AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONVERTING RECIPROCAL INTO CONTINUOUS ROTARY MOTION, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND WATER POWER ENGINES AND TREADLE MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Rushton Turnock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th September 1875.
I, JOSEPH RUSHTON TURNOCK, of Yspitty Works, Loughor, in the
County of Carmarthen, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONVERTING RECIPROCAL INTO
CONTINUOUS ROTARY MOTION, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND WATER POWER
ENGINES AND TREADLE MACHINES," to be as follows :-
This Invention has for its object an improved method of converting
reciprocal into continuous rotary motion, especially applicable to steam
and water power engines and treadle machines.
I employ a main shaft as in the ordinary machine working in
bearings, but instead of a crank or crank pin I place on the shaft two
cog wheels or pinions, such wheels revolving freely on the shaft. I fix
on to the shaft two ratchet wheels, one on each outer side of the pinions
as close to as possible, but at the same time allowing the pinions to
work freely between them. I affix to the outer side of each pinion a
lever, ratchet, or catch, in such a manner as to allow both pinions to
revolve freely only in the direction opposite to that in which the shaft

page_text: is intended to travel; the catches being kept in their places by means
of springs.
I apply the reciprocal power in the following manner:-On to the
piston rod or treadle I fix a cross head, from which I carry two toothed
racks in parallel planes which work into the said pinions, the one 5
working into the top of one pinion called No. 1 rack and pinion, the
other working into the bottom of the other pinion called No. 2 rack and
pinion, so that the out or up stroke of the piston or treadle pushes
No. 1 pinion in the direction in which the shaft travels, the power being
transmitted through the ratchet to the ratchet wheel which is now fixed:
on the shaft, the shaft not being acted upon by No. 2 pinion which
is being pushed in the opposite direction by No. 2 rack, but on the
return stroke No. 2 pinion is pulled in the same direction as No. 1 was
pushed, and the power is transmitted through its ratchet or catch to
the other ratchet wheel which is now fixed, while at the same time
No. 1 is returning freely, thereby a continuous power is being
exerted on the shaft in the same direction. There may be a loose or
fixed washer placed on the shaft between the two pinions to reduce
friction, but in the event of its being necessary to reverse the motion
two more fixed ratchet wheels will be necessary, placed between the
pinions with the teeth in the opposito direction to the others; also two
other ratchets or catches fixed as before described but on the insides
of the pinions, and the action of these is the same as before described.
Another method by which I attain the same end is as follows:-I
have a shaft as before described, but with one fixed cog wheel or pinion
only, and I apply the power as follows:-Instead of the racks being
fixed to the cross head as before described, they are joined by means of
hinges in order that one rack may be lifted out and the other put into
gear at each end of the stroke; of course both racks work into the same
pinion, the one at the top and the other at the bottom.
In the method first described the racks may work in guides, in which
case no special guides will be required for the piston rod; but in tho
latter described method the piston rod will require guides as usual,
because the racks are being continually raised and depressed by means
of levers or inclined planes.