Improvements in Atmospheric-vacuum Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Atmospheric-vacuum Engines.
We, JOSEPH KNAPPER, and STEWART B. MARTON, both of Whitney,
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Inventors, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to atmospheric-vacuum engines; the object of the invention
being to provide better valve mechanism than that heretofore employed.
By this invention, we combine with the cylinder, a circular valve casing which is
entirely open at its top and incloses a flat valve-seat. Opposite cylinder ports
open into the valve-seat and project into each end of the cylinder; and a central
vacuum exhaust port communicates with the centre of the valve seat between the
ports and a vacuum apparatus.
An oscillating valve registers with the open valve casing which forms a bearing
therefor. The valve has atmospheric ports which extend vertically therethrough,
and it has also a vacuum exhaust groove extending across it at right angles and
formed in the bottom face thereof. This exhaust groove connects one of the
cylinder ports with the central vacuum port while an atmosphere port registers
with the other cylinder port.
A bearing bracket is arranged over the valve. A valve rod or stem is secured at
its lower end to the centre of the valve and has its upper end turning in said bearing
bracket. A spiral spring is arranged upon the stem over the valve to hold it upon
its seat.
The piston rod has an upwardly-extending valve controlling arm, and is adapted
to come into contact at intervals with tappets on a rod connected to the valve.
Dad thin 20th dow of Antil 1893
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Atmospheric-vacuum Engines. -
We JOSEPH KNAPPER and STEWART B. MARTON of Whitney, Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Inventors 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 engines, and particularly to that type operated by
atmospheric pressure and a vacuum.
It is the main object of this invention to provide an engine of this character which
may not be used in its ordinary capacity for driving machinery, but also may be
used as a pump for ventilating purposes, collecting the foul air and discharging
the same.
With these and many other objects in view which will readily appear as the
nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel con-
struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described,
illustrated and claimed.
-
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an atmospheric-vacuum engine connected with an
ordinary vacuum apparatus, as contemplated by this invention.

page_text: .
Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. of the engine cylinder and valves.
Fig. 3, is a bottom plan view of the oscillating valve.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-A represents a cylinder supported
upon suitable supports B, and provided with the usual opposite heads C, one of
which accommodates the piston rod D working through the stuffing box and
gland E in said head and carrying the solid piston F, working within said cylinder.
The said steam cylinder is provided with the opposite end ports G, which open
into said cylinder at opposite ends thereof and communicate with the bottom of the
. circular valve casing or seat located upon the top of said cylinder. A centraf
vacuum exhausting port I is formed on the body of the cylinder and communicates
with the interior of said valve casing H between each of the opposite ports G
opening therein, and is connected by suitable and ordinary piping with a vacuum
chamber or vessel K, in which a continual vacuum is maintained by an ordinary
steam ejector L connected therewith, but any suitable means for creating a vacuum
and maintaining the same within a suitable vessel connected with the vacuum
port I, may be employed.
Snugly seated within the circular valve seat or casing H, is the circular
oscillating cut-off valve M which is held in its seat by atmospheric pressure and
is steadied in its movement back and forth by means of the downwardly pressing
spring N; mounted on the valve stem n and bearing thereagainst & the bearing
bracket n receiving the upper end of the valve stem.
The solid valve block M is provided with the opposite atmospheric ports or
openings extending vertically through the valve and adapted by the oscillation
of the same to register alternately with the opposite ports G opening into each end
of the cylinder A.
The said circular valve block M is further provided with a right angle vacuum
connecting or exhaust groove or passage P, which is designed to connect one of the
cylinder ports G with the central vacuum ports I, while the opposite cylinder port
registers with one of the atmosphere ports O. A reversal or quarter turn of the
circular valve block changes the relation of the ports and connects the opposite
end of the cylinder with the vacuum exhaust port, while the other end of the
cylinder is receiving the ordinary atmospheric pressure in its.turn. It will be
readily seen that as the valve M is oscillated a vacuum will be immediately formed
upon one side of the piston F, and the ordinary pressure of the atmosphere admitted
on the other, alternately, Motion will be thus communicated to the piston and
piston rod and the machine put in motion, and energy equaling about twenty-eight
pounds to the square inch being attained by forming a vacuum upon one side of the
piston and having the pressure of the atmosphere upon the other.
It will be noted during the operation of this engine that. no heat whatever is
connected with the same and that the pipes carrying the vacuum can be set long
distances from the vacuum apparatus and lose no power by condensation of steam in
the pipes as would be the case in ordinary steam engines, thereby accomplishing
the work on ordinary light power engines used for pumping and other purposes
with better advantages.
The piston rod D is provided with an upwardly extending arm Q, provided with
an upper bearing 9. receiving and working over the valve. rod R..
The said valve rod is connected at r to the top of the oscillating valve M near
one edge thereof, and is provided with the tappets S, which are engaged by the
- said. arm. Q at the end of each stroke of the piston, thereby.alternately reversing
said valve to acquire the operation herein described and set forth.
The construction, operation and advantages of the herein described atmospheric-
- vacuum engine. are thought to be apparent without further description.
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 :-
In an atmospheric-vacuum engine, the combination of a cylinder having a circular

page_text: valve casing entirely open at its top and inclosing the flat valve seat, opposite
cylinder ports opening into said valve seat and each end of the cylinder and a
central vacuum exhaust port communicating with the centre of said valve seat
between the ports and a vacuum apparatus, an oscillating valve registering with
said open valve casing, which forms a bearing therefor and provided with
atmosphere ports extending vertically therethrough and a right angle vacuum
exhaust groove formed in the bottom face thereof and connecting one of the
cylinder ports with the central vacuum port while an atmosphere port registers
with the other cylinder port, a bearing bracket arranged over the valve, a valve
rod or stem connected at its lower end to the center of the valve and having its
upper end turning in said bearing bracket a spring arranged upon said stem over
said valve to hold the same to its seat, the piston rod having an upwardly extending
valve controlling arm, and a valve rod pivotally connected to the top of said valve
and provided with tappets engaged alternately by said arm, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 21st day of Janname 1901