US696A - Steam-engine - Google Patents

Description

W. A. LIGETEALL.

STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Apr. 14, 1838l ZELE. :www

WILLIAM A. LIGHTHALL, or ALBANY, NEW YORK.

v STEAM-ENGINE.

, YSpecification vof Letters Patent N0.\6'96, dated April 14, 1838.

j To all 'whom it concern:

Beit known that I, WILLAM A. LIGH'i-,

HALL, of Albany, New York, have invented or discovered certain new and useful I mprovements in `Steam-lilngine's intended for propelling vessels, which combined improvements I vdesignate as Lighthalls improved horizontal and beam engine, and that I am" desirous of obtaining a patent for the said improvements. i

The following explanations refer to the` drawings l and 2 accompanying this, specication A a the working beam, B Z) the `connecting-rod, C `the crank, and end of the shaft, c e the crank, E E the piston rod and l link to the lower end of the` beam, F 'the yoke, G g the brace to support the yoke, H the connecting rod from the beam to thebell crank of the air pump,I the'bell crank for working the air pump, J the .connecting rod from the bell crank to the piston of the air pump, K K the air pump and reservoir, L L L the condenser, foot valve, and connection to the air pump, M the steam pipe,

N `the exhaust pipe to the condenser, O- O l the valve rods,` P the eccentric wheeland rod, 0 fthe rock shaft for working the valves, R R the cut 'ofi' valve, T T the keelson or keelson's, E Q the piston rod, UV the center vof crank motion, X the center or fulcrum of the beam, Y the pinor journal of the connecting rod, l, 2, the-yoke, 3 the point of coupling with the connecting rod, 4 L the cylinder.

The following being a description ofthe aforesaid improvements willbe more clearly understood by referring to them drafts or drawings herewith submitted. `To obviate many serious inconveniences and existing defects in the present form and disposition of the steam engines now in use, I have combined the leading characteristics of the beam engine, with those of the horizontal engine, in order to embrace the advantages of both and avoid the defects of either, and I accomplish this object in the following manner. I lay the cylinder (or cylinders if a double power be required) horizontally on or upon the keelson T T, and place the working beam A a at the proper distance in a vertical position, with its lower end a at such a height as to range with the piston rod E e in the same manner as when the working beam is horizontal and the cylinder erect. If the length of the working beam when thus vertically placed corresponds withthe height of the sha-ft C and the center of crank motion U then the arrangement is completed, and the desired effect produced. But if thefsize. of the` wheel and other circumstances `require the shaft to be placed lower than on a horizontal level with the upper end of theworking i beam, I then bend or incline the upper half crarm of the working beam to suchten inclination or angle that a line drawn `from the center or fulcrum X ofthe working beam, to that point where the central'line of the connecting rod would intersect it shall beat right angles to a line drawn from the center of the shaft U tothe said point of intersection and consequently tothe center of crank `mot-ion; or in other words if a line be drawn from center Ulof the shaft, to the center of the pin or journal Y of the con-i` necting-rod in the working beam, then a line` drawn from the` center or fulcrum Xof the beam, intersectingat right angles the former line will givethe requisite bend ofthe `beam or the necessary deviation Vfrom its vertical and rectilinear direction, with sufficient accuracyfor all practical purposes.

The proper bend or inclinationp o `t e `working beam and the requisite len th of yoke hereafter specified (z'. e., the roper positional relation between the ce ter `of beam vibration and the centerof c ank motion) can be obtained by other ethods or rules equally well known as that which I have adopted.

But as in this case considerable accuracy i t-he radius, and of such length as to remove` thepoint 3 of its coupling with the connecting rod B b so many degrees forward as it would otherwise be necessary to bend the` Working beam. This yoke i may be attached to any working beam in a vertical position and will be the same in effect as thoughthe working beam itself were ben to the angle required.

To secure the yoke in its place a strong brace G g is attached from the upper arm of the working beam, say about the center of its length to the forward end of the yoke near the point 3 of its coupling withthe` connecting rod which brace will givein all cases the necessary firmness. Thus it will be seen that the yoke is a substitute for the` weight instead of being as it now is a necessary and unavoidable incumbrance will act in a great measure as judiciously stowed ballast. Y

That in vessels of war or armed steamers all the essential and vital parts of the` machinery will be completely protected from an enemys fire, and that the acting engiy ner can perform his duty not only with safety but with that self possession which `personal security could alone insure.

Should additional power be required, two cylinders similarly placed on opposite sides of the beam in line with each other might be worked upon the same beam, or one could be doing the work while the other wasV undergoing repairs, almost essential for vessels navigating the ocean. l

In vessels calculated for shallow waters by the application ofthe yoke or the bent working beam, any length of'stroke may be obtained with the cylinder lying horizontally on the keelson without any loss -of power, and with lthe cylinder thus firmly attached to the keelsons there will be less jar and of course less strain and injury to the vessels than when the cylinder is raised v' or supported on the deck beams or on a frame at a distance from the keelson.

The arrangements of the essential improvemnets having been described it is thought unnecessary to specify in detail the slight variations which Amight be. required or deemed expedient to be made in the relative situation of its minor parts. Such changes may be made in a variety of ways and would naturally suggest themselves to 2. The relative and combined disposition of the cylinder, the beam-'working vertically, with it and the crank, to wit, the cylinder lying horizontally 'on or upon the keelson or keelsons Vat right angles to the lower end of the working beam,'while the Lipper end of said beam is in connection with and gives motion to the crank upon the shaft. iV Y Y 3. The curved or bent *working beam,

working vertically in'combination vwith the horizontal lcylinder in their relative and combined vdisposition as herein before intended to be described, and as shown in the drafts or drawings accompanying this specification. l

l. To avoid bending the working beam in cases inwhich it is desired to place the shaft lower than on a horizontal level with the upper end of the working beam, I claim the yoke herein before specified in combination and connection with the vertical workingbeam, working `vertically and also in combination with those combined disposition of parts, as set forth and described in the irst and second foregoing claims. v

All of which together with the drawings and models herewith presented is Vrespectfully submitted.

v ILLIAMJL LIGHTHALL.

Signed in the presence 0f-.

JAMES N.'PLATT, ALEX. HAMILTON, Jr., HAMILTON MoRroN.

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