US615161A

US615161A - Continuous engine-indicator

Info

Publication number: US615161A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1915-11-29

Description

No. 6I5,I6I. Patented Nov. 29. |898. T. GRAY. CUNTINUOUS ENGINE INDICATOR.

(Applicatidn med my 19, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Shen I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Nov.` 29, |898.

No. s|5,|s|.

v T. GRAY.

CONTINUOUS ENGINE INDQATOR. (Applicstiodled July 19, 1897.) ,(|Io Iu`dal.) .2 Shaets-$haet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GRAY, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

CONTINUOUS ENGINE-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,161, dated November 29, 1898.

Application iiled Inly 19, 1897. Serial No. 645,160. (No model.)

To all whom i may concern.-

f Be it known that I, THOMAS GRAY, a citizen Great Britain, residing at Terre Haute, in ie county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have vented a new and useful Continuous Enie-Indicator, of which the following is a ecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in =dicators for steam or other engines.

The indicators now generally in use consist a small cylinder the lower end of which .nay be attached to a pipe leading into one end ,r the other of the engine-cylinder. Mounted in this small cylinder is a piston carrying a listen-rod, to the upper end of which is seuired mechanism for operating a recording` yencil or pen. Mounted near this pencil is a rum upon which may be secured a card, and his drum is connected by any one of several nechanisms with the piston-rod of the engine o be tested, the arrangement being such that he drum is reciprocated about its axis by the movement of the engine piston-rod, a complete reciprocation of the drum heilig caused by each complete reciprocation of the engine W ith this arrangement it is prac- ,ically impossible to obtain more than one diagram upon each card, for the reason that, owing to the fact that the card is carried through the same space for each complete movement of the engine-piston, each diagram would be drawn upon the same space, so that the lines of the several diagrams would overlap and become confused one with the other.

The object of my invention is to produce an indicator in which a continuous series of diagrams may be produced upon a recordstrip, each diagram being separate and distinct from the others.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of the indicator. Fig. 2 is a similar view from the other side. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail.

In the drawings, 4 indicates an indicatorcylinder of the usual construction and provided with the usual piston and pressurespring. Rotatably mounted upon the upper end of cylinder 4 in the usual manner is a plate 5, carrying a pair of standards 6 and 7. Pivoted to the upper end of standard 6 is the pencil-arm 8, carrying at its outer end the recording-pencil 9. The pencil-arm is also pivoted at a point between its ends to the upper end of the piston-rod 10. Pivoted to the upper end of standard 7 is one end of a link 11, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the pencil-arm. For the purpose of holding the pencil against the record-strip a spring 12 is provided. All of the above construction is of the usual form.

Secured to the upper end of cylinder 1and extending at right angles thereto is a baseplate 13, upon which is pivotally mounted a roll-carrying frame 14. Frame 14 consists of a lower plate 15, upon which is mounted a pair of uprights l0. Each of the uprights 1G is provided near its upper end with a collar, upon which the upper plate 17 of the frame 14 may rest, the upper ends of the uprights passing through holes formed through said plate. For the purpose of detachably securing the upper plate 17 in position a bar 18is pivotally mounted upon the said plate, and the ends of said bar are adapted to be swung into peripheral notches 19, formed in the upper ends of the uprights 1G. Mounted between the plates 15 and 17 is an idler 20, the shaft 21 of which extends down into the base-plate 13, the arrangement being such that pencil fl may be brought into engagement with the idler and the rollcarrying frame may be swung about shaft 21 as a pivot. Mounted between plates 15 and 17 in suitable bearings formed therein are a supply-drum 22 and a storage drum 23, the storagedrum being mounted near the outerend of the frame, and the arrangement being such that a strip of paper 24, having been irstwound upon drum 22, may be passed around idler 2O and rolled upon the storage-drum. For the purpose of drawing the record-strip 211 around the idler I mount in suitable bearings on the base-plate a feed-roll 25, the surface of which may be covered with rubber, if desired. The storagedrum, together with that portion of the record-strip wound thereon, is held normally in engagement with the feed-roll by means of a spring 2G, one end of which is adjustably secured to the frame and the other end secured to a post 27, carried by the base-plate. The peripheral movement of the feed-roll must be always in the same direction and must be eX- IOO ' direction.

actly proportional to the movement of the engine-piston in whichever direction the said piston is moved. For this purpose I mount in suitable bearings carried by the base-plate asegmental wheel 28, to the periphery ol which is secured one end of a cord or chain 29. The free end of chain 29 maybe connected through the usual reducing mechanism with the piston-rod of the engine to be tested. Secured to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the feed-roll shaft are pulleys 30 and 3l. Secured to the upper side of the periphery of segment 28 is one end of a cord or steel tape 32, which is passed around pulley-30, and secured to the lower side of the periphery of the segment is a similar tape 33, which is passed around pulley 31 in the same The free ends of

tapes

32 and 33 are connected together by means of a cord 34, passed over a pair of pulleys 35, carried by an adjustable frame 36. Between each end of the cord 34 and the ends of the

tapes

32 and 33 is mounted a spring 37. It is to be understood in this connection that a single spring 37, inserted at any point between the ends of the tapes, would produce the desired result. Frame 3 (5 is supported by means of an arm 38, carried by the base-plate, rod 39 of said frame projecting through the upright portion of said arm. Formed in rod 39 is a series of notches 40, into any one of which the free end of a pawl 41 may be forced by a spring 42. By this means the tension of springs 37 may be regulated. For the purpose of returning segment 28 to its normal position a spring 43 is secured one end to an arm 44, carried by said segment, and the opposite end to the upper end of arm 38.

As previously stated, the frame 13 is pivoted so as to swing around the shaft of idler 20, and the record-strip is normally gripped between the feed-roll and the storage-drum by means of spring 26. In order to stop the movement of the record-strip, the frame 13 may be swung outward away from the feedroll and held away by means ofaspring-catch 45, a handle 46 being formed upon the frame 13 for convenience in swinging it. A stop 47 is provided to limit the outward movement of the frame.

In order to prevent the supply-drum from moving too freely, a small friction-brake 48 is mounted upon the outer end of a springarm 49 in position to rest upon the upper `liange of said drum.

For the purpose of marking the atmospheric or base line upon the record-strip and for indicating time thereon I provide a pencil 50, which is carried at the outer end of an arm 51, a vertical adjustmemt of the pencil being provided for by means of an adjustingscrew 52. Arm 51 is yieldingly held in its normal position by means of a spring 53; but the said arm may be drawn down by means of a small electromagnet 54, which may be placed in circuit with any ordinary breakcircuit clock 55.

The operation is as follows: In order to introduce the record-strip 24, bar 18 is swung out of notches 19 and plate 17 is lifted from standards 1G. A supply-drum 22, having wound upon it a strip of the record-ribbon 24, is then placed in position. A storagedrum 23 is placed in its bearings, and the free end of the record-strip is passed around the idler 20 and secured to the storage-drum. Plate 17 is then returned to its position and secured therein. Catch 45 is then released and the roll-frame 14 is swung inward by spring 2G until the record-strip is held between the storage-drum and the feed-roll. The instrument is then ready for use. Cylinder 4 is connected in the usual manner with the cylinder of the engine to be tested, and chain 29 is connected through the usual reducing mechanism with the piston rod thereof. The movement of the piston in one direction is communicated directly to the segment 28, and said segment is returned as the piston returns by means of spring 43. Both of the

tapes

32 and 33 are normally held around their respective pulleys by the tension of the springs 37. Supposing now that segment 28 be turned in a counter clockwise direction, the tape 32 will be drawn about pulley 30 with a tension greater than the tension of the springs 37, while the resultant tension in tape 33 will be less than the tension of the springs 37. As a consequence feed-roll 25 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, thus drawing strip 24 from the supply-drum, around idler 20, beneath pencil 9, and winding it upon the storage-drum, the movement of the strip being the same as the peripheral movement of the feed-roll and proportional to the movement of the en gine-piston and being at the same time entirely independent of the size of the storage-drum and of the roll of paper thereon. As the piston returns chain 29 is kept tight and segment 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of spring 43. In this movement the tension of tape about pulley 31 is increased and the tension of tape 32 is decreased. The tapes being passed around their pulleys in the same direction, the resultis a clockwise rotation of the feed-drum, thus driving the record-strip 24 in the same direction as before. In each movement of the segment 28 one or the other of the tapes 32 acts as a strap-brake, so that the movement of the feed-roll corresponds exactly with the movement of the engine-piston. As the record-strip 24 is being passed beneath pencil 9 the said pencil traces thereon a diagram representing the action of the motive fluid in the usual manner, there being, however, a slight difference in the shape of the diagram drawn. In the common indicators the diagram consists of a closed loop, owing to the reciprocal movement of the card, while in the present case the return stroke of the engine is represented by a continuation of the curve of the forward stroke in the same direction. During the movement of strip 24 pencil 50 lOl IIC

IIS

t-races a substantially straight line thereon, the said line being interrupted by slight jogs caused by the movement of arm 5l as it is drawn down by the magnet 54 and returned to its normal position by spring 53. It at any time the operator desires to stop the movement of strip 24,he grasps handle 46 and swings the frame 14 outward until catch 45 engages a portion of plate 15, and thus holds the storage-drum away from the feed-roll. The indicator-pencil 9 may be withdrawn from engagement with the strip 24 in the usual manner by swinging plate 5 about its axis.

It will be understood, of course, that any desired means for transmitting the movement of the engine-piston to the feed-roll and for changing the reciprocating.movement of the piston to one ot' rot-ation maybe used-as, for instance, the well-known form of frictionpawl clutch mechanism.

With the above-described construction the record-strip is moved the same distance for each movement of the engine-piston, so that all of the cards are of the same length. If desired, where quantitative measurements are not required the record-strip may be wound directly upon the feed-roll, in which case the length of the cards would gradually increase. y I claim as my inventionl. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of a feed-roll adapted to engage a record-strip, means, operated by the movement of the engine-piston, for rotating the feed-roll in one direction, the arrangement being such that the velocity of the strip will be in a constant ratio to that of the engine-piston, and means for separating the feed-roll and record-strip whereby the record-strip may be stopped independently of the movement of the enginepiston and of the operation of the indicatorcylinder.

2. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and -the recording-pencil operated thereby, of a feed-roll adapted to engage a record-strip, a pair of pulleys carried by the feed-roll, a pair of cords or tapes passed one around each pulley in the same direction, the arrangement being such that the velocity of the strip is in a constant ratio to that of the engine-piston, a spring mounted between two of the ends of said tapes, and means, operated by the engine, for alternately pulling upon the opposite ends of said tapes.

3. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of a feed-roll adapted to engage a record-strip, a pair of pulleys carried by said feed-roll, a pair of tapes passed one around each of said pulleys in the same direction, a spring mounted between two of the ends of said tapes, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and means, operated by the engine,

for alternately pulling upon the opposite ends of said tapes.

4. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carrying frame pivotally mounted upon the aXis of said idler, a supply-drum carrying a record-strip, and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, the said record-strip being passed over the idler, and secured to the storage-drum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip and draw it around the idler, and means, operated by the engine, for rotating said feed-roll.

5. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carryin g frame pivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum, carrying a record-strip, and a storage-drum mountedfin said t rame, the said record-strip being passed around the idler, and secured to the storagedrum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip, a spring for normally holding the storage-drum in engagement with the feedroll, and means operated by the engine for rotating the feed-roll.

6. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, of means operated by the engine for feedingarecord-strip in one direction beneath the recording-pencil, a second recording-pencil adapted to engage the record-strip, and means forintermittently moving said second pencil so as to indicate time upon the record-strip.

7. In a continuous engine -indicator, the combination with the indicatorcylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a` roll-carrying frame pivotall y mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum, carrying a record-strip, and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, the said record-strip being passed around the idler, and secured to the storage-drum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip, means, operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll, a second recording-pencil adapted to engage the recordstrip as it passes over the idler, and means by which the second pencil may be intermittently moved so as to indicate time upon the recordstrip.

8. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuous rotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in the same direction, a cord passed around a pulley, or other suitable support, and connecting two of the ends of said tapes, a spring forming a part of said cord, and intermediate connecting mechanism between the opposite ends of said tapes and the reciprocating part whereby the said tapes are alternately pulled by said reciprocating part.

IIO

9. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuous rotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in the same direction, a cord passed around a pulley, or other suitable support, and connecting two of the ends of said tapes, a spring forming a part of said cords, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and intermediate connecting mechanism between the opposite ends of said tapes and the reciprocating part whereby the said tapes are alternately pulled by said reciprocating part.

IO. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carryin g frame pivotally mounted upon the axis of said idler, a supply-drum and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which the storage-drum may be swung, and means, operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll whereby a recordstrip wound upon the supply and storage drums may be caused to pass around the idler with a velocity in a constant ratio to that of the engine-piston.

l1. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, ot` an idler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carrying frame pivotally mounted upon the axis of said idler, a supply-drum and a sto 1age-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which the storage-drum may be swung, means, operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll whereby a record-strip wound upon the supply and storage drums may be caused to pass around the idler with a velocity in a constant ratio to that ofthe engine-piston, and a spring for normally holding said storage-d rum in engagement with the feed-roll.

l2. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination With the indicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, of means operated by the enginefor feeding a record-strip in one direction beneath the recording-pencil, a second recording-pencil,and means for intermittently moving` said second pencil so as to indicate time upon the recordstrip.

133. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, ol' means operated by the engine for feeding a record-strip in one direction beneath the recording-pencil with a velocity in a constant ratio to that of the engine-piston, a second recording-pencil, and means for intermittently moving said second pencil so as to indicate time upon the record-stri p.

14. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carrying frame pivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, a 'feedroll against which the storage-drum maybe swung,means, operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll, a second recordin gpencil, and means by which the second pencil may be intermittently moved so as to indicate time upon a record-strip carried by said supply and storage drums.

l5. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination With the indicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carrying frame pivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which the storage-drum may be swung, means, operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll with a peripheral velocity in a constant ratio to the velocity of the engine-piston, a second recording-pencil, and means by which the second pencil may be intermittently moved so as to indicate time upon a record-strip carried by said supply and storage drums.

16. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuous rotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in the same direction, a spring connection between one of the ends of each tape, and means for alternately pulling the opposite ends of said tapes.

THOMAS GRAY. lVitnesses:

D. P. Cox, EDWIN FAUs'r.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 615,161, granted November 29, 1898, upon the application of Thomas Gray, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for an improvement in Continuous Engine-Indicators, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows :nIn lines 50-53, page 8, the Words the arrangement being such that the Velocity of the strip is in a constant ratio to that o' the enginepiston]7 should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ooe.

Signed, oountersigned, and. sealed this 20th day of December, A. D., 1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Counter-signed z C. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 615,161, granted November 29, 1898,

upon the application of Thomas Gray, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for an improvement in Continuous Engine-Indicators, an error appears in the printed speeiication requiring correction, as follows :.In lines 50-53, page 3, the Words the arrangement being such that the velocity of the strip is in a constant ratio to that of the enginepiston, should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Oice.

Signed, conntersigned, and sealed this 20th day of December, A. D., 1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned Y C. H. DUELL,

Coinnw'ssionef/l of Patents.