Improvements in Steam Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1899 -Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Engines.
I, JOHN AXEL SVENSON, of 738, Warren Avenue, Chicago, in the County of
Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: --
The object of my invention is the production of a steam engine wherein means
are provided for diminishing those wastes of steam due to cylinder condensation
and to clearance spaces; wherein the danger caused by the accidental presence
of non-vaporized water in the cylinder is avoided; wherein simplicity of mechan-
ical construction is combined with a high degree of efficiency; wherein moving
parts and steam surfaces are made easily accessible for inspection and repair;
and wherein lubrication of the moving parts is automatically effected.
In the attainment of these objects, I have produced an engine, the pistons of
which normally are relatively stationary, while the cylinders reciprocate. A
steam receiver encloses said cylinders, and, live steam being admitted to all por-
tions of the interior of said receiver, entirely surrounds said cylinders. A valve
of peculiar construction admits steam from the receiver to the interior of the
cylinders, said valve being automatically operated by an eccentric with valve rod
connections, and the motion of said cylinders being imparted by the usual con-
necting rods to a crank shaft of ordinary form. The lower portion of the engine
is so formed as to provide a receptacle to contain a quantity of a fluid or lubrica-
ting substance, which fluid or lubricant during the running of the engine is
agitated by, the crank and some of the reciprocating parts, and its particles are
thrown about in every direction, reaching all pins and bearings below the steam
receiver that are in need of being lubricated. The particles of said lubricating
substance are confined by a casing which can easily be removed to give access to
the enclosed mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of this engine,
showing certain portions thereof upon a vertical, central section. Fig. 2 is a
transverse, vertical, central section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the engine.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the
same, Fig. 4 being partially in section on dotted line of Fig. 5, and Fig. 5
being partially in section on dotted line y-z of Fig. 4.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In the construction of a steam engine embodying the improvements herein-
before outlined, I provide a bed A having the usual crank shaft A¹, the crank
pin A2, and the balance wheel A³, also having the lubricant receptacle A+. Above
the bed A and rigidly affixed thereto is provided the supporting frame A³, having
at its upper end the annular flange A6, and upon this supporting frame is mounted
the receiver B. This receiver is of cylindrical dome form, and is secured to the
annular flange A by the bolts B₁ passing through an annular flange Bª at the
lower end of said receiver B, and into the annular flange Aº of the supporting

page_text: frame A5.
The receiver B is removed from the supporting frame A5, to give
access to the working parts of the engine, by merely taking out the bolts B', and
thus breaking only one steam joint, that between the receiver B and the annular
flange A..
On the bed A is fastened by means of the flange A' and bolts As the conical
casing A, preferably made of sheet material, which casing makes a reasonably
tight joint with the annular flange A" of the supporting frame A without being
fastened thereto. When the bolts A8 are removed, the casing A may be taken
off so as to give access to the working parts of the engine.
A steam inlet pipe B extends through an opening in the side of the bed A,
upward through one of the legs of the supporting frame A³, having communica-
tion at its upper end with the interior of the receiver B, and, extending upward
within the walls of the receiver B, is provided at one of its sides with a discharge
opening B for the ingress of the live steam, whereby said steam is given a gyra-
tory motion upon its entrance into the receiver B, which motion is calculated to
separate the water particles from the steam and thus prevent the entrance of
said water particles into the cylinders. The pipe B3 has no connection with the
bed A or the supporting frame As, but is affixed to the bottom of the receiver B.
In this way, it has entire freedom to change its length under the influence of
the heat of the steam. The opening B is placed a little distance above the
bottom of the receiver B to provide a space for the reception of the water of
condensation, should there be any such, and a drain cock (not shown) may be
provided if necessary to remove any water which accumulates in such space.
The piston C surrounds the sleeve C¹, which latter at one end has a flange C
made to fit steam tight in a corresponding recess of the piston C. The other end
of said sleeve C¹ is fastened to that portion of the supporting frame As that forms
the bottom of the steam receiver B. The piston C. is intended to slide longitudi-
nally on said sleeve C', its motion upward being limited by the flange C², and its
motion downward resisted by the pressure of the steam present in the receiver B,
and also by the coil springs C³, the lower ends of which springs rest upon the
bottom of the receiver B. Should an inelastic body, such, for example, as water
of condensation in excessive quantity, be present on top of said piston C during
the running of the engine, the piston yields and breakage is prevented, and if the
obstructing body is water it will find its way out through holes C, which holes
in the piston C are uncovered by the downward motion of the piston. The use
of the yielding piston C thus obviates the necessity of providing a large clearance
space between said piston and the closed end of its cylinder.
A. second annular piston C is, by means of the feet C, fastened in the upper
end of the steam receiver B. Under certain conditions it might be desirable to
provide this piston with a yielding support similar to that of the piston C, but
for the sake of simplicity a rigid support for the upper piston is here shown. The
piston C is provided with the central opening Chaving the packing rings Cs
therein.
Two cylinders D and D', of equal diameter, are provided for the pistons C
and C, respectively. These cylinders are secured together end-to-end by the
radial ribs D2, the adjacent ends of said cylinders being wholly closed and their
outer ends open. An exhaust port D³ is formed between the closed ends of the
cylinders D and D', and said cylinders are provided with the peripheral radial
steam ports D and D5, respectively, which ports are for the admission of the
live steam to the cylinders and also for the escape of the exhaust therefrom. The
cylinder D has the central tubular portion D6, of such an external diameter as
to telescope within the central opening C7 of the piston C³, and form a steam
tight joint therewith. This tubular portion De also makes a telescoping connec-
tion with an exhaust pipe D8, which latter is provided with acking rings D', is
fixed in the upper end of the steam receiver. B, and has communication with the
outer air.
By the foregoing arrangement of cylinders and pistons within a chamber filled

page_text: by steam, it will be seen that the temperature of the steam meeting surfaces is
held at a point near to that of the live steam, and consequently that the initial
condensation in the cylinders is almost wholly obviated. As the length of the
steam ports D and D in a radial direction is never greater than the thickness
of the cylinder wall, it is evident that the detrimental clearance spaces usually
found at this point in steam engines of the ordinary form are here reduced to
a minimum.
A rod E is secured to the closed end of the cylinder D', and passing through
the sleeve C and a stuffing box of ordinary form, connects to the usual cross-
head and the bifurcated connecting rod E³, which cross-head has a free longi-
tudinal motion upon the guides E, whereby the motion of the cylinders is trans-
mitted to the crank shaft A¹.
1S
On the crank pin A2 is fastened the eccentric F, surrounded by the eccentric
ring secured to the eccentric rod F2, the upper end of which
formed into a sleeve F³ pierced by the pin F.
The sleeve F³ passes
through the bifurcated connecting rod E, and has sufficient play to
permit the necessary up and down motion produced by the eccentric.
Two cross-heads F are secured on the ends of the pin F, and also to the valve
rods F. Stationary guides F7 through which the lower ends of the valve rods Fo
pass, provide for a rectilinear motion of the rods. The valve rods Fo pass further
through the packing boxes F8 of ordinary form, and terminate in their upper
ends in a ring G, to which they are firmly secured. By means of the mechanism
just described, the ring G is given a reciprocating motion imparted by the eccen-
tric, which motion is relative to and independent of the reciprocation of the
cylinders D and D¹. The ring G is fixed into a corresponding recess of the steam
valve G in such a way that said valve can be turned around its axis, but is com-
pelled to follow the reciprocating motion of the ring G. The valve G¹ is circular
in form, and made to move outside the cylinders D and D¹ in such a way that a
steam tight joint is preserved between the surfaces in contact. Said valve has a
central annular exhaust channel G2, which is always in communication with the
exhaust port I formed between the ends of the cylinders. The axial width of
the valve G¹ and the said annular exhaust channel G2, and the distance between
the steam ports 1) and D are such that the reciprocatory motion of the valve
opens and closes each set of steam ports alternately, and thus admits live steam
to, and permits the escape of the exhaust from, the interiors of the cylinders D
and D.
It will be noticed that the eccentric for communicating motion to the valve G¹
is mounted on the crank pin A2 instead of upon the crank shaft, as ordinarily,
but when it is remembered that the valve ring G travels mainly with the cylin-
ders D and ¹, having but a slight movement relative thereto, the reason for such
connection will be seen.
To provide for a variable cut-off, the valve G¹ is formed with serrations G³,
which may be turned more or less into coincidence with the ports D₁ and D³, so
that said ports will be more or less quickly closed by the reciprocating motion
of the valve accordingly as it is desirable to cut off the live steam earlier or later
in the stroke. To turn the valve G with relation to the ring G, a pivotal link
connection is made between a lug G on the body of the valve G, and the arm G5,
which latter is integral with a sleeve G6, and secured to a projection on the ring G
in such a manner that it may be rotated. Said sleeve G6, has through its center
a square hole in which a rod G has a sliding fit. The rod G7 passes steam tight
through the bottom of the receiver B, and is held from movement in a longitu-
dinal direction, but may be rotated, as its lower portion is round, by means of
the arm H. It will now be noticed that as the sleeve G6 reciprocates with the
ring G, it slides up and down on the square part of the rod G7, and any rotary
movement given to the rod by the arm H will be transmitted to said sleeve G6,
through which said motion is communicated by means of the connection des-
cribed to the valve G¹.

page_text: The arm H is provided for oscillating the valve by hand, as described, thus
changing the time of cut-off in the stroke, but while I have shown a hand lever
for this purpose, it is clear that in practice a connection may be made between
the valve G and some form of governor for automatically actuating said valve.
It will be noticed that the turning of the valve in no wise changes the exhaust
periods, thereby the important point is gained of a variable cut-off in connection
with constant exhaust closures. This is a feature not attained in the ordinary
form of single valve, where the variable cut-off is effected by means of a variable
valve travel. Furthermore, the constant exhaust closures permit constant com-
pression at all cut-offs, which in turn promotes smoothness in the running of the
engine. Thus it is seen that this form of valve gear secures not only the economy
of the steam distribution which is the result of constant exhaust closures, but also
renders the engine susceptible of being easily balanced with all loads.
When a hand lever is used to rotate the rod G7, I prefer to extend it so that it
may pass through the wall of the casing, and then in order to facilitate the
removal of said casing, I make said hand lever so that it may be withdrawn
from the socket H¹, which has a primary connection with the rod G7.
I have here particularly described my engine in its application to the vertical
type of steam engine, but it should be understood that the invention may readily
be adapted to the horizontal type as well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is::
1. In a steam engine, in combination, a relatively stationary piston; a recip-
rocatory cylinder for the piston, having steam ports in said cylinder; and means
for opening and closing said steam ports for the admission of live steam to said
cylinder.
2. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston mounted in
said steam receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for said piston, having steam ports
in said cylinder; and means for opening and closing said steam ports.
In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston mounted in
said steam receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for said piston, having steam ports
in said cylinder; means for opening and closing said steam ports; a crank shaft ;
and a connection between the cylinder and the crank shaft.
4. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston capable of a
yielding motion mounted in said steam receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for said
piston, having steam ports in said cylinder; means for opening and closing said
steam ports; a crank shaft; and a connection between the cylinder and the
crank shaft.
5. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; two pistons in said
receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for each of said pistons, having steam ports
in said cylinders; means for opening and closing said steam ports; a crank shaft;
and a connection between the cylinders and the crank shaft.
6. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; two pistons in said
receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for each of said pistons, which said cylinders
are secured together and have an exhaust port between their adjacent walls, also
having steam ports in each of said cylinders; means for opening and closing
said steam ports; a crank shaft; and a connection between the cylinders and the
crank shaft.
7. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston rigidly
secured within said receiver; a piston having a yielding support within said
receiver; two cylinders for said pistons, rigidly secured together, having an
exhaust port between their adjacent ends and being provided with steam ports
in each of said cylinders; means for opening and closing said steam ports; a
crank shaft; and a connection between the cylinders and the crank shaft.
8. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston rigidly mounted

page_text: within said receiver; a piston having a yielding support within said receiver;
two cylinders closed at their adjacent ends and rigidly secured together, having
an exhaust port between them, also having steam ports for each of said cylinders;
means for opening and closing said steam ports; a crank shaft; a connecting
rod; a wrist-pin; a cross-head; and a cylinder rod.
9. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a piston rigidly moun-
ted in one end of said receiver; an annular piston having a yielding connection
with the opposite end of said receiver; two cylinders closed at their adjacent
ends and rigidly secured together, having an exhaust port between them, and
being provided with peripheral steam ports; means for opening and closing said
steam ports; an exhaust tube extending through the cylinder surrounding the
first mentioned piston; a crank shaft; a connecting rod; a cross-head;
and a
cylinder rod.
10. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; an annular piston
rigidly mounted within said receiver at one end thereof; an annular piston
having a yielding connection with the opposite end of said receiver; a cylinder
for the first mentioned piston; a cylinder for the last mentioned piston, which
first mentioned cylinder has a central opening therein; an exhaust tube teles-
coping within said opening; means for securing said cylinders together at their
closed ends; said cylinders being provided with an exhaust port between them,
and having a series of peripheral steam ports for each cylinder; means for open-
ing and closing said steam ports; a crank shaft; a connecting rod; a cross-head;
and a cylinder rod.
11. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; an annular piston
rigidly secured within said receiver to one end thereof; a cylinder closed at one
of its ends for said annular piston, and having a central opening, and a series of
peripheral steam ports in its walls; a second piston opposite said first mentioned
piston, having a yielding connection with said receiver; a cylinder for said last
mentioned piston, having a central opening and a series of peripheral steam ports
near its closed end; an exhaust tube telescoping within the central opening in the
first mentioned cylinder; means for securing the two said cylinders together at
their closed ends, to allow an exhaust port between them; means for opening
and closing the steam ports in said cylinders; a crank shaft; a connecting rod;
a cross-head; and a cylinder rod extending between the cross-head and one of
the cylinders.
12. In a steam engine, in combination, two pistons; reciprocatory cylinders
therefor, which cylinders are provided with peripheral steam ports; a valve sur-
rounding said cylinders; and means for reciprocating said valve relative to said
cylinders, for opening and closing said steam ports.
13. In a steam engine, in combination, two pistons; reciprocatory cylinders
therefor, which cylinders are provided with peripheral steam ports; a valve
surrounding said cylinders, which valve is serrated at its outer edges; means
for reciprocating said valve relative to said cylinders, for opening and closing said
steam ports; and means for turning said valve to place said serrations more or
less in coincidence with the steam ports.
14. In a steam engine, in combination, two pistons; reciprocatory cylinders
therefor, which cylinders are provided with peripheral steam ports; valve rods;
a valve ring mounted on said rods; a valve having a bearing in said valve ring,
which valve is serrated at its upper and lower edges; a cut-off rod; a crank arm
therefor; a lug on the valve: a link between said crank arm and said lug; and
means for rotating said cut-off rod.
15. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; two pistons in said
receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for each of said pistons, having steam ports
in said cylinders: a crank shaft; a connection between the cylinders and the
crank shaft; two valve rods having a connection with the crank shaft; a valve
ring on the valve rods; and a valve surrounding the cylinders and mounted on
said valve ring.

page_text: 16. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; a steam inlet pipe
provided at its side with an opening for admitting steam to said receiver, whereby
the incoming steam is given a gyratory motion within said receiver; a piston
mounted in said steam receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for said piston, having
steam ports in said cylinder; and means for opening and closing said steam ports.
17. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; an annular piston
rigidly mounted in one end of said receiver; a piston for the opposite end of
said receiver, which latter piston is spring-supported; two cylinders closed at
their adjacent ends and rigidly secured together, having an exhaust port between
them, and being provided with peripheral steam ports; means for opening and
closing said steam ports; a crank shaft; a connecting rod; a cross-head; and a
cylinder rod.
18. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; two pistons in said
receiver; a reciprocatory cylinder for each of said pistons, which cylinders are
secured together and have an exhaust port between their adjacent walls, also
having steam ports in each of said cylinders; means for opening and closing
said steam ports; a crank shaft; a cross-head; a cylinder rod; and a bifurcated
connecting rod extending between the cross-head and the crank shaft.
19. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; an annular piston
rigidly mounted in one end of said receiver; a cylinder for said annular piston,
having a central tubular portion, and a series of peripheral steam ports near its
closed end; an exhaust tube telescoping with the central tubular portion of said
cylinder; a yielding piston in said steam receiver, having an escape opening
therein; a cylinder for said last mentioned piston, having a series of peripheral
steam ports near its closed end; means for securing the two cylinders together
at their closed ends so as to allow an exhaust port between them; means for
opening and closing the steam ports in said cylinders; a crank shaft; a connect-
ing rod; a cross-head; and a cylinder rod extending between the cross-head and
the last mentioned cylinder.
:
20. In a steam engine, in combination, a steam receiver; an annular piston
rigidly mounted in one end of said receiver; a cylinder for said annular piston,
having a central tubular portion, and a series of peripheral steam ports near its
closed end; an exhaust tube telescoping with the central tubular portion of said
cylinder; a yielding piston in said steam receiver, having an escape opening
therein; a guide sleeve for said yielding piston, which guide sleeve has an en-
larged portion for closing said escape opening; a cylinder for said last mentioned
piston, having a series of peripheral steam ports near its closed end; means for
securing the two cylinders together at their closed ends so as to allow an exhaust
port between them; means for opening and closing the steam ports in said
cylinders; a crank shaft; a connecting rod; a cross-head; and a cylinder rod
extending between the cross-head and the last mentioned cylinder.
21. In a steam engine, in combination, a piston; a cylinder; a crank shaft;
a connecting rod; a lubricant receptacle; and a removable casing for enclosing
the crank shaft and the connecting rod.
Dated this 27th day of December 1899.
JOHN AXEL SVENSON.
By Herbert Haddan & Co.,
Agents to the Applicant,
1
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,