US23495A - Aib-engiwe - Google Patents

Description

N,PETER& PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIE. WASHINGTON, Dv C.

' the center of saine.

TD STATES 'l PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. RICE, OF CLINTON, MASSAOHSETTS.

AIR-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent o. 23,495, dated April 5, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. RICE, of Clinton. in the county of )Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Mode of Operating the Plungers or Pistons in Air-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a top view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through Fig. 4 is a front end elevation looking toward the cylinder.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the iigures.

The nature of my invention consists in giving a rotary motion to the plungers or pistons in air-engines and in keeping their entire surface continually lubricated, thereby overcoming the friction and preventing the sudden wearing out of the packing.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

(a) represents the base or platform on which the engine rests.

(b) represents the cylinder and (o) the plunger or piston.

(d) represents the plunger or piston rod the outer end of which is made smaller so as to form a shoulder. It is then passed through a hole made in the cross-head (e) to the shoulder, where it is secured by means of a screw and washer on the outer end.

(f) represents the crank shaft on each end of which is placed the balance wheels (g, g).

(2', represent crank pins passing through one end of the connecting rods (:J7 7L) into the balance wheels (g, g).

(j, j) represent stands the upper parts of which are provided with slots in which works the cross head (76) represents a ratchet wheel made on the outer end of the plunger or piston (C).

(Z) represents an irregular shaped lever one end of which is connected with the crosshead (c) and the other reaches over and lies upon one of the stands (j,

(m) represents an inclined plane made on one of the stands (j, j).

(a) represents a ratchet hook one end of which is connected with the lever (Z) by means of the stud pin (0) and the other which is provided with a hook hangs down readyto act upon the ratchet wheel (7s).

(p) represents an oil pan placed underneath the plunger or piston (o).

(g) represents a sponge or any other suitable substance placed within the pan (p) for absorbing the oil and transmitting it to the under surface of the plunger or piston (c).

(r) represents the packing, and (s) a spring pressing against the packing (1) to keep 1t against the plunger or piston (c).

(t) represents an air-passage made in the cylinder (b) and through which the heated air is forced from the heater to impel the piston. It is also the passage through which the exhaust air escapes into the heater again on the return stroke of the plunger or piston. From the heater it escapes through a valve into the atmosphere. The heated air being forced through the air passage (t) into the cylinder (b) presses against the plunger or piston (c) causing it to move forward. The plunger or piston rod pushes the crosshead (e) forward and the balance wheels (g g) being connected with the crosshead (e) by means of the connecting rods (It, It) are thus set in motion. The momentum given to the balance wheels car ries them beyond the center of motion and continues the return stroke, producing a complete revolution. The connecting rods (7L, 71.) being brought back by the revolution of the balance wheels (g, g) bring the plunger or piston (c) through its connection with the cross-head (e) and the plunger or piston rod (cl) back again to its former position before being acted upon.

The end of the irregular lever (Z) which rests upon the stand is carried up the inclined plane (m), on the back stroke of the plunger or piston (c). This raises the part of the lever (l) to which the ratchet hook (a) is attached and the hook being lifted catches into the ratchet wheel (7e) causing it to turn the plunger or piston (c). The lower surface of the plunger or piston (o) at each stroke rubs against the sponge (g) and is thoroughly and evenly lubricated,

and at each back stroke a different part of the surface of the plunger or piston (c) is presented for lubricati0n,.and so on. It is a well known and established fact that so long as two surfaces which rub against each ICQ other are kept t-horoughly lubricated there is but very little friction and consequently but little Wear. The trouble heretofore experienced in the Working of air-engines has been that the high degree of heat and great dryness of the air causes the lubricating o-il to evaporate very fast and unless the Whole surface of the plunger or piston is kept thoroughly lub-ricated which in the mode vusually adopted it is found exceedingly ditlieult to do, more or Yless friction must take place, and consequently frequent lealrages are the result.V I think that this difficulty is almost entirely overcome by the use of my invention as no part of the plunger or piston can fail of being thoroughly and evenly lubricated so long as any oil is kept in the oil pan Another advantage to be derived from the use of my invention is that the oil being so evenly put on there Will be but very Y little waste and that Which falls is caught in the oil pan beneath. One otheradvantage to be derived is that it may be easily and cheaply constructed.

Having described the several parts of my invention and pointed out some of the advantages to be derived therefrom What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. The giving to the plungers or pistons of air-engines a rotary motion, for the reasons specified.

2. I-also claim giving to the plungers or pistons of air-engines a rotary motion in combination with the means employed for Vkeeping the entire surfaces of the plungers or pistons continually lubricated, in the manner and form and for the purposes, substantially as set forth.

Clinton, Mass., February Bd, 1859.

BENJAMIN F. RICE.

Witnesses:

vJOSHUA THIssELL, J r., CHAS. W. WoRoEs'rER.

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