Improvements in Mechanical Arrangements whereby the Speed of Engines and Machines can be Increased without thereby . Lessening their Efficiency.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Arrangements whereby the Speed
of Engines and Machines can be Increased without thereby
. Lessening their Efficiency.
1, LEON LANGLOIS of 43 Rue de Turbigo, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object combinations of mechanical devices which permit
of suppressing totally or partly the losses of work due to inertia in the mechanical
systems containing parts to which reciprocating motions are imparted, these com-
binations being especially applicable when high speed motions are imparted to these
systems.
These combinations can, from the point of view of the general effects which they
produce, be summed up as follows
The piston rod of an ordinary steam engine is extended in either direction, and
provided with another piston moving in a cylinder supplied with steam through an
orifice situated in the middle of its length, and constantly in communication with
the space containing the steam driving the engine. Let it be now supposed that
the working parts of the engine, the additional piston included, are set in motion
from right to left. When the additional piston passes beyond the aforesaid orifice,
it encloses, between its left hand face and the cylinder's botton towards which it
The
moves, the steam contained between the latter bottom and the orifice.
additional piston then compresses this steam, and produces a cushioning action
which assists in bringing to rest the working parts, the additional piston included.
During the next stroke, this compressed steam expands, and supplies an additional
positive work (travail d'entraînement) favoring the setting in motion of the engine
parts.
Analogous effects taking place on the other face of that piston, it will then be
easily seen, that the successive cushioning and setting in motion of the working
parts can be produced in a continuous manner by means of the aforesaid additional
piston.
It might occur that the cushioning cylinders constructed as explained in the
foregoing would produce vibration in the bed plate and foundations, in this case
there might be some advantage in annulling only the part of the loss of work
which corresponds to the compression and shocks.
It is equally possible when it is a question of motors of any kind, of pumps for
instance, to suppress completely or partly the loss of work due to inertia by using
cushioning cylinders working with air or any gas. This air or gas works like steam,
and it is sufficient to regulate the compression and expansion work as in the case
of steam.
Various arrangements of this invention will now be described.
In an arrangement of cushioning cylinder for double acting working parts
with steam jackets supplied with exhaust steam, the orifice in the middle of the
cushioning cylinder is in communication through a pipe with the exhaust pipe of
the engine. The equilibrium is established at the end of each stroke, between the
pressure of steam in the exhaust pipe and that in the cushioning cylinder.
The length of the piston in the cushioning cylinder is such that the piston scarcely
uncovers the aforesaid orifice.
The cushioning cylinder is provided at each end with a cock which establishes or
interrupts the communication between the ends of this cylinder and the exhaust
pipe. When the engine is started, these cocks are opened for the purpose of
facilitating the setting in motion of the engine by getting rid of the compression

page_text: which the cushioning piston would otherwise produce. At each stroke, the air
contained in the cushioning cylinder escapes into the atmosphere through the exhaust
pipe, and is replaced by exhaust steam drawn in during the next stroke. When
the engine has attained a speed at which it can withstand the compression corre-
sponding to its normal working, the aforesaid cocks are closed either by hand or
by the governor. The cocks may also be replaced by slides or equivalent devices.
The cushioning cylinder is surrounded by a steam jacket which permits, together
with a suitable regulation of the compression exerted by its piston, the prevention
of the production of condensation.
The cushioning cylinders may be constructed without steam jackets. As in this
case condensation easily takes place, two ordinary drain cocks are added to the parts
previously mentioned, but it is preferable to use two automatic draining valves
loaded by springs or counterweights, adjusted so as to correspond to the pressure
acquired by the steam at the end of its compression, and having for their purpose
the automatic expulsion of the water of condensation.
In the case of steam jackets supplied with live steam, it is necessary to expand the
latter previously, to a pressure that is always the same, then the conditions of work of
the cushioning cylinder are the same as when exhaust steam is used.
For this purpose a conical recess formed in the cylinder, and in its jacket at the
middle of the stroke of the cushioning piston, is fitted with a conical bushing,
provided with two openings, one of which opens into the jacket containing live steam,
whilst the other is in communication with the atmosphere through a suitable passage
and pipe. In the conical bushing turns a hollow plug provided with two openings,
and a central passage communicating permanently with the cushioning cylinder, and
with an expansion chamber. This hollow plug can turn so as to occupy three
distinctive positions.
In the first, the two openings are covered by the aforesaid conical box.
In the second, one opening of the conical bushing is opposite one of the openings
of the plug, the other of which is then covered by the conical bushing. The live
steam of the jacket can then be introduced in the cushioning cylinder and in the
expansion chamber, and increases the pressure in these spaces.
In the third position, the other opening of the plug communicates through the
other opening of the bushing aforesaid, with the passage and pipe leading to the
atinosphere, the first mentioned opening of the plug being now covered by the conical
bushing. A certain quantity of steam contained in the cushioning cylinder and
expansion chamber escapes then into the atmosphere, thus producing a fall of pressure
in the latter spaces.
The working of the hollow plug is adjusted as follows;
On the axis working it, is keyed a lever, provided at its free end with a counter-
weight, and about midway between the counterweight and the axis, with a link
hinged to a piston, which can move in a cylinder. A pipe fixed to the lid of the
latter cylinder allows the steam which might leap beyond the ring of the piston to
escape into the atmosphere. The area of the piston just mentioned, the weight of the
lever of the counterweight, of the link and piston attached to it, are adjusted in such
a manner that under the expansion pressure chosen, two atmospheres for instance, all
these parts occupy an intermediate position, for which no change of pressure takes
place in the expansion chamber and cushioning cylinder.
Under these conditions, if the pressure in the cushioning cylinder and expansion
chambers increases, the piston rises, and puts this one opening in the plug in com-
munication with the bushing, the passage and pipe leading to the atmosphere, and
allows a part of the steam contained in the cushioning cylinder and expansion
chamber to escape into the atmosphere. The weight of the aforementioned parts
brings then the whole back to their intermediate position. If, on the contrary, the
pressure in the cushioning cylinder and expansion chamber decreases, the aforesaid
parts move under the influence of their own gravity; the other opening of the plug
is put in its turn, in communication with the bushing, and live steam from the jacket
is introduced into the cylinder and expansion chamber. There will then be an

page_text: increase of pressure, in consequence of which, the small piston rises again and brings
the whole of the parts back to their intermediate position.
To facilitate the starting of the engine, a cock is provided at each extremity of the
cushioning cylinder, so as to establish a communication between the passages to the
cocks on the one hand, and with tubings on the other hand; and also to interrupt
completely this communication.
The upper tubings are provided with valves establishing or shutting off the
communication of the expansion chamber with the said tubings, according as the
pressure in the said expansion chamber is greater or less than that in the said upper
tubings. The lower tubings are provided with valves establishing or shutting off the
communication between these tubings and the outer air according as the pressure
existing in the said tubings is greater or less than that in the expansion chamber.
This is upon the whole, the same as saying; First, that the former valves are applied
on their seats by means of springs having but a slight tension, the pressure of which
is simply to ensure that these valves fall back on their seats. Second, that the latter
valves are maintained on their seats by means of springs having such a tension that
these valves are raised ouly when the pressure in the lower tubings is inferior to that
in the expansion chamber.
The engine is started as follows:
The live steam which is in the jacket surrounding the cushioning cylinder enters
the expansion chamber. wherein it expands, and in the cushioning cylinder which
contains air. If now the engine is started after the drain cocks have been opened,
the cushioning piston compresses in its down stroke, the mixture of air and steam
enclosed in the lower part of said cylinder, thus causing the lower valve below the
When the pressure
expansion chamber to adhere more and more firmly to its seat.
in the lower part of the cylinder has exceeding that existing in the expansion
chamber, it becomes powerful enough to lift the valve below the lower drain
cock, and a part of the mixture of air and steam compressed by the cushioning
piston escapes thus into the atmosphere. In the up stroke a depression takes place
under the said piston, the steam in the expansion chamber raises the valve imme-
diately below the latter, and the spring which holds down the valve below the drain
cock, being strong enough to balance the pressure in the expansion chamber, a part
of the steam contained in this space enters the cushioning cylinder.
The same phenomena take place on the upper face of the cushioning piston, and
When tho
after a certain time the air is almost replaced by expanded live steam.
engine has attained a pretty considerable speed, the cocks at the extremities of the
cylinder are closed, and the cushioning piston works then as in the previous case when
exhaust steam was used.
When it is a question of a cushioning cylinder without jacket supplied with live
steam, the foregoing arrangement must be modified as follows:-
1. Instead of opening into the jacket, one of the orifices of the bushing opens into
a lateral passage supplied with live steam by a pipe. This passage and pipe are then
the counterpart of passage and pipe leading to the atmosphere.
2. The ends of the cushioning cylinder must be provided either with ordinary drain
cocks, or with automatic drain valves similar to those already described.
In the arrangement employed in engines consisting of two single acting pistons
working in opposite cylinders; the exhaust opens into a central space traversed by
the driving shaft, and in which the connecting rod is working.
The cushioning pistons connected with the engine pistons are, in this case, single
acting in cushioning cylinders. The exhaust steam enters the cushioning cylinders
through suitable openings, and the result obtained is the same as in the double-acting
cylinder. Two passages provided with suitable devices permit of evacuating the
condensed water.
The cushioning cylinders, such as described in the foregoing can be applied to any
moving part, especially to parts of valve gears which have a continuous motion, slides
or pistons, and especially slides moved by an eccentric. In a general manner, it is
sufficient for this purpose to fit the extension of the slide valve or piston valve rod

page_text: with a double-acting cushioning piston similar to that described for the working
parts.
In the appli ation of this invention to piston slide valves, the furthest end of the
rod of the piston slide valve forms when the latter effects its up stroke, a cushioning
piston working in a small single acting cushioning cylinder. After it has passed
beyond the inlet opening of this cylinder, the valve rod compresses the exhaust steam
which has entered the cylinder.
This steam expands afterwards in the down stroke. A similar effect is produced
by providing the lower piston valve with a hollow cylindrical extension, working up
and down on a projection surrounding the valve rod, and acting as a fixed cushioning
piston.
The compression and expansion work can, therefore, be adjusted in such a manner
that they produce on the slide valve and the parts working it, the same effects as those
produced by the cushioning piston described for the main working parts. The
openings on the cushioning cylinders serve also to evacuate the condensed water.
When the invention is applied to a horizontal piston valve, the arrangement to be
employed remains the same, but as in this case there is no reason why condensed
water should stop longer in one cushioning cylinder than in the other, they can both
be arranged in the same manner, that is to say, both fixed or both movable. Care
must be taken to place the openings at the lower part of the cushioning cylinders, so
as to facilitate the evacuation of the condensation water.
When it is a question of an ordinary slide valve, its rod is provided with the same
additional parts as above. The same effects of compression and expansion are then
obtained with live steam as with exhaust steam.
The mechanical arrangements which permit the application of the double-acting
cushioning cylinder to the main working parts of steam engines, are of various
kinds. The tandem arrangement may be adapted, that is the cushioning piston may
be mounted on an extension of the piston rod of the engine cylinder, two stuffing
boxes being provided for this purpose.
The cushioning cylinder may also be placed on the very bottom of the engine
cylinder. The rod common to both pistons passes through a bushing provided
internally with grooves, in which the condensed water accumulates so as to form a
packing. Any other kind of packing may also be used.
If the cushioning cylinder is placed in front of the engine cylinder, the slide
bars can be arranged between the two cylinders. In this case, too, both the working
and cushioning cylinders may be below the crank shaft, the connecting rod being
then worked by means of a beam fulcrumed to the bed plate. The cushioning
cylinder might also be placed above the engine cylinder, parallel to the latter, and
its piston acting on an intermediate point of the beam.
Another arrangement consists in having two engine cylinders provided with their
cushioning cylinders placed side by side, parallel to and as near as possible to each
other, their working pistons actuating cranks, which are diametrically opposite to
each other.
In inverted vertical engine, the cushioning cylinder may be placed on the side of
the working cylinder, their common action on the crank shaft taking place through
the medium of two connecting rods, one of which is hinged to the other. The cross
head of the driving piston is provided with a connecting rod hinged to a second
rod connected with the crank shaft, and attached to the cross head of the cushioning
piston.
The cushioning cylinder may also be placed on the side of the driving cylinder, and
parallel to the latter, the cross heads being connected by means of a rocking beam.
This arrangement is used when it is not possible to place the cushioning cylinder,
either in the extended axis of the working cylinder, or on the side thereof as in
the case of the inverted vertical engine described in the foregoing.
In the case of ordinary beam engines, the cushioning cylinder is placed at the
side of the working cylinder, and connected with the beam at any point thereof.
Cushioning cylinders may be worked by air or any other gas, and applied to

page_text: motors of various kinds, to pumps, to mechanical systems containing parts to which
are imparted reciprocating motions.
To start an
engine
The cylinder may be double-acting. The cushioning cylinder is in this case
provided with an orifice situated in the middle of its length, and opening into the
atmosphere, and with two cocks placed one at each end of the cylinder, and opening
into the atmosphere; a cushioning piston long enough to ensure that the aforesaid
orifice shall scarcely be uncovered at each end of a stroke.
provided with such a system, the cocks are first opened so as to allow the air to
escape from, and enter again almost freely into the cushioning cylinder. until the
system has reached sufficient speed. The cocks are then closed, and from that
moment the air enclosed between the bottoms of the cushioning cylinder and the
piston faces, is alternately compressed and expanded just as when steam is used.
If a gas of any kind is used, it is sufficient to establish a communication between
the opening in the middle of the cushioning cylinder and the space wherefrom the
gas is supplied.
The cylinder may be single-acting. In this case the arrangement consists of two
single-acting cylinders, provided each with an opening fulfilling the same purpose
as the opening in the middle of the aforesaid double-acting cylinder of two starting
cocks, a single-acting plunger working in each of the cushioning cylinders. If this
piston is to act as cross head for a connecting rod or to actuate the extremity of
a beam, it is provided on the middle of its length with a cross pin extending on
each side. The distance between the cylinder ends which are opposite each other
must be large enough to allow the working parts attached to the aforesaid double
crank pin to perform their full stroke.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Filing Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Arrangements whereby the Speed
of Engines and Machines can be Increased without thereby
Lessening their Efficiency.
I, LEON LANGLOIS of 43 Rue de Turbigo, Paris in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This invention has for its object combinations of mechanical devices which permit
of suppressing totally or partly the loss of work due to inertia in mechanical systems
containing parts to which reciprocating motions are imparted, these combinations
being especially applicable when high speed motions are imparted to these systems.
These combinations can, from the point of view of the general effects which they
produce, be summed up as follows:-
In order to assist in the comprehension of the specification reference is had to the
accompanying drawings in which the improvement is applied to an ordinary steam
engine, the piston rod of which is extended in either direction, and provided with
another piston a (Figure 1) moving in a cylinder A supplied with steam through
an orifice a situated in the middle of its length, and constantly in communication
with the space containing the steam for the engine. Let it be now supposed that
the working parts of the engine, the additional piston a included, are set in motion
from right to left. When the piston a passes beyond the aforesaid orifice a², it
encloses, between its left hand face and the end of the cylinder towards which it
moves, the steam contained between the latter end and the orifice a². The additional
piston a then compresses this steam, and produces a cushioning action which assists
in bringing to rest the working parts, the piston a included. During the next
stroke, this compressed steam expands, and supplies an additional positive work
(travail d'entrainement) favoring the setting in motion of the engine parts.

page_text: .
Since a similar action takes place on the other face of the piston a, it will be
easily seen, that the successive cushioning and starting of the working parts can be
effected in a continuous manner by means of the aforesaid piston u.
It might occur that the cushioning cylinders constructed as explained in the
foregoing would produce vibration in the setting and foundations, in this case, there
might be some advantage in annulling only the loss of power due to the resistance of
the parts and to shock.
It is also possible when it is a question of motors of any kind, of pumps for
instance, to suppress completely or partly the loss of work due to inertia by using
cushioning cylinders working with air or any gas. This air or gas works like steam,
and it is sufficient to regulate the compression and expansion work as in the case of
steam.
Figure 2 shows an arrangement of a cushioning cylinder for double acting working
parts with steam jackets supplied with exhaust steam. In this arrangement the
orifice in the middle of the cushioning cylinder is in communication through a
pipe a with the exhaust pipe E of the engine. The equilibrium is established at
the end of each stroke, between the pressure of steam in the exhaust pipe E and that
in the cushioning cylinder A.
The length of the piston a in the cushioning cylinder is such that the piston
scarcely uncovers the aforesaid orifice a² at the end of each stroke.
The cushioning cylinder A is provided at each end with a cock B which establishes
or interrupts the communication between the ends of this cylinder A and the exhaust
pipe E.
When the engine is started, these cocks B are opened for the purpose of
facilitating the setting in motion of the engine by getting rid of the compression
which the cushioning piston a would otherwise cause. At each stroke, the air contained
in the cushioning cylinder A escapes into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe E,
and is replaced by exhaust steam drawn in during the next stroke. When the
engine has attained a speed at which it can withstand the compression corresponding
to its normal working, the aforesaid cocks B are closed either by hand or by the
governor. The cocks may also be replaced by slides or equivalent devices.
The cushioning cylinder A is surrounded by a steam jacket by the help of which,
in combination with a suitable regulation of the compression exerted by its piston a,
the production of condensation is prevented.
Figure 3 shows an arrangement of the cushioning cylinder constructed without
stean jacket. As in this case condensation easily takes place, two ordinary drain
cocks are added to the parts previously mentioned, but it is preferable to use two
automatic draining valves p loaded by springs or counterweights, adjusted so as
to correspond to the pressure acquired by the steam at the end of its compression,
and having for their purpose the automatic drainage of the water produced by
condensation.
Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a cushioning cylinder, in the working parts
of a double action machine, with a jacket supplied with live steam.
Figure 6 shows a section along 1-2 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows a section along 3-4.
Figure 8 shows a section along 5-6.
Figure 9 shows a section along 7-8.
In the case of steam jackets supplied with live steam, it is necessary to expand
the latter previously, to a constant pressure the conditions of work of the cushioning
cylinder are then the same as when exhaust steam is used.
For this purpose, a conical recess formed in the cylinder A, and in its jacket at
the middle of the stroke of the piston a, is fitted with a conical bushing b, provided
with two openings and 2 one of which opens into the jacket containing live
steam, whilst the other is in communication with the atmosphere through the
passage e and pipe el. In the conical bushing 6 turns a hollow plug c provided with
two openings c¹ and ², and a central passage communicating permanently with the
cushioning cylinder A, and with an expansion chamber B. This hollow plug can
turn so as to occupy three distinctive positions.

page_text: In the first, the two openings are covered by the aforesaid conical bushing b.
In the second, the opening is opposite one of the openings c¹ of the plug, the
other of which is then covered by the conical bushing b. The live steam of the jacket
can then be introduced in the cushioning cylinder A and in the expansion chamber B,
and increases the pressure in these spaces.
In the third position, the opening of the plug communicates through the
opening of the bushing aforesaid, with the passage e and pipe e' leading to
the atmosphere, the first mentioned opening e' of the plug being now covered by the
conical bushing b. A certain quantity of steam contained in the cushioning cylinder A
and expansion chamber B now escapes into the atmosphere, thus producing a fall of
pressure in these parts.
The working of the hollow plug c is adjusted as follows;
On the axis d working it, is keyed a lever f, provided at its free end with a
counterweight G, and about midway between the counterweight and the axis, with a
link hinged to a piston m, which can inove in a cylinder M. A pipe n fixed to the
lid of the latter cylinder allows the steam which might pass beyond the ring of the
piston m to escape into the atmosphere. The area of the piston m, just mentioned,
the weight of the lever f, of the counterweight G, of the link and piston m attached
to it, are adjusted in such a manner that under the expansion pressure chosen, two
atmospheres for instance, all these parts occupy a mean position, in which no change
of pressure takes place in the expansion chamber B and cushioning cylinder A.
Under these conditions, if the pressure in the cushioning cylinder A and expansion
chamber B increases, the piston rises, and places the opening in the plug in
communication with the opening in the bushing, the passage e and pipe e leading
to the atmosphere, and allows a part of the steam contained in the cushioning
cylinder A and expansion chamber B to escape into the atmosphere. The weight of
the aforementioned parts m 1 Gf then brings the whole back to their intermediate
position. If, on the contrary, the pressure in the cushioning cylinder and expansion
chamber decreases, the aforesaid parts move under the influence of their own
gravity the opening c of the plug is placed in its turn, in communication with
the opening in the bushing, and live steam from the jacket is introduced into
the cylinder A and expansion chamber B. There will then be an increase of pressure,
in consequence of which, the small piston m again rises and brings the whole of the
parts back to their intermediate position.
To facilitate the starting of the engine, two cocks H are provided one at cach
extremity of the cushioning cylinder, so as to establish a communication between
the passages on the one hand, and with tubings h¹, h² on the other hand; and also
to interrupt completely this communication.
The upper tubings h are provided with valves " establishing or shutting off the
communication between the expansion chamber B and the said tubings, according
as the pressure in the said expansion chamber B is greater or less than that in the
said upper tubings . The lower tubings h² are provided with valves establishing
or shutting off the communication between these tubings and the outer air
according as the pressure existing in the said tubings is greater or less than that in
the expansion chamber B. This amounts practically to the following statements,
namely; First, that the valves are fixed to their seats by means of springs having
but a slight tension, the pressure of which is simply to ensure that these valves will
fall back onto their seats. Second, that the valves are maintained on their seats
by means of springs having such a tension that the valves are raised only when
the pressure in the lower tubings is greater to that in the expansion chamber B.
The engine is started as follows:
The live steam which is in the jacket surrounding the cushioning cylinder A enters
the expansion chamber B, where it expands, and the cushioning cylinder A which
contains air. If now the engine is started after the drain cocks H have been opened,
the cushioning piston a compresses in its down stroke, the mixture of air and steam
enclosed in the lower part of said cylinder A, thus causing the lower valve h"

page_text: below the expansion chamber to adhere more and more firmly to its seat. When the
pressure in the lower part of the cylinder A has exceeded that existing in the
expansion chamber B, it becomes powerful enough to lift the valve below
the lower drain cock, and a part of the mixture of air and steam compressed by the
cushioning piston a escapes thus into the atmosphere. In the up stroke a depression
takes place under the piston a, the steam in the expansion chamber B raises the
lower valve, and the spring which holds down the lower valve h, being strong
enough to balance the pressure in the expansion chamber B, a part of the steam
contained in this space enters the cushioning cylinder A.
The same phenomena take place on the upper face of the cushioning piston a, and
after a certain time the air is almost. replaced by expanded live steam. When the
engine has attained a pretty considerable speed, the cocks H at the extremities of
the cylinder are closed, and the cushioning piston a works then as in the previous
case when exhaust steam was used.
When it is a question of a cushioning cylinder without jacket supplied with live
steam, the foregoing arrangement must be modified as shown in Figure 1,
namely :--
1. Instead of opening into the jacket, the orifice in the bushing opens into a
lateral passage p supplied with live steam by a pipe pl. This passage p and pipe pl
are then the counterpart of passage e and pipe e' leading to the atmosphere.
2. The ends of the cushioning cylinder must be provided either with ordinary
drain cocks, or with automatic drain valves similar to those shown in Figure 3.
Figure 4 shows the application of a cushioning cylinder in single action machines.
This arrangement is employed in engines consisting of two single acting pistons v v
working in opposite cylinders; the exhaust opens into a central space traversed by
the driving shaft, and in which the connecting rod is working.
The cushioning pistons a a' connected with the engine pistons are, in this case,
single acting in the cushioning cylinders A A'. The exhaust steam enters the
cushioning cylinders A A' through openings a2 a, and the result obtained is the
same as in the double-acting cylinder. Two passages'p p' provided with suitable
devices permit of evacuating the condensed water.
The cushioning cylinders, such as described in the foregoing can be applied to any
moving part, especially to parts of valve gears which have a continuous motion,
slides or pistons, and especially slides moved by an eccentric. In a general manner,
it is sufficient for this purpose to fit the extension of the slide valve or piston valve
rod with a double-acting cushioning piston similar to that described for the working
parts.
Figure 11 shows the application of this invention to vertical piston slide valves.
In this case the rod d¹ of the piston slide valve forms, when the latter effects its up
stroke, a cushioning piston working in a small single acting cushioning cylinder E¹.
After it has passed beyond the inlet opening el of this cylinder, the valve rod a
compresses the exhaust steam which has entered the cylinder. This steam expands
afterwards in the down stroke. A similar effect is produced by providing the
lower piston valve with a hollow cylindrical extension E², working up and down on
a projection surrounding the valve rod d², and acting as a fixed cushioning piston.
The compression and expansion work can, therefore, be adjusted in such a manner
that they produce on the slide valve and the parts working it, the same effects as
those produced by the cushioning piston described for the main working parts.
The openings on the cushioning cylinders serve also to evacuate the condensed
water.
When the invention is applied to a horizontal piston valve, the arrangement to be
employed remains the same, but as in this case there is no reason why condensed
water should stop longer in one cushioning cylinder than in the other, they can both
be arranged in the same manner, that is to say, both fixed or both inovable.
must be taken to place the openings e e² at the lower part of the cushioning
cylinders, so as to facilitate the evacuation of the water formed by condensation,
Care

page_text: When it is a question of an ordinary slide valve, its rod is provided with the same
additional parts as above. The same effects of compression and expansion are then
obtained with live steam as with exhaust steam.
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 show the mechanical arrangements which
permit the application of the double-acting cushioning cylinder to the main working
parts of steam engines.
In Figure 12 the cushioning piston is mounted on an extension of the piston rod
of the engine cylinder V, two stuffing boxes being provided for this purpose.
In Figure 13 the cushioning cylinder A placed on the very bottom of the
engine cylinder V. The rod common to both pistons va passes through a bushing C
provided internally with grooves, in which the condensed water accumulates so as
to form a packing. Any other kind of packing may also be used.
In Figure 14 the cushioning cylinder is placed in front of the engine cylinder,
and the slide bar is placed between the two cylinders.
In Figure 15 the cushioning cylinder is placed in front of the engine cylinder,
the connecting rod being then worked by means of a beam fulcrumed to the bed
plate. The cushioning cylinder might also be placed above the engine cylinder V,
parallel to the latter, and its piston acting on an intermediate point of the beam.
Another arrangement consists in having two engine cylinders provided with their
cushioning cylinders placed side by side, parallel to and as near as possible to each
other, their working pistons actuating cranks, which are diametrically opposite to
each other.
In Figure 16 (inverted vertical engine) the cushioning cylinder is placed on the
side of the working cylinder, and their common action on the crank shaft takes
place through the medium of two connecting rods BC, ono of which is hinged to
the other. The cross head 6 of the driving piston » is provided with a connecting
rod hinged at 2 to a second rod C connected with the crank shaft at c2, and attached
at e to the cross head of the cushioning piston a¹.
In Figure 17 the cushioning cylinders A are placed on the side of the driving
cylinders V, and parallel to the lattor, the cross heads being connected by means of
a rocking beam B. This arrangement is used when it is not possible to place the
cushioning cylinder, either in the extended axis of the working cylinder, or on the
side thereof as in the case of the inverted vertical engine described in the foregoing.
In the case of ordinary beam engines, the cushioning cylinder is placed at the
side of the working cylinder, and connected with the beam at any point thereof.
Figures 18 and 19 show examples of cushioning cylinders worked by air or any
other gas, and applied to motors of various kinds, to pumps, to mechanical systems
containing parts to which are imparted reciprocating motions.
The cylinder may be double-acting as in Figure 18. The cushioning cylinder is
in this case provided with an orifice a situated in the middle of its length, and
opening into the atmosphere, and with two cocks B placed one at each end of the
cylinder, and opening into the atmosphere; a cushioning piston a long enough to
ensure that the aforesaid orifice a' shall scarcely be uncovered at each end of a
stroke. To start an engine provided with such a system, the cocks B are first opened
so as to allow the air to escape from, and enter again almost freely into the
cushioning cylinder A, until the machine has attained sufficient speed. The cocks B
are then closed, and from that moment the air enclosed between the bottoms of the
cushioning cylinder and the piston faces, is alternately compressed and expanded just
as when steam is used.
If a gas of any kind is used, it is sufficient to connect the opening a² in the
middle of the cushioning cylinder and the cocks B with the space wherefrom the
gas is supplied.
The cylinder may be single-acting as in Figure 19. In this case the arrangement
consists of two single-acting cylinders A A' provided each with an opening a² a"
fulfilling the same purpose as the opening a² in the middle of the aforesaid double-
acting cylinder of two starting cocks B, a single-acting plunger a working in each
of the cushioning cylinders A A'. If this piston a is to act as cross head for a
B

page_text: connecting rod or to actuate the extremity of a beam, it is provided on the middle
of its length with a cross pin b extending on each side. The distance between the
cylinders A A' must be large enough to allow the working parts attached to the
aforesaid double crank pin 6 to perform their full stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is
1. The new application to any mechanical system containing parts in reciprocating
motion, of mechanical arrangements including the addition of a double-acting
cylinder or two single acting cylinders at every point where the reciprocating parts
come into play, and in which cylinders a piston compresses, at each stroke, a certain
quantity of steam, air or gas of any kind which again expands at the succeeding
stroke. The amount of compression and expansion thus produced being regulated in
such a
manner that the resultant work which is transmitted by the cushioning
piston to the parts in reciprocating motion shall be exactly equal to that required to
overcome the inertia of the parts in order to start or to stop the machine; substantially
as described above and shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with a cushioning cylinder for double-action cylinders with a
jacket receiving the exhaust steam, the use of a pipe which establishes permanent
communication between the opening for the entrance of the steam and the exhaust
pipe, and of a cushioning piston of such a length that it will just pass, at the end
of each stroke, beyond the opening through which the steam enters; and further the
use of drain cocks which can he worked by hand or automatically and of a jacket
for supplying the cushioning cylinder with live steam and thus avoiding all
condensation in the same, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a cushioning cylinder for double-acting working parts
with or without jacket, supplied with exhaust steam, the use of two ordinary or
automatic drain plugs by means of which the water formed by condensation can be
evacuated according as it is formed, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a double-acting cushioning cylinder with a jacket supplied
with live steam, the use of a device for slackening the pressure of the direct steam
before it enters the cushioning cylinder and for reducing it to a constant pressure,
and the use of cocks and valves to facilitate the starting of the machine, to rapidly
evacuate the air contained in the cylinder and in the condensor and to replace this
air by expanded steam, and finally the use of two ordinary drain pipes or two
automatic drain valves, substantially as described.
5. In combination with a double-acting cushioning cylinder without jacket,
supplied with direct steam, the use of the same parts together with the addition of a
supply of special steam to replace that used by the jacket, substantially as described.
6. In combination with two cushioning cylinders for single-acting working parts
without jacket supplied with exhaust steam, the use of two cushioning pistons
connected with the single-acting engine pistons and working also in single-action
cylinders supplied with drain passages leading to two ordinary or automatic drain
cocks, substantially as described.
7. The various mechanical arrangements substantially as described in the above
specification and shown in the accompanying drawings by means of which, in the
various practical cases which may occur, the object of this invention can be attained,
namely, the total or partial overcoming of the loss of work due to inertia in
mechanical systems containing reciprocating parts.
Dated this 17th day of May 1880
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.