US1106197A - Controlling the starting and working of engines. - Google Patents

Description

A. BSPLBN.

CONTROLLING THE STARTING AND WORKING OI ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAIL. 21. 1914.

1,106,197, Patented Aug.4,1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS COHVPHOTOLITHON WASHINGTON, Dv CI ALEXANDER ESPLEN, 0F LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

CONTROLLING THE STARTING AND WORKING- OF ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Am. 4, 1914 Application filed. March 21, 1914. Serial No. 826,299.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER ESPLEN, a subject of the King of England, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected w1th the Controlling of the Starting and Working of Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to controlling the operation of power engines, such as propelling engines of steamships, by or through telegraphic apparatus, extending between the place of command of the ship, on which the actuating or transmitting instrument is placed, and the engine room. And more particularly, it has reference to that system of control wherein a valve gear or a valve which distributes pressure fluid to a power cylinder or the like of the reversing engine, is operated by the controlling apparatus and is closed automatically by the said. engine on the completion of the required movement thereof.

According to this invention, there is employed in combination with the reversing engine and a valvular apparatus which is automatically closed by the said engine, a hand operated telegraph instrument by which the apparatus is opened from any convenient place for the supply of motive fluid to the engine.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate it diagrammatically, in Figure 1; while Fig. 2 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents generally the reversing engine machinery, of which 2 represents the cylinder of the en gine; and 3 is the usual fly-wheel; and at is th steam pipe supplylng steam to the en gine 2.

5 represents the usual weigh shaft of the main engine; and 6 the motor transmlssion arm or crank upon it.

7 represents the eccentric link of the engine; and 8 the connecting bars connecting the link 7 to the lever 6. e

10 generally represents the valvular apparatus controlling the supply of steam to the engine 2; and 20 represents the instrument, which say, may be the transmittlng instrument on the bridge or equivalent place, of the engine-room telegraphs through which the movements of the mechanism required are effected; and also the orders or notification are transmitted to the engine-room, which will be fitted with a receiving telegraph instrument of the usual kind.

The valvular apparatus 10 shown, consists of a casing on the steam pipe 4 comn'ising a closed chamber or cylinder 11; a crmtrolling portion of which contains within it a steam supply controlling valve 13 of the none-cturn type, closing in the direction of the steam; and which, if desired, can be balanced by an equilibrium arrangement, not shown.

The reversing engine 2 is adapted to be started when the main engines are to be reversed from ahead to astern, or astern to ahead; and this will take place when the handle of the transmitting instrument 20 is moved from the central or stop position in one direction or the other; and this is effected by the openingand closing of the valve 13 by the following means: Through the telegraph chains or connections 21, 22, motion is transmitted from the transmitter 20 to a wheel 23 in the engineroom, which operates upon a cylindrical cam having its axis obliquely disposed to its carrying shaft 25, and this shaftwhich passes through packed glands into the cylinderis rocked to and fro from the wheel 23, through a connecting rod 26, and an arm 27, one end of which fits over the shaft 25, and througln a feather, fitting in a groove engages the shaft; and this arm will rock the shaft 25 and the cam 24, in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which the instrument 20 is moved.

Various positions longitudinally are given to the cam 25 by the movement of the engine 1 and reversing gear, in the case shown, through a connecting rod 28 connecting the weigh shaft arm 6, with the shaft 25, through the lever 29. That is, as the reversing engine works and moves the weigh shaft arm 6, the shaft 25 and the cam 24 are concommittently moved, and, similarly, stopped. The movement of the reversing engine 1 on the weigh shaft 5, and arm 6, will be through worm gear, and suitable connecting up means, in the usual, or an knownway. As the lever or handle of the telegraph instrument 20 is moved in either direction from the central position, the cam is revolved a corresponding degree and acts as an operating eccentric to the valve and 4 moves it, and lifts it oii its seat, and supplies steam through the pipe 4 to the engine cylinder 2; according to the amount the handle is moved, and .the cam 24: thereby revolved, so the amount of steam to the engine 2 will vary. In this condition, the engine l of the reversing gear will revolve, and through the gear it operates, the shaft 5 will be rocked, and the engine links 8 will be thrown over to the opposite position to which they stood in; and thereby through the shaft 25, and connections 28 and 29, the cam 24: will be moved longitudinally so that the lower end of the valve spindle will be lowered until the valve is closed, and so steam ceases to be supplied to the engine 1 and it stops; and this can take place when the links 8 are thrown over to their extreme positions, or to any intermediate position. Not only is steam thus cut off to the reversing engine, but it is also cut off to the cylinder 30 of a steam brake gear, operating in connection with the fly-wheel 3, so that the engine is braked and its momentum destroyed, as well as the steam bein cut off. Moreover, if desired, the exhaust from the engine 1 may be stopped or closed, so as to assist in stopping the engine; and this closure may be effected by a suitable valve which will be operated by the cam 24, or an equivalent cam, operated from the weigh shaft or links, similarly as the cam 2'1 l/Vhen the valve 13 is open, and steam is passing to the engine 1, it will also pass from the valvular apparatus 10 by a pipe 31 to the outer end 30 of the brake cylinder, which has within it a piston, which is moved backward by the steam, and removes a brake block 33 from the fly wheel 3; while it is normally pressed in the opposite direction by a spring in the back end of the cylinder, which through the lever 32, presses the brake block 33 on to the wheel 3. Thus by the valve being moved more or less by a greater or less degree of rotation of the cam 24, according to the degree of movement of the handle of the instrument 20, so the engine 1 will run a certain amount, and the cam 24- will be correspondingly moved longitudinally; and thereby the valve will drop down as the inclined portion of the cam on which it is resting, moves away from it; and when it has closed the engine 1 stops. Thus, accordingly, as the handle of the instrument 20 is moved more or less, so will the reversing gear be caused to work a certain amount, more or less, and then stop; so producing a variable or step by step motion of the links. That is to say, this step by step action will correspond with the degree of movement of the telegraph appliance 20, and with the requirements; namely, as to whether the main engines are to be moved fast or slow, or at various intermediate speeds.

While the invention has been described more particularly as applied to a particular type of reversing mechanism, it may also be applied to other kinds of reversing gears, which work under analogous or equivalent conditions. i

' What is claimed is 1. In an engine reversing gear, the combination of a rotary power reversing mechanism, a main engine reversing mechanism, manually operating mechanism, a controlling valve on the steam pipe of the reversing mechanism including a cam, means for operating said valve, connections between said manually operating machanism and the valve operating means to open and close said controlling valve, and mechanism between the main engine reversing mechanism and said valve operating means, whereby the cam is moved to actuate the valve.

2. In engine reversing gear, the combination of a rotary power reversing mechanism, a main engine reversing shaft connected with the rotary power reversing mechanism, manually operating mechanism, a controlling valve on the steam supply pipe of the engine of'the rotary power reversing mechanism, a rocking cam to open and close the valve a shaft carrying said cam, connections between the manually operating mechanism and the shaft, to operate same, and connecting means between the reversing shaft and the cam carrying shaft to move the latter longitudinally, and cause the cam to operate the valve.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of main engine reversing mechanism, power reversing mechanism, a controlling valve in the supply pipe of the reversing mechanism, a power brake op erating on the power reversing mechanism and controlled by the valve, valve operating means, a connection between the latter means and the main engine reversing mechanism, and operating mechanism for operating the valve operating means to open the valve, the valve operating means being moved by the main engine reversing mechanism to close the valve.

4. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of main engine reversing mechanism, power reversing mechanism to operate the main engine reversing mechanism, a valve in the supply pipe of the power reversing mechanism, valve operating means including a shaft and a valve actuating device, .means for rocking the shaft to cause the valve actuating device to open the valve, and a connection between the main engine reversing mechanism and the shaft to slide the latter to seek the valve.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of main engine reversing mechanism, power reversing mechanism including a wheel, means connecting the main engine reversing mechanism and the engine reversing mechanism and the power reversing mechanism, a valve, valve actuatin means, means connected to the main va ve reversing mechanism to slide the valve actuating means, and means to rock the valve actuating means to open the valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin Witnesses.

LEXANDER ESPLEN. Witnesses:

SOMERVILLE GOODALL, EDWARD HUGHES.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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