Improvements in and relating to Air Power Generators or Compressing Apparatus for Air or Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Air Power Generators or
Compressing Apparatus for Air or Gas.
We, KNUT OTTO BONDE TEXTORIUS, of 558, Tremont Street, Boston County of
Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer, and
JOHN JOSEPHI HOWARD, of 15, Beach Road, Winthrop, County of Suffolk, aforesaid,
Salesman, 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 has for its object the production of apparatus for economically
and rapidly compressing air or other gas designed to be utilized as an expansible
motive medium in any suitable form of engine, the apparatus being so constructed
and arranged that the force of gravity is utilized in effecting the compression of
the air or other gas.
The compressing apparatus is operated initially from or by any suitable source
of power, as for instance an electric or other motor, a steam engine, &c., the
maximum power being necessary only to start the apparatus, overcoming the
friction and inertia of the parts, and after the compressing apparatus has been
started the momentum of a heavy or weighted actuator is utilized to not only
maintain an equable movement of the parts but by or through it the force of
gravity is brought into play to effect the compression of the air by the several
compressing devices.
Fig. 1, in front elevation and partly broken out, represents a compressing
apparatus embodying our invention, the storage reservoir for the compressed air
or gas being shown at the right;
Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in section and partly in edge elevation, of the gyratory
track on which the secondary actuator travels;
Fig. 3, is a top or plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4, is an enlarged vertical section, centrally broken out, of one of the
compression cylinders and co-operating parts;
Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional detail on the line x-x, Fig. 4, to be described;
Fig. 6, is an enlarged vertical section of the common collecting chamber with
which the several compressing devices are connected;
Fig. 7, is a transverse sectional detail taken on the line y-y, Fig. 1, looking
down, to show the parts of the apparatus hidden in Fig. 3;
Fig. 8, is a transverse section taken on the line ¹¹, Fig. 1, looking down,
and
Fig. 9, is a similar sectional view on the line 2-3, Fig. 1.
We have herein shown the apparatus as mounted on a bed plate or base A,
which latter is provided with a series of upright standards or columns A', attached
at their upper ends to a head comprising a circular plate A2 and a parallel ring

page_text: plate A³, rigidly connected and positioned by interposed short columns or struts A',
the struts being preferably located above and practically forming continuations of
the standards A¹.
Upturned and outwardly extended brackets A³, secured to the ring plate A³
of the head, are recessed or shouldered at their upper ends to receive a second flat
ring A larger in diameter than the plates A2, A³, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2
and 3.
On the frame-work, thus described, we support a series of compressing members
or pumps arranged in diametrically opposite pairs, any suitable even number of
such devices being used, and herein for the sake of clearance in the drawings, we
have only shown two sets or pairs, it being understood, as will hereinafter more
fully appear, that the oppositely located compressing devices are coupled or
connected to operate alternately.
At or about the center of the bed plate or base A a receiving chamber B is
mounted, said chamber as best shown in Fig. 6, having an annular flange_b*,
which rests upon a supporting plate b, any suitable packing material 2 being
interposed between the flange and the supporting plate, the chamber being rigidly
attached to the base in any suitable manner, as by screws 3.
This chamber has a common outlet 61 and a series of inlets 63, the latter being
connected or coupled with the outlets of the several compressing devices by
suitable pipes 63, as will be described, the top of the chamber having two upturned
interiorly threaded bosses 6, into which the threaded short posts 65 rigidly
connected at their upper ends to a compound central column A, the enlarged
head a thereof being secured, as by screws 4, see Fig. 8, to the underside of the
plate Aª:"
"
Inasmuch as the several compressing devices are alike only one of them will
be described in detail, and referring to Fig. 4, said compressing device comprises
a hollow cylinder C, having tightly secured thereto upper and lower heads c, c¹,
respectively, the latter having an elongated depending boss and provided with
apertures communicating with the interior of the cylinder.
The upper end or cylinder head e is provided with an inlet
suitable valve 5, as herein shown, normally held in operative
spring 5 to close the inlet c'.
closed by any
position by a
A piston C provided with suitable packing c fits tightly within the cylinder,
said piston having a hollow chamber secured to or formed on its underside into
the lower end of which chamber is secured a tubular piston rods, the latter, at its
lower end, being fitted into a hollow coupling block or union rigidly secured,
as by screws 7, to the base plate A and receiving the outer end of the pipe 63
communicating with the receiving chamber B.
The tubular valve seat co is formed on the upper portion of the piston C
communicating with the chamber c7 and being entered by the triangular stem v¹
of a valve normally held seated by a spring s.
In the present instance of our invention the pump cylinder is reciprocated
relatively to its piston, the latter being rigidly held in position, as described.
Referring to Fig. 4, it will be manifest that when the cylinder is raised, the
partial vacuum created above the piston will permit the external pressure of the
air, acting through the inlet c', to open the valve so that the air can rush into
the cylinder, and when the cylinder begins its downward stroke, the air thus
imprisoned will be compressed and will force the valve firmly against and to
close the inlet opening.
At the same time the pressure of the increasingly compressed air in the cylinder
will unseat the valve so that the air will pass into the chamber and thence
through the hollow piston rod and coupling into the common receiving
chamber B.
For convenience of description the four compressing devices shown will be
designated by the reference letters C, C2, C3, C.
The several cylinders pass easily through holes in the plates A2, A3, and are

page_text: guided thereby at their upper ends during their reciprocation, the cylinders C, C³,
being connected or coupled together, as are the cylinders C3, C4)
Each cylinder is provided with an external ring 2 having oppositely and laterally
extended lugs or pins c¹³ extended into the slots d in the yoke-like or bifurcated
ends of like rocker arms D, D*, extended through vertical slots in the sectional
column A, and fulcrumed to said column at 8 and 10, Fig. 1.
The rocker arm D connects the cylinders C, C2, and the rocker arm D the other
pair, and it will be obvious that when one cylinder of a connected pair is raised,
its fellow will be lowered, and vice versa, it being, clear from an inspection of
Figs. 1 and 9 that the couplings, and hence the several compressing devices,
are arranged symmetrically about the central column A* and equi-distant
therefrom.
"
A reservoir w, Fig. 1, is connected by a suitable pipe w4 with the outlet bi
of the receiving chamber B, said reservoir having a tightly fitting piston w², its
piston rod w² extending upward through a suitable, stuffing box in the top of
the reservoir and having fast upon it a collar or annular flange w upon which
may be piled weights w to obtain the desired degree of compression; the pressure
within the reservoir being indicated by a suitable gage G connected, with the
lower part of the reservoir.
As the several compressing devices operate, they serve to force compressed
air into the receiving chamber B, and when the pressure in said chamber is
sufficient to overcome the pressure of the weighted piston w¹ in the reservoir, the
latter will be raised sufficiently to admit an additional supply of air thereto, the
reservoir inlet being provided with a check valve as usual.
The compressed air from the reservoir is conveyed by means of a delivery
pipe w, Fig. 1, to the engine which is to be driven by the expansive power of the
compressed air or gas.
Brackets a on the plate A2 provide bearings for a horizontal shaft a¹, which
is rotated in any suitable manner as for instance by belting from a suitable
source of power, not shown, passed around a pulley a² on the shaft, the latter
having fast upon it a worm, best shown in Fig. 8, in mesh with a worm gear a*,
fast on a vertical shaft a³, supported by suitable bearings (not shown) upon the
frame-work and extended up for some distance above the head of the main frame
and weighted at its upper end, as at WI.
A block a is secured, as by set screws 12, to the shaft near its upper end and
pivotally connected at a, Fig. 1, with oppositely extended yokes e, to which are
secured, preferably horizontally extended arms e¹, each provided at or near its outer
end, with two depending hangers e², e³, rigidly connected at their upper ends to
the arm e by the T-couplings et tightly fitting the arm el, the lower ends of the
hangers being provided with journal boxes e, for a shaft e provided with a
wheel e to travel on the circular track Aº.
Between each pair of couplings e, the hub f of a fly wheel F is rotatably
mounted on the arm e¹, the hub being provided with a sheave f¹ connected by a
band or other suitable flexible connection with a larger sheave e fast on the
shaft e³.
The two fly wheels Fare diametrically opposite each other, as will be clear
from an inspection of the drawings, and the rotation of the shaft a¹ will, through
the worm and worm gear, rotate the vertical shaft a to thereby cause the
arms and the parts carried thereby to rotate bodily around the shaft a as a
center.
As the wheels e are thus made to travel over the track A, they will be rotated,
and the rotation of the shafts 5 thus effected will be transmitted through the
flexible connections 2 to the fly wheels F so that the latter will not only rotate
bodily about the vertical center of the apparatus, but they are also rotated on
their own axes, the direction of axial rotation being in the direction of bodily
travel of said wheels.

page_text: These fly wheels serve to equalize the motion of the apparatus and to prevent
jerks in its action.
The head c of each of the compressing cylinders is socketted to receive the
shank g of a roll carrier g, shown most clearly in Fig. 4, said carrier having
upturned ears g³, g³, to receive between them the pivot stud or axle of
an anti-friction roll g, the inner faces of the ears being flared at their upper
ends.
A gyratory annular track G rests upon and is supported by the several rolls g³, the
latter being arranged radially to the shaft a³ and held in such position by set
screws 15, Fig. 4, we have designated the track as a gyratory track for the reason
that it describes a gyratory movement, as will be described, the rising and falling
of the several carrier rolls go corresponding to the gyrations of the track.
The inner face of the track is flanged at its upper and lower edges, as at 98, g²,
Fig. 2, and on such inner face of the track travels the secondary actuator H,
the primary actuator of the apparatus being the motive power which operates to
rotate the shaft a¹.
.
The secondary actuator is shown as a hollow drum rotatably mounted on an
arm h, pivotally connected at its inner end by a yoke h¹, to the vertical shaft a³,
the outer end of the inclined arm h being herein shown as provided with a
depending arm h³ provided with a cross piece h³ on which additional weights,
as H, may be hung, if desired, to increase the power of the secondary actuator H.
It will be manifest by reference to Fig. 3, that the gyratory track and the
carrier rolls g³ therefor are within the fixed track A6, so that said carrier rolls
may rise and fall and the track G gyrate without interference by the fixed track A6,
and referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the lateral arms e¹, which carry the
fly wheels F, are always a fixed angular distance from the arm h of the secondary
actuator by reason of their several connections with the vertical shaft a³.
The hollow drum H is shown for convenience as made in two halves, with
their closed ends outward, and we have herein shown a heavy metal sphere H¹³,
see full lines Fig. 1 preferably solid, as inclosed in the drum and free to move
therein, the object of this construction being to get a heavy actuator, but to bring
the main portion of the weight below the centre of rotation h, and as near as
possible to the gyratory track G.
By varying the size of the sphere, H2, the effective weight of the actuator can
be varied according to circumstances.
If desired the drum may be provided with one or more internal, annular
compartments, in each of which a spherical weight may be placed.
The flanges 8 and 9³ serve to prevent displacement of the actuator H, the inner
face of the flange 99 being beveled to correspond with the inclination of the
periphery of the drum.
In order to prevent the weight of the actuator from tipping the track G and
thereby lifting it from off the carrier roll farthest removed from this secondary
actuator, we provide a retaining device, comprising a detent wheel M rotatably
mounted on an arm m, connected with the shaft a by a coupling ml, Fig. 7, the
arms m and h being somewhat less than one hundred and eighty degrees apart,
as herein shown, said wheel M traveling on the gyratory track and maintaining
the latter seated on its carrier rolls by virtue of the weight M³ carried by the
outwardly extended end of the arm m.
Between the secondary actuator and the track retaining device, described, a second
arm n is connected by a coupling n' with the vertical shaft a³, said arm also having a
wheel N to travel on the gyratory track in advance of the secondary actuator,
and weighted, as at N, Fig. 3, the two arms m and n, being retained from lateral
displacement by a chain or other flexible connection 20, Figs. 2 and 3, attached
at its ends to the opposite couplings et, as herein shown, and to the arms m and n
at or near their extremities, such flexible connection in no wise interfering with
the vertical movement of the arms during the gyrations of the track G.
The arrow 25, in Fig. 3, indicates the direction of rotation of the shaft a5 and

page_text: the parts connected therewith, that is to say, the radial arms e', m, n and h and
the several parts carried by said arms, it being remembered that the secondary
actuator H, the track retaining wheel M and the depressing wheel N are all
moved bodily in the same direction while they rotate about their own axes.
The point of contact of the secondary actuator and the track G is never at any
instant at the lowest point of such track but a little behind it, so that as the
secondary actuator is moved in its horizontal path by the rotation of the shaft a³,
the weight of said actuator on the track tends to give a gyratory motion to the
latter, which latter motion is transmitted through the several carrier rolls to
the compression cylinders one after another, and the compression of the air is
effected in a very economical and uniform manner.
The friction between the secondary actuator and the gyratory track, and
between the latter and the supporting rolls therefor is rolling friction, and
therefore the power of the primary actuator required to overcome friction is
reduced to a minimum so that the power thus made effective is utilized in effecting
the bodily movement of the secondary actuator and the other rotating parts of the
apparatus.
In other words the constant tendency of the actuator is to find the lowest point
of the track, but by means of the gyratory movement of the track this lowest
point is always maintained in advance of the point of contact of the secondary
actuator.
The depressor N operates to assist the secondary actuator or increase its effective-
ness, it being, of course, manifest that the action of gravity through the actuator
serves to depress one compression cylinder after another as the actuator H is moved
through its horizontal path of travel.
We are thus enabled to utilize the power of the primary actuator_applied
through the shaft a¹ in a very economical and effective manner, inasmuch as the
momentum of the secondary actuator tends to keep it in motion after the apparatus
has been started and has gained its normal speed of movement.
Our invention is not restricted to the particular number of compressing devices
herein shown but it is requisite that there be an even number, substantially
radially arranged, and coupled together in pairs so that the compressing action
of one of a pair takes place during the suction movement of its fellow.
The greatest effort due to the weight of the secondary actuator is exerted on the
compressive movement of a pump to overcome the greater resistance offered at
such time.
The lower ends of the compressing cylinders are made open or apertured, as has
been described, in order to allow free ingress or egress of air to the cylinder on the
lower side of the piston at each stroke.
We have not herein shown in detail any special means for making the various
joints and other portions of the apparatus air-tight, as any suitable packing
means may be employed.
The sleeve ho on the arm his provided with the socket member 12 of a ball
and socket joint, the ball member being formed on or secured to one end of a
brace rod member 13, made in two parts and connected by a turn buckle h, the
other member 5 of the brace rod being connected by a ball and socket joint h¹
with one of the couplings e of the equalizer.
By means of the turn buckle, the rod can be tightened as needed, and the
actuator H is maintained in proper angular relation with the equalizer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of compressors the
movable members of which are connected in pairs to reciprocate alternately, a
gyratory annular track supported by the movable members of the compressors and
disposed in an inclined plane, a weighted wheel located to travel upon said

page_text: gyratory track, means for supporting and for operating the wheel, and means to
prevent the track from tipping during the travel of the wheel.
2. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of compressors the
movable members of which have bifurcated portions at their upper ends, a
gyratory annular track adapted to be supported between the bifurcations, a
weighted member mounted to travel along said gyratory track, means to support
and to effect travel of the wheel along said track, and means to prevent the track
from tipping during the motion of the weighted member along the same.
3. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of compressing
devices each including a reciprocatory member, a gyratory track located to act
against said reciprocatory members, a rotative member adapted to travel along
the track and having a preponderance of weight below its axis and also disposed
at an angle to the track, and means for supporting and for causing the travel of
said rotative member.
4. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air compress-
ing devices, each including a reciprocatory member, a gyratory track located to
act against the respective reciprocatory members, a shaft, a second shaft connected
to the first mentioned shaft and provided with a weighted arm, and a weighted
member rotatable on said second shaft and mounted to travel upon said gyratory
track.
5. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a main frame compris-
ing a base plate, upright standards, and a head carried by the latter, a receiving
chamber on the base plate, a series of compressors radially arranged about said
chamber, each compressor including a cylinder and a valved piston therein, a
fixed, hollow piston rod therefor communicating with the receiving chamber, and
a vertically movable cylinder having an inlet valve, a rocking arm mounted on a
fixed pivot and connecting the cylinders of opposite compressors, a series of
bifurcated members connected to the upper ends of the cylinders, and provided
with supporting devices between the branches thereof, a gyratory, annular track
adapted to rest upon said supporting devices, an actuator adapted to roll upon
said track, means to move said actuator bodily in a substantially horizontal,
circular path, whereby the weight of said actuator will operate to depress the
cylinders one after another, and means to retain the upper portion of the track
in place.
6. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of compressors including
movable members, a gyratory annular track adapted to actuate the movable
members of the compressors and disposed in an inclined plane, a shaft provided
with oppositely disposed arms having equalizing wheels, a weighted member
adapted to travel upon the gyratory track and connected to one of said arms and
also to said shaft, means to prevent the track from tipping, and means to cause
the rotation of the equalizing wheels during the travel of said weighted member.
7. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a plurality of com-
pressors disposed in a circle, each compressor including a vertically reciprocatory
cylinder having a fixed piston, a common receiver connected with and adapted to
receive compressed air from said compressors, the cylinders of opposite pairs
being connected to reciprocate alternately, an inclined annular track resting upon
the upper ends of said cylinders and also a flange having a beveled inner face, a
vertical shaft, means to rotate said vertical shaft, a rotative actuating member
connected with said shaft and having a beveled periphery adapted to roll against
the beveled face of said flange, and having a preponderance of weight below its
axis of rotation, an equalizing mechanism connected with said shaft including two
diametrically opposite fly wheels, and means for rotating the fly wheels during
the travel of said rotative member.
8. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of compressors the
movable members of which are connected in pairs to reciprocate alternately, a
gyratory, annular track mounted on the movable members of the compressors, and
lying in an inclined plane, means to impart gyratory movement to said track, a

page_text: fixed, horizontal track, and an equalizer rotatable thereupon, said equalizer
including one or more fly wheels rotatable about a horizontal axis, and means to
rotate said equalizer bodily and also to rotate the fly wheel or wheels.
9. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air com-
pressing devices, a receiver with which they are connected, a gyratory annular
track supported by the movable members of said devices, an actuator adapted to
move upon and gyrate the track, a shaft provided with oppositely disposed arms
carrying fly wheels, a second shaft connected to the first mentioned shaft and
supporting said actuator, an adjustable connection between said second shaft and
one of the arms, and means to rotate said fly wheels during the travel of said
actuator.
10. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of com-
pressors arranged in a circle, the movable members of said compressors being
connected in pairs to reciprocate alternately, an annular, gyratory track supported
by the movable members and lying in an inclined plane, a centrally disposed,
vertical shaft, an actuator connected therewith and adapted to roll on and to effect
gyratory movement of the track, the lowest point in said track being always
maintained in advance of the point of contact of the actuator and the track, and
an auxiliary roll adapted to travel on the track and in advance of the lowest point
of the latter, connections between said roll and the vertical shaft, and means to
rotate the latter to thereby move the actuator and auxiliary roll in a substantially
horizontal, circular path.
11. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a main frame having
a circular, horizontal head, a fixed annular track mounted thereupon, a centrally
disposed, vertical shaft, a frame connected therewith and carrying diametrically
opposite fly wheels mounted to rotate on horizontal axes, rolls on said frame to
travel on the track, connections between said rolls and fly wheels to rotate the
latter on their axes, a plurality of compressors, each comprising a fixed and a
movable member, the latter being adapted to reciprocate vertically in bearings
in the head, connections between the movable members of opposite pairs of com-
pressors, whereby they will be reciprocated alternately, a gyratory, annular track
mounted on the upper ends of the movable members and the compressors, and
lying in an inclined plane, and a heavy actuating roll adapted to travel upon the
gyratory track and gyrate the same, and therethrough operate the compressors one
after another, a connection between said roll and the vertical shaft, whereby the
roll is bodily moved in a circular, horizontal path as the shaft is rotated, and
means to rotate said shaft.
12. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air
compressing devices, a gyratory track co-operative with the air compressing
devices, a weighted actuator mounted upon said gyratory track, a shaft provided
with oppositely disposed arms carrying fly wheels, a support for said actuator
connected to said shaft and also to one of said arms, a horizontal circular track
located outside of the first mentioned track, rotative driving means adapted to
travel upon and to be operated by said last mentioned track, and connections
between said rotative driving means and the fly wheels for operating the latter.
13. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air com-
pressing devices, a gyratory track co-operative with the air compressing devices,
a weighted actuator mounted upon said gyratory track, a shaft provided
with oppositely disposed arms carrying fly wheels, a support for said
actuator connected to said shaft and also to one of said arms, a horizontal
circular track located outside of the first mentioned track, rotative driving means
adapted to travel upon and to be operated by said last mentioned track, and con-
nections between said rotative driving means and the fly wheels for operating the
latter, two weighted arms located at relatively remote points from the weighted
actuator and serving to prevent the tipping of the gyratory track, and flexible
connections between said weighted arms and the first mentioned arms.
14. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air com-

page_text: pressing devices, connected in pairs to compress alternately, a common receiver
connected with said devices, an axially rotatable, drum-like actuator movable in
a circular, horizontal path, a spherical weight loose in the actuator, a gyratory
track interposed between the compressing devices and the actuator and on which
the latter rolls, and means to move said actuator bodily to thereby gyrate the track
and operate the compressing devices.
15. The use in an apparatus for compressing air or gas, of a series of air com-
pressing devices, a common receiver connected therewith, an annular, gyratory
track mounted on the upper ends of the movable members of said compressing
devices, a rotatable drum-like actuator movable in a horizontal plane and adapted
to travel upon and gyrate the annular track, a spherical weight freely movable
in the actuator, and means to move said actuator bodily.
Dated the 18th day of August 1899
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55/56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.