IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS FOR PRIME MOVERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Storey, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Brassfounder, and John William Kenyon, of the same City, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS FOR PRIME MOVERS."
Sealed the 1st June 1880, and dated the 6th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Storey and
John William Kenyon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
6th December 1879.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOHN HENRY STOREY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder,
and JOHN WILLIAM KENYON, of the same City, Engineer.
INDICATORS FOR PRIME MOVERS."
Our Invention relates to the apparatus known as steam engine indicators which
are employed in the obtaining of diagrams indicative of the effective working of
engines as is well understood. In such indicators as ordinarily constructed it is
necessary to disconnect the actuating cord from the engine when it is desirable to
arrest the movement of the paper barrel at times when the paper is to be changed
or for other reasons. The object of our Invention is to enable the operator to stop
or start the said paper barrel without disconnecting the said cord. To this end we
so construct the apparatus as that at the pleasure of the operator the paper barrel
can be connected with and disconnected from a wheel or part which is actuated by
the cord in the usual manner, and which may continue its movements whilst the
said paper barrel is at rest. In one arrangement the said paper barrel is mounted
upon a cylinder, which is arranged to be moved towards and from the wheel to
which the end of the cord is attached. When the said cylinder is moved towards
the said wheel it engages therewith, and the movements of the wheel are com-
municated to the said cylinder. A tooth projection or hinged catch on one part
enters a recess in the other part, and thereby effects the engagement of the two
parts; a spring tends to move the cylinder towards the said wheel, and thereby to
effect the engagement. The cylinder is moved away from the wheel by means of

page_text: a forked lever which is acted upon by means of a trigger, lever, or finger-key, or
is otherwise suitably arranged to be acted upon by the operator when the dis-
engagement is to be effected. In one arrangement of this part we act upon the
said forked lever by means of a stepped trigger, which permits the said cylinder to
approach the said wheel by successive stages. The method of and means for
effecting the connection and disconnection of the parts may be greatly varied, as
for example, a spring may tend to separate the parts, the aforesaid cylinder being
pressed towards the actuating wheel by means of a finger lever or by the pressure
of the finger or hand upon the paper barrel or upon a knob or part in connection
therewith, or the said cylinder may be moved away from the said wheel by means
of a lever or appliance, and be moved toward the wheel by the direct application
of the hand or finger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
of
the said John Henry Storey and John William Kenyon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th June 1880.
JOHN HENRY STOREY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounder,
and JOHN WILLIAM KENYON, of the same City, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
INDICATORS FOR PRIME MOVERS."
Our Invention relates to the apparatus known as steam engine indicators which
are employed in the obtaining of diagrains indicative of the effective duty of
engines as is well understood. In such indicators as ordinarily constructed it is
necessary to disconnect the actuating cord from the engine when it is desirable to
arrest the movement of the paper barrel at times when the paper is to be changed
or for other reasons. The object of our Invention is to enable the operator to stop
or start the said paper barrel without disconnecting the said cord. To this end
we so construct the apparatus as that at the pleasure of the operator the paper
barrel can be connected with and disconnected from a wheel or part which is
actuated by the cord in the usual manner, and which may continue its movements
whilst the said paper barrel is at rest. In one arrangement the said paper barrel
is mounted upon a cylinder, which is arranged to be moved towards and from the
wheel to which the end of the card is attached. When the said.", linder is moved
towards the said wheel it engages therewith, and the movements of the wheel are
communicated to the said cylinder. A tooth projection or hinged catch on one
part enters a recess in the other part, and thereby effects the engagement of the
two parts. A spring tends to move the cylinder towards the said wheel and
thereby to effect the engagement. The cylinder is moved away from the wheel by
means of a forked lover which is acted upon by means of a trigger, lever, or finger
key, or is otherwise suitably arranged to be acted upon by the operator when the
disengagement is to be effected.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we have attached hereunto
a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings we will
now refer. In the said Drawings, Fig. 1 is a full size view partly in section of a
complete indicator, and represents our Invention as applied to the indicator for
which Letters Patent, bearing date the first day of April, in the year 1878, and
numbered 1278, have been granted to one of us, the said John William Kenyon.
Fig. 2 represents the lower part of the paper barrel and the cord wheel and lifting
attachment; Fig. 4 is a plan of the same parts; Fig. 3 is a view of the lifting
attachment, and Fig. 5 shows the manner in which the paper barrel and the cord
wheel engage together. In Fig. 1, a is the curved tube which was substituted for
the ordinary piston and cylinder in the former Invention of John William Kenyon,
as aforesaid; b is the paper barrel; c is the cord wheel, and d is the lifting
attachment. The paper barrel b is mounted upon an inner cylinder e, which is
formed with a tubular boss, which is bored to slide upon the ordinary fixed stud f.
The said
A spiral spring g tends to force the cylinder e towards the cord wheel c.
cord wheel is formed with a box h, in which is enclosed the ordinary volute spring,
and the said cord wheel is mounted to rotate upon the stud f, being rotated in one
direction by the pull of the cord, and in the other direction by the action of the
volute spring. A notch is formed in the lower edge of the cylinder e, and the card
wheel c is provided with a tooth, as indicated by Fig. 5; or the disposition of the
parts may be reversed, that is to say, the said cylinder may be formed or provided
with a tooth, and the cord wheel be formed with a notch, when the tooth and
notch engage the paper barrel, and the cord wheel rotate together as if they were
permanently attached, as is the case in the ordinary indicator; when the cylinder e
is raised to the extent which will permit the tooth in the cord wheel to clear the
said notch the cord wheel may still revolve, but the paper barrel will remain at

page_text: rest. A forked lever k is hinged at 7 to a pillar or part which is fixed or formed
to or on the framing of the indicator. The fork of the said lever is formed with
two rounded ends, which pass below a flanch on the lower end of the cylinder e.
A trigger m is employed to act upon this forked lever; when the said trigger is
moved into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 a cam piece m' on
the spindle of the said trigger presses upwards the said lever, and the forked end
thereof acting on the Blanch on the cylinder e raises the said cylinder and disengages
it from the cord wheel. When the preparations for the taking of a diagram are
completed the pressure of a finger upon the upper side of the trigger releases the
lever k, and the paper cylinder is pressed into connection with the cord wheel by
the spiral spring; the paper barrel will then rotate with the cord-wheel as long as
may be desired, and when its is advisable to arrest its movements it is only necessary
to lift the finger trigger, and the forked lever will raise the cylinder e, carrying
with it the paper barrel, which will then cease to revolve until again lowered into
connection with the cord-wheel. The cam piece m¹ is stepped so as to lower the
paper barrel by two stages. The intention of this arrangement is that the first
step shall lower the cylinder e until the flanch thereon presses slightly upon the
tooth on the cord wheel, so that, as it were, the tooth may feel for the notch
without turning the paper cylinder. The parts of any ordinary or suitable form of
indicator may be substituted for the curved tube a, as, for example, the cylinder
and piston and connected parts of an ordinary Richard's indicator may be employed
in connection with the arrangements for connecting the paper barrel with and
disconnecting it from the cord wheel. Any other suitable arrangement of parts
for lowering and raising the paper barrel into and out of connection with the cord
wheel may be substituted for the forked lever and the trigger; and also the method
of and means for effecting the temporary connection between the said paper barrel
and the cord wheel may be varied, as, for example, a spring or a lever or appliance
may tend to separate the parts, the paper barrel or the cylinder or part upon which
it is mounted being pressed towards the cord wheel by means of a finger lever, or
by pressure of the finger or of the hand upon the paper barrel, or upon a knob or
part connected therewith.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which we prefer to carry the same into effect, we would have it to
be understood in conclusion that we claim,-
First. The combination of parts forming a complete indicator arranged and acting
substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated hereinbefore, and in and
by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Mounting a cord wheel to revolvo independantly of the paper barrel,
and arranging for the said paper barrel to be readily connected therewith or
disconnected therefrom, for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. The cord-wheel formed with a tooth or notch, and the cylinder carrying
the paper barrel formed with a notch or tooth to engage with the cord wheel, and
pressed towards the said wheel by means of a spring, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The trigger and forked lever arrangement for raising the paper
barrel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Henry Storey and John William
Kenyon, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of June,
in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.