Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
.
We, FREDERICK CLARK, and FREDERICK WILLIAM CLARK, both of the Elwick Iron
Works, Ashford, in the county of Kent, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the construction of steam engines in which the crank and
crank shaft are stationary and the cylinder or cylinders is or are arranged to revolve
round the same, whereby a considerable increase of power is obtained as compared
with the power obtained from steam engines as ordinarily constructed.
We will now proceed to describe an engine constructed in accordance with this
invention and having one cylinder only. As hereinbefore stated, the crank and crank
shaft are fixed, and on the said shaft, at each side of the crank, is a socket bearing,
and projecting radially from each of such bearings is an arm, the outer ends of such
arm being provided with bearings for trunnions on opposite sides of the cylinder, so
that the latter when in position is free to oscillate. Arms projecting from the opposite
sides of the socket bearings carry a weight to counterbalance the cylinder. The
outer end of the piston rod is mounted loosely on the crank pin, so that it may revolve
freely thereon. Steam is admitted to the steam chest through one of the trunnions
and it is conducted thereto through the shaft and suitable channels in one of the
before mentioned socket bearings, and the exhaust escapes through the opposite
trunnion. The steam chest arranged on the cylinder and the steam and exhaust
valves, in connection with both ends of the cylinder, are of any ordinary and suitable
construction and are actuated by any suitable mechanism, such as, an eccentric or lever
fixed on the crank shaft.
When the arms carrying the cylinder are at the crank side of the shaft the piston
will be at the outer end of the cylinder, and when the position of the said arms is
reversed the piston will be at the inner end of the cylinder.
When two cylinders are employed the arms carrying the same are, by preference,
arranged diametrically on opposite sides of the crank shaft. If the two cylinders be
not arranged as lastly referred to a counter balancing weight must be employed, as
hereinbefore stated in connection with one cylinder engines.

page_text: When three cylinders are employed the arms project radially at an angle of 120°
from each other.
The motion obtained by the revolution of the cylinders can be applied in several
ways, for instance, a pulley connected to one of the bearing sockets may be arranged
to revolve on the crank shaft, or the power may be applied through the medium of a
wheel, the periphery of which is outside of the cylinders, and is carried by extensions
of the arms carrying the cylinders, or by separate arms radiating from the before
mentioned socket bearings, or by a combination of the two.
Dated this Twenty-third day of December 1887.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, FREDERICK CLARK, and FREDERICK WILLIAM CLARK, both of the Elwick
Iron Works, Ashford, in the county of Kent, Engineers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to the construction of that class of steam engines in which
the crank and crank shaft are stationary and the cylinder or cylinders and connected
parts are caused to revolve or travel in a circular path around the same, and by
which construction a considerable increase of power is obtained as compared with that
derived from steam engines of a similar class; as hitherto constructed.
In a single cylinder engine, constructed in accordance with this invention, the
crank and crank shaft are, as hereinbefore stated, stationary and mounted in suitable
bearings, and, disposed on each side of the crank is a hollow shaft. Projecting
radially from each of such hollow shafts is an arm, the outer ends of such arms being
provided with bearings for hollow trunnions formed on opposite sides of the cylinder,
so that the latter is free to oscillate. Similar arms projecting from the opposite sidos
of the hollow shafts carry a weight to counterbalance the cylinder. The outer end of
the piston rod is mounted loosely on the crank pin, so that it may move freely around
the same.
Steam is admitted to the valve box through one of the hollow trunnions
and it is conducted thereto through the hollow shaft and suitable channels, and the
exhaust escapes through the opposite trunnion and suitable ways formed in the
hollow shaft. The valve box is arranged on the cylinder and the steam and exhaust
valves, in connection with both ends of the cylinder, are of any ordinary and suitable
construction and are actuated by any suitable mechanism, such as, an eccentric or lever
fixed on the crank shaft or crank pin.
When each arm carrying its cylinder arrives opposite the crank pin the piston of
such cylinder will be at the outer end of its cylinder, and when such arm arrives at
the opposite point the piston will be at the inner end of the cylinder.
When two cylinders are employed, the radial arms carrying the same are, by
preference, arranged diametrically on opposite sides of the crank shaft. If the two
cylinders be not arranged as lastly referred to, a counterbalancing weight must be
employed, as herein before described with respect to the single cylinder engine.
When three cylinders are employed the radial arms are so disposed that they are
equidistant from each other.
The motion obtained by the revolution of the cylinders and connected parts around
the crank pin can be applied in several ways, for instance, a pulley connected to one
of the hollow shafts may be arranged to revolve on the crank shaft, or the power may
be applied through the medium of a wheel, the periphery or rim of which is outside
the cylinders and is carried by the radial arms, or, it might be carried by separate
arms radiating from the before mentioned hollow shafts, or, by a combination of the
two, as will be readily understood.

page_text: And, in order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, fully to
describe the same.
In the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts
Figure 1. represents an elevation of a
to our invention.
triplo cylinder engine constructed according
Figure 2. is a similar view but with some of the parts removed in order more clearly
to show the principal working parts.
Figure 3. is a vertical section taken on the line 1. 1. of Figure 4.
Figure 4. is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 5. is a horizontal section of the hollow shaft and connected parts on the
steam supply side of the engine.
Figure 6. is a transverse section thereof.
Figure 7. is a horizontal section of the hollow shaft and connected parts on the
exhaust side of the engine, and Figure 8. is a transverse section thereof.
Figure 9. is an elevation of a double cylinder engine of similar construction.
Figure 10. is an elevation of a single cylinder engine of modified construction,
and Figure 11. is a plan thereof.
Referring to Figures 1. to 8. a. represents the frame of the engine, and 6. repre-
sents the hollow fly wheel each side of which is connected by three radial arms or
spokes with a central boss 6, to which bosses are firmly bolted two hollow shafts
or axes c. d. arranged one at each side of the fly wheel b. and mounted with capability
of revolving in bearings a¹ carried by the frame a.
Between each pair of radial arms or spokes 6' is arranged a double acting cylinder e.
which is formed with hollow trunnions e¹ and mounted with capability of oscillating
in bearings 6 formed in the radial arms and the trunnions el are by suitable ways
or passages connected one with the valve box e² and the other with the exhaust port e
of the cylinder e.
One of the hollow trunnions e¹ is, by a steam pipe c', connected with the hollow
steam supply shaft c, and the other of such hollow trunnions is, by a similar but
exhaust pipe d', connected with the exhaust hollow shaft d.
Steam is conveyed to the hollow shaft c. through a pipe e² which passes through a
gland or stuffing box.c³, as more clearly seen at Figures 5. and 6, and it is exhausted
through an annular channel in the hollow shaft d, at one end thereof, into which
the exhaust pipes d' lead, and an annular groove d, at the other end of the hollow
shaft d, such channel and groove d' being connected by means of longitudinal
channels or ways d³, as will be clearly seen by a reference to figures 7. and 8.
The groove is encircled by a stationary collar d, through which pass the ends of
exhaust pipes d which convey the waste steam to any desired destination.
A lining d* of brass or other suitable material is shown interposed between the
hollow shaft d. and the fixed shaft f.
The piston rode of each cylinder e. is by its head e mounted with capability of
turning around the pin of a crank which is formed on or fixed to a non-rotating
shaft which passes through the hollow shaft d. and a bearing ƒ^, and is securely
fixed to the frame a. by means of a crank.
The required movements for operating the valves during the working of the engine
and for reversing the engine, when desired, are imparted to each valve rod g by the
following means:
A lever g', at one end keyed upon a rocking shaft g³ carried by offsets ³ from the
cylinder e. or its cover, is at the other end slotted to receive a stud or roller g* carried
by the head of the valve rod g.
A second lever g is at one end keyed upon the shaft and at the other end
pin-jointed to a link go, the other end of which link is mounted upon, with capability,
of turning around, a stud y passing through and fixed to one end of a hand lever g
which is mounted upon a stud or axis y carried by a disc or plate 9° fixed upon the
crank pin f.

page_text: The end of the stud 76 passes into a circular slot 10 formed in the disc or plate g*
and controls the movement required to be given to the centre ' in order to reverse
the engine, and notches g" are formed at opposite points in the disc or plate " into
which notches enters the spring latch g of the hand lever lever g' in order to lock the
stud or centre g at either end of its traverse in the curved slot g¹º.
12
It will thus be seen that by moving the hand lever g' and consequently the stud or
centre 9 from one extreme position to another, the necessary movement may, through
the various connections, be given to the valve rod g. and the engine be thereby
reversed.
An eccentric h. formed on or fixed' to the hollow shaft c. through a strap and
rod operates a feed pump h³, and a drum or pulley i, fixed upon the hollow shaft d,
transmits the power through a driving band to any desired object.
The engine represented at Figure 9. is similar in all essential features to that
hereinbefore described but in this example it is provided with only two cylinders e.
and co-acting parts and in lieu of forming a rim or wheel around the radial arms b¹
they are at their ends simply connected together so as to form a solid frame around
the cylinders e, and, it will bo obvious that, if desired, a similar arrangement may be
adopted with respect to the form of engine previously described.
The engine represented at Figures 10. and 11. is similar to that represented at
Figure 9. except that it is provided with only one cylinder e. and in lieu of the second
cylinder a counterbalance weight e* is fixed between the radial arms b'.
In the several figures of the drawings we have represented the fixed shaft f. as
terminating at one end with the crank but it will be understood that, with slight
modifications, the shaft f. may be caused to enter and take a bearing in a recess
formed in the inner end of the hollow shaft c. or to pass through such hollow shafts.
A governor of any desired and suitable form is so arranged that it may be actuated
in the desired manner by any convenient working part of the engine, but we have not
thought it necessary to show the same in the accompanying drawings as the mode of
applying the same will be readily understood by competent mechanics.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
A steam engine constructed and arranged in the manner substantially as herein-
before shown and described.
Dated th: 521 L
1
1000
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.