IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES." A communication from abroad by
James Wendell Cole, of Columbus, Ohio, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. - "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
[A communication from abroad by James Wendell Cole, of Columbus, Ohio, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
My Invention relates to steam engines of the class hereinafter specified, and
sometimes termed "direct acting steam engines," and its object is to increase the
efficiency of such engines in such manner that a much smaller cylinder will give a
much greater power per square inch of piston surface than can possibly be obtained
by the ordinary direct acting engine.
My Invention consists substantially in admitting the steam at boiler pressure
direct to a piston, filling the cylinder its entire length, and having a spiral exposed
surface, by which a much greater piston surface is obtained, and the steam inust
exert its full pressure to the end of the cylinder, or until it is exhausted at the
opposite end from where it enters.
It also consists in regulating the steam by a suitable governor of any approved
description, arranged in the exhaust or outlet pipe instead of in the inlet pipe, as is
now the case. By this arrangement the steam is permitted to exert its full boiler
pressure the entire length of the spiral blade or helix, instead of being throttled or
wire drawn, as ordinarily done.
Another important feature of this Invention is that the connecting rod, cross
head, guides, crank, and all the appendages ordinarily used in direct acting engines
of this class are entirely dispensed with, and the engine is far more compact,
comprises fewer pieces, bas less friction, and fewer parts which are liable to get out
of order than direct acting engines of ordinary construction.

page_text: In carrying my Invention into practice I construct the engine as follows, that is
to say:-
The cylinder is connected and secured to a suitable bed plate, or it may be cast
in one piece with it and the pillow blocks of the shaft or piston rod. In this
cylinder is closely fitted a piston made in the form of a screw or helix, which may
have a broad or extended bearing surface in contact with the cylinder, and in this
surface suitable packing set out by springs or by steam acting upon it through a
passage may be inserted, so as to prevent any leakage of steam. With the piston
is connected the piston rod, which forms at the same time the shaft, and is supported
in suitable bearings. It passes through an ordinary stuffing box at the front end
of the cylinder, while its rear end is supported in a hollow hub or bearing formed
in the rear cylinder head, in which hub or bearing may be placed one or more
tempered steel discs, by which the end thrust is taken up. Instead of these discs a
friction roller thrust bearing may be employed with conoidal rollers. At one end
of the cylinder is arranged the inlet port, and at the other the outlet port, from
which latter leads the exhaust pipe.
The governor of my improved engine is of ordinary construction, and provided
with a pulley, which receives motion from another pulley on a shaft journalled in
bearings, and to this shaft motion is imparted by a pulley driven direct from the
main shaft or piston rod. The governor controls a throttle or regulating valve,
which is located in the exhaust pipe instead of being arranged in the inlet steam
pipe as heretofore.
By this arrangement the steam is permitted to exert its full pressure upon the
piston, instead of being throttled or wire drawn, as is the case when the regulating
valve is located in the inlet pipe. Secured to the piston rod or main shaft, and
between the bearings of the same, is a belt pulley, by which, and a suitable belt,
motion may be transmitted direct to any kind of machinery adapted to receive it.
A fly wheel may be mounted upon the shaft at its end or at some other suitable
point.
When
From the inlet port of the cylinder a steam pipe leads, and may be connected to
a steam boiler, and in this steam pipe may be arranged the usual cut off.
steam is admitted to the cylinder through the steam pipe and inlet port it strikes
the blade or blades of the piston, and causes said piston and its shaft or rod to
rotate; the steam traverses the entire surface of the blades, and escapes through
the exhaust port. Now, if the regulating valve be changed in position, that is,
opened or closed more or less, the flow of steam from the boiler will be increased or
decreased accordingly, but this is after it has acted upon the piston.

page_text: the said shaft motion is imparted by the pulley driven direct from the shaft or
piston rod D.
The governor through the stem o controls a throttle or regulating valve, which is
located at O in the exhaust pipe 6', instead of being arranged in the inlet steam
pipe as heretofore.
By this arrangement, as herein before stated, the steam is permitted to exert its
full pressure upon the piston, instead of being throttled or wire drawn, as is the case
when the regulating valve is located in the inlet pipe.
Secured to the piston rod or shaft D, between the bearings E and E', is a belt
pulley M, by which, and a suitable belt, motion may be transmitted directly to any
machinery adapted to receive it. A fly wheel N may be mounted upon the shaft D
at its end or other suitable point.
From the inlet port a of the cylinder A a steam pipe a¹ extends, and may be
connected to a steam boiler, and in this steam pipe may be arranged the usual cut
off' devices.
When steam is admitted to the cylinder through the steam pipe a¹ and inlet
port a it strikes the blade or blades of the piston, and causes the said piston and its
shaft or rod to rotate; the steam traverses the entire surface of the blades, and
escapes through the exhaust port b. Now, if the position of the regulating valve
be changed, that is to say, if the said valve should be opened or closed more or less,
the flow of steam from the boiler will be increased or decreased accordingly, but
after it has acted upon the piston.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. In a direct acting steam-engine the combination with a cylinder which has
suitable inlet and exhaust ports, of a piston consisting of a continuous spiral or
screw like blade fitting within the said cylinder, and provided with a shaft or piston
rod extending through one head of the cylinder, and supported in the other head
thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination with the exhaust pipe leading from the cylinder of a
direct acting steam engine and an automatic governor of a regulating valve arranged
in the said exhaust pipe, and controlled by the said governor, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
land and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)