IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES OR MOTORS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Halsey, of 82, Mark Lane, in the City of London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES OR
MOTORS"
Scaled the 25th July 1879, and dated the 29th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Halsey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1879.
CLAUDE HALSEY, of 82, Mark Lane, in the City of London.
IN STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES OR MOTORS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and other engines or
motors.
I employ three single acting cylinders arranged at equal angles, the one from the
other, around a crank in a through shaft, upon which immediately beyond the inner
bearing of the crank shaft there is keyed an eccentric for actuating the valve.
The valve consists of a ring surrounding the eccentric having a rim around its
periphery which works in steam tight contact with a face at right angles to the
shaft. A cover is applied behind the ring valve with which also the rim works
steam tight, and so all around the ring valve a space is enclosed to which the steam
or fluid under pressure to work the engine is admitted.
The movement of the valve by the eccentric uncovers in succession ports in the
valve face, and allows steam to pass to the cylinders.
The valve cover also encloses a space within the rim of the valve and around the
shaft; a passage in the cover puts this space into communication with the outlet,
and the exhaust from each cylinder takes place when the valve moves to such a
position that the corresponding port in the valve face falls within the rim of the
valve, and so becomes open to the central space. I form in the cover an outer
bearing for the crank shaft.
The engine may be reversed by admitting steam within the ring of the wheel
valve, and permitting it to escape from the space around and exterior to the rim.
The change can be effected by means of a four way cock.
I also construct engines with three single acting inverted cylinders side by side.
The connecting rod in each case is continued through the piston by a packed joint,

page_text: and is prolonged on the other or upper side forming an arm which serves to actuate
the valve. Each cylinder has its own separate valve which works on a face on the
cylinder-end,-the-arm-of-the-connecting-rod-passing through the-valve-and giving
motion to it as it vibrates. The valve sliding over two ports, one at the front and
the other at the back, regulates the admission by one port and the outlet by the
other of the steam-or-other-fluid-by-which-the engine is worked. The engine-
can-be-reversed-by-means-of-a-four way cock controlling the steam and exhaust
connnationa

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Claude Halsey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1879.
CLAUDE HALSEY, of 82, Mark Lane, in the City of London.
IN STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES OR MOTORS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and other engines or
motors.
I employ three single acting cylinders arranged at equal angles, the one from the
other, around a crank in a through shaft, upon which immediately beyond the inner
bearing of the crank shaft there is keyed an eccentric for actuating the valve.
The valve consists of a ring surrounding the eccentric having a rim around its
periphery which works in steam tight contact with a face at right angles to the
shaft. A cover is applied behind the ring valve with which also the rim works
steam tight, and so all around the ring valve a space is enclosed to which the steam
or fluid under pressure to work the engine is admitted.
The movement of the valve by the eccentric uncovers in succession ports in the
valve face, and allows steam to pass to the cylinders.
The valve cover also encloses a space within the rim of the valve and around the
shaft; a passage in the cover puts this space into communication with the outlet,
and the exhaust from each cylinder takes place when the valve moves to such a
position that the corresponding port in the valve face falls within the rim of the
valve, and so becomes open to the central space. I form in the cover an outer
bearing for the crank shaft.
The engine may be reversed by admitting steam within the rim of the wheel
valve, and permitting it to escape from the space around and exterior to the rim.
The change can be effected by means of a four way cock.
I also construct engines with single acting inverted cylinders side by side.
I place the slide valves at the ends of the cylinders, and I operate them by
means of the connecting rod. I employ three or other number of single acting
cylinders placed side by side; the connecting rods are jointed to the pistons, and
they operate on a crank shaft the throws of which are arranged at suitable angles
apart. The connecting rods are continued through the piston to the slide valves on
the cylinder end, and as the connecting rod vibrates from side to side it transmits
a reciprocating movement to the valve. The valve is of peculiar construction; it
consists of a slide working across the top of the cylinder, and the ends of the slide
overhanging the cylinder enter chambers in communication respectively with the
steam supply and outlet. The slide at each end has a passage in it which is
covered and closed when the slide enters the corresponding chamber to the full
extent, but is exposed and opened as the slide is withdrawn from the chamber, so
as to permit the entry of steam into the cylinder or its escape therefrom, as the case
may be.
A four way cock interchanging the steam connections reverses the engine.
In place of actuating the valve by a prolongation of the connecting rod, I in
some cases give motion to it by means of an incline fixed upon the piston. Some-
times I arrange the engine to work expansively, the exhaust steam from one
cylinder supplying another.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: is taken through one of the cylinders, the other cylinders are arranged one on
either side of this cylinder, and are inclined to it at angles of 120 degrees.
a, a, is the bed or main casting carrying in bearings the crank shaft b, c is one
of the single acting cylinders containing a piston d, which is coupled with the
crank by the connecting rod e; f is an eccentric on the crank shaft surrounded by
the-wheel-valve-g-which-works-in-steam-tight-contact with the face. h, in which are
the-ports
leading-to-the-cylinders-;--is-the-cover-with-which-also-the-periphery
of the valve is in steam tight contact, and in the cover the outside bearing for
the crank shaft-is-formed; k-is-the-steam-inlet-by-which-steam-passes-into-the
space around the valve, and when the valve is so placed as to uncover the ports it
enters the cylinders; is a cavity in the cover connected with the outlet pipe, and
the steam passes out from the cylinders into this cavity when their ports are
'enclosed within the outer ring or periphery of the valve.
The engine may be reversed in the manner already stated by connecting the
cavity with the source of supply and exhausting through the
passage k.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of another form of steam engine constructed
according to my Invention. It consists of three or other number of cylinders
parallel the one to the other, and cast by preference all of a piece and with a casing
surrounding the crank shaft which also serves as the bed of the engine. The
section is taken vertically through one of the cylinders a; b is the crank shaft; it
is carried in bearings at the ends of the casing, and it has (in the case of a three
cylinder engine) three crank throws upon it at distances of one hundred and twenty
degrees apart; c is the piston; the connecting rod passes through it by a ball and
socket joint, as the Drawing shows; d is the valve through which also the connecting
rod passes by a ball and socket joint, but somewhat differently formed from the
joint in the piston, for the ball in the valve is not fast on the prolongation of the
connecting rod, but this latter is free to slide through the ball. The valve enters at
its ends into the chambers e and e', which are in connection respectively with the
passages fand f, one of which is the steam inlet and the other the outlet or exhaust;
and by means of a four way cock or by a slide valve these passages are rendered
interchangeable, the steam passage becoming the outlet or exhaust, and vice versa
when the engine is reversed; d, d, are the passages in the valve which are
opened and closed by emerging from and entering within the chambers e and e'.
Figure 3 shows a modification of the construction according to which the
_ connecting rod is telescopic, an arrangement which admits of the height of the
'engine being reduced. The lower part of the connecting rod is hollow, and the
upper part, which has the ball in the valve fixed upon it, slides accurately within
the lower part.
Figure 4 shows another arrangement in which the prolongation of the connecting
rod is much shortened, and instead of opérating direct upon the valve it acts upon
a slide upon the piston, and a vertical stem rising from this slide traverses the
-valve. This-arrangement-has-the-advantage-that-it-admits-of-the-travel-of-the-
valve being reduced. Figure 5 is a section taken at right angles to Figure 3 to
show more fully the construction of the joint by which the connecting rod is
attached to the piston and the form of the slide mounted upon the piston.
These engines on account of their compactness and simplicity are especially
suited for driving steam launches, also for many other uses where comparatively
small power is required.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement in which the valve is worked by a fixed incline
upon the piston.
The valves of pumps may be actuated by the connecting rod in the manner
described.
Figure 7 is an elevation, one half in section, of a compound engine arranged
according to my Invention and adapted to work steam expansively; Figure 8 is a
transverse section of the same taken on the line 1, Figure 7. This engine has four
single acting cylinders a, b; the smaller cylinders a receive the steam direct from
the boiler, and they exhaust into the larger low pressure cylinders b. The four

page_text: cranks are at right angles, and the high and low pressure cylinders forming a pair
actuate opposite cranks; the pistons working in the cylinders are coupled directly
with the cranks, as in the engines already described, and a prolongation of the
connecting rod of each high pressure piston operates a valve c in the manner
already described in respect to Figure 3. At either end of the valve c are the
chambers d and e, from one of which the valve admits the steam to the high
pressure cylinder, and through the other the steam passes on its return from the
cylinder; f is a slide valve worked by a hand lever, and by it either one of the
chambers, d or e, can be opened to the steam supplied at g, whilst the other being
covered by the valve is open to the passage h, by which the steam exhausted from
the high pressure cylinder passes into the low pressure cylinder.
The steam having expanded into this cylinder and exerted its pressure on the
piston throughout the stroke, ultimately escapes by the side apertures i into the
crank casing with which an escape pipe is connected, or the exhaust may be other-
wise arranged.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements
in engines or motors to be driven by steam or other fluid,--
First. The construction of three cylinder engines with eccentric ring valves,
substantially as described in respect to Figure 1.
Second. Actuating a slide valve on the cylinder end by means of the connecting
rod, substantially as described in respect to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Third. The construction and arrangement of the slide valves and parts in
connection therewith, admitting of the ready reversal of the engine by means of a
four way cock, slide valve, or its equivalent, substantially as described in respect to
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Fourth. Actuating a slide valve on the cylinder end by means of an incline fixed
upon the piston, substantially as described in respect to Figure 6.
Fifth. The construction of compound engines, substantially as described in
respect to Figures 7 and 8.
Sixth. The construction of engines and motors, substantially as described, and
illustrated by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Halsey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
CLAUDE HALSEY. (L.S.)