Steam, Air, or Water Engine. Page: 4 of 7
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257,452
subjecting the entire surface of the plane of re-
sistance to equal wear by adjusting the same
both horizontally and vertically relatively to
the axis of rotation of the forces acting upon
5 said plane and correspondingly adjusting the
admission and exhaust of the power impelling
said forces, whereby the position of the work-
ing-surfice of the plane of resistance is shifted
relatively to the forces acting thereon, sub-
to stantially as set forth; second, in the construc-
tion, combination, and eo-operation of thie arts
or elements by means of which rectilinear mo-
tion is practically converted into continnns ro-
tary motion and madeavailable as a motor, as
15 fully described hereinafter.
In the accompanying two sheets of draw-
aigs, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my im-
proved motor. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitndi-
nal section of the piston-cslinder and support-
20 ing-shaft. Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse
section of part of the same and the steam-
chest. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the pis-
tou-cylinder, the steam-chest being removed
to show the steam-ports in the former; anim
25 Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the steam-chest,
showing the steam passages and ports. Fig..
6 shows in section a slight modification of the
steam-chest.
In the above figures of drawings like let ters
30 of reference indicate like parts.
The engine is conmposed of the following ele-
ments, to wit: of a circular band or hoop, A,
adjustably supported in suitable bearings, B
B', of a driving-shaft, S5 supported and rotat-
35 ing in suitable bearings, B2, and of a cylimlri-
cal casing, E, secured upon said shaft.
The cylinder or casting E has, preferably,
three piston-cylinders, D D' D2, arranged equi-
distant from each other around its periphery,
40 and a cylinder, D', on a line with its axis fbr
the reception of a cylindrical steam-chest, F.
Theend wall ofthe cylinder, D , has steam,-ports
d.d' d1, that communicate respectively with
steam-passages p p' ), through which steam
45 is admitted to and exhausted from the piston-
cylinders D D' D . The latter cylinders con-
taiu each a piston, 1P P' P', respectively pro-
vided at their ends with bearings p', for the
trunnions r of the rollers i. The pistons are
50o guided in their movements toward and from
the ring A by guides G, the ends of the trun-
nions r (which are preferably square) project-
ing into slots g of said guides, as plainly shown
in Fig. 1.
55 The steam-chest F has a central aperture,
f2, through which passes the shaft S and with-
in which said shaft rotates. The steanm-chest
is fitted within the casing D: of the cylinder
E, ahd has two steam-passages, f f', dianiet-
60 rically opposite each other. One uend of tile
passage f is connected with the boiler-pipe K,
and one end of the passage f' is connected
with the exhaust-pipe I. The opposite end of
the passage f terminates in a segmental port,
65 F', formed in the end face of the steam-chest,
and extends in opposite directions from the
passage f to a point in close proximity to thehorizontal plane of the steamnchest. The op-
posite end of the exhaust-steam passage ter-
minates in a like segmental port, FP, the ends 70
of which are made to slightly overlap the hori-
zontal plane of the chest, leaving a narrow
bridge, b, between the extremities of the two
ports.
The pistons, as well its tihe steam-chest, worli 75
steam-tight in their respective cylinders or
casings. The means employed for this pur-
pose may be such as shown in the drawings,
or any of the approved or preferred devices
usually einployed for packing the piston and 80
valve rods of steam-engines.
The pistons P P' 1I' are preferably made of
a solid piece of metal, for the reason that their
weight can ie made available as a power to
assist the cylinder E and shaft S in their ro- 85
tatioli. Any other form of piston may, how-
ever, b employed, and their n eri ermay be
increased and even decreased, though the lat-
ter is not advisable, for the reason that the
rotary motion theo obtained will not be a 90
uniform one. The length of the pistons P P'
PI is such that when the center of the baud
A is made to coincide with the center of the
shaft S each piston-roller can be brought in
contact with thie inner periphery of the band. 95
InI other words, the distance from the center
of the shaft S to the extremity of the roller
It when its piston is fully drawn out is equal
to one-half of the diameter of the hoop or
ring A- 100
The operation of the engine is as follows:
The ring A being adjusted so that its center
will not coincide with that of the shaft S, the
upper halt' of the inner periphery of the ring,
as shown in Fig. 1, will form an inclined plano o10
that gradually recedes from said shaft from
right to left, while the lower half of the inner
peliphery of the bandl will form an inclined
pllane that gradually aplproaehes the shaft in
a reverse direction, or from left to right. If Iio
the cylinder E is in the position shown in said
figure, the port d and passage p of the piston-
cylinder D will be opposite the passage f of
the stealnmchest. Steam being now admitted
by opening the throttle-valve on the boiler- 113
pipe, said steam will rush through f dp into
1) and drive the piston P out until its rectilin-
ear movement is arrested by the ring A. It
is evident that if the center of lhe ring and
that of the shaft S were coincident to each r2o
other either the ring A would be forced out of
the way by the piston or the rectilinear motion
of thlie latter would be arrested, and if the
strength of either is such tas to resist the
power of the steam the engine \rill remain sta- 125
tionary; but inasmuch as the center of the
ring A does not coincide with the center of the
shaft S, it being eccentric thereto, tihe upper
half of the inner periphery of the band or
ring forms all inclined plane that gradually 13o
recedes from the shaft and its piston from
right to left, as above set forth. The power
exerted by the piston-roller I will be in a tan-
gential direction, and the piston will slip from
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Adams, James A. Steam, Air, or Water Engine., patent, May 9, 1882; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth170338/m1/4/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.