IN MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FRANK WYNNE, Civil Engineer, of 4, Westminster Chambers, in the county
"IMPROVEMENTS
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IN MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This invention relates to motive power engines having three or six cylinders
with reciprocating pistons driven by means of steam, gas, air, water or other fluid
pressure and whereby the reciprocating motion of the piston in the engine may be
made to produce direct rotary motion. This invention is also applicable to four
cylinder engines having two pairs of cylinders placed in the same line, the axis of
one pair forming with that of the other.pair any convenient angle.
I form or mount the cylinders radially in or on a frame, supported at each end
by trunnions, and distribute the cylinders so that the whole constitutes a balanced
system.
When I employ three cylinders I set them at an angle of 120° or there abouts to
one another, when employing six, I mount them in pairs opposite to one another
and distribute the pairs symmetrically, so that the centre lines of the cylinders
are 60° from one another or there abouts. When I employ four cylinders, they are
arranged in pairs, placed so that the centre line of each pair forms a convenient
acute or obtuse angle to that of the other pair, but in every case the cylinders form
a balanced system.
Each cylinder is provided with a piston and a piston rod, and where I employ
an even number of cylinders, there is a piston rod common to each pair of cylinders.
In order to clearly explain this construction I premise that as many parallel planes
as there are piston rods can be drawn, each plane passing through the axis of one
of the piston rods, and a straight line drawn perpendicularly to all the planes and
intersecting all the axes of the piston rods and continued in a straight line to.any
distance beyond any of the planes, I call the "line of intersection."
A pin, hereinafter called the crank pin, is passed through each rod at a point
which at midstroke coincides with the "line of intersection."
On that part of each pin which projects beyond the piston rod into the space
between the said rod and the next piston rod (but not so far as to come into
collision with the latter) is mounted one end of a link attached with its other end
to the pin projecting similarly from the contiguous piston rod at a corresponding
point of its length. These links and crank pins are by preference made in one

page_text: piece or otherwise rigidly connected and will then be found to form a multiple
throw crank the throw of which is equal to half the stroke of the piston rods.
The balanced casting formed by the cylinders, or on which they are mounted, is
pivoted on fixed hollow trunnions which contain the bearings for the crank.shaft ;
these bearings are situated eccentrically to the circumference of the trunnions or
out of line with their centre, which is on the "line of intersection," to the extent
of a quarter of the piston stroke, the throw of the cranks which connect the piston
rods being equal to half the stroke of the pistons. The connection of the shafts,
hereinafter called the "driving shafts," passing through these bearings, with the
contiguous ends of the multiple throw crank, is made on each side of the latter by
a link, hereinafter called a "driving, link," the said link being of a length
(measured from centre to centre of pins; that is from centre of driving shaft to centre
of the crank pin to which the link is attached), equal to one quarter of the stroke
of the piston rods, and at such an angle, that in the extreme position of any of the
rods the prolonged axis of the "driving shaft" passes through the axis of the rod
which is in this extreme position (or through the prolonged axis of such rod), at
a distance from the line of intersection equal.to one quarter of the piston stroke.
One or both driving shafts extend through the respective trunnions to the outside
they are preferably made in one piece with the driving links and the multiple
throw crank, so as to form a continuous crank shaft from one end to the other.
;
It will be found that, on applying pressure to the pistons, each piston rod is
allowed to move in a straight line and at the same time forces the frame carrying
the cylinders to revolve, and for each complete revolution of this frame, the crank
shaft is caused to make two revolutions.
The projecting trunnions upon which the frame revolves, may be attached to the
sides of a casing which encloses the frame and allows sufficient space for the rotary
motion of the same.
This casing may be made approximately cylindrical and form in its lower part
a receptacle for oil or other lubricant or for such water of condensation as may
come from the exhaust, which I preferably allow to escape within the casing, but
the exhaust may also be arranged to escape into the centre of the frame, namely
the space in which the cranks work, and thence through the trunnions by suitable
passages to the outside.
Passages for the admission of steam or other working fluid are formed in one of
the trunnions, and there communicate through a properly packed joint with
a steam chest round the cylinders, from which by any convenient form of valve
or valves the steam is distributed to the cylinders, either directly, or indirectly, the
steam in this case being first. admitted into one cylinder, where it is partially
expanded, and led from it through-a-convenient-form-of-valve-to-another-cylinder,
larger than the first, and opposite to it, in which the steam is further expanded.
An annular steam chest may be placed in front of the cylinder casting and
enclose the working part of an adjustable circular valve held excentrically to the
driving shaft passing through the trunnion, said valve being adapted to control
the passage of steam or other motive fluid to and from as many ports, as there are
cylinders in the engine.

page_text: I, FRANK WYNNE, Civil Engineer, of 4, Westminster Chambers, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
stateinent:-
.
This invention relates to motive power engines having three or six cylinders
with reciprocating pistons driven by means of steam, gas, air, water, or other fluid
pressure and whereby the reciprocating motion of the piston in the engine may be
made to produce direct. rotary motion.
I set the cylinders radially round or on a frame, supported on trunnions or
journals at each end, and the cylinders arè šo .set and equilibrated that the whole
forms a balanced system.
•
When I employ three cylinders, I set them preferably at an angle of 120° or
thereabouts to one another when employing six, I mount them in pairs opposite to
one another and preferably distribute the pairs symmetrically so that the centre
lines of the cylinders are 60° from one another or thereabouts.
Each cylinder is provided with a piston and a piston rod, and each piston and
piston rod is by suitable means.constrained to move in a straight line. Where
I employ six cylinders there may either be one piston rod common to each pair of
cylinders, or each piston may have its piston rod. In order to clearly explain this
construction, I refer to the diagrams Figs 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings
and premise that as many parallel planes as there are piston rods A¹ B₁ O¹ can be
drawn, each plane passing through the axis of one of the piston rods, and a straight
line I drawn perpendicularly to all the planes and -intersecting all the axes of the
piston rods and continued in a straight line to any distance beyond any of the
planes, I call the "line of intersection." A pin a¹, b', c¹, hereinafter called the
crank pin, is passed through each piston rod at a point which, at midstroke,
coincides with the "line of intersection."
On that part of each pin which projects beyond the piston rod into the space
between the said rod and the next piston rod (but not so far as to come into
collision with the latter) is mounted one end of a link ab² attached with its
other end to the pin projecting similarly from the contiguous piston rod at a
corresponding point of its length. These links and crank pins are by preference
made in one piece or otherwise rigidly connected together, and will then be found
to form a multiple throw crank, the throw of which is equal to half the stroke of
the piston rods.
The balanced casting formed by the cylinders (or on which they are mounted) is
pivoted on fixed hollow trunnions which contain the bearings for the crank
shaft D¹, these bearings are situated eccentrically to the circumference of the
trunnions or out of line with their centre, which is on the "line of intersection," I,
to the extent of a quarter of the piston stroke, the throw of the cranks which
connect the piston rods being equal to half the stroke of the pistons. The con-
nection of the driving shaft D', passing through these bearings, with either end of
the multiple throw crank is made by an arm d¹ d', hereinafter called a "driving
arm," the said arm being of a length (measured from centre to centre of pins, that
is from centre of driving shaft D' to the centre of the adjacent crank pin a¹ or c¹)

page_text: "
equal to one quarter of the stroke of the piston rods, and at such an angle, that in
*the extreme position of any of the rods the prolonged axis of the "driving shaft
passes through the axis of the rod which is in this extreme position (or through
the prolonged axis of such rod) at a distance from the line of intersection equal to
one quarter of the piston stroke and between the "line of intersection" and the
crank pin of that rod. The driving shaft extends in one or both directions through
the trunnions to the outside.
It will be found that, on applying pressure to the pistons, each piston rod is
allowed to move in a straight line and inasmuch as it is so guided or constrained
that it can only move in this one straight line in its own plane and towards or
from the line of intersection, it at the same time forces the frame carrying the
cylinders to revolve, and for each complete revolution of this frame, the crank
shaft D¹ is caused to make two revolutions.
In further describing my invention reference will be made to the accompanying
drawing, in which Fig 3 is a longitudinal vertical section and Fig 4 an end
elevation of a three-cylinder engine embodying my invention. Fig-5 is a section
along line X Y of Fig 3. A, B and C are the three cylinders; a, b and c are the
corresponding crank pins of the multiple throw crank, which forms one piece with
the driving shaft D. E is the balanced casting which supports the cylinders or
forms one piece with the same. F, F are the hollow trunnions serving as pivots
for the casting E and containing the excentric bearings G, G' for the crank and
driving shaft D.
The projecting trunnions F, F' upon which the frame revolves, may be attached
to the sides of a casing which encloses the frame and allows sufficient space for
the rotary motion of the same. But in the engine illustrated by the drawing, each
trunnion forms one piece with the corresponding bearing G of the driving shaft
and rests on a pedestal H or H¹ formed on the bed plate J..
The said casing may be made approximately cylindrical, and form in its lower
part a receptacle for holding oil or other lubricant, or such water of condensation
as may come from the exhaust, which may be allowed to escape within the casing,
but the exhaust may also be arranged to escape into the centre of the frame E,
namely the space in which the cranks work, and thence through one of the
trunnions to the outside.
The drawing shows the latter arrangement, the inlet of steam, and the outlet of
exhaust being indicated by the arrows.
A passage for the admission of steam or other working fluid is formed in the
trunnion--which-communicates-through-a-properly packed joint with a steam
chest near the cylinders. Any convenient form of valve or valves may be used for
distributing the steam to the cylinders, for instance by admitting the steam first
into one cylinder, where it is partially expanded and then admitting it through a
convenient form of valve to another cylinder, larger than the first, and in which
the steam is further expanded.
*
The steam chest K is preferably placed in front of the cylinders, and provided
with an adjustable circular valve L fitted between the valve face of the cylinders
and the back of the valve chest, as shown by Figs 1 and 5. This valve is excentric.
to the trunnions F, Fi and held stationary, so as to periodically open and close the
steam ports.ma, mb and mº and the exhaust ports n³, nb, no of the cylinders during
the revolution of the latter.
This circular mushroom valve L is held in position by a ring or strap M secured
to the bed plate J by a hinge joint N or other suitable means, and a regulating
screw attached to a bolt O is used to hold it, (Fig 5) and to vary its position
relatively to the ports, when required. For altering the cut-off in the cylinders, it
is only necessary to loosen the bolt O, then shift the strap M more or less to the
right or left and fix it in this position by tightening the bolt or screw O.
The steam passage 9 communicates with the 'hollow, trunnion F through an
opening p, and with the steam chest K through the port r. P P¹ are packing rings
between the trunnion F and the casting or frame E.
-

page_text: In the case of six-cylinder engines, the circular valve may serve for all six
cylinders, as will be easily understood.
In six-cylinder engines the piston rods of diametrically opposite pistons may
either be rigidly. connected with each other so as to form one piston rod, or they
may be independent of each other, so as to allow a relative sliding motion in the
direction of their axes, for instance by converting one piston rod into a fork con-
tinued beyond the crank pin and guiding between its two sides or prongs the rod
of the opposite piston; but any other suitable shape of piston rods may be adopted,
as long as they are guided in the direction of their axes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
.
1. An engine having a system of three cylinders distributed round a common
axis of rotation at equal angular distances from one another and adapted to impart
to a parallel shaft two revolutions for every revolution made by the system of
cylinders.
2. An engine having a system of three cylinders distributed round a common
axis of rotation, not necessarily at equal angular distances, and adapted to impart
to a parallel shaft two revolutions for every revolution made by the system of
cylinders.
3. An engine having a system of six cylinders distributed round a common axis
of rotation at approximately equal distances from one another and adapted to
impart to a parallel shaft two revolutions for every revolution made by the
system of cylinders, each pair of diametrically opposite pistons having a common
piston rod.
4. An engine having a system of six approximately equidistant cylinders dis-
tributed round a common axis of rotation, and adapted to impart to a parallel
shaft two revolutions for every revolution made by the system of cylinders, each
piston having a separate piston rod.
5. In multiple cylinder engines, the combination of three or six rigidly connected
cylinders having their axes in parallel planes and adapted to turn on an axis per-
pendicular to the axes of the cylinders, with pistons and piston rods, a triple crank
shaft forming crank pins for the piston rods and placed excentrically to the axis of
rotation of the cylinder in the manner described, bearings for the crauk shaft and
for the cylinders, and means for admitting distributing and discharging the working
fluid as required.
6. In multiple cylinder engines, the combination of a system of three or six
movable cylinders constructed and connected substantially as described, with
pistons and piston rods, a triple crank shaft placed excentrically to the axis of
rotation of the cylinders and forming crank pins for the piston rods in the manner
described, a pair of hollow trunnions or journals adapted to support the cylinders
and forming bearings for the crank shaft as well as passages for the fresh and the
spent working fluid, a circular valve chest, and a circular slide valve placed
excentrically to the trunnions and adapted to distribute the working fluid to the
cylinders. All substantially as described.