IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS
Year: 1883

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, Fel Inst PA of the Liverpool
and London Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS "-A, communication from abroad by Elijah Bailey
Benham Mechanical Engineer, and Henry Bullard Richardson Manufacturer
both of Amherst in the state of Massachusetts and John Winick Currier,
Manufacturer, of Boston in the state of Massachusetts United States of
America
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1883.
"
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P. A. of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS A communi-
cation to me from abroad by Elijah Bailey Benham mechanical engineer and
Henry Bullard Richardson manufacturer, both of Amherst in the State of
Massachusetts, and John Winick Currier, manufacturer, of Boston in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America.
This invention relates to Water motors, and has reference to that class thereof,
denominated piston motors, and it consists in the arrangement of a series of
pistons within a cylinder disc and radiating from the centre thereof, wherein
through suitable valve connections for admitting and discharging water, said pistons.
are caused to have successive reciprocating motions, which motions are so communi-
cated to a ring which rests upon the ends of said pistons and co-operatively acts
with the latter as to cause the periphery of said ring to present a continuous
succession of curved inclines under a roller arm which is attached to a pulley
located by the side of said disc whereby said pulley is given a continuous rotary
motion in the plane of the movement of said pistons.
This invention further consists in the combination with, said pistons and their
cylinders of a valve adapted to be rotated through devices connecting it with"
said ring whereby water is properly admitted to and discharged from said
cylinders.

page_text: The cylinder disc is a circular metallic piece having a series of cylinders formed
therein in lines radiating from its centre. The outer ends of the cylinders are
provided with ordinary stuffing boxes.
Said cylinder disc is provided with a rearwardly projecting hub at its centre,
through which and said disc is made a suitable water passage opening into a
circular valve chamber, counter bored in the front face of said disc and that portion
of the surface of said valve chamber which surrounds and stands at a right angle
to said water passage constitutes the valve seat.
Port holes are formed running from the lower ends of cylinders towards the
centre of disc which terminate in like perforations made in the face of said valve
seat and extending rearwardly, whereby a series of water-passages is provided
from said valve chamber into the cylinders.
A valve box having a hub provided with an ordinary stuffing-box, and a flat
rim is adapted to be secured on the front side of said cylinder disc by screws or
other suitable means over said valve-chamber.
a
A valve provided with a hollow stem and with a semi-circular face having
chamber therein which communicates with the interior of said stem, and its
interior end closed and of taper form, is adapted to be rotated within said valve-
chamber and valve box. The aforesaid semi-circular chambered face of valve is
adapted to bear and rotate against the valve-seat, covering a portion of the ports
and leaving the rest of them open into said valve chamber, the latter being in
communication with said water passage through the disc, an opening between said
passage and chamber being made by the tapering form of the end of the valve
whereby the face of its inclined end is sufficiently removed from the inner border
of said chamber to afford a suitable water passage into any part of the latter
which happens to be opposite to that which is occupied by the hollow valve-ring.
The pistons are properly fitted to have a reciprocating motion in the cylinders
and are provided with friction rollers in their outer slotted ends.
.
A lever ring is adapted to rest in the slotted ends of a certain number of said
pistons and upon rollers when the machine is not in motion and is of such diameter
as will permit certain of said pistons on one side of said disc to move while
engaged with said ring to the extent of their full stroke outward, while the opposite
side of said ring is engaged with certain of said pistons which have made their
full stroke inward. Thus when the motor is in operation the successive
reciprocating movements of the pistons cause said ring to assume such varying
positions relative to the centre of disc that the periphery of said ring is made to
present a succession of curves eccentric to the centre of said disc which are sharply
inclined towards the centre thereof.
The supply pipe is rigidly secured in a sleeve on a stand by a set screw and
entering a hub on the rear side of disc is firmly secured to the latter.
A balance wheel having a hub of sufficient length to permit of securing thereon
the driving pulley is fitted to rotate on the hub of the disc and the balance wheel
has an arm on its rim which extends therefrom in a line parallel to the axis of
said wheel and across the periphery of the lever ring and carries on it a friction
roller which is adapted to ride on the latter.
A valve-lever is secured on the hollow stem of the valve and its free end engages
with the end of the arm on the balance wheel.
It is obvious that the devices described, may, in a construction adapted thereto
be advantageously employed with steam or compressed air instead of water.
In fitting the valve to a proper bearing against the valve box water may be
allowed to flow back of the valve-ring and into said box sufficiently to partially
balance said valve and decrease its friction against the latter. The herein described
reciprocating and rotary mechanism when suitably combined with proper dial-
indicators constitutes an effective water meter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th September 1883.
"
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P. A.; of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MOTORS A communi-
cation from abroad by Elijah Bailey Benham, Mechanical Engineer, and Henry
Bullard Richardson, Manufacturer, both of Amherst, in the state of Massachusetts,
and John Winick Currier, Manufacturer of Boston, in the state of Massachusetts,
United States of America.
This invention relates to Water-Motors, and has reference to that class thereof
denominated piston-motors, and it consists in the arrangement of a series of
pistons within a cylinder disc and radiating from the centre thereof, wherein,
through suitable valve connections for admitting and discharging water, said
pistons are caused to have successive reciprocating motions, which motions are so
communicated to a ring which rests upon the ends of said pistons and co operatively
acts with the latter, as to cause the periphery of said ring,to present a continuous
succession of curved inclinés under a roller arm, which is attached to a pulley
located by the side of said disc, whereby said pulley is given a continuous rotary
motion in the plane of the movement of said pistons
This invention further consists in the combination with said pistons and their
cylinders, of a valve adapted to be rotated through devices connecting it with
said ring, whereby water is properly admitted to and discharged from said
cylinders.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. 1. is a front elevation of
a water-motor, embodying the invention. Fig 2 is a side elevation and end view
of one of the pistons. Fig 3 is a side elevation, showing the operative parts in
vertical section. Fig 4. is a side elevation of the valve-box. Fig 5. is a side
elevation of the valve and a portion of the valve-lever. Fig 6. is an end view of
the valve and of the inner face of the valve box, and showing a portion of the
valve-lever. Fig 7, is a front elevation of that portion of the cylinder-disc within
the dotted line x, x, Fig. 1, from which the. valve-box is removed. Fig 8. is a
perspective view of the parts shown in Fig 5. Fig 9. is a vertical section of the
portion of said dise shown in Fig. 7 together with a portion of its rear hub.
In the drawing, B is a standard; A is a supply pipe secured in a sleeve on said
standard by a set screw a; b is the cylinder-disc having a hub e, extending
rearwardly; e is a circular valve-seat; n indicates the cylinders; vare pistons,
a² are rollers in the latter; indicates cylinder ports; c is a balance wheel; D is
a driving pulley; w is a roller arm on wheel D; o is a roller on arm w; d is the
valve; h is the valve-box; s is the valve-leyer; m indicates the hollow valve-face;
H is the lever-ring.
Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.
The cylinder disc b is a circular metallic piece having a series of cylinders n,
formed therein in lines radiating from its centre.
The outer ends of said cylinders are provided with the ordinary stuffing boxes
as shown.
Said cylinder disc is provided with a rearwardly projecting hub e² as shown, at
its centre, through which and said disc is made a suitable water-passage opening
into a circular valve-chamber counter bored in the front face of said disc, and that
portion of the surface of said valve-chamber which surrounds and stands at a
right angle to said water passage constitutes the valve seat c.
Port holes are formed running from the lower ends of cylinders n towards the
centre of disc b, which terminate in like perforations made in, the face of said valve
seat and extending rearwardly, whereby a series of water passages is provided
from said valve chamber into the cylinders.
.

page_text: A valve-box h, having a hub provided with the ordinary stuffing-box and a flat-
rim as shown, is adapted to be secured on the front side of said cylinder-disc by
screws or other suitable means, as shown, over said valve-chamber.
A valve d, provided with a hollow stem, and with a semi-circular face m, having
a chamber therein which communicates with the interior of said stem, and its
interior end closed and of taper form; is adapted to be rotated within said valve-
chamber and valve-box. The aforesaid semi-circular chambered face m of valve d,
is adapted to bear and rotate against the valve-sent e, covering a portion of ports 2,
and leaving the rest of them open into said valve-chamber, the latter being in
communication with said water-passage through disc b, an opening between said
passage and chamber being made by the tapering form of the end of valve d,
whereby the face of its inclined end is sufficiently removed from the inner border
of said chamber- to, afford à suitable water-passage into any part of the latter
which happens to be opposite to that which is occupied by the hollow-valve
ring m.
.
.
The pistons are properly fitted to have a reciprocating motion in the
cylinders n, and are provided with friction rollers a³, in their outer slotted ends.
A lever ring H is adapted to rest in the slotted ends of a certain number of said
pistons and upon said rollers a², when the machine is not in motion, and is of such
diametre as will permit certain of said pistons on one side of said disc to move
while engaged with said ring to the extent of their full stroke outward, while the
opposite side of said ring is engaged with certain of said pistons which have made
their full stroke inward. Thus when the motor is in operation the successive
reciprocating movements of the pistons v cause said ring to assume such varying
positions relative to the centre of disc b, that the periphery of said ring is made to
present a succession of curves eccentric to the centre of said disc which are sharply
inclined towards the centre thereof one of which is illustrated between the
points 5. 5. on said ring in Fig. 1.
The supply pipe A is rigidly secured in a sleeve on the stand B by the set
screw a, and entering the hub e² on the rear side of disc b, is firmly secured to the
latter.
.'.
A balance-wheel c, having a hub of sufficient length to permit of securing
thereon the driving pulley D, is fitted to rotate on said hub e on disc b, and said
wheel c has an arm w on its rim which extends therefrom in a line parallel to the
axis of said wheel and across the periphery of said ring H, and carries on it a
friction-roller o, which is adapted to ride on the latter.
A valve-lever s is secured on the aforesaid hollow stem of valve d, and its free
end engages with the end of said arm w on wheel c.
•
⠀
The operation of-the above described improvements is as follows.
Water is admitted through the pipe A flowing in the direction of the arrow at
the right in Fig. 3, and passing through the centre of disc b, moves in the direction
indicated by the arrow in said figure, above the end of valve d, flowing into. that
part of the valve-chamber not occupied by the valve face m, and thence into the
cylinders n, whose ports are uncovered in said valve chamber. The pressure of
the water now acts against such pistons as are exposed thereto in said cylinders,
moving them outward as shown at the top and at the right in Fig. 1, and forcing
the periphery of the ring H against the roller o on arm w. When said pistons
move outward as aforesaid the face m of the valve d, covers the ports leading to
the cylinders on the opposite side of disc b, preventing any water from entering
them, and providing a free exit for any that inay be in them by presenting its.
open chamber directly before their ports, whence it may flow through said chamber
and valve-stem and freely run off. Thus when certain of said pistons move
outwardly carrying ring H with them, the latter unobstructedly retires the pistons
opposite the former into their cylinders.
As a consequence of forcing ring H against arm w, as aforesaid, and allowing
that portion of said ring beyond- said arm or below it, in Fig 1, to swing towards
the centre of disc b, such a curved incline is formed and forced to act against said

page_text: 8
arm, that wheel c is rotated, and with it valve d through lever s is made to revolve,
whereby the cylinder ports z, are successively closed and opened. The wheel c, it
is seen, must revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 1, and the action
of valve d is such as to cause the pistons in the rear of arm w to move outward in
proper succession to maintain said curved incline, and the pistons which arm wis
approaching, to move inward in like degree.
If desired the valve d may be perforated near the outer face of disc b, to allow
the waste water to run off instead of discharging it from the extreme end of the
valve stem.
It is obvious that the devices herein shown and described may, in a construction
adapted thereto, be advantageously employed with steam or compressed air instead
of water.
In fitting valve d to a proper bearing against the valve-box h, water may be
allowed to flow back of the valve-ring m, and into said box sufficiently to partially
balance said valve and decrease its friction against the latter. The herein
described reciprocating and rotary mechanism when suitably combined with proper
dial indicators constitutes an effective water meter.
Having now described the invention as communicated to me, I wish it to be
understood, that what I desire to protect under the Letters Patent is :-
1st. In a piston motor, a series of cylinders provided with pistons adapted to
have reciprocating motions therein in lines radiating from a common centre and in
the same plane, ports and valve devices and operating mechanism substantially
as described, for permitting water to enter and leave said cylinders, a ring
surrounding and engaging with the ends of said pistons, a driving-wheel adapted
to be rotated in the plane of the reciprocating movement of the latter, and means
substantially as described for engaging said ring with said driving-wheel combined
and operating substantially as set forth.
2nd. A series of cylinders provided with pistons adapted to have reciprocating
motions in the same plane and in lines radiating from a common centre, induction
and eduction valves, devices, ports, and operating mechanism, substantially as
described, a driving wheel adapted to be rotated in the plane of the movement of
said pistons, and appliances substantially as described, interposed between said
pistons and said wheel whereby the reciprocating movements of the former are
converted into a rotary movement of the latter, combined and operating
substantially as set forth.
3rd. In combination, the wheel c provided with arm w, the ring H, the cylinder
disc b provided with a series of cylinders n and pistons v, the valve d, and lever 8,
substantially as set forth.
4th. The combination with the cylinder disc b, provided with the valve-seat e
and ports, of the valve d having the chambered semi-circular valve-face m, and
an eduction opening leading from the rear side of the latter, substantially as set
forth.
5th. The combination with a series of pistons v, of the ring. H, adapted to be
oscillated by said pistons to cause its periphery to describe in succession, curved
inclines eccentric to the centre of motion of said pistons, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set.
my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.