Improvements in Engines Adapted for Compressing or Forcing Fluids or for being Worked by Fluid Under Pressure.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines Adapted for Compressing or Forcing
Fluids or for being Worked by Fluid Under Pressure.
I, HENRY GEORGE HOLBOROW, of Selsley Villas, near Stroud, in the County of
Gloucester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved method of constructing engines for use in
compressing or forcing fluids (commonly called pumps), such improved method of
construction being also applicable to engines intended to be worked by fluid under
pressure, and particularly to motor engines of the "compound" and "triple expan-
sion" types; the objects of the invention being to secure simplicity and compactness
of design consistently with affording ready accessibility to the working parts,
economy, both in first cost and in working, being at the same time effected.
In an engine constructed according to my invention, a hollow or trunk-like
piston works upon the exterior of a fixed trunk arranged concentrically with the
cylinder. The outer extremity of the fixed trunk is furnished with packing rings
which work against the inner surface of the hollow piston. The piston is
similarly packed in the cylinder; the packing being in both instances adjusted
outwards as wear takes place. The piston-rod passes in the usual way through
a stuffing box in the end of the cylinder and is connected to the solid face of the
hollow piston.
In applying my invention to the construction of a compound steam engine, the
annular face of the hollow piston is presented to the high-pressure steam, the low-
The
pressure steam acting upon the opposite or disc-like face of the piston.
cylinder is steam-jacketed, and the hollow trunk is also heated by live steam.
Through the trunk and opening to the interior of the hollow piston, a passage is
leak
provided for permitting the escape of any steam or water which may past
packing between the trunk and the inner surface of the piston, and which, if not
released, would interfere with the working of the engine. The steam so escaping
may be conducted to a feed-water heater.
the
In a triple-expansion steam engine, the second or low-pressure cylinder may be
arranged either tandem or parallel with the first; one crank being used in the
former case and two in the latter. The annular face of the piston is exposed to
the action of the high-pressure steam and is single acting. The opposite or disc-
like face of the piston serves as the intermediate-pressure piston and is also single
acting. The low-pressure piston is enclosed in a second cylinder and is double
acting; this cylinder, as well as the high-pressure cylinder, being by preference
steam-jacketed. The steam escaping by way of the passage before referred to may
be conducted by a pipe (provided with a non-return valve) to the slide-jacket of
the low-pressure cylinder or to an intermediate receiver communicating with such
jacket.
In an engine constructed according to my improved method and intended for use
in compressing or forcing fluids, the inlet is situated at the opposite end of the
cylinder to that at which the trunk is fixed. The fluid enters the cylindrical space
vacated by the piston as the latter advances over the trunk. During the return
stroke, half the fluid (or thereabouts) passes round the opposite side of the piston
and occupies the annular space vacated, whilst the remainder is forced into the
delivery main. During the next advance of the piston, the annular face thereof
becomes operative and serves to force into the delivery main that portion of the

page_text: fluid which previously escaped. Thus, the suction is single acting and the
delivery double acting, as in the case of what is known as a "bucket and
plunger" pump.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1890.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engines Adapted for Compressing or Forcing
Fluids or for being Worked by Fluid Under Pressure.
I, HENRY GEORGE HOLBOROW, of The Lodge, Stonehouse, in the County of
Gloucester, Mechanical Engineer, 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 consists in an improved method of constructing engines for use in
compressing or forcing fluids (commonly called pumps), such improved method of
construction being also applicable to engines intended to be worked by fluid under
pressure, and particularly to motor engines of the "compound" and "triple-
expansion types; the objects of the invention being to secure simplicity and
compactness of design consistently with affording ready accessibility to the
working parts; economy; both in first cost and in working, being at the same time
effected.
་་
And in order that my invention and the mode of carrying the same into effect
may be fully understood. I will proceed to describe the general arrangement of a
motor engine-as also of a pump-constructed according to my improved method;
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereof Fig. I is a side elevation
and Fig. 2 a horizontal section of a stationary engine of the "triple-expansion
type.
n
A is the crank-shaft, A' the crank-disc, 13 the connecting-rod, and 13' the piston-
rod. Cis a hollow or trunk-like piston, which works within a cylinder D and upon
the exterior of a fixed trunk E; the cylinder D, as also the trunk E, being
arranged concentrically with the cylinder F. The outer extremity of the fixed
trunk E is furnished with packing rings which work against the inner surface of
the hollow piston C. This piston is similarly packed in the cylinder F, as shewn
at d the packing being in both instances adjustable outwards as wear takes place.
The piston-rod 13 passes in the usual manner through a stuffing-box, b, in the end
of the cylinder F, and is connected to the solid face of the hollow piston C.
"
The construction thus far is applicable for use as a "compound engine; the live
steam being primarily admitted to the annular face of the hollow piston C, and
subsequently conveyed to the opposite or disc-like face of the same piston. The
cylinder is steam-jacketed, as shewn at and live steam is admitted for heating
purposes to the interior of the hollow trunk E. For permitting the escape of any
steam or water which may leak past the packing e, a passage is formed through
the trunk E, and communicates with the interior of the hollow piston. Any steam
so escaping may be conducted to a feed-water heater.
In applying my invention to a "triple-expansion" engine, a second or low-
pressure cylinder is added; the latter being arranged either tandem or parallel
with the first. In the example represented in the accompanying drawings, the
former arrangement is employed; the pistons of both cylinders being connected
with one and the same crank. As before explained, the annular face of the
piston C is exposed to the action of the high-pressure steam and is single-acting.
The opposite or disc-like face of the same piston serves as the intermediate-
pressure piston and is also single-acting. The low-pressure piston G is enclosed in
a second cylinder Hand is double-acting; this cylinder being also by preference
steam-jacketed, as shown at h. Any steam which may have leaked past the

page_text: packing e and escaped by the passage before referred to is conducted by a pipe
(provided with a non-return valve) from the interior of the hollow piston Ċ to the
slide-jacket of the low-pressure cylinder H, or to an intermediate receiver commu-
nicating with such jacket.
The valve mechanism for controlling the distribution of the working fluid to the
several cylinders may be arranged and operated in various ways. The accom-
panying drawings will serve to illustrate one mode in which such mechanism may be
constructed; although I would have it understood that I do not regard any detail
thereof as constituting an essential feature of my present invention.
The application of my invention to an engine intended for use in compressing or
forcing fluids is illustrated in Fig. 1II, which represents, in longitudinal section, a
pump of the "bucket and plunger" type. I is the inlet, and the suction valve.
C is the piston or "bucket" working in the barrel Fl and carrying the delivery
valve K. Rigidly connected with the piston C, is a hollow plunger C, working
upon the exterior of a fixed trunk E' and enclosed within a barrel D', the latter
being formed as a continuation of the barrel F'. The outlet is at O. As the
piston C moves away from the suction-valve and the plunger C advances over the
trunk E, the fluid enters the cylindrical space vacated by the piston; whilst, of
the fluid which had previously passed the delivery-valve, one half (or thereabouts)
is displaced from the barrel " D' and ejected by the outlet O. During the return
stroke, the suction-valve having closed, the remaining half (or thereabouts) of the
fluid is similarly ejected by the partial withdrawal of the plunger C³ from the
trunk E¹.
In the latter direction of movement, the effective area for the purpose of
delivery corresponds with that of the trunk El; whilst in the opposite direction
of movement, the excess area of the piston C' becomes operative.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :—
1. In a motor-engine for working on the "compound" system, the employment
of a trunk-piston, the trunk of which works upon a fixed trunk, which it fits, and
freely within the high-pressure cylinder, whilst the body of the piston works in and
fits the low-pressure cylinder, substantially as herein described.
2. In a motor engine for working on the "triple-expansion" system, the employ-
ment of a trunk-piston, the trunk of which works upon a fixed trunk, which it fits,
and freely within the high-pressure cylinder, whilst the body of the piston works in
and fits the low-pressure cylinder, substantially as herein described.
3. In a €6
"triple-expansion" engine, the combination, with a high-pressure
cylinder D, an intermediate-pressure cylinder F, a low-pressure cylinder H, and a
fixed trunk E, of a single-acting high-pressure annular piston C fitting between the
fixed trunk and the intermediate-pressure cylinder, a single-acting intermediate-
pressure piston C and a double-acting low-pressure piston G, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
4. In a compound" (or "triple-expansion") engine such as herein described,
the employment of an annular trunk-piston working between a fixed trunk and a
low-pressure (or intermediate-pressure) cylinder, substantially as herein described
and enabling the packings to be arranged upon the exterior of the fixed trunk and
the exterior of the piston respectively.
5. In an engine for compressing or forcing fluids, the employment of a piston and
hollow trunk, the former fitting the barrel and the latter fitting a fixed trunk, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Fig. III of the accompanying drawings,
and whereby the packing of the working parts is facilitated.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.