IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE- CYLINDER ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wynne, of The Arts Club, Hanover Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE-
CYLINDER ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wynne at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1882.
FRANK WYNNE, of The Arts Club, Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE-CYLINDER ENGINES,"
This invention relates to motive power engines having two or more cylinders
with reciprocating pistons driven by steam, gas, air, water, or other fluid pressure,
and it consists chiefly in the mode of connecting the piston rods and controlling
their motion to a revolving shaft or drum.
The piston rod of one or more of the power pistons may also carry a pump
piston or plunger moving in a pump barrel in a manner similar to that of a direct
acting steam pump.
In carrying out my invention I place two or more piston rods at any convenient
angle to each other and connect them by a link or links for which sufficient space
is left between the piston rods in the manner hereafter described. In order to
clearly explain the construction I premise that as many parallel planes as there
are piston rods can be drawn, each plane passing through the axis of one of the
piston rods, and a straight line drawn perpendicular (at right angles) to all the
planes and intersecting all the axes of the piston rods, and continued in a straight
line to any distance beyond any of the planes, I call the line of intersection.
A pin is passed through each rod at a point, which at midstroke coincides with
the line of intersection.
On that part of each pin which is extended beyond the piston rod nearly across
the space between it and the next piston rod but not so far as to come into collision
with it, one end of a link is mounted; the other end of the same link being
mounted on the pin projecting similarly from the contiguous piston rod at a
similar point of its length, and such links I prefer to speak of as controlling links.
By this connection every piston rod is allowed to move in a straight line, but
is controlled by the other piston rods. For obtaining continuous rotary motion I
fix on the pin of one or both of the two outer piston rods, the pin or pins (which
I prefer to speak of as driving pins) being conveniently continued beyond the
piston rod, a driving link with a pin (which I prefer to speak of as the crank pin)
Price G71

page_text: at the other end, the said link being of a length equal to one quarter of a stroke, from
centre to centre of pin, and at such an angle that in the extreme position of one of
the rods the centre of the crank pin of the said link is situated on the centre line
of the rod which is in this extreme position, and at a distance from the line of
intersection equal to one quarter of the stroke.
During the motion of the pistons the centre of this outer pin or pins will be
found to describe a circle having its centre on the line of intersection.
Consequently a shaft guided in plummer blocks and having for its axis the said
line of intersection can be turned by the piston rods by means of a crank having
for its radius one quarter of the stroke of the pistons.
One or both of the said cranks may be a disc having its centre on the line of
intersection and provided, if required, on its circumference or on its fa e, with cams
or grooves for giving motion to the valve gear.
If instead of the above arrangement of driving link the centre of the crank pin
is placed at a point, which, when the outer piston rod to which it is attached has
made one quarter of its stroke, is on the line of intersection, its motion is in a
straight line, and gives a reciprocating motion, and can be made to work in a
sliding block in friction guides, the length of the driving link between centre and
centre of pins remaining the same, that is, 'equal to one quarter of the stroke.
On the crank pin or pins a disc, whose centre coincides with the centre of the
said pin, may be mounted or fixed and, if the radius of this disc be equal to one
quarter of the stroke of the piston rods, its circumference will work in a circle
whose radius is equal to half the stroke, and a fixed ring of this inside diameter
and whose centre is on the line of intersection, in and against which ring the said
disc works can be employed as a guide to assist in controlling the motion of the
piston rods.
Such ring need not be perfect in itself and may have recesses at suitable
parts in it, into which similar projections in the disc pass or fit or may have
projections on it which fit or pass into recesses in the circumference of the
disc. Such disc is sometimes furnished with teeth working into teeth on a
ing or drum having its centre on the line of intersection; such ring can be made
rmovable round its centre, and, on varying the radius of the di-c and with it pro-
portionally the radius of the ring or drum, a differential motion in either direction
is obtained according as it is made larger or smaller than one quarter of the stroke
which motion may be employed for haulage or other convenient use.
For guiding the piston rods in straight lines without causing lateral pressure on
the pistons and stuffing boxes, the piston rods may be provided with friction
guides, and the motion of the piston rods may be controlled, and the friction of
the guides or other bearing surfaces eased or partially avoided by the plummer
blocks or slide bars or rings above described:
The valve motion of the cylinders or pumps may be worked as above described,
or from any part of the rotating shaft or disc moving in a ring, or from the rotating
drums or other convenient moving parts
I generally prefer to connect the controlling link or links rigidly to the pin
passing through the piston rods, and I sometimes add such material to them as to
make them discs, whose centre coincides with the centre of the crank pin above
referred to, and from such disc which gives an eccentric motion I sometimes obtain
motion for any convenient purpose such as for working condenser or feed pump
or pumps and I sometimes allow such disc to work agaiust a ring or drum in
a similar manner to the disc herein before described as mounted or fixed on an
outside driving pin and thus use it to assist in controlling the motion of the
piston rods.
Although I have so far described the movements as mathematical in actual
practice they will of course be subject to variation consequent on possible imper-
fections of workınanship.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wynne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th March
1883.
FRANK WYNNE, of The Arts Club, Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE-CYLINDER ENGINES
This invention relates to motive power engines having two or more fixid
cylinders with reciprocating pistons and two or more piston rods driven by steam,
gas, air, water, or other fluid pressure, and it consists chiefly in the mode of con-
necting the piston rods and controlling their motion and connecting them with a
revolving shaft or drum.
The piston rod of one or more of the power pistons may also carry a pump piston
or pistons moving in a pump barrel or barrels.
In carrying out my invention I place two or more piston rods at any suitable
angle to each other and connect thein by a link or links for which sufficient space
is left between the piston rods in the manner hereafter described. In order to
clearly explain the construction I premise that as many parallel planes as there are
piston rods can be drawn, each plane passing through the axis of one of the piston
rods, and a straight line drawn perpendicularly to all the planes and intersecting
all the axes of the piston rods, and continued in a straight line to any distance
beyond any of the planes, I call the line of intersection.
A pin, (hereinafter called crank pin) is passed through each rod at a point, which
at midstroke coincides with the line of intersection.
On that part of each crank pin which is extended beyond the piston rod across
the space between it and the next piston rod, one end of a link is mounted, the
other end of the same link being mounted on the crank pin projecting similarly
from the contiguous piston rod at a similar point of its length, and such links
I prefer to speak of as controlling links.
By this connection every piston rod is allowed to move in a straight line. For
obtaining continuous rotary motion I fix on the crank-pin of one or both of the
two outer piston rods (the crank pin or crank pins being conveniently continued
beyond the piston rod) a driving link with a pin (which I prefer to speak of as
the driving crank pin) at the other end, the said link being of a length equal to one
quarter of the piston stroke from centre to centre of pins, and at such an angle that
in the extreme position of any of the rods the prolonged axis of the driving crank
pin passes through the centre line of the rod which is in this extreme position, at
a distance from the line of intersection equal to one quarter of the piston stroke
and between the line of intersection and the crank pin of that piston rod.
During the motion of the pistons the centre of this driving crank pin or pins
will be found to describe a circle having its centre on the line of intersection.
Consequently a shaft guided in plummer blocks or bearings and having for its
axis the said line of intersection can be turned by the piston rods by means of a
crank (hereinafter called driving crank) having for its length one quarter of the
stroke of the pistons.
One or both of the said driving cranks may be a disc having its centre on the
line of intersection and provided, if required, on its circumference or on its face,
with cams or grooves for giving motion to the valve gear. And similarly the
revolving shaft may be provided with canis or excentrics for giving motion to the
valve gear.

page_text: On the driving crank pin or pins a disc, whose centre coincides with the centre
of the said pin, may be fixed, and if the radius of this disc be equal to one quarter
of the stroke of the piston rods, its circumference will work in a circle whose radius
is equal to half the stroke, and a fixed ring of this inside diameter and whose centre
is on the line of intersection, in and against which ring the said disc works, can be
employed as a guide to assist in controlling the motion of the piston rods.
Such ring may have teeth and recesses which correspond with similar recesses
and teeth on the circumference of the disc.
The disc and ring, whether toothed or plain, may be used with or without a
driving crank, crankshaft and plummer block, for controlling the motion of the
piston rods.
The teeth of such disc may be made to work into a toothed ring or drum having
its centre on the line of intersection and which is capable of turning round its
eentre. On varying the radius of the disc and with it the radius of the ring or
drum with which the disc remains continually in contact, a differential motion in
either direction is obtained according as the radius of the disc is made larger or
smaller than one quarter of the stroke, which motion may be employed for haulage
or other convenient use.
For guiding the piston rods in straight lines without causing lateral pressure on
the pistons and stuffing boxes, the piston rods may be provided with friction
guides, and the friction of the guides or other bearing surfaces may be eased or
partially avoided by the plummer blocks or rings above described.
The valve motion of the cylinders or pumps may be worked as above described,
or from any part of the rotating shaft, or from the disc moving in a ring, or from
the rotating drums or from the piston rods themselves or other convenient moving
parts. I generally prefer to connect the controlling link or links rigidly to the
crank pin passing through the piston rods.
Although I have so far described the movements as mathematical, in actual
practice they will of course be subject to variation consequent on possible
imperfections of workmanship.
.
And in order that the invention may be more clearly understood I have annexed
drawings, of which Figs. 1 and 1ª represent diagrammatically a multiple cylinder
engine having six piston rods A, B, C, D, E, F, B and F being shown parallel,
and the others crossing these and each other at various angles, Fig. 1 being an end
view and Fig. 1a a side view.
Figs 2 and 2 represent the application of my invention to a six cylinder
engine having three piston rods A B C crossing each other at angles of
60 degrees.
Figs 3 and 3 represent a pumping engine having three piston rods A2, B2, C²,
each of which is connected with a steam-piston and a pump-piston.
Figs 4 and 4 are respectively end elevation and plan of a solid multiple throw
crank, similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 2ª, while Figs. 5 and 5* represent
three-throw crank similar to that employed in Figs 3 and 3º.
&
Parts corresponding to each other in the different modifications are designated
with the same letters, but distinguished by indices. a, b, c (a¹, b¹, c¹, d¹, e¹, f¹) are
crank pins passing through the piston rods and connected with each other by
controlling links, a b, bc, (a' b², b¹ c', c¹ d¹, d¹ e¹, e' f¹) m and n, (m² and n¹,
m2, n²) are driving crank pins attached to the driving links a m, c n, (a' m³, f'n')
and serving to drive the driving cranks p, q (p', q', p², q²)
The driving cranks are mounted on shafts g, h (g¹, h¹, g², h²) or made in one
piece with the same, and the shafts are guided in plummer blocks i, k (i, k¹,
i, k²).
In Fig. 2 h is the driving shaft provided with a coupling box. In Figs. 2, 2ª
and 3, 3 the driving crank pins n, m² and n³ carry also tooth-wheels, 2
gearing into internally toothed rings j and j².
Instead of the tooth wheel and toothed rings I may use plain smooth discs and

page_text: sinooth rings, the radius of the pitchline of the toothed wheel, or of the circum->
ference of the smooth disc being one quarter, while the radius of the pitchline of.
the toothed ring or of the inner circumference of the plain ring is one half of the :
piston stroke.
In some cases, however, I guide the piston rods and take up any lateral pressure,
by means of motion bars having suitable sliding surfaces or by any other
contrivance commonly used for guiding piston rods.
Fig. 2 shows also the steam ports t t and one of the inlet valves u. In Fig. 3
each of the valve spindles y' is set in motion by one of the connecting rods x², x², x²,
driven from the piston rods.
In Fig. 2 the piston rods and pistons are cast together, the piston rods being
made in two parts. In Fig. 2 the cranks are provided with counterweights w, w;
vis a starting gear.
It is evident that I could in either of these applications eliminate one piston rod,
using a two throw crank instead of a three throw one as shown, and similarly
I sometimes find it useful to add another piston rod, and use a four throw crank
instead of a three throw one, and by means of this additional piston rod, I may
work a condenser pump, or any other suitable appliance, and
diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 1ª, I sometimes extend the system to six
piston rods.
What I claim is:
as shown
1. A multiple cylinder engine having piston rods crossing each other in parallel
planes, and connected with each other by a link or links, each of which is pivoted
to two contiguous piston rods at points which, at midstroke, are situated in the
line of intersection of the piston rod axes, substantially as described.
2. A multiple cylinder engine having piston reds crossing each other in parallel
planes and at acute angles and connected with each other by a link or links, each
of which is pivoted to two contiguous piston rods at points which, at midstroke,
are situated in the line of intersection of the piston rod axes, substantially as
described.
3. In multiple cylinder engines the combination of piston rods crossing each
other in parallel planes, with a multiple throw-crank connecting the said piston
rods in such a manner that, at midstroke, the axis of each crank pin is situated in
the line of intersection of the piston rods, substantially as described.
4. In multiple cylinder engines the combination of piston rods crossing each
other in parallel planes and at acute angles, with a multiple throw-crank connecting
the said piston rods in such a manner that, at midstroke, the axis of each crank
pin is situated in the line of intersection of the piston rods, substantially as
described.
5. In multiple cylinder engines the combination of piston rods crossing each
other in parallel planes, with one or more control.ing links, or with a multiple throw
crank, connected with the piston rods in the manner substantially as described, a
driving link fixed to the crank pin of one of the outer piston rods and carrying
a driving crank pin at a distance from the pin of the outer piston rod equal to one
quarter of the stroke and at such an angle that in the extreme position of any
piston rod the prolonged axis of the driving crank pin intersects the axis of the
piston rod which is in that extreme position, between the line of intersection; and
the crank pin passing through the piston rod, a driving crank or crank-disc having
its centre in the said line of intersection, and a shaft and bearing adapted to guide
the crank in its axis, substantially as described.
6. In multiple cylinder engines the combination of piston rods, multiple throw
crank having a driving pin or pins with or without driving crank, driving crank
shaft and plummer-blocks, arranged and connected with each other substantially as
specified, with a plain or toothed wheel mounted on the crank pin, and a plain or
internally toothed ring having its centre in the line of intersection of the piston
rod axes and gearing into the said toothed wheel, the radius of the wheel (if plain)

page_text: or of its pitchline (if toothed) being equal to one quarter, and the internal radius of
the ring (if plain) or of its pitchline (if toothed) equal to one half of the piston-
stroke, substantially as described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Frank Wynne, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this seventh day of March A.D. 1883.