US544085A - brown - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, G. W. BROWN. APPARATUS FOR STOPPING ENGINES.

No. 544,085. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

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APPARATUS FOR STOPPING ENGINES.

No. 544,085. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILMAN W. BROWN, OF WEST NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HAYDN BROWN, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR STOPPING ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,085, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed June 8, 1895- Serial No. ,0 (NO 101181.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILMAN W. BROWN, of Vest Newbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its chief object to provide means for quickly shutting off the to steam from the .pipe or conduit that conducts steam from a boiler to an engine and at the same time opening an outlet in said conduit between the point where the steam is shutoff and the engine, so'that. the steam remaining [5 in said conduit will not operate expansively and continue to impel the engine after the steam has been shut off.

The invention also has for its object to provide means for automatically shutting off the steam in the event of the breakage of the steam-pipe between the shutting-off device and theengine, so that the contents of the boiler will'not be blown out to such an extent as to render an explosion liable.

The invention consists, first, in an enginestopping appliance comprising a casing or conduit adapted to form a part of the steamconduit which supplies the engine and provided with a steam-outlet, a normally-closed o o'utletvalve, and a pressure-actuated motor which is inoperative under ordinary conditions, and is adapted to be made operative to open said outlet-valve, thereby immediately relieving the steam-pressure in the conduit 5 between the steam-outlet and the boiler and causing an immediate stoppage of the engine.

The invention also consists in the employment of a shut-off valve connected with said outlet-valve and motor, the arrangement be- 40 ing such that the shut-off valve, which is normally open, is closed by the operation of the motor simultaneously with the opening of the outlet-Valve.

The invention also consists in the employment of a let-0ft device, whereby the said motor may be made instantly operative, all of which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a sectional View of an apparatus embodying my invention, the outlet being closed by its valve. Fig. 2 representsa similar view show ing the outlet open. Fig. 3 representsa section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking toward the left. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and a top view of the parts below said line. Fig.5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents an elevation showing my improved apparatus applied to the steam-conduit connecting an engine with a boiler. Figs. 7 and 8 represent views showing a speed-controlled circuit-closing devicefor opening thecylinder-vent when the speed of the engine becomes excessive.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a represents acasing,which is adapted to form a part of theconduit which supplies steam to a steam-engine, said casing being here shown as provided at its ends with flanges a a, adapted to be secured to similar flanges on the sections a a of said conduit.

a represents an outlet connecting said casing with the external air, said outlet having at its inner end an annular valve-seat a 12 represents the outlet-closing valve, which is formed to be seated upon the seat a and is adapted to be held upon said seat by the steam-pressure in the casing under normal conditions.

0 represents a governing-piston, which is connected by a rod or stem d within the outlet-valve b and is located in a cylinder (1, which forms a part of the casing, said cylinder opening at one end, which I term the mouth of the cylinder, into the casing and having at its other end a vent a, which is preferably a pipe, extending from said cylinder and provided with a valve a whereby it 0 may be opened and closed.

The governing-piston c fits the interior of the cylinder afisomewhatloosel y, so that steam can pass around it into the cylinder, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, steam being 5 thus caused to balance the governing-piston so long as the vent a remains closed. So long as the governing-piston is thus balanced the shut-off valve or valves, hereinafter described, are held open and the outlet-valve b is closed, the latter being subjected to a steam-pressure upon one side only.

The piston c is of greater area than the outlet-valve, so that when the vent of the cylinder is opened, as hereinafter described, it re leases the pressure from the cylinder and thereby unbalances the governing-piston, the steam-pressure exerted on the inner side of the governing-piston displacing the latter and forcing it into the cylinder and removing the outlet-valve from its seat, thus opening the outlet a, as shown in Fig. 2, and permitting a discharge of the steam into the atmosphere. This operation relieves the pressure in the casing and in the conduitbetween the casing and the engine sufficiently to prevent the pressure of the steam between the casing and the engine from continuing the operation of the engine.

Between the steam-inlet end and the steamoutlet end of the casing is an offset-partition a", which projects from the inlet end of the casing across the central portion thereof and is provided with two ports a a, through which steam passes from the inlet to the discharge side of the casing, the valve-stem (Z passing through said ports, as shown in Fig. 1. Between the valve Z) and piston c is located a shut-off valve e, also affixed to the stem d. When the outlet-valveis closed upon its seat a it is separated from the port a and the shut-off valve 6 is separated from the port a, both of said ports being unobstructed, so that the steam passes through them, as indicated in Fig. 1. The relative arrangement of the valves 1) and e and the ports a a is such that when the governingpiston is unbalanced and displaced, as shown in Fig. 2, the outletvalve closes the port a and the shutoff valve 6 closes the port a, so that when the outlet c" is opened the passage of steam through the casing is at the same time shut off. It will be seen therefore that I provide for simultaneously shutting off the supply of steam to the engine and relieving the pressure of steam that would exist between the casing and the engine if the outlet a and its valve were not employed. I thus cause a much quicker stoppage of the engine than would be possible without the employment of the said outlet.

I believe it to be new to provide an outlet to the atmosphere for a steam pipe or conduit leading to an engine, and I therefore do not limit myself to the arrangement of the outlet here shown, nor to the construction, arrangement, and mode of operation of the valve which controls said outlet. Neither do I limit myself to the utilization of the said valve as a means for shutting oil the passage of steam through the casing, as the port a may be omitted, the partition a being closed around the valve-stem d, in which case the valve I) would have no function excepting to close the outlet. Neither do I limit myself to the employment of the outlet and its closing-valvo in connection with a valve for shutting oil the passage of steam through the easing, since the outlet-valve will open and close the outlet whether the shut-off valve e be employed or not, although of course it is in. all respects desirable to provide for the simulta neous shutting off of the flow of steam through the casing and the opening of the outlet.

The valve a",which opens and closes the vent of the cylinder, may be operated by any desired means. I have here shown electrically controlled means for opening said valve, said means including a weightf, titted to slide upon a vertical guide, such as the vent-pi pe (L said weight having an inclined face f upon its lower portion formed to engage a lever g, which is pivoted at g to the valve casing and bears upon the stem g of the valve, the arrangement being such that when the weight f is dropped from the elevated position shown in Fig. i it will move the lever g, as shown in Fig. 2, and cause the latter to open the valve. The weight fis provided with a flange at its upper end, which is engaged by a trigger or trip h, pivoted at h to a fixed casing i, which may be secured to the cylinder a, or may be supported in any other suitable way. Said trigger has an elongated arm in, which projects downwardly into the casing t', and is provided at its lower end with a stud it".

71 representsa lever pivoted at. h to the casing 2', and provided with astud h", arranged to engage said stud lbs. The lever 71 is provided at its upper end with a stud 717, which is engaged bya stud h projecting from a lever 71.", pivoted at 71 to the casing '5. An armature h is attached to the lever 7L said armature being arranged in suitable proximity to the poles of an electromagnet it, supported in the casing 2', said magnet being included in an electric circuit. When the circuit is broken and the armature is released, the le ver h is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by gravitation, its stud h being engaged with the stud h on the lever h, which is held by said stud. The stud 7L on the lever h is thus caused to hold the stud 7L3, lever fig, and trig ger or trip h, the latter being therefore caused to hold the weight f in its raised position. When the circuit is closed, the armature is attracted and separates the stud it from the stud 7LT, releasing the lever h which in turn releases the lever Wand the trigger h. The weightf is thus released and allowed to drop and open the valve in the vent of the cylinder. A spring j is attached to the bottom of the casing i and is engaged with a projection on the lever 7t, said spring operating to return the lever h to its raised position after the stud h3 on the trigger-lever has passed out of engagement with the stud 7:. The lever h" is brought into engagement with the stud 7t of the armature-lever just as it reaches its raised position, so that it is ready to engage and lock the trigger-lever 72,2 when the latter is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1. The

trigger-lever is returned to said position by the contact of the flange f on the weight: with an ear or projection it on the triggerlever when the weight is being raised, the triggeracross lever being thus restored to and locked in its operative position and prepared for the next operation. The ends of the studs h and h are beveled, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when the trigger-lever is being moved back, as last described, it is slightly sprung laterally when passing the stud 7t and then springs back, thus engaging its stud h with the stud h The circuit in which the electromagnet is included may extend to any desired part or parts of the establishment where the apparatus is employed, and may have any desired number of circuit-closing devices.

The vent-valve may be opened by auto matic means, to produce the above-described result. In Fig. 6 I show automatic means adapted to be operated by the breakage of the of the conduit, preferably by Wires or other securing devices passed around the conduit and the tube, the tube extending practically the entire length of the conduit. In case the conduit is broken at any point along which the tub'etextends, the tube will also be broken and will thus permit the escape of pressure from the cylinder of, the tube being normally closed at all points excepting where it com municates with said cylinder. The breakage of the pipe or conduit which conducts steam from a boiler to an engine is not an uncommon occurrence and is usually attended wit-h an explosion of the boiler. It will be seen that the provision above described, while being of a very simple and practical nature, is likely to prevent an explosion under circumstances above described. The pipe t should be so thin that while it will withstand ordinary pressures it will not be likely to remain intact in case the conduit (1 is broken.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show speed-controlled means for closing the circuit through the magnet 71 and thus automatically releasing the weight when the. speed of the engine becomes excessive. 0 represents a friction wheel, which is in rolling contact with the main shaft 0' or other rotating part-of the engine and is aftixed to 'a shaft 0 having a bevelgear 0 meshing with a gear 0 on a spindle 0 to the upper end of which is affixed a cup 0 containing a body of mercury 0". In the upper part of the cup 0 is adisk or head 0 of a conducting metal insulated from the walls of the cup by a ring 0 of insulating material. The disk 0 is in contact through a rod or spindle 0 passing through an insulating-cap 0 with a contact-sprin g 0 which is insulated from the frame and is connected with one of'the circuit-wires, the other wire being connected through'any suitable conducting mediumsuch as the supporting frame, the shaft 0 and the cup 0 -with the body of mercury in the cup. When the cup is at rest, the mercury remains in the condition shown in Fig. '7; but when the cup is rotated the mercury rises on the sides of the cup by centrifugal action, and when the rotation becomes such as would be produced by an excessively-rapid rotation of the shaft 0' the mercury rises sufficiently to make contact with the disk 0 thus closing the circuit and causing the weightf to drop, with the results above set forth. l/Vhen the engine stops, the mercury resumes its normal condition, breaking the circuit. The shaft 0 and spindle 0 are journaled in a frame 0 which is pivoted at o to a supporting arm or bracket, the friction-wheel 0 being thus held in contact with the shaft 0 by its own weight and that of the frame and its attachments.

Instead of balancing the governing-piston by steam, in the manner described, to hold it in its inoperative position, the piston may be held in said position by a body of liquid filling the cylinder and retained therein by the vent-closing valve, said liquid being released when the vent is opened. In this case the piston should have a liquidtight sliding fit in the cylinder.

It will be seen that the cylinder a and piston c constitute a motor adapted to be actuated by the steam-pressure in the conduit to open 'the outlet-valve or to simultaneously open the outlet-valve and close the shut-off valve, said motor being normally inoperative, and that either of the described means employed to open the vent constitutes a let-off device which makes the motor operative.

I am the first, so far as I am aware, to combine with a steam-conduit having an outlet into the atmosphere a normally-closed outletvalve, a normally-open shut-off valve, a normally-inoperative motor adapted to be actu ated by the steam-pressure in the conduit, and a let-off device whereby said pressure may be caused to operate the motor, the arrangement being such that the operation of the motor simultaneously opens the outletvalve and closes .the shut-off valve. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the particular devices here shown comprising the elements of said combination.

1. As a means for stopping an engine, a casing or conduit provided with a steam-outlet, a normally closed outlet-valve, a normally open shut-off valve, a normally inoperative pressure-actuated motor for simultaneously opening the outlet-valve and closing the shutofi valve, and a let-off device whereby the motor may be made operative.

2. Asa means for stopping an engine, a cas ing or conduit provided with a steam-outlet and with a cylinder havinga vent,anormally closed outlet-valve, and a normally inoperative governing piston movable in said cylinder and connected with the outletvalve, said piston being operative by the steam pressure to open the outlet-valve when the Vent is opened.

3. As a means for stopping an engine, a casing or conduit provided with a steam outlet and with a cylinder havinga vent, a piston IlO movable in said cylinder, a normally closed outlet-valve, and a normally open shut-off valve connected with said piston, the piston being operative by the steam pressure to open the outlet-valve and close the shutoff valve when the said vent is opened.

4. A casing adapted to form a part of a steam conduit and provided with a steam-out let, a cylinder having a vent, and a partition having two steam-ports or passages, combined with a valve located between the outlet and one of said ports and adapted to be held against the outlet by steam pressure, a piston connected with said outlet-valve and located in said cylinder, and a shut-off valve connected with the outlet-valve and piston and adapted to close the other port or passage.

5. An engine-stopping apparatus comprising a casing provided with a steam-outlet and with a cylinder havinga vent, an outlet-closing valve Within the casing adapted to beheld in its closed position by the steam pressure, and a piston connected with the outlet-valve and located in the cylinder, said piston being formed to admit steam around it to the cylinder and maintain a balancing pressure therein, and means for opening said vent to release the said pressure and unbalance the piston.

65. Asa means for stopping an engine, a caslug adapted to form a part of the steam conduit which supplies the engine and provided with a steam-outlet and with a cylinder hav ing a vent, an Outletclosing valve within the casing adapted to be held in its closed position by the steam pressure, a valve'governing piston movable in said cylinder and connected with the outlet-valve, a valve adapted to close said vent, a valve-operating device adapted to be set for action, and a trigger or trip whereby said operating device may be released.

7. Asa means for stopping an engine, a casing adapted to form a part of the steam conduit which supplies the engine and provided with a steam-outlet and with a cylinder having a vent,an outletcl0sing valve Within the casing adapted to be held in its closed position by the steam pressure, a valve-governing piston movable in said cylinder and connected with the outlet-valve, a valve adapted to close said vent, an external arm connected with the valve, a valve-operating weight movable on afixed guide into and out of contact with said arm, a trigger or trip formed to engage said weight and hold it in an elevated position, and an electrically controlled trigger locking and releasing device.

8. A casing adapted to form a part of a steam conduit and provided with an offset partition between its receiving and discharge ends, said partition having two ports connecting the ends of the conduit, a steam-outletat the discharge side of said partition, a valveseat surrounding said outlet, and a cylinder also at the discharge side of the partition and provided with a vent, said valve-seat, ports, and cylinder being arranged in line with each other; combined with a piston located in the cylinder and prevented from moving therein when the vent of said cylinder is closed, a shut-off valve and an outlet-valve,

connected with said piston, and means for opening and closing the said vent.

9. The combination of a steam conduit having an outlet and a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, an outlet-closing valve and a shut-01f Valve, both connected with said piston, a vent controlling the operation ofsaid piston and valve as described, and speed-controlled means for opening said vent.

10. A safety appliance for a steam conduit, the same comprising a casing forming a part of said conduit and provided with a cylinder and with an outlet open to the atmosphere, a piston movable in said cylinder, an outletclosing valve and a shut-oil valvein said casing connected with the piston, a vent controlling the operation of said piston and valve, and means for opening said vent.

11. A safety appliance for a steam conduit, the same comprising a casing forming a part of said conduit and provided with a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, a shut-off valve in said casing connected with the piston, and a closed tube communicating at one end with the cylinder and extending therefrom along the conduit, said tube being attached to the conduit, so that in the event of breakage of the conduit the tube will be broken and constitute a vent for the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 10th day of April, A. D. 1895.

GILMAN \V. BROWN.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

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