US1864004A

US1864004A - Engine frame

Info

Publication number: US1864004A
Application number: US515343A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stevens Clement Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-04-25
Filing date: 1931-02-12
Publication date: 1932-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-21

Description

June 21, 1932. c. H. STEVENS I I 1,864,004

ENGINE FRAME Filed Feb. 12. 1931 2 sheets-sum 1 InuenZor GEJ'ZL wnJ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 9d n m A -w F l l l l nu 0 m L, W r A June 21, 1932.. c. H. STEVENS ENGINE FRAME Filed Feb. 12, 1931 0. E 5 22210726 3;) WZQM' m" Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES CLEMENT HENRY s'rEvENs, or

ENGINE.

Application filed February 12, 1931, Serial No.

This invention relates to the construction of the framesincluding columns and bedplates-of vertical Diesel engines, and any like reciprocating engines, and it has for its [F object the provision of a light steel frame of usual form of cast bedplate and secured at their upper ends to an entablature, common to allthe cylinders, on which the latter are supported. j

The weakness of this arrangement consists in the fact that the entablature rests upon the top edges of the vertical plates and also in the fact that the bottom edges of the vertical plates are bolted to a cast bedplate, of the usual forn1,thus perpetuating the horizontal bolted oints in the framing.

The bolts securing these joints are subject to severe tensional stresses at every explosion which takes place in the cylinders.

The present invention entirely eliminates these bolted joints.

According to thepresent invention a frame for reciprocating engines of the vertical type is constructed of vertical sheet metal plates between the cylinders these plates having gaps in their upper ends through which hori zontal plates are passed which form the seatings for the cylinders, the vertical plates be ing secured together by a wrapperplate or plates extending the whole length of both sides of the engine and from the base to the top and across the bottom of the base below the crank shaft.

A number of alternative constructions, according to the invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional front and side elevations respectively of one form of construction; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modified constructions for different sizes of engine; while Fig. 5 shows PATENT OFFE- FARNHAM COMMON, ENGLAND FRAME 515,343, and in Great Britain April 25, 1930.

from above the cylinder head joints. to the lower edge of the base or engine seating. The

external contour of the plate follows generally the customary profile of the end view of a vertical engine.

Within the platel are formed or out two

gaps

2 and 3, the upper 2 of which has fitted into ittwo

steel plates

4 and 5, running horizontally the whole length of the engine; of these the upper plate forms the seating 6 for the cylinder heads and cylinders, whilst the lower plate 5 is formed to provide the housing 7 for the lower ends of the cylinders, the position of the cylinders and valves be? ing shownin chain lines in Fig. 1. This arrangement leaves a portion 18 of the vertical frame plate 1 above the plate 4, to act as a girder which receives the upward thrust due to the explosions in the cylinders. Between the two

horizontal plates

4 and 5 vertical plates 8 (Fig. 4) are fitted on each side of the cylinders, in order to form the outer casing of the water jackets.

The gap 3 in the lower part of each frame plate is preferably in the form of a circle as shown in Fig. 2, although it may be of any other shape such as that shown in Fig. 4, the

radius of its lower edge 9 being struck off from the centre line of the crank shaft and the gap being of such diameter or dimensions that the crank shaft may be passed into position, from either end of the engine, through the gaps 3 in the frame plates 1. The lower edge 9 of each lower gap in the frame plate is provided with a seating 10 upon which the main crank shaft bearing 11 rests and is bolted thereto as indicated, the lower part of the frame plate being provided if necessary with strengthening webs 12 for this purpose.

' The lower part 19 of each frame plate forms a girder upon which is received the downward thrust of the explosions in the cylinders.

The construction is thus arranged so that the crank shaft with the main bearings mounted thereon may be passed through the openings in the lower parts of the frame plates into its position, thus allowing the crank shaft with its hearings to be mounted or dismounted without disturbing any other part of the engine.

In order to connect up the various frame plates one with another, an outer or wrapper plate 13 is fitted extending the whole length of the engine, on both sides, and under the base, and from the base to the top. This wrapper plate may be in one or more pieces and may have the necessary hand holes and inspection door holes 14 cut therein, these.

stead of having two

gaps

2 and 3 in the frame plate .1, they are merged into one large gap 16 and only one horizontal plate 4 is used. But in this case also, the frame plate 1 forms a continuous sling with upper and

lower girders

18 and 19, which receive the upward and downward thrusts, due to the explosions in the cylinders. Additional plates or webs 17 extending between the frame plates 1 are provided to increase the rigidity of the frame plate 1 in this case, to counteract the effect of the large gap 16.

Additional plates

21, 22, are provided between the wrapper plate 13 and webs 17 and between the two webs 17, respectively to increase the rigidity of the construction.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, which is intended for an engine in which the pistons are provided'with piston rods, crossheads and guide shoes, additional plates 20 forming the crosshead guides or forming seatings "for the guides are arranged between the frame plates.

The number of frame plates depends upon the number of cylinders in the engine, but

there would be normally one frame plate between each cylinder, and one at each outer end of the engine, but where large units are concerned each frame plate is preferably formed of two or more subsidiary steel plates 1 1 as shown in Fig. 5. These subsidiary plates may be close together at one part .and, splayed out at another part as shown, in order to accommodate any special feature of design In any case each frame plate section, whether of single or multiple plates, is built as a unit in one piece forming a continuous tie surrounding the cylinder heads and crank shaft bearings down to the engine seating.

The whole of each structure above described is connected together by welding, riveting, bolting, or by any other suitable means, whilst stiffeners, ribs, seatings and other details of design can be added as re quired.

By the use of a steel structure as above described, a great reduction in the weight of the framework of an engine combined with strength can be achieved, whilst all the usual horizontal bolted connections are avoided.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A frame for a reciprocating engine of the vertical type, comprising vertical sheet metal plates having openings through which are passed horizontal plates which form the seatings for, the cylinders, the upper and lower portions of the vertical sheet metal plates forming girders which take the upward and downward thrusts due to the explosions in the cylinders and the vertical plates being secured together by a wrapper plate member extending the. whole length of both sides of the engine and from the baseto the top and across the bottom.

. 2. A frame for'reciprocating engines-of the vertical type, comprising verticalsheet metal plates extending beyond the cylinder head joints and below the crank shaft bearings to constitute girders which receive the forces due to the explosions in the cylinders, openings in each of said plates, horizontal plates forming seatings for the cylinders located in one of said openings, a seating in another of said openings in each plate for receiving the crank shaft bearings, said latter opening being of such a size that the crank shaft with its bearings may be passed longitudinally therethrough, and a wrapper plate member extending the whole length of theengine frame and securing said vertical plates together.

.3- A frame for reciprocating engines of the vertical type, comprising vertical sheet metal plates extending beyond the cylinder head joints and below the crank shaft bearings to constitute girders which receive the forces due to the explosions in the cylinders, openings in said vertical plates, horizontal plates forming seatings for the cylinders located at one end of said. openings, seatings at the other ends of said openings for receiving the crankshaft bearings, the said openings being of such a size that the crank shaft with its bearings may be passed longitudinally therethrough, and a wrapper plate member extending the whole length of the engine frame and securing said vertical plates together.

4A frame for reciprocating engines of the vertical type comprising a plurality of vertical plates between the cylinders, said plates being spaced from one another but secured together and extending beyond the cylinder head joints and below the crank shaft bearings to constitute girders which receive the forces due to the explosions in the cylinders, openings in said vertical plates for receiving cylinder seating plates, other openings in said vertical plates provided with seatings for the crank shaft bearings and of such a size that the crankshaft and its bearings may be passed longitudinally therethrough, and a Wrapper late member extending the whole length 0 the engine frame and from the base to the top, the whole of. said structure being Welded together.

CLEMENT HENRY STEVENS.