Improvements in Steam Engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, CLARENCE GLOVER of Laburnam House, Wortley, near Leeds in the County
of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as
follows:-
My improvements have reference to steam engines, and consist in the employment
of one cylinder in working two or a pair of engines, such cylinder being placed
between the two engines and provided with two pistons and their respective piston
rods, which are attached to separate cranks by ordinary connecting rods.
k
When my improvements are applied to steam engines, steam is admitted into the
cylinder between the two pistons at the centre of such cylinder, which forces such
pistons outwards, and the exhaust steam from the centre may be conducted from
between the two pistons to the ends for moving such pistons inwards, or steam may
be admitted alternately at the centre and ends of the cylinder by ordinary slide
valves.
The crank shafts of the two engines are geared together so that their motion may
be simultaneous, but the engines when preferred may be thrown out of gear with
each other, and either of such engines may be worked whilst the other is standing.
Dated this 18th day of October 1888.
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, CLARENCE GLOVER of Laburnam House, Wortley, near Leeds in the County of
York, Manufacturer, 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 :-
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal section and elevation.
Fig. 2 a transverse section through A. B Fig. 1. Fig. 3 a transverse section through
C. D. Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a plan looking at the top.
My improvements have reference to steam engines, and consists in the employment
of one cylinder A in connection with two or a pair of engines, such cylinder A being
placed between the two engines and provided with two pistons B and C, and their
respective piston rods D and E which are attached at their outer ends to separate
cranks by ordinary connecting rods.
F and G are the inlet valves for steam, and H the exhaust valve, such valves being
actuated from the revolving shaft I by means of the cams or tappets J and K fixed
thereon in suitable positions, such cams or tappets come in contact with projecting
pieces or bosses L and M fixed on the valve spindles Nand O, actuating then thereby.
In starting the engines the steam valves F and G are opened, allowing steam to pašs
into each end of the cylinder A, at P and Q, whereby the pistons B and C are forced
towards the centre of the cylinder, at the same time the exhaust valve H is opened,
allowing the steam or air between the two pistons B and C to pass off at such
exhaust.
When the pistons B and C have arrived at the end of their inward strokes, or at
a suitable part thereof, the steam valves F and G, also the exhaust valve H are closed
and the valves R and S opened, the steam being then allowed to pass from the
ends P and Q of the cylinder A into the centre between the pistons B and C, allowing

page_text: the pistons to perform the outward stroke, and in order to complete such stroke the
valves R and S are closed before the termination thereof, and the valves T and U
opened, which communicate with the condenser, allowing the remaining steam to pass
off into such condenser and so assist in the movement of the engines.
The steam valves F and G also the exhaust valve Hare again opened, and the other
valves in succession, thereby the movement of the engines are continued.
The valves R and S, and T and U are operated from the shaft I in a similar manner
to that described for the steam and exhaust valves.
The crank shafts of the two engines are geared together so that their motion may
be simultaneous, but the engines when preferred may be thrown out of gear with
each other, and either of such engines may be worked whilst the other is idle.
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
The arrangement and application of one cylinder A having two pistons B and
working therein, and the means employed for operating the same, substantially as and
for purposes herein set forth.
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant.