Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1888
omplete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 1st June, 189
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards & Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is moro especially applicable to engines used for driving the screw
propellor in sinall boats, such as ships" launches and river steamers, but it may also be
applied to other purposes.
It has for its object improved methods of constructing and arranging such
engines, so that great economy is obtained in the space occupied and in the cost of
manufacture.
In order to put my invention in operation I make a frame consisting of a rectangular
plate bent to about a right angle at the centre of its length, and having formed on or
rivetted inside its front and back edges a transverse plate of a shape approximately
triangular fixed to these angle irons at each end, the back transverse plate being
preferably rivetted, whilst the front one is screwed or bolted to the angle irons so that
it can be readily removed.
Instead of a single bent connecting plate between the front and back plates, two
separate plates may be used.
In the lower part of the back transverse plate I make an opening into which is
fitted and rivetted or screwed a bush or bearing (preferably of gunmetal) which is
bored out to receive the front end of the driving shaft which revolves in it. The
upper part of the front and back transverse plates have each two corresponding
openings formed in them, in which are rivetted or screwed bushes or bearings which
receive the trunnions of two oscillating cylinders, which are arranged to work at right
angles to each other.
Stuffing boxes for the steam and exhaust pipes are formed in the outer ends of the
trunnions where they pass through the bushes or bearings in which they work, and
the trunnions through which the steam is admitted to each cylinder are formed, not
upon the cylinder itself, but upon the outside of the steain chest, which is bolted or
screwed sufficiently firmly to the face of the cylinder, the exhaust steam passing to

page_text: the opposite trunnion by means of a belt round one or both sides of the cylinder, the
valve being driven in the manner hereinafter described.
The two cylinders are made precisely alike, each containing a piston having a piston
rod passing through a stuffing box in a cylinder cover, and I connect the outer end of
both piston rods to the same crank pin which drives a crank fixed to or preferably
formed upon the front end of the driving shaft. Each piston rod is connected to the
crank pin by means of a plain bush or eye fixed to the end of the rod, and one of
these bushes is made double or forked, so that its parts fit and work upon the crank
pin outside the other, which is single, the crank pin being made long enough for the
purpose.
Or, a bush may be used fitting freely upon the crank pin, and fixed at its ends to the
sides of a forked crosshead fixed to one of the piston rods, a second bush working
freely upon the first and being connected to or forming part of a crosshead fixed upon
the other piston rod. In this way simplicity of construction is attained, with sufficient
bearing surface. I screw the piston rods into their crossheads, preferably preventing
them from unscrewing by a transverse pin.
A stuffing box for the spindle of the slide valve is made in the usual way at the end
of each steam chest, at the upper or outer end of the latter, and the bush or bearing
which carries the front end of the driving shaft as already described is of sufficient
length to project as far as the back of the crank, and thus to afford a bearing of great
length and strength, and the outer circumference of the bush so projecting is turned
truly cylindrical so that an excentric fitted upon it can revolve freely.
One such excentric only is used to drive the valves of both cylinders, and I make a
suitable projection upon its front side which is carried round by one of the sides of
the crank in the revolution of the latter, the projection being of such shape and size
that when the engines are reversed the opposite side of the crank strikes the other end
of the projection at the proper time and carries round the excentric in the opposite
direction. A hand wheel may be fitted upon the driving shaft in order to start or
reverse the engines by turning the shaft in the required direction; or toothed or friction
wheels and gear may be connected to it for the same purpose; or a shaft carrying a
crank which fits loosely upon the end of the crank pin may be fitted so as to revolve
in a bush opposite that in which the main shaft works as already described, and may
carry a hand wheel instead of the latter. I prefer to fix a disc of sufficient width
upon the shaft, and to fit freely round it a split ring having two projecting ends
forming a handle, so that by bringing them together the disc is gripped and the shaft
can be turned in either direction, whilst on releasing them the disc is free to revolve
freely with the shaft. The disc and split ring may be arranged upon the excentric
instead of upon the driving shaft. Instead of a split ring a wedge or catch may be
used to grip the disc when required.
Stops are arranged to limit the movement of the handle. I make the excentric
sufficiently wide on its edge to receive the rings or straps of two excentric rods,
which I make preferably in one piece instead of in two halves, and upon the top edge
of each strap is formed or attached the end of the excentric rod, which thence passes
over the side of the steam chest (at a sufficient distance to allow the latter to oscillate),
and is then bent down and jointed to the outer end of the valve spindle already
described.
In order to reduce wear and tear, I sometimes connect the excentric rod to the
valve spindle by a thin piece of steel sufficiently flexible to allow for the movement of
the rod. Or, instead of using two excentric straps as described, only one may be used
the rod which drives the valve of the second cylinder being jointed to a suitable point
in it, and sometimes I use two fixed excentrics and four straps and rods, to which are
connected expansion links constructed in the ordinary method by which the engines
may be reversed when necessary.
In another method of reversing the driving shaft without altering the direction of
revolution of the Engines, I arrange the driving shaft of the Engine in a line with
the propellor shaft, leaving a short space between them. The two ends are connected
by a sleeve in which they revolve freely, and the sleeve has a transverse pin through

page_text: its centre carrying at each end a bevilled toothed wheel gearing at one side with a
corresponding bevilled toothed pinion fixed upon the Engine shaft, and at the other
side with a similar pinion fixed upon the propeller shaft. I arrange a friction ring or
cylinder upon the ends of the transverse pin, and I fit round it a friction brake and
handle.
If all the wheels are free, but the ring is prevented by the brake from revolving,
the propeller shaft is driven in the opposite direction to the Engine. If the ring is
released but the wheels upon the transverse pin are prevented from revolving upon the
latter, the entire apparatus together with the two shafts will revolve in the same
direction.
For this purpose I arrange upon the transverse pin one or more screwed nuts by
turning which the wheels are forced together against collars upon the sleeve already
described and are prevented from turning. The nuts are turned by levers upon them
operated by a cam or disc concentric with the shaft but capable of being moved end-
ways by a lever or handle.
I sometimes adopt the following novel method of actuating the slide valves. I
provide the outer end of the valve spindle (at either end of the cylinder) with a pin
or block sliding in or upon a transverse bar carried by the frame of the Engine, the
transverse bar being preferably curved the centre of the trunnions being the centre of
the radius of the curve. If this transverse bar or groove be arranged so that it is not
concentric with the trunnion but is more or less inclined, the pin or block upon the
valve spindle which moves in it as the cylinder oscillates will also have an end long
movement and will actuate the valve backward and forward so as to drive the Engine,
whilst by reversing the angle of inclination the Engine will be reversed. The two
transverse bars or slots for the two cylinders are mounted upon pivots carried by the
frame, or upon the ends of radius links turning upon the same or different centres,
and are provided with levers and links connected with a lever or handle by which their
position can be adjusted and the Engines stopped, reversed, and the length of stroke
of the valves varied. In order to provide for the " cover or "lap" and "lead" to the
valves, which are necessary to the proper working of the Engines. I arrange the
pivots upon which the transverse bars or slots are carried as described, so that each can
move up and down in guides or upon radius links in (or nearly in) a line between the
centre of the trunnion and the centre of the driving shaft, the extent of such motion
being only equal to twice the "cover" and "lead" of the valve.
"
I connect each such movable pivot by a lever and connecting rod to a suitable point in
the other cylinder which by its oscillation causes the pivot and transverse bar or slot
to move up and down in the right way and at the right times.
Or the reciprocating movement of the pivots may be effected by an excentric fixed
upon the driving shaft at a point in the circumference opposite to the crank, both the
reciprocating pivots being operated by the same excentric. In such method of
arrangement, or where the reciprocating movement of the pivot is not effected by the
oscillation of the alternate cylinder, my invention may be applied to Engines having
a single oscillating cylinder instead of two.
By the novel arrangement described, the reciprocating movement of each valve
required for its "cover" and "lead" is given by the oscillating movement of the other
cylinder, or by the excentric last described, whilst the movement of the valve for the
distribution of steam, reversing and working expansively, is obtained by the oscillation
of the valve spindle in the adjustable inclined bar or slot.
A lever may be used between the valve spindle and the slotted bar.
A double crank having a bearing upon each side may be used upon the driving
shaft, and the bearings for the shaft, as well as crossheads upon the crankpin may
be made adjustable, to compensate for wear. The frame of the Engine may be
constructed of cast iron, steel, or other material of any desired shape, instead of in
the way described.
Instead of the cylinders being set at right angles to each other and driving the
same crank they may be arranged parallel to each other and driving two cranks at
right angles. Instead of two cylinders three or more may be used.

page_text: The pipes by which steam is admitted to the cylinders through the stuffing
boxes in the trunnions upon the steam chests, as already described, may be connected
to a central pipe fixed to the transverse plates and preferably passing through the
latter and thence to the boiler, and a loose cover may be arranged fitting over the
top of the frame of the engine so that they are entirely enclosed and preserved
from dust. The exhaust steam is conducted to the chimney of the boiler or to a
condenser through pipes fitted to the stuffing boxes in the trunnions at the front of the
cylinders.
One of the cylinders may be of sufficiently larger diameter than the other, so that
the two form a compound Engine, the exhaust steam from the smaller one passing
through a sufficiently large pipe or chamber to the admission pipe of the larger one.
Or, larger cylinders may be arranged acting upon a separate crank and receiving the
steam from the smaller cylinders described.
Any number of sets of Engines having cylinders of proper size may be so arranged
one behind another.
The frame of the Engine may be made rectangular or of other desired shape instead
of triangular as described and it may be provided with angle irons or other attach-
ments for fixing it.
The improved engine is applicable to any purpose where it is required to run at a
high speed and to occupy little space, as for instance for electric lighting.
Dated this 16th day of July 1888.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards & Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 3, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawings, that is to say:—
My invention is more especially applicable to engines used for driving the screw
propeller in small boats, such as ships launches and river steamers, but it may also be
applied to other purposes.
It has for its object improved methods of constructing and arranging 'such
engines, so that great economy is obtained in the space occupied and in the cost of
manufacture.
In the accompanying drawings, which are in illustration of my invention, figure 1
is a transverse section through the cylinders of my improved Engine; figure 2 is a
longitudinal section through the framing; figure 3 is a longitudinal section through
one of the cylinders, and figure 4 a plan of the same. Figures 5 and 5* shew
forms of the excentric strap and rod. Figure 6 is a front view of a similar Engine
with link valve gear applied to it, and figure 7 is a side view of part of the same.
Figure 8 is a front view, partly in section, shewing my improved valve gear applied
to the Engine. Figure 9 is a front view of a modified and simplified form of the
same valve gear, and Figure 10 is a side view of part of the same. Figures 11, 12,
and 13 shew the form of crossheads which I prefer to use. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
In order to put my invention in operation (in the simplest form, as illustrated in
figures 1, 2, 3, and 4) I make a frame consisting of a rectangular plate bent to about
a right angle at the centre of its length, or two separate plates at right angles as
shewn in figures 1 and 2 at a, b, and having angle irons c formned on or rivetted inside
the front and back edges and a transverse plate dd¹ of a shape approximately triangular
fixed to these angle irons c at each end, the back transverse plate d being preferably
rivetted, whilst the front one d¹ is screwed or bolted to the angle irons c so that it can
be readily removed. In the lower part of the back transverse plate d I make an
opening into which is fitted and rivetted or screwed a bush and bearing e (preferably of
gun metal) which is bored out to receive the front end of the driving shaft f which
revolves in it. The upper part of the front and back transverse plates d, d', have each
two corresponding openings formed in them, in which are rivetted or screwed bushes
or bearings g, g', which receive the trunnions of two oscillating cylinders h, h', which
are arranged to work at right angles to each other. Stuffing boxes for the steam and
exhaust pipes i, ¹, are formed in the outer ends of the trunnions where they pass
through the bushes or bearings g, g', in which they work, and the trunnions through
which the steam is admitted by the pipe i to each cylinder are formed, not upon the
cylinder itself, but upon the outside of the steam chest, which is bolted or screwed
sufficiently firmly to the face of the cylinder, the exhaust steam passing to the opposite
trunnion by means of a belt round one or both sides of the cylinder, the valve being
driven in the manner hereinafter described.

page_text: The two cylinders h h¹ are mado precisely alike, each containing a piston having a
piston rod passing through a stuffing box in a cylinder cover, and I connect the outer
end of both piston rods to the same crank pin which drives a crank m fixed to or
preferably formed upon the front end of the driving shaft f. Each piston rod is con-
nected to the crank pin by means of a plain bush or eye fixed to the end of the rod,
and one of these bushes is made double or forked, a as shown in figure 2, so that its
parts fit and work upon the crank pin outside the other, which is single, the crank
pin being made long enough for the purpose.
Or, a bush may be used fitting freely upon the crank pin, and fixed at its ends to
the sides of a forked crosshead fixed to one of the piston rods, a second bush working
freely upon the first and being connected to or forming part of a crosshead fixed upon
the other piston rod. In this way (which is not shewn in the drawing) simplicity of
construction is attained, with sufficient bearing surface.
I screw the piston rods into their crossheads, preferably preventing them from
unscrewing by a transverse pin, as shewn.
A stuffing box for the spindle n of the slide valve is made in the usual way at the
end of each steam chest, at the upper or outer end of the latter, and the bush or
bearing which carries the front end of the driving shaft fas already described is of
sufficient length to project as far as the back of the crank m (as shewn in figure 2)
and thus to afford a bearing of great length and strength, and the outer circumference
of the bush so projecting is turned truly cylindrical so that an excentric o fitted upon
it can revolve freely.
One such excentric only is used to drive the valves of both cylinders, and I make a
suitable projection p upon its front side which is carried round by one of the sides
of the crank in the revolution of the latter, the projection being of such shape and
size that when the engines are reversed the opposite side of the crank m strikes
the other end of the projection p at the proper time and carries round the excentric o
in the opposite direction. A hand wheel may be fitted upon the driving shaft in
order to start or reverse the engines by turning the shaft in the required direction;
or toothed or friction wheels and gear may be connected to it for the same
purpose or a shaft carrying a crank which fits loosely upon the end of the crank
pin may be fitted so as to revolve in a bush in the plate d' opposite that in which
the main shaft works as already described, and may carry a hand wheel instead
of the latter. I prefer to fix or form a disc r of sufficient width upon the excentric,
and to fit freely round it a split ring having two projecting ends forming a
handlet so that by bringing them together the disc is gripped and the shaft can
be turned in either direction, whilst on releasing them the disc is free to revolve
freely with the shaft. The disc and split ring may be arranged upon the shaft f
instead of upon the excentric o.
Instead of a split ring a wedge or catch may be used to grip the disc by means
of the handle t when required. Stops are arranged to limit the movement of the
handle.
I make the excentric o sufficiently wide on its edge to receive the rings or straps u, u,
of two excentric rods, which I make preferably in one piece (as shewn in figure 5)
instead of in two halves, and upon the top edge of each strap is formed or attached
the end of the excentric rod v which thence passes over the side of the steam chest k
(at a sufficient distance to allow the latter to oscillate), and is then bent down and
jointed to the outer end of the valve spindle n already described. I prefer to balance
the excentric.
In order to reduce wear and tear, 1 sometimes connect the excentric rod to the
valve spindle (as shewn in figure 5) by a thin piece of steel w sufficiently flexible to
allow for the movement of the rod. Or, instead of using two excentric straps as
described, only one may be used the rod which drives the valve of the second cylinder
being jointed to a suitable point in it.
Sometimes I use two fixed excentrics and four straps and rods, to which are con-
nected expansion links constructed in the ordinary method by which the engines may
be reversed when necessary.

page_text: This arangement is shewn in figures 6 and 7 in which k, k, are the oscillating valve
chests, and n, n, the valve spindles. These valve spindles are jointed to bent rods, 5,
which pass round the side of the valve chests k, k, and are jointed at their lower
ends y, y, to radius links, 2, which turn upon fixed centres 1, 1.
The centres y, y, also carry blocks which slide in the links 2, 2, in the usual
way, these links being jointed to the excentric rods 3, 3, 4, 4, connected to straps
fitting round two excentrics o, o¹, and a reversing lever 5 being arranged by which
the position of the links can be adjusted as required. The excentrics o, o', may
be fixed upon a centre or shaft carried by the outer end of the crank pin 7, or
they may be fixed together and turn loose upon a spindle 6 fixed in the end plate d¹
(as shewn in figure 7), the excentric being turned by a crank or arm 7 fixed
upon the end of the crank pin l, and fitting freely between projections upon the
excentric.
By the arrangements described, of the rods x, x, and radius links z, z, the link
motion for reversing and varying the movement of the valves can be used without
the latter being injuriously affected by the oscillation of the cylinders.
The end plates d, d', are shown rectangular, instead of triangular as in figure 1.
In another method (not shewn in the drawings) of reversing the driving shaft
without altering the direction of revolution of the Engines, I arrange the driving
shaft of the Engine in a line with the propeller shaft, leaving a short space between
them. The two ends are connected by a sleeve in which they revolve freely, and
the sleeve has a transverse pin through its centre carrying at each end a bevilled
toothed wheel gearing at one side with a corresponding bevilled toothed pinion fixed
проп
upon the Engine shaft, and at the other side with a similar pinion fixed the
propellor shaft. I arrange a friction ring or cylinder upon the ends of the trans-
verse pin, and 1 fit round it a friction brake and handle. If all the wheels are
free, but the ring is prevented by the brake from revolving, the propellor shaft is
driven in the opposite direction to the Engine. If the ring is released but the wheels
upon the transverse pin are prevented from revolving upon the latter, the entire
apparatus together with the two shafts will revolve in the same direction. For this
purpose I arrange upon the transverse pin one or more screwed nuts by turning which
the wheels are forced together against collars upon the sleeve already described and.
are prevented from turning. The nuts are turned by levers upon them operated by a
cam or disc concentric with the shaft but capable of being moved endways by a lever
or handle.
I sometimes adopt the following novel method of actuating the slide valves (as shewn
in figure 8).
I provide the outer end of the valve spindle n (which is shewn at the lower end of
the cylinder) with a pin or block 8 sliding in or upon a transverse bar or link 9 carried
by the frame of the Engine, the transverse bar being preferably curved, the centre of
the trunnions being near the centre of the radius of the curve.
If this transverse bar
or link 9 be arranged so that it is not at right angles to the centre line of the cylinder,
but is more or less inclined as shewn in the drawing, the pin or block 8 upon the
valve spindle n which moves in it as the cylinder oscillates will also have an endlong
movement and will actuate the valve backward and forward so as to drive the Engine,
whilst by reversing the angle of inclination the Engine will be reversed. The two
transverse bars or links 9 for the two cylinders are mounted upon pivots carried by
the frame or upon the ends of radius links 10 turning upon centres 11, and are
provided with levers or plates 12, and links 13 connected with a lever or handle 5 by
which their position can be adjusted and the Engines stopped, reversed, and the length
of stroke of the valves varied. In order to provide for the "cover" or "lap,"
and "lead" to the valves, which are necessary to the proper working of the Engines,
I arrange the pivots upon which the transverse bars or links 9 are carried as described
in fixed guides, or at the outer ends 15 of the radius links 10 as shewn, so that each
can move up and down in (or nearly in,) a line between the centre of the trunnion
and the centre of the driving shaft, the extent of such motion being only equal to twice
the "cover
and "lead" of the valve.
وو

page_text: I cause each such moveable pivot 15 to so move up and down by a lever 17 which
moves the radius link 10 and is connected by a connecting rod (shewn in dotted lines
at 16) to a suitable point in the other cylinder which by its oscillation causes the
pivot and transverse bar or link 9 to move up and down in the right way and at the
right times.
Or the reciprocating movement of the pivots 15 may be effected by an excentric
fixed upon the driving shaft at a point in the circumference opposite to the crank, both
the reciprocating pivots 15 being operated by the same excentric.
In such method of arrangement, or where the reciprocating movement of the pivot
is not effected by the oscillation of the alternate cylinder, my invention may be applied
to Engines having a single oscillating cylinder instead of two.
Where the movement of the valve is effected by the oscillation of the end of the
valve spindle in a bar or link 9, an uneven action is caused by the lateral movement
being less at the end of the link which is nearest to the trunnion or centre of oscilla-
tion than at the other end. In order to remedy this, I make the radius of the bar or
link 9 less than if it were struck from the centre of such trunnion.
For instance (in figure 8) the centres of the curves of the links 9, are at X and Y
respectively. This increased curvature causes the movement of the valve to be
increased at the upper end of its stroke and to be reduced at the lower end, and in
this way the uneven action described is remedied, and the movement of the valve is
perfect.
The shortening of the radius of curvature of the bar or link 9 as described,
enables me to make use of the modified form of apparatus shewn in figures 9 and 10,
in which no curved bar or link is used, but the whole of the required movements
are obtained by means of pivotted links only.
The lower ends of the valve spindle at 15 are pivotted to links 17 the upper ends of
which turn upon the centres X and Y, respectively in the same position as the centres
of the radius of curvature of the links 9 in figure 8.
The pivots X and Y also have the reciprocating movements, necessary for the lap
and lead of the valves, given to them by means of an excentric or crank of short
stroke at 18, which is connected by the links 19 to the ends of radius links 20
turning upon fixed centres 21, 21. The upper ends of these links 19 coincide with the
pivots 15, when the valve spindles are at the centre of their oscillation (as shewn in
the left hand of figure 9). The upper ends of the links 19 are also connected by the
links 22 (the one on the left hand being concealed behind the link 17), with the
centres X and Y, to which therefore they communicate the reciprocating movement
of the excentric 18. This movement is also communicated to the valve spindles by
the links 17 without interfering with the oscillation of the valve spindles and the
consequent requisite movement of the valves. This movement and adjustment of the
points X and Y for the purpose of reversing the Engine or working expansively is
effected by the lever or handle 5 which is connected to the pivots X and Y by the
links 23. As will be seen from figure 10, the reduction of the length of the links 17
(by the shortening, the radius of the curve in which the valve spindles oscillate
at 15, for the purpose explained), enables the points X and Y to pass from side to
side of the cylinders for the purpose of reversing the Engines, the links passing under
a hollow trunnion 25 (figure 10) between the valve chest k and the frame d.
The radius links 20, may turn upon a common centre 26 (as shewn in dotted lines)
instead of upon centres 21, and the centre 26 may also serve as the centre of the
reversing lever 5.
The reciprocating movements of the pivots 15 may be given by the oscillation of
the cylinders (as shewn in figure 8) instead of by the crank or excentric 18.
"
By the novel arrangements described; the reciprocating movement of each valve
required for its " cover und "lead" is given by the oscillating movement of the
other cylinder, or by the small excentric or crank, whilst the movement of the valve
for the distribution of steam, reversing and working expansively, is obtained by the
oscillation of the valve spindle in the adjustable inclined bar or link 9 or by means of
the links 17.

page_text: A lever may be used between the valve spindle and the slotted bar.
A double crank having a bearing upon each side may be used upon the driving
shaft, and the bearings for the shaft, as well as the crossheads upon the crankpin, may
be made adjustable (as shewn at e, figure 8) to compensate for wear. The frame of
the Engine may be constructed of cast iron, steel, or other material of any desired
shape instead of in the way described.
In some of the arrangements instead of the cylinders being set at right angles to
each other and driving the same crank they may be arranged parellel to each other
and driving two cranks at right angles. Instead of two cylinders three or more may
be used.
The arrangements of apparatus shewn in figures 8 and 9, may be easily modified so
as to be applicable to Engines having fixed instead of oscillating cylinders. In such
case the valve spindle is driven by a rod or bar the outer end of which is made to
oscillate from side to side in the same way as by the oscillation of the cylinder as
shewn but by means of a lever driven by the crank or connecting rod or by an
excentric. The length of the rods 17 and 22 (6igure 9) or the radius of curvature
of the link or bar 9 (figure 8) will be the same as such oscillating rod or bar driving
the valve spindle.
The pipes by which steam is admitted to the cylinders through the stuffing boxes
in the trunnions upon the steam chests, as already described, may be connected to a
central pipe fixed to the transverse plates and preferably passing through the latter
and thence to the boiler, and a loose cover may be arrangod fitting over the top of
the frame of the engines so that they are entirely enclosed and preserved from dust.
The exhaust steam is conducted to the chimney of the boiler or to a condenser through
pipes fitted to the stuffing boxes in the trunnions at the front of the cylinders.
Where it is not required to reverse the Engine, a single excentric fixed upon the
shaft or crank may be used instead of the moveable one shown in figures 1 and 2.
The crossheads are preferably formed as shewn in figures 11, 12, and 13, the eyes
which fit upon the crankpin being cut through at one side and provided with flanges
and screws 27 by which they can be tightened and adjusted when necessary, the other
side of the eye which is left solid being sufficiently elastic for the purpose.
The ends of the excentric. rods or other links may be made in the same way.
In small Engines, I prefer to screw the glands of the stuffing boxes into the latter
instead of using studs or bolts, and in order to prevent the glands from unscrewing
when in work, I prefer to make one or more longitudinal slits for a sufficient
distance along the screwed part of the gland, and to expand such screwed part
slightly so that when forced into the stuffing box its elasticity prevents it from
unscrewing. A washer is interposed between the bottom of the gland and the
packing.
One of the cylinders may be of sufficiently larger diameter than the other, so that
the two form a compound Engine, the exhaust steam from the smaller one passing
through a sufficiently large pipe or chamber to the admission pipe of the larger one.
Or, larger cylinders may be arranged acting upon a separate crank and receiving the
steam from the smaller cylinders described.
Any number of sets of Engines having cylinders of proper size may be so arranged
one behind another.
The frame of the Engine may be made rectangular or of other desired shape instead
of triangular as described and it may be provided with angle irons or other
attachments for fixing it.
The improved engine is applicable to any purpose where it is required to run at a
high speed and to occupy little space, as for instance for electric lighting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of the similar cylinders h, h, valve chests carrying trunnions,
bushes g, frames & d', bearing e, crankshaft f, crank m, and crankpin l, single
B

page_text: excentric o, straps u, u, and rods vv, jointed directly to the outer end of the valve
spindles n, n, substantially as described and shewn in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
2. The method of connecting the excentric rod to the valve spindle, by the flexible
and elastic piece w, substantially as described and shewn in figure 5*.
3. In combination with the loose excentric o, the disc r, rings, and handle or
lever, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in figures 1 and 2.
4. The combination of a forked crosshead upon one piston rod, with a single cross-
head upon the other piston rod, the forked crosshead being provided with a bush
fitting freely upon the crank pin, and the single crosshead being provided with a bush
fitting freely upon the other bush, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the oscillating cylinder, the link valve motion, consisting of
two excentries o, o, with straps and rods 3, 3, link 2, and reversing lever 5, the
cranked or bent rod jointed at its outer end to the valve spindle n, and at its inner
end at y to a radius rod z, and to a block sliding in the link 2, substantially as
described and shewn in figure 6.
6. The combination with two oscillating cylinders, of two such link valve motions,
regulated by a single reversing lever, substantially as described and shewn in
Figure 6.
7. The method of carrying the two excentrics driving the link motions described
in claims 5 and 6, upon a fixed stud or spindle .6, and of turning them by a crank or
arm 7 upon the crank pin I, substantially as described and shewn in figure 7.
8. The apparatus for reversing the direction of the shaft driven by the Engine,
without reversing that of the Engine shaft, consisting of a loose sleeve embracing
both shafts, a transverse pin carrying bevilled toothed wheels gearing with corresponding
hevilled toothed wheels upon the two shafts, a friction ring upon the ends of the
transverse pin, a brake and lever acting upon the ring, and nuts and levers by which
the wheels upon the transverse pin can be fixed or released, substantially as described.
9. In the Engine with two oscillating cylinders, the valve motion consisting of the
combination with the valve spindles n of the pins or blocks 8, sliding on the links or
bars 9, the radius links 10 turning upon the centres 11, the levers or plates 12,
links 13, and reversing lever or handle 5, with the levers 17, and rods 16 connecting
the levers 17 with the opposite cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose described
and shewn in figure 8.
10. The combination of the pin or block 8 upon the valve spindle n, sliding on
the link or bar 9, the radius link or its equivalent 10, the lever or plate 12, link 13,
and reversing lever 5, as shewn in figure 8, with a crank, excentric, or cam, upon the
driving shaft, giving a reciprocating movement to the link or bar 9, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
11. The method of equalising the movement given to the valve by the oscillation
of the block 8 on the link or bar 9, by shortening the radius of curvature of the link
or bar 9, substantially as described and shewn in figure 8.
12. In the Engine with two oscillating cylinders, the valve motion consisting of the
combination with the valve spindles, of the pins 15, links or bars 17 turning upon the
centres X and Y, connecting links 23, reversing lever or handle 5, radius links 20
turning upon centres 21 or 26, and pivotted to connecting links 22, the other ends of
which are pivotted to the points X, Y, and the crank or excentric 18 actuating the
connecting link 22 by the links 19, substantially as described and shewn in figures 9
and 10.
13. In the valve motion described and claimed in claim 12, the substitution for the
crank or excentric 18 and links 19, of levers and rods connected to the opposite
cylinder for the purpose of giving a reciprocating movement to the points X and Y,
substantially as described..
14. In an Engine with a single oscillating cylinder, the combination with the valve
spindle n of the pin 15, link 17, connecting link 23, reversing lever or handle 5,
radius link 20, connecting link 22, crank or excentric 18, and link 19, substantially as
described.
15. The method of applying the apparatus described and illustrated in figures 8,9,

page_text: and 10, to Engines having fixed cylinders, by means of a rod or bar pivotted to and
driving the valve spindle, its outer end being made to oscillate from side to side in
the same way as by the oscillation of the cylinders as shewn, but by means of a
lever driven by the crank or connecting rod of the Engine or by an excentric, and
such outer end being pivotted to the block 8 as shewn in figure 8, or the pin 15 as
shewn in figures 9 and 10, substantially as described.
16. The method of forming the crossheads of the Engine, or the ends of the bars,
in the shape of solid eyes, of sufficiently elastic metal, split at one point and provided
with flanges and screws by which they can be drawn together and adjusted as desired,
substantially as described and shewn in figures 11, 12, and 13.
17. The screwed glands for the stuffing boxes of the Engine, having one or more
longitudinal slits along their screwed parts, which are then slightly expanded in com-
bination with washers interposed between the gland and the packing, substantially as
described.
Dated this 17th day of April 1889.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.