US1966037A - Cylinder construction - Google Patents

Description

July l0, 1934. H, E. MucHNlc CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION med .my 27. 19:1

2 Sheets-Sheet l July 10, 1934. H. E. MUcHNlc CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION Application July 27, 1931, Serial No. 553,276

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a cast steel locomotive cylinder structure adapted to eliminate the serious objections of cracking and breaking encountered with cast steel structures at present in use, re-

sulting from the unequal and great degree of expansion obtained in such structures.

My invention has for its object the provision of a cylinder construction wherein the steam passages are formed independently of the walls or l0 structural portions so that the steam passages are free to expand without aecting or straining the walls of the cylinder casting.

My invention also contemplates the provision of means for maintaining the valve chamber bushings in proper position within the valve chambers in order that the ports in the separate bushings may be in proper relation with each other relative to the steam laps and the exhaust laps of the piston valve; while at the same time providing a smooth continuous wall or riding surface for the piston valve heads and thus enabling the withdrawal of the piston valve to be easily accomplished.

The above enumerated objects and advantages,

as well as other advantages inherent in the invention, will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved cylinder construction, with portions broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a partial elevational view with a part in section, the section being taken substantially on the oi-set line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the off-set line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the off-set line 4 4 of Figure 2.

My invention relates to an integral locomotive cylinder construction of cast steel, wherein the exhaust steam passages are independent of and form no part of the walls or structural portions of the casting.

In prior years, locomotive cylinders were usually made of cast iron with each cylinder consisting of a separate casting and a pair of cylinders then bolted together and attached to the boiler shell and to the locomotive frame. With the advent of locomotives of greater power using superheated steam and the practice of locating air pumps and feed-water heaters on the front end of locomotives, considerable diiculty was encountered because of the increased weight on the front truck of the locomotives. Locomotive cylinders were then made of cast steel in order to reduce the excessive Weight on the front trucks. These cast steel structures, however, present serious problems because of the increased linear expansion of cast steel over cast iron and frequently results in cracking and breaking of the casting, especially where it is essential that the weight of the cylinder casting be held to a minimum.

These diiliculties resulted from the fact that the exhaust steam passages constituted a structural portion or wall of the casting proper.

In the exemplification of my invention, the valve chambers and cylinders at opposite sides are all formed integral; the casting involving the valve chambers 10, 10; cylinders ll, l1, provided with the usual steam passage or ports therebetween and controlled by the usual piston valves (not shown) located in the valve chambers l0, l0.

The oppositely located valve chambers and cylinders are united by the integral, hollow or skeleton casting provided with a top Wall l2I bottom wall 13, united as for example by the vertical webs 14, 14 and 15; and the front, rear and side walls 16, 1'7 and 18; the webs 14, 14 and 15 also being integral with the front and rear walls, as seen in Figure 1.

The top wall 12 is provided with the integral saddle portion 19, whereby the casting is secured to the boiler shell; the saddle portion being provided with rivet receiving holes as at 20.

The front and rear walls 16 and 17, at each side of the casting, are provided with openings 21, 21 and 22, 22; While the vertical webs or partitions 14, 14 are also each provided with an opening as at 23. These openings receive the exhaust steam conduits 24, 25, which lead from opposite ends of the valve chambers or steam chests 10. These conduits 24, 25 curve inwardly and thence upwardly, uniting in the upwardly disposed discharge end 26 which extends through an opening in the saddle portion 19; the discharge end being preferably yieldably attached to the casting proper by the horizontal portion 27 provided with enlarged openings which eliminate any tendency of the web to buckle; the upper end 26 being also provided with an exhaust nozzle receiving flange 28.

It is apparent that the exhaust conduits are divorced from the structural portions of the cylinder casting. That is to say, the exhaust passages or conduits form no part of the walls of the casting but merely function as steam passages and therefore are free to expand and contract and do not transmit these stresses and strains to the cylinder casting as, however, is the case in cylinder constructions as at present in use.

The walls about the openings 21, 22 and 23 are preferably enlarged or provided with the encircling flanges as shown at for reenforcing and strengthening said walls.

The intermediate portions of the valve chambers 10, 10 and to the exterior of the casting are provided with the usual live steam inlet hubs 31, 31.

The interiors of the valve chambers 10, at opposite ends, are made with a slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter of the intermediate portions of the chambers so as to provide the interior of each chamber with annular shoulders as shown at 32, 32 in Figure l against which the inner ends of the ported bushings 33, 33 seat.

The depth of the shoulders 32 are commensurate with the thickness of the inner ends of the bushings 33, with the result that a. smooth continuous wall or riding surface for the valve heads is provided which enables; the easy withdrawal of the valve from the chamber possible when renewal of the usual valve rings is necessary.

At the same time, the shoulders 32 will maintain the bushings in proper position or spaced relation so that the bushing ports are in proper position relative to each other and to the valveheads to provide the proper steam laps and exhaust laps of the valve, as shifting or improper positioning of the ported bushings is impossible.

As is apparent from the construction shown in the drawings, the steam passages or conduits do not constitute a structural portion or bracing wall of the casing proper, but merely function as steam passages, and therefore are free to expand Without affecting or straining the walls of the cylinder casting, with the result that the serious diculties at present encountered with cast steel cylinder structures are entirely eliminated and a longer lived construction provided, obviating the maintenance expense.

I have illustrated what is believed to be a simple embodiment of the invention adapted more particularly to the present type of locomotives in use, but modifications are possible without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A cylinder saddle structure comprising a casting formed to provide a valve chamber and cylinder, the front and rear walls being provided with openings; and exhaust steam conduits integrally connected with opposite ends of the valve chamber extending through said openings in dissociated relation with said walls and dispozed within the structure.

2. A saddle construction comprising a skeleton casting formed t0 provide integral valve chambers and cylinders and having side, top and vertical walls provided with enlarged openings; and exhaust steam conduits formed integral with opposite ends of the valve chambers beyond the side walls of the casting, said conduits extending through the openings in the side, vertical and top walls of the casting Without intimate relation with the casting.

3. A saddle construction comprising an integral hollow structure composed of valve chambers, cylinders at opposite ends and side, top, bottom and intermediate connecting walls, the side and intermediate wall being provided with enlarged openings; and exhaust steam conduits connected with the ends of the valve chambers and curving inwardly through the openings in said walls and uniting within the structure in a single discharge end yieldingly tied to the walls of the structure.

4. A cylinder saddle structure comprising a casting formed to provide an integral valve chamber. cylinder and exhaust conduits at opposite ends of the valve chamber; the front and rear walls of the casting having openings through which the exhaust conduits extend in dissociated relation with said walls so as to be disposed within the structure.

HENRY E. MUCHNIC.

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