US511488A - Steam-engine - Google Patents

Description

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R..T.. ABELL.

STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

Patent ed Deo. Z6',"189 3.

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R. T. ABELL. v

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 511,488. Patented Dec.26,1893.

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ROBERT T. ABELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

. STEAM-ENGINE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,488, dated December 26, 18 93.

Application filed March 15, 1893. Serial No. 466,099- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT T. ABELL, a subject of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines; and Mo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in steam engines; its objects are to secure, first, increased efficiency in operation and in use of steam; second, economy in construction; third, ease and certainty of adjustment and regulation; fourth, increased durability; and fifth, economy of space; and it consists in the special construction of parts and the combination and arrangement of means to effect the ends above set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents in plan view and partial section an engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the cylinder head, taken on the.

line a;a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the cylinder and head. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the valve; Fig. 5 a detached view of the valve chamber. Fig. 6 is an end view, and Fig. 7 a side view, both in elevation, of the rock-shaft connection by which the valve is operated. Fig. 8 is a detached view, in elevation, of the mechanism by which the valve rods are connected to their respective eccentrics.

Arepresents the steam cylinder, B the steam inlet passage, 0 the exhaust steam passage, and a a flanges by which the cylinder is secured to its bed. Preferably the cylinder is cast in a single piece, with the steam passages B and O cored out and extending entirely through from end to end. D D are the cylinder heads, containing each the steam inlet valve E and exhaust valve E, each valve c'on- .tained in a valve chamber F removab-ly inserted in the cylinder head D and retained therein by a cover G. The valves are of the piston type, of peculiar construction, and

each having its stem h protruding through a stuffing box 2' on the cover G. The cylinder heads are of a depth equal to that of the valve chambers, andv have shoulders 01 d upon which the valve chambers are fitted; each head is divided by one or more part1- tions 61 into two compartments, respectively the inlet and the exhaustiside, in each of which compartments at least one of the valves is located.

The cylinder heads are secured to the cylindor by heavy bolts, (omitted in the drawings,) and have steam ports which register with the steam inlet and exhaust passages of the cylinder; they are alike and interchangeable, so that the head'from one end of the cylinder .could be transferred to the other end with all its valves in place and be found perfectly fitted and adapted to its new location. The result of this construction 1s that steam fills the cylinder head at all times and entirely surrounds the valve chambers, being of course live steam on the inlet side andexhaust steam on the other side of the partition d By this means the valve chamber and valve on the inlet side are kept constantly hot and of an even temperature, substantially that of the boiler pressure, and the valve and chamber on the exhaust side are surrounded by exhaust steam, or' steam vapor at the atmospheric pressure in case no condenser is used, and are likewise ,kept constantly hot and with but little variation of temperature while-the cylinder head itself is kept so hot that there is no perceptible condensation in either cylinder or valves, and no loss of presssubstantially with that of the ports f, and the depth of the recess from the periphery of the valve being such that the area of section of the recess shall at least equal at all points that of the portion of the port uncovered at that position of the valve, so as to avoid'wiredrawing the steam. A small opening, e, is made through the valve, longitudinally, whereby it is steam balanced.

The valves are connected and operated in the following manner: A rockshaft K, with arms 7th, is supported in a bracket k secured to the cylinder head, or preferably to the cover G, at each side of each cylinder head. One arm, 70, of the shaft K is provided with a pin to which is attached the connecting rod,

L or L, by which the corresponding valves nected together, and to the eccentric by which they are moved by means of the eccentric rod Z or Z As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the inlet valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder are thus connected and operated, by means of rod Z, by an eccentric R, automatically controlled by the governor, and the exhaust valves are similarly connected, and operated, by means of rod l',by an independent eccentric S. The opposite arm, 7a, of each rock shaft is adjustable on its shaft by means of clamp bolts 70 and carries at its free end a ball bearing, consisting of a ball at seated in a socket in the arm 70' and perforated to recelve one end of an'arm 0, which is clamped upon the valve stem h and fitted to slide snugly in the perforated ball m. As the result of this construction the valves have a combined reciprocating and rotary motion, and are capable of independent adjustment. All of the valves are alike in construction and sponlnlarl y fitted, and are therefore interch an gea e.

The operation of the valves is as follows: Steam being admitted to the inlet passage B passes thence into the chambers formed by the interior of the cylinder heads, filling the inlet sides thereof up to the partition (1 and entering through the ports fof which ever one ofthe valve chambers has its ports partially uncovered by the valve. As the port is short and at the cylinder end, the steam is on the piston practically at the instant of passing the port, and as the piston moves, the valve, mov ng 1n the same line but in the opposite direction, opens the port still wider as the shaft K rocks by the action of the eccentric R. The rocking of shaft K causes the arm k to lift its inner end which carries the ball m, and as the armo which is clamped to thevalve stem passes through this ball, it is obvious that the ball must turn in its seat to accommodate the motron, andthat this willcause the arm 0 to rotate the valve stem at the same time that it reciprocates the latter in the longitudinal line of the cylinder. As the shaft K is located near the plane 1n which the valve stem reciprocates, themotion of arm 70' will at first be chiefly in a direction transverse to the linein which the valve reciprocates, passing to a direction in turn stroke are the reverse of those just described, being first chiefly reciprocatory and at last chiefly rotary, but at all times a combined reciprocating and rotary motion except at the instant when arm it" passes the center line of the valve stem or moves in exact line therewitln It is obvious from the foregoing that the valve opens very quickly when its rotary motion commences, and remains open during its reciprocatory motion, and that the closing of the valve occurs with equal quickness. Further, it is obvious that the relation of the speed and extent of rotation to that of longitudinal travel of the valve is capable of exact adjustment by varying the point on the valve stem at which the arm 0 is clamped, and that the travel of the valve will be determined entirely by the throw of the eccentric R, which in turn is controlled by the governor, in any of the ways already Well understood. So exact is the adjustment of which the valve is capable that when properly set the governor will automatically control the cut-off at any point from zero to a full seveneighths of the piston stroke.

As all the valves are similarly constructed and operated, the action of the exhaust valves, being precisely similar, needs no description further than to point out that, as the exhaust valves are independently operated,they may be adjusted to release at any desired point and to cushion the piston to any desired degree. Any one of the valves is separately adjustable without interfering with any of the others, and as the valve adjustments aremade by the setting of the arms 0 and they are very easily and quickly eifected. It hardly needs to be stated that both the inlet valves and the exhaust valves at, opposite ends of the cylinder are oppositely set, that is, so that when one is open its fellow at the other end of the cylinder is closed, and vice versa.

Although I do not limit myself to any special method of connecting the inlet valves to the eccentric R, which is controlled by the governor in any of the usual methods, I have shown in the drawings a method of connecting the valves with their eccentrics which I prefer as being at once simple, compact and efficient, as well as readily and accurately adjustable.

A transverse shaft, W, is supported in suitable bearings in the bed and extends across the same below the cross-head guide-ways, protruding at each side of the bed, as seen in Fig. 1. On the end nearest the flywheel the shaft 7 supports a U-shaped oscillating arm T, having the arms 25 on each of which, near the bend, is a hub fitting upon the shaft W so as to work smoothly thereon as a pivot. The arms t t are connected, the one toeccentricR by a rod 1 and the other to the rod Z, as seen in Fig. 1, by which means the motion of the eccentric R is transmitted to the valverod L which works the inlet valves. Between the arms 25 t of the oscillator T is placed a rocker arm V, having a hub which just fills eccentric S is transmitted to' rod lubricated,and not liable to wear.

the space between the two hubs of arm T, on the shaft Rand this arm V is rigidly secured to the shaft W; and thus holds the arm T thereon. A rod Z connects the eccentric S to the arm V, and on "the-other end of shaft W a similar arm V is secured, to which the rod Z is connected, and thus the motion of L which works the exhaust-valves. Y

P represents the pistomp the piston rod, Q the cross-head, q the pitman, N the main crank, 12 the. main shaft, J the fly wheel containing the governor, and Z the engine bed.

Among the advantages obtained by my invention are these: The ports are exceedingly short; the quick opening and quick closing of the valves enable the valve to be open during a larger portion/of the stroke of the p ston, and give ample release to the steam with very small travel of valve, which reduces the clearance to a minimum, and enables me to get the full boiler pressure at all times, and to work with steam at any pressure. The valves are small and light, practically frictionless, and entirely free from springs, balance plates, wedges, cams,dash pots, crabclaws, &c., andare perfectly balanced, easily inder heads, valve chambers, valves, &c., are alike and interchangeable, and substantially all the work on the cylinder and parts connected with it is lathe work, which, with the simplicity of parts, their small number and lack of diversity, makes this engine more economical to build, and for the same reasons more durable in use, than any engine now in the market.

This engine can be either horizontal or upright, and can run at any speed, being fully equal to all the demands of the latest electrical work, for which. indeed it has been especially designed. This form of cylinder is adapted to be used either single or com pound, triple or quadruple expansion, and with any length of stroke. 'Itis also well adapted to use on marine or locomotive engines, on air compressors, refrigerating machines, pumping machines, elevators, and in fact wherever steam is used as a motive power.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. A steam engine cylinder having its heads in the form of hollow chambers constituting steam-chests substantially coextensive with the cylinder-end and containing piston valves seated in removable valve chambers and moving in the same line with the piston, substantially as described.

2. A steam engine cylinder having its heads in the form of hollow chambers constituting steam-chests substantially coextensive with the cylinder end and containing diagonallyrecessed piston valvesseated in removable valve chambers and moving in the'same line with the'piston, substantially as described.

3. Asteam engine cylinder-head in the form of a hollow chamber of diameter substantially The cylequal to that. of the cylinder anddivide-d by a partition into inlet and exhaust sides in each of which is located a diagonally-recessed piston valve seated in a removable valve chamber and mo'vinginithe same line with the piston, substantially as described.

- l. A steam engine cylinder-headin the form of a hollowchamber of diameter substantially equal to that of the cylinder and divided by a partition into two sides each containing a removable valve chamber havingt-herein apiston valve moving in the longitudinal line of the cylinder, substantially as described.

5. A cylinder-head in the form of a hollow chamber of diameter substantially equal to that of the cylinder, divided by a partition and having communication on one side of the partition with the steam supply and on the other side with the exhaust escape, and having on each side of the partition a removend ,of the valve chamber and which valve substantially as described. I I

7. A cylinder-head in the form-of-a chamber divided by a partition and having'communication'on one side of the partition with the steam supply and on the other side with .has both a reciprocating and a rotary motion,

the exhaust escape, and containing on each side of the partition a valve of the piston type diagonally recessed and seated in a valve chamber removably inserted in the cylinder head and extending entirely through the same, said valve chambers having diagonal ports in vfreecommunication with the cavity of the cylinder-head, substantially as de scribed. Y

S. Asteam engine cylinder-having the steam inlet and steam exhaust passages extending entirely through the same from face to face,

in combination with cylinder heads in the form of chambers adapted to close the cylinder ends and form steam chests having free communication with the steam inlet and exhaust passages of the cylinder, said heads having a partition separating the inlet'and exhaust sides thereof, and containing valve chambers in which are seated inlet andexhaust valves of the piston type having motion in the longitudinal line of the cylinder, substantially as described.

9. Asteam engine cylinder having the steam inlet and steam exhaust-passages extending entirely through the same from face to face,

in combination with cylinder heads in the form of chambers adapted to close the cylinder ends and form steam chests having free communication with the steam inlet and exhaust passages of the cylinder, said heads having a partition separating the inlet and exhaust sides thereof, and containing valve chambers in which are seated inlet and exhaust valves of the piston type having a reciprocating and rotary motion, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the cylinder head of a removable valve chamber having ports in free communication with the cavity of the cylinder head, a piston valve located in said chamber and having its stem protruding therefrom, and the rock shaft connected with the valve rod of the eccentric and with the valve stem, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the cylinder head of a removable valve chamber having diagonal ports in free communication with the cavity of the cylinder head, a diagonally recessed piston valve located in said chamber and having its stem protruding therefrom,

it and the rock shaft connected with the valve rod of the eccentric and with the valve stem, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the diagonally recessed piston valve located in the cylinder head and seated in valve chamber having diagonal ports in free communication with the cavity of the cylinder head, of the rock shaft operated by the valve rod of an eccentric and connected to the valve stem by a ball joint, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a diagonally recessed piston valve, located in the cylinder head and seated in a valve chamber having diagonal ports, of a rock shaft operated by the valve rod of an eccentric and connected to the valve stem by an arm adjustably clamped upon the valve stem and having a ball joint on the rock shaft arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination with the diagonally recessed piston valves, seated in valve chambers removably inserted in the cylinder head and having diagonal ports in free communication with the cavity thereof, of the rock shafts at each end of the cylinder, connected by ball joints to the valve stems and joined by a connecting rod to which the valve rod of the eccentric is connected, whereby the corresponding valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder are simultaneously moved, substantially as described.

15. The combination with the hollow cylinder-head of the valve-chambers removably .inserted therein and extending through the same, and the covers secured to the outer face of the cylinder-head and closing the valve-chamber while retaining it in position, substantially as described.

16. The removable valve-chambers in the form of cylindrical tubes, open at both ends, and having an external shoulder at each end, in combination with the hollow cylinder-head, shouldered to receive the valvechambers, and a cover secured to the outer face of the cylinder-head and closing the outer end of the valve-chamber and having a stuffing-box for the valve-stem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

. ROBERT T. ABlELL.

Witn esses P. PRENTISS, LOREN PRENTIss.

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