US1558657A - Steam-engine control - Google Patents

Description

. 657 R: A. WILSON STEAM ENGINE CONTROL I Filed Dec. 26, 1924- Patented Oct. 27, 1 925;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY A. WILSON, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DOBLE STEAM MOTORS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STEAM-ENGINE CONTROL.

Application filed December 26, 1924. Serial No. 758,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roy A. lVILsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Berkeley, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Steam-Engine Control, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to steam engines and particularly to the control of such engines when used in a steam automobile.

In a steam automobile, it. is frequently impossible to tightly close the throttle valve in the live steam line leading from the boiler to the steam engine. When the automobile is left standing, steam may escape slowly past the throttle valve and enter the engine, causing the automobile to be slowly propelled.- An object of the present invention is to provide means, operative up n the application of the brakes of the automobile, to open a port in the live steam line, so that any steam which passes the throttle will be exhausted to the atmosphere, exhaust pipe or other low pressure space. Further, when a steam automobile is first started, with a cold engine, considerable steam condenses in the steam pipes and in the steam chest and there is danger of the condensed water entering the engine. A further object of my invention, therefore, is to provide means for exhausting the condensed water from the steam pipe and the steam chamber, so that this water will not enter the engine cylinders.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full that form of the invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of apparatus embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do 'not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure-1 is aside elevation, partly in section, of a steam engine connected to the driving axle of an automobile.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, looking'in the direction of the arrow 2, Figure 1.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for establishing communication between the steam pipe leading to the engine and a low pressure space, which means is operative upon the application of the brakes to the mechanism which is driven by the engine. Therefore, when the brake is applied, communication is established between the low pressure space and the live steam line,'so that steam or water passing through the line, is exhausted directly to the low pressure space. This low pressure space may be the atmosphere or it may be an exhaust pipe connected to a condenser or a water tank.

In the accompanying drawings, the steam engine 3 is arranged to drive a shaft 4, which, in this instance, constitutes the driving axle of the automobile. Secured to the driving axle is a ground contacting wheel 5 to which is secured a brake drum 6. Associated with the drum is a pair of brake shoes 7 which are moved into frictional contact with the drums by the brake lever 8. The lever 8 is connected withthe brake operating lever 9 by the brake rod. 12 and a pawl 13 and a ratchet 14 are provided for holding the brake in applied position.

Steam is supplied to the steam chest of the engine 3 by the live steam pipe 15, and, after passing through the engine cylinders, the steam is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 16. Communicating with the steam chest is a chamber 17 having a discharge port therein which is normally closed by the spring pressed valve 18. When the valve 18 is opened, free communication is established between the steam chest and a low pressure space. In the present instance, the low pressure space consists of the exhaust pipe 16, which is connected to the discharge slde of the valve 18 b the conduit 19. The valve 18 is dispose in a housing 21 and the valve'stem 22 extends from. the housing. Pivoted to the housing is a lever 23 having a finger thereon which is adapted, upon movement of the lever, to contact with and raise the valve stem 22 to unseat the valve 18. The lever 23 is connected to the brake rod 12, so that movement of the rod in a direction to apply the brake, will move the lever 23 to unseat the valve 18; Fulcrumed on the engine is a lever 25 which is connected at one end to the brake rod 12 and which is connected at the other end to the lever 23 by" the rod 26. As the brake operating lever 9 is pulled backward to apply the brake, the

lever 23 is rocked, unseating the valve 18 and establishin communication between the steam chest an the exhaust pipe. During the time that the brake is applied, therefore, any steam enterin the steam chest discharges through the yass conduit 19. When starting the engine rom a cold condition, the brake is set, openin the valve 18 and permitting any water condensation live steam pipe connected to the engine, a

to discharge through the exhaust ipe. By virtue of this device, liability of amage to the engine by water 'of condensation is eliminated and liability of creeping of the vehicle, due to a leaky throttle valve, is prevented- I claim:

1. The combination with a steam engine, of a shaft arranged to be driven thereby, a live steam pipe connected to the engine, a brake assoclated with said shaft and means operative by the application of the brake for establishin steam pipe an a low pressure space.

2. The combination with'a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driven thereby, a live steam pipe connected to the engine, an exhaust steam pipe connected to the engine, a brake assocla-ted with said shaft and means operative by the application of the brake for establishing free communication between the steam pipe and the exhaust pipe.

3. The combination with a steam engine 4 of a shaft arranged to be driven thereby, a

communication between the,

valve for permitting the exhaust of steam .from the steam pipe to a low pressure space a brake associated with said shaft and means operative by the a plication of the brake for opening said vaFve.

4. The combination with a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driven thereby, a live steam pipe connected to the steam chest of the engine, an exhaust pipe connected to the engine, a brake assoeiated with said shaft and means operative by the application of the brake for establishing chest and the exhaust pipe.

5. The combination w1th asteam engine of a shaft arranged to be driven thereb a of the engine, an exhaust pipe connected to communication between the steam live steam pipe connected to the steam c est the engine, a conduit connecting the steam chest with the exhaust pipe, a normally closed valve in said conduit, a brake assoc ated with said shaft and means operated by the ap lic-ation of the brake for opening said va ve. 1

6. The combination with a steam engine of a shaft arranged to be driven thereb a live steam pipe connected to the steam c est of the engine, said chest having an exhaust port, a valve normally closing said port, a brake asociated with said shaft and means operated .by the .application ofthe brake for opening said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y ROYA. WILSON.

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