US1005878A - Expansion-engine. - Google Patents

Description

G. H. REYNOLDS.

EXPANSION ENGINE.

AIPLIGATION FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

1,005,878, Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1- G. H. REYNOLDS.

EXPANSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.,25, 1907.

1,005,878 Patelited Oct. 17, 1911.

' '1 SHEETS-SHEET 2' W/TNESSES G. H. REYNOLDS.

EXPANSION ENGINE. APPLIGATION FILED MAB. 25,4901.-

Patented Oct. 17,- 1911.

7 sums-51mm a.

WITNESSES- G. H. REYNOLDS.

EXPANSION ENGINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1997.

Patented Oct. 17,1911.

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W/ TNE SSE S G. H. REYNOLDS. EXPANSION ENGINE. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

' 1,005;878. Patented Oct. 17,1911.

7 SHEBTS SEBET 5.

WITNESSES G. H. REYNOLDS.

v EXPANSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

Patented Oct. 17,1911.

7 SHBBTS-SHEET 6,

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EXPANSION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION IILED MAR. 25, 1907. 1,005,878, Patented 0ct.17,1911.

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errn eras 'ra'rn rte GEORGE E. REYNOLDS, OF MANSFIELD DEPOT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS ICE MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXPANSION-ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Mansfield Depot, county of Tolland, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Expansion-Engines, of which the following is a descrip tion.

This invention relates to expansion engines, and particularly to double acting ongines of a type suitable for the expansion of gas and other fluids used in systems of refrigeration such, for example, as disclosed in my application Serial No. 341,391, filed October 31, 1906, of which this application is a division.

Among the objects of my invention may be noted the following: to provide an expansion engine having large capacity and capable of responding instantly to the de mands of its use; to provide an expansion engine so constructed as to enable it to be adapted to practically any system or apparatus wherein fluids are handled and first compressed and then expanded to enable them to properly perform their functions; to provide a double acting expansion engine capable of cooperating with a double acting compression mechanism in a refrigerating system of large capacity; and to provide a double acting valve-mechanism to cooperate with the double acting expansion chamber, both of which mechanisms are positive, certain and rapid in their actions and cooperation.

With the above objects in view and others which will be detailed during the course of this description, my invention consists in the parts, features, elements and combinations of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In order to disclose the several features of my invention, the accompanying drawings are made a part of the specification, and therein:

Figure 1 is a top-plan view of a refrigerating apparatus showing the disposition and cooperative relation of my expansion engine; Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the central por tion of the apparatus showing the position of the driving-shaft and crank and the conncction of the latter with the piston driving Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1?, 1911.

Divided and this application filed. March 25,

nal, vertical section of a portion of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the section being taken along a line calculated to disclose the details of the connection between the rock-shaft and the reciprocating frame of the valve; Fig. 9 is a section substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is a section substantiallyon the line 10-10 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 11 is a top-plan view of the valve construction of Fig. 4 substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, I have illustrated, for example, a refrigerating apparatus in which my invention may be employed, in order that its operations and functions may be clearly understood, and in order that my invention may be better comprehended, I will describe, generally, the combination and operation of the several mechanisms of said apparatus with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Vater is employed as a cooling medium for the gas and 1S conveyed to the apparatus by connection with any suitable water-main, plug or spigot, through the water-inlet pipe 1, the pump 2 being employed for causing the proper circulation of the water through the apparatus, the water, after leaving the pump, being driven through the pipe-connection 3 to the compressor 4 and from the latterthrough the pipe 5 to the coolingtank 6 and from the latter through the pipe 7 to the sewer or any suitable drain. The compression chamber 4 has combined therewith a primer-pump mechanism which is illustrated only by the small pipeconnection 8, F lg. 1, tapped into the return-pipe of the air-circulating system at the point indicated by 9, the other end of said primer-pump being tapped into the compression cylinder at 10, in order to illustrate that the compression cylinder may be primarily supplied with air and thereafter constantly supplied with air, in order to keep up the volume of gas or other circulating medium. The air or gas on leaving the compression tank passes through the pipe or conduit 11 into the cooling-tank 6 and through coils of pipe therein, passing therefrom through the conduit 12 to the expansion chamber 13, thence passing through the conduit 14 to the cold room or other place or point of refrigeration. After accomplishing its work in the cold room, the air or gas passes through the return conduit 16 to the compression chamber 4, where it is again compressed and compelled to reperform its work. lVith this general statement of the character of the apparatus, and its principle or mode of operation, the several details of my present invention will be readily understood from the following detail description:

General arrangemeat.-Viewing Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the juxtaposition of the several parts of the refrigerating apparatus and the relation of the same to my invention, and the manner in which the several mechanisms are combined in order to form a simple and compact refrigerating apparatus will be seen and understood; and, particularly, referring to these figures, the main frame is indicated by 17 and centrally supports the framing 18, upon which is mounted a motor 19. The main frame 17 also supports pillow-blocks or journal-bearings 20, in which the driving-shaft 21 is' supported and 0perates, which shaft carries at one end the driving-wheel 22 which may, if desired, be a sprocket-wheel driven by a sprocket-chain 23. At one end the main frame 17 supports, or is formed into, a frame-structure 24 carrying the compression mechanism 4, and upon said frame-structure 24 a superstructure 25 is mounted, which carries the cooling cylinder 6. At the opposite end of the main frame 17 the latter supports a framestructure 26 which carries the expansion chamber 13 and its allied valve mechanism. This general disposition of parts places the driving-shaft 21 transversely and centrally of the frame-structure, gives balance and compactness to the several devices of the ap paratus, and brings the several essential mechanisms into intimate relation so as to form a compact and economical arrangement from which all vibration is practically eliminated. This arrangement of parts also places the compression and expansion cylinders substantially in the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and enables them to take the direct thrust of the driving-shaft in and along their longitudinal axes without vibration or strain upon the apparatus or any of its mechanisms. Furthermore, by the arrangement just described, of the several mechanisms of the apparatus, the long runs of pipe forming the conduits for-water and gas extend substantially longitudinally of the apparatus, thus preventing what little vibration of the apparatus there may be from being transmitted to the said conduits, and hence avoiding strain upon essential parts and joints of the apparatus. This arrangement of the mechanisms and parts of the apparatus is an important feature of my invention, and upon its advantages and functions, I desire to lay stress.

The driving-shaft 21 is provided with an eccentric 27 surrounded by a strap, the rod 28 of which is connected to the crank-pin 29 carried by the arm 30 of the rock-shaft 31. On the outer end of the driving-shaft 21, adjacent the eccentric 27 is secured the driving-pulley or sprocket-wheel 32, which drives the chain or belt 33, which, in turn, drives the belt pulley or sprocket-wheel 34 secured to the shaft of the water-circulating pump 2. The driving-shaft 21 has substantially centrally thereof the driving-crank 35, which cooperates, in usual manner, with a Scotch-yoke 36 in turn cooperating with the frame 37 which slides between the guidebars 38 secured to the top and bottom of the frame 18. Thus, the frame 37 has reciprocating motion imparted to it by direct thrust from the main shaft and imparts its movements to the piston rods 39 and 40 of the primer-pump and compression cylinder, respectively, and also to the piston rod 41 of the expansion cylinder, the several piston rods being pivoted to the frame 37 as indicated at 39 40 and 41*, respectively. The driving-wheel 22, which may be band or sprocket, communicates movement to the electric motor 19 through the medium of the belt or sprocket-chain 23, which drives the sprocket-wheel or belt-pulley 42 carried by shaft 43 of the motor. My expansion engine which is shown, for example, in connection with the refrigerating apparatus, will now be described.

Ewpcmsz'on me0hcm2'sm.-The expansion chamber and its allied valve mechanism will be clearly understood upon reference to Figs. 4 to 11. The frame 26 of the expansion chamber supports the cylinder 44,

which has one of its ends 45 bolted thereto and provided with the centrally-recessed hub 46 for the reception of the end of the piston-rod 41, the latter carrying a pistonhead 48. Said rod is journaled and slides in the opposite head 49 properly bolted to the cylinder 44, which head has applied to it any common form of stuffing-box generally indicated by 50, which may be found suitable for the purpose of fluid-tight packing. The cylinder is arranged in the valveframing and the heads are bolted to the lat ter, the base of which framing is indicated by 51, having the depending sides 52 and supported on the frame 26. Vertical braces 56, bolted to the base 51 and to the topplate 57, support the latter in proper posi-.

tion, this framing thus forming a chamber 58, in which the valve mechanism is located and operates. V The base, a plan of which is shown in Fig. 11, is provided at one end with opposite guide-lugs 59 and at its other end with opposite guide-lugs 60. Between the guidedugs 59 and extending transversely of the base, are two valve openings, one of which 61 is narrower than the one 62, and similarly located between the lugs 60 at the opposite end of the base are the similar valve-openings 63 and 64:. At one side of the base 51, a gas-inlet is provided at 65, which communicates with the chamber 58 through the passage 66, while on the opposite side of the frame, a gas-outlet 67 is provided, which communicates through passages 68 and 69, respectively, with the valve openings 62 and 6d. The valve-openings G1 and 6d communicate, respectively, with the passages 70 and 71, which enter opposite ends of the cylinder 44 throughthe heads 45 and 6L9, respectively.

Within the chamber 58, and cooperating with the passages 61, 62, 68 and G4, is the valve structure consisting of the reciprocat' ing frame 72, having at opposite ends identical valve-heads 78, and one of which only will now be described, but to each of which the same reference characters will be applied. The body-portion of the valve-head 7 8, slides upon the bottom of the chamber 58, and is guided at its base between the opposite lugs 59 of the base 51, said head being provided at its outer end with a plurality of longitudinal slots 7a extending through the same and each of which con verges toward the bottom of the head and also being provided near its rear end, and in its bottom, with the chamber 75. Extending across opposite ends of the slots 74-, in the surface of the head 73, are dove-tail grooves in which operates a cut-off slide 7 6, which is provided with a plurality of transverse slots which may cooperate with the slots 74 extending through the forward end of the valve-head. Pivoted to the center of the reciprocating frame 72, as at 77, is the vibrating lever 78, the opposite ends of which are enlarged so as to produce the driving-head 79, having at its opposite ends the depending flanges 80, which cooperate with the slide 7 6 for the purpose of reciprocating the latter in the dove-tail grooves of the head 73, so as to cause the said slide 76 to alternately open and close the slots 74 in the forward end of the said head. Secured to one of the guides 59 is a cam-block 81, having at its forward end the enlargement 82 provided with an incline, or camsurface, 88, which cooperates with the adjacent end of the driving-head 79, for the purpose of causing the latter to move the slide 7 6. The cam-block at the opposite end of the valve mechanism is disposed oppositely to the one just described and, in consequence, its camincline 82 moves the lever 78 in the opposite direction, the two cam-blocks, in consequence, having the function of moving the two valve-slides 76 alternately in opposite directions, thus causing the latter to open and close the passages or slots 74 at the opposite ends alternately. For the purpose of securing the proper cooperation of the camblocks 81 with the opposite ends of the lever 78, the bolts 84, which secure said blocks in place, can be loosened and the adjustingscrew 85 set so as to bring the caminclines 83 in proper relation to the cooperating ends of the respective drivingheads 7 9.

in order that the frame 72 may be reciprocated between the pairs of guides 59 and 60, said frame is provided on opposite sideof the central pivot 77 with the vertically extending lugs 86 grooved for the purpose of receiving and having slid therein the.

flanged blocks 87 each of which is provided with a socket for the reception of the ball ends 88 of the opposite depending crankarms 89, said sockets, at the top, being open and flared as at 90 to permit the proper movement of the said crank-arms 89, which latter are secured to a sleeve 91 splined upon the end of shaft 81, journaled at one end by a reduced part 92 in the dome portion 98 of the top-plate 57, said shaft 81 being, at its opposite end, journaled in the opposite ends of the overhanging portion 94 of said top-frame, 57. Proper bushings surround the shaft 81 and are supported in the overhanging portion 94: of the top-plate 57, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, details of said bushings not being herein set forth, as they form no part of my present invention. The outer end of the shaft 31 is re duced as indicated at 95, and has keyed thereon the crankarm 30 through the medium of which rocking motion is imparted to the shaft 81, as previously described, in order to rock the crank-arms 89 and reciprocate the slide-frame 72, and at the same time cause the vibration of the lever 7 8 through the cooperation of the drivingheads 79 with the cam-blocks 81. By reason of the ball and socket connection between the crankarms 89 and the opposite slide-blocks 87, ease of motion between the sliding-frame and its driving mechanism is permitted and binding of the parts prevented. As shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 5, the frame of the expansion cylinder, at all the points where'it is connected to the main-frame, is insulated from the latter by heat non-conducting material 96, said material surrounding the bolts 97, securing the frame parts together, and separating the said frame parts, as clearly shown. pansion-cylinder frame from the main frame portions, as just described, is highly essential, as the main frame parts become,

The insulation of the ex during the operation of the apparatus, very much heated and it is important that the heat shall not be transmitted to the expan sion cylinder or its supporting-frame, for the reason that the air should go to the coldroom through the conduit 14 with as low a temperature as possible. Therefore, the arrangement shown and described of insulating material is maintained throughout all the connections of the frame 13 to the main frame and other frame portions.

To aid in steadying the operation of the machine at high speed, brace-bars 98 are disposed at opposite sides of the frame and on opposite sides of the pillow-blocks or journal-bearings 20, as shown in Fig. 2, said brace-bars being bolted to the base of the pillow-blocks, as at 99, and at their opposite ends to the several frame-structures of the apparatus, as at 100.

Operation Having described the details of my invention, as I now contemplate the same, the following mode of operation will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings; but, it should be primarily borne in mind that atmospheric air or other gas can be used as the medium for producing refrigeration or making ice, as the case may be, and that water is the medium used for cooling the gas or for the purpose of extracting heat from the latter at the points where such operation is most necessary in the apparatus. Electric current being supplied from any suitable source, the same will be translated to the motor, which latter will be caused to rotate and drive the main shaft 21 of the apparatus through the belt or sprocket-chain 23 and the belt or sprocket- .wheel 22. Rotation of the driving-shaft 21 will cause the frame 37 to reciprocate in its guide-ways and reciprocate the several pis ton'rods 39, 40 and 41, thus bringing into operation the primer-pump, the compression cylinder and the expansion cylinder. At the same time, the driving-pulley or sprocket-wheel 32, through the medium of the belt or chain 34, will actuate the watercirculating pump 2, and the eccentric 27, pitman 28 and crank-arm 30 will rock the shaft 31, thus operating the valve mechanism of the expansion chamber. The apparatus may now be considered to be in operation with gas being supplied through the medium of the primer-pump to the compression cylinder and water supplied by the pump 2. The gas entering the compression chamber 4, will be compressed therein,- said chamber being double acting to correspond and cooperate with the double acting expansion chamber,-and then escape into the conduit 11 and thence to the cooling chamber 6 where it wall be preliminarily cooled and then pass along the conduit 12 to the compression cylinder 44, entering the latter through the valve-chamber 58, which is supplied by the inlet 65 and passage 66. Reaching the valve-chamber 58, and with the valve mechanism reciprocating as previously described, and assuming the piston and valve to be moving in direction of arrow 0, Fig. 4, the cut-off slide 76, at the righthand end, will now be open, and the one at the left-hand end will be closed, the air, in consequence, as the portions a of the valve-head crosses the upper end of passage 61, and opening the latter, entering the passage 74, in the right-hand valve-head 73, and passing through the passages 61 and into the cylinder 44. As this occurs, the portion a; of the valve-head at the left-hand end will cross the top of passage 64, thus opening a free way for the escape of the expanded air in the cylinder 44 on the left of piston-head 48, said air passing, under pressure from the piston, through passages 71, 63, chamber 75, passages 64 and 69, and outlet 67, to the conduit 14, and thence to service or the cold-room. As the piston and valve mechanism return in the direction opposite that of the arrow 0, the cutoff slide 76, of the left-hand head 73, will have opened the passages 74 of said head by previous cooperation of the adjacent cam-block, the same action having closed the like passages in the right-hand valve-head; hence, as the portion a of said left-hand valve-head recrosses the top of passage 64, the air in chamber 58 will rush through passages 74, 64, and 71 into cylinder 44 behind pistonhead 48. A reverse action is taking place at the right-hand end as the passages 70, 61,

chamber 75, and passages 62 and 68 to outlet 67 are opened to permit the escape of the expanded air in front of the piston-head 48. Thus, for each movement of the piston and valve mechanism, air is expanded and passed to service, the expansion mechanism being, in consequence, double acting and cooperative with the double acting compression mechanism so as to keep up the efliciency and capacity of the apparatus which, obviously, is double that of ordinary apparatus of like character. Leaving the coldroom, the gas will pass through the conduit 16 to the compression cylinder, entering the same as before explained and circulating through the apparatus as described, the gas being, .in consequence, alternately compressed and expanded so as to properly perform its work and, after compression, being cooled and passed to the expansion chamber, where its temperature is reduced, for its work in the cold-room.

From the above detail description of the apparatus and the mode of operation of the latter as just set forth, it will be obvious that the following, in addition to those already incidentally set forth, are among the advantages of my invention a compact, comparatively inexpensive, highly effective, powerful and large capacity expansion engine is produced by arranging the motor asdescribed with reference to the driving-shaft of the apparatus and distributing the compression cooling and expansion mechanisms as set forth, a well-balanced apparatus is produced which, during its operation, will be substan tially without vibration or jar and will be light and smooth running; the valve mechanism is simple in construction, positive in its operation, effective in its action and capable of sustaining high speed without losing any of its effectiveness or positiveness in operation; by combining the reciproacting frame 37 with the driving-shaft as described, and coupling the several pistons therewith, as shown, the driving-shaft and the drivingframe are enabled, by direct thrust, to impart to the several piston-rods positive and direct movements with absolutely no drag or twisting strains upon either the several pistons, or the said frame and shaft, and the arrangement of parts shown and de scribed produces a distribution of power and motion in suchwise as to minimize vibration in the apparatus, irrespective of the speed of the latter; and, by the compact arrangement of the several devices or mechanisms of the apparatus and the balanced disposition thereof, the single drivingshaft is enabled to operate directly and positively all the various elements or mechanisms constituting the apparatus.

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

1. An expansion engine having an expansion chamber, the latter comprising a cylinder and a piston mechanism; iii-combination with a valve chamber cooperating therewith; passages between the cylinder and chamber; a valve mechanism cooperating with the passages; said valvemechanism comprising a reciprocating head having a chamber in its bottom, a portion for cooperating with one of said passages, and a plurality of passages therethrough; a slide for opening and closing said passages in the head; and means for reciprocating the slide.

2. An expansion engine having an expansion chamber, the latter comprising a cylinder; in combination with a valve chamber cooperating therewith; passages between the cylinder and chamber; a valve mechanism cooperating with the passages; said valve mechanism comprising a head having a plurality of slots therethrough; a cut-off slide for opening and closing said slots; a vibrating lever cooperating with said slide; cams cooperating with the lever; and means for actuating the frame and lever.

3. An expansion engine having an expan sion chamber, the latter comprising a cylinder; in combination with a valve chamber cooperating therewith; passages between the cylinder and chamber; a valve mechanism cooperating with the passages; said valve mechanism consisting of a reciprocating frame; a lever pivoted thereon so as to vibrate transversely thereof; a valve head carried by the frame; a cut-off slide carried by the head; a driving head carried by the lever cooperating with the slide; cams cooperating with the lever; and means for reciprocating the frame. 7

4:. An expansion engine having an expansion chamber, the latter comprising a cylinder; in combination with a valve chamber cooperating therewith; passages between the cylinder and chamber; a valve mechanism cooperating with the passages; said valve mechanism comprising a head having a plurality of slots therethrough; a cut-off slide for opening and closing said slots; a vibrating lever cooperating with said slide; cams cooperating with the lever; and means for actuating the frame and lever.

5. An expansion engine having an expansion chamber,'the latter comprising a cylder and a piston mechanism; in combination with a valve chamber cooperatingtherewith; passages between the cylinder and chamber; a valve mechanism cooperating with the passages; said valve mechanism consisting of a reciprocating frame; a valve head carried thereby; a cut-off slide mechanism carried by the frame; and means for reciprocating the frame comprising a crankshaft; a crank-arm thereon cooperating with the frame; a driving shaft; an eccentric thereon; and connections between the eccentric and the rock-shaft for actuating the latter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. REYNOLDS.

WVitnesses CHAS. MoC. CHAPMAN, M. Hnssxovrrz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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