Apparatus for Stopping Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Stopping Engines.
I, FREDERICK DENISON TAYLOR, residing at Number 29 Niles Street, in the
City of Hartford, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which a steam
engine or other motor may be quickly stopped from any point at a considerable
distance from that occupied by the apparatus; and a further object is to provide an
apparatus that will automatically reset itself.
To this end my invention consists in the details of the several parts making up
the apparatus as a whole and in their combination as more particularly hereinafter
described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the device with parts cut in section to show con-
struction and with the mechanism set in readiness to operate on the release of the
clamping device.
Figure 2 is a detail plan view of the apparatus showing the position of the parts
with spring barrel released from the clutch mechanism.
Figure 3 is a detail view in cross section through the device on plane denoted by
line of Fig. 1.
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a shaft that is mounted in
suitable bearings that may be formed in standards c¹ that project from the base
plate d.
A sprocket wheel e is secured to this shaft, preferably on the outer end, and there
is also secured to the shaft one member of a clutch device, in this instance a spring
barrel that is provided on one face with a ratchet f. A coil spring is arranged
within the barrel with one end secured to the latter and the other end to the axis f
on which the barrel is in part supported. This axis is secured to the bearing 6 in
any convenient manner. A portion a' of the shaft, preferably that which is located
between the bearings band b is threaded and supports a nut g that has a sliding
movement lengthwise of the shaft but is held against rotation thereon. This nut
has a flange g in which is cut a series of locking notches g that engage a guide
that is secured to the frame or a part fixed thereto, and projects lengthwise of and
substantially parallel to the shaft. The object of this arrangement of the guide h
and the flanged nut is to enable the inner position of the nut to be determined. By
inner position is meant its position with relation to the shipping lever i that is
pivoted on a fulcrum at one side of the shaft and extends transversely across the
shaft and preferably embracing it, as in the form illustrated in the drawings.
Between the back of the lever i and the standard c¹ there is preferably arranged an
elastic buffer j, the nut being located upon the shaft on the side of the lever opposite
the buffer.
When the spring is unwound, that is, not under tension, by lifting the guide h
out of its notch in the flange g' the nut may be turned until it compresses the lever
against the elastic buffer to a greater or less degree. When the proper position is
reached the guide is secured in place and holds the nut so that it will return each
time to the same position on the threaded portion of the shaft by any given degree
of rotation of the latter under the impulse of the spring.
A spring pawl k forms the other member of the clutch mechanism in the form of
apparatus shown and its bevelled end operates in connection with the ratchet f¹

page_text: :
to hold the spring barrel in any desired position when the pawl and the ratchet
are engaged. The shipping lever projects across the spring pawl to a point beyond
it where it engages a guide slot in the tumbler l. This tumbler is pivoted to a
fixed part of the frame, as to a post 2, and has an arm a adapted to engage a catch
borne on the outer face of the armature of an electro magnet m.
The spring actuated shaft a is connected to the spindle n' of a throttle valve n
by means of a chain passing over the sprocket wheel e on the shaft a and the
sprocket wheel e¹ of the valve spindle a¹ when the apparatus is to be used in con-
nection with a steam engine or the like in which a valve inay be used to control the
flow of the steam or other fluid actuating the motor. When the throttle valve so
connected to the stop mechanism is opened the shaft a is turned in such manner as
to wind up the spring, the rotary movement of the shaft a causing the nut to move
along the shaft, the flange g¹ of the nut encountering the end of a trip device o and
by sliding it outward-throws the pin of out of engagement with a locking notch k³
on the spring pawl k and this releases the pawl so that its bevelled end is thrown
into engagement with the ratchet teeth.
The trip device comprises a spring actuated slide o' bearing on its inner end next
to the nut a spring retained block with a bevelled end mounted on a shaft so as to
swing freely in one direction but held against rotation in the opposite direction.
This block yields to allow the nut to move freely toward the shipping lever, but
extends into the path of movement of the nut in the opposite direction so that the
nut operates in its movement to push the slide outward so as to throw the pin o² out
of engagement with the locking notch ².
On the spindle of the spring pawl k a shoulder ³ is formed in position to be
encountered by the shipping lever when the latter is thrown outward by the spring i².
When the apparatus is set in position to operate to shut down the motor the parts
are in the position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the apparatus is caused
to operate as a shut-off or stop device by making or breaking an electric circuit as
by pushing a button or moving a switch in a line of conductors that include the
electro-magnet m in the circuit. By causing the armature to be drawn toward the
magnet (either by opening or closing the circuit as the case may be) the outer end
of the tumbler is released so that it turns freely on the pivot, the shipping lever i is
thrown over under the impulse of the spring encountering the shoulder with-
drawing the pawl from its engagement with the ratchet, and this allows the spring
to recoil, the spring pawl being locked in its outer position by means of the slide or
trip device the più o on which engages the locking notch on the pawl. The
recoil of the spring turns the spindle of the throttle valve in such manner as to shut
off the flow of fluid used to drive the motor. By the rotation of the shaft a the nut
is caused to move lengthwise toward and against the shipping lever which it pushes
back against the buffer, the outer end of the shipping lever (by means of the pin
engaging the guide slot in the tumbler) throwing the latter into engagement with
the catch on the armature and thus resetting the releasing mechanism. The parts
will then be in position as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
As soon as the throttle valve is opened, as by turning the valve spindle by means
of the handle in the ordinary manner, the spring is again wound up, the slide
. forced back by the movement of the nut so as to release the spring pawl and cause
it to engage the teeth in the ratchet and the device is reset so that when the
tumbler is again released the apparatus will again operate to close the throttle
valve without regard to the extent to which the latter may have been opened.
There is provided in this apparatus as shown means for releasing the spring
barrel mechanically by simply pressing upon the exposed end of a push button or rod
that is mounted in a suitable support, and with its inner end engaging the spring
pawl in such manner as to cause the latter to be moved away from the ratchet
when the push rod is thrust inward.
The form of clutch mechanism shown is the one preferred, but it is obvious that
other forms for temporarily holding the shaft in position with the catch spring
when wound up and under tension may be employed without exercising the

page_text: faculties to an extent amounting to more than mere mechanical skill, and the use
of such other forms of clutch devices within the combination come within the
scope of my invention.
This stop apparatus is preferably enclosed in a suitable case or box and secured
in a convenient position to enable the connection between the apparatus and the
throttle valve to be conveniently made.
The elastic buffer is preferably made of india rubber, or like gum, and is secured
to a fixed part of the frame, as the side of the standard c' (or it may be borne on
the side of the shipping lever i) and its function is to receive and afford a rest for
the shipping lever in its movements as it is pushed over by the nut which is caused
to travel along the shaft by the rotation of the latter. It serves to break the
shock of the recoil of the spring by acting as a brake to gradually stop the
revolving of the shaft, and at a predetermined position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
'
1. In an apparatus for stopping an engine or other motor, in combination, a
spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, a clutch part secured to said shaft,
an actuating spring having one end secured to the shaft and the other to a fixed
part of the frame, a reciprocating nut borne on the threaded portion of the shaft
and held against rotation thereon, a spring actuated shipping lever extending
across the shaft and with its outer end engaging a tumbler, the tumbler with its
outer end adapted to engage the armature of an electro magnet the spring pawl
having a shoulder located in the path of movement of the shipping lever, and the
trip device with one end adapted to engage the spring pawl and the other located
in the path of movement of the nut, all substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for stopping an engine or other motor, in combination, a spring
actuated shaft having a threaded portion, a clutch device having one part secured
to said shaft and the other part mounted in operative relation thereto, the shipping
lever extending across the shaft between an elastic buffer and a reciprocating nut,
the reciprocating nut borne on the threaded portion of the shaft and held against
rotation thereon, and an electro magnet having its armature adapted to engage
the tumbler of the releasing and resetting mechanism, all substantially as
described.
3. In an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or other motor, in combination, a
spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, a clutch part secured to said
shaft, the actuating spring connected to the shaft and to a fixed portion of the
frame, the sprocket wheel secured to the outer end of the shaft, a reciprocating
nut borne on the threaded portion of the shaft and held against rotation thereon, a
shipping lever extending across the shaft and having its outer end engaging a cam
slot in a tumbler, a buffer located back of the shipping lever, the tumbler having a
cam slot in engagement with a projection on the shipping lever, and an arm
engaging a catch on the armature of an electro-magnet, the armature having a
catch device, the clutch part mounted in operative relation to the shipping lever,
the trip device with means for holding the clutch parts disengaged, and the
reciprocating nut having a flange adapted to operate the trip device in its
reciprocating movement along the shaft, all substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or other motor, in combination,
the spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, the clutch part secured to one
end of the shaft, a sprocket wheel secured to the outer end of the shaft, an
actuating spring secured to the shaft and to a fixed part of the frame, and
mechanism substantially as described for releasing the clutch and automatically
resetting the releasing mechanism, all substantially as described.
5. In combination in an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or other motor, a
spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, the shaft actuating spring, the
clutch parts secured to the shaft and to the frame respectively, and the releasing

page_text: and resetting mechanism comprising a flanged nut borne on the threaded portion of
the shaft and held against rotation thereon, all substantially as described.
6. In combination in an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or other motor, a
spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, the shaft actuating spring, the
clutch parts secured to the shaft and to the frame respectively, the releasing and
resetting mechanism comprising a flanged nut borne on the threaded portion of the
shaft and held against rotation thereon, the flange of the nut having a series of
locking notches, all substantially as described.
7. In combination in an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or other motor, a
spring actuated shaft, the clutch parts secured to the shaft and to the frame
respectively, the releasing and resetting mechanism comprising with the other
elements a tumbler and a swinging shipping lever in operative engagement with
each other, all substantially as described.
8. In combination in an apparatus for stopping a steam engine or like motor, a
spring actuated shaft having a threaded portion, the clutch parts secured to the
shaft and to the frame respectively, the releasing mechanism substantially as
described, and the resetting mechanism comprising a reciprocating nut borne on
the threaded portion of the shaft and held against rotation thereon, all substantially
as described.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892.
FREDERICK DENISON TAYLOR.
W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon, Street, London, E.C.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.