US359303A - Fluid-pressure motor - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) -2 sheets-Sheet 1-.

G. WESTINGHoUs-E, J1.

FLUID PRESSUREMOTOR,

No.v 359,303. Patented MaJ-12.15', .1887.

N. PETERS Fhmwumagnpnsr. wumngw. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-'sheen 2'.

G. WESTING'HOUSE, JI.

FLUID PRESSURE MOTOR.

rUNITED "STATES PATENT trice.

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE lVlOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,303, dated March 15. 1887.

Application filed August 30, 1886. Serial No. 2|2,177. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE VEsTING- HOUSE, Jr., residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or dis- Vthe piston, also showing the valve mechanism by which impulse or movement is imparted from a distant station to operate the motorvalves, the pipe connecting the two being broken away, except at its ends. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a vertical sectional view, to an enlarged scale,of the operators or distant station valve mechanism; and Fig. 3 is a view in sectional elevation of the upper portion of a pair of such valves connected as in use for operating the motor in opposite directions, the plane of section in this gure being at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the valve-actuating mechanism of fluid-pressure engines or motors.

In an application for patent filed by me August4 30, 1886, Serial No. 212,180, I have described and claimed a fluid-pressure engine or motor having a power-piston, a distributingvalve, two small pistons inclosed within the valve-chamberconnected with and operating the distributing-valve, valve-governed escapeports for moving the valve-controlling pistonsby difference of duid-pressure thereon, and electrically-controlled mechanism foropening the escape-valves at the pleasure of the operator.

My present invention consists of certain combinations of an engine or motor having pistons, valves, and ports, substantially as shown and described in said prior application, with mechanism for operating the escapevalves by force applied through a fluid, preferably a liquid column inclosed within pipeconnections, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed. v

In the drawings, A represent-s a cylinder inclosing a packed piston, A. A stem, A2, ex-

tends from this piston through a suitable stuffing-box, A3, and may make connection, directly or indirectly, with the apparatus or mechanism to be actuated thereby.

Fluid-pressure is admitted to either side of the piston from valve-chamber C by passages a ot, and is exhausted to the outer air by intermediate passage, a. A slidevalve,a2,mov ing on the seat a, controls supply and exhaustv of duid-pressure. Movement is given to the valve by two pistons, c c, fixed upon a common tubular stem, c', such stem having a onesided enlargement at or near its center, with recess or socket c2 therein to receive the up-v The valve-governing pistons. Fluid, by preference air under pressure,is supplied to the Valve-chamber between its inclosed pistons by any suitable pipe-conneet-ions leading from a reservoir, compressing apparatus, or other source of supply. If fluid be permitted to escape from either end of the valve-chamber outside one of the valve-pistons c, an excess of fluid-pressure will be exerted on the pistons in the direction of such escape, thereby moving them and the distributingvalve c2 in that direction. When such escape is closed, the leakage or limited flow past the piston will soon vrestore equilibrium of pressure.

In order to make provision for such escape and to control opening and closing the same, ports e are made inthe chamber ends or heads,

leading by passages e? to the exterior air.

cape, rods or stems e3 are extended from the.

valve outward through the ports e and through an axial passage, ci, into a piston-chamber, d',

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.termined degree of tension or resistance to formed in the cases or shells D, which latterd one at either cud-screw into the ends of and, in effect, form heads for the piston-chamber C.

Pistons I are iitted to move in the chambers d', such pistons having stems t', extending inward to or nearly to the ends of valverods e5.1 The pistons are packed to prevent leakage past them, and yet afford freedom of movement, by means of diaphragms l, bound at their peripheries between the abutting shoulders d2 of the shells D and plugs D', which lat ter screw into and close the ends of the piston or diaphragm chambers, except in the central pipe-like passages, di, leading to such chambers through the plugs.

The pistons I are held against the diaphragins l by springs i', having some predel comprcssion-say twenty -five pounds, (more or less.) lf fluid, by preference liquid,tlling the passages di and the space on the outer sides of the diaphragms bc subjected to a compressing force greater than the resisting power of the springs, the diaphragms l will be bent or de flected inward, as represented on the left, Fig.` 1, thereby pressing the piston I and stem 11 inward against valve-rod e5, and forcing the valve from its seat. Such unseating of the valve permits escape of duid-pressure through port e', and causes the pistons c and valve c to move to the left, as shown, in position to admit fluid-pressure to the right of the main piston and open the passage on the left to the exhaust.

In Fig. l the valve a2 is shown shifted to the left, as above described; but the piston is ou the right, not having yet moved in response to duid-pressure, which might enter through right-hand port c. Vhen fluid orliquid pressure in passage d is released or falls below the power of spring i, the latter forces the piston outward, thereby permitting the compressed spring e, assisted by fluid-pressure on stem e, to seat valve e and close the escape. This being done, the leakage or limited passage of duid-pressure past the piston c will soon restore equilibrium of fluid pressure on the valve-pistons.

Provision is also made in this motor for making and breaking electric circuits,both by movements of the valve-operating mechanism and by the piston at the ends of its stroke. This feature of construction is not claimed herein, however, but is included in the subject-matter of a separate application filed by ine of even date herewith.

Make and break bythe valve mechanism is secured by connecting the metal parts of the engine in circuit, and also bindingposts M M, which latter are secured to but electrically insulated from the plugs or shells D D by hardrubber or equivalent sleeves m. The inner ends, m/,of these posts are in position to make contact with the inner ends of piston-stems i', when the latter are moved inward to open the escape-valves. Consequently the circuits connected to the posts and the pistons will be "ment of the piston.

made and broken hy making and breaking contact between the parts m and i'.

The piston make and break is secured by means of a stem, I), carrying abuttou, b, which makes contact at the two ends of pistonstroke with springs bzz b, secured to posts bL bf', which latter are secured to but electrically insulated from the shell B, cast on the head of the main cylinder. Circuits connected to the posts b4 bor Zbwill be made and broken bythe move- The circuits thus made dependent upon the movements of the engine may be employed for various purposes, as described in the separate application referred to, and among others they may, if desired, be made to actuate some signal by which it may be known whether some desired movement ofthe engine has been effected.

lu apparatus of this class employed to operate switches, signals, locks, and other parts or appliances connected with a railway-track, it is ordinarily required to control the operation of the same from some central or Common station more or less distant. To this end a pipe or tube, H, is connected to cach plug D by coupling Il. These pipes are extended in length from each end of the valve mechanism of the motor to the cabin or stand of the oper atei-,where each makes connection by suitable coupling with the pipe end r of an operators valve mechanism R. As before Stated, I prefer to use liquid in this pipeconnection H, and of the various liquids which may be used therein to communicate pressure or impulse I prefer one like alcohol, or petroleum, orother KOO equivalent liquid not liable to congeal or be frozen. Such liquid or other fluid medium is forced into the connecting pipe under such pressure as practically to exclude air or other compressible gas or vapor and to secure acolumn or body of uniform density. In practice the liquid composing such column may be confined wholly within pipe H, or it may enter and partially fill the chamber in shell Rof the valve mechanism,which may be made of sufficient length for this purpose, as hereinafter described. If t-he liquid is contained wholly within pipe H, open communication is afforded to it from chamber R', by passage 1'.

Pressure to be communicated through the column or pipe is imparted by Huid, by preference air, under pressure of sufficient degree. This is doneas follows:

To the upper end of shell R is screwed an elbowshaped upper shell crease, r', closed at its upper end by screw-plug or other equivalent stopper, 12, having therein an annular port, r3, for admission of air under pressure. Air thus supplied passes downward between the wings of upper valve-stem, n3, filling the chamber r4 below. At the angle of the elbow, and extending downward therefrom, is a Valve plug or bushing, S, having therein ports s s', leading from supply-chamber r4 downward and laterally to the tubular or pipe-like passage rthrough the elbow-piece r; also, a port, s2, in line with and below ports, opens IIO into a valve-chamber, s, and thence by port s* to open air. The bushing S5, in the lower end of this valve-chamber, affords a guide for valve-stem N, on the upper end of which is formed the escape-valve n, seating upward against and closing the port si. This valve has a pin-extension, a5, thereon, adapted to enter and ll or practically close the passage si, like apiston, and thus prevent escape in case the conical portion nnof the valve is not properly seated by reason of insufficient lift on the stem N. A reduced stem, n', extends from pin n? upward through ports s2 ands, and

abuts against or enters a socket-passage, u,

in the supply-valve n2, which latter is formed on the lower end of Winged stem n3, and seating downward closes port s from above. A light spring` r6, seated between the collar n* on stem n3 and the inner end of plug r2 above, presses valve n2 upon an escape-valve.n,away from the respective seats or ports. Upward lift of sufficient force upon the stem N will seat escape-valve n and open supply-valve n2, thereby permitting air-suppl y under pressurel to pass through ports s s' to passage rb, and

thence to the upper side of collar or valvering m. This ring or collar moves loosely on the upper winged end, p, of stem P, and it is held in place thereon between a nut, p', secured on the upper end ofthe stem, and a spring, p2, below, seated upon a collar, p3, on the stem. Pressure of inowing fluid upon the upper face of valve or ring m, if in excess of the resistance of spring p2, will depress such valve, permitting the iiuid supply to pass downward through the wing-passages p to the chamber R below. This pressure will be operative upon the liquid or lother equivalent medium, whether the same is contained within pipe H or whether it enters and partially fills chamber It', and being communicated through such medium will be effective in moving the diaphragm L and opening the escapevalve e of l[he engine, as before described. When upward lift on stem N is released, the spring r will seat valvenz, closing Vthe supplyand opening the escape-valve n'. The escape thus affordedwill reduce fluid-pressure in passage ri, so that duid-pressure below the ring-valve m, plus thepressure of spring pwill lift the valve and seat it upon the under face of nut p', thereby preventing fluid escape past the same. As the passage fr5 is open to the external air by ports s s* there will be practically atmospheric pressure only to oppose the pressure confined below the ring valve m. Consequently the stem P will be raised toward or against the stop 1 by such pressure, assisted somewhat by spring p* below, thereby unseating the valve u, formed on the lower end of the stem,and opening an escape-port, u,formed in the bottom plug, R2, of the shell or case. If the liquid column is confined to pipe H, this escape may' open directly to the exterior air, either by side port, a3, or by an open port in the end made by removing the screw-plug at,

liquid, in case liquid is contained in chamber R', into the tank, thereby in either case providing for quick release or cessation of the force or impulse exerted upon the liquid column. Slow leakage past the valve m-such as is incident to valve piston mechanism of -this character-will permit the liquid in tank U and chamber R' to return to a common level. The valve La may be seated or returned to normal position either by the weight of the stem P and valve m or by pressure ofinfiowin'g duid thereon, so as to impart to the liquid the desired impulse. The operation of valve m, stem P, and valve u, both in admitting {iuidsupply, imparting impulse to the liquid' column, and in relieving pressure below the valve m, is automatic, prompt, and efficient, and is substantially the same,whether liquid is present in the chamber R or not; but if present the tank U performs an important function, not only in affording convenient means for maintaining liquid-supply without introducing air into the pipes, but also in providing relief from pressure or impulse without waste of liquid, also, to. this same end the shell R may be made of considerable lengthsay six inches,more orless--in order that valve m may be clearly above the levell of liquid,and therebyprevent discharge of liquid upward.

The stems N for supply and exhaust uid may be lifted in any convenient and suitable manner, either by hand or by means of suitable mechanical contrivance. In Fig. 3 two of the valve mechanisms are shown connected together, each being connected by separate pipes H to its appropriate end D of the mechanism, for shifting the distributing-valve c2 of the engine, as before described.

Fluid-supply is by a passage,w,in upper counecting-bar,W, and the relief' or escape may be either directly to the exterior air or by separate pipe-connections to tank U. The two valves are securedl by flanges 7c to any suitable support, K, and their stems N are lifted by a rocking bar, T, upon the ends of which the stems rest, and the stems are raised alternately by rocking the pivot f, which carries the bar. This may be done either by hand or by mechanical conlrivance, and l reserve for a separate application suitable interlocking apparatus for effecting these movements in predetermined order with reference to other operations to be performed on or about a track. Either duidsupply valve n2 will be opened, as desired, according to the movement of the rocking bar T in one or the other direction, and when said bar is moved into its middle or horizontal position both the duid-supply valves will be IOO IlO

automatically seated and both duid-exhaust valves opened by the springs r6.

Pressure communicated to the liquid column, as above described, will be transmitted almost instantaneously to and be effective on the diaphragm I', and while Iprefer to use air as a medium of communicating such pressure to the liquid, yet other fluid medium, or even a liquid medium, may be emyloyed; also, instead of subjecting the liquid column to direct contact with the air or equivalent fluid,the two may be separated by a diaphragm or by movable piston or other equivalent yielding device by which pressure may be communicated from one to the other. Such partitions are not essential, but are referred to as modifications, which may, if desired, be made in details of constructiomwhich I consideras coming within my invention; also, for the purpose of imparting impulse to the liquid column other means than iluid-pressure may be employedfor example, a mechanically-actuated plunger; or Huid pressure may be admitted to and turned from the liquid column by a three-way cock or other equivalent device. I prefer, however, to emplow for this purpose the valve mechanism herein shown and described, because best adapted to lill all the requirements of use.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The method herein described of imparting movement from a distant station to the valve-shifting mechanism of a fluid-pressure engine or motor, consisting in connecting such mechanism with the distant station by a con tinuous inclosed column or body of liquid and giving movement or impulse to such column by subjecting the same to pressure at the distant station, substantially as set forth.

2. A fluid-pressure engine or motor having a main piston, a distributingvalve, pistons for moving the distributing-valve, and escapevalves for reducing fluid-pressure on one side of the valve-pistons, in combination with suitable mechanisms for unseating the escape- \'alves,and a fluid column for communicating impulse or movement to the valve mechanism from a distance, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of distributingvalve a, pistons c c, escapelvalves e, pistons I, and fluidpressure diaphragms I', substantially as set forth.

4. In a iluid-pressure motor, the combina tion of a distributingvalve, pistons for shifting the valve, escape-valves for reducing fluid pressure on one side of the piston, flexible diaphragms exposed on one side to a fluid column, pistons abutting against the diaphragms and the escape-valves, and springs for holding such latter pistons against the diaphragms, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the valve-shifting mechanism of a tluidpressure motor, an inclosed fluid column for transmitting impulse Without expenditure of Huid, and a movable or flexible partition between the valve mechanism and the fluid column for transmitting the impulse ofthe fluid column to the valve mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the valve-shifting mechanism of a fluid-pressure motor, a column of liquid for communicating movement to the valve mechanism from a distance, and valve mechanism for directing fluid under pressure upon the liquid column at the distant station, substantially as set forth.

7. A valve mechanism having, in combination, a valve-governed supply and exhaust ports at its upper end, and a valve-governed exit at its lower end, the valve for the latter exit having an upwardlyextending stem with a valve movable thereon opening downward to permit fluid passage and seating upward against and lifting the stem by duid-pressure on the under side, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In mechanism for subjecting a liquid column to huid-pressure, the combination of a case receiving a portion of the liquid at its lower end, valve-governed ports in the case above the liquid for supply and exhaust of iluidpressure, a valve within the case above the level of the liquid, such valve opening downward to admit fluid-pressure to the liquid and seating upward to close the passage, and a valve-governed eXit below the level of liquid, the valve to such exit being opened by upward pressure upon the valve above the liquid, substantially as set forth.

9. In mechanism for subjecting a column of liquid to fluid-pressure, the combination of a case having open communication with the liquid, valve'governed ports above tbe level of liquid for supply and exhaust of fluid-pressure, a valve-governed exit below the level of liquid, and a liquid reservoir or receptacle communicating with the exit, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of rock-shaft t, bar T, valve-stems N, resting upon the bar on either side of the shaft and lifted alternately by rocking movements thereof, fluid-supply valves a, and springs r, acting to automatically seat said valves when the rock-shaft is moved to central position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. VES'IINGHOUSE, J R.

Vitnesses:

R. H. WHITTLESEY, J. SNOWDEN BELL.

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