US797631A - Engine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 797,631. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. P.A STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 1,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

E'. STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATLOH FILED Nov.1.19o4.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

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No. 797,631. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. F. STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.1,1904.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 4.

FRANKLIN STRATTON, OF BUFFALO, NFW YORK, ASSlG-NOR OF THREE- EIGHTHS TO CHARLES W. PROOTOR, OF BUFFALO, NElV YORK.

ENGIINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed November l, 1904:. Serial No. 231,000.

To rif/Z7I when?, 'llt' 'nw/y concern:

Be it .known that l, FRANKLIN STRATTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bulialo, in the county of Erie and State otx New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Engines, of which the followingis a speciiication.

My invention relates to engines that can be `driven by Vapor, compressed air, or gas.

simple, compact, easily operated and under? stood, easily packed, and readily reversed.

To these ends I have produced the engine herein illustrated and described, which is a complete reciprocatory engine as well as a complete rotary engine without, however, having the serious faults of the typical rotary engine, inasmuch as in the device herein described a very g'reat degree of eiliciency can be obtained and the valve-controlling mechanism may be so regulated that there is a wide latitude for taking advantage of the expan sion of the motive power used.

My engine can be run fast or slow according as the operator desires just as the ordinary reciprocatory engine can be run. Another important advantage is that its pistonthrust is always in one direction.

Many more advantages result Yfrom the use ol" the invention, which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

For convenience otl illustration and description l have shown herein my engine as adapted for the use oi' steam; but in so doing 1 do not wish to be understood as limiting it to the exact form illustrated and described, inasmuch as it is equally adaptable for use with air or with any expansible gases or vapors.

Referring to the annexed drawings, consisting oi four sheets, in which like characters oi' reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot the same. Fig. 3 is a section of the same, taken on the line a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section of the same, taken on the line l1/1/ of Fig. 1. Fig. ,5 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, oi' the piston-cylinder valves, taken on the line c Z of Fig. 1. Fig. G is a section taken on the line t I) of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, ot' one oli' my valves and valve-chambers- Fig. 8 is a section taken on theline cf oi Fig'. 7. Fig. 9 is an elevation'otl the outside shell of my valve. Fig. 10 is an end view of the outside shell of my valve lookingirom the left of Fig. 9. Fig. l1 is an end View of the outside shell of my valve looking from the right of Fig. 9. Fig. 1Q is a view ol my semicircular valve-port closer. Fig. 13 isa section of my semicircular valve-port closer, taken on theline (y 71, of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a View of my eccentric valvestem. Fig. 15 is an end view of my eccentric valve-stem looking from the left of Fig. 14:. Fig. 16 is an end view ot' my eccentric valvestem looking from the right ot Fig. 11i. Fig. 17 is an elevation of the cams and the valvegoverning mechanism, taken on the line e of Fig. 1.

1 represents the standard or base, which may be olI any suitable design, upon which the operating parts of my engine are mounted.

2 is my common stean1-inlet pipe, which is placed in any convenient position and which has branches 3 and fi, 3 and 4L, and lll.

7 is my common eXhaust-pipe, which has connections 7, 7, and 7c. 8 and 9 are my pistoncylinders, and 10 and 11 are the pistonrods, upon which are mounted the two pistonheads, one of which is shown at 12 in Fig. il. The piston-heads are rigidly secured to substantially the middle parts oi the piston-rods and move back and liorth in their piston-cylinders rigidly with the said piston-rods.

The piston-rods are rigidly secured to the piston-frame 23 at 21 and 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and Li. The piston-frame 23 is free to travel with the piston-rod 11 back and forth outside o'tl the pistorrcylinder and is guided in its path by the inside rollers 31 and the outside rollers 32, which are rigidly attached to the outside of said piston-cylinder, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Rigidly attached to the piston-frame 23 is my cam-ring 2li, which in contour is a combination of ellipses and circles. This cam-ring The. part 5 receives the live steam from the steam-inlet pipe 3b, and the part 5b receives the exhaust, which then passes through the exhaust- pipe connections 7 a, 7c, and 7. Each of the two steam-chambers 5 and 6 is provided with two steam- inlet valves 44 and 45 and two steam- exhaust valves 46 and 47, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

33 is the driving-shaft, upon which are rigidly mounted the fly- wheels 19 and 20, steamchambers 5 and 6, the piston- cylinders 8 and 9, the steam-inlet connections 3h and 4b, and the steam-exhaust ports 7a and 7". It will thus be seen that the said driving-shaft carries with it all of the operating parts of my mechanism, including` the piston-rods, the piston-frames, and the cam-rings, thus rotating with the driving-shaft.

The steam-inlet connections 3 and 4u register with the connections 3b and 4b and are suitably packed by means ot' the packing 34 and 35, the glands 36 and 37, and the outside shells .48 and 49. The driving-shaft revolves on roller-bearings 50 and 51, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and means for lubricating these bearings is provided by the oil- cups 38 and 39. The steam-chambers and the piston-cylinders are provided with the cylinder- heads 13 and 14, which are suitably secured to the walls of the said steam-chambers and pistoncylinders and are packed by means ot' the packing' 15 and 16 to the glands 52 and 53, as clearly shown at Fig. 4.

54 represents acam loosely mounted-on the driving-shaft 33, which governs the steaminlet valves 44 and 45, and 55 represents the cam, also loosely mounted on the said drivingshaft 33, which regulates the steam- exhaust valves 46 and 47.

Referring now to Fig'. 17, secured to the stems of the valves 44 and 45 are arms 56 and 57 upon which are rotatably mounted rollers 58 and 59. These rollers 58 and 59 are adapted to travel on the periphery oi the cam 54, and as they pass around the circular part 54u of the cam 54 they close the steam-inlet ports governed by the valves 44 and 45, and as they pass on the fiat part 54b of the vcam 54 they open the steam-inlet ports governed by the said valves 44 and 45. Rigidly attached to the valve-stems of the exhaust- valves 46 and 47 are arms 60 and 61, upon which are rotatably mounted rollers 62 and 63. These rollers 62 and 63 are adapted to travel on the periphery of the cam 55, and as they pass around the circular part 55 (shown in dotted line) they open the exhaust-ports governed by the exhaust- valves 46 and 47, and as they pass around the enlarged portion 55b of the cam 55 they are adapted to close the exhaust-ports governed by the valves 46 and 47.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 16, I will describe the various parts of my valves. 62 is my valve-stem, upon which, as described in the last paragraph, is mounted one of the arms 56, 57, 60, or 6l. The valve-stemV 62 has a flat portion 62xl and a semicircular portion 62h, and the said valve-stem 62 is adapted to rotatably travel in the shell 63. The shell 63 is provided with a port 64, and resting loosely upon the valve-stem 62 is my semicircular valve-port closer 65, which is provided with lugs 65u and 65", that are adapted to fit into the circular portions 64a and 64b of the port 64. Thus vwhen the semicircular portion 62b of the valve-stem 62 is thrown against the portcloser 65 the lugs 65l and 65 register with the circular holes 64a and 64b of the port 64 and close the port against steam-exhaust and steam-inlet, and when the hat portion 62a of the valve-stem 62 is opposite the port-closer 65 the port-closer either drops against the said fiat portion 62 of the valve-stem 62 or is forced against it by steam-pressure and allows the live steam to enter or the exhaust to pass through the port 64, and thus throughthe valve-l shell 63 to the exhaust-pipes or through the steam-inlet pipes. The valve-stem 62 is provided with a flange 66, which registers closely with the inside circumference of the shell 63. The shell 63 has an outside flange 67, in which is provided an opening 68, by means of which the shell may be securely attached to the outside of the steam-chamber.

Leading from the steam-chamber 5 is a port 69, which is adapted to register with the port 64 of the valve-shell 63. Leading from the piston-cylinder 8 is a port 71, adapted to register with the port 72 of the valve-shell 63.

73 is a segmental gear pivoted in any suitable manner at 74 to the standard or base 1 and provided on its periphery with the cogs 75. Rigidly attached to the outside of the cam 55 is a segmental gear 76, which is adapted to register with the segmental gear 73. The segmental gear '76 and the cams 54 and 55 are rigidly secured together, so that they rotate as one part.

77 is a lever-arm placed in any convenient position, which is secured at 78 to the segmental gear 73 and is locked in position by the dog 79. The two segmental gears 73 are united by means of a bar 80, so that when one is thrown by the lever 77 they are both thrown and act together. It will be clearly evident that a throw of the lever 77 will revolve the segmental gears 73 and put them in mesh with the segmental gears 76, so that the gears 76 and the cams 54 and 55 will revolve through the quadrant of a circle, and thus reverse the positions of the rollers 58 and 59, 62 and 63l upon the cams 54 and 55. The result will be to reverse the action or' the engine.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention, I will describe its method of operation: y

Inasmuch as the action ot' my engine, as herein described, is identical in operation whether the steam enters the steam-chamber 5 or the steam-chamber 6, except that the power-strokes of the piston-cylinders, which 'rer/,631 a the said steam-chambers surround, are timed at alternate intervals, I will confine myselfl in this description to the operation of one of the two pistons. Live steam would be conducted from the pipe 2 through its branches 3 and 3n and thence into the revolving' connection 3", where it would be led into the live-steam compartment 5L of the steam-chamber 5, all of which is clearly shown in Fig'. 4. The stem 62 of the valve 45 is then thrown so that the flat portion 62 thereof is away from the portcloser 65. The steam-pressure acting from the part 5 of the steam-chamber 5 through the port 69 of the part 5L and the port 64 of the shell 63 forces the port-closer 65 away from the port 64 and allows the live steam to enter the shell 63 of my valve. At the same time the port 72 in the said shell 63 is open, and thus the live steam is conducted through the shell 63 and the ports 72 and 7l into the piston-cylinder 8 in front of the piston-head. The opening of the valve-port is caused by the roller 59 passing' upon the flat portion 54h of the cam 54, and live steam will thus enter the piston-cylinder as long as the roller 59 rests upon the part 54 of the cam 54 and until the said roller 59 reaches the circular part 54*L of the said cam 54, when the roller 59 is lifted by the said portion 541L high enough to rotate the stem of the said valve 45, so that the cylindrical portion of the stem of the said valve will come in contact with the port-closer 65 and throw it firmly against the ports 64 and 72, thus preventing' the live steam from the part 5 from entering the shell 63 of the 'said valve, cutting ofi' the supply of live steam from the piston-cylinder 8 through the ports 72 and 7l. It will be apparent from this description that the length of time during; which live steam may enter the piston-cylinder is entirely subject to regulation and can be made greater or less, according' as the flat portion 54b of the cam 54 is made greater or less. The longer the roller 59 rests upon the flat portion 54b of the cam 54 the greater will be the amount of time during which live steam may enter the piston-cylinder, and. consequently the less will the power-stroke be, due solely to the expansion of the steam in the piston-cylinder. Conversely, the time of theliveopeningof the steam-inlet may be shortened, and thus a larger amount of the powerstroke may be due to the expansive power of the steam. By means of the regulation, which is made possible by the above construction, l am enabled to obtain from the steam or other vapor or gas which may be introduced as the motive power a greater or lesser efiiciency according as the expansive power of such vapor or gas is utilized:

being thus introduced in front of the head 1,2 of the piston forces the said head l2 toward the opposite end of the piston-cylinder, thus carrying' with it the piston-rod l1 and the piston-frame 23, which, as heretofore described,

4between the rollers 25 and 26.

Live steam' is guided in its path by the inside rollers 3l and the outside rollers 32. The piston-frame 23, being carried along' with the piston-head l2 and the piston-rod ll also carries with it the cam-ring' 24, as heretofore described, is guided in its path between the rollers 25 and 26.

'Fig'. 3 shows the position of the several parts at the beginning' of a power-stroke. 'During the course of a complete rotation 0f the cam-ring' 24 there are two power-strokes exerted by the piston which directly controlsJ the movement of the cam-ring'. One of the two said power-strokes begins at the elliptical portion 31 of the said cam-ring 24 and the other thereof begins at the elliptical portion 82 of the said cam-ring' 24. Itis apparent that the power-stroke always begins when the elliptical portion 82 or the elliptical portion 8l of the said cam-ring' 24 is approximately This powerstroke continues until the said cam-ring has been carried through substantially cue-half of its circumference. rlhe steam-inlet-governing cam 54 and the steam-eXhaust-governing cam 55 are relatively so placed so that immediately prior to the roller 59 coming in contact with the flat portion 549 of the cam 54 the roller 63 comes in contact with the enlarged portion 55b of the cam 55, thus rotating' the valve-stem of the exhaust-valve 46 and causing,- the semicircular port-closer 65 to close port 64. Each power-stroke of the piston rotates its cam-ring' 24 through praetically one-half of its circumference; but inasmuch as there are two cylinders and a piston acting in each one and there being' two cam-rings 24 power is practically applied during a complete revolution of a cam-ring four times, so that each power-stroke carries the cam-ring through a quadrant of its circumference. The cam-ring being' formed of a combination of ellipses and circles receives the impetus of the power-strokes of its own piston at its elliptical ends and the impetus of the power-strokes of the opposite corresponding' piston on the circular parts of its circumference. 1t will thus be seen that there can be no dead-centers and that the movement of the working' parts are always in perfect balance, so that little, if any, vibration results from the operation of the cooperating parts.

As each power-stroke of the piston drives the piston-frames and the cam-rings 24 in rotation they carry with them all of the working' parts and force the driving-shaft 33 to rotate, which necessarily carries with it in rotation the fly-wheels 19and 20. The piston- cylinders 8 and 9 and their corresponding' steam-chambers 5 and 6 are set at right angles to each other, thus retaining' equilibrium of the working parts and causing, practically, the continual application of power thereto.

It is apparent that a reversal of the action and that it could be done away with and the of the engine may most readily be secured by same results be effected as herein described.

throwing the level' 77 so that the segmental gear 73 will mesh with the segmental g'ear 76 and rotate the inlet-controlling cam 54 and the exhaust-controlling cam 55 in such a position that the action of the rollers coming in contact with the two said cams will be the reverse of that' herein described.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I am able with the construction described to provide a longer time for exhaust than has heretofore been vpossible with any form of reciprocating' or rotary engine. This is an important advantage resulting from my construction.

It is apparent that the principles of construction which I have herein described can be as advantageously adapted for use when some other vapor than steam or g'as is used for the motive power thereof, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein illustrated and shown, but desire to broadly cover the principles of construction as adaptable for use with any vapor or gas as a motive power.

It is apparent that my device is capable of being operated with but one cyinder and equally apparent that it is capable of operation with more than two cylinders; but as a typical illustration of the principles which are embodied in the device as described I have shown the two-cylinder construction.

Although in the foregoing description I have referred entirely to a construction which embodies as one of its elements a cam-shaped ring', still I do not limit myself to that identical construction, since it is clear that the essence of my invention lies in giving or in conyerting a straight reciprocating pistonthrust into a rotary motion by means of a suitable cam' or beveled shaped guiding device. By means of the principle which I have endeavored to set forth the conversion above referred to might either make the piston-cylinder a rotary cylinder, as herein described, or the cylinder might remain stationary and the direct reciprocating thrust of the piston be converted into a rotary motion. In case the cylinder remains stationary and the cam or beveled shaped guiding device moves in consonance with the direct piston-thrust of the piston the only change that would be necessary from the construction which I have described in order to produce the rotary motion would be to attach the guiding means to I do not, therefore, limit myself to a construction embodying' a complete ring; but rather only desire to limit myself to the necessary cam or beveled shaped guiding means, which may constitute a complete ring or only the cam or beveled shaped section of such ring.

I am aware that various modifications of the idea herein disclosed are possible, such as those referred to in the last foregoing paragraphs, and various others which might be produced by the use of various forms of piston-cylinders and various means for conducting the motive power thereto and therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is# l. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a piston-rod, a camshaped ring secured directly or mediately to said piston-rod and rotating with said cylinder, a driving-shaft secured to and rotating with said cylinder and cam-shaped ring, and non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path.

2. In an engine the combination with arotating piston-cylinder, of a piston-rod, a piston-head secured approximately at the middle of said piston-rod, a piston-frame attached to said piston-rod, a cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-frame and rotatingv with said piston-cylinder, a driving-shaft also secured to and rotating with said cylinder and said ring,and non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path.

3. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a piston-rod, a piston-head secured to said rod, a piston-frame secured to said rod, guiding' means for keeping' said piston-frame in a given path, and attached to the outside of said piston-cylinder, a cam-shaped ring attached to said pistonframe and rotating with said cylinder, a driving-shaft secured to and rotating' with said cylinder and said ring', and non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path.

LI. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a power-containing chamber, surrounding said cylinder and rotating therewith, which is divided into two parts, one of which is adapted for the inlet of the fresh power and the other to receive the exhaust of the said power after the power-stroke, a piston-rod, a cam-shaped ring secured directly or mediately to said rod and rotating' with said piston-cylinder, non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path and means for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the motive power.

5. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a power-containing chamber outside of said piston-cylinder and rotating' therewith, a driving-shaft secured to and rotating with the said cylinder, a pistonframe attached to the piston-rod of said cylinder, anda rotating cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-frame .and rotating therewith, rotating g'uiding means attached to said cylinder for keeping' said piston-frame in a given path, and non-rotating' guiding' means for keeping said ring in a given path.

6. In an engine the combination with a rotating' piston-cylinder, of a motive-power-containing chamber surrounding' said piston-cylinder and divided into an inlet part and an outlet or exhaust part, means for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the motive power into and from said piston-cylinder, all ot' which rotate with said piston-cylinder, a driving-shaft secured to the piston-rod of said cylinder and guided in a given path by guiding' means rotating' with and attached to said cylinder, a cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-frame and rotating therewith,.non-rotating guiding means for keeping' said cam-shaped ring in a given path, and inlet and outlet ports in said driving-shaft rotating' therewith which reg'ister with the stationary inlet and outlet pipes, which conduct the motive power therefrom.

7 1n an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, ci' a driving-shaft secured to and rotating with said cylinder, valvegoverning cams loosely mounted ou said driving-shaft, means connected with said cams tor controlling the inlet and exhaust valves lead` ing into said piston-cylinder, a piston-rod, a piston-frame,a cam-shaped ring attached to said piston-'frame and rotating therewith, and non-rotating guiding means for keeping said cam-shaped rings in a given path.

8. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, a driving-shaft attached to said cylinder and rotating therewith, valve-controlling' cams loosely mounted on said driving-shaft, inlet and exhaust valves governing the inlet and exhaust of the motive power in the said cylinder, a piston-rod, a piston-head secured substantially in the middle of said piston-rod, means tor driving' said piston-head and said piston-rod in a direct line, a piston-frame attached to said piston-rod, means secured to said piston-cylinder for guiding said piston-frame in a given path, a cam-shaped ring attached to said piston-trame, and non-rotating guiding means for keeping' said ring in a given path.

9. ln an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a driving-shaft secured thereto and rotating therewith, a powercontaining chamber surrounding said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve `for controlling the inlet and exhaust of said motive power at the one end oi' said cylinder, corresponding inlet and outlet valves at the opposite end of said cylinder, valve-controlling' means loosely mounted on said driving-shaft, a piston-rod, a piston-head and a cam-shaliied ring attached directly or mediately to said piston-rod, and non-rotating' guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path.

l0. ln an engine the combination with two or more rotating' pistou-cylinders of two 01' more piston-rods, two or more cam-shaped rings secured directly or mediately to said piston-rods and rotating' with said cylinders, a driving-shaft also secured to and rotating' with said cylinders and said rings, and nonrotating' guiding' means for keeping' said rings ina given path.

l1. In an engine, the combination with two or more rotating piston-cylinders ot powercontaining chambers surrounding' said cylinders, a driving-shaft attached to and rotating with said cylinders, inlet and exhaust valves attached to the ends ot each of said cylinders, means for controlling said inlet and exhaust valves attached to and rotating' with said driving-shaft, piston-rods acting' through said cylinders, a cam-shaped ring attached directly or mediately to said piston-heads and rotating' with said cylinders and said shaft, and means for reversing the action of said inlet and exhaust valves.

l2. In an engine the combination with two or more rotating' piston-cylinders of a drivingshaft attached to and rotating with said c vlinders, inlet and exhaust ports connecting with said cylinders, inlet and exhaust valves for governing the inlet and exhaust of the motive power, valve-controlling' means loosely mounted on said driving-shaft, means for reversing the action of said valve, piston-frames attached to said rods, guiding means attached to said cylinders for keeping said piston-'trames in a given path, a cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-'frames and rotating therewith, and non-rotating guiding' means for keeping said cam-shaped rings in a given path.

13. In an engine the combination with two or more rotating piston-cylinders ot' a drivingsha't't secured to and rotating therewith, means for conducting the motive power into and out oi' the said cylinders, valve-controlling means for regulating the inlet and exhaust of the motive power, piston-rods passing through said piston-cylinders, a piston-head secured substantially in the middle part ot said pistonrods, means for keeping said piston-rods in a given path, cam-shaped rings attached either directly or mediately to said piston-rods, and rotating with said driving-shaft, one or more powcr-transmitting wheels attached to and rotating' with said driving-shaft and said pis-v said piston-rod and rotating With said pistoncylinder, and non-rotating guiding means secured to the base oi' said engine for keeping said ring in a given path.

15. In an engine the combination with a piston-cylinder, of a piston-rod, apiston-head7 a cam or beveled shaped guiding device attached directly or mediately to said piston-rod and adapted to move in consonance With the piston -thiust and guiding` means cooperating With said Cam or beveled shaped device for converting the direct piston-thrust into a rotary motion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN STRATTON.

Vitnesses:

MARY A. LARERY, ANNA E. MGNEILL.

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