US964702A - Engine. - Google Patents

Description

P. A. SHARPNEGK.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATION rILnn JUNE 15, 1907.

Patented July 19,1910.

THE mmms F co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

rrro.

FRANK A. SHARPNECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF NINE'IY ONE-HUN-' DREDTI-IS TO REINI-IOLD REIGI-IARDT AND LEO GALLILANI), OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed June 15, 1907. Serial No. 379,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. SHARP- NECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engines, and has for one of its objects to provide a simple, durable, high speed steam engine of the reciprocating piston, rotating cylinder type.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compound engine of the character described.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved valve structure for engines of the character described.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a vertical section: Fig. 2 is a small view of the cylinder structure detached. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the several figures like numerals of reference refer always to like parts.

In the drawing, 10 and 11 indicate shaft supporting standards of different heights, in which is fixed against rotation, and adequately supported, an angular shaft 12, bent in a vertical plane. Specifically such a shaft comprises a horizontal. portion 12 and a downwardly inclined portion 12, such sections joining integrally with a central bend portion 12, which is preferably somewhat enlarged and presents end shoulders at right ai'igles to the respective sections of shaft.

Mounted upon the inclined portion 12" of the shaft is a rotatable sleeve 14L, having connected therewith, preferably integrally, a disk 15, said disk being provided with recesses 16 forming sockets for ball and socket joints.

17 indicates an apertured ring overlying and secured to the recessed base of the disk 15, the apertures in. such ring coacting with the recesses in the disk to retain the ball-parts of the joints therein. The sleeve structure 1 1 at one end abuts against the shoulder of the bend enlargement 12, and

at its other end bears against a collar 13 screwed upon the upper portion of the shaft 12 and adjusted to take up wear at the end of the sleeve.

20 indicates a cylinder structure as a whole mounted on and carried by a sleeve 21, mounted for rotation upon the horizontal shaft portion 12, between the shoulder formed by the enlarged bend portion 12 and a collar 19 threaded on to said shaft section. The cylinder structure is provided with a plurality of symmetrically disposed cylinders, preferably four in number, whereof two cylinders on opposite sides of the shaft axis, numbered 22 and 22 are of relatively small diameter, and the two opposed cylinders 23 and 23, arranged in quartering relation to cylinders 22 and 22' of relatively large diameter. The smaller cylinders I will call high pressure cylinders, and the larger cylinders I will designate low pressure cylinders. Within each cylinder is mounted a properly proportioned iston 25 connected by a sultable piston roc, generally indicated at 26, with the disk 15. erably each piston rod is made in two sections 26 and 26", each provided at its outer extremity with a suitable head 27 for engagement in the socket of the coacting piston or disk part to form a ball and socket joint. The socket structures of the disk 15, is heretofore described, and similar sockets 28 are provided centrally of the respective pistons. The two piston rod sections 26 and 26 are oppositely threaded at their inner ends, and are joined by a suitable coupling 29.

The high pressure cylinders 22, 22 are provided with ports 30 and 30 respectively opening through their heads, such ports being arranged at like radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cylinder structure. The low pressure cylinders 23, 23 are provided with generally similar ports 31, 31 arranged at a greater radial distance from the axis of rotation.

32 indicates a disk or head, threaded upon sleeve 21 for rotation therewith, and positioned a suitable distance from the head of the cylinder structure, and held against movement by lock nut 33. Between the cylinder head and the disk 32 is arranged a valve structure, generally indicated as 34, and comprising a ring making tight contact on opposite sides with the cylinder head and Prefthe disk 32, so that its interior opening constitutes a steam chest 35. An annular steam channel 36 is provided in the face of the valve which coacts with the head of the cylinder structure 20, such steam channel 36 being entirely out of communication with the steam space 35. The inner and outer rims of the ring are provided with packing rings 37 which make tight contact with the cylinder head.

The valve structure 34 is mounted for adjustment transversely of the axis to positions varying in degree of eccentricity with reference to the axis of rotation of the cylinder structure, and I prefer that the line of transverse adjustment be at substantially 45 to the vertical. To this end I provide upon the valve structure 34 a guiding stem 39 leading through a suitable guide 40 provided in an extension of the frame member 10 and opposite the said stem 39 provides a steam supply pipe 41 in telescopic association with a stationary pipe section 42, which acts as a guide therefor and serves to supply steam thereto. The steam pipe 41 extends radially into the valve structure and opens into the steam chamber 35 therein. Adjustment of the valve may be effected by a hand lever 43 having a latch M coacting with the segment 45, said lever being provided with a link 46 at its free end connected to the movable steam pipe 41.

In the operation of my improved engine the relatively stationary valve 36 is adjusted to such a degree of eccentricity that in the rotation of the cylinder structure 20 the high pressure ports 30 and 30 vary between positions in register with the steam chamber 35 and the annular steam channel 36, while the ports 31 and 31 of the low pressure cylinder vary between a position in register with the steam channel 36 and a position entirely without the valve structure 34. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 1, assuming the cylinder structures 20 and the disk 13 to be in rotation in a clock-wise direction, as viewed from the left end of the machine, and as indicated in Fig. 3, port 30 of the high pressure cylinder 22 begins to receive high pressure steam in the steam space 35 just before it passes its lowermost position or dead center, and takes steam through nearly half a revolution until cut off by the inside rim of the valve, shortly after which, it begins to open to the channel to exhaust steam thereto during the instroke of its piston. The port 30 acts in like manner, alternately with port 30, so that it will be apparent that each high pressure cylinder receives steam from the inner chamber 35 and exhausts the same into the channel 36.

The port of each low pressure cylinder, as it approaches lowermost position opens to the channel 36 and takes steam therefrom until it approaches its uppermost position when the port passes under the outer rim of the valve and then opens the exhaust in air. Thus the same steam is used successively in a high pressure and a low pressure cylinder, as in other types of compound engine.

Now it will be apparent that as steam is received in each cylinder as the cylinder is at approximately lowest position when the piston is at the end of its instroke, such in troduction of steam will force the piston outward, and consequently rotate the cylinder structure and with it the pistons and head 15, the successive actions of the alternate high pressure and low pressure cylinders produce constant high speed rotation of such structures.

Power may be taken from any suitable rotary part as through a gear 50 on sleeve 21.

While I have herein described in some detail an embodiment of my invention which I believe to be new and advantageous, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention in its broader aspects to the specific construction shown and described, as considerable departure may be made from the specific construction without variation from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is:

1. In an engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, a sleeve, 21, rotatably mounted thereon, and a cylinder structure rotatable with the sleeve, having a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder and provided with ports to each of said cylinders through the heads thereof, the ports for said high and low pressure cylinders being arranged at respectively inner and outer radial distances from the axis of rotation of the cylinder structure; of a stationary valve structure comprising a ring, 34, provided on one of its lateral surfaces with a continuous channel concentric with the ring, the interior of said ring being arranged by the rotation of the cylinder structure to communicate with the port to the high pressure cylinder, the channel arranged to communicate simultaneously with the ports to both the high and low pressure cylinders, and the rim of the ring arranged to open the port to the low pressure cylinder for exhaust outside of the ring; means for adjustably mounting said ring eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the sleeve and cylinder structure; a disk, 32, on the sleeve for rotation therewith in contact with the valve-ring; and a nut, 33, maintaining said disk in tight contact with the valve-ring.

2. In an engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, a sleeve, 21, rotatably mounted thereon, and a cylinder structure rotatable with the sleeve, having a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder and provided with ports to each of said cylinders through the heads thereof, the ports for said high and low pressure cylinders being arranged at respectively inner and outer radial distances from the axis of rotation of the cylinder structure; of a stationary valve structure comprising a ring, 34, provided on one of its lateral surfaces with a continuous channel concentric with the ring, the interior of said ring being arranged by the rotation of the cylinder structure to communicate with the port to the high pressure cylinder, the channel arranged to communicate simultaneously with the ports to both the high and low pressure cylinders, and the rim of the ring arranged to open the port to the low pressure cylinder for exhaust outside of the ring; means for adjustably mounting said ring eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the sleeve and cylinder structure, a disk, 32, on the sleeve for rotation therewith in contact with the valvering; a nut, 33, maintaining said disk in tight contact with the valve-ring; a telescoping pipe connection for steam supply to the interior of said ring; and a connection for taking up power from rotation of the sleeve, substantially as described.

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

FRANK A. SHARPNECK. In the presence of Gno. T. MAY, Jr, MARY F. ALLEN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the last-mentioned assignee in Letters Patent No. 96%,702, granted July 19, 1910, upon the application of Frank A. Sharpneck, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Engines, was erroneously written and printed Leo Galliland, Whereas said name should have been Written and printed Lee 0. Ge'llz'lcmd; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of August, A. D., 191 O.

F. A. TENNANT,

Acting Cormnz'ssz'onm" of Patents,

[SEAL]

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