US413711A - Steam-engine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

C. P. DEANE STEAM ENGINE.

No. 413,711. Patented 001. 29, 1889.

VUNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cHARpns P. DnANjn, or srRiNeriELn,MASSACHUSETTS.;

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,711, dated October 29, 1889.

Application filed February 18, 1889. Serial No. 300,218. (No model.)

TwaZZ whom it nmyconccrn: Be it known that I, CHARLES P. DEANE, of

Springield, in `the State of' l\.Iassacl1usetts,l

i `have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Engines, of the kind known as compound direct-acting, and the following` is an exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification. f

My invention consists in anew and improved construction and arrangement, hereinafter described, of what I call a switching-valve,

with the connecting and main steam and ex- ,haust pipes and the cylinders of a compound direct-acting engine, whereby such engine (in which, as iswell known, the exhaust-steam from the smaller or high-pressure cylinder, instead of passing directly to the open air is carried to and actuates the larger or lowpressure cylinder) may be instantly converted into two simple engines, which, though operating in conjunction, are independent, in that each receives its steam directly from the boiler and each exhausts freely to the atmosphere or to a condenser; and theobject of my invention is to provide a more simple, direct, and convenient means than hitherto attained of thus largely and immediately increasing, when desirable, the power of such engines, whether single or duplex, the i'rnprovement being applicable to either.

Figure l is a plan view of the cylindrical shell (shown uncovered) of the switchingvalve and the pipeswhichconneet it with the several steam-cylinders and with the main steam and exhaust pipesy of a duplex compound direct-acting engine in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 shows in plan the lower end of the switching-valve with its openings to interior passages for steam. Figs. Il and 5 indicate the situations in different pcsitions of the valve kof the openings therein (sliown `in Figs. 2 and 3,) relatively to the corresponding openings in the bottom ofthe valve-shell, which, with its openings, is shown distinctly in Fig.` 6.

I describe my invention and its mode of operation as follows: L

In Figs, l and 2 of the drawings thecylinders (partially outlined in Fig. 2) of' the duplex engine indicated, as'fthey and their immediate adjuncts and mode of operation, being well4 understoodfneed no specific descrip-l tion here, may -beconsidered' as represented by their valvechests'.' In the .engine here represented the shell a of the switching-valve c is by the ltwo "pipes'b and b connected with the two smaller' or highfpressur'e cylinders through exhaust-openings below their valvechests A and A', as shown for "pipe b at m, Fig. 2, and by pipes dand d is also connected with the two larger or low-pressure cylinders through the sides shown of the valve-chestsB and B. Of the two pipes shown in section in Fig. 2, pipe t connects the said valve-shell with the main steam-inlet e, and by branches g and g with the two smaller or high-pressure cylinders through their valve-chests A and A', as shown, while pipe r connects the said shell with the main exhaust-outlet lo, and bybranches z and z with the larger or lowpressure cylinders through their exhaustopenings, of which one is shown at w, Fig. 2.

The switching-valve c, Fig. 2,is a solid cylin der, except that on each of two opposite sides a portion of it in form of a segment is removed, the cavities so made and the adjoining sides of the shell forming two chambers c and s, from each of which, as shown by dotted lines, extends an interior separate passage u or t', through the valve to its lower end, which, with the openin gs therein of these passages, (u and 1,) is shown by Fig. 3. f The openings of the pipes t and fr, Figs. 1 and 6, in the bottom of the valve-shell correspond with the two similar ones in the valve, as'shown in Fig. 3. The recess y, Fig. 6, and the small opening 0c, Fig. 3, to a corresponding passage through the valve (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2) allow steam to pass from pipet to the spaceabove the valve-to hold it firmly to its seat. The valve, if desired, may be rin gpacked, as indicated in Fig. 2, and may be moved, as shown, by a hand-wheel Z, pinion o, and sector p of a racked wheel attached to its rod q. The position of the valve as shown in Fig. 2 is that given to it when it is desired7 as in the emergency of a tire, (where the engine is used for pumping) to greatly increase the effective power without change of ICO the boiler-pressure. The openings u andi in the valve now coincide with t and r in its seat, as shown in Fig. 5. Direct steam from the boiler received through the main inlet e is carried, not only to the smaller cylinder through branches g and g and valve-chests A and A', but also to the larger cylinders through pipe t, passage u, and chamber s in the valve, pipes d and d', and valve-chests B and B', while the exhaust from the smaller cylinders is now carried through pipes b and b', the chamber o and passage t' in the valve, and the pipe r to the main exhaust-outlet k, through which, by connecting branches z and z', the exhaust-steam from the larger cylinders passes, with that from the smaller, to the atmosphere or a condenser. A movement of the valve equal to one-quarter of a revolution will immediately restore to the engine its original and usual character. Communication through pipes i and r will .then be out Off, as Shown by the relative positions, Fig- 4, 0f the ,openings and 2' in the valve .and t and r in its seat. Direct steam will in the same manner as above described be carried yto .and will actuate the smaller cylinders; but the exhaust-steam therefrom will then pass, as

shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, through pipes b and b', chambers s and o in the valve, and pipes d and d to the valve-chestsB and B of the larger and (as they will then be) lowpressure cylinders, and after use therein Will be finally exhausted through branches z and .2 and the main outlet k, as before described.

I do not claim, broadlyfas novel the combination, with the cylinders and main steam and exhaustpassages of an engine of the class described, of a valve constructed and arranged for the purpose described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a compound direct-acting steam-engine, single or duplex, the cylindrical rotary switching-valve c, constructed as shown and described, and having its chambers c s and its interior passages u z' arranged as shown with reference to the ports or openings in its shell a t0 and from the pipes b, d, t, and r, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHARLES RDEANE. Witnesses: Y

GEo. H. DEANE, JAMES R. WELLS.

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