GB274204A - Improvements in and relating to booster engines or motors for locomotives - Google Patents

Abstract

274,204. Stenning, H. A. April 17, 1926. Hand gear; automatic gear; catches, arrangement and application of, and dis. connectible gearing.-In a steam - driven locomotive booster engine, the operation is controlled by a differential piston valve C which is moved in one direction by steam pressure to throw the engine out of action, and is operated through lever mechanism e, E by a cam D on the reversing lever when in positions between full forward gear and 50 per cent cut-off to operate the engine. A small quantity of steam is supplied to the engine to warm and run it slowly until the driving-gear is in operation when the main booster supply is opened. The cam D. can be turned out of the path of the arm e by means of a handle d. The casing of valve C is connected at a to a steam valve A, at 5 to exhaust, has ports F, G controlled by the valve, and has a branch J leading to the bottom of the gearentraining piston 0. The upper end of the casing of piston 0 is connected to the exhaust at V, and has ports T, U leading to pipes S, W connected respectively to pipe J and an auxiliary spring- pressed piston X which controls the main booster valve Y. The piston 0, Fig. 3, has bronze packing-rings of cup-leather type 7, 7<a>, 7b. The upper rings are spaced and arranged around a reduced part 19, and constitute a valve to control connections T, U and U, V. The rocking- arms Q<2> which carry the gear wheel Q which connects the booster shaft and locomotive axle is connected to the piston 0 by means of a crossbar 15 and have extensions q engaging transverse pins in spring-mounted rods. A hand-operated valve is arranged in front of the valve Y. The pipe J has two branches, one H connected to a fluid-actuated preliminary-supply throttle valve m<1>, the other L contains a ball valve K and is connected to pipe W. In working, when valve C is depressed by the cam D, ports F', G are connected and steam passes to the valve M by pipe H thereby warming and starting slowly the booster engine, and steam passes' to act on the piston 0. The arrangement of the packing on the piston 0 and the ports T, U is such that steam cannot pass to the engine by valve Y until the gears are in mesh. When the gears' engage and the piston 0 is raised, steam passes by branch S, parts T, U, and pipe W to piston X, thereby opening valve Y to run the booster normally. The engine is stopped by turning the cam or moving the lever 6. Steam then shuts valve C and the bottom of the cylinder of piston 0 is put to exhaust, the piston 0 descends, and pipe W is put to exhaust and the valve Y closed. The valve K which was raised against its seat during running opens and accelerates the release of pressure in pipe W. The steam pipe is connected to a drain pipe Z containing a ball valve 2, and also a valve 3 which controls an auxiliary spring-pressed plunger which automatically opens and closes the cylinder drains. The booster mav drive a rear, forward, or tender axle.