IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES HAVING REVOLVING CYLINDERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson 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 STEAM
ENGINES HAVING REVOLVING CYLINDERS. A communication from Elbert A
Corbin and George W. Hunter, persons residing at Philadelphia, in the state
of Pennsylvania, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES HAVING REVOLVING
CYLINDERS."-A communication from Elbert A. Corbin and George W. Hunter
persons resident at Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
This invention relates firstly, to the combination of a plurality of cylinders
and pistons, a driving shaft arranged at an angle with the engine and a universal
joint for coupling the engine with the shaft, the object of this part of the invention
being to obtain direct action of the reciprocating pistons upon the shaft and thereby
dispense with cranks and pitmans.
The invention relates secondly, to the combination of a plurality of cylinders
and pistons, pillars for supporting a rock shaft, and a circular base, so that the
parts of the engine may be bound together as a unit and then coupled with the
driving shaft.
The invention relates thirdly, to the combination of cylinders, pistons, a driving
shaft and means, consisting of a universal joint, for coupling the pistons and
shaft.
The invention relates fourthly, to the combination of the pistons of a revolving
cylinder Engine, a rock shaft supported by pillars firmly connected to the
cylinders, a walking beam and a yoke, these parts constituting the elements of
the engine and of the coupling.

page_text: The invention relates fifthly, to the combination of a pair of cylinders receiving
and exhausting steam at one end, an inclined arbor, and a driving shaft opposite
the other end of said cylinders: the object being a definite means for carrying
out the purposes of the other parts of the invention.
The invention relates sixthly, to the combination of a hollow arbor, a tie rod, a
disc and tightening nuts whereby the base or disc to which the cylinders are
secured may be kept to its seat notwithstanding the wear of the contiguous
surfaces.
The steam cylinders are connected together and by preference divergent, pillars
are attached to the side of the cylinders or to a frame or plate, binding them all
together.
These parts are formed with, or are secured to a circular base or plate having
ports leading to and from the cylinders.
An arbor or bearing is arranged at an angle with the driving shaft. This arbor
may be adjusted slightly by a screw nut.
Through the axis of the bearing is a tie rod, which clamps a disc against the
edge of the cylinders and by means of an outer screw-nut thereon, the parts may
be tightened to compensate for wear between the base of the cylinders and the
steam chest. Ports lead to the steam chest and from the exhaust chamber through
the outer casing.
A rock shaft is supported by the above mentioned pillars to which is attached
a vibrating bar, which is herein called a walking beam. To this walking beam is
jointed a yoke, which is rigidly secured to the driving shaft.
The pistons are made cup shaped and for convenience in assembling the parts,
their rods are coupled therewith by hollow nuts. A casing is provided within
which the engine works. This casing is provided with a duct through which oil
and water or other lubricant may be introduced.
i
At the bottom and within the casing there is provided a well into which the
revolving cylinders project. By partially filling this well with water and then
adding a small quantity of oil, the entire machine-will be kept lubricated-by-the-
agitation given to the liquid upon the revolution of the cylinders. The shaft and
cylinders being at an obtuse angle with each other and being connected by the
jointed coupling described, the admission of steam to one of the cylinders moves
the piston, and it in turn operates the walking beam which through the yoke
imparts a tortional strain upon the shaft and causes it, as well as the cylinders, to
'revolve.

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 21st December 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, G, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES HAVING REVOLVING
CYLINDERS."-A communication from Elbert A. Corbin and George W. Hunter,
persons residing at Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, United States of
America
This invention relates, firstly, to the combination of a plurality of cylinders
and pistons, a driving shaft arranged at an angle with the engine, and a universal
joint for coupling the engine with the shaft, the object of this part of the invention
being to obtain direct action of the reciprocating pistons upon the shaft and thereby
dispense with cranks and pitmans.
The invention relates, secondly, to the combination of a plurality of cylinders
and pistons, pillars for supporting a rock shaft and a circular base, so that the
parts of the engine may be bound together as a unit and then coupled with the
driving shaft.
The invention relates, thirdly, to the combination of cylinders, pistons, a driving
shaft, and means, consisting of a universal joint, for coupling the pistons and
shaft.
The invention relates, fourthly, to the combination of the pistons of a revolving
cylinder engine, a rock shaft supported by pillars firmly connected to the cylinders,
a walking beam and a yoke, these parts constituting the elements of the engine
and of the coupling.
The invention relates, fifthly, to the combination of a pair of cylinders receiving
and exhausting steam at one end, an inclined arbor, and a driving shaft opposite
the other end of said cylinders: the object being a definite means for carrying out
the purposes of the other parts of the invention.
The invention relates, sixthly, to the combination of a hollow arbor, a tie-rod,
a disc and tightening nuts whereby the base or disc to which the cylinders are
secured may be kept to its seat notwithstanding the wear of the contiguous
surfaces.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine made according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a central section showing the pistons respectively at the beginning
and end of their stroke, and other parts in their relative positions.
Figure 3 is a view of the open ends of the cylinders, the yoke being broken
away and set aside so as to show the rock shaft and walking beam.
Figure 4 is an elevation showing a segment of the end from which the shaft
extends.
Figure 5 is a plan of a steam chest showing the exhaust chamber, inlet and
exhaust ports, and an expanded diaphragm between them which serves as a cut-off
so that the steam may be used expansively.
Figure 6 is an elevation with a part broken away showing the end of the engine
opposite the shaft and exhibiting the exterior inlet and exhaust ports.
A, A, are the steam cylinders connected together, and by preference divergent
as shown in figure 2.
B, B, are pillars attached to the side of the cylinders or to a frame or plate
binding them all together.
These parts are formed with, or are secured to a circular base or plate having
ports a, a, leading to and from the cylinders.

page_text: C, is an arbor or bearing arranged at an angle with the driving shaft D, as
shown in figure 2. This arbor may be adjusted slightly by the screw nut b.
Through the axis of the bearing is a tie-rod c, which clamps the disc c³, against
the edge of the cylinders and by means of the outer screw-nut thereon the parts
may be tightened to compensate for wear between the base of the cylinders and
the steam chest. x, x, are the ports leading to the steam chest and from the
exhaust chamber through the outer casing.
E, is a rock shaft supported by the pillars B, B, to which is attached a vibrating
bar F, which is herein called a walking beam. To this walking beam is jointed
a yoke G, which is rigidly secured to the driving shaft D.
The pistons I, I, are made cup-shaped, and for convenience in assembling the
parts, their rods i, i, are coupled therewith by hollow nuts as shown in figure 2.
H, is the casing within which the engine works. This casing is provided with a
duct through which oil and water or other lubricant may be introduced. At the
bottom and within the casing thero is provided a well w, into which the revolving
cylinders project. By partially filling this well with water and then. adding a
small quantity of oil the entire machine will be kept lubricated by the agitation
given to the liquid upon the revolution of the cylinders. The shaft and cylinders
being at an obtuse angle with each other and being connected by the jointed
coupling described, the admission of steam to one of the cylinders moves the
piston, and it in turn operates the walking beam which through the yoke imparts
a tortional strain upon the shaft and causes it, as well as the cylinders, to revolve.
A greater number of cylinders than is herein shown and described may be used
without departing from the principle of the invention.
Revolving cylinders are not herein broadly claimed nor are revolving cylinders
in combination with a shaft in any manner, as such are not new, but what is
herein claimed is :—
1st. The combination of a plurality of cylinders and pistons, a driving shaft
arranged at an angle with the engine, and a universal joint for coupling the
engine and shaft, substantially_as described._.
2nd. The combination herein described of a plurality of cylinders and pistons,
pillars for supporting the rock shaft, and circular base.
3rd. The combination of a plurality of cylinders and pistons, a driving shaft,
and means substantially as described for directly coupling the pistons and shaft
as specified.
4th. The combination of the pistons of a revolving cylinder engine, a rock shaft
supported by pillars, connected with the cylinders, a walking beam and a yoke,
substantially as described.
5th. The combination of a pair of cylinders receiving and exhausting steam at
one end, an inclined arbor, and a driving shaft opposite the other end of said
cylinders, as herein before set forth.
6th The combination of the arbor, tie-rod, disc c, and tightening nuts as herein
described.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.