US1053732A - Valve-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

T. W. KEEN.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

INVENTOR V W/z aa @WMM Patented Feb. 18,1913.

' UNITED sTATEs To all whom it may concern THOMAS w. KEEN,-OF swissvaLn, rENNsYLvANiA.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

Applicationfiled April 6, 1912. Serial No. 688,957.

- -Be it known that I, THOMAS W. KEEN, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer- 'tain, new and useful Improvements in.Valve-. Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My II IVGIItIO-II pertalns to the construction and arrangement of engine valve operating mechanism, and, while not restricted to such use relatesmore particularly to the mechanism used in actuating the inlet and exhaust outlet valves on the extremely large type of internal combustion engines employing blast furnace gases as fuel.

The invention is'designed to provide an "engine valve operating mechanism having iniproved means whereby the valves are positively actuated in opening and closing the inlet and the exhaust outlet ports of the engine, and by which the valves are positively held in closed position or position of theyalves during the major portion of the reciprocating movements of the engine piston. I I

Another object of the lnventlon 1s to provide a valve operatingmechanism .having novel means whereby the large, heavy valves are counterbalanced, by which accelerated movement of the valves due to the weight of the extremely heavy valves and movement against pressure of thegases in the engine stems caused by expansion when in use and variations caused by wear of the moving parts is effected, the presence of lost motion .in' the valve operating gear is avoided and prevented and"p'roper timing of the: valves" 'l.l01" 16 L- opening and closing isolitained.

. I Referring to the accom 'ianying drawings 1 forming part of this specification, lfigurc :1' isa sectional end elevation of a horizontal, ,fo urcycle, double-acting internalconduitsition engine havinga valve operating inechaf .n'ism thereon constructed mid "arranged in laccordance'with my invention. Fig. :2 isa;

detail side elevation showing a ink'nli lication in the construction ot-the valve operating mechanism also made 111 accordance with this invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale, the section being taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, showing a detail of the valve operating mechanism and the means employed in adjusting the valve operating mechanism relative to the valves. Fig. 4 is a detail plan, on an enlarged scale, showing the construction of the bearing support and swivel bearing for the reach rods forming part of the valve operating mechanlsm.

PATE T OFFICE.

In the drawings the numeral 2 designates a Water-jacketed gas engine cylinder having an inlet port 3 and an exhaust outlet port 4,

one of such ports being located at each end of the cylinders of double-acting engines like that shown. In a single acting engine only one inlet and one outlet port will be necessary. An inlet valve 5 and an exhaust outlet valve 6 removably secured in the inlet and outlet ports engage with the valve seats 7 and 8 also removably mounted in the ports 3 and 4. The cylinder 2 is also provided with openings or holes 9, and 10 in which the ignition or spark plugs for the engine are mounted, and the hole or opening 11 into the cylinder 2 provides for the at-.

tachment thereto of the cooks of an engine indicator, the opening 12 serving to make a suitable connection to the conduit of an air starting device.

The inlet valve seat 7 is connected by the spider 13 with the sleeve 14 through which the inlet valve. stem 15 extends, the spider and sleeve being located within the mixing chamber 16 which is formed of a tubular shell 17 projecting downwardly into the casing 18. The shell 18 in the casing 18 is provided with a series of openings 19 and,

openings 20 which are arranged-do register respectively with similar openings 21 and 22 in the shell 17 in forming gas ports and air ports connecting the interior of the annular gas chamber 23*andv air fchamber =24 in'the casing 18 with: the central mix-ing" cham- The tubular shell 17 is arranged to rotate or oscillate within'the shell '18 in the;cas

ing '18 to vary the size "ofthe' inlet-ports'= formed-by the openings 19, 21"and"20-,- 22, thc jclosed outer end 25 of the shell-17'being provided with an arm 26 by which the-shell lTis c-onnected to and operated by the' engine governor- (not sho\vn) to "vary *the'size: of

the air and gas ports to the mixing chamber 16 in regulating the speed of the engine.

The head has an inward extension thereon which is bored to form a dash pot cylinder 27 and the inlet valve stem 15 and the vertical grooves 29in the inner wall of the cylinder, at its upper end, provide means for the free admission of air therein-' to on the lower side of the piston 28 when the inlet valve .5 isin its closed position, (the valve being lifted when moving into its closing position): hen the piston 28,v

in the opening movement of the inlet valve, travels past the lower end'of the grooves or slots29 the air is confinedwithin the cylinder 27.and, by further downward movement of the piston 28, is compressed therein,

- the exhaust outlet.

the size of the-cylinder being proportioned so as to compress the air admitted therein to an extent sufiicient to counterbalance the weight of the inlet valve 5 and its stem 15.

The exhaust outlet valve 6 has a hollow stem portion 30 which extends outwardly through the head 31 on the hollow. watercooled exhaust outlet chamber 32, this chamher having a side outlet 33' by which the exhaust pipe 34 isconnected to the cylinder 2. lhe inner endof'the chamber 32, which is located on the engine cylinder 2-to cover the exhaustoutlet opening .4 therein, is preferably constructed to form an integral seat'S for the exhaust outlet valve 6.

The valve operating mechanism will now be described and the operating .mechanism for the inlet and the exhaust valves being of similar construction, the same reference numerals will be used for like parts thereof.

The outer end of the inlet valve stem 15 and also the outer end of the exhaust valve stem 30 is pivoted by a pin 36 to a swinging lever or arm 37 and one end of each arm 37 is pivotally' connected by a pin 38 to one end of short links 39, 39 located on each side of each of the arms 37. The other end of the. links 39 are pivoted by apin 40 to and between the ears or lugs 41 on movable bases or supports 42, these bases being adjustably mounted on the outer end of the valve cas' ing 18, and on the exhaust chamber 32 for The bases 42 are secured in position on the cylinder by cap bolts or studs 43 (see Fig. 3) and a wedge 4st, be tween the base 42 and the cylinder' is employed'to adjust the base 42- as required in bringing the valves into seating position after regrinding or renewal of the valves or the valve seats. Nuts 45, 45 on the two bolts 46 which form part of t-he'wedges 44 and which project through holes or slots in the lugs 47 of the filler blocks 48 located on the enddfthe casing 18 and the chamber purpose.

32 provide means for adjusting and securing the wedges 44 in adjusted position. Al so formed integrally on the upper face of the base 42'are standards or posts 49, 49 having slots in the ends thereof for bearings 56 which are held in position therein by set screws 51. Liners or shim plates, 52, 52 in "the slots on each of opposite sides of the the engine cylinder 2.

Mounted in each set of bearings 50, 50 1s a. pivot pin '53 to which one end of a bent wiping arm 54 is secured. The outer'end of the bent wiping arms. 54 which engage with and serve'to positively move the arms 37, 37 in actuating the valves in their open- 'ig' movement, are pivoted by a pin 55 to one end of a" reciprocating reach rod 56 :which extends through and is supported by 'a'swivel bearmg 57 (see Fig. 4,) pivotally Imounted on a bracket 58, secured on one side of the casing 18and the chamber 32 for that The other endof the reach rods .56 are connected by the lengthwiseadjustable eccentric rods 59 to the strap of the eccentric 60 on the lay shaft 61 of the en-' in the gine. At an intermediate point length of the reach rod 56 one end of an arm 62 is .pivotally connected and the opposite end of this arm is bifurcatedandis provided with a pin 63 on which a series of three anti! friction rollers 64, 64, 64 are mounted. In the operating mechanism for the inlet valve extend between the lugs brears 41 ,and 49,

on the upper face of the bases 42. In the upper face of the slides 65., 65, at one end thereof, is a recess or depression 66' into I which the outside rollers 64, 64 enter at'one end of their travel and'when the valves are in their open position. On the exhaustvalve operating mechanism the middle one of the rollers 64 engages the uppei-faceof the middle rollers 64, mounted in the slots in the bifurcated ends of therods 62 are an the arm 37, and the outside rollers 64 ride upon the lower face of the slides 65.

The arm 37 connectedto thewstem 30 of the exhaust valve 6 has an outward extension 3'7 which projects beyond the valve stem and loosely engages with oneend of the piston rod 67 for the piston 68inthe balancing cylinder'69. This cylinder whiclris located adjacent to the exhaust valve chamber is connected at one end by the pipe 7 0 with the interior of the gas engine cylinder 2. The

piston therefor has a very short stroke,-or a stroke just sufficient to slightly open the exhaust, valve 6. The head 71 on the cylinder cylinder 69.

has an inwardly extending hub or projection '72 through which the piston rod 67 extends and the inner end of this projection 72 limits the outward movement of the piston in the The piston 68 is caused to move-through its backward stroke by means of the helical spring 73 engaging with the cylinder head and with one face of the .piston.

Split rings are provided in the piston (38 to insure a tight joint and the cylinder head 71 is connected bysa pipe 74 to the exhaustpipe 3% of the engine to lead into the exhaust pipe any gases escaping past the piS- ton and prevent the accumulation of burned gases and the formation of pressure on the rear side of the piston (38. of the cylinder 69 is proportioned so that it will exert a pressure on the end 37 of the lever 37 connected to the exhaust valve 6 suificientto counterbalance the upwardly lifting valve and the moving parts connected therewith in the operation of the engine, in this way very much lessening the work done by the valve operating mechanism con nected to the engine lay shaft.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 2 instead of using the fixed slides 65 to engage the outer anti-friction rollers 64, slides 65* are pivoted by one end to the lugs or ears 41 on the bases 42 and the opposite end of the slides 65 is engaged by a helical spring 75 which lifts the free end thereof into engagement with the anti-friction rollers so as to hold these rollers in contact with the lower face of the levers or arms 37. The construction of the valve operating mechanism of Fig. 2 otherwise is the same as has before been described.

In the operation of my improved valve actuating nechanism the engine is started preferably by means of compressed air supplied to the cylinder 2 through the inlet 12 which is connected to a source of air under pressure. Vhenin this or other desired manner the engine is started the lay shaft (51 is caused to rotate and the eccentric 60, through the connections to the bent wiping arms 54-, opens one and closes the other of the valves and 6, the inletand exhaustvalves being alternately moved into open position, the eccentric 60, through the arms 62', positively moving the valves in their closing movement. On the return 'or closing movement of the valves, the rollers (54. on the end of the arms 62 which roll along the faces of the slides 65 on the base 42, by engagement-with the inner face of the arm 37 causes a positive movement of the valves into closing position. Prior to starting the engine, the wedges it are adjusted to bring the valves 5 and 6 into close engagement with the valve seats 7 and 8. and after the engine'has operated for suflicient time to become thoroughly heated any adjustment The diameter found necessary, owing to increase in the length of the valve stems'lfi or 30 in becoming heated, ismade by shifting the liners-52 from one side to the other of the bearings 50 located in the slots in one endof the lugs or cars 49 on the base 42 and in this way lost motion in the valve operating mechanism avoided and overcome.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. By the novel arrangement of levers and arms connecting the valves with the eccentric, the length of the levers is greatly reduced, the desired quic.k'o ')ening and clcsing movement of the valves is obtained and the valves are held in closed position for the desired length of time during each stroke of the engine piston. The weight'of the valves 5 and 6 and the resistance to the opening movement of the exhaust valve 6, caused by the pressure in the cylinder 2 is counterbalanced by means of the dash pot cylinders operatively connected to the stems of these valves. The wiping arm ot is arranged to move the levers 37 without hammering or knocking and by means of the adjusting mechanism used, lost motion. in the valve operating mechanism is prevented and overcome. Vith the mechanism for operating the valves as constructed in accordance with this invention the valves are positively moved through the opening and closing movements thereof and the valves are held positively in their closed position, (in which position the valves remain during the major portion of the stroke of the engine piston);

I claim 1. In an explosive engine, a valve operating mechanism comprising a swinging arm to which the valve is pivoted, a wiping arm position, means for actuating said arms, and

means on which the wiping arm and the rollers of said pivoted arm are mounted, said means being movable on the engine to adjust th arms aml valve relative to the seat therefor.

2. In an explosive engine, a valve operating mechanism comprising an arm support adjustably mounted on said "engine, a swing 'ing arm pivoted to the support and to a valve on the engine, a wiping arm pivoted to the support and arranged to engage the swinging arm to positively move the valve in one direct on, a piyoted arm having means engaging the support and the swinging arm tomove the valve in the opposite direction, means for adjusting the support on the engine, and means connected to the wiping arm and the pivoted arm for actuatilng said arms in opening and closing said va ve.

3. In an explosive engine, a valve operating mechanism comprising swinging arms to which the engine valves are pivoted, wiping arms for moving the swinging arms in opening the valves, pivoted arms for inoving the swinging arms to close said valves, means for actuating said arms to positively move the valves in opening and closing, and means secured to the engine on which said arms are mounted, said means being mov-- able on the engine to adjust the arms and valves, relative to the seats forsaid valves. 4. In an explosive engine, a valve operating mechanism comprising a swinging arm to which the valve is pivoted, a wiping arm engaging the swinging arm to positively move the valveinto openpo'sition, a pivoted arm having rollers engaging the swinging arm to positively move the valve into closed position, means'for actuatingsaid arms, a support on which said arms are mounted and means for adjusting the wiping arm relativeto the support and swinging rm.

5. In, an explosive engine a puppet valve to close the exhaust outletportand mechanismfor positively actuating-said valve in opening and closing, said mechanism hav ing means connected with the interior ofthe engine cylinder whereby the valve is balanced inopening.

In an explosive engine havingan inlet and an exhaust outlet port, and valves to close said ports, a valve operating mechanism comprising means to positively move said valves in opening and olosing,' and dashpot cylinders operatively connected thereto whereby the valves are balanced and cushioned in moving out of seated position.

7. In an explosive engine having an'inlet port and avalve to close said port, a valve operating mechanism comprising means to positively move said valve in opening and closing, a piston on the rod of said valve and a dashpot cylinder operatively connected with the piston whereby the valve is cushioned in moving out of seated position.

8. In an explosive engine having an exhaust outlet port and a valve to close "said port, a valve operating mechanism'comprising means to positively move said valve in opening and closing, and a fluid pressure cylinder operatively engaging therewith whereby the valve is balanced in the opening movement thereof. 7

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS KEEN. Witnesses:

T. E. KENNEY, P JAMES HULL.

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