapted to oscillate in opposite
directions as indicated in Fig. 12.
The exhaust from the cylinder, Fº, passes from, J¹, alternately along ports q, 7',
into the valve-chests, H, H', respectively; and from thence is distributed by slide-
valves, of any suitable construction, along ports q², q³, to the third expansion cylinders,
alternately, from which it is again exhausted along the last exhaust, J. The valve-
rods, I, I, may be actuated in any convenient way.
If the dimensions of the third piston, G8, and of its cylinder were reduced, or
those of the fourth cylinder, F, and its piston increased, then would the engine (with
ports suitably arranged according to the foregoing illustrations and descriptions of
my methods of constructing ports for engines constructed according to my present
invention) be a quadruple expansion engine.
It is evident, therefore, that an engine, actuated by any number of expansions in
regular series, may be constructed according to my invention; all of the working
cylinders of which shall be contained within one outer cylinder of a regular external
diameter throughout; the central drums of said engine being mounted upon two
shafts working in opposite directions after the manner illustrated in Fig. 12.
Instead of adopting the triple expansion arrangement as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12
and described therewith, the pistons F8, F may be of the same area and both cylinders
be high pressure cylinders exhausting respectively into the third and fourth cylinders.
In all the engines hereinbefore described and illustrated therewith the pistons have
been represented as rectangular, and the cylinders as rectangular in cross section to
correspond therewith; but I wish to point out that I do not confine myself to this
shape, as the pistons may be circular and the cylinders circular also in cross section to
correspond therewith. This method of working them will conduce to facilitaty in
packing and economy in manufacture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In engines the pistons of which are adapted to make a reciprocating stroke
through arc-shaped cylinders, the combination of high pressure cylinder adapted to
exhaust through a drum oscillating about a fixed hollow sleeve into three low pressure
cylinders substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with one high and two or more low pressure pistons adapted to
oscillate through arc-shaped cylinders, a fixed central sleeve adapted to receive the
motor fluid exhausting from the high pressure cylinder and to deliver it to the low
pressure cylinders, and plug cocks adapted to control the exhaust ports from the said
low pressure cylinders as set forth.

page_text: 3. In an engine the pistons of which make oscillating strokes through arc-shaped
cylinders, the combination with ports adapted to convey motor-fluid from the first
expansion to the second expansion cylinders, of a fixed hollow central sleeve adapted
by means of ports formed in its side to automatically control the passage of the motor-
fluid through the said ports as set forth.
4. In an engine of the oscillating type hereinbefore described, a fixed hollow
central sleeve adapted in virtue of an adjustable motion about its axis to effect the
variation of the passage of the motor-fluid from the cylinders of the engine as set
forth.
5. In an engine the pistons of which are adapted to make oscillating strokes
through arc-shaped cylinders, differentiating the respective areas of the high and low
pressure cylinders by means of a stopping piece introduced into the high pressure
cylinder as set forth.
6. In an engine the pistons of which make oscillating strokes through are-shaped
cylinders, the combination of a port adapted to deliver high pressure motor-fluid onto
one face of the high pressure piston, a port adapted to deliver the exhaust to one face
of the low pressure piston, and a port through a central drum adapted to deliver low
pressure motor fluid on to the other face of the high pressure piston as set forth.
7. In an engine the pistons of which make oscillating strokes through arc-shaped
cylinders, the combination of a port through a central drum and adapted to establish
a communication between the corresponding faces of two opposite pistons, and a plug-
valve adapted to open a port from the cylinder to the exhaust for the purpose of
preventing back pressure, as set forth.
8. The combination of two engines, the pistons of which are adapted to oscillate
through arc-shaped chambers, adapted to work in opposite directions within one
cylinder of a uniform diameter as set forth.
9. The combination of two central drums adapted to oscillate in opposite directions,
a fixed or movable diaphragm adapted to separate the cylinders appropriated to the
pistons of one drum from those appropriated to the pistons of the other, both drums
with their cylinders of one common diameter adapted to work within a cylinder of a
uniform diameter as set forth.
10. The combination within a single cylinder of an uniform diameter of an arc-
shaped first expansion cylinder, an arc-shaped second expansion cylinder and arc-shaped
third expansion cylinder or cylinders, the pistons of the first and second cylinders
adapted to move in a direction opposite to those of the third expansion cylinder, as
set forth.
11. The combination within a single cylinder of an uniform diameter of arc-shaped
first and second expansion cylinders, the respective pistons of which are adapted to
move in opposite directions as set forth.
12. The general construction of multiple expansion oscillating engine as set forth
with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.
13. The general construction of multiple expansion oscillating engine as set forth
with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.
14. The general construction of multiple expansion oscillating engine as set forth
with reference to Fig. 10.
15. The general construction of multiple expansion oscillating engines as set forth
with reference to Figs. 11 and 12.
Dated this 25th day of July 1888.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.