IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER AND BLOWING ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO METERS FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robertson, of the City of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER AND BLOWING ENGINES, PARTS OF
Scaled the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 7th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robertson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th February 1873.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for 66 IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE POWER AND BLOWING ENGINES,
PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO METERS FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has reference to new or improved constructions and
arrangement of the parts of motive power and blowing engines and
liquid meters actuated by fluids in motion or under pressure, or to impel
A

page_text: fluids, which are essential improvements on the new or improved motive
power rotative engine, in which the piston or pistons have both a recipro-
cating and oscillating motion within the cylinders, communicating
rotatory motion to the engine shaft without the use of a connecting rod,
eccentrics, or valves, and described in reference to Figures 1 to 22 on
Sheets 12 and 13 of the final Specification of the Invention for which
Royal Letters Patent were granted to me, dated 14th October 1868, and
numbered 3146, all of which make the engines or meters to which these
improvements are applied more simple or efficient for many purposes
than these have been as heretofore constructed.
And the nature and novelty of my said Invention or improvements
consist all substantially as follows, namely, first, in transmitting the
said reciprocating and oscillatory motion from the piston rod by an arm
keyed on it, having an oscillating cylindrical bush with conical ends
placed in the outer end of this arm or driver to receive the pin of a
crank or disc on a crank shaft, and thus transmit circular motion thereto
without a connecting rod as usually employed in such motive and other
engines.
:
Also in improvements in motive power and blowing engines or meters
in which the piston while it receives and transmits the force of the
impelling fluid through it also regulates the ingress and egress of the
forcing fluid to and from the cylinder without the use of valves therefor,
and known as "valveless" engines. There being no connecting rod in this
new construction of reciprocating engine, and the centre line of the
crank shaft being therefore placed near to the cylinder cover, this
admits with facility of the inside cylinder cover, guide bush for piston
rod, and the crank shaft neck bearing frame, being all formed or cast in
one piece; and one of my improvements is to do this in these engines,
and to bolt this said piece to the flanges of the cylinders, or cylinders
when there are two, the one working out in front and adjacent to each
other, with the crank shaft common to both placed between them.
Resting snugs or flange feet are formed on the cylinder and on this
cover bracket piece for securing the whole a rigid structure, so bolted
together at the cylinder flanges as a portable engine to the foundation
wall or framing where the engine has to be set to work, which improve-
ment enables me to dispense with a sole plate in horizontal engines, and
a corresponding bearing bracket in vertical and inclined cylinder engines
of the construction described. Motive power engines may thus be con-

page_text: structed in a more rigid way than with a sole plate, and at a greatly
reduced weight and cost.
When two cylinders are employed, such as in a compound steam
engine, or in a combined engine and pump of this description, an inter-
mediate connecting piece having formed on its covers, with piston rod,
stuffing box to fit the respective cylinder, and resting seat for the crank
shaft bearing, or with the bearing formed in it, is bolted on to the
flanges of each cylinder, the two cylinders with the inside end bearing
bracket of the neck journal of the crank shaft without a sole plate, thus
bolted together forming one rigid structure. This arrangement being
very advantageous both for compactness and reduced cost in this class of
motive power engines though hitherto the oscillating arm fixed on the
piston rod with a cylindrical crank pin bush has only been used for
motive power engines with long pistons, known as valveless steam
engines, it is also advantageously applicable for steam and other motive
power engines having slide valve or other ordinary separate steam valve
or valves and gear, the oscillating motion communicated to the pistons
tending to smooth and keep in good order the piston and cylinder sur-
faces, whilst the ordinary connecting rod is dispensed with, so that these
engines can thus be made much shorter and more compact. Motive
power engines of this form having the oscillating and communicating
motion to the crank pins in lieu of the ordinary connecting rod may
communicate motion to disc valves placed in the cylinder covers, by
having a groove cut in the piston rod, and the disc valves bored out to
fit the rod with feathers in each to receive the oscillating motion of the
rod, inlet and outlet ports being formed in the cylinder covers, and
corresponding ports formed in these disc valves. Disc or other valve
gear may also be wrought from the oscillated arm or driver keyed on the
piston rod by a cam or lever, or by having a segment of a wheel with
teeth formed on it to gear with a pinion on a rocking shaft to com-
municate motion to the inlet and outlet valve or valves.
An improvement in motive-power engines and liquid meters having
reciprocating pistons fitted into cylinders, the pistons being made to
receive and transmit force from a fluid, and to regulate its ingress
and egress at the same time, known as valveless engines, consists in
forming these pistons of thin narrow end discs the size of the cylinder,
somewhat like thin ordinary pistons, and placing thin long segmental
pieces. between them, the segmental pieces having flanges at each end
0

page_text: bolted to the respective end discs or pistons, and having the inlet and
outlet ports formed within the segmental pieces to open to ports on or
about the centre of the length of the cylinder, and by corresponding
ports through the thin end discs into the cylinder, the peripheries of the
segmental pieces being also turned up truly to fit accurately the diameter
of the cylinder. In large sizes there may be three or more of these
segmental port pieces or distance pieces fitted in between the discs, and
in very large cylinders it will be an advantage to have four of these
pieces and two inlet and two outlet ports. The outward discs and pistons
may have packing rings fitted in them in the ordinary way, and to keep
the segmental pieces steam or water tight I set them out by a conical
wedge piece or key between each disc and the piston rod, the heads of
which become exposed when the fastening nut on the end of the piston
rod is taken off, and can be easily set up to any degree of tightness when
thus exposed. Slotted bolt holes are formed in the end flanges of these
segmental pieces to allow of the tightening adjustment being made in
this way. To further keep this form of expanding piston tight I
introduce a fluid under pressure by a small opening through the cylinder
to press out the segmental pieces to the surface of the cylinder, and at
the same time to lubricate the piston. In steam engines I introduce hot
steam to keep the segmental pieces tight, and at the same time to keep
the piston and cylinder hot, thereby causing it to answer the same
purpose as the jacketing of the cylinder.
Another improved mode of keeping this form of combined valve and
piston steam or fluid pressure tight consists in a nozzle or ring piece
fitted to move easily within the inlet port of the cylinder through which
the motive fluid is made to pass, and which is made to bear up on its inner
end on the surface of the piston by a spring or by the pressure of the
inflowing fluid or other equivalent means, and which, from fitting the
curved surface of the piston accurately prevents the fluid from passing
or escaping into any other than into the inlet port of the piston.
Another important improvement in the pistons and cylinders of these
valveless engines consists in placing a cross vane or vanes inside this
form of pistons described, extending the whole length between the
disc or piston ends, and made a steam or water tight fit to same, and
somewhat greater in diameter than the piston, the ends protruding
from or beyond its surface, and made to work in two parallel steam or
water-tight grooves cut in the inside of the cylinder all its length; this

page_text: vane to have a cylindrical boss formed on its centre extending between
the two piston ends, and made an easy working and steam or water-tight
fit into a corresponding recess turned out between the segmental port
pieces, and in one form to have the inlet and outlet ports formed in
these segmental port pieces, and the boss formed in the centre of the
vane, this vane thus having free reciprocating action in the longitudinal
direction of the cylinder; but to prevent the oscillating motion which
the piston receives from the arm driver keyed on the piston rod and
connected to the crank this piston has a set of ports of the ordinary
valveless engine form for the induction and eduction of the acting fluid,
and receives motion on end longitudinally, as far as the space of the
cylinder is concerned, in the same way as an ordinary valveless engine.
By another set of ports through the cylinder and piston the fluid is also
admitted to and from the opposite sides of each end of this vane, and
thereby an oscillating and twisting motion is given to the piston and
rod, the piston and engine thereby having no dead centre, and starting
freely at whatever position the crank on the crank shaft may be placed.
By also making the piston long the vane may be made to induce and
expel the same quantity of the fluid as is expelled from the ends of the
piston, and thereby made to induce and expel a continuous or nearly
continuous current. To increase the useful effect of the vane inside the
piston it may also be made in a triple vane form, so as to receive and
expel a greater quantity of fluid. This form of piston is peculiarly well
suited for water meters, for which it may be packed with rolling india-
rubber packings. For forcing air it has also the advantage of producing
a continuous current, and for use as a steam engine it has the advantage
of starting freely at whatever position the crank on the crank shaft may
be placed.
Another improvement in these valveless engines consists in a mode of
reversing compound steam and air engines by reversing the steam by
double beat slide or other forms of valves, and making it when the engine
is working in one direction pass in by the exhaust ports in both cylin-
ders to give reversing action without other gear; and for obtaining
expansive action the high pressure cylinder by this improvement would
be made small enough to give or produce the expansive action required
in the second cylinder. The pistons may be on one piston rod, and
connected by an arm driven to a crank, or there may be two engines.

page_text: Another improvement in compound engines working very expansively
consists in trapping the condensed water formed in the large cylinders of
the non-condensing compound engines by a set of small ports formed in
the lower side of the piston and cylinder similar in form to the exhaust
ports for the steam, the water being trapped off before the exhaust steam
is expelled from the cylinder.
filed by the said James Robertson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM. THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ROBERTSON, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Robertson, Her special
licence that I, the said James Robertson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Robertson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOTIVE POWER AND BLOWING ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO
METERS FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Robertson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Robertson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the several
illustrative figures and reference letters and numerals on the four Sheets
of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
the nature and mode of performing my said Invention, the same refer-
ence letters and numerals being employed as far as possible to indicate
the same or like parts in all the Figures where these are delineated or
shown, that is to say:-
'
My said Invention has reference to new or improyed constructions
and arrangements of the parts of motive power and blowing engines,
and liquid meters actuated by fluids in motion or under pressure, or to
impel fluids, which are essentially improvements on the new or improved
motive-power rotative engine in which the piston or pistons have both a
reciprocating and oscillating motion within the cylinders, communicating
rotatory motion to the engine shaft without the use of a connecting rod,
eccentrics, or valves, and described in reference to Figures 1 to 22, on
Sheets 12 and 13, of the final Specification of the Invention for which
Royal Letters Patent were granted to me, dated 14 October, 1868, and
numbered 3146, all of which make the engines or meters to which these
improvements are applied more simple or efficient for many purposes
than these have been as heretofore constructed.
And the nature and novelty of my said Invention or improvements
consist all substantially as follows, namely, first, in transmitting and
changing the said reciprocating and oscillatory motion of the piston
rod C of the said engines or meters into the circular motion of the disc
or crank shaft F (or vice versa, transmit the circular motion of the disc
or crank shaft into the reciprocating oscillatory motion of the piston rod
and pistons C, B,) by or through an improved arm D keyed on the
piston rod C, having an oscillating cylindrical bush D¹ with conical
ends D" fitted in the outer end of this transmitting arm or driver,"
and which receives ands works on the pin E' fixed in the crank or disc E
of the said crank or disc shaft F to be turned, and thus having the
circular motion transmitted to it (or vice versa, as stated,) as a substitute
for and without the use of the usual connecting rod employed in these
and other such engines and meters heretofore, which improvements are
shown in the general views, Figures 1 to 13, and 14 to 19, and 14 A,
"

page_text: 14 B, and 15 A on the several Sheets, and specially in the large scale
detailed views, Figures 6 to 9 on Sheet 1.
"
Also in other improvements in these motive power and blowing
engines or meters in which the piston B while it receives and transmits
the force of the impelling fluid (passed through it), also regulates the
ingress and egress of the forcing fluid to and from the cylinders A", A2,
without the use of valves therefor, and known as "valveless engines,
all for the better action of these parts, and the working of the said
engines, fitted with these improvements, to be more fully specified
hereafter, as follows:-Thus, then, referring to the several Figures 1, 2,
and 10, 11, and 12, 13, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, and which represent
a side elevation and plan of three different arrangements of the said
reciprocating oscillatory piston engines with revolving shaft, without the
usual connecting rod, the first (Figures 1 and 2) being that of a single
cylinder high pressure expansive steam or other motive fluid engine, the
second (Figures 10 and 11) being that of a compound high and low
pressure condensing steam or other fluid engine, and Figures 12 and 13
that of combined direct acting cylinder steam engine and pump for
drawing and forcing water or other liquids, or it might be air or other
fluids, all constructed in accordance with and illustrative of several of
the improvements forming the first part of this my said Invention, as
applied to these several engines respectively.
Referring generally to these Figures, as there is no connecting rod in
this new construction of reciprocating engine, the axis of the crank
shaft F can therefore be placed at right angles to and as near the
cylinder cover (or covers, when there are two cylinders working and
coupled opposite to each other), as the driving or transmitting arm D
will work clear of the cover stuffing box (or stuffing boxes in the case of
two cylinders, Figures 11 to 13,) which thus admits with facility and
advantage of the near or inside cylinder cover A¹¹, guide bracket or
bush C' of the piston rod C, and the crank shaft neck bearing frame G,
Figures 1 and 2, or it may be the bearing block F2, also (Figures 12
and 13) being all formed or cast in one piece, and for double cylinder
engines or meters coupled in a line the second cover A¹!!! also is cast on
the said frame G, instead of the guide bracket C, along with the
cover A of the first cylinder A", and one of my improvements is to do
this in these engines, and to bolt this said piece or frame C¹, G, A", to
the flange or flanges of the cylinder A" or cylinders A", A³, Figures 1

page_text: and 2, or when there are two, the one worked out in front and adjacent
to each other, as in Figures 10 to 13, with the crank shaft F common
to both cylinders placed between them.
2
Referring to the construction and arrangement of the parts shown in
Figures 1 and 2, the new or improved frame piece G, carrying the neck
journal bearing block F bolted down to it (but it might be cast on it)
is preferably made as a small open rectangular sole plate, cast in one
with the piston rod guido C', and the near cover A, and stuffing box
of the steam cylinder A" which is bolted to it by its near flanged end
at A; while on the under side of its other end a flanged foot or resting
piece f, with snugs f¹ is formed so that this frame G and the cylinder A"
above, thus bolted together at the flanges of its near cover, form a
portable engine ready for bolting to any suitable foundation, framing, or
wall where the engine has to be set to work by the holes and bolts at of
the frames G and f¹ in the foot f of the cylinder A", which improve-
ments enable me to dispense with the usual long sole or bed plate in
horizontal engines, and a corresponding bearing bracket in such engines
when erected as vertical and inclined cylinder engines, both as heretofore
used in such engines. Thus these motive-power engines may be con-
structed in a more rigid way than with a sole plate, and at a greatly
reduced weight and cost, the bearing block F' of the outer end journal
of the crank shaft F being secured as usual to a separate sole plate on a
suitable wall or foundation. The steam enters the cylinder A" by the
branch A, and exhausts or escapes by the segmental duct and branch A³,
while the red arrows in these and the other Figures on the Drawings
indicate the direction of the current and action of the steam through the
engines and ducts, while the black arrows indicate the mechanical motion
of the parts where the arrows are, corresponding to their position in all
the Figures, and the blue arrows indicate the direction of the impelled
fluids where they occur, and are shown as water or air in the application
to pumps, blowers, or meters.
When two cylinders are employed, such as in a compound steam
engine, Figures 10 and 11, or in a combined engine and pump of this
description, Figures 12 and 13, as herein-before referred to, the inter-
mediate connecting piece or frame G has formed on it the covers A", Allit
with their piston rod stuffing boxes to fit the respective cylinders A", A2,
and resting seat G₁ for the crank shaft bearing F, Figures 10 and 11,
or with the bearing block F" formed on it, as at Figures 12 and 13,
,

page_text: which are bolted on to the near end flanges of cach cylinder. The two
cylinders A", A³, with their inside end bearing bracket G, G', thus bolted
together without other sole plate forms one rigid structure as in the
former case, Figures 1 and 2, and this arrangement is very advantageous
both for compactness and reduced cost in this class of motive-power
engines.
Referring particularly to the arrangement shown in Figures 10 and 11,
a resting flanged foot f, f', is formed on the lower outer end of the high
and low pressure cylinder A" and A2, and otherwise it is substantially
constructed as described in reference to Figures 1 and 2, the high-
pressure steam entering by the branch pipe A, and escaping and
expanding by the jacket and branch A³, along the pipe A°, in by the
inlet branch and jacket A', to the low-pressure cylinder A³, and finally
out by the branch A³ to any ordinary construction of condenser desired,
the red arrows indicating the direction of the steam, and the black
arrows the motion of the parts.
Referring to the modification or arrangement of improved combined
engine and pump, shown in Figures 12 and 13, the new or improved frame
picce G has the near covers A, A, of both the steam cylinder A" and
pump barrel A² cast on it, with a strong or deep feather G" to strengthen
them, and the collar or long journal bearing block F" of the disc or
crank shaft F in this case is cast in one with it also, the fly wheel H
being shown as overhung past the carrying block F" and frame G, and
the cylinders being secured without flanged feet ƒƒ¹, by their inner end
flanges to the covers on the frame G. The whole forms a compact
portable pumping engine secured by the frame G only as a sole plate to
any suitable foundation where it has to be set to work. It is to be
understood also that the cylinders A" or A² in any of the other modifi-
cations, Figures 1 and 2 or 10 and 11, may be made without the flanged
feet ff, when preferred, as when the cylinders are made short.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, these are respectively elevations of the
opposite sides of the piston B detached, to a large scale, as suitable for
any of the high-pressure cylinders A" of the modifications of engines,
Figures 1 and 2 and 10 to 13, the former showing the inlet steam
ports B and B for the near and back end respectively of the cylinder
and piston, both ports being shown as made short for high expansion;
but as the engines become burdened these can be lengthened in the seg-
mental direction towards the other ends of the piston, analogous to the

page_text: exhaust ports B and B³, shown in Figure 4, which act throughout the
whole length of the stroke, the ports B2, B3, and B", B, entering into
their long semicircular ports B', B', formed on opposite sides of the
piston B by the two longitudinal feathers B* opening into the near and
far end of the cylinder, all respectively and as also seen in the end view
of the piston B, Figure 5, corresponding to Figure 4. In this class of
motive engines (as Figures 1 and 2 and 10 to 13) the steam or other
acting or impelled fluid is admitted and exhausted by these ports A¹
and A at the part where the branch passages A and A³ meet the
working face of the cylinder and piston exactly in the centre and
opposite sides of the former, as indicated in red lines on the near end of
the piston, Figures 3 and 4, which is the end then beginning to act
through the diagonal opposite inlet and exhaust ports B and B and
passages B¹, B', of the piston, all respectively, for the return in-stroke,
corresponding to the position of the piston B, driver D, and disc or crank
pin E', in Figures 1 and 2, thus requiring the piston B to be rather more
than half the length of the stroke to allow room for the cover at the ends
past the ports and narrow steel packing rings, shown as sprung into
grooves at b¹ near the ends, and cored out hollow within the long
ports B¹, B¹, for lightness, and fixed by an end nut C* on the outer end
of the piston rod C, tightly fitted through its centre eye in a usual
The steam ports B², B", are preferred to have the smallest
possible opening at the end of their stroke, and the exhaust a little cover
for cushioning, and the curvature of the ports B², B", and B³, B¹¹, is
determined by the radius C2 of the arc of motion 2, 2, of the arm D
in proportion to that C3 of the are 3, 3, of the piston and the corre-
sponding position thereof throughout the stroke, as indicated in red lines
in Figure 6, and shown projected and determined in Figures 27 and 28,
on Sheet 3.
manner.
Figures 6 to 9 (on Sheet 1) are detailed views to a large scale of the
transmitting arm or driver D and its parts to show their construction
more clearly than seen in the small scale views of the general arrange-
Figures 6 to 9 (on Sheet 1) are detailed views to a large scale of the
transmitting arm or driver D and its parts to show their construction
more clearly than seen in the small scale views of the general arrange-
ments of these improved rotative reciprocating oscillatory engines, shown
and described on Sheet 1, and to be herein-after described on Sheets 2
to 4, and in which they act as a substitute or equivalent for the con-
necting rod in ordinary engines, so as to enable such engines so fitted
with them to be of the compact portable form and character peculiar to
this improved construction of engine, and of this Invention,

page_text: Figure 6 is a side view of the arm D with the tightening cover Du
removed so as to show the cylindrical oscillating bush D' and crank or
disc pin E¹ in working position in it, and the disc E in section; and
Figure 7 is a section through the arm D on the line 1, 1, in Figure 6;
and Figures 8 and 9 are side and end views of the bush D¹ detached,
which is made in two parts with conical ends, to work over the crank
or disc pin E¹, so tightened up by the cover D" and its bolts D³, with
jam nuts fitted in the outer end eye turned to receive it as a bearing
lubricated by a cup D' through the centre of the cover. The arm D is
fixed by a broad key at D to the piston rod C, and it may either be
segmental on the inner face to fit the rod or have a flat key seat cut for
it, but it is preferred further to fix it by the point of the strong pin D³
screwed through the eye or boss of the arm D into a hole bored for
it in the piston rod C, either opposite to key D or at right angles
thereto.
Although I have hitherto only fitted this improved oscillating arm D
with its cylindrical crank pin bush D¹ to the piston rod of the said
motive-power engines with long pistons, known as valveless steam
engines, I find it also advantageous by another improvement of this
Invention to apply it to steam and other fluid motive-power engines
with the ordinary short pistons, having a slide or other ordinary separate
steam valve or valves and their gear; the oscillating motion thereby
communicated to the pistons tending to keep the working surfaces of
the piston and cylinder smooth and in good order, thus dispensing with
the ordinary connecting rod in these engines, and by these improvements
make them much shorter and more compact, as shown in Figures 14
to 19 on Sheet 2, and Figures 14 A, 14 B, and 15 A on Sheet 3, which
will be herein-after more fully described.
✓ Referring to the said improvements of applying my improved trans-
mitting arm or driver D with its cylindrical bush D¹ (as described
particularly in relation to Figures 6 to 9) to the said short cylinder and
piston rotative reciprocating and oscillating engines; Figures 14 and 15
are a side elevation and plan of a single cylinder, horizontal steam or
other fluid motive-power engine, constructed in accordance with and
illustrative of one modification and application of this said improved
driver D, D', thereto, and having the other improvements as to the
compact construction of the frame G, having the bearing set G¹ of the
neck journal pillow block F" of the crank shaft F, and the guide C¹ and

page_text: cylinder cover A with stuffing box for piston rod C working through,
all formed in one casting, analogous to that shown and described in
reference to Figures 1 and 2, except that the cylinder A", which is
similarly bolted by its near end flange to the cover A cast on the
bracket G, but without the foot f at its outer end, was an ordinary
narrow piston, so that the cylinder is of the ordinary short description
(little longer than the stroke of the crank pin E³) with a valve chest g
and slide valve g' worked by the links g" and wiper shaft gå and the
eccentric and its rod 93, 9¹¹¹; the wiper shaft being carried on a tubular
boss and bracket 9', or other equivalent, secured to the said new open
frame G, but it might be to an arm on that frame or on the cylinder
itself, the whole forming a most compact steam engine of a very rigid
and light construction; and it will be understood that this class of
engine is also capable of being constructed in accordance with these
improvements to suit the double cylinder class, shown and described in
reference to Figures 10 to 13, only with short cylinders instead of long,
and might be fitted with other ordinary forms of valves and gearing than
that shown in Figures 14 and 15. Motive-power engines of this form,
having the oscillating arm D communicating motion to the crank pins
in lieu of the ordinary connecting rod, may by another improvement
communicate motion to the disc valves, as B₁, B", placed in the cylinder
covers, by having a groove cut in the piston rod, with feathers in cach,
to receive the oscillating motion of the rod, inlet and outlet ports being
formed in the cylinder covers and corresponding ports formed in these
dise valves, as hercin-after shown and described in reference to Figures 16
to 19 on Sheet 2.
Figures 16 and 17 are a sectional elevation and end view respectively
of the blowing cylinder A of one of these reciprocating oscillatory
narrow piston engines as fitted with one modification of these improved
disc valves for regulating the inlet and outlet of fluids or air to the said
cylinder, sufficient to make the nature and mode of applying the same
properly understood; and Figures 18 and 19 are end views respectively
of one of the oscillating disc valves B¹, and fixed end covers A' detached,
showing the one radial port in the valves, and two corresponding ports
in the end covers.
Referring particularly to these Figures 16 to 19, A is the air or blowing
cylinder cast with a suitable flange or basc≈ to bolt it on to a bed plate
common to it, and its actuating steam cylinder, the piston of which as.

page_text: well as that B of the blowing cylinder A would thus be keyed or fixed
on the same piston rod C formed with a parallel slot c in the parts of it
which work through the end covers A¹, A", and stuffing boxes D formed
on end segmental pocket and duct pieces D¹, D", both bolted to the end
flanges of the cylinder A, with the valve disc B, B", working in face
recesses in the end covers A', A", respectively, and held in position by
the said pocket pieces D', D", respectively, forming segmental wings to
the left and right side of the close end central ducts D³, D³, leading
from the vertically placed outlet ports a¹, a¹¹, of the end covers a¹, a¹¹, to
the main outlet duct and branch A*, A5, at the top of the cylinder A,
common to both discharge end ports and pockets. These discharge
ports a, a, are both shown dotted in at the vertical radial line C 1,
Figure 17, while the other inlet ports a² and a³ in the end covers A', A¹¹‚·
are shown to the extreme left and right of the said vertical line C, 1,
quite outside the opposite close end segmental pockets D¹ and D", all
as indicated by their respective radial centre lines C, a³, C, a³, in Figures 17
and 19, that to the left of the far end cover A" being shown in black
lines. The two-end disc valves B¹, B", have each a radial port b², 6",
respectively shown in black and blue lines in Figure 18, each port being
equal in size to nearly one-third of the angle contained within the
lines b, C, b, Figure 18 of the whole oscillating throw or motion of the
piston and its rod C, to which they are fixed so as to oscillate with the
latter by the feathers 6 which work in the slots c as the piston rod C is
reciprocated through the eye of the disc valves B', B", and stuffing boxes
or end covers of the cylinder before named.
In the position of the parts shown in the Figures the piston B which
is in the centre of its stroke is traversing in the direction of the black
arrow on it towards the end plate A", so that the discharge port a¹¹ is
full open by the port 1 of the valve B", being then over it, and just
about to begin its downward action, towards the right, and the inlet
port as being closed the air is forced out through the ports a", 6", and
duct D³, and outlet passage and branch A*, A5, as indicated by the position
of the valves and blue arrows in Figure 16; while the discharge port a¹
in the end plate A' is closed during the traverse of the piston towards the
other end A, and as the inlet porta (at this end A' behind the piston) and
the port of the disc valve B₁ is full open as shown in the position of
these parts in Figures 17, 18, and 19, the air enters and fills the space
behind the piston B ready for the next stroke. The radial lines C 3,

page_text: and C 3, Figure 17, show the position of the centre lines C, b₁, C, ʊ", in
Figure 18 of the ports b², 6", of the two disc valves B', B", when the
piston is at either end of its stroke, that is, in the blank space between
the inlet and outlet ports a, a¹, and a³, a¹¹, of the end covers A³, A",
respectively, where all the ports are closed while the crank is on the dead
centres. This arrangement is very suitable for making compact direct
blowing engines at moderate speeds and pressures for blowing smithy
fires and other furnaces, the ventilation of mines, and blowing and
refrigerating and other purposes.
Another improvement consists in the application of other such disc or
other ordinary valves and gear to these reciprocating oscillatory narrow
piston engines or meters worked or oscillated by the motion of the
piston rod C direct, or a cam or lever keyed on it, or by the arm or
driver D, D¹, or a segment of a wheel with teeth formed on it to gear
with a pinion on a rocking or tappet shaft to communicate motion to
the inlet and outlet valve or valves of these engines, as shown in
Figures 16 to 19 on Sheet 2, and 14 A, 14 B, and 15 A, on Sheet 3.
Figure 14 A is a side clevation, and Figure 15 A a plan, and
Figure 14 B a transverse section of one of my improved compact,
rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory, narrow, or short piston motive power
engines, substantially the same as that described in reference to
Figures 14 and 15 on Sheet 2, but having fitted thereto a modification
or construction and arrangement of the said improvements for
actuating a tappet or cam shaft, as ", from the oscillatory motion of
the piston rod C or driver D. In this case there is a small toothed
segment formed in the boss or eye of the driver D, the teeth of
which work into a corresponding but larger radial segment h¹ made as
long as the reciprocating stroke of the piston and rod C, so that as the
segment is keyed on the said rocking or tappet shaft / carried
exactly above the piston rod C in journal bearings in standards ª
formed or secured to the top side of the piston rod guide C¹ and near
cover A of the cylinder (or it might be both near covers when it was
applied to a double cylinder engine worked in a line therewith), it
follows that the shaft " (though only shown as short broken off in
these Figures) is proportionally oscillated to and fro in such a manner
that it may be made to work any of the ordinary forms and arrange-
ments of separate inlet and exhaust valves and their gearing, desired to

page_text: be fitted to the cylinder A" of such engines, all instead of by the ordinary
eccentric gear, as shown at g³, 91, in Figures 14 and 15.
And it will be evident that a plain arm or lever either with or without
an antifriction pulley or inclined acting surfaces or tappets may be
fixed and project from the piston rod C or driver D, as an equivalent to
the segment pinion h, to work on inclined or abutting cam or tappet
surfaces on a spindle, as ", either oscillatory or reciprocated as a wiper
spindle to work the ordinary separate inlet and outlet valves of these
improved rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory, short piston engines, all
instead of the toothed segmental levers h, h³, just described in reference
to Figures 14 A, 14 B, and 15 A.
Another improvement in the motive power engines and liquid meters,
having reciprocating pistons, as B, 6, Figures 20 to 24, on Sheet 2, and
Figures 25 to 32, on Sheet 3, fitted into cylinders, the pistons B, b,
being made to receive and transmit force from a fluid and to regulate
its ingress and egress at the same time, known as valveless engines,
consists in forming these pistons B, b, all as follows, of thin narrow end
dises the size of the cylinder, somewhat like thin ordinary pistons
(with the narrow steel packing rings b' sprung and fitted into grooves on
them), and placing thin long segmental pieces B, B, having flanges at
each end bolted to the respective end discs or pistons, and having the
inlet ports B³, B", and passages B', and outlet ports B³, B¹¹¹, and
passages B¹ formed within the segmental pieces to open the ports A¹, A',
on or about the centre of the length of the cylinders A" by correspond-
ing ports B', through the thin end discs into the cylinder; the
peripheries of the segmental pieces being also turned up truly to fit
accurately the diameter of the cylinder. In large sizes there may be
three or more of these segmental port picces or distance pieces fitted in
between the discs, and in very large cylinders it will be an advantage to
have four of these pieces and two inlet and two outlet ports. These a
end dises 6 of the pistons B, b, may have steel or other packing rings 6¹
fitted in them in the ordinary way; and to keep the working surfaces
and ports of these improved segmental pieces B, B, steam or water-
tight, I set them out by conical wedge-tapered pieces, or keys between
each disc and the piston rod, or screw spindles within the piston for
actuating these, or the heads of these wedge pieces may be fitted so as
to become exposed when the fastening nut on the end of the piston rod
is taken off, so that they can then be easily set up to any degree of

page_text: asunder or set out by the two long screws C² worked in holes in the
flanges B and within the space O" on each side of the piston rod C by
a square head on its neck and collar working in and passed out through
bearings in the outer end disc b, so as to be turned by a box key, and
thus traverse brass or other screw pressing blocks or nuts C¹¹¹, working
and sliding over wedge or angled feathers or other equivelent inclined
surfaces C³, formed or fixed on the inner part of the two centre port
pieces B, B, all so as to make their working periphery (with the
ports B², B, and B³, B, in them, and previously truly turned to fit the
interior of the cylinder to which it is to be fitted) form and maintain a
tight bearing joint on the working surface of the cylinder and its inlet
and exhaust ports A³ and A* (of the corresponding branches A and A*
in the several Figures of these long cylinders, Figures 29 to 32, and 37
to 46, on Sheets 3 and 4, and indicated in red lines on the face of the
long piston as at the two extremes of its stroke, in Figures 20 and 21, and
in blue lines in Figures 26 and 27; and when the working pressure or
tightening desired has been given to these working surfaces, the screws
can be fixed or held by a notched washer C screwed up below the end
nut C* of the piston, or other equivalent fastening.
Referring to Figures 25 to 30, which show a slightly different modifi-
cation of this improved setting out or expanding long piston for these
"valveless engines" from that shown and described in reference to
Figures 20 to 24, but having the same letters of reference on the cor-
responding parts where shown, so far as these agree to these or the
former improvements described. Thus then, Figure 25 is a vertical side
clevation; and Figures 26 and 27 are an under and top side view; and
Figure 28 a back end view corresponding to 27; all of the piston as
detached from its long cylinder A" and piston rod C, shown in longitudinal
and transverse sections in Figures 29 and 30, taken on the lines 1 - - - 1
and 2 2 of the opposite Figures. In this case, as seen in Figures 25
and 30, the ends b, b, (which have two small packing rings instead of
one in the joint as in the last case) are secured to the central expanding
parts B, B, by short screw bolts 6" passed through slotted holes 62 in their
end flanges B*, and pinned nuts within the central space 0", which is
made large to lighten them by making the inner shell and longitudinal
steam passages B¹ concentric to the outside, while they are expanded or
set out by one angled or inclined pressing out block and recess C³ in the
centre of each (B) on each side of the piston rod C opposite each other,
--
->

page_text: and by the two long keys or bars C with corresponding wedge or
inclined surfaces at their points inserted through slots in the outer
flanges B* and end b, which thus retain them in position, with the wedge
points acting on the piston rod C, and inclined blocks C³ so that when
their heads C* are exposed by taking off the nut C*, as seen in Figures 28
and 29, they can be driven in to the desired tightness and held there by
the nut C* when it is screwed up with washers or other equivalent
between it and the heads of the keys C¹¹ to make up the space as driven in.
The red lines in Figure 28 show the mode of finding and projecting
the curves of the ports B³, B, B³, B¹¹¹, on the face B of the piston; the
line C 2, indicates the length of the transmitting arm D from tho
centre of piston rod C to centre of bush D¹, and the angle contained
between those two lines C 2, and C2; and the arc 2, 2, adjoining them
indicate that made by the arm during a half turn of the crank pin E¹ (as
in passing from the top vertical centre to the lower); and 3 - 3, indicates
the corresponding are on the piston, as also shown in
Sheet 1, so that the half of these projected form any number of points in
a quarter of the revolution of the disc or crank pin E, as indicated at 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, will give the same number of points in the quarter of the
curve of any of the ports to find it by, as projected or carried over from
Figure 28 to 27, and numbered accordingly.
Figure 6, on
The red arrows in Figures 29 and 30 show the steam or other acting
fluid entering by the side and under passage A and port A³, while it
exhausts near the centre of the cylinder A" at the port A and outlet
branch above, or in the central top part of the cylinder.
It will be understood that strong spiral or other springs might also
be employed to press out the centre pieces B, B, instead of the wedge
pieces B³, B; and that any of these mechanical means of keeping the
expanding parts B, B, of these improved expanding pistons b, B, tight,
and as described in reference to Figures 20 to 30, may either be used by
themselves or conjointly with another improvement of my said Invention
for doing so by the introduction of a fluid under pressure by a small
opening through the cylinder to press out the segmental pieces B, B, to
the surface of the cylinder, and at the same time to lubricate the piston.
In some engines I introduce hot steam to keep the segmental pieces
tight, and at the same time to keep the piston and cylinder hot, thereby
causing it to answer the same purpose as the jacketing of the cylinder.
One mode and means of doing which is shown in Figures 31 and 32, on
B 2

page_text: Sheet 3, which I shall now describe; Figures 31 and 32 are a longi-
tudinal and transverse section of the cylinder A" of an engine, such as
those described in reference to Figures 1 and 2 or 10 and 11, and as
fitted with a modification of my improved expanding piston, substan-
tially the same as that shown and described in reference to Figures 20
to 24, and all lettered to agree therewith, but having the acting fluid
admitted direct at the one side branch A, and exhausting or escaping at
the other A³, Figure 32, and in addition a pipe a controlled by a cock
fitted to the top central part of the cylinder A", so as to convey the
pressure fluid from any high-pressure reservoir thereof, such as a steam
boiler, when steam is to be used, and a similar blow-off pipe and tap a¹
fitted to the lower central part of the cylinder, so as to allow of the
escape of the fluid when desired as the condensed steam when steam is
used, which improvement and arrangement might be used either for
pressing out the body parts B, B, or for lubricating the working surfaces
of the piston and cylinder, or for both; and when these engines were
used for high expansion, as for compound high and low pressure
engines, high pressure steam would be admitted, which would serve
the same purposes as jacketing in ordinary engine cylinders.
Although I have only shown the expanding parts B, B, divided into
two nearly semicircular segments, yet it is to be understood and will be
evident that this part of the piston could be cut or divided in a similar
manner into three or four parts or segments B, especially in large
pistons, each section or segment having on its working face a duplex
arrangement of inlet and exhaust ports B³, B", or B³, B, and internal
ducts B' leading from these to the respective ends of the cylinder, which
in a four sectional onc would have two inlet and two outlet branches and
ports as A, A, and A', A³, through the middle part of the cylinder; and
each section would have an angled or inclined block or surface on the
inside, and a corresponding moving conical or inclined key or other
equivalent acting on them to force them out, all substantially as
described in reference to the modifications of two segmental expanding
pieces B, B.
Another improved mode of keeping this form of combined valve and
piston B (Figures 3, 4, and 5), or B, b, (Figures 20 to 32), steam or fluid
pressure tight, or the inlet port A' thereof consists in the application
and use of a nozzle or ring piece fitted to move easily within the inlet
port or branch A of the cylinder, through which the motive fluid is

page_text: made to pass, and which is made to fit and bear up at its inner end upon
the surface of the piston by the pressure of the inflowing fluid, or by a
spring or other equivalent means, and which from fitting the curved
surface of the piston accurately prevents the entering or acting fluid
from escaping or passing in any other direction than into the inlet
ports B³, B", of the piston, and is delineated in Figures 33, 34, 35, and
36, on Sheet 3, which I shall now describe.
Figures 33 and 34 are a longitudinal and transverse section of a
cylinder A" detached, with its piston B therein, and Figures 35 and 36
are upper and lower face views of the steam inlet and exhaust sides and
ports of the piston detached from the former Figures, all substantially
the same as that described in reference to Figures 1 to 5 on Sheet 1, and
lettered accordingly. By this improvement I fit a short annular brass
tube or bush A¹ into a parallel board working seat in the inlet throat of
the branch A, for admitting the steam or other acting fluid to the
cylinder, and have its lower end turned or otherwise made to fit and
bear fluid tight on the working surface of the piston B over the inlet
port, as indicated in double blue lines in Figure 35, and in red lines in
Figure 3, on Sheet 1, and having a sliding feather a¹ at one side either
in the bush or its seat to prevent it from turning, but leaving it free to
slide up and down in the seat, so that the pressure of the entering steam
or it might be a spring, would press the lower end of this bush A¹ so
tight against the said working face of the piston B, that no steam could
escape except into the ports B², B", when these were passing it.
Another of my said improvements in these valveless engines consists
in a mode of reversing compound or double cylinder steam and air
engines of this class by reversing the steam or air and inlet and outlet
passages by double beat, slide, or other forms of valves, and making it when
the engine is working in one direction pass in the fluid by the exhaust
ports in both cylinders to give the reversing action without other gear;
and for obtaining expansive action, the high pressure cylinder by this
improvement would be made small enough to give or produce the
expansive action required in the second cylinder. The pistons of both
cylinders when worked in a line may be fixed on one piston rod C, and
connected by one arm driver (as D, D¹, Figures 6 to 9), to one crank
pin or disc E'; one modification or construction and arrangement of this
improved reversing gear to such an arrangement of these engines is
shown in Figures 37 to 41 on Sheet 4.

page_text: Another adaptation of the said improved reversing valves and gear is
also shown in Figures 42 to 44 on the same Sheet, as applied to a two
cylinder engine or engines with their piston rods coupled to one crank
shaft F by two of the said arm drivers D, D₁, and two crank or disc
pins E¹.
Figures 37 and 38, are a sectional elevation and horizontal section of
compound high and low pressure expansive engines, substantially of the
improved rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory construction, described in
reference to Figures 1 and 2, and particularly 10 and 11, and lettered
so far accordingly; but having fitted thereto one arrangement of the
said improved reversing valves and gear with the driving arm shown and
described in reference to Figures 6 to 9, making the engines suitable for
a compound marine engine for driving the screw propeller Z, of a steam
ship having the cylinders fitted with a modification of my improved
expanding piston, substantially the same as shown and described in
reference to Figures 20 to 24, on Sheet 2.
--
Figures 39 and 40 are transverse sections respectively tapered through
the centre lines 1 - 1 and 2 - - 2 of the high and low pressure cylinders
in Figures 37 and 38, and their arrangement of the improved construc-
tion and arrangement of reversing inlet and exhaust valve gear, shown
also in plan view detached in Figure 40. The high and low pressure
cylinders of these engines, with a flanged footf on their outer end, are
attached by their inner end flanges to their near covers cast on my
said improved frame G, G, A, A, carrying the crank or disc neck
bearing block F" of the screw shaft F, with its long central part between
the engine and screw Z, as broken away, and its screw end brought close
up in Figure 38. Both cylinders are shown as fitted with the modifica-
tion of my improved expanding piston b, b, B, shown and described in
reference to Figures 20 to 24 on Sheet 2, and being all lettered so far to
agree thereto need not be here more particularly referred to. The steam
inlet and exhaust ports B², B", B³, B, and ducts B' in the pistons B, b,
are arranged to suit for driving the engine in the forward direction, as
indicated by the arrow on the screw (as say) when the steam is being
admitted at the ports A¹ of both cylinders, and exhausted at the ports A*
at the centre and opposite sides of the high and low pressure cylin-
ders A", A³, and the lower parts of the two segmental ducts or steam
passages A and A5, formed round and up to one and the same oval
horizontal flange A above each cylinder, all as indicated by the red

page_text: arrows in the Figures, upon each of which branches and flanges Aº is
jointed the corresponding two lower ported branch of a laterally placed
and acting hollow current reversing cylindrical chest or barrel A', with
hollow close ended cylindrical valves A³, worked by rods c working
through stuffing boxes in the ends of the steam valve chests A', and by
links c¹ from wipers or levers c¹ on the wiper or hand lever shaft c²,
carried by brackets c¹¹ projecting up from flange seats cast for them on
the cylinder, all so that by the raising or lowering of the hand lever c³,
keyed on the rocking shaft c, the two valves A³ are set to the one end
or the other; as for making the engines go ahead or astern in the position
shown, the handle is in its highest position, while the two valves A³ at
the further end of their chests A', with their lower inlet ports a over the
inlet branches or passages A of the cylinders for going ahead or in the
direction of the arrows in the Figures. The steam from the boiler enters
by a side branche on the centre and right hand side of the valve chest A',
one of the corresponding ports a¹ formed near each end of the valve A
to the high pressure engine cylinder A", Figures 39 and 41, and then
after passing through the cylinder up through the eduction passage A³
into the near end of the valve chest A' in front of the valve As, and out
through the front port e¹¹ of a side pocket or passage e¹, cast on the
opposite or left hand side of cach chest A', and which leads and conducts
the steam exhausted into and through cither end of the chest into a
central branch e¹¹¹, leading into the long pipe e³, which conducts the
steam exhausted from the high pressure cylinder A" into the correspond-
ing inlet branch e on the right hand side of the valve chest A', fitted
over that large low pressure cylinder A2, and through the valve A³, and
down the inlet passage A and port A¹ into this cylinder, where after
doing its work, and being highly expanded, it finally passes up and out
through the eduction passage A³ through the near end of the reversing
chamber, through the port and passage e¹¹, e, and last branch e¹¹ at the
ende, to any ordinary form of condenser; all as indicated by the red
arrows in these passages and ports for going ahead, as stated; but for
backing the engine to go astern the handle is reversed to the lowest
position indicated by the red arc and radial line at c' in Figure 39, which
reverses the valves A³ in their chests, so that the steam passes through
them by the port a" down the passages which were formerly the exhaust
passages to the engines, and up through what were formerly the inlet
passages into the far end of the steam reversing chambers A', and out
through the cduction ports e, in them, through the side duct c', out

page_text: through the exhaust central branch e, first out through the pipe e³ to
the low pressure cylinder, and finally, as before, out through the
branch eat e, all so as to reverse the steam to and from the cylinders
and the motion of the engine in the reverse direction to the arrows
thereon. As the inlet and eduction ports B³, B", and B³, B¹¹¹, in the
piston of these engines must be the same for reversing the engine, the size
and proportion of the high pressure cylinder A" to the low pressure one A²
will in these engines regulate the degree of expansion to be obtained.
Referring to Figures 42 to 44; Figures 42 and 43 are a side and end
elevation, and Figure 44 a plan, of this class of compound cylinder 1
expansive engines with the cylinders laid parallel to each other on a
common solc or bed plate z carrying the whole engine and having their
piston rods C, C, connected to a single crank or disc shaft F, by the two
cranks or discs and pins E, E¹, and two transmitting arms D, D¹, fitted
with an arrangement of the said improved reversing valve chests and 1
valves A7, A8, described in reference to Figures 37 to 41, so as to make
these cylinder engines reversable also, and all lettered to correspond, and
as the engines are supposed to be going in the same direction the position
of the valves A³, and its hand gearing and arrow are all also the same as
on the said former Figure, the essential difference being that the inlet 2
and exhaust passages A and A' of both cylinders A", A³, are brought
up from the right hand side and left hand side ports A¹ and A* respect-
ively in a twisted manner to the front and back of each other over the
middle part of the cylinder, so that the valve chests are placed so as to
work the valves A longitudinally out at the back ends by carrying the 2
wiper shaft c³ on brackets bolted to the outer end covers of the cylinders,
as shown in red lines in the side elevation, Figure 42. And when it was
desired to set the crank or disc pins E³ at right angles to each other a
steam chamber of proper capacity might be formed as a jacket round
the small cylinder as in some engines, or this may be placed between the a
reversing valve chests A' instead of the pipe c'. These improvements
making a very compact, light, and inexpensive compound reversable
engine, whether for cylinders working in a line or side by side.
Another improvement in compound engines for working them highly
expansively consists in trapping the condensed water formed in the large a
cylinders of the non-condensing compound engines by a set of small
ports formed in the lower side of the piston and cylinder, similar in form

page_text: to the exhaust ports for the steam, the water being tapped off before the
exhaust steam is expelled from the cylinder.
A modification of this improvement is shown in Figures 45 and 46,
on Sheet 4, which I shall now describe. Figure 45 is a longitudinal
section, and Figure 46 a horizontal section, both taken on planes nearly
through the centre of the cylinders, of both corresponding to each other,
of a compound high and low pressure engine nearly the same as that
shown and described in reference to Figures 10 and 11, on Sheet 1, but
fitted with a modification of my improved expanding piston, substantially
the same as that shown and described in reference to Figures 20 to 24,
on Sheet 2, and so far lettered and figured to correspond and save re-
description of these; but in this arrangement the two near end covers
A, A, of the cylinders A", A2, are strengthened by forming or casting
a deep longitudinal feather G² or bracket on them, their highest part
above the piston rod C, instead of the strong horizontal feather G",
shown and described in reference to Figures 12 and 13. While to the
large low pressure cylinder A² I show the said improved shallow narrow
trapping groove or ports formed in the lower central part of the working
face or surface of the cylinder for trapping the water of condensation
(which gathers there in these highly expanding cylinders) at each end of
the stroke, the groove extending a little beyond the piston for an instant
in that position, but closed immediately on the piston moving, and
throughout its stroke, this answers as a trap and valve without impairing
the vacuum, while the water would run off by the tap d', regulated to
the least opening required for the purpose. Which simple improvement
adds much to the automatic working and perfecting of these highly
expansive working engines, and dispenses with the necessity for the
ordinary large snifter valves, as water will not get collected in the
cylinders of these valveless engines fitted with this trapped port.
That part of my improvements in the reciprocating and oscillating
pistons for "valveless engines," or which form their own valves, and
described in my Provisional Specification as made with longitudinal
and cross feathers between the end discs, working fluid pressure tight in
longitudinal grooves in the cylinder, not having yet been worked out in
practice by me, I desire to disclaim it, and therefore considering the
same as not a part of this Invention now I have not herein specified it.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to

page_text: |state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein-Defore
described or delineated, but that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of the various
single and double or compound cylinder engines of the improved rotative,
reciprocating, oscillatory class, as distinguished for motive power and
blowing engines, also applicable for forcing and measuring liquids, all
substantially as herein described, distinguished, and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction of rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory steam
engines having their near cylinder covers, piston guide, and crank
journal, bearing seat, or bearing block itself, all cast in one frame or
bracket piece G as the main frame of the engine, substantially in the
new or improved manner and for the purposes herein described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The actuating of the crank cr disc shaft of short cylinder
engines with narrow pistons and ordinary arrangements of separate slide
and other valves and their gearing by an arm or driver D, D¹, all sub-
stantially in the new or improved manner herein described in reference
to and shown in Figures 6 to 9 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. The actuating of disc or face valves at the ends of recipro-
cating, oscillatory, narrow piston engines, for the induction and eduction
of the acting or actuated fluids therefrom by or through the oscillatory
motion of the piston rod, or it might be a wiper or lever on it, all sub-
stantially in the new or improved manner herein described in reference
to and shown in Figures 16 to 19 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The actuating of a wiper or tappet shaft for the working of the
separate valves of short cylinder, rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory
engines by a toothed segment or other equivalent lever fixed on the
driving arm or piston rod of these engines, all substantially in the new
or improved manner herein described in reference to and shown in
Figures 14 A, 14 B, and 15 A, on Sheet 3 of the accompanying
Drawings.

page_text: Sixth. The construction and arrangement of the pistons b, b, B, of
valveless, reciprocating, cscillatory engines with expanding central
segmental blocks, whether expanded by mechanical force or fluid
pressure, all substantially in the new or improved manner and for the
purposes herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 20 to 32
on Sheets 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The application and use of a sliding bush or ring A¹ in the
induction port of the cylinders of valveless, reciprocating, oscillatory
engines, all substantially in the new or improved manner and for the
purposes herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 33 to 36
on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. The new or improved construction and arrangement of
reversing valves and their gearing, for and their application to compound
rotative, reciprocating, oscillatory valveless engines, all substantially in
the new or improved manner and for the purposes herein described in
reference to and shown in Figures 37 to 42 on Sheet 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Ninth. The construction and application of a port or duct in the lower
working face near the centre of the cylinders of long piston valveless
engines, for the trapping and tapping off of condensed steam or other
liquid therefrom, all substantially in the new or improved manner herein
described in reference to and shown in Figures 45 and 46 on Sheet 4 of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robertson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES ROBERTSON.
(L.S.)