Year: 1886

page_text: We, ROBERT DICK, Manufacturer and RANKIN KENNEDY, Electrical Engineer, both
of the Electric Lamp Works, 115 Woodside Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This said invention has reference to improvements in the construction of steam or
other fluid pressure motive power engines, designed particularly for being worked with
short stroke of piston at very high speeds or revolutions of their crank shaft, such
as for driving Dynamo machines for electric lighting, and other machines where both
the power and speed are required direct from the engine, with as little intermediate
transmitting gearing as possible; and which improvements will give and transmit
greater steadiness of the motive power with greater durability of the working parts
than heretofore in such engines.
This invention comprises a new or improved general arrangement and combination
of the parts of the said class of engine or engines, many of the parts of which are
susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the main and
essential features of the invention.
The improvements of the invention described as applied to the construction of a
small vertical reciprocating steam engine, consist in forming the cylinder in one
casting or piece so as to form the main framing of the engine carrying the whole
working parts. The lower part of the cylinder would either be bolted by a bottom
flange to, or formed as, a sole plate for being bolted down to any suitable strong
foundation of stone, concrete, or wooden beams; and this cylinder would be all closed
externally and have a close-bottom, and a top, below and above the ends of the piston,
the top being bolted on for the inserting and withdrawing of the piston in a usual
manner. Further by these improvements the cylinder and its piston would be of
sufficient length to allow the crank and connecting rod to work freely within and
between the two working close ends of the piston, and which would be made hollow
and open and light for that purpose between the two ends, which would be turned
and fitted with spring rings to work steam tight in the bottom and top ends of the
cylinder bored to fit them for a length equal to the stroke at both ends of piston.
The space between and within these top and bottom working parts of the cylinder and
piston would in this arrangement form a close exhaust steam space, and would have

page_text: the crank shaft fitted to revolve horizontally through the middle of this space within
the piston, in long journal bush bearings, preferably with stuffing-box glands formed
and fitted on both sides of the cylinder, at such a height as to allow room for the
crank to turn within the lower hollow part of the piston, and the short connecting rod
to oscillate in the upper part, and having its top end jointed there to the inside of
piston, both ends of connecting rod being fitted with taking up bushes and screws
to adjust for wear and prevent knocking or vibration. The one end of crank shaft
beyond its bearings in cylinder would carry the fly-wheel, which would preferably be
large and heavy enough to give steady motion and absorb any difference of momentum
imparted by the reversing of piston and connecting rod on the crank action; the
circumference of the fly-wheel being turned to transmit the power by driving belt,
ropes, friction gear, or it might be direct by disc elastic couplings, or otherwise as
found most convenient for transmitting the power; and when heavy driving is
required the outer end of shaft may work in a bush bearing block supported on
extension of sole plate or on foundation.
The other end of crank shaft might have an eccentric or crank on it for working
the steam valve direct within a central chamber in valve casing, which might be an
exhaust steam chamber in direct connection with the centre space of cylinder and
piston. The steam valve chest may be in the form of two bored cylindrical chambers,
(in direct communication with the central chamber,) at one side of top and bottom of
steam cylinder, with a lateral port near the extreme ends of each chest leading direct
into the upper and lower ends of cylinder above and below the corresponding acting
close ends of the piston, and extreme end of the solid or hollow piston steam valves
reciprocated in the upper and lower steam chests, which would both be connected to the
main steam pipe, while the exhaust of the steam for both end ports would take place
past the inner ends of the valves into the said central chamber, where the eccentric
works the valves, and where a screwed on cover might be fitted and jointed, for the
convenient setting of the valves, and eccentric, and rods. The oil injected by any
good sight lubricator with the steam would lubricate the piston and also the valves,
eccentrics, and rods in casings, and the connecting rod and crank as well as the lower
end of piston by the exhaust or condensed steam, as a little of this and the oil would
always remain in the lower part of hollow space of piston, the exhaust steam being
allowed to escape at a point rather above this in the central hollow exhaust space of
the cylinder, either to the outer air when working high pressure, or it might be used
to assist the draft in the furnace. When applied to a compound engine, or to a single
condensing engine, this exhaust steam pipe and chamber would be connected to a
special condenser of its own, or to the condenser of a main engine when that was
convenient, as on board of steam boats when this engine was to be used for electric
lighting purposes in such circumstances.
In some cases when preferred, (as when this construction of engine is desired for
working high pressure without condenser), the central space in cylinder and piston
between their two working ends may be left quite open and have the working bearings
lubricated in a usual manner by oil cup, and have the exhaust steam carried off by a
pipe direct from the close exhaust chamber in middle of valve chest, to be used for
assisting draught in furnace, or led to a condenser or otherwise utilized.
This construction of engine is also suitable for being made double or with two
cylinders erected on the same sole-plate, having their connecting rods each working
on their respective cranks at right angles to each other on the same crank shaft
common to both cylinders and pistons. And the cylinders might be of different
diameters and made to work as a compound engine the smaller cylinder expanding
into valve casing of the larger cylinder worked with a condenser.
Cambru 1006

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam and other Fluid Pressure Motive
Power Engines.
We, ROBERT DICK, Manufacturer, and RANKIN KENNEDY, Electrical Engineer,
both of the Electric Lamp, Works, 115 Woodside Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to improvements in the construction of steam or other
fluid pressure motive power engines, designed particularly for being worked with short
stroke of piston at very high speeds or revolutions of their crank shaft, such as for
driving dynamo-machines for electric lighting, and other machines where both the
power and speed are required direct from the engine, with as little intermediate
transmitting gearing as possible; and which improvements will give and transmit
greater steadiness of the motive-power with greater durability of the working parts
than heretofore in such engines.
This invention comprises a new or improved general arrangement and combination
of the parts of the said class of engine or engines, many of the parts of which are
susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the main and
essential features of the invention.
And in order that this invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood we have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of Drawings in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 are
sectional elevations at right angles to each other, and Figure 3 a sectional plan
corresponding to and taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, all of a vertical reciprocating
steam engine, constructed in accordance with our improvements. While Figures 4
to 7, represent detailed views of a disc construction of rotative valve L shown in side
and edge section in Figures 4 and 5, and in side and edge elevation in Figures 6
and 7, for controlling the admission and exhaust of the steam to the cylinder of the
engine in place of the piston valve h³, h³, shown in Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of these Drawings:-the improvements of the
invention described as applied to this construction of small vertical reciprocating steam-
engine as shown in the Drawings, consist in forming the cylinder A in one casting or
piece so as to form the main framing of the engine carrying the whole working
parts. The lower part of the cylinder A is bolted by a bottom flange A', 'to a sole
plate B, secured to any suitable strong foundation of stone concrete or wooden
beams; but the cylinder A might be cast or formed on the sole plate B for being
similarly bolted down to the foundation. This cylinder A is all closed in externally
and has a close bottom at B¹, and a top C, above the end of the piston D, D, the top (

page_text: being jointed and bolted on for the inserting and withdrawing of the piston D, D, in
a usual manner.
Further by these improvements the cylinder A and its piston D
would be of sufficient length to allow the crank E¹ of the crank shaft E and connecting
rod F, to work freely within and between the two working close ends D, D, of the
piston, and which would be made hollow and open and light with long slots D' for
that purpose between the two ends D, D, which would be turned and fitted with
spring rings d and junk rings or end covers D¹ above and below to work steam tight
in the bottom and top ends a, a; of the cylinder A bored to fit the piston end D, D,
for a length equal to the stroke at both ends of piston. The space A between and
within these top and bottom working parts a of the cylinder A and piston D, D, in
this arrangement forms a close exhaust steam space and has the crank shaft E, E',
fitted to revolve horizontally through the middle lower part of this space A³ within
the piston D in long journal bush bearings e, e, preferably with stuffing-box glands e¹
formed and fitted on one or both sides of the cylinder A at such a height as to allow
room for the crank E¹ to turn within the lower hollow part of the piston D, and the
short connecting rod F to oscillate in the upper part, and has its top end F¹,
jointed there to the inside of piston D, D, both ends of connecting rod F being fitted
with taking up bushes and screws f,fi, to adjust for wear and prevent knocking or
vibration. The one end of crank-shaft E beyond its bearings in cylinder A carries
the fly-wheel G which would preferably be large and heavy enough to give steady
motion and absorb any difference of momentum imparted by the reversing of
piston D D and connecting rod F on the crank action; the circumference of the
Hy-wheel G being turned to transmit the power by driving belts, ropes, friction gear,
or it might be direct by disc elastic couplings, or otherwise, as found most convenient
for transmitting the power; and when heavy driving is required the outer end of
shaft E may work in a bush bearing block supported on extension of sole plate or on
foundation.
The outer end of crank-shaft E may by one arrangement have a crank pin E or
eccentric on it for working the steam valve or valves ', direct within a central
chamber in valve casing H which might be an exhaust steam chamber in direct
connection with the centre space A² of cylinder A and piston D D. The steam valve
chest is constructed in the form of two bored cylindrical chambers h h in direct
communication with the central chamber H at one side of top and bottom of steam
cylinder, with a lateral port a¹, all, near the extreme ends of each chest leading direct
into the upper and lower ends of cylinder A above and below the corresponding
acting close ends D D of the piston, and extreme ends of the solid or hollow piston
steam valves h¹, h', reciprocated in the upper and lower steam-chests h, h, which would
both be connected to the main steam-pipe I by branches i, i, while the exhaust of the
steam for both end ports a¹ a¹¹ takes place past the inner ends of the valves h¹, h³, into
the said central chamber H and A³, A³, where the crank pin E² or eccentric works the
valves by a small connecting rod g connected to a pin g¹in the rod connecting the
two valves h¹, h¹, preferably by adjustable screws at h so that the valves h¹¹ may be
adjusted to the greatest accuracy to suit the ports a¹, a¹¹. A screwed on cover H
would be fitted and jointed on the exhaust casing H, for the convenient setting of the
valves h¹, h, and crank pin or eccentric, and rods. The oil injected by any good
sight lubricator with the steam would lubricate the piston D, D, and also the valves h¹, h¹,
and their crank pin E or eccentrics, and rods g, g, in the casings, and the connecting
rod F and crank E' as well as the lower end of piston D, D, by the exhaust or
condensed stean, as a little of this and the oil would always remain in the lower
part of hollow space D2, D3, of piston, the exhaust steam being allowed to escape by
a branch J at a point rather above this in the central hollow exhaust space A' of the
cylinder A, either to the outer air when working high pressure, or it might be used to
assist the draught in the furnace.
When applied to a compound engine, or to a single condensing engine, this exhaust
steam pipe and chamber would be connected to a special condenser of its own, or to
the condenser of a main engine, when that was convenient, as on board of steam-

page_text: boats when this engine was to be used for electric lighting purposes in such
circumstances.
In sonie cases when preferred (as when this construction of engine is desired for
working high pressure without condenser), the central space A2 in cylinder A and
piston between their two working ends may be left quite open and have the working
bearings lubricated in a usual manner by oil-cups, and have the exhaust steam carried
off by a pipe direct from the close exhaust chamber H in middle of valve chest, to
be used for assisting draught in furnace, or led to a condenser or otherwise utilized.
This construction of engine is also suitable for being made double or with two
cylinders erected on the same sole-plate, having their connecting rods each working
on their respective cranks at right angles to each other on the same crank-shaft
common to both cylinders and pistons; and the cylinders might be of different
diameters and made to work as a compound engine; the smaller cylinder expanding
into valve casing of the larger cylinder worked with a condenser.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise arrangement of steam admission and
exhaust valves ¹, ', or the mode of actuating these as shown and described in
reference to Figures 1 to 3, as it is evident that slide valves might be used, as well as
piston valves.
And a rotative hollow disc or piston valve L might be employed as
shown in Figures 4 to 7, keyed or otherwise secured on the end of the crank shaft E,
so as to rotate within the bored steam valve casing K and give the steam to the one
end port a¹ of the cylinder A, while exhausting from the other end port a" of the
cylinder A, through the hollow centre corresponding to the position of the crank on
the shaft to rotate the engine in either direction desired of the valve L. As seen in
the sectional face view of the valve Figure 4, the steam enters the valve chest by the
branch i, i, and passes round a groove L' in the outer central circumference of the
valve so as to pass in at the two steam ports L' leading into an outer segmental
space L³ to the segmental steam port in the face of the valve to either the upper or
lower ports a¹ or a¹¹ and ends of the cylinder A ; and exhaust through the other or
lower and upper ports all or a¹ through the segmental exhaust port in the face of
the valve, and through the two end ports 1, into the central hollow space and ports 1³,
in the centre of the valve, and through the face of the valve chest into the hollow
space A³, within the cylinder A, to exhaust up through the exhaust pipe J, leading
from this chamber all as indicated by the arrows in the sectional Figures 4 and 5,
giving steam to the upper end of the cylinder and exhausting from the lower end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is.―
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of a vertical
reciprocating steam or other fluid-pressure motive power engine either with piston
slide, or rotative distributing valves, all substantially as herein described, in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In a vertical reciprocating engine, the making of a double working piston
in one long hollow cylindrical form with the crank shaft and connecting rod working
within the exhaust central space between the working faces of the piston and cylinder,
and actuating the distributing valves direct, all substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings..
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.