IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES ACTUATED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS FOR PUMPING ELASTIC OR OTHER FLUIDS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alimon Henry Hearington, of Rochester, in the State of
New York, United States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES ACTUATED BY STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER
ELASTIC FLUID, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO PUMPS FOR
PUMPING ELASTIC OR OTHER FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Almon Henry Hearington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1880.
13
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON, of Rochester, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES ACTUATED BY STEAM
COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO PUMPS FOR PUMPING ELASTIC OR OTHER FLUIDS."
My Invention relates to motive power engines used for driving machinery and
having cylinders oscillating upon bearings or trunnions, which cylinders contain
pistons actuated by steam, compressed air, or other elastic fluid.
The object of my Invention is to construct such engines, and especially the valves
by which the steam is distributed, and the devices by which such valves are actunted,
in such manner that they are very simple, effective, and easily constructed and
adjusted.
Assuming that my Invention is to be applied to a steam engine having a
horizontal double acting cylinder, I provide such cylinder with transverse trunnions
at or near the centre of its length, these trunnions being supported in suitable
bearings fixed upon a base plate or other foundation.
I make one of the trunnions hollow and I fit it into a corresponding opening in
the bearing in which it is supported, which bearing is prolonged downward and
formed in the manner hereinafter described.
The corresponding trunnion is of considerable length and has two longitudinal
passages formed or made in it, one of such passages communicating with the front

page_text: end, and the other with the back end of the cylinder. The other ends of these
passages open out at opposite sides of the trunnion and at or near the middle of its
length, and each communicates with a corresponding opening in the side of the
bearing or support, such openings communicating respectively with a chamber or
passage formed upon each side of the support.
At the lower part of the support I form a second cylindrical opening parallel
with the upper one in which the trunnion oscillates, and into this lower opening I
fit a hollow cylinder which serves as a distributing valve, one end of it being
connected by means of a stuffing box with a supply pipe by which steam is admitted,
- whilst its other end is provided with a transverse bar or lever which is operated
backward and forward by a corresponding transverse bar or lever fixed upon the
trunnion above, and arranged parallel and in contact or nearly so with the bar
upon the valve. The cylindrical valvo has a diaphragm or partition across its
middle, by which the steam is prevented from having access to its outer en
which communicates with a discharge' or exhaust pipe to a condenser or to the
open air.
I make a suitable port or opening from each of the side chambers or passages in
the support opposite both to the inner and outer ends of the cylindrical valve, and
I innke corresponding openings into the interior of the latter, but in such positions
that the two openings at the same side of the support into the inner and outer ends
of the valve respectively shall not be open at the same time, and that when the
passage from one side to the inner end of the valve is open that from the other side
to its outer end is open, and vice versa.
By the arrangement described if the valve is made to oscillate cach side of the
piston is made to communicate alternately with the steam supply and the exhaust
pipe or condenser.
I arrange the flat transverse bar or lever upon the trunnion which operates
the valve, so that its operating face is moveable and can be adjusted so as to
fix it in the desired position in relation to the corresponding bar upon the
valve.
Instead of the cylindrical valve arranged as described I sometimes use a modified
forin of valve constructed in the following manner:-The valve itself consists of a
flat or slightly conical hollow disc, the inner flat surface of which fits against a
corresponding circular face forming a diaphragm or division across a corresponding
cylindrical chamber in which the valve oscillates. The hollow disc valve has two
ports or openings suitably arranged near its centre which pass through it into a
hollow cylindrical bar upon which it oscillates, and the outer end of which is in
communication with an exhaust pipe or condenser. Each of these openings can be
mado to communicate alternately with one or other of two corresponding openings
in the diaphragm across the chamber, and each of these openings communicates
with a passage, the two passages leading respectively to the front and back end of
the cylinder. The circular valve has also near its outer edge two openings or ports
communicating alternately with two openings or ports leading respectively into the
passages already described, which communicate with the ends of the cylinder.
Round the cylindrical hollow bar which operates the valve I arrange a hollow case
provided with suitable steam tight joints and stuffing box, and into which the
steam supply is brought.
When the valve is made to oscillate as described, the steam passes alternately
through each of the outer ports of the valve to the ends of the cylinders, whilst the
opposite respective ends of the cylinder are alternately connected through the
inner ports of the valve with the hollow axis of the latter and with the exhaust
pipe.
I sometimes arrange a force pump upou the cylinder operated in a similar manner
and connected with the trunnion upon the opposite side of the cylinder, and
sometimes I arrange the bearings in which the crank shaft of the engine revolves,
so that they fit into a corresponding recess in the frame of the engine, a sliding
block being arranged above them and fitting into suitable grooves or guides, and
=

page_text: containing a small excentric by which a key or block can be forced down so as to
hold the bearings firmly in their position. By this arrangement the bearings and
the crank shaft can be very readily removed and replaced when desired.
The whole of the ports and passages in the cylinder and valve casing may be
surrounded with steam jackets into which steam is admitted.
The apparatus described may be used as a pump for pumping water, air, or other
elastic or non-elastic fluids, the crank shaft being made to revolve by steam or other
suitable power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Almon Henry Hearington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1880.
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON, of Rochester, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER ENGINES ACTUATED BY STEAM,
COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUID, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO PUMPS FOR PUMPING ELASTIC OR OTHER FLUIDS."
My Invention relates especially to motive power engines used for driving
machinery, or for other purposes, and having cylinders oscillating upon trunnions
or bearings, such cylinders containing pistons actuated by steam, compressed air, or
other fluid. The object of my Invention is to construct such engines, and especially
the valves by which the steam or other driving fluid is distributed in the
cylinders, and the apparatus or devices by which such valves are actuated in such
manner that they are simple, effective, and easily constructed and adjusted.
Assuming, first, that my Invention is to be applied to an engine driven by
steam, and having a horizontal double-acting cylinder, I provide such cylinder with
transverse trunnions at or near the centre of its length, these trunnions being
supported and turning in corresponding bearings formed upon or attached to a base
plate or other strong foundation.
One of these trunnions is made hollow, and is carefully fitted into a corre-
sponding opening in the bearing, in which it turns, and this bearing is "extended
downward and is formed in the manner hereinafter described. The trunnion so
supported is of considerable length, and has two longitudinal passages formed or
made in it, one of such passages communicating with the front end and the other
with the back end of the cylinder. The other or outer ends of these passages open
out so as to form ports at the opposite sides of the trunnion at or near the middle
of its length, and each communicates with a separate corresponding opening in the
side of the bearing or support in which the trunnion works, the openings commu-
nicating respectively with a chamber or passage formed upon each side of the
support or bearing. The lower part of the said support or bearing has formed
through it a second cylindrical opening parallel with the upper one, in which the

page_text: trunnion rests and oscillates, and into this lower opening I fit a hollow cylinder
which serves as a distributing valve, one end of such cylinder being connected with
the intervention of a stuffing box with a supply pipe, through which steam can be
admitted, whilst its other end is provided with a transverse bar serving as a lever,
which can be operated backward and forward by a corresponding parallel adjustable
bar or lever fixed upon the oscillating trunnion of the cylinder above, and arranged
parallel with and close to the bar or lever upon the cylindrical valve. The hollow
valve has a transverse diaphragm or partition across its middle, by which the
steam is prevented from having access to its outer end, which outer end is made to
communicate by a stuffing box or its equivalent with a discharge pipe leading to a
condenser or to the open air.
I make a port or opening of suitable size and shape from each of the side
chambers or passages in the bearing already described opposite both to the inner
and outer ends of the cylindrical valve, that is to say, two of such ports on each
side of the transverse diaphragm or division, and I make corresponding openings
into the interior of the valve, but in such positions that when the valve oscillates
the two at the same side of the bearing into the inner and outer ends of the valve
respectively shall not be uncovered at the same time, but that when the port from
one side of the bearing to the inner end of the valve is uncovered, that from the
opposite side of the bearing to the outer end of the valve is uncovered, and vice
versá.
In the accompanying Drawing, which is in illustration of my Invention,
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are in illustration of the method of construction and arrange-
ment just described. Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, of the cylinder, trunnions,
and bearing; Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section; and Figure 3 a transverso
section of the engine; Figure 4 represents the levers or bars by which the oscil-
lating trunnion actuates the valve." a is the cylinder fitted with a piston and rod
shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and with covers and stuffing box band c.
The outer trunnion is shown at d, fitting into a bearing e, Figure 3, and fis the
inner trunnion supported in the bearing g. The trunnion f is hollow, and has in
it the passages, h', communicating with the two ends respectively of the
cylinder a, and also with the ports i, i, in the trunnion, each of which communi-
cates with ports k, k, which lead into the chamber l, l', in the bearing g. In the
lower part of the bearing g is formed a second opening, into which is fitted the
hollow valve n, one end of which communicates through the stuthing box o with
the steam supply pipe 2, whilst its other end communicates with an exhaust pipe r,
Figure 3, a transverse levers being fitted upon it (as shown in Figure 4) and
actuated by a corresponding parallel lever t fixed upon the trunnion of the cylinder a.
The lever is shown adjustable by means of the screw w and guides v, so that its
face can be fixed at exactly the required distance from that of the lever 8. The
valve has a partition across it, and at w, w', 202, 203, are openings so adjusted
in relation to corresponding openings into the chambers 1, 1, that they admit and
distribute the steam alternately to each end of the cylinder and to the exhaust
pipe, one opening on each side of the trunnion being made on each side of the
partition.
By the arrangement described and shewn when the valve is made to oscillate
backward and forward by the action of the levers 8 and teach side of the piston is
made to communicate alternately with the steam supply and the exhaust or
discharge pipe or condenser. Instead of the cylindrical valve arranged as described
they may be made slightly conical, and I sometimes use a modified form of valve
constructed in the following manner:-The valve itself consists of a hollow cone
at one end of a cylinder, which also has formed upon it an adjacent hollow cone of
larger diameter. The surfaces of the cones fit against corresponding seats in a
chamber in which the valve fits and oscillates. The smaller hollow cone has two
ports or openings suitably arranged on its circumference which pass through it
into the hollow cylindrical bar, upon which it oscillates, and the outer end of
which is in communication by means of a stuffing box with an inlet steam pipe.

page_text: Each of these openings can be made to communicate alternately with one or
other of two corresponding openings in the scat, in which the valve oscillates, and
each of these openings communicates with a passage, the two passages leading
respectively to the front and back end of the cylinder. The larger cone upon the
valve has also upon its outer circumference two openings or ports communicating
alternately with two openings or ports in the seat or case leading respectively into
the passages already described, which communicate with the ends of the cylinder,
and also a port or opening communicating with a port in the casing communicating
with the exhaust pipe. Round the cylindrical hollow cones I arrange suitable steam
tight joints and stuffing box, and to the cylindrical bar I connect a lever by which
it can be made to oscillate. Figure 5 is in illustration of this method of construction
and arrangement. a is the smaller conical valve at the end of the cylindrical pipe b,
and c is the larger conical valve; d and e are the conical seats in which the valves
fit and work, the steam being admitted through the inlet pipe ƒ and stuffing box g
to the interior of the valve a, and h being the exhaust pipe. Two passages are
made in the seat or bearing, one of which is shewn in dotted lines at i, each com-
municating with one end of the oscillating cylinder, and corresponding passages
are made through the conical valves a and c, their positions being so adjusted that
when the steam pipe is in communication with one end of the cylinder the
exhaust pipe h is in communication with its other end, and vice versa, as the valves
oscillate. is a stuffing box by which the valves are held in position, and the lever
by which they are worked is attached at l.
When the valves a and c are made to oscillate as described, the steam passes
alternately through each one of the ports i and to the ends of the cylinder, whilst
the opposite respective ends of the cylinder are alternately connected through the
other of the ports i with the exhaust pipe h. The oscillating valves hereinbefore
described may be set in motion as required by the movements of any other part of
the oscillating cylinder instead of the trunnion, by means of suitable connecting
links and levers; and where it is desired that the engine should be capable of being
reversed, I sometimes adopt the method of arrangement shewn in Figure 6, in
which a is the lever attached to the oscillating valve, and b is a lever oscillating
upon a centre c, and set in motion by the corresponding adjustable lever d, which
is connected by levers and rods (not shewn in the Drawing) to any convenient part
of the oscillating cylinder. e is a lever turning upon the centre f upon the lever b,
and connected by the rod g to an excentr.c h, so that its position can be altered by
the handle i. Suitable openings or ports are made in the valves and their seats, so
that when the lever e is in the position shewn in dotted lines at one set of such
ports are used, and the engine works in one direction, whilst when in the position
shewn at another set of ports are used, and the engine works in the opposite
direction.
In the central position, as shewn, the engine remains stationary.
A force pump may be connected to the engine and operated in a similar manner,
being connected with the trunnion upon the opposite side of the cylinder to that
which contains the steain passages. In order to readily fix and adjust the bearings
in which the crank shaft of the engine revolves I prefer to adopt the method of
arrangement shewn in Figure 7, in which is the crank shaft revolving in the
bearing b, which is held firmly down in its place by the crossbar c, which is fitted
with a small excentric or cam at d, which when turned round holds the bearing
tightly down. By releasing the excentric the bar c can be readily removed. By
this method of arrangement the crank shaft can be very readily removed and
replaced when desired. Tho bearings of the engine may be of any convenient
form, and they may be supported upon a suitable base plate. I prefer that the
bearings in which the trunnions of the engine and the valve oscillate should be made
separate from the frame, into which they are carefully fitted, so that they can be
readily removed and replaced or adjusted.
The adjustable oscillating lever described and shewn may be made without

page_text: provision for adjustment, its proper form and length being carefully determined to
suit different circunstancès.'
In the different arrangements described and shewn the whole of the ports and
passages in the cylinder and valve casing may be surrounded with steam jackets
into which steam is admitted. Apparatus constructed according to my Invention
may be modified so as to be used for the purpose of pumping water, air, or other
elastic or non-elastic fluids, the crank shaft being made in such case to revolve by
steam or other suitable power, and actuating the piston as it revolves
Having now described my Invention, and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim the cylinder oscillating in trunnions, and having on such
trunnion provided with passages communicating with the ends of the cylinder, and
working in a fixed bearing having similar passages, in combination with a parallel
valve o-cillating in the same bearing and having inlet and outlet pores and passages,
substantially as described and shewn.
Also the method of actuating such valve by means of a lever upon it operated by
a corresponding parallel lever, substantially as described and shewn.
Also the method of adjusting the length of such parallel levers, substantially as
described and shewn.
Also the several methods of constructing the oscillating valve, substantially as
described and shewn.
Also the method of reversing the engine by means of a supplementary lever
jointed to an oscillating lever which actuates a lever upon the valve, the position
of such supplementary lever being capable of alteration by means of an excentric
and handle, in combination with two sets of inlet and outlet ports in the valves and
seats, substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Almon Henry Hearington, have hereunto sot
my hand and scal, this 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord
1880.
ALMON HENRY HEARINGTON. (L.S.)