Improvements in and relating to Steam Engines, and more particularly to Direct Acting Steam Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Engines, and more
particularly to Direct Acting Steam Engines.
I, JOHN VIRTUE RICE, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Edgewater Park, County of Burlington, and State of New Jersey, one of the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improvement in steam engines, and more particularly
to that kind or class known as direct-acting, its object being to provide an engine
whereby with a simple organization, easy action, small size, light weight, few
parts, and cheap and economical running, a high efficiency and great rapidity of
operation may be developed, and the invention consists in the construction, arrange-
ment and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the annexed drawing illustrating my invention:
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved engine in partial horizontal section on
the line y y of Figure 3.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line a of Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a left hand end elevation of the engine as represented in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional inner elevation on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Figure 3 it being similar to
Figure 1, but showing the parts in a different relative position, the engine being
reversed.
Figure 6 is a right hand elevation of the engine as represented in Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the interior of one of the piston heads.
Figure 8 is an elevational view of one side of one of the ratchet discs.
Figure 9 is an elevational view of the other side of said disc..
Figure 10 is a view of the inner face of one of the piston head covers.
Figure 11 is an enlarged detail section on the line w w of Figure 2.
Figure 12 is an enlarged section of one of the ratchet discs on the line v v of
Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 13 is a transverse section on the line uu of Figure 2.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the stop blocks.
Figure 15 is a cross section of the same on the lines of Figure 16.
Figure 16 represents a front view of one of these blocks and two reverse
sectional edge views taken on the line t t of the front view.
Figure 17 is a detail horizontal section showing the parts in a position different
from what they occupy in Figures 1 or 5.
Figure 18 is a plan view of the engine partly in section.
Figure 19 is a horizontal section of a modification of my improved engine.
Figure 20 is a right hand end elevation of the form of engine shown in Figure 19
with the pulley at that end removed.
Figure 21 is a cross section on the line of Figure 19.
Figure 22 is a side elevation of the modified form of my improved engine shown
in Figure 19.
Figure 23 is an enlarged cross section on the line y y of Figure 19.
Figure 24 is a transverse section on the line of Figure 23.
Figure 25 is an enlarged cross section on the line
Figure 26 is an end elevation and
of Figure 19.
Figure 27 is a cross section of one of the internally ribbed discs or sleeves.
CHAL. Lottous
throughout
the

page_text: figures of the drawing from 1 to 18 inclusive; and likewise similar reference
letters denote similar parts in the figures from 19 to 27, inclusive.
In the example of my invention presented in the drawings from Figures 1 to 18,
inclusive, A designates the cylinder of an engine of the single cylinder direct-acting
type, said cylinder A being open ended to the atmosphere, there being at each end a
suitable skeleton or other frame arranged to support certain of the mechanical parts.
Midway of the length of the cylinder, A, is a transverse partition or
diaphragm B-see Figures 2 and 5 and especially the detail view on Figure 13.
This partition B is suitably channeled or provided with passages so that there
may be an inlet on the top at band exhaust outlets on each side of the cylinder
at, all of which is clearly shown in Figure 13. The steam which enters the
passage b finds its way into the cylinder through suitable ports or openings in the
partition, B, as shown in Figure 2, said ports being controlled by a valve B,
consisting preferably of a flat strip arranged to rotate by being provided with
journals B B having bearings in the partition. The exhaust likewise takes place
through these ports and therefore the valve B¹ regulates both the admission and
exhaust of steam. As shown in Figure 2 it permits the space on one side of the
diaphragm to communicate with the steam inlet for the admission of steam, and
the space on the other side of said diaphragm to simultaneously communicate
with the exhaust passages for the outlet of the exhaust steam. When the valve
shifts a reverse condition takes place and steam is allowed to enter at the other
side of the partition.
Within the cylinder, A, is a double headed piston. C and C' denote the piston
heads which are hollow and are connected together by a tube of suitable length
and diameter. This tubular connection passes through a perforation in the centre
of the partition, B, a stuffing box being provided to form a tight fit and prevent
leakage during the reciprocatory movements of the piston.
Each of the piston heads C and C', is provided with a cover plate G removably
secured thereto by means of bolts or any other suitable devices. An outer
face view of one of the plates G is shown in Figure 4 and an inner face view in
Figure 10. These covers are provided with a pair of oblong openings G¹ G¹
through which play the beveled projections on the stop blocks whose construc-
tion and function will be presently explained. On the outer face of the covers, G,
is a spring, Q, carrying a pin which projects through an opening in the cover
and enters a hole in the stop block. This spring serves as a catch to hold the
stop block from being displaced. The tension of this spring is easily overcome
when the block is shifted. Said block has two holes as seen in Figure 14 so that
the pin may engage one of them when the block is in one position and the other
when block is in the other position. The mere shifting of the block operates
to disengage the pin therefrom inasmuch as the spring which carries the pin
is of an easy tension and therefore the movement of the block is amply sufficient to
throw the pin out of the hole.
Inside of each of the piston heads C and C, is loosely located a ratchet disc
which has the function of a clutch for connecting the piston at the proper time with
a rotative shaft in such a manner as to impart a movement to the latter which in
turn transmits motion to the valve. In Figure 12 one of these ratchet discs is
shown enlarged in a detail view and in Figure 11 its position within the piston
head is distinctly illustrated. F indicates these ratchet discs there being one of
them in each head. They each have a sleeve H which lies within the tubular
connection D, said connection being provided with interior stops d against which
the inner ends of the sleeve may abut. The periphery of the disc is preferably
inclined or beveled on each side as shown and for a purpose which will soon appear.
Each disc on its face adjacent to the sleeve, H, is formed with a circular ratchet
or circular series of teeth or indentations, said teeth or dentations being formed
within a circular groove so that they lie below the surface of the disc face. See
Fig. 8.
The piston head is provided on its inner face with a corresponding series
of ratchet teeth or dentations e projecting from the surface of the head and adapted

page_text: to engage teeth f' when desired. It may be proper to state at this point, what is
sufficiently obvious from an inspection of the drawing that these sleeved ratchet
discs, being loosely placed have a certain range of movement permitted them
within their respective heads, so that at times they are engaged with the ratchet
teeth on the head and at times are disengaged therefrom. Each disc, moreover,
on its face opposite the sleeve and towards the piston cover, G, is provided with
another series of ratchet teeth f, which project from the surface of the disc face.
See Fig. 9, also Figs. 11 and 12. The cover, G, of the piston head is provided on
its inner face with a corresponding series of ratchet teeth or indentations which
are formed within a circular groove so that they lie below the surface of the face
of the cover.
See Fig. 10 and these teeth y are directly opposite the disc teeth
and adapted to be engaged thereby at the proper time. In Figs. 1 and 2, the
teeth and care shown engaged when we look at piston head C, and looking at
the piston head C in Fig. 11, we see teeth and c in engagement, whereas in
viewing piston head C, in Fig. 5, we see teeth fand in engagement with each
other. Thus it will be seen that these sleeved ratchet discs are adapted to shift
back and forth, so as at different times to be connected with the teeth on the head
proper, at other times with the teeth on the cover plate, and at other times
occupying a position between these two where they are not connected with either
set of teeth, but are held or kept in this latter position by means of the stop blocks
to be presently described.
The sleeved ratchet discs are provided with internal ribs of a partially spiral
form and denoted by hand -see Fig. 12. These spiral ribs are adapted to engage
spiral grooves e and e' on a longitudinal shaft E, located centrally within the
cylinder and supported at each end in bearings in the end frames. This spirally-
grooved shaft, E, passes through the piston heads and also through their tubular
connection. It has collars next to its hearings to prevent end wise displace-
ment and its said bearings for the ends E' E' are screwed into the frames, one of
them as R, for instance being adjustable by rotation so as to take up any wear
that may occur.
The spiral grooves e and e¹ on the shaft E run in opposite spirals
from each end and meet and cross at the middle of the shaft, said middle portion
being provided with both spiral grooves so that both sleeved ratchet discs may
travel over this part.
On one end of the shaft, E, which as is evident, performs the function of the
drive shaft as well as the other functions which have been and may be attributed
thereto is located, outside of the end frame a drive pulley E which is to be belted
to the drive device. On the other end of the shaft is a pinion, L, which engages
the internally cogged rim, k, of a governor wheel, K, turning on a stud /, projecting
from the main frame. To this governor wheel are pivoted the weights, M, M,
having springs m' m', and on one weight is a projection m which connects by a
universal joint with a pitman rod, j, whose other end is pivotally fastened to one
arm of a bell crank lever, J, pivoted on the main frame and having its other arm
pivoted to a link 1, having preferably a yoked end i, so formed that it may pass
around the steam inlet pipe and said yoke i, is pivotally connected to a transverse
shaft, a', whose ends are attached to arms, a a, secured to the journals or pins B2 of
the valve B', see Fig. 13. In this manner the movement of the shaft, E, in its
rotation is transmitted to the valve which supplies and cuts off the steam.
There is also located within each of the hollow piston heads what I term a stop
block or reversing block, the function of which is to assist in reversing and also in
controlling the proper position of the ratchet disc, holding the same disengaged
from both sets of ratchet teeth whenever needful. One of the stop blocks is
shown in perspective in Fig. 14 and the detailed construction is brought out clearly
therein and in Figs. 15 and 16. They consist simply of a suitably-shaped block, N,
adapted to rest in the piston head loosely enough to permit a certain amount of
horizontal movement or sidewise play. The block has a central opening n, large
enough to allow the ratchet disc to pass into and partially through the block when
the latter is placed in position, The periphery of this opening, n, is beveled on

page_text: opposite sides of the block with oppositely located inclines to provide sloping
faces, n², which faces it will be seen are substantially parallel to each other, but
lie on opposite sides of the ratchet disc and the beveled edges of said disc are
adapted to come in contact with said faces n' n³ although said faces are not near
enough together to allow the disc to touch them both simultaneously and one or the
other is brought contiguous to its adjacent edge of the disc by the horizontal
shifting of the block. It may be further stated that these faces n' and n² form
stops, they being so located that they are brought into use separately as occasion
requires to prevent the disc from being engaged with one or the other set of ratchet
teeth according to the movements of the engine and when one stop is acting the
other is out of the way so that although the disc cannot engage with one set of
teeth, owing to the interposition of the block, yet it may engage the other set of
teeth and this continues until the block shifts its position in reversing the engine
all of which will be more clearly understood as soon as I describe the operation
of the engine. Each of the reversing or stop blocks is provided with a pair of
pointed or inclined-faced projections OO, which project through the openings, G¹G',
in the covers, G, and play sidewise in these openings whenever the blocks shift.
Further it will be seen that a horizontal lever, P, is pivoted at one end of the
engine said lever having two inclined projections, 77, and that another similar
lever, P1, is pivoted at the other end of the engine, said lever, P1, having a couple
of inclined projections, the two levers P and P1, being connected by a link, p.
Lever P, has a handle S, provided with a catch, s, engaging the segment, S. The
projections, 79, and also the projections, r, are so situated as to be struck by the
inclined projections, OO, on the blocks, N. So long as the levers P and P¹ retain
one position, the contact of projections OO with projections, 7 q and rr, will not
effect anything for they will simply touch them at each stroke, but whenever the
engineer desires to reverse the engine and lays hold of handle, S, and reverses the
levers, then at the next reciprocation of the piston the points of each block will
strike the respective levers and the inclines of one projection, O, will ride up the
incline of one projection q, and on the return stroke the inclines of a projection, O,
on the other block will ride up the incline of one projection and thus blocks, N,
will be shifted in different directions and caused to occupy their other positions
where they will act as stops for the ratchet discs.
The operation of my improved engine will now be described. Suppose the
valve, B³, to be in the position shown in Fig. 2, with steam entering through
inlet in the direction of the arrow shown in full lines into the interior of
cylinder, A, between the diaphragm or partition and the piston head C. This
will actuate the piston toward the right as indicated by the arrow, the piston
head C going ahead. See Fig. 2. Such movement of the piston will cause the
loosely-placed sleeved ratchet disc F, within head C¹, to engage its set of teeth"
with the ratchet teeth c, on the head, C', as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11 while its
tecth,, will not be engaged with teeth, g, and thus the disc, F will be kept from
revolving and caused to pursue a rectilinear movement along with the piston head
and as said disc is connected with the spirally-grooved shaft by the internal spiral
rib working in the spiral groove, the latter shaft will revolve in the direction
shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. With the other ratchet disc which is in piston
head, C, a reverse condition of parts will obtain during this movement of the piston
for both sets of the ratchet teeth of the disc are disengaged from both sets of
teeth on the head, the teeth, ", becoming disengaged from teeth, c, the moment
this piston movement begins and the teeth,, being prevented from engaging with
teeth, g, by the stoppage of the disc, F, against the stop block, N, adjacent thereto,
so that during this reciprocation this ratchet disc will revolve idly. Again, we are
now supposing that the levers, P and P₁ occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 and
that the stop block in piston head, C, keeps the disc therein free during the
reciprocation to the right and the stop block in piston head, C', keeps the disc
therein free during the reciprocation to the left. Further the twist of the shaft E,
consequent upon the advance of the piston rotates pinion, L, and governor

page_text: wheel, K, and motion is thereby transmitted through pitman, j, bell crank, J,
link, I, rod, a', and arms, a a, to valve, B, which gradually rotates so that by the
time the piston reaches the limit to its stroke the steam will have been cut off from
entering into space between partition, B, and head, C¹, and directed into space
between partition, B, and head, C, the valve assuming the position shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 2, and thus opening the exhaust so that the steam which has done its
work against piston head, C', can find its way out through the exhaust. So much
for what takes place at one reciprocation of the piston which for the sake of
explanation we have chosen to consider as its first movement toward the right hand.
We will now explain the reverse reciprocation. The steam now entering against
head C will drive the piston towards the left. The reverse movement of certain
of the parts will now occur. The ratchet disc within head, C1, will have both sets of
teeth disengaged from the teeth on the head, C, thus setting it free and permitting it
to revolve idly with shaft E. Its position at this time is shown in Fig. 17 where it
will be seen how the stop block serves to hold the disc and keep teeth from
engaging teeth, g, which engagement would naturally take place if the block were
not so located to prevent it (and which engagement actually does take place when
the engine is reversed and the block shifted out of the way). The ratchet disc
within piston head, C, however now operates in the same manner that ratchet disc
in head, C, did during the other reciprocation. Its teeth, /, are now engaged
with teeth, g, on the piston lead so that revolution of the disc is prevented and
consequently a rotary movement is imparted to the shaft, E, and since this end of
the shaft is provided with spiral, e, which is the reverse of spiral e', on the other
end of the shaft, the direction of rotation of the shaft, E, is the same as it was
during the last reciprocation. Consequently the same movement of the valve, B',
takes place as did during the other stroke and hence when the piston gets to the
end of its reciprocation to the left, the valve will have been so changed as to
permit another reciprocation to the right to begin immediately. Also it is plain
that so long as the engine is not reversed, the shaft, E, will revolve in the same
direction and a very high speed of revolution will be attained. The governor
which I have described will regulate and control the speed in the usual manner.
In actual practice I have already attained a speed of four thousand revolutions
per minute so that my engine is especially adapted for use where very great speed
is required.
We will now briefly consider what takes place when the engine is reversed. To
reverse, the engineer simply takes hold of the handle, S, and throws the
levers, PP, from the position shown in Fig. 1, to the position in Figs. 5 and 18.
During the first reciprocation after reversal, the blocks, N, N, will obviously
remain in the same positions as they were before, but as soon as the inclined
projections, OO, strike the points on the levers standing in their way and now
changed in position these blocks, NN, will be shifted horizontally so as to take the
position shown in Fig. 5 instead of those depicted in Figs. 1 and 17 and the blocks
will maintain these positions until again caused to slide at another reversing.
Suppose now we are observing the piston as it makes a reciprocation to the right
in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 5. The ratchet disc, F, in piston
head, C, is disengaged from both sets of teeth on the piston head because the
stop block in its new position holds the disc in this way during the reciprocation
to the right, whereas before reversal the stop block kept the disc in head, C',
disengaged during the reciprocation to the left. Looking again at Fig. 5 we see
that the disc, F, in head C, has its teeth, f, engaged with J- Hence the shaft E
will be caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, which direction is
opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft, E, in Fig. 2.
When the piston
moves to the left the disc, F, in head, C', will have its teeth, /, engaged with
teeth, g and shaft E will continue its rotation as shown the disc, F, in head C
being now free. Further the motion through the governor and leverage will be
transmitted to the supply valve as before, causing it to supply and cut off the steam
in the necessary way. Thus it will be seen that the engagement of the ratchet disc

page_text: with the piston covers, causes shaft to rotate in one direction while its engage-
ment with the teeth on the inside of the head proper causes said shaft to rotate in
the reverse direction.
In the modified form of my invention as represented in Figs. 19 to 27 of the
drawings inclusive, A designates the cylinder of any suitable shape and kind.
Midway or thereabouts of the length of the cylinder, A, is a transverse partition
or diaphragm B-see Figs. 19, 21 and 22. This partition is suitably channelled or
provided with passages so that there may be an inlet on the top at b, to which a
steam-conveying pipe may be coupled and also there may be the exhaust outlets on
each side of the cylinder at see Fig. 21. The steam which enters the inlet
finds its way into the cylinder through suitable ports or passages in the partition B
as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 22, said ports being controlled by a valve, B¹,
consisting preferably of a flat strip arranged to rotate by being provided with
journals B2 B2 having bearings in the partition B. See Fig. 21. The exhaust
likewise takes place through these ports and therefore the valve B' regulates both
the admission and exhaust of steam.
Secured rigidly to the projecting ends of the journals B2 B2, are short arms, a a
which are pivoted to links a' a'-see Fig. 22-extending longitudinally in each
direction towards the ends of the cylinder where they are pivotally connected to
arms cc' which are secured to the ends of horizontal shafts c c supported in suitable
bearings at the ends of the cylinder-see Figs. 20 and 22. These shafts c c are
also provided with short inclined rigid projections or arms that lic in such a
position as to be struck by the projections shown in dotted lines in Fig. 22 on
the heads of the piston as said heads during their movements near the ends of each
stroke. The contact of the projections with the projections ²² at each end
of the stroke will through the intermediate connections which I have described,
operate to shift the valve B' and cut off and supply the steam in the proper manner.
Of course this is only one of many ways of operating the cut off and supply valve.
I give it simply as an example. It is an easily arranged and inexpensive con-
trivance and will operate as successfully as other more complicated forms which
might be employed.
Within the cylinder A is a double headed piston. C and C' denote the piston
heads. They are hollow and connected together by the central tubular connection D
which may be of any suitable length and diameter. This tubular connection passes
through an opening in the center of the partition B where a suitable packing is
provided to form a tight joint.
Referring to Figs. 19 and 21 it will be noted that the hollow piston heads, C
and C are also connected together by small tubes or pipes, J, J, Lcated on each
side of the central tubular connection D. Said tubes JJ, are secured at each end
to the inner faces of the heads C and C and they are also rigidly connected to or
formed integral with the flat plates or webs which connect them horizontally
with the tubular connections D, as represented clearly in Fig. 21. It will thus be
seen that the hollow piston heads C and C are connected together by the large
tube D, the smaller tubes, JJ, and the connecting plates or webs jj and that all
these parts move through suitable openings in the central transverse diaphragm,
which openings are properly packed so that there is a tight joint to prevent the
escape of steam. Each of the piston heads C and C¹ is provided with an outside
cover G. Through the tubular connection D, as also through both the piston
heads C and C passes a longitudinal spirally grooved shaft E which is supported
at each end in bearings in the end frames of the cylinder. This shaft is preferably
provided with collars next to its bearings to prevent end wise displacement and the
said bearings are preferably screwed into the frames as shown in Fig. 19. The
shaft E has the spiral grooves e and e¹ which run in opposite spirals from each end
of the shaft and meet and cross at the middle of the shaft, said middle portion
being provided with both spiral grooves, so that both of the internally ribbed disks
or sleeves may travel over this part. The tubular connections J J are employed
for the purpose of enclosing the horizontal parallel rods I I, which forms a part of

page_text: the reversing mechanism of the engine. These rods are preferably square in
cross section as shown. They are supported at each end in suitable-bearings in the
end frames of the cylinder and at those points are arranged so as to provide neat
journals which can turn nicely in their bearings so as to permit an easy and con-
venient oscillation of the shafts whenever it is desired to partially rotate them.
These shafts are provided at points inside of the cylinder heads with devices
arranged to engage the movable arms belonging to the clutch rings which are
located within said piston heads and accordingly the vibrations of the rods I I
operate to tighten or loosen the clutch rings, all as will be hereinafter fully
explained when we come to describe the construction and function of said rings.
The adjacent ends of the rods II at one end of the cylinder as shown in Figs. 19
and 20, are provided with the rigid arms II' which are connected together by
means of the link 12. [designates a hand lever rigidly connected to the end of
one of the rods I and immovably relative to the arm connected to the end of
said rod. designates a notched sector which is adapted to be engaged by a
catch g on the hand lever 1³. Lever I is intended to occupy either the position
shown in full lines in Fig. 20 or that shown in dotted lines in said figure. When it
occupies the position shown in full lines, then the several parts of the engine will
be arranged so as to rotate the shaft E in one direction. When the hand lever 1
is in the position shown in dotted lines, then the several parts of the engine will
have been changed or reversed so that the shaft E will be driven in the opposite
direction. Thus it will be seen that the engine can be simply and easily reversed
at any time by simply manipulating the hand lever I in the proper manner.
main shaft E is preferably provided at one end with a band wheel E' and at the
other end with a pulley E.
The
Within each of the hollow piston heads C and C₁ is an internally ribbed or
feathered block or sleeve, disk or nut, as it may be indifferently termed, which
surrounds the horizontal shaft, E, and has its ribs in engagement with the grooves
of said shaft. These blocks or sleeves are preferably of a cylindrical or disk
form. One of them is shown in elevation in Fig. 26 and in section in Fig. 27.
H designates the cylindrical int rnally ribbed disks which preferably have the
sleeve-like extension which projects within the tubular connection D. Inside of
the disk is a spiral rib and this is in engagement with the grooves e and e' of the
shaft E as the case may
bc.
Within each of the hollow piston heads are also two clutch rings, L L which
encircle the disks H H and at times tightly grip the same, while at other times
they relax their hold and are loose thereon. When one or the other of each of
these pairs of clutch rings is gripped upon its disk, then as the piston advances, the
result of the rectilinear movement of the disk will, owing to its engagement with
the shaft, cause the latter to be rotated. When the disk is clutched by neither
of the encircling clutch rings, then as the piston moves forward the said disk will
rotate idly. Adjacent to each of the rings, L, is a lever K which occupies a
position preferably parallel to a tangent of the ring L, the levers, K belonging to
each pair of rings being situated in opposite inclined positions as shown. The ring L
is split or divided at one point and the two contiguous ends thereof are enlarged,
one of them forming a shoulder, L and the other forming the enlarged extension, L₁,
which is pivoted within a slot cut in the curved end of the adjacent lever arm, K,
which end of the lever arm is provided with a hook-like projection K' which
depends behind the stop or shoulder L' so that whenever the said lever arm K is
properly moved to accomplish such a result, the shoulder L will approach nearer
to the end L' and thus the two contiguous ends of the split ring will be brought
close together and consequently the ring will clutch tightly upon the disk which
it encircles. Whenever the point, K, is moved more or less from behind the
shoulder L, then the resiliency of the spring metal of the clutch ring will cause
the shoulder L to recede from the part L' and thus the ring will lie loosely upon
the disk which it encircles. Each of the lever arms K is provided at its lower end.

page_text: It
with a slot k, on one side of which is a series of a greater or less number of teeth,
forming a rack k¹.
On each of the horizontal rods I, within the hollow piston
heads is located a short segment gear, sleeve or tube N, whose teeth are adapted
to engage the teeth of the rack on the inner edge of the slot k of the arm K.
will thus be seen that as the rods II rotate, the teeth being in engagement with
the teeth, the result will be to actuate the arins K. M designates a flat spring
bent into the form of a loop and having one end riveted to the ring L, while the
opposite end is riveted to the adjacent portion of the lever K. Furthermore, another
flat spring m secured on the inside face of the cover of the piston head or to some
other convenient part, bears upon the upper pivotal end of the lever, K, as shown
in Fig. 23. All, four of the clutch rings are constructed similarly and adjacent to
them are four lever arms K constructed in the manner that I have specified, all the
parts being equipped for service in the manner that I have just indicated.
When the rods II occupy the position shown in Fig. 19 with the lever handle 13
in the position indicated, then it will be observed by referring to Fig. 23 and also
to Fig. 25, both of which are cross sectional views and look inwardly upon the
arrangement of the clutch ring within the piston heads, how the said clutch rings
are disposed for operation at this time. It will be seen that one clutch ring in each
piston head will be in its operative position while the other is in its idle position,
that is to say, one of the levers K-the right hand one shown in Fig. 23-will be
up and thus the euds of the clutch ring separated and the clutch ring idle, while
the other lever K-that is the left hand one in Fig. 23-will be down, which will
cause the ends of the corresponding clutch ring to be close together and nearly in
actual contact.. Also by referring to Fig. 25 it will be seen that the right hand
lever K is down and consequently the ends of the corresponding clutch ring are
close together, almost in actual contact, and thus the said clutch ring is in operative
position, while the other clutch ring having the lever handle K shown at the left
hand of Fig. 25 is so arranged in consequence of the elevation of said lever, that its
ends are separated and therefore the clutch ring is idle. Therefore looking again
at Fig. 19 we see that the left hand clutch ring in the right hand piston head, that
is, the piston head C is in operative position, while the right hand clutch ring in
piston head C¹ is in its inoperative position and that the left hand clutch ring in the
piston head C is in operative position, while the right hand clutch ring in the piston
head C is in its inoperative position.
Having thus finished fully the description of the construction and arrangement
of all the several parts of the engine and having indicated in some measure the
mode of its procedure for practical operation, I will now add a few words relative
to the exact operation of the engine when it is doing actual work. Suppose for
instance that the piston is moving towards the left in the direction shown by the
arrow in Fig. 19. We have already seen that the reversing mechanism is so placed
that the left hand clutch rings in each piston head are in operative position, while
the right hand clutch rings are in their inoperative positions. These clutch rings
have been so placed that the contiguous ends near the split in each one are almost
in contact, although not quite so. Now as the piston starts to move in the direction
shown by the arrow in Fig. 19, the tendency of the disk or nut encircled by the
left hand ring in piston head C¹, will be to rotate in consequence of its connection
with the shaft, but such rotation will be incipient merely, because at the first
impulse, the disk nut or block will act frictionally on the inside of said left hand
ring in such a manner as to cause the contiguous ends thereof adjacent to the split
to be thrown together and quite into contact or nearly so, whereby the ring will
bind upon the disk, clamping or gripping same firmly and preventing rotation, so
that instead of having the disk rotate, the forward action of the piston will cause
the shaft to rotate. The spring bearing upon the top of the left hand ring assists
in clamping it frictionally upon the disk and the more work the shaft has to
perform, the more the friction and the tighter the grip. It will be evident that
when the disk is clamped to the ring the tendency will then be for the disk to turn

page_text: the said ring and its arm around with it, but the bolt or rod that lies in the slot in
the arm prevents this and the said slot at the bottom of the lever arm admits of the
tightening or loosening of the clutch ring.
So much for the position and action at this time of the disk within the left hand
clutch ring of piston head C'. Now observe the simultaneous position and action
of disk or nut which is encircled by the left hand ring within piston head C. Said
nut being located on the reversely-cut spiral of the shaft will manifestly have a
tendency to rotate in the direction contrary to that of the rotation of the disk of
which we have just been speaking. Such reverse rotation will not however produce
the same clamping effect upon the encircling ring as is produced by the rotation
of the other disk because it will cause the disk or nut to act frictionally on the
inside of the ring in such a manner as to throw the contiguous ends at the split in
the ring away from each other or in other words to keep them separated, thereby
keeping the clutch ring loose and unclutched upon the disk during the entire
reciprocation of the piston.
Having now observed the operation of the parts during the first reciprocation of
the piston to the left, we proceed to notice it during the next reciprocation toward
the right hand. When this piston begins the return stroke in the opposite
direction the disks or nuts being made to move in the opposite direction rectilinearly
from what they were before, will of course rotate or have tendencies to rotate in
directions opposite to what they did before. The result will be that the nut or
block which is encircled by the left hand clutch ring in piston-head C, will, instead
of revolving idly, become the active actuating agent for the shaft during this
stroke, because revolving as it does in a direction opposite to what it did during
the other stroke, it will cause the encircling ring to clutch or grip it tightly since
the contiguous ends at the split in said ring will be drawn together and the friction
of the block on the inner periphery of the ring will bind ring and block together.
Also it will be noted that the disk or nut which is encircled by the left hand clutch
ring in piston head C, will now revolve idly, its direction of rotation not being the
proper one to cause the clutch ring to bind frictionally thereon. In this way the
shaft during the successive reciprocations of the piston will be rotated continuously
forward or in the same direction. Whenever it is desired to reverse the direction
of rotation of the shaft E, the operator can lay hold of the handle 13 and shift it
over into its other position and the result will be to bring the other clutches which
have heretofore stood idle, into action they being the right hand clutch rings in both
piston heads and therefore the result of their operation will be to revolve the shaft E
in the other direction.
Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, proportion, size, etc.
of the various parts of my improved engine without departing from the invention
and I reserve the liberty of varying the construction in its details to suit the.
exigencies and demands of different cases.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In an engine having a spirally grooved shaft which is rotated by means of an
annular surrounding reciprocating piston intermittently clutched to or connected
therewith, the piston having two hollow heads united by a tubular connection,
substantially as described.
2. In an engine, the linear reciprocating piston having two hollow heads joined
by a tubular connection in combination with the cylinder, the spirally grooved
rotary shaft passing axially through the piston and its tube and means for inter-
mittently making connection between the piston and the shaft whereby the latter
is rotated by the reciprocations of the former, substantially as described.
3. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston, a tubular
connection between the heads, a spirally grooved shaft running through it, and an
internally ribbed ratchet disc in each piston head engaging the shaft and adapted
B

page_text: to automatically clutch the piston heads so that the shaft may revolve as the
piston reciprocates and a valve operated by said shaft to supply the steam, sub-
stantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
4. In an engine, the combination of the cylinder, a double headed piston, a
spirally grooved shaft, an internally ribbed ratchet disc in each head engaging the
shaft and intermittently engaging the head and a reversing stop block likewise in
each piston head, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
5. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose
heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a spirally grooved shaft and
ratchet disc and stop block in each piston head, substantially as described and
shown in Figures I to 18.
6. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston therein whose heads
have a tubular connection, a spirally grooved shaft running through the same, a
valve operated by said shaft to supply the steam and a ratchet disc and stop block
in each piston head, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
7. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a grooved shaft running through the same,
a valve connected to and operated by the shaft, a governor between the shaft and
valve and a ratchet disc and stop block in each piston head, substantially as described
and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
8. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are hollow
and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely-running spiral
grooves and located through the piston, sleeved ratchet discs having internal spiral
ribs to engage the shaft and teeth to engage corresponding teeth on the piston
heads and a stop block in each piston head, substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1 to 18.
9. The combination of an open ended cylinder having a central transverse
partition, a double headed piston whose heads are hollow and have a tubular con-
nection and are on opposite sides of the partition, a spirally grooved shaft running
through the piston, a ratchet disc and a stop block in each piston head and a valve
connected by intermediate means with the shaft, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 1 to 18.
10. The combination of the partitioned cylinder, a double headed piston whose
heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely
running spiral grooves and located through the piston, sleeved ratchet discs having
internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to
engage corresponding sets of teeth on the piston heads and a stop block in each
piston head, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
11. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston moving therein, having
hollow heads connected by a tubular connection, a grooved shaft passing through
the piston and a disc permanently connected to the shaft and intermittently con-
nected to the piston so that the reciprocations of the piston may rotate the shaft,
and a valve for supplying the steam, and also a suitable governor, substantially as
described.
12. The combination of the partitioned cylinder, the double headed pistons whose
heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely
running spiral grooves, sleeved ratchet discs having internal spiral ribs to engage
the shaft and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding sets of
teeth on the piston head and a stop block in each piston head having suitable
connections and pointed projections, substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1 to 18.
13. The combination of the cylinder, a double headed piston whose-heads are
hollow and are provided with slotted covers, said heads having likewise a tubular
connection, a shaft provided with oppositely running spiral grooves, the sleeved
ratchet, discs having internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft, sets of teeth on their
opposite faces to engage corresponding sets of teeth on the piston heads and
beveled edges to engage inclines on the stop blocks together with a stop block in

page_text: each piston head having projections located within the slots of the piston covers,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
14. The combination of the cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a spirally grooved shaft running through the
piston, the ratchet disc having sets of ratchet teeth, a stop block arranged within
each piston head, in connection with the ratchet disc, said stop blocks having
inclined projections and the reversing leverage adapted to operate in connection
with the inclined projections of the stop blocks, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 1 to 18.
15. The combination of the partitioned cylinder, a double headed piston whose
heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely
running spiral grooves and located through the piston, sleeved ratchet discs having
internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to
engage corresponding sets of teeth on the interior of the piston heads, a stop block
in each piston head having oppositely located inclines and pointed projections, the
reversing leverage in connection with which the pointed projections of the stop
blocks operate, the valve for supplying and cutting off the steam to the cylinder
and the leverage and gearing connections between said valve and the grooved
shaft, all arranged so that during the reciprocations of the piston, said shaft may
be caused to revolve in the same direction except when the engine is reversed,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
16. The combination of the partitioned cylinder, the piston moving therein, the
spirally grooved shaft, a ratchet disc and a stop block within each piston head, a
valve for supplying steam and connections between the valve and the shaft consisting
of a disc on one end of said shaft, an internally cogged governor wheel engaging
said dise, a pitman rod connected to the governor by a universal joint, a bell crank
pivoted to the other end of said rod and a link connecting one end of said crank
with arms on the valve journals, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1
to 18.
17. The combination of the cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely running
spiral grooves, sleeved ratchet discs having internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft
and sets of teeth on their opposite faces, to engage corresponding sets of teeth on
the piston heads, a stop block in each piston head, a supply valve for the steam, a
pinion on one end of the grooved shaft, a governor for regulating the speed, said
governor being geared to the aforesaid pinion and leverage connections between
the governor and supply valve, substantially as described and shown in Figures 1
to 18.
18: The combination of the cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft having spiral grooves therein and
located through the piston, ratchet discs within each head having internal spiral
ribs to engage the shaft and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corre-
sponding sets of teeth on the piston heads, a stop block in each piston head which
blocks have pointed projections and the reversing leverage consisting of levers
pivoted at each end of the cylinder and provided with pairs of inclined faces in
connection with which the stop block connections operate, substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
19. The combination of a steam cylinder having open ends and a central
transverse partition, a piston having hollow heads which are connected by means of
a tubular connection, said heads being situated on opposite sides of the central
partition and the said tubular connection working through an opening in the central
partition, a spirally grooved shaft running through the tubular connection and
means for connecting the aforesaid piston heads to this spiral shaft for the purpose
of revolving it, together with a valve operated by said shaft to supply the steam
and a ratchet disc and stop block in each piston head, substantially as described
and shown in Figures. 13 to 18:
20. In an engine; the combination of a cylinder; a double headed piston whose

page_text: heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a spirally grooved shaft passing
through the piston and a disk or block and a clutch ring in each piston head,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
21. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston moving therein, a
spirally grooved rotary shaft passing axially through the piston and a clutch ring
for intermittently making connection between the piston and the shaft, substantially
as specified and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
22. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston moving therein having
hollow heads connected by a tubular connection, a grooved shaft passing through
the piston, a circular block or disk having an internal rib or feather whereby it is
permanently connected to the grooved shaft, and a split ring pivoted to an arm
connecting with the piston head, whereby the circular block is clutched and
intermittently prevented from rotating and caused to impart a rotation to the
grooved shaft, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
23. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose
heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositely
running spiral grooves and located through the piston, internally ribbed blocks or
disks located within the piston heads and permanently connected to the grooved
shafts and a pair of split rings in each piston head encircling the aforesaid blocks
or disks said rings being pivoted to movable arms and being adapted to clutch the
disks for the purpose of preventing them from rotating and causing a rotation to be
imparted to the grooved shaft, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19
to 27.
24. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a central tubular connection, and also two other tubular connections
on each side of the central one, a grooved shaft running through the central tubular
connection, rods running through the side tubular connections, a block or disc
within each head engaging the grooved shaft, clutch rings surrounding said blocks
and arms to which said clutch rings are pivoted said arms being engaged by the
aforesaid rods, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
25. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow, a grooved shaft having grooves running in opposite spirals, a circular block
or disk H within each head engaging the grooved shaft and a clutch ring or
rings L divided at a certain point in their circumference and adapted to clutch
said block or disk H, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
26. The combination of a steam cylinder having open ends and a central transverse
partition, a piston having hollow heads which are connected by means of a central
tubular connection, said heads being situated on opposite sides of the central
partition and the said tubular connection working through an opening in the
central partition, a spirally grooved shaft running through the tubular connection
and means for connecting the aforesaid piston heads to this spiral shaft consisting
of clutch rings encircling circular blocks or disks which are permanently connected
to the grooved shaft and intermittently connected in this way to the piston head,
together with a valve operated in any suitable manner to supply the steam,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
27. The combination of a steam cylinder having open ends and a central
transverse partition, a piston having hollow heads which are connected by means of
a central tubular connection and two side tubular connections, said heads being
situated on opposite sides of the central partition and the side tubular connections
and a joining web on each side of the central connection between it and the side
ones all working through an opening in the central partition, together with a
spirally grooved shaft running through the central tubular connection, the reversing
rod running through the side tubular connections and means for connecting the
aforesaid piston heads to the central spiral shaft for the purpose of revolving it,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
28. The combination of a steam cylinder, a piston having two hollow heads con-
nected by a central tubular connection, and two side tubular connections, a grooved

page_text: spiral shaft running through the central connection, reversing rods running through
the side tubular connections and provided within each head with geared sleeves,
the circular disks or blocks internally ribbed to engage the spiral shaft, a divided
clutch ring in each head encircling said disk and a movable arm pivoted to said
clutch ring and engaged by the aforesaid gear sleeve on the reversing rods,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
29. The combination of a steam cylinder with the piston having two hollow heads
connected by a tubular connection, circular blocks or disks located within said head
and having internal ribs which connect them with the spiral shaft which runs
through the pistons, a pair of clutch rings within each head encircling the said
block or disks and an arm pivoted to each of the said clutch rings and engaged at
its other end by a reversing rod, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19
to 27.
30. The combination of a steam cylinder, a piston having hollow heads con-
nected by a central tubular connection, the spirally grooved shaft E running through
said piston, the internally ribbed disks H, situated within the hollow heads and
permanently connected to the shaft E and the clutch rings L within the hollow
heads and encircling the disks H, together with the arms K pivoted to said clutch
rings and operating as specified to cause said rings to clutch or to release their
hold, together with the reversing rods which operate to govern the position of the
levers, K, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
31. The combination of a cylinder, a piston moving therein having hollow heads
connected by a tubular connection, the internally ribbed disks, H, the grooved
shaft E to which said disks are permanently connected, the ring L encircling the
disks within the hollow heads, said rings having at one end the extension L' and at
the other the shoulder L', a lever arm K pivoted to the extension L' of the ring L,
and having a depending projection K' operating against the shoulder L³, said
lever K being slotted so that a rack connection may be provided with a reversing
rod which passes through it,, substantially as described and shown in Figures 19
to 27.
32. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston moving thereon having
hollow heads connected by a tubular connection, a grooved shaft passing through
the piston, a block or disk on the shaft and a split ring for clutching the said block
so as to cause the reciprocations of the piston and impart a rotation to the shaft,
substantially as described and shown in Figures 19 to 27.
33. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein a grooved
rotary shaft passing axially through the piston and a ratchet device for inter-
mittently making connection between the piston and the shaft, substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
34. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston moving therein, a
grooved rotary shaft passing through the piston and a ratchet disc which is
internally ribbed to permanently engage the shaft and is intermittently connected
to the piston so that the reciprocations of the latter may rotate the shaft, substan-
tially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
35. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, a grooved
rotary shaft passing through the piston, a ratchet device for intermittently making
connection between the piston and the shaft and a reversing stop block, substan-
tially as described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
36. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a grooved rotary shaft passing axially
through the piston and a ratchet mechanism in each head for intermittently making
connection between the piston and shaft, substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1 to 18.
37. The combination of a cylinder, a double headed piston whose heads are
hollow and have a tubular connection, a grooved rotary shaft passing through
the piston and ratchet discs having internal ribs to engage the shaft and teeth to

page_text: engage with corresponding teeth on the piston heads, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 1 to 18.
38. The combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, a grooved rotary shaft
passing axially through the piston and a ratchet disk engaging the shaft and
having teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the piston, substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 to 18.
Dated this 15th day of December 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.