AN IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMp
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,.
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMp.”—A
communication from abroad by Oscar Curtis Lewis, of Brooklyn,
King's County, State of New York, United States of America.
Scaled the 17th September 1872; and dated the 23rd April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd April 1872..
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO
AS A PUMP," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to a certain combination of double pistons
working in cylinders, which are arranged radially to a central shaft,
and operating in a direct manner, through yokes on or in connection.
with a crank secured to the shaft; also a valve having a fixed character

page_text: relatively to the crank, whereby a most simple and efficient engine is
produced, and which may be used either as a motor for driving purposes,
a pump, a steam plough, or road steamer.
The Invention however will here be described as a motor employing
steam, the action of the apparatus being as follows:-The crank and
valve occupy a stationary position, while the pistons with their cylinders
revolve around them, as hereafter described. This action, however, may
be reversed if desired, that is, the cylinders and pistons remain stationary
and the valve and crank with its shaft be caused to revolve. Any
number of double cylinders, with pistons to correspond, may be used in
connection with a single valve and crank, but it will suffice here to
describe the Invention as employing two double cylinders arranged at
right angles, with pistons to correspond. A rotating drum or caso hung
by hollow necks or trunnions carries within it two double radial cylinders
arranged at right angles to cach other, and open at their inner ends.
Within these cylinders reciprocate two sets of pistons, those of each set
being connected together by a suitable yoke. These yokes are made to
gear by connecting rods with the wrist pin of a stationary crank made
fast to a steam pipe passing axially through the one hollow trunnion of
the drum or case, and in open communication with its interior. This
pipo is connected externally with any suitable supply pipe or 'branch
fitted, say, with a starting valve or cock. The opposite hollow trunnion
of the drum serves to form an outlet for the spent or exhaust stcam.
Connected with the wrist pin of the stationary crank is a stationary disc
valve occupying a concentric position to the drum, and freely bearing
against its one inner face, with which it is kept in close contact by the
pressure of the steam within the drum acting on the back of said valve.
This valve has a steam passage or opening of segmental form made
through it, the same being arranged on one side of two segmental
blocks or face formations, while an exhaust covered cavity is formed in
the valve on the opposite side of said blocks. Arranged along or across
the one side or face of the drum are two sets of radial passages termi-
nating at their outer ends in ports in open communication with the
cylinders at the backs of the pistons, and at their inner ends in ports
under cover of the valve. 'Steam being let in fills in a constant manner
the interior of the drum between the inner faces of the two sets of
pistons acting in a negative manner or with counteracting force on said
faces and on the two sides of the drum, but by the construction of the

page_text: valve and arrangement of the radial passages in the face of the drum
steam is also being admitted to act upon the backs of two of the pistons,
while the other two of such pistons are open by the passages and ports
of their respective cylinders to the exhaust cavity of the valve. By this
disposition of the parts, passages, and ports, and connection of the
pistons with the wrist pin of the stationary crank, as described, a rotary
motion is communicated to the drum with its cylinders and pistons,
'causing the live steam to be admitted to and spent steam to be exhausted
from the backs alternately first of the one pair of pistons and then the
other pair of such pistons, and so on in succession.
In this operation of parts the following points should be observed, viz.,
that there is no dead point to the engine, but always an action or force
is exerted by two of the pistons working at right angles to each other
equal to a full pressure at the most available, or advantageous angle of
one piston on or in relation to the crank. Furthermore, by the open
character or construction of the inner ends of the cylinders all stuffing
boxes to the piston rods are dispensed with, and by the connection of
cither two opposite pistons with cach other, as described, the one piston
is made to act as a guide to the other, and the full stroke of the pistons
mado available within a comparatively small diameter of drum to the
production of a rotary motion. By moving the valve balf a revolution
the motion of the engine is reversed. This reversal however may be
effected by causing the valve to be otherwise held than by the crank,
and so that it may be reversed by, say, a shaft running through the
exhaust pipe, and provided with a suitable locking device to hold it
and the valve in position when set to run the engine in the required
direction. So far as the general operation of the valve however is con-
cerned, when once set all special or separate gear for working it is in
this improved engine dispensed with. It will be obvious that by making
the drum or case with its cylinders stationary, and the crank with its
shaft being left free to turn will be rotated by the action of the pistons
instead of the drum, the valve in such case moving along with the
crank. Worked as a pump it is only necessary to change the steam
inlet and exhaust pipes into suction and delivery pipes, and to drive the
engine instead of using it as a motor. Any other fluid than steam may.
be used to work the engine as a motor; thus water under a head or
pressure may be used to advantage, and the engine be worked with its
axis or shaft in a vertical instead of a horizontal position, or the engine.

page_text: may be arranged to operate at any other angle, as circumstances may
suggest or require. One set or pair of double cylinders might by the
aid of a fly wheel or its equivalent be used in the place of two pairs or
sets, but at least two pairs of double cylinders arranged at right angles
to each other, as described, are preferred. The valve will require to have 5
its passages arranged to suit tho number of cylinders and pistons used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER 1
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty- 1
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time 2
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A PUMP," a com- 2
munication to me from abroad by Oscar Curtis Lewis, of Brooklyn,
King's County, State of New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and 3
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Ecal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to 'the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
This improvement consists in a certain combination of double pistons
working in cylinders, which are arranged radially to a central shaft and
operating in a direct manner through yokes' on or in connection with a
crank secured to the shaft; also valve having a fixed character relatively
to the crank, whereby a most simple and efficient engine is produced,
and which may be used either as a motor for driving purposes, a pump,
a steam plough, or road steamer.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the engine taken on the
line, z, of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a transverse section of Figure 1
taken on the line y, y, of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2
taken on the line Z, Z; Figure 4 is a view of the valve detached, the
section being on the line Z', Z', of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a section of the
valve taken on the line Z, Z, of Figure 4. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
In the accompanying Drawing the crank and valve are represented as
occupying a stationary position, while the pistons with their cylinders
revolve around them; but this action, if desired, may be reversed, that
is, the cylinders and pistons remain stationary, and the valve and crank
with its shaft caused to revolve. Any number of double cylinders with
pistons to correspond may be used in connection with a single valve and
crank, but it will suffice here to illustrate the Invention as employing
two double cylinders arranged at right angles, with pistons to corre-
spond.
A represents the frame of the engine carrying a drum or .case B hung
by hollow necks or trunnions a, a, to rotate thereon. This drum carries
within it two double radial cylinders C, C, and D, D, arranged at right
angles to cach other and open at their inner ends. Reciprocating within.

page_text: these cylinders are pistons E, E, and F, F, the one set of pistons E, E,
being connected together by yoke G, while the other pistons F, F, are
similarly linked together by yoke H. Though the pistons and cylinders
are here shown as of rectangular form in their transverse sections, it
will be obvious that they may be made circular, also that any suitable
packing may be used to secure the close working of the pistons within
the cylinders. The yokes G and I are made to gear by connecting
rods b and c with a wrist pin e of a stationary crank I fast to a steam
pipe J passing axially through the one hollow trunnion of the drum B,
and in open communication with the interior of the space of the latter.
This pipe J is connected externally with any suitable supply.pipe or
branch fitted, say, with a starting valve or cock. The opposite hollow
trunnion of the drum serves to form an outlet for the spent or exhaust
steam. Geared also by one or other, say, of two cavities f, f¹, with
the wrist pine of the stationary crank is a stationary disc valve K,
occupying a concentric position to the drum and freely bearing against
its one inner face, with which it is kept in close contact by the pressure
of the steam within the drum acting on the back of said valve. This
valve has a steam passage or opening g of segmental form made through
it, the same being arranged on one side of two segmental blocks or face
formations h, h, while an exhaust covered cavity i of, say, similar con-
figuration to the open passage 9 is formed in the valve in the opposite
side of said blocks. Arranged along or across the one side or face of
the drum are radial passages k, k, and I, I, terminating at their outer
ends in parts m, m, and n, n, in open communication with the cylinders!
C, C, and D, D, at the backs of the pistons and at their inner ends in
ports r, r, and 8, 8, under cover of the valve K. Steam being let on it
fills in a constant manner the interior of the drum between the inner
faces of the pistons E, E, and F, F, acting in a negative manner or with
counteracting force on said faces and on the two sides of the drum, but
by the construction of the valve K and arrangement of the passages
k, k, and l, l, with their ports m, m, n, n, and r, r, s, 8, steam is also
being admitted through the opening to act upon the backs of two of
the pistons E and F, while the other two of such pistons are open by the
passages and ports of their respective cylinders to the exhaust cavity i a
of the valve. By this disposition of the parts, passages, and ports, and
connection of the pistons with the wrist pine of the stationary crank I as
described, a rotary motion is communicated to the drum with its cylin-
ders and pistons, causing the live steam to be admitted to, and spent
c.

page_text: steam to be exhausted from the backs alternately, first of the one pair
of pistons E, F, and then the other pair of such pistons, and so on in
succession. In this operation of parts the following points should be
observed: First, there is no dead point to the engine, but always an
action or force is exerted by two of the pistons working at right angles
to each other equal to a full pressure at the most available or advanta-
geous angle of one piston on or in relation to the crank. Furthermore,
by the open character or construction to the inner ends of the cylinders
all stuffing boxes to the piston rods are dispensed with, and by the
connection of either two opposite pistons with each other as described
the one piston is made to act as a guide to the other, and the full stroke
of the pistons made available within a comparitively small diameter
of drum, to the production of a rotary motion. By throwing over the
valve K half a revolution so as to establish its gear by the cavity f
instead off with the wrist pine of the crank, the motion of the engine
is reversed. This reversal, however, may be effected by causing the
valve to be otherwise held than by the crank, and so that it may be
reversed by, say, a shaft running through the exhaust pipe and provided
with a suitable locking device to hold it and the valve in position
when set to run the engine in the required direction. So far as the
general operation of the valve, however, is concerned, when once set all
special or separate gear for working it is in this improved engine dis-
pensed with. It will be obvious that by making the drum or case B
with its cylinders stationary, then the crank with its shaft being left free
to turn will be rotated by the action of the pistons instead of the drum,
the valve in such case moving along with the crank.
Worked as a pump it is only necessary to change the steam inlet
and exhaust pipes into suction and delivery pipes, and to drive the
engine instead of using it as a motor.
Of course gas or any other fluid than steam may be used to work
tho engine as a motor; thus water under a head or pressure may be
used to advantage, and the engine be worked with its axis or shaft
in a vertical instead of a horizontal position, or the engine may be
arranged to operate at any other angle as circumstances may suggest
or require. One set or pair of double cylinders might by the aid of
a fly wheel or its equivalent be used in the place of two pairs or sets,
but at least two pairs of double cylinders arranged at right angles to
each other as described are preferred. Of course the valve will require

page_text: to have its passages arranged to suit the number of cylinders and
pistons used.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The combination of double cylinders C, C, and D, D, open at their
inner ends to a stoam chamber or space, pistons E, E, and F, F, with their
rods, and yoke G and H, crank I, and valve controlling the flow of steam
to and from the backs of the pistons, essentially as herein set forth.
2ndly. The combination of the double cylinders C, C, and D, D,
arranged either pair at right angles or thereabouts to each other; and
with their inner ends open as described, and in communication with a
central or intermediate steam chamber or space, pistons E, E, and F,F,
with their connecting rods b, c,.and yokes G, H, crank I, and valve
controlling the admission and escape of steam to and from the backs of.
the pistons, substantially as specified..
3rdly. The valve K when constructed and arranged for operation in
combination with the double cylinders, their pistons, and crank, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
trea
Witness;
WN. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.).