Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic and other Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic and other Engines.
We, JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACHER, of 67 Union Terrace, York, Mathematical
Instrument Maker. THOMAS EMMERSON PICKERING, of Heathfield House,
Garforth, Cattle Dealer, ALFRED WHITTAM, of 71 Huntingdon Road, York,
Commercial Traveller, and SAMUEL CHARLES PLATTS of 2 St. Nicholas Street,
Scarborough, Accountant, all in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic and other engines in which the
supply of water or other fluid is regulated or controlled by a circular valve having
a continuous rotary motion imparted to it by suitable gearing, say from the fly
wheel shaft or other convenient moving part of the engine.
According to this invention one or more, (preferably two, though not necessarily
so) double acting cylinders, somewhat similar in construction to that of a steam
engine are mounted upon or connected to a suitable bed or framework, or both. In
each cylinder a piston is arranged to reciprocate and it is connected to the fly
wheel shaft by means of a slotted (and weighted if desired) crank and connecting
rod whereby the stroke of the piston may be adjusted as required. In each of the
cylinders are two parts-one at or near each end-connected by suitable pipes or
passage with a circular valve. According to this invention one valve may be
arranged to be connected to any desired number of cylinders for reciprocating the
pistons therein.
The circular valve and its case is constructed as follows:―
Within a metal casing or ring, hereinafter termed the outer casing, is enclosed a
tube or ring, hereafter termed the valve seat, of any suitable diameter, length, and
thickness. In the periphery of the valve seat are cut or otherwise formed any
desired number of circumferential grooves or recesses, say for example four, but we
distinctly wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this or any
other number hereinafter mentioned. In the thickness or ring portion of the said
valve seat and around its central orifice are also provided a number of vertical
holes or apertures, hereinafter termed valve ports communicating with the said
circumferential grooves, say for example, three ports to each circumferential
groove. The outer casing is fixed around the periphery of the valve seat so as to
be water or fluid tight for preventing the water or other fluid passing from one
circumferential groove to another. In the periphery of the outer casing is provided
a number of openings corresponding with the number of circumferential grooves,
that is to say, one opening for each groove which is connected by a pipe or passage
with one of the ports in each cylinder. On the top of these valve ports is arranged
to rotate within the outer casing a circular disc, or valve proper, in which are
provided a number of vertical openings or orifices corresponding in number with
the number of ports communicating with each circumferential groove. These
openings or orifices are of slightly larger area than that of the ports. On the inner
face of the disc are also formed or provided a number of apertures or recesses (of
the same number as the ports communicating with each circumferential groove)
arranged to communicate with a central circular or other recess formed in the
inner face of the said disc and immediately over the central orifice of the valve
seat. It will be readily understood if two cylinders, each having a port com-
municating with each of their ends, are connected with the circular valve disc, four
circumferential grooves would preferably be provided in the outer casing, and say
twelve ports may be provided in the valve seat, and the four perforations in the

page_text: onter casing would be connected respectively by four pipes with the four ports in
the cylinders, one pipe for each port.
The herein described ports in the cylinders are alternately employed for inlet
and exhaust purposes. The inlet water or fluid may be arranged to enter the outer
case above the circular valve disc and passes through the vertical holes or apertures
therein to the valve ports and circumferential grooves in the valve seats and from
thence to the ports in the cylinder. Whilst the exhaust passes from the cylinder
into the circumferential grooves and up the valve ports of the valve seat into the
recesses and apertures formed in the inner face of the circular valve disc by which
it is directed to the central orifice in the valve seat for conveyance away.
The circular valve is caused to rotate continuously by gearing mounted on
suitable shafts or other equivalent means for gradually opening and closing the
valve ports but the rotation of the circular valve is slower than the traverse of the
pistons, that is to say, the pistons may be arranged to make say three strokes to
one revolution of the valve.
To reverse the action of the valve and of the engine, one of the gear wheels is
arranged to revolve loosely on its shaft, and on the same shaft is mounted so as to
slide freely a clutch armed with one or more pins. In the boss or other portion of
the gear wheel is or are provided one or more grooves of the same or varying
lengths. At the ends of each groove is a hole into which the pin, or one of the
pins when more than one pin is employed, enters when the clutch is meshed with
the gear wheel. During the time the pin is travelling in the groove of the wheel
no motion is transmitted to the circular valve. Suitable spring, lever, or equivalent
mechanism may be employed for meshing and unmeshing the clutch.
The above described engine may be operated by gas, compressed air, steam,
water and other fluid, and may be applied for a great variety of purposes.
Dated the Fourth day of August 1894.
W. FAIRBURN-HART,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic and other Engines.
We, JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACHER, of 67 Union Terrace, York, Mathematical
Instrument Maker, THOMAS EMMERSON PICKERING, of Heathfield House,
Garforth, Cattle Dealer, ALFRED WHITTAM, of 71 Huntingdon Road, York,
Commercial Traveller, and SAMUEL CHARLES PLATTS, of 2 St. Nicholas Street,
Scarborough, Accountant, all in the County of York, 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 bydraulic and other engines, and the
objects of our improvements are first, to provide a continuous revolving valve
making, say, one revolution to three strokes of the piston or pistons; second, to
afford facilities for the proper adjustment of the stroke of each piston, whereby
when, say, two cylinders and pistons are controlled by the same valve the stroke
may, if desired, be slightly varied; third to enable the engine to be readily
reversed.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a vertical engine provided with two cylinders
controlled by one valve.
Fig. 2 a frout elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 a sectional plan of the valve seat on line a Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the valve seat.
Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of the valve.

page_text: Figs. 6 and 7 are plans of the top and bottom faces of the valve.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a sectional elevation and end elevation of reversing
gear.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is the bed plate and B the standards, these constitute the framework of the
engine, and may be of any suitable and or linary construction. On the top of the
standards B are fixed the pedestals C which form the bearings of the fly wheel
shaft D on which is mounted the fly wheel E. slotted crank F F' weighted
at FF, to be hereafter described, and bevel pinion G gearing with bevel
wheel G mounted on the valve shaft H which is supportel by bearings I fixed to
the standards B. All the above parts, with the exception of the cranks FF',
may be of ordinary and well known construction.
On the bed plate A is bolted or otherwise fixel, one or more double acting
cylinders JJ somewhat similar in construction to that of a steam cylinder. The
top of the bed plate A is preferably, though not necessarily so arranged to form
the bottom cover for each of the cylinders. In each cylinder are provided two
ports *** or J2 J3 communicating respectively with the ends of each of their
cylinders and connected by suitable pipes or passages K K K K with a valve
box M to be hereafter described. In each of the cylinders JJ reciprocates a
piston JJ*** of ordinary construction mounted on a piston rod J working through
the gland J and connected to the weighted slotted cranks F F by cross heads J',
forked or other rods J and pins capable of adjustment in the slots of the
cranks. According to the position of the crank pins Join the slots will the stroke
of the pistons J J*** be increased or diminished. The crank pins are retained
in position in the said slots by nuts J10 or their equivalents.
The circular valve L mounted on shaft H and its case M, fixed to the bed
plate A, are constructed as follows:-
Within a metal casing or ring, hereinafter termed the outer casing M, is enclosed
a tube or ring N, hereafter termed the valve seat, of any suitable diameter, length
and thickness. In the periphery of the valve seat N are cut or otherwise formed
any desired number of circumferential grooves or recesses, say for example four
N N2 N3 N, but we distinctly wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to this or any other number hereinafter mentioned. In the thickness or
ring portion n of the said valve seat N and around its central orifice N³ are also
provided a number of vertical holes or apertures, hereinafter termed valve ports
communicating with the said circumferential grooves, say for example, three ports
to each circumferential groove. That is to say valve ports N° communicate with
circumferential groove N' and port J of cylinder J; valve ports N7 with
circumferential groove N* and port J³ of cylinder J; valve ports N³ with circum-
ferential groove N2 and port J* of cylinder J; valve ports N° with circumferential
groove N3 and port J** of cylinder J. The whole of the valve ports N6 N7 N8 N°
are arranged at or about a right angle to the circumferential grooves N' N' N' N'
and are open to the action of the valve L. The outer casing M is fixed around
the periphery of the valve seat N so as to be water or fluid tight for preventing the
water or other fluid passing from one circumferential groove to another. In the ',
periphery of the outer casing is provided a number of openings & corresponding
with the number of circumferential grooves, that is to say, one opening for each
groove which is connected by a pipe or passage with one of the ports in each
cylinder as follows, passages K K respectively with circumferential grooves N' N
and ports J*J**; passages K' K respectively with circumferential grooves N' N
and ports JJ. On the top of these valve ports N° N7 N8 N° is arranged to
rotate within the outer casing M a circular disc, or valve proper L, in which are
provided a number of vertical openings or orifices corresponding in number with
the number of ports communicating with each circumferential groove.
say, if there are three valve ports as shown in the drawings communicating with
each circumferential groove, then there will be three vertical openings 1, 1, F
arranged to perforate the flange or disc portion * of the valve L. These openings
That is to
i

page_text: or orifices 2 are of slighlty larger area than that of the valve ports N N' N° N°.
On the inner face of the disc or flange are also formed or provided a number of
apertures or recesses 13 14 15 (of the same number as the ports communicating with
each circumferential groove) arranged to communicate with a central circular or
other recess formed in the inner face of the said disc or flauge 1 and about the
same or nearly so diameter and immediately over the central orifice N' of the
valve seat.
It will be readily understood if say two cylinders, such as J J each
having a port such
as J, J**, J2, J³, communicating with each end of
the cylinder--are connected with the circular valve disc such a Land its casing
such as M four circumferential grooves would preferably be provided in the outer
casing M, and say twelve ports such as N N N N would be provided in the
valve seat N and the four perforations such as in the outer casing M would be
connected respectively by four pipes such as K K K K with the four ports such
as J J** JJ in the cylinders,-one pipe for each port.
The herein described ports J* J** J2 J³ in the cylinders J J and valve
ports N N N N are alternately employed for inlet and exhaust purposes. The
inlet water or fluid may be arranged to enter the hood or valve covering M',
which forms a part of the outer case M at O above the circular valve disc L and
passes through the vertical holes or apertures therein to the valve ports and
circumferential grooves in the valve seats and from thence to the ports in the
cylinder. That is to say, when the valve L is in the position shown in the
drawings, the inlet water passes into the hood M' throngli openings into valve
ports N thence into circumferential groove N³, passage K port J** to cylinder J
for raising piston J to the top of its stroke. Whilst the exhaust is forced by the
descent of piston J*** from the cylinder J' into the circumferential groove N and
up the valve ports N' into the recesses 13 11 and central circular recess formed
in the inner face of the circular valve disc by which it is directed to the central
orifice N° in the valve seat for conveyance away by a pipe O' or its equivalent.
The circular valve is caused to rotate continously by gearing mounted say on the
shafts D and H or other equivalent means for gradually opening and closing the
valve ports, but the rotation of the circular valve L is slower than the traverse of
the pistons, that is to say, the pistons J *** may be arranged to make, say, three
strokes to one revolution of the valve.
To reverse the action of the valve and of the engine, one of the gear wheels, say,
wheel is arranged to revolve loosely on its shaft H, and on the same shaft is
mounted so as to slide freely, on a square portion or key, a clutch Parmed with
one or more pins P¹.
In the boss G2, or other portion of the gear wheel, is or are provided one or more
grooves, say, two grooves P2 P3 of the same or varying lengths as shown in the
drawings. At the ends of each groove is a hole P and P into which the pin P',
or one of the pins when more than one pin is employed, enters when the clutch is
meshed with the gear wheel.
During the time the pin is travelling in the groove P2 or P3 of the wheel no
motion is transmitted to the circular valve. A suitable spring P and lever P', or
equivalent mechanism, may be employed for meshing and unmeshing the clutch.
To reverse the engine :-
The pin is withdrawn from the hole, say P, and the action of the valve is
immediately stopped and the loose cog wheel G still rotating the pin P¹ will travel
in the groove P2 or 13 say from hole P until it is in a position to enter hole Por
On rotating the pin to place it in say the hole P³ the position of the
valve over the ports will be changed and thus causing a reversing action to
take place.
vice versa.
It will be readily understood that when required the cylinders, valve, and valve
Beat may be arranged in a horizontal position; also that instead of arranging the
valve to work in the horizontal position as shown in the drawings, it may be
arranged to work in a vertical position, that is, with its shaft or spindle H in a

page_text: horizontal instead of the vertical position illustrated. One or more cylinders inay
be operated from one valve and its seats, two circumferential grooves and any
desired number of valve ports, say, three for each groove,-being required for
each cylinder.
The above described engine may be operated by gas. compressed air, steam,
water and other fluid, preferably water, and may be applied for a great variety of
purposes.
The action of the engine is as follows:-
But
Water or other fluid under pressure enters the hood M' through the pipe O
above the valve L from any suitable source, such as say the water mains, or
reservoir, and passes through the openings to the valve ports, say, to
the three valve ports N° N° N°-simultaneously and it is conducted from thence by
the passage K to, say, port J** of cylinder J. At the same time the three
valve ports N' N' N' will be uncovered and opened to the recesses 1814 1 which
communicate with the central recess 1 over exhaust N and pipe ('. Thus
providing for any water in the cylinder J' below piston J*** to escape
through port and passage K² into valve port N' and from thence into the
exhaust N and pipe 0 When the valve L is in the position illustrated the other
valve ports, say, No and N, are momentarily closed by the face of the valve.
by the continuous rotation of the valve, before comparatively any pressure is
obtained in the closed valve ports which would tend to lift or force the valve from
its seat the valve will have been moved partially over the adjoining valve ports-
say, for instance N and No-gradually opening them and closing the previous
opened ones, so that when the openings 12 and recesses 13 11 are respectively
midway between two sets of valve ports, say, for example, between N° N
and N' N-water or other fluid for completing the upward stroke of piston J' and
downward stroke of piston Jxxx would be able to pass simultaneously through
openings to valve ports N° N°. At the sametime the water above piston J
and below piston J*** will respectively be forced say, through ports J J of
cylinders JJ along passages, say, K, K, up valve ports, say, N' N³ and conveyed
by recesses to central recess and thence down exhaust N and away through
pipe O. It will thus be seen that on water or other fluid pressure being admitted
to the hood M' above the valve L it will find three supply valve ports partly open
which communicates with the ports in the cylinders, whereby the pistons J*J***
are caused to reciprocate and by their connection with the shaft D, by means of
piston rods J, crossheads J', connecting rods J, crank pins J and cranks F FI
a rotary motion is imparted to the said shaft, and by it transmitted through gear
wheels G G', boss G, clutch I' sliding on valve shaft or spindle H, to valve L.
At the same time three valve ports will simultaneously be opened to the exhaust.
By the gradual simultaneous opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valve
ports an easy and uniform motion is imparted to the moving parts of the engine.
We desire it to be understood that we are aware that it has been proposed to
work one or more cylinders from an intermittent rotating valve and to return the
piston or pistons to their normal positions by means of weights but to such
arrangements we make no claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An engine, such as hereindescribed, having its cylinder or cylinders mounted
upon a bed plate and connected by pipes or passages with a valve case in which a
valve, perforated and recessed as described, is arranged to continuously rotate,
when the engine is at work and to communicate with the ports of one or more
cylinders in the manner and for the purposes substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. In an engine such as herein described the combination of the cylinders
mounted upon the bed plate, with the valve case placed between the said cylinders,

page_text: and having a circumferential recessed valve seat fitted within it and provided with
a number of valve ports communicating with said circumferential grooves and a
central orifice substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In an engine such as herein described a valve seat built up in parts, that is to
say a perforated outer casing M, a valve seat N arranged to fit tightly into said
outer casing, said valve seat having a number of circumferential grooves cut in its
periphery and a number of valve ports arranged to communicate with the said
circumferential grooves, and a central orifice N, and a hood M' armed with a
gland, fitted to and above the said outer casing and valve seat substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
4. In an engine such as described the combination of the outer casing M
perforated as described, the valve seat N fitted within said outer casing having a
number of circumferential grooves N' N N N cut in its periphery, valve
ports N N N N communicating with said circumferential grooves as described,
an orifice N in the centre of said valve seat, a valve L working in the
hood M and having a number of recesses PPP for inlet purposes, and
recesses 13 14 15 communicating with a central circular recess over the central
orifice N for exhaust, said valve receiving a continuous rotary motion through gear
wheels G, G', and shaft H from the fly wheel shaft D as set forth.
5. In an engine such as described, the combination with the continuous rotating
valve L perforated and recessed as described, working upon a groove and
perforated valve seat N and enclosed within a casing built up in parts and fixed to
the bed plate A all as described, with the fly wheel shaft D mounted in bearings
on the standards B fixed to said bed plate, gear wheels G G' mounted respectively
on said shaft D and valve shaft H, boss G2 of wheel G' grooved as described,
pin P working in one of the grooves of the boss G and mounted upon a carrier P
sliding upon the valve shaft H, and levers P for moving said carrier, as
set forth.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of September 1904.
JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACHER,
THOMAS EMERSON PICKERING,
ALFRED WHITTAM,
SAMUEL CHARLES PLATTS,
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.