US319114A - Steam-engine valve-gear - Google Patents

Description

4 SheetsSheet 1.

J. D. OLDS.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

Patented June 2, 1885.

(No Model.)

Invent 707' M 6144/ vat 66S 19 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. D. OLDS.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR. No. 319,114. Patented June 2, 1885.

N. Prrzns. momha nlr. Wnhinglols 11c 4Sheets-Sheet 3. J. D. OLDS.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

Patented June 2. 1885.

(No Model.)

Fig.6.

4 shee ts -sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J.D.0LDS. STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

,114. Patented June 2, 1885.

Parsrvr JOHN D. OLDS, OF FORT XVAYNE, INDIANA.

STEAM-ENGlNE VALVE-GEAR.

C?EGIl?ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,114, dated June 2, 1885.

Application filed Juno 1!), 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it in-(11y concern:

Be it known that I, J onw D. Guns, of Fort W'aync, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Steam-Engine Valve- Gear; and I do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connect-ion with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same,is a clear,true,and complete description of the several features of my invention.

The main object of my invention is to provide for the variable control of asteam-engine valve by what is sometimes termed a dynamometrical or flywheel governor, in such a manner as will enable the governor by an unusually-limited movement of its weighted arms or equivalent centrifugal devices to impart to the valve a wide range of movement, and also to effect the closure of the steam-ports with great rapidity after said ports have been promptly opened to their maximum capacity for receiving steam, thus enabling an enginecylinder to be promptly charged with steam i. 6., without wire-drawing-for any predetermined portion of its stroke, and to then have the steam promptly cut off, so that it may operate expansively for the remainder of the stroke.

In seeking the best rcsultsabalanced slidevalve should be relied upon, and I have de-v vised such a valve,which constitutes the sub-F jcct of a separate application for Letters Patent, but which will be hereinafter sufficiently described for the purposes of this specifica.

tion. Although I prefer to use said balanced slide-valve, I do not herein limit myself thereto, because I am well aware that balanced valvesot-hcrwise constructed can be employed with my governing mechanism with more or less desirable results, and also that said mechanism can be relied upon for controlling any ,variety of valve which is capable of being operated by means of eccentrics and a longitudinally-reciprocating rod or bar, however this latter may be coupled to the valve.

My governing mechanism differs from any others of its class known to me, in that it involves the use of two independent but co-operating valveworking eccentrics, which are loosely mounted on the crank-shaft, and are capable of rotative movement in opposite di rections,although they rotate in harmony with the crank-shaft, except when otherwise controlled by the governor, whatever its charac ter, and one weighted arm coupled to both eccentrics can be relied upon or two arms, each of which is coupled to both eccentrics, or in lieu of weighted arms sliding balls can be employed. Between my eccentrics and the valve to be worked thereby is a complex rocker arm or lever with which the two eccentrics are connected in such a manner that, although said eccentrics are oppositely set on the engine crank-shaft, they operate harmoniously in imparting to one valve-rod more rapid reciprocating movements than have, as I believe, heretofore been obtained by the use of eccentrics, and this portion of my invention is of value, independently of a fly-wheel governor, in which case the two eccentrics are capable of no rotative movementindependently of the crank-shaft.

My improvements are applicable to engines of various styles and for general service, although I have devised and organized them with special reference to high-speed engines with a view to obtaining steadiness in operation and economy in the use of steam.

After fully describing the mechanism illustrated, the several features deemed novel will be specified in the several clauses of claim hereunto annexed.

Referring to the four sheets of drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view of an engine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a partial side elevation and vertical section of said engine, with its ily-whec'l shown in dotted lines for the better illustration of the governing mechanism, the crossh'ead, slide, and piston-rod being omitted for more clearly showing my improvements. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a diametrical section of the flywheel and the portions of the valve-governing mechanism which are mounted upon it and the cranlc shaft. Fig. i, Sheet 3, is a longitudinal horizontal section of the steam-chest and its valve. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, in two enlarged views illustrates a complex. rocking-lever which is coupled to the slide-valve and to the two eccentrics. Figs. 6 and 7 are separate side views of flywheels embodying certain portions of my govering mechanism in two different forms.

The cylinder A, its piston, piston-rod, crosshead, pitmau, crank or crank-disk,-and crankrocating valve-rod d.

; c and lifting-screws c and also with a bullring, springs, and ringpacking, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

This balanced valve embodies certain novel features which constitute the subject of a sep arate application for Letters Patent. The most important matter to be considered in this connection is the fact that said cylinder 0 is sufficiently large to include within its sectional area the entire portion of the valve-seat which is occupied by the induction and the exhaust ports, which, in connection with the fact that said balance-plate piston is positively supported by its lifting-screws, enables the valve to be very easily operated and very readily controlled by a governor coupled tothe recip- It is to be understood that, although I have thus describedsaid valve and propose to herein make claim to a bat anced valve in certain combinations, I do not intend. to thereby limit myself to this particular valve, but mean to include as within said portions of my invention any of the wellknown balanced reciprocating valves,whcther of the box, or the D, or the piston, or the oscillating Varieties, provided they are capable of being operated by eccentrics and a reciprocating valve-rod,organized substantially as hereinafter described.

As an essential element between the cranlc shaft B and the jointed valve-rod d, I employ the complex rocker arm or lever E, which is pivoted at its base to the bedplate.of the engine, so as to be capable of rocking in a vertical plane toward and away from the'steamchest, and at a suitable point below its upper end it is provided with a lateral tubular bearing for receiving the rock-shaft of an auxiliary rocking lever, e, to the upper end of which the outer end of the valve-rod d is coupled by 'means of a pin and strap-bearings in a manner well known.

Upon the crank-shaft B there are two eccentrics, F and G, which will befirst described, independently of the governing mechanism,of which they are in one sense a part, and also independently of such peculiarities thereof as are essentially involved in connection with said mechanism. For present purposes I need only say that they are mounted side by side, but oppositely set or located on the shaft; or, in other words, they project therefrom in opposite directions, so as, when rotated,to cause their respective rods f and g to be longitudinally reciprocated in opposite directions. The rod f of the eccentric F is coupled to the upper end of the main portion of the rocker arm or lever E,and the rod 9 of the eccentric G is coupled to the lower end of the auxiliary lever 6. Now, assuming the eccentrics to be re volving with the crank-shaft, it will be seen that while the eccentricFis moving thevalverod f toward the crank-shaft the eccentric G is moving its rod 9 away from the crankshaft, thus causing the lower end of the auxiliary lever e to be correspondingly moved, and its upper end and the valve-rod d to be moved toward the crank -shaft in harmony with the movement of the main portion of the rocker-arm as to direction, but at a much greater speed, and it will be obvious that as the eccentrics are further rotated they will cause a precisely corresponding rearward movement of the valve-rod and valve.

As thus far described, (it being understood that the eccentrics are properly set with reference to the crank plate or disln) it will be seen that the valve will not'only be moved to a greater extent than the extent of throw of either eccentric, but also moved much more rapidly than would be possible with a single eccentric, and therefore the induction-ports are promptly opened to their maximum capacity and promptly closed at such predetermined portion of the engine'strolre as maybe desired.

Although not fully shown, it is to be understood that the several connections between the ecccntricrods and the rockerarm may be made adjustable in amanner well lrn0wnas, for instance, by means of slots, clamping-nuts, and studs-and that the foot of the rocking arm may be also capable of adjusting movements, and also that the eccentric-rods may be capable of longitudinaladj ustment with relation to their straps without departure from my invention.

I am aware that two eccentrics have heretofore been employed with a complex rockerarm in connection with two valve-rods for operating respectively a main valve and an overlying cut-oil valve; but I believe I am the first to organize two eccentrics and. a rocker-arm so as to operate one slide-valve and enable the latter to be reciprocated with great rapidity, so as to promptly fill a cylinder with steam and then to promptly close after a desirable dwell of the valveat each end of its stroke.

I am also aware that a single slide-valve has heretofore been coupled to a pair of eccentrics, one being within the other, and serving as a variable axis for the outer eccentric; but such eccentrics, when considered independently of a governor which controls the inner eccentric, would operate precisely the same as one ordinary eccentric instead of as two independent but co-operating eccentrics as thus organized by me.

I will now describe said eccentrics as when.

mounted so as to be controlled by a fly-wheel governor, and to then therefore constitute a part of the governing mechanism.

.The inner eccentric, G, nearest the crank is integral with or may be mounted upon and IOU . I w W fl keyed or otherwise secured to one end of a sleeve, h, which is so mounted as to be capable of freely rotating on the crank-shaft, and at its opposite end said sleeve has secured thereto a two-armed lever, It, projecting radially in opposite directions from the sleeve. Between said lever h and the eccentric G the outer eccentric, F, is loosely mounted on said sleeve, and to its outer face a similar but longer lever, 43, is secured, which projects radially in opposite directions beyond its periphery, and is recessed centrally to receive the lever h in substantially the same plane, as clearly indicated. To these levers a governor is connected, so as to cause the eccentrics to be thereby rotated in opposite directions independently of the crankshaft, and said sleeve, the eccentrics, andtheir levers constitute one portion of my invention regardless of the particular character of the fly-wheel governor which may be em ployed therewith. These eccentrics may be both controlled by either of the weighted arms H or H; but when only one of such arms is coupled to said eccentrics a centrifngal counterbalance weight should obviously be employed, and therefore I prefer to employ the two arms, as shown. These arms, as heretofore in other flywheel governors, are pivoted to the arms of the fly-wheel, and are backed up by expansive adjustable spiral springs 7c, located near their pivoted ends. Each weighted arm is also provided with an adjustable stop, Z, radially movable on an arm of the fly-wheel. Each of said weighted arms is pivotally coupled to both of the eccentrics as follows: arm H by link at to the eccentric F, and by link a to eccentric G. The arm H by the link m is coupled to the eccentric F, and by the link a to the eccentric G by way of their respective arms or levers t and h, as clearly shown.

The coupling of one weighted arm to two eccentrics I believe to be broadly new, and'so also as to the two weighted arms, each coupled to two eccentrics. It will be seen that either or both of said weighted arms by their swinging movements cause the eccentrics to be oppositely rotated, and that the result thereof is to vary the time of closing the steam-ports according to the speed at which the engine is operated. It will also be seen that there is a practically perfect balance of straining force, as between either weighted arm and the eccentrics, and that therefore the movements of the governing mechanism will be smooth and easy, and that a comparatively slight rotative movement of both eccentrics independently of the crankshaft will result in a radical variation in the movement of the valve.

It is to be understood that while I make specific claim in certain combinations to the one and the two weighted arms coupled by links to the eccentrics, as described, 1 do not limit myself thereto, but broadly claim, under the main feature of my invention, the combi-. nation of the two eccentrics loosel mounted on the crank-shaft with any variety of govenor' mounted on and rotating with said shaft, however the one or two weighted arms thereof or equivalent centrifugally-operated devices may be coupled to said eccentrics, as I am well To illustrate other modes of coupling and other types of governor, I will next describe the mechanism illustrated on Sheet 4, Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the eccentric-levers it and i are in the form of toothed segments, and that the weighted arms H and H are each coupled to said segmental levers. The eccentric G and sleeve 71, before described, and its segmental toothed lever It are coupled to pinions h, keyed upon the pivots o of both arms by the intermediate gears h", loosely mounted on studs projecting from the arms of the fly-wheel. The eccentric F, by way of its longer segmental toothed lever e', is coupled directly to segmental gears i, keyed upon the pivots of both weighted arms. Spiral springs 12 encircle the housings of the studs 0, and have bearing at one edge of each arm, as clearly indicated; but said springs may be otherwise applied, if desired. With this construction it is obvious that the vibratory movement of the weighted arms will impart to the levers h and i rotative movements, as before described, and that the'two eccentries will be in like manner oppositely rotated.-

The value of the weighted arms and the simple links illustrated in Fig. 2 will be all the more apparent on a comparison therewith of the complicated system of gearing illustrated in Fig. 6, and especially when it is further considered that with such gearing more or less lost motion will be inevitable, all of which is obviated by the direct link-connection.

To illustrate wherein certain portions of my invention are of value, even if the weight ed lever-arms are wholly dispensed with, I will refer to Fig. '7, wherein the eccentriclevers h and 5 are coupled by their links m m and n it directly to sliding balls g, which, as in some prior forms of governor, slide radially on rods extending from the hub to the rim of the fly-wheel, whereby, as will be obvious, the two eccentrics will be controlled in a manner similar to that already described, Although this last-described construction can in some cases be relied upon, the weighted arms, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, are deemed preferable for obtaining the best re sul ts. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the two independent valveworking eccentrics mounted loosely on the crankshaft, and a governor mounted on and rotating with said crank-shaft and coupled to said eccentrics, substantially as described, whereby said eccentrics can be variably rotated by the governor in opposite directions.

2.The combination, with the crank-shaft, of a weighted arm, the two eccentrics loosely mounted on said shaft, each provided with an arm or lever, and both connected by a link to said weighted arm.

3. The combination, with the crankshaft, of the two weighted arms, the two eccentrics, each provided with an arm or lever, and each connected by links to both of said weighted arms.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of a balanced valve, a vibratory rocker-arm, a rocking lever mounted on said arm, a pair of eccentrics oppositelyset on their shaft, coupled, respectively, to

the rocker-arm and to the rocking lever, and a valve'rod which connects said rocking lever with the valve.

5. The combination, with the governing" mechanism, including the two eccentrics and J OHN D. OLDS.

Witnesses:

PHILIP F. LARNER, HOWELL BARTLE.

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