US1111665A - Valve-actuating device for explosive-engines. - Google Patents

Description

w G. E. MEAD. VALVE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1912.

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M M v @mm EMM 0. E. MEAD. VALVE AGTUATING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1912.

1 1 1 1 ,665. Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

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vaLvn-acruarrne nnvrcn non. nxrLosrvn-Enemns Specification of Letters Patent. .Patentedtiept, 2 ll llls Application filed January 22, 1912. Eterial 130,672,805.

devices for explosive engines and more par-i ticularly to a device for actuatmg a rotary valve in an engine comprising a plurality of units.

The objects oi the invention are, first,

to rovide a valve actuatin device which vwill permit of the valve being formed in a plurality of relatively short sections, thereby reducing the torsional strain. onthe valve and further materially facilitating the manufacture of the same; second, to so construct the device that the sections of the valve may be simultaneously adjusted; and third, to mount the actuating device so as to reduce the strain or thrust on the valves to a minimum and to permit the free expansion and contraction of the valves.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' is a side elevation of an engine embodying mv invention: Fi 2 is an elevation of the .1 b

1s a sectionvalve-actuating device; Fig. 3 taken centrally through the device and the adjacent portions of the valve chambers; and Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken centrally of slightly modified forms of the actuating device. A

In these drawings I have illustrated the invention as applied .to a four cylinder gas engine having its cylinder cast in units, each unit comprising two cylinders. These unitsvare indicatcdat- 1 and'2', respectively and are spaced apart, as is customary. Mounted in both units so as to control the intake and exhaust to and-from all the cylinders bf the engine is a rotary valve 3. A valveof, the length required for a four cylinder engine is difiicult to manufacture and when rotation is imparted thereto at one end thereof it is subjected to severe torsional strain.

To overcome both the dilliculties in manufacture and this torsional strain on the valve I mountthe actuating device between the two units of the engine and form the valve in two separate parts; one of which is mounted in each of the units and which are so connected with the actuating device as to be rotated in unison thereby. By mounting the actuating device at the middle of the valve it will beobvious that the torsional strain to which the valve is subjected is very greatly reduced and it is equally obvious that as a manufacturing proposition it is-much easier to work twoshort valves to true cylindrical shape than it is a single valve equal to the-length of the two short valves. In carrying out the iii-1 vention I prefer to 'ir iount the actuatingde vice independently of the valves, and to C0111 nect the same to the valves in such a man ner that the latter will be free to expand and contract and will notbe subjected to any thrust or strain. In the present construction l have 'a c coinplished this by mounting on one of the units a hollow stud 4 having a longitudinal opening in alinement with the valve chambers of both units. This stud may be secured totheengine in any suitable manner. As here shown it is secured thereto by means of screws 5 extending through apertured lugs 6.

outer portion of the stud 4 is provided with a cylindrical bearing surface upon which is mounted the actuatingniember which, in the present construction; comprises a sprocket wheel 7 and, as-here shown, antifriction rollers 8 are interposed between. the sprocket wheel and the bearing'surface' of the stud. A collar 9 is rigidly secured to the outer end of the stud to hold the actuating member and the friction rollers against movement longitudinallyv of the hub. This connectionv is here sshownjas formed by providing the collar-with an inwardly extending screw-threaded boss 10 adapted to be screwed into the screw-thread ed outer portion of the stud The two valve 1nembers3 are provided on their adjacent ends with inwardly extending stems 11 noncircular in cross section and these two parts of the valve are connected one to-the otherby'means of a sleeve 12 fitting loosely with-I in the hollow stud 4 and having its longiv tudinal opening of a shape corresponding substantially to the cross'sect'ional shape of the non-circular stems 11. The stems of the valve parts are adapted toextend into the opposite ends of the sleeve and the lit be;

ill

' to time the valve,

tween the stems and the sleeve is such as to prevent any rotary movement of the stems relatively to the sleeve but at the same time to permlt of the longitudinal movement of the stems relatively to the sleeve and thus permit of the expansion and contraction of the valve. The sleeve which serves to con nectthe .valves one to the other also serves to connect the same with the actuating member and to this end has rigidly secured thereto four radial arms 13 constituting a spider and having their outer portions bent inwardly and connected with the sprocket wheel. The connection between the spider and the actuating member is preferably an adjustable one and to this end the connectionis formed by means of screws 14 extending through slots 15 in thesprocket wheel and screwed into apertures in the outer ends of the arms 13 ofthe spider.

It is. also desirable that means should be provided whereby the valves will be caused to occupy a fixed relation to the driving.

member or gear when these .two parts are, operatively connected one with the other, thus enabling the valve to be timed and then re moved and re-inserted without afl'ecting its timing. This may be Very readily accomplished by providing the sleeve 12 with an irregular opening and shaping the stem of the valve section to correspond with this opening as, for example, by providing the opening with three angular corners and one round corner and rounding one corner of the stemin the same manner. With this construction after the sleeve has once been adjusted with reference to the driving member the valve may be removed and re-inserted without interfering with its adjustment and without interfering in any way with the timing of the valve. The removal of a section of the valve is accomplished by detaching the removable cap'16 porting device,

at that end of the valve opposite the driving gear and simply withdrawing the valve sec tion.

It will be obvious that the driving member may be supported and connected with the valve sections in different ways and, in Figs. 4 and 5, I have, by way of illustrating the changes which are possible, shown two modified forms ofthe device. In Fig. l the supwhich is indicated at 17, is in the form of a housing and-has mounted therein two ball races 18. The driving memher, which is shown in the form of a worm wheel 19 on opposite sides of the worm wheel,ball races 21. Balls 22 are mounted in race ways 18 and 21 and the driving member is thus supported by roller bearings upon the housing.

. Instead of utilizing the hollow sleex e connection shown in Figs. 1 to 3 I have, in this instance,=-mounted within the hub a shaft 23 connected at its opposite ends with the valve 7 has a hub 20 to which is secured,

members and adjustably connected with the hub'20. This connection, in the present instance, is formed by providing the shaft 23 with screw threads 24 near each end thereof, which threads engage corresponding threads in the adjacent end portions of the hub. The hub and shaft are locked in fixed relation by means of nuts 25 mounted on those portions of the shaft extending beyond the hub. The connection between the ends of the shaft and the respective valve members may be accomplished in any suitable manner. In the present instance the ends of the shaft are slotted, as indicated at 26, and the adjacent ends of the valve sections are also slotted, as indicated at 27 the respective slots extending, when in their normal positions, at right angles one to the other. A connectin member 28 is interposed between the end of the shaft and the end of the respective valve section and has keys or projections 29 and 30 arranged to engage the slots in the valve section and shaftrespectively, thus connecting the parts one to the other and retaining them in their fixed relation but at the, same time permitting the valve section to have a limited longitudinal and radial movement relatively to the driving member and eliminating all strain or thrust upon the valve.

In Fig. 5 a similar construction is followed save that the shaft is connected with the hub and the valve sections in a different manner. in this instance the hub 20 of the driving member is provided'with a longi tudinal tapered opening and the shaft 31 is tapered to fit within the tapered opening of extend beyond the ends of the hub are screwlhreaded and nuts 82 mounted on these screw-threaded portions serve to retain the hub and the shaft in adjusted and operative relations. The connection between the valve sections and the shaft is similar to that first described. 'llhelapered shaft 31 is provided with a longitudinal opening angular in cross section, into which extend the angular stems 3 of the valve scctions.-

Another feature of importance which will i be noted in the several constructions herein illustrated is the relation of the ends of the valve members to their respective valve chambers. valve member is flush with or extends slightly beyond the corresponding end of the valve chamber. If the valve memberterminatos short of the endof' its chamber there is a tendency for the oil or other lubricating agent employed to lubricate the valve to work its way beyond the end of the valve and there to bake or become hardened and form In each instance the .end of the the hub. Those portions of the shaft which v a very hard shoulder which interferes with v the longitudinal movement or removal of the valve member. .Also, if the valve terminates short of the end of its chamber the wear tends eventually to form a shoulder in the chamloer. By causing the valve sections, at both ends, to extend to. or slightly beyond the corresponding endsvof the valve chambers both of these undesirable results are avoided and there is no accumulation of carbon or hardened oil in the ends or" the valve chambers and there is no shoulder Worn -within the valve chambers. Consequently, the valve has free and unobstructed longitudinal movement to permit either of the expansion and contractidn or playof the valve or to permit of its removal.

It Wlll be apparent that the actuating device for the valve is supported independently of the valve and that the'latter is thus entirely relieved of the strain and thrust due-to the operation of the actuating; that the valve is free to exdevice and also pend and contract inasmuch as it has longitudinalmovement relatively to the actu ating device. Moreover, it'will bea'pparent that (disconnection between the valve-see tions and the actuating device is such as to permit the two, parts of the valve to be simultaneously and easily adjusted and to retain these two parts of thevalve in their properirelative positions; and further, that the connection is such as to permit the valve to be readily withdrawn and to permitthis to be accomplished without interfering with the adjustment, or timing, of thevalve. It will also be apparent that the arrangement of the valve actuating device between the two units of the engine enables the valve to be made in two or more relatively short sections which not only facilitates the manufacture of the valve but very materially reduces thetorsional strain thereon.

While it have replaced and shown and described one embodimentof'the invention with several construction the engine as a whole is built modifications thereof it will be understood that these are chosen for the purpose of illustration'bnlyand that the invention may be embodied in many forms, in the present in two units but the invention is ecapablc of embodiment in structed, it being only necessary that'the valve chamber for the rotary valve should be divided into two parts and the valveactuating device mounted between the two parts of the valve chamber,- any construction embodying sucha two part valve chamber being the full: equivalent of the two-unit engine. I, therefore, stood thatI do not desire to be limited to the detailsof construction 51' own and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art:

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

1. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart and having v'a lve chamengines otherwise con-. 1

wish itto be under-= bers arranged in longitudinal alinement, a rotary valve mounted in both of said chambers, and a valve-actuating device mounted in the space between said units and operatively connected with said valve.

2. In an explosive engine having a valve chamber divided into two parts, said parts being arranged 'inaxial alinement, a retary'valve mounted in both parts of said valvechamber, and-a valve actuating de-' 7e vice'mounted between the two parts of said valve chamber on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said valve, and an operative connection between said valve'and' said actuating device.

3. In an explosive enginecomprising two units, arotary valve comprising separate; parts mounted in.- the respective'unitsand arranged in axial alinement of" said engine, and an actuating device'mounted between gsaid units, supported independently of saidvalve and connected with both parts thereof.

; i. in explosive 'enginehaving a valve chamber divided into two parts,'said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary so valve comprising separate sections mounted in the respective parts of said valve cham-- her, an actuating device mounted between the two parts of said valve. chamber, and-an;- adjustable connection between said valve actuating device and the two sections of said valve, whereby said sections can; be lsirnultaneously adjusted relatively to said :actuating'device.

chamber divided into two parts, said-parts fleeing arranged in axial alinement, a rotary' valve comprising separate sections mounted inthe respective parts of said valvecharm' her, an actuating device mounted between the two parts o;t' said valve chamber,".supported independently of both sections of said valve and rotatable about an axissubstantially coincident with the axis-of said" rotary valve, and a" connection between the ltwo sections of said valve and said actuating device. V

6. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotary valve consisting of two separate parts mounted in the re 1"15 spective units and arranged in axial alineev -ment, asupport mounted on one of said zunits, a valve-actuating devicemounted 'on said support, and means for connecting both parts of said valvetorsaid; actuating device because them to be actuated in unison.

7..l n an explosive engine having'a valve chamber divided into two parts, said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary valve consisting of two separate sections mounted in the respective parts of said valve chamber, a support carried by said engine, a. valve-actuating device mountedion said support, and a connecting member adjustably secured to said valve-actuating device and l 5. In an explosive engine having a; valve loo detachably secured to both sections of said f as valve.

8. In an 'explosive'engine having a valve chamber divided into two parts, said parts being arranged in axial alinement, a rotary valve consisting of two separate sections mounted in the respective parts of said valve chamber, a support carried by said engine, a valve actuating device mounted on said support, a connecting device interposed between said valve-actuating device and said valve sections, adjustably connected to said valveactuating device and having means for connecting each of said valve sectionsthereto in predetermined relative positions.

9. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotary valve consisting of two separate parts mounted in the respective units and arranged in axial alinement, a support mounted on one of said units, a valve-actuating device mounted on said support, and means for adjustably connecting both parts of said valve to said actuating device to cause them to be actuated and adjusted in unison.

- 10. In an explosive engine comprising two units spaced apart, a rotary valve consisting of separate parts mounted in the respective units and arranged in axialalinement, means for connecting the two partsof said valve one to the other to cause them to rotate in unison, an actuating device,vmeans for sup porting said actuating device independently of said valve, and a connection between said actuating device and said valve.

11. In an explosive engine comprising-two units spaced apart, a rotary valv'e consisting of separate parts mounted in the respective units, each part of said valve having a stem non-circular in cross section extending into the space between said units, a stud mounted on one of the units of said engine and having a longitudinal opening in alinement with said valve, an actuating member rotatably mounted on said stud, a sleeve non-circular in cross section mounted in the opening in said stud and inclosing the adjacent ends of the non-circular stems of the two parts of said valve, and a connection between said sleeve and said actuatmg member.

12. In an explosive'engme comprising two units spaced apart, a rotary valve consisting of separate parts mounted in the, respective units, each part of-said valve having a stem non-circular in cross sectlon extending into the space between said; units, a stud mounted on one of the units of said engine and havrnlg1 wit a longitudinal opening in alinement said valve, an actuating member rotatably mounted on said stud, a sleeve non-circular in cross section mounted in theopenin 'in said stud and inclosing the adjacent en of the non-circular stems of the two parts of said valve, outwardly extending arms rlgldly secured to said sleeve,

and ad ustable connections between the outer ends of said arms and said actuatingmember.

13. In an explosive englne having a valve chamber divided into two parts, a rotary valve consisting of separate sections mounted in the respective parts of said valve chamber, each section of said valve having a stem non-circular in cross section extending into the space. between said units, a support carried by one of the units of said engine, an

actuating member rotatably mounted on said support, a connecting device carried by said actuating member and having an opening.

non-circular in cross section to receive the adjacent ends of the non-circular stems of the two sections of said valve.

14:- In an explosive engine having a valve chamber divided into two parts, a rotary valve consisting of separate sections mounted in the respective parts of said-valve chamber, each section of said valve havin non-circulanm cross section extending into .the space between said units, a support carried by said engine,

an actuating member rotatably mounted on-sa'1d'support, a connecting device'carrled by said actuating -member and having an opening non-circular in cross section to receive the adjacent ends of the non-circular stems of the two sections of said valve, the cross-sectional shapesof said holow connecting device and said stems being such that said stems can enter said hollow device only when in predetermined posi-- tions relatively thereto.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, CYRUS MEAD.

HARRIET L. HAMMAKER.

a stem.

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