IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIME MOVERS APPLICABLE ALSO WHOLLY OR IN PART IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR PUMPING, EXHAUSTING, OR FORCING FLUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Dorendorff, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIME MOVERS
APPLICABLE ALSO WHOLLY OR IN PART IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS
FOR PUMPING, EXHAUSTING, OR FORCING FLUIDS." A communication from
abroad by C. W. Julius Blanche, of Merseburg, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Dorendorff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1878..
RICHARD DORENDORFF, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIME MOVERS APPLICABLE ALSO WHOLLY OR IN PART IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR PUMPING, EXHAUSTING, OR FORCING FLUIDS."
[A communication from abroad by C. W. Julius Blanche, of Merseburg, in the
Kingdom of Prussia.]
The Invention relates, in the first place, to steam engines and to prime movers
actuated by fluid pressure, and consists in the employment of a number of cylinders
arranged around a central axis, and provided with pistons which regulate the flow
of steam or of the acting fluid in its passage from one cylinder to the other on its
way from the inlet to the outlet.
To avoid repetition I will describe a steam engine having four pistons arranged
around a central axis, the steam acting upon the outer surfaces of the pistons.
The steam is admitted first to a cylinder of comparatively small diameter, which
I will call the first cylinder; this first cylinder is connected by means of a passage
with a second cylinder, the second cylinder with a third, and the third with a
fourth cylinder. The steam flows from the first cylinder to the second cylinder of
a larger diameter, and thence to the third cylinder, which may be of the same size
as the second or be still larger, and thence to the fourth cylinder, whence it escapes
through an exhaust passage.

page_text: The four pistons are connected by suitable connecting rods with a crank pin on
a crank, which is fixed or formed on a central crank shaft. As the pistons slide to
and fro they cover and uncover the passages leading from one cylinder to another.
At a point in the stroke of the first piston the passage leading to the second
cylinder is uncovered, and steam is thus admitted to act upon the second piston.
At a point in the stroke of the second piston the steam is admitted to act upon
the third piston. This piston may receive the full steam pressure throughout the
greater part of its effective stroke, or the steam may be cut off by the first piston
at an early part of the said stroke, so as to cause the steam to act expansively in
the third cylinder, according to the arrangement of the passage leading from the
first cylinder to the second. When the third piston has nearly completed its stroke
the fourth piston uncovers the passage leading into the fourth cylinder, whence the
steam is permitted to escape into the exhaust passage.
The fourth cylinder may be smaller in diameter than the second and third, as in
the case of the first, especially when the engine is required to be reversible, in
which case a four-way cock, or valve, or other suitable arrangements, is or are
adopted for reversing the direction of the passage of the steam, so that the cylinder
described as the fourth shall first receive the steam when the engine is to be
reversed.
The space in which the crank works may be enclosed, and the crank shaft pass
out through a stuffing box.
In some cases, or in any case, the ordinary packing of the pistons may be dis-
pensed with.
When two such engines are coupled together the cranks are, by preference,
arranged at half centres.
The engine may be fitted with a governor if required, and with other suitable
appliances.
The Invention, in the second place, relates to pumps or to apparatus for exhausting
or forcing water, air, or other fluids, and consists in the employment of cylinders,
pistons, and passages arranged in a similar manner as herein-before indicated when
describing the steam engine, the crank shaft being caused to rotate by means of a
steam engine constructed in the manner herein-before indicated. or otherwise con-
structed, or by other similar means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Dorendorff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
July 1878.
RICHARD DORENDORFF, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIME MOVERS APPLICABLE ALSO WHOLLY OR IN PART IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR PUMPING, EXHAUSTING, OR FORCING FLUIDS."
The Invention relates, in the first place, to steam engines and to prime movers
actuated by fluid pressure, and consists in the employment of a number of cylinders
arranged around a central axis, and provided with pistons which regulate the
flow of steam or of the acting fluid in its passage from one cylinder to the
other.
The Invention, in the second place, relates to pumps or to apparatus for
exhausting or forcing water, air, or other fluids, and consists in the employment of
cylinders, pistons, and passages arranged in a similar manner as in the case of the
steam engine, the crank shaft being caused to rotate by means of a steam engine
constructed in accordance with my said Invention or otherwise constructed, or by
other similar means.
And in order that the Invention may be fully understood I have appended here-
unto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, corresponding' marks
indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of a combined steam engine and pump.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line A.
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the steam engine taken on the line B, and
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the pump taken on the line C.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, D, D, are four cylinders, which in the example are cast
together so as to form a framing, which is bolted or secured to a foundation plate E.
In the said cylinders pistons f are fitted to slide and are connected by links or
connecting rods to a common crank g on a crank shaft h, which is fitted to revolve
in the boss of the plate i which covers one side of the central space in which the
said crank revolves. The said boss is formed and fitted with a suitable stuffing
box and gland. The crank pin is connected with a crank arm j, which is provided
with a short shaft which is fitted to revolve in a bearing in the cover k, and passes
into a boss on a disc valve l.
A face view of the said valve is represented by Fig. 5, and a corresponding
view of the valve face upon it which works by Fig. 6.
The said valve face is formed in the cover k. On each side of the centre of the
said valve face are formed two ports, m and m', which communicate with steam
passages n, n¹, formed in the cylinders 1 and 3, and leading to the outer ends
thereof. In the valve is formed a quadrant-shaped port. The steam is admitted
to the valve chest through an inlet pipe k³.
When the crank shaft is caused to revolve, the valve is also rotated, and the port
therein admits steam alternately to the two ports m, and as a consequence to the
two cylinders 1 and 3.
In the example the port in the valve is made of such proportions as that the
steam is cut off from each cylinder before the piston therein has completed its
inward stroke, but this may be varied. In the cylinder casting other passages o, o',
and p, p, are formed. Each of the passages o is formed with a bye passage o².
In the example, described to some extent in the Provisional Specification of the
said Invention, it was proposed to convey the steam from a first cylinder to a second,
and from the second cylinder to a third, and to make the cylinders of different
diameters.
It has been found, however, that a good result can be obtained without expanding
the steam a second time, and therefore in the example illustrated by the

page_text: Drawings the steam admitted into one cylinder is expanded into a second and then
discharged.
The action of the engine will be better described by reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9,
which are diagrams representing three different positions of the pistons, a fourth
position being indicated in Fig. 3. The corresponding portion of the crank pin is
indicated in each diagram.
..
In Fig. 3 the piston 4 is about to commence its inward stroke, and the valve
will be commencing to admit steam to the said cylinder."
During the movement of the crank pin in the direction indicated through a quarter
of a circle the piston 4 will have moved into the position indicated in Fig. 7. The
passage o will then be uncovered by the further movement of the piston, and
steam will have access from cylinder 4 to cylinder 1, and will act upon the
piston 1.
i
During the next quarter of a revolution the steam will act upon both pistons,
and after the closing of the inlet by the valve the steam will expand and continue
to act upon both pistons until the pistons are in the positions indicated in Fig. 8.
The piston 4 will now commence its return stroke.
The piston 3, by moving outwards, that is to say, downwards in the Drawing,
will uncover the end of the passage p¹, and the steam from the cylinder 4 will then
be free to escape through the said passage into the cylinder 3; and as it enters
such cylinder on the inner side of the piston it has free access to the central space,
whence it escapes through a passage q into the exhaust pipė r. The piston 2 now
commences its inward stroke, and steam is admitted to act upon the said piston,
and the subsequent movements of this piston and of piston 3 correspond to the
movements of piston 4 and 1. Another quarter revolution brings the pistons into
the positions indicated by Fig. 9. The piston 1 has now completed its inward
stroke, and commences to move outwards, the steam which has acted upon the said
piston escaping through the passages o and o³ into the central space.
It will be seen that the passage o² serves as an outlet for the steam after the
main. passage o is closed by the piston 4. Another quarter revolution returns the
pistons into the positions indicated in Fig. 3. The passages p and p' might be dis-
pensed with, but in such a case the steam remaining in the cylinder 4 when in the
position indicated in Fig. 9 would be shut in, and would have to be compressed
during the remainder of the stroke. It is therefore preferable to have such passages,
but they may be comparatively small in area so long as compression is avoided.
The cylinders 1 and 3 may have a larger diameter than the others.
In the example the steam engine is represented combined with the pump, which
constitutes the second part of the Invention, the crank shafts of the engine and
pump being united by a fly wheel; but this method of coupling may be varied.
The arrangement of the cylinders and the motions of the pistons are the same as
in the case of the steam engine, with the exception that the inlet valve and the
passages p are not required, and that the inlet and discharge are differently
arranged.
The fluid to be lifted, pumped, or forced, is admitted through a pipe or inlet s
and passage s¹, seen in Fig. 4, into the central space wherein the crank works.
The outer ends of cylinders 1 and 3 are connected by passages t, t¹, with the
discharge pipe u.
The action of the pump may be described as follows:-Supposing the crank to.
move in the direction indicated, the piston 2 will move inwards and the piston 3
will move outwards and will uncover the passage o³, which leads into the passage
04, thereby opening a passage for the flow of water or fluid to the end of cylinder 2.
The said passage remains open during about half a revolution, which will return
the piston 3 to the position indicated. The continued movement of the piston 3
will now uncover the end of the passage of, thereby establishing a communication
between the cylinders 2 and 3, and the piston 2 now moving outwards the contents
of the cylinder will be forced through o into cylinder 3, and be free to escape
thence through the passage t¹ to the delivery pipe.

page_text: When the piston 2 has completed about half its outward stroke the piston 3 will
commence its outward stroke, and will during such stroke force fluid through the
passage t¹.
The rotation of the crank shaft being continued, a stream of water or
Huid will be discharged from the pipe u.
The pump, being without the ordinary pump valves, may be driven at a com-
paratively high velocity.
If preferred, or if required to be driven only at a comparatively low speed, the
passages t and t¹ may be provided with delivery valves, which will close to prevent
return currents into the cylinders.
The pump may be actuated by any suitable form of steam engine instead of by
the description represented, or be actuated by hand or by any suitable power, and
may be used in the raising or forcing of water or liquid, or as a gas exhauster, or
as a fan or blower, or for other analogous purposes.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of the said Invention, and
means whereby the same may be carried into effect, I would have it to be under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The combined engine and pump formed and acting substantially as set
forth and indicated herein-before and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The force cylinder prime mover provided with passages for the passage
of steam or acting fluid from one cylinder to another, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The pump or forcing or exhausting apparatus, arranged and acting
substantially as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Dorendorff, have hereunto set my hand
and. seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the said
Richard Dorendorff in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
R. DORENDORFF. (L.S.)