Steam-engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1991
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL
Improvements in
SPECIFICATION.
Steam-engines.
1, RANSFORD WHITING BASOM of Pittsburg, County of Crawford, and State of
Kansas, United States of America Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to steam-engines, and it has among its objects to construct
an upright high-speed engine with single-acting cylinders, which shall be cast in
one piece with the valve-chambers or steam-chests, four cylinders and two steam-
chests being employed; to so construct the engine that each cylinder shall take
steam and exhaust through a single port at its upper end; to so construct and
arrange the valves that they shall at all times and under all circumstances he
absolutely balanced; to dispense with stuffing boxes for the valve and piston rods;
to insure steadiness and regularity of movement, and to dispense with friction to the
greatest possible extent.
In the construction of my improved steam-engine four cylinders and two
cylindrical steam-chests or valve-chambers are employed, cach pair of cylinders
being arranged to alternately take steam from and exhaust through a single valve-
chamber. The cylinders and valve-chambers may of course be constructed
separately and independently of each other; but in engines of a moderate size
I find it convenient and profitable to construct the said four cylinders and the two
valve chambers in a single piece or casting. The cylinders are arranged vertically
and the valve-chambers are arranged in a diagonal or rearwardly-inclined position
between each pair of cylinders. The valve-chambers are open at both ends, but
the cylinders are provided at their upper ends with flanges to which ordinary heads
are secured.
Each valve chamber has two ports or openings located one above the other and
cach connected by a pipe with the upper end of one of the adjacent cylinders.
The valve-stem consists of a tubular rod exteriorly screw-threaded and closed at
its upper and lower ends. At or near its upper and lower ends the valve-stem
carries heads or pistons having packing-rings. Each valve stem also has inter-
mediately-located piston-heads which are a distance apart equal to the distance
between the ports before mentioned. A live steam pipe is connected with the
compartment of the valve-chamber which lies between the upper heads, and this
compartment is in turn connected with the compartment which lies between the head
at the lower end of valve stem and the lowermost of the intermediately-arranged
piston-heads by means of the tubular valve-stem which has ports cominunicating
with said compartments. An exhaust pipe is connected to the compartment of the
valve-chest between the two central piston-heads.
The steam-supply pipe may if desired, be connected to the lower compartment
instead of to the upper compartment of the valve-chamber. Owing to the fact
that the valve stem is exteriorly threaded throughout its length, the several piston-
heads may be readily adjusted to their proper position. This having been done
any suitable means may be employed for securing them in place.
To the lower end of the valve-stem is secured the valve guide having a cylindrical
portion fitting nicely in the cylindrical chamber and having an annular lubricating
groove. The valve-guide is connected with the upper end of a pitman, the lower
end of which is in turn connected with the eccentric upon the crank-shaft.
The pistons,working in the cylinders are cast or formed integrally with the
guides or cross-heads and are provided with packing-rings making steam-tight
joints. The cross-heads have cylindrical portions with lubricating grooves and they

page_text: are pivotally connected with the upper ends of pitmen the lower ends of which are
connected with the cranks upon the crank-shaft.
An oil-reservoir is connected by. pipes with the several cylinders and valve-
chambers, all of which are thus supplied with lubricating material from a single
source.
The casting comprises the four cylinders and the two valve-chambers and is
mounted upon and securely bolted to the crank-case, which is composed of two
pieces the top portion and the base-which are provided at their meeting edges
with flanges to receive the connecting bolts. The top of the crank-case has man-
holes with covers to give access to the interior.
case.
To the outside of the crank-case at its ends, are bolted the boxes or bearings for
the crank-shaft and additional bearings for the latter are formed within the crank-
The crank-shaft has four sets of cranks which are connected with the pitmen
of the cylinders. Two of the cranks connected with their pitmen are diametrically
opposite to each other upon the crank-shaft and the other cranks which are
connected with the other pitmen are likewise diametrically opposite to each other
but at right angles to the other cranks. It follows that when the pistons of one
set of cylinders are at the extreme upper and lower limits of their strokes, those of
the other set of cylinders are at the center of their strokes and travelling in
opposite directions. The valves are so set that at any time at least one of the
cylinders will be taking steam. There will be no dead center and hence it will be
possible to start the machine at any position of the crank-shaft by simply opening
the throttles.
It will also be observed that each one of the cylinders takes steam and exhausts
through a single port which is connected by a pipe with one or the other port of
the valve-chest, as the case may be.
The external bearings of the crank-shaft may be provided with oil-cups of any
suitable construction. For the lubrication of the crank-pins I prefer to partially
fill the base of the crank-case with water upon which the lubricant may float, and
which may be replenished by such condensed water as may leak from the cylinders
and valve-chambers. Other methods of lubricating the crank-pins and the internal
bearings of the crank-shaft may, however, be employed.
The lower ends of the pitmen connecting the valve-guides with the eccentrics
upon the crank-shaft, are provided with straps of ordinary construction encircling
the said eccentric-disks.
The upper and lower ends of the pitmen connecting the cross-heads of the pistons
with the crank pins are provided with permanent half-boxes and movable half-boxes
which latter are retained. in position by means of straps the meeting ends of which
are connected by transverse gibs and keys extending through transverse slots in
said pitmen. The cross-head pins which connect the pitmen with the valve guides
and the cross-heads have longitudinal openings the inner ends of which communicate
with transverse openings thus forming L-shaped channels the inner ends of which
communicate with lubricators attached to the bearings, which are thereby kept.
supplied with oil.
Dated this 12th day of May 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam-engines.
1, RANSFORD WHITING BASOM, of Pittsburg, in the County of Crawford, and 50
State of Kansas, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to steam-engines; and it has among its objects to construct

page_text: steam and exhaust through a single port at its upper end; to so construct and
arrange the valves that they shall at all times and under all circumstances be
absolutely balanced; to dispense with stuffing-boxes for the valve and piston-rods;
to insure steadiness and regularity of movement, and to dispense to the greatest
possible extent with friction.
With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction,
arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed,
Fig. is a perspective front view of a steam-engine embodying my improve-
ments.
Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the engine with two of the cylinders, one of the
steam-chests and part of the crank-case in section, for the purpose of exposing to
view the interior construction.
Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through one of the cylinders
on the line a- in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through one of the steam-
chests on the line y-y in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the piston-rods illustrating the method of con-
necting it with the crank-shaft.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the cross-head or valve-guide connecting-pins.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
In the construction of my improved steam-engine, four cylinders and two
cylindrical steam-chests or valve-chambers are employed, each pair of cylinders
being arranged to alternately take steam from and exhaust" through a single
valve-chamber. The cylinders and valve-chambers may of course be constructed
separately and independently of each other, but in engines of a moderate size I
find it convenient and profitable to construct the said four cylinders and the two
valve-chambers in a single piece or casting, as will be seen in the drawings
hereto annexed, where 1 and 2, designate the valve-chambers, and 1* 1º 2ª 2º
the cylinders. The cylinders are arranged vertically and the valve-chambers are
arranged in a diagonal or rearwardly-inclined position between each pair' of
cylinders, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
The valve-chambers are open at both ends, but the cylinders are provided at their
upper ends with flanges 3, to which heads or caps 4 of ordinary construction are
securely bolted.
Each of the valve-chambers is provided with ports or openings 5, 6, located
one above the other and each connected by a pipe 7 with the upper end of one
of the adjacent cylinders. The valve-stem consists of a tubular rod 8, exteriorly
screw-threaded throughout its length and closed at its upper and lower ends.
At or near its upper and lower ends the valve-stem carries the heads or
pistons 9, 10, having packing-rings 11, by which they are fitted tightly in the
chest or casing.
Each valve-stem is also provided with intermediately-located
piston-heads 12, 13, which are a distance apart equal to the distance between
the ports 5, 6. The live-steam pipe 14 is connected with the compartment 15
of the valve-chamber which lies between the upper heads 9 and 12, and this
compartment is in turn connected with the compartiment 16 between the heads 10
and 13 by means of the tubular valve-stem, which is provided with ports 17, 18
communicating with the said compartments. The exhaust-pipe 19 is connected
to the compartment of the valve-chest between the two central piston-
heads 12, 13.
It is obvious that the steam-supply pipe may, when desired, be connected to
the lower compartment 16 instead of to the upper compartiment 15 of the valve-

page_text: chamber. It will be seen that owing to the fact that the valve-stemais iexteriorly-
threaded throughout its length the several piston-heads may be very readily
adjusted to their proper position. This having been done, any suitable means may
be employed for securing them in place.
To the lower end of the valve-stem is secured the valve-guide 19" which has a
cylindrical portion 20, fitting nicely' in the cylindrical chamber and provided with
an annular lubricating-groove 21. The valve-guide is connected with the upper
end of the pitman 22, the lower end of which is in turn connected with the
eccentric 23 upon the crank-shaft, the size and adjustment of which are such as to
insure the desired movement of the valve.
The pistons 24 working in the steam cylinders are cast or formed integrally with
the guides or cross-beads 25 and are provided with packing-rings 26 making steam-
tight joints. The cross-heads are provided with cylindrical portions 27 having
annular lubricating grooves 28, and they are pivotally connected with the upper
ends of the pitmen 29, the lower ends of which are connected with the cranks upon
the crank-shaft, as will be hereinafter described.
30 designates a lubricator or oil-reservoir, which is connected by a main pipe 31
and distributing pipes 32 with the several cylinders and valve-chambers all of
which are thus supplied with lubricating material from a single source or recep-
tacle for the lubrication of the valve-guides and cross-heads, in the annular grooves
of which a sufficient quantity of the lubricating material will soon accumulate to
keep the inner walls of the cylinders and valve-chambers well lubricated at the
points where they are in contact with said cross-heads and valve-guides.
The casing comprising the four cylinders and the two valve-chambers is
mounted upon and securely bolted to the crank-case, which is composed of two
pieces-riz., the top or upper portion 33 and the base 34-which are provided at
their meeting edges with flanges 35 to receive bolts by which they are securely
connected. The top of the crank-case is also provided with openings or man-
holes having closely-fitting covers 36, which may be removed when it shall be
desired to have access to the interior.
To the outside of the crank-case, at the ends of the same, are bolted the boxes
or bearings 37 for the crank-shaft 38, and additional bearings 39 for the latter
are formed within the crank-case. The crank-shaft is provided with four sets
of cranks 40, 40%, and 41%, and 41, which are connected respectively, with the
pitmen of the cylinders 1, 1b, and 2", 2. The cranks 40, 40, connected with
the pitmen of the first pair of cylinders 1, 1, are diametrically opposite to each
other upon the crank-shaft, and the cranks 41, 41, which are connected with
the pitmen of the second set of cylinders 2°, 2, are likewise diametrically opposite
to each other, but at right angles to the cranks 40", 40%. It follows that when the
pistons of one set of cylinders are at the extreme upper and lower limits of their
strokes those of the other set of cylinders are at the center of their strokes and
travelling in opposite directions. The valves are so set that at any time at least
one of the cylinders will be taking steam. Thus when the piston in cylinder 1ª
is at the upper end of its stroke and said cylinder is ready to take steam the piston
in cylinder will be at the lower limit of its stroke and said.cylinder will be ready
to exhaust at the same time the piston in cylinder 2ª will be travelling downwardly,
working on the expansion of steam, and the cylinder 2, in which the piston is
moving upwardly, will be exhausting.
From this it will be seen that there is no dead-center, and hence it will be possible
to start the machine at any position of the crank-shaft by simply opening the throttles.
It will furthermore be observed that each one of the cylinders takes steam and
exhausts through a single port 42, which is connected by one of the pipes 7 with
the port 5, or 6 of the valve-chest, as the case may be. Taking the cylinders 1", 1",
as an example, it will be seen that when the valve is at the upper limit of its
stroke live steam will be passing from the upper compartment 15 of the
steam-chest through the stem 8, port 6, and pipe 7 to the cylinder 1", while the
cylinder 1 exhausts through the pipe 7 and port 5 into the compartment between

page_text: the central heads 12, 13, of the valve and thence through the exhaust-pipe 19.
When the position of the valve is reversed, or when the valve is at the lower
limit of its stroke, the cylinder 1" will take steam through the pipe 7 and port
from the upper compartment 15 of the steam-chest, to which the live-steam pipe is
connected, and the cylinder 1 will exhaust through the pipe 7 and port 6. It will
also be seen that the upper and lower compartments 15 and 16, formed by the
pistons of the valve, are at all times in connection with each other through the
ports 17, 18, and the tubular-valve stem. Hence the valve is at all times absolutely
balanced; and when this is taken into consideration in connection with the fact that
absolutely no stuffing-boxes are used or required upon any part of my improved
engine it will be readily understood that friction is almost entirely done away with
and that the engine may be run at high speed and with little or no loss of power.
The external bearings of the crank-shaft may be provided with oil-cups or
lubricators of any suitable approved construction, as shown at 43. For the
lubrication of the crank-pius upon the crank-shaft I prefer to partially fill the base
of the crank-case with water upon which the lubricant may float, and which may be
replenished by such condensed water as may leak from the cylinders and valve
chambers. The cranks splashing in the lubricant will be amply lubricated. Other
methods of lubricating the crank-pins and the internal bearings of the crank-shaft
may, however, be employed when desired.
The lower ends of the pitmen 22 connecting the valve-guides with the eccentrics 23
upon the crank-shaft, are provided with straps 44 of ordinary construction, encircling
the said eccentric-disks.
The upper and lower ends of the pitmen 29, connecting the cross-heads of the
pistons 24 with the crank-pins, are provided with permanent half-boxes 45 and
movable half-boxes 46, which latter are retained in position by means of the
straps 47, 48, the meeting ends of which are connected by transverse gibs 49, and
keys 50, extending through transverse slots 51 in the said pitmen. By this
construction it will be seen that wear upon the boxes or bearings may be readily
compensated for by simply tightening the gibs and keys.
The cross-head pins 52, which connect the pitmen 22 and 29 respectively, with the
valve-guides 19 and the cross-heads 25, are provided with longitudinal openings 53,
the inner ends of which communicate with transverse openings 54, thus forming
L-shaped channels or passages, the inner ends of which communicate with
lubricators or oil-cups 55, attached to the bearings which are thereby kept supplied
with oil.
The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the
foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, by
those skilled in the art to which it appertains.
The
The construction of the engine is exceedingly simple, and a multiplicity of steam
and exhaust ports is avoided, thereby greatly facilitating the construction and
rendering the operation simple and certain. The valve mechanism for regulating the
supply and exit of steam is likewise of the most simple character, and all the parts
are so constructed that they may be fitted and adjusted by a novice in the art.
engine may be run under high pressure and at a great rate of speed, and may be
started at any position of the crank-shaft. Again, the parts of the engine proper
are comparatively few and light and an engine of comparatively great power may,
on account of the vertical disposition of the cylinders and valve-chambers, be
constructed occupying comparatively little floor space. The cylinders are set
centrally over the main shaft, which therefore receives the direct action of
the pistons and pitmen, and piston-rods and stuffing-boxes are entirely dispensed
with.
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 :-

page_text: .
°
.
combination with a hollow. or tubular exteriorly screw-threaded reciprocating
valve-stem closed at both ends, four piston-heads interiorly screw-threaded.. and
adjustably mounted, respectively, near the ends and near the center of said
valve-stem, ports or openings formed in the latter between the two upper and the
two lower piston-heads, respectively, and connecting the upper and lower
compartiments formed by said piston-heads, exhaust and live steam pipes connected
with the valve-chamber to register respectively, with the central and with one of
the communicating chambers formed by the piston-heads upon the valve-stem, and
a port connecting the valve-chamber with each of a pair of single-acting cylinders,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination, with a pair of single-acting cylinders closed at their upper
ends and having the reciprocating pistons, of the single ports connecting the upper
ends of said cylinders with a valve-chamber open at both ends, a valve arranged
to reciprocate in said chamber and having a tubular exteriorly screw-threaded
stem and four interiorly screw-threaded adjustable heads or pistons forming two
cnd compartments that communicate through said tubular stem and a central
separate compartiment, and the exhaust and live-steam pipes connected, respectively,
to the said central and to one of the said communicating compartments,
substantially as set forth.
1]
3. In a steam-engine, the combination of two pairs of vertical cylinders arranged.
centrally over a single crank-shaft and having closed upper ends, the reciprocating
pistons, the pitmen connecting the pistons of each pair of cylinders with
diametrically-opposite cranks, the cranks of the two pairs being disposed at right
angles to each other, two cylindrical valve-chambers open at both ends, single ports
.connecting the upper end of each cylinder with one of said. valve-chambers, the
reciprocating valves arranged in said valve-chambers and comprising each a tubular
stem and four heads or pistons forming two end compartments that communicate
through said tubular stem, and a central separate compartment, the exhaust and
live-steam pipes connected respectively; to the said central and to one of the said
communicating compartments, and the pitmen connecting the valves with
eccentrics upon the crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.
4. In an engine, the combination, with a cylindrical casing open at both ends, of
a reciprocating valve comprising two communicating and compartments and a
separate central- or intermediate compartment formed by the walls of the casing,
and disks or pistons mounted so as to be longitudinally adjustable upon the
valve-stem, said casing being provided with suitably located openings for the
admission and escape of steam, and for its passage to and from the cylinders, and
said valve-stem being provided with a longitudinal opening having ports whereby
communication is established between the end compartments, substantially as
.set, forth.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.