IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND WATER ENGINES (AS MOTORS), WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO LIFT AND FORCE PUMPS
Year: 1863

page_text: Sealed the 15th March 1864, and dated the 23rd September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Platt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
September 1863.
I, JAMES PLATT, of No. 33, Argyle Street, in the Parish of St. Pancras, and
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND WATER
ENGINES (AS MOTORS), WHICH MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO LIFT AND FORCE
PUMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of mechanism to be applied
to steam and water engines, parts of which are applicable to the pumping of
fluids, and are additions to my Patent No. 253, 28th January 1863.
Sheet 1, Fig. 1, represents a vertical section of what I term my steam
engine. A, A, A, the shaft, working freely through stuffing boxes or glands
B and B', and also through the stationary centre piece C, C, C, C. The
parts marked D is what I term the revolving cylinder, and is affixed or keyed

page_text: on to the shaft A, between the points A¹ and A. The parts in section Figs.
1 and 2, marked E, is the outer casing of the machine, and is kept
steam-tight by the stuffing boxes and glands B and B'.
The parts marked F, Fig. 1, Sheet 2, is what I term a stop or abutment
into which is inserted the packing pieces G. This abutment or stop is bolted
on and affixed to the stationary centre piece C, and is made adjustable by
means of the inclined pieces Fl which are working in grooves partly into the
abutment F and packing pieces G, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, Sheet 1.
These packing pieces divide at the tongue pieces to prevent the passage of
steam when the packing pieces G are actuated on by the adjusting apparatus
which is moved through the shaft K, passing through a gland and passage
down to the stationary centre piece C, and by a worm and worm wheel
actuates the small shaft L at right angles, this again by another worm and
wheel actuates on the right and left handed screw which works into the two
nuts M, M', thereby causing the packing pieces G to adjust themselves both
laterally and transversely against the sides and ends of the revolving cylinder
D, keeping it perfectly steam-tight. If for a steam engine the steam is
admitted at the point N, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, and Fig. 1, in Sheet 1, it passes
into the passage O, Sheet 2, Figs. 1 and 2, on the right hand side of the axis
A, pressing on the stop or abutment and valves P, P, causing the cylinder to
rotate one half of a revolution. The valves P, P, are moved through the
medium of the eccentric grooves or cam pieces Q. Q, cast on or affixed to the
inner surfaces of the stationary cases E into which works the friction rollers
R and S, so that each roller works on its own surface, the roller S on the
outer and the roller R on the inner periphery of the cam pieces. These
rollers revolve on the steel pins T which are fastened on to the cross heads or
bridles U, on to which are attached the valve stems V, working through
stuffing boxes and glands W. When the engine has performed one half of
a revolution, as before mentioned, we have arrived at the point in which the
action of the steam takes the next valve between the abutment F and the
points in the stationary centre piece and revolving cylinder C¹ and C²; as
shown in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, there is a communication for the steam from the
port O, and on the opposite side for the exhaust from the point C2 to the
exhaust port O¹, so that when the valve has passed the point C¹ the steam
acts on it until it arrives at the point C² when it commences to exhaust from
C² to the abutment E, and so on in rotation, so that a constant taking in of
steam and exhausting of the same is caused through the moving of the valves
at their proper time and place:
Another arrangement of steam engine is shewn in Sheet 2, Fig. 3, in

page_text: which the cam pieces Q and rollers R and S are inverted, and on the inner
side of the casing so that the movement of the valves P through the
connecting of the cross heads or bridle pieces U, Fig 4, and the valve stems
V work the reverse way to those described on Sheet 1, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, represent a method of compressing or distending the
packing rings X, X, for the purpose of keeping the shoulder or neck tight
between the stationary and revolving part of the machine, as shewn in section
in Fig. 1.
Another arrangement of this engine is shewn in Sheet 3, Figs. 1 and 2,
which represent in section the same form of engine, with the exception that
instead of the casing or cylinder revolving as before described, the cylinder is
stationary and the centre part revolves. A, the shaft; B, B, B, B, the stuffing
boxes which are to keep the connections steam-tight between the stationary
cylinder D, D, and the revolving centre part C (which in the other form of
engine previously described was termed the "abutment"), so that in the one
case the abutment revolves with the centre piece, the cylinder being stationary,
and in the former case the abutment is stationary and the cylinder revolves.
The steam in Fig. 1 and Sheet 3, passes in at E and exhausts at F, but if
required to revolve the reverse way the steam passes in at E¹ and exhausts
at F. The working elements are similar in these as in the other engine, save
that the cam G is fastened to the revolving centre piece C, and the friction
rollers H, valve stems I, and valves J, are actuated on by the eccentricity of
the cams revolving, letting on and off the steam as before described.
Fig. 2, Sheet 3, represents an end section of the ingress and egress valves
for the steam. Fig. 3 represents a sectional horizontal view of the moveable
centre piece C, and shaft A, and stationary cylinder D without the valves;
the same reversing apparatus being applicable to Fig. 1, and also to Figs. 1
and 2 in Sheet 5.
Sheet 4, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent another arrangement of steam engine
in which only one cam piece, and one set of rollers, and 2 valve spindles (one
to each valve) are used, the other parts of the engine being similar in arrange-
ment to those previously described and shewn in Sheets 1 and 2, with their
corresponding letters of reference.
Sheet 5, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, represent horizontal and vertical sections of an
engine with a stationary cylinder D and revolving centre pieces C, so that the
steam entering at the ingress valve E will pass through the passage G, and
operate on the piston C', and pass then through the passage H, and exit
through the valve F, and when it is required to reverse the engine, the valves E
and F are closed, and the valves E' and F¹ are open. Fig. 3 represents in

page_text: section the steam and exhaust ways in the revolving centre piece C, at the
points immediately over and under the valves E and F, and E¹ and F.
I have another form of engine as shewn in Sheet 6, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the
same. A, the shaft; B, stuffing boxes; C, the stationary centre piece; D, the
revolving cylinder; F, the abutment, and G, G, the packing pieces similar in
construction to the engine previously described, with the exception of the
valves P, which in this case are actuated on by the cam Q and rollers R and S
which moves the crank and pin T nearly one-fourth of a revolution, the
valve P radiating on the spindle V, opening and closing the ingress and egress
valves on a quadrant movement instead of the slide as in the previous case,
the only difference being that this engine only revolves one way.
Fig. 3 represents another arrangement of valves for a water engine or pump.
The valves marked P₁ lays in a recess and is closed, while the valve P on the
opposite side is open, allowing a free passage for the ingress and egress of
the steam or water.
Either of the engines previously described will work as water engines
under a head or pressure as motors to drive machinery, or will also work as
lift and force pumps by applying power to the shafts. In any case where the
steam engine previously described is required to be worked as a condensing
engine, I place one of the pumps as previously described on the same shaft,
which will answer the purposes of an air pump, or I use an ordinary air pump
worked in any convenient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Platt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
PLATT, of No. 33, Argyle Street, in the Parish of St. Pancras and County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Platt, Her special licence that I, the said James
Platt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Platt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-

page_text: after 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 MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO STEAM AND WATER ENGINES (AS MOTORS), WHICH
MACHINERY IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO LIFT AND FORCE PUMPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Platt, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Platt, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in certain modifications and combinations of
mechanism applicable to steam and water engines of the character described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date the
28th day of January 1863, No. 253, which engines are also applicable as lift
and force pumps.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the centre of an engine having
part of my improvements applied thereto; Figure 2' is a transverse section of
the same taken through the line 1, 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal section of some
of the parts taken through the line 2, 2; and Figures 4 and 5. are views
showing some of the parts more clearly.
a, a, is the shaft or axis; b is the cylinder, which is firmly secured to
the shaft or axis a, with which it revolves; c is a hollow trunk having the
steam ways c, c, formed therein, and the stop or abutment d is secured to
the disc c* on the hollow trunk c, through which the shaft or axis a passes
and revolves freely therein. It will be observed that the hollow trunk c at the
part or disc c* through which the steam ways c¹, c², are formed and to which
the abutment d is fixed is very narrow in comparison with the width of the
cylinder, as are also the steam ways c', &, at their opening into the cylinder
and the steam space of the cylinder is arranged with its larger diameter
parallel with the axis a in place of being at right angles as in my former
Specification, by this means but a narrow portion of the shaft is exposed to the
pressure of the steam, thereby reducing the lateral pressure upon the
shaft which is so injurious to the wear of rotary engines as at present.
constructed.

page_text: What I claim in respect to this part of my Invention is the forming the
disc c*, or that part to which the abutment d is fixed, narrow in comparison
with the width of the cylinder as described, as also the steam ways where they
open into the cylinder with a narrow opening in order that a small portion
only of the shaft a may be exposed to the pressure of the steam, substantially
as described.
The engine is enclosed in a steam-tight case or cover e which is by pre-
ference kept full of steam when the engine is being worked by steam, the case
or cover e also serves as a framing for the engine and is provided with stuffing
boxes e', e, through which the shaft a passes. The abutment d is provided
with packing pieces d' and inclines d which may be set up or adjusted in the
following manner :-
upon
The axis passing through the hollow trunks c has upon it a worm taking
into a worm wheel on one end of the axis g, the other end of the axis g has
it a worm taking into a worm wheel h on the screw h¹, one part of which
is provided with a right-handed thread, and the other part with a left-handed
thread, these threads take into nuts in the packing pieces d'; when the
axis is turned it communicates motion by the shaft g to the right and left
handed screw h', thereby forcing the packing pieces d' against the inclines
d², and by this means adjusting the packing in every direction, and it is the
employment of the right and left handed screw ', in the manner described
for adjusting the packing in the abutment, which forms one peculiarity of my
Invention; i, i, are the valves or sliding pieces working in suitable guides in
the cylinder b, these valves or sliding pieces are caused to move into and out of
position to be acted upon by the steam in a direction to and from the axis a,
each of these valves or sliding pieces is provided with two rods or stems 2³, to
which they are connected by projections i*, passing into corresponding recesses
in the valves. The stems pass through stuffing boxes in the cylinder b,
they are connected together by the cross head, to each cross head are secured
two stems i* provided with trucks or pulleys i, , which are acted upon by the
cam surfaces j, j, (shewn by red lines in Figure 2) by which means motion
is given to the valves or sliding pieces i, i, at the times required to place them
in position to be acted upon by the steam, and then to allow them to pass the
abutment. The cam surfaces j, j, are bolted to the case or cover e and are
capable of adjustment by means of the screws j².
What I claim in respect to this part of my Invention is the mode of working
the valves or sliding pieces i, i, in a direction to and from the axis a as shewn
and described, and the mode of connecting the stems & thereto, as also the
mode of adjusting the cam surfaces j, j; k is a packing ring for the purpose

page_text: of maintaining the parts steam-tight between the revolving cylinder band the
hollow trunk c, it is pressed up to the surface c³ of the hollow trunk in the
following manner :- are projections upon the packing rings k, having screw
threads cut therein, into which take the screws at one end of the stems ≫,
on the other ends of which are affixed the toothed pinions &, all of which take
into a toothed wheel m; m³ is a pinion taking into the wheel m, and by
giving motion to the pinion m¹, motion is by the wheel m communicated to
the pinions, (as is clearly shewn at Figure 5,) and therefore to the screws 1,
by which means the packing ring k is simultaneously set up at several points
around its circumference, and it is the mode of simultaneously setting up or
adjusting the packing ring k at several points around its circumference which
forms another peculiarity of my Invention. Figure 6 shews one arrangement
of apparatus by which the motion of the engine may be reversed, other
arrangements may however be adopted. I find it advantageous when working
this description of engine to employ a small pump, or it may be a valve, to
withdraw the condensed water from the outer case. Figure 7 is a vertical
section, and Figure 8 a section on the line 3, 3, shewing a slight modification
of the engine previously described. Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the
line 4, 4, similar parts are marked with like letters of reference to those
employed in the previous Figures, it will be seen that instead of employing two
stems to the valves or sliding pieces i only one such stem is employed con-
nected to the valve by a T piece I as shewn, in this arrangement only one
set of trucks or pullies 2, 6, to each valve i, and one pair of cam surfaces
,, are employed. I claim the mode of connecting the valves or sliding
pieces i to their stems, as described in respect of Figures 7, 8, and 9, so
that they may be capable of a slight transverse motion on their stems, by
which means the steam will constantly tend to press the faces of the valves
tightly up to their guides.
Figure 10 shews another arrangement of apparatus by which the motion of
the engine may be reversed; Figure 11 shews another modification of the
engine. In this case the valve stems pass through stuffing boxes in a
direction towards the axis a, as shewn, other parts are marked with like letters
of reference to those employed in the previous Figures. By this arrangement
the engine is made much more compact as the size of the outer case or cover e
is materially diminished.
What I claim in respect to this part of my Invention is the working the
valves or sliding pieces with their stems , passing out of the cylinder in
a direction towards the axis a as shewn and described in respect to Figure 11.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 are three views of another modification; like parts

page_text: are marked with the same letters of reference to those previously employed.
It will be seen in this case that the centre part or piston to which the abutment
is fixed revolves with the shaft a, whilst the cylinder is stationary, and the
form of the chamber in which the piston or abutment acts, and the mode of
working the valves or sliding pieces i is similar to that shewn and described in
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and previously referred to,
except that the cams j, j¹, are affixed to and revolve with the hollow trunk
carrying the abutment, and through which the steam ways c¹, c, are formed.
It will be seen, however, that the steam ways c¹, c, are arranged so that steam
is taken in at one end of the hollow trunk and discharged at the other.
Figure 15 represents an arrangement of reversing gear suitable to be
employed with this description of engine. What I claim in respect to
Figures 12 and 13 is the mode of forming the steam ways c', c, in the hollow
trunk, so that steam is supplied to the cylinder by passing in at one endl
of the hollow trunk, and is exhausted from the cylinder by passing out at the
other.
Figures 16 and 17 shew two views of another modification. In this case
the centre part or piston also revolves, and the steam is supplied to the
cylinder through steam ways formed in the same manner as described in
respect of Figures 12 and 13. The valves or sliding pieces i are worked in a
similar manner to that described in respect to Figures 1 and 2, except that
the cams,, are affixed to and revolve with the hollow trunk, to which the
piston or abutment is fixed whilst the cylinder remains stationary.
Figure 18 is a vertical section, and Figure 19 is a section on the line 5, 5,
of another arrangement of engine. In this case the valves i, against which
the steam acts, do not slide as described in respect of the previous Figures, but
they are caused to turn on an axis 210 by means of the cams j,, acting upon
trucks or pullies 25, 2, carried by a crank affixed to the axis 20. When the
valves are in position to be acted upon by the steam, their edges i³, which are
provided with packing o, acted upon by a spring o¹, as shewn, are caused to
slide upon the interior surface of the cylinder, but when they are required to
pass the abutment they are turned on their axes, as described, and caused to
lie in recesses ex in the cylinder, as shewn.
Figure 20 shews a slight modification, in which case it will be seen the
valves are thinner than those just described, and somewhat different in form.
What I claim in respect to Figures 18, 19, and 20 is the mode of working
the valves i against which the steam acts, substantially as shewn and described.
I would have it understood that although I have described the engines as
being worked by steam, they may also be worked by a head or pressure of

page_text: water or other fluid, or by applying power to the shaft. The engines may be
worked as lift and force pumps.
If desired, the engines may be worked as a low pressure or condensing
engine. In this case I employ any suitable air pump and condenser connected
to the engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Platt, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JAMES PLATT. (L.S.)