US731664A

US731664A - Low-speed steam-engine.

Info

Publication number: US731664A
Application number: US7734601A
Authority: US
Inventors: George P Clark
Original assignee: MANN VYNNE E
Current assignee: E MANN VYNNE; MANN VYNNE E
Priority date: 1901-10-03
Filing date: 1901-10-03
Publication date: 1903-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1920-06-23

Description

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD JUNE 2a, 1903. G. P. CLARK. r

LOW SPEED STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0013.3, 1901.

ru: mams PETERS co PHoTouTqu.: wAsmNGTnN. n. u

zen of the United dria, in the county of Alexandria and State of L UNITED STATES" PATENT Patented June .23, i903.

Orricn.

TO E. MANN VYNNE, OF `NEW YORK, N. Y.

Low-SPEED STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingl part of Letters Patent No. 731,664, dated June 23, 1903.4

Application filed October 3,1901.

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern-.- Beit knownthatl, GEORGE P. CLARK, aciti- States, residing at Alexan- Virginia, have invented certain new and -useful Improvements in Low-Speed Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to engines, and particularly to steam and analogous engines of the low-speed type, andhas for itsobject to provide an improved steam-engine of the class described in which pistons and cross-heads are dispensed with and in which there is a direct continuous exertion of the power in line with the periphery of the drivin g-whecls, whereby the loss of power is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved steam-engine ofthe class described in which there is no dead-center.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an engine, showing the cylinder in central longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 'is a detail perspective view of `one of the driving-heads.

` Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view showing the stuiiing-box on the driving-heads.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are f denoted by the same reference characters. l

My improved engine comprises in general two driving-wheels or onedriving-wheel and one idler; two cylinders located between said wheels and parallel to each other, each of said cylinders being provided at each end with in@ let and exhaust valves and with a valve operating. said valves.

communicating through suitable connections with a similar valve at the opposite end of the other cylinder; a belt mounted on said wheels `and extending through said cylinders; a pair of driving-heads mounted in each cylinder and adapted to clamp said belt when one movestoward the other and tomove freely on said belt when one moves away from the other, one

` head in eachcylinder being operative to drive the engine in each direction, and means -for The organization of the parts issuch that when steam is admitted `to one of the cylinders at one end the head at thatend is driven toward the other head at `the other end, clamping the belt and carrying it with it. When such head has moved about two-thirds of the length of the cylinder, the

y steam is cut oh? from its cylinder, and when sain No. n.346. (No modem the end of the stroke is reached the exhaust is opened. At the same time the inletvalve at the opposite end of the other cylinder is opened and simultaneously the valve at the opposite end of such cylinder, communicating with the valve at the opposite end of the iirst cylinder, and such latter valve are both open. The driving-head in such second cylinder is driven in the opposite direction to that in which the. first head moved, clamping and carrying the belt with it and forcing the air through the` communication between the two cylinders. to the end of the cylinder, such head moving freely in this direction on the belt` When the second head has moved about two-thirds of the length of its cylinder, the steam is cut oi, and when the end of the stroke is reached the exhaust is opened and the head is returned to. the other end of its cylinder by the operation previously described in connection with the other cylinder. To reverse the engine, the steam is admitted to the opposite end of the iirst cylinder in the first instance, and the corresponding working head in the other vcylinder will be operated in a similar manner to that described for the first head, but in the opposite direction.

lIn the formshown in the drawings, and which, if desired, may be the preferred form,

`my improvedengine comprises two driving wheels l or one driving-wheel and one idler, which may be of any suitable construction, herein shown as sprocket wheels. Such wheels l are carried by suitable shafts 2.l

Between such wheels l two cylinders 3 are mounted parallel to each other and with the distance between their centers substantially equal to the outside diameter of the wheels l.

`Fach of the said cylinders 3 is provided at AssiGNoR or ONE-HALF n This air drives the first head back i one end with a steam-chest 4, which has the usual connections with a suitable source of supply. (Not shown.) i In each of said steamchests 4 there is an inlet and exhaust valve 5, communicating with said cylinders 3. Suitable cut-off valves l0 and l0L are provided in such communications with the cylinders 3. Such valve 5 may be ol' any suitable form, herein shown as an ordinary slide-valve, and

`may be operated in any suitable manner,

herein shown as an eccentric rod 6, connected gripping means is herein shown and consists with an eccentric 6, mounted on the shaft 2 and operatin g through the pivoted arm 6 and rods 6b, provided with suitable stuffing-boxes 7. The organization is such that the inletvalve 5 in one cylinder 3 will be closed when the driving-head 16 in such cylinder has moved about two-thirds of the length of such cylinder and the exhaust opened when the stroke is completed, and at the same time the inlet-valve 5 in the other cylinder 3 will be opened.

From a short distance from each end of each cylinder 3 suitable means of connection, herein shown as a pipe 11, extends to the opposite end of the companion cylinder 3, such pipes 11 being provided at each end with suitable valves, herein shown as

ordinary cutoff valves

12 and 12.

Such valves

12 and 12 at the opposite ends of each of the pipes 11 are organized to be operated simultaneously in a timed relation to the inlet-valves, as hereinafter described.

Suitable driving means are provided for the wheels 1. Such means are herein shown as a sprocket-chain 13, provided with substantially square or rectangular links 14 so organized that when the chain 13 is straightened out it will present a solid surface. This chain 13 passes through the cylinders 3, suitable stuffing-boxes 15 being provided at each end of each cylinder 3. y,

Instead of the sprocket-wheels 1 and the sprocket-chain 13 ordinary wheels with a smooth periphery and a friction-belt may be used when the power required is small.

A pair of suitable driving-heads 16 and 16 is provided in each cylinder 3, one of which normally rests near each end of each of the cylinders 3. Such heads 16 and 16 are adapted to receive the chain 13 and are provided with suitable stuffing-boxes 17 and are provided with suitable means for gripping the chain 13 when moving forward in the cylinders 3, which means are inoperative when said heads 16 and 16 are moving back to their normal positions. A convenient form of such of a recess 18 in the forward face of each of said heads 16 and 16, in which recess 13 a dog 19 is pivotally mounted, said dog 19 being normally inclined forward and resting on the chain 13. When the head 16 moves forward, the dog 19 presses the chain 13 against the opposite wall of said recess 1S and grips it so that it is carried along with the head 16. When the head 16 commences to move backward, it isevident that the dog 19 will swing forward and the chain 13 move freely through the head 16. To insure a positive release of the chain 13, a pin 2O may be slidably mounted in each head 16 and extend through said head 16, one end bearing against the inner surface of said dog 19 near its free end, and its other end, which, if desired, maybe provided with a head 21, normally projecting beyond the rear surface of such head 16, so that when such head 16 moves back toward the end of the cylinder 3 the projecting end of the pin 2O will come in contact with the inner wall of such end of the cylinder and the pin 2O be pushed forward, pressing the dog 19 away from the chain 13.

Instead of the dogs 19 the heads 16 and 16 may be provided with rollers and inclined surfaces, which will operate to grip the chain 13 when the heads 16 and 16 move forward and to release the chain 13 and permit it to pass freely through said heads 16 and 16 when l they move backward.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated. The steam-chests 4L being connected with` a suitable steam-supply, the lever is turned to open the valves 10 and 12, the inletvalve 5 at one end of one of the cylinders 3 being open. The steam enters such cylinder and causes one of the heads 16 to move forward, gripping and carrying the chain 13 with it. When the head 16 has moved about twothirds of thelength of the cylinder 3, the inletvalve is closed, and when the stroke is coinpleted the exhaust-valve is opened and at the same time the inlet-valve at the other end of the companion cylinder 3 is opened. The steam enters the second cylinder 3, causes the head 16 to move forward, gripping and carrying the chain 13 with it and forcing the air in front of said head 16 in the cylinder 3 through said pipe 11, the valves 12, and against the lirst head 16, which is forced back toward its normal position near the end of the cylinder 3, in which movement it slides freely on the chain 13. To reverse the engine, the lever is turned in the opposite direction, opening the valves 10 and 12. This admits the steam first to the opposite end of the first cylinder and forces the head 16 forward. When the head 16 has moved about two-thirds of the length of its cylinder, the steam is cut off, and when the stroke is completed the-exhaust is opened, when the operation as described as to the heads 16 is repeated as to the heads 16, except that the heads 16 move in the opposite direction and the valves 10 and 12 take the place of the valves 10 and 12. It is evident that one of the heads 16 or 16 in one of the two cylinders 3 pulls continuously on the chain 13 in the same direction and in line with the outside periphery of the driving-wheels 1 while moving in the same direction. Hence there can be no dead-center and the power must be exerted to its maximum extent directly and positively upon the driving-wheels 1.

My invention is especially adapted to automobiles or motor vehicles and is not confined to steam-engines, but may be applied to any vapor-en gine or machine requiring the use of rotary motion.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adapta- IOO tion of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve theright to all su ch variation and j modification as properly fall Within the scope of myinvention and the terms of the followof cylinders; a drive-belt passing through said cylinders, and means operablein said cylinders, comprising heads adapted to clutch said drive-belt and carry it forward continuously during 'the operation of the mechanism.

3. The combination with motor mechanism-,-

i of cylinders; adrive-belt passin through said nately to clutch cylinders; and a plurality of friction-clutches A operable in said cylinders and adapted alterand carry the drive-belt forward continuously `during the operation of the mechanism.

4f. The combination with motor mechanism,

of cylinders; and a'duplicate series of friction-clutches"operable in said cylinders, and

t adapted one set to clutch and carry the drivebelt forward continuously when the mechany of said mechanism.

ism operates in onedirection and the other set when the mechanism is reversed. 5. The combination with motor mechanism, cylinders between said inders;` and heads operable in said cylinders and adapted to clutch and carry said belt during the operation forward continuously i 6. The combination with motor mechanism, of a pair of drive-wheels; a pair of cylinders located between said wheels; s a drive-belt passing through one of said cylinders on each passage-from one wheel to the other; and a head operable in eachA of said cylinders and adapted alternately to clutch and carry said belt forward continuously during the operation of the mechanism.

7. The combination with mechanism, embodying a pair of drive-wheels, of apair of cylinders located between said wheels, a drivebelt passing through one cylinder in going and through the other in returning between said wheels; and a duplicate series of heads operable in said cylinder and adapted to clutch and carry said belt forward continuously during the operation of said mechanism, one series and the other series when going in the opposite direction.

8. The combination with motor mechanism of a pair of drive-wheels; a pair of cylinders located between said Wheels; a drive-belt passing through one of said cylinders on each passage from one wheel to the other; a movable head operable in each of said cylinders and adapted alternately to clutch and carry said belt continuously forward during the operation; and means for returning such movable heads to the opposite end of their respective cylinders after having carried the drive-belt forward through thespace in which they move. l

The combination with motor mechanism, of a pair of cylinders positioned parallel to each other, an endless driving-belt passing through each of said cylindersand a pair of movable heads operable in each of said cylinders from opposite ends and adapted to clutch and carry forward the belt, the head at one end of one cylinder alternating' with the head at the other end of the other cylinder going one Way and the other pair of heads alter-` nating when the motion is reversed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribin g witnesses.

GEORGE P. CLARK.`

when going in one direction i