Improvements in and relating to Air-compressors.
Year: 1889

page_text: te of Application. 8th Oct.. 1889-Accepted. 9th Nov. 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by URIAH CUMMINGS, of No. 376, Whitney Avenue,
New Haven, Connecticut, Manufacturer, and ALLSTON GERRY, of 40, Wall
Street, in the City and State of New York, Merchant, both of the United States
of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Air-compressors.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 that class of air compressors which aro employed for
compressing air to a high pressure by a reciprocating piston moving in a cylinder.
The objects of my invention are to produce an air compressor which contains
compound cylinders for the steam and air, and which can be run at a high rate of
speed to increase the compressing capacity of the compressor, and effect a corre-
sponding saving of fuel, to improve the construction of the air valves and their
actuating mechanism and to improve the automatic regulator by which the supply of
steam to the compressor is controlled.
The said invention comprises improvements which will be hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved air compressor.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of one end of the cylinders and connecting.
parts on linex of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross section on line ¹¹ of Figure 4..
Figure 6 is a side elevation of one end of the cylinders and connecting parts, on
an enlarged scale, showing the steam valves of the air valve mechanism in section."
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section on line y, y, of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on line
showing the arrangement of the steam ports.
Figure 6, on an enlarged scale,
Figure 9 is a cross section in line y' y figure 4, looking outwardly.
Figure 10 is a cross section of the regulating mechanism, on line y, y², Figure 2
on an enlarged scale.
Figure 11 is a cross section on line of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a cross section on line y³ ³ of Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the compressor the with steam and air pipes removed.
Figure 14 is a vertical cross section on line 1 x of Figure 2. on an enlarged
scale.
Figure 15 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of the automatic
regulator.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the frame of the compressor secured at its base to a bed or
foundation A and having longitudinal side walls a and vertical end walls a² a².
B B' represent the high pressure cylinders arranged in line and secured at their
inner ends on opposite ends of the frame A to the upper ends of the vertical
walls aa respectively. CC represent the low pressure cylinders arranged
in line and secured at opposite ends of the frame A to the end walls a¹ a²
below the cylinders B B₁ respectively. The inner end of the cylinders B, B¹,
Care
closed by heads b 1,1
C
ام
preferably formed
on
the vertical

page_text: piece, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. & represent heads which close the outer
ends of the cylinders B, C, respectively and which are also preferably formed in one
piece.
The high pressure cylinder B and the low pressure cylinder Care arranged at
one end of the frame A, and the high pressure cylinder B' and the low pressure
cylinder Care arranged at the opposite end of this frame.
D D represent the pistons of the high pressure cylinders B B', and e, e¹, represent
the piston rods which are respectively connected with the pistons D D which pass
through stuffing boxes in the heads of the cylinders B'B'. E, E', represent the
pistons of the low pressure cylinders C C and fif¹, represent the piston rods which
are respectively connected with the pistons E E' and which pass through stuffing
boxes in the heads e c¹ of the cylinders C, C'.
F represents a yoke arranged between longitudinal side pieces a of the frame A
and connecting the piston rods e el of the high pressure cylinders B B₁, and F
represents a similar yoko arranged below the yoke F and connecting the piston
rods ff, of the low pressure cylinders CC. The upper yoke F is provided at one
end with a cross head G which is connected with the piston rode of the high pressure
cylinder B and which moves on guides y secured to the main frame while the opposite
end of the yoke F is provided with an upwardly projecting head g² which the piston
rod e¹ of the high pressure cylinder B₁ is attached. The lower yoke F¹ is provided
at one end with a cross head G₁ which is arranged below the head g of the upper
yoke and to which the piston rod f¹ of the low pressure cylinder is attached.
This cross head G₁ moves on guides . The opposite end of the lower yoke is
provided below the cross head G with an upwardly projecting head g to which the
piston rod of the low pressure cylinder C is attached. The bodies of the yokes F, F¹
consist each of two parallel rods ff respectively having their end screw-threaded
and attached to the cross heads G G and heads g², g', by screw nuts, which permit
of a nice adjustment of the pistons in the cylinders.
represents the main driving shaft of the compressor arranged transversely in the
frame A between the high pressure cylinders, H represents the fly wheels secured to
opposite ends of the shaft. represents a crank formed on the shaft / centrally
between the side walls of the frame A and connected with the cross head G of the
upper yoke F by a rod H'. I represents a crank shaft arranged between the low
pressure cylinders and having its crank I connected with the cross head G¹ of the
lower yoke F by a rod 12.
The two longitudinal rods constituting the main portion or body of each yoke are
arranged sufficiently apart laterally to enable the crank and connecting rod to move
freely between them, and as both bars of the yoke are arranged on the same side of
the shaft with which it is connected, the parts of the yoke are arranged more closely
together than when the two parts of the yoke are arranged on opposite sides of the
same shaft, whereby a more compact construction is obtained and lighter bars can be
used.
I represents a gear wheel secured to the main shaft between one of the fly
wheels H and the frame A and meshing with a similar gear wheel I secured to the
lower shaft I, and whereby motion is transmitted from the main shaft to the lower
shaft in such a manner that the pistons D D₁ of the high pressure cylinders
move in a direction opposite to that of the pistons E E of the low pressure
cylinders.
J represents a vertical wrist plate or disc arranged at one end of the machine on
one side of the cylinders B, C, and mounted on a stud secured to the cylinders B C.
J' represents a similar disc arranged at the opposite end of the machine on the
same side of the cylinders B₁ CT and mounted on a stud secured to these
cylinders.
J2 represents an eccentric secured to the main shaft h, and J3 J represent
eccentric rods connected at their inner ends to opposite sides of the ring Jon
the eccentric J and at their outer ends to the discs J J respectively, whereby the
latter are actuated.

page_text: K represents the main steam supply pipe connected with the upper end of a
regulating device K which will be hereinafter more fully described, and K' K³
represent branch steam pipes connected at their upper ends with the lower portion
of the regulating device K, and at their lower ends with the valve chambers k k¹ of
the high pressure cylinders. These valve chambers are arranged on the upper inner
ends of the high pressure cylinders B B and contain induction valves k² k³.
represent the induction ports connecting the valve chambers with the upper
inner ends of the high pressure cylinders B B respectively, and formed partly in the
lower portions of the valve chambers and partly in the inner heads of the cylinders.
represents a valve chamber formed on the end wall a¹ of the main frame
between the high pressure cylinder B and the low pressure cylinders C. 7 is a port
leading from the high pressure cylinder B to this valve chamber 4ª, and is a port
leading from this valve chamber to the low pressure cylinder C. is a valve
arranged in this valve chamber whereby the flow of steam from the high pressure
cylinder to the low pressure cylinder is controlled.
10 represents a similar valvo chamber arranged on the opposite end of the machine
between the high pressure cylinder B and the low pressure cylinder (and provided
with similar ports and a valve
L represents the exhaust chamber formed on the lower inner end of the low
pressure cylinder with which it communicates by a port 1. represents the exhaust
valve arranged in the chamber L. L' represents the exhaust chamber formed on
the low pressure cylinder C and provided with an exhaust port 12 and valve 13.
m, m², m² represent arms secured to the stems of the valves and respectively,
and m³
m³, m are rods connecting the wrist plate J with the valve arms mm², m²
respectively. m² m² m² represent arms secured to the stems of the valves 3 13 and 13
respectively, and m° mo m₁ represent rods connecting the wrist plate J' to the valve
arms m m m8 respectively.
When the pistons are moving in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2, the
induction valve of the high pressure cylinder B and the exhaust valve of the
low pressure cylinder C are closed, and the intermediate valve is open and allows
the steam to pass from the upper cylinder B to the lower cylinder C, while the
induction valve 3 of the high pressure cylinder B' and the exhaust valve 3 of the
low pressure cylinder Care open, and the intermediate valve 13 is closed and cuts
off communication between the cylinders B and C. When the pistons have reached
the limit of their movement, the valves k² k³ and l¹ of the cylinders BC are moved
by the eccentric rod Js, wrist plate J and connecting rods m³ m², m², so as to open
the induction valve of the cylinder B, and close the intermediate valve k, and open
the exhaust valve of the low pressure cylinder C.while the valves ³ ³ and 13
of the cylinders B'C' are moved by the eccentric rod J', wrist plate J and con-
necting rods m³, m10, m¹¹ so as to close the induction valve ³ of the cylinder B and
open the intermediate valve Ak¹³ and close the exhaust valve of the low pressure
cylinder C, ready for a return stroke of the pistons.
NN represents steam actuated air inlet valves arranged in chambers a n¹ formed
on the outer side of the heads d d of the high pressure cylinders B B respectively,
and N2 N3 represent similar air inlet valves arranged in chambers n² n³ formed on
the outer heads d' d of the low pressure cylinders CC respectively.
As clearly shown in Figures 2, 47, and 8, each of the air inlet valves N N N N
is composed of a cylindrical portion 22 and an enlarged piston portion n³. The
cylindrical portion n³ moves in a bore n' formed in the casing of each valve chamber
and connecting at its inner end with its respective cylinder. The enlarged outer or
piston portion n° moves in a cylinder n forming part of the valve chamber.
n° represents radial air inlet openings formed near the inner end of each of the valve
chambers n n', n², n³, and through which air is admitted to the respective cylinders
when the valves N N N N are moved. outwardly far enough to uncover these
openings and which are closed so as to cut off the supply of air to the cylinders when
these valves are moved. inwardly to the position shown in Figure 8.
:

page_text: .
.
N N° represent steam actuated intermediate air valves arranged in chambers 10 n11
which are formed on the lower portions of the heads dd and connect at their
inner ends with the high pressure cylinders B B¹, respectively. The valves N N
alternately open and close the communication between the high and low pressure
cylinders, and are constructed similar to the valves N N N N³. Each of these.
valves is provided with a cylindrical portion n° moving in a perforated sleeve or
horen and an enlarged outer or piston portion n moving in a cylinder 18 formed in
the outer ends of the chambers n10 n. The bores in which these valves move are
preferably provided with bushings as represented in the drawings.
o represents passages formed in the heads d d of the high pressure cylinders B B¹,
respectively, and partly in the heads d¹³ of the low pressure cylinder U c₁
respectively.
The upper ends of the passages o communicate with the high pressure cylinders B B¹
through a series of openings o¹ formed in the sleeves n' of the valves N4 N5, and at
their lower ends with a chamber o² formed in the upper portion of the heads d¹ d³
of the low pressure cylinders CC respectively. The chambers of are connected
with the high pressure cylinders CC by openings o³ arranged in the heads d¹³
opposite the central portions of the chambers o².
0 0 o represent valve chests secured to the chambers of the air valves N N N
respectively on one side of the machine, and 07 08 0³ represent similar valve chests
secured to the chambers of the air valves N' N' N³ respectively, on the other side
of the machine.
O represents a steam pipe connected to one end of the regulating device K', and
extending downwardly on the inner side of one of the side walls a of the main frame.
This pipe is provided at its lower end with two branch pipes 01 02, which pass
outwardly through the end walls a' a² and thence forwardly and upwardly. The
valve chests o' o on one end of the machine are connected with the branch pipe O¹
by branches 0 0 0" respectively, and the valve chests 07 08 09 on the opposite end
of the machine are connected with the branch pipe 02 by branches 13,
011 015
respectively, as shown in figures 6 and 8. Each of the valve chests 04 03 06 07 08 0" is
provided with steam ports p p leading to opposite ends of the cylinders in which
the valves move, and with an exhaust port p² as shown in figure 6. P represents rock
valves one of which is arranged in each of the valve chests 0 0 0 07 08 0º and
whereby steam is admitted alternately to opposite sides of the pistons nº of the
valves N N N N N N so as to actuate the latter.
As clearly shown in figure 1, p³ p p p p p are arms secured respectively to the
stems of the rock valves P of the air iniet valves N N N N and the intermediate
air valves N N³, respectively. p³ p10 11 represent rods connecting the wrist plate J
with the arms på p p respectively, and pl p¹³ p represent similar rods connecting
the wrist plate J with the arms p p p respectively.
represents an exhaust pipe arranged at one end of the compressor and connected
with the exhaust ports p² of the valve chambers n 10 n² and p represents a similar
pipe arranged at the opposite end of the compressor and connected with the exhaust
ports p² of the valve chambers n' n n³.
QQ represent check valves arranged in the air chambers o² of the low pressure
cylinders CC respectively, and which are adapted to seat themselves in the
openings of the low pressure cylinders C C and close said openings when the
pistons EE move inwardly, while these valves are moved away from their seats
when the pistons E E' approach these valves.
represent air chambers arranged near the upper ends of the high pressure
cylinders B B', respectively. Each of these chambers is provided with two check
or air discharge valves R R¹ which are adapted to seat themselves in outlet
openings formed in the heads and which connect the chambers » »
with the high pressure cylinders B B¹. The valve R is arranged near the top of
the cylinders B B and the valve R' below the valve R on one side thereof, as clearly
shown in figures .3 and 5.. Each of the check valves Q.Q' and R R is provided on

page_text: its back with a horizontal hollow sleeves which moves in a cylinder formed ou
a heads. The latter is arranged opposite the air outlet opening of the respective
cylinder and closes the outer end of the check valve chamber. The cylinders s¹ of
the valves QQ are provided near the inner sides of the heads with openings
which connect the air chambers o³ with the interior of these cylinders s¹, so as to cause
the back pressure to act upon the sleeves of the valves and keep the valves closed.
The cylinders of the check valves R R¹ are provided with similar openings & for
the same purpose.
Each of the check valves QQ R R is privided with a rod for
stemt arranged centrally on the back of the valve. The outer end of this stem enters
a small steam chamber or cylinder formed in the head 3 of the valve chamber.
The outer ends of the steam chambers t¹ arranged at one end of the compressor are
connected to a steam supply pipe T by branches 2. The steam pipe T is connected
at its lower end to the branch O' of the steam pipe O. The steam chambers of the
heads sarranged at the opposite end of the compressor are connected to a steam pipe T¹
by branches T3 which latter are also tapped into the outer ends of the steam chambers t'.
The pipe T is connected at its lower end to the branch 0 of the steam pipe O.
>
By thus connecting steam pipes to the chambers of the valves QQ RR, a
sufficient pressure is brought to bear upon these valves to insure a rapid inward or
closing movement of the valves without the use of springs, and whereby a clean and
sharp cut-off is effected, thereby greatly increasing the duty of the compressor.
•
U represents the main air discharge pipe having branches U₁ U which are
connected respectively with the upper ends of the air chambers of the high
pressure cylinders B B₁ respectively.
'
The regulator K' by which the steam supply to the compressor is automatically
controlled is provided with a casing V closed at its ends by leads and a cylinder >>³
arranged within said casing. 3 represents the steam inlet chamber which is mounted
on the upper portion of the casing V and connected with the steam supply pipe K.
represents the steam outlet chamber arranged on the lower side of the casing V
and connected with the pipes K2 K3 leading to the compressor. represents slots
or openings formed in the upper portion of the cylinder V and through which the
steam passes from the inlet chamber to the interior of the cylinder and
represents similar openings arranged in the lower portion of the cylinder 2 and
through which the steam passes from the cylinder to the outlet chamber v and branch
pipes K K. V₁ represents a piston valve which moves in one end of the
cylinder and regulates the supply of steam from the main steam pipe K to the
branches K K³, by opening and closing the openings connecting the inlet
chamber with the lower outlet chambers v¹.
V2 represents a pipe leading from the main air discharge pipe U to the regulator.
This pipe is connected with a casing in which is arranged a valve which closes
the pipe V2 and prevents the air from passing to the regulator through the connecting
pipe V3 until the air pressure in the pipe U has reached a certain predetermined
point to which the valve is loaded by a spring or otherwise. When the air
pressure exceeds this point, the valve is raised and the air passes through the
pipe V to the regulator. The valve allows the air pressure to be raised higher
than the steam pressure before the air is admitted to the regulator. The connecting
pipe V is provided with a pin hole through which the air between the valve 8 and
the piston valve V1 is allowed to escape very slowly.
The pressure in the air pipe U is thus thrown against one side of the piston V₁ so
that the air pressure tends to move the piston in the direction in which it is required
to move in order to close the openings while the steam entering the cylinder o²
presses against the opposite side of the piston valve.
w represents a hollow stem formed centrally on the inner end of the piston valve Vi
and entering a longitudinally adjustable sleeve w¹. The latter is arranged in a
chamber to formed on the head v1 of the casing V. 10³ represents perforations which
are formed in the stem to near the valve V', and through which the steam enters the
hollow stem. represents perforations which are formed in the sleeve 'near the
end of the valve stein w, and opposite a steam chamber 20% surrounding the 'sleeve he'
'

page_text: at this point. This steam chamber is connected at its lower end to the steam pipe O
which supplies steam to the cylinders of the air valves and check valves as before
described. Steam passes from the cylinder 2 to the pipe O'through the perforations w³
of the stem w, the perforations of the sleeve w, and the steam chamber w³.
to represents a screw stem connected with the outer closed end of the sleeve w¹ and
whereby the latter can be adjusted so as to cause the openings w to be closed by a
greater or less movement of the sleeve w¹, as may be necessary. w represents
an adjustable stop whereby the closing movement of the piston valve is limited.
When the air pressure in the air discharge pipe U exceeds the normal, the valve Vi
of the regulating device K is moved inwardly by the air pressure so as to partially
cut off the supply of steam from the main pipe K to the branch pipes K' K³, and
whereby the speed of the compressor is correspondingly reduced. Should the air
pressure still exceed the normal after the speed has been reduced, (which may be the
case when the compressed air is not used in sufficient quantities), the air pressure
continues to move the valve V1 inwardly until its hollow stem w covers the openings w
of the sleeve whereby the supply of steam to the chamber to and consequently to
the steam cylinder of the air inlet valves N N' N2 N3 and the intermediate valves N₁ N'
is cut off. The steam pressure being so removed from these valves, they simply move
outward when the actuating pistons D D E E' next approach the valves and then
remain in this outward position leaving the air inlet passages open, so that the air
enters the cylinders and is expelled therefrom through these passages. Should the air
pressure fall below the normal, the steam pressure against the back of the valve VI
forces the latter outwardly and thereby increases the flow of steam from the main to
the branch pipes and correspondingly increases the speed of the machine.
When the valve V₁ is in its extreme inward position, it does not entirely cut off the
supply of steam, but admits only enough steam to the cylinders to produce a very
slow movement of the machine, so that the latter will always be ready for duty should
the air pressure be reduced. The openings of the sleeve we are so located with
reference to the stem w of the valve V1 that when the latter is moved inwardly by the steam
pressure sufficiently to again produce an active speed in the machine, the openings w
are also again opened to admit steam to the cylinders of the air and check valves so as
to again render these valves operative.
When the piston D of the high pressure cylinder B and the piston E₁ of the low
pressure cylinder Care in position ready to begin their inward stroke, and the
piston D of the high pressure cylinder B and the piston E of the low pressure
cylinder Care in position ready to begin their outward stroke, the valves of the several
cylinders are in the following position:-The steam valve ³ is open and allows the
steam to pass through the port into the high pressure cylinder B' back of the
piston D' the intermediate steam valve between the high and low pressure
cylinder B and the low pressure cylinder C is open and allows the steam to exhaust
from the high pressure cylinder B into the low pressure cylinder C back of the piston E;
the air inlet valve N of the high pressure cylinders B is open, and the air inlet valve N¹
of the high pressure cylinder B₁ is closed; the air inlet valve N2 of the low pressure
cylinder is closed and the air inlet valve N³ of the low pressure cylinder is open,
and the intermediate air valves N4 N° connecting the high and low pressure cylinders BC
and BC respectively, are closed.
The steam acting upon the diagonally opposite pistons D¹ and E of the high pressure
cylinder B¹ and low pressure cylinder C causes these pistons to move in opposite direc-
tions as indicated by the arrows in figure 2, whereby the air contained in the high
pressure cylinder B₁ is compressed and expelled through the check valve chamber p
and branch air pipe U2, the high pressure cylinder B and the low pressure cylinder (
are taking in air through the open air valves N N³ respectively, and the air contained
in the low pressure cylinder C.is being compressed therein. The air inlet valve N³ of
the low pressure cylinder C¹ remains open until the piston has reached the end of its
inward stroke so as to allow the cylinder to become filled with air, and the intermediate
valve N, and the air inlet valve. N of the high pressure cylinder B will remain
closed until all the air, contained in the high pressure cylinder B' has been expelled

page_text: therefrom. The air inlet valve N of the high pressure cylinder B remains open only
long enough to allow this cylinder to become filled with external air until its piston D
has made about one half its backward stroke when the air inlet valve N is closed.
Immediately after this occurs the intermediate valve N* is opened so as to allow the
compressed air in the low pressure cylinder to be forced into the high pressure
cylinder B through the air chamber o. The intermediate valve N now remains open
until the piston D has reached the end of its inward stroke and the piston the end
of its outward stroke and all the air contained in the cylinder (has been forced into
the bigh pressure cylinder B. The steam behind the piston E of the low pressure
cylinder escapes through the exhaust port during the backward stroke of the
piston. At the moment that the pistons D D¹ and E E¹ reverse their movement, the
several valves are shifted as follows:-The steam valve ³ of the high pressure
cylinder B is closed and the intermediate steam valve ¹³ is opened and allows the
steam in the high pressure cylinder B₁ to pass into the low pressure cylinder C¹
behind the piston E and the exhaust valve 1 is closed. The steam valve k* of the
high pressure cylinder B behind the piston D thereof, and the intermediate valve
is closed so as to prevent the steam from passing into the low pressure cylinder C,
and the exhaust valve of the latter is opened to allow the steam contained therein to
escape. The air inlet valve N of the high pressure cylinder B remains closed;
the air inlet valve N of the high pressure cylinder B₁ is opened; the air inlet
valve N of the low pressure cylinder C is opened; the air inlot valve N³ of
the low pressure cylinder C¹ is closed, and the intermediate air valves N N con-
necting the high and low pressure cylinders BC and B C respectively, are also
closed. The steam now acts upon the diagonally opposite pistons D and E of the
high pressure cylinder B and low pressure cylinder and moves the same out-
wardly whereby the compressed air contained in the high pressure cylinder B is
expelled therefrom through the chamber rand branch pipe U, while the opposite high
pressure cylinder B, and the low pressure cylinder C are taking in air through the
open air valves N1 N2 respectively, and the air contained in the low pressure cylinder C
is compressed therein. The air inlet valve N of the low pressure cylinder C now
remains open until the piston E has reached the end of its inward stroke so as to
allow this cylinder to fill with air, and the intermediate valve N and the air inlet
valve N of the high pressure cylinder B remain closed until all the compressed air
contained in the high pressure cylinder B has been expelled therefrom, while the air
inlet valve N¹ of the high pressure cylinder B₁ remains open only long enough to
allow this cylinder to fill with external air, or until its piston D' has made about one
half its backward or inward stroke when the air inlet valve N¹ is closed.
Immediately after the valve N' is closed, the intermediate valve N' is opened so as
to allow the compressed air contained in the lower cylinder C to be forced into the
high pressure cylinder B through the air chamber 0. The intermediate valve N
now remains open until the piston D' has reached the end of its inward stroke, and
the piston E¹ the end of its outward stroke, and the air contained in the low pressure
cylinder has been forced into the high pressure cylinder B'. The various valves
will now again be shifted back to their foriner position ready for the return stroke
as first above described. In this manner each cylinder operates alternately as a steam
cylinder and as an air cylinder, and each cylinder is supplied with steam at every
other stroke, whereby the contact surfaces of the cylinders and pistons are at short
intervals supplied with moisture which insures the smooth running of the machine,
and prevents the parts from becoming overheated.
The low pressure cylinders are made preferably about twice as large in area as the
high pressure cylinders and the latter take external air during about half of the stroke,
so that the aggregate volume of air which is compressed at one stroke of the high
pressure cylinder piston, is about two and a half times as large as the capacity of
the high pressure cylinder, whereby the compressing capacity of the machine is
largely increased. The external air which is admitted into the high pressure cylinder
also serves to cool this cylinder. This admission of external air to the high pressure

page_text: cylinder is rendered possible by the action of the intermediate air valves N No which.
prevent the compressed air in the low pressure cylinders from entering the high
pressure cylinders until the pistons of the latter have made about half of their return
stroke.
The air valves are flush with the cylinder heads when closed, whereby dead air
spaces are avoided. The air valves which are provided with actuating pistons are
hield fully open, while the air passes into the cylinders and are opened and closed
instantly by the pressure of the steam against these pistons. This avoids loss of
time in opening which takes place when such valves are opened against spring
pressure, and prevents the wire drawing of the air when such valves are actuated by
eccentric or other mechanism from the shaft. The pistons of these valves are so.
much larger in diameter than the valves themselves that the steam pressure on their
pistons overcomes the air pressure in the cylinders.
By arranging the high pressure and low pressure cylinders side to side or one above
the other, as shown, instead of end to end, the length of the connecting steam and
air passages is reduced to a minimum and a very compact construction of the valve
mechanism is obtained.
The air valves may be actuated by compressed air instead of steam, by providing
the piston valve VI with a port W8 which supplies the compressed air to a
chamber W. In this case the pipe O leading to the cylinder of the air
valves N N N N³ and the intermediate valves N N is connected with the chamber w°
and the port is so arranged that it cuts off the air pressure when the piston valve
has reached the end of its closing movement. In this construction which is repre-
sented in Figure 15, the intermediate valve is omitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with a high pressure and a low pressure actuating cylinder,
and the pistons working in the same, of steam valves whereby steam is admitted into
the high pressure cylinder, exhausted therefrom into the low pressure cylinder, and
discharged from the low pressure cylinder, air valves whereby the air is admitted into
the low pressure cylinder and from the latter into the high pressure cylinder and
discharged from the latter, a fly wheel shaft rotated from said pistons, and valve
mechanism substantially as described whereby the steam valves are actuated from said
shaft, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the high pressure cylinder and the low pressure
cylinder arranged side to side, pistons working in the same and connecting mechanism
substantially as described whereby the pistons are caused to move in opposite
directions, of a steam induction valve, and an intermediate steam valve, and a steam
exhaust valve, all arranged at one end of said cylinders, and an air inlet valve, and
intermediate air valve, and air. discharge valve all arranged at the opposite ends of
said cylinders, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with a pair of high pressure and low pressure cylinders
arranged side to side at each end of the machine and the pistons working in said
cylinders, of two geared shafts arranged between the two pairs of cylinders, one shaft.
connected with the pistons of the high pressure cylinders and the other shaft with
the pistons of the low pressure cylinders, steam induction valves, intermediate steam
valves, and steam exhaust valves arranged at the inner ends of the cylinders, and air
inlet valves, intermediate air valves and air discharge valves arranged at the outer
ends of the cylinders, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a compressing cylinder provided with a cylindrical
air inlet passage having air inlet openings in its side, of a cylindrical air valve
arranged in said passage and provided at its outer end with an enlarged piston, a
cylinder in which said piston moves, a valve chamber, ports connecting said valve
chamber with the piston cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, and a valve

page_text: arranged in said valve chamber whereby a fluid under pressure can be admitted to the
cylinder on either side of the piston, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the low pressure cylinder provided with an air inlet
valve, a high pressure cylinder, à positively controlled intermediate valve whereby
the compressed air is excluded from and admitted to the high pressure cylinder, and
a check valve arranged in the air passage between the intermediate valve and the low
pressure cylinder, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the low pressure cylinder provided with an air-inlet
valve, a high pressure cylinder, a positively controlled intermediate valve whereby
the compressed air is excluded from and admitted to the high pressure cylinder, a
check valve arranged in the air passage between the intermediate valve and the
low pressure cylinder and an air inlet valve connected with the high pressure cylinder
and admitting external air thereto, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the compressing cylinder, of an air inlet provided
with an actuating piston, a cylinder in which said piston moves, a valve whereby the
flow of the actuating fluid to and from opposite ends of the valve cylinder is
controlled, valve gear whereby said valve is actuated, and an automatic regulator
whereby the fluid pressure can be shut off from said valve, thereby suspending the
action of the air inlet valve and allowing it to be opened and to remain open for
the passage of air in both directions until the fluid pressure is again applied,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the air compressor and its steam supply pipe, of the
regulator casing connected with the steam supply pipe and provided with steam inlet
openings and steam outlet openings a piston valve adapted to open and close
said openings, and receiving the steam pressure in the casing on its front side,
and the air pipe 3 admitting the compressed air to the valve casing on the rear
side of the valve, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the compressor and its steam supply pipe, of a
regulator casing receiving steam from said pipe, a piston valve arranged in said
casing and whereby the steam passage is opened and closed, an air pipe connecting
said casing with a conduit containing compressed air, whereby the air pressure tends
to move the valve in the direction in which the steam passage is closed, while the
steam pressure tends to move the valve in an opposite direction, and a stop whereby
the closing movement of the valve is limited, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the compressor, its steam supply pipe and its air
valves and their actuating mechanism, of the regulator casing connected with the
steam supply pipe and provided with steam inlet and outlet openings, a piston valve
arranged in said casing, an air pipe admitting compressed air to the casing on one
side of said valve, a hollow stem projecting from the opposite side of said valve and
receiving steam from the casing, a chamber receiving the steam from the hollow stem,
and a pipe conducting this steam to the actuating mechanism of the air valves,
substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the compressor, its steam supply pipe, its air
valves, and their actuating mechanism, of the regulator casing provided with steam
inlet and outlet openings and an air pipe V³, a piston valve arranged in said
casing and provided with a hollow stem w having steam inlet openings w³ an adjustable
sleeve w surrounding the open end of the hollow stem and provided with steam
passages w, a steam chamber surrounding said steam passages, and a pipe O
connecting said chamber with the actuating mechanism of the air valves, substantially
as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.