24 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



£Jani:aey, 



OSCILLATING STEAM ENGINE.* 



RicHARn Want arul George Vernum, of Enfield, Middlesex, 

 engineers, fur " an unproved steam-engine, which may also be worked 

 hy air and other JIti ids"— Gr^nteil Juno 10; Enrolled December 10, 

 1848. [Reported in the Mechanics Magazine.~\ 



The disting^uishing feature between this invention and the oscil- 

 lating; eiif^ines hitherto made, consists in their having the point of 

 oscillation at the bottom instead of in the centre of the cylinders, 

 hy which arrangement the piston-rjd makes a much less angle with 

 the crank-shaft. The engraving, fig. 1, represents a side eleva- 

 tion, and fig. 2 a front elevation, of a double-cylinder high- 

 pressure engine made on this principle. A A is the framework ; 

 B B are two vertical cylinders wliicli oscillate on a hollow trans- 

 verse bearing, or trunnion, U, with which they communicate at 

 bottom. B' B' are the piston-rods, which are attached at top to 

 the crank sliaft, C. Tlie cranks are jjlaced at right angles to each 

 other, so that the piston of one cylinder may be passing through 

 the most eftective portion of its stroke wliile the other is at its 

 dead point. The hollow transverse bearing D, is divided into two 

 sets of passages, and F, a six-way cock, occupies the centre of the 

 liearing, through wliicli steam may be admitted from the pipe G, 

 which communicates directly with the boiler, into either of the 

 sets of passages. The passages are so arranged in connection 

 with the six-way cock, as to admit the steam into the cylinders, 

 and to permit it to escape at the proper times ; the wliole of the 

 pipes for supply and eduction being introduced through the hollow 

 trunnion. In the single-cylinder engines, and in the locomotive 

 engines constructed on this principle, some alterations are made, 

 to adapt tliem to their different circumstances ; but in tlie main 

 principle of the invention they are alike. 



The patentees claim the manner in vvhicli the cylinders are cen- 

 tred on and communicate witli the liollow trunnion, and the mode 

 in which that trunnion is constructed internally. 



* By reference to the " Civil Engineer and Arcliitect's Journal," vol. vii., 1S4''J. Pl'tte 

 IV.,ttieie will be seen described tlie same description of engine, invented by iM. Legen- 

 ilre, and exhibited at the Kxposition in Paris, In 18-14. 



SAWING MACHINE. 



Thomas Hunt Barber, of King-street, Cheapside, London, for 

 " improvements in mactiinery for sawing wood." (A communication.) 

 — Granted June 1 ; Enrolled December 1, 18i8. 



The specification of this invention became due only a week 

 before the trial involving the validity of Mr. Junius Smith's patent 

 for a similar machine, which occupied tlie Court of t^ueen's Bench 

 six days ; and it would appear as if tlie principal object of tliis in- 

 vention were to supply the omissions in tlie former, which caused 

 the verdict to be given against the patentee. The objects of Mr. 

 Barber's invention are to provide, in tlie first place, fur supporting 

 timber otherwise than at tlie end, wliile being cut at the various 

 bevels which may be required. Secondly, he claims certain addi- 

 tions in the chucks, or apparatus for holding timber while being- 

 sawn. Thirdly, a means of giving the log the necessary turning 

 motion, in order to facilitate the cutting or siding to the desired 

 bevels. Fourthly, improvements in the gates or frames for hold- 

 ing the saws in the macliiue. Fifthly, improvements in the means 

 of moving the bevelling bar, or apparatus for governing the bevels 

 to be cut. Sixthly, a means of giving stability to the head-block, 

 or apparatus for holding a log when being secured ; and lastly, im- 

 provements in the apparatus for indicating the directions and 

 bevels of the cuts in the timber. 



With regard to the support for the timber, it consists of a roller 

 placed transversely immediately under the log near the saw frames. 

 This roller is of small diameter, but of sufficient length to receive 

 a log in any portion of the width of the machine, and is supported 

 at each end by pivots in a swing frame, supported on a journal in 

 the centre of the machine. The journal, which forms a point of 

 oscillation, is carried by an upright, moving in a vertical guide ; 

 and is supported on tlie end of a lever, by which it is either raised 

 or depressed to suit the size of the log. This is eft'ected by tha 

 other end of the lever being raised or lowered by a chain wound 

 on a barrel, the spindle of which is furnished with a screw-wheel 

 gearing into an endless screw, actuated by a suitable hand-wheel 

 The supporting roller being free to oscillate on the central ful- 

 crum, it adapts itself, at a suitable angle, to the inclined position 

 of the log when turned. From the method adopted for supporting 



