IMPROVEMENTS IN OSCILLATING STEAM- ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OSCILLATING STEAM-
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by John Strange Cain, of Louisville,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OSCILLATING STEAM ENGINES." A communication from abroad by John Strange
Cain, of Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America.
The nature of the Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an
improved oscillating steam engine, and its object is to obtain the maximum of
utility to the minimum of steam used, or, in other words, to increase the power
with a reduced consumption of steam by connecting each end of the piston rod
with a crank and shaft carrying momentum wheels setting at proper angles with
cach other, the same being connected with and transmitting the force of their
momentum, combined with the steam power, to a driving shaft setting at a proper
angle to them.
Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the piston and cranks at the centre of the
stroke. The letter A refers to the cylinder; the letters Q refer to the valve
connecting rods; the letters P to the hollow trunnions operating as steam inlet
and escape pipes; the letter K refers to the bed plate, and the letters L to the
upright frame forming journnl bearings for the parts; the letters G refer to the
momentum wheels attached to the crank shafts marked C and B, the same
connecting with the driving shaft marked D by means of force transmitting
pitmen marked I, connecting from the upper momentum wheels at N to the crank
wheels marked J attached to crank or driving shaft marked D, which, by means
of force transmitting pitman marked F, is also connected with momentum wheels
below marked G, attached to crank shaft marked C; the letter O, in Figure 1,
refers to a steady rod connecting and bracing the upright frames.

page_text: Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation showing the piston at the centre of the
stroke, as in Figure 1, and the cranks at right angles with the cylinder, also
showing the force transmitting pitmen marked I and F with their centres at right
angles with each other, thus illustrating how the pitmen marked I and F alternately
maintain the full power of the engine by pulling at right angles with the fulcrums
of the crank and driving shaft along their adjoining or alternate quadrants of the
circuit of their motion.
Figure 3 is an elevation of detached crank wheels referred to by the letters J.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the same, showing pitinan wrist marked in its
The crank wheels
relative position with the pitman with which it is connected.
marked J, and the fly wheel marked H, should be made sufficiently weighty to
balance the pair of momentum wheels opposite them in position. For stationary-
engine purposes either the crank wheels marked J, or the fly wheel marked H,
may be used as driving pulleys.
Having thus described and explained the construction and operation of my
improvement, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The independent pitmen and driving shaft separate from the shafts
connecting with the piston rod, the said pitmen being arranged to operate the
independent driving shafts through alternate and opposite quadrants of the circuit
of its motion, whereby a uniform power throughout the revolution of the engine is
obtained, substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination of the oscillating cylinder A mounted in the frame L, and
provided with suitable induction and eduction ports and valves for controlling the
admission and escape of steam, the piston provided with piston rod E, the crank
shafts carrying fly wheels G, the connecting rods I, and the crank wheels J, mounted
on a shaft carrying the driving wheel H and the pitman F connecting the cranks C
and D, the whole constructed and arranged to operate substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty first day of May, A.D. 1881.