US702601A - Fluid-pressure engine. - Google Patents

Description

No; 702,60l. f Patented June |7,-'|eo2.- A. 0. SMITH.

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE.

(Applieltion filed July 94, 1901.) (No lloflel.) 2 Sheets-Shoat 2."

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UNITED STATES; P T ENT OFFICE.

AMOUR OOLUMBUSSMITH, NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD S. JAFFRAY, TRUSTEE, OF IRVINGTQN, NEW YORK.

"FLUlD PRESSURE ENGiNl-I.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Iletters Tatent No. -702,6( )1 ,"dated-.Jfune 17, 1902.

Application filed uly 24,120]; I SerialNo. 69,527. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,;AMouR COLUMBUS SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fluid-Pressure Engines, of which the following is a specification. w My invention relatesto improvements in fluid-pressure engines which are designed es-.

pecially for use in connection with steam-automobiles, but which, may be employedin many other arts and with otherffluid-pressures, such as compressed air, carbonic-acid gas, &c. 7

My object is to provide a very simple, compact, and efficient engine for the purpose. When used, as is preferred, as the operatingmotor of a steamautomobile, .the invention also contemplates the employment of an auxiliary feed-water pump and an'air-compressing pump, one or both, the former supplying water to the boiler and the latter furnishing compressed air to the gasolene-tank.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to theac companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a-plan Vl6W; vation; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional View, and

Fig. 4 a section onthe line 140f Fig. 3. s In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

My invention comprises generally an inclosed casing 1, preferably cast as thin as possible consistent with the necessary strength and made of any suitable metal. Mounted within the casing l are pressure-cylinders 2 2 of any suitable number and dimensions. Preferably three cylinders are employed, i n which case the casing will partake of the approximately triangular form inv side elevation which is illustrated but obviouslymore or less cylinders may be employed,lthe casing being correspondingly modified to accommodate them. Each cylinder 2 is mounted on trunnions 3 3, taking in bearings 4 in the casing,whereby the cylinders may oscillate i'n operation. The end of each cylinder is formed with an integral-rounded head 5, as shown,

Fig. 2, a side eieg having two ports 6 and 7 therein. Cooperating with the rounded end of each cylinder is a cap '8, constituting a valve chambe'r, the

I from which-extends a rod 15. The pistonrods are formed with enlarged heads 16 at their inner ends, which" heads are provided withcurvedgrooves, with which cooperate the antifriction-balls 17. These balls work within a grooved wrist-pin 18, secured to theface of a disk 19. Each of the pistonrods is provided near its lower end with a shoulder or ofiset 20, and over theseshoulders engages the flanged cap 21, which is carried on a pin 22, extending out from the wrist-pin 18.

The 'crank-disk 19 is fast to the main shaft 23,,which is supported by autifriction-balls" 24; These balls work between inclined rings 25 and 26, which form the ways in which the balls rotate. The ring 25bears-against a shoulder 27 on an adjusting-sleeve28, threaded into a seat 29, cast with oneofthe side members ofsthe casing -1. Thering '26 is mounted within the sleeve 28 andis adjusted by. means of a sleeve 30, threadedinto the sleeve 28. A packing'3l is interposed between .the shaft23 and the sleeve 3Q, Which packing is held in place by a sleeve 32,-threadedinto the sleeve 30. Preferably the threads on the sleeves 28 and 30 oppose each other, one being right-handed and the other being lefthanded, so that byturning saidsleevesin the same direction therings 25 and 26jmay be adj usted toward'or away from each other to take up wear between saidlrings and the balls 24 or to relieve any cramping between such moving parts. Carried by the shaft 23 is a sprocket wheel 33, preferably screwed in place and held in position by a jam-nut 34. The shaft 23 is provided with a chamber 35 therein, closed by a screw-cap 36. A series of perforations 37 extend from the chamber to the groove in the shaft, as shown, so that by placing withinthe chamber 35 a suitable semisolid lubricant the latter will be permitted to pass through the channels 37 to lubricate the balls 24 in use.

Connecting with the chambers 10 and 11 in the caps 8 are steam- passages 38 and 39, respectively, which lead to a controlling-chamber 40, cast with the casing l in line with the shaft 23. The steam- passages 38 and 39 may be cast with the casing, or they may be separate pipes, preferably the former, in which case the joint between said passages and the caps 8 will be closed or broken when the caps are applied in place or are removed for any purpose. Mounted in the chamber 4-0 is a controlling-valve 41, having a stem 42, mounted in a bearing formed in a cap 43 and havinga lever 4i secured to its outer end and by means of which the valve may be operated. The valve 41 is provided with a central chamber 45, with which a steam-passage 46 connects, said passage being formed in the casing l and extending to a coupling 4-7, to which a pipe 48 may be secured. The steam passage 46 leads through a nipple 49, which extends within the chamber -15, and interposed between said nipple and the valve 41 is a packing 50, as shown in Fig. 4-. Extending through the body of the valve 11 are ports 51, which are adapted to be brought into line simultaneously with the inner ends of the passages 38 and 39, as may he desired. The valve is also provided with pockets 52, which are caused to register with the steam- passages 38 and 39. It will be understood that by shifting the lever 14: all the pockets 52 may be caused to register with the st ewn-passages 3S and all the steam-passages 51 simultaneously caused to register with the steam-passages 39, or vice versa. The pockels connect with the space 53 between the valve and the cap 43, and leading out of the steam-space 53 is a passage 54, connected with a nipple 55, from which a pipe 56 may lead.

Steam or other fluid pressure may be supplied to the pipe l8 or 56, as may be desired, the other pipe being employed for the ex hanst. As an example I will in describing the operation refer to the introduction of steam by the pipe 56 to the steam-space 53, the exhaust being effected through the passage 46 from the center of the valve; but obviously the reverse arrangement may be adopted.

When the improved motor is employed, as is preferable, for the operation of small steamautomobiles, I make use of a cooperating water and air pump for supplying feed-water to the boiler and furnishing compressed air to the gasolene-tank, respectively. To this end I secure at one side of the casing 1 a Water-pump 57, comprising a cylinder, with a valve-casing 58 at one side thereof. lVorking in the cylinder is a plunger 59, which passes up through a stufiing-box 60. The

plunger is operated by a rod 61, connected to arms 62, which arms are secured to the trnnnions 3 of one of the cylindersfor example, the upper one. The valve-chamber 58 is provided with an admission-valve 63 and an exhaust-valve 64 of the ordinary puppet type, whereby water will be forced from a suction-pipe 65 through a discharge-pipe (36 into the boiler or elsewhere. The arms 62 are preferably bent toward each other at their ends, so as to constitute a yoke, which does not add to the space occupied by the motor and which is readily accessible for the purposes of repair.

The air-pump comprises a casing 67, having, preferably, a water-jacket 68, by which it may be cooled by circulating water, (for example, from the pump 57,) and mounted within said casing is a cylindrical sleeve 69, having a port at its bottom. W'orking within the sleeve is a plunger 71, operated from a rod 72, connected with the other end of the yoke-arms 62. At the bottom of the casing 67 is an admission-valve 73 and a spring-pressed discharge-valve 74 for permitting discharge of air to take place through the port 70 to the exit-pipe 75.

The operation is as follows: The controlling-valve being in the position shown in Fig. 2, the steam-pockets 52 will be in an intermediate position between the passages 38 and 39, and in consequence no steam can pass to the cylinders, so that the motor will be at rest. By moving the controlling-lever l4 to the right in Fig. 2 all the steam-pockets 52 will be brought to registration with the steampassages 38, while the exhaust-passages 51 will register with the exhaust-passages 39. Steam will therefore be supplied, for example, to all the chambers 8 of the valve-casing.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the uppermost cylinder is in an intermediate position, the piston thereof being retracted to its farthest extent. The cylinder at the right will be oscillated by the piston-rod thereof, as will be obvious, and the port 7 will register with the port 13 from the pocket 8, ad mitting steam to said cylinder to further propel its piston outwardly to carry the uppermost cylinder from its vertical position and bring the port 7 thereof into registration with the port 13, whereby the uppermost cylinder will become operative. The cylinder at the left has been moved to the other position, and its piston is moving toward the rear end of the cylinder. The port (3 of this cylinder registers with the port 12, as shown, so that an exhaust can take place through the steam-passage 39 thereof, thence through the steam-passage 51 of the controlling-valve and passage 46. Thus it will be seen that the oscillation of the cylinders controls the admission and exhaust of steam therefrom. If instead of moving the controlling-lever 4 to the right it were moved to the left, the steam-pockets 52 would be broughtinto registration with the steam-passages 39 and the steam-passages 51 ITO to only slightly disclose the steam-pockets 52,

As the uppermost cylinder in Fig. 3 oscillates the yoke 62'willbe correspondingly oscillated,

and the air and water pumps will be operated in the usual way.

Since single-acting cylinders are used, the thrust between the wrist-pin 18 and the pistons will be always taken up by the antifriction-balls 17, the operative stroke of each piston being inwardly against the balls and on the reverse stroke the piston being forced outwardly by the engagement of the a'ntifrictionballs with its lower end.

It will be seen that myimproved engine is very simple in construction, it can be made very light, it is portable, it is efficient in operation, and its several parts can be readily reached for purposes of repair. In caseof 'wear between the outer ends of the cylinders crank on the shaft, pistons in the cylinders connected to said crank, a valve-casing cooperating with the outer end of each cylinder, ports in the cylinder end and in each of said casings, two closed passages leading to I each valve-casing, all of said passages conmeeting with a centrally-mounted chamber, a hollow controlling-valve in said chamber, a plurality of pockets in the face of said valve, a plurality of passages extending through said valve to its hollow center, a nipple mounted in the hollow center of said valve, a packing between said nipple and the valve, and a passage leading from said nipple, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combination of a casing, a plurality of cylinders in said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a piston-rod connected to each pist0n,a main shaft, a crank on the shaft, a wrist-pin on the crank connected with all thepistons, a series of antifriction-balls supporting the main shaft, two inclined rings forminga track for said balls, a sleeve threaded into the casing for adjusting one of said rings, and a sleeve threaded into said sleeve for adjusting the other of said rings, substantially as set forth.

3. In'a fluid-pressure motor, the combination of a. casing, a plurality of cylinders in said casing, a piston. in each cylinder, a. piston-rod connectedto each piston,a main'shaft,

a crank on the shaft, awrist-pin on the crank connected with all the pistons, aseries of antifriction-balls supporting the .main shaft, two inclined rings forming a track for said balls, a sleeve threaded into the casing for adjusting one of said'rings, andfla sleeve threaded into said sleevefor' adjusting the other of said rings, the threadsof both of said sleeves being oppositely cut, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combina; tion of a casing, a plurality of cylinders ;in. said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a pis ton-rod connected toveach piston, atmain shaft, a crank on the shaft, awrist pin on the crank connectedwith all the pistons, a series of antifriction balls supporting the main shaft, two inclined rings forming a track for,

said balls, a sleeve threaded into the casing for adjusting one of said rings, alsleeve threaded into said sleeve for adjusting the other of said rings, and a packing between the second sleeve and'the shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fluid-pressure motor, the combina tion of a casing, a plurality of cylinders in said casing, a piston in each cylinder, a pmton-rod connected to each piston, a main shaft, a crank on the shaft, a wrist-pin on the crank connected with all the pistons, a series of antifri'ction balls. supporting the main shaft, two inclined rings forminga track for said balls, a sleeve threaded into the-casing for adjusting one of said rings, a sleevethreaded'into said sleeve for adjusting the other of said rings, a packing between the second sleeve and the shaft, and aring engaging the second sleeve for holding said pack-- I ing in place, substantially asset forth.

6. In a fiuid pressure motor of the class described, the combination of a casing, a'cylinder therein mounted in trunnions and ar ranged to oscillate, a yoke straddling the cylinder and connected to each of said trunnions, and a pump operated from said yoke, substantially as set forth.

7. In a fluid-pressure motor of the class de-- scribed, the combination of a casing, a cylinder therein mounted in trunnions and arranged to oscillate,a yoke straddling the cylinder and connected at itscenter to each of said trunnions, and two pumps operated-from the ends of said yoke, substantially asset forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of July,190l. I

' AMOUR- COLUMBUS SMITH. Witnesses:

JNo. ROBT. TAYLOR, AROHIBALD GRAY REESE.

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