Improvements in Hydraulic Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov.,
1895
Improvements in Hydraulic Engines.
I, BRICE TYDEMAN, of 66 Cecil Road, Upton Manor, Forest Gate, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct an efficient hydraulic rotating engine
in which a variable length of stroke can be given to the hydraulic rams which
effect the rotation so that more or less water under pressure may be used for each
rotation according as more or less power is required.
To effect this I construct the engine of a hollow wheel within which three or other
number of hydraulic cylinders are carried.
The cylinders can rock on trunnions and are ranged equidistantly around the
axis. The rams of the hydraulic cylinders work inwards against a crank pin which
passes eccentrically through a hollow tubular axis which projects from one side of
the wheel.
The crank pin is kept stationary so that the wheel revolves around it.
The crank pin can be brought to coincide with the axis of the wheel or be moved
away from it so making the stroke of the rams longer or shorter as required. To
do this the hollow axis which projects from one side of the wheel is made to turn
around the exterior of a fixed cylindrical axis. A hole is bored eccentrically
through this fixed cylindrical axis and through the hole passes a cylindrical
rod having a hole bored eccentrically through it. The crank pin fits within
this bole.
By giving a half turn to the cylindrical rod the crank pin can be brought
concentric with the axis of the wheel or moved to its greatest distance away from
this axis.
In this way also the crank pin is always supported close up to where the ends of
the hydraulic rams bear upon it. To be able to give a partial turn in either
direction to the cylindrical rod its end furthest from the wheel has a toothed wheel
upon it with opposite sides of which gear two toothed racks which can be moved
end wise in opposite directions by the rams of two hydraulic cylinders so that by
admitting water to one cylinder and allowing it to escape from the other the
cylindrical rod may be turned in one direction and by admitting water to the other
cylinder and allowing it to escape from the first the rod may be turned in the other
direction.
The exterior of the hollow axis which projects from one side of the wheel
as above explained is preferably also held within a bearing on the frame of the
engine.
On the opposite side of the wheel is a boss having a cavity in it in which
is contained the valve mechanism for admitting water to and allowing it to escape
from the bydraulic cylinders at the proper times.
The boss turns within a fixed bearing-two annular water spaces are formed
around the interior of the bearing-one for inlet and the other for outlet of water.
Two cup leather rings at a distance apart face to face and one on each side of the
water space keep the water from escaping sidewise from each annular water space.
The cavity in the boss is central and extends inwards from the hollow wheel-at

page_text: the bottom of the cavity is a valve face against which rests the end of a valve rod
which is within the cavity and extends from it for a short distance into the interior
of the hollow wheel.
Water is
The valve rod is formed with two shoulders upon it the larger end of the rod
being the one that rests against the valve face. Two annular water spaces are
formed around the interior of the cavity one surrounding the valve rod where the
first shoulder is formed the other where the second shoulder is formed.
kept from escaping sidewise from each water space by a pair of cup leathers face
to face at a distance apart one on each side of the water space and one on one side
of the shoulder on the. valve rod and the other on the other side of the shoulder so
that there will be a pressure of water against the shoulder to press the valve rod
end wise and keep its end resting against the valve face. The annular water spaces
around the exterior of the boss and around the cavity in its interior are connected
by radial passages formed through the boss. A passage is cut through the valve
rod from one of the annular water spaces which surround it to a port cut through
the end of the valve rod and from the other annular water space to another similar
port cut through the end of the valve rod-the two ports being on opposite sides of
the centre. In the valve face ports are formed one for each cylinder and from each
port a passage extends through the boss to one of the trunnions of one of the
cylinders and through the trunnion to the cylinder end. In this way as the wheel
revolves and the valve face with it whilst the valve is kept from rotating the end
of the cylinder is alternately, put into communication with the water supply and
with the exhaust.
If the rams of the engine were always to have the same length of stroke the
valve rod might be kept from rotating by its end being fixed to the end of the
stationary crank pin-but in order to allow of the crank pin being moved towards
or away from the central axis of the wheel.
The valve rod is retained from rotating by its end which enters the hollow
interior of the wheel having a bar fixed at right angles to it. A bar is similarly
fixed to the end of the crank pin and one bar enters a groove in the other so that
one may be slidden lengthwise of the other. Similarly the opposite end of the
crank pin has a bar fixed upon it which can stide endwise on a bar fixed to a pin
which can turn in a bearing concentric with the axis of the wheel.
To admit water under pressure to one annular water space which surrounds the
boss of the wheel and to allow it to pass away from the other and to allow of either
being used for pressure or for exhaust so as to be able to run the engine in either
direction I make the annular water spaces to communicate each with a port in a
valve face over which is a valve formed preferably in just the same way as the
valve for admitting water to and allowing it to pass from the cylinders-two ports
being formed in the valve and two in the valve face so that by giving a half turn
to the valve the annular water passage which before was supplied with water under
pressure is made the exhaust and the one that was the exhaust is supplied with
water under pressure whilst in an intermediate position the ports are all closed and
the engine stopped.
Dated this 4th day of January 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Engines.
I, BRICE TYDEMAN, of 66 Cecil Road, Upton Manor, Forest Gate, in the
County of Essex, 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 this invention is to construct an efficient hydraulic rotating engine

page_text: a which a variable length of stroke can be given to the hydraulic rams
ffect the rotation so that more or less water under pressure may be used for each
otation according as more or less power is required.
To effect this I construct the engine of a hollow wheel by which three or other
umber of hydraulic cylinders are carried.
The cylinders can rock on trunnious and are ranged equidistantly around the
axis. The rams of the bydraulic cylinders work inwards against a crank pin which
passes eccentrically through a hollow tubular axis which projects from one side of
the wheel.
The crank pin is kept stationary so that the wheel revolves around it.
The crank pin can be brought to coincide with the axis of the wheel or be moved
away from it so making the stroke of the rams longer or shorter as required.
To do this the hollow axis which projects from one side of the wheel is made to
turn around the exterior of a fixed cylindrical axis. A hole is bored eccentrically
through this fixed cylindrical axis and through the hole passes a cylindrical rod.
The crank pin extends from the end of this rod and is eccentric to it to such an
extent that by giving a half turn to the cylindrical rod the crank pin can be
brought concentric with the axis of the wheel or moved to its greatest distance away
from this axis.
In this way the crank pin is always supported close up to where the ends of the
hydraulic rams hear upon it.
On the opposite side of the wheel is an axis or boss through which water is
admitted to and allowed to escape from the hydraulic cylinders at the proper times.
A valve face is formed on the boss, in it are formed three ports one for each
cylinder and from each port a passage extends to the outer end of one or other of
the cylinders. Against this valve face a valve at the end of a rod is made
to bear.
In this valve are two ports one supplied with fluid under pressure the other open
to the exhaust.
In this way as the wheel revolves and the valve face with it whilst the valve is
kept from rotating the end of each cylinder is alternately put into communication
with the water supply and with the exhaust.
If the rams of the engine were always to have the same length of stroke the
valve rod might be kept from rotating by its end being fixed to the end of the
stationary crank pin-but in order to allow of the crank pin being moved towards
or away from the central axis of the wheel in the manner before described means
are provided for causing the valve rod to turn around the axis of the wheel to the
same extent that the crank pin is carried around this axis as it is being moved
towards or away from it.
In the drawings annexed I have shewn two examples of hydraulic engine
constructed as above described.
In the engine shewn in Figures 1 to 7 the valve face on the axis of the revolving
wheel is on the inside of the axis which is made hollow for the purpose.
In the engine shewn at Figures 8 to 16 it is on the outer face of the end of the
axis the parts being modified accordingly to admit of this.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the frame and upper valve box.
Figure 3 is a plan of the upper valve box.
Figure 4 is a face view of the ports in the valve face leading to the cylinders.
Figure 5 is a face view of the valve resting against the valve face.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism for giving a partial turn in
either direction to the cylindrical rod through which the crank pin passes.
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken through the wheel.
A is the wheel-A¹ a tubular axis extending from one side of it and A² the boss
or axis on the opposite side. B are the radial cylinders carried by the wheel they
can each rock on trunnions B₁ as shewn-C are the ranis working within the
cylinders-D is the fixed cylindrical axis around which the tubular axis A¹ of

page_text: the wheel revolves-it is fixed at one end to the frame of the engine-E is
the cylindrical rod passed through a hole bored eccentrically through the fixed
axis D-F is the crank pin passed through a hole bored eccentrically to the same
extent through the cylindrical rod E so that by giving a half turn to the cylindrical
rod the crank pin can be brought concentric with the axis of the wheel or moved to
its greatest distance away from the axis.
E is a toothed wheel on the end of the cylindrical rod E-it has gearing with it
on opposite sides two toothed racks G G-these racks are formed ou piston rods or
plungers which work in two hydraulic cylinders H H¹.
By suitable valve mechanism not shewn water under pressure can be admitted to
either cylinder whilst at the same time it is allowed to escape from the other or the
passages to both cylinders can be closed. In this way a half turn can be given to
the rod or it can be held in any intermediate position. Other mechanical means
may be used for effecting this object in place of the racks and hydraulic
cylinders.
In the drawing Figure 1 the tubular axis A is shewn not only to surround the
fixed cylindrical axis D but also to be supported within a concentric bearing I
carried by the frame of the engine.
The boss or axis A2 which is on the opposite side of the wheel A to the hollow
axis A is hollow, opening into the interior of the wheel but closed at its outer end.
To the inner face of the closed end is fixed a valve face K having in it three
ports A³ from which extend passages A' to the outer ends of the three
cylinders B.
Lis the valve it has two ports L' passing through it and is formed on the end of
a rod L. The rod extends inwards for a distance into the interior of the wheel-
on its inner end is fixed a block L³ which embraces a bar F which extends radially
from the end of the crank pin F. Similarly the other end of the crank pin has
fixed to it a block which embraces a radial arm M' on an axis M which is concentric
with the wheel and turns in a bearing carried by the frame of the engine as shewn
in Figure 1.
In this way whenever the cylindrical rod E has a partial turn given to it and the
crank pin is consequently moved a distance around the axis of the wheel the valve
rod has also a corresponding partial turn given to it so that the ports L' in
the valve I are always maintained in the same position radially relatively to the
crank pin.
NO are two annular water spaces around the interior of the hollow boss A2-
between it and the rod Land' P Q are two similar annular water spaces around
the exterior of the boss and between it and a casing R fixed to the frame of the
engine P Q are passages formed at intervals between the water spaces N and P
and between the water spaces O, Q-S are cup leathers for forming water tight
joints at the sides of the water passages-L is a passage extending through the
rod L2 from the annular water passage N to one of the ports L' in the valve L
and L³ is a similar passage extending from the annular water passage O to the other
port L
T is a valve face having through it two ports T¹ T2 one opening into the annular
water space P and the other into the water space Q-U is a valve bearing upon
the top of the valve face and formed upon the end of a rod V.
W is a casing
enclosing the valve and rod. X Y are two anuular water spaces around the rod V
and between it and the casing W one has water under pressure constantly supplied
to it through a pipe Z (see Figures 2 and 3) and the other opens into an outlet or
exhaust pipe Z. In this way by giving a half turn in one or other direction to the
valve rod one port can be connected to the exhaust or to the supply whilst
the other is connected to supply or exhaust so that the engine can be revolved in
either direction.
Motion can be transmitted by a belt or otherwise from the exterior of the
wheel A or from the axis A².
Figures 8 to 16 of the drawings annexed shew a similar engine to that just

page_text: described but with the valve Jace on the outer side of the end of the wheels as w
the parts modified accordingly.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section.
Figures 9 and 10 are end views.
Figure 11 is a vertical transverse section through the cylinders.
Figure 12 is a vertical transverse section taken close to the cylinders.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section through the valve mechanism.
Figure 14 is an end view of the valve.
Figure 15 an end view of the valve face.
Figure 16 an end view of the valve rod and pipes leading to and from it.
In these figures A is the wheel with cylinders B radiating from it. One side of
the wheel revolves around a bearing D which is fixed to the frame of the engine-
the other has an arm or axis A³ extending from it which at its end is received
in another bearing on the frame. At the end of the axis A2 is a valve face having
in it three ports A³ ranged equidistantly around the centre and with pipes A*
leading from the ports to the outer ends of the cylinders-L is the valve on the
valve rod L².
The valve Lis held against the valve face by water under pressure introduced
to the space S (see Figure 13) at the back of the valve through a small passage
(not shewn) formed for the purpose.
L³ are two ports in the valve with passages extending backwards through the
rod to two pipes NO connected to the rod by swivelling joints kept watertight by
cup leathers as shewn. The pipes are led to two opposite sides of a valve box P
which is formed with an inlet P¹ for admitting water under pressure and an
outlet P2 for the exhaust and has within it a valve on a valve stem Q by turning
which either the pipe N can have water under pressure admitted to it and the
pipe O opened to the exhaust or the pipe () can be supplied with water under
pressure and the pipe N opened to the exhaust, or water can be turned off from
both pipes and the engine stopped.
F is the crank pin against which the rams of the cylinders thrust-it projects
from the end of the cylindrical rod E and is eccentric to it. The rod E passes
through a hole bored eccentrically to the same extent through the fixed bearing D.
E' is a yoke fixed on the outer end of the rod E. E are rods descending from the
ends of the yoke to two rams E³ working in hydraulic cylinders E-to either of
which water under pressure can be admitted whilst water is allowed to escape from
the other this may as shewn at Figures 8 and 10 be done by leading pipes from
the cylinders to the valve box P the valve contained in it being suitably formed
not only for reversing the engine but also for controlling the admission to and
escape of water from the cylinders E and so control the length of stroke of the
rams or a separate valve might be used for the purpose and if the engine is
desired to be kept running at a uniform speed the turning of the valve to cause
the stroke of the rams to be longer or shorter may be under the control of
a governor.
In order as the crank pin is moved around the centre of the fixed bearing D
when being moved towards or away from it that the valve L may be correspondingly
turned a connecting rod is led downwards from one arm of the yoke E¹ to an
arm R on a rock shaft R at the other end of which is an arm R² connected by a
rod R³ with an arm R secured to the exterior of the valve rod L².
Motion can be transmitted by a belt or otherwise from the axis A2 or a wheel
fixed upon it, or it will serve as a barrel for winding up a rope.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed i declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination of the wheel, its axes, the cylinders mounted radially on the
5 wheel, the valve face on the axis at one side of the wheel with ports in it from
which passages extend to the outer ends of the cylinders, the valve kept from

page_text: *
'
rotating fitting against the valve face and having ports in it one supplied with fluid
under pressure the other an outlet port, the cylinder rams working against a pin
that projects from and is eccentric to a rod that fits within a hole bored lengthwise
and eccentrically through a fixed cylindrical bearing that fits within and forms a
support for the axis at the other side of the wheel which is made hollow for the
purpose means for giving a partial turn to the rod and retaining it in any desired
position to hold the pin at the required distance from the central axis of the wheel
and means for at the same time turning the valve around the central axis to the
same extent as the crank pin is moved around this axis at the time when it is being
moved towards or away from it.
2. The means substantially as described for varying the eccentricity of the
crank pin.
3. Supporting the crank pin of the engine by a fixed cylindrical bearing which
fits within and forms a support for a hollow axis at one side of the wheel.
4. The construction of hydraulic engines substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 20th Jo of Cantambon 1905