IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
JOURNET, of Dean Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, but
now of Coleman Street Buildings, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Pierre Journet, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Pierre Journet, my exors, adiiors, and assigns.
or such others às I, the said Pierre Journet, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES,"
communicated to me by a certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Pierre Journet, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with, the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Journet, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being

page_text: had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
:-
The nature of the Invention for which the above Patent has been granted
consists in disposing a reciprocating steam engine in such manner that, being
mounted upon an axis, it is caused to revolve by the alternate ascent and
descent of the piston, the said piston being fixed at the middle of the length of
its rod, and the rod passing through stuffing boxes in the top and bottom of
the cylinder to the piston rod. At each end is fixed a frame, each frame
carrying two friction rollers. These rollers move within.a fixed curved surface
of a particular form, and by the pressure of the steam upon the pistons cause
the axis upon which the cylinders are fixed to revolve in the following
manner-When the piston rod is driven in one direction out of the cylinder
one set of rollers is pressed against the curved surface, which, as it does not
yield, and being placed excentric with respect to the axis of the cylinder, acts
as an inclined plane, and causes the rollers on that side to revolve with a
velocity corresponding to the force exerted. on them, and in their revolution
they carry the cylinder with them. As the rollers, revolve, the pistons con-
tinues its stroke. in one direction until it be completed, when the rollers will
have arrived at the point of the curved, surface which is most distant from the
axis of the cylinder; the piston is then driven by the steam in a contrary
direction, and the rollers at the opposite end of the piston rods are caused to
press against the curved surface, and by that means to continue the revolution
of the engine.
3.
Having given a general outline of the Invention, I will proceed to describe it
in detail by reference to the annexed Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved steam engine; Figuro 2, s
horizontal section of the same; Figures 3 to 11, detached parts, the same
letters of reference indicating the same parts in all the Figures., A, A, founda-
tion frame of the engine; B, B, bearings fixed on the frame A, A; C, C, two
similar curved surfaces, which aro fastened by bolts and nuts in a parallel
direction on the frame A. The manner of drawing the said curves is hereafter
described. Note. In the Drawings two cylinders are shown, fixed at right
angles to each other upon the axis, by which arrangement a more uniform
motion will be obtained; but it will be seen, by the further description, that
the engine is capable of working with only one cylinder. D, D, brass bushes
fitting in the bearings B, B; E, E, axes of the cylinders revolving in the brass
bushes D, D; F, F, cylinders fixed to one another at right angles, or they may

page_text: be produced by one casting; G; G, G', G', covers closing hermetically the
extremities of both the cylinders F, F. Each cover has a gland Z, Z', which
presses upon the stuffing by the screws H, H, H', H', and nuts I, I, I', I'.
J, J, piston rods working through the covers of the cylinders; K, K',
pistons, one to each cylinder; J, J, guide rods for maintaining the paral-
lelism of the motion of each piston. These rods move in holes perforated
in the flanges of the cylinders, and in the covers of the same. N, N', frames,
one of which is fixed on each end of the piston rods J. J', and is also attaclied
to the guide rods J, J³, by pins or bolts; 0, 0, 0, 0', steel bearings fixed in
the frames N and N¹. These bearings, which receive the axes of the rollers
hereafter described, may be adjusted by the screws P, and are 'kept in their
places by coiled springs, which allow the said bearings to yield in case of any
excess of pressure. R, R; rollers, the axes S, S', of which revolve in the
bearings O. A light spring plate covers the upper part of the axes of each
roller. T, cap for securing the bearings 0.0,'0'. O¹.
Figure 3 is a plan, Figure 4 an elevation, and Figure 5 a vertical section of
the apparatus for regulating the admission and exit of the steam to and from
the cylinders. i, i, steamways leading to the passage n, n, for the supply of
the further cylinder; &,, steamways leading to the nearer cylinder; 1, in-
duction pipe; 4, eduction pipe. The part X, which is fixed to one of the
bearings B, is coned inwards, and fits on to the coued part of the axis E. But
'the said axis might be formed for the reception of the apparatus for regulating
the admission and exit of the steam represented in Figures 6, 7, 8; Figure 6
being a plan, Figure 7 a horizontal section; and Figure 8 a side view of the
same. U, cock for the induction of steam; V, pipe bringing the steam from
the generator; V, aperture larger than the pipe V, so as to allow the steam
which has operated to escape freely, and not give unnecessary pressure to the
engine; V, aperture through which passes the axis E of the cylinder; V,
passage leading from the cock U to the steain chamber; V, passage from
the steam chamber to the cock U; X, X, orifices in the steam chamber for
the distribution of steam, and opposite to which come in succession the aper-
tures in the cylinder F¹. Note. When the machine proceeds in one
direction the passage Vs constantly brings the steam to the steam chamber,
and the passage V conducts conducts the steam from the steam chamber to
the exit pipe V. When the motion of the machine is inverted, by turning the
cock U one quarter of a revolution the purposes of the passages V³, V+, are
reversed, the passage V conducting the steam to the steam chamber, and the
passage V³ conducts the steam which has operated upon the piston to the
-exit pipe V. The position of the cock Uthus determines the direction of

page_text: the rotation of the engine. If the steam enters by the right-hand passage it
acts in one direction on the pistons, but when it is at the end of its upward
stroke, and when the frame and rollers are in contact with the highest part of
the compound curve surface, by turning the cock a quarter of a revolution the
motion of the engine will be inverted, the steam acting upon the piston in 'a
contrary direction. For the cock U may be substituted an inverted valve.
This modification is represented, Figures 9, 10, and 11. a, inverted valve;
with a rack b, driven by a partly toothed pinion c. The extent of the motion
ought to be one quarter of a revolution to the right or the left of the perpen-
dicular line. The other parts are similar to those already described, Figures 6,
7, and 8, and they are marked with similar letters. A small lever with a
double knob may be fixed on the key of the cuck U, and put in connection
with a regulator on the centrifugal principle. The action will be as follows:-
When the engine has reached too great a velocity, in consequence of an excess
in the pressure of steam, the knobs are brought to a vertical position. Then
the cock U, having been neted upon, has revolved partially, and has thus
opened to the steam two passages, the one directing it in the engine, and the
other allowing the excess of steam to escape into the atmosphere. This
method of giving an egress to the superabundant steam while the engine is
working is a guarantee against explosions, and may be advantageously
employed instead of the ordinary safety valves. A cock for lubricating the
cylinder is set in the pipe V. This cock carries a ratchet wheel worked by a
cam fixed on the axis E. Every twenty revolutions this cock delivers a drop
of oil, which, carried off by the steam, lubricates the cocks U, the passages V, V
the interior of cylinders F, F, and the pistons K, K'.
Introduction of the steam into the second cylinder.-The steam-regulating
apparatus is pierced with four holes, two of which i, i, communicate to a double
passage n. Turning round the first cylinder, these passages correspond to
the two orifices of the second cylinder F. If, instead of using the whole of the
power of the engine, it should be wished to work with only one half the power,
this result may be obtained as follows:-On the passages n are set two cocks,
which it will be sufficient to close in order to cut off the supply of steam
from the second cylinder. The engine works then only with the power of the
steam on the piston of the first cylinder.
Mode of drawing the curves c and c.-In order to determine the form of
the curved surfaces cand c', place the cylinders one in a horizontal and the
other in a vertical position. Find out the centre of the horizontal cylinder,
and draw through it a horizontal line p, q, Figure 1. Draw parallel to this
line p, q, a line 1, tangential to the axes of the lower roller R. Then, opening

page_text: the compasses, put one point on the centre of the axes E, and the other at the
dead point t, and from the centre of t draw an are t, u, until it intersects the
line r. From the point of intersection measure on that line 7 a length equal
to one half of the stroke of the piston. Let this length ber, s. Divide this
line r, s, in a certain number of equal parts. Divide also the arc t, u, in the
same number of parts, equal to one another, by radii 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c., coming
from the centre E. Measure on the radius 1. a distance equal to one of the
parts of line r, s, and mark it 1'. Measure on radius 2 a distance equal to
two of the same parts, and mark it 2'. Measure on radius 3 a distance equal
to three of the said parts, and mark it 3'; and so on to the end of the arc t, u.
1, 2, 3, &c. will be the points through which must pass the curve t, ɛ,
forming a portion of the curve c. Proceed in the same manner for finding
out the curve t¹³, y, on the right side of the dead point. Unite the points. 1¹
and 11 by a straight line. To find the remainder of the curve, proceed, as
follows:-Take a wooden or other rod of the length of the piston rod of the
engine. Fix upon it the two frames N and the rollers R. Make a hole in
the centre of this rod, and cut in the same rod a slot extending each side of
the hole a distance equal to one half the stroke of the piston. Then fasten a
screw in the centre of the axis E, and through the slot of the rod above inen-
tioned. Bring then the rollers at one end of the rod to bear against the
points 1; 2, 3, 4, 5, and mark in succession the places which the opposite
rollers reach. When you have proceeded in that way through the whole of the
arc t, s, you will have obtained an equal number of points, through which you
then can draw the arc y, x, opposite to t, u. The same operation on the
are t', y, will give the area, s, opposite to it, and thus the curve will be
completed.
Application of the improved engine.-This engine, on the rotatory prin-
ciple, without fly wheels, working in either direction, may be advantageously
applied to locomotive purposes either on land or water. It may be used as a
stationary engine for all purposes for which a steam engine is generally em-
ployed. It will be evident, that by a suitable arrangement of the parts, this
engine may be worked with high or low pressure steam or expansively. On
the axis E is fixed a pulley, with a band or a tooth wheel, for the transmission
of the rotatory motion to any purpose for which it may be applied.
The improvements I claim under the above-mentioned Letters Patent
consist in the means and machinery employed for obtaining a continuous
rotatory motion from a reciprocating engine, as the whole has been de-
scribed and set forth, and especially the compound curved surface within
which revolve the friction rollers; the said friction rollers, with their frames

page_text: and guide rods; the construction of the cylinders; the mechanisms for the
induction, eduction, and distribution of steam; and, lastly, the combination of
all the above parts for producing the above-mentioned results, as the whole bas
been fully herein-before described.
In witness whereof. I, the said Pierre Journet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.