AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF CRANKS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TO OR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF THE SHAFTS OF MARINE, LOCOMOTIVE, AND OTHER ENGINES, PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Steam Ship Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENT OF CRANKS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TO OR CONTROLLING
THE ACTION OF THE SHAFTS OF MARINE, LOCOMOTIVE, AND OTHER ENGINES,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1880.
NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Steam Ship Agent. "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF CRANKS FOR TRANSMITTING
MOTION TO OR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF THE SHAFTS OF MARINE, Loco-
MOTIVE, AND OTHER ENGINES, AND THE AXLES OR SHAFTS OF MACHINERY
GENERALLY."
It is a well known objection to the present arrangement of cranks for transmitting
motion to shafts that the power of the engine on the crank is uneven, and hence a
considerable loss of power takes place, as well as a tendency (especially in marine
and locomotive engines) to strain the surrounding parts of the mechanism. Several
plans have been tried to obviate this difficulty, but hitherto without attaining any
satisfactory results, and it is the object of the present Invention to render uniform
the transmission of the pressure and velocity of the engine to the crank shaft, and
to completely overcome the dead points.
In carrying out my Invention, I employ a novel arrangement of mechanism
whereby the inequalities in the pressure and velocity of the engine are subdivided
and spread equably over the whole rotation of the main crank shaft.
To this end I mount the main crank shaft in suitable bearings in suitable frame-
work, and I arrange a series of short shafts, say, six in number. These shafts are
placed concentric with the main shaft, and are carried in bearings in a pair of
supporting frames which are connected together by tie rods or their equivalent.
Each of these shafts is provided with pairs of cranks set at an angle of 45° to each
other, and coupled by connecting rods with cranks on the next adjacent shafts on
either side. Three or more of these shafts, or it may be in some cases all of these
shafts, may each be provided with an extra crank which is coupled by a connecting

page_text: rod to a corresponding crank on the central or main shaft. The cranks on tho
main shaft will be arranged at equal angles around the shaft. On the power of the
engine being transmitted to any one or more of these short shafts, or it may be
direct to the main shaft through a crank or disc pin, the irregular pressure and
velocity of the piston of the engine will be distributed over all the short shafts,
which moving in perfect unison one with the other, will regulate and equalize the
action on the central shaft, no matter in what way the driving power may be
obtained.
The central shaft may form the screw shaft of a marine engine, or the driving
shaft of a locomotive engine, or it may be used as the driving shaft of any mechanism,
small or large, where uniformity of rotary motion is essential.
The short shafts may also be used for giving motion to parts of machinery, such
for instance as the spindles of spinning machinery, or for driving two or more lines
of shafting or wheels, or for other purposes.
As a modification of the above described arrangement, I may apply to the end of
the main shaft a disc or its equivalent, which is provided with pins which enter
holes in an excentric. This excentric is surrounded by a metal strap which is
connected by means of two or more connecting rods to cranks or their equivalents
on the ends of two or more lines of shafting, or wheels set at an angle around the
main shaft. In this way I obtain a uniform speed for all the shafts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions. of the Letters Patent fiied by
the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1880.
NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Steam Ship Agent. "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF CRANKS FOR TRANSMITTING
MOTION TO OR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF THE SHAFTS OF MARINE, LOCO-
MOTIVE, AND OTHER ENGINES, AND THE AXLES OR SHAFTS OF MACHINERY
GENERALLY."
It is a well known objection to the arrangement of cranks for transmitting
motion to shafts that the power of the engine on the crank is uneven, and hence a
considerable loss of power takes place, as well as a tendency (especially in marine
and locomotive engines) to strain the surrounding parts of the mechanism. Several
plans have been tried to obviate this difficulty, but hitherto without attaining any
satisfaction results, and it is the object of the present Invention to render uniform
the transmission of the pressure and velocity of the engine to the crank shaft, and
to completely overcome the dead points.
In carrying out my Invention, I employ a novel arrangement of mechanisın
whereby the inequalities in the pressure and velocity of the engine are sub-divided
and spread equably over the whole rotation of the main crank shaft.
To this end I mount the main crank shaft in suitable bearings in a suitable
framework, and I arrange around the shaft a series of short shafts, say, six in
number. These shafts are placed concentric with the main shaft, and are carried in
bearings in a pair of supporting frames which are connected together by tie rods or
their equivalent. Each of these shafts is provided with pairs of cranks set at an
angle of forty-five degrees to each other, and coupled by connecting rods with
cranks on the next adjacent shafts on either side. Three or more of these shafts,
or it may be in some cases all of these shafts, may each be provided with an extra
crank which is coupled by a connecting rod to a corresponding crank on the central
or main shaft. The cranks on the main shaft will be arranged at equal angles
around the shaft. On the power of the engine being transtuitted to any one or
more of these short shafts, or it may be direct to the main shaft through a crank or
disc pin, the irregular pressure and velocity of the piston of the engine will be
distributed over all the short shafts, which moving in perfect unison one with the
other, will regulate and equalize the action on the central shaft, no matter in what
way the driving power may be obtained.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn in Sheet I. the principle of my
Invention, and in the remaining Shoots the principle as adapted to various useful
purposes.
Referring now to Sheet I., Figure 1 is a perspective view and Fig 2 a plan view
of my improved arrangement of cranks. a, a, are circular side plates which are
secured firmly together by bolts and nuts b, b; c, c, are distance picces which serve
to keep the side plates at a suitable distance apart, and which form with the side
plates a frame to carry the bearings for the crank shafts; d is the main crank
shaft, the bearings of which I prefer should be carried by cross pieces a, a, bolted
to the side plate a; e, c¹, e², e³, cs, es, are minor crank shafts carried in bearings in
the side plates and arranged concentrically around the main crank shaft d. Each
of the minor crank shafts has four cranks upon it set at right angles the one to
the other, and these cranks are coupled in pairs by connecting rods f with
corresponding cranks on the next adjacent minor shafts on either side. The
shafts e, e, carry externally of the side plates a extra cranks or their equivalent,
which are coupled by means of connecting rods f¹, f1, to corresponding cranks d¹
on the main shaft d. If desired the remaining minor shafts may be also coupled
with the inain shaft d, extra cranks being provided on that shaft and between the

page_text: side frames for this purpose. In this arrangement the motive power is applied at
opposite ends of the minor crank shaft e, suitable cranks e* being provided, and to
which the connecting rod of the motive power engine is coupled. It will thus be
seen that the power of the engine applied at the points e*, e*, will be divided,
distributed, and equalized by the minor shafts before it arrives at the main shaft d.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet II., show in plan and in side elevation on a reduced scale my
arrangement of cranks as applied to a locomotive engine.
In these Figures the cranks are arranged around the axle of the main driving
wheels, and the minor crank shaft e is shewn connected with the other wheels of
the locomotive both inside and outside the framing of the locomotive.
Figuro 5, Sheet III., represents a plan view of a series of cranks only more
extended and spread more over the length of the shaft; all the numerous cranks,
thirty eight in number, are working harmoniously and easily one into the other in
connection with the centro shaft without any two meeting at the same point, and
each overcoming any resistance from the other. This crank machino is represented
as adapted to a marine engine, and driving a screw propeller, such as those con-
structed on the principles set forth in the Specification of Patent granted to me tho
Twenty ninth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine, No. 1670.
In this arrangement I prefer to employ a greater number of cranks, and I support
the shaft by an extra plate a¹. These plates a, a, & a², are fixed or stationary, but
can be made to revolvo with the shaft if required, and even driven by a fixed engine
in the line of main shaft or by additional gearing; d is the main shaft, which can
be made of one diameter throughout, or in sections of alternate increasing and
decreasing diameter, as described in the Specification of Patent granted to me the
Twenty eighth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine,
No. 4387; 7 are the shaft bearings resting on the floor of the vessel.
In Figures 6 and 7, Sheet IV., I have shewn in perspective and plan view a
modified arrangement of cranks also adapted to a marine engine for driving a screw
propeller. In this arrangement I use four sets of cranks, threo to a sot, placed
at different points of the length of the shaft, and at more inclined angles than
before,
One of the principal objects of this arrangement is the application of the driving
power of a horizontal engine at the top or bottom line of the minor cranks, the ends
of which are connected to discs, and these discs driven by a connecting rod attached
to the engine, as appears at the top and bottom parts of the frame supporting the
cranks, all of which can be connected to each other and driven by the same engine,
or there may be one or two minor crank shafts connected with it only.
In cases where a short shaft could be used for driving propellers, two sets of three
cranks could be used, the crank on each shaft of one pair of the minor shafts
working on to a crank on the main shaft.
This arrangement is also applicable to a road vehicle to be driven by steam or
other motive power carried by the vehicle. This application is shown at Fig. 8.
Sheet 11. The same letters of reference apply in this Figure as in Figures 1 and 2,
Only four minor shafts are used in this case, and each shaft has only one crank
thereon. Tho cranks on two of these minor shafts arranged on opposite sides of
the main shaft are coupled to a crank on that shaft, and the cranks on the other
pair of minor shafts are coupled to a second crank on the main shaft. The power
is applied at the point e*.
At Fig. 9, Sheet V., I have shewn a diagram of a velocipede to which my
improved crank arrangement is applicable; a is the longitudinal frame of the
velocipede; bare the axles of the wheels with a single crank on cach, but which
can have a ring of small or auxiliary cranks working in conjunction with central
cranks, and rotated by the action of the levers c placed at suitable angles from the
lower base of the carriage frame or at similar angles from a higher base, such as
the dotted lines d, which indicate the points to be worked by hand by the rider or
riders, whose seat or seats are placed in a position a little off the centre of wheels,
or by the foot pedals c'. Fig. 9* shows another arrangement of levers for a like

page_text: purpose. When required to work by power instead of using direct levers on to the
cranks I would couple the cranks of the one set of wheels to those of the other
set by connecting rods, and then connect the short levers to the connecting rods
of the engines.
I apply my auxiliary crank arrangement on the axle between two wheels or at
the side of one wheel, that is, the ring containing the short shafts is fastened on to
the spokes of the wheel either on one side or the other side, or in the centre of the
wheel in cases of double spoked wheels, with a large hollow space in the centre.
In this arrangement I prefer to drive the main shaft, the power being equalised by
the special crank arrangement; Fig. 10 is another arrangement of cranks and
levers suitable for driving a velocipede by manual power.
In Fig. 11, Sheet III., I have shown my improved crank arrangement as applied
to machinery for making cord or rope, either from fibre or wire.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I use the arrangement of cranks
described with reference to Sheet I. of the Drawings. Upon one end of each of the
minor shafts I mount a disc h, which is provided with three or more pins to receive
bobbins containing yarns or wire strands. Rotary motion is communicated to the
frame carrying the minor crank shafts, and also to the minor shafts by means of
wheel gearing connected with the main crank shaft and placed outside the frames.
The frames a, a, carrying the minor shafts are made to rotate through the toothed
wheels i, i¹. The main or central shaft d is also driven through the toothed
wheels, . The wheels i, 7 are keyed on shaft k, which is driven in any
convenient manner. The minor shafts are all coupled together, as before described,
and motion is communicated to two of their number (e¹, e) only; on the outer ends
of these shafts are keyed spur wheels e, e", which gear into spur wheels e, c³, mounted
on stud pins carried by the frame a (see enlarged view, Fig. 12).
Secured to the boss of each of the wheels e, e', is a disc e, es, carrying crank
pins c, c, which are coupled with a crank on the main shaft d by the connecting
rods. The crank frame a is connected to another plate 7 by rods 4, and this
plate is firmly secured to a hollow axle l², mounted in a suitable bearing or
plummer block P, and which axle forms the condenser and throat through which
the laid cord or rope is to be drawn by a winch or any other suitable apparatus.
The action of this apparatus will bo as follows:-The crank wheel will bo
rotated in one direction, and the minor shafts, cach with their bobbins, in the
contrary direction. The thread from each bobbin is led through a plate placed
over each set of bobbins, and is twisted into a cord, and the cord from each set of
bobbins is then laid into a rope, as shewn in the Drawing, by the rotation of the
crank frame a.
This macnine can be worked vertically or horizontally for ordinary spinning of
hemp or flax ropes, and additional vertical frames can be added to the top
containing the raw material together (with additional machinery for converting the
raw material direct from tliem into yarn or thread).
Fig. 13, Sheet VI., shows a precisely similar arrangement of crank mechanism
as applied to lighthouses for rotating the lamps.
Instead of the revolving discs and bobbins I substitute the oil boxes or tanks m
aud lights n. Each set of three colored lamps rotate on its own axis and revolves
round the large circle with the crank frames. The oil boxes m contain the lamp
tubes supporting the lights from which they are supplied.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Arrange-
ments of Cranks for Transmitting Motion to or Controlling the Action of the Shafts
of Marine, Locomotive, and other Engines, and the Axles or Shafts of Machinery
generally," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The means herein shewn and described for obtaining an uniform rotary
motion, pressure, or effect from the irregular pressure or velocity of the engine or
other motive power, as set forth.
Second. The application of the above system of equable distribution of power

page_text: irregularly supplied to the driving of locomotive engines, marine propellers, traction
engines, and velocipodes.
Third. The means herein shown and described of adapting my improved arrange-
ment of cranks to spinning, doubling, and laying machines, and also to the lamps
used in lighthouses, and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.