US248096A - Steam-engine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7

W. M.,HENDERSON.

STEAM ENGINE. No 248,096. I Patented Oct. 11,1881.

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WILLIAM M. HENDERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,096, dated October 11, 1881. Application tiled March 11, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. HENDER- SON, ot' the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Engines for High Speeds, which is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the general arrangement of the engine, showing the disposition of the moving parts. Fig. 2 is. a longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 3- a plan, of the same.

This invention is intended to apply to all reciprocating engines running at high speeds, more particularly to engines to be used for running dynamo-machines for the electric light. A photometer test of the electric light invariably shows all the pulsations and inaccuracies of speed of the engine used for driving the dynamo-electric machine, in a manner causing afiickering of the light. It is therefore of vital importance,in this connectiomthat the engine should run with as little variation of speed as possible, and that its motion should be communicated in a direct manner to the dynamomachine. To which end I propose to divide the work to be performed between two distinct engines, each the counterpart of the other, and each made to operate in precise contrary direction to the other in the same plane, comm'unicating their combined force to separate cranks arranged diametrically opposite each other and equidistant on each side of the center of revolution and by making the cylinder of short stroke in proportion to the diameter, to be enabled to run to such a speed that the engine may drive the dynamo-machine direct, without belting or gearing.

A A are two steam-cylinders, firmly secured to a box bed-plate, B, as shown. This bedplate, as will be seen, carries in a most coinpact manner the cross-head guides and shaft pillow-block. O is a return crank-shaft laid in the bearings D D, the crank-pins of which are connected right and left by short connecting-rods E E with the pistonsF F. Traversing the steam-cylinders G G are ,the cross heads, playing in the guides H H. Two balance-wheels are shown, 11. The steam-chests are marked K K, the slide-valves in the interior of which are of the ordinary D pattern,

at a high rate of speed produces most violent vibrations, which, though absorbed to a great extent by the fly-wheel, framing, and foundation of the engine, yet are'quite apparent when subjected to a photometer test as to the constancy of the light produced by it; and any means which can be employed to .counteract this serious defect in existing motors employed to run dynamo-electric machines is of the utmost consequence at the present time, when the electriclight is receivin gso much attention. The oscillation complained of I have traced to two separate causes, becomingmanifest in two distinct forms-horizontal concussion and vertical concussion. The first is due (engine being considered horizontal) to the momentum of the reciprocating masses of the piston, piston-rod, and cross-head, impelled by the force of the steam, having to be annihilated at the termination of each forward and each backward stroke of the engine. The other form of vibration is produced by the eccentric swinging of the cranks and connecting-rods. The absolute counteraction of the forward and backward movement I have found by directexperiment requires corresponding weights under similar circumstances moving in adverse direetions to those creating this form of vibration,and the absolute counteraction of the upand-down movement is to have corresponding weights moving through similar space directly opposite to the cause of vibration, as represented in the accompanying drawings.

, Itwillbeobservedthatwhenthepistonof one engine moves to the right that of the other engine moves to the left, the effect of the one and all its connections counterbalancing precisely theeiiect of the other and all its connections, and which remains true for every fractional part of the stroke and revolution of the engine. It will also be seen that while the connecting-rod and crank of engine No. 1 is swinging downward the connecting-rod and crank of engine ,No. 2 is swinging upward, each maintaining the same relative eccentric effect at all times on opposite sides of the center of revolution,

the action of the one neutralizing the vibratory effect of the other.

1 am aware that balanced engines have been proposed in which two or more pistons have been arranged to work in a single cylinder, said pistons working cranks in contrary directions, and I disclaim the use of a single cylinder with pistons in it, where the piston rod or rods of one or more pistons pass through a stuffing-box or sleeve, or stufiing-boxes in the other piston or pistons; but

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of two separate and distinct engines,1 and 2,with a return-crank, the moving parts of either engine arranged in the same plane to balance each other at all parts of the stroke and revolution of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

tiallyin the manner and for the purpose herein 0 described.

WILLIAM M. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

H. R. SHUL'rz, J. M. HENDERSON.

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