Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 17th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 18th Nov., 1887
We, HENRY ERNEST LEETHAM of Friars Terrace, Miller, JAMES JONES, of Fisher-
gate, Gentleman and CHARLES HENRY JONES, of Fishergate, Grocer all of the City
and County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
Our improvements are applicable to locomotive or stationary engines, and in such
improvements we dispense with the use of the ordinary cranked or bent driving
shafts, and employ a perfectly straight axle on which is fixed an arm, the length of
which depends upon the required stroke of the engine.
We provide also a steam cylinder or an oblong, rectangular or other shaped steam
chamber, and transversely through the centre of such chamber or cylinder we pass
the hereinbefore mentioned straight axle, supported in bearings on the exterior of
the steam cylinder or chamber.
In this cylinder or chamber is provided a long piston, the ends of which are
secured together by framework.
In the framework and on opposite sides thereof are provided two slots, a little
wider than the diameter of the straight shafts, so as to permit of the piston travelling
backwards and forwards without interfering with the engine shaft.
Within the framework also and opposite each other are provided two grooves or
channels to receive a slide or slides."
These grooves or channels are in the centre of the length of the piston and at
right angles with the slots in the framework.
These grooves are for the purpose of allowing the slides to traverse, and to permit
the piston to move backwards and forwards the full length of its stroke.

page_text: These slides have fixed in their centres a strong crank pin which works through
the hereinbefore mentioned axle arm within the piston and like an ordinary crank
pin.
When steam enters one end of the cylinder or chamber it presses on one end of
the piston and forces the slides down, these carrying round, through the medium of
the crank pin, the arm, which canses the axle to revolve.
When we use the above described arrangement for a single engine, we employ
a fly wheel on the axle to produce the required momentum for carrying the arms
over the centres, but when double chambers are used, such fly wheel may be
dispensed with.
Instead of the herein before mentioned slides small metal rollers or pulleys may be
employed.
The moving parts of these engines may be covered up completely except the axle
which passes through the centre of the cylinder or chamber.
The slide valve for regulating the admission of steam is of ordinary eonstruction.
Dated this 17th day of December 1886.
J. W. HARDING,
For the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
We, HENRY ERNEST LEETHAM of Friars Terrace, Miller, JAMES JONES of Fisher-
gate, Gentleman, and CHARLES HENRY JONES of Fishergate, Grocer, all of the City
and County of York, 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 improvements are applicable to locomotive or stationary engines, and in such
improvements we dispense with the use of the ordinary cranked or bent driving
shafts, and employ a perfectly straight axle, on which is fixed an arm the length of
which depends upon the required stroke of the engine.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse section. Fig. 2 a section
through A. B Fig. 1. Fig. 3 an elevation shewing further application of our
improvements.
In the drawings we have shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 rectangular steam chambers A. A,
and transversely through the centre of such chambers we pass the straight axle B,
supported in bearings C. C on the exterior of the chambers, such bearings being
provided with stuffing boxes D. D of ordinary construction.
In these chambers A A are provided the pistons E. E, these are secured together
by suitable framework F. F.
In framework F F and on opposite sides thereof are provided the slots G G
a little wider than the diameter of the straight shaft B, so as to permit of the
pistons E E moving backwards and forwards without interfering with the shaft.
Within the framework F F also, and opposite each other are provided two grooves
or channels H. H to receive the slides I. I. These grooves or channels H. H are in
the centre of the length of the pistons E. E, and at right angles to the slots G. G in
the framework. These grooves are for the purpose of allowing the slides I. 1 to
traverse, and to permit the pistons E. E to move backwards and forwards the full
length of their stroke. The slides I. I have fixed in their centres the strong crank
pins J. J, which work through the free ends of the axle arms or cranks K. K, within
the framework F. F of the pistons E. E, in the manner of an ordinary crank pin.
The port holes L. L, and M. M respectively for the admission of steam and for the
exhaust, are of ordinary construction, the slide valves also may be of ordinary
construction and operated in the usual way.
A pressure of steam is allowed by the action of the slide valves to enter each end
of the chambers alternately, thereby imparting a backwards and forwards movement
to the pistons, and thence to the slides, which being engaged with the free end of the
axle arms or cranks, imparts through such axle arms or cranks the required rotary
motion to the axle or shaft.
When we use the above described arrangement for a single acting engine, we
employ a fly wheel on the axle to produce the required momentum for carrying the

page_text: axle or arm over the centres, but when double chambers are used such fly wheel may
be dispensed with.
Instead of the hereinbefore mentioned slides I. I, metal rollers or pulleys may be
employed.
Instead of the employment of the hereinbefore mentioned rectangular chamber,
ordinary cylinders N. N may be employed as shewn at Fig. 3, the parts for operating
the shaft B being placed between the two cylinders N. N and coupled to the piston
rods O. O or the cylinders or chambers may be placed in any suitable position with
regard to the axle or shaft B, and the parts for operating such shaft.
It will be clearly understood that in the herein before mentioned arrangement of
engine, a pressure of water, gas or air are applicable for imparting the required
motion to the pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
The general arrangement, construction and application of the various parts for
imparting rotary motion to shafts or axles of steam or other engines, substantially as
herein set forth.
Dated this
day of
1887.
J. W. HARDING,
For the Applicants.