Improvements in Fluid Pressure Engines suitable for Operating the Air Blowing Engines of Organs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
Improvements in Fluid Pressure Engines suitable for Operating the
Air Blowing Engines of Organs.
I, JOHN KIRBY, of 15, Barton Place, Beeston Hill, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in aud by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in fluid pressure engines suitable for
operating the air blowing engines of organs and has for object the provision of
means whereby such engines can be stopped or started at any part of the inward
or outward stroke of the piston without it being necessary to close the stop valve,
and also the provision of means for operating the main admission valves and for
obviating shock to the air blowing engine or other dovico at the commencement
of each stroke. In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a longi-
tudinal section pantly in elevation showing a fluid pressure engine according
to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement.
1 is the main cylinder of the engine, in which reciprocates a piston 2 the piston
rod 3 of which passes through a stuffing box 4. The outer end 3 of the piston
rod 3 has secured to it in any convenient manner, a collar 6 that acts as a piston
and works to and fro in a cylinder 0 of a movable head 7. 8, 9 are springs placed
in the cylinder 6, one on each side of the collar 5, and held in place by plugs 10
and 11, that can be screwed in or out of the head 7. The plug 11 is connected in
any suitable manner with the air blowing engine or other device. As will be
seen the arrangement is such that when the direction of motion of the piston at the
end of each stroke is changed, one of the springs 8 or 9 will be compressed
between one side of the collar 5, and one of the plugs 10 or 11, according to the
direction in which the piston starts to move; and the motion of the piston 2 will
be communicated to the air blowing engine or other device in a gradual manner,
whereby shocks are prevented at the reversal or starting of the air blowing engine
or other device. Projecting from the movable head 7 is a finger or arm 12 formed
with au eye 13 at its outer end through which passes a spindle 14 provided with
spiral springs 15 and 16 and adjustable stop pieces 17 and 18 for a purpose herein-
after set forth. The cylinder 1 is provided with ports 19 and 20 that are adapted
to communicate through ports 22, 23 in a valve casing 24 with a main fluid inlet 25
through a passage 25 in which work pistons 26 and 27 connected together by a
spindle 28. The outer side of the piston 26 is provided with an extension 29 that
may in some cases extend to and pass through a stuffing box 30 and have secured
to it a valve 31, but in the arrangement illustrated the valve 31 is shown con-
nected to a separate spindle 32 extending through the said stuffing box. The
piston 27 is forined in one with a hollow extension 33 that has a flange 34 at its
outer end against which a cup leather 35 is pressed by a screw threaded sleeve 36.
The spindle 14 which passes through a stuffing box 37 into a cylindrical
chamber 38 formed as an extension of the valve casing 24 has formed on it pro-

page_text: jections or enlargements 39 and 40 which act as pistons and have a space 41 between
them; the inuer end of the spindle 14 extends through the screw-threaded
sleeve 36 into the hollow extension 33 of the piston 27 in which it is free to work
and is retained therein by a flange 42 formed on its inner end. 43 is a passage
in the spindle 14 which leads from the interior of the hollow extension 33 to the
space 41 and also with the chamber 38 at the outer end of the piston 40 through
ports 43" and 43. 44 is a passage that connects the passage 25 with chamber 38
and 45 is another passage that connects the chamber 38 with an exhaust passage 40
in communication with a port 47 in a valve box 48 that leads to an exhaust
outlet 49. The valve spindle 32 which has secured to it the valve 31 passes
through the valve box 48 and stuffing box 30; its inner end touching the end of
the extension 29 of the piston 26, and its outer end being adapted to bear against
a lever 51 which is mounted to oscillate on a stud 52 and is retained in its normal
or vertical position against a stud 03 by a collar or nut 54. Between the stuffing
box 30 and the valve 31 is placed a spiral spring 50. In the valve casing 21 is
a cock 55 that controls the exhaust passage 46 its plug being operated by a lever 06.
On fluid under pressure being admitted from the inlet 25, through the pas-
sage 25, ports 22 and 19 to one end of the cylinder 1 the piston 2 will move in the
direction of the arrow, compressing the spring 9 and moving the head 7 until the
finger 12 thereon comes into contact with the spring 16 and compresses the same
against the stop 18 on the spindle 14 thereby moving the latter and its pistous 39
and 40 to the right and bringing the ports 43° into communication with the
passage 45. The fluid acting on the piston 27 causes this piston and the piston 26
to move past the ports 23 and 22, respectively thereby putting the ports 20 and 23
in communication with the passage 2 and inlet 25, and the ports 19 and 22 in
communication with the outlet 49 whereupon the piston will make its backward
stroke. When the finger 12 strikes the spring 15 and compresses the same against
the stop 17, the spindle 14 with its pistons 39 and 40 are moved in the opposite
direction closing the exhaust passage 45 and placing the ports 43 through the
passage 44, into communication with the passage 25 and inlet 25, so that fluid will
then pass through the passage 43 into the hollow extension 33 and acting on the
inner side of the piston 27 will move the same and the piston 26 in the reverse
direction, thereby causing the direction of motion of the piston 2 to be also
changed. When it is necessary to stop the engine without shutting off the pres-
sure, the lever 51 is oscillated on the stud 52 so as to move it out of contact with
the spindle 32 and allow the valve 31 to be closed against the port 47 by the
fluid acting on the piston 26 and forcing the extension 29 thereof against the end
of the valve spindle 32; or the valve 31 may be closed by the action of tho
exhaust fluid acting on the back surface of the valve. To restart the engine the
cock 55 is opened, thus relieving the pressure on the back surface of the valve and
allowing it to be opened by the spring 50; the lever 51 may then be returned to
its original position and the cock 55 closed.
In the modified arrangement shewn in Fig. 2, the valve casing 24 is provided
with similar ports 22, 23, 25, but the pistons 26 and 27 are connected by a hollow
spindle 28, and the piston 27 connected to another piston 27 by a short connect-
ing piece 33 provided with a number of ports 58 in communication with the
hollow spindle 28 which communicates with the exhaust outlet 49.
The spindle 14 is provided with similar pistons 39 and 40 and ports 43*. On
fluid under pressure being admitted to the cylinder 1 from the inlet 25, through
the passage 25, ports 22 and 19, the engine piston will move in the direction shewn
by the arrow whilst the exhaust from the other end of the cylinder will pass by
way of the ports 20, 23, 58 and hollow spindle 28" to the exhaust 49. When the
ports 43 between the pistons 39 and 40 are moved by the spindle 14 opposite the
passage 45 the fluid acting on the piston 27 will move the said piston together
with the piston 26 and admit fluid under pressure to port 23 and places port 22
in direct communication with the exhaust 49 thereby causing the engine piston
to move in the reverse direction until the finger 12 strikes the stop 17 on the

page_text: spindle 14 and moves the same with its pistons until the space 41 with its ports 43°
are brought opposite the passage 44. Fluid under pressure will then be admitted
through the passage 43 to the inner end of the piston 27 and move this piston
together with the pistons 26 and 27 to the position shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. In a fluid pressure engine, means for stopping and starting the piston at any
part of its stroke without closing or opening the fluid pressure inlet valve, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a fluid pressure engine, means for stopping or starting the engine at any
part of its stroke comprising a lever adapted to normally bean against the end of
a spindle of a spring actuated exhaust valve so as to keep the same open, and a
relief valve, in communication with one side of the said exhaust valve, the
arrangement being such that when the lever is moved out of contact with the
spindle of the exhaust valve, the said valve closes the exhaust port-and when
the relief valve is opened so as to relieve the pressure on one side of the exhaust
valve the latter will be opened by its spring and held in the open position by
returning the lever to its normal position substantially as described and shown.
3. In a fluid pressure engine, a tappet spindle having pistons spaced apart with
ports arranged between them, the said ports communicating with a space in the
interior of one of the main piston valves whereby fluid under pressure can be
admitted to or exhausted from the said space and the main valves operated in
one direction, substantially as described and shown.
4. In a fluid pressure engine, piston valves and tappet spindles with pistons,
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in Fig. 1, or modified according to Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a fluid pressure engine providing the outer end of the piston rod with a
piston-like collar adapted to work against the action of springs in a movable head
adapted to operate the tappet spindle for controlling the main valves and also the
air blowing device substantially as described and shown for the purposo specifled.
Date this 9th day of Nawanshaw 1000
R. E. P. CRAVEN,
Chartered Patent Agent,
King Street Chamber, 52, Wellington Street, Leeds,
Applicant's Agent.