US1645750A

US1645750A - Trimmer-saw mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1645750A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1927-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1944-10-18

Description

G. GRAFFINBERGER TRIMlvuizR sAw MECHANISM Filed Nov. s, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. GRAFFINBERGER TRIMMER SAW MECHANISM Filed NOV. 5,1924 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented ct. 18, 1927.

eusfrenerrrnnnnenn, or ronirLAivD, OREGON.

Y 'ranvriirna-saw ivrncnnnisr/i.

Application filed November 3, 1924;V Serial lNo.' 747,556.

My invention relates to'nieans for controlling, from acentral station, the operations of pressure cylinders ofthe-type illustrated in my Letters Patent of the United States granted May V12, 1925, No. 1,5317 ,437, entitled f trimmer saw? mechanism.

- There pressure cylindersareused admitting-the fluid at each end, a'valve control for suchV cylinder is, of course,ijequired.which will function to .move the valve-operating lever uniformly in both directions, in order that said pressure cylinders may be operated to attain the results point-ed out in my said preceding patent. vIn short, fthe control of the Cylinders valves yfrom the central station, must be just as effective asv if the operator had direct manual control of the valve lever. i

Such mode of operation, in my opinion may only be practically attainedr by the employment of stiff connecting rods, between the valves of the cylinders and'tlie control devices located at the centralstation, so that the push 'and' thepull motions transmitted tothe valve lever will be uniform, and insure.

tlie'operation of the valve control. equally positive in either direction. l

Y lt further requires that a proper-amount of vmotion bertransmitted bythe key or lever` of the control devices, at Vthe central station,

to the levers of the valves of the'rrespective.

cylinders, in order to assure the proper operation of the valves. Therefore, either the movement of the valve levers ofthe respec; tive cylinders must be adgustedto the amount of motion transmitted to them, respectively, by the vrelated lever or key at vthe central station, or a uniform amount of motion must be transmitted to the valve levers of all cylinders.'Y y l.

I find it convenient to graduatethe length of stroke of the lever of said control'inechanism, so as to impart a uniform amountof or; links-reciprocated in bearings restraining motion to the valve lever of each cylinder.

The'nccessity ofsuch graduation is diagi'ammatically illustrated-by Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings. Let A32x of said diagrammatic ligure represent one -link ofV the control mechanism at t ie central station, and the distance from a to b krepresent the required movement ofthe valve of the cylinder lLlx. Let lily represent anotherv cylinder whose valve must be given the same amount ofl motion as the valve of the cylinder 14X. Since the lineof motion. ofthe` link y of said control mechanism makesa straight ang-le with the line of motion of the valve of the cylinder 14X, such link need onlyube moved the distante from a/ to but `where said lines of motion make a different angle with each other, allowance must be made for the angle at which they diverge from'each other. -Thus the greater the divergence, the longer must be the stroke of the related link of the control mechanism in order to imparta vuniform amount of motion to the valve levers of all the cylinders.` Hence, where for example, a cylinderis located as at lily, in order to movev the valve lever thereof the distance from a to it will be necessary to move the link 32)' of the conrol vvmechanism the distance from a toA 2.

it is further essential that the operating means included in the valve control of said cylinders thus specifically referring to the fulcruming of the operating levers-be so arranged as to reduce' the amount of power required'to joperate said valve to a practical minimum. Because the valve `control works st-iH it would tend to impose too much resistance. to its. operation, and hence would tend to flex the connecting stiff rods between tl e levers, or keys, of thecontrol station, and the valve-lever to such extent as to render the operation of the valve control unreliable; and it would be impractical to use heavy stiff rods for said connections.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide dependable operating connections between thev control devices at vthe central stations and,thevalve-levers of the respective pressure cylinders so that the operation ofthe latter will be eifectivelycontrolled as mentioned.

lattainfmy object by providing for the operation of'thervalve control of said pressure cylinders, a series of short stiff rods the lateral detlectionthereof, and connecting such stiff rods through the medium of other stiff rods with the operating means, that is, the levers of'said valve control, and providing means for operating said shortrods individually, and adapted to graduate the stroke length of said short rods, respectively, relatively `to the variations in the angles of divergence of theL points at which particular cylinders'y are located from the line of motion of the related short rod, so as to transmit uniform operative motion to all the valve lever controls of all the cylinders.

A. further object of my invention is to provide simple devices by which the operation of the individual units of the bank of cylinders may be reliably accomplished, as mentioned.

Further details of construction and of the practical use of my invention are hereinafter described wit-h reference to said accompanying drawings, of which the other figures represent as follows:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a series or bank of trimmer saws taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, and illustrates the practical application of vmy invention for controlling the operation of the valves of the pressure cylinders of said series;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of `the saw uni-ts, its operating pressure cylinder and the means embodied in my invention for controlling' the valve of the latter;

Fig. 2a is a diagrammatic view illustrating a detail of construction in the saw-frames; described in the body of the specification 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one ltey or lever of the control mechanism provided at the central station, and illustrates the arrangement of the means provided by me for graduating the strokes of the levers of said mechanism so as to transmit uniform and suilicient motion to the valve levers of the cylinders; also illustrates the means provided by me for holding said levers in one position until moved into nnother;

Fig. '4l is a fragmentary Vfront elevation of a porti-on of the keyboard of the control mechanism of said trimmer-saws;

Fig. 5 is a larger scale fragmentary side eleva-tion of the devices showny in Fig. 2, portions of the cylinder and the keyboard being shown in section to disclose details of construction Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the pressure cylinder unit shown in Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary views of the adjustable rigid knuckle by which one rod element is connected to the other, so as to eliminate play.

Fig. '9 is y'a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the `operation of the valve rods and levers.

My invention is illustra-ted as being embodied in an overhead trimmer saw mechanisin, in which ya number of saw units l, carried by swinging frames 2, are driven by belts 3 mounted over the saw belt pulleys l and the driving pulleys 5. Each saw pulley l is fixed to a saw arbor 6 and the driven pulleys are mounted on a common driving shaft 7 carried lby bearings 8 which are fastened to timbers 9 of the mill structure. Theswinging saw frames 2 are carried Aupon pivot pins 10 in the hangers 11 which are mounted upon a common shaft 12. Said shiaft 1.2 is carried by supports 125 fastened to the timbers 9 of the mill structure.-

l provide an adjustable means for :getting said hangers 1l on said shaft one type of such adjustable means being shown as compri-'sing the set screw 1li, V3y rotating said hangers relatively upon said shaft l2, the axis about which said swinging frame 2 rotates is adjusted, as is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2"..

The cylinders 1l which act as the actuating means for moving said saw frames l into and out of operative position, are preferably double acting as illustrated in Fig. That is, said cylinders have inlet and outlet ports and 1.6 respectively at one end and similar ports 15aL and 16Ll at thc other. The

outlet orts

16 and 16 are spaced a substantial ytistance from the ends 17 and 1i'a of said cylinder, thus to entrap 'a substantial quantity of the actuating fluid, which might bev either compressed air or steam, said trapped actnati n g fluid thus serv-- ing as a cushion for the piston 1-8 at the ends of its travel in either direction.

I provide a valve element 19 which preferably of the type illustrated in my lapplica-tion for a patent Serial No. 616,322 which was tiled first day of February 1923. Said valve element is provided with dual control mechanism 19a and 19b respectively, one-half thereof controlling the upper portion and the other half the lower end, of said cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. Both halves of said valve element receive actuating fluid through a common inlet 19" but control the admission and emission of said actuating fluid thru separate outlet pipes 19d and' 19e -to and from said upper and lower ends of said pressure cylinder, respectively. Each valve element is controlled by a lever 20 which is pivoted at 20, Vbetween said halves. said lever thus being arranged ,so that when one half of the `valve element is actuated to admit steam to its respective end ofthe cylinder, the other valve half is actuated `Vto release the steam from the other end, through the auxiliary outlet 19, common to both halves of said 'valve element. The common lever 2O thus actuates the halves of said valve element in time with each other, so that the piston is driven in one direction by the pressure of steam behind it and the pressure off .steam on the opposite side of said piston is relieved simultaneously to permit said piston to be so driven. Said lever 20 has a relatively great mechanical advantage as is evident in Fig. 5, the por-- tion of said lever extending from said pivot 20a to the pivot pin 30 b v which the still' rod is connected to said lever greatly exceeding the distance from said pivot to the connections .2()d and 20 by which the.

valve halves 19 and 19' are connected re- IUS llo

V1,621.5,vcso

spectively to said lever 20. The relatively great "mechanical advantage of said valve operating lever 2 0r permits a relatively slight pressure of the stiff rods 30-t`o actuate said valves. The control lever has an elongated portion 201b provided with a forked end 20c which straddles a control rod 21 which actuates the mechanical catch 22 pivotally mounted in a hanger 23 carried by the pressurecylinder 14.V Such mechanical catch resembles a bell crank and is pivotally mounted upon a pin 23a in said hanger 23. As is shown' in Figs. 5 and 6 when saidv rod 21 is loweredV the portion 22a of said mechanical catch is -vrocked clock-wise out of the path of the flange 24 upon the piston rod '25 of the piston18 and when said rod is 'shown in Fig. 6,/an-d is mount-ed between two spaced upright ears 27 carried by the swinging saw frame 2 and is fastened therein by apivot pin 27a. Sai-d .connecting rod 26 Vis pivotally mounted at each end to accommodate the swinging of the saw frame.

Each valve operating lever 20 is c-onnected to one operating key 28 of the bank of keys which constitute the `selective control 29. Each of saidv keys 28 Vis connected with its respective control lever 2O through an extensible relatively stiff member. lA vhollow rod or tube 30 which is made in' sections which overlap as shown'in Fig.` 2 and which are connectedby an adjustable coupling 31 providedwith a set screw 3l for holding` the coupling and the overlapped ends inset position. The end 30a'of said rod 30 fastened to the control lever.20 Vis preferably bifurcated and straddles` the end of -said lever-,said connection being made through a pivot pin 30C, and the opposite end 30b is also bifurcated and ystraddles the end of a slidable reciprocating connecting link 32. The joint or knuckle between said link 32 andthe rod 30 is made through a releasable tightening screw 33 which is threaded 4into one portion of throd end 3()b and also into lthat end of the link 32 so that a knuckle is formed which can be screwed tight to hold the parts in set position. As shown in 7 and 8 the connection between sai-d link 32 and the end. 30b of the r-od 30 may be angular as shown in dot-ted` lines when the connections are made to hold the saws in saws upposition, saidadjusting` screws are tightened in place and when it is desired to actul `ate the-saws, said connection will Vnot slip angularly but willr transmit theV thrust of the key 28 through the link 32 and the rod 3Q lto-the valve operating lever 20. l.preferably-'provide an adjustable con! nection 311 between the key 28- and the link 32so that the length of travel givenv` the link 32 can be varied. As shown in Fig. 3 the 4end 32b kof said link. is slotted and the adjustable connection 34 is pivotally mounted therein upon the pin A35. The adjustable connection 34 is connected to thel key through one of a series of holes 281 made in the lower end 28a of said ke As is shown in Fig. l the stiff rod for operating the valves of the pressure cylinders extend in a fan-shape from the keyboard 29, the rods connected to the valve levers of the precsure. cylinders directly in front of the operators cage being substantially alined with their links 32 while the rods connected to the valves of the other pressure cylinders make a substantial angle with their links.-

The paths described by the valve levers Vof the pressure .cylinders are always in substantialalinement withthat of their rods 30, while the paths of the links are in'substantial parallelism with each other. It is necessary therefore that an angular joint -or knuckle connect the ends of the links to the ends of the rods. In Fig. 9, I show diagrammatically the paths of travel of one end link with its rod and valve lever, as compared with the travel' of theA similar parts for one of the middle pressure cylinders. Vhen the link 32X for one ofthe middle pressure cylinders 14x is thrust forwardly by its key, it will move its rod 30 an equal distance, because it is alined therewith. For example, referring to said figure, if it is necessary to move the valve operating lever 20, a unit distance fz-b, it isv butnecessary to shift said link 32X an equal distance b for the middle cylinders, inv which the link 32X and connection 30 are lin substantial alinement. .To produce travel a-b inthe valve operating lever 20for an end cylinderv My the link 32y must be a greater distance LC-bz.

lnasmuch as the paths of travelr of thek links 32 are fixed in parallel planes and the paths of travel-of the valve levers are fixed in more or less angular planes, it is necessary for'said rods 30 to flex laterally 1n .transmitting `the thrust from a link to a leveror else it is necessary that said connections pivot about their knuckle-joints with their associated links. l preferably form said. knuckle-like joint as a fixed connection, as has been brought outrheretofore, and thus eliminate possible play in Asaid connection.

Said'rods 30 in transmitting a thrust to theA valve operatinglevers 2O of thevend c'ylin-i' ders must thusbe flexed to ydescribe a curved 1 path until the said end rods are flexed latermoved lOU is supported by the sides thereo'l".

ally to assume the IpositionA shown diagrammatically in said Fig. A. This difference in travezlis taken care oft' by the making of the adjustable connection through the holes 28". The connection for the middle saws is made through the uppermost ol the holes 28" that is, the hole closest to the pivot shaft 36 for said key, and the hole at the extremity of said key,.or furthest away from the pivot shaft 36 is used for making` the connection to the end saws. The keys 28 for all ot the saws Vare mounted upon the key pivot shaft 36 which issupportcd by the sides of the casing 37 which houses the keys and the remainder of the control mechanism, this being shown in Fig. 4. Said casing also provides spaced supports 3T tor the reciprocated links 32, as shown in Fig. 5. These supports 37 are spaced a sutlicient distance apart so that the thrust of the links 32 against the angularly arranged rods will nottend to flex said lin-ks and cause them to bind relatively in saidsupiiorts.

i I .also preferably provide a shaft 88 which extends across said casing and is supported by its sides, said sha-tt carrying a plurality of spaced actuating arms held to said shaft by set screws 40. Said shaft 38 is provided with an operating handle 41 and by moving .said handle and thus the shaft 38 and the arms 39 in one direction said 4arms 39 engage certain of said keys to move the i saws eontrolledby said selected keys from inoperative to operative position. This featureliowever is common in control mechanisms of this character at the present time. I also mount on the pivot shaft 36 operating arms 42which are connected by a clearing 'rod 43 which extends across all of the keys and is adapted to engage any of the keys which are holding their respective saws in operative position, and to'move said keys to the position in which they will arrange their saws in inoperative position, this feature also being common in trimmer saw control mechanisn'is at the present time.

I Vpreterably provide each of said keys with a spring which tends to hold the key either in operative or inoperative position, oat the hallI way mark `between said two positions. I attain this by providing a protuberance 44 upon the hub i8" ot each key, said protuberance on said hub preferably being integral therewith. I mount a bifu-rcated i member 45 over each protulierance connecting the same by a pivot pin 46. Each biiircated member 45 is longitudinally slidable upon a .pin 47 mounted upon a cennnon shalt 48 whichextends across the easin 3T and which I preterably mount a coil spring 49 about each of said pins 47, .said coil spring bearing against thebiturcated member 45 at one end and against the hub 47 of the pin at the other.

: The protuberanee 44 is Varranged angularly on the hub Q8 tor said keythe degree ot' angular-ity being such that the protuberance.44` will be in exact alignment with the .pin 47 when said key is arranged at the halt way mark. And thus except when said key lis arranged carefully at the halfway mark the' coil spring 49 will tend to move the key -into operative or inoperative positon depending upon its position relatively to the-haltl lway mark. Said spring 49 is preferably of such strength that it will not exercise a substantial force upon said key which would prevent the key Yfrom being manually heldin a preA` determined position. The strength oit saidsprino' is merely suilicient to prevent the key from eing moved out ot operative or inoperative positions by an inadvertent jar orby the vibration ot the mill structure.

As is common practice said vcontrol meclianism 29, which is composed oi' a bank ot keys 28 and the other mechanism connected therewith which has hereinbefore been re` terred to, is mounted in an operators cage 53 supported by timbers of tbemill struc`tu're,- which cage is arranged above' the conveyor 5() which moves the boards 5l to be cut along'v the feed table 52 and under the trimmerv saws. 1 The operators cage 53 is arranged so that the operator has an unobstructed view of the boards 51 being moved along by said4'conveyors and the rods 30 are ot such` size as not unduly to obstruct the vision olf said opera-tor.

The operation of my device'is as follows: Vhen the saws are in saws up. position' as shown in full lines in F ig. 2, the boards 51 can pass beneath said saws. lVhen any of the saws are in saws down position shown in: d otted lines, however., said saws cutfth'ef` board. As shown in Fig. 1,'the saws are: equally spaced along the conveyor for said board and thus the saws when lowered to operative position cut the board at prede# terinined intervals. Saws in sa-ws up posi-j tion are lowered .in the Jfollowing mannerree: it'eri'ing to Fig.v 2:

The key 28 is pivotally eonnectedto the link 32 by the connection 34 and said 'linkv reciprocates the relatively still rod 30"t'of .move the operating lever 2O 'for the'valve4 element 19. When the key 28 is moved to the angular' position assumed at thepresen't time by the key 28, it will canse the saw to, be lowered to operative or saws downwpo sition. Then the key is thus moved it eX- ercises a compressive thrust upon the .connection 34, the link 3'2, and the relatively f.' rod 30'. The rod 30 being' relatively stiif' can transmit the movement ot said key, in either direction, directly to the operating lever 20 for said valve 19. As an auxiliary safety device I provide` the mechanical catch 22 for holding the saws in saws up position and I- prof.

LLanarte vide said; mechanical catchl with operatcarrying a- Jspring 21%l betweenvtliem.v Said means kra;re,f .actuated by the movement-ot said operating lever sothat when said Y lever arranges said valve,;to permit the yactuating fluid tolift the, piston in the cylinder vthefme'chanical catch is thrown into engaging.positionrelatively,v to the flange 24 on the piston rod. I vThis flange 24 has a tapered pe- J riphery and the underside ofthe extremity of the portion-22aiofqsaid mechanical catch is beveled `'so that y.when said flange moves upwardlyit is free to pass by the mechanical catch. Said flange merely lifts said catch slightly and compresses'the spring 21a shown in Fig. 5, andafter passing beyond said'po'rtion22t tliespring 2lLL returns said catch pore tion 22a to'horizontal position inwhich positionQsaid-flange V can not pass downwardly beyond the latter subsequently until the catch is moved by operating lever20.

l. vl. Intrimmerlsaw mechanism comprising a? fluid pressure cylinder for each Saw` in adapted -to restrain the lateral deflection,V

which the'fluidisadmitted at each end, a valve 'control for suchcylinder, and operatingmeans, included in said valve control, 'arranged to reduce the amount of power required'A to operate ,said valve control to a practical minimum, means located-at a cen-V tral station for operating saidvalve controls', comprising. a series of parallel short stiff rods,` fixed guide bearings for such rods y other stiffrods connecting-said short rods with said valve operating 'means respect-ive'-y ly, means for operating said short rods individually, adapted to graduate to the length of'stroke` thereof, respectively, relatively to the variations inthe angl-es` of divergence of *the points at which particular cylinders are .trols,"comprising a series-of parallel short still' rods, fixed guide bearings for such rods adapted to restrain the lateral deflection, other stiff rods `connecting said short rods with said valve operating levers, respective- `ly, means foroperating said short rods individually, adapted to graduate to the length of stroke thereof, respectively, relatively to the actuation of the valve the variations inthe angles of vdivergence of the points at which particular cylindersl are locatedfrom the line of motion of the related short-rofl: so as'to transmit ,uniform operative motion to all of said" valve operating means.y Y ,Y Y

` -3. In trimmer saw mechanism comprising a fluid pressure cylinder foreach saw in -which the fluid is admitted at each end, a

valve control for such cylinder, and operatlng means, included in said valvecontrol, arranged to reduce the amount ofpower required to operate said valve control to a practical minimunnmeans located at a central station for operating said valve controls, comprising a series of parallel short stifl rods, fixed guide bearings for such rods adapted to restrain the lateral deflection, other stiff yrods connecting said short rods with said valve-operating means, respectively, means for operating said short rods individually, andv said means comprising a lever for each rod, the vfulcrums of all levers being uniformly arranged, andmeans for graduating the length of stroke transmitted by vthe latter levers to said short rods, respectively, relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence of th-e points at which particular cylinders are llocated from the line of motion of the related short rod. 4. In trimmer saw mechanism comprising a fluid pressure cylinder for each saw in which the fluid is Vadmitted at each end, a valve control for such cylinder, and an operatingr lever, included in said valve control, fulcrumedfto reducethe amount of power required to operate `said valve control to a practical minimum, means locatedat a cen` tral station for operating said valve controls, comprisingva series of parallel short stiff rods, fixed guide bearings for such rods adapted to restrain the lateral deflections, otherstiff rods connecting said short rods with ,saidvalve operating levers, respectively, means for operatingsaid short rods individually, and said means comprising a lever for each' rod, the fulcrums of all levers being Y. uniformly arranged, and means for graduating the length of stroke transmitted by the latter levers to said short rods, respectively, relatively to the variations in the angles of divergencev of the points at which particular cylinders are4 located from .the line of motion of the related short rod.

y 5.4 In trimmerV sawl mechanism' comprising a fluid pressure cylinder for each saw in which the fluid is admitted at each end, a valvey control Yfor such cylinder, and operating means, included in said valve control, arranged to reduce the amount of power required to operate said valve control to a practical minimum, means located at a central station for operating said valve controls, comprising a series of parallel short still rods, fixed guide bearings for such rods adapted to restrain the lateral deflection, other sti-ff rods connecting said short rods With said valve operating means, respectively, lmeans for operating said short rods individually, said means comprising a lever for each rod, the fulcrums of all levers being uniformly arranged', and means for graduating the length ot stro-ke transmitted by the latter levers to said short rods, respectively, relatively to the variations4 in the angles of divergence of the points' at which particular' cylinders are located from the l-ine of motion of the related short rod, and means tor holdin-g said levers of the central station in one position until moved to another.`

6. Operating mechanism for the valves of a bank of pressure cylinders of the character described, comprising a guide-block, a series of short still rods bearing in said guide-block and thereby restrained against lateral deflection, auxiliary stitfrods for connecting said short rods with the valves 'ot' said cylinders, respectively, means for rigidly connecting saidl auxiliary rods to said short rods and at a variable angle therewith, means for operating said short rods individually, and adapted to` graduate the length of their strokes, and relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence of the points at which particularcylinders of said bank are located from the line of motion o that short rod with Which it is connected.

7. Operating mechanism for the valves of a ban-k of pressure cylinders o' the character described, comprising a guideblock, a series oli' shortstiilI rods bearing in said guideblocks and thereby restrained against lateral deflection, auxiliary still rods 'for connecting said short rod-s with the valves of said cylinders, respectively, said auxiliary rods being adjustable in length, means for rigidly connecting said auxiliary rods to said short rods and at a variable anglev therewith, means tor operating said short rods individually, and adaptedv to graduate the length of their strokes, and relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence of the points at which particular cylinders ot' said bank are located from the line oit motion ot' that short rod With which it is connected. 8. Operating mechanism for the valves ot a bank oit pressure cylinders or' the character described, comprising a guide-block, a series of short stiff rods bearing in said guideblock and thereby restrained against lateral deflection, auxiliary stiifrods for connecting said short rods with the valves of said cyl'- regresara() inders, respectively, means for rigidly connectm'g said auxiliary rods to said short rods and at a variable angle therewith, a series ot operati-ngv levers of the first class, having their fulcrumsy uniformly arranged, and lin-ksconnecting said levers with said short rods, `said links being adjustable to graduate the length ot' stroke of' saidf yshort rods, andi relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence tol the points at which particular cylinders of said ban-k are located from the lfine of motion of that short rod with which it is connected.

9. Operating mechanism tor the valves of a bank of pressure cylinder-sot the character' described, comprising a guide-block, a series of short stitf rods bearing in said guide block and thereby restrained against lateral delectioii, auxiliary stiif rods for connecting said short rods with the valves of said cylinders, respectively, said auxiliary rods being adjustable in length, means for rigidly connecting said auxiliary rods to said short rods and, at a variable angle` therewith, a

series of operating levers of the flirrstjclass,

having their tulcrums uniformlyarranged, and links connecting said levers With. said short rods, said links being adjustable to graduate the length of stroke of said short rods, andy relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence of the points at which particular cylinders oit' said bank are located ifi-oni the line of motion of that short rod with.` which it is connected. 1

l0. Operating mechanism for the valves oi' a bank ot pressure cylinders of the charf acter described, comprising a guide-block, a series ot short stiff rods bearing in said guide-block andr` thereby restrainedI against late al deflection, auxiliary stiff rods tor connecting said short rods with the valves ot' said cylinders, respectively, means for rigidly connectinfY said 'auxiliary rods tosaid short rods and at a variable angle the-reivith, a series ot operating levers of the irst class, having their tul'crums uniformly arranged, and links connecting said leverswith said short rods, said links being adjustable to graduate the length of stroke of said short rods, relatively to the variations in the angles of divergence of the points at which particular cylinders ot said bank are located' from the line of motion of that short rod with which it is connected', and means for holding said levers of `the central station in one position until moved to another.

GUST GRAFFINBEBGER.